Jack walked into a beautifully decorated room with his arm around Sarah's waist. "Hey, Merlin," he greeted the old gentleman, and Sarah gave a small curtsey.
"All his life I've been trying to teach him to think…" Merlin murmured.
"Who are you talking about?" Jack asked, looking quite confused.
"David. All in vain, of course. Over the hill comes his queen, and for her he pines to be Caesar and Solomon rolled into one. I tell you, Jack," Merlin addressed him for the first time. "I have waited years for this moment. And now it begins. What a joy it will be to watch." Spot and Peppermint wandered in hand in hand, and began to listen to Merlin's spiel. "To see him putting together the pieces of his destiny. It won't go quickly…"
"Who's he talking about?" Peppermint whispered to Sarah, not wanting to interrupt Merlin.
"The King," Sarah answered quietly.
"One year… Two years… what does it matter? I can see a night five years from now…"
Merlin began to hear a high feminine voice, and stopped speaking. "Follow me, Merlin," it whispered to him. "The winds will never find us, nor rain, nor snow…"
"What will happen, Merlin? Go on…" Jack prompted him. Not having heard the voice, he thought Merlin's pause odd.
"Elyse, is that you?" the wizard whispered. "Oh, please, not yet… I must find out what will happen to him."
Elyse's voice rang more clearly through his head now. "We will live in paradise together, Merlin… for thousands and thousands of years, you shall be my life." Her slender form became hazily visible before him. He could see her long brown hair, and her emerald green eyes shining as her figure became more and more clear. Merlin stared intently ahead of him as he saw each of her impish freckles appear, and her long eyelashes become more pronounced. She held out her arm to him, beckoning him nearer.
"Oh, Elyse, it is you! Must you steal my magic now?" he asked desperately, watching her. Jack, Sarah, Spot and Peppermint stared at the wizard they so respected, finding his behavior quite disturbing. Jack made a motion with his head and started towards the door. The others followed quite readily, leaving Merlin and Elyse alone.
"Couldn't you have waited a bit longer?" he pleaded. He stood and started to walk towards her, as if in a trance. He stopped suddenly. "Wait! Have I told him everything he needs to know? Did I tell him of Lancelot?" He thought for a moment. "Yes. I did tell him of Lancelot. But of Lancelot and Guenevere! Did I warn him of them? And what of Mordred?" He face gained a frantic look. "I didn't tell him of Mordred! I must tell him!" He sighed. "It's gone. My magic is all gone."
"Only you and I," Elyse's voice rang, as Merlin walked to her and started to fade with her. "Goodbye world… we now fly to our home by the sea… just us…"
Merlin looked dejected as he stopped and looked around one last time. "Goodbye, David. My memory of the future is gone. I know no more the sorrows and joys before you. I can only wish for you in ignorance, like everyone else. Reign long and reign happily. And, oh, Wart, remember to think!" he said before disappearing at last, leaving the room empty of everything except his staff.