Hey y'all! I'm happy to be sharing my submission for the Merlin Reverse Big Bang over at LiveJournal! I got to work with the fabulous peasgopopping there, and it is her art I'm using for the cover. Please enjoy this first chapter! :)
After sending Arthur off on his last journey, Merlin walked all the way back to Camelot. Percival had run into him at one point, but he'd refused the offered ride. He had several things to ponder, among them whether he should even return to Camelot. At last he came to the city's gates and decided he may as well go in. After all, he'd once promised Arthur he'd look after Guinevere if anything happened to the King.
Things gradually changed in Camelot. Guinevere married Leon after a few years. They had two children together. Gaius died after a decade and Merlin mourned him fiercely. Fifty years after Arthur had passed on, he held Guinevere's hand as she joined Arthur in Avalon. And though her children asked him to stay, he refused. He had no desire to remain in Camelot after the last of his friends had gone.
He'd aged himself along with his friends, but remembered what his father had said to him all those years ago—that he'd always be. And it was true. In unguarded moments when he relaxed his magic, his age fell away and he became as young as he'd been that day Morgana had temporarily trapped him.
In the years after Camelot, he wandered around Albion, helping those in need, magical or not. He spent time learning from the Druids and seeking out books about magic. He eventually crossed to the continent and journeyed there and beyond. Eventually (he can't remember where) he discovered a spell which gave him the beginning of an idea. But the idea would take work, and the magic would be an important part of it. He stayed in the place (eventually known as the Middle East) and studied.
Merlin followed the center of learning as it roamed all around Europe. He'd taken up residence in Italy when the Renaissance bloomed. While there he realized it would take more than magic to bring his idea to fruition. It would take science, the very discipline Gaius had tried to pound into his head all those centuries ago.
Copernicus then Kepler and Galileo intrigued him with their theories. Some of these he already knew with the aid of magic. But Newton really hit on something. His new science, physics, brought the others' theories' together. And for a few hundred years, it worked. Technology improved life for everyone and soon learning spread to everyone—noble and peasant alike.
But by the beginning of the twentieth century, man had begun to look inward, or rather, smaller and faster. Merlin was fascinated. Steam and combustion engines worked well for a time, but the technology still wasn't what he needed it to be. Then along came men like Plank and Einstein and with them theories that resonated with his magic. Literally. He knew these modern men would laugh at that application, but studied under them and others that followed.
Every time a World War began, he thought he'd see Arthur's return, because surely Albion's need was great. But though he searched all over Europe, Arthur never appeared. So he threw himself into his work, refining that first spell he'd come across. But though the world made good use of nuclear power, quantum physics wasn't quite there.
Eventually Merlin earned several degrees in the various areas of physics and math. He kept his theories and his magic to himself, mostly because the world laughed at what they now thought of as magic. The world's magic hadn't decreased at all, but he was the only one who wielded it with any competence.
Theoretical physics quickly drew him in. The average person could laugh at some of the ideas that theoretical physicists came up with, but oddly enough, that's where Merlin found the most support for his idea. And in the year 2015, fifteen hundred years after Arthur's death, everything finally came together.
Merlin, with the help of magic, had just invented cold fusion. He'd needed a power source large enough to handle the machine he was building. But he wasn't ready to hand this discovery over to the world yet—they'd made quite a mess with nuclear power. And he doubted he'd ever hand over what was literally his life's work—who knows what destruction mankind would wreak with a time machine?
xxxXxxx
Merlin had checked and rechecked everything for days. There was absolutely no reason this shouldn't work, though there was a sort of comedic irony that today was the exact same day that Marty McFly journeyed to the future in Back to the Future Part 2.
He'd waited so long for this moment. From the minute he pushed Arthur out into the Lake of Avalon he'd dreamed of the day he'd see Arthur living and breathing again. At first he'd put his hope in Kilgharrah's words—that Arthur would rise again. But it had been nearly two millennia and he was tired of waiting. That spell he'd found gave him a new kind of hope, that he could see Arthur again by going back in time. And if he happened to correct some of his mistakes along the way, the little world known as Camelot would be better for it. Probably.
He set the machine for the present-day Crystal Cave and pressed the button to open the door. He gazed at the crystals, trying to avoid looking at any one for too long. His trips there over the years had just led to more heartache as the visions forced themselves on him. He sighed and closed the door; a clothing change was necessary before he could go anywhere.
Long ago, he reasoned if he was going to go back in time to Camelot he'd have to look as he did then. So he had clothes made. And that hadn't been his only preparation. As soon as he could, he'd created a timeline on rolling parchment—it ranged from when he arrived in Camelot to when he'd buried Arthur. Everything he could remember was on that scroll, and he'd slowly memorized all of it. How could he possibly decide what to fix if he didn't remember it?
After he changed into his new-old servant's clothes he went back to the machine. He'd already decided he'd deal with his younger self by putting him to sleep, locking him in his room and soundproofing it. At least this first time. The things he'd decided to change wouldn't take that long so "he" wouldn't have to be locked up for very long.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and fixed his mind on the words. Then he opened his eyes, put his hand on the control and said, "Sende mé bæc þurh tíman tó þa brachwíle ic wille." He felt his eyes flash and immediate the lights on top of the machine blinked on and off repeatedly. After a minute or so, they stopped flashing and stayed on, and a gong sounded. He looked at the control mechanism, taking note of the date. It seemed to be right, though he couldn't be one hundred percent sure. Dates weren't recorded very accurately in Arthur's day.
Merlin nodded and opened the door. It looked exactly the same as it had earlier, though he knew it wasn't. He looked around at the room behind him one more time then stepped through the door.
xxxXxxx
The Crystal Cave felt strange yet familiar. He looked all around him before turning around, holding out his hand and uttering, "Áhelle séo uncúðnes." The view into his lab shimmered and became covered in a glamour that looked like another cave wall. In reality it just covered the open door, which needed to stay open or he'd be cut off from 2015.
He turned back around, took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. Time to leave the Cave and hope he'd made it to the right day.
It was the middle of the night outside. He transported himself a kilometer or so away from Camelot with a variation of the spell Morgause had used, "Bedyrne mé. Astyre mé þanonweard." It worked by picturing where one wanted to go. He then made himself invisible, "Gehíwlæce mé ungsíene." He laughed to himself, thinking how useful it would have been to know these spells fifteen hundred years ago.
To determine when he was, he went directly to Gaius's chambers. He'd learned a spell to make a person talk in their sleep, as long as they were a deep sleeper. And Gaius was definitely that. After he closed the door behind him, modern Merlin walked to Gaius and watched him for a moment. "Hello old friend." Then he laid a hand on Gaius's forehead and said, "Cýðe mé þá þing ic wille gefricgan. Gaius, has Morgana returned from the druids yet?"
"She just went missing this morning," Gaius replied, still asleep. What an odd feeling this was.
"So Arthur hasn't left to find her yet?"
"No. He'll leave at first light." That meant that his past self was gone. And that meant he could go sleep in his bed for the rest of the night and a good chunk of the day. Excellent. He left Gaius and went to do just that.
He woke when the outer door banged open. He quickly recast the invisibility spell and rolled out of bed just before his past self came through the door and flopped onto the bed. It was such an odd feeling to watch himself and yet be himself. He shook his head and sat there watching past Merlin until he fell asleep. He said, "Swefe for mé," to keep his younger self asleep then left the room. Once he closed the door, he locked it and sealed it off to sound with a few words, "Lette no hléoðor aferfære þes dor." A whispered "Ætíe mé" made him visible and he left the room to find Arthur.
Seeing all these people who had been dead for so long was a surreal experience. He tried his best to keep his face impassive, and it worked until he ran into Arthur. He'd just gone into the Prince's chambers when a voice he hadn't heard in fifteen centuries said his name. "Merlin."
Merlin turned so quickly he nearly threw himself off balance. There he was—the Once and Future King, alive and well. And glaring at the man he assumed to be his servant. "Where did you run off to? You know you were supposed to be here and unpack . . ."
The warlock ceased to hear the specific words and simply reveled in the sound of Arthur's voice. He'd nearly forgotten it in his old age. Finally the voice stopped and Merlin snapped out of his reverie when two strong hands seized his shoulders and shook. "What on earth is the matter with you today? Are you half asleep again?"
Merlin blinked. "S-sorry Sire. I didn't sleep too well last night."
Arthur's expression changed to concerned for a moment before flashing back to irritated. "Well, maybe if you spent less time in the tavern you'd sleep better."
"Yes, sire." Merlin then began the after-quest chores he'd memorized after so much experience at them. By the time he'd finished it was dinnertime. After dinner, Arthur dismissed him and then Merlin headed straight to Morgana's chambers.
Morgana herself answered his knock as he'd known she would. "Merlin."
"Milady." She let him in and closed the door behind him. "I wanted to check you were okay."
She didn't look okay, but replied, "I'm fine. What was said at the woods . . ."
"You can trust me, Morgana. I won't tell anyone."
"Thank you, Merlin. I know now who I really am. And it isn't something to be scared of. Maybe one day people will come to see magic as a force for good." She smiled up at him.
Now it was time to change the script. "I know it. Morgana, there's something I should have told you before."
"What is it, Merlin?"
"I too have magic. Forbærne." A small flame lit in his palm.
Morgana gasped in surprise. "Y-you have magic too? Why didn't you tell me earlier? All those druid lives . . ."
He dropped his eyes to the floor. "I know. And I'm so sorry." He looked back up into her eyes which were suddenly close. "I-I've been told my entire life to keep my magic a secret. It's not so easy to give that secret up."
She nodded knowingly. "I understand. But I wouldn't have told anyone. I still won't tell anyone."
"I'll keep your secret too, of course." He put a hand on her arm. "Morgana, you're not alone anymore. Whenever you want to talk, come to me. I'll help you however I can, I promise."
She suddenly threw her arms around his shoulders. "Thank you for telling me. Now I know for sure that magic can be good." They walked over to her door together. She opened it, wished him goodnight, and he left.
Of course that's when Arthur found him and admonished him to "stick to girls" that were "on his level." He wanted to laugh in Arthur's face, but refrained. What he knew made him laugh but could get him in trouble here.
After Arthur dismissed him, he went back to Gaius's chambers and talked with his mentor before retiring to "his" room. Once inside, he implanted the knowledge of his conversation with Morgana into young Merlin's mind, "Beþence þes," and pictured what he'd said. He also left him with the suggestion to be more open with Morgana and watch out for her. Hopefully her new knowledge would lead her to make better choices in the coming months so this Merlin wouldn't have to poison her.
He settled down on the floor for the night and woke himself just before dawn. Then he released the sleeping spell on his younger self and quickly transported back to the Crystal Cave.
Once inside the cave, he walked to where he'd left the glamour and removed it, "Ende heolster." Sighing in relief, he walked through the door into his lab and closed it behind him. Once he'd relaxed for a while, he was going to go back to make sure Morgause didn't beat Arthur in their duel.
So after a night at his own home, he went back to Camelot, invisible, for two things—to prevent Morgause from winning and to make sure she didn't meet Morgana. He used magic to ensure Morgause lost to Arthur and magically locked her door so Morgana couldn't get in to see her.
Unfortunately Morgause still managed to find a way to get Arthur to her fortress to show him his mother. So his younger self had had to stop the Prince from killing Uther. Again. Older Merlin found this out when he went back to rescue Freya the first time.
He eventually went back several times to try to save Freya, but missed every single time. After a week of continuously trying he was forced to conclude, sadly, that he was not meant to save her. The Universe had decided her fate was to become the Lady of the Lake. He thought, ironically, that maybe he failed because her death was like the "fixed point in time" spoken of in Doctor Who.
xxxXxxx
The morning after he gave up trying to save Freya, he scanned the timeline for the next threat to Arthur's life. Lady Vivian. He rolled his laugh and almost decided to just let it pass, but then again he'd cut it awfully close last time. So he decided to jump back and convince Gwen to kiss Arthur earlier if he couldn't stop Arthur and Vivian from being enchanted.
As it happened, he got to Camelot just in time to watch his younger self attempt to stop the love spell with a counter spell, and fail. He sighed to himself and went to find Gwen. She hadn't heard about Arthur and Vivian at this point so she shouldn't be too hard to convince.
Gwen was quite taken aback at the situation, but at least she knew why Arthur hadn't met her that night. She was even a bit angry, but agreed to help Arthur. After all, she did love him and didn't want him to die at King Olaf's hands.
Fortunately Arthur had been confined to his chambers so it was fairly easy to sneak Gwen in. It took a lot of work on both their parts to convince Arthur to let Gwen kiss him, but they finally did. They had to tell him that he could only call Vivian's kisses "the most romantic ever" if he had another to compare them to. The Prince agreed readily, eager to prove his Lady.
He was soon calling himself "the biggest idiot ever" and apologized to Gwen. Neither could convince him to call off the contest with Olaf though. But he treated the king honorably and ended the contest much the same way he had before. Merlin was relieved and happily went back to his future home with great relief.
xxxXxxx
He wanted next to stop Morgana from stealing the Crystal of Neahtid. Unfortunately he'd miscalculated and got to Camelot after the whole affair had blown over. In fact, he got there after Morgause's sleeping spell had been cast, so he went to Morgana's chambers. This time she was asleep on the floor near her bed. That meant Morgause hadn't used her as the vessel for the spell.
A sound in the courtyard came up through the open window—voices. He and Arthur were outside and soon they'd come here. He quickly peeled the covers of Morgana's bed down, picked her up and slid her inside. Then he cast his invisibility spell and watched. He waited until the two men came in, observed Morgana, helped Gwen, and left. Now that Morgana was affected he had to toss his plan out the window and create a new one. He'd need Arthur's help so he had to wait until Arthur was alone and talk to him.
He knew they'd find Uther and Arthur would search the lower town, so he went to the window. From there he waited until he saw Arthur leave the castle then ran after him.
Arthur was already slowing down with fatigue, which enabled the older Merlin to catch up with him. The Prince turned, a reprimand on his lips. But it died when he saw the urgency on his servant's face. "Arthur, listen . . ." he looked up and noticed they were still visible from the King's window. He dragged the Prince to an out-of-sight alley; Arthur was too stunned to protest this time. "Arthur, I know who's behind this—"
The Prince finally had his words back. "Merlin! You just left my father? Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I didn't leave Uther. I'm still there, actually."
"But how?"
"I'm from the future."
To Merlin's shock, Arthur started to laugh. He laughed for a full minute before catching his breath to say, "Okay future man, prove it."
"Fine. No one is awake in the lower town, if you still care to search it. But it'll be a waste of time. The illness was caused by Morgause—she cast a spell on . . . someone and is on her way here. With the Knights of Medhir."
Arthur stared, mouth open. "You're serious."
"Yeah, I am!" He yanked Arthur's arm again. "Come on, I'll take you to the dragon. He'll verify everything I just said."
"Dragon? There really is a dragon? I thought that was a rumor . . ."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Yes, and I'm about to introduce you." He pulled a flummoxed Arthur down to the dungeon with him. When they got to the cave, Arthur's mouth dropped again. "Hey Kilgharrah, quit pretending to sleep and talk to me."
The dragon "woke" with a fake yawn and did a double take. "Merlin . . . but not Merlin. What—?"
"Kilgharrah, I don't have time to explain. Maybe later. Who's the source of the spell this time?"
"This time?"
"Kilgharrah."
"A kitchen maid by the name of Anna. You must—"
"I know, thanks. But I've actually found a different way to end the spell. See you!" Merlin took off but had to turn around to grab Arthur, who was still staring at Kilgharrah.
Merlin dragged the Prince up to Uther's chambers, but stopped him before he could go in. "The ultimate proof is in there, but I can't let him see me. So look and see if I'm in there."
Arthur looked around the open door and watched young Merlin pace for a moment. Then he looked around to the Merlin behind him. "Okay, so you're from the future. How far?"
"I'm not telling you that. But right now you need to share what you believe is best with that Merlin and get ready to fight Morgause and her knights. They'll be here soon."
"And you?"
"I'm going to end the sleeping spell so you're not defenseless."
"Hey!"
"Almost defenseless." He turned and walked briskly to the kitchen where he found the scared kitchen maid. He told her to close her eyes. "Swefe," he whispered so she couldn't hear, and she fell asleep.
Merlin then rested his hand on her forehead and closed his eyes. "Séce," he directed his magic. He was trying to find and follow the strand of magic Morgause had left in the girl so he could destroy it. The trail manifested as a green thread and he followed it to her brain. He concentrated on the knot of green and said, "Ácwele þæs drýcræft inwitþanc." The knot disintegrated and the girl took a deep breath. Merlin opened his eyes, watched the girl and the others in the kitchen then left.
As he walked through the halls, he noticed everyone starting to wake. He ducked into an alcove and became invisible again then finished walking to Uther's chambers. The King was waking and Arthur was debriefing him. After he finished, he took the young Merlin and went off in search of the knights. The invisible Merlin followed Arthur and stayed close to the Prince.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Morgause had snuck away from her knights to Morgana's chambers. The older Merlin sensed her presence and seized Arthur's arm. His knights had Morgause's well in hand, so he whispered to the Prince, "Morgause is in the citadel, probably Morgana's chambers." Arthur looked startled for a moment before he called to the other Merlin and ran toward the Lady's chambers.
They entered to find Gwen unconscious on the floor again and the half-sisters facing each other. They yelled their arguments back and forth but stopped when Arthur entered. "Morgause, leave Morgana alone."
"I will not. Morgana is coming with me. That's the only way she'll reach her full potential," the witch spat.
Arthur looked confused but both Merlins were shocked. "Morgana, no," the visible Merlin said.
"Don't worry, Merlin, I have no intention of going with her," the Lady said. She smiled bravely.
"Enough. If you won't go by coercion, you'll go by force." Morgause grabbed Morgana's arm tightly; the Lady began struggling.
Arthur ran toward the pair, sword aloft, but Morgause had already started chanting: "Bedyrne us. Astyre us þanonweard." The wind began swirling around the two women and the invisible Merlin attempted to pull Morgana away wordlessly, but to no avail. The sisters vanished.
The Prince stared for a moment at the spot the sisters had been, then chucked his sword to the floor in anger. "Damn!" he yelled. Then he picked up Gwen and laid her on the bed again. He waited for a moment then beckoned to young Merlin again. "Come, I must report to my father. Both Merlins followed him from the room.
Invisible Merlin waited until young Merlin had left Arthur alone for the night, then made himself visible to the frustrated Prince. "Morgause got away with Morgana," Arthur told him.
"I know," Merlin said. "I'm so sorry. I meant to stop her this time."
"So this has happened before for you?"
"Yes, unfortunately. But you'll find her, Arthur."
"When?"
"Before I answer that, I want to go see the dragon again. Then I'll only have to explain once."
"All right."
This time Arthur led the way to the dungeon. When they got to Kilgharrah's cave, the dragon was sitting on his rock as if he'd known they'd come. "Old man," the dragon said.
"You figured it out then."
"It's not like I have much else to do down here."
"True. So what do you know?"
"You're from sometime in the future where you know my name."
"Yes."
"Does he know about—?" Kilgharrah nodded at Arthur.
"He knows I'm from the future, but that's all."
"All right. So you traveled in time. That shouldn't be possible."
"Oh, but it is. I've had plenty of time to figure it out."
"Why are you here?"
"To right my wrongs and save my destiny."
"You mean—?"
"Yes, I failed in the future. I'm here to make sure it doesn't happen again."
"What are you talking about, Merlin?" Arthur interjected.
Merlin smiled at the inflection in his name. "I've said everything about my destiny that I can, Arthur."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Great. What about this dragon then. Is it going to hurt us?"
"The dragon has a name, Arthur Pendragon," Kilgharrah sniped.
"No, Arthur, he won't hurt us. In fact, he's helped me quite a bit in my life. I suggest you leave him here and tell no one about him."
"I don't take orders from you, Merlin."
"Look at it as a strong suggestion. You can't kill him anyway and he can't hurt anyone down here."
"Fine."
"Any more questions Arthur? I'd like to talk to Kilgharrah alone for a few minutes."
Arthur muttered under his breath for a few moments but finally said, "All right. I'll wait at the top of the stairs." He turned and left.
"Merlin—" Kilgharrah started.
"I'll let myself free you, but you have to promise me . . ." Kilgharrah tried to talk again, but Merlin cut him off. "You have to promise me you won't attack Camelot."
"I will not."
"You will or I will command you."
"You can't do that."
"Yes, I can," he said in the dragon tongue.
Kilgharrah flinched back. "How?"
"My father already died in my past. It wasn't long after this, actually. But this time he will live until his natural death."
"He lives then."
"Yes. And when my younger self comes to free you, I strongly suggest you leave Camelot and seek him. He lives in a cave at the foot of Feorre Mountain."
"You surprise me, old warlock."
"Finally!" Merlin laughed for a bit. "Now, will you heed me or do I have to order you?"
"I will do as you ask. But don't forget about Morgana. Morgause will try to lure her to her side."
"Do you know where she's being held?"
"They are hidden from my sight. But you have all sorts of time to find her, don't you? When are you from?"
"Don't tell Arthur. I'm from approximately fifteen hundred years in the future."
The dragon's eyes bugged out. Merlin laughed at how comical he looked. "That far? And has he returned?"
"Not yet. But I am hopeful."
"How do you travel?"
"I built a machine that fuses magic and science. I simply will it to open its doors on the time I want and when I go through them, I am there."
"Amazing."
"It should be. I spent enough time working on it . . ." he looked at the ground for a moment before looking up again. "Listen, Kilgharrah . . . it was good to see you again, but I'd better go. My younger self will be down here shortly to free you. Just . . . be good."
"Will I see you again young-old warlock?"
"Probably. Goodbye, old friend."
"Goodbye, Emrys."
xxxXxxx
Merlin followed Arthur to the Prince's chambers. The Prince locked the doors behind them. "Soo, what now?"
"We'll both look for Morgana. You in your way, me in mine," Merlin replied.
"If you find her . . ."
"I'll come tell you."
"Thank you, Merlin."
"Just . . . be careful Arthur. Morgause is a powerful witch. She'll defend herself and Morgana fiercely. And when you eventually find Morgana, she may be different. I'll try to warn you."
"And I'll do the same. Thanks again."
"See you later, Arthur."
"Goodbye, future man."
Merlin unlocked the door and left the room. He snuck out of the castle, through the lower town and into the woods. From there he transported back to the Crystal Cave, then home. Once he'd shut down the machine, he collapsed into bed and slept for twelve hours.
Chapter 2/3 coming soon! Thanks for reading!
