The Reawakening

Characters: Merlin, Balinor

Merlin had laid there in the Crystal Cave, in a restless sleep. Exhausted from his climb his moral fatally wounded. He'd now accepted he'd failed in his destiny, thanks to him Arthur will die and Camelot would fall. He now just wanted to sleep for ever and make the horrible pictures in his mind go away. He just wanted a bit of peace, surely after every thing he'd been through he would be granted that at least. Every now and then he could hear a voice, but he tried to turn away from it, no he didn't want to hear, just let me sleep he begged in his mind. He felt so tired.

"Merlin."

Suddenly Merlin eye's popped open, hardly believing what he was hearing.

"Father?" he called out.

"My son."

As Merlin looked, he saw his father's ghost looking down at him, a compassionate look on his face. Merlin could hardly believe what he was seeing still thinking it was a cruel trick, but knowing he had to make sure.

"Are you here, are you real?" he asked softly still in shock.

"Dead or alive?, real or imagined? Past or present? These things are of no concequence. All that matters is that you heed the words of your father who loves you. Do not let go Merlin, do not give in."

But Merlin still felt he was in a dark place, he'd failed, he was stuck in the crystal cave unable to get out, while his friend fought for his life. He could barely look his father in the face, never mind listen to his loving words.

"I have no reason to go on, the battle is already over. Morgana has won."

As he said it another wave of helplessness came over him. He was hardly worthy to be his father's son, he thought sadly. Merlin didn't understand why his father would even bother with him now. He had let him down, his choices had led him down the wrong path.

"Only if you accept defeat. But if you fight, if you let hope into your heart Morgana cannot be victorious."

With those words, a tiny flame of curiousness crept into Merlin's mind. Something he had long wanted to understand about himself and his magic. He realised now could be the only chance to find out the answer he needed.

"What hope is there without my magic?" Merlin asked, suddenly daring to look his father fully in the face.

Balinor suddenly kneeled down so he was right by his son. Merlin realised in that moment, that this could be his only hope of rectifying the situation. He hardly dared to breathe, as he concentrated on his father's softly spoken words.

"Merlin you are more than a son of your father. You are a son of the earth, the sea, the sky, magic is the fabric of this world, and you were born of that magic. You are magic itself. You cannot lose what you are."

Merlin took a second to understand the meaning of the words, his father had just spoken. Somewhere though deep inside his mind a new ray of hope was beginning to stir. His father's words suddenly began to make sense to him, he realised that he'd never lost his magic at all. Now with this enthralling news he knew there was still hope to change things. But how? Suddenly finding a new strength, he faced his father and asked the question chewing him up.

"But how do I find myself again?"

"Believe Merlin. Believe what your heart knows to be true. That you have always been, and always will be."

"Always will be." Merlin repeated, suddenly feeling weary.

"Rest now. Rest now my son. And soon you shall awaken into the light."

Balinor watched as his son's eyes closed, staying a few seconds longer to watch over him. Then he departed, leaving Merlin to his dreams.