How to become king Arthur

Chapter 11: Meet Merlin

There wasn't much to do when waiting for the man who was to determine your fate. I sat on the bench and chewed my lip. I tapped my foot. I stared out the window. I counted the birds I saw. Anything really, but I was still sweating.

The duke had calmly taken my secret, left for a moment, no doubt to check the head one more time and then had me escorted to the study I was seated in. It had a desk, chairs, a coat of arms. That was about it. He told me to wait, they were calling for a wise man who would supposedly know what to do with me. Something told me that any wise man would get rid of me as soon as possible.

What was his name again? Right Merlin. I decided I liked his name, I hoped he liked mine.

It felt like I had been waiting for ages. I stood up and began to pace. When I got bored of that I sat again but it wasn't long until I began pacing again. Then he came in. Without knocking, unannounced and that was when I decided I liked him.

He had a long silver beard to match his hair with a dusty blue attire of cloak, trousers, shirt and pointy hat. He looked like a sorcerer, I wondered why he had not yet been burned at the stake. He had piercing grey eyes that took me in as I took him in.

"So," he said in a gravely voice as he shut the door, "you're the lad that beheaded a king, ran into enemy territory and is indeed not a lad but a lass. I do have to admit you're not much to look at."

"I get that a lot," I replied, "But it doesn't stop me from doing what I can."

"Can what?"

"Doing what I can to prove myself."

"So you're a selfish lad then?"

"We are all selfish," I replied, "One way or another." He let out a grunt that was neither approving or disapproving. He walked around me, eyes calculating.

"I am Merlin," he finally said,"I'm afraid they were so rattled when they saw me that they failed to mention your name."

"Arthur," I replied. I saw shock fill his face, he muttered something under his breath.

"What is your real name?"

"Well I would really prefer to be called Arthur."

"Answer me when I ask you a question!" he snapped. I tried my best not to scowl.

"Ara," I finally replied. I watched as he sat down the table. I began to wonder if him ordering me around was a good sign, was he teaching me for future endeavours? My heart beat sped up at the thought of learning what this wise man knew.

"They told me you were training to be a knight?"

"Yes," I said. The man nodded slightly, he seemed deep in thought.

"So then you would know the job of a squire?" Merlin clarified. I wrinkled my nose in distaste but nodded none the less. Something told me this Merlin would known if I was lying.

"Good," he said as he stood up, "Come with me."

I followed. Along just behind him, excited to see what was in store. He dismissed a questioning knight with the flick of his hand. I trotted along beside him.

"Where exactly are we going?" I asked.

"Quiet!" Merlin barked, "I will explain all in due time." I bit my tongue as he led me out and into the stables.

"You! Stable hand!" Merlin barked, "Tell the duke that I have taken the affair into my own hands, and not to worry."

"Yes Merlin," the boy replied before tying the horse and making his way into the castle. Merlin grunted in approval.

"Grab a horse girl," he chimed.

"Shouldn't you be calling me boy? Just in case someone hears?" I asked as I looked at the stalls of horses.

"No," Merlin said without saying why. I bit back another question, he didn't seem to like them very much.

I pulled a roan horse with long legs out. It was made for running, I had been doing so much of it lately and I felt certain that I should be prepared to do more. I scratched it behind its ears in affection and to return the favour she horse began to chew on my collar.

"That would be Minsy," Merlin said as he saddled his own horse which was a grey that matched the colour of his beard.

"Hmm," I replied as I began to saddle her up.

Merlin waited until I had mounted before we went off at a brisk pace. It was good to be really riding again.  The castle soon fell away as did the town and we were soon in the forest, trees flying by at  respectful pace. Merlin appeared to be very practised in the area of horsemanship, so much so that I envied how smoothly he rode in the saddle.

We had been riding for a few hours when my stomach let out a growl. Loud enough for Merlin to give me a bemused glance. I smiled sheepishly at him. I had refrained from asking where we were going and for food to keep from annoying him. It had been a while since I had eaten, the soup in the cottage seemed years ago.

"If you are hungry Ara, all you have to do is ask," Merlin said.

"I didn't think you liked questions," I pointed out.

"I'm not overly fond of them but if it is something as important as food, I will make an exception," Merlin said. I looked closer at Merlin, his robes could probably conceal a loaf of bread but instead Merlin veered off onto a smaller path.

"We can't be close to another town already!" I exclaimed.

"Of course not," he snapped, "But I know these forests. There are mushrooms and berries just along this path. Another thing you are to remember his that I have travelled these forests hundreds of times, there is no doubt when it comes to navigating this wood."

"Yes sir," I said quickly pulling Minsy to a halt behind Merlin's steed. Merlin dismounted and began to pick mushrooms off the ground.

"Start picking the berries," he commanded. I supressed a sigh and slid off the saddle. I hit the ground with a light thud and then leaned down, and began to pick the little blue berries.   I put them in my pockets, careful not to crush them. After around thirty minutes, Merlin called me over and handed me half of the mushrooms, I pulled out one pocket's worth of berries.

"So Ara, tell me about your family," Merlin said casually. I Waited until he was eating the mushrooms before taking a bite of one. Surprisingly it didn't taste like much of anything and wasn't too spongy. I would wait until he had some of the berries too.

"Not too much to tell," I said, "I've got some brothers, mother died just after child birth, father's a farmer."

"No sisters?" Merlin asked.

"No," I replied bluntly. Merlin let out another humph and took a handful of berries to pop into his mouth. I ate another mushroom before eating some of the berries. I recalled eating them once or twice before, sweet, small and with good flavour.

"Where are we going?" I asked, "What's your plan?" Merlin gave me a sour look.

"You do not trust me," he finally said. I frowned.

"No, I do not," I replied, "Neither do you me, obviously." Merlin stood and mounted the grey again. "Merlin, please, where are we going?"

"We are on our way to sir Ector's house where his son Kay lives and another boy by the name of Arthur is dying."

My brow furrowed, "Why are we going there? Does he really have the same name as me?"

"Enough questions Ara, now mount and ride."