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Chapter Five

"That is until Balinor got to her." Merlin chuckled, "Speaking of, Poor Balinor is probably hungry after that long flight. Who's to say you won't be next?"

Balinor growled in protest to that as he shook his head and laid down, Ariel, on the other hand, looked scared, with her eyes all bulged and her mouth ajar, with her facial expressions.

I myself had to laugh, I tried holding it in, covering my face but it was just too much.

I burst out laughing and they both stared at me. It was the first time I laughed since I could remember.

Ariel pouted and I finally calmed down I took a minute to take in my surroundings; There was a large bookshelf spiralling all the way to the top of the tower with a staircase built into the bookshelf.

finding myself raising my hand to caress the bookbinding and the smell of dust. It feels like an eternity since I held a book. Across the binding, there were letters that spelt:

P. O. T. I. O. N. S. and E. L. I. X. E. R. S.

Okay just because I held books doesn't mean I know how to read them.

"If what your village is dying of, is a type of madness, then we have much work to do."

"Lucas, can you pass me the book which is titled Potions and Elixirs?" Merlin asked, I quickly scrambled to find what it looks to what he is asking for and gave it to him hoping it was the right one.

I still can't remember much of my past but not wanting to upset Ariel I stayed quiet, but since he didn't say anything I guess I picked the right book.

He opened it looking through every page, Ariel and I just stood there waiting for him to say something.

He looked up from his book and looked from me to Ariel. "What are you two waiting for, this is going to take me a year or more if I look for this by myself,"

"Oh, right," Ariel said as we both struggled to find a book and took a seat at a table with a few chairs.

Opening the book to a random page and pretending to read the best I can, looking at each letter trying to sound it out in my head. Suddenly a plate was placed in front of me and the smell of lamb, bread, potatoes, and green beans.

My empty stomach currently growled loudly as utensils were placed on the table, looking up Merlin sat in front of me and began eating his, hesitantly pulling the food closer toward me, looking back at Merlin.

He gestured for me to eat I quickly took the plate and forgot about the utensils and stuffed the meat and potatoes all in my mouth at once indulging in the taste of the food wanting to savour it but too hungry to stop.

Merlin spoke as I ate. "Having problems reading?" I stopped with a mouthful shaking my head and lying.

"Are you sure, you read the same page for about four hours." when my mouth was finally emptied I spoke.

"I was making sure I didn't miss anything," I lied as I took a mouthful of green beans. "You know you shouldn't feel ashamed for not knowing how to read," Merlin said taking another bite of his own meal.

"I can read!" I assisted with my mouth still full.

"Alright, read me something." Merlin tested.

Before I got the chance a large bang came from downstairs, Ariel suddenly runs in and everyone jumped.

"Merlin, there are giant ugly creatures downstairs, are they friends of yours?" Merlin got up and put a finger to his lips telling us to be quiet, we nodded as I swallowed the rest of the food in my mouth.

He silently made his way to the staircase and looked downstairs. Orcs stood with a dead hog over one of their shoulders and two long incisors which are his teeth, they really are ugly creatures.

Turning back to face us, as he nodded toward the door that was behind me, we snuck our way farther into our tower and Merlin turned to make sure we were both following him.

"Where did Ariel go?" Merlin whispered, looking at where we came I realized that she didn't follow us.

"Do you think she got caught?" I whispered back urgently, she might be annoying and she talks a lot, but something is pulling me toward her that I can't explain.

"Hey, Boss do you think this princess would be a nice snack?" One of the Orcs asked.

"She might be, either way, bring her with us," I guess the 'boss' of the Orcs said.

"Aw, but I was going to eat her now," The same Orc from before said.

"Don't be ridiculous, Margon." The Orc boss said.

Suddenly I was running toward the voices instead of away from them, Merlin called from behind me but I continued running back down the hall, out the doors and down the stairs. Soon I found myself face to face with these seven feet, ugly creatures.

"You aren't taking her anywhere!" I yelled angrily.

"Oh? And what are 'you' going to do about it?" The Orc laughed entertained with Ariel over his shoulder unconscious.

I didn't think this through, as I ran toward him with my fists but before I got a chance his large arm swung and threw me across the room. They all turned to laugh as they were leaving.

"Ariel! Ariel, we will come for you! Ariel! I promise!" I called out for her, and then...She was gone.

Dammit, where the hell is Merlin?

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