Chapter Text
The streets of Camelot still resonated with the echo of Arthur's coronation celebrations.
Only a few days had passed since the young king had sworn to protect his kingdom, and the energy of a new beginning still floated in the air.
Merlin, now royal advisor although he still preferred the stables and dusty paths to the throne rooms, hurried through the market as evening fell. He needed some rare herbs for Gaius and the bustle was beginning to dwindle, leaving behind a trail of closed stalls and elongated shadows.
[...]
It was then that he saw it. Curled up in a dark alley, visibly trembling, was a small bundle of white fur.
As he drew closer, Merlin made out the shape of a puppy. It was tiny, barely a handful, and its fur was an immaculate, almost ghostly white. But what truly captured Merlin's attention were its eyes. They were a deep, brilliant blue, a blue strikingly similar to the one he often saw flashing in Arthur's gaze, though they were now clouded by blindness and fear.
[...]
Merlin's heart sank. The puppy was visibly thin and trembled non-stop.
He cautiously extended a hand and the little animal cowered even more, letting out a soft whimpering moan.
– "Shhh, easy now" – Merlin murmured, his voice soft as a caress.
He knelt down and waited, letting the puppy get used to his presence. Slowly, cautiously, the small white snout peeked out and sniffed his hand.
Merlin felt a shiver run through him at the touch. There was something special about this animal, a fragility and a beauty that reached his soul.
[...]
Carefully, Merlin picked up the puppy. It was incredibly light and its body trembled in his hands. Its blue eyes, though blind, seemed to search for a light they could not see. The image reminded him, in some inexplicable way, of the vulnerability he sometimes sensed beneath Arthur's regal facade.
He knew in that instant that he could not leave it there.
The castle rules were clear: no animals were allowed other than horses or hunting hounds. Uther had been inflexible on that matter, and although Arthur was different, Merlin doubted that this particular rule had changed. However, the thought of leaving this defenseless creature to its fate was unbearable to him.
[...]
Hiding the puppy under his cloak, Merlin headed toward the castle with his heart pounding. He would have to be discreet, very discreet. Perhaps he could keep it in his chambers, at least until it was stronger and he could find it a good home outside the walls.
[...]
Upon reaching his quarters, he closed the door carefully and placed the puppy on his humble bed.
The little animal immediately curled up among the blankets, sighing faintly. Merlin watched it with tenderness. It needed a name. A name that reflected its purity and that special gleam in its eyes.
–"Aithusa"– he whispered, the word arising from the deepest part of his being.
It felt like the perfect name. A soft and melodic name for this vulnerable creature.
[...]
He gently stroked the puppy's head, feeling the fine fur beneath his fingers.
Aithusa whined softly and snuggled closer to his hand. Merlin knew he was getting into trouble, but at that moment, with that small, defenseless being trusting him, he didn't care.
He would do whatever it took to protect Aithusa, even if it meant defying the laws of his king. A king whose eyes, curiously, held the same blue flash as those of this little blind puppy.