merthur oneshots

Library Adventures

I sat on the computer, browsing through facebook, whilst at work. It was a slow day, like most others, as no one comes to the library that often. Occasionally people asked for help finding a book or I'd have to chase the weird old guys out who had been caught watching porn, but more often than not, nothing really happened here.

Which is why I was very intrigued when we began to have a regular visitor. He was probably about six feet tall, very pale, a brunette, and had striking blue eyes. His cheekbones stuck out nicely and his eyelashes were quite long as well.

"Excuse me?" He came up to the checkup desk where I sat. "Could you by any chance direct me to the books on poisonous plants?" He spoke in a soft whisper, and I thought I could detect a slight Irish accent in his voice.

"Of course," I smiled warmly, not thinking to ask why he would want a book on that. "All out botany books will be in the front of the nonfiction section, which will be located down that hall and to the left."

"Thank you!" He said, and he seemed distracted as he walked away, though he still smiled at me. I felt my face flush and looked back down towards my computer. I should've asked his name, now I'll never see him again!

I didn't even say anything or ask him if he would like a library card when I noticed him taking pictures of the book with his phone, instead of checking the book out.

And though I thought I wouldn't see him again, it was just barely a week later when he came in once more.

"Hello," He said, batting his long lashes. "Do you know where the mythology books are?"

"Yessir, you'll find those downstairs, and straight down the hallway that connects to the stairs." He thanked me again, and left once more before I realized I should've asked him for his number, or at least his name!

     This happened a handful of times again, always coming in about once a week and asking for the weirdest books. I started getting suspicious somewhere between the "Little known poisons" Book and the "Historically odd murders" and figured if I didn't talk to him soon, he'd be gone and I would lose my chance to not only find out what this strange man was doing, but also who this strange man was.

      I finally mustered up enough courage to speak to him on his ninth visit to our small library.

     "Hello," He began, no longer whispering in my presence. "Do you happen to have a book on ancient weapons?"

     "Mhm," I nodded, pointing to my left. "Weaponry is in the nonfiction area near the back." He thanked me and I watched him walk away. I gazed at him as he took his phone out once more, taking pictures of the book.

     In a final, spur of the moment decision, I got up from my spot and walked over to him.

      "Hullo, sorry to bother you," I said, and he jumped just a bit, not noticing my presence a first. "Would you like to get a library card? I just always notice you take pictures of the books, but you can take one home if you set up a card?" He seemed to mull over the decision for a moment, and when I thought he would say no, he nodded.

      "Yes. I think I would like that very much." He smiled at me and I guided him towards my desk.

     "Alright, I need your first and last name."

      "Merlin Emerys."

      "Date of birth?" I asked, and he hesitated.

       "1-1-86." He finally said.

       "Address?"

       "1225, West Avalon Lane." He said, and I finished typing his information into our database. I explained to him the little there was to know about the card, and grabbed his book to check out. While I checked out I made conversation with him.

       "I must ask, Merlin, why on Earth are you looking at such strange books?" I asked, and a light shone in his eye.

       "What's your name?" He asked, and I could definitely hear an odd accent somewhere in there.

       "Arthur, but you didn't answer my-" He cut me off.

       "Well, Arthur, what time is your shift over?" I glanced at the clock.

        "Oh. It was over five minutes ago." I replied, then: "But truly, why are you looking at all these odd books?"

       "I'm going on an adventure," He said, and stuck a hand out for me to grab. "Would you like to come with?"

      And for some odd reason, in that split second that I will never be able to return to or understand, against what I had thought was my better judgement, I took his hand and let him guide me away.