A/N: What's up guys? Hope you guys like this new chapter! As always, please review! You'll notice these are a bit short. I hope they'll get longer as I get further in the story. Also, a little bit of self promotion: if you like my work, please check out my website for info on my new NOVEL coming out next year. Link is on my profile.
Iamamuffin: Thank you! I hope you like this one. I've got...a bit up my sleeve. ;)
MusicalsandMordred: Yay, you're back! Thank you! I hope you like this update. And yes, will answer that question.
Gibichan: Thank you! I'm sorry I have made your heart hurt, but I'm glad you can sympathize with the characters. I hope you like this one!
And now, without any further ado, back to our irregularly scheduled programming.
One year ago…
"She's still our child!" Adri was sobbing now.
"Our child?" Merlin asked disbelievingly. "I stabbed Morgana through the stomach. How could you ever think that is our child? She should have stayed dead…"
"STOP!" A wave of magic shot out as Adri's eyes lit gold. Merlin's eyes flashed gold as he raised a shield around himself, Arthur, and Gwen.
The babe smiled in her sleep.
Arthur grabbed the back of Merlin's shirt, pulling him out of the room.
"Gwen!" Merlin protested.
"She'll be fine." Arthur threw Merlin down the hall forcefully. Merlin stumbled, turning to glare at Arthur.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Merlin's glare deepened. "I'm trying to protect you, and this kingdom, and my family."
"That baby is your family, Merlin!"
"Morgana is no family of mine!"
"What if that's not Morgana? What if you're wrong, hmm? What if you've grown so paranoid that…"
"You think I'm crazy? That's rich coming from you, Arthur."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"How many times? How many times didn't you listen to me?"
"Merlin…"
"You think that I would make this accusation if I wasn't sure?" Merlin's voice was filled with quiet rage. "You think I want this? If I could turn a blind eye, I would, but every time I've done that in the past, every time I've done that with her, it ends in death and destruction."
Arthur held up a hand. "Alright. Alright, say she is Morgana. That still doesn't change the fact that she's your daughter, Merlin."
"And she was your sister, but that didn't stop her from killing your father."
"Merlin. Stop."
The two men looked away from each other a long moment.
"The fact remains," Arthur finally began, "she's here, and she's your child."
"She's no child of mine."
"But she is, Merlin."
"So I raise her? Watch her grow up, knowing what she'll do?"
"You beat Fate once again. Maybe this is your chance to do it for her."
"Fighting Fate is what got us in this mess!"
"But Morgana's fate's already been fulfilled. Hasn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Morgana's already done her part. It's Mordred who had his destiny thwarted."
"But Mordred needs Morgana."
"We don't know that."
"After everything the seers said, everything she's done, you'd take that risk?"
"I'd take that risk because she's your daughter, Merlin."
Merlin's face crumpled ever so slightly. "I don't know how to be a father to her, Arthur. I couldn't...to know...why can't for once…" Arthur drew his friend into his arms. They stood there silently for a long moment, Merlin crying silently.
"I'm sorry, Merlin. I'm sorry this is your burden to bear. If I could…"
Merlin drew back. "Arthur, it's not your fault."
Arthur sighed. "If I were dead…"
"Arthur. Don't."
Arthur opened his mouth when the door opened behind him. Gwen stepped out.
"She's asleep." Gwen gave Merlin a reproachful look. "You need to speak to her, after you've both rested." Merlin nodded, sighing. Tomorrow would be a long day.
Present. In Caerleon…
"Merlin?" Arthur glanced over at Court Sorcerer with an impatient glance. "Merlin!"
"Forgive me, sire. You were saying?"
Arthur barely kept a sarcastic quip from slipping past his lips. In the time since Adri had left, Arthur had watched his friend digress into the shell of a man he had been after Avalon. Even Pippa, Rowan, Nissa, and Galin had failed to bring their uncle out of his gloom. Merlin had grown...cold.
"We were discussing the revision on the laws regarding the selling of magical wares." Arthur glanced over at Caerleon's council. The two of them had come to Caerleon almost three months ago after an outbreak of illegal magic and supposed magic attacks. It was rare for both of them to come to Caerleon, but the situation demanded it.
"I believe I presented the suggested revision already, your Majesty."
"Yes. I was asking if you agreed we should go ahead and vote," Arthur prompted.
"Indeed, I believe…" Merlin broke off as the warning bells sounded. Arthur stood quickly. Roland entered the council chambers.
"Sire! We believe there is an assassin in the palace," Roland reported breathlessly. "We found three guards dead of magical means."
"And we were brought here because of magic issues." Arthur exchanged a look with Merlin.
"Sire, we must get you somewhere safe."
"Roland, escort the lords through to the great hall, have the guards accompany you."
"Arthur…" Merlin's voice spoke warning.
"The assassin is most likely coming after me. I won't put them in danger," Arthur explained softly, firmly.
"This way, my lords." Roland motioned to the council members. Merlin was now glaring at Arthur.
"Can you feel him?" Arthur asked, ignoring the glare. Merlin closed his eyes for a minute.
"No," he finally said.
"Could he be using magic to hide himself from you?"
"Possibly. It's more likely he's not very powerful. However…"
"Merlin!" Arthur cried out in warning. Merlin's eyes flashed as he called up a shield around Arthur and himself. But the shield only wrapped itself around Arthur. Merlin's expression showed his confusion as two arrows slammed into him from behind.
Present. In Camelot…
Pippa stood before the mirror, arms extended as the seamstress measured her hem. She was being fitted for a silk gown, a dress meant for a fine lady. Gwen smiled at her eldest daughter. Nissa was watching intently, a doll cradled in her arms.
"You look beautiful, Pippa." The eleven year old glanced over her shoulder, smiling at her mother.
"Mama, I wanna dress like Pippa!" Nissa demanded.
Gwen laid a hand on the little girl's head. "You're going to have to get a little bigger before you can have a dress like that, darling." Nissa stuck out her lip, crossing her arms tighter over her doll. Pippa watched her in the mirror.
"Maybe we can make a dress for your doll out of the scraps," Pippa suggested to her little sister.
"Yes!" Nissa crowed. Gwen smiled.
"Look at you." Gwen moved to grip Pippa's shoulders. "When did you get so big?" Pippa smiled, leaning back against her mother. She opened her mouth to answer when her eyes rolled back in her head, her knees giving way.
"Pippa!" Gwen caught her. She pulled her daughter back against her lap, kneeling on the floor. "Fetch Alice!" Gwen ordered the seamstress.
"Of course, Your Majesty!"
"Pippa." Nissa's voice quavered. She crept closer, tears welling in her eyes.
"Pippa. Darling, wake up! Pippa!"
Pippa groaned, her eyelids fluttering open. "Mommy…"
"I'm here, darling. I'm here." Gwen sighed, running a hand over her daughter's forehead. Nissa crouched beside them, childishly patting Pippa's arm.
"Vision…" Pippa groaned. Gwen bit her lip. Pippa's seer's gift and magical abilities had only grown stronger the older she had gotten. Sometimes particularly strong visions struck her now during the middle of the day.
"What did you see?" Gwen asked gently.
Pippa looked up quickly. "Uncle Merlin's in trouble."
