Down Once More
Back at the opera house, an emergency meeting was called and plans were made to deal with Morgana once and for all. Just to be on the safe side, both Kilgarrah and Gaius were consulted and the two old men gave their advice in Kilgarrah's house so Morgana would not hear them and learn of their plans.
"We have all been blind and yet the answer is staring us in the face," said Kilgarrah. "This could be the chance to ensnare our clever friend."
"We're listening," said Uther.
"Go on," said Arthur. They'd try anything now.
"We shall play her game, perform her work, but remember we hold the ace," said Gaius. "For if, my nephew sings, she is certain to attend."
"We are certain the doors are barred and blocked against her spells," declared Uther. "We are certain Morgause and Merlin can take her down."
"The curtain falls. Her reign will end!" declared Arthur.
They would perform Morgana's latest opera and Merlin would star in it, and they would take the chance to entrap Morgana. All thought the plan was good one and were willing to do it, all except for Merlin.
Arthur, Gwen and Freya found him in his usual spot, lighting candles for his parents. He looked as if he was going to be ill and hadn't sleep in weeks, for he was paler than usual and his eyes were red.
"Merlin, dear, are you alright?" asked Gwen, concerned.
"No, I'm not alright. I'm sorry, but I can't go through with the plan. I won't go through with it," said Merlin, shaking his head. "I won't betray her."
"Merlin, we're not asking you to betray her," said Arthur.
"Yes, you are, Arthur! Asking me to lure her to you so you take her away, I am betraying her. I can't do it. I'm not a traitor," said Merlin, firmly. While his heart was Freya's and he knew Morgana had done wrong, he still felt a sense of loyalty to her and couldn't find it within himself to betray her.
"Merlin, we don't want to hurt her. If we don't stop her, she'll just keep on haunting us and killing until we're dead," said Gwen.
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to," said Freya. When Arthur and Gwen opened their mouths to protest, she held up a hand, silencing them. "I can't begin to know how you feel right now, but it is your choice as to what happens with Morgana tonight. Either she will be stopped, or she will not."
Merlin sighed and felt his throat tighten at this. He rose up from where he'd been sitting on the floor and walked over the stained glass window as he wrapped his arms around his chest. He knew that they were right. But why did everything have to be so completely wrong and yet right?
"Twisted every way,
what answer can I give?
Am I to risk my life,
to win the chance to live?
Can I betray the woman
who once inspired my voice and magic?
Do I become her prey?
Do I have any choice?
She kills without a thought!
She murders all that's good…
I know I can't refuse
and yet, I wish I could…
Oh heaven - if I agree,
what horrors wait for me
in this, the Phantom's opera…?" he sang.
Morgana had been there for him when he'd needed someone the most. She'd given him a friend, a tutor for his magical and musical talents, given him so much he never thought he could obtain, yet there was a darkness to her that prevented them from being together.
Even the possibility of them being together had vanished when she'd murdered Janos and made many of his dreams go up into flames. Yet despite all her crimes, Merlin didn't see how he could go through with the plan.
Freya cupped his face in her hands as she wiped his lone tear away. "Merlin, don't think that we don't care. But every hope and every prayer rests on you now."
Merlin sighed again before holding Freya close and making his choice.
XXX
Morgana was busy preparing for the opera down in her lair.
She knew exactly what they intended to do, but she had no intention of letting them do it. She had her own plans in mind. One way or another, Merlin would be hers forevermore.
"Seal my fate tonight. I hate to have to cut the fun short, but the joke's wearing thin. Let the audience in. Let my opera begin!" she sang to herself.
After applying the finishing touches to her attire, she swirled her cloak around her and left her lair. Everything would be settled and everyone's fate decided that even, of that much she was completely certain of.
XXX
That very evening, Morgana's opera was performed.
Doña Juanita Triumphant was an enormous turnout. Yet again, there was a full house, but that was only because Merlin was singing there that night. If anyone had to guess, they'd say that the opera was boring the audience, judging by the amount of yawns and tired looks on their faces. Arthur, Uther, Gwen, Freya watched from the managers' box, having left Morgana's usual place empty lest she catch on.
Katrina was taking the female lead that evening as Doña Juanita.
The play itself was very dark and yet full of passionate, which seemed almost exactly like Morgana herself. Everyone was waiting and watching for her appearing and Merlin's signal of her arrival. He'd decided to go through with the plan, but only he was promised she was be taken away with her sister and not handed over to the police as they would surely kill her for her crimes and he'd had enough death for one lifetime.
Chorus
Here the sire may serve the dam;
here the master takes his meat!
Here the sacrificial lamb
utters one despairing bleat!Second Male Lead and Chorus
Poor young master! For the thrill
on your tongue of stolen sweets
you will have to pay the bill -
Serve the meal and serve the maid!
Serve the master so that, when
tables, plans and maids are laid,
Doña Juanita triumphs once again!
The dancers then emerged and performed their dancing sequence before Katrina emerged, wearing a flowing black dress and a small black mask. One of the male dancers danced flirting for her before tossing her a purse and disappearing off the stage.
"My amigo, faithful friend, once again recite the plan!" sang Katrina.
One of the other female singers, Katrina's friend, sang back to her, "Your young friend believes I'm you. I, the mistress, you, the woman."Katrina
When you met you wore my cloak,
He could not have seen your face.
He believes he dines with me,
in her mistress's borrowed place!
Furtively, we'll scoff and quaff,
stealing what, in truth, is mine.
When it's late and modesty
starts to mellow, with the wine…Katrina's friend
You come home! I use your voice -
slam the door like crack of doom!Katrina
I shall say: "come - hide with me!
Where, oh, where? Of course - my room!"Katrina's friend
Poor thing hasn't got a chance!Katrina
Here's my hat, my cloak and buttonhole
Conquest is assured,
if I do not forget myself and laugh!
Katrina then disappeared behind the curtain and suffered a fatal heart attack, fulfilling another part of Morgana's dreaded prophecy to Agravain before Morgana swooped down from the rafters like the angel of darkness she was.
Merlin came out onto the stage, dressed as a young boy. He looked quite handsome in his slightly opened white shirt, black pants, boots, and the small scarlet rose in his buttonhole. Sweetly and clearly he sang out, "No thoughts within his head but thoughts of joy. No dreams within his heart, but dreams of love!"
"Doña Juanita" then emerged from behind the curtain as her two servants bowed to her.
"My lady," they said.
"Go away, for the trap is set and waits for its prey…" sang Morgana.
Merlin's blood ran cold and his heartbeat quickened when he heard her voice. He didn't have to look behind him. He'd know that voice anywhere. Silently, he waited for the chance to signal the others as Morgana continued to sing.
You have come here I have brought you,
in pursuit of
your deepest urge,
in pursuit of
that wish,
which till now
has been silent,
silent…
that our passions
may fuse and merge -
in your mind
you've already
succumbed to me
dropped all defenses
completely succumbed to me -
now you are here with me:
no second thoughts,
you've decided,
decided…
Were it not for her mask, anyone would've assumed she was a beautiful performer judging from her long wavy black tresses and the long, black and gold silk gown she wore and the iris nestled in her hair. She was right at Merlin's side and her cloak fell on her shoulders as she sang and Merlin rose up.
Past the point
of no return -
no backward glances:
the games we've played
till now are at
an end…
Past all thought
of "if" or "when"
no use resisting:
abandon thought,
and let the dream
descend…
Merlin remained still as she encircled him and her beautiful voice rang out across the theater before she wrapped an arm around his waist and placed a hand on his neck as she rest her cheek against his raven locks. What raging fire
shall flood the soul?
What rich desire
unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction
lies before
us…?
Morgana released him before running her hands down his right arm before tenderly kissing his hand and holding his hand in hers for a moment. She looked at him an intense passionate gaze as the sleeves on her shoulders slipped down a little. Past the point
of no return,
the final threshold -
what warm,
unspoken secrets
will we learn,
Beyond the point
of no return…?
She had him walk with her for a few moments before releasing his hand. With a heavy heart and almost-clear conscience, Merlin turned his gaze to the box where his betrothed and friends were sitting and watching.
You have brought me I have come here,
to that moment
where words run dry,
to that moment
where speech
disappears
into silence,
silence…
hardly knowing
the reason why…
In my mind,
I've already
imagined our
bodies entwining
defenseless and silent -
and now I am
here with you:
no second thoughts,
I've decided,
decided . . .
Merlin turned to Morgana with an equally passionate gaze, which seemed to please her as he briefly took her hand in his and briefly kissed it before walking towards the staircase that rested on the stage. Morgana walked to the other one, as Merlin continued to sing.
Past the point
of no return -
no going back now:
our passion-play
has now, at last,
begun…?
Past all thought
of right or wrong -
one final question:
how long should we
two wait, before
we're one…?
Merlin briefly stopped his journey upward to gaze at her longingly and he held out his hand for her, but she could not take it as she was too far away, but his words seemed to bring immense pleasure to her soul as they continued up the stars and then crossed the rafting. When will the blood
begin to race
the sleeping bud
burst into bloom?
When will the flames,
at last, consume
us . . .?
Past the point
of no return
the final threshold -
the bridge
is crossed, so stand
and watch it burn…
We've passed the point
of no return…
All began to fell quiet and then Morgana turned around and faced Merlin with a look of longing in her eyes he'd never seen before. Her voice had a hint of sadness he'd never heard from her before either, as she sang to him.
Say you'll share with
me one
love, one lifetime…
Lead me, save me
from my solitude…
Say you want me
with you,
here beside you…
Anywhere you go
let me go too –
Merlin's throat tightened and he felt his heart break for Morgana as she held one of his hands and placed her other on his cheek. Heavens, he hated himself right now for doing this.
Merlin,
that's all I ask of…
"Forgive me," he whispered, as he covered her hand on his face with his own. But if this would give her chance to escape, then so be it. Quickly, he yanked off Morgana's mask, revealing the deformity.
The right side of Morgana's face was nothing but a mess of swollen pink and red scars that looked like hideous burns. There was even a jagged mark from her right ear to her right eye and it was quite hideous.
As the audience screamed in horror, Merlin looked pitying at Morgana while her face was cold and unsurprised. When she saw Morgause, Arthur and Uther start to run towards her, she acted fast. She thrust out her hand, making her cloak fly to her hands before she made the enormous chandelier from the ceiling fall straight down into the front row of seats and onto the stage, causing a fire and giving her ample time to place her cloak on.
Once it was tightly fastened, she grabbed Merlin's waist and swirled her cloak around them, making them disappeared in a whirl of black as the opera house quickly became ablaze with a great fire, despite Morgause's attempts to stop it with her magic. Morgana had been too clever for them, for she'd made the chandelier alight with magical fire that would consume all things in its path until the building it was burning was no more.
As everyone ran for their lives to escape the falling chandelier and the burning building, and Arthur got his fiancée and father out of the building before helping the others, Freya ran for Morgause. "Where did she take him?"
"Come with me, mademoiselle. I shall take you to her," said Morgause, as they ran. "But remember, keep your hands at the level of your eyes and keep this on you!" She placed a small pendant on Freya's neck. "If she attacks you with magic, it will protect you, but only if she uses magic. Come with me, mademoiselle, do as I say!"
Freya obeyed Morgause and followed the old ballet mistress down below.
XXX
Meanwhile, Merlin was being roughly dragged down to Morgana's lair. She was dragging him by an invisible magical rope that kept his wrists bound. She was furious and upset and rightly so. Who could blame her?
Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair!
Down we plunge to the prison of my mind!
Down that path into darkness deep as perdition!
Morgana grabbed Merlin by his wrists and glared at him with great anger and pain. She had to make him understand once and for all! If she had to forcibly keep him here with her, then by heaven she would!
Why, you ask, was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place?
Not for any mortal sin, but the wickedness of my abhorrent face!
As she dragged Merlin unwillingly down to her lair, a mob had arisen, determined to deal with Morgana against their bosses' wishes. But whether they intended to bring Morgana to justice or take revenge on her, it was uncertain. Their voices could be heard, thanks to the spells Morgana had placed on her lair.Mob
Track down this murderess!
She must be found!
Morgana ignored the sound of their voices as she opened the gate and closed it to prevent any intruders. She then forced Merlin to move and sat him down in a chair before tightly grasping his shoulders and gazing at him with both an angry and pleading gaze.
Hounded out by everyone!
Met with hatred everywhere!
No kind word from anyone!
No compassion anywhere!
Merlin…Merlin…
Why? Why?
Morgana had no idea why she'd been cursed when she'd done nothing wrong. Why did she have to pay for her mother's sins? She'd been an innocent babe when she'd been cruelly tossed aside and only two years old when she'd been sold. Then she'd endured so many years of pain, sorrow and loneliness and all for what reason? She'd done nothing to deserve that pain and she'd done plenty to deserve Merlin's affections. Why was she denied that which she so deserved?
"I can't change your past, Morgana, however much I wish I could," said Merlin, softly. "And nor can I change what's happened between us."
Morgana let out a shaky sob. "Please understand, Merlin. I am not your enemy. I can still be your Angel of Music. Please, let me." She rose up and released her grip on him before she walked away and fingered his ring. She had yet to return it to him.
Merlin rose up from the chair. "So, have you gorged yourself at last in your lust for blood? Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?" he asked.
Morgana let out a bitter laugh as she shook her head. "No, Merlin. You think so little of me that you believe I would kill you? No. You've done nothing to deserve death, unlike some I could mention." Morgana's mother, the witch who'd cursed an innocent life not yet conceived, that rat Janos, and the gypsy who'd tormented Morgana by making her endure a life of pain and mockery for starters.
"Then why are you doing this? You could've gone down a different path. You didn't have to choose the dark or this nightmare of a life," said Merlin. Her anger and bitterness he could understand, but there were so many other things she could've done in another way.
Morgana shook her head. What choice had she had in any of this?
That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood, has also denied me the joys of the flesh…
This face - the infection which poisons our love…
This face, which earned a mother's fear and loathing…
Her own mother hadn't wanted her. Not because of the shame of bearing a child of a man that wasn't her husband's, but because of her face, because she'd been ugly and not beautiful like her half-sister. Her deformity had ruined her life, forced her into hiding and caused her to be denied even the most basic of human pleasure. She'd never forgotten when she'd been forced to wear a mask for the first time as it reminded her of how abnormal she was.
A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing…
Pity comes too late - turn around
and face your fate: an eternity of this before your eyes!
Morgana again harshly grasped his shoulder and pointed to her face as her voice became soft and painful and harsh and angry. If he didn't understand now, he never would. If she could make herself beautiful, she would've done so a long time ago, and then maybe she would've won Merlin's heart. She gently placed his ring onto his finger as tears pooled in her eyes.
Merlin sighed and shook his head before taking a golden cloth off a tall mirror which reflected Morgana's face as well as his own.
"This haunted face holds no horror for me now…
It's in your soul that the true distortion lies…" he sang.
He looked at her with pity.
"It was never your face that drove me away, Morgana. You did that yourself with your own actions." By murdering and using dark magic and attacking those he cared about, she'd driven him away. Her ugliness had nothing to do with it.
Morgana was silent for a moment before she looked over her shoulder and then looked delighted. "Wait, I think, my love, we have a guest!"
Merlin's jaw dropped and his heart pounded when he saw Freya at the gate, trying to catch her breath, soaked to the bone with a few wounds on her arms, looking exhausted. "Freya!" What on earth was she doing here? As if he couldn't guess. She'd come for him. Freya looked relieved to see Merlin unharmed.
Instead of looking angry, Morgana looked exceedingly pleased at Freya's arrival and she smiled a sickening grin. "Mademoiselle Countess, this is indeed an unparalleled delight! I had rather hoped that you would come! And now my wish's come true and you have truly made my night!" She mockingly curtseyed to Freya.
"Free him!" she begged. "Do what you what you like with me, but please, free him! Please, show a little pity, please!"
"Your lover makes a passionate plea!" mocked Morgana.
"Freya, please, just go back to Paris. It's useless," begged Merlin. He'd already tried and failed to let her in, but Morgana's spell was too strong.
"Please, Morgana, I love him!" pleaded Freya. "I love him. Have you no compassion?"
Morgana just angrily scoffed as she beckoned to her face. "You should ask that of the world and the ones who did this to me! What compassion was I shown when I needed it most?" Yes, Morgause had helped her and shown her sisterly love despite her dark past, but so many more hadn't.
"I'm sorry for what you had to endure. But please, just let me see Merlin, just once. Please," begged Freya, as tears slid down her cheeks.
"Be my guest, Countess," said Morgana. She snapped her fingers and the gate went up, allowing Freya entrance before it went back down.
"Countess, I bid you welcome!
Did you think that I would harm him?
Why should I make him pay for the sins which are yours?"
All at once Morgana's sweet tone became harsh and angry. Before anyone could react, Morgana crossed the waters of her lair, tossed a lasso around Freya's neck and then bound her wrists to the gate with anger and relish.
"Order your fine horses now!
Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes!
Nothing can save you now - except perhaps, Merlin!" she sang, both mockingly and angrily.
She faced Merlin with a cold and ruthless look on her face. She seemed determined and unafraid of what she was doing or of the consequences.
Start a new life with me -
Buy her freedom with your love!
Refuse me, and you send your lover to her death!
This is the choice -
This is the point of no return!
As Morgana awaited his reply, an usual transformation happened for Merlin.
"The tears I might've shed for your dark fate," he sang. Merlin's look of compassion and pity quickly turned to one of anger and unusual hatred, such as they'd never seen on such a caring person such as him. "Grow cold, and turn to tears of hate!"
Morgana just shrugged as she yanked Freya's protective pendant off her neck and magically made more ropes ensnare her like a spider's trap. If she had to, she'd use a spell or potion to make Merlin do as she wished. For now, all that mattered was ridding the world of her rival once and for all.
More tears slid down Freya's cheeks and Merlin's eyes continued to flash gold in hopes of freeing his lover, but his efforts were fruits. More singing and pleading went underway as Morgana continued about her business.Freya: PHANTOM:
Merlin, forgive me, please forgive me…
I did it all for you, and all for nothing else!Merlin:
Farewell my fallen idol and false friend…
We had such hopes, and now those hopes are shattered!Morgana
Too late for turning back, too late for prayers and useless pity!Freya
Say you love her and my heart will break, but I shall try to live for you!Morgana:
All hope of cries for help; no point in fighting!Freya/Morgana
For either way you choose, she has to win/you cannot win!
So, do you end your days with me,
or do you send him to his grave?
Morgana tightened the rope around Freya's throat great vehemence as Freya looked upon her with both anger and pity.Freya CHRISTINE:
Why make him lie to you, to save me?Merlin
Angel of Music…Morgana
Past the point of no return -Freya:
For your own sake,
Merlin, please say no!
...who deserves this?
... the final threshold...Freya:
Please, don't throw your life away for my sake!Merlin
When will you see reason…?Morgana
Her life is now the prize which you must earn!Morgana
I fought so hard to free you…Merlin
Angel of Music…Morgana
You've passed the point of no return…"Angel of Music, you deceived me," said Merlin, as both angry and sad tears glistened in his eyes. "I gave you my mind blindly!"
"You try my patience, Merlin," said Morgana, impatiently. "Make your choice!"
Merlin's face softened as he began to walk to her. He sang to her once more.
Pitiful creature of darkness…
What kind of life have you known?
Now I have courage to show you, you are not alone…
Merlin stepped down and walked through the water before he cupped both sides of Morgana's face and kissed her, not once, but twice, soundly on the lips. Morgana returned both kisses and covered his hand on her cheek with her own. He kept his hand on her scarred cheek when they pulled apart and she looked both shocked, happy and touched deeply.
She'd been kissed and felt truly loved for the first time in her life. She then realized the error of her ways and realized she'd lost what she'd once sought to gain through her foolish actions. She pulled away as tears slid down her cheeks and the sounds of the mob approaching hit her ears and grew louder with every passing second. She then made a good choice for the first time in a long time.
"Merlin, take Freya and forget me," she said, as she pulled away. "Forget all of this. Leave me alone, forget all you've seen."
Merlin hesitated, but then Morgana pushed him gently and she magically undid Freya's bonds and unlocked the gate.
"Go now! Don't let them find you! Take the boat, leave me here, go now. Don't wait!" ordered Morgana. "Just take your beloved countess and go before it's too late."
Merlin obeyed Morgana's orders. He healed Freya's wrists and wounds before embracing her and kissing her and then helping her into the boat.
"Go now and swear to me, that you never shall tell of what you know of this angel's cursed condition as she rots down below in perdition!" cried Morgana. "GO NOW! GO NOW AND LEAVE ME!"
Without looking back, she went and concealed herself again before turning the key on her music box and letting the music play softly.
"Masquerade, paper faces on parade…masquerade, hide your face so the world will never find you…" she softly sang.
Morgana tearfully looked up and saw Merlin, who stood there looking at her with great compassion and pity.
"Merlin, no matter what you think or what anybody tells you, I do love you," she said, through her tears. Though she knew he hadn't chosen her, she had to at least let him know of her feelings towards him. "I love you."
Merlin knelt down beside her and took off his scarlet neckerchief and his gold ring. He wrapped the ring in his blue neckerchief and then placed both items into Morgana's hand. He then wrapped his arms around her before kissing her deformed cheek.
"Remember me, for I shall never forget you, my beautiful Angel of Music," he whispered softly in her ear.
Merlin's words and actions brought a small smile to Morgana's face as more tears slid down her cheeks. Merlin then rose up and joined Freya on the boat before making his way out of Morgana's lair forever.
Morgana watched as he and Freya made their way out of her lair. Merlin was making the boat go where they wished as Freya kept her arm around him with her head on his shoulder. Morgana caught Merlin's blue eyes for the briefest of moments when he turned to look at her and heard his sweet voice once more as he turned away again.
"There will never be a day when I won't think of you…" sang Merlin
"You alone can make my song take flight…" sang Morgana, sadly. Her heart felt broken and full all at the same time. "It's over now, the music of the night!" She then broke every mirror in the room with a spell before making every trace of her vanish from her lair before she disappeared herself, leaving behind only her spare white mask for the mob to find.
People would wonder and there'd be rumors, but no one would truly know what had happened on the night of the Phantom's flight.