This is my first fanfiction. I fell in love with Merlin a year ago when I was helping a friend move furniture and saw her collection. I watched all five seasons in about two weeks with my work schedule. However, there are many things that I would have loved to alter. This story is on many different premises. One is that I never thought that Gwen and Arthur should be together. I never liked the Guinevere in the legends. I love the idea of Arthur and Merlin having some sort of relationship. So, yes there is Merthur in it. However, in the end it will be Merdred and altering his destiny. Arthur and Mithian getting to together because I thought they were a perfect match. I hope you enjoy!

In a time of myths and legends, a young king craves what is not his to have. Yet, he pursues selfishly and obtains his goal. Years go by and he waits for him to get an heir. He knows what he wants and will do anything to get it. He seeks his friend a High Priestess. "You no not what ye ask of me."

"I know what I am asking." Uther demands.

"I truly believe that you do not understand. The nature of the universe must be balance: to create life one must be taken of equal value." The High Priestess spoke. "Do you understand what I am saying. Is she willing? Are you willing?"

"I need an heir and damn the consequences! Of course, I am willing!"

"You cannot see past your own selfish desires to wait for the universe to provide. The consequences of these actions that will set things into motion that you cannot even comprehend. Are your selfish desires greater than the love of your wife? Does she know that you are here? Does she know what you are asking me to do?"

"No! She is not know!"

"You know that she would not agree to this! Why are you doing this?"

"I need an heir dammit it all! People are plotting against me I need to ensure that my reign is secure! Now do it, or I shall make sure your kind suffers greatly!"

"Once it is done. It cannot be undone and nor can the consequences. May the Goddess have mercy on us all! For you have damned not only my kind but yours as well!" She took the items from the king and once friend. She made the potion and whispered words over it and lightning appeared. She handed it to Uther. "For what you have made me do, I can no longer call you a friend. You have abused your power and have me forced me to abuse mine and to damn us all, and for that I shall never forgive you!" Her voice seethed with hatred.

Months later, Uther was happy. His wife was pregnant and look even more lovely. He had totally for gotten the Priestess warning. He could but wonder if she was wrong because how could be something so pure and lovely have such terrible consequences. He allowed to slip from his mind. Till the day his wife went into labor. His dear friend and physician was there to help deliver. He remembers hearing the baby wail. He remembers Gaius telling him it was a boy. He remembers Gaius shouting out orders. He knew something was wrong. He rushed into the room. He watched as Gaius tried to save his wife, but he watched her fade before his eyes till she was gone.

His grief was long and heavy. His response was harsh. He started his own witch hunt and banned all magic including creatures of any kind by penalty of death and those that harbor them. The Great Purge had begun!

Three years later during an unusual storm in December in a village called Ealdor. The wind howled. Thunder roared. Lightning lit the sky. The ground trembled. A woman gave birth with only her uncle in attendance. Everyone with magic felt the change and wonder. One went in search consumed with hatred filled in her heart. She sought to destroy.

The baby and mother lay in bed unknowing what is about to take place. Golden lights flittered about the room. A lady dressed in white and shimmering with gold looked upon the baby. She carefully lifted the infant and replaced it with another and disappeared with none the wiser. Hours later, the hut door flew open. The infant wailed. The mother woke fearing for her child she desperately tried to protect but was thrown against the wall. With her enchanted knife, she stabbed the infant in the heart. She watched the infant die. "No one will be more powerful than me." She laughed into the night and disappeared.

The woman cried not knowing that it was changeling in her arms and not her son. In her grief, she never heard the horse arriving outside. Arriving from the Isle of Man and now a king in his own right, Balinor rushed through the door. He scooped up his love. Tears in his eyes, he held her close. He heard the voice of an old friend telling him to search for her. He spent the last several months for the woman that had ran away from him and taken his heart.

"Why did you run? Why did you not tell me you were with child?"

"I am so sorry. When your father came to me, I was scared and sad. He told that you were to be married and that if I was seen again then I and the child I was carrying would be killed. That night, I packed what I could and ran. How did you find me?"

"An old friend called to me. He told me that my child was in danger. When I could not find you, I remembered you mentioning an uncle in Camelot. I went to go and see him, but was told he went to visit family in Esstir."

"You could have been killed. You are Crown Prince of Gedref and of dragons.

"Father betrayed our people and his oath as a dragonlord. Anoarh hid me. No one knew who I was. The High Priestess Nimueh has forgotten her oath and had been consumed with hatred along with her apprentice Morguase. I would risk anything for you."

"Nimueh was here. She killed our son."

"For that she will pay dearly, I have taken back the Isle of Man. Return with me and become my queen. I will protect you."

Unknown to everyone, a lady in all white walked the lower town of Nemeth. In her arms, a sleeping infant continued in a dreamless sleep. Nemeth was known to be lax in persecuting those with magic. The lady stopped before a door listening to the crying inside. "Why do you cry my child?"

"My infant son of a couple of days died just moments ago. My husband died three months ago at the hands of the King of Camelot. I fled here. It was all I had left of him."

"My daughter dry your tears. I cannot bring back the son you lost. I come to make a request. The child in my arms is hunted. His parents believe him to be dead. I cannot reveal them to you because they must never know he lived before he is able to reach his fulfill his destiny. The infant woke with eyes of gold. Till he is older and ready he must learn that he is Emrys."

The young woman looked down at the infant. He smiled and reached for her. Her sadden heart filled with love. "I will cherish this child and love it as my own. No one knows that mine died. I will protect him with my life. He shall be known as Merlin."

"I must caution you. The High Priestess and her apprentice believes this child to be dead. Stay away from them, and stay away from the druids for they will recognize him. I cannot replace your husband, but I am sending you a helper and mate if you decide to accept him. He is a young blacksmith making his way here. He has gifts of his own like you and has been cautioned as well. He will be nothing more than a friend and protector for the child unless you decide to make it more." The lady disappeared with dead infant in a light of shimmering gold.

A few days later, a young blacksmith setup shop. The young lady watched from afar at her herbal stand. She had already been accepted and liked by those in the lower town. They knew she had fled from Camelot like many others. However, she never flaunted who she was and looked only to work and not wanting sympathy. She only wanted to move on and create a new life for herself and child which inspired respect from those around her.

She did not pay attention to a shadow that fell over her stall. "Have you considered my offer?" The young gentleman asked grabbing her arm.

"I have already given you my answer. It has not changed. Now let go of my arm." The infant wailed. The man hand burned. He immediately dropped his hand.

"You will pay for that." The young baker yelled.

"I know not of what you speak. I have done nothing." The man stormed away. The woman picked up the crying child who ceased crying. "Oh Merlin, what have you done?" She kissed his forehead. "Thank you, my son."

Another shadow fell over the stall. "Are you okay, my lady? The name is Garrett." A young boy tugged on his arm. "This is my son, Percival. His mother died in child birth because he was unusually large but is my pride and joy."

"I am fine. My name is Elaine, and this my son Merlin. My husband died at King Uther's hand."

"It is a pleasure to meet you." He kissed her hand. "I need to go back setting up shop. I am replacing the previous blacksmith. I wanted to make sure you were okay because no woman should be harmed if it can be prevented." She smiled as the young man walked away and the boy turned around and looked at the infant.