Square Table Drabble Series: The Old West
Title: Purgatory
Author: elsewhere87 {mara93}
Pairing/Character: Arthur/Gwen eventually // Percival, Merlin and more to come
Rating: PG for now
Warnings: mild gun violence, AU story
Prompt: cloudy
Link to Table: Table Three: 500 words or less
Word count: 499
Summary: Amid the western plains of the 1800’s, are the ‘knights’ of the old west. Drabble one: They get a new recruit.
A/N: This is inspired by and loosely based upon an old favorite show of mine: The Young Riders. // This is a series of ten 500 word drabbles written for square_table that places some of our beloved Merlin characters into the old west of the 1800’s.
Underneath a cloudy haze that was hovering over the plains the horse and rider, both smattered with western dust, came to the settlement. Within a rectangle of fences, hidden by a smattering of Cottonwoods and Willows, horses grazed upon the wild grasses. Beyond them was a rifle range, men practicing their aim.
Getting down from the horse, the rider approached cautiously, bringing their gun out as another’s muzzle suddenly pressed hard against their back.
“Boy you wandered into the wrong dwellings. Better spill your chops or you’ll be bleeding all over these pretty fields.”
“Easy. Wasn’t wandering. I’ve come by invitation.” The rider stated, heartbeat pounding fast.
The husky bear of a man gave the rider a cynical look, but lowered the ‘six shooter’.
Taking a deep breath, the rider reached into their jacket’s leather pocket, wiping off the bits of dirt that had littered the letter, for the ride had been a long way. “See, proof of it.”
The other, a cloudy black studded Stetson atop their head, studied the letter carefully.
Wiping away the sweat from their brow, the rider waited.
Finally, “Alright, come on. Bring your horse. Looks like she could use some nourishment and a wipe down.”
Leaving the Appaloosa to feast with the rest of the horses, the rider followed the other who introduced himself as they got closer to the range. “Name’s Percival, but everyone calls me Percy. Didn’t catch your name. I mean it was on the letter and all, but wasn’t looking at it that carefully.”
The rider wondered how good the man was at reading. Maybe crudely enough. There were plenty in the west who couldn’t even read at all. “Jerry. Jerry Ledger.”
Percy actually flashed a bit of a smile now, tipping his hat. “Obliged.”
The other didn’t tip their hat, but smiled too with a bit of a salute. “Same.”
Minutes later Jerry was meeting the other men. Each was built and could fire a revolver or rifle like it was an extension of their arm, especially one. He looked like the sun had dripped California’s rush of gold into his blonde hair and had a particularly beautiful revolver of silver nickel casing.
His expression wasn’t cordial at all though as he gave Jerry back the letter with a sour pout to his lips. “Daddy must have been out of his mind to send you this way. I’m Arthur, you see, his son. Shoot, you’re scrawnier than Merlin. “
Merlin had to be the only one who wasn’t well tanned and built, instead queerly pale and lanky.
Jerry rebounded, “Give me a target and I’ll prove my worth.”
Eyebrows rose, a bunch of skeptical looks as it was provided, and then another after another. Every shot Jerry made: bulls-eye.
“Whew…guess you shoot better than you look. Well welcome to Purgatory Jerry.
That is if you last.”
Jerry took the offered hand, noticing how everyone but Merlin was grimly grinning.
The cloudy haze simply echoed the dark sentiment.