Merlin: The Lost Prince (On Hiatus...)

What happened before

It was just an ordinary day in Skolvirds. Merlin, his little brother Balen and his even younger sister Ölwyn were out practising. Even from a glance you could see that the oldest was holding back. Trying not to hurt his siblings. And from that very same glance you could see that Merlin was amazingly skilled with a sword.
"Alright, stop Merls, I'm tired now. 5 minute break. Please." Ölwyn moan.
"Alright, 5 minutes, Father wanted to see me anyway. I'll be back in a sec."
Merlin ran off at high speed towards the throne room and had to skid to a stop. Composing himself he knocked on the old wooden door and waited to be accepted into his father's presence. After what seemed like an eternity to the 13 year old one of the guards finnaly let him in.
Upon entering the room he saw his father leaning against the back of the throne smiling at him.
"You wanted to speak to me father?" Merlin asked questioningly.
"Yes, yes my dear boy. I know today is not a day of great importance in our books, but today, it holds great purpose. I believe that today you deserve to be given the kings sword, as a sign of who you are and who you will become. It has a long legacy and was forged by dragons, druids, and nobles together. It is a mark of unity, a mark I wish you can have the power to bring to all the other kingdoms. To all the kingdoms who are not as free as our own. Take it from me and it becomes a pledge to that cause. Do you accept?" Merlin's face is clouded by emotions the strongest being confusion, fear and overwhelming. Ballinor steps down from his thrown, kneels down to one knee and places the sword at arms length to Merlin.
Trembling, he bows towards the king and wraps his fingers around the blade. Feeling it in his palms is the most natural thing ever, more natural than breathing air. Slowly Merlin places the sword into his empty sheath at his side and bows so low to the king that his chin seems to touch the floor.
"Thank you father." He says calmly keeping control of his emotions. "I vow to-" but he's cut short by a guard rushing through the door. Shouting that Skolvirds is being attacked, by Prince Tristram, the king's brother.
Ballinor turned gravely to his son and Spoke in a solemn yet rushed voice. "Merlin, find your mother, find your brother and sister. Grab them and then run. Get out of Skolvirds."
"But father, I want to stay here and help."
"No. Merlin you must run. You can't stay here. I promise when this is all over well come and find you. And if it's not. Someone will find you anyway. You're more important than any of us. Can I trust you to look after them all?"
"Yes father." And with that Merlin rushed out of the door at full sprint.
Merlin was frantic. He had found his mother, Hunith, 10 minutes ago. But his siblings seemed to have vanished into thin air, and Merlin was running out of ideas. Just as he was coming into a dead end he heard a clang of armour. Not knowing if they were friend or foe Merlin slipped behind a tapestry hoping that they didn't see his feet. The man seemed to turn around and walk in the opposite direction and before Merlin could slide out of his hiding place a small hand was placed over his hand.
"Merls, Merls it's us, what's happening?" Came the small frightened voice of his little sister.
"Thank goodness, I've been looking for you all over the place. We have to go, okay?"
"Okay."
"Good."
They were running down the corridors. There seemed to be enemy soldiers everywhere. With his new sword in hand Merlin cut the enemy down slicing throats and legs furiously protecting his family. Rushing out of the castle and to the stables they found Hunith holding 3 horses.
"These were all I could find. But they'll get us out and to the closest village, it's called Barrow Field. That's where you'll be staying Ölwyn, then we'll head to Flint Court where we'll be leaving you Balen. You'll both be staying with friends that will understand why you are here. I will visit as often as I can, but you can't be associated with Merlin. It would be to dangerous for all of us."
The three of them climbed on to the back of their horses in stunned silence, knowing not to bother arguing and rode off.
After an hour of heavy riding Merlin slowed to the pace of Ölwyn and Balen's horse and began to trot beside them.
"You two are going to be fine, you'll see each other all the time, and mother. I promise I won't forget you. And for all we know it'll be over soon. Then we can go back." Merlin paused, turning away, knowing that this wasn't quite true. The look in his father's eyes had told him that. They weren't going back home for along time.
"Merl's, I'm scared." He turned to look into his sisters eyes and saw the tears spilling over. His brave little sister was silently sobbing into her brothers back, he looked at his brother and saw that he to was letting the tears that had built up bubble over.
"I'm so sorry, I'm taking her away from you two, you need mother more than I do. I'm so sor-" Merlin's words were cut off by his brother's stern voice.
"No Merlin, you have to be strong, for all of us. Don't ever lose hope and don't ever blame yourself. There is, was, nothing you could do. We'll love you no matter what."
Merlin stared in shock at his little brother, he was only nine but he seemed to have the wisdom of a man of thirty years older. Merlin turned to look back in front of him and saw that they had just entered a village.
"Well, I guess this is my stop." Ölwyn said, sounding mournful as she slid of the back of the horse. "By brother's, mother. I presume this is my new home seen as we stopped here." To Merlin's ears she sounded calm but her bottom lip was trembling. "They have a baby girl called Auroa. I'm sure she'll love you." Their mother hurried.
"B..bye Ölwyn. I lo.. I love you." He mumbled, stuttering while on the inside his heart was breaking. She just smiled at him, turned to the door, and walked in.
"We better give these horses to the arranged people so that we can get going." Hunith said, trying not to let her voice break.
"Why are we getting rid of the horses now mother, why not later on when we reach Flint Court." Balen questioned.
"Because your father arranged for them to be left here. I don't know why but I'm sure he had his reasons. No more questions, okay."
After the horses had been given to the correct people they set off and after about half an hour they reached a hamlet.
"This is it Balen. You're staying in that house over there." Hunith said pointing at a small hut like building with animal pens around its border. "You'll like it there, they have a small boy of about seven if I remember correctly. Do me proud." She seemed to choke on the last word as she turned away from him.
"I'll see you soon" Merlin lied
"Yeah, sure we will." And with that Merlin and Hunith walked away heading out of the hamlet toward their new life.

_______________________________________________________________________

Word count 1291
I hope you enjoyed the first part.
I love all you bubble butts.