Hello! This is the sequel to Change of Heart! The rest of the story needs to be finished and edited, but I wanted to give y'all a bit as a Christmas present. Thanks for stopping by! :)
"Your Highness, may I have a word?" a voice said behind him.
Prince (Regent) Arthur Pendragon sighed and barely refrained from rubbing his face with his hand. In the two days since he'd officially taken on the Regent role (chore), he'd had more unwanted conversations than he'd ever dreamed. And most of them were shockingly personal. At least they felt that way. He turned to face Lord Something or Other, who'd followed him out of the council meeting. "Yes?"
"When will we hold the ceremony? You didn't specify . . ." the unnamed Lord asked.
Arthur held back another sigh. "That's right. I didn't. Not until the other provision is met. It's perfectly legal and it will happen. Don't force me take this to my father." The council decided they'd accept the men he'd knighted before taking back Camelot a month ago, but they (the council) wanted an official ceremony. He had no problem with that. He did have a problem with how they wouldn't agree to ennoble Guinevere. Her brother's elevation also elevated her, but they kept fighting him on it.
The councilor paled. These days, Uther tended to automatically agree with whatever Arthur proposed to him. He also tended to deal out unusual punishment to those who didn't agree with him, though Arthur almost always stopped it beforehand. "Ah, yes. I'll speak with the others again before the next meeting. Thank you sire." He turned and scurried away to begin his task.
Well, if that doesn't work, maybe I can get Merlin or Morgana to "change" their minds. If they even could, which he didn't know. And would they even do it if asked? It seemed kind of unethical, now that he thought about it.
The last six weeks had been harrowing, at the very least. There'd been one surprise after another, and he hadn't had any time between them to recover. And that was before his father's mental health declined, his best friends confessed their magic and the captured sorceress escaped. Despite an extensive investigation, neither Morgause nor her liberator had been found. As worrisome as that was, there were other, more immediate problems on his mind. Like getting Camelot rebuilt after the occupation or changing the council's mind so he could officially court Guinevere.
Now, where were his servant and his half-sister? It was nearly lunchtime and he was hungry.
xxxXxxx
Merlin and Morgana were sitting on a bench in the castle garden. They were supposedly having a magic lesson, but kept getting distracted by each other. Currently, they were connected at their lips and hands roamed from backs to hair. Now that they'd finally admitted their feeling for each other, they were usually together. Unless Merlin's chores or others' prying eyes kept them apart.
They broke apart and rested their foreheads together. "We're supposed to be practicing magic," Merlin said, still trying to catch his breath.
"I know," Morgana replied. "Here, I'll try the last one again." She cupped her hands and whispered, "Blóstmá." A lavender-colored rose appeared in her hands.
"Lavender?" Merlin asked.
"It means enchantment. Appropriate, don't you think?"
"You're enchanted with me?"
"Of course. But it was also created by magic for an enchanter."
"Oh, I get it." He gave her a quick kiss. "Clever. Now let's take it a step further." He took the rose from her hand and whispered, "Blóstmá fágette." The rose's color changed to a royal blue.
"Blue? Oh that's just not natural." She sniffed it. "But it still smells the same, and it's gorgeous."
"Well thanks. But we'd probably change it back to something more normal." He gave the rose back to her.
"Okay, what was the spell again?"
"Blóstmá fágette. And you have to think the color."
"All right. Blóstmá fágette." The rose stayed blue. "It's still blue? What did I do wrong?"
"Did you think of the color?" She nodded. "While saying the spell?"
Her head fell to her chest. "Ooops. I'll try it again then. Blóstmá fágette." This time the rose turned pink, the color on one of the bushes in the garden.
Just then the outside door banged open and an irritated Arthur stepped through. "There you are! It's past time for lunch. Looks like my stables need mucking out again—fetch my lunch to my chambers then you can get to that." He looked beyond his wayward servant and spotted Morgana. "Oh, hello Morgana. Having a good day?" He winked at her.
Merlin rolled his eyes and stood. "As you wish, your High and Mightyness." He gave the Prince a florid bow and strode past him, into the castle.
Arthur glared after Merlin. "Well that was rude."
Morgana just laughed. "You deserved it."
"He's starting to rub off on you."
"Oh, I don't need his help to insult you. I was doing it long before he came here."
"True."
"We were having a nice time out here before you interrupted us."
"Just stop right there. I don't want to know."
The Lady laughed again. "Walk me to my chambers?"
"Of course."
xxxXxxx
Off in another country, an angry King sat on his throne, waiting. He tapped his fingers on the arms of his throne until the doors to the room opened. A tall man with dirty blond hair entered and bowed to the King. "Well?" the King demanded.
"She has shown little sign of progress, My Lord," the man, a sorcerer of middling talent, said.
The King slammed both fists down on the chair's arms. "Then why am I bothering to pay you?"
"My Lord," the sorcerer tried, "she suffered extreme trauma to her head. Her brain itself was injured. It's a delicate organ; if anything goes wrong in the healing process, she could die or worse."
"What could be worse than death?" the King snapped impatiently.
"Her body could live while her mind dies."
The King shuddered. "Would enlisting the aid of more healers help?"
"Perhaps. I know of some. One in particular hates the Pendragons almost as much as we do."
"Perfect. Make sure they are contacted."
"Yes, My Lord."
"You are dismissed." The blond sorcerer left.
"That one is barely trustworthy," said a man standing to the left of the King.
"True. But he has important knowledge. A possible key to end Camelot. And if he and the others can save her . . ."
"He'll be well worth the trouble. I see."
"Have you received an inquiry yet?"
"Not yet. But any that come to my manor while I'm away would certainly be brought here."
"When do you go back?"
"Soon. After all, if I am to leave my manor for a longer period than this, I have several things to put in order." The man smirked.
"True. Will you need any further assistance from me?"
"No, I don't think so. But you'll let me know when she's well?"
"Of course. She's quite critical to our plan. And we'll both need the information only you will be able to provide."
The man chuckled darkly. "I'll play my part."
"Do be sure to convey my sincere condolences, when it's time."
"Of course, My Lord. I'll make sure he knows." The man bowed to the King. "Good day, sire."
"Good day."
xxxXxxx
Time passed. Uther's condition hadn't improved. He spoke less and less every day. He never acknowledged Morgana when she visited, which she understood, but it still hurt her.
Arthur's ploy with the council worked, and the four men he knighted that night of the first Round Table meeting were re-knighted. There was a ceremony and a grand feast to celebrate. Gwen was ennobled at the same time. Though Morgana was sad to lose her, she was happy to see her maidservant promoted thus. At last she had an equal she could actually stand to spend time with. And as a special favor to Arthur, Gwen looked after Uther. No matter how much Arthur insisted she shouldn't work, but come live in the castle like a proper lady, she wouldn't. She stayed in her little home, cared for the King and performed other charity work with Morgana.
Merlin's life stayed pretty much the same. He toiled away for Arthur, but the Prince Regent was listening to him more often. To keep things balanced, Merlin insulted him twice as much. Arthur was under a lot more stress these days, so Merlin listened to him vent a lot more too. What spare time he had was mostly spent with Morgana. Their official unofficial courting brought them closer together. Arthur was a little more generous in giving his servant free time, mostly so his sister wouldn't get angry and turn him into a toad.
And the Prince Regent gradually grew into his new role. To have another ally on the council, he wrote his uncle, his mother's brother, Agravaine De Bois. The older man had written shortly after he'd heard about Uther's health and offered his help, if needed. He was expected at Camelot in the next few days and would function as an advisor and council member.
But Morgause stayed at the back of Arthur's, Merlin's and Morgana's minds. Though knights were sent now and then to enquire after her or follow up on rumors they'd heard, nothing was found. Whoever had taken her from Camelot had planned very well and had probably used magic to get in and out. At least that's what the resident magic users thought, and Arthur was inclined to agree.
They didn't know if she was alive or dead, and if alive, what condition she was in. Because if she could, she would act against them. And she knew many other sorcerers of varying talents. She had influence in the courts of several kingdoms. Any one of them could be helping her. If they hated Camelot as much as she did, they were in trouble. Because she'd get her revenge, one way or another.
xxxXxxx
Six months after Morgause's takeover, Camelot had almost completely recovered. The people talked and laughed in the streets. The children played and roamed the town as carefree as ever. The servants in the castle gossiped and worked as hard as ever. But Arthur and his two secret magic users, plus Gaius, met in Arthur's chambers. My magical privy council, Arthur thought.
"There's no sign of her anywhere," Arthur reiterated. "Nothing. Either she's dead or ensconced somewhere so thoroughly we'll never find her."
"I'm going to assume she's alive until I hear otherwise," Merlin stated, "and we should prepare accordingly."
"How do we do that?" Arthur asked.
"Magical defense. Obviously," Morgana added.
"About that . . . Gaius, do you have any idea how that was done before the Purge?"
"I know a little, but Sire, I wasn't the Court Sorcerer. That was Nimueh."
"And she's dead. Which means any protection died with her," Merlin said.
"How do you know that?" the Prince asked.
"Because I killed her."
"Oh. You forgot to mention that before."
"No, I'm pretty sure I told you. The Questing Beast mess, remember?" Morgana smirked at that point.
"I was asleep for most of that, remember?"
"Boys! Please. Magical defenses. I can help," Gaius interrupted.
Arthur cleared his throat and glared at Merlin. "Of course Gaius. Please continue."
"Nimueh would have set up different kinds of wards, especially around every public and hidden entrance into the citadel."
"What kind?" Morgana asked. Everyone looked at her. "What? Morgause taught me some things. We moved around and cast and re-cast the same wards over and over."
"That's great Morgana!" Merlin squeezed her hand.
Gaius smiled. "Small shields, but very particular. For example, they might detect and block anyone with ill-intent toward Camelot. Or send a physical or mental alarm so the perpetrator wouldn't know they'd been detected. These don't drain the caster too much."
"That sounds pretty useful," Arthur mused. "Merlin and Morgana could put them at all the town gates, castle doors and hidden and secret entrances." He looked at the two of them.
"Of course," Morgana said. Merlin nodded. "I can finally teach Merlin something." She smirked at him.
"Hey," he said, feigning offense. "You've taught me plenty." He put a hand on her face.
"And that's more than I needed to know," Arthur said.
"There may be helpful items in the castle vaults," Gaius added. If you're not opposed to using them."
"I'm not. How long has it been since an inventory has been done?"
Gaius frowned. "A few years after the purge started, when the influx of new items slowed."
"Great." Arthur rolled his eyes. "Would you and Merlin create a new inventory? Find the old one and update it."
"Wonderful, another delightful chore to add to my list," Merlin complained.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "I'll make sure you have the time. And Morgana can help, if she wants?" He looked at the Lady, who nodded. "Bring Gwen in too, if needed." Merlin nodded. "Morgana, you know the wards to cast?"
"Yes. I'll probably need Merlin's help to sustain them though."
"Of course," the warlock agreed.
"All right." Arthur clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "You all have your marching orders then. If you run into anything we didn't consider, let me know." The other three nodded at him, and stood. "See you all later."
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this bit- the rest will be coming soon, barring any traumatic life experiences. Happy/Merry Christmas to everyone! :)