Merlin woke up in his bed, alone and confused. Alone he was used to but confused, eh, he was used to that too. He tried to remember what had happened the day before and when it finally came back to him he shot up in bed with a gasp. He had to save Morgana and rid them both of Mordred. With Morgause gone, Merlin was almost afraid to think of who had Morgana under their control.
He got up and dressed himself in a shorter time than it usually took and ran toward the castle's front doors. Though he was soon stopped by someone calling his name.
"Merlin, where on earth do you think you are going?" Arthur was gaining on him, Agravaine only steps behind the king. Agravaine, why didn't I think of him. Of course he must be the one controlling Morgana with the help of Mordred. Little bastard. Big bastard too.
"Arthur, I was just going out on an errand for Gaius." Merlin pleaded with Arthur to understand that he needed to leave, he had to finish this once and for all, but he also needed to find the right spell so that he could free Morgana. The way he should have years ago. A voice that sounded almost like Kilgharrah sounded in his head. You should have finished it when you were first told to.
"Surely it can wait just a moment? Or we can send Agravaine out to do it, he wouldn't mind." Arthur widened his eyes for just a moment, and Merlin realized that Arthur knew what he was going to do. Arthur remembered what the older Merlin had said, and he was willing to help.
"Surely, sire, I would be of much more help here in the kingdom-" Arthur lifted a hand to cut him off.
"Agravaine, ask Merlin what he was going to seek for Gaius." Arthur smiled almost too sweetly. Agravaine looked lost for words but slowly turned to Merlin and asked.
"What must you seek for the physician?" he asked, Merlin smiled.
"There is a flower deep in the woods that has numbing abilities, Gaius needs at least three of them. It might not seem like much but they go a long way in helping the knights when they are injured." Agravaine nodded.
"And what does this flower look like?" he asked, Merlin tried not to laugh as he lied to the man.
"Well the petals are blue, light blue, with almost a purple hew toward the bottom, remember, I need three full flowers. But there is also a bush, the leaves come in bushels of three." Merlin added.
"I need these leaves as well?" Agravaine asked.
"No, you need the berries, they help to stave off infection." Merlin reached into his satchel and pulled out a small wicker basket. "I need this filled to the brim. The berries will be and oddish orange-yellow. You will know when you seem them."
"Will that be all?" Merlin almost had the heart to stop. Almost.
"I need a handful of monkshood." Merlin nodded.
"Isn't that flower poisonous?" Agravaine asked.
"You never know when you are going to need to poison someone." Merlin turned from the door and walked up the stairs as Agravaine walked down them. "Thank you, Agravaine, you've no idea how much this means to me as well as Gaius, we wouldn't want anyone to be in pain or infected."
"Of course." Agravaine huffed and continued out of the castle.
Once Agravaine was out of earshot, Merlin turned to Arthur, following him as he started toward the throne room. "So, what is your plan?"
"We must find Morgana so you can break the spell that was placed upon her. I believe that Agravaine is the one helping Mordred control her." Arthur said as they walked into the throne room.
"I was going to suggest him as well. He must be working with Mordred." Merlin nodded. Inside the throne room sat all of the knights along with Gwen and Gaius.
"You told him to look for herbs Merlin?" Gaius asked.
"A rare flower, actually. As well as strange berries and poison," Arthur smiled. "He'll never find the flower in our woods, which means that it is up to you two to distract him when he gets back." Arthur nodded at Gwen and Gaius.
"Of course, sire, it would be our pleasure." Gwen smiled.
"He might get angry, so I leave you two of my most trusted knights. Sirs Lancelot and Elyan." Arthur smiled. "Serve her well." they nodded back, giving a slight bow.
"That leaves Leon, Gwaine, Percival, Arthur and I." Merlin said.
"Right, the plan is for us to go to Morgana's hovel. We must hurry, I'm sure Agravaine will stop and ask of this flower after he has gathered his berries and Monkshood. We have to get Merlin there to break the spell before Agravaine has time to notice that the flower isn't real. Once we have Morgana back, Leon, I am entrusting you to get her back to Camelot safely. Gwen, accommodate her please."
"That leaves the two of us along with you and Merlin, sire." Gwaine added, nodding his head at Percival.
"Exactly, we must then get Merlin to Mordred. Merlin," Merlin turned to Arthur, he was shocked by the amount of trust and affection that was in his eyes. "I am going to give you Excalibur once the time is right. You know what you must do next. We will handle the rest." Arthur gave him a warm smile.
"There is only one problem." Gaius spoke up.
"What might that be?" Arthur asked.
'Merlin, do you know the spell you may need to use to break Morgana free?" Merlin stopped.
"Sire, I don't know of any such spells." Arthur sighed.
"How long do you assume it would take you to search for one?" Arthur asked.
"Well, with Gaius's help, not very long, I suppose." Merlin looked to Gaius for confirmation.
"Of course I will help you Merlin." Gaius stood from his seat. "Shall we all meet back here in say, a quarter of an hour?"
"We shall see you then. Good luck." Arthur nodded to them. "Gwaine, Percival, follow me. We must prepare the horses."
"Gaius, what kind of spell are we looking for?" Merlin asked once they had reached their rooms.
"One that can sever a connection to mind control. Anything that deals with healing of the mind will do. It should be on the stronger side though." Gaius explained. He took a seat and opened one of Merlin's spell books and began to read.
Merlin took a seat as well, doing the same. He flipped through the pages as fast as he could. They didn't have much time before Agravaine would notice he had been tricked. They needed to be able to save Morgana and rid the world of Mordred before Agravine could come back and cause more trouble.
Suddenly Merlin stopped on a page of his spell book. "Gaius, I think I might have found what we need."
Gaius looked up from his text. "Well?"
"It says that it has the ability to wake the host from any sort of sleep paralysis or any sort of taking of the mind. I assume that taking of the mind means control." Merlin stated.
"It might just be what you need to wake Morgana from the spell she is under. Mordred may be strong, but he is no match for Emrys." Gaius smiled.
"All I have to do is memorise this spell and hope that it will be enough to wake her." Merlin grinned.
"In case that it is not-"
"We don't have the time to think like that, we have to go Gaius." they both made their way back to the throne room, meeting back with everyone.
"Any luck?" Gwen asked softly.
"I believe I found the right spell to wake her." Merlin nodded.
"Great, we're all ready to go then?" Arthur asked. He got affirmation from everyone in the room.
"So, shall we ride?" Leon was the first to speak up.
"We shall, let us leave now while there is still daylight." as the knights began to file out of the room, Arthur grabbed Merlin's arm and pulled him back.
"Sire?" Merlin asked.
"Merlin, once we are finished and back in Camelot, I think there is much we have to discuss, for now, I shall leave you this." Arthur grabbed Merlin's chin softly and kissed him with so much passion, it left Merlin breathless.
"Yes, I believe there will be much to discuss, Arthur." Merlin said with a smile once they parted.
"So don't go and get yourself killed out there, you understand?" Merlin heard more emotion in Arthur's voice in that one sentence than he ever had before, even when he was addressing his knights or his people in a time of great distress.
"Don't worry sire, if I've kept you alive this long, then I will be just fine." Merlin smirked, beginning to walk from the room. Arthur sighed and shook his head.
"Let us hope you are right Merlin." but he followed his soon to be consort all the same.
The ride out of Camelot was eerie and silent. Unlike any other ride they had taken before. This one seemed to hold so much more for them. The return of the Lady Morgana they all knew and loved and the end of the evil that had plagued this kingdom ever since she had gone. But knowing now that it was never her will to do the things she had done, they wanted her back all the more. She never meant anyone any wrong, yet she was forced to so such and worse.
They came upon her hovel just as the light of day began to turn to dusk. The men began to realize what was about to unfold. As it was to be more than any war they had faced together yet. The outcome needed to be in their favor, or they would be losing much more than their pride.
Merlin was first to descend from his horse. Arthur following shortly after. "Remember the plan. We must act fast. Night is almost upon us." Arthur commanded. Leon helped his horse to its knees, knowing he would need to be quick. Breaking the spell on Morgana would be sure to alert Mordred in some way.
Merlin took one last look around the circle of men before he made his way to the hovel and quickly walked inside. Morgana was sitting in front of her fire, staring at it blankly.
"Merlin, come so I can kill you at last?" her voice held no tone. It was just as blank as her stare. Merlin knew he had no time to waste. He lifted his hand and said his spell clearly.
"Debellaturus imperium." Morgana didn't bat an eyelash at him.
"Do you honestly think your silly magic will work on me, Merlin?" Morgana turned and for only a second, Merlin began to wonder if he was already too late. Morgana lifted her hand, her eyes flashing gold. "Auferetur!"
Merlin was slammed into the wall behind him but even through his pain he didn't waver. "Debellaturus imperium." he said again. Morgana didn't even flinch. Merlin had to do something. They spell he found wasn't working. Gaius was trying to warm he it might not work and he just dismissed him.
"Stop while you're ahead Merlin." Morgana laughed, it was the laugh of someone who wasn't their self.
"I have no intention to stop until the spell on you is broken." Merlin gasped.
"There is no spell on me Merlin." Morgana snarled. Merlin closed his eyes to gather his thoughts. He reached out and let his magic take over. Lifting his hand, words slipped through his lips, setting the air alite, his eyes burning gold.
"CUT A MALO!" he screamed. Arthur and the knights were shocked by the flash of light inside the hovel. Merlin rushed to catch a fallen Morgana who was gasping for her breath.
"Merlin, Merlin thank you." she gasped out. Merlin could tell she was out of harm's way, but they had to get her back to Camelot before Mordred had a chance to get to her again. "Merlin, please, y-you have to believe me. I never meant for a-any of this to happen. I never wanted for anyone, even Uther, to be hurt. Please, Merlin," she was in tears.
"Morgana, please, calm down. I believe you, we all believe you. We know you never meant any harm. You were being controlled." Merlin brushed the tears from her cheeks.
"How did you know?" she gasped. Merlin gave her a knowing smile.
"Emrys knows all." Morgana's eyes widened. "You have nothing to fear Morgana, I want to keep you safe." Morgana sobbed at his words. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Please, can you tell us where Mordred is?"
"He… he is not far from here, in a druid camp. But he must know what has h-happened by now. He will be coming here. Coming from the east." Morgana had fear embedded in her eyes. Merlin would have to change that.
"Worry not Morgana, for we are ready to face him, and he will be no more." Merlin lifted her into his arms, and carried her out of the hovel, handing her off to Sir Leon, who rode off in a matter of seconds. Morgana was safe.
"Merlin?" Arthur said softly.
"He is heading toward us from the east as we speak. Come on, we have to intercept him." Arthur nodded and handed Merlin a sword.
"As I promised." he smiled. Merlin took the sword carefully and mounted his horse. He rode first with Arthur just behind him, Gwaine and Percivalnot far being Arthur, side by side. They were not riding for long when an angered scream rose into the air and all four of them were thrown from their horses. Arthur was quick to help Merlin up, looking back to check on Gwaine and Percival.
"How dare you!? After all the work I put into perfecting her! How dare you come and remove my magic as if you had the right!" Mordred was livid.
"How dare you use her as if she was only and object and not the human she really is. A human woman with feelings and deep cares for Camelot and it's king. How dare you!" Merlin screamed back.
"She wanted what I gave her. She wanted to feel alone no longer!" Mordred lashed out, eyes turning gold as he threw Gwaine and Percival back against the trees.
"No, that is not what she wanted. She wanted to not have to hide her gifts, to not feel ashamed of what and who she was!" Merlin raised his hand and threw Mordred back. The further he was from Arthur the better.
"NO! SHE WANTED ME!" Mordred had lost it, his magic was out of control, how dare they take her from him. His Morgana was gone, and now he was alone. And Merlin was going to pay dearly for that. Arthur seen what was going to happen before Merlin, he quickly threw a dagger from his belt, hitting Mordred in the thigh.
"Merlin, you know what you must do!" Arthur gave Merlin what he hoped was a reassuring look and pulled him into a kiss. Hopefully it was not their last.
"Arthur Pendragon," Mordred began, his eyes alite with a fire that burned deep and dark inside him. "You will-" before he could finish, Excalibur stuck from his chest. The light in Mordred's eyes began to fade, Arthur knew what Merlin had done.
"I am sorry Mordred, I wish it could have been different." Merlin walked over and pulled the sword from the young druids chest. Leaving him to fall to the ground, dead.
"Merlin, are you alright?" Arthur asked softly. Merlin looked up at him and Arthur was almost worried at the look in his eyes.
"I have killed before, but it will never get any easier." Merlin said, his eyes revealing much more than his words were willing to. "Now, we must get Gwaine and Percy and head back to Camelot. It's getting dark, Agravaine must be back by now." Merlin said. Arthur wanted only to hug Merlin but he complied, helping Merlin to wake their friends so they could get back to Camelot and finish what needed to be made sure they were both okay, they had been thrown into the trees very hard.
"But, Camelot is at least half a days ride out, we'll never make it in time." Gwaine said once Arthur and Merlin had gotten he and Percival awake.
"You two will never make it in time." Merlin smirked.
"Merlin, what are you planning?" Arthur asked, his tone worried.
"You aren't afraid of flying are you?"
[* * * * * * *]
Agravaine stepped inside the castle covered in mud along with leaves and twigs. He was going to kill Merlin, and Gaius, and Arthur for all he cared. He was so done with this. He wouldn't do it himself of course. He would get the druid boy to have Morgana do it. That way his hands would remain clean and free of any blood. Innocent or not.
"Ah, Lord Agravaine, did you retrieve my flowers?" Gaius asked, appearing from nowhere.
"No, Gaius, I did not. Seeing as your precious flowers do not exist." Agravaine spat. Gaius had the audacity to look stunned.
"I am quite sure they do, Lord, seeing as I use them quite often." Gaius replied.
"No they do not you old fool! I asked! They are not real!" Agravaine began to wonder if it were to be more fulfilling to just kill the old man himself, surely there would be no real fight.
"Well, you must have been asking the wrong people." Gaius said plainly. Agravaine growled and lifted his hand, ready to strike Gaius.
"Ah, I would not do that if I were you." Sir Lancelot stepped forward from the shadows.
"Yes, you see, Gaius is a sorcerer, he could kill you with less than one blow." Elyan said, appearing next. Gwen was the last to appear, stepping from behind the two men.
"Not that anyone would miss the likes of you. Striking an old man, how foul." Gwen looked down her nose at him.
"I am the King's advisor. Surely this is treason!" Agravaine scoffed.
"As is holding a Lady against her will. Believe me when I say, you will be executed for your crimes." Leon stepped up behind Agravaine, holding a sleeping Morgana in his arms.
"Lancelot, bring her to my quarters, I must take a look at her, make sure the spell has held no lasting effects." Gaius commanded. Leon carefully handed Morgana over and proceeded to grab Agravaine.
"This is against the law! You have no proof!" Agravaine yanked himself out of Leon's hold and ran for the stairs to return to the castle's main doors.