Tales from the Fairytale Island - Merlin x Reader

Chapter five - To heaven and back

Merlin

I didn't sleep properly last night, and how could I?
I woke up several times from this upcoming nightmare...
How I saw her reaching out for my hand while screaming in fear. My precious Snow White.. you would be so disappointed with me.
She wouldn't want me to return to a place that reminds me of how cruel the world could be.
I couldn't stay away either. I don't want to forget her features.. even though I prefer to remember her for how she actually looks like. Whatever shape she had, I think she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

I often dream about her the night before I leave to visit her.
It's quite odd that she wasn't withered completely yet after such a long time.. like Regina's magic mirror said would happen. She's still there, frozen in time.
It makes me wonder sometimes.. if it might still be possible to get her back.

I quickly got up to get dressed. I might as well buy some flowers from Mr. Melchior's butique when I'm already heading there to talk to Hope.

Luckily, it's still early and everyone's still asleep which gives me an opportunity to arrive there unnoticed.
I tightened the sneers on my shoes before stepping out from the front door and closed it after me carefully to not wake up anyone.

[y/n]

I've found myself sleeping on the floor again with a massive headache.
This is a common aftermath when my father's spells had been affecting someone for a very long time.
It's like I lost the control over my entire being, but I still remember everything from yesterday, I believe.
Merlin is probably on his way at this moment and the guilt is already hanging over my head like a dark cloud.

I'm not fully involved with my father's plan and I don't want to know anything about it either..
But I believe that he has some agreement with the queen or some sort.
From what I know, she's not interested in marrying anyone in case she would lose her power to a new king and I can actually understand that..
Although, I don't agree with the way she treats her kingdom.
We shouldn't be scared of going out at night and the taxes she claims is up to five gold coins a day..
Father doesn't care so much about gold himself unless it's giving him access to power which is actually really clever..
The only thing that concerns me is what role the green dwarf is playing in it.

My father wants me to make him fall in love with me for a reason, that's clear.. but what does merlin have that my father don't? And who was Merlin before he got his curse?
I guess I just have to wait til I find out... or, I could just ask him.

Suddenly I heard two knocks coming from outside my bedroom window.
When I looked up I recognised the green figure.
I stepped up on my desk so I could reach the windowsill, then I turned the key two times to open it.
"Good morning fair maiden. Your hero has arrived"
He greeted and bowed at me.
If it wasn't for his overly confidential behaviour and smothering, I would actually think I already had him where I wanted.
"I can see that" I went on sarcastically.
I help him down to the desk and jumped down on the floor.
"So, I want to understand this properly." I pointed at my neck "You want to help me break this spell and you want nothing in return, like.. at all?"
He just nodded at me.
"Okay.. but have you any idea how?"
He got in to a thinking position.
"Yeah, I had at first but that option would only be possible if I knew what kind of spell it is. From my own experience, there's alway one ultimate way to break them"

I sighed out and I knew which one he meant.
Unfortunately, the only way for me to break it, is to remember my name.. but this thread makes me forget it as soon as I hear it which also makes it impossible.
"Merlin.. look.. there's something else I haven't told you. This spell is quite a dead end for me. It's name bound"
I mumbled. His eyes focused on me, like I've said something completely unfamiliar to him. Of course it is though. Namebounding is a form of darker magic which is forbidden amongst wizards.
"Namebound? What does that mean?" He questioned.
"It means that I need to know my name.. my real name but there's a twist to it. Whenever I hear it, I completely forget it. That's why I didn't want you to get involved in this in the first place." I explained to him.
He gazed at me with concern in his eyes.
Something's telling me to shut up about the topic the further I dive into it but deep down I know that whatever happens next is unpredictable to me.

"So.. your name is not Hope. Can I ask you why you go by that name?" He asked me.
"It's just what it says. That's all I had left until-.."
I stopped myself right there. I was just about to tell him everything my father made me do but at the same time, it would ruin his plan.
"Until?" He repeated.
My hands begin to sweat as I feel my blood rush to my ears. I can't spoil this.
"Nevermind. It's.. personal. Anyway, if I can get out of here.. I can figure out my name later. There may be a chance to break it with a powerful source of magic. Do you know any wizards?" I asked.
"I believe I told you already, I do a bit of magic myself"
I observe him as he dig through his bag and picked up something that looks like a piece of paper.
He puts it inside of a bowl I had on my desk and placed it upside down.

"Now.. watch this!"
He snapped his fingers.. something that looks like
A lightening spread from his hand to right inside the glass bowl.
It began to glow, creating a brightening effect that lit up the whole room.
Do I dare to say.. it might be even brighter that the sun itself.
"How..?" I began but I couldn't find any words for what I see.

Suddenly the light faded and we were back in my old dusty room.
"Did I just make a trip to heaven?" I faltered in awe.
"Nope, it's just pure old magic." he chuckles.
"But who knows, it's all about perspective and a bit of imagination."
It makes no sense to me but if what he says is true... I might have found out why my father was so fascinated by him.