Merille Marc, I think it won't be necessary to answer your questions as you have the answer below. Enjoy it!

Under the start light

Merlin was sitting alone at the edge of the water. Aithusa was flying above the sky, inspecting the surroundings. Kilgharrah watched from the top of a huge rock waiting for a sign from Merlin. The warlock kept looking in the distance, watching the waves and yet not seeing a thing.

There was no strength in his body not for a single tear. He finally threw a glance at the frozen face of his mother. Even in death, she seemed so beautiful.

Sarah had sent one of Morgana's dresses and a friend to help him dress his mother. Sarah had wished to come, too, but the prince had kept his eyes on her and she couldn't risk blowing her cover. After all, she'd been very fond of Morgana and, after all, he had every right to be afraid.

Yet she had a lot of friends in the village. So, she pretended to go to the market, found her friend and sent her with the dress to Merlin.

Kira couldn't come either as she had to stay with Eugene. At least, they could keep an eye on him. It made her furious, but she had to keep pretending.

Merlin didn't have the strength to launch the boat on the water and least of all to set it afire. He knew he had to go back. He knew his mother wanted him to go on no matter what life may have in store for him. He'd promised her.

A few hours ago

He was going back. Back to the castle. To find the sword. The only sword which could cut the chains that had kept the dragons prisoners to that cave for more than two decades.

He had hardly made a few steps when a blonde woman greeted him. She was Sarah, Morgan's servant.

She'd noticed him during his conversation with Morgana and she'd tried her best to find him. She knew who he was and what he was capable of. She also knew he would lose someone dear unless she was to act quickly. When her fiance had warned her Eugene had captured Merlin's mother, Sarah had run as fast as she could, praying the gods to help her reach Merlin in time. Sarah was also worried about Sarrum's presence there. She had to warn the queen. Whatever, the prince was planning couldn't mean anything good for the kingdom. However, she had no way to meet the queen. So, she had to put her trust in Merlin.

Meanwhile, Aithusa had also felt Merlin's presence and she, as well as Sarah, knew what fate had in store for Merlin.

She'd watched him getting colder and lonelier during the time. She knew it was darkness inside him. But as long as there was a sparkle of light there was still hope. Dangerous times were approaching and a new battle, not the one for Drakar, but the one between the light and the darkness from within Merlin's soul was dawning. Though, the future could be changed. His mother wasn't meant to die yet.

So, the little dragoness approached Sarah and guided her through the forest to the place where Merlin had stopped, thinking about a way to enter the city without being noticed. It was then that Sarah fell down on her knees, just in front of him, desperate and scared.

Merlin didn't look like the cold man she'd seen in her dreams. He seemed so young and innocent as he smiled at her.

"There's no need for this." He addressed her and helped her stand to her feet. Sarah watched him with big eyes. He was so humble and kind even in front of a simple serving girl. So, she started to feel courage return to her and she began her story. She told him who she was and what she'd seen in her dream, fast, not daring to take a break. He listened attentively and allowed her to finish.

"Please, My Lord. There are innocent people inside. I imagine you must be furious. Eugene had your mother. I'll help you save her. We'll change the future. I know I'm a simple servant, but…"

"Sarah" he stopped her "May I call you Sarah?" she nodded. "I don't care if you are a servant. I'm a servant, too. And I'm very proud of it. You should meet Arthur. You'd like him. I have no intention to hurt innocents. Trust me. I'll do my best to avoid any unnecessary death. But I can't let him hurt my mother. I don't know what I'll do if I am to lose her. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, My Lord."

"Call me Merlin, please." He accompanied his words with a bright smile…

,,He looks nothing like the cruel warlord from my nightmare" Sarah thought. "Apart physically. It can't be a mistake, can it? Is there another man who looks exactly like him? Only if he were to have a twin. Otherwise…"

"Merlin." she muttered timidly.

"Aithusa," he addressed the little dragon who had waited quietly next to him, trying to figure out if he was furious with her. "Where have you been? Can you help me? Do you know where the sword is?" The dragon nodded, happily. "I've missed you. A lot." Aithusa leaned her head on his chest to show her affection. "My sweet girl. We need to go. Do you have a plan?"

"In fact, I do." They heard a voice coming from behind them. It was Kira. "The dragons wish to see you, but they warned me you should go back or you may regret it. I don't know what they mean, but..I've been so lucky to find you so fast. You have no idea how scared I was that I won't be able to find you in time. Now, the plan. A spell...to alter your appearance. I can freely wander wherever I want. No one will question me. I'll tell them you're one of Eugene's soldiers. Not even Eugene knows them all. Not that he cares about them."

"Let's go then. We don't have much time." Merlin spoke. He was worried. Dragons' predictions never went well with him, so he had every reason to feel worried.

"There's something else." Sarah interrupted them. "Eugene had allied himself with Sarrum. I think he plans to kill the queen and take the throne."

She hardly finished what she wanted to say when they noticed a few of Sarrum's men hiding in the forest.

"I think they're planning something. Waiting for someone." Merlin pointed out.

"The queen usually goes to the old shrine. The road towards the shrine goes right next to this part of the forest." Sarah informed him.

"So, they are waiting for her." Merlin stated. "I have a plan. Do you have any sheet of paper?" He asked.

"Paper? Why do you need paper?" Kira wondered aloud.

"A napkin if it helps you." Sarah handed him a colourful napkin. "It's from my little sister. I promised to keep it, but...You can have it."

Merlin's eyes went golden and soon words appeared on the napkin.

"Sarah, would you give this to the queen? Tell her she must read it." Sarah nodded."Now, let's deal with Sarrum's men."

Dealing with Sarrum's men had been a piece of cake. Though, he'd lost a lot of time looking for Sarrum. They were lucky to find him outside the town's walls, not far from where his people were.

It was a quick fight. Sarrum and his people hardly had time to register what struck them. Though, Merlin was furious for losing so much precious time.

"Kilgharrah, could take them up in the mountains?" Merlin addressed the Great Dragon as he landed next to him and to the prisoners. It was a risky move to call him so close to the citadel, but Merlin didn't want to waste any more time. "Do not kill them, though. They might prove useful….and" he added after a while, "Kilgharrah, I might need that history lesson you've promised me. Yet I can't waste much time. Could you do that telepathically? I know you can do that. You've enjoyed invading my head in Camelot. But first, tell me everything you know about Sarrum. It won't be easy to impersonate him, I fear, but he's a perfect choice."

The dragon nodded and taking the prisoners in his claws he spread his wings and flew.

He had been so close to the dungeons when he realized he hadn't been fast enough. Kira's voice echoed in his head:"It's too late, Merlin. I'm sorry."

It couldn't be late.

"Please, do not do something stupid." She continued. "She's dead. You can't do anything." Kira begged him and she grabbed his arm to make sure he would listen to her. "Eugene had stabbed her with a dagger. One of the prisoners told me telepathically. There are a lot of people on our side, Merlin. Eugene will pay for what he did."

She was right. There were a lot of people on their side, but they couldn't help them. They were in chains and too weak because of the lack of food and water.

Just next to the cell of Arthur and the knights, there was another cell where Eugene had thrown those who'd refused to obey him. They'd all seen what had happened. Kira had known some of them, but there was little she could have done for them at the time. At the moment, though, everything had changed. They could finally fight back.

So, Kira had informed them about Merlin and in return, they helped her find what happened in the dungeons while she wasn't there. She had spoken with them since she'd entered the tunnels. So, she knew before everyone that there was no hope for Merlin's mother.

"That stupid witch." She cursed Morgana's stupidity.

He ran the last hundreds of meters of tunnels left only to realize he had really been late. He wanted to kill Eugene on the spot. Melt him like a piece of iron. But he stood frozen on the spot. He could only catch his mother's last plea to Morgana.

"Merlin, this isn't just about you." Kira cried in his head as she finally managed to catch him and grabbed his arm again.

Merlin removed her hand from his arm furious. Sarah watched from a distance. She'd failed. "Do you have any idea who many people you might condemn to death with your rackless?" Kira scolded him. "Do you think that's what she wants?" He knew it wasn't what his mother wanted, but he couldn't stay there, watching her die in front of his eyes and do nothing. He breathed deeply and scolded his features.

"Trust me. I have a plan. Do as I said." For the first time his voice echoed cold and demanding in their heads. He stepped inside and kneeled next to his mother's body. He called his magic to heal her, but Kira was right. It was too late. He'd never been good at healing spells.

"Let Eugene believe I've escaped. Kneel and stay silent. Distract him as long as you can." He said to Kira and Sarah.

He took his mother's hand in his and focused. He closed his eyes, ready to meet her for the last time. It was dark, but soon he noticed a strange light coming between the trees. He was in a forest. His forest. Next to Ealdore. His mother was next to him smiling.

"My boy" she greeted him. He jumped in her arms. Even if it was happening in his mind, he could feel her warm touch. She watched him with such love. "Be strong, my boy. Never forget what I've taught you. I'm sure you'll make me proud."

"Dad is waiting for you. Tell him I love him. I love you both. I need you. I'll always do. I'm not ready, mum. " He added through tears. "I'm scared. So, scared. "

"We'll watch you. Guard your sleep as I've always had. I love you, too, my boy. I want you to know I don't regret a thing. Be happy." She hugged him for the last time and then disappeared, leaving him alone in the darkness. He heard Eugene's voice, but he didn't feel ready to face him. He had no idea how much time had passed.

He breathed deeply and stood up, brave on his two feet. As his parents wanted to see him. He would survive and he would fight. Eugene would regret that day. He surely would.

Back to present

There was a deep silence. The forest was quiet again. Sarah's friend had long returned to the village. No star was in the dark sky. Kilgharrah breathed out and then he let a wave of fire over the floating boat. His tribute to his Dragon Lord's Lady he'd never got the chance to meet.

Merlin watched as the fire covered it all and the boat floated further and further, the flame getting smaller and smaller in the distance. Then, in the deep darkness, he felt a small warm hand wrap around his hand.

"She must be someone important." The little voice spoke. "We are also alone." The voice continued. It was a child. "Just me and my cat. We've been living around the forest. Mum and dad had gone and never returned. The forest people helped me, but I've never felt like home. He was starving. My cat, I mean. I can't give him much, but at least he had someone to take care of him."

Merlin conjured a flame to see the child better. Red-haired and small, he didn't seem to be more than five years old. The kitten looked horribly skinny and full of fleas.

Merlin kneeled next to the kid so he would be at his level when he spoke with him.

"Aithusa and Kilgharrah will take care of you," Merlin promised. "I'll come back to look for you. I promise. But I need to build a better place for you."

"We can come with you." the kid suggested.

"Not yet. The bad king won't allow it. But we'll defeat him and then you can come and live at the castle and wear fancy clothes. And eat as much as you like. Both of you. "

"It sounds nice."

"What's your name?" He continued.

"I'm Rosered. I haven't named the cat yet."

"What do you think about Flame, little princes?" He'd thought she was a boy because of her boyish clothes and her short hair, but realized he'd been wrong.

"I'm not a princess."

"Not yet."

'But I like the name." She said. Merlin smiled. The girl had such a smooth effect on him with her innocence. He wished she would never lose her innocence. He would make sure she wouldn't.