A few days later, Godric and Salazar Apparated to the outskirts of Merlin's village, the boy still somewhat weak at their side. They scanned their surroundings carefully, alert for any sign of danger.
They began walking into the village. Salazar's expression was wary, suspicion etched into his features as he studied the quiet streets.
"Are you sure this is the right village ?" he asked, his eyes never stopping their search.
Merlin nodded, looking around himself.
"Yes… this is it."
The village was unnervingly silent, almost deserted. The only sign of life was an elderly woman standing outside her house, watering her plants. Hearing the sound of footsteps, she turned toward them, her posture stiffening when she saw two strangers entering the village.
But then her gaze fell on Merlin.
Her face lit up instantly.
"Merlin !" she cried out.
She hurried toward him and pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him as if afraid he might vanish again. She said how relieved she was, how good it was to see him alive and well.
"You have no idea how good it is to see you again, my boy." She said no, letting go of the boy.
Merlin gently pulled back, offering her a small, grateful smile.
"It's good to see you too" he said, then asked hurriedly "Do you know where my mother is ?"
The woman's expression darkened.
She told him that one night two men had gone to his house, something Merlin already knew. After they left, the disturbance had drawn the attention of the villagers. When they arrived, they found only Merlin's mother, badly injured and unconscious on the ground.
Fearing for her life, they had taken her to the village healer, where she had remained unconscious for several days.
Merlin's breathing quickened.
"And… my house ?" he asked.
The woman's face paled slightly as the memory resurfaced.
She hesitated before continuing. The next day, she said, more men dressed in black had appeared in the village. They went from house to house, searching for something. They carried silver devices that blinked with a red light. After searching every home, they went to Merlin's house.
Moments later, it caught fire.
The house was reduced to ashes, and the men were never seen in the village again.
Merlin felt fury and hatred boil inside his chest, hot and overwhelming. Without another word, he broke into a run toward the healer's house.
"Merlin !" Godric shouted, running after him. "You don't need to run !"
Salazar followed close behind, both of them chasing after the boy as he sprinted through the village, fear and anger driving him forward.
-----
Arriving in front of an old house that smelled of incense and lemon leaves even from the outside, Merlin rushed in. He was immediately met by thick incense smoke and the sound of an off-key flute playing a wavering tune.
He took in the interior at a glance, and there, on a bed in the corner, she was.
His mother.
Merlin ran toward her, but a short man stepped in front of him, stopping him abruptly. The man had messy black hair and a patchy beard on his chin. He demanded to know who the boy was and why he had burst into his house like that.
But the moment he recognized Merlin, his expression shifted to shock.
"Merlin ?!" he exclaimed. "Where have you been ?"
Merlin didn't take his eyes off his unconscious mother. He ignored the question entirely.
"How is she ?" he asked, his voice tight.
Seeing that he wouldn't get an answer, the man sighed and replied. He said he had done everything he could: given her healing teas, tended to her wounds. Most of the external injuries were nearly healed, but other kinds of wounds…those, he admitted, he didn't know how to treat.
He added that he had been playing the flute because, in other kingdoms, it was said that music could stimulate a patient's recovery.
As he spoke, he pulled out a crooked flute and began to play.
A horrible screeching sound came out of it, the pitch shifting wildly with each movement of his fingers. The noise echoed inside the house and seemed to drill straight into everyone's skulls. If Freya had been awake, she most certainly would not have tolerated it.
Godric's voice suddenly boomed through the house.
"Stop that damn noise !"
The man nearly jumped out of his skin, cutting off the music immediately as he realized there were strangers inside his home. He turned toward Godric and Salazar, confusion and irritation mixing on his face.
"What is this now ?" he snapped. "First men in black, and now you two—"
Before he could finish his indignant rant, Salazar raised his wand and, with smooth precision, and cast:
[ Imperio ]
The spell struck instantly. The man's anger vanished, replaced by an empty calm. The light faded from his eyes, leaving them dull and obedient.
"Leave" Salazar said calmly. "Go to the village market and buy honey."
"I need to buy honey…" the man murmured, already turning away.
He walked out of the house without resistance.
As soon as he was gone, Godric rounded on Salazar, fury written across his face.
"You didn't need to do that to the poor man" he said sharply. "And using Dark Magic, of all things."
Salazar's expression didn't change.
"We came here for a reason" he replied coolly. "And he would have delayed us. We need to return to the castle soon. We still have lessons to teach."
Aiming his wand at Merlin's mother, Salazar cast a physical assessment spell. A soft green light swept over Freya's body, passing slowly from head to toe.
"I'm not as skilled in healing spells as Helga" Salazar said calmly "But it seems the internal injuries in Freya's body are not healing as they should."
He paused, then added with a faint note of indifference:
"A pity."
He straightened and turned away from the bed.
"We need to go. My students are scheduled to present several spells they've been working on."
That was when Merlin snapped.
"You're just going to leave her like this ?!" he shouted, his voice trembling with rage. "You're really going to let my mother die this way ?"
Salazar turned back slowly, his expression cold and unwavering.
"There is nothing we can do" he replied. "We cannot take a Muggle to the castle. That would risk everything we've built."
"No." Godric's voice cut in sharply. "We are not leaving her here to die."
Salazar scoffed.
"You would bring a Muggle into Hogwarts ? Into our home ? Do you have any idea what that would mean if word got out ?"
"I know exactly what it would mean" Godric shot back. "And I also know what it would mean to leave her here. She's his mother."
"Sentimentality has no place in survival" Salazar snapped. "Every rule we bend weakens the foundation."
"And every life we abandon rots it from the inside" Godric replied, his tone firm, unyielding.
For a long moment, the two founders stared at each other, tension thick in the air. Salazar's jaw tightened. Finally, with a sharp exhale, he stepped back.
"You are fools" he said coldly. "Both of you."
Frustrated, realizing he would not convince them, Salazar apparated away, vanishing with a sharp crack.
Godric turned to Merlin and offered him a reassuring smile.
"Your mother will not die" he said gently. "You don't need to worry."
At those words, Merlin finally released the breath he had been holding. His shoulders sagged, and his eyes burned as he nodded.
"Thank you…" he whispered.
Godric gave a small chuckle.
"No need to thank me. But I'll be right back, I still need to undo the spell Salazar cast on the healer earlier."
With that, he left the house, leaving Merlin alone with his mother.
Merlin sat beside the bed and took Freya's cold, pale hand in his. He held it tightly, as if willing warmth back into her fingers, clinging to the hope that one day she would open her eyes again.
~~~~~
Hi everyone, I'm brainstorming designs for Merlin's wand. I have some ideas, but I'd like to hear what designs you think would work well.
The wood and core have already been chosen; I'd just like your opinion on the appearance. I'll be showing you some designs that I find interesting.
Option 1:
Option 2:
Your idea: