Summary: In a jealous rage, Morgana, as Gwen's maker, forces Gwen to leave Arthur. Eighty years later, Gwen gets Morgana to release her and reunites with Arthur, but Morgana doesn't let things go so easily. Vampire AU

Author's Note: For those of you who don't know, this is the multi-chapter version of the one-shot that's in my drabble/one-shot Across the Universe coughcheckitoutcough. I twisted vampire lore to make it mine, but some things are borrowed from True Blood and Being Human and other shows/books. For those of you already familiar, slight changes have been made to ch. 1

Warning: Some ravers and a bunny meet a gruesome end. There will be blood. Lots of blood.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. When I Dream of You lyrics from Dancing On The Edge also appear which I obviously don't own.

Enjoy!(?)

Undying Love

Chapter 1: Mr. Hopper

Arthur contemplated early retirement as he drank his second coffee in the busy café. It was winter and people filed in to escape the cold. Christmas was right around the corner, and he always felt apathetic this time of year. His lunch break ended an hour ago, but he was head of the Authority, vampire king of the United Kingdom, and he thought he deserved the extra time, and frankly, he didn't want to go back outside.

He observed the patrons. He saw couples mooning over each other, friends crowding in booths, an aspiring novelist working on their manuscript. His eyes stopped on a teenage girl reading a book. He recognized the cover as a popular vampire novel. He loved reading tales about his kind, entertained by how close to or how far from the truth authors were.

Crosses had no effect, and garlic gave blood a weird aftertaste. An invitation was unfortunately necessary to enter a home, but then again, shouldn't everyone only enter if invited? Then there was the sun myth. It was harmful to anyone who stood in it for too long. And if he sparkled in the sun, he'd stake himself. Staking was absolutely true. It was the only way out of the contract of immortality, but he wouldn't turn into a pile of dust.

Vampires were very much like humans, but more alive. They were brought to the brink of death before being turned, given the blood of those blessed with immortality.

Blood. They needed it more for strength than actual survival. When Arthur and his sister were children, the original kings made a deal for a power that would help them rule and protect their kingdoms forever. In the days of war and conquering, an immortal army was worth any price. Blood would keep you strong, and control was vital. If you lost control, succumbing to bloodlust or have too large a population and deplete your resources, you'll live your immortal life frail and starving for energy until you drive a stake through your own heart.

One of the glorious things about being human is having choices. You can choose right or wrong, succumb or overcome, take life or give life.

Yes, vampires were very much like humans.

Human blood was the best, but Arthur hasn't fed on a human since her. Animal blood was substitute, but not as satisfying. The vampire a few tables over, on the other hand, fed on a human quite recently. The vampire raised his mug to Arthur.

A tall, lanky figure managed to block his view. "My mum told me I could be anything I wanted when I grew up," the lanky man said as he flopped into the seat across from Arthur. "I don't think she had assistant to an Old One in mind."

"You know I hate that name, Merlin." His father was one of the original kings. Arthur didn't need to be reminded he was old; he really started to feel it for the last eighty years.

"Well you are." Merlin pulled a file out of his bag. "Here are the reports, since it doesn't seem like you're coming back to the office anytime soon." Merlin was one of the few humans adopted into the vampire community, trusted to keep their secrets, and the only one to work in the Authority.

Arthur flipped through the papers. More bodies were turning up with clear vampire bites. Some rabid vampire or untrained baby vamp was endangering their secret. Arthur sighed. He really wasn't in the mood.

It was a bloodbath.

The bodies of ravers littered the floor of the warehouse. Neon fuzzy boots were matted with blood, and rainbow patterned clothing was turned solid red.

Gwen walked around the bodies, the click of her boot heels drowning in the puddles of blood.

"I found a live one!" Gwen saw a jittery vampire pounce, and the high pitched scream of a teenage boy was cut short to a gurgle as the vampire gnawed at his throat.

Gwen looked away in disgust. Urgh, baby vamps.

A hand clutched her ankle, alerting Gwen and bringing her attention down to the girl lying on her back at her feet. She could almost feel the finger nails pierce through the leather.

Fishnet arm warmers were ripped at the wrist, blood still flowing out a sloppy bite wound. At her neck, the vampire was more aggressive.

"H-Hel-p m-m-m-e," the girl wheezed. She tried to pull herself up and reach for Gwen with her other hand. Two more bites were on that arm.

"Finish the job, Guinevere!" a sharp female voice barked out the order. Gwen didn't need to turn around to see Morgana standing at the DJ's booth, surveying the carnage with a victorious smile. She could feel Morgana's serpent green eyes burning holes in the back of her head. Gwen looked at the girl staring back at her in fear, eyeballs shaking in her skull. The girl tried to speak again and choked. She fell back with a soft splat in a puddle of her own blood.

Dead.

"What a waste." Gwen's ears picked up Morgana's muttering.

"I need air," Gwen said and looked over her shoulder up at Morgana in the booth silently asking, "Is that okay with you?" Morgana dismissed her with a wave of her hand.

Lifting her foot out of the now loose hold of the dead girl, Gwen made her way to the exit, trailing bloody footprints behind her. She passed the boy slain by the baby vamp; his neck was barely attached to his body. When she reached the exit, she found Morgause blocking the door. She smiled coolly at Gwen before opening it.

Once Gwen stepped out, the door was slammed shut behind her.

Arthur heard the door to his penthouse open. He was beginning to regret ever giving Merlin a key. Merlin found him in the kitchen, nursing a beer and an old black and white photograph next to it.

"I brought you a present!" Merlin declared as he pushed a small lunch bag cooler in front of him. Arthur found a few blood bags inside. "It's rabbit, fresh from Gauis' veterinary."

You ate Mr. Hopper!

"I don't drink rabbit blood." Arthur took a swig from the bottle.

Merlin stared blankly at him. "What am I supposed to do with this, then?"

Arthur sighed. "How about I turn you, and you can drink it."

He put the cooler in the refrigerator, missing the face Merlin made behind his back, but he heard him ask for a beer. "Get it yourself," he said, returning to the table empty-handed. He saw Merlin eyeing the old photograph.

The woman in it was beautiful. Her dark hair was cut to a curly bob popular in the thirties, and the diamond clip on the side barely twinkled compared to her eyes. She was caught in mid-laugh. Merlin could only imagine the melodious sound she emitted as she reclined on a chaise lounge, the sequins of her gown shining as bright as her smile.

"I ate her rabbit."

Merlin snapped his gaze up. "What?"

Arthur picked up the photo, fingering it gently. He smiled to himself. "And I haven't had it since."

He was starving. The battle was brutal and he lost a lot of blood. Despite his deteriorating health, he patrolled the lower town. The people had fled to the woods while the rich and noble, vampire and human, barricaded themselves in the citadel.

There were bodies scattered about, mostly men who probably died protecting their families. Arthur eyed the bodies with temptation, his vision alternating between blurry from fatigue to sharp from adrenaline fueled desperation and hunger.

They didn't drink from the dead. They drink from willing servants, those honored to provide for the royal family and army, and those who offer their blood for coin.

He turned away, staggering down the street with no real destination. He hoped someone showed up soon, though he'd have to use every ounce of strength he had left to not attack them in an instant, going straight for the jugular. Nothing tasted worse than fear, only the sadistic favored the taste. And he most certainly didn't have the energy to compel them to relax.

Arthur stumbled into a small house. He heard a rapid heartbeat coming from the corner. His vision sharpened again as he honed in on a plump white rabbit sprinkled with brown spots sitting in a wooden cage. He found a meal.

When he finished, he was barely full, but his vision was clearer and his wounds were healing faster. He heard the door creak open and close and soft footsteps that stopped behind him. He turned around slowly to find a child standing behind him, a girl about ten.

For a second, Arthur thought about how fresh her blood would taste.

Thump!

The rabbit's foot fell from his lap onto the floor.

Her eyes looked from the rabbit's foot to the tufts of fur stuck to Arthur's chainmail that was splashed with blood. Tears welled in her eyes as her face scrunched in fury. "You ate Mr. Hopper!"

Shocked sober, Arthur scrambled to his feet, more pieces of Mr. Hopper revealed behind him. She was about to yell again, but he rushed forward shocking her silent. "Please don't scream. I'm not going to hurt you," he pleaded. Arthur cursed his hunger; they don't feed on children. He raised his hands in surrender, looking into her eyes hoping she'd see his sincerity. Though it was dark, he could make out the freckles that dusted across her nose and cheeks…like Mr. Hopper.

"You're the Prince," She stated.

He nodded. "I am."

"That doesn't give you the right to come into someone's home and eat their friends!"

Arthur was taken aback by her outburst. "Is this your home?" She shook her head. That explained why he was able to get in without an invite. The owners were dead.

"My parents died before the war. The neighbors took in my brother, Mr. Hopper, and me. Then my brother left. They're dead too, my neighbors. They never made it to the woods."

"You're alone." Arthur thought for a moment, intrigued by this little girl brave enough to return to town on her own before anyone else, and to tell him off. "What's your name?"

"My name is Guinevere, my lord, but everyone calls me Gwen."

Arthur offered his hand to her. "Well, Guinevere, I'm sorry for eating Mr. Hopper." It was the first time Arthur Pendragon ever apologized.

Gwen stared at his hand. He had forgotten about the blood. He hastily wiped as much as he could away on his pants leg before raising it again, a sheepish look on his face.

She took it.

"She looks much older than ten in this picture." Merlin now held the photograph; he couldn't help but be entranced by it. "She's a vampire."

"I brought her to live in the castle. She served my sister, and they grew close. Guinevere was so dedicated to her service that she didn't want to leave Morgana, so Morgana sired her," Arthur explained somberly.

Merlin grew extremely curious at Arthur's tone. "What happened to her?"

"Don't you have a job to do?" Arthur tried to evade.

"Don't you?" Merlin shot back. Arthur glared at him. "Clearly you're in a mood, so I'm gonna head back to HQ." Before he left he took the cooler and a beer.

It was ten years after bringing her to the castle when Arthur felt himself falling for Gwen. When he first brought her to Morgana, his sister coddled her. Their father thought Morgana had taken a child as a pet, so Morgana made Gwen her handmaiden. Then for the last four years, she's been serving as Morgana's private blood servant. The first time Morgana drank her blood, Gwen came to him in the middle of the night.

Sixteen-year-old Gwen sat in the chair, hands in her lap, her eyes fixed on the area of her wrist where Morgana fed from her. The bite was healed with Morgana's blood, but the sensation was still there.

Arthur knelt in front of her and covered her hands with his. "You don't have to keep doing this, you know."

"No, I'm fine," she said. "I have to do this. Morgana's taken such good care of me. I'd do it for you, too! Uh…I mean, if you needed…"

"Are you sure you're okay?" His thumb caressed her wrist where the bite was.

"Yes, I'm sure," she said. He believed her and pulled her up with him.

Arthur kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep, Guinevere."

For the next four years, Gwen would occasionally show up in his chambers earlier than when Morgana would normally retire for the night. They would just talk, or she'd mostly just listen to him speak about his concerns about the kingdom.

Arthur drained the cup of wine he had started before Gwen arrived. He poured a cup for her before refilling his. "So…who's the serving girl my sister has replaced you with?"

"Manservant." Gwen corrected, harsher than she intended.

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Are you jealous?"

"No! I mean, it's been going on for a while. Well, it started as Morgana having other needs." Arthur grimaced. "She can have both with him. All I have to do is dress her, and make her bed, and do her laundry. I'm just feeling sort of useless, I guess."

Arthur took a sip of his wine. Gwen noticed his hand shaking, and he looked a bit pale. They were symptoms of blood withdrawal. He didn't stop feeding on purpose, he would just lose his appetite when a serving girl would come when he calls. He only had one servant on his mind, and he didn't have the heart to drink from her.

"I'm fine," he said as he stood and stumbled. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and the smell of lavender flooded his senses. He knew Gwen was standing in front of him now. Her hands cupped his cheeks.

Arthur opened his eyes, bright sapphire darkened. Gwen's heart pounded. He closed his eyes again, groaning, leaning forward slightly.

"You need to feed," he barely heard Gwen say over the sound of her heartbeat. Keeping his eyes closed, he turned his head and kissed her palm, then her wrist. Gwen's lips parted in anticipation. Hearing her slight intake of breath, Arthur opened his eyes, focusing on her before his head followed. He ducked his head and captured her lips with his. Before Gwen could respond, Arthur pulled away.

He pressed his cheek to hers. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't," she replied without hesitation.

He kissed her cheek, her jaw, and then the pulse point of her neck. He nibbled, teasing her, preparing her. His fangs extended and penetrated her flesh. She tensed for a moment, letting out a small gasp. Arthur would've pulled away, but one of her hands clutched his tunic at his chest while the other went from the nape of his neck and trailed up into his hair as she pressed herself closer to him.

Arthur has never tasted anything so rich, so pure. He was instantly jealous of Morgana for having Gwen all to herself, but at the same time, he thought his sister foolish for giving her up. He felt Gwen's grip slacken, and he pulled away before he lost control. The bite welled; he caught a trickle of blood with his tongue before it made its way down her neck. Arthur had to stop himself.

He bit his lip so it bled. He kissed his bite on her neck, his blood healing her.

"You're not useless. Don't ever think that," he murmured into her neck before pulling away.

"Arthur…" she said breathlessly, fixated on his bloodstained lips. She lifted on her toes and kissed him hard, tasting their mingled blood.

Gwen watched the footage of the warehouse burning on the late night news. They were calling it an accident. A rave gone wrong. Gwen turned off the television and stared blankly at the black screen. She saw Morgana standing behind her in the reflection.

"What's on your mind, Gwen?"

"I want you to release me." The words flowed out of her mouth.

Morgana was in front of her in an instant, gripping her arms. "What did you say?"

"I want you to release me," Gwen repeated.

"Why would you want such a thing?" Morgana asked frantically. "I thought we were sisters! You-You were the one who wanted this, to serve me forever!" she shrieked. Her grip on Gwen's arms tightened.

Gwen winced. "I've been loyal to you for centuries, Morgana, even after you forced me to leave him-to stop loving him. I can't take this anymore. You force to feed on humans to excess. To kill. I can't be part of this warpath you're on. You're conjuring seven different types of hell just to spite your family!"

"You're my family, Gwen."

Morgause casually walked into the room. "Hurry, sister. Don't keep her waiting. She already has her suitcase packed." She casually picked dried blood out from under her fingernails.

Gwen never trusted Morgause. She was an instigator, a manipulator, and the fuel to Morgana's fire.

There was a heavy silence in the room before Morgana broke it. "How long were you planning this?" She snarled. "Oh, my sweet, sweet, Gwen. You're going to run back to him, aren't you? Go back to being his little whore."

When Gwen was still a little girl, she gave Morgana a bouquet of wild flowers. She held them up in front of her face and shyly said, "These are for you, my lady."

Morgana bent down looking Gwen in the eyes over the other side of the bouquet. "You are the sweetest thing," she said. "A sweet voice, sweet honey brown eyes, a sweet face hiding behind this sweet bouquet."

"Release me, Morgana." This time Gwen's voice was cold and her eyes were hard with defiance. "I will not ask you again."

The slightest look of loss could be seen in Morgana's eyes before her jaw clenched, her face turning to stone. She dropped her arms and backed away. Looking her progeny in the eye she said, "I release you…Guinevere."

Gwen let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She felt her chest constrict then release. It was the most relief she felt since Morgana took her away. She was free.

"Don't thank me. In fact, I should be the one thanking you." Morgana said impassively. "At least I won't be forced to feel anything when you die."

"Goodbye, Morgana," Gwen said. This time she closed the door behind herself.

Gwen sat on Morgana's bed, her fingers nervously picking at the sheets just like the first time she sat on her bed fourteen years ago.

Morgana sat next to her and held her hand. Arthur stood off to the side, a bundle of nerves.

"You can go, Arthur," Morgana said.

He tried to protest.

She smiled warmly. "Go, dear brother. I'll get you when it's done."

Arthur still looked hesitant. Gwen gave him a nod of reassurance. With one last look, Arthur left Morgana's chambers.

They watched the door close behind him. Gwen gripped Morgana's hand. "I'm ready."

Morgana hugged Gwen, buried her face in her neck, and bit down. Morgana never fed from her neck, and Gwen could immediately tell the difference between the siblings approach. Arthur's fangs had pierced her slowly, as gently as possible. Morgana was quick and anxious.

Her mistress drank fiercely. Gwen was finding it harder to breathe; her heart pounded heavily, her body panicking. Morgana didn't relent, and her body stopped fighting. She tired and her vision darkened as her eyelids closed. Her body went limp.

Morgana felt the blood flow slower and sucked harder. She couldn't get enough. Gwen's blood was like fine wine matured with age. She regretted pushing Gwen to the side in favor for a manservant.

When she realized she couldn't feel Gwen's pulse against her lips, she broke away with a gasp. Gwen's head lolled back, arms limp at her sides. No. No! NO! Morgana panicked.

Uther told his children that when they decided to become a maker, to not drain all the blood. The last bit of their future progeny's old life must be left in them.

She laid Gwen down on the bed. She bit her wrist and brought it to Gwen's mouth. "Drink, Gwen," Morgana pleaded. "Come on, Gwen. You have to drink!" She wedged her wrist deeper between Gwen's lips. "Please, Guinevere! Please don't leave me!"

Gwen's lips twitched against Morgana's wrist, her throat bobbed as she drank. Tears of relief flowed down Morgana's face. Gwen's hands came up to clutch Morgana's wrist, trying to bring it even closer. Her grip tightened and her feeding became more aggressive.

"That's enough, Gwen." Morgana said soothingly as she pried herself gently from Gwen's mouth. Gwen's head instinctively lifted as her nose followed the scent of blood.

The Gwen's eyes shot open and she collapsed back on the bed. She could taste the sweet, sharp, metallic taste of blood on each taste bud. She focused on the roof of the canopy bed. It shook with vibrations as she tried to focus, then she saw each individual grain.

Morgana was calling her name. Turning her head she saw Morgana lean over her, gently grasping her shoulders. Gwen watched as each raven strand fell over her maker's shoulder, moving together and swaying like an inky black curtain.

"Morgana," Gwen's voice rasped as she reached for her.

Morgana helped her sit up and hugged her tightly. "I'm here, Gwen." She rocked her newborn progeny. "Forever."

Christmas Eve, 1933

Gwen wrote on the back of the photograph and tucked it into the breast pocket of Arthur's tuxedo jacket. As her hand lifted away, Arthur took it in his and brought his other to rest on the small of her back.

"What are you doing?" Gwen asked teasingly.

"Dance with me, Guinevere."

"There's no music." She said as her hand rested on his forearm.

Arthur brought his head down closer to hers, noses touching. "There's always music."

They rocked slowly side to side. Gwen placed her head on his chest and Arthur rested his chin on top of her head. She began to hum. He knew the song well, he listened to her sing it countless times.

When I dream of you

Dream the whole night through…

The candlelight flickered and reflected off her gold sequin gown making it glitter and shine as if it too were a flame. Arthur took advantage of the opened back of her dress, and his fingers slowly stroked up and down her spine.

Gwen smiled and continued to hum.

Lie awake and softly whisper

"I'm quite in love with you…"

Later that night, Gwen laid in their bed on her stomach as Arthur trailed slow opened mouth kisses up her back. He reached the bite on her shoulder he gave her moments ago and licked away the blood as it healed closed. Gwen's head rested on the pillow to the side, her eyes closed and a satiated smile on her face.

"I love you, Guinevere," Arthur whispered in her ear.

It was their last night together.

Uther called everyone to the headquarters Christmas morning. Arthur, Morgana, and his core council sat in the conference room. Gwen stood dutifully behind her maker.

"I called you here to announce my retirement. I wanted you all to know first. I'm passing the Authority to my son, Arthur." Uther said.

"What?" the Pendragon siblings said in unison.

"I've seen you lead the most brutal battles and achieve the most glorious victories, Arthur. You are always ready to take on anything, especially in these ever-changing times. You are ready to be King. You've been ready for a long time. Do me proud, son." Uther placed a firm, supportive hand his shoulder.

Morgana bolted out of her seat. "It's not fair!" she shouted. "I work harder. You're only giving it Arthur because your mind is stuck in the Dark Ages!"

Uther rose from his seat, everyone followed. "You're too irrational, Morgana. At a sudden irritation, you become Elizabeth Báthory!" Uther stated.

Morgana was boiling. Uther always favored Arthur. She would always be his bastard daughter. There were times when she truly loved Arthur as her brother, but in moments like these, she truly hated him. To her, he was just her half brother. Uther mourned Arthur's mother, but not hers. He raised Arthur, he took Morgana in when she was ten. They may share Uther's blood, but Arthur was his son.

She should be Queen. Gwen would now have more power than her in the Authority. Uther never approved of Arthur and Gwen's relationship, but they lasted longer than any known vampire couple, a millennium devoted to each other. They had a sire bond forged from love.

Morgana had been entertained by their relationship, how gentle and domesticated Arthur became around Gwen. As her maker, Morgana could sense the way Arthur made her progeny feel. It was a different love that Morgana wasn't sure she could give or ever receive.

Gwen was a buffer between the siblings. She had a lovely way of not choosing sides and not having one feeling loved more than the other. But now Gwen will stand at Arthur's side as his queen. She'll have more power than her.

Morgana's temper flared. "I've led, I've fought! And I get nothing!"

"Stop acting like a petulant child, Morgana. I'll be happy to have you as head of council." Arthur offered.

She snapped. "I'll show you petulant child, dear brother." She glared. "Guinevere!" she called. "We're leaving."

Gwen gave Morgana a questioning look. "Morg—"

"As your maker, I forbid you to love Arthur." Morgana would always remember the crushing look on Arthur's face.

Before anyone could say a word, Gwen and Morgana were gone, not to be seen again for the next eighty years.

It was almost three in the morning when Merlin left the office. He passed the rabbit blood off to Gwaine, who took the beer too. He trudged down the sidewalk; it's been a long day. Not paying attention, he tripped over a suitcase.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" A woman said. Merlin looked to see her scramble up from her sitting position on the sidewalk curb. When he saw her face, Merlin gaped.

"You-You-It's you! I can't believe it's you!" Merlin exclaimed, pointing at her.

A million scenes went through Gwen's head as she wondered where Merlin knew her from, fearing he's seen her with Morgana in one of the many horrible acts she was forced to commit. She just heard the trail end of what he was saying.

"…ur rabbit, Mr. Hopper!"

"What did you just say?" Gwen's eyes went wide.

"Arthur ate your rabbit, Mr. Hopper. You're Guinevere! I've seen your picture."

"You know…Arthur…?" She hadn't said his name in eighty years.

"Unfortunately, I do. That prat bleeds me dry, figuratively, of course." Merlin's excitement died down when he realized she was looking at him funny. "I'm Merlin, by the way. It's nice to meet you, Guinevere."

She couldn't believe this human. "Call me Gwen…" It's the only thing she could manage to get out.

Merlin eyed the suitcase. "Are you going somewhere?"

She didn't have much of a plan for when she would leave Morgana. She honestly didn't think Morgana would let her go. She went to the Authority, hoping to find Arthur, but it was too late and she knew he wasn't there, so she sat on the curb in defeat. "I wasn't…Could you take me…to him?" she asked hesitantly.

A wide smile spread across Merlin's face. "Of course!"

The most Arthur had moved since Merlin left was to lay his head in his arms on the table. He heard the jittering of the lock and the door swing open and bang against the wall. Groaning in annoyance, he got up and walked to the hall shouting, "Merlin, I'm really considering revoking your key privileges!"

"Not after this you won't," Merlin said smugly as he moved out of the doorway and walked passed Arthur.

Arthur's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't believe his eyes. "Guinevere…"

"Hello, Arthur." Gwen looked down at the threshold then back to him, lips curved in a hesitant smile. "Can I come in?"

Her voice snapped him out his trance. He walked to the doorway and stood just on the other side of the entrance.

"Please." It was an invitation and a prayer as he brought his hand up for her to take before she was taken from him again. "Come in."

Gwen stepped over the threshold and into his arms.

A/N: So yeah. Welcome back to those who read the original one-shot, and hello to new readers!

Thank you for reading!