A/N

trainreader: Thank you =) I hope when we come to that part that you won't be disappointed. It will be a few chapters in between though.

whatswiththemustache: Yeah, you should probably get used to it. There will be happier stuff once we get past the first millennia. After the founding of Hogwarts he moves in to London and actually starts living his life, travelling and going to school, he just needs to get past his depression first which takes a while. Probably would have taken longer if not for Aithusa but we'll come to that. I was planing on cutting it off before Gaius death, but it didn't feel right so that's why it wasn't so detailed because it was all connected, a part of his life before Camelot fell and he became suicidal. But I have listened to your words and therefore this chapter will be a more in depths description of his life with his wife, and the depression will be pushed to the next update. Sounds awful to say it like that. And then when we do come to the founders, the one-shots will take place over shorter periods of time, and maybe even split depending on the story, so they will be more detailed as the story goes on. It just wasn't any use in the last one since nothing really happened during his travel except for him learning spells and languages. I even tried to look up if things happened in France during that time but nothing. It was apparently a dull couple of decades ;P Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

AnastaciusWright: Thank you so much =D That means a lot to me.

This one-shot will depict Merlin's life with his wife, how they met and how she died etc. So I hope you aren't too upset at me for pushing the next part of his life to the next update but I felt that this needed to be told just so you will understand his later relationships in the story.

Enjoy this angst filled chapter :)

The Forgotten Love Story

She was the first person he saw when he walked into the tavern that evening, hoping to rent a room for a few weeks before he headed out again. She was working behind the bar and Merlin thought nothing of it, after all, it was common practise for the sons and daughters of the owner to help where they could.

"Good evening." She gave him a warm smile when he approached, and he gave her a weak one back, only out of politeness.

He never looked at her twice as he got his key and walked up the stairs to his newly required room. If someone had asked him what colour hair she had, he wouldn't be able to guess.

He left early in the mornings and came back late in the evenings, having spent his whole days by the lake. She was working behind the bar every time he came back, and every time she greeted him with a smile and a hello. He never responded with more than a nod of his head.

It wasn't until the fifth evening that their routine changed. It was a Sunday, a slow day for a tavern, and she was the only one there when he came in.

"Would you like a cup of wine?" He question threw him off course and he stopped, frozen to the spot as his brain processed her words.

"Ehm..." He looked at her, really looked at her for the first time. She couldn't have been older than seventeen, her blond hair falling in waves down her back and her blue eyes filled with innocence. Too young to have experienced the devastating forces of war and battle. The smile she was giving him was almost too much. It was too nice and welcoming. He didn't deserve it. "Sure." He said slowly, walking up to the bar and sitting down on one of the stools.

"I'm Enid." She handed him a cup filled with sweet red wine.

"Merlin." He took the cup form her, still wary and suspicious.

He didn't speak much that first time, she did all the talking. Telling him about her brother and her love for birds and how she wished she would one day be able to fly. She even told him how she wished to see a dragon one day. It brought back memories of Aithusa and he wondered for the hundredth times if she was okay. He had tried calling for her but she never answered.

After that evening, every time they ended up alone she would offer him a cup of wine and he would accept. By the fourth time he started sharing stories about himself as well. Stories from his childhood in Ealdor and his friend Will, he wasn't ready to tell her about Camelot yet.

It was after little more than a month that he started to look forwards to their meetings, but it took almost another two for him to realise he had fallen in love with her.

He talked to her father, asking for his permission to court her, and he gladly agreed. For not only had Merlin gotten to know Enid over the last three months, he had also become good friends with her family.

For their first real date, he took her to a secluded spot in the forest, full of wild flowers. They had a picnic and then just lay on their blanket, staring up at the blue sky pointing out different shapes of the clouds. For the first time in since Arthur died, he was in a total bliss.

It only lasted a week, and then he got word that his mother had fallen ill.

Knowing it would be his last chance to ask for his mother's blessing, he wanted Enid to know who he really was before they took thing further. It wouldn't be fair to her otherwise. So that same night he told her everything. He even told her about his magic and his inability to age.

She was more concerned about his magic than his age, magic had been legal for over four years now, but it would take a long time for people to get over their fear and preconceptions. That wasn't to say she weren't shocked to hear his real age was thirty-six, since he didn't look a day over twenty-six, but for her that was just a number. Like his magic, she loved him too much to judge him for something he couldn't control.

It was after they came back from Ealdor that he told her about Arthur's last days. That was the first time he had really let himself grief and it was a heavy burden that left his shoulders that day.

She told him a few days after that he seemed more carefree and happy, and he had no reason to disagree. He still missed Arthur and Gaius and his life in Camelot, but it was no longer at the forefront of his mind every time he allowed himself to relax. She had taken their place.

Enid had asked him if he wanted to send an invitation to Gwen and his knight friends for their bonding ceremony, but he had declined. His life with them was over and it was better to leave his past in the past. So when the day arrived, he stood alone, but looking out over the gathered people from the village, he knew he had gained a new and bigger family.

They both wanted children but it was a hard affair. Merlin faired that one of them were unable to conceive, so he spent weeks finding a spell so he could find out for sure. It came back negative. So they just had to keep on trying.

It took little more than two years. Sure they had a lot of fun together during that time, but the day they found out they would be parents were the happiest in their lives. Merlin was so happy he almost sent a letter to Gwen to give her the happy news, but he stopped himself at the last minute.

The pregnancy was no different from any other Merlin had witnessed while working for Gaius, even the town physician found no cause for worries. So when Enid was in her eight month, one week away from her ninth, and she began to develop pain in her stomach, they both thought it was time for the baby to arrive.

That's not what was happening. Something had ruptured inside of her and she was bleeding internally. By the time they realised that though, it was too late; she had lost too much blood.

Merlin tried every healing spell he knew but none worked, she was too far gone. For a second he contemplated using the cup, but he didn't want to have the power over life and death again, no matter the circumstances.

They tried to save the baby, a girl it turned out to be, but she had been deprived of oxygen for too long so she was already dead when they took her out.

He named her Aderyn, meaning bird.

"Merlin?" Edin's voice was so weak, it was a wonder she was able to form a coherent word.

"Ssh," He took her cold hand in his. "Don't talk." He stroked his free hand over her clammy forehead; her face was pale as snow.

"I... love...you." She managed to push out before her last breath escaped her and her eyes closed for the final time, hiding her baby blues.

"I love you too." He kisses her forehead, hot tears falling down on her but he wiped them away.

They were put in the same grave, as was the custom of the new religion she and her family had been following, instead of being burned on a funeral pyre. In a way, he was thankful because it meant he had a place to come visit them when he needed to.

He visited once a week after he had built his cottage, using her to went out his grief and anger. He always apologised afterwards.

The last time he visited was the day before he left for the cave. When he returned to the cottage twenty-two years later, the village had grown into a small town and her grave was lost amongst so many others.

A/N

I hope it wasn't too angsty and please leave a review if you want to know more information about her or her family.

The name Aderyn was taken from a list of old welsh names and it does actually means bird, which was as a memory to Edin's love for the feathery creatures.

Have a great week =D