'Whatever you may think, Merlin, you will take it to the grave,' Morgause had said. She turned away and disappeared into the forest, leaving Merlin to be killed by the Serkets.
Merlin rubbed his back gently. He should've told Morgause something... But what? Anything to stop her from trying to kill him. Now he had a stab wound in his back, right when he needed to save all of Camelot, protect Arthur's life, keep his magic a secret, stop Morgana from doing anything stupid, save Arthur's life a bit more, and stop Morgause's army. Simple. Not too hard. After all, he did it everyday.
He was walking through the courtyard with Arthur, who was throwing an impossible list of chores at him when he felt a pair of eyes on him. He looked up at the castle, and saw Morgana's tell-tale figure at her window. He had a lot of dodging questions and lying to do.
Morgana stared at the prince's manservant in disbelief. What on earth was he doing here? She thought that Morgause had personally taken care of him. How could he be alive?
'Milady?' Gwen's voice said.
She turned around. 'I...' she struggled for an explanation at her lapse in concentration. 'I was thinking about what to wear.'
Gwen smiled at her mistress's antics, and went back to folding her clothes. Morgana looked back out the window, but Merlin had disappeared.
'I must dress,' Morgana said. She walked out the door. Gwen frowned at the doorway where Morgana had disappeared in confusion. She had already dressed.
'Sister, why is Merlin still alive?'
'He isn't,' Morgause said absent-mindedly.
'Then why did I see him walking beside Arthur this morning?' Morgana snapped.
Morgause's eyebrows drew together. 'What?'
'Merlin is still alive and well. It doesn't matter. I've given him a little talk already,' sniggered Morgana.
'And you are certain that he will not get in our way?'
'Yes.'
Morgause admired her sister's courage. 'You're so brave, to be able to do something like this...'
Morgana gave one of her trademark evil grins. 'I trust that by tomorrow, Camelot will be bent to its knees?'
'It already is,' said Morgause. 'Thanks to you giving the king the poultice. Tomorrow, we will march with Cenred's men... To destroy Camelot!'
The battle did not go well for the scheming women. Not only was Morgana completely thrashed by that lowly manservant, but she had failed Morgause. Cenred had withdrawn his men, and they all knew it would be quite a while before Cenred would trust Morgause again.
Morgana had gone out to meet Morgause in the forest at midnight, as usual.
'Sister, what happened?' Morgause asked.
'I'm sorry,' said Morgana, her tone the complete opposite of what she had said. 'Merlin decided to drop by for a visit in the tombs.'
'How did he know that you and the staff were there?'
'I don't know. He tried to stop me, but I overpowered him. Then suddenly the roof collapsed over me. When I woke up, you were gone.'
Morgause stared blankly at her. 'This Merlin... Who is he?'
'Arthur's manservant. A stupid one. You know what he said to me? He told me that I shouldn't be against Uther. He told me that I shouldn't bear a grudge towards that cold-hearted, stone-faced, ruthless murderer. That pathetic excuse for a king, that monster that tore families apart and murdered innocent children. Merlin said I should use my magic for good. If saving the land from a tyrannical king isn't good, then what is?'
Morgause had been too engaged in her own thoughts to take note of Morgana's rant. 'You're right, sister. I must leave.'
She turned away from Morgana and disappeared into the shrub. How on earth had that boy escaped her chains? How had he stopped Arthur from killing his father? How had he found Morgana, defeated her, then destroyed the Staff of Neahtid? There was only one answer.
The boy was magical.
