Mab's Reprieve
A Merlin Alternate Ending - One-Shot Fan Fiction
By BladeOfKeys
My first shot at a one-shot. Might be a bit soppy in places but I think it should be ok.
Please rate and/or review! Thanks!
Mab couldn't believe it. After all she had done for Merlin; he was walking away from her. As if she were no more than a cheap tart on a street corner. The power of the Old Ways was disappearing, she could tell. If people stopped believing, it would disappear and so would she. She refused to let herself be beaten. She screamed Merlin's name at the top of her raspy voice with such desperation that even though he hated everything she had done.
"Why should I listen to you after all the things you have done?" Merlin said calmly at his only remaining family member. "I did those things to ensure our survival, have you not forgotten you were born out of the magic of the old ways?" Mab spat. "I haven't forgotten, but that gives you no excuse to manipulate every single thing in my life to get me to follow you" he retaliated.
Mab looked at the floor at this point, "I am not proud of the things I did, I certainly did not mean to cause you or anyone else any true harm. I knew you were more than capable of defeating the obstacles I set but desperate people do desperate things Merlin. Surely you realise that I would never walk away from you if our roles were reversed?" Merlin, who had looked away when he had finished speaking, looked toward her. For the first time in his life, she had seen her crying.
Only a small bit it was true but they were still tears and his magic told him that she was being sincere. No magic, no matter how powerful could hide the truth from another magic user or deceive them with false emotion. He slowly walked toward her and put his arm around her. She looked at him for a split second and burst into sobbing so hard that when she leant against Merlin's chest, he swore he could feel one his ribs move slightly.
Mab looked at him with tears running down her face. "Merlin, please forgive me" she sobbed. Merlin considered for a second but realised he could never banish someone who had truly wanted redemption. "I'll never forget about you, I will always believe in you, I promise". Suddenly, Mab glowed with a strange purple aura which turned to gold. As quickly as it had come, it was gone.
"I don't believe it" Mab said. She let herself loose from Merlin and looked at herself. She felt stronger than ever before, she wasn't fading away and she knew she never would again. "What happened?" Merlin asked. "If someone promises to never stop believing and they mean it, then the condition of magic existing is lifted" Mab explained. "Merlin, I don't know how to thank you. I promise I will never do anything to hurt you again". The mother and son embraced each other once more, happy their long war was finally over.
Time passed, Mab as a gift to Merlin restored Nimue and gave the two eternal life so their love could be forever. She knew that the time would come when people would accept magic once more, and she would be there to ensure it was used wisely. Eventually, she and her sister reconciled and Mab fell in love with a beautiful woman by the name of Emmah. The two watched over the world and helped people understand the beauty of life.
And without beauty, no matter how distinct or seemingly elusive, the gift of life is one that can be thrown away. In the end, beauty will always tame the beast.
2008-2014 BladeOfKeys