A/N: Here we are then, my friends! The sequel to Revealed Truths! If you haven't read Hidden Truths and Revealed Truths, this story will make no sense to you, so I really recommend you read them first! Thanks to Glacier22, HarunoKasumi (I didn't do that since I like the ending to RT and this follows on very quickly), SereneMayhem, Samerys707, shell22, Mediatrix, ForeverAllTheTime, Guest, rmatri540, Stealth Dragon (glad you enjoyed that bit!), JenniCDS, kibaxkaori, and Ash9 for your fantastic reviews of the last chapter of RT! I'm so glad you all enjoyed it so much!

Now, without further ado: Vengeful Truths!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


The two men stood in front of the closed wooden door, one looking nervous, the other's expression alternating between annoyance and amusement. The sounds of the castle echoing throughout the corridors.

"Just get in there and stop whining," Arthur said sternly, pointing to the door with one hand and holding his servant by the scruff on the neck with the other.

"What am I supposed to say?" Merlin asked, trying to pull away from his master.

"'I'm sorry' is usually the accepted start to an apology," Arthur advised.

Merlin looked over at the blond king and raised his eyebrows. "No offence, but if someone were to ask me who I would least want advice about apologising from, it would be you."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Arthur demanded.

"Let's just say that until recently I wasn't even sure 'sorry' was a word you knew," Merlin responded with a grin.

With a slap to the back of the servant's head, Arthur shoved Merlin forward. "Just shut up and apologise to my wife."

Nervously, Merlin knocked and pushed open the doors to Arthur's chambers and stepped inside. After sorting out the short-term political ramifications of Arthur becoming King of Nemeth, the king, Merlin, Gwaine and Elyan had returned to Camelot in high spirits. Admittedly they'd had to avoid one of Odin's patrols on the way home, something which Merlin could tell infuriated Arthur more than he let on but mostly the trip had been uneventful. It had been wonderful not having to hide who he was anymore and to have Arthur and Gwaine accept him. It had also made lighting campfires a lot quicker. Gwaine had been very curious about how he'd used his magic in the past and he'd ended up telling them the whole truth of how he came to Camelot.

Despite his clear attempts not to be, Arthur was obviously still uncomfortable with both Merlin's displays of magic and just how much he had to be grateful to magic for but never once did he ask Merlin to stop. The servant had resolved to ease his friend into it more slowly - it was the least he could do with the king making such an effort to be accepting. Although he had kept trying to heal Arthur's broken arm, eventually succeeding on about the tenth try - not such a good ratio and he was just glad that it had not been anything urgent or serious. He had still been unable to heal the wounds on Arthur's face caused by the Lurker confirming his suspicion that there was something about the creature that prevented magic healing any injuries caused by its claws. His own back and shoulders were still raw and damaged despite Arthur using his own magic to heal him.

When they'd returned to Camelot, the people had been overjoyed to see their beloved king once more and the household staff had been pleased to see Merlin back at the king's side, with the exception of George, who had taken one look at the thinner man, inclined his head and stalked off. Once news of Arthur's ascension to Nemeth's throne became known, the nobles were falling over themselves to congratulate their liege, knowing that Camelot's reputation and security had just been significantly enhanced and by extension, so had theirs.

Indeed, the only person who was not completely ecstatic was Gwen. She was clearly overjoyed to see Arthur and her brother, embracing both in welcome but when she saw Merlin loitering nervously behind the three knights, she had simply raised her eyebrows and cast a questioning glance in her husband's direction before turning around and heading back into the palace.

That had been two days ago and she had still said nothing to him, despite the fact he had been present at all the Council meetings and brought the royal couple their meals morning and night.

The queen was sat at the desk next to the bed reading a report and making notes. She didn't look up as Merlin entered.

Sighing internally, Merlin took a step forward. He hated that Gwen couldn't seem to forgive him when Arthur had but did not know what he was supposed to say to fix their friendship. Even though she was queen, Gwen had been careful to maintain the close bonds between them, never turning her back on the fact that they had once been servants together and Merlin was desperate to salvage that.

"My Lady?" he said hesitantly.

The quill in Gwen's hand stuttered to a halt and she closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath as she did. With a great sigh, she put down the parchment and looked up at him. "Yes, Merlin?"

"May I talk to you?"

"I doubt either of us have much choice since my husband will no doubt just shove you back in here if I send you out." She cast a disapproving glance at the door. "Are you here to apologise to me? Or because Arthur told you to come?"

"Er...both?"

"And what is it you think you need to apologise for?"

"I lied to you," he replied firmly.

"You did," she acknowledged but without anger. "But I understand your reasons. God knows, I've been accused of sorcery enough times - even been condemned to die - to understand why you would hesitate to tell anyone the truth. Furthermore, I know you, Merlin - you would never want to put me in a position where I would have to lie to Arthur."

Merlin frowned, "Then why are you angry with me?"

"Because you hurt him. You have no idea what it was like while you were gone - "

"He banished me!" Merlin exclaimed, cutting across her.

"Yes, he did," she answered, standing up quickly, "and it broke him! He wasn't Arthur anymore, he did his duty, protected his people, trained the knights and there was nothing there! He was empty and lost! And it was because you weren't there but suddenly you return, riding by his side as if nothing ever happened and he's back! There's the spark in his eyes that was missing for so long."

"I don't understand."

"You wouldn't," she sighed softly. "I'm sorry, Merlin, I'm taking my own fears out on you and it's not fair of me." At his confused expression, she continued, "No wife wants to face the fact that her husband can live without her but not without his servant."

Merlin couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. "You're serious?" He took an urgent step forwards and leaned on the desk, "Gwen, before you were married, when you were...gone...he was a mess! Trust me, there is nothing and no-one Arthur loves more in the world than you."

Gwen searched his face for a few moments, seemingly finding what she needed and walked around to the other side of the desk, pulling him into her embrace. "Maybe he just needs both of us then, because whilst he might deny it, he does love you, Merlin."

Merlin grinned, accepting the queen's hug, "Nar, he's just got used to me being around."

Pulling back, Gwen rested her hands on Merlin's arms. "Promise me you'll never hurt him again, Merlin. I don't think he can take any more betrayal and loss."

"I swear, Gwen, I will never betray him."


Two months it had taken. Two long months of pain and waiting for the wound 'Emrys' had inflicted upon her to heal, rage burning so hot within her chest that sometimes she wasn't sure she could keep breathing. All that time, all her plans and schemes thwarted. Not by some all powerful sorcerer but by a serving boy. By Merlin of all people. Merlin who had pretended to be her friend and poisoned her the first opportunity he had; who could have explained about her magic but chose to leave her confused and afraid; who could have confided in her, shared who he was but instead condemned her, siding with Uther and his son. Her hatred for the man was deeper and stronger than she could possibly have imagined - it ran deeper even than her hatred of Arthur. One day she would have her vengeance on the servant, she would prolong his suffering until his mind broke from the pain, until all he could see was his beloved master's head on a spike and then, once he was a shattered shadow of the man he had been, she would keep him as a pet to torture as and when it pleased her.

Morgana shook her head and forced herself to focus on the task at hand. These days she tended to become lost in her rage and right now she needed to be clear-headed. Months of planning had gone into this and she was not about to lose it all because she could not get a grip on her temper.

"Are you all right, Morgana?" Mordred asked. The young druid was sat on the other side of the table in the ruined castle they were currently calling 'home'. Jurgen, the leader of a band of Saxons, was meant to be meeting them soon to agree the final terms of their deal. He and his men were mercenaries for hire, brutal and vicious they were willing to ally themselves with Morgana and Mordred for the promise of land and power.

"Yes, thank you," she replied. "I'm just tired of waiting - it's been more than six months since you saved me and only now can we strike back at Arthur and his pet warlock. And the dream I had - it haunts me still."

"Patience, Morgana," Mordred said soothingly. "Did I not say the reason you failed is because you did not know who you faced? I do. We have used this time well - Odin fights with us, his constant attacks on Camelot's lands both weaken and distract Arthur from us. Alined has promised us troops should we launch an attack. With the Saxons we will be able to crush Arthur. Do not fear your premonitions - they are nothing more than a future that will never come to pass."

"He has his own allies," warned the witch. "Caerleon will go to his aid, as will Nemeth."

"They are weak," he replied, brushing aside her concerns. He opened his mouth to continue when power rippled through the air, shifting and changing, wrapping itself around everything living thing. It burned so brightly that Morgana threw her hands up to protect her eyes and Mordred squinted, looking around him in shock. "No...no it cannot be!" he breathed.

The power shifted again, it's brightness fading and sinking into the ground but the change it had brought was still tangible in the air.

"What was that?" Morgana demanded.

"That was the Once and Future King accepting his destiny with Emrys at his side," Mordred whispered looking about him wide-eyed.

Morgana sneered. "It makes little difference."

"You are wrong, Morgana," the druid responded, standing up. "It makes all the difference in the world. We have lost. There is nothing we can do against them now."

"You're wrong!"

"No. Think how you have failed in the past when they were divided. There is nothing strong enough to sever the bonds that have been forged between them now."

"We shall see," Morgana replied.

Mordred shook his head. "No. I will not follow you into certain destruction, Morgana. Arthur and Emrys have won."

Morgana stood and made her way to the young druid's side, placing a restraining hand on his arm. "Mordred, you forget, Emrys may be the all powerful sorcerer of legend but he is still just Merlin."

"It changes nothing."

"It changes everything," she said with a smirk, "because I know what his weaknesses are. I do not believe there is anything that cannot be broken."


A/N: I just couldn't ignore Morgana and Mordred anymore! Please let me know what you think!