Disclaimer: I love Merlin, but that doesn't mean I own it. Pure fan love here.
Story: This was not the future the legends had been carved from. Far from it. And as Merlin watched the world burn, she felt nothing but apathy. For Arthur, it was all worth it. Conspiracies, lies, and half-truths are constructed in a masterful web that surprisingly Merlin and Uther are in the middle of. A girl's devotion and what a father is willing to do for his son.
Set as an AU, genderbending fic.
Spoilers: From episode S2.4 ("Lancelot and Guinevere") and mentions of future chapters.
Warnings: Semi-dark!Merlin, Cunning!Ruthless!Uther, Suspicious!Observant!Arthur, and the rest will be drawn into the chaos.
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, Gwen/Lancelot, Morgana/?, heavily implied past-Uther/Ingraine, one-sided Gwen/Merlin, one-sided Morgana/Merlin, slight Edwin/Merlin (mostly one-sided), slight Nimueh/Merlin (mostly one-sided)...

The Day the Whole World Went Away
Chapter Twenty One: Garden of Eden

Gwen didn't know what was going on or where was everyone. Everyone seemed to have disappeared. From what she'd heard, the King had holed himself up in his room and refused to see anyone. She didn't know where her Lady was, or where Arthur had been. Gaius seemed permanently locked up in his residence, working hard on something.

She felt out of place and worried about what could possibly be going on.

Going to Morgana's room, she saw that her Lady was finally in there and looking like she was studying hard about something. She was surprised to see Morgana like this, more so that she was actually so into reading whatever it was that she was blocking out the world.

"Lady Morgana, are you alright? I've not seen you," Gwen suddenly spoke, startling Morgana from her studies.

Morgana slightly jumped and whirled in her seat, hiding her book behind her more after she'd slammed it shut.

"G-Gwen! What are you doing here?"

"I attend to you, milady. Remember?" Gwen asked, hurt. "I've been wondering what's going on and where has everyone been. I've been so worried."

Morgana blushed, smiling apologetically at Gwen. "I'm sorry, Gwen…it's just…" she hesitated before telling Gwen the truth. "Merlin's gone missing."

And then she started telling everything that's been going on, and Gwen's hurt doubled. She was not only the last to know about Merlin's disappearance, but also it didn't seem as if anyone was going to tell her at all. And when she tried to see what it was that Morgana had been reading, Morgana was still jumpy and had moved it away reflexively.

Gwen had a suspicion about what it was, and was further hurt that Morgana didn't trust her enough to know that Gwen would have kept it a secret for her. Especially since it was for Merlin's sake…

"I see, milady," Gwen swallowed heavily. "I will try to make sure no one comes to bother you."

Gwen tried to make it look like she hadn't practically fled from Morgana's presence. She almost went to Gaius, but was sure that he and Arthur were also most probably working together on trying to get Merlin back. In quiet defiance in regards to the hurt she was feeling, she didn't check up on them and didn't mention she was now 'in the know.' Hesitantly, actually, she went and made the decision to see if the King needed anything.

It made sense now, why the King had been holing himself up in his room. If Merlin was really gone (and magic was the only answer to retrieving her), he would be upset and sulking in his room, unhappy and refusing entrance to anyone who was not Merlin herself. They all knew (well at least this small little circle revolving around Merlin), that the King very much cared for the servant, much more than was usually acceptable when it came from royalty to servants.

She knocked hesitantly on his door, dismayed to not hear a peep. Not even a "Go away!". Frowning to herself, she tentatively opened the door and peeked in, blinking in surprise to see no one in the King's chambers –most importantly, the King himself. Going further inside, she closed the door behind her and looked around.

"Your Highness, are you in here?" she meekly called, hoping that if he was, that he wouldn't be angry at her entry. "Milord?"

Nothing. Absolutely. She saw no movement, heard no sound, to indicate he was anywhere inside of the room. Worried, she poked around for clues, nervously glancing at the doors every once and awhile. She didn't want to get caught messing about in the King's room after all.

She found his desk and saw a piece of parchment on top of a book, and came closer to read it. She gasped when she saw it was a spell written out and accompanying notes about it, looking written in the King's handwriting.

And, strangely enough, to her surprise there was a little notation at the top of the page addressed to her.

The King had expected and wanted her to do something specific. For him. The King.

She blinked and pinched herself, before realizing this was real and that she should probably really look at the notation and see what it is the King wanted from her. And then, after reading it, she was both disconcerted that he intuitively knew she would be the one to stumble upon this (considering the contents of the letter and he being certain she would be the one to find it), and surprised (pleased) that he hadn't thought to exclude her from the going on's and knowledge of Merlin's circumstances, and had in fact actively made her part of it, unlike the others. In fact, he had given her a very important task to make certain was done, and to hasten to make sure it was fulfilled.

It was still rather strange.

She carefully took the notes and the book into her arms, taking special care to make sure nothing would show to let anyone know the contents were about magic, and then rushed out of the King's chambers with a determined air.

Gwen could feel a bit vindictive that she, the one the others had left out, was the one with all the answers and would be the one who had been the most helpful.


He stayed away.

Uther had come at the moment after they had married, not before and not even during (to which maybe he could have even stopped it somehow). It was much too late to have stopped the marriage, and now he felt at a loss as to how to get her home, now that she was attached to Tristan and unwilling to leave him.

He also stayed away as he knew what happens on the night after a wedding.

But snippets of conversation he'd caught had made him realize that time had passed by differently for her. For Merlin, nine months had already passed. Nine days, last he checked, had passed when he had been in the current time.

How long was she to stay here, and grow further attached to Tristan? How much longer was she to be married to someone not his son? Further, he worried until more time was spent here, and she would have spent as much time and bonding with Tristan, as she had with him and the others back in their actual time –to have spent an equal amount of time cultivated with someone else, as she had with all of them, and therefore equaling…rivaling the affection she'd had grown for all of them, so easily with Tristan…

Uther, at that, afraid that the hard-earned and long cultivated bond he'd painstakingly created with Merlin was being threatened and at stake because of someone who now held of equal importance and fondness in her heart, gathered what nerve and determination in him to seek her out and start what probably was going to be a long process of persuading her home.

He was relieved to know no one could see him, but that Merlin could. He was not happy to know she didn't know who he was and had lost her memories.

"I am Uther Pendragon," he introduced himself quietly to the nervous girl. He did seem like a specter, so he understood her fear.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Uther Pendragon? Tristan's mentioned you. But you're alive and with Ingraine in Camelot…"

He felt a pang in his heart at the mention of Ingraine, but he made himself focus on this task.

"The truth is…" and he began telling her how he came to be there, that he'd come after her, that she was actually from his time in the future and that she had somehow been taken to the past.

She was still uneasy, so he tried to tell her as much as he could about her (the her he'd known) and hoped to any deity listening that she would have at least some of the same characteristics, and/or that she would recall some of the things he'd said.

"I'm really sorry that I can't remember everything," she murmured, and she didn't feel like she disbelieved him because he sounded so sincere. "I really am."

Uther was dejected, but he told himself not to give up. He nodded and came closer. "I know and I know you can't help not remembering. I will do my utmost best to help you remember."

She gave him a small smile, and Uther knew that it was going to be hard to make her want to leave this place.

And Tristan, he remembered (even if by through only letters), had truly and very much had loved her. It broke his heart the first time he had to comfort Ingraine after she learned of her brother's misfortune (and he had felt extreme sorrow and sympathy for a man who had been such a close confidant and like a brother back then).

Now his heart was shattering again because no matter what, Merlin would suffer tremendous heartbreak at the end of all this, and once again he would be seeing his brother-in-law becoming torn up about this.

He loved and was loyal to his son. And Arthur was suffering now…but in the end, he would have Merlin back and he would be alright in the end. But it would be different for Merlin, especially as the only attachment she remembered now, was what she had with Tristan. He had this horrid feeling she would be hurting so much more than any of them after all this.

Because she was married.

Her first time was with her husband. With Tristan.

She had spent as equal a time with Tristan as she had with him and the others, so she had had time to grow irreparably close to the man, maybe even more so than she had with the others because Tristan was the only one she remembered and she had been with him all this time and only with him.

She loved him, had acknowledged and accepted (embraced it), and was happy there and with Tristan.

Coming home, Merlin would actually be a widow.

There really wouldn't be any harm in letting her stay and at least be able to enjoy her marriage for a little while.

Sometimes he feels like his marriage to Ingraine had been all too brief.


Morgana was frustrated and just a little more than angry with herself and Arthur. Nothing was being accomplished, and there had been no headway into finding out how to help Merlin. She was starting to pull at her hair in agitation. It was at this point, that she decided it would be a good idea to leave her room and maybe take a quick walk in the courtyard, and have a fresh breath of air. Hopefully it would clear her head and cool her down.

"Lady Morgana?" she whirled around at the voice and saw someone with the hood of their dark brown cloak up. Seeing the slightness of the figure and some curves that were mostly hidden by the cloak, Morgana could guess that this unknown person was a female at least.

"Yes, may I help you?" she asked warily.

The person pulled down their hood and then she was staring at a beautiful blonde woman, with dark green eyes and a friendly smile that seemed oddly off to Morgana.

She also looked strangely like her late mother, especially with those blonde tresses.

"Lady Morgana, please allow me to introduce myself," the blonde's odd smile widened slightly. "My name is Morgause. I am your half-sister."

Morgana stared and felt shock run through her body at the news.

"How…how can I know you are telling the truth?!" Morgana took a step back, stunned and yet also extremely cautious now.

Morgause tilted her head to the side curiously, as she watched Morgana. "Our mother's name is Vivienne and she was a powerful sorceress. Of which I inherited her powers, and I have no doubt that you have as well."

Morgana stiffened up, but neither confirmed or denied the other's words. She continued to watch the other warily.

"Why are you now appearing?" Morgana questioned carefully.

"I found it time to come to you, as I've been feeling your powers stirring. They're growing and becoming more than the precognitive abilities you had only before. You need help to control them and to escape from this place and Uther's dangerous, watchful eye," at that last part, Morgause sneered.

Morgana stayed quiet, but knew she couldn't reveal Merlin and of the other's help towards her. There was no way she could expose Merlin to danger like this, whether the other was a him…or a her. Anything of Merlin, Morgana firmly decided, would be kept secret and not mentioned to this woman who claimed to be her sister.

"I see. It…does sound appealing to be able to leave here and get away from Uther," Morgana murmured, still keeping a close eye on the other. "I will have to think on this very carefully…Sister."

Morgause slowly smiled, very pleased.


She felt so very warm.

It was such a nice day out and it was comfortable, and all of that was making it an ideal place to just sleep in the gardens. How peaceful and idyllic…

Soft lips brushed against hers and she happily opened her blue eyes to see her husband contentedly and happily smiling down on her.

"You look at peace," he leaned down and kissed her throat tenderly, humming pleased against it.

"I am," she ran a hand through his hair. "The days are lovely. Today, the weather, our time together, everything is all wonderful. I got married to you. I'm living happily and safe in our home, with you. I couldn't be any more possibly happier and content than I am now."

"Good," Tristan beamed at her. "I wish to make you happy until the days we grow old and die together. And even then, I will find you in whatever place we end up in, and beyond. I will even look for you in the lives we will be born into, far, far in the future in which instead of servants, we have mechanical things to serve us," he ended up teasingly at the end.

She laughed loudly, putting her arms around him and pulling him down, smiling into his chest as her forehead rested against his collar.

"You silly man. I doubt advances in the world would ever go that far," she rolled her eyes.

"You never know," Tristan plopped down besides her, making her roll with him and ending up on top of him.

"Would you really come looking for me in another life?" Merlin asked curiously, trying to picture it.

"My soul would come for you, no matter what," he said confidently.

Merlin's smile faltered, though he didn't see, and she buried her face into his shoulder so that he wouldn't.

Did she really have to go back to her own time? Her own time that she didn't even feel was hers anymore? Did she really have to leave Tristan?

"I love you," she whispered.

Why did she have to leave?

When his calloused hand brushed against her shoulder a few times, before slipping to the back of her dress and fiddling with the laces, she looked up at him blushingly. He grinned roguishly and leaned up to kiss her.

"Merlin," Tristan said softly. "All I have wanted was you, from the moment I found you nearly a year ago. Nothing else matters."

His fingers gripped the end of the lace and he pulled.

"I love you," he strongly declared to her. "I will love you until the day I die."

Tristan slowly slipped from under her, placing her onto the ground gently, and hovered over before kissing her lovingly. He pulled down her dress and finished undressing her.

Tristan made love to Merlin in her gardens, the very gardens he gifted to her as his wedding gift to celebrate their union.

Close by, Uther looked up at the blue skies and closed his eyes.

All he'd wanted was for Merlin to be happy.


He was concerned, definitely. As far as Uther was sure, a whole year and two months had passed with Merlin and Tristan, which meant that only fourteen days had gone by in their actual time.

He hadn't had the heart to push Merlin or encourage her to think on their Camelot. He and the others would have only days, a few weeks to miss her. She would have until eternity to miss Tristan, once she returned home and realized Tristan was dead and gone.

Tristan would have until he drove himself to an early death with grief and pain.

And the time difference meant that they actually wouldn't miss her long, so spending some more time here with Tristan wouldn't hurt –Tristan and Merlin would get just a little more time with each other, and enjoy married life.

After everything Tristan had gone through, Uther still felt much guilt towards the other man. For the loss of Ingraine, for not being there for him when first his mysterious angel had gone and then Ingraine's death, for having been forced to kill the other, and now for inevitably helping to rip Merlin away from Tristan forever.

He owed Tristan this time with his beloved Merlin.

"You seem troubled," Merlin murmured, looking to him.

"As do you," Uther looked back at her.

Merlin gave him a small smile. "I have…many things on my mind."

"May I inquire as to what things?" he turned to her fully.

Merlin sighed heavily. "I see you often, gazing off. I feel…upset. I don't like you looking so bothered, and it makes me want to do something to help you."

"It's…alright. There's really nothing you can do," Uther smiled at her tiredly.

"No, but –"

"Merlin, is that you? Who are you talking to?" Tristan rounded the corner, and Merlin smiled as she started to walk his way.

"Tristan, I –"

All of a sudden she started fading away in golden sparkles, and both men's eyes (one corporeal and the other not) widened in shock.

Uther took in a sharp breath.

Anxiety. That alone was enough for her to, in a twisted sort of way, "want" to go back home. On his behalf. And she was leaving in front of Tristan's very eyes.

"Merlin? Merlin!"

And she was gone. A moment later, and so was Uther.

Tristan stared blankly at where his wife had been.

Started 2/22/13 – Completed 11/8/13

A/n: So, uh…I basically killed off Tristan? (But I like him so much) Uuuugh, this chapter was such a pain to write! Emotional conversations and chapters suck because then I have to go and come with it XD I'M SORRY (total epic fail here). Please forgive me? Anyway, if you want more Tristan and Tristan/Merlin, you'll have to scoot on over to the parallel-semi sequel "The Day the Whole World Slept." I want to reply so badly to everyone…but everyone has spoilers! So I have to keep mum for now, sorry . This part of the part two of my birthday updates, so review as a birthday present? :D

To Anon: Thank you!

To Guest1: Yeah, I like portraying Uther as a good guy :) I'm glad you like how Uther and Merlin are together, as well as the Merthur. A Queen Merlin...well, I can't say, ehehe. Sorry this update took so long! Thank you and hope you continue enjoying.

To jkl: Well, this chapter should answer your question :D

To onceandfuturecat: I'm really happy you're enjoying this fic so much! It means a lot. I really appreciate it, since I really work on this carefully and thoughtfully.

To emmahere: Yeaaaah, Merlin got married XD And now look forward to more twists.

To Guest2: Thank you! I'm sorry I took so long to update though.

To Guest3: Thankies! Hopefully, I'll update quicker this time.

To Guest4: Thanks! I'll try to be quicker on updates.

To Guest5: Definitely continuing!

To Randomer: :D Glad you like! If you need to know what happens, keep reading!

To Guest6: If you're the same Guest, I'm sorry I keep answering you XD Otherwise, I'm sorry you're sad that last chapter was the last for awhile. Hopefully, that won't be the case now.

To sam: Sorry for the long wait. And no, this fic hasn't been abandoned, so don't worry :)

To kikki2696: Thank you! Sorry for the long wait.

To ch3rryjad3: Sorry for keeping you waiting! Thank you so much!

To Miri-chan: Thank you! Merlin does make a great female, eh? ;) Sorry this didn't come out sooner.

To Reviewer: Thank you; I do try not to listen to the few jerks out there. But at the least, it can make others happy and really enjoy, like yourself.