A/N: Thanks to those who favorited and/or subscribed, and thanks toreadernurse, kurtblaine87, chawk1993, Neonlights, Lady Willamina, and vballqueen17 for reviewing! There will be another author's note at the bottom to clarify a few things, but until then, enjoy chapter four!
The Things One Doesn't Expect
Morgana knew she was tempting fate by coming to a druid camp after everything she had done – but she had nowhere else to go. She did not wish to return to her lonely existence in her hut in the forest. The druids were, for the most part, a peaceful people – they were the most likely to help her.
That was how Morgana Pendragon came to stand in front of Iseldir the druid chieftain.
Morgana had only met Iseldir once, but from what she remembered of him, he was a kindly man, fair and just. The years had not changed the druid. Iseldir's eyes were still piercing, and his face bore no extra lines. His manner, however, was considerably more guarded than before.
"Morgana Pendragon," Iseldir greeted, his voice neutral.
Morgana dropped her head. "Iseldir."
"My people tell me you seek shelter with us."
Morgana nodded, eyes downcast. "Only if you are so kind as to see fit to provide it, my lord."
Iseldir raised one thin eyebrow. "Courtesy, Morgana? This is not a demand, then?"
"No, my lord. It is a request – but I fully understand if you choose not to grant it."
"I see." Iseldir studied the woman before him. "Tell me, Morgana – why should I help the sorceress who has done more than anyone else to usurp the throne of the Once and Future King and destroy Albion?"
At this, Morgana looked up, confused. "I…I don't understand, my lord," she confessed.
Iseldir's searching gaze stared into her, making her uncomfortable. "No, you don't," he acknowledged. "But perhaps it's time you did."
MERLIN
As he had instructed, Arthur was woken up exactly an hour before dawn. However, when he opened his eyes, it was not to find his idiot manservant vigorously shaking him awake, but another who had already taken Merlin's place once before.
"George?" Arthur blinked, staring at the prim and proper servant incredulously.
"Good morning, Sire." George moved to get a tray from the table. "I have your breakfast all ready for you, Your Highness. Your clothes are laid out, your sword is sharpened, your armour polished – and after you breakfast, I will take your clothes down to be laundered."
Arthur was getting more and more confused. Aside from the fact that George was just as boring as ever, he had absolutely no idea what the man was doing in his chambers, or – more importantly – why Merlin was not.
"Where's Merlin?" he asked, as George neatly smoothed a napkin on his chest.
"He's left, Sire. He said he had something urgent to attend to, and asked me to take over his duties while he was gone."
Arthur frowned; he'd thought that George, no matter how dull he was, was not an idiot like Merlin – but clearly, he was wrong, because right now, George was making even less sense than Merlin usually did.
"He left?" Arthur repeated in disbelief.
"Yes, Sire." If George thought the king was being extraordinarily slow-witted this morning, he didn't say anything about it – a feat that would have been impossible for Merlin. "He left this for you." He handed Arthur a folded piece of paper.
The king, completely ignoring the plate of meat and cheese that George was placing in front of him, grabbed the paper and unfolded it to find Merlin's surprisingly neat handwriting penned on it.
Arthur,
I know you don't like George, but you can't deny that he's a better servant than I could ever hope to be. He'll take care of you while I'm gone. And before you get any stupid ideas into your head, you won't be able to find me, so don't even try.
I'm sorry I have to leave now, of all times – but please believe me when I say I have a good reason for it. I can't tell you exactly why, but it's not for myself. Trust me on that.
I'll see you when I get back. Till then, good luck, and don't be a prat.
Merlin
Arthur read the note through carefully – twice – but he still couldn't understand it. What in the world was that moron thinking? How dare he leave without even notifying his king?
George's bland voice interrupted Arthur's outraged, confused thoughts.
"Sire? Aren't you going to eat?" The servant didn't even sound particularly interested.
In a flash, Arthur made up his mind. "No," he replied curtly as he threw the covers off and swung his legs down to the floor.
MERLIN
Arthur wasn't the only one who got up early that morning. Sir Gwaine also rose before dawn – around the same time as Arthur, truth be told. However, unlike Arthur, Gwaine did not have to deal with a pesky manservant, nor was his schedule quite so packed.
So, the knight found himself, quite by accident, to have a bit of free time before he was expected at the training grounds – and as it was too early to nip into the tavern for a drink, even for him, he decided to go visit Merlin. He hadn't had a chance to talk to the younger man for a while.
Humming tunelessly, Gwaine dressed quickly and made his way to Gaius' chambers.
A surprise awaited him just outside Gaius' door.
"Arthur!" Gwaine greeted jovially. "Good morning, princess. Did you come to wake up Merlin?" While his words were light and joking, the knight noticed that Arthur looked exceptionally ticked this morning, and wondered as to the reason why.
"I would," the king replied in a controlled voice, "if he were here to be woken up."
Gwaine was confused. "Wha –" he began as Arthur pushed open the door to Gaius' chambers.
The physician was bending over a book of herb lore, but straightened immediately upon seeing his king enter the room, followed by Gwaine.
"Ah, good morning, Sire," he said respectfully; Arthur barely heard him.
"Where's Merlin?" he demanded, while Gwaine looked around in puzzlement.
"I don't know, Sire," Gaius answered truthfully – he didn't know where Merlin was.
"Gaius." Arthur's tone was full of implied meanings.
"I really have no idea, Sire," Gaius repeated. Then he frowned. "Didn't he write you a note?"
"Yes," Arthur admitted. He held up the paper clutched in his hand. Gwaine, without a care for manners, snatched it away and started reading. "But I'm hoping you have a better explanation for his sudden disappearance."
"As am I." Gwaine had finished reading and was now staring hard at Gaius, his face full of incredulity.
Gaius sighed. "I wish I did," he said apologetically, "but sadly, I do not."
Arthur still looked sceptical. "Merlin didn't say anything to you about where he was going or why?"
Gaius shrugged. "He did make a mention of several places he might be headed, but nothing specific. As for why he left, I'm sure he had a good reason."
Arthur huffed, unwilling to accept this, but understanding that it was all he was going to get. Gwaine, however, was not yet ready to drop the subject.
"And he went alone?" the knight inquired disbelievingly. Arthur's head snapped back to Gaius at this new thought – Merlin, traveling alone, with apparently no particular destination. He shuddered to think of the trouble his manservant could get into.
Gaius looked somewhat wry. "Merlin can take care of himself, you know."
Arthur snorted, quelling his worry. "Merlin? Take care of himself? He can't even make it halfway up the stairs without tripping."
"And would that be while he is or isn't carrying your armour?" Gwaine asked cheekily.
"Both." Arthur turned back to Gaius. "You'll inform me the moment he gets back?"
"Assuredly, Sire."
Arthur exhaled, knowing he could do nothing more, and left.
MERLIN
Morgana reeled back in shock and surprise at what she had just learned.
"Do you see now, Morgana?" Iseldir asked. He stepped forward and retrieved the seeing crystal from her numb hands. "Do you see what you've been fighting against?"
Morgana stared unseeingly, stunned to her core. "This…that's impossible," she said shakily. "Arthur is Uther's son. He can't be…"
"The Once and Future King?" Iseldir finished.
"It's impossible," Morgana reiterated.
"You are a Seer, Morgana," Iseldir told her. "Whatever you see comes true, because it is true – and there is nothing you can do to change your visions. You can try everything in your significant power to stop it – but at best, you will only delay the inevitable. The Queen of Camelot is living proof of that.
"Destiny will not be thwarted, Morgana. Arthur is the Once and Future King, destined to bring magic back to the land. By fighting him you have been hurting your own cause."
"The Once and Future King would have to be protected by Emrys," Morgana said, recalling what she had seen in the crystal.
"Indeed," Iseldir agreed gravely.
"Emrys has been fighting me at every turn, but…I have never seen him near Arthur. Why would he do so much for someone who does not even know who he is and who would have him persecuted for his magic?"
"Have you forgotten so soon, Morgana? Arthur is not his father. Emrys knows that, and he does his duty gladly, awaiting the day when magic is destined to return."
Morgana drew quick, emotional breaths. "Why have I never seen this before?"
"You were blinded by your rage and hate, and you were influenced by those who care not for these things and are concerned only for their own selfish agendas."
"Annis was right." It was a bitter pill for Morgana to swallow. "I sought to rid the land of an unjust reign, but in doing so I became the very thing I hated: a tyrant." She closed her eyes, feeling like she was drowning in an ocean of remorse. "I am truly Uther's daughter."
And with that, Morgana Pendragon broke down and cried for what she had done, and what she had become.
A/N: The above scene is my take on a possible redemption for Morgana. I still think the show may include such a storyline for her - even in Season 4, you can see there are moments where hints of the old Morgana show through the evil witch she has become. I'm not certain how well I did with Morgana's redemption here...I can't decide if it's in character or not - but there you go.
