Hi guys. Well... this chapter... has really mass. I mean, you will know more about the plot. For me, this is a chapter really important for the story. You will know why. If you are attentive, you can see some tracks of the story. I hope you like it.

I'm not own from Merlin.

"Are you ready?" asked Cardel once Merlin was kneeling with his eyes closed in front of the altar. Not being too tall, the altar reached his shoulders.

Merlin didn't know if he was really ready. He couldn't help thinking what his conscience and mind were telling him (rather they were screaming), but his heart and soul (where the magic resided) screamed louder, so he decided to do it. He didn't know how this would work, but he still shut up, as he trusted Cardel.

"Well, this is going to be difficult. Playing with time is never easy. So, first I briefly explain how this works" Merlin was very grateful for that. Better to know what it was about before you do it. "Basically, being the past where we're going to go, you're going to have to do it alone since I don't know that past."

Merlin opened his eyes and looked at the druid.

"Wait, you told me you knew how I could see the past without having lived it. When you said that, I thought it was because you knew.

-No, I don't know, because the past is very extensive. But it doesn't matter, you're powerful enough to do it alone, Emrys. You can't see the past when you want or when you like. No, you must have a link. By having a link, you can see it if you have enough power. That's how it works.

"What do you mean by link?" asked Merlin, quite confused at the time, and eagerly waiting for the answer.

"With link I mean something for which you can see the past. You can have a blood link, to meet someone, to share something with someone, or different ways. Our link will be the kinship link, as it is the only way we can invoke the past in your mind. Kinship, as you well know, is the relationship you have with your relatives and one thing you share in the blood. That's where, in our case, the past is kept. All the memories of your past and of your relatives lie in your blood, Emrys."

"I understand. So I have to shed blood for it?"

"No, no, that won't be necessary," the druid replied with a smile. "I know how to do it, so don't worry. Close your eyes and leave your mind calm. Afterward, you'll have to think about what you want to know about the past. When you're completely ready, we start."

Merlin felt strange. At first, he tried not to think of anything, leaving his mind calm. He more or less got it. Immediately afterward, his mind was flooded with the desires he had had so much of the last few hours, all summarized with one word: Balinor. He spent a few moments like this, thinking about how it would have been, him and his mother, how he was gone.

... he noticed the time flowing and moving within him, in his magic...

... and it happened.

He was Balinor, the Lord of Dragons, someone who could be proud of himself. That in the past, for he was no longer so proud, after all that had happened. He felt pain. Pain for the past, but at the same time... Rage. Rage felt strong. Those were Balinor's feelings, apparently.

At the time, he was at home. His house. He was angry, but at the same time unhappy and painful. He had to run away fast or they'd catch him. He picked up all his belongings quickly and was going to leave when a short woman with a tender face opened the door.

"Balinor!" she exclaimed surprised, but at the same time confused, according to the expression on her face. Her gaze turned to his belongings, now stored in a backpack. "Bal... where are you going?"

"Nowhere," he replied dryly. He wanted to... wanted to... he didn't know what, but now he was angry. Very angry. Inside he suddenly noticed how something, like a monster with tentacles similar to the one Merlin felt, took hold of him completely. That, not knowing why, made him put in a bad mood. He gritted his teeth and turned around.

-Balinor, no... remember what he tol...– she went to say the woman when Balinor turned aggressively with a severe face, wanting to shout it. The monster inside seemed to control him. He couldn't stop. He felt bad and, though there were reasons for it, he didn't know why so badly. He forgot everything. His wife, his house, his life, his soul. He felt like that monster was going to come out of his mouth any minute, and that wasn't good.

"No, Hunith!" he shouted at full throttle, letting the monster out of it. Instantly, he regretted shouting at his wife like that, seeing his frightened expression. It felt terrible. Now he just wanted to sink, for the earth to swallow it. He dropped, half unconscious. Hunith went to get him so he wouldn't fall, leaving him in a chair to rest there.

"Rest, Balinor. It must have been hard to you" she said, crouching down.

"I can't do it anymore, Hunith. I'm exhausted. I feel...I feel in me how... He... – Balinor replied as he let bitter tears fall on his face.

At that moment someone knocked on the door... Hunith got up...

The image became increasingly blurry and the feeling that a few seconds ago Merlin felt as if he himself were Balinor, with all his emotions and feelings, vanished, to let the cave again be seen illuminated by torches. Merlin got up and looked at what had happened. Why had the image been given? He wanted to know more! He felt dizzy, but he could see the druid next to him telling him things he didn't hear. Apparently, someone was trying to get into the cave.

Merlin had to do everything he could so that whoever was at the entrance to the cave, he didn't know he was dizzy or hurt. He went out of a side exit of the cave that Cardel pointed out and heard screams next to the waterfall.

It was Arthur. Great.

Well, so you know the truth. Merlin wanted to know more about his father. This isn't random, as I always say, it is all planned. Beware of the tracks I give here. In the memories of Balinor, I mean. I don't want to say anything to spoil it.

If someone asks, here are some answers about this chapter:

-Why could not Arthur get into the cave? -That is because Cardel had made an incantation so that no one without magic could pass.

-Why did Balinor's memories end? - That is because Cardel finalized the connection of Merlin with the past, seeing that someone was outside.

-Why Merlin didn't stay in the cave, instead of going outside with Arthur? - That is because the incantation wasn't infinite, and they didn't know who was there. So Cardel recommended Merlin to go.

-Why did Merlin talk to Arthur? - That is because is just Merlin :)

I hope you liked it.

LegolasHV