Twins Eyes // Merlin Fanfic

Bad Impressions - Chapter 7

Chapter 7
The end of the week came by and outbursts of anger were not uncommon wherever I now tended to go. Crates began to topple as I stormed past, and many were unable to understand my foul temper.
I'd ventured through into the forest to find mother, but it was to no avail. There wasn't a footstep. I wasn't able to return to Ealdor for some time, for my job was too demanding in the forging of swords for the knights themselves.

"Master Smith, I've finished my workmanship for the day. Would it be allowed for me to watch the knights and their training?"

I'd been promised the allowance of watching the knights practice - should I complete my lengthy tasks early - and so I did.

"Only if you take this blade for Sir Gwaine. I'm sure you'll know him when you see him." I nodded, desperately suppressing a smirk. Of course I knew who Gwaine was. Much as I'd paid a little heed to Merlin's wary advice and only greeted him shortly in passing, it hadn't stopped me from joining his raucous laughter in the tavern after a pint or three of Camelot's cheapest - and strongest - ale.

I nodded, swiping the blade from his careful fingers and slipping it into my empty leather scabbard, racing through the grounds to reach the prestigious training area for budding knights. As I skidded to a halt before I clattered clumsily into the sword rack, a blone, fluffy mop of dirty hair stopped me in my tracks.

"High Prince Arthur," I breathed quietly, bending low into a bow. I wasn't one for snobs and uptight royals, but this clotpole wasn't too awful in the realm of equality.

Nevertheless, I doubted he'd have the courage to change his fathers deadly laws on magic after Uther would finally die.

He smiled a little, not remembering my name.

"I am Kaira, my lord. Apprentice Smith and Swordsman."

My title wasn't much to flaunt in the real world, but it was a small source of income and stopped me from starving by a pathside.

The prince continued on his way to the fighting arena in a grassy stretch before me, where Gwaine was readily waiting in little armour. The only protection he had for him and his arrogant self was a limp and dull sword, which looked as if it had been used in one too many a battle.

He winked cheekily in my direction, catching my eye before Arthur sauntered on with a simper, shining sword that the Master Smith had forged mere days before.

"Hadn't managed to get my new brand yet Sire, been waiting on a new sword since the last session."

Arthur just chuckled. The prince and his comrades obviously had a close relationship - they'd probably had to save each other's backs once or twice.

Gwaine just shot me the look, signifying that it was my fault that he hadn't been bothered to come and pick it up.

I just smiled innocently, clasping my hands behind my back as if there really wasn't a sword there at all. I'd wait until he was really in need of it.

The pair began their combat, the upcoming knight holding off Arthur's lifetime of skills fairly well. However, it was easy for even the untrained eye to see that his weapon was nowhere near standard, for it quivered under the sheer power of royalty and it's blade.

Just as Gwaine was about to give in, I shouted at him to turn to me. Arthur glared at me from afar, and as I threw the sword from its hilt, the knight dodged and left a clear path for the travelling sword to decapitate Arthur in just seconds.

The prince's tufty hair was hurtled to the side by an oncoming blur of brown, two bodies hitting the floor as the sword flew through the space where Arthur's head just stood.

He picked himself up from the ground, removing Merlin's body off him as he stumbled toward me. His round face was speckled with mud and a few small leaves littered his hair.

In his fitful anger, I could almost see the smoke rising from his crimson ears, not far matching the dark colour that his flushed cheeks had turned.

"What on earth do you think you were doing, throwing that blade at one of my men? He could've been killed! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!"

He walked backwards a few short paces, looking in jealousy at the blade the Smith had forged for one of his knights.The sword lay on the floor, shimmering in the light. Catching my eyes as I marvelled at it, he brought it to me.

I lay my arms out gingerly, and as he rested the sword gently in my open palms, I gestured at Gwsine quietly to take it from me sooner rather than later. Arthur's angered expression had calmed a little, yet even the lesser of keen eyes could sense the distress he felt in his moment.

"This is surely an exquisite piece of craftsmanship, Kaira who hails from Ealdor.

Yet your irresponsibility leads me to believe that this position here is not to your taste." He scratched the back of his head, turning around to see that his precious soldier was fit and fighting. "I cannot live with people as careless as yourself surrounding me, always tripping up in mistakes."

He swallowed dryly, looking hard at me. The anger was evident in his eyes - though not so much in his skin tone - frustration completing confusion.

"You are relieved of your place as Apprentice Smith. You are also released from Camelot, as I do not see it wise that you stay here, for your sake and my own. I believe it would be best if you left the citadel by sundown tomorrow."

I was fired, and banished from my new home. It'd been what, 3 weeks?

I nodded politely, disguising my fury and dropping the expensive brand at Gwaine's shoes before turning sharpy on my heel and away from my brother's disappointed look. Whether he was despondent because of my actions or what little time we were able to spend with each other, I did not know.

What I did know, however, was that I would finally be able to search diligently for my mother and set our hearts at rest for a short time longer.

I paid some heed to the Prince's words, and packed my few belongings into my satchel and left on horseback at dusk. More confident in the wood than any other place, I headed straight for the forest and immersed myself in the comforting nature and familiar foliage.

There wasn't a lot one could do at night except try to survive, so that was exactly what I did. Scaling a large tree, I lay delicately on a widespread of 3 branches and hung my bag from one, knowing that ground animals and attacking creatures would be less knowledgeable of my whereabouts up in the tree, and even if they should notice me, I would be a mite more difficult to reach.

The night was a rather intermittent one, with piercing howls and predatory growls. To my good fortune, however, few ventured far enough to reach my topiary, so the small sleep I did obtain was decent enough.

When I awoke, a new sound echoed through the forest, making me sit with my back pressed tightly to the tree, fear etched on my heart.

Footsteps.

And a voice.

"Othor," they said, my name rolling off their tounge like caramel.

"I've been waiting for you. It's taken you long enough to find me."