I switched around the Order of the episodes a bit so Sweet Dreams happens before The nightmare begins.
3rd
Two weeks later
Merlin arrived back from the Conclave two weeks ago now and he has as far as Arthur is aware paid Arthur no notice. In reality Merlin was busy meeting his new team and giving out the first few sets of orders. Merlin was not used to all that power and leading around that many people and so far he was only aware of the ten wizards and two druid sorcerers working in the castle. Five of the wizards Merlin had met before so they weren't much of a problem. The two druids were working in the kitchens, and the troublesome twins had almost been caught twice that Merlin was aware of and he had to already have five meetings with since they started working there two days ago.
The ten wizards were working as servants cleaning the castle and guest rooms washing clothes, and ect. Currently there was more work for servants that usual anyway do to the visiting rulers of the five kingdoms and King Alined trying to cause trouble.
Let's start with day they arrived yesterday. The kings of the five kingdoms arrived. It was not until around noon that as Merlin was cleaning Arthur's spare set of armor that Merlin heard a knock on his door Arthur was out but he never knocked it was his room after all. Cabe came in and said, "Merlin, I just heard the most odd conversation between King Alined and his servant. They are plotting something to stop the treaty. They want to use Vivian and Arthur." "Thank you for telling me."
Then at the feast The Druid twins snuck over to Merlin while Alined's jester was doing his tricks. "Emrys, the jester those aren't party tricks that is real magic. We used to do those exact tricks for the children just as the elders did for us." Nevaeh said. His eyes widened. "Tell the others you can find to keep an eye on him work in sets all the way back to Alined's chambers.
Merlin while watching the jester out of the corner of his eye saw him steal a lock of Vivian's hair, as Merlin made his way to the wizards that he saw. He informed them about what he had been told and they nodded and snuck off. about an hour later the Jester had gone back to the kings chambers and they listened carefully to the spell. The Witch with Merlin at the time knew it after a few seconds of thought. "We read about this spell in history class back at the academy it caused the war with the dwarves a few hundred years back." "According to who?" "The elves." "More likely a few thousand." She giggled quietly.
"We have to get to Arthur he will have to put some drops in his eyes maybe we can stop him." "I'll handle the problem" Merlin said. "You should go back to the apartments and get some rest we will have a long day tomorrow if this doesn't work."
It was dark Merlin waited in the shadows as Arthur slept. Merlin was so glad he had been storing energy he was awake and alert. The sorcerer snuck in, but before he was half way through Merlin blocked the door and spoke. "You really shouldn't do that to the Once and Future King." "What did you say?" Now Merlin knew he knew of the Prophesy, "You really shouldn't do that to the Once and Future King." "Do you know what you are saying?" "Prophesies written by an old family friend, her name is Angela." "The founder of the... Is she still alive?" "Yes, and she has sent a few people here to protect him and this kingdom no matter how crazy it seems. Now you should leave if we ind out you are still here in the morning helping your king we will not protect you. However if you leave now you will be safe from us and your king." "But where shall I go?" "Try the druids. You were one once. Tell them you spoke with Emrys and he sent you back. " "Emrys... of course!"
After Merlin let him leave Merlin put a ward on Arthur's door Merlin had a feeling he would not return but he didn't want to risk it and he just really wanted to sleep. The next day the jester was missing and Alined was angry and annoyed. Other than that the Treaty went off without a hitch.
So the next day the day of the meeting. Well There were twenty five people and then Merlin of course. Among the People was Mordred though he had a grown a few inches and his hair was more curly. You wouldn't recognize him unless you like Morgana and Merlin have spent a lot of time with him.
The Meeting went something like this Merlin stopped by around eleven and the keeper of the apartments had lent them the basement and a few chairs. When he walked down to join those waiting for him to arrive it was silent. As soon as Merlin came in he felt someone short hugging him. He looked down to see Mordred. "Thank you, Emrys." When he let go a fairly young witch then took hold of the boy. "I am sorry about that Emrys." "It's no problem I've known Mordred for awhile now. What is your name?" "Morgause." After her introduction Merlin introduced himself and all the other followed. "Please while in Camelot or around the knights please don't call me Emrys a few of them may have heard the name before so it wouldn't be wise for any of you."
There was a lot of discussion and they were all eager to talk and learn about their fellow hidden magic users. Merlin let them talk it out once he had gotten out the important information. Mordred and Morgause were sitting beside him and he whispered so that Mordred could hear. "Mordred do you want me to see if I can bring Morgana here tomorrow night." The boy smiled wide and nodded.
Merlin made his way back around one am. Once he got in the castle he heard her scream. Merlin ran somehow already knowing where it came from. When he came in Morgana's eyes were just fading from gold. The Quickening had begun. "Morgana come with me." He ran in and practically had to pull her out. He ran with her to the guard sleeping in a chair new by. Merlin told him about the fire and he started getting the others to help him. Merlin and Morgana on the other had were sent to Uther.
"What were you doing out and about around that time of night?" "I was visiting a friend at the near by apartments, he works long hours and he had just gotten here so I wanted to check in on him. I heard The Lady Morgana scream and so I ran over to see if I could help." Uther somehow believed it when they were allowed to leave Morgana looked at him oddly. Merlin thought to himself, 'I shouldn't tell her yet. The whole point of the Quickening is for her to become aware of her magic when she makes it clear that she knows she has magic I will tell her.' Gwen was questioned later.
That night, Merlin had totally forgotten about telling Morgana about Mordred once the Quickening started. Morgana shattered the vase carrying the flowers Merlin had found for her. She ran up to Giaus's chambers and found Merlin instead. "Is Giaus here?" "No here is not here at the moment but he should be back soon though." "I need to speak to him where is he?" "He's gone to see the king." She looked helpless. "What's wrong?" She looked away for a second. "You can trust me Morgana." He nodded, "You know you can." "I'm scared Merlin. I don't understand anything anymore. I need to know what is happening... Please." "Giaus will be back soon he will be able to help you." "He won't! And I don't want anymore remedies they won't do any good!... It's Magic." The last two words a barely audible. "What?" "I'm your friend you know I wouldn't make this up!" "Of course." "And you believe me." His conversation with Crystela quickly plays through his head, 'If you trust her with everything after the quickening you will not lose her and she will remain on your side just like Mordred and Morgause will but you must trust them and you must protect them and they in turn will do the same for you.' 'Let's hope she's right.' He thought. "Think it's magic." Too she was on the verge of tears. "Please Merlin I just need to her someone say it so I don't have to keep feeling like I am imagining it." 'It's now or never.' Merlin broke the Silence. "You are not imagining things. I know it is. Gaius will be back soon I'll talk about," Gaius walked in.
"What was that about?" He asked as Morgana walked out. "She had another nightmare and asked me if I could make another sleeping draft." Later that night Merlin walked over to her room draft in hand. He knocked three times then she let him in she looked so scare. She been thinking about all the possibilities since they had last spoken. She had even thought he might have gone to turn her in. "Merlin what makes you so certain?" He took a deep Breath. "Then he let his eyes glow and the vase in the trash he had noticed as he walked in began to repair it self the water came out of the floor and carpets and the flowers flew back in."
Her eyes went wide and she took a few steps back. "I have magic too Morgana." "How long?" "Practically since I was born. I never needed spells to do magic just like you do not need them either." "I suppose I can guess why you didn't tell me." He nodded. "Your powers are still tied to your emotions but I could teach you how to control them if you want." All she could do was smile and nod she was so happy which was odd to anyone who only part understood the situation. She was not alone anymore.
"Merlin how long had you known I had magic?"
"I sort of always knew. Magic calls to magic druids are often very good at identifying those with magic that is how they often find me. Remember the druid boy Mordred when he was in danger I came to you at the time it didn't make much sense but now I suppose it does. When we helped him escape and I handed you the keys that was when I really started to guess. I could feel the power running through the metal that's why it took me so long to let go."
"Speaking of Druids and Mordred, he is in town do you want to see him?" "What?" "Don't worry he's safe it is hard to recognize him now with his curly hair and he has grown a bit." "Of course I want to see him!" Merlin smiled and lead the way. Merlin made it to Mordred and his guardian Morgause's apartment and he knocked on the door. Mordred opened it and ran into morgana to hug her. "Thank you Morgana!" That night she talked with Mordred, Morgause and Merlin finding out they too had magic. They talked for quite some time before Merlin and Morgana went back to the castle and Morgana slept better than she had in years she even had no nightmares. Well Visions.
That night Merlin managed to get some sleep to despite everything that had happened. That next morning Merlin and Arthur had their normal morning banter for the first time in weeks. At breakfast with Uther and Arthur, Morgana's eyes kept searching him for signs that what he told her last night was not a dream. She looked at him for any signs of Magic. So he gave her what she was looking for. He gave her a sign. His eyes went gold just as Morgana drank the last of her drink and when she pulled her lips a way she saw a perfectly dry note. It said, "My Chambers fifteen minutes." He went to refill her cup letting his eye glow again and like that the note was gone. They smiled.
