Hello, so I've tried writing this story on multiple occasions but I kept stopping and rewriting and stopping and rewriting. But I finally have a couple chapters written and theater plot outlined in my head so I think this is the final time I will be publishing it!

Well here we go!

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin


Chapter One: A Girl Named Ivy

It was hard for Merlin to see his friend through the tears in his eyes. He tried to wipe them from his face but more came. Arthur was dead and he failed. For the past decade of his life Merlin had done nothing but protect Arthur and ensure that he would one day rule over Albion, and now, Arthur's body was still and cold on a rickety boat.

"Merlin," a girl's voice called from behind him, "I can save him."

Merlin quickly wiped his tears from his face and turned to see this mystery girl. She looked about 18 with long dark hair and tanned skin. She came from wealth, but her dress was torn and dirt stained her face. What struck Merlin though were her eyes. They were a brilliant blue, and when Merlin looked closer they appeared to be glowing. Merlin wiped another tear from his face.

"A sword forged in Dragon's breath killed him, how do you plan on bringing him back?"

"I have a different type of Magic Merlin, upon my birth fate took three unwanted lives. In return she gave me a gift." She looked at the dead king beside him, "but we must hurry, before we lose his soul forever." The girl turned into the woods before quickly resurfacing with 2 horses. "You left yours alone," she brought them over to Merlin. "Please trust me, I need Albion just as much as you do."

Now standing closer to the girl he had noticed she had been crying as well. She reached out and grabbed his arm and Merlin noticed another tear swell in her eye.

Merlin stood still, fascinated by the girl. He recognized her and when she stared up at him he could have sworn he was looking in a mirror. The girl's eyes were filled with an emptiness that he had possessed his entire life. He felt the magic pulsating from her. She smiled briefly but Merlin could tell it was filled with bitter sweetness. The girl then wrapped her arms around Merlin's torso. Merlin welcomed the warmth. They stood like that for a while, the girl sobbing in his arms. The girl eventually pulled back and Merlin, although he knew he shouldn't, felt the need to resist and pull her back. They were approximately the same age yet she seemed childish when she stood next to him.

"I'm sorry," the girl whispered, wiping tears from her eyes. "Follow me," she then climbed on a horse. Signaling for Merlin to do the same.

Merlin followed the girl for what felt like hours, trekking through the forest in silence.

"Where are we going?" Merlin finally asked, not realizing how hoarse his voice was until he spoke.

"A place called Feorh," she answered him quickly and quietly, her own voice hoarse. She then turned and gave him a small smile as if an apology for the lack of answers.

"You look so familiar," Merlin barely whispered this but she heard it.

"We've met once, a long time ago," she smiled, "and we will meet again Merlin."

"When?" But as a response the girl giggled.

"I'm not sure, time is a strange concept." Merlin opened his mouth to respond but instead closed it and remained silent. "I don't know when you know, but you figure it out at one point."

"Figure what out?"

"Even that I don't know, fate is a mysterious thing, young warlock." She changed her voice on the last two words, almost like she was mimicking another person. This made her laugh, which in turn made Merlin smile. He had only seen her as a mournful girl up until this point.

"It's right up here." He noticed her voice crack and the happiness that filled her face was no longer there. She stopped her horse and tied it to a tree before turning and walking behind a bush into a clearing. Merlin mumbled a spell under his breath to help lighten Arthur's weight before following the girl.

There was a small pond that was filled with nothing but darkness, the girl was standing in front of it, looking into the darkness below.

"Place him there," her voice was a lot quieter than it was moments before. Merlin did as he was told.

The girl did nothing but stare at Arthur's body as he lay still and pale in the water.

"Are you alright?" Merlin placed his arm on her shoulder and instantly felt a spark signaling her power. When she turned to him he noticed the tears in her eyes were no longer clear but were glowing a bright blue.

"I'm sorry," she was barely able to speak between sobs, "You don't know what I'm talking about now but you will one day." She gripped his hand hard, "I wasn't there in the time that I was needed most and I regret that every second of my life." She took a couple of breaths, attempting to calm herself down. "And I want you to know that I was alright, I had a great life. And you were always right about Tom."

"Who?" Merlin instantly pictured Gwen's father.

"It won't make sense now." She shook her head, laughing as she did this, "I hope one day it will make sense." She then turned to the body behind her, "He looks so young and peaceful."

Merlin remained silent, trying to understand anything the girl was saying. She turned back to Merlin and gave him a final hug.

"I guess you were right, that wasn't goodbye." Her words were muffled in his clothing but he heard her perfectly. But just because he heard her doesn't mean he understood.

She pulled back and turned to the dark water, the bottom of her dress disappearing in the dark abyss.

She kneeled beside Arthur and pulled a small vial from her neck, inside was a dark red liquid. She opened it and dabbed it on her fingers. Slowly and carefully she made designs on his forehead. Merlin watched intrigued. The water seemed to overcome them. Every place it touched disappeared into oblivion. The pond couldn't have been more than a foot deep, yet the darkness of the water made it seem to go on forever. Merlin let his fingers dip into the water and instantly magic purged throughout him. He shot his hand back and he heard a slight giggle from the girl. He looked up at her and tears were in her eyes again.

"Is everything okay?" The question seemed forced.

She sat in silence for a couple more moments, her hand resting on his cheek. "It's not now, but it will be." She smiled now, even as a tear fell from her eye. The fluorescent blue teardrop fell into the water beneath them, lighting the pond as it dripped. She began drawing symbols on his wrists as well.

"What's your name?"

"Ivy, My name is Ivy."

"Thank you, Ivy"

"Goodbye, Merlin."

Merlin smiled at her and she looked down and began to recite her spell. He was perplexed by her, she had spoken as if she knew them yet Merlin had no remembrance of her face. And although he was sure he had never seen her before she also had a sense of familiarity.

Merlin felt at peace in the clearing. He hadn't realized it until this point but the only noise heard was their voices and the lapping of the water. No wind could be heard bristling through the trees even though he felt it hit softly against his skin. He saw birds flying above them but even then he did not hear their chirps.

He turned his attention back to Ivy and Arthur. She spoke louder now, reciting her with force.

"Beodan minlif oaet motan eardian ac burhteon forebod. Ciepan minlif lician fero baet aeghwa ane gelice. "

Wind now swirled around them yet the cove remained silent. The water was spinning around them as well, the black water was slowly becoming the bright blue of Ivy's eyes. She repeated her spell again, each time with more force. Until finally the water consumed them.

Everything fell still. Merlin frantically dove into the spot they were just sitting. Ivy and Arthur were both missing and Merlin felt his throat get tight again.

Whenever Merlin would touch the water he felt a shock against his skin, as if the magic was telling him to let it be. After multiple failed attempts, Merlin sat beside the water watching as the water swirled.

It wasn't until the sun had dipped behind the horizon and the stars had begun to appear that Merlin first heard something.

"Merlin," it was Arthur's voice, although tired, it was still Arthur. Merlin shot up from where he was sitting to see his king standing in the now glowing pond. Arthur began to walk towards his servant and Merlin grabbed him, wrapping his arms around him for a hug.

"I thought you were dead," Merlin felt that the king was stiff at first before relaxing.

"So did I."

Merlin pulled back and looked at the bright blue water behind them.

Arthur followed his gaze before looking around the clearing.

Merlin was so distracted by his king before him that he had forgotten about the girl.

"Is something wrong?" Arthur asked, following Merlin's gaze.

"Where did she go?"

"What girl?" Merlin thought he heard a quiver in Arthur's voice but he ignored it.

"Ivy," Merlin paused looking around, "The girl who saved your life."

Arthur remained silent, looking at the floor instead of at Merlin.

"What happened to her?" Merlin reached out to touch Arthur's arm and the king instantly drew back.

"I don't know, Merlin." At this Arthur looked up, a false smile on his face, "but I think Camelot has waited long enough."

Merlin nodded, smiling himself, "It's time for the King to return home."


I hope you liked it!

Please follow/favorite/review it always inspires me to write more!