CHAPTER 37

I do not own Merlin, Doctor Who, or Superman and I am making no profit off of this.

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THE WEDDING GIFT

All of Camelot had decided to come to the chapel it seemed to Merlin as he looked out over the sea of faces attending his wedding with a huge grin on his face as he waited for the ceremony to start. It wasn't just people from Camelot either it seemed. He also saw people there from his home, Ealdor, and from various other kingdoms from throughout Albion that Merlin had visited with or on behalf of Arthur.

He couldn't believe that that many people would even care. If it was Arthur's wedding he could see it but his? Why would anyone come to his wedding?

"It's because you've helped so many people and saved so many lives, Little Brother, especially this last time when you saved us all from Baba Yaga. People do tend to notice that sort of thing after a while you know?" Sophia said as she read his mind from his expression.

"I hate it when you do that. How is it that you always know what I'm thinking?" Merlin said with an annoyed look.

"I'm your big sister. That's my job. Well, that and annoying you relentlessly," Sophia said with a mischievous smile.

"Yes, and you always succeed at both jobs so admirably," Merlin quipped.

"Watch the wisecracks or I'll turn you into my new pet. I think . . . yes, a cat! I think you'd make a great cat," Sophia said.

"He certainly would. He never does anything but sleep and eat," Arthur said making Merlin glare at him.

"Hey! That's extremely offensive, Arthur," Sophia said indignantly causing Merlin to look at her in surprise.

He would have expected Sophia to agree with the clotpole.

"It's an insult to all cats everywhere," Sophia suddenly added with a giggle making Arthur laugh.

Merlin rolled his eyes as he said, "And here I thought for a half a minute that you were actually becoming nicer to me."

"Never going to happen," Sophia said even as she kissed his cheek and hugged him.

"Well, at least you have one nice sister, Merlin," Lenore said with a warm smile as she joined them.

"Hey! I am nice to him. Mostly," Sophia said grinning evilly.

"You're a great sister, Sophia. I already think of both you and Nimueh as part of the family. Of course Merlin could have made Nimueh an official part of the family a long time ago," Hunith said.

"Mother," Merlin said with a frown making both Lenore and Sophia chuckle at the look on his face.

"I'm just saying that you should have married Nimueh a long time ago. You've waited far too long," Hunith chastised him.

"It wasn't because I wanted to wait. Something always came along to stop us it seemed. It was just never the right time," Merlin said.

"You should have made it the right time," Hunith said making Merlin groan.

Hunith then started to smile as she said, "I'm sorry. I know it wasn't really your fault. I just wanted a wedding to happen a lot sooner is all. I'm not getting any younger, Merlin. I promise I won't mention it anymore though. That or grandchildren. I'll wait until after the honeymoon to talk about that."

"Mother!" Merlin said in disbelief making Hunith chuckle at him.

"I think you've just been outclassed in the annoying Merlin department, Soph," Morgause said with a huge smile.

Sophia smiled as she said, "Yeah, I'm going to have to really improve my game to get up to that level. I can do it though. I know I can."

"I have every faith in you. If anyone can find a way to be more annoying, I know that it's you," Morgause said.

Sophia glared at her while Arthur laughed and said, "Who knew that you had such a great sense of humor?"

Morgause gave Arthur a look that would have made even the bravest of his knights run in terror as she said, "Of course I do. Are you saying that you don't think I'm funny, Pendragon?"

Arthur's face immediately turned pale causing Morgause to burst out laughing before she kissed him and said, "See? Now that's pretty funny, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's hilarious," Arthur said with a shudder.

"Hunith, I don't think Merlin wants to think about children just yet. Right now all of his thoughts are probably on Nimueh and how beautiful she's going to look when she finally comes out here," Balinor said.

Merlin smiled at his father appreciatively while Hunith said with a sly grin, "I know but it's never too early to start a fire under him about it is it?"

"I get the message, okay?" Merlin said with yet another groan which made both of his sisters laugh at him once again.

"Don't tease him so, Hunith. He'll have children soon enough. It will be very strange to have brothers or sisters who are so much younger than me though. Maybe that's for the best however since I'm sure that I'm not likely to have any children of my own. At least I'll be able to help raise Merlin's children," Morgana said as she came over and put her arm around Merlin.

Sophia looked at her guiltily as she said, "Morgana, if this is about the deal that we made I was going to break it right after the wedding. I wouldn't think of keeping it active now that you're back to normal again. I just wanted to make sure that your future daughter wouldn't become as corrupted as you almost were. She's going to be someone very important to the future of Albion after all from what little that I saw of her."

Morgana smiled as she said, "I understand and I appreciate that. I really do. You don't have to do that though."

"What? Why?" Morgause asked in surprise.

"I already know that I'm never going to have any children. That's why," Morgana said with no trace of emotion in her voice whatsoever.

"What brought this on? Is it because Koschei turned you dark? Is that it? All of us have darkness inside of us, Morgana. That doesn't mean that we'll ever succumb to it," Morgause said.

"She's right. You don't have to worry about that. I know that you're going to make a great mother," Merlin said disturbed by her reaction.

"It's not that. I'm just not interested in having children or even in having a boyfriend anymore. I'd really rather not talk about it," Morgana said.

Morgause and Merlin exchanged a worried look as Merlin said, "Are you alright, Morgana?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me, Merlin. You should be worried about yourself," Morgana said.

"What do you mean?" Merlin asked in confusion.

"I meant the wedding, Merlin. You should be worrying about the wedding not me. What did you think that I was talking about?" Morgana said with a small smile as she pointed out to the still growing crowd of people who were coming to attend the ceremony.

Merlin nodded and gave her an uneasy smile while he shot Morgause yet another worried look. Something was wrong. Morgana wasn't acting right. Merlin was worried that she was actually extremely depressed over what happened and trying to hide it. Why else would she seemingly no longer care about her own future?

He was going to have to see if he could do something to help her after the honeymoon. He was not about to let what Koschei did ruin her life.

"So where is Nimueh? I haven't seen her all day," Arthur said as he swiftly changed the subject even while he and Morgause exchanged a worried look of their own about Morgana.

"Neither have I come to think of it. I hope that she's alright," Merlin said.

"You're not supposed to see her, Merlin. It's the wedding day, remember?" Morgause said.

"Yes, I know that but the way our luck's been going lately I wouldn't be surprised if someone kidnapped her just before the wedding," Merlin said.

"You don't get out of marrying her that easily," Gwen teased him as she and Freya now joined them.

"You look handsome, Merlin. It's good to see you in something nice for once. I can't believe that you're still worrying that servant's outfit most of the time. I see that you still kept the red handkerchief though," Freya said as she smiled at him while lightly tugging on the magnificent outfit that was literally made for a king that Arthur had given to him for the occasion.

"I'm actually glad of that myself. Merlin just wouldn't be Merlin without it," Gwen said with a soft smile.

"Yes, it showcases his usual lack of style perfectly. I tried to get him to drop it but he absolutely refused. I still can't believe that I agreed to be the Best Man of someone who would wear something like that to his own wedding," Arthur complained.

"Shut up, Pendragon. I think he looks nice and Gwen's right. The handkerchief is just who he is. Kind of like how being an arrogant prick is who you are," Morgause said with a grin making Merlin snicker while Arthur shot him a dirty look.

I actually did think of kidnapping her but I thought that would be far too clichéd. Morgana said telepathically as she struggled to hide an amused smile.

I think that what you actually came up with is far better. I can't wait to see it in action. Blodeuwedd said to her telepathically from her perch high up in a darkened corner of the ceiling where no one could see her.

I can't wait to see the look on Arthur's face once he realizes what my special wedding gift to the happy couple is. Morgana said with a mental chuckle.

Then their secret conversation was interrupted as the wedding music started to be played by Arthur's minstrels. Merlin smiled as he realized that this meant that Nimueh was just about to make her grand entrance.

"Your eyes are going to pop out of their sockets when you see her. I guarantee it. I've already seen her wedding dress after all. Being the Maid of Honor definitely has its privileges," Sophia said with a grin.

"My eyes pop out of their sockets every time that I look at her," Merlin admitted.

Sophia smiled warmly at him as she said, "Ooh, that's a good one. Save that one for her though."

Then she wrapped her arms around him and said in a happy tone, "Don't pay any attention to Arthur. You look good, Merlin. I'm so happy for you. Both of you deserve this so much."

"Thank you, Soph. You know you're not so bad after all," Merlin said.

"Good. You just go on thinking that so that I can lure you into a false sense of security," Sophia said evilly.

"Run along, troublemaker. The ceremony's just about to start and Merlin has to take his place," Alice said causing Sophia to stick her tongue out at her.

Merlin smiled at Alice as he said, "I still can't believe that you and the Mother Goddess are here. I never thought that I'd ever have two of the Triple Goddess at my wedding . . . unless they were trying to kill me of course. Then again, I was never sure that I'd ever live long enough to get married period."

"Sorry about my part in that," Alice said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad that we're on the same side now," Merlin said.

Alice started to look very serious as she said, "Merlin, you need to be very careful today."

Merlin started to become alarmed as he asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Jenny isn't in a position to protect you anymore and my own powers have been diminished. This would be a perfect time for someone to strike against you, Merlin, because Sophia is right about how someone can be lulled into a false sense of security at times," Alice said.

"What are you trying to tell me, Alice? Do you know something about the future? Did you get another vision?" Merlin asked.

Alice shook her head as she said, "It's more like a feeling, Merlin. I feel like something's not right. I've felt that way ever since the Baba Yaga died. It's almost as if someone is watching. Watching and waiting to strike. Just be careful, alright?"

"I will. Thanks, Alice," Merlin said.

Alice smiled at him while maintaining an uneasy look on her face as she slowly walked away from him. Merlin couldn't help but wonder if she was talking about Blodeuwedd. They never had found her after all.

Then all thoughts of the malevolent owl were immediately driven out of his mind as Nimueh finally arrived at last. He watched her with his mouth hung open in stunned silence as Gaius escorted her towards him.

Was I right or what? Sophia said to him telepathically.

Merlin couldn't respond to her at the moment. His mind couldn't even form a coherent thought as he saw Nimueh slowly come towards him in a beautiful white dress covered in magnificent jewels from top to bottom that made her shine like a diamond.

It wasn't the dress that he found so beautiful though. It was the light in her eyes and the smile on her face. He'd never seen her so happy before and that sense of pure joy easily made her the most beautiful sight that he'd ever seen.

Nimueh smiled at him mischievously as she came to stand by him and said, "Merlin? Hello! Are you in there? You'd better not use this as an excuse to not say 'I do'."

"You look so gorgeous," Merlin finally said.

Nimueh smiled from ear to ear as she said, "You don't look so bad yourself. I'm so glad that you kept the scarf by the way."

Merlin smiled at her wanting to kiss her right then and there as Nimueh said, "Wait your turn, Merlin. You're not supposed to do that until after the wedding."

Merlin groaned as he said, "I really wish that you and Sophia would stop doing that."

"We can't help it. We just both know you so well now. We know what you're going to do even before you do," Nimueh admitted with an amused look on her face.

"If I may have everyone's attention, please! The ceremony is now ready to begin," Geoffrey of Monmouth said as he finally arrived at last to marry them.

The next few moments seemed to all be a blur to Merlin. He wasn't even listening to Geoffrey because he kept staring at Nimueh. He couldn't believe that this day was finally here at long last. He couldn't believe that he could be so lucky and yet here he was.

"Merlin," Nimueh suddenly said breaking him out of his thoughts.

Then his face turned red with embarrassment as he realized that Geoffrey was asking him if he would take Nimueh as his wife or not.

"I do," Merlin said.

"Leave it to Merlin to even screw something as simple as that up," Arthur commented in a low voice.

"Oh, shut up, Arthur. It's obvious what happened to anyone with half a brain. He was so wrapped up in her that he lost track of everything. I think it's romantic," Morgause said.

"It's not romantic. It's just Merlin being an idiot like usual," Arthur said.

"You're all heart, Pendragon," Morgause said with a sigh.

"I try to be," Arthur said not seeming to get her sarcasm.

Then even Arthur shut up as Geoffrey said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

"Well? What are you waiting for?" Nimueh said with a huge smile just before Merlin gave her a passionate kiss amid a chorus of cheers and thundering applause.

"Is that a tear in your eye?" Morgause asked Arthur in amusement.

"No, of course not. I don't cry, Morgause. I never cry. I just have something in my eye is all. I'll have to get Will to clean my room better. There's too much dust in it, and now it's gotten in my eyes," Arthur said.

"Right. Sure, Arthur. I believe you," Morgause said as she gave him a kiss.

Afterwards there was a big celebration feast for everyone, and the entire room was filled with laughter and the sounds of joy. Merlin however couldn't enjoy himself. He couldn't help but remember Alice's words in the back of his mind.

This really would be the perfect time for someone to strike especially with so many important people there.

That's when he saw someone that he didn't recognize mingling among the guests. Someone who was trying very hard not to be noticed.

"Merlin, what's wrong? You're not having second thoughts already are you?" Nimueh asked as she saw the anxious look on his face.

Merlin immediately smiled at her as he said, "Not a chance. No, it's not that. It's that girl over there. Do you know her?"

Nimueh shook her head as she said, "No, but then I don't know a lot of people here. Why are you so interested in her?"

"She's acting suspicious. In fact, she's trying so hard not to be noticed that she's made me notice her," Merlin said.

"You do realize that what you just said made no sense whatsoever, right?" Nimueh said with a grin.

"It makes perfect sense," Merlin protested.

"Yes, I'm sure it does in Merlin speak. What's your point? Do you think that she's out to cause trouble or something because she looks perfectly innocent to me?" Nimueh said.

"Yes, so did you once when I first met you, but we both know that you were up to something," Merlin said.

"Merlin, I really don't think that girl is up to anything. She looks . . . Well, she looks like someone I'd trust. I don't get any sense of evil off of her whatsoever, and I know evil when I see it. Trust me, Merlin. Stop worrying about her and enjoy yourself," Nimueh said.

"Yeah, maybe you're right," Merlin said.

He was just about to forget about her completely when he suddenly saw the girl head straight towards the wedding gifts with a purposeful look in her eyes. What was she up to? He had to know.

Merlin immediately got up from the table and started walking towards her as Nimueh reluctantly followed him. Merlin just couldn't let himself relax not even today of all days she thought to herself with a sigh.

She was really going to have to talk to him about that later. Not every day was about life and death battles after all. Some days could just be ordinary couldn't they?

Merlin stopped just a few feet away from the mysterious girl and watched as she started slowly picking her way through the gifts. She seemed to know exactly what she was looking for Merlin realized as he watched her set one aside after another.

Then she finally pulled the gift on the very bottom out with a small smile of triumph that quickly turned to a determined look as she started to quickly unwrap it. Merlin and Nimueh exchanged a curious glance as neither one could figure out what she was doing.

"What do you think that you're up to?" Morgana suddenly said out of nowhere in a voice filled with fury startling the girl and making her drop the gift to the floor.

"That's what I'd like to know," Merlin said as he and Nimueh walked over to them.

The girl looked at all of them with a frightened look on her face as if she knew that she'd been caught before saying in a nervous voice, "I – I was hungry. I wanted to see if any of the gifts might be something to eat. I'm sorry."

Merlin now started to smile as Nimueh gave him an 'I told you so' look. It turned out that the girl was harmless after all.

He took the girl by the hand and said, "It's okay. Why don't you have something to eat with us? You can be our special guest."

"Thank you," The girl said with a grateful smile.

"Wait just a minute," Morgana said making the girl jump.

"What is it, Morgana?" Nimueh asked with concern as she saw that her face had suddenly become filled with anger.

"My wedding gift for you is gone, Mother. She stole it. All that's here is the empty wrapping," Morgana said in a voice dripping with pure hatred.

"Did you take it, dear? It's alright if you did. Just give it back and we'll forget all about it," Nimueh said making Merlin smile at her for her generosity.

"No, I didn't take it. There was nothing there when I went to look. I swear," The girl said.

"You're lying," Morgana said through gritted teeth.

"N – No. I'm telling the truth. I promise," The girl said in an extremely upset voice.

"Just let it go, Morgana. She's scared to death," Nimueh said.

"No, I won't let it go. That was my special gift for you and Merlin, Mother. I really want you to have it, and she's not going to keep it away from you. Not if I can help it," Morgana said in a voice that was rapidly filling with venom.

She began to advance towards the girl with a menacing look in her eyes now as she said, "Tell me where it is. What did you do with it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have anything," The girl said as she slowly backed away from her with a frightened look on her face.

Everyone was starting to stare at the two of them now which only seemed to enrage Morgana even more while Nimueh said, "Let it go, Morgana. You're making a scene."

"I don't care! I want it back, child! Give it back!" Morgana screamed as her hands began to glow with mystic energy.

"Morgana, stop it!" Nimueh shouted.

Merlin knew right then and there that he had been wrong. Morgana wasn't acting odd because she was depressed. He realized to his horror that she was still under Baba Yaga's spell.

Nimueh seemed to realize this too as she suddenly shouted to the girl, "Run!"

"It's too late now, Mother. It's far too late. I already have her!" Morgana shouted as she grabbed the girl tightly by the arm.

The girl's entire demeanor changed now as she smiled and said, "You won't get to use it. Not now. I've silently destroyed it with a quick spell while you were busy screaming at me. Your plan to use it on Arthur and the others has failed."

"What are you talking about?" Merlin asked the girl while Morgana gave her a look of death.

The girl showed them the melted remnants of what was once a candle as she said to Morgana, "I melted it. It can't be lit now. It's completely useless to you."

"What was it supposed to do?" Nimueh asked.

"It was supposed to put everyone but her in an eternal sleep from which they would never wake up. This was all her plan to take over the entire kingdom. It was just the first step in her plan to unite all of Albion under her rule," The girl said.

"Mother, don't listen to her. She's nothing but a liar," Morgana said.

The girl shook her head as she said, "No, I know who the liar is. I've known that my entire life now . . . Mother."

Morgana looked at her in shock as she said in an uncertain voice, "What? No, that's not possible. I swore to myself that I would have no children. I wouldn't even marry. I didn't want to take the chance on anyone being able to take the throne away from me once I got it."

Then she realized what she had just said and laughed at everyone's shocked looks as she said, "Yes, it's true. It's all true. I don't know who this girl is but she's only delayed the inevitable. So this plan didn't work. It's no matter. I can always try another one.

"Morgana, listen to me. You need help. We can find a way to fix whatever that witch did to you. Just surrender now and I promise that nothing will happen to you," Arthur pleaded.

Morgana laughed as she said, "Surrender? Why should I do that? None of you can possibly catch me in time to stop me. Good bye, Arthur. The next time you see me I'll be coming for your head."

Morgana started to shimmer as she began to teleport away. Just before she could though the girl gestured towards her and cast a quick spell as her eyes glowed with magic. Morgana screamed as she was suddenly violently jerked back into reality in mid-transport.

"I'm sorry, Mother. I had to do it though. I can't let you continue this. I came here to stop you now before it was too late, and that's exactly what I'm going to do," The girl said as she advanced towards the momentarily stunned Morgana with glowing hands.

"What are you going to do?" Merlin asked in a wary voice.

"I won't hurt her even though it might look like it for a moment. I'm trying to help her," The girl reassured him.

Merlin hesitated unsure of whether to trust her or not as Nimueh looked deeply into her eyes for a moment. Then Nimueh smiled and nodded her approval.

"It's alright, Merlin," Nimueh said.

"Are you sure?" Merlin asked in a skeptical voice.

"Yes, I trust her. I don't know why but I trust her," Nimueh said.

"Are you sure about this, Mother?" Morgause asked as she looked at the girl with suspicion.

Nimueh nodded which made the girl smile at her as she said, "Thank you, Grandmother. It's so very nice to meet you."

"Meet me? What do you mean?" Nimueh asked not liking the sound of that.

"I've never met any of you I'm afraid. Like I said, my mother put you all into a permanent sleep so I never knew any of you. This was the day that that happened and she took over Camelot. She then went on to conquer all of Albion and place it under her eternal rule. In my time, Albion is a horrible place and filled with great suffering especially for ordinary people with no magic. My mother didn't count on becoming pregnant with me however and being unable to corrupt me thanks to the promise that she had made to Sophia that kept me from falling under her control. To her credit though, she didn't kill me. I think that some small part of her that was still her original self couldn't bring herself to do it. She just sent me away instead to be raised by an order of monks. Once I realized thanks to the monks just how evil that she truly was I pledged my whole life to stopping her. I didn't rest until I found a way to undo all of the evil that she had brought about. Then I finally found it. I found a time travel spell that I could use to go back to the exact day that it all started to go wrong and put a stop to it. I also found a spell to undo what the Baba Yaga did to her. Once I've cast it, she will return completely back to her original self. I wonder what she'll be like. I always used to imagine who she was before she changed," The girl said wistfully.

"Do it now. Hurry before she comes back to her senses," Arthur encouraged her.

The girl nodded as she said, "My name's Cara by the way."

Nimueh looked at her in surprise as the girl said with a warm smile, "I always thought that part of my mother wanted me to stop her since she named me after you."

Then she swiftly cast the spell that she had practiced for so long on her mother and watched as Morgana began to scream. Arthur looked at her with alarm wondering if he had been wrong to trust her as Morgana began to spasm and shook violently out of control.

Then as soon as the attack started it suddenly ended and a peaceful look came over Morgana's face. She then opened her eyes and everyone could see that they were filled with warmth once again as she said to Cara with a smile, "Thank you. I thought that I would never be myself again."

"You mean you realized what was happening?" Merlin asked her still not certain she was really back or not.

"Yes, I knew what was going on but I couldn't stop myself. I'm so glad that she did though. So you're really my daughter?" Morgana asked Cara with a delighted look on her face.

"Yes, I was," Cara said with a sad look on her face.

"What do you mean was?" Morgana said in a frightened tone.

"Mother, I've just undone my whole timeline. Nothing will happen now as it did before. I've always known that preventing you from becoming the Queen of Albion would undo my own birth and erase me from existence. Don't worry. I'm alright with that. I really am. It was worth it to see you as you truly are for the first time. I was right about you. You are a sweet, kind person at heart. You're the exact opposite of the mother that I knew. I wish that I could have gotten to know this side of you just a little bit longer, but I'm happy that I at least got to see you look at me with eyes filled with love for once," Cara said as she began to fade away.

"No!" Morgana cried out in pain as Cara started to disappear.

"It's alright," Cara reassured her in an unearthly voice.

"No, it's not," Nimueh said as she gestured at Cara and began to swiftly cast a spell that she had learned long ago.

Cara suddenly solidified once more and looked at them with surprise as she said, "What? What happened?"

"Cara!" Morgana cried out with joy as she hugged her tightly.

"I don't understand. I thought she was fading away," Arthur said.

"She was. Her whole timeline was being erased from existence and so was she. Once she was gone, we probably would have forgotten her because she never would have existed in the first place. I stopped that from happening though by casting a spell that bound her to this time and place. I made her a permanent part of this timeline," Nimueh said proudly.

"It sounds like you just took a page out of Jenny's book to me. She would say that you just made Cara into a . . . temporal anomaly if I remember correctly," Merlin said.

"A what?" Arthur asked in confusion.

"It means that she's not supposed to exist in our time but she does anyway," Merlin said.

Nimueh looked at him in surprise as Merlin said with a grin, "What? I've learned a lot from Jen."

"Apparently so," Nimueh said in an impressed voice.

Then she began to feel strange as she said, "Merlin, something's happening to me."

Merlin watched in shock as Nimueh started fading away. He realized immediately that it was some kind of side effect of her spell to save Cara. The spell was backfiring on her!

"That spell that you cast must have come with a price, Nimueh. Since you made Cara, who was from the future, a part of our time you're being sent to the future yourself in order to preserve the balance," Alice realized.

"No!" Merlin screamed as Nimueh continued to fade away.

He quickly grabbed her and the two of them vanished in the blink of an eye. Everyone stared at the spot where they had just been standing in shock as Cara said, "I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen."

"No, it wasn't your fault, Cara. You didn't do anything wrong," Morgana reassured her as she held the distraught girl close to her and comforted her.

"Can we get them back?" Arthur asked Alice who seemed to know exactly what was going on.

"Yes, if we can find them. They could be anywhere and anytime in the future though. They may even be in an alternate reality since Cara came from one. I'll find them though, Arthur. Don't worry about that," Alice reassured him.

"I certainly hope so because being a Lady of the Lake down might just put us all in danger," Gwen warned.

"I never meant for any of this to happen. I was just trying to save the future," Cara said in tears.

"You did, sweetheart. You did. You saved my future. We'll find them. Don't worry about that. Merlin and Mother have been in worse situations before and survived. They'll survive this too," Morgana reassured her in a gentle voice.

Despite the circumstances, Cara smiled. It was so nice to her to feel loved.

Blodeuwedd meanwhile silently flew away and cursed her rotten luck yet again. Now she was truly alone with no allies at all to depend upon. At least something had turned out right though, and Nimueh was gone now. For her part, she could stay gone. Forever.

Meanwhile Nimueh and Merlin popped into existence in a city filled with enormous buildings that seemed to reach to the sky and mysterious horseless carriages that ran on their own power. Both of them instantly knew from Jenny's descriptions of the Earth in her time that this was the far future.

"So how do we get out of this one? You wouldn't happen to know a spell to get us back would you?" Merlin asked.

"I could definitely send you back but I can't return. Not without erasing Cara and I can't do that. I won't," Nimueh said.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying with you until we find a way where both you and Cara can co-exist in the same time. I just wish that the amulet Jenny gave me was still working. She could have fixed this in a minute with her powers. Alice said that she couldn't help me anymore but she didn't say why. I hope she's alright," Merlin said.

"I'm sure she's just fine. It's us that I'm worried about. We're trapped in a strange world that neither of us understands. I'm not even sure that this is our universe or not. Something about this world seems . . . off somehow," Nimueh said.

Nimueh had no idea just how right that she was. At that very moment they were both being observed by an extremely curious man who had seen them arrive out of thin air and was even now trying to see if they were a threat that he would have to deal with before it got out of control.

Clark Kent couldn't help but wonder with the way that they were dressed whether they were part of an alien invasion or if they were just peaceful visitors from another world. Maybe they were even time travelers like that girl Jenny that he had met once. He was determined to find out as he slowly approached them.

He couldn't help but hope that just this once that the day wouldn't end with yet another pointless fight.

Next: Yep, that's right. Merlin and Nimueh are about to meet Superman. Don't worry though. This is still a Merlin story not a crossover. Superman's world is just the first one that our heroes will travel to as they attempt to go back home. By the end of the next chapter, they'll find themselves in yet another future. Their own! Merlin and Nimueh are about to catch a glimpse of what the future holds for both of them. I'll give you a hint. It seems that Alice was right about magical beings being immortal after all.