A/N: Hey, hey, hey guys! For those of you who do not know, this is the sequel to my previous fanfiction, Vision of Happiness. I highly recommend you go read that first if you have not already, as nothing in this fic will make sense otherwise.

For those of you who have followed me here from VOH, thank you! I hope I surprised you, and I hope you enjoy this continuation. I will warn you guys, this first chapter is going to be a bit of a recap. But please stick with me. I will answer your questions. :)

As always, please review! I love hearing from you guys. It makes my day, and it helps me improve on the story.

And now! Without any further ado, to Camelot. (It's literally been only three days, but I've missed typing that.)

"Merlin," Adri smiled through happy tears. "Come and meet your daughter."

Merlin put a shaky hand over his mouth, tears shimmering in his eyes. He slowly moved towards the bed. He perched on the side of it, gazing down at the tiny babe. She was red face, blue eyes wide. The crown of her head was covered with soft black curls. Merlin smiled broadly, gasping as tears trickled down his face. He reached out a hand, gently caressing his daughter's face.

Then he jolted back, leaping away from the baby as if burned.

"Merlin?" Adri asked, concern evident in her tired voice.

"No." Merlin whispered, horror in his voice. He reached up, gripping his hair. "No, no, no!"

"Merlin?" Arthur frowned at the warlock.

"Merlin, what's the matter?" Adri demanded. "Why…"

"It can't be. It can't be, it just can't." Merlin was almost hyperventilating now. "No. No, she can't be…".

"Merlin, you're scaring me," Adri pleaded softly.

"That's...she's…"

"What, Merlin? Our daughter?".

"She's not our daughter!" Silence filled the room. Adri's mouth was open in horror. Gwen gaped at Merlin. Arthur's eyebrows had disappeared into his hairline.

"Merlin...mate…"

"Merlin, what could you possibly…".

"That is not our daughter!" Merlin roared. "She is...she's a punishment! Fate, fighting back! I never thought...I never thought it'd be her…"

"Merlin, explain yourself. Now." Adri's voice was hard as stone.

"The dead do not always stay dead," Merlin murmured agonizingly. His features twisted with pain and disgust. "I...I wrest destiny from its course. And now it's punishing me...a realm of misery…"

"Merlin!"

"Don't you understand?" Merlin was shouting now, hysterical. "It's happening all over again! It's starting over, back at the beginning! The seer was right!"

"Merlin, calm down!"

"I've unleashed a terror back on the world…in that child…"

"Merlin, she's our daughter!" Adri was crying.

"That is not our daughter!" Merlin roared. "Can't you feel it? Can't you feel her magic? That is not our child! That...that is Morgana Pendragon!"

"Merlin!" Adri shrieked.

"Merlin, calm down," Gwen ordered.

"Adri, can't you feel it?" Merlin's gaze was frantic. "You've felt been near Morgana, can't you feel it? That's Morgana's magic! That's why I couldn't feel her, Fate was hiding her from me!"

"Merlin, calm down!" Arthur gripped his shoulders. Merlin shoved him, but Arthur's hands only tightened on his thin shoulders. "MERLIN!"

The whiplash crack of authority in Arthur's voice cut through Merlin's hysteria. The familiar tone snapped Merlin's eyes to Arthur's. Arthur nodded reassuringly, releasing the warlock.

"At Avalon. The Sidhe said that Fate would fight back, that I would unleash something back on the world till all was put right. The Watcher said that Destiny was going to play with the balance of Life and Death. For Destiny to be put right, Arthur has to die at Camlann by Mordred's hand. And Morgana has to ally with Mordred for him to do that. That was Fate."

"But Arthur didn't die at Camlann." Adri's voice was cold. "So you think Fate brought Morgana back. As our daughter."

A bit of desperation entered Merlin's eyes again. "Adri, please…"

"No, Merlin!" Her shout was raw, animalistic. "I can't do this! This…" Tears rose in Adri's eyes. "This is our child. How can you...how…"

"Adri, feel her magic. Please, just…" He stepped forward, reaching out a hand towards the baby.

"DO NOT touch her!" Adri snapped.

"Adri, I know you can feel it!" Merlin's gaze turned icy. "Stop denying it!"

"Stop this, Merlin!" Adri almost screeched.

Merlin's jaw set. "Then explain to me, why, with the two of us screaming, she hasn't cried at all." Adri glanced down at her daughter, who slept peacefully against her chest.

"That doesn't mean anything!"

"Morgana thrived on chaos, Adri! She…"

"Do you even hear yourself?"

"You know I'm right, you can feel it!"

"Merlin…" Arthur's voice broke in warningly.

"She's still our child!" Adri was sobbing now.

"Our child?" Merlin asked disbelievingly. "I stabbed Morgana through the stomach. How could you ever think that is our child? She should have stayed dead…"

"STOP!" A wave of magic shot out as Adri's eyes lit gold. Merlin's eyes flashed gold as he raised a shield around himself, Arthur, and Gwen.

The babe smiled in her sleep.

One year later…

"Where's the little one?"

Adri glanced up from her where she swept a rough wooden floor. An older woman, hair streaked with more grey than black, had entered the tiny farmer's cottage. She smiled.

"Asleep. Wore herself out trying to learn to walk."

The other woman smiled, hanging her shawl on peg by the door. "There was a letter in the tree."

Adri tensed. "From Merlin?"

"Always. I must say, his magic makes receiving news from Camelot much easier than going there." Adri hummed noncommittally, ignoring her companion's piercing look. "He's still looking for you."

"Good. That means he still doesn't know where I am." Her voice was tinged with resentment.

"He said your family is growing worried as well."

"I contacted Raya. They know I'm safe. Just not where I am." Adri turned, placing the broom in the corner and rubbing her hands down her coarse apron.

"The festival's coming up."

"I appreciate your concern. Truly." Adri shot her a small smile. "But it's for the best that Merlin never know where I am."

"Adri...surely…"

"Hunith. Please." Adri gave her mother-in-law a pleading look. Hunith sighed.

"He misses you."

"It's for the best."

"Very well. I will keep my word. I'll not tell him you're here."

"Thank you."

"But I wish you would."

"I can't do that." She smiled sadly. "I am sorry."

"I know, dear." Hunith stroked her cheek gently. A soft whine was heard from farther in the house. Adri turned, moving towards the crib her daughter lay in. The little girl blinked up at her. Despite the brilliant blue eyes she had been born with, as she grew older they had lightened into a soft, meadow green. Adri smiled softly, sweeping the babe into her arms. The child lay her head against her mother's shoulder tiredly. Adri kissed her raven curls, reminded strongly of her daughter's father as she laid her cheek against the soft locks.

"Don't worry, darling. Your father's never going to see us again. I'll make sure of that."