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Merlin loves his forest. The gentle chirping of birds in the morning, the soft moss under his feet, and the sweet critters that inhabit the underbrush. He has been living and protecting this forest for so long, he couldn't count the years even if he tried. The other Fae liked to live in hiding, in the alternate realm of Avalon, but Merlin could never live in that isolation. Not like they wanted him there either, with the poor history he created with some of the more dangerous Fae that lived in the shadows.
Another thing his kind didn't understand was his appreciation for humans. They fascinated him, with their many bodily features, the ability of creation and evolution, along with their strange belief that there isn't anything they cannot conquer.
His forest lay near the kingdom named Camelot, and every once in a while Merlin would head over to the forest line to see how the city has progressed over the years. How the humans were able to turn a humble village made from wood and grass into the monstrous feat of stone and castles. He had heard the rumors from passing travelers and red caped knights that the so-called citadel was created by magic, and even though Merlin had never taken foot in the city, he completely agreed.
The magic was different than what he has grown up with in his forest. Fae magic was intertwined with the Earth, as unpredictable as a storm and as gentle as a warm breeze. The power coming from the city was strong but contained. Forced upon the world instead of flowing with it. Merlin had felt something similar in the rouge fairies he had unfortunately come across, a want to be in command instead of accepting the magic as it is; a force that cannot be good or evil, that is infinite and limited, is powerful and frail.
That was something the humans did not understand, and as the years went by, started to accept it less and less. Merlin didn't mind, there will always be magic within the Earth, running through his veins, even as the humans turned towards science and inventions. Physicians had gone from pure magic to concoctions of plants. Building became easier by using mortar to keep the stones connected during harsh winters. Protection was forged by fire and raw materials instead of invisible barriers.
Of course, not all humans turned from magic. There were the Druids, a peaceful people who lived as Nomads and prayed to his forest for safety through their journeys, giving him the name Emrys the protector. The common man living in the peaceful village who just wanted his crops to grow through a barren season. The overwhelmed mothers that needed help protecting the ones she loves most. And there was peace.
Until, suddenly, everything went wrong. Merlin had heard of the Pendragons who ruled the land, and Uther the most recent King. The trees spoke of how the man was trying for an heir, a son, and was unsuccessful. Uther begged for anyone to help, magic or not. Merlin knows of the Old Religion, of the price to pay to create or keep life, but he didn't believe that the King would turn to such a great risk.
Merlin learned then to never underestimate the desperation of humans, and the choices they make even knowing the consequences.
When it was announced that the Queen had died in childbirth, Merlin would never have connected it to magic, until Uther started his crusade. Merlin would see smoke from the Castle day in and out, people escaping into his forest while praying for help, for a need to get away from the horror. He tried to save as many as he could, but the men in capes marched through his trees daily, hurting his forest without second thoughts. The Druids ran to other kingdoms, warning their 'mighty' Emrys that even he wasn't safe from what was now known as The Great Purge.
Unfortunately, they were right. The metals that the soldier wore burned him, leaving residue over the plants they brushed past, and Merlin couldn't help the ruined foliage tills days after. The found magic users were bound in chains that restricted their powers and were taken back to Camelot to die. Even the mighty Dragons stood no chance against Uther's warpath.
The magic was suffering, and the lack of it drained Merlin of his energy and connection to the land. He had to retreat further into his trees and into safety, apologizing and hating every moment of it. It was years later that the world started to balance again. Uther Pendragon was still ready to kill any person or creature that would breathe the word magic, but the castle wasn't full of smoke. The soldiers walked through his forest with less force. He returned to a world where magic was completely suppressed, and the Earth didn't like it.
That rage filled Merlin for a while. He understood why his Fae kin hid away from the realm, in a dimension full of magic and thinly veiled harmony. That is what ended up relieving his anger, realizing how nobody was perfect, and the King of Camelot was just a grieving man who followed his instincts to try and be rid of what caused him pain. That didn't completely justify his actions, but on a certain level, Merlin could understand.
Many would see his kindness as a weakness, how could this unthinkable act by an appalling tyrant be sympathized with? Why should he be given mercy when he has taken it away from so many innocents? And Merlin didn't really have an answer for that. He knew he was a pacifist at heart, even hating the thought of his poor forest creatures being tormented by careless travelers. While Uther could not grant compassion, Merlin was bursting with it.
He protected those that did not do harm to his forest, and minutely sabotaged the hunters going after his animals. Druids were hidden from sight, bandits were tripped in their attacks, and travelers were given easier paths to lead them to their destination. Merlin wasn't going to let this one man's decision ruin his thoughts on the human race, since they were not all to blame.
And he continued his days, listening to the trees and playing with the animals. At least, until a small blonde child happened to stumble into his forest alone, clearly lost.
"Hello?" The child called out in a small voice, and Merlin felt a tug. This child was important, important to his soul, and just so happened to stumble into Merlin's home. The boy couldn't be older than five, but Merlin had gone so long without seeing someone so small that he couldn't trust his opinion on the matter. He slowly crept around a tree, making as much noise as possible to warn the boy in advance of his presence.
The child's eyes snapped towards Merlin the second he was in view, quickly taking a step back and pulling his arms towards his chest in a small hope of protection. "Hello there, do you need some help?" The boy, Arthur the wind whispered, started to shake his head before pausing to nod slowly. "Are you lost?"
Arthur gave Merlin a once over, clearly trying to find any malicious intent. Instead of answering Merlin's question though, Arthur asked his own. "Are you magical?" Merlin blinked in surprise at Arthur's perceptiveness, but then realized that his own attire was clearly very different from a normal human that would be living in the city. Not to mention the pointy ears and blue eyes that had golden flecks in them.
Merlin gave a small but sad smile as he kneeled to have them be eye to eye. "If I said I was?"
Arthur seemed to hesitate in fear before puffing out his chest in noticeably forced confidence. "Father says that all magic people are evil and that they don't deserve to exist." Merlin tried to hide the sorrow on his face, not exactly sure if he was succeeding. The boy was so young, and his parent had already installed such a deep opinion about magic users.
He hid the disappointment behind another smile. "Well, you don't even know my name, how could you know that I'm evil?" That seemed to trip Arthur up, but Merlin continued his introduction. "My name is Merlin, and I am the keeper of this forest. What is yours?" Arther seemed to be very confused, but also a little intrigued, puffing out his chest again before he answered.
"My name is Arthur Pendragon, Prince of Camelot." It was Merlin's turn to be surprised but this also instilled a deep curiosity inside him. Why would he feel such a connection to the boy whose father started the prosecution of his kin? No wonder he had such a strong opinion formed, probably trying to impress and copy his powerful father.
"Well Arthur, it is very nice to meet you. While I would love to show you around my home a bit more, I believe you were looking for someone?" The boy seemed to deflate again when he remembered why he was out in the forest to begin with. Merlin wanted to laugh, forgetting how cute younger children could be.
"Sir Matthew. We were on a walk together and I ran ahead because I saw a bunny." Arthur looked down in embarrassment, probably believing that the son of a King should not be adventuring off to find a cute animal.
Well, Merlin was completely against that fact.
"Oh really? Was it one of the black and white ones, or brown?" Merlin asked with an enthusiasm that seemed to be contagious as Arthur's eyes lit up. He almost jumped up in excitement to talk about the little creature.
"He was brown! And like, his ears were so big and he was staring right at me!" Merlin laughed and stood up, holding out his hand.
"How about you tell me all about your rabbit friend, and I can tell you about some of mine as we go to find this Sir Matthew." Arthur looked hesitant for a moment before grabbing onto Merlin's hand and started to enthusiastically talk about the bunny again, how he was able to follow it before it jumped into its hole in the ground and the pretty scenery around it. Merling continued the conversation by talking about his collection of bunny friends and one mother that just had many children. Arthur's eyes widened in wonder and Merlin's heart swelled with affection.
After a few more moments of walking, they finally heard the knight calling out for Arthur in the distance. Merlin slowed to a stop, which clearly confused Arthur since he pulled his hand to keep moving. Merlin closed his eyes with a sad smile before crouching in front of Arthur again. "Sorry, but this is where we will have to part ways."
"What? But I want to hear more about your animal friends!" Merlin chuckled and ruffled his hand through Arthur's hair, to the boys agitation.
"As you said earlier, I'm not usually liked in Camelot, and I have to stay in my home anyway." Arthur pouted before his eyes seemed to light up.
"Can I come to see you again? And you can show me around the forest?" He tried not to shed a few tears. The prince of Camelot wanted to visit him, accepting his magic even though he had been taught not to. Merlin wondered if Arthur feels the same pull connecting their futures.
"I would love that." Arthur beamed before turning away, starting off towards the concerned knight. Before he was out of eyeshot, he turned back to Merlin.
"See you again soon then!" He smiled a goofy grin with a missing tooth, before turning and running again, not even waiting for an answer.
"See you later."