Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Merlin.

Chapter One: The One Who Will Never Die

Merlin stood on the edge of a mist covered lake, watching a long narrow boat sailed towards him. The ferryman as always stood at the back of the boat, with a dark hood pulled lower over his face hiding deep in shadows. The orange glow of the ferryman's lantern did little to comfort him, as they shadows seemed to move on the shore around him as he waited.

Even after all his time the Isles of the Blessed still sent shivers down Merlin's spine. The isle was the heart of the older religion, but there was just something about the place which didn't feel right. Maybe it was to keep people away. A spell cast long ago to keep those who were not welcome away…

The boat bumped against the shore and Merlin stepped on to boat and placed three gold coins in the ferryman's outstretched hand before sitting down. No sooner had he sat down the boat began to move and the ferryman began to guide the boat towards the isle. Merlin glanced round as they passed through an arch. Every time he came here, it looked different… Maybe it was another spell.

Finally the boat stopped in front of some steps and Merlin got to his feet and stepped off the boat and began walking up the steps. He walked through a tunnel and came out into a clearing he remembered all too well.

This was where he had fought and killed Nimueh many, many, many years ago.

And there was someone waiting for him beside the altar. Merlin knew who it was even before they turned to look at him. This was the triple goddess in one of her forms, which meant the reason for Merlin being summoned her was far more important that he had previously thought.

"My Lady," Merlin greeted the goddess, bowing to her. "You summoned me."

"Emrys," The goddess answered, inclining her head slightly. "And I'm indeed grateful that you responded so quickly… Destiny has been changed, Emrys and the fates cannot put it right."

"Why," Merlin paused before continuing. "Why does this matter require your presence, My Lady? It is not often you show yourself in the mortal world and the fates are more than able to speak for themselves."

"Because, Emrys," The goddess replied. "The one who has changed the course of destiny, once held my favour… I speak of Morgana Pendragon."

"But she'd dead," Merlin shook his head. "How could she change the course of destiny if she's of the spirit realm?"

"She has returned to the mortal realm, Emrys," The goddess explained. "And she seeks to rule the land of Albion as she once did in the Golden Age."

"How is that possible?" Merlin asked. "I would have felt a shift in magic…"

"We do not yet know how, Emrys," The goddess turned away from. "All that we know is she has and she had changed the course of destiny by doing so… That is why I summoned you here, Emrys. You are the only one capable of correcting the change."

"How?" Merlin questioned.

"You are Morgana's destiny and you are her doom," The goddess answered. "You know what must be done in the end, Emrys. But first you must take the chosen one's place, for the fate of Albion depends on it."

)o(

Hunith looked down at the child in her arms. Her precious Merlin. She could remember her old life. The life she had before this one. The life where Balinor had been taken from here before she could even tell him he had a son. Uthur had a lot to answer for, but she couldn't and hadn't been able to find it within herself to hold it against him.

He had lost his love in the most terrible way.

But that didn't not excuse the mass murder that followed and nothing ever would. So many innocent people had died, but that was another life and things were different now. Balinor finally had a chance to be a father to his son and Merlin finally had a chance to grow up knowing what having a father felt like.

Smiling down at her some, Hunith couldn't help but think back to what the goddess had said when she had placed the newly made baby Merlin in her arms… She couldn't help but worry about her son's future. She knew he was immortal and that he had lived through so many things, but it was her duty as a mother to worry.

And her son would soon be finding himself in the middle of a war that was never supposed to be his to fight. Oh, how she worried! Why did the fate of an entire kingdom always have to rest on the shoulders of her son? Why did the fates have to pick him for such a dangerous and stressful task? She'd seen how hard Merlin had fought when he had served for Arthur and she had seen how much he had lost and sacrificed in the process. Not to mention how many times his own life had been in danger.

Suddenly the front door to their home was thrown open and the sound of footsteps running through the hall could be heard. They paused for a moment and Hunith was about to call out when a voice beat her to it.

"Hunith, my love," The panicked voice of Balinor reached her. "Where are you?"

"Upstairs," Hunith answers. "In Merlin's room."

The sound of footsteps on the stairs echoed through the house and Merlin stirred in her arms but did not wake. The door to the room swished open and Balinor stood in the doorway looking half crazed. He quickly made his way over to Hunith and pulled her to her feet, being careful not to disturb Merlin in her arms.

"You must leave," Balinor said. "You must leave before they come, my love."

"Who?" Hunith asked, as Balinor guided her out of the room towards their bedroom.

"There isn't time," Balinor answered as he pulled out his wand and began to pack a suitcase for Hunith. "Be safe, my love. I will find you as soon as this is over and I have shown them the truth. But for now it is safer if they do not know about you and our son."

"Balinor-" Hunith began, but Balinor smiled at her and waved this wand with a muttering of words and she was no longer standing in the bedroom of her home, but standing in front of a bus stop. And when Hunith looked at the time table, she noticed a bus that went to where her brother lived with due in three minutes.

"Balinor," Hunith whispered as she held Merlin to her chest, who was still thankfully asleep. "Be safe, my heart."

)o(

"Caroline!" The cheerful voice of Hunith's brother greeted her. "What a lovely surprises!"

"Hello Richard," Hunith answered.

"Well don't just stand there," Richard grinned. "Come in! Come in!"

Hunith walked past him and into the house. Richard quickly shut the door and took Hunith's suitcase.

"I'll put this in the spare bedroom," Richard told her before disappearing up the stairs.

Hunith looked down at Merlin who was still asleep in her arms. She smiled at him and run her hand along one of his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, my little bird," She whispered. "I wish things could have been different this time… Your father won't be coming back, I know he won't."

Hunith looked up as she heard her brother's footsteps on the stairs.

"So where is that husband of yours?" He asked. "Sirius Black, was it?"

"He gone," Hunith answered.

"Gone?" Her brother asked.

"Yeah," Hunith answered sadly. "He's gone… It was the only way he could protect us."

Richard reached forward and placed a hand on Hunith's shoulder.

"You can stay here as long as you need to, dear sister," He told her.

"Thank you," Hunith smiled.

But she wouldn't be staying long. As soon as she could she'd be moving again. Who knew if those who were after Balinor would come after her too?

)o(

Samhain Greetings! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Until next time,

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.