Merlin's Prophecy

Chapter 1: The Boy in the Road

In the land of Camelot, the droughts are starting to lessen and the flowers are starting to blossom. The King was riding through the villages on his way to collect taxes, when he crossed a boy. The boy stood in the middle of the cobbled road with rags hanging around his waist. Other than that he was bare, not another piece of clothing.

As the King sat upon his horse two other knights of the Royal Guard dismantled and confronted the terrified boy. One took a rough approach and started yelling at the boy, "What are you doing out here? Don't you see who this is? This is your King! Bow before him!" The poor boy went into panic; dropping to his knees, rambling in gibberish, and begging for mercy.

The other knight saw how petrified the child was and confronted him cautiously. "It's okay, don't worry. We won't hurt you." This seemed to calm the boy and his cries soon turned to whimpers. The cautious knight laid down his weapon and approached the child.

Now that he had a better view of the child he could look into his milky brown eyes, and search the child's firm features for a glimpse into his past. The boy's face was caked with dirt and the tears that had streamed down his face revealed his pasty white skin. "What's your name? What are you called?" the cautious knight inquired, "My name is Sir Lionheart." he continued. The boy looked at the knight that stood before him and decided he was trustworthy enough to keep a secret.  He beckoned him forward,  motioning that he would tell him in his ear. 

The knight came forward and dropped to a knee. Meanwhile, the King and the rest of the Royal Guard stood there, watching this peculiar boy. As Sir Lionheart's ear got closer and closer to the boy he whisphered, " My name is Merlin."

The knight was taken aback. He knew that the prophecies said that one day a boy named Merlin would cross paths with the king and help the kingdom achieve greatness, but he never took the prophecies so literally. "Please don't tell the king. Call me Erle." Merlin breathes. Sir Lionheart looks upon the boy named Merlin and searches through his hopeful eyes. That 5 second look changed history and it was from there that everything would turn out for the better.

"The boy says his name is Erle." Sir Lionheart tells the king. "I believe that he has run away from a frightful childhood and with your permission I would like to train him as my squire." The king was rather fond of his nephew and knew that the knight wanted a squire badly.

"This is the child you want to help you with your noble duties? He is no more than 9 years old." the King says. Sir Elbert Lionheart turned his eyes onto Merlin one more time before he made his final decision.

"Yes Uncle. I believe that this boy has a talent that no one else could perform. With my help I am sure he will be made into a fine warrior." Lionheart tells the King.

"Well then, I, King Uther grant you permission to train young Erle here. May only good luck befall you in the future." the King says.

"Thank you sir." Lionheart says, " I shall train him to fight with nobility and honor."

"As I know you will." King Uther says. Sir Lionheart brings his horse, Baelfire, over to Merlin and helps the boy climb onto the steed. As soon as the boy is mounted comfortably on Baelfire the knight hoists himself into the saddle.

"Thank you for not giving me away." Merlin whispers in Sir Lionheart's ear. The knight nods slightly, only enough for Merlin to see and rides on facing the rising sun. As the knights head back towards Camelot the rough knight, Sir Akakios, trailed in the back glaring right into the back of Sir Lionheart's head.