Disclaimer - I do not Nor claim to own Merlin, and I write purely for entertainment purposes.
And a massive thank you! to my Beta. Who is an amazing fanfic writer. ivory-sword
Anyway On with the Show!
Our house was small and basic, quite dilapidated you might say, but the roof was safe and kept us warm, away from the harshness of the winter months. It was lovely in the summertime and when the sun was high, we would often leave our door open to allow the warm breeze to flow in. The village was small so we all knew each other and were like a big family. We had very little material possessions as our needs were basic. When you have no money you don't realize what you're missing. "What you don't have you will never miss," my mother had often repeated when I was younger. I knew she never had the money for things that I had once secretly desired when I was younger but a girl can dream can't she?
Not now though. As I have grown, I have learned to count my blessings and appreciate the important parts of life like family, those you can rely upon in times of great need and, of course, good health. If you had all that, what else would you need?
I suppose a master and lady of a household might grow accustomed to fine food and wine, silk sheets, goose feathered pillows, and entertainment to fill them with joy and occupy their time. What a strange way to live a life, constantly concerned with everything they don't have or the latest fashion that they don't realise what they do have - their family and friends. I mean if you took away a high borns' wealth and status where would they be, and what would they have left?
Ealdor does not have any of this, but we are full of life and love, among some of the most honourable of people you could ever hope to meet. We were all neighbours and we helped each other out. If food ran scarce at any time, especially in the winter, we would share. Though sometimes we had little to spare, my mother and I still gave when we were able. I'm sure the nobles had food left to throw away for they never think of anyone else but themselves and their wealth. Although I have never met a nobleman or noblewoman, I could not see myself curtsying to someone like that. How would I know if they were worthy of my respect or admiration? I suppose I have somewhat of a grudge against nobles. My best friend Will and I had grown up with a hatred of nobles and under the impression that they only think and look out for themselves like a pack of wolves keeping to their own little high class group and thinking that everyone else who was not of noble birth was below them, as if just a rug.
Sigh ...
Poor Will.
Will was from a noble background. His family had lived in Cenred's Kingdom but he was decent and kind, caring, lovable...
Anyway, nothing like a conceited, arrogant, annoying, prat, 'I'm better than anyone' attitude.
His father was a soldier of the highest ranking, Captain of the Guard, but he died when Will was just a small boy of five. Will used to tell me that he couldn't really remember anything about his father except the smell of the forest. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, but I decided not to push. I could see how painful it was for him to talk of past events even if he had no memory of them. When Will's mother, Sophie, had gone to the king to ask for help with their money problems after he had lost his life fighting, the king refused, and she lost everything: the house, all her friendships... People of noble ranking whom she believed she could turn to for help had all turned their backs on her. As soon has she was no longer wealthy no one would talk to her. That's when she had moved to Ealdor my mother had become best friends with her, comforting her in her hour of need. Usually they would have talked well into the night. I don't really remember this but, as Will and I were so young at the time, we used to fall asleep together and, when we were around ten, we started sneaking out together to climb up fences in a neighbouring filed, staring up at the moon in awe of how big it was.
Years earlier ...
Two children snuck out the back way of a small hut, sniggering to each other, running down the pathway leading to a large filed.
"Hurry up, Merlin, come on you're so slow," the boy huffed in annoyance, running backwards and smirking at the girl.
"Am not! You try running in a dress!"
Will wrinkled his nose at the very idea. "No thanks, I'm good!" Turning back around he dashed away leaving Merlin behind him. "See you there!" he half shouted, waving his hand.
Merlin stopped where she was and glared at the boy who was no longer within sight. "No fair. Wow," she breathed as she looked up to the Midnight sky. "The stars they're so... sooo..."
"Beautiful?" came a feminine voice. Merlin looked up to see a lady dressed in white robes with blue eyes that could rival the midday sky and long blonde hair curving to just below her hips. Merlin couldn't help but stare at this woman.
"My mother told me not to talk to anyone I don't know," Merlin said, backing away. She was about to run for it when the lady spoke again, her voice full of sorrow yet so sincere.
"Please! I don't mean to frighten you, my dear." She bent down on her knees, coming to Merlin's level but still taller than her. The golden haired lady smoothed out her dress looking very regal indeed. Once she had finished, she looked Merlin straight in the eyes. It made Merlin feel nervous yet oddly comforted, as though she had seen this lady before.
"Please my dear, I just... I just need some help; you see I'm very lost, I don't know quite where I am."
"You're in Ealdor," Merlin whispered, still taking in her presence.
"I...I don't know quite where that is." The lady seemed sad, then her eyes lit up. "Is it anywhere near Camelot?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know where that is. This here," Merlin said gesturing with her arms outstretched. "This is Ealdor, in the land of Essitr."
"Well this is very disappointing. I have to get home to my boy, you see, he hasn't seen me yet. He will be wanting his Mother. I must get home to him with all hast!" The lady seemed quite panicked and begin pacing up and down the pathway.
"Merlin! MERLIN! Where are you? Are you hiding because if you are that's not funny." Merlin looked up the path to see Will running towards her. Once he was in sight of her he stopped, narrowing his eyes at her. "Hey, what gives? I thought you were coming."
"Is that my boy?" the lady asked, pointing to Will. She seemed to be in a strange sort of trace. "It is!" she screamed making Merlin recoil back. Merlin watched as the lady ran up to Will. To her shock the golden lady ran straight through Will.
Merlin screamed, startling Will, "What… What is it? What's going on?" He looked around frantically, trying to find the source of Merlin's fright, but just seeing an empty filed.
"She… Sh... she." Pointing, Merlin looked at Will. "What do you mean what am I screaming at? You're telling me you didn't see that? She ran straight through you!"
Will looked at Merlin in concern, then ran up to her and deftly placed his hand on her forehead. "Merlin are you feeling alright?"
"Of course I am!"
She looked over at the lady who now had her back to them and held her hands to her chest. "Will, can you give me a minute? I'll come to the filed in a second. I have to, you know..." She gestured wildly with her head to the trees.
"Huh?" Will gave a confused look.
"You know go."
"Ohhhh, girls!" Will sighed and started to mutter as he ran up the path.
Merlin let a small giggle leave her lips as she turned her head back to the unknown guest, turning serious she walked to her side.
Merlin put her hand out to touch the woman but stopped in midair recalling how she'd gone straight through Will. A bemused look spread on Merlin's face.
Silence was in the air for a few minutes. She started up at the woman, She was obviously thinking about someth...
"You know what?" the lady asked, interrupting Merlin's thoughts. She looked up to the lady as she looked down.
"What?"
"I think I knew all along that I'm no longer part of this world." She pointed up to the sky. "Just look... Merlin was it?"
Merlin just nodded, half wanting to run away, half finding herself intrigued by the golden beauty.
"See how beautiful that is? Only a short while ago I could be seen and heard. My husband and I would just lie on the top of the castle, talking about the future, our future, and our sons." She placed her hands on her stomach.
But she didn't look pregna... wait, did she just say castle!
She didn't know what possessed her to do this but she felt herself needing... to know?
"Errrm, What's your son's name?"
She gave Merlin a smile. "My boy." She widened her smile if that was even possible. "My boy is called Arthur."
"That name sounds really familiar. Are you sure you're not from around here?"
"Yes, little one." She seemed to stare at Merlin, turning serious. "I can tell we will meet again. There's something about you, Merlin. I just can't quite put my finger on it."
Merlin looked at the woman, then looked away puzzled by her words. when she turned back the woman was gone. Merlin spun around, wondering if she was somehow facing the wrong way.
/
One hour later Merlin and Will were making their way back home, just in time to sneak back into their beds.
"Will?"
"Yeah?"
"Do we know someone called Arthur?"
Will seemed to be considering this."No... no, no I don't think so. I've heard of an Arthur though."
"Oh really? Who's that?" Merlin asked casually.
"The prince of Camelot."
Merlin stopped dead in her tracks. Ok now she was definitely confused. If what Will said was true and Arthur really was the woman's son then that would make her the...
"Queen." Merlin breathed, stunned.
Since that day Merlin had never seen the golden haired lady again.
/
The Present
I was in my room tidying up – Mother had always taught me to be house-proud - when there was a knock at the door.
"Merlin, can you get that?" my mother yelled "I'm busy"
"Well, I'm busy!" I shouted back, carrying on brushing my hair. It went quiet, then another knock. I huffed out in anger.
"Merlin, please. I'm trying to finish off this dress for Anna. I haven't got the time, come along!" my mother yelled out to me again.
I groaned but relented, dropping my brush. My hands were starting to ache anyway, that and the fact that I had not long finished sweeping out the entire house. I walked to the door almost tripping over some of Mother's cloth on the floor. I was just so clumsy, always doing that.
"Careful Merlin, we don't want to have another incident like last time." My mother smiled up at me from the floor in the far corner with a needle and thread in her mouth, and I shot her a look.
"Let's not go there again shall we?" I silently repressed a smile and, after ignoring the laughter behind me, I opened the door and revealed Will leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, smile on his lips. He was always shorter than me growing up, but I suppose I was tall for my age. I had loved teasing him so about it, but now it had all reversed. I was now the one having to lean up to kiss. He was probably about a foot taller than me now. I crossed my own arms against my chest, mimicking him. We stood there for about a minute before I finally spoke up.
"Happy name day Merlin, Sixteen hmm, my you're getting old, oh and look." He pointed at her hair "Is tha… tha... a grey hair?!"
"What!" I ran to a mirror. "No way!" I started picking at my hair looking in the mirror. I stopped when I heard him laughing at the door. "That is not funny Will!"
When he'd finally finished, I snorted looking at him. The nerve. A grey hair? I don't know who was more of a prat, him for telling me I had a grey hair, or me for believing him!
"Well, what can I do for you today? Or do you just intend to stand there like a statue?" His face went unreadable as he looked me up and down.
Then a smirk played on his lips. "Oh no, that will never do. You can't go dressed like that." He pointed to my dress which, after a morning of cleaning, was rather dirty.
"What, huh, we haven't made any plans to go anywhere have we? We agreed not to make any fuss about today," I said, confusion clear in my face.
"No, you agreed that, and as to where we are going, you'll just have to wait and see." His smirk turned into a genuine smile.
"Ooookkk, now I'm getting suspicious. You can forget it. I'm not going out anywhere with you, William," I objected, placing my hand on my hip objectionably.
Mother came up from behind me and put her hands on my shoulders, steering me to the bedroom. "All you do is work, Merlin. You're allowed some fun every now and then. Now you will go out and you will have a good time."
"Why do I get the feeling that you and Will have been plotting this?" My theory was soon confirmed when my mother flashed Will a knowing smile.
Oh no...
/
A few minutes later I left the hut throwing a cream shawl around my shoulders. Sometimes I wished I could wear a fancy dress, just for Will, I know he says he loves me the way I am and I believe him, but I sometimes feel that he deserves much more, but when he looks at me I feel like the only girl in his life and I tell him as much.
Will walked up to me, that silly grin plastered on his face. He was definitely up to something. We walked for a while, passing the small but busy markets in Ealdor. For a small town we seem to be always bustling around, one thing or another that needed doing. Picking up on this I remembered I was supposed to fix the broken drawers in my room.
"Will, hold on I forgot to..."
"Oh no you don't! Merlin, you never stop, and I will make you one way or another."
I smiled at him."How is it you always get your own way?" I nudged into his side, more of a comment than a question. I looked up to the sun still walking, Big mistake. My eyes went blurry for a Second. "My, isn't the sun hot today, " I commented trying to focus.
"And yet," he turned to me, "You wear a shawl. Merlin you do realise you're like an old woman right?"
I linked my arm with his and ignored him looking to my side. I could tell the bakers had been hard at work as the smell of freshly baked bread filled the air. I was never much of a big eater. Mostly when I was younger we just ate porridge unable to afford anything else. But as my mother gained higher paid work as a seamstress, and had more coins I still wouldn't eat I suppose that is why I was and am now painfully thin, although I would never admit that to will.
Sigh
Oh well...
"Well, we're here!" Will presented to me with his arms stretched out. I blinked, confused. "Errrm, Will, what am I looking at?"
All I could really see was a large white and black, I think Stallion. With a large Red rug over the Horses back.
"The horse. I have somewhere I have to show you."
/
Two hours later we had arrived at this unknown place. I had no idea where I was, but I was so glad that William had brought me here.
"It's beautiful," I breathed. I stared at the picturesque vision before me. Just before me was a blue lake with a small waterfall. The sun glittered off of the water; it was so blue you could practically see straight through it. The grass surrounding it looked so lush and green. A magnitude of flowers growing everywhere seemed to create a carnival of colour. The trees were so high they could reach into the clouds for all I knew.
My jaw dropped.
"What is th... oh my, I can't believe my eyes. Not to sound ungrateful, but what is all of this for?"
"What? Can't I do something special for the woman I love?" He flashed me a smile followed by a wink. "Now give me your hands and close your eyes."
I gave him my hands, but refused to close my eyes. "I'm not closing my eyes William Smith! I still remember all of those times as children you tricked me into closing my eyes so you could put something horrible down my back like that mouse. Need I say more?" He just burst into laughter. "It's not funny!" I snapped back trying to contain my own laughter. I supposed it was kind of funny. Wait, why was he still laughing? "It's not that funny." I took my hands back. "That's it. I'm going."
"No no! Wait, I'm sorry. Please Merlin, trust me," Will implored.
"I must be mad to be so in love with you Mr. Smith, but I am."
I gave him my hands and smiled at him, as he returned, "I'll always love you Merlin, for better or for worse."
Three years earlier...
"Hey Merlin!" a very excitable girl by the name of Anna said with a smile plastered on her face, waving and jumping up and down, beckoning Merlin over.
"What's going on?" Merlin asked noticing the big crowd of people.
"It's a magic show!"
"I think I've had enough of magic for a lifetime" Merlin muttered. Anna turned back to her.
"Huh?"
"Oh nothing." The girl smiled looking innocent.
The girl looked around spotting Will. He had such a uniqueness to him she would be able to pick him out from anywhere. He must have noticed her too as he flashed her a loving smile. She returned the smile just as enthusiastically. She turned her head back and looked around when she noticed that everyone seemed to be separated into boys and girls. She didn't quite understand so she asked the brunette opposite her about it.
"Oh, yeah he said we needed to split up, I think its part of the magic trick," she whispered, shrugging, just as unknowing as Merlin.
"Oh! I see we have some volunteers. May I have one of you two girls please?" He walked over to the now blushing girls. None of them spoke for a minute or two until Anna practically pushed Merlin into the centre. As the man whipped back around finding a boy, Merlin gave Anna a glare, now suddenly feeling very conscious and trapped.
Whenever she felt trapped or scared, her magic would act up, outside of her control.
Not good.
To make matters worse he had chosen Will.
"Right!" the man shouted clapping and rubbing his hands together. "Who's ready to see some magic!" People all around began yelling until he shushed them.
But just before he carried on, a bang was heard in the distance. Everyone turned their heads and silence fell upon them, until...
A group of men on horseback appered, ridding hard for the village. Their weapons were dawn and they were shouting. People started to scream and fighting broke out as the villagers turned to defend their home. Merlin reached out and Will grabbed her hand.
"Merlin come on!" Will all but screamed grabbing a sword off of the man's magic trick cart. He ran, dragging Merlin behind him. "Merlin! Whatever you do, stay close to me!".
Merlin looked around, no longer holding onto Will. She could see the seriousness of what was happening. People were being knocked to the ground all around her. Her eyes filled with horror. Some of the men had maces and swords.
Her mother...
She ran as fast as she could to try and get to her mother. She narrowly avoided many men, all with the look of one purpose on their mind.
Death.
She could finally see her mother and that she was ok. Merlin breathed a sigh of relief. She felt torn about what to do: go back to Will or stay by her mother. This was just so absurd. Why were these men attacking Ealdor? She didn't have time to think as a man ran after Hunith, following her into the house. Without a second thought Merlin ran after them into the house, not knowing what she would actually do. When she reached her door she saw a man backing her mother into a corner and grabbing her by the throat.
Time stood still and she stepped into her house, unaware that Will had also just stepped inside. Merlin's eyes turned a shade of gold as she reached out her arm and grasped the invisible air. The man let go of Hunith and quickly put his hands to his throat turning to Merlin, trying to remove the invisible force that was stopping him from breathing.
Will's Jaw dropped, gob smacked.
Hunith brought him back to reality, pleading with Merlin. "Let go, Merlin. You're not a murderer. Let go, Sweetheart!" It all seemed to fall on deaf ears untill Will stepped in front of Merlin, throwing his arms around her waist and pulling her into a deep kiss. The tight force around the man's throat seemed to drop, and he fell to the floor trying to catch his breath. He stumbled several times before he made his way out of the hut.
Everything seemed to quiet down outside, and Hunith confirmed that the fighting had stopped. Merlin dropped to her knees crying hysterically into Will's jacket. He sat there cradling her for a long time. Merlin's mother had left to check on the rest of the village she knew Merlin was in safe hands with Will.
Will just sat there giving Merlin all the time she needed. When she finally lifted her head, she met Will's big brown eyes.
"You must think me a monster."
"No! No I don't. I think you're brave and wonderful and gifted and..."
"What?" Merlin begged, hoping to hear what she wanted to hear.
"And," he continued, cupping her face, "for better or for worse I will still be in love with you."
"Close your eyes Merlin..."
/
Back in the present
"I'll close my eyes under one condition."
"Ok, now it's my turn to be suspicious," Will said with a grin.
"What's the condition?"
"Kiss me," I said and he did.
/
That day In Camelot...
An older woman with long, receding, grey hair covered by an equally grey cloak walked down a narrow street avoiding eye contact with passersby. Rage and anger filled her mind, and she was heedless to the marketers' shouting as they waved their valued goods at the citizens. She focused solely on the cobbled stones leading her to a small, one-roomed building. Her home consisted of only the barest necessities for her and her family. As she entered, she glanced across the room until her eyes landed on her husband, Thomas. He stood and approached her.
"What news, Albiona? Are they hearing him, are they letting him go?" he asked his wife.
"What do you think?" she said, voice full of hatred. "Of course they won't. All that matters and all that ever matters is that our son has magic!"
"Well, that's it then. There is nothing else we can do." Albiona shot him a look.
"Albiona, I'm not losing you too. I know he's our son and I love him just as much as you do! But..."
"But what? He is my son, Tom. I am not losing him. I will die before I allow Uther Pendragon to steal my son away just because he used and practised the art of magic. You may have given up hope, but I have certainly not."
"I'm sure in time things shall get better, you will see, like it was once before magic was forbidden."
"All lies. Things will never improve while he is still on the throne. Do you want to know what I remember about before?"
"Albiona, just don't, no more!" he shouted in despair.
"You may not remember."she sneered at him. "But I do!"
She gazed at him intently, narrowing her eyes at him. "Smoke filled rooms."
She began gesturing wildly with her hands. "The smoke rose so high that faces were mere shadows of what were once lives. Empty. Life was completely obsolete. Bygone were the days of life and laughter. They had been replaced by screams until the midnight oil had been burnt. All because of men, men in metal helmets and swords that spoke of a history of destroyed worlds and beings with no care for what once was and what could have been. All because of him pointing his hand in our direction determined no matter the coast, no matter the families that would be forced to split in half. He has ruined children's lives with his arrogance and hateful attitude. Oh yes, it was easy for him just to sit there and, with one word, command a life, even the life of a child. What harm could a child possibly be to a powerful king who just sits on his throne and commands a cross for children to burn? The screams, oh it was hard to watch as grown men cried and begged for their lives, but to watch them beg for their sons… But of course, they had forgotten who they were speaking to. Oh yes, they had forgotten about all those before them who had done the same. He must have heard it all so often that he was oblivious to the cries of mothers on their knees, begging him to take them instead. It did not matter though for it all had fallen on deaf ears. That's what I remember!" And, before he had a chance to respond,
Albiona rushed out the room with him calling after her.