Disclaimer - I do not own Merlin. It belong to the BBC. I do however own my OC, Sophie.
Pairings - Arthur/Merlin (not yet but soon) & Morgana/Gwen.
Spoilers - slightly for Season 1, but not really.
Uther's alive as well as Lancelot.
Young Mordred will be featured in this. He's good not evil by the way. The real baddie is Cenred.
The Dragon and The Lion
Chapter 1 - Gone
Merlin walked through the castle's corridors, he was wearing his usual clothing - blue tunic and red neckerchief. As he walked down the stairs that lead to the corridor he bumped into Lady Morgana and Gwen's maid, Sophie. Morgana and Gwen first became an item last week after Morgana was comforting Gwen just after Uther killed her father, they both didn't share anymore than that.
"Hello, Sophie," Merlin said, nearly knocking over the basket of washing she was holding.
"Hi, Merlin. How are you doing?" She smiled sweetly at him.
"I'm great! No really, with Arthur off on a week long hunting trip, I've had time to relax."
"Well... That's good I guess, but why aren't you with Arthur? You're his manservant after all." Sophie stared at Merlin waiting for an answer. Merlin looked back guiltily.
"I-I may have used a tiny bit of magic to...uh."
"To control his will," Sophie said bluntly, looking at Merlin.
"Hey! Don't say too much a guard may hear and tell Uther."
"Okay, calm down. Anyway I know about your magic as well as Gwen and Lady Morgana, Arthur too, the knights." Merlin raised his hands to stop her talking.
"I get it Sophie. Pretty much everyone except Uther, the guards and his trusted knights know about me."
"Well you shouldn't have used magic to get out of this. If you just asked Arthur if could you stay here then maybe he would of let you."
"You're right I guess. God! Arthur's gonna kill me when the spell wears off." Merlin raised his hands to his head, pulling on his hair.
"Good luck, Merlin. You're going to need it." Sophie then moved past Merlin and up to Morgana's chambers.
'What am I going to do? The trust will fly out of the window now when Arthur realises what I've done'
Shaking his head, Merlin walked out into the courtyard with his head down still deep in thought. Merlin being Merlin though wasn't watching where he was going and bumped into a small boy.
"Oh! Sorry, I didn't see you there." Merlin stepped back to see if the boy was OK. He had a cloak on so Merlin couldn't see his face, so Merlin crouched down to look at the boy and when he did, he heard a voice.
"Emrys."
Startled, Merlin pulled back the hood to reveal.
"Mordred!" Merlin glanced around quickly and pulled the hood back covering Mordred's face.
"Follow me." Merlin pulled Mordred into the castle, quickly avoiding the passing guards, then he climbed the steps to Morgana's chambers. Merlin knocked on the door quickly still looking for guards.
"My Lady." As soon as he said this Gwen opened the door and Merlin quickly ran in with Mordred.
"Merlin!" Morgana stood up quickly, waling over to Merlin. "What's the meaning of this?"
Merlin pulled back Mordred's hood.
"Him."
"Morgana, Emrys."
Morgana gasped, "Mordred. Merlin, why is he here?"
"I don't know, I bumped into him in the courtyard."
Morgana crouched down in front of Mordred.
"What's wrong Mordred? Why are you here?"
"I have to tell you that Arthur is in danger. He's been captured along with his knights." Morgana sat their looking at Mordred stunned. Gwen and Sophie looked confused. Gwen then turned to Merlin.
"Merlin, why isn't he saying anything?"
"He's using the power of the Old Religion to telepathically communicate with Morgana. He can only do this with others from the Old Religion, including myself. Both Morgana and I can do this too, but Morgana doesn't like to unless it's necessary." Merlin turned back to Morgana and Mordred. Morgana stood up and looked at Merlin, she looked scared.
"Arthur's gone."
"Gone! What do you mean gone?" Merlin looked terrified.
"He's been captured along with his knights, Lancelot and Gwaine too by Cenred. That's all Mordred knows." Morgana looked at him sadly.
"Well, we need a plan," Merlin stated. "Arthur was still supposed to have 6 days left of his hunting trip, so that means Uther won't be expecting him back yet. All of us have to get Arthur back before the 6 days are up." Gwen looked at Merlin, not sure this plan would work.
"But, Merlin. We all can't go. Uther and Gaius will notice us missing."
"Gwen's right, Merlin. I can't do much anyway, so maybe you and Mordred can go," Sophie said. Morgana interjected.
"No... We all need to go. Merlin, Mordred and myself can use magic to get Arthur and the knights out. Sophie you're pretty good with a sword, Gwen has amazing memory so she could lead the way out as well as keep guard."
Merlin perked up, an idea coming to mind.
"I just thought of something. It doesn't matter if Gaius and Uther notice us gone because Uther will send a search party out for you Morgana, so if thr knights aren't thick they'll follow us right to Cenred and that we'll have more chance of freeing Arthur. Sound like a plan?" Merlin looked round questioningly, until Sophie spoke up.
"I noticed that Leon and Elyan didn't go with Arthur so we could tell them to lead the search party to Cenred, then when we come back with Arthur, we can just say we met them on the way back so Uther doesn't start a war and danger the people of Camelot." Sophie looked quite pleased with herself after that. Merlin looked down at Mordred who had remained quiet throughout this plan, looking slightly concerned, Merlin crouched down to his level and looked him in the eye. Telepathically speaking to him.
"Mordred?"
"They have the people of my Druid Camp."
"Who? Cenred?"
"Yes. Cenred has an alliance with Nimueh."
"Nimueh!"
"She's very powerful. I only just managed to escape."
"Why didn't you mention this before?"
"I didn't want to think about it. I'm scared, Emrys."
"Don't worry, we'll get the rest of the Druids back."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"You and Arthur will be united together well."
"What do you mean?"
"Merlin?" It was Gwen who said his name. "What's wrong with him?" Merlin stood up in confusion. "What?"
"Mordred. What's up with him?" Gwen pressed on.
"Oh, Cenred also attacked the Druid Camp Mordred was in, that's why he knows about Arthur. Cenred has captured the Druids and has made an alliance with Nimueh."
"Nimueh," Morgana said shocked.
"Yes so all of us do need to go," Merlin said.
"So the plan is still the same then?" asked Sophie.
"Yes we will sneak out of Camelot at midnight. Sophie can you inform Leon and Elyan."
"Of course, Merlin." Sophie ran out of the room. Merlin turned to Gwen.
"Gwen can you pack food, water, clothing, weapons and anything else you think we need."
"My pleasure," she said, the skirts of her dress swishing around her ankles.
"Morgana."
"Yes?"
"Can you look after Mordred and keep him safe."
"Of course I can do that." Morgana put her hand into Mordred's and let him climb on the bed and snuggle into Morgana.
"He's had a rough time recently Morgana. Make sure he's alright." Merlin started to walk to the door.
"Don't worry about him, Merlin. I'll guard him with my life. You concentrate on saving Arthur, I know you care greatly for him."
"I do. I'll get the horses together." With that Merlin left the room.
Morgana turned her head to Mordred, who was snuggled into her lap.
"We both know that Merlin cares for Arthur as much as I care for Gwen."
"Love will catch up to them soon."
Morgana smiled down at the now sleeping Mordred. She laid him down on the bed. "I know it will."
Please review! :D