My gosh you guys this is amazing! I never expected this many people to read my story, much less enjoy it! So I just wanted to say thanks. Cuz I'm kinda strange like that...
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CHAPTER 3: PREPARATIONS
The next morning dawned bright and early. Light came streaming in the sliver of a window at the top of Merlin's cell and danced on his eyelids, waking him. He put one hand over his eyes and rolled over, trying to remember where he was. It all came back to him in a flash. The revelation, then being thrown in the dungeon, being told that he was going to be executed.
Slowly he sat up, careful not to disturb Morgana who was asleep in the other cell, her fingers twisted around his. She shifted slightly in her sleep, her hand sliding a little from his. He extracted his fingers and stood quietly, determined not to wake her yet. He needed a little time to himself.
For twenty minutes he paced the small space that had become his brief home. His thoughts whirled wildly. A small part of him cried to save himself, that his destiny to protect Arthur still stood and that he must honor it. He pushed it away. Morgana was his life now. He would do whatever it took to keep her safe, and if that meant dying, so be it.
A rustling pulled him from his thoughts. Morgana was sitting up, brushing straw from her hair and blinking in an effort to adjust to the change in light. "Merlin?" she asked, reaching out.
"I'm here." He sprang across the cell and grabbed her hand. "I'm still here."
As she remembered their situation, Morgana's face, so peaceful in sleep, fell into the dark despair of hopelessness. "Oh Merlin," she whispered again. "Today is the day."
"Don't think about it," he said, cupping her face in his hand. "Don't worry."
"How can I not?" she asked. "You are going to be-" she couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.
"Shhh," he murmured, knowing that nothing he could do would ease her pain. He turned her face to him and kissed her. "It's going to be okay in the end."
For hours they sat there, holding hands, kissing, talking about the past. Breakfast was brought by a surly guard, and they ate slowly, Merlin cherishing his last meal.
The sun rose in the sky, and they tracked its progress across the floor of the cell, counting down the time. At almost noon, more guards came in, led by Arthur. "Take them," he said, clearly hating himself for every word.
The keys jangled in the lock and the soldiers pulled Morgana away from Merlin, hauling them both from the cubicles. Wordlessly, Arthur led them from the dungeon and into a small antechamber. "Take her," he said, gesturing to Morgana.
"No!" she screamed, grasping and clawing at Merlin, who fought his guards so viciously they almost collapsed. "You cannot take him from me!"
Arthur sighed. "Stop. If you are good, I will give you three minutes to say goodbye once you are cleaned up. Gwen waits for Morgana next door. My father would allow no more." Morgana stopped fighting and Merlin froze mid-thrash. "Thank you." The prince gestured to the guards, who carried the noblewoman through a smaller door.
Merlin was released, and Arthur pointed to a small basin of water. "Wash your hands and face, Merlin," he ordered. "And try to make yourself presentable, for goodness sake."
The servant looked at him coldly. "Why should I? I'm going to die anyway." Arthur ignored him, shutting the door loudly behind him. Merlin splashed some water on his face and exhaled loudly.
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Morgana glared at Gwen, her upright posture and regal look at odds with her disheveled appearance and dirty face. "And I suppose you want to help me," she said coldly to the serving girl.
"I tried to see you last night," she said, stepping forward. "Uther had put guards all over the dungeons and the halls. There was no way to get to you, and no way to get you out."
Morgana's angry exterior shattered and she burst into tears. Gwen threw her arms around the girl. "Gwen, I'm so scared," the lady sobbed into her friend's shoulder.
"I wish I could tell you that it will be okay," Gwen whispered. "But I don't know if it will be." She pulled away, holding Morgana at arms length. "Look at the state of you!" she laughed, trying to make light despite the darkness of the situation. "We need to get you cleaned up."
"So I can see my love killed at the hands of my king?" the other asked miserably. "It seems hardly worth it."
"Do you want Merlin to see you like this?" Gwen said, picking up a brush and setting to work untangling her dark hair. "Come now, Lady Morgana. You must put on a brave face, for him at least, if not for yourself."
In the next five minutes her hair was braided, hands and face scrubbed porcelain-pale, and her dress changed. She had undergone a transformation, and now looked every inch the King's ward, down to the strong defiance in her eyes.
"There, you're done." Gwen stepped back as she finished straightening the back of Morgana's long red dress.
"I suppose I should say thank you," the girl began, turning around. "But I'm not sure how."
"Don't worry about it," she said, grabbing and squeezing her friend's hand.
There was a slow knocking on the door and it inched open. Arthur's head was stuck through. "Your time with Merlin is beginning. Come, Guinevere." Gwen gave Morgana a smile and left, passing Merlin.
"Oh Merlin," Morgana breathed, dashing across the room and throwing her arms around him. "You can still get away. Use magic."
"I can't. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you because of me."
"Your loss is the only unbearable thing."
Merlin breathed into her ear, "You look beautiful. But your dress ought to be green; it suits you better than red does."
"Uther is dressing me in red because it is the Pendragon color. I hate it. I hate him. How could he do this to you? To me? He just wants me to look like I support him, like I support this. The people should see me with you. That's the only part of me that matters."
Merlin pulled himself from her embrace and looked her straight in the eyes. "Morgana, I need you to promise me something."
"Anything." Her gray eyes frantically searched his face.
"When I am gone, you must not do anything to yourself. You must go on living. For me."
"I'm not sure that I can-" she began.
"You must promise me! Promise."
There was a pause, in which Merlin held his breath, waiting for the oath. "I promise." Morgana broke down, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I promise." She pulled Merlin back into a hug, then kissed him. He tangled his hands in her hair, pressing himself against her.
Another knock came at the door and it creaked open. Arthur coughed quietly and the two of them separated. "I love you Morgana," Merlin said as the guards grabbed his arms roughly and dragged him away. Morgana didn't fight, but kept his blue eyes locked on hers until the door was slammed shut behind him.
"Come, Morgana. The king is waiting for you." Arthur grabbed Morgana's hand and tugged at her. She followed him unthinkingly, numb inside and out.
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Until next time, then...
