A/N:

I've found this story I wrote in 2014, now rewritten in English.

It's a very short one-shot that sets in the modern era. S5E13 spoilers!

The original kid character in the story is Merlin's neighbor.

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.


"... Later, the prince broke the curse with a kiss. Snow White came alive! The dwarves were overjoyed to see the prince propose to Snow White. The couple returned to the prince's castle and held a romantic wedding." Merlin tells Berry.

"And then?" The girl listens intently; her eyes light up and become crescent moons.

"They lived happily ever after! The evil queen couldn't bother them anymore." Merlin pats her head, "Go to sleep, Berry."

"Wait, Martin!" Berry pleads, "I have a question! I swear I'll go to sleep in 5 minutes! Pleeea...se?"

"Okay, one question only." Merlin smiles wryly.

"Someday, my prince will come, right?" she asks, "He will be blond and with a pair of blue eyes!"

"Hmm ... How do you know that? Not all princes have blue eyes." Merlin asks.

"I hope he has blue eyes like yours, like sapphires," she imagines, "Or maybe ... my Prince Charming is not a prince. A prince will become a king when he grows up, right? Maybe a king will come to me!"

"You really need to sleep now, Berry. Your mom will be mad!" Merlin tries to stop her but fails. The little girl has too many questions to ask.

Berry continues, "Martin, who will go to the boys when they grow up? I've never heard stories of any prince that goes to boys."

Merlin sighs, "Who knows? Maybe there is? However, many boys don't believe in these stories. Many of them prefer to be heroes and save the world."

"Hmmm ..." Berry tilts her head, "What about you, Martin? Did you also like stories of saving the world?"

"No. No, I didn't." Merlin shakes his head.

"You are a man," Berry says, "so you were not one of those 'many boys' when you were little?"

Merlin recalls a specific story of saving the world.

The story has a cruel tyrant, a tragic princess, a kind queen, some noble knights, a wise healer, and an arrogant fool ...

His king.

No. No, he's had enough of those saving-the-world stories.

Waiting for too long, Berry suddenly jumps to the front of him and observes his expression, "Err...you're a man, right?"

"Hey! Of course, I am!" Merlin jumped, only to see Berry bursts into laughter.

"I know! I know! I was joking cause you didn't answer. Hehehe... so, Martin, do you also believe in stories of Prince Charmings?"

"I'mnotaprincess!" He almost bites his tongue, which makes her giggle.

The little girl slightly bows to him as a prince would and asks again: "Mr. Emerson, do you believe in stories of Prince Charmings?"

"No, I believe more in... my king?" Merlin replies, almost in a whisper.

Covers her mouth with a dreamy look, Berry smirks:

"Aww! So you do have a king that will come to you!"

"Time up! Sleep now, Little Lady!" Merlin declares and tucks her in.


Far away, down the lake of Avalon, Freya smirks at a certain king. The king glares at her and returns to the corner to check on his crystal: that darn clear crystal.

The Lady of the Lake said that the crystal would become turbid when Albion's need is greatest. She wasn't lying, was she?

Fin.