AN: My first fan fiction so please be nice! Constructive criticism welcome. I sadly don't own Merlin.


Merlin's POV

It was exactly a year ago that I walked over the crest of the hill I was walking over now, the first time I caught a glance of the magnificent castle that is Camelot. Strangely poetic as this was my final journey and that was the first into my new life. My life with actual purpose and apparently that purpose was coming to an end.

I'd been so hopeful then as I'd walked into the centre courtyard only to have my hopes shattered when I saw an execution of one my own, somebody with magic. I remember first seeing the Lady Morgana- how beautiful she was and how eerily familiar. I could tell she took no pleasure from the bloodshed. Then there was Gaius who I accidently rescued using my magic-oops- he wasn't best pleased but let me stay with him for my mother's sake. I'm not sure at that point if Gaius knew my other secret... Meeting Prince Arthur was definitely not my finest hour due to the fact that I didn't know he was a prince and could throw me jail for trying to hit him...which I tried so he threw me in jail. After the stocks, a cryptic dragon, another fight with the prince and then a old lady singing whilst wielding a dagger later and I'd somehow managed to save the Prince Prat Arthur's life. My reward? Become prince Arthur's manservant of course! One small issue: I'm a woman.

So started what that bloody reptile called our destiny. Let's see there was Valiant and that living snakes shield he had, that was easy, all I had to do was show everybody that the snakes actually were alive, proving me right, and then throw Arthur a sword so he could kill the creatures and that creep Valiant. Actually I think Arthur fired me at some point. Then there was the plague which was just a few choice words mumbled at the opportune moment when Arthur wasn't paying attention. Then drinking poison for Arthur, not something I'd do again in a hurry, and then unconsciously creating light for Arthur to escape Nimueh by, who incidentally caused the plague. Bit of cow really.

I killed a griffin. Lancelot actually helped kill it but found out my big secret in the process. Not the whole actually being female thing but the magic thing, he swore to keep it secret though and as he kind of banished himself I was pretty certain I could rely on him. I think he left poor Gwen heartbroken, she's a friend of mine who also serves as the Lady Morgana's maid and could possibly be the sweetest person in the world.

Then there was that bitch Sophia! Arthur was ready to elope with the simpering cow! Morgana, who I'm starting to think also has magic, said she didn't like her either so Gaius was wrong! It wasn't jealousy, she was actually a she who tried to drown him to get immortal life in Avalon. So... ha! Gaius, ha! I have no feelings for Arthur thank you very much but I did have to pull him up from the depths of Avalon after that incident and lug him all the way to shore.

Then Arthur's dead uncle came back and started challenging the Knights of Camelot so I had to do some major intervention there to stop Arthur dying by creating Excalibur, a sword forged in a dragon's breath. But it in the end saved Uthur. A shiver unconsciously goes up my spine at his name, he's Arthur's father and the reason for the purge against al magical people he would kill me in a heartbeat just for breathing. I can't help having magic, I was born with it and could move objects and was setting fire to harmless furniture before I was an hour old (bit of a shock for my mum). So anyway saved Uthur and the dragon wasn't exactly happy that I'd managed to save his captor with his help- so I had to chuck the sword into a lake, don't ask why that's just what the dragon said. I sometimes wonder if he makes things up as he goes just to watch me squirm.

Then I saw the unicorn, which has to be one of the best moments of my life, it was so pure and innocent. Until Arthur came along and shot it. Way to ruin the moment there Arthur! Anyway because he killed this beautiful and incredibly magical creature he unleashed a curse upon the whole of Camelot. No food or water and the prat still wouldn't believe it was his doing. It took a few tests for him to realise the truth and that only made him moody and depressed. Eventually I manages to convince Anhora, the keeper of the unicorns, to give Arthur another chance. Which led to our seemingly final trip together, both of us trapped in the labyrinth of Gedref with the choice of two indistinguishable goblets. One with poison and one without.

As I leave the view of Camelot behind me I can't help but remember his face as he drunk poison willingly so I wouldn't have to- the care and the compassion. The last attempt at humour to disguise his fear of the next life. He'd survived though as the potion was merely a sleeping draft but as we rode back the atmosphere was awkward because we both knew now that Arthur genuinely cared for me. It was then that I realised I had developed more than platonic feelings for Arthur, feelings that I'd kept hidden for a long time trying to save myself the pain of loving somebody who could never be mine. Who didn't even know I was a woman! At first I thought he was a prat, a selfish arrogant man who cared nothing for his people but then I saw underneath the facade and saw the heart of a man striving to help others while finding himself along the way. I really hoped I helped with that journey in some small way.

That was why I was on this journey now- I couldn't let him die from the poison of the questing beast- the only way to save a life was by exchange and I now knew that that pain in the arse dragon was right. It was my destiny to protect him because I loved him and anyone who knows me knows that I would do anything for the people I care about. Including die for them.


Nimueh's POV

I had to admit that I didn't expect to see the young witch arrive on my shore and now from a distance I took a chance to just observe her. Underneath the spell of concealment she was using I could see a beautiful face, although the spell was strong so I couldn't see very clearly and although she was skinny I could see some proof of feminine figure around the hips even if her chest was bound. The enigma of the girl was truly baffling, she didn't seem to want power but positively excreted potential, she also wanted to protect a Pendragon (although this may because the prince is quite handsome) despite the fact he would kill her if he ever knew the truth. But then there was my new found knowledge of her- she was Emrys- which made her truly special yet still untrained. With the right guidance she could become more advanced than me in only a few years! I was suddenly very glad that the girl only had potential for that still gave me the upper hand, something that I was quite used to and not willing to give up, nether the less this would be interesting...

She'd reached the centre of the isle so I decided to reveal myself. "Hello, Merlin. Still keeping up your disguise I see."

A spasm of fear passed across her face when she say it was me who she had come to meet however the emotion was quickly masked. "So are you, Nimueh. You must be only a few years younger than my mother and yet you only look in your twenties. Is it a special cream that you've been using?"

I saw her smirk a little at her own wit and I resisted the urge to slap the brat in the face. "Magic, Merlin. The kind you could learn under my tutelage and away from the betrayer Gaius."

Her face morphed comically into anger and I had to hold back my grin at seeing the great Emrys riled up. "Don't you dare insult Gaius! I would never join you in your evil, you old witch!"

Again suppressing a grin, I replied casually. "If you want what you came for I suggest you refrain from insulting me, Merlin. Or don't you want to save your lover's life?" She blushed a brilliant shade of red at my words and a tiny grin did manage to escape me.

After a pathetic bout of indistinguishable spluttering she finally answered me haughtily (so haughty that even I was impressed). "Well now I see whose here it appears I've had a wasted journey. You've tried to kill both me and Arthur many times. I see no reason for you to change your mind now."

Silently, I swept dramatically over to the altar, turning my back on her as I did but I could still feel her eyes bore into me. I admit I resisted the urge to shiver. "That was before I realised your importance, Emrys," I highlighted her druid name for effect and saw her eyebrows rise. "I saw merely a betrayer witch protecting a worthless Pendragon brat. But there is more, Merlin, to your story that even you know, for I have seen the future you will bring." It then began to rain and the water went into the cup of life which I was holding, turning I showed it to her. "Take the water from the Cup of Life and it will cure Arthur of his wound."

Merlin's eyes widened and I could feel the hesitation radiating from her. "What about the sacrifice?"

Surprisingly a small, sad smile flew to my lips and I saw the girl's shocked face at my apparent kindness. "Oh Merlin, do you really believe that the Golden Age can come whilst still walk the Earth? I am tired Merlin. I have been fighting a losing battle for years and lost many of my kin. You, of all people, have given me hope for the end of Uthur's reign. I will gladly give my life, like so many of our kin have to ensure that you and Arthur fulfil your destiny. By my death you will not only save Arthur's life but hundreds of our kind to."

Merlin had taken a step back and I really couldn't blame her. "No, Nimueh, it s my destiny to protect Arthur!"

"But not your destiny to die for him." I told her, simply taking a flask from my robes and filling it with water from the cup and handed it to her, pushing it into her hand. "When the prince is saved the transaction shall be complete and I shall die. I do not fear death Merlin. I was the cause for this war and in my death I shall lead to its end."

Merlin still looked at me shocked yet after a moment pulled me into a hug and I could feel warm wet tears soak my shoulder. It had been so long since I had been touched in such a friendly way as this that I froze and was unresponsive. Slowly I moved my arms around her and made soothing noises in her ear I an attempt to calm her. When she appeared to have quieted I whispered into her ear. "You must go now Merlin. The prince's strength is waning."

The young girl drew away from me and smiled, a mixture of sadness, joy and love in her eyes. "Thank you Nimueh, when the time is right I shall make your sacrifice known to the whole of Camelot. And I will never forget what you have done for me, you are truly m kin in Nimueh."

I hadn't been acknowledged by somebody as kin in a long time and I felt happiness well up inside of me, kissing the girl's forehead, I whispered again. "Go Merlin, take time with your loved ones and don't miss a single second of their company. Arthur needs you now."

Nodding and pulling away from me, Merlin bowed low as a sign of respect for the High Priestess that I was ad I smiled a watery smile as I remembered happier times and the visions of what I'd seen to come. In return I bowed to her as well. "Good luck, Emrys, I hope to see you in the next life."

Tears were streaking down her face as well as she smiled gently at me and then walked slowly back to the raft that would take her back to shore, just as she reached it she called. "Goodbye Nimueh."

I smiled weakly and replied in hushed tones but I knew she heard me. "Goodbye Merlin..."


AN: Thanks for reading and please review!