Teddy bears need love, too
Author: archaeologist_d
Title: Teddy bears need love, too.
Rating: G
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin
Summary: the teddy bear sat there, alone and lonely, needing to be loved.
Warnings: none
Word Count:448
Camelot Drabble Prompt toy.565 Toy box with a teddy bear
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; They and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/
The sole toy left in the sales box, the teddy bear peering out of the lid, looked so lonely. It was ridiculous really that Merlin could feel his pain. After all, a toy was nothing but bits of cloth and stuffing.
It was different when he was growing up. A toy was a stick or a bit of coloured stone or maybe leaves drifting down the stream. He did remember a rag doll once, decorated with charcoal-coloured eyes, that he’d hugged until the smudges were gone and the fabric worn to nothing.
But it was still loved.
That teddy bear wanted to be loved, too, so much so that Merlin thought about buying him and taking him home as companion. A little magic and he could even make him talk, although not bring him back to life. Merlin had learned that lesson with the stone dog who had bitten him and then run away. He never did find him.
Resolved, patting his satchel to see if he had funds enough, as he entered the shop, a little girl’s face, framed in dark curls, grabbed onto the bear and hugged him, her little voice pleading, “ Can I keep him, Mummy? Can I?”
The woman, careworn and careful, shook her head. “Afraid not, my love. It’s too dear. Maybe I could make you one from things you’ve outgrown.”
The girl’s face crumpled but she didn’t ask again, just put him back in the box, and slumped away.
The mother looked like she was about to cry but heaving a heavy sigh, she went further into the shop, and began to size up second-hand clothes for her daughter.
Taking care, Merlin grabbed onto the bear, then shuffled over to the counter. Putting his finger to his lips and putting down just enough to cover the cost, he whispered to the cashier, “For the little girl.”
The cashier looked ready to question him further, after all, Merlin was known to be odd and the townsfolk sometimes suspicious. But Merlin shook his head and murmured, “The teddy bear needs to be loved and who better than a child. Consider it a wish for better days.”
Nodding, the cashier said, “Little Bronwyn will want to thank you.”
“And Bronwyn’s mother will be too proud to accept.” Merlin shook his head. “I have thanks enough in knowing the bear goes to a good home.”
With that, Merlin hurried away, ignoring the cashier, and as he trudged down the worn path to his hut, he thought again about the golden age of children and futures unknown, longing for an innocence that he’d lost long ago.
It wasn’t just teddy bears that needed to be loved.
Title: Teddy bears need love, too.
Rating: G
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin
Summary: the teddy bear sat there, alone and lonely, needing to be loved.
Warnings: none
Word Count:448
Camelot Drabble Prompt toy.565 Toy box with a teddy bear
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; They and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/
The sole toy left in the sales box, the teddy bear peering out of the lid, looked so lonely. It was ridiculous really that Merlin could feel his pain. After all, a toy was nothing but bits of cloth and stuffing.
It was different when he was growing up. A toy was a stick or a bit of coloured stone or maybe leaves drifting down the stream. He did remember a rag doll once, decorated with charcoal-coloured eyes, that he’d hugged until the smudges were gone and the fabric worn to nothing.
But it was still loved.
That teddy bear wanted to be loved, too, so much so that Merlin thought about buying him and taking him home as companion. A little magic and he could even make him talk, although not bring him back to life. Merlin had learned that lesson with the stone dog who had bitten him and then run away. He never did find him.
Resolved, patting his satchel to see if he had funds enough, as he entered the shop, a little girl’s face, framed in dark curls, grabbed onto the bear and hugged him, her little voice pleading, “ Can I keep him, Mummy? Can I?”
The woman, careworn and careful, shook her head. “Afraid not, my love. It’s too dear. Maybe I could make you one from things you’ve outgrown.”
The girl’s face crumpled but she didn’t ask again, just put him back in the box, and slumped away.
The mother looked like she was about to cry but heaving a heavy sigh, she went further into the shop, and began to size up second-hand clothes for her daughter.
Taking care, Merlin grabbed onto the bear, then shuffled over to the counter. Putting his finger to his lips and putting down just enough to cover the cost, he whispered to the cashier, “For the little girl.”
The cashier looked ready to question him further, after all, Merlin was known to be odd and the townsfolk sometimes suspicious. But Merlin shook his head and murmured, “The teddy bear needs to be loved and who better than a child. Consider it a wish for better days.”
Nodding, the cashier said, “Little Bronwyn will want to thank you.”
“And Bronwyn’s mother will be too proud to accept.” Merlin shook his head. “I have thanks enough in knowing the bear goes to a good home.”
With that, Merlin hurried away, ignoring the cashier, and as he trudged down the worn path to his hut, he thought again about the golden age of children and futures unknown, longing for an innocence that he’d lost long ago.
It wasn’t just teddy bears that needed to be loved.