Chapter 1 - Calm before the storm

DISCLAIMER: Imagine my suprise when I found out that I do not Merlin or any of the characters.

AN: This is my first ever fanfiction, so it might not turn put that great. Sorry.

"I knew it was a terrible idea to come here, prat"

"Merlin?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up"

"Of course sire"

So it continued - master and servant kept exchanging an array of insults as they ventured on - along with the knights of the round table - getting closer and closer to the perilous lands.

"Come on Merlin, no need to be a girl's petticoat, it's not like something's going to actually happen. No one's been here in centuries."

As Merlin was going to open his mouth to give a witty retort, a guest of wind screeched around them, causing dust and debris to cloud their line of vision.

"And you had to go and jinx it you clotpole!", Merlin shouted amongst the chaos of the storm.

"Merlin...SHUT UP!"

"You know what Princess, Merlin has a point, if you hadn't opened that huge mouth of yours, we wouldn't have been in this situation in the first place," Gwaine interrupted, in an oddly cheerful tone for someone caught up in a miniature whirlwind.

Arthur had had just about reached the limit of his patience, and was a second away from shouting himself hoarse at the rebellious knight, when the wind and fog started to clear. "Well finally!" Gwaine shouted in exasperation, "It's about time we got out of this mess."

However, amongst the shouting and cheering of the relieved batallion of knights, the young warlock stared into the abyss - beyond the dust and ruins that the wind had unceremoniously concocted. Eventually, his efforts paid off, because a silhouette stood amidst it all, never moving, never wavering. And for some reason Merlin found it oddly both familiar and comforting at the sight of it.

"Sire look over there," Merlin then indicated the figure that had entrapped him with its mere presence alone.

As one the knights were alerted to the presence of the equivocal figure, and they swiftly unsheathed their swords, as the remnants of the storm had passed.

There in the centre of the dry and desolate land stood a girl, her purple dressing flowing elegantly behind her.

"Who are -" Arthur began.

"Merlin," the girl cut off the Once and Future King.

"What-"

"Merlin," she repeated in a soft tone, a tone of silk and cotton, and sweets and honey.

Bemused, the young Pendragon turned to look at his manservant. However, it did nothing assauge his paranoia nor his suspicion.

Merlin had turned a newfound pale and had a slight tremble to his nimble frame. His azure blue eyes were now a startling metallic and were glazed - as if he were millions of years away.

"Merlin?"he enquired hesitantly.

No response.

Now everyone was concerned, and a newfound wave of hysteria and worry clawed at them as they took in the state of the young man before them. "Merlin?"

Still no response.

Millennia later (or so it felt to the knights) Merlin began to show signs of life.

"But your dead," he whispered in a defeated tone, as his voice broke off of the last word. "I - I spread your ashes myself."

Fresh tears surrounded his wide eyes at the statement.

Who was this person and why was Merlin so upset? This was the inner mantra of the Knights of the Round table as they processed the situation before them. This wasn't the Merlin they knew - not the easy going, friendly Merlin that always had to put his two cents in. In place of that was a broken man. The idea of a damaged Merlin seemed so absurd, so unlikely that the knigts wanted to rip the woman in front of them limb from limb - woman or no.

"I am," the girl agreed gently, "but the fates have sent me here from Avalon for a purpose, and once that purpose has been achieved, I'll be gone for good."

"But...but," Merlin whispered - portraying every bit of the broken man before them. "I can't lose you again. I can't"

"I know Merlin, I know," the tenderness in her voice was unparalleled to anything that the men had heard before.

"What do you need to do?" Merlin murmured.

" I'm so sorry Merlin," and the surrounding spectators were astounded to see the stranger's resolve break, "but it is time. Time for your friends to know about you. Everything... The past and the present, so the future can be right and your destiny can be fulfiled. I'm sorry Merlin, but everything will be alright. You do know what I need to do now don't you."

During the entirety of her monologue, Merlin had remained still, entrapped by the sheer beauty radiating off of his only love. However, at hearing the words - as they fully registered in his mind and expression that could only be counted as one emotion took over his tearstained face.

"No," he muttered brokenly "No."

"I'm so sorry," she responded.

"I won't see you after this, will I?" The knights and Arthur had never seen a man look so defeated, and so utterly...lost.

"I'm so so sorry," the foreigner whispered as a tear slid down her cheek.

"I love you" Merlin whispered, and his voice was steadily stronger.

"I love you too."

Her eyes flashed a startling gold as she enchanted "Gemyndblípeu bé forgeifa géoléan"

There was a flash of light as Merlin sank to the ground.