Title: It's Like Magic

Author: Kiki1770

Rating: T for Language

Setting: Between Season 4-5

Summary: Merlin has a vision of a distressed druid tribe.

A/N: This drabble is a darker exploration of the magic world. Sorry for the long wait, I'm completely out of drabble ideas. I'll be taking request from here on out.

Magic 3: Smile

The message arrived in a dream, it was a vision of dying druid tribe. The vision was unlike anything Merlin had ever experienced before. He could smell the putrid stench of the sick and the dying in the air. The morbid silence and the sight of druid shrine with bundle too small for a fully grown man brought prickling tears to Merlin's eyes.

He awoke with a startle and didn't hesitate to dress and rush out to his usual meeting place with Kilgarrah. Together they traveled to the northernmost part of Camelot to the druid tribe in Merlin's visions. He was greeted by the druid leader, the one who had sent him the vision - the man was so grateful for "Emyrs" he'd practically fallen at Merlin's feet, making the young Warlock rather uncomfortable.

The leader explained to Merlin of the illness that was taking their children away. He explained that the majority of his tribe were children that he managed to rescue from slave traders, the children all possessing varying amounts of latent magic. There were a grand total of twenty-five children (thirty-two including the ones they'd recently buried) and seven adults. The leader was desperate to save his children, enough to call Emrys from Camelot. Merlin reassured the man that he didn't mind at all. He was born with a gift for a reason; bringing the Golden Age to his kin was among his many responsibilities, he was also responsible for the balance amongst his kind.

Merlin quickly got to healing the children. It would probably take him a few days to cure them all. Fortunately, all the necessary herbs for the cure were in the forest around them. Merlin's healing magic had also recently improved and he was able to speed up the healing process.

But as he sat at the bedside of the dying children, struggling for their right to breathe, he can't help but notice how somber they are. Merlin certainly wasn't this solemn as a child. He was a wild, boisterous, trouble-making child. These children...they were empty. Their eyes were blank and their lips were sealed. It was then that he resolved to remain amongst these people until the children were recovered.

On his third day in the druid tribe, some of the children were well enough to come out and play a little. Merlin tried to encourage them to use their magic, to learn and respect it, but the children feared their magic. He found that their time with the slave traders had taught them to fear their magic. These children knew no kindness and it broke Merlin's heart.

One little girl in particular drove a knife through Merlin's heart. The little girl, Elise, he learned her name was, was younger than most the children. She always sat alone, curled in protective ball, flinching at the smallest of sounds or signs of movements. She was mute, the leader had informed. She hadn't uttered a word since the day they'd been released from captivity.

Merlin approached the girl silently, so not to startle her. "Elise, do you want to come sit with the other children?" Merlin asked her softly. The girl lifted her head from her arms and very subtly shook her head. She sank back into her protective cover once more. Merlin frowned, but he was determined to get through to her. He sank down beside and curled his knees to his chest just like Elise.

"Would you like to see some magic?" He whispered quietly. The girl's shoulders stiffened. Then she slowly rose to meet Merlin's eyes, her own all wide and nearly comically. There was undoubtedly fear in those small almond color eyes but underneath it, Merlin saw her burning child-like curiosity. So he brought his hands to his lips, cupped them close and whispered his favorite spell. A small blue butterfly rose from his fingers.

Elise gaped at him, her tiny jaw hanging impossibly low. She stretched her hand out as if to catch the butterfly. The tiny creature landed on her fingers, curiously sniffed her, and flew away. Elise watched with silent fascination. Merlin couldn't help but smile at her innocent reaction. Then Alice gave him a questioning look.

"How you do that?" She whispered, in crackly broken voice. Merlin barely covered his surprised gasp. She was talking! He actually made her talk! Merlin could barely contain his excitement, but kept his face impassive so not to startle her.

"It's magic," He smiled. But Alice shook her head and pointed at Merlin's face. Perplexed, Merlin scratched his chin, hoping he didn't have breakfast porridge on his face. "What?" He asks her. Alice blinks but then cautiously reached out to touch Merlin's face. She uses two stubby fingers to stretch the corners of Merlin's lips into a weird lopsided smile.

"What is it?" She asks.

Merlin's heart sank. "A smile." He whispered.

Review, review, review!

Kiki1770