I know that the execution was a beheading... but I guessed that fire would scare Merlin more.

Chapter 8

Executions weren't exciting, especially if you're the one who is being executed. Watching executions weren't jolly either. The screams of pain and despair gave you goosebumps and it echoed in your head at night for weeks. If the screams stop, it means that the victim either died or can't feel at all. Both of them is peace. The burnt flesh smell crawls into your nose and your clothes. It stays with you for a long time, not wanting to let go of you.

Merlin questioned himself on why he participated in this torture. It was his nightmares coming true. His nose itched. The courtyard was silent except for the crackling of the fire.

He stared at the burnt body. From above, someone said something in a commanding tone. Merlin could only gaze into the fire. He wanted to run away but his feet was planted firmly on the ground. He realized, his voice was gone. Merlin suddenly remembered his own nightmare. He wished silently that he wasn't a prophet or a seer. It wouldn't be good if he was.

"Aaaaaaah!" A pained scream filled the courtyard and a old (very old if you asked Merlin) woman hobbled to the front through the crowd. She screamed at Uther, "(a.n. I don't know the exact quote so I'll make it up... lol, sry) The only darkness in this courtyard is you, Uther Pendragon! Your hate has killed countless of others and my son!" She paused to weep distressingly. "An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. A son for a son! You will pay for your hate, Pendragon!"

"Guards!" Uther shouted but the old woman disappeared in a smoke after reciting a spell. The smell of the magical smoke hung around for a while. Merlin stood still, breathing in the smoke. He looked back at the fire still crackling. He could see the dark shape tied to a wooden rode. For some reason, Merlin could feel the eyes of the dead man staring into him, warning Merlin of his future fate.

oo00oo00oo00oo00oo00oo00oo

The execution had left an uncomfortable feeling in Merlin's heart but he ignored it. He wanted to enjoy his freedom for as long as it lasts. He sighed and looked around people rustling around the market. They were busy people. The shouts and laugher brought a smile to his face.

"FISH! FISH! Fresh FISH!" shouted a man.

"Would you like a basket of fruit, young man?" Merlin shook his head.

"A necklace for your lady friend?" a lady asked him holding up a necklace.

Merlin chuckled and shook his head. "No lady friend, I'm afraid."

The lady gasped, "What? A pretty boy like you might as well have one lady friend?"

He blushed and walked away.

"Cotten from the south and Silk from the North!"

"FOXE FUR! BEAR FUR!"

It was all amazing. The amount of people scared Merlin a little but he became used to the loud shouts. He wondered where Morgana was. She had said something about not wanting to be beside Uther. She had stayed in the castle. Gwen had to work and Gaius was too busy. Since the castle of Camelot was easy to find since it was very big, he wouldn't get lost.

He looked around. Merlin had passed the market and had arrived to some homes. A mother and a child was walking around. The little boy was screaming and was trying to run away from his mother. The mother dragged him with an annoyed face on her face.

There were more children playing and running around with a ball. One of them kicked a ball and rolled to Merlin's feet. Merlin picked it up. A boy ran up to him, "May I have the ball, sir?" Merlin blinked at the boy and looked at the ball. Merlin nodded and handed the ball to the boy. The boy smiled and ran back to his friends.

What were they doing? Merlin wondered. They were kicking balls around. Why? What was the point of that?

The same boy who had ran up to Merlin to receive the ball looked at Merlin. He shared a talk with his friends and the friends nodded happily. The young warlock stared at the boy. He looked to be about 12 or 13 years old. Only few years younger than him. The boy ran back up to the warlock and smiled at him, "Ya want to play? We're playing ball and the other team has an uneven number. Ya could fill it up."

Merlin stared at him, confused. Was the boy asking him to play... ball with him?

"Well? Ya want to play? It'll be fun."

The young warlock bit his lip and answered shyly, "I don't really know how to play ball."

The boy looked up at Merlin, surprised. "Well, sir. Ya only gotta kick the ball to the other person but ya can't give the other team the ball."

"Oh. I supposed I could play for a little bit." The boy smiled and walked back to his friends with Merlin.

"I be Jim. That's Keth, and Bill. They in my team! The other team members is Becky. Becky's a girl but she's okay. That's Jackson right there. He don't talk much but he's a good runner. You'll like 'em. That's your team. All ya gotta do is kick the ball but don't let me and Keth and Bill get it. All right?"

"All right."

"What's your name, by the way?" Jim asked.

"My name is Merlin." Merlin and the others played ball for an hour. At first, Merlin had problems but soon grew used to playing. It was fun, thought Merlin, playing with other children. Merlin had some trouble catching up to the energetic hyper children but it was also because he simply lacked muscles.

After a short game, Merlin left the children while smiling happily. He was a little sweaty but it was expected on such a sunny day. Speaking of the sun, Merlin squinted his eyes at it. It was still very hard to believe that he was free.

Merlin walked back to the castle. As he neared the castle, he heard some commotion. Looking around with curiosity, he saw a man in armor bullying a boy. Merlin narrowed his eyes. He made up his mind and approached the laughing bullies. Catching a shield with his feet he commented, "Stop this." Merlin let go of the shield and tried to control his magic. He hated bullies even if he never had one. It was the idea Merlin loathed. The idea of bullies trapping the victims and using the victim's weakness as advantages. It was a coward's way. A criminal way.

The blond knight laughed and eyed Merlin. "Do you know who I am?" Merlin stared at the knight. The knight looked familiar. Judging by the knight's stance, he was a noble of some sort. He had an air of loyalty around him. If he indeed had loyal blood it would be foolish to insult the knight more. Years of living with Kilgarrah had given Merlin wisdom and cunning.

Merlin bit his lips to stop himself from saying a snide comment. Instead, Merlin bowed slightly and stared at the knight defiantly. "No, but you are a noble are you not?"

"I suppose I could be of a noble blood," the knight smirked.

Merlin nodded and glared at the knight, "However, it does not matter whether you are a Lord, a Lady, a peasant, or a beggar. It does not give you any right to bully someone."

The knight laughed disbelievingly, "You do not know how powerful I am."

Merlin held back a growl, "And you are wrongfully using your power! You use your power to hurt others not help them. Your powers are used for your own spoiled self!"

The knight frowned, "Spoiled? Tell me, peasant, do you know how to walk on your knees?"

The warlock sighed, "No." All his speech, gone to waste.

"Let me help you," the knight smiled sweetly, a mean glint hidden behind his eyes. The knight took Merlin's arms and twisted it on Merlin's back. "Guards! Take this... rebel to the prison."

Merlin groaned, "Who do you think you are? The king?" The guards gripped him and Merlin trembled in fear.

"No," the knight smirked. "I'm his son, Prince Arthur."

Merlin gaped at Arthur as he was taken to the dungeon.

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Merlin hugged himself tightly. He coiled under the sharp itchy feeling of hay. In the dark, once again. Would it feel like this when... if he was found out to be the warlock? Merlin felt a headache coming. He let out a frustrated sigh.

Merlin

He stood up, wide-eyed. "Kilgarrah?"

Yes, you foolish boy! Who else!

Merlin grimaced, "Um... I can explain?" He heard the great dragon growl in anger.

What were you thinking? You could have been killed!

The warlock held his head, "Please don't talk so loudly, Kilgarrah. I already have a headache. I'm in the dungeons."

You are imprisoned? Replied a worried voice.

"I insulted the future king," Merlin answered.

Kilgarrah replied in relief, Foolish boy. No need to explain about you running away. Gaius informed me. I expected you to go above ground. In fact, I thought you would leave much earlier.

"You told me that I was Emrys and was to help the once-and-future king to his throne. Are you sure Arthur is the king?"

Of course. Do you doubt me, young warlock?

"No... but... are you really really sure?"

Is there a problem?

"Actually, yes," Merlin replied. "Prince Arthur is a spoiled snobby stupid prat that doesn't deserve his power."

Kilgarrah chuckled, You are his destiny and he yours.

"I know, I know. The Destiny stuff." Merlin rolled his eyes and stared at the ceiling.

Yes, you are destined to help him as he is destined to be your king, replied the great dragon.

"Great," muttered Merlin.

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I saved Arthur and was rewarded a punishment. Funny world... isn't it? I'm in the caves right now. Apparently, even if Kilgarrah knew that I was going to leave the caves, he still gave me a long speech about disobedience... rudeness... and something else that I can't remember.

Speaking about remembering, meeting Arthur reminds me of someone. It really shouldn't since the only people I met is Kilgarrah and Gaius and none of them reminds me of Arthur. No, it's someone else... maybe before I was imprisoned. Hmm... I don't know, but it's killing it.

I got to go. Kilgarrah is about to give me another lecture. Oh darn it all, he looks furious.

I'm really sorry but I can't write anymore due to the fact that I have no plot, no storyline. It was just an idea of Merlin growing up in a cave... So sorry ;(

But if I was going to keep writing this, this would happen:

A few months after the "reward" for being Arthur's servant, King Uther sends someone to check up on Merlin. After finding out that Merlin isn't there, Uther sends guards to search for the warlock all over Camelot (which is really stupid, if you look at it. If you were a warlock that escaped from a cave, would you stay in Camelot?). Arthur, of course, is the head of the search.

Unfortunately for Merlin, living in a cave didn't help his lying skills. However, luck comes in the form of Arthur, finally remembering the mysterious boy in the caves. He had been having dreams ever since Merlin became his servant. So had Merlin, but his memories were weaker (something about not getting enough sunlight).

Arthur decides not to confront Merlin about it at first. They don't talk for a week causing Merlin to stress. (I'm just making this as I go) So... uh... finally Arthur talks with Merlin and they are friends again (yey for cheesiness)

But, Merlin is arrested because a guard finds his spell book in his room.

and that's all I have... yaaaaaaa

Anyway, so sorry. If anyone wants to adopt (?) this story, you are welcome to. Just give me a warning.

Again... sorrrrryyyyyy