A/N: I'm back with a brand new AU and it's a trilogy! So buckle up, these fics are going to take us through July lol.

Chapter 1

Merlin crept cautiously through the dark forest, glowing white, spectral butterflies the only illumination to light the way under the dense canopy. He'd spun them small so they wouldn't draw attention. Hopefully.

He spotted some wild herbs and stopped to pick them. The plant was brittle and dull; hard to grow lush and vibrant when the sun hadn't been seen in twenty years. Only a dim gray light was able to suffuse the thick black cloud cover during the day, leaving the earth shrouded in darkness. This was the world Merlin had been born into, though he grew up hearing stories of the world that had existed before. One of light and color and peace. Not the constant threat of death they lived in now.

He moved on through the woods, gathering as many herbs as he could find. The pickings were as slim as any other resource. His breath suddenly began to fog as he exhaled and the temperature plummeted. Merlin straightened sharply and whipped his gaze around. He spotted a pair of phantoms moving among the trees, gliding right toward him. Wraiths. Faceless beings trailing tattered rags of shadow and mist. They let out blood-curdling shrieks and zinged toward him.

Merlin threw his hands up and gathered the glowing butterflies into a single shape, then thrust the newly spun shield up at the incoming Wraiths. They screeched and reeled away from the offending brightness. Merlin winked the light out and ran, whipping past scraggly branches and over ruts, making far more noise than was safe. After a distance, he dropped low to the ground and waited, scanning for pursuit. It looked like he had lost them.

Getting up, he resumed his trek home at a more careful pace, keeping a constant eye out for Wraiths. But he made it back to the safety of the underground fortress without further encounters and rolled back the stone that served as a gate. Once inside, he rolled it back and then made his way through the tunnel to the chambers deep within where torches lit up the rock with a bright orange hue. Most humans hadn't been able to live topside since the Darkness came and the Wraiths had overrun the earth—and those who did were a special kind of crazy. Wraiths fed on every living creature, sucking out their life force until all that remained was a husk. They rarely came underground, though, so that was the safest place to live.

If one could call this living.

Merlin passed rows of people sitting idly along the walls. In the larger caverns, some were cooking over fire pits what meager rations the hunters and trappers had managed to catch. It was a dangerous job, going out where humans were just as much prey as animals. Children huddled in dirty blankets, many sickly from malnutrition. In the beginning, there had been food stores groups had managed to live off of. But now those no longer existed and the staples of the past were long gone.

Merlin made his way to a large alcove in the rock that served as Gaius's work area. "I found some herbs," he announced and handed over the small satchel.

Gaius's brows rose in surprise. "Where did you…Merlin," he switched to exasperation. He shook his head but did add, "Thank you."

"How's Evie?" he asked.

Gaius's expression turned sober. "Her fever won't break. It doesn't look good."

Merlin's heart fell.

"I'll try these herbs," Gaius said in a conciliatory tone.

He just nodded; that was why he'd risked going out to find them.

Gaius was their physician. The only one Merlin had ever met, and one of the oldest people still living among them. So many from his time were killed when the Darkness first came. So many continued to die, whether from sickness or forced to venture out for necessities and never coming back.

"Merlin!" a voice called from across the cavern.

Merlin ducked out of Gaius's alcove and jogged over to the young king. "Yes?"

Arthur leveled a peeved glare at him. "What have I told you about going out alone?"

"I don't know what you mean."

Arthur rolled his eyes and started walking. Merlin fell into step beside him.

"It's too dangerous," Arthur went on.

"I can take care of myself."

"Even Lightspinners die out there," Arthur retorted.

Merlin grimaced in regret. His friend was just angry because he was afraid of losing more people. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to find some herbs to help Gaius treat Evie."

Arthur's shoulders sagged and he stopped. "It's my responsibility to look after everyone," he lamented quietly. "And I can't do it. Not against what's out there."

"None of us expect you to," Merlin replied. "And you've done a pretty good job looking after us otherwise. We'd be a lot worse off without your leadership."

"Gaius did a fine job when I was still a child."

"Gaius won't be around forever," Merlin put in gently.

"None of us will be for much longer," Arthur said softly, his gaze full of sorrow as he looked around at his people.

Merlin had nothing to say to that. Things were, indeed, dire, but it was more than that; Merlin knew the extra burden Arthur carried—the curse of being Uther Pendragon's son. Son of the man who had brought about the end of the world.

Gaius had been there, and so they all knew the story. Arthur's mother had died giving birth to him, and Uther had been so overcome with grief and rage that he had set out to bring his love's soul back from the dead. Everyone had warned him not to mess with powers and forces greater than he knew, but he hadn't listened. And in the process, he had torn the Veil to the spirit realm and unleashed eternal Darkness upon the land of the living. And the Wraiths.

Uther had lost his life and his kingdom had fallen into chaos and ruin. Gaius had fled with the infant prince and a handful of others, and they'd managed to survive until they'd found this underground fortress where they could eke out some semblance of civilization. Other refugees had joined them over time, like Merlin and his mother. He'd been a baby then and had no memory of the harrowing journey from Ealdor to his uncle's modest sanctuary.

He had no memory of the spirit seed that had given him the powers to later fight off the Wraiths. For in this world-shattering evil, there was a glimmer of light—after the Darkness consumed the earth, small shards like floating stars had begun to find their way to children and meld with them. No one had known what they were at first, not until the older ones began to develop the ability to spin light in the palms of their hands. Fate had given humanity a chance.

But there was no way to predict when or where those spirit seeds would be, and they'd only ever inhabited children under the age of thirteen, which made Lightspinners useful but not enough to change the state of the world. Not yet, anyway. Perhaps in a few more generations, they would outnumber the Wraiths…

Merlin continued walking with Arthur through the fortress as he took stock of their stores. They came across Leon, Arthur's right-hand man. Only a handful knew of the king's parentage and were loyal to him regardless, those who had grown up alongside him. The other refugees who came later viewed Arthur worthy of leadership by virtue of him being Gaius's ward. And of course he'd proven himself competent since taking the mantle.

"We only have two days' worth of food left," Leon informed them quietly.

Arthur sighed and ran a weary hand down his face. "We'll send the hunting parties out tomorrow."

"The Seeding Pilgrimage is tomorrow," Leon pointed out.

Arthur cursed under his breath. "I forgot." He shook his head. "I don't like it."

"None of us do," Leon agreed. "But what choice do we have?"

Merlin didn't say anything. The Seeding Pilgrimage was one of those necessary evils they had to do in order to continue their survival. For as much weight that Arthur carried on his shoulders as king, Merlin bore his fair share as a Lightspinner. They both wished they could do more.

Lancelot arrived. "Arthur," he said grimly. "Gaius wants to see you."

Merlin frowned and tagged along as Lancelot led them to the small alcove inhabited by little Evie and her parents.

"How is she?" Arthur asked.

"Not good," Gaius answered. "I fear she won't survive much longer."

The girl's mother let out a broken sob into her husband's chest.

"She should be taken on the Seeding Pilgrimage," Gaius continued.

Arthur looked astounded by that. "You can't be serious. It's dangerous."

Gaius nodded sagely. "If a spirit seed finds her, the infusion will heal her of this current illness. I'm afraid it's her only chance."

Merlin swallowed hard.

Arthur turned to the girl's parents and put a hand on each of their shoulders. "It is your decision," he said.

And it was a terrible decision. Keep their daughter close and be with her when she passed, or send her out in the hopes of saving her yet also risking a horrible death. Merlin didn't envy them.

They shared a few hushed murmurs and tears before turning to the rest of them and nodding their permission.

"We'll keep her safe," Merlin promised.

With his dying breath, if necessary.

The following morning, Lancelot and the other first generation Lightspinners prepared the children ages six through twelve to set out for the Seeding Pilgrimage. They garbed them in drab cloaks to blend with the gray scenery.

"I'm scared," one of the young girls whimpered.

Gwen knelt down in front of her. "We've done this many times and we'll protect you," she said kindly.

Lancelot noted she didn't tell the child not to be afraid; they were all afraid and were right to be. He didn't necessarily approve of this, but it was a ritual that'd been laid down years ago when the nature of the spirit seeds was fully realized and the previous generation knew they needed more children imbued with the power to fight the Wraiths.

Lancelot had received his own spirit seed when he was eight, right after he'd been orphaned. Before that, his family had survived so long in no small part to his little sister having been imbued with a spirit seed when she was still an infant. Even before she could understand her gift, she'd protected them.

Only to later be slaughtered by Roamers, men who lived above ground and plundered what they needed to survive. Like Wraiths, they killed without compunction or discrimination. Lancelot had only survived because his father had shielded him with his body, and the Roamers must have missed him. He would have fallen victim to a Wraith if a spirit seed hadn't come upon him and given him its light. He'd later been found by a hunting party and brought to the last house of the kingdom of Camelot.

"Ready?" Elyan asked.

Gwen and Percival nodded. Merlin looked anxious. The five of them were the oldest and most experienced of the Lightspinners among them, each of them barely at their majority or just over, the first children to grow up in this world of darkness, the first to receive the gift. There had been others since, but they were younger and still learning to master the ability to spin light, so they weren't entrusted with missions as serious as this.

Gwaine walked over, carrying a bundled Evie in his arms. Lancelot went up to him to take the girl, but Gwaine didn't relinquish her.

"I'll come along," he said.

The rest of them exchanged uncertain looks. It wasn't customary for a non Lightspinner adult to come on this trip, since spirit seeds wouldn't take to them. But Gwaine appeared resolute, and it would help to keep all their hands free if they did run into trouble.

So Lancelot stepped away, and they all began ushering the children out. Everyone in the settlement had gathered along the walls to watch the procession. Arthur stood at the very end near the exit, expression solemn. Those parents watching their children depart were in tears. They all knew this was their only hope, but it was still a heart-wrenching one.

Once outside, they shushed the children and began their quiet march across the wasteland with its gnarled trees and dry brambles. Lancelot and Percival walked in the lead, Gwen and Elyan on the sides, with Merlin bringing up the rear. All of their eyes were peeled for Wraiths. The children huddled together and tried not to sniffle and whimper. It was day, which only meant it wasn't pitch black. Everything was still dim and the sky an angry dark like charcoal.

Once they were a good distance out, Lancelot rubbed his fingers together and spun tendrils of light into a spectral lantern. It was their hope that spirit seeds would be drawn to fellow lights, though they also ran the risk of drawing the attention of Wraiths.

The group treaded a path along a stream, following it to a glade and a pool where they instructed the children to sit. Now they just had to wait and hope for the best.

Somewhere a crow cawed loudly, making them all jump. Animals had become as scarce as people, as Wraiths would feed on them too. The Lightspinners stood guard, watching and waiting and praying.

Finally, a pinprick of light bobbed faintly in the distance, and they all straightened. It floated into the glade, light and airy. No one moved.

"Gwaine," Merlin whispered.

The knight slowly stood up, Evie in his arms, and held still. The light glided toward them and hovered in the air for a moment, then sank down into Evie's sternum. The glow suffused throughout her, and she opened her eyes with a gasp.

"What's going on?" she asked in a small voice, eyes widening as she realized they were outside.

"Shh," Gwaine breathed, crouching back down and setting her on the ground. "We have to wait for the lights."

The adults shared relieved looks at Evie's instantaneous recovery. Lancelot remembered the burst of energy he'd received when the spirit seed had first infused his body with its light. Hopefully it would be enough to banish the rest of the infection in her. If not…then they would not only grieve her loss but the loss of another potential Lightspinner.

Nothing else happened for several long minutes.

"Is that it?" one of the children whispered.

"We'll wait a little longer," Gwen replied, equally softly.

Lancelot shifted nervously. With the way cobwebs hung in curtains from trees and mist curled over the ground, it was easy for the slightest movement to look like a Wraith. The only sure way to know one was near was the intense chill it brought with it. The chill of the dead.

"Look," someone hissed excitedly.

Lancelot looked over as another tiny light seed arrived and bobbed toward them. It circled the group of children before descending on one. There were gasps of awe and disappointment. Then a third came and melded with another.

A fourth was on its way when a chilling screech pierced the air and made Lancelot's blood run cold. His breath instantly began to puff out in white clouds, and the children screamed.

"Run!" Percival yelled.

They all rushed back to the children to usher them away. Gwaine scooped Evie into his arms again and ran with her, her terrified cries resounding like an alarm bell through the dead air. Lancelot took up the rear, whipping his gaze back and forth in search of the Wraith he knew was nearby but couldn't see yet.

"Arod!" a young voice suddenly yelled.

Lancelot whirled and spotted the boy still back by the pool, reaching out for that fourth spirit seed. And a Wraith was racing toward him.

Lancelot and Elyan both charged forward, shooting out bursts of light to intercept the Wraith. It shrieked and reeled away. The spirit seed made contact with Arod and sank into him. Elyan snatched the boy up in his arms and ran.

Lancelot spun a whip and lashed it over and over at the Wraith, trying to drive it backward as it attempted to pursue them. It screeched at him and zoomed up and over to come at him from behind. But then a spectral horse came charging in, placing itself in front of Lancelot and rearing up at the Wraith. Lancelot turned and scrambled to catch up with the others. Gwen had stopped ahead and was focused on fighting the Wraith. Merlin darted back and threw glowing disks at it. It was apparently alone and decided to flee in the face of so many Lightspinners.

They winked out their lights and hurried back to the fortress, thankfully arriving in one piece. Everyone was anxious to see them and quickly crowded the first cavern.

"Momma!" Evie cried and stretched out her arms.

Gwaine passed the girl to her mother, who was crying tears of joy.

"Did she receive a spirit seed?" Gaius asked.

Gwaine nodded.

The physician smiled and ushered the girl and her parents away so he could give her a full checkup.

Lancelot wove his way over to Arthur. "Three others received spirit seeds," he reported. "But we were attacked by a Wraith and had to flee."

Arthur nodded and shifted his attention to the three children as Elyan and Percival brought them forward.

"You were very brave," Arthur told them sincerely.

Their parents came to retrieve them, as did the ones for the other children who slogged home in dejection. As much as they feared the outside world, deep down they each knew what it meant to be a Lightspinner and hoped one day they would be gifted it before they were too old.

Four was a successful pilgrimage, though, considering. So in the meantime, it was back to the drudgery of surviving until the next one.