I do not own Merlin
The sight of Morgana and Mordred immediately had the knights and Arthur raising their swords in their direction just as they began waking up.
"Morgana." Arthur spat in rage as she picked herself off the floor looking around in confusion before her eyes met his alongside Mordred, who glared at him in such anger that the knights couldn't even recognize the innocent and kind man that had once been their friend.
"Arthur. What an unpleasant surprise." Morgana said as she got up and then helped up Mordred. That was when both their eyes strayed to the ever-loyal servant standing right behind Arthur, his eyes were staring straight at them, knowing that one word out of their lips could mean his end by his own best friend's hand.
Merlin's eyes immediately met theirs and he knew that if they were to say something, if they were to tell Arthur the truth of who he truly is, Arthur would never forgive him, actually scratch that, he would kill him and he knew there was nothing stopping Morgana and Mordred from doing so, so he prepared himself for the revelation. But how could you prepare yourself to be condemned to death by the man you thought of as a brother?
"Merls!" The voice and the familiar nickname had Merlin turning towards the last woman he thought he'd ever see. Was he dreaming or was she really here? But how could she be? He had been there when she died, he had seen the light leave her eyes, he had been the one to light the flames as her body was burned right before his eyes at her burial. But when he heard his mother's gasp from behind him, he knew that he wasn't dreaming. The others were shocked as they looked at her, she was honestly the most beautiful woman they had ever seen, and those that knew Morgana from when she had been kind and innocent, thought that the girl was on par with her in terms of beauty.
"Lani," Merlin breathed out as the other stared at them in confusion. "That's not...Th-That's not possible. Y-you're...you're dead. I saw you die." The break in his voice as tears filled his eyes had the knights, Arthur and Gwen concerned having never really seen him like this.
"Anything can happen in this room Merlin, I just have to will it. There are no restrictions or consequences to anything I shall do though, so there is no need to worry," The voice said.
"You're really here then," Merlin breathed out in shock as she smiled at him before running over and wrapping her arms around his neck. Merlin laughed at that before swinging her around with a joyful smile on his face.
"I'm here Merls," She said as he put her down and kissed her forehead lovingly. "And I'm not the only one."
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked confused just as she gestured behind her and he looked up only for his eyes to widen once again. "Lance."
That had all the knights alarmed as some of them reached for their swords again considering what had happened before but they didn't know that that had not been him, but Morgana. Arthur was glaring at him angrily, Gwen looked anywhere but at her husband or Lancelot, the rest of the knights didn't know what to do. He was their friend and yet he had done such a horrid deed. Percival was looking at his best friend in happiness and sorrow wanting nothing better than to go and hug him but he didn't know how to act after what had occurred the last time he had come back.
"Hey Merls," Lancelot said with a smile.
"Is it really you?" Merlin asked to make sure.
"Don't worry Merls, it's really him," Melani whispered in his ear knowing what he was really asking.
"It's me Merlin. I promise," Lancelot said and a bright smile immediately came on Merlin's face as he laughed, mostly in disbelief as he ran and hugged the life out of his best friend. Lancelot laughed himself as he hugged Merlin, he couldn't believe he was seeing him again, now that he knew him more than ever before. His sister, Melani had shared a lot of stories with him of his youth, things he was sure Merlin did not want her telling him.
"It's so good to see you again Lance," Merlin said happily after pulling away from the hug not even noticing Arthur's glare at his back.
"It's good to see you too Merls," Lancelot said ruffling his hair as Merlin batted his hand away.
"What are you doing here?" Arthur asked angrily.
"Now before you judge Arthur Pendragon. You should know that the man who you had seen before was not Lancelot, but a wraith formed of dark magic, that would follow only the will of its creator. Guievere was also not to blame, she had been influenced by dark magic held within a dark artefact so what she did was out of her control," The voice informed before him made any drastic decisions. Morgana smirked in that background with Mordred standing next to her, they were just observing what was happening now as she thought about when to tell the others about Merlin's magic, it would be so fun to see the chaos that ensues but then again, she wanted to kill Merlin by her own hand not anyone else's.
"Is this true?" Arthur asked faintly looking as lost as Gwen.
"Yes Sire, it is true," Gaius said forlorn.
"You knew? You knew and you didn't tell me." Arthur said now glaring at Gaius, he had banished Guinevere for something she didn't even do.
"If we had told you Sire, you would not have believed us, like every other time," Merlin interjected not wanting Gaius to get all the blame.
"Merlin? You knew as well?" Gwen asked her brows furrowed at her friend.
"I did. Don't get me wrong, having you get banished was the last thing I wanted Gwen but every other time I explained that magic is at work, your dear husband refused to believe me until it was too late so why would that day have been any different?" Merlin asked shrugging his shoulders helplessly as the knights went to greet Lancelot after knowing the truth.
"I suppose you're right Merlin," Gwen sighed feeling better now that she heard his explanation.
"Right? How is he right?" Arthur asked still angry about not being told what had really happened.
"Be real Your Highness, you would not have believed my brother or Uncle, or anyone for that matter. You're too much like Uther in that sense. He wouldn't see it was magic even if it was staring at him right in the face but when magic is truly not the answer, he deems it so without a second thought." Melani said, she had lost many friends because of Uther's prejudice against those who possess magic. She was elder than Merlin, she had travelled to many places in her youth when mother had finally let her go and most of those times, she stayed in Druid camps where they helped her with her magic. It was many of these times, where suddenly Uther's men had raided their camp and slaughtered anyone in sight, whether they were children, mothers or even if they were pregnant. They didn't care and she had so much built up resentment for the Pendragons because of the horrors that she had seen that she still couldn't fully accept Arthur Pendragon as anything but his son because she had seen firsthand what he was capable of. It wasn't only the knights she had seen slaughter her friends after all.
"Do not speak my father's name. You have no right," Arthur shouted at her in rage.
"Do not speak to my sister that way. You have no right," Merlin said glaring at him, anger written all over his face. None of them had ever seen him this angry before and Arthur's slightly widened eyes showed he thought the same.
Melani shook her head at the prince, he was too set in his father's ways for her to see any hint of the propechy being fulfilled. It wasn't possible right now, she could see that and maybe she wasn't the only one. Maybe that was the reason they were brought here she thought before all of a sudden she turned and looked behind her brother and tears filled her eyes as she said, "Mother."
"Melani," Hunith said, she had just been watching everything going on, not moving, not saying a word, just looking at her daughter in shock and disbelief. But after the word she'd been dying to hear from her daughter since the day she lost her, tears immediately began to stream down her cheeks. Melani smiled tearily before she went and hugged her with a smile on her face relieved and happy tears in her eyes. Hunith hugged her daughter after such a long time and immediately a smile made its way across her face as she said, "God I've missed you," before pulling away as she smoothed Melani's hair away from her face and said, "I love you so much, darling."
"I love you too mother," was all Melani could say to the heartfelt words before her eyes caught familiar doe eyes looking up at her curiously and she gasped pulling away from her mother as she looked at her. "Is that my...is that Anna?"
"It is," Hunith responded with a smile on her face as the others watched the heartfelt reunion with smiles on their faces.
Melani bent down to her daughter's level to explain who she was, not expecting Anna to suddenly jump into her arms. She kneeled in shock for a second before she tightly hugged her back as she lifted herself off the floor holding her kid in her arms.
"How do you remember me baby?" Melani asked softly kissing her cheeks softly.
"Uncle Merls draws you a lot so that he never forgets you and so that I never forget you either. You look like the drawings he made so that means that you're my mommy." Anna said simply with a bright dimpled smile on her face.
Melani looked at her brother with tears of gratefulness in her eyes, he smiled at her a little red in the face as she said, "Thanks Merls."
"Of course Lani," Merlin said with a smile before kissing her forehead lovingly.
Anna's smile suddenly dimmed as she asked, "But if you my mommy, then where were you?"
"I-I...I was..." Melani stuttered not knowing what to say.
"Uncle Merls said that you were in a beautiful place somewhere far away, that you were always looking out for me from there and that you loved me so much and you wouldn't have left me if you had no choice. Is that true mommy?" Anna asked looking at her hopefully. The others looked at Merlin with sadness in their eyes, it must have been hard to lose his sister and then take care of her daughter, to explain what happened to the girl's mother and yet Merlin had done so.
Melani smiled tearily looking at her brother with love in her eyes before she caressed her daughter's face and said, "I promise darling I was always looking out for you, I saw your first steps, I heard your first word, I listened as you laughed and I was always there watching over you when you cried, I was always there baby. Don't ever think I wasn't because believe me darling, if I had a choice I would never have left your side, ever. You mean the world to me." Gwen couldn't help but internally aww at the heartfelt words, it was adorable. Morgana felt some of the ice around her heart thaw at the sight of such a beautiful moment between a mother and a daughter before it hardened once again when she realised she was Merlin's sister.
"I love you mommy," Anna said, she may not have met Mommy in person before but she had heard many stories from her Uncle and she already loved her. Nearly everyone in the theatre couldn't help but think how adorable she was, it was impossible not to think if her as such.
"I love you too baby," Melani smiled before hugging her daughter tightly, then she looked at Merlin and said, "I was watching over mother and your uncle too, speaking of, Merls, what on earth were you thinking?"
Merlin looked at her confused, what had he done he thought wonderingly as Melani put Anna down and their mother held her hand. "Do you know how many near panic attacks I've had up there just watching you get in all that trouble that just seems to follow you everywhere? Just ask Lance, though he wasn't faring any better than me," Melani said angrily.
"Uh, I..." Merlin said trying to defend himself as he looked at Lance for help but he only shrugged as if to say she was right.
"I mean seriously Merls! Do you not have even an ounce of care for yourself at all because some of the things that you did were downright suicidal?" Melani said glaring at him as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.
"Lani, in my defense, it was entirely the prat's fault," Merlin said pointing to Arthur, who looked at him offended.
"My fault Merlin? How is it my fault?" Arthur asked annoyed.
"No, I am not listening to you two squabble like an old married couple again, I've heard enough of them to last a lifetime and as for what you said Merls, I'll get to him later, especially for what just happened moments ago before I was brought here," Melani said a glare on her face as she looked at the prince who looked anywhere but at her. She turned back to her brother to say, "It was your choice to follow him though you idiot, and with barely anything to protect you."
Melani obviously knew about his magic but the others didn't and yet they let him go. "And all of you, how could you let him go riding into battle without anything to protect him, not even some spare chainmail you could have given him out of at least some semblance of care after everything he's done for you. I hope you're all ashamed of yourselves because the only time I've seen you give him one is when you were using him as bait." Melani said and the others couldn't even look at her because everything she was saying was right and they had never felt so guilty.
"Lani it's fine," Merlin said trying to calm her down but there was a fond smile on his face. He missed her tirades, she was always like that when she was angry, she could rant from noon till night without getting out of breath.
"No it most certainly is not," Melani said anger written all over her face and he quickly shut up at that, he didn't want to have her anger directed at him, she could be scary sometimes.
"Ok, ok, people, calm yourselves. I have brought you all here to watch the life of one of the men in this room, and through this viewing, secrets will be revealed, friendships may be threatened, lies will come to light, love may blossom, hearts will thaw, bonds may form and through all of this you'll find out exactly how much he's done for all of you," The voice said and they were all intrigued though some of them, like Gaius, Mordred, Morgana, Melani, Hunith and Lancelot, gave a quick look to Merlin knowing that it had to be him, who else could it be?
Melani looked at her young daughter in concern, if they were to watch Merlin's life as she suspected, then it wasn't something an 8-year-old should be watching.
"Don't worry Melani, Anna was only brought here so that you could see your daughter again, I won't have her stay here to watch the rest. She will stay someplace safe and I will bring her back during any breaks you have so there is no need to worry," The voice said calming her down.
"Oh, thank you," Melani said relieved but saddened at having to part with her daughter so soon after seeing her again. She was the only thing she had left from Balthazar and she would always cherish her time with him before he was taken from her so soon. She bent down and smiled sadly at her daughter, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear as she said, "I guess this is goodbye for now Anna."
"But I wanna stay with you mommy," Anna said tears in her eyes.
"Don't worry baby, we'll see each other again. I promise," Melani said softly.
"Pinky promise?" Anna said holding out her pinky.
Melani laughed as she entwined her larger pinky with her daughter's tiny one and said, "Pinky promise."
Anna smiled at her then before she hugged her mother as Melani hugged her back with tears in her eyes just as a sound of a pop later, she disappeared from her arms. Merlin came forward and put a hand on her shoulder, she looked at her brother and hugged him trying to control her tears at once again being parted from her daughter, even if it was for a little while. "It's ok Lani, just as you said, you'll see each other again. You made a pinky promise after all, and you know how sacred those are, at least for an 8-year-old." Merlin said dramatically.
Melani laughed at that shaking her head at her brother before kissing his cheek affectionately as she said, "Thank you, both of you..." here she looked at her mother before carrying on, "...for taking care of my daughter."
"She's always been like my own Lani. I haven't spent as much time with her as I would have liked because I moved to Camelot but I tried sending as much letters as I could and visiting sometimes. It was all mostly mother's hard work," Merlin said, the only times he had visited were when he made an excuse about his mother being sick so he could travel there, he didn't want anyone finding out about his niece because of the enemies he had made over the years. He knew there were enemies even inside the walls of the castle so he refused to tell anyone about his weakness, they would only use her against him and that was the last thing he wanted.
"Still, thank you," Melani said with a soft smile on her face that made her look absolutely beautiful, it was hard for the others to take their eyes off of her.
"Anytime Lani," Merlin said cupping her cheek softly in his hand before pulling her by the nape of her neck into another hug.
"Aww. How adorable, but we have to get to the viewing now, so everyone take your seats. There will be breaks in between the viewing where you can go to the bathrooms located on the right side of the cinema, which is basically a room where people watch movies that are like moving pictures. You'll understand better when you see what I'm talking about. There are bedrooms assigned for each of you with your names written on the door. There is a room where you can go and get out all of your frustrations, so without further ado..." The voice trailed off as the lights in the room dimmed and the screen switched on.
AN: Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've just had so many ideas for my TVD stories because I've watched that more recently than Merlin but I will carry this story on. Don't worry :)