"Plenty" - BBC's Merlin triple drabble
Content: BBC's Merlin canon triple drabble, 300 words, Rated G, No warnings, the usual disclaimers apply.
Summary: The story behind one aspect of Merlin's appearance.
Plenty
“These ones! These ones!”
The boy is skipping on his feet, knobbly body flailing with enthusiasm as he tries to communicate how much, how incredibly much he wants, and needs, and simply must have, in order to ever be happy in this life again.
His mother studies his expressive, lanky frame, her fond eyes wandering down to his restless feet and back up to his eager face.
The travelling cobbler stays silent, watchful, clever enough to realize that the young customer is doing his sales pitch for him, and to better effect than his own well-practised spiel. He gestures to the woman, a small palm-upward movement, a hitch of his lips, indicating that it's up to her.
The boy's blue eyes go wide, shimmering with hope.
“Oh, pleeease? Look, they're the perfect fit!”
She nearly smiles at this blatant attempt to woo her with a practical argument.
Yes, the soft and supple boots do fit him, but they look like something a lord's jester would wear to attract attention. They're decorated with a row of mostly useless leather straps with impractical metal buckles, making them needlessly expensive. She's looking at many a lean supper for the two of them, should she give in to his puppy-dog pleading. And the boy needs meat on his bones. He's far too thin.
And yet.
She bites her lip.
They live a frugal life, a thankless, careful hand-to-mouth existence. He's used to making do with very little, never complaining, always helping her, such a good son. She easily sees how the numerous showy, shiny buckles make the boots tempting, irresistible, a glorious dash of scintillating opulence and plenty to someone who has never before needed to use the word many about his earthly possessions.
Hunith nods.
“Very well, Merlin. You may have those boots.”