Helping A Friend In Need
A/N Here's the next chapter. The next chapter might be the last one. I'm sorry for those enjoying it but the next story will be longer, I promise.
Merlin sighed seeing Ari enter his study the next morning but she was curious about the girl he'd brought into the castle. She wondered how the girl had once looked like a demon but now looked mortal.
"How's your father after.... last night?" he asked her.
"Sleeping fitfully but he feels guilty because of what happened but it wasn't his fault, right?
It was Yana that did it to him." Ari said softly.
"Yes but we're lucky. If we hadn't helped your father, the darkness would have kept it's hold on him and we would've lost him forever." Merlin answered her.
He knew how strong she was being after losing her mother after being reunited with her and Artie.
"M-Maybe Keri can stay here and be part of her family." he said to her.
"That.... would be cool but will she be a demon again?" Ari replied to him.
He laughed at that.
"No she won't. She was only a demon because Yana cast a spell on her so she'd never leave her but I'm glad she's gone.
Maybe now things will be better." Merlin answered her softly as she left his room so he could work.
Shrek was in the dining room with Fiona and Lillian and Harold. They stopped talking as she came in.
"How's my Dad? I hope he'll be okay. He was pretty sad and that's why he became a demon." the teen said.
"He's okay but keeps having trouble sleeping. He thinks the whole thing's his fault but we reassured him it wasn't. I know you guys haven't been together for a long while but he's lonely and needs somebody." Fiona answered drinking coffee even though Shrek kept falling asleep. He'd been with Artie all night, trying to comfort him.
"She's right Ari. I've never seen Artie like this. He misses your mother deeply the way you miss Lorian." he answered her.
She noded as they ate.
Merlin then saw Keri wake up late in the night. She felt better after yesterday. He smiled at her energy.
"Keri let's talk." he said.
"About what Uncle Merlin?" the girl asked him.
"I know your mother used you and you don't have anybody to call a family so how would you like to stay here and be a part of King Artie's family? Maybe your spirit is what this castle needs right now seeing as....." Merlin replied sadly.
"After what happened?" Keri asked him, her lavender eyes full of curiousity.
"His wife and Ari's mother Queen Marissa died through illness a month ago and ever since then the both of them haven't been the same.
That's why your mother's magic affected him so easily. Maybe you could help Ari unleash her sadness." her uncle explained to her softly.
Shrek had been listening.
Keri seemed so full of life and maybe that light could restore the happiness that had been taken when Marissa had left.....