#i am so proud of merlin and lancelot's outfits

[mumble-muse]

modern/fresh-out-the-lake!merwaincelot my beloveds 

inspired by @donttouchtheneednoggle‘s post 💜 | merlin fashion series

[thorne93]

Who Will Win? (Part 26)

Prompt: Jefferson (Once Upon A Time) sees you on the sidewalk one day, his “dead” wife.

Word Count: 1218

Warning: Threats, language, angst, sadness, darkness

Notes: This will span from season 1 through 5, if you don’t want spoilers, maybe don’t read this, haha. Also, the reader’s Storybrooke name is Alice. Beta’d by the amazeballs @like-a-bag-of-potatoes and badgered @amarvelouswritings Thank you both! Could never get this done without you!

Tags:  @amarvelouswritings @cocosierra94 @essie1876 @magpiegirl80 @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked @harleyquinnandscarletwitch @iamwarrenspeace @marvel-imagines-yes-please @superwholocked527 @myparadise19982sand @missinstantgratification @thejulesworld @nedthegay @marvelloushamilton @munlis  @bubblyanarocks3​​ @thefridgeismybestie​ @kaliforniacoastalteens @random-fluffy-pink-unicorn @hardcollectionworldtrash @igiveupicantthinkofausername

Sebastian Stan Tags: @nedthegay @lostinspace33 @alwayshave-faith @elleatrixlestrange @buenostardissherlock @the-red-world-of-jess-chibi  @lenawiinchester​​  @memory-of-a-goldfish​

Who Will Win Tags: @mrs-lancelot @elivanah @ultrarebelheart @learisa @isis278

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once Merlin was released, you obviously had several questions for him. The others gave you space, knowing this was sensitive.

“Merlin,” you greeted once you were inside the castle and comfortably seated.

“Y/N, I have waited a long time for you to come and set me free.”

“You knew I would be coming?” you questioned.

“I can see the future, much like you...But as we both know, the future is a tricky thing. Decisions, choices, they all have different outcomes.”

“So then you know why I’m here, why I need you.”

“You want the darkness out of you, so you can have your family back.”

“Yes, is that possible?”

“It is. I intended to do that very thing many years ago…”

“Why didn’t you?” you asked.

“I was stopped,” he answered simply.

“So how does it work? Arthur mentioned forging Excalibur and the dagger, what must be done after that?”

“First we must see if you’re up to the task of forging them,” Merlin said.

“Merlin, please. I have lost my family thanks to this, I want this power, this darkness gone.”

“You seem eager enough. We can do what you ask, but...it will not be easy,” Merlin informed.

“Anything, I can do anything to get them back and to be rid of this.”

“Very well, we will set out now, if you’re ready. We should return by nightfall.”

You narrowed your eyes on him. “What are you not telling me?”

“We need the first flame of mankind, the Flame of Prometheus. But it resides in the heart of the first Dark One, you must call on them to retrieve it.”

“Okay, no problem. I got rid of Rumplestiltskin, I can do this.”

Merlin seemed quiet.

“What’s wrong? What else is there?” you quietly demanded.

“There are two paths. In one, we succeed and you complete your task. The other path, you succumb to darkness and kill me.”

“But I would never do that,” you said quickly.

“You might not...but the Dark One might.”

“But I can protect you from...Oh...I see.”

“It is a dangerous journey, one I may not come back from, but I am willing to do it if you are.”

“Let’s go,” you said.

---------------------------------

You informed the others of the mission, and you assured them you could do this. Merlin and you began your journey.

“So once we get this flame, this spark, we can forge Excalibur and the dagger, and cut away my darkness and immortality, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Even....even if it’s taken root inside me?”

“I see you’ve made some choices you’re not proud of,” Merlin mentioned. “The outfit gives it away.”

You hung your head as you walked. “Yes, I uh...I hurt people.”

“Have you killed anyone?”

“What? No, absolutely not. That would make me no better than the people I am trying to stop,” you said, shocked at his question.

“Then there is still hope. Tell me, who did you hurt and why?”

“Well, the first person was my boss. She fired me and the Dark One inside me--or me--started to choke her.”

“But you didn’t kill her?”

“No, I got control over it and left.”

“And the next time?”

“The next person I hurt was my dad’s doctor. I kidnapped his brother and wouldn’t tell him where he was.”

“Did you use magic to do evil?”

“I used magic to get to him,” you answered. “To unlock the door to get to him, I teleported him away…”

“But the magic technically had no malintent.”

“I suppose not.”

“Was that all?”

“No, I was also threatened by Cruella. She was going to hurt my dog. She’s hurt many people. I...I took her and skinned her alive.”

“Did you do it by hand or magic?” Merlin wondered, his face forward.

“By hand…”

“So far, Y/N, you’ve used magic for neutral purposes. Correct?”

“I stole two people’s hearts,” you informed. “But I gave them back...eventually.”

“I’m not saying you didn’t do dark acts. I’m saying that...you haven’t used magic to cause harm. Magic may have helped in your endeavor to cause harm, to make it easier, but you have not used it as a weapon.”

“So what does that mean?”

“It means there is still hope. It means so far you’ve been able to do what none have.”

“Which is?”

“To resist the Darkness and use it for good.”

You nodded. “I tried. But so much of my reign of terror was used to get vengeance. I kept telling myself it was justified.”

“Ah, yes, the Darkness is easier to live with if you dress it up as vengeance.”

You nodded a soft nod. “Yes, I see now I am no better than those I was trying to stop. I was just so tired of evil people ruining our lives.”

“There will always be evil in the world, Y/N, it is up to us to combat it with good.”

“You’re right. Everyone kept telling me that, but for once I thought we would fight fire with fire.”

“The only way to fight fire is with water or to snuff out its oxygen, give it a reason not to endure.”

“You’re so wise,” you commented.

“You don’t live for several centuries and learn nothing,” he noted with a slight smile.

Finally, the two of you arrived at the site of the first flame. Merlin handed you the dagger and told you to call on the first Dark One. You readied yourself for whatever might be there. After a moment, the original Dark One appeared and you and Merlin saw them. You glanced down to the dagger and saw it: Nimue.

“Nimue was the first Dark One?” you asked, glancing to Merlin.

“Yes,” he answered, staring at her.

“Hello, Merlin,” she greeted.

“Nimue,” he responded in an even tone. “Y/N, get the spark, it’s inside her.”

“No! He doesn’t understand the power we have. We can do anything we want,” Nimue said as she approached you. “He doesn’t understand that.”

You narrowed your eyes on her. “Oh he understands. That’s the problem. He knows all too well what kind of power we have. He’s seen it first hand,” you informed.

“No! He wants to take what belongs to us. It’s ours,” Nimue continued, urging you to hurt him. You could feel it, that familiar build of rage and desire to hurt someone.

“I will not hurt him,” you informed, keeping her desire at bay.

“He must die! You must do it to protect your loved ones!” she shouted.

“The only thing they need protection from is anyone like you!” You held your hand up and coaxed the spark out of her chest. “I will never let Darkness hurt another person again,” you vowed, staring at her.

“I’m still inside you, remember that,” she cursed as she disappeared.

“You did it. You took the right path. I am so proud of you. You did what is impossible for many,” Merlin congratulated.

“It’s not hard to control it any more. I’ve lost my family before, I know that feeling. I don’t ever want it to happen again,” you informed. “I don’t want the Darkness to hurt anyone...never again.”

“Come, let’s get the other half of Excalibur and finish our quest,” he said smiling.