The day had finally come. Vonda, Marina, Percival, John & little Vona would be returning.

Merlin was on his way back to Camelot from another disappointing trip to Avalon. He didn't even see Freya, not even a hint of her presence. True, Freya usually stayed in the Lake, but there were some times when Merlin would see an unusual ripple, wave, or even a fountain. Even though he loved Vona with all his heart, he still loved Freya.

Little Vona was a sight to behold. She was only a year, but she seemed slightly older. Her hair was a beautiful gold color, the same as her mother, yet her eyebrows were a queer combination of black & blonde. Sara gave her, her famous stare.

"The two of us will be the best of friends," Sara confidently said, "I know it." At four, the Princess was as proud as her mother.

"Do you now." Percival said, clearly teasing.

"Yes Uncle Percival. As soon as she's old enough, I'll make her my handmaiden."

"What about Appa?"

"There's other children in Camelot." Sara replied, "I'm sure someone as smart & caring as her can manage. Besides, by then I'll be too old for a nursemaid."

Merlin entered the room, he had just returned.

"Uncle Merlin!" Sara called to him, "Come meet my best friend."

Merlin smiled. "This is it." He thought, finally, Vona had come to Camelot. He went to them, everyone admiring little Vona. When he saw her, he was awestruck.

On her mother's hip she clung, taking in her new home. She had just been given a soul-piercing stare, then, a man entered. A handsome man, who everyone knew. He gave her father a form of greeting she had only seen being exchanged by knights, yet this man, who had been called Merlin, clearly wasn't a knight. He gave Sara, who seemed friendly yet queer in someway, a hug. Now he was staring at her.

"She's beautiful." Merlin said. He meant it, clearly Vona had always been blessed with inside & outside beauty at birth.

"Would you like to hold her?" Vonda asked him.

"Yes." Merlin answered without delay. Worries about him showing his love to a mere infant, didn't cross his mind.

With a smile, Vonda looked at her daughter, who now wore the necklace she herself had worn a year before(and Vonda's neck was graced with the necklace her mother had worn). "This is Merlin, Vona. He's a good friend of ours, remember your Father & I telling you about him."

Vona nodded. While her mother held her close, Vona leaned towards Merlin, arms outstretched. Merlin grabbed her waist, and, within a matter of seconds, Vona was in the arms of her future lover. She didn't quite know this, all she was told was that he was a hero & why. She was told that her destiny was intertwined with his, that the two would be very close.

Merlin avoided direct eye contact, he worried that this would mess up the timeline, for his beloved Vona. "Hello, Vona." He said to her.

She merely smiled, and adjusted her arms. She moved them in such a way, that she moved his scarf, exposing the chain of the necklace her future self had given him. Something about that chain made her feel safe, that with Merlin, no harm would come to her. She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling quite content. Soon, she was fast asleep.

"Looks like someone's taking her nap early." Percival jokingly said.

"I'd better put her to bed." Vonda said.

"She might wake if she's moved." Merlin responded. He never wanted her to be anything but content & happy.

"Don't worry, I've got it." Marina replied. She sang a spell-binding lullaby, Merlin felt Vona grow limp. His face grew slightly pale, he couldn't stop worrying about her.

"She's just asleep." Merlin thought. He dared to look at her still form. Suddenly, she transformed in front of his eyes. She was no longer infant Vona, nor was she teen Vona, but someone else interlay. She was someone Merlin hadn't seen in over eleven years, someone, whom he had been worried about since before he arrived in Camelot for the first time.

Marina, still singing, took the still Vona in her arms. Once she was secure, the lullaby reduced to a hum.

"Merlin, are you alright?" Percival asked his friend, who had become more pale.

"I'm alright." Merlin managed to say. How could he explain himself in front of all these people?

"You sure?" Percival was clearly worried about his friend.

"Yeah."

"If you say so."

Vona was carried to her room, with Sara following, wanting to make sure her friend was comfrable.

When almost they left, Gwen turned to her dear friend, and said in a low voice, "Don't worry, we'll find her."

"It's been years." Merlin responded, "With only scarce evidence."

"People just don't vanish, Merlin. There have been sightings."

Merlin sighed. He knew she was right.

John Millerson, under the guise of Guy Smith, began to gain Gwen's trust, bit by bit. His goal was to be a friend to practically everyone in Camelot. In order for his plan to work, he couldn't be suspicious.

Vona was growing up well, and took a liking to Merlin & Sara. She never made eye contact with Merlin. Sara was either learning her duties, or playing with Vona.

Vona, like Sara, was seen as a little darling, until she started walking.

OOO

Merlin was on another dream date.

"Vona, what were you like as a toddler?" Merlin asked her.

"I told you before." Vona nearly groaned, but it was playful.

"Not in detail."

"All you need to know, is that I'm mischievous. Always have been, so, be on your toes."

"Same thing as before."

"I can't ruin the timeline!" Vona said defensively.

"How is telling me about you as a child ruining the timeline?"

"If you know about it, you'll try to stop it." Vona moved in closer to Merlin, "Which can stop important things from happening."

"What important things?" Merlin asked, there was a hint of tease in his voice.

Vona kissed him, when she pulled back, her expression clearly said, "My lips are sealed". Merlin, knowing he wouldn't get anymore out of her, decided to enjoy the date. He hugged her, when they were at arm's length, he gave her a kiss.

Slowly, he began to wake up. It was so slow, that he barely noticed it. during that magical time when one's awake, but the eyes are still closed, tricking the mind into thinking it's still asleep, Merlin felt a warm lump. Not entirely sure what it was, but hoping it was the Vona of his dreams, he hugged it.

As he became more & more awake, he realized something odd. His bed had somehow grown, and the lump was small, toddler sized. When he opened his eyes, he realized what it was, it was Vona, little 16-month Vona. She was there, snuggled up against him.

"How did she get here?" Merlin thought. He looked around his room, the door & window were closed. Everything looked the same as before he fell asleep. He looked at Vona again, she looked so peaceful, yet, she needed to be in her room & he needed answers. Gently, he shook her. "Vona," He said in a loud whisper, "Vona, wake up."

She only groaned. Merlin shook harder, and spoke louder. "Vona! Wake up!" Vona groaned louder, but she did open her eyes eventually. If she had been any other child, she would've cried. But Vona was like Sara, she merely whimpered. "What are you doing here?" Merlin asked her.

"Later." Vona replied. She'd been speaking since she was one, but her vocab had been limited. Now, it was expanding by the day. Her eyes began to drop.

"No, now." Merlin said. He wasn't keen on taking her back to her room by the normal route, so, if there was a another way, he wanted to know.

"Bad dream."

"How?"

"Tunnel." was her simple reply.

"What tunnel?" Merlin had lived there for years, and he had never seen a tunnel.

"Secret tunnel."

"Where?"

Vona sat up. "There." She pointed to the opposite wall.

"Show me." Vona whimpered again. "That's my Vona." Merlin thought. "Please." He gave her a look, it was a look he knew would get her to do what he asked.

With a groan, Vona left the bed. As soon as she did, the bed shrunk back to it's original size. Merlin stared at his bed in shock, his puzzled gaze flowed to Vona, who walked to where she had pointed. She knocked on three different spots, soon, a tunnel magically appeared. "See?" Merlin's mouth dropped. He never knew about that. "Connects, here, me & Sara."

Merlin walked towards her. "For how long?" Vona merely shrugged. Merlin stared at the opening, "How'd you know about this?"

"Christening." Her answer reminded Merlin of what her future self had told him. Where she's from, magical creatures and some humans, are given magical gifts when their young.

"Well, you'd better get back to your room." Merlin said, reaching for her hand.

"Why?" Vona asked while being lead to the entrance of the tunnel.

"It's not proper for you to be here."

"Why?" Vona asked as she was lead They were inside the tunnel. The

"Because that's the way things are." They walked deeper through the tunnel.

"Why?"

"Why do you keep asking 'why'?"

"I'm curious."

"Just like Sara." Merlin sighed. They neared Vona's room.

"My room's here."

"Where?"

Vona pointed to a stone that was a different color than the rest. "There."

Merlin looked at it. It stood out, but there was nothing that showed that it was a door that could open. He knocked on it, nothing happened. He stared at it.

Vona neared the stone, and kicked it. The door immediately opened, revealing Vona's room within Percival & Vonda's chambers. "Later Merlin." She gave him a hug, she was only up to his knee. She walked into her room, taped the wall to next to the opening. It immediately closed.

"She's going to give me trouble one day." Merlin sighed. "But I love her, regardless." And he walked back to his room.