Chapter One Escaped


"FREYA!" Merlin yelled, waking himself up.

Sun was shining threw the curtains in his chmabers, signalling it to be morning.

His breaths were heavy and beads of sweat were forming on his forehead.

He dreamt the day Freya died, but he gained something precious out of it. A daughter.

"Raven" he breathed.

Throwing the covers back, he jumped out of bed, quickly threw on his jacket which was hanging on a chair and ran to the room next door. he opened the door and smiled at the sight before him. His daughter sound asleep in a bed to big for her. When Freya was able to talk, she and Merlin had an aruguement about where she would be sleeping.


Flashback

"I want my own room, daddy. I want to have my own big bed. Then I will feel like a princess."

Merlin and Raven were in her father's chambers. She was sitting on the edge of his bed while Merlin was kneeling in front of her.

"For four years, I've slept here with you. I'm five now daddy. Please" Raven pouted with blue puppy eyes.

Merlin could never win an arguement when she does that. A trick her mother used to do to with him.

Merlin sighed "You are just like your mother, Raven. I never win an arguement."

Raven giggled "Alright. I will speak to Arthur about it."

Raven stood on the bed and starting jumping up and down, squealing with excitement.

End of flashback


After that, Arthur walked in and Merlin explained. Arthur gave permission for his neice to have the empty room next door.

Merlin knelt down by the bed and stroked her cheek "I never forgave myself for that day. I could of saved her. Thats why I love you, sweetheart."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead "I'm gonna protect you and keep you safe. Something I failed to do with your mother. I've lost one of my girls and I don't want to lose another."

A tear appeared in his eyes as she started to wake up. Her eyes cracked half open with unfocused eyes.

Merlin couldn't help but laugh "Morning, sweetie."

Raven yawned. Her eyes opened and more and she frowned when she saw a tear running down her father's cheek.

"Daddy, why are you crying?"

He smiled "Daddy had a nightmare and wanted to see you."

Raven threw back her covers, revealing her pink nightdress. She threw her arms round his neck.

"You hug me when I have a nightmare, so I'm hugging you."

Merlin wrapped his arms round his daughter "I love you so much, Raven" he whispered

"Love you too, daddy" she whispered back.

Merlin sniffed and pulled away "Come on. Lets get dressed and see Uncle Arthur, shall we?"

"Yeah!" she yelled.

Merlin stood up as Raven hurried over to her wardrobe. With a huge pull, she yanked it open and started looking through her clothes.

"While you pick out what your going to wear, I'll go and get dressed myself.

"Ok"

He hurried out the room and closed the door behind.


Entering his room, he was surprised to see his brother standing by the window, impatiently tapping his right foot. His hand were on his hips

"Arthur?"

He turned round swiftly and breathed a sigh of relief "Merlin, there you are. Where's Raven?"

"Shes in her room, choosing which dress to wear."

I need to talk to you."

"Can I get changed first?"

Arthur nodded as he made his way to the wardrobe, pulling out a few clothes and going behind the screen.
"Will she be alright?"

"Yeah. She'll be about fifteen-twenty minutes"

"Getting ready?"

"No, choosing a dress"

Arthurs eyes widened "Why, how many has she got?"

"Morgana asked Gwen to make her fifty dresses for her fifth birthday"

Arthur tilted his head "Thats generous"

"I wouldn't call it that when you paid for all of them"

"WHAT!" he yelled

Merlin came out of the screen, laughing. He was wearing his usual attire: Brown trousers with colour matching boots, red shirt with a brown jacket and a blue neckerchief round his neck. A brown thin belt hanged on his waist.

"Calm down, Arthur. She paid half."

Arther sighed angrily

"I thought she told you"

"She told me nothing"

Merlin sighed "So what did you want to talk about?"

"Well-"

He was interupted buy a knocking.

"Daddy?"

Merlin hurried over and opened it revealing a very stressed Raven, trying to pull a brush out of her hair

"Its stuck" she simply said.

Merlin looked over his shoulder when heard Arthur laugh

It's not funny!" Raven said bursting into tears.

Merlin looked round at his daughter "It hurts"

He bent down and picked her up "Arthur?"

He silenced "Shut up?"

"Thank-you"


Merlin took her back to her room and sat her down in front of her vanity mirror. Slowly and gently, he detangled the knots and brushed it out. Her hair was raven black think curly locks (hence her name) that hung down to her waist. She refused to have it cut and she only allowed Merlin to touch it.

"So you finally choose that one" he said referring to her green dress with a silver belt, hanging loosley on her hips. On her feet were gold flats with a silver bow.

"Yep." she answered. "This one was the first one Gwen made. Its just like 'Gana's only...its...smaller." She finished with a smile

Merlin looked at her in the mirror. Shes Freya's girl alright, he thought to himself.

When he finished he placed the brush down and kissed her head "Done. Happy?"

She looked up and nodded "Thank-you".

She jumped of the chair and ran out the room.

Merlin followed her into his chambers.


"Arfur!"

She spun round in front of him.

"How do I look?"

Arthur smiled "Like a princess"

"Thats because I am a princess"

"Um, sweetie, Arthur wants to talk to me, why don't you-"

"Kilgah!" she yelled running over to the window.

"Kilgarrah, sweetie" he corrected with a smile.

Merlin sat at the table with Arthur

"Merlin, you might have to prepare yourself for a bit of a shock as its about Raven."

Merlin frowned "How do you mean?"

Arthur sighed "Do you remember about a year ago, we captured that sorcerer?"

Merlin thought for a second "Alvarr?"

"Yes. What did I tell you the reason was?"

"Because he betrayed Camelot."

The prince shook his head "I lied"

As Merlin was sat facing his daughter, he glanced over before leaning forward "What has this got to do with Raven?" he whispered

"Everything I'm afraid"

Merlin leaned back in the chair, looking worried "Go on"

Arthur sighed again and rubbed his face with his hands "God, this is hard"

He turned round at his neiece and smiled. Turning back round he explained "Alvarr wasn't arrested for betrayal, but for murder. Freya didn't go into labour...natarually."

Merlin felt anger rise inside him "What happened?"

"Alavrr knew that a child born with two parents, one a druid and the other and warlock or sorcerer, would be a very precious and...valuable baby. So he used magic to...spead up the process."

"He was gonna sell my DAUGHTER?!"

Merlin curled his hand in a fist and banged it on the table.

Hearing it, Raven turned round, took no notice and looked back to the window. The dragon had long flew away so she settled on watching some knights train on the field below.

"I don't know why he wanted her, but the magic was too strong. Thats why Freya died. But it made Raven live."

"So I couldn't of saved her with my magic anyway."

Arthur shook his head "No, Merlin. When you reached her, Freya was too far away to be called back."

Confusion was on Merlin's face "Wait, why are you telling me this NOW!"

"Because Alvarr has escaped the palace dungeons.

"HE'S WHAT!" Merlin yelled standing up.

"Daddy?"

Merlin looked to his daughter.

"What, sweetie?"

"Theres man outside in a black hooded cloak staring at me."

The warlock hurried over and pulled her away from the window. Arthur rushed over to look and could of sworn he saw him smirk before he vanished.

"Merlin you and Raven need to leave."

"But where, where would we go?"

"Ealdor?"

There was a noise in the corridor followed by a yell "WHERE IS SHE?!"

Merlin grabbed Raven's hand which he held tightly to.

Arthur had an idea "Merlin,Raven in the cupboard now. Don't come out till I tell you."

With a nod, Merlin hurried in and closed the door in time as the chamber's doors swung open

"Arthur"

"Alvarr"


Raven was breathing heavy so was Merlin. He bent down in front of her and saw tears running down her cheeks. Merlin muttered a spell so any noise coming from either of them wouldn't be heard from anyone outside, unfortunatly it worked both ways so they couldn't hear what was going on in the room. He wiped away the tears with his thumbs. "Its okay" he whispered "You're okay. I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt you."

"I'm scared daddy" she whimpered "Who is he? Will Uncle Arthur be alright?" She was shaking while she cried.

Merlin felt his heart break to see his daughter in a state.

He kissed her forhead "I don't know, sweetie."

He slowly stood up "Don't make a sound" he whispered to Raven who nodded.

He held her hand as he peered through the keyhole of the cupboard. Just in time to see Arthur being pushed back onto the floor and Alvarr leaving.
He closed the doors behind and Merlin released the spell.

"Merlin"


The warlock opened the door and Raven ran over to him.

"Arthur?"

"I'm alright, Raven."

Merlin helped lift him up "What did he say?"

Arthur started rubbing his head "Hes mental-"

Before Arthur could say anymore, the doors burst open and a smiling Alvarr wondered in.

"Hello, what have we got here?"

Merlin felt Raven hide behind him, but instead he picked her up and held her close.

"Such a beautiful child."

"You stay away from her, Alvarr. You took my wife's life, YOU WILL NOT TAKE MY DAUGHTER'S. Goodbye, Arthur. Stay safe."

With that said, Merlin and Raven disappeared.

"NOOOOOO!" Alvarr screamed "DAMN IT!" He punched and kicked the door before leaving vanishing himself.


Arthur let out a sigh in relief, then jumped when he heard a familiar small voice in his head.

"Goodbye, Uncle Arthur. Look out the window. Merlin and me love you."

Arthur hurried to the window and smiled when he saw Merlin and Raven holding hands, walking out the Camelot gates.

Raven looked back to see if Arthur was looking. When she saw he was, she smiled and waved.

Merlin looked at her and turned round with a tear to see his brother at the window.

He knew he couldnt come back to Camelot until Alvarr was dead.

Little he know, the sorcerer was hot on his trial.

Watch them both nearby.

Very closely.


Chapter one done

Next chapter coming soon :)