Chapter Text
“You, My Lady, are destined to do great things,” Merlin said to the fair-haired magician in front of him.
She chuckled softly, “That’s very reassuring, coming from the greatest sorcerer to walk the Earth,”
“You flatter me. Between the two of us, you’re the one who can see the future,”
“Against my will, I might say. Doesn’t tell me anything important,” she reasoned, looking down at her fingernails.
“You knew who I am because of it. You can’t say it’s nothing,” Merlin insisted.
“Yes, and I’m grateful for it. But aside from that, it only gives me nightmares,” she said, looking away at the distance.
The vast field outside Watford stretches in the horizon, bordered by the woods at the edge of the clearing. A flock of sheep scattered across the field, a sight that Merlin would never get tired of watching. It reminds him of Camelot, a place that he failed to protect. He doesn’t want that to happen in this place too. He did everything in his power to preserve his kind, and through those years, he guided his people under the guise of different personas.
It has come to his understanding that Normals and magicians would find it difficult to co-exist, thus he made this school, this sanctuary for magicians to train and blend in with Normals. He never restricted them to go outside and explore, he did quite the opposite. And as usual, Normals are oblivious of this. The greatest among the Normals aren’t even Normals and only the World of Mages knows of this fact. Merlin is proud of it but something is still missing, and he knows exactly what it is. He also knows in himself that he is not fit to lead, only one person can do that, and he’s not here. Yet.
He will come back, Merlin believes in it, especially now that he’s talking to the supposed mother of the Once and Future King.
“Ygraine,” Merlin took the lady’s hand gently, “I’m sorry I can’t stop the nightmares. But I can help you control them. I’ve been with the Druids for enough time to learn how to do it and I can assure you that it will make you feel better,” he gave her a comforting smile.
“Thank you, Merlin. It’s a lot to take in, but I can handle it. You’ve been nothing more than helpful since the day I met you,” Ygraine said, giving Merlin’s hand a squeeze and letting it go gently.
“Also, what were you thinking enrolling here and using your real name? Are you stupid?” she scoffed.
Merlin did not take offense to that as it reminded him of someone. Instead, he laughed fondly.
“You sound exactly like your son,” he teased.
“Shut up,”
Yep, sounds exactly like him.
“We just graduated from Watford. Don’t remind me of the future. It’s weird and terrifying to even think about,”
Merlin sniffed, “Yeah, sorry. Don’t worry. This time, I’m here, and I hope that would make a difference,” he assured.
“You know, I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that I’m going to be his mother. Will I die again after his birth?” Ygraine asked, a slight tremble can be heard in her voice.
“I won’t let that happen. I’ll keep all of you safe,” Merlin looked directly at Ygraine’s eyes to show his sincerity. Ygraine looked back at him, the worry in her eyes replaced by relief, though Merlin is sure that her worry is not completely gone.
“Thank you. I can’t imagine how hard it is for you to wait this long, and now it’s finally happening,”
It made Merlin think of what lies ahead.
As the Once and Future King, he is supposed to come back when the world needs him most. What was about to happen that he is coming back now, of all times?
Countless wars passed and every time they happen, Merlin always hoped that a certain golden haired man would finally emerge from Lake Avalon to save everyone, but it never happened. He is now only believed to be a legend, a man who might have never existed, but nonetheless gave the people hope to whoever hears his story. Merlin made sure that the Once and Future King’s story would never die, and he made it possible. Now that he knows for certain that the King will reincarnate and not pop out of the lake, he feels that it’s more nerve-wracking to wait, seeing everything unravel before his eyes.
A year after their graduation at Watford, he was called by the Coven. Ygraine went back to her hometown and continued with her life. She’ll eventually meet Uther Pendragon, the recently crowned King of England, and would get married. In what circumstances, Merlin isn’t sure, but it will definitely happen, the stars say so.
Merlin has zero clue why the Coven called him. At first, he thought the Coven found out who he is. He wasn’t that subtle in hiding his identity, although he tries, with very little effort. He does not care about his identity now that Arthur is about to come back, so when he sensed that people from his past are reincarnating, he also decided that it’s time to reveal himself to the World of Mages, but slowly. He still has to be discreet to not surprise them and to prove that he's not a fraud.
Merlin is sort of a legend in the World of Mages, even more than Arthur. This was not even his doing, it just happened. He is the most powerful warlock to ever walk the Earth after all. And that led to a lot of mages claiming that they are the next Merlin or they are Merlin themselves. He was also once accused as a Merlin impersonator when he introduced himself as Merlin Emrys. Using his real name is the least of his concern. A lot of magicians are named Merlin, since he’s a legend and all that. It kind of offended him a bit that he’s accused of impersonating someone, even if that someone is also himself.
Everyone reincarnated, including his parents. He should have expected this to come sooner since the Pendragon line was slowly integrating itself in Britain’s royal family. He knows something is about to change but he did not sense it since at that time, his magic has grown weak, something that he never considered possible. He allowed himself to grow old as a professor at Watford under the guise of Dragoon, his favorite persona, as it allows him to be free and go wild as an old man with this identity. It’s fun to feel free sometimes. But that particular time in his life, it just did not cross his mind to age himself back to youth. He just decided to grow old and wither.
He died.
In his own terms, of course.
He felt his life leave him. It was not his first time to die. He also once died while participating in Normal’s wars to protect the World of Mages. Though this death felt right, as if the stars wove it for him. He is supposed to die.
And be reborn.