A/N

Female Whovian: Thank you so much =) I'm glad to "see" a familiar face again. Btw, I'm not forcing you or anything, but if you want you could always read my Doctor who story :) That is unless you don't like the Doctor and Rose pairing. Anyway, thank you for reading my story again =)

This is kind of a dark chapter, but I wanted to write it the way thing actually were a thousand years ago. Sure, I'm no expert on the country in question, but more the overall way things were handled back then. I also needed a reason for Merlin to move on because in the next chapter it's the Crusdes =)

The Journey

Merlin left London behind after the invasion was over. It had been a long time since he had seen the horrors of war and he needed time to come back from it. He wasn't as strong as he used to be.

So Merlin travelled East, to places he had never been before, with just a meagre backpack on his back that held his most essential possessions like an empty notebook and a set of clothes. He had left his sidhe staff, magic book and other artefacts at home because he felt that he needed to start fresh. Learn things from the beginning.

He had met a wizard in Hogsmead that had come from a place Merlin had never heard of before but that was full of practioners of the old ways. Not just magic, but herbal remedies and meditation as well.

So East it was.

He walked for along time, not wanting to rush things by transporting. He wanted to see and experience the different cultures on his way there, which he did.

By the time he reached the coast of the Caspian Sea, his notebook was already full, along with three others. It had taken him three years to come this far.

He started his fifth book as he came upon a tribe of old magic users in Cuman. He stayed there for another year until the longing for more became too much. He still hadn't reach the land of his old friend.

So he kept on walking.

It took him two years to reach the outskirts of the Tibetan kingdom but he was finally there.

Merlin learned more about the old religion after one month in Tibet with the ancient tribes, than he had his entire time in Camelot.

He finally felt like he had found his home in the world.

"I'm sorry, Master," The young girl bowed her head as she entered his hut. "It's just that the warlord is back and he doesn't look happy."

"It's okay, young one." Merlin's wrinkled old face smiled at the girl, who was no older then ten. "I'll deal with him." He used his cane to stand up, his knees and joints popping from the effort. He truly felt like an old man now.

He had stayed with this particular group of nomads since his arrival 60 years earlier and he had decided from the very beginning to use his magic to keep himself ageing and so he now found himself an 85 year old man, with bad knees and a crappy back. But he was happy. He was content.

That is, if he could only get rid of the resident warlord who had his hideout just down the mountain from were his village was. He was like an irritating bug that kept getting in his face and demanding favour after favour.

The father had been easier to scare away, but the son was stubborn and ruthless. It took all of Merlin's persuasion power to stop him from taking the young men and women to serve him.

"Merlin," The son drawled as he saw Merlin coming out from his hut, his back hunched and his knees stiff. "Took your time."

"My apologies, Dorje," Merlin smiled up at the man who was still positioned on his horse. "My body is ageing faster than my mind these days."

"Spare me the details, old man." Dorje snarled. "What is the meaning of this?" He held up a neatly woven bag.

"Ah," Merlin nodded. "It appears to be a brown bag."

"This is no time for jokes, old man!" Dorje spat. "One of your men send it to me this morning." He threw the bag over to Merlin who caught it easily with his free hand.

Merlin opened the bag and looked at its content, nearly dropping when he saw what was inside it.

"Who did this?" Merlin said, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "Who did this?!" he asked again, this time his voice boomed out over the gathered crowd. No one answered.

"This means war, old man." Dorje said. "Unless you hand over the person responsible."

"I will not do that." Merlin said defiantly. "What has happened here is wrong, and I apologise for your loss, but I will not willingly send one of my own to die at your hands."

"Then I will choose one of my own." Dorje pointed at the little girl who had alerted Merlin to Dorje's arriaval. "She will do."

"No!" Merlin exclaimed at the same time as Gyatso. "I did it." He stepped forward, away from the crowd. "Nyima is innocent. I killed your father."

"Why?" Merlin asked as he shook his head sadly.

"I had heard his men talk, master Merlin." Gyatso answered. "They were going to take her. I had to stop them." A tear fell down his cheek. "She's the only family I have left."

"And now she will have no one." Dorje said and signalled for his men to apprehend him.

Merlin felt torn when he saw Gyatso being taken away. He knew what waited him down the mountain, and it will be easy for him to save him. But could he risk exposing himself to Dorje and his men, and with him the rest of the village who were sorcerers just like him?

The world had changed since he started his journey to the East. Just like in the West, people with magic were being hunted and killed. If he exposed himself now, it would mean for certain that his entire village would be exterminated like vermin.

So he had no choice but to let Dorje take Gyatso with him. It broke his heart, but he had no choice. For the sake of the village, he had to stand down.

Merlin left that night in silence. Reverted into his young body, Merlin moved smoothly away into the darkness. It was time for him to move on and try and make up for what had happened.

Gyatso wouldn't die, but he would be forced to live the rest of his life as a soldier. Doing the biddings of his new master.

A/N

I hope it wasn't too dark for you. I apologise if it was.

The thing is that I could hve written so much more than just that scene, but since it's just one-shots I can't do more then give you glimpses into Merlin's life up until he arrives at Hogwarts. But I can tell you that in his time in the village, Merlin exceeded his teachers and became the village elder and subsequent their leader. He was also teaching the youngling about magic, that's why they call him master. I'm guessing you could say I've been inspired by Star wars which I've started to rewatch. I'm gonna start with the Clone wars series now. First time for me but I felt I needed to see it since it's canon now.

Anyway, I hope you have a good May and please, If you hve any suggesions for how you wan't Merlin to react and do during the crusades, please Reviw or PM me =)

May the force be with you all