Yes, I am back. I hope to stay as well. This is a tiny little idea that just sprang up randomly as I was getting ready for work today, so I just jotted it down really quick. R&R please, tell me what you think.
"Merlin! Merlin, open this door right now! Mer-" the shouting was cut off as a tired young man pulled open the door to his flat. Wiping the sleep from his eyes he squinted up into the eyes of his eternal friend, Morgana. He studied her for a moment, taking in the gleam in her eyes, her heavy breathing signaling that she had run up the four floors to his flat and the healthy glow in her skin. Breathing a heavy sigh he acknowledged the Fates had been kind to her as he had commanded and nodded his ascent to her entry.
"What is so important that you chose to interrupt the first bits of sleep I have managed to grasp in years Morgana?" He inquired as he sat heavily on his worn couch. Morgana allowed the flash of guilt to darken her features for a moment before quickly covering it with a bright smile. She knew Merlin had been having trouble sleeping since that day, but she made it her purpose in all her lives to make his life happier. "I saw Mordred today!" She practically squealed out her declaration before clearing her throat. Ladies do NOT squeal, she mentally reprimanded herself.
Merlin looked up at that and allowed a small smile to grace his face. "You are still projecting when your excited Morgana." Morgana huffed; she would have been insulted if she hadn't realized Merlin had SMILED. For the first time in over 200 years! Choosing not to point it out, lest the smile fall from his face, she plowed on. "Well anyway, he went all crazy on me and tried to hit me with a lightning spell! You should have seen his face Merlin! He went to throw it at me, and all he managed to conjure was the tiniest spark I have ever seen!" She started tearing as her laughter began drowning out her description of Mordred's humiliation.
Her laughter petered out as she began to notice the sorrow etching itself clearly on Merlin's face. Rushing forward and gently grasping Merlin's face in her hands, she gazed into his clouded eyes. She had done it again; she had triggered the memory of Merlin and Mordred's last all-out battle and she needed to get him out of it. Reaching out with her magic, she gently probed into Merlin's mind and fell headlong into his memory.
It had been 150 years after Arthur had died in Merlin's arms, 150 years since Mordred died at Merlin's hand, and years even since then that Morgana, her sister, and all others that Merlin held dear had died. All except Merlin; Merlin held the balance of the world in his hands and so the world could not bear to remove him from its hold. He was the last and greatest warlock ever born, dragonlord, commander of fates and Emrys, the eternal one.
The years had passed without Merlin so much as losing a hair to signal the passing of the years. He found he was frozen in time, cursed to live as he was for eternity. The loneliness finally came to be too much and his mind could take no more. He tried many times to follow his king into the afterlife, but the Fates and magic could not let him.
Morgana cried as she watched the boy she knew for so long suffer as he had. This was the first time she ever saw Merlin's life in the early years after her first death.
After ten years of endlessly trying to follow his King and friends, the Fates finally could stand his suffering no longer. They came to him, bowing and scraping before the boy and explained all they could. The Fates were his to control, his army, his power, and his fist. He was to command them and keep balance to the world and quell all who would destroy it.
Grasping on to his new purpose, Merlin took to his duties like a born avenger. He led his armies and kept the balance and peace with magic, wisdom and might. He saw the rebirth of his friends and enemies alike, until Mordred.
Even though Mordred's first quest for vengeance had ended as it did, Mordred still sought the Warlock's head in his new life. Deciding to end this conflict once and for all, Merlin met him on the fields of their last battle and they fought once more. They fought for over two days before Mordred fell to his knees and conceded defeat. "You may kill me now, but know that every time I am reborn I shall seek your death!" Mordred shrieked at Merlin. Merlin looked at him sadly before looking up as his eyes bled gold and his power wrapped around Mordred.
"You shall find a very different end to your quest for vengeance Mordred." At this Mordred began to panic as he recognized Merlin's voice of prophecy and the sheer amount of power holding him in place. "You shall rise and fall in the wake of Death. You will seek revenge in every life, scraping at the walls of the cell you have built for yourself, only to feel yourself grow weaker with every rebirth." Now he looked straight into Mordred's eyes, "I am eternal, growing with the earth and the magic that lives in her, you are but a passing breeze." At that, a brilliant burst of golden light erupted into the sky and Merlin stood alone on the battlefield.
Morgana collapsed onto the floor with as gasp. Did I get him out in time? Oh shit! Make sure he's alright! Gwen is going to kill me! Hurriedly she picked herself up and grasped onto Merlin's shoulders. "Merlin! Merlin can you hear me?" She could feel herself panicking as she shook his shoulders. "Mor-gana?" Her heart jumped as she heard the confused and tired reply. She pulled Merlin to her in a hug and began to cry softly, "I'm so sorry Merlin, I was afraid I had lost you to the past again," she sobbed into his shoulder.
He began to make soothing hushing sounds and petting her hair gently. "I'm alright Morgana, besides I should be more worried about you; jumping into my memories like that! You could have been hurt!" She bit back a tear filled laugh as he began fussing over her. Typical Merlin, even when he almost died numerous times in Camelot he always turned around making sure everyone else was alright.
That's when a thought struck her. How could she not have realized something so important in so many centuries? Interrupting Merlin's rant on how Gwen was going to be upset he made her girlfriend cry she blurted out her thoughts. "Merlin, where is Arthur?"
She was met only with silence and an empty flat. "Mer-Merlin?"