I finally got around to post a snippet for the Mordred chapter :))
Merlin wasnât entirely sure how to handle a child.
Even less so when it was a magical one that could speak to him telepathically. And worst of all - it was injured. Badly, if the rapid blood loss and swindling consciousness were any indicator.
Morgana wasnât much help either, resorting to pacing up and down in front of the half open curtain Merlin and the child were hidden behind. Sheâd sneak in glances every turn, the worried frown deepening each time. But eventually she seized the essentially useless walking and sat down next to the child. Her on one side, Merlin on the other.
The only one to kind of know what she was doing was Gwen, who got the child water and a damp rag to wipe the sweat off his forehead and upper body. After that thoughâŠ
âWhy isnât it talking to us?â Morgana asked after the fifth unsuccessful attempt to get the boyâs name.
Merlin simply shrugged, not really in the mood to let them know that it did speak to him via telepathy. And the child hadnât done it since Merlin had rescued him anyway.
So, they both turned to Gwen, expectant looks on their faces. The maid quickly shrugged, being about as clueless as them. After a bit more staring, she sighed, âWhat? I donât know what to do! Iâve never been around children much.â
There was a beat of silence. Morgana and Merlin both stared down at the boy, matching worry etched into their features. It didnât look good - eyes half-lidded and an absent look in them, sweat coating every inch of the childâs skin and it just wouldnât stop shaking! Gwen had tried to bring it a blanket, but as soon as the warming fabric had been draped over the boy, it had pushed it down into its lap.
âDo you think the other druid they caught was the father?â Morgana asked after a while, threading her fingers through the sticky black hair on the childâs forehead. It didnât show any hint if it liked or disliked it.
âProbablyâŠâ Merlin hummed grimly.
He had many feelings, none of them conflicting. The druids were peaceful people, sworn to a life of peace, and none of them should be threatened or treated like criminals. And if Uther really wanted to punish them for stepping within his holy city walls, he should banish them, not order for an execution.
Yet that was exactly what the king had done, had men currently run around in the square to build a pyre. Merlin had caught a glimpse of it, his stomach turning itself inside out and heâd made sure to stay away from windows ever since. It didnât lessen the fear though.
The dread curled in his chest, hot and heavy, causing images to flash through his mind of the fire. Of how it consumed a body, viciously, but also slow. Slow enough for the victim to be alive for way too long and feel how they were consumed by the flames.
She would hold him and reassure him that heâd never meet such a fate, because sheâd protect him with her life. And sheâd be glaring at Uther for a couple days, just to make sure Merlin understood just how serious her promise was.
âWe should get Jericho!â He exclaimed so suddenly the three other people in the room flinched.
âAnd what would she do?â Gwen asked a little sceptically, but it was too late.
Merlin had already cast a spell - moved the curtains so subtly it mightâve been the wind - so it could only be a matter of minutes before sheâd barge in.
âYes, Merlin, I do not wish to come across as rude, but⊠Jericho doesnât really seem like the kind of person to be great with children.â
Merlin was mildly curious as to what traits his sister couldâve exhibited that would make the women think sheâd be unfit to take care of a child. Mostly he didnât care. Jericho could kick the child (obviously, she wouldnât) as long as sheâd get here soon Merlin wouldnât be mad at her (maybe a little bit).
âSheâs just a bitâŠâ Gwen looked at Morgana, hoping sheâd have the fitting word ready.
âScary?â Merlin tilted his head to the side. âLike you think sheâs scary? You are scared of my sister?â
âWe donât!â Gwen said quickly, her voice slipping an octave higher.
Morgana cleared her throat as she clearly would have to take over the explaining.
âJericho just has a⊠presence and we have noticed that some people find it quite unsettling. Like two days ago I saw her talk to Arthur and I swear I saw him shiver. Or yesterday one of the stable boys didnât help me get into my saddle properly and she stared at him for a second before he came running over to apologiseâŠâ
Hm, that added up. Merlin had noticed many times over the span of their lives that if Jericho wanted something, she usually got it. But so far heâd assumed it was thanks to her smooth talking abilities, which she only used on those occasions, and menâs greed as they liked to assume that giving in to Jerichoâs wishes would get her attention.
âHuhâŠâ He hummed eventually, intending to ask more questions as he wouldâve loved to know if there were any more observed instances of Arthur being anything other than the perfect Prince he always pretended to be in front of Merlin.
But then voices wafted up through the open windows, carrying the words âbuild fasterâ and âexecution tonightâ and Merlin curled himself up a little tighter into the corner.
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