Title: Spectrum
Category: Het (Canon)
Characters/Pairings: Merlin/Morgana (implied)
Rating/Warnings: K+
Summary: A chronological series of recollections based on eight different roles Morgana has played in Merlin's life throughout the years.
Part I: The Great Beauty
Merlin had never believed women like the Lady Morgana existed before he'd come to Camelot.
Like most children, he'd been raised on grand tales of knights and chivalry, men who'd been inspired to perform acts of great courage in exchange for the favor of the one who held their heart's devotion. He'd heard countless legends about genteel ladies who were so gracious, so breathtakingly radiant, that brave knights had gladly sacrificed their lives in tribute to their beauty.
Merlin had always rolled his eyes at such nonsense. What kind of fool would go off and get himself killed just to impress a girl? And what sort of cruel hearted person would expect such a thing anyway?
The women he knew were nothing like that and he was glad for it. In his tiny village, they were gentle, hardworking, and kind. Like his mother, Hunith, they took care of their husbands and sons, asking only that the men tend to the duties that were necessary for their family's survival in return.
They definitely didn't send them off to hunt monsters on their behalf, and the men certainly showed no interest in embarking on perilous quests for no good reason. Who had time for such foolishness, when there were cows to be milked, crops to be harvested, buildings to mend, and a dozen other chores that required their constant attention?
Merlin's feelings on the subject hadn't changed when he'd grown old enough to take an interest in girls himself. Sure, there were a few in his village who were quite pretty, and he felt warm inside whenever one of them happened to look in his direction. But that had never inspired him further than offering to carry a heavy bucket of water, so he might spend a few extra minutes in their company.
He sure didn't feel the urge to go off and fight a dragon, simply because this girl smelled good or that one had once told him he had a nice smile.
No, such grand tales had always seemed ridiculous to him... that is, until he'd come to Camelot and had seen her for the first time.
Merlin vividly remembered the night she'd come floating into the banquet hall, clad in a burgundy gown that had displayed her slender figure to perfection. He would never forget the tendrils of rich, dark hair that had caressed her bare shoulders, nor the knowing little smile that had played around her lips as she'd clearly felt the enraptured gaze of every man in the room upon her.
Suddenly, those old legends he'd always scoffed at hadn't seemed so foolish anymore. Because in that moment, he was quite sure he would've given his life just to have her notice him.