Chapter 6

These halls really were different, now that Merlin was in his right mind and could appreciate them he could see the slight glow the walls had. It was as if the cool breeze that caressed their skin was not coming from the windows that were too high up to see, rather, it was an ever present breeze that Merlin was sure was coming from the walls. Sooner than expected they were once again in front of one of the red doors. Aithusa gave three light knocks and the metal head opened its eyes, one look at them and Kilgharrah's voice simply said.

- Go ahead- It's eyes closed and the door opened.

Beyond the door was a city, to someone seeing it for the first time it would have looked like a normal city, full of ordered chaos. People walking in all directions, everyone waving hellos and goodbyes at every passerby as if they all knew each other, the owners of vendor carts announcing their products with smiles and joyous screams, the diverse buildings and shops that were all around, everything perfectly normal until Merlin got over the shock of getting back to civilization and actually being able to once again feel like part of it. But then he looked around, and he really started to see the merchandise being sold, the different odd books and unrecognizable apparatuses behind the glass windows of the shops, the small details that should not be there, that was when he realized that this city was far from normal. From weird little things that Merlin couldn't fathom what they could possibly have been used for, the pets running around which were some of familiar breeds and others of species that Merlin had never heard of or even imagined possible, the floating multicolored lights that were hovering on top of most carts and houses, and even drawings that he saw moving around in the walls of some houses and clothes, it was all simply incredible. The again, Merlin wasn't really able to see much of the rest, like the street performers they passed by here and there doing things that would blow anyone's mind, he so wanted to stop and watch, but Aithusa wouldn't have any of it, she dragged him through the busy streets with such speed that most of the unimaginable things around them became smudges of color in Merlin's view.

When she finally stopped at a place that was mostly devoid of people Merlin couldn't help but keep looking at the path they had come from, he very much wanted to go back and bathe in the glow that everyone they had passed seemed to have, to feel others rushing around him, to feel the occasional bump and hear the hurried but honest apology that always followed, to make sure that this was not all a dream, to assure himself that all of it would not just disappear into smoke and he would go back to being indifferent the moment he finally accepted it as truth. But then again Merlin was holding on to the most undeniable truth at the moment, Aithusa's arm around his own. He finally turned to look at her, she was looking straight ahead and her face was a mixture of proudness and satisfaction at what she saw. Curiosity took a hold of Merlin and he turned to look in the same direction she was looking, and then he saw it.

If Merlin had not been so distracted by the little details around the city, he would have probably seen it since the moment they stepped through the doorway, after all the biggest house they had passed in the path they had taken were at most three or four stories high, no real big buildings, just very wide ones, but the monuments in front of them were as tall as skyscrapers. There was a wall, as tall as at least a two stories house, some distance in front of Merlin was the entrance, an arc as big as the wall and as wide as it was tall, and on top, inscribed in the language of magic that came so easy to him that it was as if he had known it from the moment he was born, were the elegant words: Albion Academy. Beyond the entrance were buildings, so many buildings that Merlin couldn't detect which was first and which was the farthest his eyes could reach, and each as different from the other as an elephant and a mouse. There were castles of different types, flamboyant mansions, simpler ones, smaller ones, some buildings that actually looked like schools, some others that looked like they were from a fashion magazine for the presidents of the world, some buildings that looked like they originated in a child's imagination or the most ingenious architect in history, and each of the buildings looked as if they had all come from a different country, a different time period, or a different civilization from the others. Merlin could even see a pyramid in the distance for God's sake! But, though absolutely mind blowing, these were not what most impressed and took hold of Merlin's complete attention.

All of these marvels of architecture fell short to the two statues standing on the sides of the entrance. All the other things were noticed after the statues, what first registered in Merlin's mind was how big these two monsters were. The wall, which was easily three times his height, only reached the back of the statues knees. These two statues were quite intimidating and Merlin thought that the sight of these two alone would be enough to send the bravest of enemies crying back to their mamas. They were both made of what looked to be the whitest marble that Merlin had ever seen and he could have bet that he saw the statues shining now and then. The statue on the left looked exactly like Merlin's 80 years old self wearing a long cloak that covered its whole body, a book on the left hand and a staff that looked exactly like his own on the right. Back in Merlin's past life he had thought that he looked kind of funny and ridiculous, if not a little empowered, when he turned into Dragoon, but now, standing below the imposing statue, which had such a determined look on its face, Merlin felt like showing respect and taking a step back. The statue on the right of the archway was none other than the Once and Future King, his King. Arthur was wearing his battle gear, his chain mail, boots, cape, everything that Merlin had helped him put on again and again once upon a time. On his right hand was a sword that looked so very much like Excalibur, and in his left a shield. Though the faces were not perfectly accurate, it was obvious who they were supposed to be and if there had been any doubt the plates in which each was standing would have been enough to confirm the identities, the plate on the left had the inscription "Merlin, Emrys the Wise." And the one on the right: "Arthur, The Once and Future King."

This time Merlin held his tears at bay, he would not cry in public, he would not embarrass Aithusa, but even with all his will power focused on that one task the emotions were too strong and a sob still escaped his mouth. Aithusa looked at him with a slight smile and hugged him without a care for what others might think, this was, after all, her "father". Holding his tears back and with his eyes still on the statues, Merlin returned the affectionate hug.

Merlin just couldn't help the happiness that was coursing through his veins and reviving every part of his body, if they had not been in a public place Merlin knew that he would have probably laughed and cried and thrown himself on the floor and rolled around trying to express just what it was he was feeling. They had not failed, it had all been for something, all the sacrifices, all the sadness, all the evils, they had all been for the sake of this place rather than just for the sake of only their deaths. This made everything better, it made everything worth it, if all the bad things had to happen in order for this place to be born, in order to give a home and put a smile on all those he had seen then Merlin didn't mind how it had all gone to hell at the end. Sure, he still would have liked for things to have been different, but at least now he could completely come to terms with it, Merlin could forgive himself along with everyone else and finally leave the past behind. Now that that the past was truly behind, perhaps it was time he allowed himself to start a new life.

- And who could this gentleman who's holding you so close be?-

Yes, accepted, accepted but never forgotten, and that is why Merlin couldn't help the cold shiver that ran up his spine and the fear that gripped his heart when these words reached his ears. It wasn't the words themselves, of course, it was that smooth elegant and polite voice from his past, that same voice that had cursed at his loved ones so many times and had issued the death of so many innocents left and right. Merlin also couldn't help how his magic build up inside of him with every intention of lashing out, after all he had just been surprised in a vulnerable state by a voice standing behind him, and the voice belonged to the one person from his past that he wouldn't put past ripping his heart out where he stood. Aithusa had tensed around Merlin and since it happened in the middle of a hug it was more like she was holding on to him. In the back of Merlin's mind he understood that this was so he wouldn't do anything stupid, but in that moment Merlin was being controlled by his old instinct, all reason and thought had gone out the window. And so it was that Merlin started turning around with the intention of locating the threat while dragging Aithusa with him, but as he finally caught a glimpse of the woman who had made him jump out of his skin, and so it was that it all disappeared into nothingness, the fear, the anger, the magic building up inside of him, it all simply dissipated.

Yes, this was Morgana, of that he had no doubt, but she was not "that" Morgana, this girl in front of Merlin was not "the witch", as everyone who knew her evil persona had called her in those last days Merlin lived in Camelot. No, this was the Morgana he had met all those years ago when he first stepped into Camelot, this was the kind, forgiving Morgana that Merlin had seen fight against injustice so many times without a care for her well-being or fear of going against her king. Yes, although it could all be seen right there, the mischief, the rebellious personality, and most of all the proud way in which she stood, as if challenging the world to go against her, all that made her the Morgana loved by all, she had obviously never been through the horrible events that gave birth to the Morgana that was full of hate.

A pang of quilt ran through Merlin when he thought that yes, this girl had probably never been poisoned by someone she considered her friend.

This was good; it meant that this Morgana was still an innocent girl who could live a peaceful life rather than becoming a murderous monster starving for revenge against the wrong people. And still Merlin could not silence the little voice at the back of my mind, screaming at him of the future that could be, of how Morgana could turn out at the end. No, pretending to know the future had ruined his life once already, Merlin knew better than to make the same mistake twice. He would make sure that things did not crumble down this time, no matter what it took; Merlin would make sure that they ALL had a happy ending this time around.

In the couples of minutes it took Merlin to process all of this Morgana had clearly become inpatient, she was tapping her foot against the floor with a slightly annoyed look in her face and Aithusa still looked like she was waiting for a time bomb to go off.

- Well? Is anyone going to answer my question?- Aithusa finally looked at Merlin and when he offered her a small smile she understood that he was seeing things for what they were rather than for what they had been.

- I'm Merlin.- He offered Morgana a smile and extended his hand to shake. She looked at the hand curiously, this was the formal salute in the human world, was it different here? Still, she shook Merlin's hand, she also did it with a little more force than was necessary, but this must have been in Merlin's imagination, why would she want to intimidate him just after meeting him? Ridiculous!

- That's bold, the king using a name like that I understand, but for someone else to name their child after one of the founders... - Her eyes wondered to the statues for a second. Before Merlin could give an answer under the influence of the annoyance that had arisen with the mention of his parents, Aithusa gave Morgana a sharp answer.

- They were not from around here and are both dead, so that was a bit rude.- Morgana, who had never seen Aithusa, the girl who was always there when she needed her, the one who she had bonded so deeply with, even more than with her beloved half-sister, being mad, shocked her into silence. Aithusa had always defended Morgana against the world, even when Morgana had obviously been the one to commit the mischief, and now she was defending this boy against her, something she had never done even when she bullied those around her (specially Arthur, Morgana always found that to be very fun). Who was this boy?

- I am sorry, even if I didn't know, it was still rude to say that.- Still in shock, the apology came out honestly, after all she did know what it was like to, in a way, lose both parents.

- No problem.- Merlin's smile was bright and held no grudge. He couldn't hold against anyone what he felt in regards to that topic, after all it had been him who had never once gone back to see his mother. Merlin was taken aback when her eyes became sharp once again.

- So, what type of relationship do you two have?- Merlin looked besides him and Aithusa's apologetic expression put the puzzle together. The overly threatening hand shake, the way she became more annoyed the longer Aithusa had held on to him, the hint of jealousy in her first words, the way her voice and expression reminded Merlin of a mother giving up her daughter to a man who would take her far away from home, and Merlin found it all so very funny that he finally laughed after a millennia of absent smiles.