I'M ALIVE! College is harder than I thought it would be… Sorry folks! *Hides behind astrategically placed wall* I'll try harder next time! Thanks for sticking with me and for all of you who encouraged me to continue this work.

So in this AU, Tarra in on the border with Essetir by Ealdor, so patrols pass by the village often. Canen is too scared to attack, therefore the village is safe.

I felt the need for an original chappie with Will, so that is what you're getting this week!

Yes, I totally own Merlin. Sure.

Ealdor had been his home for years, but like any young man of eighteen, Will felt the burning desire of a greater calling. He had only stayed behind to protect Hunith like Merlin had asked of him to. Now that Tarra knights had started patrolling closer to Ealdor, no one dared to attack the little village.

So he set out in the direction of Tarra's castle.

The blue flags flapped lightly in the breeze as Will walked into the town wrapped around the twinkling castle of Tarra. Will's mouth hung open as he turned his head every way he could to soak in this new life style. Merlin would love it here… The thought of the best friend he seen in well over six months sobered him right up.

Will felt a tug on the coarse material of his shirt. He looked down to see a young boy with brown

hair and lots of freckles. His front two teeth were missing.

"Hey mither, are you here for the fethable? Mi mum thayth that'th for the fall farveth."

"Er, sure kid. Sure."

Some woman was running through the streets. Will did a double take when he saw the floating packages behind her. "DAEGAL! DAEGAL! Where is that stupid son of mine?!"

"Oh man, sorry mither. I gotta go!" the boy shouted as he scampered off towards the woman.

Will smile at the young boy who was so reminiscent of Merlin as he scuttled further down the streets packed with people and stalls and food alike. He followed the flow of people into the courtyard where Tarra's citizens had gathered.

The crowd cheered as a young man with flaming red hair walked out onto the steps. He cleared his throat and muttered something under his breath.

"People of Tarra! Welcome to the Festival of Harvest! We are gathered here to celebrate the harvesting of your hard labor. Lord Ambrosius will be present at the festivities in a few days do to delays in Camelot. (*Cough* unicorn induced famine/drought *Cough*) On that note, let the festivities begin!"

Will felt another tug on his shirt. It was Daegal. "That'th Quintuth. He'th my friend'th couthin. Hey. Where ith Rhyth? Mum, where ith Rhyth?"

"I don't know dear. Stop bothering this poor man," Linda sighed.

"Oh, he's fine. Say, do you know if there is a place to stay around here?"

"The Prancing Pony is just down the road. It's owned by the captain of the guard's soon to be father-in-law."

"Thanks lady," Will called over his shoulder as he headed towards the inn.

Snake sat at his usual table, glaring holes into the back of the captain's head. He still didn't like Lancelot, but there was little he could do about it now. So he glared some more.

There was a clatter near the door as someone ran into Sam, Snake's best friend. Sam was a nice boy with a super cool older brother that worked for Sir Bowen in the castle.

"Watch it, squirt!" the guy who ran into Sam demanded. A man who sat in the dim corner off to their left stood and made his way to the pair. He had a hood pulled low over his face, but his emerald eyes glittered from within.

"The lad meant no harm, friend, leave him be," he said quietly, voice full of soft rumbling. Who was this man who would stop him from giving the kid some advice?

"Who the hell are you, mate?" The man's mouth curled into a smile, too sharp and full of pain.

"Just a friend to this fiefdom. Watch how you treat the citizens."

Snake watched in awe as Corann stood and defended Sam. Corann was kind and protective, if a little shut off. He rolled into Tarra's capital a little under two months ago, saying that was a wandering druid ranger that finally had found a home and people he could settle with. Molly had pulled Lance into helping her find a place for the druid to stay since he felt uncomfortable with the other camps. Corann said he was very eager to meet Lord Ambrosius, and Dean had offered to introduce them when the lord arrived. Snake and Sam and all their other friends were rightfully disappointed that the older boy would get the honor.

Sam was supposed to be stand beside his brother next to Sir Bowen when Lord Ambrosius arrived. But Snake was fine with that, he got to be there too 'cause Rhys liked him and he was Molly's brother. Huh. The staff really is the like the big family their lord never had.

The tavern and streets were thrown into chaos when word of Ambrosius arrived. Personally, Will didn't see the big deal; You meet one noble, you've met them all. Cenred turning away his mother after his father had died hardened his heart to those of noble blood.

There was cheering from down the street as the lord rode towards the castle with curly haired knight that had eyes so light a blue they were almost silver behind him. Will didn't know what he expected. Maybe some smelly old fart or a charismatic man. He did not, however, expect slim and toned arms, a shock of raven hair, and dazzling eyes that could only belong to-

"Merlin?!" The way the teen swivelled to look at him with too big eyes would have been comical if he hadn't been so shocked.

"Will? Will!" A giant smile lit up Merlin's face as he looked at his oldest friend. He motioned with his hand and Will climbed up onto the back of his young friend's horse. Everyone looked surprised if a little wary of the man who claimed to be friend with their lord. They rode through the castle gates and were met with the sight of Sir Bowen and the rest of the staff and nobility and their families.

Merlin dismounted and handed the reins to the boy who had run into Will earlier. Another kid scrambled away from a happy looking couple to take Merlin's companion's horse. They smiled brightly and Merlin laughed. Sir Bowen and the Druid from earlier that week descended the stairs. Merlin clasped hands with the knight before turning to the druid.

"Quintus, you missed quite the show in Camelot. I still can't believe the prat actually killed a unicorn!"

"Indeed," Quintus replied with a warm smile.

"Would you inform Bowen and Lancelot that I would like an audience with you three?" Quintus smiled and nodded before bowing and turning to complete his task. Merlin turned back to the crowd. "People of Tarra!" he called, his voice amplified by a charm placed on the steps. "The gods have smiled on us with such a plentiful harvest. I say it's time to celebrate!"

The crowd roared as Merlin smiled and turned to enter the doors. Will and the Camelot knight slipped in behind him. Merlin checked to make sure that his companions were still following him before making his way to his chambers. Sir Bowen, the man he assumed was Lancelot, and Quintus walked in not long after.

"By now, I assume you all are wondering why there is a Camelot knight among us. His name is Leon, and he knows." Merlin gave the now identified knight a firm nod.

"My father never agreed with Uther when it came to the ban. He said it was because of my mother that he learned to love magic and that it was a slight against her to hate it. I could never hold what Merlin is against such an honorable man."

Bowen stood up. " Forgive my asking, but how did Sir Leon learn of your magic?"

Will snorted. "Knowing Merlin, it was by accident." Merlin blushed slightly.

"It was. He was in the forest, talking to the Keeper of the Unicorns. I was on a ride back from my father's lands after checking on the crops." No one in the room mentioned that Tarra lands alone were spared. "Anhora called Merlin Myrddin, and I knew that this was the man that my mother used whisper stories of late at night when I was young and the Ban was just an idea. Uther never knew that magic was so ingrained into our family, and for that I am grateful."

"Now that that settled, Will, how would you like a job?"

"What?"

Merlin rolled his eyes. "A job, Will. Lancelot will need a temporary replacement when he leaves with Molly to celebrate their wedding in Camelot."

Dean had told him there was a man waiting to meet him in Molly's tavern, so Merlin went to find him after getting Will settled. The man's eyes almost seemed to light up when they landed on the teen.

"Erm, I heard you wished to see me."

"I only wanted to see the face of the man that the Fates and gods have smiled upon. You are a wise and noble man for how young you are. You're father would be proud," the druid smiled softly. "My name is Corann and I am a druid ranger."

"I welcome you to Tarra for however long your stay might be. Let Sir Bowen of I know if there is anything we can do to help you."

Corann's smile grew wider. "It's not hard to see why Caylan and Dreken favor you so. You are a great man, Lord Myrddin Emrys. A man of legends. I assure you, we are all looking forward to seeing you achieve greatness. I shall stay for the festival the celebrates such a fine harvest, and then I shall continue my wanderings. Rest assured, young lord, we shall meet again in the coming times."

Leon found himself in the Prancing Pony on the second day of the festival. The place was crawling with people, so Leon sought out a quiet corner to hide in.

He had to get out if the castle; it was suffocating with so much power crammed in such a small place. Not that he wasn't amazed that one of his brothers in arms was the Myrddin, but so much magic was smothering his senses, choking him without the wards Merlin used to mask his presence in Camelot.

A hooded man slid into the seat across from him.

"So it is true then. You are her son. She told me she married and bore a child, but I didn't believe it until now."

"You know my mother?"

"Aye. She is a wonderful woman. A little pig-headed for my tastes, but then again, it runs in theNfamily. You can call me Corann." The hooded man's eyes glittered, and Leon knew that wasn't his real name. He didn't push, however, because it never got him anywhere with his mother's side of the family.

"Is she happy?"

Corann sighed. "Now that is a difficult question. I want to believe so, even if her smiles aren't as bright as they use to be. She misses you, but looks in on you from time to time. She's taken quite a liking to her nephew and his friends as well. Last we spoke, her and one of her brothers were going to support Myrddin and his quest to bring back the Knights of Old."

"Really? I thought the Old Knights had died out with the execution of my uncle."

"Hmmm. Not at all. There at least two I know of roaming Albion as we speak. And you know as well as I from your mother's stories. Myrddin shall be flanked a commoner, a killer, a kinsman, and a king."

Leon smiled a little. "I bet you know exactly who they are."

Corann gave an innocent shrug. "We'll see."

"Will you tell her I miss her next time you see her?"

"Of course little Bua. I could never refuse Caylan's son anything."

Caylan looked up as her cousin strode into her room.

"Fómhar, what do you want?"

"Why, my darling baby cousin, can't a god visit a goddess without her assuming he wants something?"

"What is it then?"

"Oh, nothing. I just stopped by Myrddin's place. Stopped his crops from dying after Prince Arthur killed a unicorn. Honestly, what possessed that old goat to give the things horns, I'll never know. Oh yes. I saw little Bua, only he's not so little anymore. All grown up and falling into his place at Myrddin's side."

Caylan smiled softly. "My lion is grown and finding his way. I only wished I could have stayed with him and his father."

Fómhar sighed. "As to I. I would give your sister a piece of my mind if I didn't know that she could beat the tar out of me. Why the hell would she ever take Igraine's life? She was asking for this outcome."

"Brother dearest told her not to, but she's as stubborn as the rest of the family."

Fómhar hummed in agreement. "There's nothing left for us to do now, not really. Plans can't be set in motion until your nephew takes up his mantle."

…

Alternate Chapter Title: Inwhich the Author Shamlessly References Supernatural and the Twist Plot that None saw Coming

Btw, Fómhar means harvest in irish and Bua means victory. And yes, I'm matjorly screwing with stuff here, BUT THIS IS MY TV LAND SO YOU CAN ALL SUCK IT! Pardon my honing of my inner Trickster, but there's not a lot of backstory to my favorite characters, so why the hell not make Leon a demigod?

Again, I'm really sorry guys. I can't promise anything, but I'll try harder!

Until Next Time, which hopefully won't be this long, my Faithful Readers.