A/N: Hello all! Sorry I missed my update day, I was at my friend's production of Oklahoma!, which was great.

...

You don't care.

Anyway, you might need a dentist after reading the second part of this chapter, because of the impressive amount ofsickly sweet fluff that I promised. Late Valentine's Day gift to you all, eh? :) As usual, thanks to Kitty O, I don't own Merlin/Remember December by Demi Lovato... and you'll never guess what the next few chapters have in store for you all. Oh, I also have a secret surprise for you Arwen shippers, but... it's a secret! Enjoy, and review, por favor!

7. Remember December

"You were very kind to welcome myself and my companions into your camp, Ysmina," Aven said, as the older woman passed her a clay mug of steaming tea. Ysmina smiled softly at her.

"Aven, I could never turn you away. To me, you were like the daughter I never had."

"And you the mother that I – well, the mother figure, at least," Aven said, chuckling a little as she sipped her tea. It was late at night, and Ysmina had given Merlin and Arthur a tent to share, where Aven guessed they were probably asleep. Rena was in the tent that Aven was supposed to be sharing with her, but Aven had needed a word with Ysmina, so she was currently the elder Seer's tent.

"Have you Seen anything about this happening? About me coming?" Aven asked while she watched Ysmina sit down across from her.

"Yes, I saw your return. Although I cannot say that I expected you to come with… guests," Ysmina said, pouring herself some tea.

"Believe me, I did not want to," Aven murmured, looking at the floor. "Well, I suppose it's not so bad. Two of them are magic… I assume you picked up on that?" Ysmina shook her head.

"Actually, Aven, all three of your friends have magic in them." Hearing this, Aven choked on the tea and made some rather unattractive coughing noises.

"What?" she finally managed to squeak out. "But… but I could not sense Arthur's magic…"

"He does not possess magical powers, dear," Ysmina explained, laying a comforting hand on Aven's arm. "He was born of magic. His mother could not conceive, so his father asked the witch Nimueh for help."

"Is that why Queen Ygraine died?" Aven asked softly, her speaking voice having returned to normal.

"Yes. You know the law of the ancient ways-"

"To create a life, a life must be taken," Aven and Ysmina both recited. Aven sighed.

"Does Arthur know?"

"Yes."

"Great. Wonderful. I am sure that will just make him love magic," Aven muttered sarcastically.

"He does have a good head on his shoulders," Ysmina reminded her. You really remind me of Rena sometimes, Ysmina, Aven thought. Always wanting to see the good and people and believe that Arthur wasn't going to royally mess up Camelot…

Aven liked to keep an open mind about that one.

"I know, but still… how can I convince him that magic is not evil?" Aven asked.

"Well, you know that you cannot do that on your own," Ysmina said.

"Of course. Hell, I'm just his ex-fiancé, why should he listen to me anyway? I suppose Rena and Merlin will have to help me with that task, won't they?" Aven mused, knowing the answer.

"They will," Ysmina confirmed. "Now, Aven, about you and Merlin..." Ysmina smiled slyly and motioned for Aven to continue the sentence. Aven drew in a sharp breath.

"Well, Merlin and I are… we're… I mean, we are together, but no one can know, apart from Rena. I had to tell her, of course; she is my best friend," Aven said.

"What about Arthur? He is Rena's cousin and Merlin's best friend," Ysmina pointed out.

"Not that they know it yet," Aven said. "Or at least won't admit it. But what you say is true, and… there is a lot that Arthur cannot know."

"Well, maybe this trip is the perfect time for him to find out. Not only that his best friend is in love, but about your magic as well." Ysmina suggested.

"Actually, I was trying to put it off for as long as possible. Perhaps while Arthur is here, he will be able to see that magic can be used for good. I won't use the 'magic is like a sword' analogy because I have gotten tired of that cliché," Aven added. Ysmina laughed softly.

"I keep forgetting, Aven, that you are not the same young girl I knew two years ago. To see the woman that you have grown into… I feel the same sense of pride that I did when I saw how wonderfully you understood your powers and the good that you wanted to use them for," Ysmina said, truly unable to believe that the strong, confident princess that she was speaking to used to be a scared, lost sixteen-year-old girl in the woods. "I will look for a protection spell, maybe then we can block the outside source of your dreams from your mind."

"Thank you, Ysmina. I owe you the world, and I promise, someday I will find a way to pay back everything that you have done for me," Aven said. She absent-mindedly looked down at her chest, to where the beginning of one of her scars was peeking out ever-so-slightly from her tunic. Looking back up, she caught Ysmina's watchful eye.

"Aven, there is nothing wrong with you," the Seer said softly. Aven sighed.

"I know, I know... it's just... well, these scars. If was not with Merlin - and thank God I am - do you know how hard it would be for me to find someone to marry me once they learned of these scars? Believe me, they're hideous. You have no idea." Ysmina smiled wryly.

"You think I have no idea what it is like to be feel embarrassed because of the markings on your body?" Ysmina lifted up her long brown dress slightly, and Aven nearly gasped audibly as she saw scars all over the older woman's legs.

"Oh, Ysmina, I'm so sorry; I didn't know..." Ysmina smiled, a real smile this time, and released the hem of her dress.

"That's all right, Aven. Now... you had a scar on your face when you left this camp, correct?"

"Yes, but I can cover that up with a glamour. The ones on my chest and stomach... I simply cannot. I just don't know how," Aven admitted.

"Again, Aven, even with your scars, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Remember, dear, sometimes scars gathered in a fight for good are more beautiful then even the clearest, most unblemished skin." Aven failed to see how this was true, but decided it wasn't her place to question the wiser woman's words.

And they turned out to be quite true in the end.


Aven knew that the next morning would come far too quickly for her liking. Not only would she probably not get enough sleep, but with each day came a chance for Arthur to find out about the magic that every single person in that camp (apart from himself) possessed. Aven had already warned Ysmina and Damien that Arthur could not discover her magic, and of course threatened Rowan. There was no such thing as a civil conversation with someone like Rowan.

Speak – or think, rather – of the devil and the devil shall appear, Aven thought as Rowan approached her.

"Yes?" Aven asked testily, arms crossed defensively over her chest.

"Ysmina and Damien may not be able to see through you, but I sure can," Rowan sneered. Aven shrugged.

"I have nothing to hide from you."

"Oh, but you have lots of things to hide from someone else. The prince, maybe? For the life of me, I cannot understand why Ysmina would let him into our camp. You know, her taking over after Alvarr's death was the worst thing that ever happened to this camp. She is far too lenient. And for that, all of the Druids are going to suffer," Rowan said.

"Okay, first thing's first. I told you that Arthur cannot know of my magic. If he does, you would-"

"Shut up, Aven," Rowan snapped. Aven's anger bristled.

"What did you say to me?"

"You know what? I do not want you dead. I hate you, but you should not die," Rowan said. Aven snorted.

"Wow, thanks."

"No, I have something different in mind for you," Rowan mused, tapping her chin with her finger. Aven rolled her eyes. She was tired of playing Rowan's manipulative games.

"What the hell do you have against me, Rowan? What have I ever done to you?" Aven snapped. Rowan frowned.

"It was what you did to this camp. You made Maeva leave while she was with child-"

"It was her decision to leave, remember?" Aven interjected.

"Yes, because the father of her child decided that she was no longer enough for him and that he wanted you instead." Aven wanted to say something but found that she couldn't. She pursed her lips thoughtfully and looked at the ground.

"…And it was my decision to let Elrich become a part of my life," she finally said. "It was the worst decision I ever made. But I didn't know that Maeva had been with child. Believe me; I would have turned Elrich away as soon as I figured that out."

"Yes, well, that's all well and good, Aven, but let's not forget that you also killed not only Elrich, but Alvarr as well, who was going to lead the Druids into a better future. I know he could have," Rowan said.

Oh, I am so done with her, Aven thought. Rowan had been in Alvarr's rebellion group, and she had honestly believed that going to war against Camelot was the right thing to do.

"Rowan, I am not going to sit here and apologize for something I did that I thought was right. I am not going to tell you what to do, but I would highly advise you staying away from my friends and myself. Because I know you, Rowan, and you could never kill someone in cold blood. But you would ruin their lives and let them suffer, wouldn't you?" Aven sounded like she knew the answer.

"Hmm. You refer to your traveling companions as friends, but that one… Merlin… well, he is most definitely not just a friend to you, am I right?"

Aven didn't answer. Her face was stricken.

"Oh, this is great!" Rowan said, laughing cruelly. "Oh, Avianna, the non-believer, the one who trusted no man except for Elrich… fallen in love?" Visibly, Aven shrunk back. Rowan could attack her as a person all she wanted, but when she went after Merlin… Well, that was a different story.

"Sure. Yes. Put it that way. I did fall in love. But are you really going to do something as petty as that to get back at me for whatever it is you seem to think I did? Apparently I ruined your life, so now you want to ruin mine?" Rowan just smirked. She had Aven right where she wanted her.

"Maybe I would do something as petty as that.. All I know for sure is this: you had better not mess up. This is your last chance… princess."

After Rowan left, Aven tried to pretend she wasn't sick with worry.


Merlin knew it would be harsh to say that Arthur ruined everything. Because, well, he didn't ruin everything… just most things.

For example: Merlin had thought that, since it was originally going to be himself, Aven, and Rena on this quest, he wouldn't have to hide his relationship with Aven, or his magic. Now, there was no way he could be open about it. And with that Damien character leering over Aven…

Yeah, Arthur ruined everything.

At least now Arthur was asleep, so Merlin didn't have to bite back the urge to use some very harsh language around him. Merlin knew he should probably be sleeping as well, but he needed a chance to think, so he was currently sitting in front of a small fire he'd made about ten meters in front of his and Arthur's tent. He was also waiting for Aven to return from seeing Ysmina. He looked at Rena and Aven's tent, which was right next to his and Arthur's, where he knew Rena was asleep.

He heard someone approaching, and saw that Aven was walking towards him, her eyes focused on the ground and an anxious look on her face.

"Aven?" Merlin called out. Aven jerked her head up and forced the best smile she could.

"Merlin, shouldn't you be asleep?" she asked, trying not to show how worried she was. Merlin, however, saw right through her.

"Er, I guess. Are you all right?" Aven nodded and walked up to her tent, stepping inside quickly and grabbing a blanket. She went back over to Merlin and wrapped the blanket around both of their shoulders.

"To answer your question, I'm fine," Aven said. "Slightly cold and a bit annoyed with Arthur, but I'm fine." Merlin smiled.

"Well, that makes two of us, then."

"Mmm." Aven sighed and rested her head on Merlin's shoulder. "This is a lot to take in, isn't it?" she muttered. Merlin didn't say anything; instead he just listened to the fire crackling mixed with the sound of Aven's heartbeat, and wrapped an arm around her tightly.

"I love you," he murmured, kissing her hair. Aven smiled, the way she always did when Merlin said that. She picked her head up and kissed him softly, letting her lips linger on his longer than she usually did. Arthur was asleep, so who was going to catch them? She just wanted this moment for herself and Merlin.

"I love you, too. And nothing is ever going to change that," Aven said. No matter what Rowan tries to do, she can't change that, the princess thought smugly. One small victory for me.

"Do you feel okay, Aven? About… being here?" Merlin asked, feeling awkward since he knew how personal a lot of things associated with the Druid camp were to Aven.

"…Yes. The things that happened here… well, they heal over time, you know?" Immediately, Merlin had a rather painful flashback to losing Freya. Aven had helped heal that wound, and she'd sped up the healing process for him. He owed her a lot for that.

"Besides, things are a lot different now," Aven continued. "I have you, Rena, and even Arthur to keep me from going mad. When I first came here, I was so… alone. That was the hardest thing, you know?"

"I promise, Aven, that I will never let you feel like that ever again," Merlin said, looking deeply into Aven's eyes. Aven swallowed sadness, knowing he meant what he was saying. But that doesn't always work out, she thought.

"I wish we didn't have to keep this secret," Aven sighed. "Actually, there are a lot of things I wish we didn't have to keep a secret."

"I know, love."

"How do you think Arthur would react if he found out about… us?" Aven asked, moving her hand between the two of them. "Do you think he would understand?"

"I think he would… you know, with him and Gwen…"

"Right, I'd forgotten about that," Aven said. "Even if he didn't understand… well, I'm sorry, but he would have to move past that. Because, like I said, nothing is going to change the way I feel about you. I love you." With that, Aven kissed Merlin again, but this time it was different. There was more passion and desire in this kiss than the first one. But it was out of devotion, never desperation. Merlin placed his hands on either side of her waist, and Aven smiled into the kiss as she brought her arms together behind his neck, deciding that she would be content to stay like this for a long time. Unfortunately, her lungs betrayed her once again, and she was forced to break the kiss.

"You mean the world to me, Aven Vyman," Merlin said, catching his breath as he pressed his forehead to Aven's. "I will not lose you."

"Believe me, you would have to try pretty hard to get rid of me now," Aven said, laughing softly as she buried her head in his neckerchief. "I am not going anywhere."