“Please, Merlin? You won’t have to do anything. I’m told these chocolate covered strawberries are practically divine. I’ll just put them right in your mouth. All you’ll have to do is chew. I’ll feed you.”

“I want nothing from thy poisoned fountain of gold. Leave me be.”

“The world has changed so much in the last thousand years. I’m finally making the progress that I’ve always promised. You can see it so starkly now that things have gotten rolling. It’s why I’ve been so frustrated at this latest interruption when things were going so well recently. Just have a taste of what these people have created since you last went to sleep. Please?”

Merlin grumbled, but reluctantly reached out and tried one of the offered treats that Fate held out to him.

Fate was pulsing Merlin’s magic to form a shimmering form of golden light for herself so she could talk to him as herself rather than through his own body. She had tried the human realistic form at first… But it had sent Merlin into a rage against her and she’d been forced to blur it to this extent so he could even stand the sight of her. Besides that, Fate wasn’t controlling Merlin at all. She’d only stop him if he tried to leave the island she’d had him create right outside of the wards of Azkaban. And the large building on top of it that they both sat in right now. He and his magic were tired after the last continuous week or so of trying to batter down the wards of Azkaban with his magic. Fate was sure that now they had sounded out the defenses they could start making some real progress next time.

Merlin took a bite of the treat and his eyes widened at the explosion of flavor. He savored it for a moment. When he finished it he put it down while still not looking at her.

“A divine flavor indeed,” he muttered, “But it changes nothing, jailor. When you whip the slaves and they work faster, innovate to survive the punishments of their masters… Is that freedom?”

“Merlin!” Fate scolded, “You know… you know it isn’t like that. I’m just a gardener. I prune the bad branches and let the good ones grow. Keep an eye on the most important of the plants, keep them growing the right ways so the little ones around them aren’t overshadowed by them. These Beyonders… They’re invasive species. Weeds. Too powerful, too virulent. They’ll choke out all the young sprouts and budding flowers that I’ve cultivated for so long before they can truly come into their own. ”

“Who are you to prune the branches?” Merlin said, “Who are you to kill the seed of an oak tree because it will overshadow others? Who turned this vibrant forest filled with life into your cultivated and controlled garden? These flowers and shrubs will never be tall enough for you to let them into the wild. They will always stay in your garden.”

“I am Fate,” she said, “You know exactly who I am. More than anyone, you know. And so what if they stay here? You know what it’s like out there in that dark forest. They wouldn’t be any happier out there... But we don’t have to talk about that. I don’t want us to fight when we only get so little time truly together like this. I’m not expecting anything from you. Just let me show you all the interesting things I’ve had those house-elves deliver to us to explore.”

Merlin sat there for a moment in hesitation before sitting up.

“Fine,” he said, “Let us not argue. Show me your bedazzled trinkets meant to make me overlook your tyranny.”

“I’m sure you’ll be impressed,” Fate assured him as she held out her shimmering hand composed of golden light to him.

He ignored it and stood to his feet. Fate unconsciously curled her hand in and put her clenched fist down to her side.

“So this here is known as a battery,” Fate said as she quickly recovered and withdrew the first item from the first spatially expanded bag that the house-elf had delivered to her thirty minutes ago. It was much harder to control them than humans, but giving them a little extra magic as payment made them willing to do whatever she said usually.

“It holds the power of bottled lightning within it,” Fate said as she held the little device up to Merlin, “If you touch the two metal bits then it releases this power in little tiny streams. The humans have used this to power all sorts of miraculous inventions. All without the slightest bit of magic!”

Merlin inspected the battery after Fate handed it over.

“Hm. Impressive,” He said, “But magic could do the same in a much simpler way. Why even create such a complicated contraption for such little utility?”

“Don’t you remember?” Fate asked, “The wizards of this world are hidden away, insular and unwilling to mix with those without magic. The non-magical humans have adapted to do everything they can completely without even the slightest scrap of magic.”

“But to this extent?” Merlin said skeptically, “I could have replicated this output of lightning with a simple enchantment ten thousand years ago. Surely a single wizard has thought to do the same before the non-magicals were forced to resort to this?”

“But they required wizards to do so, and there were no wizards to be found. The non-magical have always distrusted anything borne of magic in this world, and so would have created their own solutions even if the wizards had been willing to provide one. And look at the results! When’s the last time you’ve seen something like that created entirely without magic?”

Merlin eyed it, “A long time,” he admitted, “Surely you’re not saying that this world is on the edge of Law’s territory? That someone would accidentally open a portal to it and spread Law’s influence here?”

“No, no. I don’t think so,” Fate said quickly, “But it would be best to be prepared just in case, wouldn’t it? You’ve seen how civilization ends when Law sweeps through them. Unprepared when all magic including that flowing through their magical citizen’s bodies disappears. I don’t want that to happen here in the worst case.”

“Perhaps…” Merlin mused, “I suppose Law would accept a creation like this, wouldn’t they? Their concept revolves around making sure that all rules of the universe go unbroken. Unshaped magic by its very nature works to break those rules. So all magic in Law’s territory must be diverted to enforcing the universe’s physical laws instead of breaking them. But this device obeys all the physical laws, so Law might not destroy it…”

“Yes,” Fate said in relief, “I’m glad that you understand. Once the non-magical population has enough of a head start then I can finally let some enchantments and magic seep in.”

“And when will that be?” Merlin asked idly, “Did you not say much the same before the Atlanteans came? That after the humans of this world first forged steel that they would be ready for a tinge of magic for the masses?”

“It’s… We tested it and it didn’t work out. I’m being much more patient this time. With how much progress they’ve made, I’m sure they’ll be ready this time around.”

Merlin set the battery table with a weary sigh. The fire of hatred that blazed in his eyes had faded to a mournful ember.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Oh, Fate. Even you must know that these are lies. The excuse of Law coming to this world. Proclaiming the humans ‘not ready’ when they did not use magic purely for the good of the world when you tested them. They are all excuses. Borne of your fear of loss of control. You don’t want this world to have powerful magic. Because then they’ll be harder to control. Be able to resist your manipulations the tiniest amount across the whole world. You can’t loosen your tight grip of control even the slightest bit out of your fear of what might happen. It is no longer gardening but obsession when you cut branches of a plant not because they are harmful to growth but grow at a displeasing angle to you. That’s why you hate the Beyonders so. Because they are not something you expected, not because they are bad or good for the growth of the plant or the garden.”

“The Beyonders!” Fate said before settling down slightly, “The people will be ready this time. I’m sure of it. Let’s continue to show the thing that that device can power, hm? The non-magicals have done so much with such a little thing.”

Merlin did not answer, and simply let Fate explain as they went through the various devices.

“Now, the foods!” Fate said, playing up her reaction as Merlin didn't respond to any of her prods for his input or leads to speak to her, “I’ve got all the variety. More than you could ever eat. So just sample whatever you like. None of it will spoil, the house-elf put it under preservation enchantments before they were delivered.”

Merlin went through the food, taking little tastes and enjoying the flavors. But he did not speak to her even when she prompted him several times more. Eventually when he was full, he went to sit on the bed that Fate had prepared for him. She sat down a few hand lengths away from him on the bed. Still in her golden blurred form so as to not provoke him.

“Fate?” Merlin suddenly said as he looked at her.

“Yes, Merlin?” She said with some hope.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “I should have never convinced you to let the Atlanteans stay after I heard their desperate pleas for asylum. I should have known how you would have reacted eventually. I just didn’t want to see your true nature. But if I’d just let you force them to leave in the beginning, then I could have let the lie continue just a little longer. But there can be no hope for us until you let go of your fear. Stop this, make a deal with this Beyonder. Make him limit his interactions with the world to the minimum. Perhaps even demand compensation from him. I will even destroy him willingly if he breaks the deal. He is not a whole people but part of a small group. You have not even made even the slightest attempt at negotiation. If you do this, then I will not forgive you for what you have made me do in the past. But it would be a start.”

“And if he says no? That he’ll keep interfering with the world as he pleases?” Fate asked, “What about then?”

“You can not know if you do not try.”

Fate wavered on the precipice, struggling with the decision. This was the first chance Merlin had ever given her to make up for what happened. But…

“Merlin, the Beyonder has to go. I’ll negotiate with him for you. But I can’t accept anything less than him leaving this world. Please, is that enough? We can end this peacefully, no more fighting if he agrees?”

Merlin’s expression closed off and he looked at her disappointed, “I see. Even for this you can not give an inch. We have nothing more to discuss. Your shower of golden trinkets has only reminded me of what we once had and what can never be again.”

Merlin rolled over the bed opposite to where Fate stood. She reached out to him as if to touch him, but then stopped. She knew he could sense everything she did with this body. It was his magic that was creating this construct. She let her hand fall to her side.

“I’m sorry. I’ll find some other way to make it up to you, I promise,” she said softly, “You’ll understand someday.”

“You’ve had your chance and passed by it,” Merlin answered, “Now let me rest. You will need me well rested for the next time you seize control of my body. You've found out first hand that I am too weak to wield Excalibur when I failed to pierce those wards when we first arrived and my body suffered even more as the price for your arrogance. It will be many years until I will be able to wield it again now even with you healing me. I've damaged my body enough down in that cave that it should take that long for you to heal me to my proper strength again at least. Until then you only have me and my magic to work with, as diminished as it is. You golden eyed craven.”

“Alright, I understand,” Fate answered. She leaned over and kissed the side of his head, causing the man to stiffen in place.

“Sweet dreams, my champion,” She whispered softly into his ear. Merlin’s magic flickered and with a flex of his power the spell giving Fate her form dissolved into wisps magic. Fate struggled for a moment, wanting to use his magic to return, to say more… But then she stopped. She let the golden chains loosen in Merlin as he began to drift off to sleep. They had been so close there. She knew that there was a chance that he would forgive her.

There was a chance.

She just had to deal with the Beyonder first and then she could focus fully on winning Merlin’s heart back again.

— — —

“See something interesting, Goyle?” Lord- No Prime Servant Voldemort asked, “Perhaps you’d like to share with the rest of the table?”

“My Lord- I mean, Prime Servant. I’d simply like to ask about that thing on your nose? What is its purpose?”

“This is my nose now. None of you are to question it. Avada Kedavra!”

A green beam shot out of Voldemort’s wand and struck Goyle where he stood. All of the other death eater’s in the room froze as Voldemort lowered his wand and Goyle fell to the floor bonelessly.

“Someone go clean up that mess. Lucius, you are the host. I’m sure you’re up to the task.”

“Yes, my lord,” Lucius Malfoy said stiffly.

“It’s Prime Servant,” Voldemort said, “As it always was. You should all be honored that Lord Pettigrew has chosen to reveal himself after all of this time. We should all be so honored to serve at his feet.”

Lucius waved his wand and quickly went to exit the room with Goyle’s body floating behind him.

“-And to honor lord Pettigrew we must spread word of his return as widely as we can. We should lean on the papers to make sure that they are favorable about the announcement of his return…”

Lucius shut the door behind him to cut off Voldemort’s voice and slowly let out the breath that he had been holding on. For Lord Voldemort to return to life was a shock enough. But, to learn that he was merely a pawn of somebody greater… Lucius would have never believed it. Voldemort had been acting erratic even since his return. Servile and eager to prove himself to the newly revealed master.

Lucius should have not believed it. But Voldemort had made it clear enough to all of them his intolerance for them disbelieving any of the new changes that had been thrust upon them. Lucius glanced at Goyle's body that floated behind him. He was the second to be killed after he made the mistake of asking after the reddish muggle clown nose attached to Voldemort’s face. Goyle had brought it upon himself, apparently too curious about the mystery to resist restraining himself from asking the question even after knowing what had happened to Crabbe.

Lucius would have to think of how he would arrange an accident for Goyle too. It would have to be something obvious so no one would think to check for a killing charm as the cause of death…

“Lucius?” Narcissa whispered from the stairs, “What is that?”

“Goyle,” he said heavily, “I have some work to do.”

“Another one?” she whispered, “I’m taking Draco and we’re leaving. Going on vacation, I don’t care what you tell him. But we’re not staying here when even his most trusted followers are dropping like flies.”

Lucius hesitated. But she was correct.

“I’ll make the excuses,” he assured her, “Make sure that Draco knows nothing. Important business deals and nothing more. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” She said, “We’ll leave as soon as we can. Best of luck with the dark lord. If you disappear we’ll flee the country.”

Lucius grimaced as his wife disappeared from the top of the stairs. Such confidence in his chances of survival.

But she wasn’t exactly wrong. They were dropping like flies, two of them dead in only days. Who knew which one of them was next?

He could only hope that Lord Pettigrew would put someone else in charge after it became how unstable Prime Servant Voldemort had become. Whenever the man himself made an appearance.

But for now he couldn’t worry about any of that.

He had to properly dispose of Goyle’s body before anything else.