The Darkest Hour (Part 2)
Arthur stood at the edge of a fire pit in the ruins, sunlight streaming down upon him and the knights, though his gaze was on Merlin as Lancelot and Gwaine tended to him. The poor boy was still cold from the Dorocha attack, thankfully still alive but limp and unconscious. They'd done all they could to keep him warm through the night, keep him safe, and now that there was daylight, they knew what they had to do.
"We have to get him back to Gaius," Arthur declared.
Sir Leon frowned, "And abandon the quest?"
"He saved my life," Arthur murmured, "He is…my brother-in-law, betrothed of my sister," he admitted, a quiet fact only his most trusted knights knew, "I won't let him die."
"Sire, if we don't get to the Isle of the Blessed, hundreds more will perish."
Arthur's jaw clenched at that, knowing it was true but knowing Merlin's death would harm two women so close to his heart.
"Let me take him," Lancelot stood to face them.
"Carrying a wounded man alone, it will take you two or three days to reach Camelot," Arthur argued.
"Not if I go through the Valley of the Fallen Kings. You cannot give up on the quest."
"Sire, he's right," Leon agreed.
Arthur sighed but nodded, glancing at Gwaine, "I assume you'd wish to go with them?"
Gwaine let out a long breath, "Merlin would want someone here to keep your royal backside safe," Gwaine shook his head, "As would Ray. I trust Lancelot to see him safely returned."
Lancelot clapped Gwaine on the shoulder, "Thank you my friend."
"Percival?" Arthur turned to the man.
Percival merely walked over to Merlin without question of what Arthur intended and helped scoop him up, slinging him over his shoulder as he carried the slip of a man over to a horse, getting him set up on it as Arthur came over to help tie him down.
"This is my fault," Arthur murmured as he placed a hand on Merlin's back, seeing the boy starting to blink awake, "And I'm sorry."
"Take me with you, please," Merlin whispered weakly.
"You would die, Merlin. And then I would die, because your sister and my sister would both take turns killing me."
Merlin gave a small smile at that, just as Arthur intended, "But you don't understand. Please, Arthur…"
"Do you ever do as you're told?"
"Not your servant anymore," Merlin reminded him.
"No," he agreed, "You're my brother," he said softly, "And I need to see you well again."
"I have to come with you though," Merlin groaned.
"Merlin…"
"Sire," Lancelot cut in cautiously, "We need to leave."
Arthur nodded and squeezed Merlin's shoulder, patting the back of the horse as it trotted on, Lancelot heading off with it, "Go," he nodded to the knight as the two headed off, watching them worriedly till they disappeared from his view and into the trees, hoping they would not encounter any misfortune in the Valley as they always seemed to do when entering that place. He shook his head and turned to the others, "Mount up, we're leaving," he called, rushing to his horse and getting on with the others, they had to make the most of the daylight and get to the Isle of the Blessed quickly. The other knights did the same, all of them casting one glance back towards the trees Lancelot had disappeared through before they turned and galloped off after the prince.
Lancelot waited on the other side of the trees for only a few moments till he heard the others leaving, not having wanted any of them to turn and try to come after him instead. He sighed, looking through the trees just once more, before turning to continue on…
Only to stop short, his eyes wide as he nearly walked into someone he was NOT expecting, "Marayna?"
Marayna blinked as she saw Lancelot standing in front of her. One moment she'd been standing in the Main Hall of the castle, just knowing something terrible had happened to Merlin. She'd turned around and felt like the room was spinning around her and turning green, and when she stopped, when she'd done a 180 turn, just when she'd turned around completely, she was standing in the woods…just as a horse stepped through the trees with Lancelot.
She had NO idea how that had happened. She could guess that it was some sort of magic, but…she hadn't used it., at least not consciously. She'd felt a pull of it yes, and maybe that was it, maybe something in her had just…transported her there, whatever it was, she was glad she was there…because she caught sight of the thing on the horse and it was her brother.
"Merlin!" she gasped, rushing over to him.
"Aya?" Merlin's word slurred, having started falling unconscious again, "What…"
"Shh," she quieted him, feeling how cold he was, "It's ok…" she turned to Lancelot, "We need to get him to a fire, now."
"He needs Gaius," Lancelot shook his head.
Marayna ran a hand through her hair, her mind racing, trying to think of something to help him because she knew she wouldn't be able to transport them anywhere near Camelot with the Dorocha about, everyone was in a panic and she wouldn't be able to take Lancelot with her and…her brother needed help NOW. Gaius was a already dealing with all of the injured in Camelot, he wouldn't be able to ignore all of them for Merlin, nor could Morgana's own powers be exposed like that…
She bit her lip, "I have an idea," she murmured, "Help me get him down and build a fire."
"We had a fire pit just in our camp," Lancelot turned and led the horse back to the ruins, to the pit, helping Marayna get him off the back of the horse and lay him down beside the pit, "I'll get some wood," Lancelot told her, rushing off to get some as she moved a blanket that she'd had around her own shoulders and placed it on her brother.
"It's ok Merlin," she whispered, brushing some hair from his eyes, "I have an idea."
"S'never good…" he mumbled.
"If you weren't in this state I'd slap you for that," she warned him.
"I've got the wood," Lancelot returned with as much broken wood as he could hold, dropping it in the pit, Marayna turned and lighting it on fire instantly with her magic, "What are you going to do?"
"Gaius said something about the Dorocha being summoned by the High Priestess, but it was just Morgause," she explained, "I'm hoping that it means that, even though they listen to and obey her orders because she summoned them, that…I dunno, maybe I can…try to stop their magic?" she looked at Lancelot, "Do you think that could work? If they were meant to only be summoned by the High Priestess but were summoned by a less powerful caster, my magic could help stop theirs?"
Lancelot nodded, only managing to grab parts of what she was saying, not really having been there as Gaius explained it all, but it made sense. Like…if Arthur had ordered the knights to do one thing, but then the King ordered another, they would have to cede to the king's wishes as he was above Arthur, "It is worth a try, and if it fails…we have only wasted moments."
Marayna nodded, hoping that it wouldn't fail, hoping she could help her brother. She could feel it now, being so close to Merlin, she could feel how the Dorocha worked, they pulled the life out of you but Merlin's magic was working to try and keep it in him. If she could just…call his spirit back to him completely, break the hold the Dorocha had on him, she could save him. The Dorocha, from what she'd seen in Camelot, killed instantly in an attack like what she'd felt off of Merlin. The ones they attacked just to frighten or were forced away from too early were just cold and needed warming. Merlin though had been attacked outright, completely, and it was up to her to try and get him back.
She took a breath, placing her hands on his chest and forehead. She closed her eyes, concentrating, "Ágéncym mé Emrys" she murmured, "Ágéncym mé Merlin. Ágéncym mé aaron. Ágéncym!"
Lancelot watched intently as Merlin gasped, Marayna's eyes snapping open, blazing golden with the power of the High Priestess…
~8~
Merlin blinked as he slowly woke, the light around him starting to fade as he saw the sun setting…which was odd as he was fairly sure that the last time he'd opened his eyes, the sun had been high in the sky. But then again, the last time he'd opened his eyes he was sure his sister had been right beside him and that would be impossible because she was still back in Camelot and…
"Feeling better?" Marayna's voice asked.
Merlin gasped, jolting up to sit and stare at her, "Aya!" he gaped, "What are you doing here?!"
"I have no idea, probably saving your life though," she gave him a dry look, "Honestly Merlin, can't go anywhere without me eh?" she was smiling and joking, but he was NOTHING of the sort.
"How did you even GET here!?" he shook his head, his eyes narrowing in suspicion, "Don't tell me you used the transportation spell!"
Marayna sighed, knowing why he was getting so worked up, that particular spell required quite a bit of concentration and focus and energy to travel as far as they were from Camelot. It was more useful for short distances but could be longer with focus…she hadn't ever attempted this far away and she knew Merlin was concerned thinking she had.
"No," she told him, "I think my magic reacted, or magic in general did, I don't know, but I was in the castle one moment, I turned around, and then I was standing in the forest where you were."
"She saved you Merlin," Lancelot spoke, having returned with ample wood to supply them through the night for the pit.
Merlin had regained his color quickly after Marayna had uttered whatever it was she had, but he had still been cold, like he'd taken a chilled swim in a frozen lake. He didn't seem to be paralyzed, he was in no danger of the Dorocha's magic any longer, but his temperature had frightened them both. Marayna was unwilling to try any sort of warming charm on him, not wanting to accidently set him on fire as she hadn't practiced much of them. He was still a bit cold but spending a few more hours beside a fire would help him, which meant they needed enough for the night.
"How?" Merlin turned back to her, more demanding an answer than asking, "Aya, how?!"
"I just…used my magic," she shook her head, unable to really explain how she'd done it, "It was a spell that…that I remember the Druids telling me, to call someone back from the brink of death…"
"That's powerful magic Marayna!"
Lancelot frowned, looking at him, concerned as he'd only ever heard Merlin call her by her full name a handful of times, he could literally count them on one hand, "Is that a problem?" he asked, he hadn't seen any sort of strain on Marayna doing it.
"Yes!" Merlin shouted, "Aya," he turned to her, "That's the balance of life type magic," he reminded her, knowing that if the Dorocha hadn't killed so many people, saving him would have likely been impossible for her to do and maintain the balance, "That is powerful! Gaius warned you not to do anything like that in your condition!"
Lancelot blinked, "What condition?"
The two fell suddenly silent.
"Merlin?" he glanced between them, "Marayna? What condition?"
Marayna just looked away as Merlin sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing his head, "She's with child."
"But…I…Gwen told me that couldn't ever be," Lancelot looked at Marayna, seeing her closing her eyes. His gaze shot to her stomach but it was flat, "She said that…"
"That there was an accident and scarring and…that I was barren," Marayna nodded, "I was, I SHOULD be…"
"Then…how?" Lancelot breathed, "You didn't use…magic, did you?" Gwen had told him of Arthur's conception as well.
"Not exactly."
"Not exactly how?" Lancelot shook his head, truly feeling lost.
Merlin sighed, "There was a time Arthur banished Aya," he explained, "She was hurt at the time, wounded, from a sword to the stomach," Lancelot looked at her shocked, "Arthur came around and we found her…I…I healed her. I wanted to heal her so badly that…"
"That he healed…everything," Marayna looked up, shifting to sit with her knees to her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs, "He healed everything," she repeated, closing her eyes, she could still remember it, remember finding out she was apparently pregnant.
She had been feeling...off, which wasn't quite so odd, there HAD been a small pre-winter illness going around, many peasants had been ill as well. But Arthur had insisted she go see Gaius for a remedy, not wanting to see her get sicker like the peasants were, to see her sick and suffering with him unable to help her, he was sweet like that. She'd gone there and Gaius had given her a routine examination, not wanting to give her the wrong tonic if it happened to be a different illness…and…well, he'd gently pressed on her stomach and blinked, staring at her in shock before doing a few more small pokes and prods and little tests…
She'd later found out that her stomach hadn't felt the same as when he'd examined her a little more than a year ago. He'd said he could feel the hardness of her abdomen, not muscles, but the scarring…it felt soft now. He'd been running tests to see, to check if it was just some sort of healing that had gone on, if the scarring was gone, and gotten more than he'd bargained for…
She was pregnant.
She hadn't even realized, it was only a few days ago that she'd learned of it, but…she truly hadn't given any thought at all to the possibility. She knew Morgana had had a vision of her with a baby in her arms…but she thought it wishful thinking, especially when no child was conceived days after or weeks after or even months after. It had been more than a year since then and she'd just though, when no child appeared, that it was just a wishful thought…but now she knew…
She was...pregnant. She really was.
She'd been stunned, had actually argued with Gaius that his tests were wrong, half-forced him to run them again and again and five times before demanding he do every single test he could think of to prove if a woman was with child or not…and they'd all come back positive. She'd even asked Morgana to try, to see for herself, to use magic to determine it…and THAT had come back positive as well. She was pregnant, she was really and truly pregnant. Gaius and Morgana had been stunned, had no idea how it could have happened…
But SHE did. When Morgana had told her of her vision, for one brief and tiny second, she'd thought…if it WERE possible, HOW could it be? She'd remembered Merlin healing her, she'd remembered it vaguely, having been mostly delirious at the time, but…it was the ONLY thing she could think of to explain it. Her brother, from what she remembered, had wanted desperately to save her, to HEAL her. She remembered that, she remembered his magic and his energy and how terribly and completely he'd wanted to heal her. He'd put everything into that magic work, every bit of focus and concentration and hope and determination and…
He'd healed more than just her stab wound it seemed. She'd bolted out of the physician's chambers the second she'd remembered that, not even realizing she was crying. She'd run right out to the courtyard, to where she knew Merlin was watching the knights train, and screamed for her brother. She knew she'd given him and Arthur, likely half of Camelot a heart attack when he saw her running for him, crying and sobbing and shaking in his arms. She couldn't even get the words out to tell him, had to resolve to tell him it in his mind though her thoughts were still racing. But she'd thanked him, she'd hugged him tightly and thanked him over and over and over and told him it was his doing that made this possible. And when she'd told him she was pregnant, she'd NEVER seen him more stunned, nor had she seen him smile so widely as when her words caught up to him and he realized HE had healed her enough to allow it to happen. That he had helped her in that way.
It shouldn't have been possible, the scarring was decades old, was permanent. Gaius had even doubted that Morgana or Alice could have healed her…but Merlin was an Archmage, the most powerful warlock ever, he was a Dragonlord, and he was her brother. His magic had always been raw and reactive and instinctive. It had done what he wanted, he wanted her healed, it had put everything into healing her.
And when that moment of elation and surprise passed…she'd been terrified.
So telling Arthur she had only had a nightmare and that Merlin was going to calm her down hadn't been too far from the truth. Because she'd realized…they couldn't tell Arthur. He knew she was barren, he knew she couldn't have children. The ONLY explanation for her having a child would be that magic was involved…and the laws…it would put him in even more of a tricky situation to tell him about the baby and about their magic now that Uther was so weak and the pressure was being put on him to take the crown and uphold the laws and this new threat was NOT helping. The people didn't know she was barren, none but a handful of their closest friends and family knew. Almost all of those people knew about hers and Merlin's magic though…except Arthur.
Arthur and Uther were the only ones who knew she was barren and how she was barren. If she suddenly fell pregnant…it wouldn't even take Uther crying sorcery (which they truly felt he would still do even in his distressing state) for Arthur to work out magic had been involved as well. They truly couldn't say a thing about it for fear of the laws and Uther. As terrible as it was to say…Merlin was praying that Uther would pass on from this world before Marayna started to show, so that the Blood Magic on Arthur would be weakened to the point he could remember their magic so they could tell him about the child.
"Arthur doesn't know, does he?" Lancelot realized, "And he…can't, even now," he breathed, "Marayna," he reached out to touch her arm, "I am so sorry."
She offered him a tired smile and he realized why she'd been so…different the last few days. She'd been tired more, she'd collapsed at his wedding feast (though Merlin and Morgana were insistent it was because of the magic that had been disrupted by Morgause as Morgana claimed she'd been an inch away from fainting herself till they'd snapped out of it), Gwen had told her from Morgana that Marayna had nearly been ill at the sight of Gaius stitching up Arthur's side which was something she'd seen too often for it to affect her that way. They were small signs, her appetite hadn't changed yet, her stomach wasn't round, her dresses still fit her, there was no increase in ability to smell (Morgana had told Gwen Marayna had made up a story about an odd smell in the physician's chambers giving her a headache), and there was no change in her mood…she was naturally irritable at times, but…that was to be expected. If she'd only discovered it days ago it was still VERY early.
"I am too," Marayna nodded, she was…she truly didn't know what to do.
Gaius wanted to watch her very closely as they couldn't be sure just how much of her scarring Merlin had healed, whether it was all of it or a majority of it. But worse yet…how would she explain herself when she started getting bigger? Her dresses did afford her some level of being able to hide it, if she chose the right dress, but…eventually she'd be too big and Arthur would certainly notice her stomach ballooning out. He'd be suspicious and she honestly didn't know how she could tell him about the baby without revealing her magic and with Uther in the state he was in, with the Dorocha attacking, with everything piling on him…now was not the best time.
"I'm sorry if I alarmed you Merlin," she looked at her brother, "But you are my brother, I had to TRY."
Merlin let out a long breath, knowing that he'd have done the same if he were a woman in her position too, "Just…don't do it again, at least not without me being conscious to help you or Morgana and Gaius being nearby to make sure you're ok."
"I promise," she smiled, reaching out to take his hand, squeezing it.
He smiled back, "You DO know I have to send you back to Camelot though…"
"Must you?" she nearly whined, making the men laugh.
"Yes," he nodded, "Arthur asked you to watch over the kingdom. You're the Crown Princess, YOU give the orders and Agravaine…" he shook his head, they could only imagine what he'd try to do without her there, "Morgana can only hold him off so long since he's started serving as Arthur's advisor."
She sighed, knowing he was right, "Fine…but…can you send me to my rooms?" she glanced at him, "No one but Arthur and I, and those we trust, are allowed in them, it'll be the safest to send me back there."
Merlin nodded and stood, using the hand he was still holding to help her up. Ever since Marayna had used Morgause's transportation spell to escape Arthur, he'd been studying it as well. He could send someone else somewhere, if he knew the place to send them. He was actually working on seeing if he could pull someone from somewhere as well, like a reverse transport. But for now…now he had to focus on his sister.
He took a step back, holding out his hand and concentrating, mumbling the spell under his breath, his eyes flashing as Marayna disappeared from before him in a swirl of wind and dust.
Lancelot looked up as Merlin staggered, nearly collapsing, "Come on," he helped Merlin sit, "You rest, I'll get a fire going. It'll be a while more before you're ready to travel."
Merlin huffed at that but knew Lancelot was right, that display of magic had only proven he needed to warm up a little more.
~8~
Marayna gasped as she stumbled, appearing in the middle of the rooms she shared with Arthur, only to hear cries outside her window. She frowned and rushed over to it, looking out to see the gates being closed by the guards, with peasants STILL trying to get through! Her eyes narrowed at that, that had NOT been the command Arthur had left the guards, and turned to stride out of the room.
"Rayna!" Morgana gasped as she turned a corner and nearly ran into the woman, "The guards have been ordered to shut the city gates at dusk," she informed the woman.
"By who?"
"Who else?" Morgana gave her a look.
"Agravaine," they both said.
Marayna shook her head, "Where is he now?"
"In council with Arthur's advisors."
"Oh IS he?" Marayna remarked scathingly, "Well then, I feel rather insulted that they didn't invite the princesses of Camelot. What say you?"
Morgana smirked, "Highly insulted."
"Well then," she held out her arm to Morgana, the woman's smirk turning dangerous as they turned and strode back the way Morgana had come, heading for the Main Hall. The guards outside it saw them coming and immediately opened the doors for them.
"Could any of you tell me what is the meaning of this?" Marayna pulled her arm from Morgana's to cross them at the council gathered around Agravaine.
"My Ladies," the man merely gave them a short bow.
"I'd like an answer," Marayna raised her eyebrow, Morgana doing all she could to keep her own face unhappy and disappointed and offended while seeing Gaius's eyebrow of doom on Marayna's face, "Now."
Agravaine cleared his throat, "I was told that the Lady Morgana…"
"PRINCESS," Morgana corrected. She didn't often do that, force others to call her the Princess, she was quite content to be 'Lady' Morgana, but none of them trusted Agravaine at all, they'd seen him consorting with Morgause in her scrying and they were rather eager to make his life difficult in any way they could.
"Yes," Agravaine nodded, not backtracking to correct his mistake, "Was helping Gaius tend to the wounded, and that you had taken a short reprieve. I thought it best to see matters dealt with, without…"
"Without involving the Princesses in discussions regarding their kingdom?" Marayna gave him a look, "Is that what you were about to say?"
Agravaine's smile tensed, seeing the other council members starting to shift, "Without disturbing you."
"What disturbs me, Lord Agravaine, and I am sure I speak for the Crown Princess as well," Morgana cut in, "Is that you have given orders to close the city gates?"
"Yes," Agravaine agreed, "We have limited resources. As much as I would like to, we simply cannot feed and water the entire kingdom…"
"And how is that YOUR decision to make?" Marayna stepped further into the room, "You do not know the resources of Camelot, nor do you know how her people band together in times of danger."
"The people have a right to be protected," Morgana agreed, "And, if you would recall, that is exactly the order Arthur, the Prince Regent, gave before departing to see this danger dealt with."
"I would be putting Camelot in more danger," he argued, "Starvation, disease. The gates will remain shut until we are free of the evil that plagues us."
Marayna looked at him intently, silently a moment, "Do you forget who you are speaking to?" she asked him, her voice dropping to a dangerous note.
"I am forever aware," Agravaine gave her a tense, nearly testy reply back.
She smirked, "Good, then you will recall that not only am I Arthur's wife, but the Crown Princess of Camelot. Morgana," she gestured to the woman, "Is his sister, Uther's daughter, and Princess of Camelot. And THIS," she held up her hand with its back to him, showing him the ring she wore, "Means that while my HUSBAND is away, it is MY responsibility to rule and make decisions for the kingdom while the king is indisposed. That is…unless you have forgotten that YOU are his uncle, his maternal uncle, and NOT the Crown Princess."
"I have not forgotten," Agravaine's hands clenched into fists at being put in place like this.
"I'm glad," she reached out to pat his shoulder, "Because you'd look rather terrible in a dress being that you are not a princess. Or…I don't know," she glanced down at him and back up, "Perhaps you are."
A vein in Agravaine's temple started to throb at her implication and slight against his manhood, but before he could continue, Marayna merely turned in place and addressed the men sitting before her.
"I once said to a nobleman many years ago that the servants were the legs upon which a castle stands. That is also true for the peasants. A kingdom cannot function, cannot prosper, without the peasants who live within it. Without their work and wares and support a kingdom will fall. And I will NOT see that happen to Camelot. We shall NOT turn away any peasant who comes to our gates for help. We shall NOT let them suffer. We shall help them if it at all possible, and it IS possible," she gave the men a warning look, "And if it is not…we WILL find a way to make it so. Is that clear?"
She shot a look at Agravaine, daring him to speak up against her, but the man wisely remained silent.
"I have faith in my husband, that he shall see this evil stopped," she looked at each man before her, "What you need to ask yourselves…is if you have faith in your prince. For if you do not…I see no reason for you to remain on this council."
Morgana stepped forward as there was a small outcry at the threat against them, "My sister speaks well," she defended Marayna, reminding them she was her sister-in-law, that she was the princess, the crown princess, "A council cannot advise well if it does not trust their ruler. You will forever doubt and question him, and that will make for an unstable kingdom as well. Think long and hard on this before you dare question my brother's decisions, and those of his wife, again."
"What have you to say?" Marayna looked at them, a challenging smile on her face.
"Reopen the gates," Geoffrey spoke what all the council members were thinking.
Agravaine nodded curtly and stormed out of the room, most displeased though none seemed to care much.
"The council is dismissed then," Morgana nodded, waiting till the men trickled out of the room.
A moment later Marayna fell down onto a chair, the chair Arthur normally sat in, "Was that ok?" she looked at Morgana, looking truly worried, "Did I…did I do well?" she had NEVER addressed the council before, not like that, not alone without Arthur there to support her.
Morgana beamed, "You were brilliant."
"You think?" Marayna started to smile.
"Exceptional," a voice called from the side and they looked over to see Geoffrey beaming at Marayna with pride, "Princess," he gave her a deep bow, using her title instead of her name, because right now, in that moment, she wasn't just Marayna the Servant-turned-Princess, no, in that moment, he could truly see her for what she was.
The Future Queen of Camelot.
~8~
The next day Marayna had just stepped out of Uther's rooms, having checked on the king, made sure he'd eaten his breakfast, when she turned to see Agravaine standing behind her in the hall. The king had asked where Arthur was, though he didn't quite seem to have his wits about him so she'd said that he was on a simple hunting trip instead of facing a deadly danger as she wasn't sure how he'd react to that. Best to keep the mentally unstable king as calm as possible, she thought.
"Agravaine," she greeted coldly, not about to show him any respect after what they'd found out. Just that night, while the Dorocha attacked, Agravaine had snuck out into the woods to go see Morgause, to tell her of the state Camelot was in.
They had been very lucky to find a spell in the magic book that dispelled a ward. When placed on an object, if it came in contact with a certain sort of ward, say…an anti-scrying ward, and it canceled it out, created a sort of space around it, centered from that object, that made all within the field visible to those who would scry for them. They'd placed it on Agravaine's sword when he'd been preoccupied and it had worked beautifully. They could see and hear everything that Morgause and Agravaine discussed, well, Morgana could, but she relayed the message. He was informing Morgause of how things were going, had even decided to tell her about how the two of them were 'thwarting' him at every turn apparently.
He was rather irate with them.
They LOVED it.
"Your devotion to the king is most impressive," Agravaine spoke, not greeting her back, "There is something I would like to discuss. I wish to apologize. Yesterday I feel I let the prince down. I am grateful that you spoke out in defense of your husband."
"You should be," Marayna nodded, crossing her arms, "He is YOUR nephew. Ygraine's son," she watched as he flinched, "You should have known this would be something he would want to happen, that Ygraine would never turn away those in need."
"Yes," Agravaine swallowed hard at the reminder of his sister, "If you would permit, I would be grateful to seek the advice of the princess of Camelot," he tried to soften her by use of title, "You were correct, I do not understand the people of Camelot or her resources. I know you have many duties to see to, perhaps...this evening you could come to my chambers?"
Marayna smirked, "I'm a married woman Agravaine, the only chambers I will enter at night are my own. If you wish to speak, you can speak to me in the Main Hall, where I'll be sitting on my throne."
"Very well," he gave her a strained smile, clearly NOT happy about that at all, but knowing this would be his only chance to get her alone, he could always order the guards to wait outside the doors.
Marayna gave him a nod and stepped past him to see to the duties he'd mentioned, shaking her head as she turned around a corner. He must think her truly mentally afflicted if he thought she'd ever be anywhere alone with him if she could help it.
~8~
Morgana stood by the window of the Main Hall, Gaius and Gwen on the other side of it, most of the people tended to and they'd been requested to join her and Marayna for a few moments in the hall when Agravaine arrived. She smirked, spotting a flash of gold in the distance, in the trees, to others it might look like lightning, but she knew what it was. The Bloodguard had been on alert since the Dorocha had been released, they were guarding the path to Camelot as best they could without endangering themselves, which was why so many peasants were still making it into the gates. But they'd been on alert for Morgause as well.
She'd seen Agravaine plotting to get Marayna alone, to make it easy for Morgause to sneak into the castle and attack her from behind. Morgause, poor Morgause, was still under the delusion that she had been able to claim the title of High Priestess even though the Bloodguard had turned on her. The flash of gold was Benedict or one of the other Bloodguard's signal for Morgause attempting to enter the castle but being thwarted.
She glanced over at Marayna as she sat on Arthur's throne and gave her a nod to signal that Morgause had been taken care of for the night. She knew Marayna didn't feel comfortable at all sitting on Arthur's throne, but she'd assured the woman that it was necessary to really shake up Agravaine, even more than hers and Gaius and Gwen's presence would.
"I…was under the impression this would be a private meeting," Agravaine stumbled on his words as he entered the hall to see he was NOT alone at all.
"I only hold those with men I trust," Marayna gave him a look that was just an inch short of knowing but highly suspicious, making Agravaine's tense smile fall for a moment before he tried to recover.
"Surely you trust family," he tried to chuckle.
"I do," she nodded, "Hence Morgana, Gaius, and Gwen being here."
Gwen beamed at that, to know that Marayna held her to be part of her family meant the world to her.
"You wished to speak to the princess," Morgana reminded him, moving over to Arthur's throne and standing beside it, "You didn't specify which one, so, naturally, I am at your service too."
"If you could be quick," Gaius called with a small smirk of his own on, "I have patients to tend to Lord Agravaine and I am here at the request of my niece, serving as her personal advisor."
It was a lie, as soon as he'd heard Agravaine asked to speak to her and that Morgana was going to attend as well, he'd requested to be there to watch the man squirm.
"Yes," Agravaine nodded, "I…merely wished to ask if the people feel safe?"
"No," Marayna blinked at how…rather stupid that question was, "There are creatures of mist that are attacking them and killing them. I would think no one feels safe."
"Not even you?" he inquired, seeming pleased to find this out.
"I believe you said you wished to understand the people," she deflected.
Agravaine sighed, "Is there anything that can be done to reassure them?" he continued, trying to make it seem like he cared about the people to make up for his earlier inconsideration. He would need to get on their good side to ensure they trusted him enough to see his plan, and potentially any future plans, through.
"We are doing it now," Morgana told him, "Showing courage. Opening the gates, showing them we care for them and shall protect them whatever the cost."
"There's an old saying that if people sense your fear," Marayna stressed, giving Agravaine a pointed look, "They will not trust you."
Morgana smirked at that, they were all too aware from watching the man that he was terrified of Morgause. Whatever deal he had with her, whatever reason he'd gone to her to start with…he had gotten in over his head with it all.
"Is that all?" Marayna asked after a moment of silence.
"Yes," Agravaine nodded, "I am grateful for your advice. I um, I fear you may be out of a job Gaius," he tried to joke, "Your niece has a wise head on her shoulders. I fear I've taken up enough of your time," he bowed slightly.
"You are dismissed then," Morgana told him, the man hesitating, "You'd best go," she told him, "It is dark already and one would not want to run into anyone dangerous at such a time."
Agravaine stiffened at that, hearing a sort of hidden message in her words…but…it was impossible. They couldn't possibly know of Morgause, of his plan to lead Marayna out to the hall, send her off with the guards and have Morgause attack her.
"Oh I don't think he shall," Marayna smirked as well, "The Guards are doing quite a job keeping everyone safe."
"That is…true," he gave another stiff bow, "I bid you good night," he turned and quickly rushed off, fearing there was more to even Marayna's words and that something had happened to Morgause that he should check on.
Gwen started laughing the moment the doors to the Hall had shut, "He's not quite the sharpest sword in the armory is he? If he didn't realize that you both know what he's been up to."
"We should count ourselves lucky he never was quite that sharp," even Gaius had to smile, "Who knows what he would do if he discovered you were aware of his treachery?"
Morgana paused to think a moment, "If he knew what we were capable of? Wet himself."
"My Lady!" Gwen chastised playfully, laughing harder.
Marayna just stood and took Morgana's hand, "I'm proud of you for that one," she chuckled, hugging Morgana, the last year, during her 'princess lessons' with Morgana, she'd tried to give the woman 'crude courses' as well, trying to teach her how to be a bit crude and coarse as she was trying to teach how to be prim and proper.
It seemed she was succeeding.
~8~
Merlin and Lancelot were lying awake on the floor of a small hunting hut they'd found in the woods when they'd sought shelter for the night, having managed to get a nice fire going. Neither of them, though seemed able to find sleep as they could hear the shrieking of the Dorocha outside, the two of them safe with the fire inside. The previous owner hadn't been able to survive the Dorocha however, the poor man had died while still sitting at a small table. They'd covered him and laid him to rest on the man's bed, the two of them taking the floor, as close to the fire as they could get without being burned.
"You don't have to continue on this journey with me, you know," Merlin remarked, thinking on how, when he'd woken that morning, feeling fighting fit once more, he'd decided to go back after Arthur instead of head to Camelot and help there. He trusted his sister and his betrothed to keep the kingdom safe, but now it was HIS turn to keep Arthur safe. Lancelot had tried to get HIM to return to Camelot though, while the knight went on after Arthur, but neither were going to see that happen so they'd both gone.
"Try and stop me," Lancelot chuckled.
"Why did you want to go after Arthur?" Merlin had to wonder, Lancelot had been quite insistent on that, "Because you're a knight, you feel honor bound? Gwen is back in Camelot."
"Morgana is too," he countered before he sighed, "I made a vow to Gwen, that I would see everyone safely return."
"You don't have to worry," Merlin murmured, "I can keep us all just as safe."
Lancelot was quiet at that, knowing exactly how Merlin intended to do that but said nothing. The less Merlin knew about what HE knew, the less he'd guess at what he was prepared to do to stop it.
Merlin stiffened though when a gust of wind blew out the candles around them, "Lancelot!" he shouted as a Dorocha came bursting through the walls right at them, "Get down!" he cried, throwing out his hand and making the fire burst higher, forcing the Dorocha back just long enough for them to scramble to their feet and rush out of the small hut, "Whatever you do," he called to the knight as they ran, the Dorocha chasing them, "DON'T attack!"
"Attack what?" Lancelot yelled, guessing he wasn't talking about the Dorocha, it wasn't like he even COULD attack that.
But Merlin merely threw his head back and shouted at the sky, "O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd 'hup' anankes!"
"What was that for?!" Lancelot ducked as the Dorocha dove at them, narrowly missing him…
When suddenly a blast of fire shot out of the sky, right at the Dorocha and a few more that had come to join it…and the Dragon landed right in front of them. Lancelot panted and looked at the large lizard, "Why would I attack Kilgharrah?" Lancelot shook his head at Merlin.
"Right," Merlin winced, "Sorry, forgot that you met him already," he laughed, that had been quite the meeting. Lancelot had stumbled into the Druid camp just as Kilgharrah was about to fly off to meet Morgana. The Dragon knew of the 'knight' of course, had called him 'Sir Lancelot, the bravest and most noble of them all.' But Merlin shook his head from that and looked up at Kilgharrah, "Thank you," he gave the Dragon a bow, showing him some well earned respect. If it hadn't been for the Dragon, Morgana would have never remembered him the year before.
Kilgharrah gave him a nod back in reply, "The Dorocha cannot be allowed to remain in this world. The sundered veil must be restored."
"We're on our way to the Isle of the Blessed to help Arthur heal it," Lancelot informed it.
"Indeed. But at what price?"
Merlin swallowed, "I know that the spirit world demands a sacrifice."
"It demands nothing," Kilgharrah corrected, "It is the Cailleach, the gatekeeper to the spirit world, who asks such a price."
"And there is no other way?"
"There is not."
Merlin sighed, "Arthur intends to sacrifice himself to heal the veil. It is my destiny to protect him, you taught me that."
"Merlin…" Kilgharrah shook his head, "You must not do this."
"I have no choice. I must take his place."
Kilgharrah eyed Merlin a moment, "And what of your sister and beloved?" he wondered, "What will become of them if you do this?"
"Aya will have Arthur and Gana…" Merlin swallowed, "She's strong."
"She is not strong enough to endure your passing young Warlock," Kilgharrah warned, "To do this is to seal her fate to the path of darkness."
"She has already chosen the past of light," Merlin countered.
"Do you not recall the Blood Oath?" Kilgharrah reminded him.
Merlin let out a breath at that, realizing what Kilgharrah meant. The Blood Oath Morgana had given that she would be an ally of Camelot and protect her…if he died, she might turn against Camelot for the sole purpose of seeing the Oath broken and herself killed for it. He…he didn't want that to happen.
"Aya wouldn't let her," Merlin murmured, though he knew Morgana better than anyone, she was a determined and driven woman who got what she wanted. If she'd truly wanted the throne, he had no doubt she would have gotten it somehow but, luckily, she had…she had only wanted HIM.
Kilgharrah's gaze flickered to Lancelot a moment, seeing the man's determined look and returned his attention to Merlin, offering the boy a smile, "From the moment I met you, I saw something that was invisible. Now it is there for all to see."
"A lot of what you see, old friend, is what you taught me," Merlin smiled.
"And what your sister knocked into you," Kilgharrah laughed, recalling times where Marayna had literally had to force Merlin to come speak to him, and now there they were, conversing as friends, "It will be an empty world without you, young warlock," he gave Lancelot one more glance before he took off, flying back into the sky, knowing Merlin and Lancelot would be safe.
The Dorocha would NEVER attempt attacking a revealed Dragonlord who could summon something that breathed fire.
~8~
"When we get to the Isle of the Blessed, do you really intend to sacrifice yourself?" Lancelot had to ask as he and Merlin rode through the woods the next day, having spent the better part of the day trying to catch up to Arthur.
"I do not wish it," Merlin murmured, "Arthur will try to stop me, as I would stop him…we…" he sighed, "We were going to try and find a way around it, to find some way to close the tear without sacrificing anyone. But he's continued on without me, he blames himself for my being hurt and he's now more resolved to give his life than before. I fear we'll get there only with time to stop him and for me to take his place than to work out a true plan to stop it all."
They paused at the top of a hill, seeing smoke rising from an abandoned fortress a short distance away.
"Looks like someone beat us to it."
"Bandits?" Merlin frowned, "Think we'll make it before nightfall?"
"There's only one way to find out," Lancelot sighed, before urging his horse into a gallop just as the sun started to set.
They raced as fast as they could, managing to make it to the edge of the fortress just as the last light of the sun faded…smiling when they heard not bandits but the other knights speaking about Gwaine's socks being on fire, ALL of the knights, meaning they were all ok.
"Quiet," they heard Arthur order just as they pushed through a gate. They rolled their eyes as they heard swords being drawn.
Lancelot held up a hand to stop Merlin a moment, before he walked through a small archway and into a firelit room.
"Lancelot?" Arthur put his sword away, seeing the man there, his mind immediately going to the worst, "How's Merlin?"
"Bad news," Lancelot smiled, "He's still alive," he stepped aside just as Merlin stepped into the room, Arthur laughing as the other knights rushed forward to hug their friend, pleased he was alright again.
"Good to see you, Merlin," Arthur stepped up, squeezing Merlin's shoulder.
"Yeah," Merlin nodded, giving Arthur a pointed look, "It's good to see you too."
~8~
A short while later would find Merlin and Arthur as the last ones awake while the other knights slept near the raging fire.
"It's going to be fine," Merlin offered, "Everything will be alright."
"I'm just…tired," Arthur sighed.
Merlin glanced at him, knowing the man wasn't weary because he was tired, "You don't have to sacrifice yourself."
"To save my people…"
"Aya can look after them well enough," Merlin cut in, "But Arthur…she won't be able to bear it if she has to look after them without you. If you do this…I will take your place."
They had agreed to find another way, but it seemed the attack on him had made Arthur even more guilty and determined to see an end to this as quickly as possible instead of as smartly as possible.
"Merlin," Arthur shook his head.
"It's my life or no ones," Merlin countered, "You try explaining THAT to my sister and Morgana."
Arthur flinched at that, "I'd rather not."
"Then don't sacrifice yourself," Merlin shrugged, "We'll find another way Arthur. There's ALWAYS another way."
"What if we don't have the time to find it?" Arthur glanced at him.
"I trust my sister and I trust Morgana," Merlin said simply, "They can find a way to keep Camelot safe as long as we need to work that out."
Arthur sighed, seeing there was no arguing with him and turned to poke the fire instead, neither of them seeing Lancelot looking at them sadly, having heard the entire thing.
~8~
They arrived at the seas of Meredor, the path to the Isle of the Blessed that morning, "The Isle of the Blessed," Arthur breathed as they reached a dock, seeing a ferryman's boat waiting for them.
They quickly got on, hearing the shrieking of the Dorocha in the distance, feeling like it was getting closer to them as the boat drifted to the isle in the middle of the sea and praying that the spirits wouldn't attack while they were so vulnerable in the boat.
Luck had been with them for that at least as they managed to make it to the Isle without incident.
"What is that?" Leon paused, hearing a different sort of screeching as the knights all drew their swords.
"I really hope I'm wrong," Gwaine groaned, recognizing the sound as similar to a Wyvern…only for one to fly right at them.
"Wyvern!" Arthur shouted in warning as more and more circled them, diving to attack, surrounding them as the knights tried to defend themselves.
Merlin looked around, frantic, before he crouched behind a rock, whispering, "S'enthend' apakhorein nun epello!" his eyes flashed gold and the Wyverns merely flew off, making him breathe a sigh of relief that they were so close to Dragons that he could control them.
"See?" Gwaine smirked, sheathing his sword once more, "That's how you deal with them."
Arthur shook his head at him, "We need to keep moving," he turned and led them towards a sort of tunnel, more like a passage…but more Wyverns began to gather above them once more.
"Sire, you must go on!" Leon called, "We'll fend them off!" he pulled out his sword as did Leon, Percival, and Elyan, all of them moving back to back to protect the entrance while the two knights, Arthur, and Merlin ran in, dashing through the passage, to the end of it, and finding themselves in a courtyard where the altar Merlin recalled Marayna facing Nimueh was standing.
"It is not often we have visitors," a voice said and the old woman, the Cailleach appeared before them, standing before the altar.
"Put an end to this," Arthur ordered, "I demand you heal the tear between the two worlds."
"It was not I who created this horror. Why should it be I that stops it?"
"Because innocent people are dying!" Merlin cried.
"Indeed," she smirked, starting to laugh at that, making Gwaine run at her, his sword in hand, ready to attack…when she merely threw him back with magic, knocking him out as he hit a large stone, "Is this the best you can do?"
Arthur put his sword away and straightened, "I know what you want."
"Do you?" she smirked, "And are you willing to let me have it?"
"I'm prepared to pay whatever price is necessary," Arthur agreed, starting to walk towards the woman…
When Merlin threw his arm out, "Forb fleoghe!" and sent Arthur flying backwards, knocking him out just like Gwaine was.
The Cailleach turned to him, an eyebrow raised as she recognized him, "So, Emrys, you choose to challenge me after all. Will you give yourself to the spirits to save your prince?"
"It is my destiny," Merlin nodded, "I warned him I would do so."
"Perhaps," the woman tilted her head, "But your time among men is not yet over, Emrys, even if you want it to be."
Merlin frowned at that, confused as to what she was talking about, but the woman merely turned her head, Merlin looking over to see Lancelot had, while they'd been facing the Cailleach, gone right for the tear between worlds, truly like a gaping tear in the air through which an eerie light was drifting through, and stopped before it.
"Lancelot no!" Merlin cried, raising his hand to use his magic to stop him, but Lancelot clearly knew he would try and just offered a sad smile before he stepped back into the tear before Merlin could even raise his hand fully, "No! No! No! No!" he ran for the tear…but it sealed itself, the light disappearing along with the Cailleach, "No…" he breathed, falling to his knees before it and staring at the place Lancelot had just stood.
Gwen would be devastated.
~8~
And devastated she was.
Gwen had collapsed to her knees when the pyre had been lit. The knights, save Lancelot, had arrived in Camelot first and immediately started to build a pyre, making the others fear the worst, especially when they couldn't bring themselves to speak who it was for or look Gwen, Marayna, or Morgana in the eye. Marayna had been an inch away from ordering Gwaine to tell her what had happened…when Merlin and Arthur entered, walking, with a cape in Merlin's hand and a Sword in Arthur's…a familiar sword to Gwen.
The poor girl had started sobbing, shaking her head, crying out in devastation as the two men returned with her husband's affects, the only thing left of him, besides his sword and cape…was his wedding ring which Merlin had found resting on top of the altar. Gwen had clutched it, Marayna and Morgana on either side of her, both women unable to bring themselves to greet their loves while Gwen was suffering the loss of her own, and just…tried to comfort her.
But when the pyre was lit…she'd lost it entirely, hadn't been able to remain standing or hardly breathe till Gaius had rushed forward with a potion to calm her, to allow her to sleep. Elyan had picked his sister up and brought her back home, knowing that Gwen had been about to move into the quarters Lancelot had been given as a knight and it would be too painful for her to go back there now.
"I want to pay tribute to Sir Lancelot," Arthur called, "We owe him a great debt. It is not just his deed that we'll never forget. It's his courage. His compassion. His unselfish heart. He was the most noble knight I'll ever know. He gave his life for all of us."
But they all knew that wasn't quite true, the man had loved them all yes, but none more than Gwen. He had given his life to protect her, to protect those closest to him in allowing Camelot to keep its king and greatest protector, in allowing the princesses to keep their loves, at the sacrifice of Gwen's. And they knew…he had done it to save Gwen especially, to fulfill his promise to her.
And he had, everyone was safe now.
Because of Sir Lancelot.
A/N: It killed me to do that to Lancelot :'( But he really was too noble to let anyone but him make that sacrifice, and I can say that there IS a reason for it to not be changed in this story, but that there's also a second twist I have in mind for one of our favorite knights, but I won't say what till we get to it }:)
I hope you enjoyed a bit of Morgana-Marayna teamwork and Merlin-Arthur bonding :) And...I hope you liked the little surprised for Marayna's 'condition' :) She really won't know what to make of it all and I can say that she really will have a hard time processing she's apparently pregnant, she's spent so long thinking it impossible now that it's happened...well, it's a little too much like Ygraine isn't it? }:)
I can say that I've had this twist planned from the start, which is why it's so hard to get reviews that you've ruined a story by having someone barren, when you know this is coming and can't really spoil it :/ I think, I really wanted to show the sibling bond between Merlin and Marayna, to show how much Merlin loves and cares for his sister, that his magic reacted so strongly to allow her to heal so completely :') It also opens up quite a few challenges for Arthur knowing she's 'barren' but not knowing her magic, enemies that might want revenge, Marayna coping as a potential mother, and quite a few other things ;)
Ágéncym mé Emrys. Ágéncym mé Merlin. Ágéncym mé aaron. Ágéncym! - Return to me Emrys. Return to me Merlin. Return to me brother. Return!
Some notes on reviews...
Yup, Marayna is pregnant :) Which opens up quite a bit of complications given Arthur, not remembering magic, knows she's meant to be barren. I can't say though, if it'll be a one time thing or not just yet ;)
I think the Dorocha didn't obey Marayna because she wasn't the one who tore the veil and summoned them :) But her magic did have a slight affect on their magic :)
Lancelot had to die :( And it'll be something that'll affect Gwen for quite a while, but I can say there is a reason for it to not change from what happened in the episode }:)
I don't play many video games, I've played basic Mario and Crash Bandicoot, Tetris, and one of my friends practically forced me to play Final Fantasy VIII once lol :)
Your friends are awesome to watch Merlin after seeing your reaction to it, I wish I could get my mother to watch DW, she keeps resisting lol :)
Thanks so much! I actually only just realized I'd hit 50 when you said that ^-^
