Merlin Fairytale Series

Chapter 6: The First Accident

Boom! Bada boom! Boom boom!! Yea! Halfway thru the first story!
Above picture is Merlin reading on the coach.
Summary: Rose, Merlin, and Nyx take a coach across the country but it doesn't go well....

    The wagon was large and offered an absolutely gorgeous view of the countryside. The three of them sat in a small compartment, basically laying low.
    Merlin was engrossed in a book, feet up on the seat (above picture). Nyx, sitting next to Rose, with quill in hand, was scrawling across a roll of parchment. Rose, however, had nothing better to do. She sat, fingering her necklace, with a bored expression on her face.
      Finally, her nonstop fidgetting got to Merlin.
     "Will you please stop?!" He snapped in annoyance.
     "I'm bored," was her answering retort.
      "Too bad. And stop playing with that necklace. You must sit up straight if anyone's to believe that you're royalty."
      "Humph!" Rose slouched down even further. "Who are you to know what royalty does?"
      Now THAT was an excellent question!
     Merlin's true reason was because he'd made it his top priority to know everything about the royals, added to the fact he already knew a great deal about them from his years of servitude. Of course, he wouldn't know half of what he did if it weren't for his admittedly large crush on Princess Rosalia. However, Merlin wasn't about to reveal any of that, especially not to some woman he'd just met so it was best to give her a vague answer.
     "I make it my business to know." Rose scoffed. "Look, Rose, I'm only trying to help."
      "Uh huh. Well answer me this." Rose put on an innocent face. "Do you really think I'm royalty?"
      Merlin fell for it. "Well of course I do, love." He said, smiling gently.
      "Well then shouldn't you stop bossing me around?!"
      Nyx grinned in amusement, holding back a laugh.
      "Let's just change the subject."
      "Fine. Nyx, am I to take it that your eyes are like that due to your dragon form?"
     "More or less." Nyx was still trying to hold off on the laughter.
     "Well at least they're less distracting than Merlin's ears!"
     This time, Nyx burst out laughing.
                          * * * * *
     It was some time later that Nyx left the compartment to settle some business. Rose had taken to scribbling doodles on some parchment Nyx had left her. Merlin sat down opposite her and, since he knew that he'd likely be stuck with this girl for a while, someone would have to extend the olive branch, so he decided to.
     "Look, I think you and I got off on the wrong foot and-"
     "I agree. I appreciate your apology."
     Now Merlin was confused​. "Apology? What apology?"
     "The one you owe me for your horridendous behavior since we met."
     "Horridendous? Now hold up. You've been nothing but a spoiled brat-" Merlin cut himself off as he noticed the necklace she wore. "What's that?"
      As he reached to grab it, she smacked his hand away. "Don't you dare touch it!"
      "See? I told you that you're a spoiled brat!"
      "And you're a pain in the ass!!"
      At that moment, Nyx returned and Rose let out a sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness it's you! Just please remove him from my sight!" If they wanted a royal brat, she'd grant their wish, gladly.
      Nyx followed her accusing finger. "Merlin!" She snapped. "What have you done to her?"
     "Me? Why are you blaming me? It's her fault!"
     Rose whirled around. "Fine! I give up!"
     Then she left the compartment.
      Nyx shook her head. "Merlin. We have to talk."
     "It's not me! She's the one acting like a spoiled brat!"
     Nyx couldn't help but giggle. "That may be but you certainly aren't acting any better."
    "That's different."
    "It isn't. That girl has been through hell and back. She doesn't remember who she is. And if you want to complete this job, you have to get used to her and not let her be a distraction."
      "A distraction?"
      "Look, I know you had a crush on Princess Rosalia when you were kids-"
      "That's a lie!"
      She continued as if she hadn't heard his interruption. "And, granted, Rose bears a striking resemblance to her. And she's beautiful and strong and has a good heart but you cannot let your unspoken attraction get in the way of this job."
      Merlin's eyes got wide. "ATTRACTION?! To that little royal brat! Have you lost your mind?!"
      Although, he wouldn't even admit to himself that something in him didn't hate her as much as he thought he should.
      Nyx looked amused. "Ok if you're sure."
       "Completely and utterly. I have absolutely no feelings for her royal Pratness."
       "Very well. So can you please go find her before she gets herself lost?"
       "Fine I'll go babysit."
       He stomped out the compartment, talking to himself. "Why did it have to be her? She's a royal alright a royal pain in the behind! Attraction? To her? Please! That's just ridiculous!"
       He had absolutely no idea that before their adventure was over, he'd change his mind. Big time.
                         * * * * *
       In his eternal prison, Karayan watched, disinterested in the squabbling between his princess and that lowlife.
       He frowned down at the scrying bowl. "These people she has associated herself with! Not to worry, my princess. Soon, your soul will be connected to mine." Here he waved a hand as if in dismissal and commanded, "Habeas semper oculum super princeps mea!"
                      * * * * *
     It had taken an hour and practically begging on his knees, but Merlin, eventually, convinced the stubborn "royal" to return to their compartment and, now, she was blessedly asleep.
      Now that the woman slept, Merlin could allow himself to be swept up in the ideas he'd considered ridiculous. Rose actually was very beautiful, now that he thought about it, and something about her defiant personality was...alluring. But, no, he promised he wouldn't let himself get distracted.
       Still...
                        * * * * *
       Karayan paced, anxiously. "Et cum te amo regina eritis mihi."
                        * * * * *
        Nyx counted herself lucky. If she hadn't have overheard an important conversation, she never would've known that those in charge were looking for her and Merlin. And it was best that she and Merlin didn't end up in prison while on the biggest job of their careers.
         She raced back to the compartment to find Merlin sitting beside Rose who was fast asleep.
         "Merlin!" The young man looked up. "We have to get out of here! Quickly!"
         "What's happened?"
         "It seems we've been discovered."
         "Alright. Best we get off then."
         He turned, shaking Rose awake. The lady in question punched him in the face! "Oh! I'm so sorry! I-" She noticed who it was and shrugged. "Nevermind it's just you. That's ok then."
         "C'mon we gotta go! My God, I think you broke my nose!"
         Rose rolled her eyes as she followed reluctantly behind him, muttering, "Men are such babies!"
                       * * * * *
         Karayan chuckled as he watched the scene before replying, mostly to himself, "I'm sorry, my love. I cannot let you escape." Here he raised his voice, "Sigillum!"
                      * * * * *
    As Rose, Merlin, and Nyx rushed off, they soon came to realize there were no exits.
     "How do we get off this wagon?"
     "My guess is that we'll have to use magic."
                        * * * * *
     Karayan was truly amused now. "A good try. Just remember, you belong to me."
     Then he barked out, "Ne tanta multitudine salvaretur!"
                      * * * * *
     "We're stuck! My magic isn't working!" Rose cried out.
     "Ok plan C." Merlin made a number of noises. Nyx, hearing his commands, transformed into her dragon form and grabbed the two magic-users.
      The three went flying- quite literally -into a snow bank.
      "I say we rest here."
      This time, no one argued.
                           * * * * *   
      "NOOOOOO!!!!!!"
      Seth tried to calm down his master, but Karayan was beyond that. "I'LL NEVER LET HER ESCAPE!!!"
     "Perhaps if we tried a different tactic."
      "Oh indeed we shall." Seth was confused at his master's sudden calm. "Sequitur eos!"
     "Master, I fail to see-"
     "I know what I'm doing. They played a game well done but she'll never leave me. I am her past, present, and future. I was her family's demise and now I'm her salvation. They'll all see soon enough." He turned back to the scrying bowl. "Es meus...nam omne aeternum."

To be continued......

So, in case anyone's curious, Karayan spoke Latin. Here's the translations:

•Habeas semper oculum super princeps mea! = Keep an eye on my princess!
•Et cum te amo regina eritis mihi. = I love you. Soon you will be my queen.
•Sigillum! = Seal!
•Ne tanta multitudine salvaretur! = Don't let them escape!
•Sequitur eos! = Follow them!
•Es meus... = You are mine...
•Nam omne aeternum. = For all eternity.
And yes, I know this one was long but I figured you guys deserved it for being so patient. Love ya! Bye!!!