Disclaimer! Merlin and any other character are not mine. However, adorable little Kelda I do hold claim over 3

A/N! I had an idea of trying this out when I thought about the Merlin legends and his love of the Lady of the Lake. I hope you all enjoy this!

Chapter 1

Merlin complained loudly as he trailed behind Lancelot, the knight sighing in exasperation as he looked over at the Warlock. Lancelot had noticed as they got further and further into the forest, merlin fidgeted and complained more and more. Lancelot knew that it was just another way for Merlin to keep his mind occupied from where they were heading and what it meant. At first Merlin had been quiet and subdued but as they traveled it seemed as though he needed to keep himself occupied so he resorted to complaining. Earlier in the morning one of the patrols had reported a bright light near a lake Merlin knew all too well. Now with Arthur as King, Merlin had decided only a few months after Arthur's crowning to tell him the truth about him being a warlock. At first Arthur had been furious at being lied to and not trusted but with Merlin's coming out. Other magical beings pledged themselves to Arthur and soon the anger was forgotten and Magic slowly became accepted in Camelot. It was a couple of years since then and Merlin was deemed the Court Magician. So when the report came and he realized what lake it was, he pulled Arthur aside and told him he would go. However, Arthur had advised him to take a knight with him so naturally he chose Lancelot. That was how both of them landed up in their current predicament. "Merlin, please we'll be there soon enough."

"Fine…" The meek answer made the knight throw a worried look at his friend and sighed again. This time in regret and he slowed his horse down 'til he was right next to Merlin. Giving him a small smile he said, "I'm sorry. I know this is probably hard but I'm sure nothing is wrong."

Merlin had told Lancelot why this lake was so…special, for lack of a better word, to him. Merlin gave him a weak smile but then looked away, a faraway look entering his gaze as he sunk into his thoughts. Lancelot sighed and shook his head, retreating from the warlock to let him have some space. Lancelot understood what it was like to lose a loved one although not in quite the same sense as Merlin. He knew how much it hurt and he didn't blame Merlin for the way he was acting. He also knew Arthur sympathized from the expression he had on his face as he pulled Lancelot to the side and asked him to look after Merlin. Merlin didn't often let it show but many of the things that he had done as well as the things that he had lost, weighed heavily on him. There was a few times where Merlin seemed to age for a few seconds and a world of loss seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders.

Merlin…Merlin!

Merlin sat straighter in his saddle as he pulled his little mare to a stop and Lancelot followed looking at Merlin concerned. However, the warlock didn't bother answering his friends uncertain call of his name as he felt an all too familiar brush of magic caress his mind, making a mental connection.

…Freya? I-Is that you?

Merlin! Yes, it's me. I need you to come to me but only you.

But Freya-

Merlin, please it must be only you.

Merlin hesitated before he relented and turned to a concerned looking Lancelot. He bit his lip and Lancelot looked at him curiously before Merlin said, "I need you to stay here. The Lady of the lake wants only me to approach. Please?"

"Alright Merlin but if anything you yell for me." Lancelot stated after a moment of hesitation and the warlock smiled as he nodded his head in agreement to one of his best friends. With that he jumped off his horse and headed deeper into the woods until he found the lake, peaceful looking as always. No one would suspect that the lake was one of the few doorways into Avalon or that a woman with great power rested here and protected the Lake. For a moment Merlin stood there at the lakes edge, not making a sound other than his quiet breathing. Gathering up all his emotions and pushing them to the sighed he took a step into the water and then another and another until he was knee deep within it. Then he just stood and waited for it to happen and he didn't have to wait long as he noticed a shimmer of white slowly come towards him almost as gracefully as a fish or mermaid. Then she was there in front of him, her long white dress in the water and her slim figure peeking out. Merlin couldn't help but step towards her as longing filled him. "Freya…"

"I know, Merlin. I know. I've missed you too. I'm glad my little show seemed to get the attention I wanted it to."

Merlin felt his lips quirk up and he chuckled along with the magical being in front of him. However, it didn't last long as he sobered up and looked at the love of his life solemnly and she sighed as she knew what he would ask. "Freya…Why did you call to me?"

"Merlin…Oh Merlin I'm so sorry. I should have never hidden this from you but I didn't know what to do. It wasn't till a few years ago that I knew how it happened."

Merlin frowned, not knowing what she meant but seeing how broken she looked he couldn't help but pull her into his embrace. She clutched at him, pulling him against her as she broke into sobs and the water around them churned slightly in reaction to her feelings. Huffing lightly she laughed a little as she murmured, "Darn it, I forgot that happens."

He chuckled at that and pulled her a little ways away from him as he stroked the tears from her face and waited for her to tell him. She didn't look at him for a moment before she said meekly, "Merlin, dear sweet Merlin. I was with child, your child."

Merlin froze for a moment, shock running through him as he tried to grasp this situation. He opened his mouth a few times only to close it with an audible click when nothing came out but she understood what he was trying to get across. The 'how' that he wanted to get across was tangible in the air between them and she sniffled a little bit but brought herself up to almost her full height. Steadily she began to explain to him how it had come about.

"When you had tried to save me, pushing your magic into my wound, it laid to rest in me and awakened itself in Avalon. Our magic mingled and made a cocoon within me like a womb. I hadn't known it until I began to show signs and by the time I saw you again I'd already had her and I didn't know how to tell you. However, I can no longer keep her here with me. The place between Avalon and here is beginning to reject her existence. It allowed her for a time but now it will not allow me to keep her there. Please my love, take her. Teach her all you can. Please."

Merlin tried to take all of this in and for a moment she thought he would reject it. However, shame at even entertaining that thought filled her as softness entered his gaze as he said quietly, "You said her…we have a daughter…I have a daughter?"

Warmth filled her and she grinned at him, a weight lifted from her chest as she said equally as soft, "Yes, a beautiful baby girl. She has your eyes and your nose."

Joy filled him and then terror at the thought at being an unfit parent. "What if I'm no good? What if I do something wrong?"

Freya smiled at him warmly and laid a hand against his cheek lovingly as she spoke, "Merlin you could do no such thing. You are the best person to raise our child."

"Can…Can I see her?" His question was hesitant, even a little scared and Freya nodded. For a moment nothing happened and then out of nowhere a little air bubble rose up through the water and settled in front of Merlin. Inside was a sleeping child that the warlock slowly and carefully picked up, careful not to wake the sleeping little girl. She had long dark brown hair that had little waves in them much like Freya, her skin was slightly pale but a little darker than Merlin's. He looked up at his love and asked, "How old is she?"

She smiled and said lightly, "She's five…her name is Kelda."

"Kelda…You chose well. It's beautiful." He said as he looked at the precious bundle in his arms before looking up at Freya. She looked pleased as she looked at the little girl in his arms and said, "Spring…or Source. I thought it might fit her since she'd been born in spring and then she was the source of my happiness and my last connection to you."

He smiled at that before looking up at the woman in front of him and noticing the worry was back in her gaze making him remember why she'd asked him here in the first place. Leaning forward and kissing her forehead gently he said, "I will guide her to the best of my ability. I will do whatever is in my power to protect our daughter."

Freya seemed to glow and relax at his statement but soon the bundle in his arms began to move and the little girl opened her eyes to reveal sleepy vibrant blue orbs. He looked down at the child lovingly as he said, "Hello, little Kelpie."

The child giggled and looked at him in wonder before reaching up and touching his face near his eyes then touching her own. Merlin guessed she was making the connection because she soon looked over to Freya as though to confirm what she was beginning to realize. Freya smiled but the warlock saw the tears in her eyes as she said, "Little Kelda, my elf, this is your papa. He's going to teach you lots of things while you stay with him. Mama needs to take care of some other things so she can't watch over you anymore. Okay?"

The little girl looked adorably solemn as she nodded her head seriously at her mother before reaching her arms out for Freya in hope for a hug. Something tightened within both Freya and Merlin's chests as she took the little girl and hugged her close to her bosom. Merlin hesitated before he hugged them both and kissed the top of their heads, crushing them to him in a surprising grip. "Papa is strong."

The little voice and her words made Freya laugh as Merlin blushed but Freya looked up at him lovingly as she agreed. "Yes my little elf. Papa is very strong."

He felt his heart clench and he knew it was already time to go and she knew it too. Closing her eyes for a moment to hide the pain she kissed Kelda lightly on the head and then kissed Merlin longingly. He felt her pain and silent wishes that he returned whole heartedly before they separated. "I love you."

"And I, you. Take her and go, quickly."

"Goodbye." Merlin took the child from Freya and took a step back from her. She seemed to hesitate for a moment before she sunk into the water and with a flash of white just below the surface she was gone. Merlin looked down at the child in his arms and she looked up at him with wide innocent eyes. He smiled lovingly at her and she returned it innocently as he hefted her up to his hip and she wrapped her arms around his shoulder. They walked a little ways in silence, both getting familiarized with each other and the feel of their magic brushing together. Merlin was surprised by how familiar yet foreign her magic felt to him but then again it was a mix of his and Freya's magic together plus Kelda's own. What shocked him more though was the strength of her magical ability. It reminded him of when he was younger but slightly stronger. She was a true creature of magic, made by magic and a miracle.

It wasn't long before they reached where Lancelot was and he was startled to see the child held within his friend's arms that looked shockingly like Merlin. Lancelot looked at Merlin in confusion and said his name questioningly. Merlin looked down at the child in his arms and she looked at him, trying to hide slightly in his arms from Lancelot's gaze. Merlin looked up at his friend and said quietly, "Little kelpie this is one of my best friends, Lancelot. Lancelot…this is my daughter, Kelda."

The child looked at Lancelot shyly and blue eyes met his dark ones as she said softly, "Hello."