Alright! It's Merlin's dream time! Thanks for all the positive feedback! I am actually really excited about this and in time I will combine it with Bound By Fate. This one will be updated when I feel like it and each dream will reveal more and more to them about each other.
icarusLSU: yay! You crossed over! Lol. I was thinking about it one night and I thought to myself…why not?
Moon Fox: Why the sniffles? Are the sniffles good or bad?
Sjritts: Thanks! I hope you end up liking it.
Bri: Squee! I was going to PM you, but I didn't get around to it. Lol. Morgana did hear the story but she was also eight years old and she might not even remember unless Merlin brings it up. :) Oh yeah…lots more to come with the rebellious side of her.
XxOxX
Morgana collapsed gratefully onto her bedroll. Mordred had spent the day showing her around the camp and introducing her to Ysira, the clan elder. The older woman had a hard, but kind face and steel grey eyes that spoke of quiet suffering. She had taken a long look over Morgana and took her hand, studying it intensely. "You have a long and difficult future ahead of you, child. Like your past. Make no trouble here Morgana, because we druids cannot afford any more." Morded had taken her away from the elderly woman and introduced her to his friends and the rest of the village. Morgana had still not fully recovered from her ordeal in the cold, nor her tumultuous feelings that sill ran through her like wildfire, although being with Mordred had taken her mind off of it, but now in the dark with only her own thoughts to accompany her she had time to think about Merlin and Gwen and Ellie and the little baby that she saved, and even her brother. They would forget about her hopefully, even as she ached to go back, but at the same time loathed it. Being on the cot by herself reminded her painfully of Merlin and while thinking of him she drifted off to sleep.
$%$%$%
Morgana awoke in a small building to a somewhat familiar woman's voice. She was small and it was warm and sunny outside, "Sweetheart, you need to come and eat."
Morgana got up, although she had no control over her body or eyes and walked over to the table where a much familiar woman served her bread and cheese. Tiny hands reached for the meal and started eating it when the dark haired woman sat down.
Morgana knew that this was a dream, but it wasn't like her other dreams, nor her memories. This was the past, because the woman sitting in front of her looked eerily like a much younger and more beautiful Hunith.
This woman had pale skin, and bright blue eyes tinged with a deep sadness. Her dark hair was pulled up off her neck and the hands that ate her meal were calloused. "Now, Merlin, don't rush. You'll get sick."
$%$%$(Merlin's POV)
"I won't get sick, mother. I never get sick."
"There is always a first for everything." Hunith scolded her son, while smiling at him. "You still have your chores."
"I know, Mother." Merlin finished his meal and brushed his curls out of his eyes. "What do I have to do today?"
"Feed the chickens, bathe, make your bed and feed the goats."
"Alright! Bye mother!" Merlin raced out the doors and picked up the chicken feed and sprinkled it where the chickens were. They made noise and raced for the feed, pecking it up with their beaks. He set the bag down in the barrel and gave the goats their feed. He raced back inside and grabbed the bucket to fill with water while his mother grabbed another bucket for milk. She ruffled his hair as he passed and he grinned up at her. Merlin quickly made his bed and went out to the well to get some water. While he was at the well several other boys came up to him.
"Hey Merlin! Want to come to the river to play with us?"
"I can't. I've got chores."
"You're just scared. Scaredy Cat." The other children chanted it and surrounded the well before Merlin set the bucket down.
"Fine! I'll go!" Merlin huffed and crossed his arms.
"Race ya!" Neal announced to them and they all took off down the hill toward the river that was running fat and quick through the bed because of the rain that had fallen the night before. Merlin took one look at the current and stepped back.
"I don't think this is a good idea."
Will shoved him toward the water roughly, "Don't be such a baby, Merlin."
"What kind of a name is that, Merlin?" Henri, a short and weasely looking boy taunted.
Merlin was used to the criticism, but it still hurt him to be teased. They often taunted him for not having a father, but he always brushed it off. Merlin only wanted to fit in and that was often harder than not. "Shut it! How about you go, unless you're a baby?"
"I'll do it." Richard, the tallest and oldest boy said and pushed the others out of the way. There were stepping stones along the river, although they were slick and almost covered by the water and current. He hopped from one stone to the other until he crossed the river about 30 feet later. When he landed on the other side he puffed out his chest, "Alright. Your turn!" He called over.
Henri went next and almost fell into the water, but made it safely across, then came Neal and he slipped but was caught by Richard and helped to the side. That only left Will, Ben and Merlin on the other side and Will looked over at Merlin, "Watch this." He hopped on one stone, then the other, then another and when he went to jump on the middle stone he slipped and fell into the water. While falling though, he hit the side of the stone with his ribs hard and screamed. He managed to catch himself on the stone but was unable to get up and the current was far too strong for a six year old to swim through.
The other boys called out, "GO GET HELP!" Ben ran for the village, screaming while Merlin grabbed a branch.
He got on all fours near the edge of the water and held the branch out to Will, stretching his arm as far as it would go. "Grab on!" Will tried to swing towards it but it was far too short.
"I can't reach! I'm slippin!" The other boys started to come across but Merlin knew they wouldn't make it in time. He concentrated on the stick and willed it to get bigger. Much to Merlin's surprise he felt a tingling benathe this skin and saw the branch start to grow right in front of his eyes. He watched it with wide eyes as it extended out to Will out over the river. Will watched with wide eyes as the stick came closer to him and he said, "Merlin…what's wrong with your eyes?" He asked hoarsely while his own eyes were wide with fear.
"Grab it!" Merlin ignored the question and called out and at first Will was too scared to grab the stick, then as his grip slipped he latched on. Merlin pulled him to the side of the river and helped him out of the river onto dry land.
"What did you do to the stick?" He asked, panting.
"Nothing! I didn't do anything."
"Merlin! Merlin!" The boy turned around to see his mother scoop him up in her arms, "Merlin, are you alright?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"Merlin made the stick grow and he saved me from the river." Will told the adults, pointing at Merlin. Several of them shot looks at the boy and Hunith turned away from their stares, not letting Merlin see the fear and hate.
"Yeah! He saved Will! It was magic!" The other boys had made it back across in time for their fathers and mothers to grab them by the ears and haul them off much to their yells of discomfort
Will's mother tried to take him away but he ran over to Hunith and Merlin looked down at him, "What?"
"Thanks for savin' me! Even if you did look scary." Will ran over to his mother, who scooped him up and started her lecture.
"I don't know what you were thinking…." She started as they walked away.
Hunith looked at her son, "What did you do?"
"I made the stick grow. I couldn't let him drown mum. I'm sorry."
Hunith looked at her son with sympathy, "I know, Merlin, I know. But you have to be careful. People won't understand like I do."
"Why can I do stuff like this?"
"Because you are special, little one." His mother brushed his hair out of his face.
"Was my dad special?"
A look of sadness swept over her face and Merlin immediately felt bad for asking, "Yes, my angel, he was very special. Now let's get you back, alright?" Hunith kissed his forehead and they started back for the village.
$%$%$%$
Morgana awoke from the dream and sunlight streamed through the crack in the tent. She sat up and looked around. Had that been a memory of Merlin's? It hadn't felt like a vision. She was merely an observer looking through the eyes of a child. And despite the confused feelings that she had for the man she had to admit that even as a child he had been a do-gooder and all about saving people. She had also noticed the stares that people gave him, the fear and prejudice in their eyes about his magic and she now knew where his uneasiness with magic came from judging by the people around him.
Mordred poked his head in the tent, "Time for breakfast."
Morgana smiled up at him and got up to start the day anew.
XxOxX
Next up is another one for Morgana. This will be the first time she meets Arthur in court. And it's a doozy.
Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from you. I will gladly take suggestions on what I should put up but mind you, I am doing important life events that mean something to each of them. I have several already planned but am open to more.
