| Nico | Date: Wednesday, 2015/June/03, 3:22 PM | Message # 1 |
 Sunday, December 14th, 2014
Group: Officers
Messages: 69
Status: Offline
| The Warlock's Flame
[Holy Hephaestus! the next chapter already, I am on fire!]
Chapter 4
Merlin took the jittery son of Hephaestus by the hand guided him over to Arthur and his knights.
"Guys, Leo wanted to meet you"
he gave Leo a small encouraging shove.
The tanned boy blushed and batted his eyes bashfully.
"Leo this is Prince Arthur"
the warlock said pointing toward the blonde royal who waved with bright smile.
"And these are the knights of Camelot; the one on the left with the red hair is Sir Leon, the one next to him with the light beard is Sir Gwaine, the tanned dark haired knight is Sir Lancelot and the big guy over there is Sir Percival...knights this Leo Valdez the demigod son of Hephaestus; god of the forge."
"Hi there Leo" said Gwaine said ruffling the boy's hair.
Leon greeted him with a two fingered salute and Lancelot squatted down and shook his tiny hand.
"Hi...are you really knights?"he asked his boyish voice full of wonder.
The knights nodded
"Wicked! And are those real swords!"
Merlin chuckled walked to stand by Arthur while Leo got to know the knights.
"I had almost forgotten how much energy children have" Merlin said wistfully watching the little fire bug try to pick Sir Gwaine's sword that a hunter had thrown at his feet.
Of course it was a bit too heavy and he dropped it and muttered some curse words in Spanish.
Merlin gasped
"Leo! Language!" as he understood what the child had said
"Sorry Merlin" he said before trying to pick it up again.
"Let me help you my little friend" Arthur said kindly and helped Leo by taking the sword out of it's scabbard as scabbard was far lighter than the blade.
The fire user picked up the scabbard successfully and brought it over to Gwaine
"Here you go amigo"
Gwaine looked up at Merlin for translation
"Amigo means friend"
the knight nodded his thanks
"Thank you my little amigo"
Leo laughed and ran up to Merlin and took his hand
"Ready to go nino" he asked to which the demigod nodded
"Lady Artemis, thank you for your hospitality and patching me up"
Artemis nodded with a smile
"Before your hunters decide to turn us into pincushions"
they all laugh
"Well I hope we run across each other again Emrys although next time I hope it will be under better circumstances."
the moon goddess stated with a very swift wink to which Merlin turned an interesting shade of scarlet.
The knights mounted up when they forgot Merlin's mare was back in Camelot making a certain prince feel like an ass all over again.
"Oh dam how are Merlin and Leo supposed get back without a horse." Leon asked that's when Percival walked up and handed the reigns of his steed to Merlin
"Use mine Merls, you need it more than I do, I can walk."
"Thank you Percival" Merlin said as he clasped his hands under Leo's arms and hoisted him up onto the horse.
"Whoa!" the demigod said a fearful quaver in his voice.
"Easy Leo, is this your first time on a horse?"
the nervous half-blood nodded.
"Don't worry" Merlin stated gently "I'll keep you mounted"
The warlock hoisted himself up on to the horse so that he was situated behind his new young charge.
"Hang on tight to the reins, here we go"
the manservant urged the borrowed steed to move which made the fiery demigod yelp a little and tiny flames danced across his tan arms.
Once they were in motion Leo calmed down and watched as Arthur and his knights joined them.
Sir Percival was not walking as they expected he was riding along with Lancelot.
"Okay Leo, I'm going to urge the horse to go a little bit faster"
the tiny fire user nodded and gripped the reins so tight his knuckles turned white.
He gave the horse the cue to move faster and now they were moving a mild trot.
The sun had begun to set while they were in the Hunter's camp so by the time they had made it half way back to Camelot it was dark.
"Leo are you okay" asked Merlin trying ascertain if his young companion was awake.
He got no reply so Merlin lent forward just enough to see that wee little demigod had fallen asleep, slumped against the horse's warn neck, little snuffle like snores escaping his mouth.
The warlock smiled Leo looked so peaceful.
"Should we stop for the night, I know you have to be exhausted too Merlin" whispered Arthur also noticing the sleeping child.
"We aren't far from Camelot, I think we should keep going we'll be through gates soon" was his soft response.
Arthur nodded his acknowledgment and true to what Merlin said within the hour they had crossed the drawbridge and were riding through the lower town.
As they approached the main square just a head of the castle's main entrance.
Merlin slowed the horse to a stop and carefully slid of the steed while carefully yet skillfully collected the sleeping Leo in his arms.
He held him so that the boy's head was comfortably resting on his shoulder.
"Arthur!" he whispered as the prince slid off his horse.
Arthur looked up in response
"Can you hold him for a few minutes while I bring the horses to their stables and if you can bring him to Gaius' chambers."
The prince looked uncertain he had never held a child before.
"Um...I think so...how do I"
Merlin carefully shifted Leo and handed him to the uneasy prince.
"Place this hand on his back; gently"
the warlock guided Arthur's hands to the proper positions
"And the other should placed right under his bum"
Once Merlin was certain the prince would be alright for a moment
"I'll be right back"
the tired servant led the horses away.
Arthur was a little unsure still but he was getting used to it and thought it actually felt a little comforting to hold the sleeping demigod.
The prince absently brushed the boys hair out of his eyes and realized this was actually pretty nice feeling Leo's warm body against his.
He wondered if this is what it felt like for a father when he held his son.
Now that he was used to it his body was now acting on instinct and the prince felt a little ambitious, he slowly started to walk towards the front stairs.
He didn't realize his knights were watching this
"Did you see Arthur's face when Merlin first handed the boy to him" Gwaine muttered chuckling to earn a punch in the arm from Lancelot.
"I think our prince will make an excellent father one day"
Leon said watching as Arthur carefully carried Leo up the stairs and into the castle.
Arthur moved as swiftly and quietly as he could he didn't wake the little one, he looked so tired, like he hadn't slept well in months.
He finally spotted the stairwell that led to Gaius' chambers he carefully navigated his way up them and now faced a dilemma, how to open the door After pondering it for a few moments Arthur knew kicking the door in like he usually did wasn't going to work so he took a gamble.
He carefully used one hand and quietly pulled the door open and stepped into the room.
Gaius was asleep on his cot.
The blonde prince ascended the stairs into Merlin's room.
He approached the bed and using the same method with the door he pulled back blanket.
Arthur froze for a second time that night how to lay the boy down without waking him up.
Arthur rearranged his hands naturally, his instincts once again taking the lead.
He cradled Leo's head and slowly placed the boy on the bed's soft surface.
"Mmph...Tia Callida" the boy mumbled but he did not wake up which made the prince let out a soft sigh.
Arthur pulled the blanket over Leo's small form and stood back.
He watched the boy's small torso rise and fall in the rhythm of sleep.
Then a thought struck Arthur
"I just...cared for...a child...all on my own"
and for some reason that thought made him extremely proud and didn't understand why.
"And you did marvelously my lord" came the whispered tones of Gaius.
The prince turned to see the aged physician standing in the door way with Merlin by his side, apparently Gaius had feigned sleep.
Merlin motioned them out of the room so the demigod could rest.
Once back down in the main room.
"I can't believe I actually took care of child...I've never felt this kind of pride before"
Merlin and Gaius exchanged pleased looks
"The feeling Arthur, his pride in a job well done" the elder informed "You instinctively understand that a child is delicate and precious thing...you know that that boy, that demigod he and other children of his generation are the future of this kingdom"
Merlin smiled
"I think you will make fine father yourself some day my prince"
The three sat in silence for a few before Gaius speaks again
"Now Arthur, Merlin told me about your encounter with the Lady Artemis and her Hunters...I hope you realize how fortunate you are to have walked out of her camp in one piece" the man begins solemnly
"He also informed me that Leo is now a charge that you both must handle, you must keep in mind that he is a demigod; the son of Hephaestus to exact"
Arthur nodded and realized something quite distressing.
"My father cannot learn he's a demigod, it's too close to magic he'll execute the boy" the prince stated with note of absolute terror his voice.
Merlin then realized that Leo, since he was so young would have little to no control over his fiery powers.
"It will be really hard to hide his identity since he really cannot control his fire powers" Merlin stated remembering the event from earlier when the boy's hair caught fire.
The warlock then gave a big yawn
"I think it's best that we all get to bed, we can think about it the morning when we are all fresh and rested.
Merlin and Arthur nodded in agreement.
"Good night Arthur, Gaius"
Merlin carefully walked up the stairs and through the door.
After quietly closing the door he turned to look at his bed and a tired yet warm smile spread across his face.
Leo was just so damn cute, his snuffling snores sweetly rising from his slightly ajar mouth.
Merlin moved over to the bed and climbed in beside the boy, since the demigod was so small they could both sleep comfortably on his bed as soon as his head hit the pillows Merlin was asleep within seconds.
Arthur made it to his chambers in record time, Arthur had stopped off at the armory to dispose of his armor.
The prince flopped on his bed and like Merlin was out in seconds.
Something peculiar happened as Arthur began to dream, in this dream the prince was standing in what looked like a giant blacksmith's shop.
There were several forges lining the walls with chimneys running up and through the roof.
Fire could be seen spouting out of them like geysers.
Weapon racks festooned across the floor holding numerous bronze, iron and surprisingly golden spears, swords, pikes and armor.
Arthur was astounded whoever owned this shop was a master metal-smith.
The prince began making his way through the glorious workshop until he came up to a large door made of chestnut wood and braced with polished iron bands.
Just as Arthur reached for the door's handle the heat in the room seemed to magnified, he then noticed a large shadow on the floor that wasn't his.
The fair-haired prince wheeled around and what he saw nearly made him wet himself, not that he'd admit it.
Standing there was a large disfigured man, he had face red puffy like he had taken too many mace hits to the face.
The man's eyes where a familiar chocolate-brown.
His he had greyish-white hair and a frazzled beard that sparked with literal fire.
His arms were large and his hands were calloused, he wore a traditional blacksmith's garb.
"Who are you" Arthur asked a tone of distress present in his voice.
The man looked at him considering the quest and his glowing brown eyes were still gave the prince a air of familiarity and then it clicked and Arthur went stark white
"Y-your...Leo's father"
The blacksmith nodded
"Aye lad" he stated his voice deep and raspy like he had a sore throat.
"Lord Hephaestus" Arthur stated breathlessly
"Aye" Hephaestus said his flames sparking to life in his bead only to be aimlessly swatted out.
"Listen and listen to me well Arthur Pendragon" the fiery god began "My little Leo is my first demigod in millennia, Artemis did not give you the full conditions of this redemption."
The prince froze he knew it was too easy.
"Bear in mind that taking care of my little firecracker will mean protecting him from your father...if Uther Pendragon lays even one intolerant hand on Leo...I will find him and I will reduce him to cinders!" Hephaestus growled his eyes flaming
"Now I am not usually violent but Leo is my pride and joy, if he is hurt by your father, you are in the clear but he is not...remember what I say Arthur Pendragon we will meet again in two days time, the day of Leo's eighth anniversary."
The dream dissolved and the prince a woke to the usual
"Rise and Shine!"
Nico
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