Author's Note: Ok I was playing around and a thought came to me. What if Balinor took Hunith with him when he ran from Ealdor. What if they raised Merlin on the run? My brain needs to stop this madness. This is Fem Merlin. I own nothing.
Forest Girl
Prologue
A Legend is Born
A tall man with dark hair paced back and forth in front of the healer's tent. His wife of almost a year was in there, struggling to give birth to their child. It hadn't been an easy pregnancy especially with Uther chasing them down across three kingdoms but with the help of this druid camp they had faked their deaths and escaped Uther's latest patrol. After this they could start a new life with their child, they just had to make it through the night. He prayed to every god a goddess he could think of that they would make it. A young woman in deep green druid robes stepped out of the tent and beckoned him forward.
"My lord Balinor." Balinor shook his head.
"Please no titles. How are they?" The woman smiled sadly.
"Your wife lives but we do not know if your child will make it through the night. Please come in." Balinor felt tears build in his eyes as he entered the tent. Hunith lay on a bed made of cushions tears streaming down her face as she stared down at the bundle in her arms. It was a girl, pale as death, breathing but not crying as she should have been. Her lips were blue, it looked like the healer had been correct, she wouldn't make it through the night. He lay a hand on his daughter's head. Slowly a light grew in the tent until it was almost blinding. Balinor instinctively shaded his daughter's eyes. The light faded slightly until a figure became clear. She was stunning with long flowing golden hair reaching the ground. Her eyes blazed golden with magic and everyone there knew who she was in an instant and all dropped to their knees before her. Balinor and Hunith stared as she approached them and their dying babe.
"Fear not, I mean you no harm. I am here to help." She knelt down before the small family and reached out her arms to take the child. Hunith was reluctant to hand over her baby but she relented when the goddess smiled at her. It was so reassuring she felt like everything would be alright now. The goddess took the child in her arms brushing a damp lock of raven hair away from her tiny face, she didn't even stir.
"Oh, how small you are for such a great destiny. A destiny that I know you will face little one, and when you do you must be bold and brave." The goddess leaned down and kissed the child's forehead. The blinding light returned and seconds later there was a sound that made Hunith and Balinor cry harder, this time with joy. It was the sound of a wailing child. The light dimmed and the two saw the goddess smiling down at the wailing bundle in her arms. The young girl's eyes were open and they were glowing gold, the same gold as the goddess's own eyes. The goddess knelt and carefully handed the babe back to her mother. Balinor looked up at the goddess as Hunith fed their child for the first time.
"I am eternally grateful, but why us my lady?" The goddess smiled though it was slightly sad this time.
"Your daughter was born for a purpose Balinor. She is the one the legends speak of, she is Emrys no matter what you choose to name her, and it is her destiny to bring magic back into balance in this troubled time. How she chooses to do it is up to her but that is her fate. A fate I am sure she will meet with grace and beauty. Good luck my Emrys." The goddess laid a hand on the child's raven hair one last time and then dissolved in a glimmer of golden light. The druids rose to their feet and gathered around the new family. One of the healers, the one in the dark green robe, knelt next to Hunith.
"What will you name her?" There seemed to be no doubt now that the child would survive to fulfil the goddess's predictions. Balinor looked at Hunith but before either of them could speak they heard the cry of a bird outside. Hunith smiled at Balinor who nodded and then down at their daughter.
"Merlin, her name shall be Merlin."