Merlin belongs to the BBC.

Music of Albion

Mother Albion stood in a clearing of the forest, she felt the moonlight on her skin and the wind in her hair. Her sky-blue dress had changed to reflect the sky, now a midnight-blue with stars twinkling and the moon somewhere on her dress. The flowers in her grass-green hair were no longer bloomed and instead had closed up as if sleeping, waiting for the sunlight to awaken them and make them bloom once more. Her golden eyes were locked on the moon with a bright smile on her face. Reaching up a hand she called forth her magic and felt it leave her fingertips and into the air. She watched as the nearby trees donated their leaves to her, they flew towards her fingers and started to change, when the magic was finished the leaves had turned into a 12-hole ocarina in a rich green colour.

"Thank you for your donations," Mother Albion smiled at the trees before placing her fingers over the holes and brought the instrument towards her mouth and blew gently. She played each note a few times to adjust herself to her new toy before she moved the ocarina away from her mouth. She pondered what song to play to the forest, she decided to play something happy and fun. A tune which the trees could sway with, the animals that lived in the forest could either sleep to or simply listen to and relax. Knowing what to play, she put the ocarina to her mouth and started to play.

Merlin - Music of Albion

Mordred stared at the fire that Merlin had made earlier that night. He knew that Merlin had used magic to create the fire as it never seemed to die down or need more wood added to keep it blazing. A smile was on Mordred's face as he thought back to a truce Merlin had offered him. He was thankful that the black-haired warlock struggled to hate him and after telling Mordred about the prophecy that involved Arthur's death, Mordred had promised him to help fight against it. It was a start and already Mordred was feeling better. Mordred started to hear something, a melody of some sort that pulled him from his mind. There was someone playing something.

Merlin began to stir. Stretching out on his make-shift bed he slowly opened his eyes. He glanced around until his eyes fell on Mordred and smiled slightly. He sat up straight and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Can you hear that…?" Merlin asked as he yawned. It was far too early for him to be awake.

"You mean the melody? Then yes, I can hear it too. Is that what woke you?" Mordred asked.

"Yes." He responded to Mordred's question as he stood up and looked around.

"What are you going to do?" Mordred asked with a confused expression on his face. He had never heard of music that could pull people from their sleep. Seeing as none of the other knights have woken up then it's possible that the music is a spell of some sort…Mordred wasn't going to let the sorcerer have Emrys under their spell. "Please don't tell me you're going to follow it. If that's your plan then I'll restrain you." Merlin looked towards Mordred and then down at the druid's hands, giving him a look.

"I'm not going to follow it," Merlin said as he got up and stretched. He carefully stepped through the sea of sleeping knights until he was closer to the fire and Mordred. Mordred watched as the clumsiness that Merlin often showed seemed to vanish, downplaying his skills so others would drop their guards before he strikes with his magic or even a sword, depending on the situation.

"Do you think it's magical?" Mordred asked as the two listened to the melody.

He glanced towards Merlin and noticed how stiff Merlin's body was, the warlock was listening closely to the music that had pulled him from his sleep. Merlin stared deep into the fire before he started to grow restless, Mordred watched as Merlin stood up and began to pace as quietly around the camp as possible. The more Merlin paced though the more restless he felt. It felt like the music was calling to him, teasing him to follow it and find where it was coming from but he couldn't leave the camp. Mordred was on watch but it didn't feel right to wake up another knight because Merlin was restless. Merlin finally clicked the question Mordred had asked him and nodded.

"It feels magical, like the very earth itself is playing it and I just want to go and follow it. My very essence wants to go and follow the music but I know how dangerous that can be," Merlin spoke in a quiet voice but both of them knew that the more Merlin ignored it the more impatient he would be. He was oblivious to the way his fingers seemed to tap against his arm in time with the music. "Why can things never be so simple…why does everything have to become so complicated?"

"Merlin would it be wise to wake up another knight and let them take watch?" Mordred asked innocently and watched as Merlin stopped pacing around the camp. "That way we can go and investigate the music and you're not wandering off on your own. Arthur will throw a fit if he wakes up to find you gone."

"And I'd rather not deal with a grumpy Arthur, I get that enough waking him up in the morning back at the castle."

"Then who do you suggest we wake up? From what I've noticed, they're just as loyal to you as they are to Arthur," Mordred stopped when he looked at Merlin's face and laughed slightly. The look of disbelief on Merlin's face was always an amusing sight for Mordred. He resisted the urge to shake his head at Merlin. For a man who complained that Arthur was often blind and oblivious Merlin himself was also guilty of the same crime. He too seemed oblivious and blind to how the knights treat him. "I suggest waking up Sir Gwaine."

"Why Gwaine?" Merlin asked, curious about Mordred's choice of knight. The youngest knight shrugged.

"He seems the most loyal to you out of them all."

Merlin couldn't fault Mordred on that logic. It was impressive how much the younger knight had observed from the group. The teasing had started immediately on Mordred and while they still teased Merlin it was already clear that Mordred had been accepted into their little group. They were all knights after all and Merlin was just a servant. Gwaine however always put Merlin first before anyone else. Merlin still thought back to the time when they were in the perilous lands, when Gwaine said that Merlin was his only friend. Sure Gwaine wasn't on his own anymore and had the other knights but they never filled the hole in him that Merlin had. Merlin nodded before getting up and moving towards Gwaine, he crouched down and gently shook the knight.

"Gwaine…wake up," Merlin whispered to the rouge knight. "If you wake up I'll come to the tavern with you," Merlin said and heard Mordred snicker behind him. Merlin shot him a glare.

"Better drink with me then…if you're coming with me," Gwaine groaned as he was pulled from his sleep. When he opened his eyes, the first thing that came into vision was Merlin's bright smile. Gwaine smiled back at him before sitting up after Merlin removed his hand. "Is it my turn to take shift?" Gwaine asked as he looked around and noticed that Mordred was still awake, watching the pair of them.

"I'm sorry to pull you from whatever dream you were having but…" Merlin started before his brain could come up with an appropriate excuse. Gwaine watched for a moment before clamping a hand down on Merlin's shoulder.

"Gotta pee, I got it. I assume Mordred too?"

"Erm, yes?" Mordred blinked.

"Don't be too long. I wish to return to my dream. I found a fountain of ale that never ended."

"Thank you," Merlin smiled as he stood up and glanced to Mordred. The younger knight nodded and followed Merlin.

"Mordred?" Gwaine spoke up and watched the younger knight look at him. "If Merlin is injured in any way, I'll have your head."

Mordred gulped.

Merlin - Music of Albion

As she finished her song she smiled and looked up at the sky, the stars were twinkling brightly in the midnight sky as if applauding her for her performance. She bowed towards the stars before she brought the Oracina back up to her lips and prepared to play another melody before she felt him. His magic was reaching out to her and pulling its host towards her. She lowered the instrument before looking around. When her eyes landed on Merlin and Mordred coming her way she felt herself smiling, she could already tell that their friendship together was still rather rocky but in time that would change. For better or for worse she couldn't tell. She hoped that it would be for the better, it would do them both some good.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Mordred asked Merlin while they walked.

"I'm sure, I trust in my magic," Merlin responded to the druid, Mordred still wasn't sure. His hand was hovering over the hilt of his sword.

"If you say so…"

Merlin looked around before his eyes landed on Mother Albion. This was who his magic was directing him too? He stopped walking and felt Mordred bump into him before his eyes landed on Mother Albion. It didn't take long before Mordred understood who they were standing in front of and bowed to her.

"You never were good with nobility, were you Emrys?" Mother Albion laughed as she watched Mordred bow to her while Merlin remained where he stood. "Then again, I wouldn't expect any less from you, Emrys."

Merlin blinked in confusion before his eyes widened at who was addressing him. Mother Albion laughed as she watched the many emotions cross through Merlin's eyes, the warlock wasn't sure how to react to this. Mother Albion felt pity on Merlin and walked over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders, the ocarina had been placed carefully in her dress. Mordred tensed next to Merlin and remained in his bowing position.

"Mother Albion," Merlin finally spoke.

"You can rise Mordred," Mother Albion spoke towards the younger sorcerer. "What brings you here Emrys?" She turned her gaze off Merlin and glanced to Mordred. Mordred slowly straightened but still felt out of place compared to Merlin, the warlock seemed to just be with anyone and everyone. Goddesses, Gods, Mordred was pretty sure Merlin could tame a mythical or magical beast without any issues.

"I heard music…I assume that was your doing?" Merlin asked.

"Ah, yes, I was playing music to the forest. The trees were happy to lend me some leaves to create this ocarina." She lifted her hands from Merlin and withdrew the ocarina from her pocket. She held out the instrument to Merlin and watched with curiosity at Merlin's reaction. The pair of them could feel the magic radiating from the instrument, their eyes filled with curious wonder at how Mother Albion had created it. Mordred reached out to it and ran his fingers over it, smooth and cool to the touch.

"You…made this? Ma'am?" Mordred asked and watched as Mother Albion nodded.

"I was wondering Emrys, if you would like to learn how to play it?" She asked Merlin.

"What about Mordred?"

"I'm not one for music…" Mordred admitted sheepishly. "But I'd love to see you learn a skill, maybe pick up a hobby that doesn't revolve around protecting King Arthur or working with Gaius."

Merlin opened his mouth before shutting it once more. His mind thinking over what Mordred had just said. Music alone couldn't kill, it couldn't physically hurt anyone and it was a way for Merlin to express himself without the use of words. He wouldn't have to worry about telling anyone what troubles him if he could relieve himself through the use of music. He felt his magic reaching out to the ocarina, it seemed to agree that he could benefit from music. A smile formed on his face, a warm feeling bloomed within himself before he reached for the ocarina. Once his fingers touched the instrument he felt his magic sing to him.

"I can only assume your magic wanted this too?" Mother Albion asked.

"If you don't mind me asking…but what's your connection to Merlin?" Mordred asked innocently.

"He's my son," Mother Albion smiled. Mordred glared at Merlin. "Before you accuse him of lying, he does have human parents. Hunith and Balinor conceived Emrys and are biologically his parents. During the Purge, this land was overflowing with magic. It was starting to become toxic and starting to kill the very land, polluting the air and waters…in order to save the land, sea and sky I searched for someone strong, someone who could handle the magic. Balinor already had strong magic and his son would be the perfect vessel. He's my son in magic only."

"Does that make him part God?" Mordred asked.

"Don't worship me, I'd make a terrible god…" Merlin spoke up which made Mordred laugh.

"So, back to my original question Emrys. Would you like me to teach you how to play the ocarina?"

"Yes please."

Thanks for reading and take care~

Mother Albion:

The Beauty of Magic, Secrets Revealed, Music of Albion.