For the Ones We Love (Merlin Fan Fiction)

Chapter Four

I rolled over on the mattress that had been brought for me the day before. After working my hands raw at the tavern, I had slept deeper than I had in a long time. My body was still on a schedule, though. It still thought I needed to wake early. The sun was far from rising when I roused.

Sighing, I sat up and looked across the room at Gwen. She was still snoring softly. Without making a sound, I stood and walked across the length of the single room cottage to the door. I picked up my cloak that was in a ball on the counter.

Without the sun the warm it, the air was cool--but not cold--and damp. The streets were empty except for a single drunk stumbling down the path in my direction. As he past, he nodded to me, though he didn’t lift his head. I felt his eyes on me as I passed silently.

I quickly found a dark, vacant alley. I whistled, the long, low note slipping easily between my lips. Within minutes, a solid white dog appeared at the mouth of the alleyway. It trotted toward me, growing bigger as it closed the distance between us. By the time she reached me, the dog was in the shape of a white mare.

Hello, Stella. Stella nodded in return. I would like you to take me to the forest. Be quick, but try not to make noise. I don’t want to raise any suspicion.

Obediently, she knelt down, allowing me to climb easily onto her back.

At the edge of the forest, she broke the silence that had fallen between us.

Where would you like me to take you?

Anywhere is fine. I’m just wasting time.

Her hoofs crunched softly on the dew-soaked leaves. She slowly took me deeper into the forest, making little noise. Every now and then I would hear a rustle behind us, but it was probably a curious rabbit.

The morning quickly grew warmer and birds started to sing back and forth at each other. I had Stella take me farther in until I could see sunrays coming from the east.

I remembered a spell that turned light into figures. Imagining a glowing bird flying from the beams, I whispered the short spell. I smiled as a ball of light in the shape of a wren started flying around our heads. It lasted no more than five seconds before it melted. I smiled again.

“That’s impressive.”

I turned to find where the voice had come from, but there was nothing. I looked down at Stella. The white of her eyes were showing. She could sense it too.

“You’ve become stronger since the last time we met.”

This time I recognized the voice. My breath caught in my throat. Fear like no other filled me.

“Show yourself!” I yelled.

The speaker made a tsk, tsk sound. “Still so bossy,” he said. Just as he said it, a familiar form appeared in a gray hood.

“Talon,” I choked out. “What are you doing here?”

He grinned slyly. “Why, looking for you of course!” His voice made me sick to my stomach. “It’s been a long time, don’t you think?”

“Not long enough if you ask me,” I spat.

Talon pouted. “So rude. I thought you might have learned some manners after all this time.”

“I’ll learn some when you learn some.”

Talon shrugged. “Fair enough.” He took a step toward me. He smiled again. “Well,” he let out a teasing sigh through his nose, “As you probably know, I wouldn’t come all the way out here just to say hello.”