We Meet Again

I finished Merlin last week, and I'm still suffering a little bit of end-of-show depression, so I figured I'd get it out by writing a fanfiction.

Merlin has been waiting a thousand years for Arthur's return, but someone else from his past shows up instead, confusing everything he's ever believed or felt. Rated T because I'm not yet sure where it's going, so I figured I'd be safe. Mergana.

I do not own Merlin. If I did, Morgana and Merlin would be together and magic would be allowed in Camelot and Arthur would never die, and it would probably be a pretty boring show.

Merlin glanced at the Coldbrooke Daily Newspaper. "Controversy over New Windmills" read one headline, while another claimed "School Art Show on Wednesday Sure to Be Amazing". It was the same as usual, same as every day. Nothing new ever happened in Coldbrooke, and Merlin liked that. After a thousand years of running, it was good to take some time to rest.

Ever since Arthur's death, Merlin had been running, using magic to remain in one place as long as possibly before his age required him to move on. In the year 2005, he'd come to Coldbrooke, a small coastal town in the United States. Initially, he had intended it as a short vacation, just a month or two to rest, but he'd quickly found himself falling in love with every aspect of the town. A few months had turned into a year which had become a few years before Merlin had time to think. And so, in that way, Merlin had now been in Coldbrooke for 6 years.

In these six years, nothing exciting had happened. It differed greatly from his time in Camelot, each adventure followed by another with enemies attacking from all angles and no time to think or rest. Coldbrooke was all rest. A day of work followed by a night of reading and cable filled Merlin's time. Currently, Merlin was working as a high school history teacher.

He liked this job. A hundred kids streamed through his door every year, seeking help with homework, friendships, families. His relationships with students were often greater than that of a student and teacher, rather more like a mentor. He found great pride in being able to help so many, never before had he been able to reach out to such great numbers at once.

This particular day was a Monday; so many students were unfocused and tired. When Merlin began to speak, many perked up.

"I understand it's first period on a Monday, so we're going to do something fun today. I'd like to simply tell you a story."

The class murmured their support for this plan and put their heads down on their desks.

"Once, in a kingdom an ocean away and a thousand years ago lived a prince."

"Was he handsome?" This question came from Grace, a sweet girl in the first row.

"I suppose you could say he was, but you could also say he was privileged, overconfident, a little rude, and really just a prat overall. Regardless, he was the prince. Now the king at the time was even worse than his son, ruthless and uncompromising. There were rules banning nearly everything, and the idea of equality was foreign. Many did not agree, including the prince's half sister. She rebelled, fighting to gain freedom and equality."

"Sounds hot," Andrew, a jock, commented from the back of the room.

"Oh, she was." Merlin continued. "Skin white as snow with hair the color of a ravens' feathers and eyes as green as the leaves in the spring. And she was kind, her heart full of love and compassion for the suffering of others. But her father's ruthless reign upset her, and she fought against him, their struggle ultimately ending in his death. But this did not satisfy her. She wanted more, she wanted the kingdom. So she fought against the prince, who fought back even harder. In the end, they both died, fighting for what they each believed to be right." Merlin stopped then, caught up in the memories, as a silence descended upon the class.

It was quickly broken by Joe, the outgoing student body president. "That's interesting and all, but what does it have to do with what we're studying?" Merlin took a pause before responding.

"What sort of teacher would I be if I just gave you all the answers? I'd like you all to write a paragraph answer to Joe's question to be turned in to me tomorrow in class" As he was finishing speaking, the bell rang and the students rushed from the room.

~oOo~

Merlin finished all his grading by 3:30, and departed from the school. The sun shone brightly, and the sky was a perfect shade of blue, which was good because Merlin had to walk. His walk was short, only a few blocks, but he took his time, leisurely enjoying the beautiful spring weather. At times like this, he could almost imagine he was still in Camelot, hunting with Arthur as they shot insults at each other. Then a car would fly by, and the moment would quickly be over.

He was just passing the common when an unfamiliar sensation stopped him. It was almost like… magic. Something involving magic was happening at the common. Could it be Arthur's return? At last? Without second thought, Merlin hurried to the common to find the source of his sensation. He knew upon arrival exactly what had caused it, and the face he saw stirred millions of conflicting emotions inside him. He wasn't sure whether to hug her or kill her, so instead he just said her name.

"Morgana!"

"Merlin?" The questioning tone in her voice was undoubtedly fake, as she had obviously been expecting his arrival.

"Morgana, what are you doing here?"

"What, are you the only one who can live for a thousand years?"

"But…You're not supposed to be alive….I….I killed you."

"I know, it was rather unpleasant, not something I'd like to repeat."

"I buried your body."

"Yes, I watched. You cried. It was quite sad; really not something I'd like to repeat."

"Then how are you here?" Merlin's tone was growing sharper, less patient.

"So eager to get to the explanation are you? Why can't we just catch up like old friends?"

"Morgana, I'm not your friend."

"You were once." The look that flashed in Morgana's eyes right then was almost like regret, but Merlin knew that could not be true. Morgana had nothing left in her but greed and hate.

"Just tell me how you're here Morgana; I'm too old for games"

"Well you've aged rather well."

"Morgana…" He warned.

"Well it's a long story…" She smiled in a way that reminded him of the Morgana he once knew before she had changed.