Hi Everyone! Is anyone still around? Well, I thought I'd pick this story back up after being completely disappointed by how Merlin ended. So many more interesting plots were not ventured. So, I decided to fill that void by writing the rest of my story. Hope you enjoy.

Merlin looked down at the bowl of mushed grains diluted with water that the cook prepared for Morgana and her guest. The mouth of the cave was positioned in front of the various tents belonging to Morgana's followers stationed on the green grass and bordered by large trees. To be truthful, the porridge wasn't much worse than what he was used to in Camelot, and he far expected worse.

"Merlin, I have lots of plans for us. Magic needs presence and acceptance in Camelot," Morgana explained in a way Merlin thought was reasonable. Not very Morgana like. Morgana's eyes pierced into Merlin's causing him to look away. "Magic will be a force to be reckoned with. Magic will need to rule the lands of Albion, and no longer bow down to the weakness of non-magical people who have no rights to our land."

Merlin swallowed his porridge and felt it slide down his throat slowly as his listened.

"Do you even know the history of these lands?" Morgana questioned lightly, "Do you know who came here first, who lived here first before Uther and his kind? It was the druids! We must take what is rightfully ours. And now, wait; don't look at me like that. My goal is simple. We need to bring back the golden age of the magic. Where magic ruled... peacefully. And to do that, Merlin, may mean some hardship. But you are used to making tough decisions, are you not?" Morgana said, referring to Merlin killing Gawaine and almost herself for the 'greater good'. "Are you truly prepared to do this?"

Merlin looked down at his bowl of porridge, realizing Morgana was not yet convinced of his loyalty.

"I will do whatever it takes to bring us to the golden age," Merlin said firmly.

Morgana smiled lightly.

"Good. Then I want you to meet someone. He is a child that reminds me of you a little. His name is Menw, a druid boy."

"Reminds you of me? In what way?"

"He's lost and needs guidance, as you did when you arrived in Camelot. His family perished a few years ago and he has no one to learn from. He is powerful, I feel, and will need someone to help him understand how to use it. You seem to have some interesting powers and have been able to make some tough decisions. I thought he may connect with you well and understand that tough decisions need to be made. Help him and guide him. He's near the eastern side of the river collecting fish, if he has listened to me that is."

Merlin nodded and stood up, feeling almost obliged to leave. "I'll do my best."

Merlin looked over towards the river, and as Morgana said, a scrawny little boy was pulling a net out of the water with fish flapping all over the place. The boy hesitatingly picked at the net sadly and dumped the fish in a box tiringly and placed his hands on his hips. Merlin walked closer, observing the boy continue this effort a number of times. It was actually quite remarkable how many fish the boy caught for even with the most populated rivers, fish had scattered away from any break in the river water, making the capture difficult. As Merlin came very close, he noticed a whistle coming from Menw's mouth, and sudden rippling in the water where he laid the net.

"OH!" Menw said turning at Merlin, dropping the net in the water, causing all the fish the flurry away.

"I- I'm sorry, please, carry on. I did not mean to scare you."

Frozen, Menw looked at Merlin in immense fear.

"What can I do for you sire?" Menw said lowering his head. His face was full of red sores, his Adams apple stuck out from his scrawny long neck, and his eyes were big and black. "I hope I am not in any sort of trouble"

Merlin was stunned by this intimidated reaction.

"Wh- of course not. Morgana asked me to meet you. She thought you could use some help. I am not here to... reprimand you."

Menw's nerves seemed to have calmed down, but his guard was still up.

"I- I'm catching fish." Menw pointed to the large wooden box. "It's for the village. Every week I am to catch fish for the week."

Merlin took a few steps forward and observed the river.

"You'd think the fish would learn not to come here as much."

Menw chuckled. "That's because they cannot help it. Take a look."

Menw whistled ever so slightly, causing Merlin's nerves to drain while listening to the enchanting tune, reminding him of a lush forest filled with greens and rabbits, the kind Arthur used to hunt. It took him a moment to shake himself off the hypnotic tune only to realize about 100 fish came close to the point where Menw stood. Menw pulled up the net, catching around 30 fish in one swipe.

"How- how did you do that?" Merlin asked puzzled. It was not like any magic he's ever seen.

"I can speak to animals and ask them to do as I want" Menw shrugged. "Well, at least most of the time"

"Any animal?" Merlin asked curiously.

"Yes, but although I have the power to, I don't like using it. It makes me tired and sometimes takes me days to recover. I've also been told if I talk to a certain animal too much, I will become one. That's why I have to get fish every week instead of everyday. I swear, I feel like I'm a better swimmer though." Menw said, attempting humor and looking down when Merlin did not laugh alongside.

Merlin tried to chuckle, but was trying to internalize this power Menw had. Now he understood why Morgana wanted Menw to use his powers more. Menw could guarantee success in every battle if he could control all animals.

"Where did you learn your powers?" Merlin asked instead.

"I was born with it, much like everyone here. I was about 5 years old when I realized I could talk to animals. Bird would come and tell me how many worms they ate. People thought I was crazy, because it wasn't magic they heard of. Later my family began being treated like outsiders and was out casted by their friends. Their friends believed my form of magic was wrong and evil. They even thought I was Emrys for some months."

Merlin's heart beat hard. "Emrys? Well, why wouldn't they uh, rejoice?"

Menw laughed. "Emrys? Who would want to be thought of Emrys? He's a cowardly leader who's in hiding, making the rest of us struggle. I mean, where is he anyway?"

"Well, I thought he was meant to be, you know, the 'savior'.

Menw looked at Merlin seriously. "Oh sorry, you are one of them, aren't you?"

"Them?"

Menw sighed as he placed a cover on the box full of fish.

"Just some advice for you. The people here, especially Morgana, do not tolerate Emrites. That's what we call you people. Emrites are those that believe Emrys will help us one day. I don't judge you of course; I know full well what being out casted is like and never want you to feel the same. But its best you give up on 'Emrys'. He's never going to come. "

"But the prophecy says that Emrys will come."

Menw looked up at Merlin almost chuckling.

"There are a lot of prophecies out there. Confusing ones. There are people who think Emrys is a backstabber to those of us with magic. We look to Morgana of course. And then there are those who think that Emrys will help us at whatever the cost, those are the Emrites. Then, there are the insane people who think Emrys will actually sit there and help Uther and Arthur, making us magical ones bow to 'them'. Point is, if you really are an Emrite, you should be careful not to tell anyone. Otherwise your credibility will be lost. "

Merlin's mind was spinning. It somehow sounded very familiar; Alvarr and Morgause once explained this to him. Merlin certainly felt his credibility lost as Menw's guard was dropped quicker than a pin falling on the ground.

"So, if Emrys came, what would you do?"

"He's not going to come. Better leave it as that."

Merlin did not want to push any further, and returned back to the original point.

"Well, how did they figure you were not Emrys."

"They finally believed I wasn't him when that one dragon that escaped Camelot came and tried to stay on the druids lands. While I can control animals, the one creature I cannot control is the dragon. Only the dragon lord can, and the belief is that Emrys is the only dragon lord out there. He eventually flew out after seeing one person, the Seeker."

"Who is the seeker?"

"She sits over on the eastern side in her own cave on the druids lands. She was around during the great purge and is very powerful. We all don't know how she did it, but we are glad she is on our side. I don't really talk to her much. Anyway," Menw said casting a freezing spell on the basket of fish. "I need to drop all this fish to Keller, our cook. If there is nothing else you need from me, I should go before the fish get warm."

"Well, I can help you." Merlin offered, extending his hands.

"No need," Menw smiled as he cast a spell to lift the basket and keep it afloat as he walked off.

Merlin watched Menw walk off. The peoples attitudes about Emrys seemed more complicated that he ever imagined. And his attitude wasn't going to cut it. Menw's reaction if intimidation turning into such a lack of regard towards Merlin in a matter of minutes showed him he had a lot of work to do. And Menw's powers. No wonder Morgana was very interested. Could he really help Menw? And more importantly, should he help?