Note: thanks to all the reviewers and a very happy new year to everyone, best wishes for 2010! x
Merlin hesitated for a moment before reaching out to gently shake Morgana's shoulder. "Morgana," he whispered. "Wake up."
He was a little surprised at how bright-eyed she looked as she opened her eyelids. There was no bleary-ness in her light grey eyes although her tone was questioning as she looked down to see that there was no longer any rope binding her body.
"Merlin, how did you get free?" she queried quietly, her expression unreadable.
"Uh, I, uh, managed to pry loose one of the knots."
"But we tried that and nearly broke our arms." She regarded him with a suspicious look and she opened her mouth to continue.
The dark-haired man cut her off. "We haven't got time to waste talking. Quickly, we must free the others." Morgana had no choice but to follow as Merlin crouched low as he made his way over to where Arthur and Gwen had slumped in a fitful rest. Uther's ward was dying to ask many questions of Arthur's servant but that would have to wait as they had more pressing matters to attend to.
Arthur woke with a start and his immediate reaction was to try and throw off the hand that was touching his arm, thinking that it was the bandits come to make good their promise of the previous evening.
"Shhh," Merlin hushed the Prince who had to blink twice at the sight of his manservant who was busy untying the blood-stained ropes.
"Merlin???" he stared in disbelief. "What theā¦"
"No time for that now." Merlin brushed aside Arthur's unfinished enquiry. He glanced over to see Morgana helping her maid to her feet and wincing in sympathy when she saw the wounds on the darker girl's wrists. A quick scan of the camp showed him where their horses were tethered and where their weapons lay in a small pile not far from where the four were now stood.
This presented the young sorcerer with a new dilemma. They would certainly require their weapons and mounts if they were to have a chance of escape but they would need to get past the watch. To be fair, the outlaws had been fairly lax in the number of guards they set up but this was due to their over-confidence that their prisoners were completely in their power. Only one guard was posted at the edge of camp whilst one other was sent a little way out into the woods in order to provide an early warning system. However, there were also men asleep close by the stolen arms and men such as they were prone to be light sleepers.
Should the whole camp be woken before he and his companions reclaimed their belongings and arms, there was a good chance they would be slain on the spot.
Now fully alert, Arthur reassumed his role as leader of the small group and took stock of the surroundings. The only real source of light came from the fire in the centre of the camp and it was burning low as morning approached. He directed Gwen to try and circle around to free the horses and he had attempted to send Morgana on the same task but she firmly put down that suggestion. Morgana pointed out that they would really need two people to gather their weapons properly and that Arthur should not forget that she was just as good with a sword, if not better and that Merlin would be a more appropriate choice for helping Gwen. Arthur's last order to the other three was that should anything happen to defeat their plan, then they were to run as fast as they could and not stop.
The two servants skirted the side of the camp, staying in the shadows as well as keeping a wary ear out for the patrolling guard. As they reached the horses and started un-tethering them, the animals began to snicker and whinny in recognition of their owners.
To the far side, Arthur and Morgana stepped lightly towards their discarded swords but just as they heard the animals' sounds, so too did their captors who stirred and wakened at the sound. "Oi, you!"
The time for stealth had ended. The two young nobles sprinted the last remaining yards to their weapons and each claimed their swords, hefting the blades, getting used to their weight and movement as they turned to face the oncoming attackers. By this time, the majority of the camp had been alerted and were making their way to the escapees who were looking around for the best way out. Their eyes met and when Morgana's flickered to the left, Arthur nodded quickly in agreement before raising his sword to meet that of the first bandit to reach them.
Steel crashed against steel before the blond Prince lifted his knee and kicked out at the attacker's stomach to send him staggering backwards. A sharp lunge and Arthur slayed him then continued to move towards the chosen escape route as more bandits rushed at him.
Morgana danced lightly out of the reach of the sword that swung at her. As the enemy's motion continued to roll forward with the momentum, she stepped back into the space and with a sweep of her blade, slashed her opponent across his belly. He fell to his knees even as his entrails spilled out of the gaping hole in his torso.
Arthur and Morgana cut and hacked their way through but they were still greatly outnumbered and fit as they were, they were beginning to tire.
With all the commotion going on, nobody noticed the horses being quietly led away from the camp.
Gwen gestured to Merlin, indicating with a few points and waves where she was going with the first two horses.
"Right," nodded Merlin, "I'll meet you there with the other two.
When the woman was out of sight, he studied the progress of his other two friends. They were nearing their goal of the gap which headed into the dark depths of the forest and safety. However, as good as their swordsmanship was, yet another wave of opponents was advancing upon them and Merlin could see that their earlier exertions were taking their toll. Arthur was becoming heavier in his movement, his reactions slowing with each parry and blow and Morgana's swings were also more laboured.
The sorcerer quickly took in the numbers. Four to one in favour of the outlaws with more coming to join them. The situation was fast becoming bleak for the two nobles.
Merlin focused his gaze on the fire and let soft words of power fall from his lips as he flicked his fingers in the direction of the low flames. A sharp gust of wind blew and the fire went out with a splutter and burp of smoke, plunging the scene into darkness and roars of confusion sounded from the enemy. The sudden change caused sufficient chaos for Merlin to call out.
"Morgana, Arthur, this way, follow my voice."
Eyes adjusting to the lack of light, Morgana and Arthur used the starlit sky to pick their way to where Merlin stood before leading them to where Gwen was waiting. As they put more distance between them and their captors, they heard the sounds of pursuit become fainter.
Gwen nerves were strung tightly as she listened and watched for signs of her friends. She had worried as she heard the clashes of swords and shouts of anger but her relief was palpable when her companions appeared from the undergrowth. A few quick hugs and smiles then they swiftly mounted up and rode as fast as possible.
They were still riding as the dawn broke and the sun rose to welcome the day. It was only when they decided that an insurmountable distance had been put between themselves and the outlaws did the companions stop to rest and build a small fire to take comfort from the warmth.
With the horses unsaddled, watered and now happily munching on grass, Arthur and Gwen had cleared a space by the shelter of a fallen oak and were now sleeping not quite curled up together but very close side by side.
Merlin and Morgana remained by the fire, a heavy silence between them.
Uther's ward appeared to be staring into the orange glow but every so often when Merlin looked up, he would catch her staring at him before averting her gaze.
It was a few moments before she broke the silence.
"That was lucky you were able to work free that rope, wasn't it?"
Merlin could feel her eyes scrutinising him. He tried a light smile. "Yes, it was rather fortunate."
"Then it was fortunate when that fire blew out and it had been quite a still night." Her gaze seemed to penetrate his soul.
"Hmm, yes, the weather can do peculiar things this time of year." He poked the fire vigourously with a stick. He couldn't meet her look.
Morgana sighed a little. She needed to be blunt with him, she wanted to finally be able to find someone she could freely discuss magic with and all the better if it was Merlin. After all, he had helped her to seek out the Druids and then helped her escape Uther's lethal forces.
"Merlin, I know it was you." Her words hung in the air.
His head jerked up. "I don't know what you mean." Merlin's heart thudded and his pulse raced. It hadn't felt so bad when he made the decision to use his magic. He had sort of told himself that they would be so relieved to escape that they wouldn't really question the way they did it too closely.
"The magic. It was yours." Her tone was gentle but matter-of-fact. "Merlin, I felt it, the energy, the power."
It was no use lying anymore. "Are you going to tell Arthur?" he asked unsurely.
Morgana tilted her head, "that depends." Merlin looked questioningly at her. "Are you going to tell Arthur about me?"
The smile they shared then was filled with meaning and understanding. It had never occurred to him after all this time that he wielded any power over the budding sorceress, it never crossed his mind to ever tell anyone her secret.
They were kindred spirits.
Since returning to Camelot, neither Merlin nor Morgana mentioned their powers either to each other or anyone else but they felt more at ease knowing that there was somebody who truly understood the wonders that they possessed and the potential danger they faced because of it.
If Merlin and Arthur were considered to be two sides of the same coin then Merlin and Morgana were cast of the same mould. The only difference was who or what would influence and guide them. Arthur's servant hoped that he would be able to help her as Gaius helped him to understand and control his power. He hoped that in the future, things might change and they would be able to work together to bring good to the land through the gifts of the Old Religion.
Some months later, a farmer arrived at the castle to announce that the Fires of Idirsholas burned once more and the Knights of Medhir had to be defeated again.
Fate cruelly twisted the fortunes of the two mages, forcing Merlin to play a deadly hand against Morgana in order to foil the plans of Morgause. It was a betrayal that was unforgivable and would forever colour her actions towards him, Arthur and Camelot.
Note: so that brings the end of this fic. I didn't think it would end this way but it seemed right as I wrote it. I kept the interaction between Merlin and Morgana quite low key as that's how they seem to do it in the show and it is their interpretation of the legend that I'm using.
