Title: Out of the Ashes

Disclaimer: All characters are fictional and are not of my creation. They belong to BBC Merlin.

Spoilers: Gwen knows about Morgana's magic now. (ep8 s3)

Chapter Note: Sorry about the delay! I had a lot on my schedule this week…

Here's the next chapter. I'm soooo very sorry about the delay. Enjoy!

Forgotten

Emrys didn't understand why this little boy right next to him kept looking at him so strangely. He was worried about what the boy had seen and hoped that he didn't scare him like he had scared everyone else around the fire. But he was more worried about himself and these strange visions he kept getting. He didn't know what the cause of his visions were and that bothered him immensely. The wild magic coursed through his veins and his made him feel uneasy.

Why was his magic so unstable?

Emrys did not feel like he was a part of the community; he felt more like an outsider. He felt like he was a danger to his community because of his unstable magic. And Sylvia was really the only one he could talk to, to be around, because she had almost the same problem he was having with his magic, with the exception of the visions.

She understood him a bit better than anyone else.

He couldn't stand sitting there anymore because of the eyes that bore into his back. He carefully stood up, still shaking, and with one last curious glance at the little boy next to him, he walked back to his tent.

As he sat on his bed, he became lost in his thoughts. His breaths suddenly came in short gasps. Sweat formed upon his troubled brow and his head began ache. Emrys knew what was happening before it did, but he could do nothing prevent it.

He was having another vision.

An old man in his chambers somewhere… the same old man he had saved… somewhere in a kingdom called 'Camelot'… he must come there to search for the truth…

When Emrys had finally come back to his senses, he found himself bent over his lap. As he slowly raised his head, had a feeling that someone was looking at him. And sure enough, a small boy was standing there, looking at him.

"Hello," said the boy.

Emrys lifted his head. It was the boy, Mordred again. Oh God. He just saw me again like that. What does he want?

"Hi…" he said, stumbling on his words as his breathing returned to normal. "What is it that you want?"

The young boy spoke and his speech and tone surprised Emrys because the words he spoke sounded like they have come from a more mature person. "It is not I who wants something. I know what happened to you outside and right now. I have helped someone like that before and I can help you also."

Emrys's brow wrinkled with confusion. What does this young boy know about visions?

"How can I know that I can trust you?"

Mordred smiled at his response. "Come now," he said in a gentle voice, "You would think that one of your kind would tell you such lies?"

The young boy's words confused him; this whole situation made no sense to him.

"Why would you want to help me?" he said in a curious tone.

Mordred looked at him and malice showed in his eyes. "You must not have hear my speech earlier. I need people who are strong, powerful, so that together, we, united as one, can defeat the heartless king of Camelot once and for all," he paused and then continued, "I know you have power, and that you are capable of killing the King yourself - it it weren't for your unstable magic. everyone around the fire tonight, and miles around, could feel your magic and the unstableness of it. If you join us, then we will help you with your visions, and together, we will kill the King."

Emrys knew that everyone around the fire had felt his presence and his unstable magic. He just didn't like hearing the truth - it hurt him to know that they knew her was dangerous. And yes, he did consider himself dangerous.

But he did not want to show the boy his weakness, his helplessness.

"What has the King done that has made you so..." Emrys had to think a moment before he found the right word, "revengeful?"

Mordred's face hardened into a blank expression. "He has killed and murdered our kind. He began the great purge and burned hundreds of innocents. He was the one who had you burned at the stake, if you can recall."

As Mordred's sharp words came out his mouth, Emrys cringed. Yes, he did remember the burning part. He did remember waking up and feeling like he was burning. Yes, he did remember the vision he had of the king standing on a balcony and ushering the torch-barer to light his pyre. He remembered and he felt scared; but at the same time, he felt angry at the murderous king.

"Yes, I remember that…" responded Emrys; his voice wavered for a second.

"Then you will help me?"

"I..." Emrys started, "I'll think about it…"

Although Emrys had not given him an actual response, Mordred's voice showed a hint of victory.

"When you have made up your mind, go into the woods tomorrow and walk directly north of this Druid camp. You will meet us in a clearing."

Emrys nodded his head and Mordred gave him one more glance before he left the tent.

It was later; perhaps about three o' clock in the morning. Mordred and Alvarr put on their cloaks and carefully sneaked out of the Druid camp. Soon, they came upon a clearing and met two people there.

"You have come, alas. What have you found?" asked a familiar voice.

I have found Emrys, Morgana.

Morgana's smile faded and was soon replaced with a scared expression. Emrys was still alive?

Mordred understood that all of them needed to know the information he had just received. He spoke this time so that she, Alvarr, and Morgause could all hear him.

"Indeed. Emrys is still alive. But, he somehow does not recall the past. It only comes to him in visions."

A slight twinge of fear gripped all of them. Morgauses's eyes widened. How can this be possible?

"How can he still possibly be alive? He was burned!" she continued, her voice barely audible, "You must be mistaken," said Morgause.

"He is still alive. I know he is; I sensed his magic a mile away. It is him. But he is different. He does not remember himself as 'Merlin' but rather 'Emrys' and he does not remember any of us."

There was a brief pause before he resumed speaking.

"We must stop him from having the visions so that he does not remember his past. We can manipulate him and with him on our side, we will become invincible."

Morgause spoke up."I know how to stop his visions and instead send them to us."

Everyone, including Mordred, looked at Morgause.

"There is a stone I have. It is called the 'Weostan'. If a piece of the stone is broken off and worn, then the wearer's visions will 'disappear.' The larger piece of stone, however, will display the visions the person was going to have. In this case, Merlin's visions may prove to be useful."

"And where is this stone you speak of?" asked Morgana.

"I have it with all of my other things," she said blithely to her troubled sister.

"Good, tomorrow, Emrys will come and tell us whether he will join us or not," Mordred grinned, "And I have a feeling that he will say yes."

Mordred continued, "And remember to call him 'Emrys'."

The group nodded in approval.

It was getting late and Morgana needed to get some rest. Gwen might be suspicious if she kept yawning all day when she supposedly went to bed early.

Morgana hugged her sister and bid her well. She left the clearing, feeling more content than ever. Merlin wasn't really dead, and now the guilt of setting him up faded.

She couldn't wait to meet him tomorrow.

Gaius arrived back in Camelot late that same night. He put his tired horse back into the stables and walked back to his chambers. Inside, he unpacked his bag and went to bed.

But he could not go to sleep because what he had seen in the woods a few hours ago confused him. How could Merlin still be alive? He'd seen Merlin burned at the stake and he also had Merlin's word that he would not try to escape.

But those eyes were the tell-tale clue. He saw deep in the golden depth, the sadness, the fright, the anguish in them.

Why hadn't Merlin told him that he was still live?

And how did Merlin know that he was in danger? There was no way anyone in Camelot would be searching the woods that late hour or even be searching the woods so far from the border.

He heard a timid knocking at his door and stood up.

"Gaius?" said a quiet voice as the person entered the room.

"Gwen? What are you doing up so late? It must be past two by now," he said, concerned.

"It's Morgana again… I went to check on her and she's not in her room. I didn't know what to do."

Gaius thought for a moment. He remembered when Merlin had told him about Morgana's discussions with her half-sister Morgause in the woods. What was Morgana doing going out so late this particular night? Did she know about Merlin?

"Just keep a close eye on her, Gwen and please tell me if she does anything suspicious." Gaius looked at her tired face. "You need to get some rest. Go to bed now, we can talk about this tomorrow."

"Thank you, Gaius. I'm so sorry for waking you…" said Gwen, sincerely.

"No, no. That's alright. You should bring things like that up to me right away. I should be the one thanking you. Go and get some rest now."

She nodded her head and walked out.

Gaius knew that something was going on and Morgana had something to do with it.

He would have to find out before it was too late.

I so, very, very sorry about the shortness of this chapter, it's just setting the stage for something really exciting to happen… I've got loads of homework to do this week so I won't be updating as frequently but I hope that you enjoyed this! Ttfn!