Story 24: I'm Sorry

Chapter 2: The Journey to the Druid Camp

Morgana hesitated only a moment before she followed him. She wasn't going to stop him, but she feared for his safety. It was a gut-wrenching fear. Because of Mordred, Alvarr trusted her, but she knew he would not grant Merlin the same chance.

Morgana thought she was being so stealthy, but the moment she was under the cover of the woods, Merlin stopped walking. "Why are you following me?" Merlin asked her without turning to face her. "If you're trying to stop me, it will not work."

"I'm not going to try to stop you," Morgana told him quietly. Merlin finally turned around to face her. "I just thought that Alvarr may be more willing to listen if he sees a familiar face."

"You still don't get it, do you?" Merlin asked quietly. When Morgana only looked at him confused, he continued. "Alvarr was willing to risk his life for this crystal. He desperately wants it. He's not just going to hand it over to us, not after everything he went through to get it. We're going to have to take it from him."

Morgana frowned, but nodded. She trusted Merlin's judgement. "I still want to help. Tell me what I can do," Morgana told him determinedly.

"You can stay out of my way," Merlin told her.

"And why should I?" Morgana demanded. She felt something deep within her stomach, a crippling fear for his safety. "Why should I just leave you to fend for yourself?"

"Because despite the faith you have in these men, I don't trust them. If things get ugly… I can't bear to know you got caught in the crossfire. If you try to follow me, I will stop you," Merlin warned her. He looked her right in the eyes. "Please, for me. Stay safe."

Merlin turned to walk away, but stopped. He turned back to Morgana and squeezed her hand once. Morgana felt a burst of warmth spread through her hand. She knew that had been Merlin's way of reassuring her, but she only felt more anxious now. A small smile made its way onto his face, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Merlin walked away without another word. Morgana watched him go, torn. Part of her wanted to listen to him. She knew he was right. One wrong move could cost them her life. But a bigger part of her didn't care anymore.

What was her life worth? She was constantly looking over her shoulder for fear that someone would suddenly realize that she had magic. When she went to bed, she wondered if she would wake up to another fire in her room. Every time she lost control, she waited for someone to come and arrest her. She wasn't living, she was existing. And she was tired of it.

She had made a mistake and she was going to fix it. She couldn't bear for Merlin to get hurt. The thought of it made her chest tighten. Morgana walked as quietly as she could. She knew where she was going better than Merlin did so she arrived at the camp just minutes after him. She got as close as possible without being seen.

She peered through the thick foliage to see what was happening when she heard the sounds of a scuffle. Merlin was being dragged out of a tent and was fighting against the two guards that were holding him. Clutched in his hand was something covered with a piece of burlap. Morgana knew what it was. It was the crystal.

"Why are you here? Why did you take this?" Alvarr asked. Morgana winced. If Alvarr had not been here, Merlin might have managed to feign ignorance, but Alvarr would recognize him. Merlin clutched the crystal like a lifeline and Morgana knew that no one would manage to take it from him. Not while he was still alive.

"I was looking for money. I haven't enough to provide for my younger sister and she's awfully hungry," Merlin lied.

"Don't lie to me boy. You are Arthur's serving boy. Now tell me. What are you doing here?" Alvarr asked dangerously.

Merlin looked right at Alvarr. "I'm saving my master," he said in an even voice.

"Honorable intentions," Alvarr said. "That should ease your mind before we kill you."

Alvarr unsheathed his sword, but paused as Merlin began whispering under his breath. For several minutes he whispered, his words blending together because he was speaking so quickly. Then suddenly Merlin was engulfed by a bright blue light.

Morgana looked down to shield herself from the light. When she looked back up, it didn't look like anything had changed.

"What did you do with it?" Alvarr asked.

"I hid it. It's somewhere you will never find it," Merlin warned.

"That's impossible," Alvarr told him. "That crystal is protected by ancient magic. No one is powerful enough to get past that."

"I am," Merlin told him. Morgana's jaw nearly hit the ground. She had known about Merlin's magic, but she had never guessed that he was that powerful. She realized that he must have known about Mordred finding her because of his powers.

"Where did you send it?" Alvarr asked. His face was red with anger. Chills ran down Morgana's back. Something in his voice set her on edge.

"Like I would tell you," Merlin told him.

"We have ways of procuring answers from you," Alvarr warned.

"Try what you will. I will never tell you. And when I die, the secret will die with me," Merlin told him.

"We'll see how long you last," Alvarr said. Suddenly, the wind picked up. It sent stray branches and leaves flying around. Morgana put her arms over her head to shield herself from the wind's attack.

When the wind settled down, there was nothing left. Alvarr and Merlin were gone. The two guards that had held Merlin were gone.

If Morgana weren't looking out at the abandoned druid camp, she would have thought this was just her imagination.

Morgana stared out at the camp, hoping that Merlin would pop out and tell her that he was fine. When that didn't happen, Morgana got to her feet. She felt like something were choking her and when she brought her hand to her throat she realized something was. She untied the knot around her throat and looked at the object.

She couldn't see it yet, but she recognized the burlap that covered it. She realized the faith Merlin was putting in her. He had known she was here and his words were for her, not Alvarr. When he said that Alvarr would never find it, it wasn't a warning to Alvarr. He was telling her that he trusted her to keep this safe.

Morgana swore she wouldn't betray that trust. Not this time.

She turned and made her way back to Camelot. She was going to return the crystal to its rightful place and then she was going to find Arthur. They were going to get Merlin back.