Author's note:

I have already uploaded a story called "A Second Chance" where Merlin is offered another go at fixing things. That was about 3 years ago and much has changed in my life since then. I also took some classes in creative writing and looking through my previous stories found that I wasn't satisfied with what I had written back then anymore. So I decided to give it another go.

If you have already read the original story, there will be some familiar passages/ideas/themes/characters etc. I guess but I will deviate a lot from it as the plot progresses.

Prologue

Merlin cried his grief out into the air. A dead Arthur was lying cold in his arms.

"You are wrong! This cannot be his destiny! Bring him back! Do you hear me? You have got it wrong! I curse you! Bring him back or I will make sure you will be forgotten and magic will never return to Albion! You took everybody I cared for from me and I suffered it because I thought it was for the greater good! But now I know that I was wrong! I will fight you! Do you listen? Bring him back!"

He wasn't sure if they heard him or exactly whom he was shouting at. Yet, he knew that this whole thing wasn't right. For heaven's sake! He had spent over ten years protecting Arthur and making sure he could one day fulfil his destiny! This was not how things were supposed to be! Arthur was not meant to be dead! There was still so much they both had to do. This couldn't be the end! As he was sobbing over Arthur's dead body, a magical wind suddenly arose around them and covering them in a blinding light so that Merlin had to shield his eyes. It took him a while to adjust to the new brightness but then he was able to make out its cause. Above the lake, three women were floating engulfed in a cool silver light. To the left, there was a young maiden clad completely in white with white lilies in her fair blond hair and watery blue eyes. Next to her came a mature woman with lavish auburn curls and bright green eyes wearing a crimson red dress and a wreath of holly upon her head. The third one was an old hag with black hair that was already turning grey wearing a black hooded cloak under which her dark brown almost black eyes pierced through Merlin. He recognised them instantly though he had never seen them before.

"Who do you think you are that you can challenge the Triple Goddess?" the youngest part of the Goddess confirmed him.

"I am Emrys, Goddess, and I have every right to challenge you! You have taken my best friend from me and a bright future from Albion! You made a mistake in taking him!"

"We didn't take him, young warlock. It was his destiny to die at the druid's hand" replied the old hag.

"No, it wasn't! His destiny was to unite the lands of Albion and to bring back magic!" Merlin interrupted her.

"It was his destiny" she repeated, "but he paved the way to his doom himself. He refused to show atonement for his and his father's crimes against our kindred, young warlock. Mordred was his punishment."

Merlin shuddered and lowered his gaze. So Arthur's death had been his fault in more than one way. After all, it had been his advice that had led to Arthur's defiance of the Goddess. But when he looked up at them again, his voice didn't divulge any of his emotions: "Arthur is not responsible for his father's actions."

"No, but he didn't allow magic to return when he had the chance. We have watched closely, young warlock, we have watched and waited but nothing has really changed since the death of Uther. Magic is still outlawed and punishable by death" the middle Goddess spoke harshly.

"He would have understood in time and changed that. I know him. I know he would have changed that. You didn't give me enough time."

"We gave you as much time as we could, young warlock. But Arthur failed"

"You mean because he chose to defy you?"

"If he had chosen to comply with our demand, there would have been no need to punish him. Many people would still be alive if he had made the right choice" the youngest spoke merciless.

Merlin sighed heavily. He had to tell them: "It wasn't Arthur's choice. I advised him not to comply with your threat. This is my fault."

"Why would a warlock object to magic returning to Albion?"

"Because your way was not the one to achieve the return of magic. Arthur needed to see that magic could be used for good, not just for evil. He had to realise that for himself, not through you forcing him to do something he wasn't ready for at the time. He had lost so many people he had held dear because of magic – his mother, his father, his uncle, Morgana. He wasn't ready to concede that all this was not the fault of magic but of individuals who believed their way to be the only right one. Just as you are believing right now. He would have come round to that realisation sooner or later. He is," Merlin checked himself, "he was a good man. And when the time had been right, he would have made the right choice. Not because he was forced to, but because he believed it. You robbed him of that chance."

The different parts of the Goddess turned to each other and held a quiet conference. Merlin didn't understand a word they were saying but he guessed from the occasional sceptical look at him and Arthur that their conversation was about their destiny. He prayed to the spirits that they would revoke their sentence on Arthur and somehow bring him back to life. After what seemed to Merlin like hours, the Triple Goddess turned towards him again.

Solemnly they all three spoke as with one voice now: "You are right, Emrys. Our decision was an over-hasty one. We should have put more faith in your ability to guide the King to our all intended destination. We, the Triple Goddess, have decreed to give you both another chance to fulfil your destinies. We are sending you back in time to alter the course of history. Make sure you do not fail this time, young warlock. You will not get another."

Then the young maiden continued: "Before we send you back, we have three warnings to give to you! First: Once you are returned to the time when your quest started to go wrong, you will be the only one to remember that there had been another future! You must under no circumstances tell anyone of what happened! Heed our words, Emrys!"

"Second: This is a unique chance we offer you - a chance to avert the prophecy. But beware that you cannot prevent destiny itself. No men, no matter how great, can change their destiny. Heed our words, Emrys!" said the middle woman gravely.

"And last: Know that each of the changes you make has a consequence. Each of your choices alters the future. Yet, you will not be able to save everyone. Heed our words, Emrys!" As soon as the old hag had ended, there was a bright ray of light and a noise of thunder engulfing Merlin. He felt dizzy and everything around him was mixing into one hazy blur of colours. He lost his conscience.

Next, he awoke to a familiar voice pronouncing his name.

"Merlin?" he could hear Arthur ask.

He quickly came to his senses. He was sitting to Arthur's right at the round table in the Castle of the Ancient Kings of Camelot. Around him, Leon, Gawain, Elyan, Percival, Lancelot, Gwen, and Gaius were standing around him looking at him expectantly.

Oh my God, Merlin thought, I went that far back? How long had they been plotting Arthur's downfall? He was shocked but he knew that he had to pull himself together and try not to let the others know how he felt inside. So, he immediately checked himself and replied: "No, don't really fancy it."

"You don't have a choice, Merlin."

"OK" he said and stood up, the rest smiling knowingly at him.

So, like I said I am using the same set-up again allowing Merlin to go back to the end of season 3 where my Merlin-world was still perfect :-) The following chapters will be a a mixture of known stories from the series and new stories of my own invention. Hope you enjoy this new take and please leave your thoughts as the reviews I got last time round, also contributed to my decision to write this story!