Merlin One Shots

From Ealdor With Love *LEMON*

It starts like any other day - quiet and people going about their usual business of farming, the sound of children playing behind a house filling the air of my small village. Until Kanen comes. It is always just as we have recovered from his last visit that he "graces" us with another one, except this time he is angry. I can hear the hooves of the horses of his men galloping towards my village, even over the sound of people moving their carts and resources out of harm's way.

I'm inside, yet I know it's him. I can hear the cries of some of the girls as his men pull apart bales of straw and overturn tables to find whatever they can. He sees the same thing each time - no food, no grain, no supplies.

"Search the place!" He shouts to his men as they continue to rip apart our homes. This time he's after someone specific - Matthew. I peer from behind the door of my house and see Kanen's men dragging Matthew to the foot of his horse as he sits there, proud as a king.

Kanen is handed a bag full of grain as it's all we have as surplus.

"Where's the rest of it?" he demands.

"We only keep what we need. We have to survive." Matthew retorts.

"Survive?" Kanen seems surprised that we have to survive. "Where's my precious flower too? Come out, (Y/n), let me see your little face."

I sigh. I know it's me, and I know that if I don't show my face he'll send his men to find me. I walk out, my head bowed as I make my way through the crowd of people.

"Well? Say hello then!" he shouts.

"My lord," I reply angrily.

Something wrong? Speak up!"

I date to day what I'm thinking.

"You can't take our food. We will starve. You cannot do this."

He gets down from his horse and grabs my chin with his hand. He smiles as me perversely and then proceeds to strike me with the other.

"When I make you my wife, I will teach you some discipline. You will never speak to me in this manner again, understand?"

I lower my eyes. I know that hit will leave a mark. He gets on his horse and turns to Matthew.

"I'll be back in a week, pig farmer. Enjoy your time whilst it lasts."

He turns and rides away. I'm glad he's gone. I run back into my cottage and begin packing a bag so I can leave. My brother is the prince's servant and he might be able to let me see him for help. My mother wouldn't approve. I throw in enough to get me to Camelot, as I can get food when I get there. I shut my door and begin on the long walk to see Merlin.

***

I walk through Camelot's main street, admiring all of the colours and the amount of food available. I guess that Merlin will be near the castle, as it makes sense. I see him by a water pump filling up a bucket and he turns around as I get closer to him.

"(Y/n)?" he asks in astonishment.

"Merlin!" I yell as I hug him tightly - so tightly he nearly drops his bucket of water.

"What happened to you?" he asks as he strokes my cheek with a look of concern on his face.

"Not here. Inside." He nods and tries to act as if he's not concerned, but I know he is really. He's my older brother and he's always been concerned.

We walk up to his room and he takes my bag off my shoulders.

"I'll be back in a minute, let me just put this downstairs," he says as he points to the bucket.