Returning Home

"This is crazy."

"No it's not."

"Yeah, it is! What if I can't get the spell right and you three end up on Uther's pyre for treason by magic?"

Merlin was out of his mind. He couldn't believe what Harry, Ron and Hermione wanted him to do. It was like they took him for something he wasn't. Because seriously, he was pretty sure he wasn't as powerful as they seemed to think. They were overestimating him and he didn't know what to do to make them understand because honestly, who the hell would know what to do in front of three teenagers born more than 1000 years after them?

"Merlin, dear, I don't think you know what you are capable of. Be confident! We know you can do it!" Hermione said in a motherly voice.

Merlin tried his best not to lose his temper. It was insane, and there was much more at stake than those three youngster's mission about the horcruxes and school and sorcerers.

"No, you don't know what my level is. You only know me from the tales you've heard back there, in your time. Half of those tales could be false, and the other half could be boosted so I look like a hero which would also be untrue, because I am not a hero. I am not going to do this for you. It's too dangerous. Maybe there are elves out there, in this realm, who can help you get back in your time. Ask them to do it. But don't ask of me what you just asked. End of discussion. Now I am going to attend to Arthur and think about all this. Maybe I'll come up with something more intelligent and less suicidal."

And he stormed out of the room.

Merlin knew it wasn't him to behave like he did in front of the three sorcerers. But hell, their plan was insanely dangerous, both for them and for him. Because even with all that was going on, he still remembered the Dragon's speech about him and Arthur and their entwined destinies. And he was going to do this right now, before nightfall, because surely the Salamancer would strike again and if the three sorcerers were insane, they were right about one thing; he had to be stopped, and the salamander had to be killed or Camelot would be all flames and ashes by the end of the week.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't knock before entering his master's chambers and was greeted by a cup flying at him.

"Ah, now where have you been, again?! Have you been sleeping all night like an idiot? Are you deaf enough not to have heard everything in the courtyard and the castle?"

Merlin simply stood there, shocked by the state of the room; everything was on the floor, even the heavy wooden-made wardrobe.

"What-the-hell-happened-here?"

"What happened here is YOU didn't report to me after last night's attack and I was angry!"

It was common to see Arthur being a usual prat and being very unpleasant, but this time he wasn't only unhappy, he was nearly enraged.

"You've never asked me to report to you in such situations, sire. You know I generally assist Gaius when trouble strikes on Camelot." Merlin stated in his most polite tone.

Arthur didn't answer, nor did he react. Instead he went silent, looking by the window. Neither he nor Merlin spoke for a moment, letting the sound of the castle life filling their ears.

"I should have investigated the matter further."

Arthur spoke with such a low voice it had been barely audible.

"What?"

"That first day, when we found the three lads in the forest, I was upset."

"...Okay?" Merlin couldn't see where this was leading.

"I was upset because the night before, I had made a moonlight walk on the castle and I saw a shadow."

"A shadow in the night isn't uncommon, Arthur."

"Do you often see a shadow climbing turrets on their own, Merlin?"

"...No."

Arthur continued, and Merlin let him talk, this time.

"I saw the shadow, but I was tired that night, and didn't investigate the matter further. I didn't even report the matter to the guard... didn't bother going to the turret. I let myself be lazy and went to bed after finishing my walk. The next morning, my father summoned me, and told me that a window had been broken in that same turret. I was upset that day because I knew something wasn't right and I couldn't bring myself telling the truth to my father. So I did what I always did: I drowned my anger down the drain by going for a hunt, because I find it funny making you do things I know you don't like."

A short silence followed.

"Well, thanks for admitting you like to torture me."

Merlin knew he had crossed a line, but Arthur was too worried to make him remember that.

"Clean my rooms. I will be helping the court advisors to do a summary of all the events that happened last night and shall help the knights clean things up a bit... again."

And Arthur left. Just like that. Merlin proceeded to clean the chambers, barely noticing Harry enter the quarters and giving him a hand. Harry didn't say a word, conscious that Merlin needed some time in his peace bubble.

The sun was hiding behind the threes when Merlin was finally ready to talk to Harry, Ron and Hermione. Maybe he was going to be able to do this, after all. Maybe the only thing he needed was their trust, their confidence that he would succeed.

"Okay, please, explain everything from the beginning. I'm ready."

The trio proceeded. They talked, revised their plan, practiced some useful shield spells, and they even gave Merlin a spare wand Hermione had in her beaded bag so he would be able to perform a water-pouring spell without having to concentrate on summoning and controlling his magic. They told him the wand had once been to a Snatcher - whatever that was - and has nothing particularly special, so it wouldn't be very useful for him for more powerful spells he would have to perform during his bumpy ride on Destiny road with Arthur. He hadn't won the wand either, which was supposedly an act in which the wand accepted a sorcerer as his right beholder, so they warned him the wand would be a bit stubborn with him, even if it wouldn't affect a simple spell like the Aguamenti spell.

And then the warning bells rang.

Arthur was already in the courtyard, dressed in his armor, ready to fight with the other knights. Not a single fire had been lighted yet, but the Salamancer had supposedly been spotted next to a gargoyle on the castle roof.

Merlin and the trio waited in Arthur's chamber, where they had a good view on the courtyard.

"Aren't you afraid Uther's men will start shooting at you once they realize you have magic too?" Merlin asked.

"No," answered Hermione. "Our protection spells are strong, and we've been using them daily for months now. Arrows won't be able to pierce it."

They all looked back into the darkness of the night, searching for the shadow. But they didn't find one. Instead of a shadow, they found a body. A huge, scaly, red and black body.

"AAAAAAAH!"

"OH MY GOD BACK FROM THE WINDOW QUICK!"

The belly of the salamander made the window crack as it passed by. The reptile was huge, red, and its body's emitted red flames. Merlin was absolutely stunned.

"The creature's on fire?! That's what is spreading the fire! The creature itself!"

"Yes Merlin. It is an elemental of fire after all."

Parts of the window were made of wood, and they began to burn.

"Use the spell we showed you, Merlin!" said the trio all at once.

Merlin concentrated a bit and draw the wooden wand out of his jacket:

"Aguamenti!"

Water splashed on the window with great force, which seemed to take the trio by surprise.

"It... wasn't exactly supposed to do this..." said Harry.

"Maybe you really don't need a wand, mate" added Ron.

There was a blinding light in the courtyard accompanied by a powerful wave of heat, which broke the window near them and put them all on the floor.

"Fireball? It can throw fireballs?"

"No, it can't. That was the sorcerer" Hermione explained. "He must like fireworks and impressive sparks."

"She should head to the courtyard" Harry said, voice commanding. "Do you remember what you have to do Merlin?"

"Yeah, of course."

And so the proceeded to executing their plan, and Merlin had never felt more scared and excited at the same time in his life.

Arthur led his men to the great rooftop of the castle, where the sorcerer was standing, all mighty and full of self-confidence, looking down to the courtyard like a mountain would look down at a rock. It left the courtyard empty except for the guard who were trying to get everyone who wasn't a member of the army inside the castle.

Harry put his invisibility cloak on his shoulders, one last look at Merlin and his two friends.

"Let the show begin!" He murmured, a smile on his face. It was as if he found that easy.

"Don't listen to him, his head is big since he's realized he had escaped the most dangerous wizard of all time four times." Ron joked lightly.

It was as if everything had stopped. Merlin could almost hear Harry's footstep in his head. The warlock's magic suddenly made him aware of his environment: the ground, the air, the fire.

Harry spoke loudly, with a resonance and pretence that Merlin had never heard before. It was like the voice had been amplified by magic.

"I, Harry Jame Potter, request a duel with the former Salamancer terrorizing the city of Camelot. I don't know your name, sorcerer, but I do know your presence here is not well received. Get your arse down in the courtyard if you wish to measure yourself against me."

Everything went quiet. Merlin spotted the tiny figures of Arthur and his men on the rooftop, completely still, like they were wooden soldier toys kids played with.

Nobody moved until the salamander, who was scotched to the castle wall, moved down. And then, the shadow was there; the sorcerer was floating in the air, like he was half-bird, half human. Merlin had never seen such magic; it was completely new to him.

His black velvet robe floated around him as the Salamancer set foot in the courtyard.

"I, Henry Silmarius, accept the challenge. But I do not see you, Harry James Potter. Show yourself or I'll decline the duel, and Camelot will be no more by the time the sun comes up from behind the hills.."

For a few seconds, nothing happened. After a short moment, with great impression, Harry removed his cape and let it lay on the floor. He wasn't the young man with the glasses anymore, Merlin thought. Right now, Harry looked powerful, and frightening.

"How old are you, young sorcerer, and why are you so keen to protect the bastion of those who persecute your kind?" Henry inquired with an imperial pretence.

"The realm of Camelot has to be protected, and the heir to the throne shall protect and bring this kingdom to his most peaceful era."

"The druid's prophecy is a lie!" The Salamancer cried. "The prince is as much a tyrant as his father! You are a traitor to your kind, and you shall die for this!"

"Rather cliché for a pride speech." Ron remarked, who was hidden beneath the door next to Merlin and Hermione in the corridor next to the courtyard.

Before Hermione could retort with an answer or shush him out, lightning of magic spells illuminated the courtyard. The castle walls trembled. If Uther was looking by a window he was probably fuming against the treason of the trio he had been sheltering for the past few weeks. Merlin saw Arthur and his men get down on their chest so they would not fall off the roof.

Harry seemed to gain advantage on the duel as he had a wand had been trained to duel. He was able to shift most of the spells the Salamancer was performing. It was almost like a dance.

But then, two of the sorcerers' spells clashed and they connected with each other. This was the signal.

"C'mon, Merlin, it's your chance to shine!" shouted Hermione.

"It's always like that, isn't it?!" Harry yelled.

"Surrender, then!" The sorcerer suggested.

"NEVER!" yelled Harry, his voice resounding on the castle walls.

Harry directed the magical bond to the side of the courtyard where Merlin was standing. When the bond connected with Merlin's magic shield, it exploded with such a force that it threw every guard still in the courtyard to the ground. The wind was strong and circular. Merlin knew he couldn't be seen from where he was standing, but he knew he would have to run once all this was over.

"Ron, Harry, quick!" pressed Hermione, running to the center of the courtyard.

From the corner of his eye, Merlin saw Harry take his cloak from the floor. Then, the bespectacled young man stretched his hands so Hermione and Ron would be able to take them. They were there, all three of them, looking at Merlin, and he heard Hermione's voice in his head, like she was at his side.

"Do it, throw the magic at us. The strength of the magic will bring us back when we Disapparate. It will send us back to the right time. C'mon, don't be afraid, do it."

"But what if I kill you?" said Merlin, in a despairing voice.

While he spoke, a strange sound was heard. Like a bird singing. The three sorcerers lifted their heads, and Merlin saw their smiles

"FUMSECK!" They cried.

They were crying out of joy, but Merlin would never know why they were so happy. He sent the magic bond towards the trio and everything exploded.

The Salamancer layed on the stoned floor of the courtyard, killed by the explosion. His salamander lay beside him, also dead. Merlin heard people rushing into the staircases, and he faked to be hiding, unconscious, behind a barrel. Since there was so much going on, nobody remarked him, and even with all the chaos, he closed his eyes and slept there.

EPILOGUE:

Uther was exceptionally enraged after the events. Even with the Salamancer dead, he still couldn't believe that Harry, Ron and Hermione were sorcerers. Merlin stood beside Arthur as he listened absently to his father's angered lecture.

Time passed, and Merlin came back into the habit of protecting Arthur and fulfilling his destiny. Two years after the events that led to Harry, Ron and Hermione's departure, however, he entered his room in Gaius's quarter to find a strange little creature perched upon his bed. It had a long nose, big blue eyes and gigantic ears. It was wearing all sorts of things that clearly didn't go well together. It spoke to Merlin like it was the most normal thing to do.

"Winky has a message for Mr. Merlin."

It gave a brown envelope to Merlin, and quickly disappeared with a loud popping noise.

In the envelope was a very realistic representation of Harry, Ron and Hermione posing together with other people, some younger, some older. There were lots, lots of people with bright red hair. But not everybody; two young boys had black hairs, and one looked suspiciously like Harry. Merlin's three magical friends wore bright smiles, and they looked somewhat older. Had Harry survived his destiny? Merlin smiled, as he realised that yes, Harry had probably survived, married, and become a dad. The kids were their children, their very, very magical children. The image was accompanied by a parchment paper with two words scribbled on it:

THANK YOU

Merlin smiled, contemplating both the message and the image that meant everything to his world. His three sorcerers were safe, and now, he knew that, magic would survive: peace would reign once more, for a time of Albion.

-Fin-