(This story will use a lot of elements from Merlin and spells from the fandom but is an Alt Universe one where Merlin knows of his destiny, is a little older and his dragonlord lineage{Balinor is already dead btw in this}from a young age but has a choice whether or not to follow that path as there are many others he could take There will be many minor and major changes on my whims so review if these changes are good or bad. So he goes to Camelot in this to judge if Prince Arthur is truly capable of being the once and future king. It's basically how I would've made Merlin a little more angst and some more sense. That being said I do not own Merlin or any of the characters this is done purely for fun, not any monetary value)
Destiny's Requiem
"It's final then, I can't convince you otherwise?" Hunith said in defeat.
"No, no you can't," Merlin said decidedly.
"Stubborn boy, just like your father I suppose" Hunith turned to face her son who was standing at the door, concern etched in her features.
"Come here son" she would embrace her son one final time before what very well could be their last moments together for a long time.
Merlin approached her and enveloped her in a tight hug and whispered, "I'll miss you". She replied sadly, "I'll miss you too now go before I find a way to keep you here" In response, he looked at her determinedly.
"Yea I better get going before dark, I'll write once I get settled" Merlin turned to the door and began walking down the dirt path that led outside of his village.
Hunith watched him from the door proud but worried and yelled," Be careful Merlin!"
Merlin didn't stop and kept walking with a smirk on his face and muttered, "Always"
... His home village for the last decade or so Aberdeen started to shrink behind him as he would soon be gazing upon the lofty castle walls of Camelot itself on a quest to decide what path he would take and if that road will be marred with blood or lead to a better future.
20 Years Ago
Deep in the high walls of Camelot King Uther seeks out his court physician Gaius in the physician's chambers.
"Gaius?" Gaius presumably concocting a potion of sorts perks up at Uther who stands regally, almost looking like he's in a rush.
Surprised by his lieges' sudden arrival, "Yes sire?"
Uther speaks hurriedly, "Gaius you said my wife was unable to conceive through normal means, correct?"
Gaius worried at his Kings' tone replies, "Yes I did sire"
Uther straightens his posture and looks at Gaius suggestively," Then what of other means?"
Gaius grasps his meaning immediately and apprehensively, "You mean magic sire?"
Gaius immediately sees Uther nod his head almost annoyed by the thought Uther responds," Yes I mean magic is it possible Gaius?" Uther asked with a hint of desperation but being King he quickly regains composure.
"It is possible sire, but to bring life into the world through magic a balance mus-".
Uther cut him off, "If it can be done then do it Gaius this concerns my heir, an heir to the Pendragon line it must be done!" Uther declared with a note of finality.
Gaius worried about the possible ramifications of such actions tries to interject, "Sire I do not think-".
Cut off again Uther aggravatedly says, "Do you not think I've thought of this Gaius, this is no easy decision. You know of my wariness toward magic, but it has to be done".
Uther sighs and orders, "My wife trusts Nimeuh you will seek the High Priestess out and ask for her aid understood?"
"Yes Sire" Gaius responded dejectedly and bowed slightly as Uther left his chambers.
Gaius who sat in his chambers surrounded by potions and books still contemplating finally got up warily to prepare and follows his King's orders.
Uther treks down the red-carpeted corridors to his chambers where his wife is waiting. Approaching the double doors, he enters still conflicted about his request for aid which his wife Ygraine immediately notices as he enters.
She asks even though she has an inkling of what troubles him, "What is wrong my King?" she asked getting up to walk in his direction.
Uther now seated at the table hesitantly replies, "It is done, my love".
Ygraine tries to ease his obvious discomfort, "Oh Uther it will be fine I trust Nimueh, we will have a child and her to thank for it." After a pause and still seeing Uther's' discomfort with the idea, "I know you aren't as agreeable toward magic as I am, but if you can't trust Nimueh at least trust me."
At this Uther perks up, takes her hand in his, and earnestly spoke, "Always love always, we will see it done then." And so it was done, Gaius was off to seek out the high priestess Nimueh and as it was a request from her friend Ygraine he did not expect Nimueh to refuse.
9 Months Later
It was nighttime and Queen Ygraine's screams of pain could be heard throughout the castle. Nimueh, Gaius, Uther, and a midwife were in the candlelit room attempting to soothe the Queen's pain. After hours of intense struggle, the Queen finally gave birth to Arthur, the name already decided by Uther and Ygraine. After seemingly making it through her ordeal alive, Ygraine quickly grew weak.
Uther takes his wife's hands after seeing her face whiten even more so than when she was in labor and notices her start to pass out tries to reach her, "Ygraine!" and after he gets no response...Ygraine!" He says with more force, but she only seemed to grow weaker. So, in his panic, he turned to his court physician Gaius who also trying to figure out what is wrong but is seemingly bewildered as well," Gaius what is happening!"
Gaius being a healer has been a part of many deliveries was attempting to figure out what could be the cause of her sudden onset weakness and knows death during childbirth is not so strange but there was not enough blood loss, Ygraine was a healthy woman before the birth, there seemed to be no trauma, it's unlikely there was an infection else he would have seen it in other recent pregnancies, and to him, it seemed to be a healthy delivery so he could not heal her unless he knew what to heal. "GAIUS!"
Snapped out of his ruminations. Gaius looked at the panicked, confused, and almost devastated Uther to supply him an answer. "Sire I do not know what is wrong it was a seemingly normal birth, I… I."
Watching Gaius stumble Nimeuh cut in and prepared to use healing spells to attempt and restore Ygraine's vitality," Licsar ge staðol nu" No effect, " Gestepe hole! Þurhhæle" Nimueh confused realizes as Ygraine will not show even the slightest bit of recovery that it is not a physical wound that ails her.
Gaius who was watching her comes to the same conclusion and utters to nobody and everybody. " It's Magic".
Upon hearing this a bewildered Uther turns to him and that's when a mournful Nimueh speaks up, " She is the balance, for a life to be brought into this world one must be taken from it. It is the price we pay for using the power over life and death, but I didn't think-."
Uther listens but can't hear any more slowly in his head bewilderment turns to understanding and understanding turns to cold, hard rage which is now visible on his face as he turns to Nimueh. " You knew," he says eerily calmly. And before letting her speak he grabs his sword and pulls it from its sheath. "YOU KNEW THE PRICE AND TOOK IT ANYWAY!"
Nimueh attempts to interject," I-" but is quickly cut off
"MY WIFE TRUSTED YOU, CONVINCED ME TO LET YOUR MAGIC TOUCH HER AND NOW IT'S KILLED HER." Before gaining a chance to explain Uther prepares to swing his sword.
Nimueh realizing there is no calming him and rather than killing the king quickly seeks refuge with her teleportation spell. "Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard!". A whirlwind consumes the room snuffing out the candles whisking Nimueh away and effectively stunning everyone in the room. While Uther and Nimueh's struggle raged, Gaius still sat by Ygraine trying to ascertain the health of a crying Arthur who appeared well despite the current chaos.
That's when Gaius saw the whirlwind, shielded Arthur from the gust, and looked to where his king was knocked over by the sudden tempest, "My King are yo-". Cut off once again (Uther seems to be forming a habit) " Gaius look after Arthur I must chase that witch down" he said with a new venom in his voice Gaius had not heard before and with one last look at the now deceased Ygraine he stormed out of the room sword in hand ready for battle.
Just like that Uther's paranoid fears and hesitations about magic and those who practiced it came true, left to fester twisting Uther and further fueling his rage. That one tragedy gave way to 20 years of bloodletting against sorcerers, creatures of magic, and the like. Blood spilled quickly and magic was just as fast outlawed, after hearing of their Queen's death by sorcery (which Uther left out that he asked for the aid) people quickly became wary of sorcery and did not speak of it, condemning those who practiced it. Gaius seeing how quickly the kingdom was turning into a pool of blood, mistrust, and fear tried to ease his King who he was still loyal to and thought he could calm down. However, Gaius quickly realized the futility of this course of action and switched gears, all the while he was serving Uther he tried to help sorcerers escape and minimize the damage Uther could cause. But blood still flowed.
And in the blood of one man flowed a Dragonlord's blood, A man named Balinor who with Gaius's help was able to escape what was now known as the Great Purge to a village called Ealdor where he met and fell in love with a woman named Hunith who bore him a son soon after. A boy, a special boy who not only inherited his fathers' gifts a boy who was granted power beyond imagination. A boy named Merlin.
For three years Balinor hid from Uther and raised his son, but Uther caught up to the Dragonlord and in the midst of the decimation of Ealdor Balinor was killed taken by surprise while his son Merlin who was running with his mother to the woods watched from afar. Sword in his back, protruding from his chest Balinor was able to catch a glimpse of his son escaping while he held them off and although in pain, he managed a smile knowing his son would survive despite the fires raging on around him, knowing his boy, his Merlin, his Emrys was intended for much greater deeds rather than dying here. Balinor was able to die in peace.
17 Years Before Merlin Arrives In Camelot
Merlin a young strangely powerful three-year-old boy ran and ran and ran with his mother Hunith in the woods. He didn't understand much of what was going but he knew there was danger and he knew with great sadness his father was gone, not to come back. So, he fled and fled with his mother until they reached a safe camp of druids readily willing to help, knowing this boy to be kin and much more than that.
For about 10 years he stayed with the Druids while Uther's purge raged on. He learned many things magical and otherwise from these druids although he sometimes was confused. While his mother called him Merlin the Druids seem to call him Emrys sometimes but refused to tell him why. Mother always seemed to get mad when they do that, but he got used to it. Now Melin a young teenager 13 years of age learns why they call him Emrys.
On a day like any other Merlin thought he went about his daily chores cheating with magic for most of them of course and yet even he began to notice the growing unrest in the camp till a Druid friend of his Daimhin came up to him and said seriously, " Merlin, good I found you we have to go now." Merlin startled asks, "Why" Daimhin replies quickly, " Uther's purge has chased us here we are no longer safe". At the mention of Uther's name, a scowl quickly formed on Merlin's face how could he forget the man who hunted his father down like a dog and put a sword through his back.
Although Merlin hated the man he quickly realized the danger after experiencing Uther's wrath once, although he would never admit it, next to the burning hate he had for the man fear had also instilled itself. "How long do we have I have to get mother now!" Merlin rushed to find his mother but was stopped by Daimhin, " She is already with us we were looking for you come now let's go".
Merlin was led by Daimhin to his mother and a group of Druids but there were only two horses. He brightened up at his mother and hugged her who looked on worriedly. Hunith nodded at Daimhin passing some sort of silent message which was strange cause she didn't have magic, but Daimhin nodded back and looked at Merlin contemplatively as if pondering his next choice of words.
"Merlin, we have to tell you something all of us" Merlin looked up confused then Daimhin spoke, " Merlin no Emrys" Hunith looked a little angry at the correction but let it slide.
" Sorcerer, Druid, and many other seers have been told of your coming for a long time, many of your futures have been seen and it can be said good or bad you will have a massive impact on the world as we know it."
Merlin knew he was different, but this was overwhelming. " You are powerful as you know, but not just powerful the most powerful of any sorcerer to ever walk the Earth, now this is a lot to handle all at once, so we were waiting to you got older to handle the news, but you found your way to us so early and now Uther cuts our time short."
Merlin's scowl returns at the mention of the bloodthirsty king. Daimhin notices right away and cutting to the chase knowingly says, " We all know of your hatred toward Uther, and it is not misplaced, but one of your divined prophecies regard The Once And Future King and how he with Emrys will bring about Albion, a golden age of magic and time of peace,"
Daimhin said," The Once And Future King" almost like he does Emrys, with reverence. "This Once And Future King is said to be Arthur Pendragon".
Merlin is shocked he would work with one whose father he despises with his whole being, not only that but bring about an age of magic in a Kingdom like Camelot that has banned it? Merlin looks like he is about to interject but Daimhin stops him
" Now I know of the hate you bear for his father, but it is up to you revenge is also spoken of in your future. We will not make the choice for you whenever you decide, whatever path you take will be yours and yours alone." " Just promise you won't forget what was said here today" A stunned Merlin can barely form a response, so he mutters, " I promise" so Daimhin satisfied with Merlin's answer ushers him and his mother onto the horses where Merlin finally recovers and asks sadly, " Wait is this goodbye?"
Daimhin replies evenly, " Maybe" Daimhin shrugs, " Maybe not we will find out young warlock now go, off with you." Daimhin speaks those last three words with a smile on his face which Merlin returns.
Merlin looks at his mother who is also smiling as she says, " Let's go, son".
And so, Merlin and his mother traveled all the while staying along the borders of Camelot looking for a village to take refuge in and found one. A village called Aberdeen where Merlin has to hide his magic as it is a village of common folk who may report him to Uther. Though Merlin is hiding his very core, his magic makes him lonely for a while until he meets a friend which whom he can share his secret, Will now his best friend Merlin is not so lonely anymore and although Hunith was mad at first, she soon got used to him and oh did they get up to mischief. When other kids called Merlin strange or a bastard because nobody had seen his father Will comes to his defense and Merlin to Wills defense.
Merlin lives like that for 6 years practicing barely any magic besides menial spells since his time with the Druids, but he always remembers his training and what they told him of his future. He still remembered his father the Dragonlord. Oh, how he missed his father and relished in those stories of dragons, keeping the small carved dragon memento his father gave him as a child. But it was always bittersweet as he can't help but remember the night he died, sword in his chest.
Now 19 years of age Merlin decides to see for himself whether Prince Arthur is truly capable of being this Once And Future King while finding his own path, be it beside this Arthur Pendragon or not. Hunith argues with Merlin for about a month before relenting not wanting to deny her son his future in fear of his safety. So, she sends a letter to her older brother Gaius who is still in Camelot to inform him of Merlin's arrival and to ask that he take care of Merlin.
Now we have reached the present Merlin walks down a dirt road toward a future he does not know will be talked about for a millennium...