The Potato Woman
Summary: Hunith dies young and a potato farmer takes Merlin in. Or, the one where Merlin adopted mother is a slightly crazy reincarnate soul. (OC reborn.) (One-shot)
Ealdor was a very small village and everyone knew everyone.
Everyone knew about Mary who lived close to the village on a potato farm. She comes in whenever food is short and hands out potatoes because potatoes can make anything and feed a family. Which, is what one wanted in a small village of Ealdor.
There was just something slightly of about Mary.
And, no she didn't have magic so it wasn't that. It was more to do with mind. Talking nonsense half of the time, mumbling thing about evil lady friends, half dead army, dragons and a knight that needed to find another woman because Gwen will be married to a King. Those sorts of things.
At least she stopped talking about magic when the laws on magic came about.
Say, what you will about Mary, but the woman wasn't that insane.
Hunith knows Mary very well because the woman was always happy to help her with the sick. So, one day when Hunith died shortly after her only child was born. Baby Merlin found himself the talk of the town. Since not everyone could take in an extra mouth to feed.
Which is where Mary came in stared at the small child for a good ten seconds and picked him up in her arms.
"I must've stuffed up the timeline," Mary said. "I don't recall your mother ever dying, but either way someone got to take care of you."
Thus, that's how the potato woman found herself with a child. Living outside of the village might've helped as will when Merlin started to do magic and really it was a miracle, he didn't do any of it when he was in the village care. Now, Merlin put down that wooden horse and have a potato.
She pretty sure babies can't eat potatoes. Something about them not having teeth yet.
Gaius is informed about Hunith death and is ready to set off to the small village to collect her child only to get a letter from a woman named Mary. He knows Mary he's been there a few times when Hunith needed help to care for the sick. He seen Mary hand out potatoes and speak about dragons talking riddles. All before the law of course, she now just talked about knights needing to find a different woman that isn't taken. She was always a strange one, strange, but kind.
Many people let her be it wasn't like she was hurting anyone.
However, if there was one thing Gaius knew is that Mary wasn't really a woman good with her words because he got the letter. It was a fairly short letter that only took up one page.
Dear Gaius.
The boy mine now. His name is Merlin. You can have him when he older.
From Mary.
Ps. In the future, there would be texting.
Gaius does not know what texting is, but he does know that Mary was never one for words.
Ealdor never did have a problem with being attacked by bandits or by knights trying to steal their food. Mainly because of Mary throwing potatoes, or standing in the village holding a scythe in her hands.
She might be slightly crazy, but everyone knew that Mary wasn't just the typically farmer or just another lady. She was a fighter who had happily defeated any knight that came her way. So, instead of being attacked like they would have in another time line.
Ealdor got knights coming to the village every now and again.
"I am here to challenge Mary of Ealdor to a duel."
The knights are always pointed to the direction of Mary farm.
"Thank you, kind sir."
That is why Merlin knew a lot about knights and their weapons when he arrived to Camelot because a lot of strange men we're always over at the house. Since every time they lose Mary asked them to help around the farm before sending them home after their defeat.
Merlin grows up understanding about his magic a little better. He knows he isn't a monster and that it isn't his fault born with it. Mother always said that he was meant for great things and that is why when he was old enough, she sent him to Camelot. Personally, Will and him always thought that was a dumb idea because Camelot the reason why magic isn't allowed, but no mother said he had to go. He had to.
Something about golden dragon living under the castle and oh God, the riddles. Followed by, always write home and tell her everything that goes on. From girl troubles, to knight problems and if someone trying to take over the Kingdom. Always tell mother and she help out with the fight.
Fighting in her old age was never a good idea, but she refused to give up because every time someone said that maybe she should stop fighting. She said something about Will dying if she did. Merlin really does not know what goes on mother mind half the time. It why he sorted of glad that he's adopted because the last thing he wanted was that craziness being passed down to him.
Arthur meets her first.
Mainly because there's an old woman in the city that he's never seen before and mainly because she chatting to Merlin. And, why was that woman carrying around a scythe.
"Merlin, don't you have chores to do?" Arthur asked.
He pretty sure Merlin did because he gave his manservant at least ten new chores this morning.
"And, who are you to boss him around young man?" the old woman asked.
"You really don't know who I am do you?"
She clearly wasn't from around here.
"I don't really give a damn either way and I am not just going to let you boss around my son, like that."
Arthur blinked a few times and looked from Merlin to the old woman holding the scythe.
"I'm adopted," Merlin answered.
That would explain a lot because Merlin didn't have the strength to carry a scythe.
"He's my servant."
"Servant," the woman said and turned to Merlin with a frown. "You didn't tell me they made you a servant. That it you're going home right now. You are not cleaning dirty shocks of a noble."
"Actually, I'm the Prince," Arthur said.
"And, I'm his mother. I out rank you."
"That not really how it works."
"I'm his mother boy."
Arthur back away. He wasn't used to dealing with very upset mothers. He always thought Merlin's mother would've opened him with open arms, maybe in another world. In this one she wanted Merlin far away from him.
"It was your idea to send me here," Merlin said.
"Yes, and it a bad idea. Very bad idea. That Arthur is nothing but trouble."
"I am not," Arthur said.
"He became your servant because he protected you. Didn't he?"
"Will, yes."
"See," she pointed. "He's nothing but trouble. Come on Merlin, pack your things. Stuff what the Riddle thing said. You can become a potato farmer. Better yet, I'll train you to fight a bit more. I'm sure a few knights would help out."
"But mother."
He watched as Merlin's mother pushed him away from Arthur. Telling Merlin that he was nothing, but bad news, nothing but trouble and that Merlin should stay away from people like Arthur.
Arthur isn't too sure how to feel about that. He wasn't used to people telling him that he was bad news.
Of course, Merlin didn't go home and his mother blamed it on teenage rebellion and every time she visited the city. She tossed potatoes at Arthur.
He wasn't going to tell his father because he didn't want his father to kill Merlin, mother. Merlin would never forgive him for that. So, he just puts up with potatoes being thrown at him.
Gwen meets Merlin's mother soon after when Merlin brings her to meet her.
"You must be Gwen," Merlin's mother said.
"I am."
She was soon welcomed with open arms.
"How come she likes Gwen, but not me?" Arthur asked.
Gwen turned around to find Arthur in the halls looking awfully upset.
"Because your nothing, but trouble."
"Ow."
Mary tossed a potato at Arthur head who darted of once again while Merlin stood shaking his head.
"I thought we've talked about this mother. You can't just throw potatoes at people you don't like."
"Your right Merlin. I should throw knives instead."
Merlin goes pale and Gwen finds herself being dragged by Mary because the woman wanted to know what kind of throwing knives she can buy.
All while Merlin is in the background going of about how this is a bad idea.
Morgana had agreed with Arthur about not telling Uther about Merlin's mother, who thought it was a good idea to throw potatoes at the Prince. The last thing she wanted was Merlin to be upset about his own mother death simply because the woman didn't like Arthur.
Of course, when she did meet the woman, she wasn't expecting the old woman to frown at her.
"You're not evil yet, are you dear?"
She blinked not knowing what to say to this because she never been asked before if she was evil.
"No. I don't think so."
"Will that alright then. Here have, a potato."
She offered her a potato.
"Oh, come on!" Arthur said in fury.
He was just jealous that Mary didn't throw potatoes at her like she did with Arthur. (Older Morgana would say otherwise.)
Uther hears the stories about the old woman carrying a scythe and handing out potatoes. Arthur isn't much help when he asked him questions on who this person is and Morgana only talked back to him when he asked her the same questions.
Forcing him to go to Gaius instead.
"Who is she Gaius?"
"Who is who my Lord?"
"This old woman I've been hearing about."
"Aww, she Merlin mother."
"Merlin mother?"
For one second, he forgot who Merlin was he normally did forget who the maids and servants we're.
"My ward. She will be returning home shortly. She only came to visited Merlin."
Uther thinks nothing of it until he meets that said woman in the main town and he knows her. Just faintly, but he knows her.
She met him when he was younger and a lot more foolish.
"Heh. You came for a rematch?"
"Father what is she talking about?" Arthur asked.
Out of all the people he meets again it had to be her. It had to be that one woman he challenged all those years ago to a duel and lost. All because he had heard that nobody could take her out and he set of to try and do the impossible.
"Mary."
"You recall?"
"Of course. I challenge you to a rematch."
"Fine, by me Princess."
It was her alright because only one woman in the whole world would call Uther Pendragon Princess and get away with it.
Uther loss of course, and it wasn't really much of a fight. The old woman might be old, but she was still fast taking out the King in seconds and leaving him in pain on the ground. In front of his very shock knights and a jaw dropped Arthur.
Merlin packed her bags a lot faster after that and pretty much pushed the old woman out of the city before Uther could recovered.
It might've been a good thing because Uther was going to demand a rematch.
Merlin gets a letter from home.
Dear Merlin, if you ever find a child by the name of Mordred send him home and I'll raise him.
Merlin isn't too sure how his mother always knew, but she does so when he does meet a child by Mordred, he didn't listen to the dragon who went on about how the child should be killed. He listened to his mother who took Mordred in with Arthur help.
So, yes Merlin has a little brother who is adopted and later on the dragon is proven wrong because the child didn't end up evil or wanting to kill Arthur.
He ended up becoming a potato farmer who knew a lot about potatoes. It also helped the village because they ended up with another protector and now knights find themselves losing to not only to an old woman, but also a young boy.
When the veil between the world is broken it isn't the knights who stop it, but Mary offering a rabbit.
"Do you take rabbits?" the old woman asked.
"The veil was caused by a human sacrifice. There for it can only be stop by another," Cailleach said.
"Oh, I see. So, your fussy."
"I am not," the other old woman said.
"Sounds like it to me. Sounds like a bitter and fussy old woman that only wants the best. No, wonder I didn't offer you potatoes. Their clearly not good enough for you either."
"Now, just you wait…"
"I'm sorry, I don't speak to fussy people."
"I am not fussy. It just how it is."
"Says who? Do you make up the rules?"
"Will, no."
"Then who says another human needs to do it? Why not have a rabbit? Look, I even caught one."
The rabbit was indeed alive trying it best to get out of the old woman grip.
"I do not take rabbits," the Cailleach said.
"Are you saying animals are not good enough for you? How dare, you."
"That is not at all the problem."
"Sounds like it to me."
"Fine. I'll take the rabbit."
"Dead or alive?" Mary asked.
"Dead."
"So, you want me to kill it do you? Now, hear this. I know that the person who opened it killed her own sister and the next one who will offer themselves walks through the veil alive. Sounds to me that you're just making these rules up. Because if you we're really seriously. You would've done the whole an eye for an eye thing. Like get someone else to offer their own brother and being the one to kill him just like she did with her sister."
"What do you want?"
Mary was giving the Cailleach a horrible headache and at this point she would take anything. If it meant to escape the woman annoying voice.
"I want you to close it."
"I will not."
"Oh, I see, so your too lazy to do it."
"I am not."
"Lazy and fussy."
"Do you know who you are talking to?"
"Another lazy and fussy old woman."
Thus, the veil was closed simply because someone didn't like being called lazy and fussy. While the poor rabbit was sent free and by the time the group arrived, they found Mary waiting for them.
"Mother, what are you doing here?" Merlin questioned.
Causing a few knights to go into shock because they've never met Merlin's mother before. Nor, have they met a woman who tossed potatoes at Arthur.
"I just saved your life. Now, who are your friends dear?"
She pushed Arthur out of the way and let Merlin tell her all about the other knights around him who they we're welcomed with open arms. All, but Arthur who found himself sulking in the background because his best friend mother didn't like him. Not like he would ever admit that Merlin was his best friend.
Gwaine learned a lot of things about Merlin.
He's an older brother and his mother runs a potato farm that tends to throw potatoes at Arthur no matter how many times Leon pointed out that Arthur was the Prince and you shouldn't throw potatoes. That only made the old woman throw them harder until Arthur went running to Merlin telling him how Merlin's mother was a meanie, who would then tell Mary not to throw potatoes and Mary did just that.
"Is that a knife?" Gwaine asked.
Mary was indeed holding a knife a throwing knife at that.
"Yes. Potato dear?" Mary asked sweetly. Handing out a potato to Gwaine.
"Thanks, but no thanks. More of an apple person."
"Oh, I'll make a few apple pies next time I'm over then."
"You'll do that?"
"Of course, darling any good friend of Merlin is just another son to me."
"Oh, come on," Arthur was heard in the distance. "She likes Gwaine and she only just met him."
"Sire, it really isn't wise to be jealous," Leon said.
"I am not jealous!"
There goes the throwing knife at Arthur head who Merlin pushed out of the way. Saving the young.
"And, you just can't go of trying to kill me either," Arthur said.
"Will I'm not allow potatoes. So, I throw knives instead."
Gwaine very much liked Merlin's mother.
Mary was allowed to throw potatoes after that because knives we're far too deadly.
Will is out one day far away from the village and heading to Camelot to visit Merlin when he finds his best friend close to dying on the floor and dragged of by a man in black. Will does not like this and suddenly the two men are fighting because no one just goes off and dragged Merlin on the ground like he was dead weight. And, was Merlin hurt? Will did not at all like this one bit.
Will wins the fight.
Maybe in another timeline he would've lost it, or worse died from being shot by an arrow, but this wasn't that timeline.
This was a timeline where he knew Mary who taught a few people how to fight and since Will was Merlin best friend he knew how to fight very well. He just wasn't expecting a bunch of knights to come along.
"What did you do to my uncle?" one of them asked.
"Is he your uncle?" Will asked, pointing to the very much in pain man on the floor.
He was more focus on an injured Merlin then to care about the other man health.
"Yes, he is and what did you do to my servant?"
"This happens to be Merlin and he's my best friend who is currently injured. I was going to visit him. He lives in Camelot and I'm from Ealdor. Then I spot this man dressed in black who looks very much like a villain dragging my injured best friend on the ground. And, will I punch him. He didn't put up too much of a fight, but that is why he on the ground hurt."
"Hold it, you said that Agravaine just dragged Merlin on the ground?" one of the knights asked.
"Is that the villain looking man?" Will asked.
"My uncle is not a villain."
There was silence.
"My uncle may be a villain, but you can't just go around and beat up nobles."
"Sire," another knight said. "Agravaine knew about this trip."
"What are you suggesting Lancelot?"
"I'm suggesting sire that nobody should've known about this trip. We shouldn't have been attacked in the valley of the fallen Kings."
"Who cares if the Princess uncle was a spy. What about Merlin?" the other knight said who rushed to Merlin side. "I'm Gwaine by the way."
"Are you the knight that drinks a lot and eat apples?" Will asked.
"I am, how you know?"
"Merlin talks a lot in his letters about you."
"Oh, and you?"
"I'm Will. Merlin best friend."
"But I'm his best friend."
"I thought I was his best friend," the knight, name Lancelot said.
There was very awkward silence after that and no, Leon you can't just say that Merlin can have more than one best friend. It just didn't work that way.
Either way, Merlin was helped and brought back to Camelot while the group left Agravaine on the ground who was later killed by Morgana once she found out people knew he was a spy. And, Merlin was left with three people fighting over who his best friend was.
Will knew him better, but Lancelot knew his secret. Will knew that before him and poor Gwaine was left in the middle because he did not at all know about this secret. The knight sulked for days after that and Merlin had to cheered him up. Thus, that is how Gwaine learnt about Merlin magic because it was just unfair.
All while Arthur went to Gwen about the matter because if anyone was Merlin best friend it was him. Gwen thought it might've been wised not to tell Arthur that she was Merlin best friend.
Gwen got kidnapped by Morgana, but never did make it to the Dark Tower because Mary was there to throw potatoes at the woman and sent her to the ground in a bruised messed.
"How do you always know?" Gwen asked.
Knowing this wasn't the first time that Mary just seemed to know things.
"Past lives. Now, come on dearly let get you home that way your brother doesn't die."
Gwen blinked at the news, but goes home anyway because she didn't want her brother to die if she didn't go home and is welcomed back.
"Gwen?" Arthur said. "We we're just going on a quest to save you."
"You we're far too slow," Mary said.
"Mother," Merlin said with delight as he took the woman in for a hug.
"Merlin. I know you like your friends and all, but really. Couldn't you make friends with people who are a bit," Mary paused. "Smarter."
"Mother."
"But it true. No, wonder this city goes to war like every bloody month."
"Mother."
"I mean really, a donkey for a King."
"Mother."
That is why Merlin took Mary out of the throne room.
"At least she didn't throw potatoes at you this time dear," Gwen pointed out.
There's a knock on a door and a very strange woman standing behind it she also dressed in a lot of black and her long hair is very fizzy.
"Can I help you?" Mordred asked.
"Yes, I want you to be by my side Mordred. So, we can kill Arthur Pendragon."
He blinked a few times because it wasn't every day one got a woman in black telling him to join her to take out the King.
"I'm sorry, but I can't."
"What?" she hissed out in fury.
"I can't. You see my older brother works for Arthur."
"Merlin? He isn't your brother."
"Will no. But he'd adopted like me and there for still my brother, but anyway he works for Arthur. And, there sort of friends you know? So, I can't help some stranger to kill him. Arthur an ass. Don't get me wrong, but he also Merlin, friend and that would make my big brother terribly upset. I don't like it when Merlin upset."
"We can restore magic to the land," the woman said.
He wonders if this woman been living under a rock.
"Don't you know. Magic been brought back."
"What?" she asked furiously at the news.
"Yes, came back two weeks ago when King Arthur lifted the laws of magic. It now against the law to kill people just because of magic."
"Why would he do that?" she asked.
"My big brother born with magic. Mother told Arthur this. Of course, the King was furious when he found out, but mother said he had to tell him because she didn't like Merlin hiding it forever because he used to think he was a monster until mother taught him out of it. That made the King a bit upset after that, so they had a very long chat and Merlin cried a few times. Then the King lifted the law and now my big brother going to be Camelot Court Sorcerer in a few weeks. That why mother, Will and I are going over there shortly. It also why I won't join you because I'll miss big brother big day."
The woman stood there in shock.
"Is everything alright Ms."
"You really don't remember me?"
"Not, really. Should I?"
"I'm Morgana. I helped you escape when you we're little."
That was an awfully long time ago and Mordred had trouble remembering what he had for dinner three weeks ago. It also wasn't something they really talked about mainly because it still scared Mordred.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I don't remember it too much. Did you really think I'll join you after not knowing who you we're for years?"
"Will yes. You would join me to help your people."
"What about big brother? That wouldn't help him at all. It would just make him very, very sad and I can tell you nobody likes it when big brother sad."
Will didn't like it one bit willing to work with the knights if it meant to lift Merlin spirits back up. Luckily, Merlin was normally cheered up fairly easy.
"I'll just go then," Morgana said.
"Bye," he waved.
"Mordred, who at the door?" mother asked.
"No one mother."
Magic was no longer against the laws and Merlin was now Court Sorcerer. Mary passed away peaceful a few years afterwards while Gwen and Arthur had a girl, shortly after her death.
"We are not calling her Mary," Arthur said.
"I'm sure Merlin wouldn't mind," Gwen said.
"That woman tossed potatoes at me and called me an ass."
"Actually, she called you a donkey."
"It still means the same thing."
"Will I want to call her Mary."
"But she my daughter to Gwen."
"And, I birthed her," Gwen pointed out firmly.
Gwen did like Mary after all. She was always a kind woman (to Gwen.) Taking Gwen in as her daughter and was always there for her.
"Fine," Arthur said. "We call her Mary."
Everyone lived happily ever after even Lancelot who did not sleep with Gwen even though he sorted of wanted to, but found another woman instead and felled in loved with her. Will got married to a baker daughter who lived in Camelot. Morgana had a lot of free time on her hands after the law was lifted.
Turned out that not too many people wanted to kill Arthur after finding out the laws of magic was lifted. So, Morgana took care of a white dragon and pretty much treated her as her own. She lived fairly content in her little home. While Merlin decided to introduce everyone to his wife that lived in the lake. (Arthur was very concerned when Merlin told him that he married a woman who lived in the bottom of a lake.)
While one day Camelot was left in the hands of Queen Mary the first who ruled it fairly allowing magic and those without out it to live together in peace and harmony.