Sorry its been a while so here's a longer chapter for you.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, only my OCs and this storyline.

I hope you enjoy it.

The Violin and a Promise Kept

The mother I came to know when I was fourteen told me stories. I could barely remember anything about my past. All I ever got were images, overwhelming emotions, and voices saying words I did not recognize. They were only vague memories that I couldn't grasp. They were the only things I had that linked me to the past that I couldn't remember and I wouldn't give them up for the world.

The mother I knew told me wondrous stories that grabbed my imagination. When they first found me I could barely form a sentence. The stories she told me taught me so many things. All the lessons a child learns so that one-day they can do great things were imbedded in those stories. The tales told of heroes who made the right decision and saved the day. The characters may have only been fictional but to me they were real. When I went to bed at night I would meet them in my dreams. I wanted to be like them. Their lives were so clear and they always knew what the right thing to do was.

It wasn't until I left the only home I had ever known that I realized all those stories were lies. There would always be a right and a wrong decision but finding the right one could sometimes be impossible. It's different for each person. A decision may be right for one person but wrong for the other. And the crazy thing was that you would never know if you did the right thing until it was too late. You can look back and wish you had done things differently but the truth is you can't.

When the purge began I was pulled into a whole new story where the villains were real and the heroes rarely won. Sometimes the heroes didn't look like heroes at all, at least, not on the outside.

The king ordered the destruction of anyone who might use magic. But his madness and loss drove him to not only destroy them but all those who came in contact with them. It wasn't only the witches and wizards who feared for their lives but everyone else as well.

You can walk down the same street every day, see the same faces and have the same conversations. Then one day will come along where all of that changes. That street you always walked down is disserted. Those familiar faces have all but disappeared, and you're too afraid to say a word to anyone incase that one contact could mean the end of your life as you know it.

That brings us to my story. You've followed me so far on this adventure but it isn't over yet. I can tell you now that there will not be a happy ending. You may think to yourself that if you walked along side me we could change the world together. There is nothing I want more then that but we can't. It isn't that simple. One day this world may change but many will be lost along the way. Will we be among them?

So far I've told you that life isn't easy and that the world can be a very dark and dangerous place. Now I remind you that within these dark times we can always find that moment where we can laugh and smile again, even if we do it in secret.

It was Olwen's idea. There was no particular reason for us all to get together but Olwen thought it was about time that we did. The last time we had was for Fionn's birthday and we had gained a few new members since then.

How long has it been, since the purge began? Over two years I suppose. It seems like longer.

Narayan led me to the trap door in the back room hidden under the carpet. The door looked like nothing but floorboards but we knew it was more then that. Narayan pried it open and we both hopped down, closing it carefully behind us.

The basement was small and filled with candles. It looked exactly the same as the last time we had all gathered here. We had been so happy then. Just for that one night we got to forget the tragedy going on around us. We took hold of that moment and let it take us.

It was strangely silent down here as I looked around. Then I was tackled from behind, almost falling flat on my face. I gasped as the air was pushed from my lungs when I hit the ground. I just managed to turn my head to the side to see who was so heavy. But it wasn't one person.

"Dog pile!" That was all I heard before the weight on my back increased. I heard laughter and I couldn't help but join in.

Narendra, who was holding Merlin, and Narayan hadn't joined in but they were still laughing at the sight of the rest of us in a pile on the ground with me on the bottom. Holt had been the first to tackle me and then Fionn jumped on him and the rest followed. It was Hunith that I had heard shouting and she was the last to join the pile.

"All right guys." I managed to get out between laughs. "It's getting harder to breath down here.

"It's about time you got here." Olwen noted as the rest of them rolled off of me and I could finally get to my feet, brushing myself off.

"What took you so long?" Aida asked.

"I was thinking." I explained.

"Thinking about what?" Jasper came to stand by Aida.

"The past, I guess." I tried to wave away their questions.

When I mentioned the past I saw Hunith tense up. She had always suspected that there was something more to my story before we had met but I had never told her because I didn't know myself. Hunith was my best friend and I had never told her my greatest secret and I don't know why. All I knew was that I couldn't tell her.

"Well now that you are here lets get this party started." Olwen said, rubbing her hands together. I could see sparks jumping between her hands as she rubbed them together.

"Speaking of which. I found something interesting while I was away." Holt took out a strange parcel and unwrapped it to reveal a strange wooden carving. "It was given to me as a thank you for helping a few people. They say that it's a musical instrument but I've never seen anything like it."

My eyes widened at the sight of the musical instrument. Something was nagging at the back of my mind as if I had seen it somewhere before. It seemed nostalgic. I had to hold it.

"May I see it Holt?" I asked, not giving away the struggle going on inside me to remember this strange instrument and its beautiful sound. I had never heard it make music before but somehow I knew that when I played it the music would be beautiful.

What did this instrument mean to me? I felt its smooth wood under my fingertips as Holt handed it to me. I almost gasped, as something inside me seemed to click.

"A violin." I remembered the name.

"You've seen one of these before?" Holt asked.

"I think so." My eyes became distant as something in my mind began to flow and I knew. "It was a long time ago."

"Can you play it?" Aida stepped forward, curious.

"Maybe." I turned over the violin in my hands. Something was missing. "Is there a bow?"

"Oh, you mean that long stick thing?" Holt pulled out a long wooden stick with horsehairs attached to it from the wrappings.

I took it from him gently. With the neck of the violin in my left hand I placed the other end under my chin and let the hairs of the bow run across the strings. The sound silenced everyone in the room. Even Merlin didn't make a sound. I just played one note but it was like a symphony of sounds. As I played that single note a flurry of images passed through my mind.

There was a fire in the center of a bunch of tents. People in colourful clothing were dancing around the flames with smiles on their faces. They seemed so happy while the music played. Where was I? Sitting on the side lines as always I suppose until a young girl with colourful ribbons woven into her long brown hair came up to me. She stretched out her hand to me and I took it.

The girl pulled me too my feet and dragged me towards the other dancers. They all smiled at me, waving for me to join in. I hesitated but the girl didn't let go of my hand. She began to dance; the colours in her hair reflected the light of the fire. The music was all around us and I couldn't help myself. I began to dance as well. Our skirts flapped around our legs as we span around the fire with the others. The girl laughed and called out someone's name but I couldn't hear it.

A young boy, the same age as the girl, came running up to us. He took both the girl's hand and mine. We spun around together in a circle laughing and dancing to the music. Something about these two was special to me. I could almost remember their names.

We broke from our small circle and joined the others in a larger circle that wrapped around the fire in the center. I could hear an old man laughing next to the musicians as he watched the young ones dance. He had been around for so long and had seen so many things. Now it was the young ones turn and he was happy watching us grow.

I could hear the violin among the other musicians as it sped up causing the dancers to do the same. The violinist was challenging us. Could we keep up with his playing? My feet began to hurt with the speed they were moving at but I didn't stop, none of us stopped. It was too much fun and I thought I would die of laughter but then the music stopped suddenly before the piece was over.

The smiles disappeared and were replaced with looks of horror. The tents were on fire and it was spreading, trapping us on the inside. The girl and the boy stayed close to me and we held onto each other so as not to be separated. Cloaked figures stepped through the flames as if they were nothing. I could hear people screaming as they looked for a way out.

The old man got to his feet and moved towards us. He wrapped his large coat around us as if to protect us from these outsiders who had intruded on our festival. He ushered us towards the edge of the camp where the fire had not gone yet, trying to keep us out of sight. He moved quite quickly for his age. I almost tripped but the boy and the girl had hold of my arms and kept me up.

We were so close to the darkness of the forest that we could conceal ourselves in but then the old man fell. We stopped to help him and that's when we saw the arrow sticking out of his back.

"Go!" He yelled in his gravely voice. "Run!"

So we ran. I would always regret leaving him there but there was nothing we could do. The three of us ran on, disappearing into the forest. I would never see those people again.

How old was I when this happened? Thirteen, the number came floating into my mind. It was a year before I washed up on shore with no memory of these events. That was six years ago now. It was the last time I was truly happy before it all came crashing down.

The boy and girl that I ran with were so dear to me. What were their names? Yes, I know them now. The girl was Nadira, it meant precious and she was so precious to me. The boy was Edwin, it meant prosperous friend and we were the best of friends.

All of these memories ran through my mind as I played that single note on the violin. When I reached the end of the bow I stopped and the memories ended. I stumbled. Hunith caught me by the arm.

"Are you ok?" She asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. It was just so beautiful." There were tears in my eyes.

"Will you play more for us Joone?" Fionn asked me. "Something we could dance to."

I knew just the song. I put the bow to the strings and let the music run from my fingers. The music echoed, filling the room with sound. I played the song the violinist played on that last night. The one we had danced to. It felt right to play it.

Not a word was said as the others began to dance. They let the music guide their movements as they moved across the floor. Olwen had her eyes closed, focusing only on the music. Somehow she weaved around everyone else without even looking. Her movements were so fluid and strong. I couldn't help but watch her.

Narendra and Narayan didn't move as fluidly as Olwen. Their movements were stiffer. Narendra bounced Merlin up and down on his knee, making the boy giggle.

I tapped my foot to the music and moved with the violin. As the music began to speed up smiles came to their faces. Hunith took Jasper to the side and whispered something in his ear. He smiled and nodded.

He went up to Fionn who was dancing alone near the edge of the group. He took her hand and began to dance with her. Hunith went up to Holt and pulled him into the dance as well.

Narayan banged his hand on the seat of his chair like a drum, keeping in time with the beat of my music, which began to speed up even more.

Hunith and Jasper danced with their partners, getting closer and closer together. Then suddenly they spun and switched partners, forcing Holt and Fionn to dance together. They didn't complain. Their feet tried to keep up with the music that burst from the violin. Fionn laughed as they both watched their feet to see how fast they could go. The locket we had given her bounced around her neck.

Hunith danced with Jasper across the room to where Aida was dancing. She spun and reached for Aida's arm, pulling her in. She spun out, leaving Aida to dance with Jasper. I smiled, seeing that Hunith had planned it all from the start. She was a sly one.

Narendra took Merlin's small hands and clapped them together in time with the music. His foot had begun to tap as well along with Narayan's and mine. It was almost impossible to resist the urge. We did not resist, letting the music take hold of us.

Olwen spun and her skirts spun with her. It reminded me of spinning with Nadira that day. While Olwen was spinning she took Hunith's hand and they span around together.

The music began to speed up and so did the feet of the dancers. They smiled and laughed at the impossible speed but still they danced. I could see a few of them beginning to pant.

So then, with a flourish of the bow, I ended the peace, freeing them from the dance. They all fell to the floor exhausted but happy.

"That was beautiful Joone." Hunith came over and complimented me. "I never knew you could play. Where did you learn?"

I didn't know the answer to this question but then again I did. "I watched someone else playing but their fingers could move so much faster then mine. I couldn't play half the speed they had been playing at."

Hunith accepted the answer but still looked impressed. "Would you play another one for us?"

The others sat down in chairs that had been pushed against the walls to make room for the dancing. So I decided to play a slower piece, one they didn't have to dance to.

Once again I placed the bow to the strings and began to play for them. This song was mysterious and I couldn't remember where I heard it. The others began to clap as I played, entranced by the sound of the violin.

I closed my eyes and let the music flow and I was swept back in time once more. This time I was sitting on a stool outside one of the tents sewing two large pieces of fabric together that were to be used to make another tent. This was before the night when the tents burned. The one I sewed would be burned as well.

A sound came over the tops of the tents, making me look up from my work. Someone was playing the violin. The music came closer and closer until a man with long curly hair came out from in between two of the tents, violin in hand. He didn't seem to be playing to anyone in particular.

He saw me looking and smiled, stopping. There was no one else around but he didn't care. He played on as I watched, his body bent and swayed to the tune. His hair whipped around his head as the song became more violent. He banged the hairs of the bow against the string to make a different sort of sound.

My eyes were wide as I watched him. From that day forward I would dream of someday playing as he had.

I asked him later why he was playing and he said to me, "You do not need an audience to play music. All you need is the perfect moment and then just let the music go. Music cannot be controlled. You must let it run wild."

I strummed my fingers across the strings. Then the music faded away and the room grew quiet once more. Everyone was silent.

Merlin broke the silence when he began to clap his hands together as if I were still playing. The others joined in and I bowed.

The rest of the night was rather simple after that. We talked and told stories about the time we had spent apart. Narendra handed Merlin to me, exhaustion written all over his face. Merlin reminded him of his own children when they had been small. It also reminded him of how tiring they had been.

I wrapped my arms around Merlin as he sat on my lap. The others were absorbed in conversation so I bent my head and whispered in Merlin's ear so no one else could hear. These words were for him and him alone.

"Watch them smile Merlin, my little bird. Watch them laugh tonight. The world is a dangerous place sometimes and life can grow difficult." I told him the truth. "Whenever you find yourself slipping into darkness just think back to this moment and remember their smiles and the way they laughed. Remember how happy we were tonight, because there will always be these moments. They may be rare but that just makes them more special."

I could feel Merlin's head beginning to bob. He was falling asleep. I didn't have much time. I tightened my arms around him, feeling his warmth. He was so innocent. It was hard to believe he had such a great destiny. It was so big for such a small person. I moved my lips closer to his small ear so he could hear me.

"Would you remember us if I asked Merlin?" Sometimes the greatest fear in the world is to be forgotten. "There may come a day when some of us aren't around anymore but you'll still have this memory. We will always be with you though thick and thin. Remember that Merlin. We'll be right here, always." I pointed to his heart.

Merlin closed his eyes and fell asleep that night will a small smile on his face. "You may go away." I kept speaking even though he could no longer hear me. "But we will meet again. Someday."

It was only when Fionn began to yawn that Holt suggested we call it a night. "We'll do this again though." He said, smiling.

I handed Merlin, still asleep, to Hunith. She smiled down at him and brushed some of his dark hair out of his face. We said our goodbyes and left Narayan's house with happy hearts.

Aida came up beside me and took hold of my hand. It was warm and it made me smile. Jasper was walking with Hunith, talking quietly. I saw him glance our way a few times and I knew he was looking at Aida.

"Sorry you didn't get to dance Joone." Aida said, looking ahead.

"That's alright. I enjoyed playing the violin." And I had.

"When we go back you'll get to play again." Aida smiled. We had left the violin at Narayan's, not wanting to take it out into the cold. "The music you played was so beautiful. I'd like to hear it again…" Then she stopped, pulling on my hand to stop too.

I followed her gaze to a dark figure standing in the darkness between two houses. I frowned, trying to see his face. He saw us and stepped into the light of the moon. I gasped.

"Magnus!" Aida almost yelled, letting go of my hand and running towards the man. She threw her arms around him, hugging him tight. He hugged her back. Aida hadn't known him long but he was like an old friend.

"You've grown." He said brushing her hair back from her face. "And your hair's gotten longer."

She let got of him, smiling and turning back to us. "Joone, it's Magnus." She said as if I hadn't noticed yet.

Magnus looked my way and our eyes connected. His eyes widened as if seeing me for the first time.

"So that's Magnus." Hunith whispered behind me. "He is rather handsome." Of course I had told Hunith about Magnus.

Jasper noticed the way Magnus and I were looking at each other. Quickly he ran over and grabbed Aida's hand, pulling her down the street and towards the house. Hunith followed close behind, understanding what he was doing.

"We should leave them alone." He explained. "It looks like they have some catching up to do."

They disappeared down the street and I was left alone with Magnus. We were still looking at each other. Who would move first?

"Hello Redwing." Those were the first words he said to me.

I wanted to get angry with him. I wanted to yell at him about being away for so long. Two years it had been since he left. I wanted to hit him for making me worried, but I didn't do any of that. Instead I lifted my skirts and ran, stumbling, through the snow towards him. I fell into his arms with tears in my eyes. He held me close and I never wanted him to let go.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I didn't mean to be away so long."

"You kept your promise." I looked up at him. "You promised to come back to us and you have. That's all that matters."

"I missed you." He looked deep into my eyes. "I thought of you every single day, wondering if you were still waiting for me."

"Of course I was waiting. I would have waited forever." I smiled. "I was thinking of you as well."

"You look so beautiful." He said, placing one of his hands against my cheek. "Even more then the last time I saw you."

He was making me blush. "Well you on the other hand haven't changed at all."

"Hey." He laughed. "I like to think I've become stronger and maybe better looking."

We both laughed at that. "We were out dancing at Narayan's. I wish you could have been there."

Magnus stepped away from me then reached out his hand. "May I have this dance?"

I smiled and took his hand. There was no music but it didn't matter. He was here and I was here and we were dancing together. So I got my dance after all, and it was perfect. I wish it could have lasted forever.

"I can't stay." Magnus said as we swayed back and forth in each other's arms.

"I know." But I didn't want him to go, not yet. "Just a little longer."

So we danced until the snow fell. "I'll see you again." He said pulling away.

"Soon." I smiled up at him. "You still promise to come back to me?"

"Always." He said, and then wrapped his cloak further around him to keep out the cold. Before he left he lent down and kissed me.

I watched him leave again and I knew I would see him soon.

Thanks for reading and please REVIEW!

If you want to know what the music sounded like I was listening to Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows - Romanian Wind for the first song. The second song was from the Red Violin soundtrack, it was the gypsy song.

I'm having trouble with this story because not a lot of people are supporting it. Please help me and REVIEW.

Hope you keep following and see you next time.