I do not own Merlin. Which is probably a good thing because the things I would do with...

AN: I hope this won't be too confusing. I tried to make the changes of time as clear as possible, but if something still does not make sense, just let me know!

Any Other World

Chapter 1

- Present time -

Three months.

Three long months.

For Morgana, they had felt like three years. Morgause had been gravely injured during the battle for Camelot, but finally it seemed that she was regaining her strength again. Her skin still looked very pale and her body appeared fragile, but her eyes spoke nothing but fierceness. For a long time, Morgana had thought that Merlin's magic had killer her, but she was stronger again now, more determined to bring about the downfall of Camelot.

Morgana walked through the cold halls of the small castle they were residing in, her long blue coat surrounding her body neatly. She was looking for Morgause, not having seen her the entire day. When entering the main chamber where a wild fire roared in the fire place, she caught her sister staring at a small crystal, one that couldn't be bigger than the seize of a pearl. Its color was very peculiar, a soft red and blue spreading across the smooth surface like thin veins. As Morgana neared, the color suddenly changed and it grew in seize.

"You are here," Morgause said, not looking away from the crystal. She leaned forward, towards the crystal laying on the altar's surface before her, "come closer."

Morgana did as she was asked. She watched as the crystal's color and seize changed once more, but it didn't seem to bother Morgause, only mesmerize her. "What is that?" Morgana asked. Her curiosity rose in her chest and only now did she see the full beauty of the crystal. Her jewelery was nothing compared to this beauty.

"This is magic," Morgause explained, her voice soft and yet, energetic, "pure magic." There was awe in her voice, as if before her lay the most precious and beautiful gift. That might even be the truth, Morgana thought, because this was unlike anything she had ever laid her eyes upon.

"Where did you get this?" Morgana asked. She stood opposite of her sister, her gaze falling upon Morgause's slim figure. She seemed smaller somehow, since the battle. It had demanded so much of her and it still amazed Morgana that her sister still found the strength and courage to continue in her quest. Only now, not only the destruction of Camelot was their goal, as was Merlin's destruction.

That thought still surprised Morgana. She had known that servant for three years, but never had she thought him to be this powerful warlock. How had he kept it a secret was beyond Morgana. One thing was certain, however, and that was that revenge would soon come his way. He would pay for the pain he had put Morgause through.

"It took me very long to find this little miracle," for the first time, Morgause looked up. A large smile filled her face. "It is the key to our plan."

Morgana couldn't hide her confusion. "We have a plan?" She was not aware they had a new plan already.

"Yes," Morgause smiled, "our plan to eliminate Merlin once and for all. He has stopped us too many times, Sister," her smile vanished, her eyes darkening, "now it is our time to stop him."

Morgana already liked this plan. She would have had the throne of Camelot hadn't it been for Merlin. He had stopped them, like he had stopped their immortal army and the skeletons they had summoned over a year ago.

"This," Morgause gently picked up the small crystal which seemed to burst with life as soon as it felt the warm, human touch, "will allow us to travel in time."

Morgana could not believe her ears. Not once had she even considered that such a thing like time travel was even possible. Then again, there was still so much she needed to learn about magic, so much Morgause still needed to teach her. Morgana already looked forward to the day where she would possess the same knowledge of her sister.

A warm smile filled her face and she moved to stand closer to Morgause. "How?" she asked.

"When it is used in the right way," Morgause explained, her gaze locking with Morgana's, "it will enable us to go back to when Merlin is only an infant."

"Will we kill him?" Morgana asked. She hated Merlin with all her heart, but the thought of killing a child, even if that child were to be Merlin, that frightened her.

Morgause placed down the crystal. Her hand reached for Morgana and she smiled reassuringly. It seemed she could read her sister's thoughts and doubts. "We will not kill him," she said, "his magic is too powerful to simply eliminate it. Think of the possibilities we'll have once we can harness his powers for our own purposes."

"But changing the past," Morgana breathed, still doubting this plan, "it will change the future. Who knows what the present will be like once we have taken Merlin out of the equation."

"Arthur could be dead," a grin crossed Morgause's face, "Uther might already be dead. Camelot is doomed without its secret protector. We must do this, Sister," Morgause's eyes again spoke nothing but fierceness. "You must trust in me. We will succeed."

Morgana swallowed heavily. This plan was dangerous and could have repercussions beyond their control, but Morgause seemed determined that this could work and so Morgana decided to trust in her. She nodded her head, a smile playing around the edges of her lips.

"We must act quickly," Morgause said, "before the crystal loses power."

-o-o-

-o-o-

- Many years ago -

Morgana had not been prepared for a journey into the past. She certainly had not thought it would actually work this swiftly. One moment, she and her sister had been standing in their familiar chamber and the next, Morgause was chanting words in the Ancient Language and they were being transported to a dirty and cold road that seemed to lay in the middle of nowhere.

"It has worked," Morgause sounded triumphant, "but we must hurry."

Morgana followed Morgause who seemed to know exactly where she was heading. Morgana felt oddly excluded. It seemed Morgause had been planning this for weeks, but not once had she mentioned this to her. She could not believe that her sister would not trust her with this information and only one other explanation made sense. Morgause thought Morgana was not strong enough to handle all this. The youngest sister woman was about to say something when they reached a small house and Morgause motioned to make no sound.

Morgana only now recognized the small village named Ealdor. She had been here before, having fought side by side with Merlin. That memory made her feel uncomfortable. She should have already been seeing the signs back then. Will, Merlin's friend, had admitted he had magic, but of course he had been lying to cover for Merlin.

They entered the house, Morgause having used magic to unlock the door, and they found a small kitchen on the other side. It was completely dark inside and Morgana lifted her hand, her eyes shining golden when the words 'thrüy cree' escaped her lips. Every candle burst alive, casting everything into an orange glow.

"Let's find him," Morgause said and she opened another door that led into a small back chamber. On the right, a rather beautiful young woman lay sleeping. Her black hair fell before her face, but Morgana could easily recognize Hunith's features even though she had only met the woman once. At their left stood a small wooden crib in which a small boy lay sleeping.

Morgana took a step towards the infant Merlin whose eyes fluttered open. Soft sounds escaped his lips and Hunith's body tensed as she was slowly waking up. Morgause acted quickly, however, her hand lifted. "Slrahy me dormaï," she said and her eyes became gold.

Hunith relaxed again, being pulled into a deep dream from which she would not wake from for the next few hours. Morgause turned to Morgana who leaned forward and picked up the small Merlin. He could not be older than a few months and it was odd to see him like this, but he already had black hair and bright blue eyes which he would still have all those years later.

Morgana turned to look at her sister, seeing her smile pleasingly. When Morgana moved closer towards her, she couldn't help but notice the dark gaze that crossed her eyes.

"We must go," Morgause simply said. She turned around and walked back outside.

Morgana hurried after her, the little Merlin in her arms. "Are you afraid of him?" she asked. She knew she shouldn't have, but the question had slipped out before she could control herself.

Morgause looked angry. "He is a baby," she hissed, "he is nothing compared to us."

Morgana quickly nodded. "Of course," she said.

-o-o-

The Isle of the Blessed was abandoned. That was how it seemed anyway. As Morgana stepped out of the little boat, the baby Merlin sleeping in her arms, she could feel the magic surrounding this place. The old ruins that covered the island were charged with magic, even the ground beneath her felt powerful. Then again, there were still many Priestess of the Old Religion at this time. Uther had not yet executed them all. The Great Purge had only just begun after all.

"Nimueh?" Morgause called out, her gaze sliding across the altar that stood in the middle of the ruins.

Morgana waited patiently for a few moments, curious to find out what would happen next. As if appeared out of thin air, a young and beautiful woman stood, her long dark hair laying loosely around her shoulders and her blue eyes were the brightest ones Morgana had ever seen.

"We bring a gift," Morgause told Nimueh who looked curious towards the bundle laying in Morgana's arms, "a boy."

Morgana walked forward, allowing Nimueh to take a look at the sleeping child. She immediately noticed Nimueh smiling rather satisfied. "He has magic," Nimueh said, "but why would I care for such a child?" She stepped back again, her attention focused on Morgause once more.

"Because he is powerful," Morgause explained, "he will grow up to be the most powerful warlock to have ever walked on this earth."

Nimueh's gaze darkened as she found those words hard to believe. "And how can you know this? You are not a seer, nor is she." Her eyes fell upon Morgana for the first time as if she only now noticed there was someone else present.

"We know things," Morgana said, her voice cold as she did not like the way Nimueh simply dismissed her, "and we know what must be done."

"You know what Uther Pendragon is currently doing," Morgause said, walking to stand beside her sister, "he is murdering every one of us. This boy has powerful magic, yet in the future, he protects the King and his son Arthur Pendragon."

Nimueh's lips became nothing more than two thin lines. Morgause's words did not seem to please her. "Uther Pendragon will one day pay for what he is doing," Nimueh said, hatred in her voice, "and so will Camelot."

"Then take this boy," Morgana said, extending the child in her arms for Nimueh to take him, "take him and teach him."

Nimueh hesitated another moment, her gaze shifting between the two sisters, but she eventually reached out and took the boy into her own arms. "I will teach him all that I can," she swore, "and he will help us avenge all the victims of Uther's cruelty and hatred."

"Good," Morgause smiled, "very good."

-o-o-

- Present time -

-o-o-

Morgana woke suddenly, her breath trapped in her chest. She had dreamed so very strangely, but now that she was awake, she could barely remember what she had been dreaming about. She closed her eyes, trying to remember, but only vague details came to her.

She remembered a blonde woman. A small boy with black hair. And she remembered hatred that was so very present around her. The more she tried to remember, however, the less she could recall. It was as if a cloud of dreams hung before her, but every time she tried to grab it, she only pushed it further away?

"Morgana?" a soft and gently voice asked.

Morgana opened her eyes and smiled when seeing Gwen stand before her bed. Gwen wore a big smile, one she always wore. Her purple dress was one she had only just sewed and Morgana admired that skill of her servant girl. "Good morning, Gwen," she said, her dream already forgotten.

"Have you slept well?" Gwen asked, moving to open the curtains fully. She opened the window, warm morning air filling the chamber.

"Yes," Morgana answered, "I slept wonderfully."

"The King wants to have breakfast with you," Gwen announced, getting Morgana's favorite green dress, "I will help you get dressed."

"Thanks you." Morgana pushed away the covers of her bed, ready for another day at the Royal Court.

AN: my apologies if the character were OOC. But what does this mean? What has changed and what happened to Merlin? Many, many questions!