Author's Note

I need to clear some things up okay. Merlin is a crew member in a pirate ship. (Maybe you can review and give some ideas about a name?) His job there is unspecified but he likes to be the Quatermaster (kind of like the Captains right hand man) The Captain of that ship is Arthur, his back story will be explained, but I don't think I want Uther to be his dad. I want Morgana to have to deal with him. Arthur's mother is still alive.

Gwen is what is known as a Bastard Child, meaning she was illegitimate. Her back story will also be explained. She is the Captain of what I have called the enemy ship, just because I couldn't name it. It is also a pirate ship.

Morgana is the Quatermaster to Gwen, she's had a abusive childhood caused by her father, Uther. Her mother is dead and Morgause will be explained, in a later chapter.

This is mainly Mergana with a big helping of Arwen. It is based around a true story, though I have made my changes.

The Wikipedia link to the two people I have based Merlin and Morgana around is here: wiki/Eric_Cobham_and_Maria_Lindsey

I don't own Merlin or the characters

I don't know what dreams are, the drunkards in the tavern 'hardly talk about 'em. But when they get their lips talkin' 'bout it, and course, I only listen when their not clouded with whiskey and that sort. They say its like a torture of sorts, ya know? Like being caved up below deck with no rum. Gives ya all these happy visions, your so desperate to be in, wealth, a girl, adventure, the sort you know's not real. And then suddenly rips ya from it, brings ya back to the steady sway of the boat, filth comin' outta that poor kid cleaning the floorboards, and the pee that makes you wanna jump overboard.

Guess their right in some ways, but who the hell knows eh? We aint gonna know till we die, and no one is that desperate to know.

Here's what I reckon though. See, the thing with dreams is, it can be as flippin' crazy as spotting a demon. But it'll always make sense to you. No matter what. I reckon, it really is you. Like, we got hundreds of versions of us, living in different places, Nassau, New York, Africa. And we're all living in different times, I had a dream with me bein in some funny posh clothes, with these white cuffs, and a ridiculous long black hat that i kept takin off as some weird greeting.

See, thats how my dreams work, like I'm watchin another version of myself live out his life while i sleep. I know everything he knows, and heres the thing, I always see the same three people, at least a glimpse of em in every dream. Ones blonde, the others a brown haired and then a black haired. I don't remember em from anywhere, not even vaguely, but their always there.

I see the blonde guy a lot more though, reckon he's some upper class tyke that deserves a butt kicking but ya know. I cant do nothin' in a dream

Thing is, I try to remember the trio, but another annoying thing bout dreams are, I dunno, you just forget em in 2 hours.

Those three people could be the most important people in my life, and maybe I'll never feel whole without em, but I can't go around searchin' for 'em if I don't even know what in Blackbeard's beard I'm lookin' for.

Sunday 1st January 1720

"All hands to cannons!" Arthur Pendra yelled at the top of his voice as he left the Captains Cabin, he turned his head around to look at Merlin. "And that means you as well, ya prat"

Merlin only smirked and took a swig from his bottle and smashed it on the floorboard before making his way next to the Captain's helm.

"You know Merlin, just because I trust you enough with important decisions does not mean you can appoint yourself as my Quartermaster." Arthur stated as he joined Merlin by his side and started steering the ship.

"Yes Captain" Merlin said teasingly.

"And that goes for the smashin' bottles too. Go clear it up."

"While we're at arms with another pirate ship?" Merlin spoke, his tone that of mock horror.

"Especially while we're at arms with a pirate ship."

Merlin grumbled as he went down the stairs to clear up the mess he made on the floorboards. He could hear Arthur yelling orders to the crew and watched as the ships black sails went up.

"ENEMY SHIP BOARDING! BE PREPARED TO GIVE WHATEVER THE HELL YA GOT TO THESE BASTARDS!" Arthur boomed to the crew at the top of his voice as the ship next to him threw their anchors to the ships side and pulled their ship closer.

"I don't think so."

Arthur turned around, his hand lowering to his pistol, he was confronted by the tip of a sword near his neck. He looked at the owner.

A captain, going by the black hat placed atop of her wavy brown locks, she was a woman, young and dressed for battle, a mighty scar showing in her neck and a cut lip. Her eyes were brown, narrowed and determined, analysing him for reactions.

"Not what you thought huh? A bastard child of a slave father and rich mother, a woman of unfairness no less, captaining a pirate ship?" She snarled at him.

"Indeed most would feel surprised at the role someone such as yourself has forced upon themselves. But if I am to stay alive, I suppose, no it is exactly what I expected...m'lady" Arthur smirked.

"Hold your tongue, and do not insult me with mock endearments."

"So it would be okay if I said it with honesty and love?"

"I did not say that"

"Didn't need to, m'lady" Arthur smiled pleasantly. "I'll see myself below deck, you have after all, captured my humble pirate ship" He turned away from the woman, going down stairs.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" The woman yelled.

Arthur turned around laughing slightly. "What? Oh, am I supposed to give the beautiful captain princess a kiss, or ask for her hand in marriage."

"No, I'm meant to tie you." The woman waved some rope around. "And you don't even know my name. We could hardly entertain the thought of marriage"

"And I, yours."

"Gwen" She said

"Arthur" He returned the gesture. "You can forget the rope, I'll willingly stay, to be in your company. See ya milady"

Merlin had just finished clearing the floorboards of the pieces of glass and beer, when he was forced to the ground again by a force on his back.

"Don't even think about moving, ya hear me?" A feminine voice called out from above him.

"How could I? When someone is sitting on my back." Merlin retorted, using banter to cover his fear.

Merlin struggled to move his head to look at his attacker but he painfully managed it. Indeed, the woman was sitting on his back, her knees either side of his body and her arms holding his hands to the back of his body. The woman had messy black hair, that looked like it hasn't been combed properly in ages. She was pale faced with lips that were cracked and pink, her eyes were like the green ocean surrounding England.

He suddenly felt a weight around his wrists and a burning sensation.

"Ow, you certainly know how to make tying someones hands together as painful as possible." Merlin stated in agony.

"I learn from experience"The black haired woman smirked mysteriously

"Abusive fella, eh?" Merlin said, rather upset if she said yes, but doing a good job of hiding it.

"Nah, Abusive father"

"Oh"

"Right, well...this has been lovely!" The woman flashed Merlin a fake smile, to show her real feelings. "Up ya get, I trust you can find your own way below deck?"

"Him?" Arthur made his way down the stairs, his hat atop his blonde set of hair, hands not tied and the face of a man who didn't have a care in the world

"Arthur?" Merlin asked surprised he hadn't been murdered, and hadn't been tied.

"I'll see you below deck!" Arthur shouted as he opened the hatch that led to aforementioned place and jumped in.

Merlin made to follow him, when he realised he hadn't been tied either.

He turned to face the woman, who only placed her hands on her lips in a "quiet" gesture.

"The name's Merlin"

"I didn't ask"

"I believe this is where you return the gesture." Merlin cut her off.

"Morgana"

Merlin nodded. And just like that he was gone.

MERRY AS THE WAVES TILL WE AIN'T MERRY AS THE WAVES TILL WE AIN'T

"Gwen?"

"Hmm?" Gwen replied, too busy steering the ship they had captured.

"I feel like it really is a new year, new beginnings."

"Morgana, your drunk" Gwen sighed sadly.

"It appears so, I'm talking madness" Morgana said, her mind thinking about then man she captured. He seemed so sweet and funny, dumb and smart at the same time. But the air of danger he carried around him, drew her to him the most.

"Clearly, go have some more" Gwen replied. "I might even join you, we can get drunk enough so that we let the captured crew out of the basement and live happily ever after with them." She joked but with sincere hope.

"Careful Gwen, you never know, I might just do that."

"And you know what, I might just do the same." Gwen said with a smile.