Excerpt: Precious Things

Merlin walked around the side of the house and down the path to the well. He set his bucket down and then released the latch on the turn handle on the well. The scoop bucket fell with a plop into the water. Merlin drew the water out and poured it into his own bucket. “Spare an old woman a drink, my Lord?”

Merlin started at the scratchy voice and looked up in surprise. An old woman was dressed in a ratty dress and thin shawl. Her skin was wrinkly but her bright blue eyes stared at him with a clear mind. She was walking with a cane and trembled slightly. Had she walked all the way up the hill? “Are you alright?” asked Merlin. He reached forward and grabbed her elbow gently to support her. “Here, please sit down.” Merlin led her to a rock and helped her sit. “You must be tired. Let me get you that drink.” He fetched a metal cup from the notch in the well wall and dipped it into the bucket. Merlin took the cup to the older woman and supported her hand as she drank.

“Ah, thank you,” said the old woman with a satisfied gasp.

Merlin smiled and glanced back toward the house. “If you’ll come with me, I can get you a meal in our kitchen and you can rest awhile. Lettie will be glad for someone to talk to. More water?” He filled the cup again and turned back toward the old woman when a blinding white light shocked him into tripping over the bucket and falling to the ground.

When he could see again, Merlin found the old woman gone and stood in her place was a beautiful young woman. The woman had long dark hair and wore a splendid purple dress. What struck Merlin silent in astonishment were the two gossamer wings sprouting from her back. “Merlin,” she spoke in smooth tones. “You’ve been very gracious to a poor old woman, offering me water, food, and shelter. For that you shall be rewarded. As you offered me gifts, so shall you be given them.” Merlin blinked up at the woman as she reached forward and caressed his cheek. “Thank you, Merlin.” Then the fairy faded from sight, smiling softly.

Merlin sat on the ground for several minutes, struck dumb, until the spilt water began to seep into his pants. He righted the bucket and blinked around the well area. “What was that?” he asked himself. Something fell into his lap and Merlin looked down to find a gold coin, sparkling diamond, and rose bloom in his lap. He blinked down at them. “Where…?” A silver coin joined the pile in his lap. Slowly, Merlin raised a hand to his lips. “What…?” A blue sapphire hit his palm and rolled down his sleeve. Merlin stared at it before quickly clapping both hands over his mouth. Were those things falling from his lips? Merlin scrambled to his feet and raced back to Ealdor Manor, forgetting the water bucket by the well.