FATE OF THE DESCENDANT
Prologue
Merlin shifted uncomfortably on a wooden chair. He was trying his best not to move an inch but after sitting in the same position for almost an hour he definitely couldn't help himself.
"Don't move", the petite boy who served as his painter warned him.
"Maybe we should take a short break?", Merlin asked. "Surely your hand must be exhausted…"
"I'm almost finished", the boy, Rodrick, Merlin recalled his painter's name, replied matter-of-factly.
"Fine", Merlin sighed.
After another ten minutes, Rodrick turned back to him and said with a smile: "It's done."
Merlin smiled back, silently congratulating himself that he survived in one position and didn't change into a living stone. Well, when he thought about it, it wasn't actually so bad. If he became the living stone, he could observe thousands upon thousands of years that passed and learn from it… The thought was really tempting.
But now he came back to reality.
He stood up ignoring painful protests of his old bones and then walked over to Rodrick's masterpiece. He smiled proudly upon seeing it and his portrait-self winked at him.
"Good job, Rodrick. Really good job", he said and the boy in front of him smiled shyly.
"Thank you, master Merlin", he answered and then left the room, letting Merlin do his own job.
Rodrick wasn't sure what Merlin was planning but he knew his master wanted it to stay a secret. So he didn't ask any questions.
Merlin watched his oil-painted replica and hummed to himself. He drew out his wand and directed it into his temple. After a second a silver strand of memories came out of his head. He pointed his wand at the portrait and his memories sank into it.
Merlin's eyes darkened just a little. His brow furrowed. Dark circles that rested under his eyelids were now much more visible and if someone was watching him in that very moment, they could say he looked much older than he actually was.
For a moment he stood there lost in thoughts before he nodded to himself. He revisioned his plans and decisions once again before he was sure that nothing was missing. One mistake could ruin everything. The future depended on it. And as Merlin recalled the image of a girl with long black wavy hair and equally dark eyes he couldn't help but smile sadly. She looked (or rather will be looking) just like him before he left his home and family to fulfill his destiny. She would have to choose just like he once did. He saw it in a vision that appeared in his dreams every so often. He even went to Crystal Cavern to check it out for sure. Now, there was no doubt.
Merlin sighed and then lifted his portrait with his magic. He needed to take the picture to Hogwarts where he could hide it. His painted-self would wait for ages before it would be discovered by that girl.
Where his destiny ended someone else's begun.
