Teach Me

Chapter 8

"Ah, Mordred, welcome ba-" a Druid man said as he saw that Mordred had returned. "I see you brought friends with you." He bowed at Morgana who was sitting by the fire with Merlin, eating their breakfasts, "welcome, my lady."

She nodded and smiled at him, "thank you."

He sat down next to them and scratched the back of his neck, "have you not heard the news, then?"

She raised an eyebrow, "what news?"

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this," he started, "but you and a man named Merlin, I assume that's you," he looked at Merlin. Merlin nodded. The man continued to speak, "well, you and Merlin are ordered to be put under arrest if anyone from Camelot sees you."

Morgana gasped, "Uther wants us arrested? How do you know this?"

"I was in Camelot gathering supplies when I heard him make a public announcement. I'm sorry that I had to be the one to tell you both."

Morgana nodded thoughtfully, "thank you."

The man nodded and he put his arm around Mordred, leading him back to his tent.

Morgana turned towards Merlin, "what are we going to do? If we go back to Camelot we'll both be thrown in jail."

Merlin didn't answer her for a few moments, he just sat there staring off into the distance. At last he finally broke the silence, "I really don't know, Morgana."

She pursed her lips together and crossed her arms, "maybe we could wait a little while before returning? Maybe that way Uther would forget that he wanted us arrested and just be glad that we were home safely..."

Merlin shook his head from side to side, as if weighing the idea in his mind, "well we don't have many choices do we? Sure."

"Would we stay here?"

"As much as I'd like to, we've already endangered the Druids enough. I think we'll need to find some place else to stay."

Morgana nodded, "yes, you're right. I know! What about Ealdor?"

                                                                                     * * *

Merlin sighed fondly as he gazed upon his old home. He never thought that he would see this place again. He took in the beauty of the mountains and the plains and the rivers all around him and smiled when he felt the warm breeze brush his face. He and Morgana walked up to a small hovel and Merlin knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"I'll give you three guesses," Merlin teased.

The door swung open and revealed a middle-aged woman with dark hair and a few gray streaks. She smiled at Merlin and engulfed him in a hug, burying her face into his neck, "look at how much you've grown."

He hugged her back and smiled, "it's great to see you again, mother."

Merlin's mother turned her head and noticed Morgana. She curtsied, "Lady Morgana."

Morgana smiled, "please, just Morgana is fine."

Merlin's mother nodded, "what brings you both here?"

"We need a place to stay, you wouldn't happen to know of any place, would you?" Merlin asked with a smile.

His mother grinned, "of course you can stay here! For as long as you like," she added as an afterthought as she motioned for them to follow her into her home.