Merlin One-Shots

Ruined Spirit

He entered full of hope, his mind and soul eager and open, ready to receive all.

But that naivety would not remain forever.

The next year, he was slightly more educated in the ways of the world, but he retained his youthful spirit. He kept the ways he would judge people, he kept his cheerfulness, he kept his open and welcoming mind. 

The next time, he was slightly more wary, but still open with his friends. With them, he was laughing and carefree. 

The next year, another man befriended his best friend. He was warned of the man's motives, and was cautious of him. He would always distrust that man, and that would lead to his downfall. 

Henceforth, his motives became more shadowed. He was more closed, less accepting. But occasionally, his cheerful side broke through, a single ray of sunshine. 

Later, he showed the last remains of the man he had been. A single memory for what would never happen again. 

The last time, all that remained of a previously hopeful and naive boy, was an untrusting, morally dubious man. 

It wa only reinforced when his best friend was killed by the other man. 

But that never would've happened if he had accepted the man-turned-murdered as a friend. 

So whose fault was it?

His or the murderer's?