Merlin: Albion's Greatest Time of Need

Chapter 2 | Merlin | The glowing eyes

As Merlin stepped outside, he was quickly hit with a gust of piercing cold wind, leading to him rapidly wrapping his arms around himself. His eyes wandered to the busy sky, full of so many clouds that few patches of the bright blue sky shone through, a lone snowflake wandered onto the tip of his nose. Landing with serenity, making a slight prickle on the skin as it landed, causing Merlin to scrunch his nose in response. He then took in a deep breath, filling his lungs with the fresh crisp air, and smiling as the beautiful snow made its home in his garden.

Gradually he trudged through the snow towards the structure at the end of the garden. Leaving footprints as he went, the snow turning a slightly off white from the existing mud on his wellies. When he made it to the end of the garden the structure became more visible, it was two medium-sized buildings combined into a slightly lopsided one. On the left stands a grand greenhouse, the path inside barely there as the plants inside seeming to have taken over, looking less like one you would find in a garden over one that you would find at a farm. To the right is a rectangle-shaped room made from cut off wooden panels, plastic roofing, and chicken wire. From the way it stood, it was obvious this was put together with spare parts and anything Merlin could get his hands on. Inside, all snuggled up nice and warm, are 12 chickens. Fast asleep as the snow flowed outside.

Merlin reached towards the coop's door and grabbed the lock that's keeping it shut, and materialised the key from his coat pocket. Opening it with a slight struggle as his hands are shivering so much from the cold that they shook without control. After a moment of fiddling trying to get the lock to open, he entered the coop and shut the door behind him. Startling the chickens, they scatter around the cage leaving their huddle. While Merlin began approaching their nest he procured a basket from a shelf above it was tattered and falling to pieces, as it had been used daily for many years. Crouching down Merlin gave a heavy sigh, brushing the loose straw out of the way. Revealed is an immense amount of freshly laid eggs, glistening from the reflection of the snow. One by one he picked them up and placed them in the basket, and once all were collected he made his way to the greenhouse locking the coop behind him.

Despite it being numbingly cold, inside the greenhouse was lusciously warm. The temperature difference was staggering at first, but definitely a nice change from the constant feeling of frigid cold. Baskets full of a variety of plants are hanging from the ceiling, overgrown and flourishing. Everywhere you look is covered in plants, the work surface barely visible, apart from a small hand-made table hiding in the back. On top of the table is an assortment of glasses filled with fruit and berries, as well as stinging nettles and crushed leaves. Balancing on the shelf below is an odd-shaped bag, cylindrical with a raised top and base and the colour is a very patchy red. A thin golden strap hung from the bag, twisted in nature and tattered to suggest it was often used. Through the slightly open crack, you could see the ocean of bottles inside, all different shapes and sizes, containing mysterious concoctions and remedies. However, Merlin reached for a vile that lies behind the bag. Out he pulled a tall thin glass vile, containing a thick dark green liquid, almost reminiscent of watered-down moss. He then placed the vile beside the eggs, picked a handful of different herbs, and headed back towards the cottage.

When he stepped inside, he placed the basket on the counter beside him and threw his wet boots onto the shoe rack while hanging his coat on a hook above it. Before heading into the kitchen Merlin made a detour to the television, turning it on and putting the news on. A brightly coloured chart appeared, with a young lady standing beside it.

'ah, the weather' he thought, grabbing the herbs and trying to find where he left the chopping board this time.

"As spring draws nearer the sky is looking clearer. For those fed up with the cold don't be to disheartened, the sky looks to be clear all week with a low chance of rain or snow." the weather lady cheerfully exclaimed, as Merlin pulled a knife from the drawer and began cutting the miscellaneous collection of herbs.