Destined

Prologue

The day she was born was the day the whole world would change. All of the races except for the humans knew that.

Merlin sighed and rubbed his temples. As the protector of the human race he knew it was his duty to tell them that a girl who would change things was coming, but he also knew that the humans would be afraid and when they were afraid, they did stupid things.

"Merlin?" A voice behind him asked. Merlin sighed. The Elf King had come to speak to him yet again. It was getting annoying.

"Yes?" Merlin asked, turning to face the King of Elves.

He was young looking; appearing to be in his late to mid twenties. Merlin supposed he was handsome with long blonde hair, bright green eyes and angular features.

"When is the girl coming?" The elf asked. He stunk of anticipation and hope. It oozed off of him in such big waves that Merlin had to resist the urge to plug his nose. The Elf King wanted her for selfish reasons and Merlin realized that he would have to keep the girl safe. No matter what,

"Soon." Was all Merlin said. He feared that if he said much more than the Elf King would get hold of the girl before Merlin had a chance to protect her.

"When is 'soon?' You have been saying that every time I come to you." The Elf King said, clenching his jaw.

Merlin sighed again. He was too impatient and angry. Someone needed to take his place. But Merlin wouldn't get involved with that. Elven affairs gave him a head ache. They were very queer folk at times.

"Soon is soon." Was Merlin's reply. He smiled to himself as he realized that the Elf King was at his breaking point.

"Listen here, old man. My people and I will get the girl whether you like it or not. Just make it easier on yourself and tell me when she's coming. If you do, we might spare your pathetic life." The Elf King snarled.

"Good bye, Velkin." Merlin said coldly with an inarguable finality in his voice. He was done arguing and the Elf King's time was up. If he didn't leave he would soon realize how angry Merlin could get. And no one liked Merlin when he was angry.

"Goodbye, Merlin. I'll be back for answers." The Elf King replied coolly as he left.

Merlin sighed again. Stupid elves. They always seemed to act like they were the superior race. Ha! If only they knew...

"God help me. I have never met a race as full of vanity as the elves." Merlin muttered. He gazed into the mirror hanging above his table in the corner.

Staring back at him was a young man about 20 with dark brown hair and green eyes. Oh, but how deceptive looks were. Merlin was very old indeed despite his outward appearance. In fact, if one looked closely enough they could see the age written in Merlin's eyes. They held great knowledge and wisdom, despite peoples' accusations if him being nothing but an old fool.

Yes, he was old. But he was no fool. He knew what was coming and how important it was to keep the girl safe. At least until her sixteenth birthday.

Yes, he decided. He would go into the human world and keep watch on the girl that was coming. He had not entered the human world in a while, however, and feared what he would find greeting him. Sure, he kept watch and made sure that no big wars happened, but it was not the same as meeting face to face with the humans.

He quickly made up his mind. He would go to the human world and wait for the girl there and wait for her to be of age. Then, and only then, would he tell her the secret and what she was born to do.

"Oh, Merlin," he muttered to himself, "what have you gotten this poor girl into? And yourself. Oh. I pity myself greatly. I will have to bear the burden of not only my own and the girl's fate upon my shoulders, but also that of the other races. Oh, Merlin. What on earth have you gotten yourself into?"

He quickly gathered all of his stuff that he would need and closed his eyes. He prayed that he would find the girl first... If not... Oh, Merlin.

With that last pitying thought he disappeared leaving nothing but a few random items around. And, for years to come, people would learn to fear the place because everyone knew it was where the great Merlin disappeared and never returned. And if some force great enough to make even the great Merlin disappear...

Oh. How they pitied the fools who went there for few ever returned. An evil force lived there now and all knew it. And they made certain to stay away from the evil place, the Devil's Domain as some called it.