Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or this song! All rights go to their respective owners!!! Also, credit to the artist for the animation. It was the animation that gave me the influence for the chapter!

Mordred weaved through the campsite as quietly as he could. He should've been sleeping, but he always wanted to go out and practice his magic so Papa would be proud. Even at a young age, he showed great talent in magic. Some guessed it was only because his father was so powerful, but Papa always insisted that even though he may have sired the child, it was Mordred who put it in the effort to train himself and his magic. 

Mordred was around twelve now, and, as he was getting older, his magic was getting stronger. He started developing visions around last summer. Surprisingly, to him and others, some visions were of the past rather than the future. That's why he was making his way to Papa now. After he woke up, he started practicing magic to clear his head some because it just didn't make sense. Why was Papa with their enemy? And why did Papa look so happy at the man's side? This wasn't the first time either. Sometimes he'd see his dad with this man and a few other Camalotians, laughing and joking around. Other times he'd dream of a lost future named Albion, where Aithusa flew over castles freely without being shot down.

What did all of this mean? More importantly, why wasn't Papa still with this man, with the threat of the pyre behind their shoulders and everyone's happy?

Mordred slid into his Papa's tent and crept over to where he slept.

"...Papa?"

A grumble came in response.

Mordred shook him lightly, trying to wake him up without making a fuss.

His father groaned slightly and sat up, brushing the few strands of raven hair out of his golden eyes. He turned to Mordred, sleepy and confused.

"...Modi? What are you doing up at this hour, is something wrong?"

"...I had another vision, Papa," He said cautiously, trying to build the confidence to question his father. He wasn't scared of his dad, but then again his father is the mighty Emrys, so sometimes he can't help but be a tiny bit intimidated. That's only when he's mad though.

Merlin sat up in his bed, concern swirling in his eyes.

"Was it a bad one? Was there something there that scared you?"

Mordred couldn't help but smile as he felt the warmth in his chest swell as his Papa worried over him. Most druids just say "All visions are important, you must harness your power, blah blah blah". But his father always put Mordred first instead of the visions. If Mordred's okay, he'll ask politely about the visions, but if Mordred's upset, then "father mode" activates.

"Not scary...quite the opposite actually. It's just that I don't understand why it's happening."

Merlin was awake now, and he patted the area on his bed for Mordred to sit on.

"Want to talk about it, Modi?"

Mordred nodded and sat down. He took a deep breath, preparing himself.

"This vision, along with a few others, always have you and the Pendragon king, or sometimes some of his knights, joking around as if you're friends. This time it showed you with them, ruling over a place where the magical and non-magical lived in a happy place called Albion. Papa, I don't understand. Why do my visions say you and King Arthur are friends when we hear the whispers for war?"

"They are visions that have both happened and that magic wishes were true," Merlin said bitterly.

"But, why aren't you with the king? Why aren't we living in peace with the non-magic?"

"Because it can never happen!" Merlin snapped. Mordred immediately shut his mouth and looked at the ground, terrified and ashamed he upset his father. Merlin immediately realized his mistake and pulled Mordred close, quietly apologizing.

"...why, Papa...? Why must we live in fear of being hunted? Why can't we be friends with King Arthur...?"

".....I tried...oh, how I tried Mordred..." his father whispered. Before Mordred could ask what he meant, Merlin stood up.

"Come with me," he said quietly, "I believe you are of age to know now."

"Know what?"

Merlin only took Mordred's hand and took him away from the camp, little bulbs of light illuminating their path.

"It's time you learned a lesson,

It's time that you understand

Don't ever count on anybody else,

In this or any other land"

Mordred's head was spinning questions faster than a spider with its web. 'Why is Papa acting like this? Why are they leaving the camp?' They started moving faster, climbing up a hill while figures formed through Merlin's magic. Mordred immediately recognized it as his father with the Camalotians. His father looked so happy...

"I once hoped for friendship,

To find a place among my kind

But those were the childish wishes-

Of someone who was blind"

Merlin's tone suddenly became angry, shocking Mordred. The images of Merlin and the group happy suddenly switched to Merlin crying, heartbroken as the knights stood by and let the king exile Merlin. 'Why would the king exile Papa if they're friends? How could he let something Emrys was born with be the deciding factor of his fate'? Mordred thought to himself.

"But...what happened to Albion? Will it ever come to pass?"

Merlin sighed and waved his hand. The entire druid camp could be seen, along with an abandoned fort from the days of the Old Religion.

"Open up your eyes

See the world from where I stand

We among the mighty,

You, caged at my command

Open up your eyes

Give up your sweet, fantasyland

It's time to grow up, and get wise

Come now little one,

Open up your eyes"

Mordred looked down. Papa basically told him to stop dreaming of peace between the magical and non-magical. He guessed Papa dreamed of the same thing when he was young, but if Emrys couldn't fulfill Destiny, then how could they ever dream of walking outside the forest shadows?

"We all start out the same,

With simple naïve trust

Shielded from the many ways-

That life's not fair or just"

Merlin looked out for a while, nostalgia punching him in the gut. He usually pushed te past out of his thoughts, but he needed Modi to understand. He couldn't let his son go through the same pain and disappointment he did. He couldn't let him grow that false hope he had so long ago.

"But then there comes a moment,

A simple truth that you must face

If you depend on others,

You'll never find your place"

Merlin knelt down and placed a hand on Mordred's shoulder. He knew this was a lot to take in, and it wasn't exactly happy news. He tried to soften his voice, but the pain of the past kept rising up in him, making his voice rise as well. 

"And as you take that first step

Upon a path, that's all your own

You see it all so clearly,

The best way to survive is all alone"

Merlin stood up, his walls going up as well. He was tired. Tired of being ashamed of who he was, tired of wishing for a different past. Most of all, he was tired of living a half-life, forced to distrust everyone, and not get attached to anyone. He hated this life, and he didn't want his little Modi, the only person who could still bring him happiness, to live this way.

"Open up your eyes

And see the world from where I stand

We among the mighty,

You, caged at my command

Open up your eyes,

And behold the fading light

It's time to grow up, and get wise

Come now little one,

Open up your eyes"

Mordred took a step back as he watched his father go from nostalgic to shaking with rage in a mere second. He knew he wasn't angry at him, but it was just as terrifying to watch magic spark around him. The way he acted around Mordred will angry almost felt like the anger Merlin was experiencing was more of a father trying to protect his son than simply anger. Mordred couldn't fathom why, however.

"Open up your eyes!"

Suddenly, Merlin shot a beam so bright into the air it seemed that nighttime became daylight for a moment. It was so bright next to Mordred that he gasped and covered his eyes. He couldn't believe what just happened. His Papa just sent out a message all throughout the lands to every magical creature and person out there. It was a message...

"Modi..." Merlin said slowly. "We are to prepare for war."

If Destiny couldn't unite the magical with the non-magical through peace, then Emrys was going to write his own destiny for his people. A Destiny of War.

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Hey, back out with another chapter!! It didn't quite come out as I expected it to, but I hope you guys still liked it. I really like the idea of  Mordred being Merlin's son while still doing another one of my banished!Merlin stuff. I might do a pt. 2, but the next chapter is going to be a classic Knights-follow-Merlin-to-the-Lake-of-Avalon-and-learn-more-than-they-expected shot. I hope you guys are having a wonderful day/night! Love ya!!!