Dragon Twins
A/N: I decided to make a little interlude chapter to showcase Marlena's arrival with the druids…and there will be some Morgana/Merlin moments as well because I just love those two together. This is a mostly fluffy chapter with some very meaningful interactions between certain characters…enjoy my lovely readers.
I have redone this chapter due to spotting numerous errors and realizing I left out a key bit of information (*head-desk*) oi-vey.
HPuni101: Mordred's just so adorable really…I can't help myself. Yes, my slowly reforming Uther is a lot better than the one in the show I think. I hated that man lol, but at the same time I felt sorry for him. Marlena is a little spitfire when she gets riled up though.
Padfootette: Thank you. I'm glad you love it. My updates will be sporadic from here on out but I will update whenever possible.
Chapter 9 – Interlude with the Druids
Cerdan, Marlena, and Mordred had to ride quite a ways into the forests to reach the druid camp. When they arrived in the camp Marlena's reception was…well it wasn't outright hostile but it wasn't exactly warm and friendly either. She hadn't realized that wearing her finer riding gear was, perhaps, not the best idea…especially since Uther had given her a red cloak with Camelot's crest embroidered on it so everyone would know she was protected by him, which was very sweet in her mind.
"Cerdan, welcome back my friend. Why have you brought a member of Camelot's court here? What if she betrays us to Uther?"
"Hello, Aglain. You need not fear for she will not bring us any harm. This is Lady Marlena, Court Sorceress of Camelot and King Uther's most trusted. She convinced the King to not have me beheaded when I was caught…he even allowed Mordred's injury to be treated by myself and his physician. She is…changing him…slowly but surely…into a better man and a better king."
"I see. While all of that is wonderful news…it does not explain why you have brought her here."
"She seeks training in healing magic, and anything else we are willing to teach her. She is powerful, but untrained, and with her position by the King's side it leaves her vulnerable."
"Very well, you may train her…as may anyone else who is willing to help. Welcome to our camp, Aria."
"Marlena, please. My name is Marlena, not Aria."
"Of course, Lady Marlena. Aria is merely the name we druids know you by in our prophesies."
[I can still call you Aria can't I?]
[Of course little one.]
Mordred's beaming smile, directed solely at Marlena, caused several raised eyebrows. The child rarely smiled at anyone and was a very serious child, but this young woman had somehow managed to bring such a bright smile out of him.
"Can that whole, telepathy thing be taught, Aglain?"
"It can, but only to one who is very powerful and has an equally strong will. Usually one must be born with the ability."
"She can do it…she answers me when I talk to her."
"Is that so, young Mordred? In that case, I believe she will do just fine in learning that skill. Come, allow me to show you to one of the guest tents."
"Can't she stay with us Father?"
"No, Mordred. She is a Lady and needs her privacy."
"Oh…okay then. I can still see her though can't I?"
"Of course little one, you can visit me whenever you like."
Marlena was rewarded with another beaming smile and a hug from the young druid before he followed his father to their own tent. Aglain watched with a curious look before leading Marlena to a small but cozy tent.
"You are bringing out the light in that boy. I do not know how or why but he responds to you in a way he never has with anyone else. His destiny is a dark one sadly."
"I refuse to let that destiny come to pass. I will change his future, somehow."
"I certainly hope so. You are a very determined young woman…to try and change a dark heart…"
"Mordred's heart is not dark. He is such a sweet boy."
"I was referring to King Uther."
"My king is not dark either…he lost his wife, the love of his life, to the treachery of a sorceress they had trusted. Nimueh is the reason his heart turned cold and his previous love of magic turned to bitter hatred. I am doing what I can to make him see once more that magic can be a force for good, and to try and help him rediscover that love he once had for magic."
"From what I have heard today…I believe you are doing quite well. He had never spared anyone with magic before you came along…and now he has spared several, yourself included."
Marlena allowed herself a small smirk as she gave the man a sideways glance, her eyes dancing with mischief and mirth.
"Mordred and I actually put on a little magic show for my King a couple of nights past while we all sat on the floor of the council chamber."
"Truly? I am sure that was a sight to behold."
"Morgana and Arthur stood in shock for a good while when they found us."
The man's booming laughter was rather infectious and she was soon laughing with him. She imagined the sight they had made in that scene must have been a very odd one, if Arthur's gaping mouth was any indication. Her thoughts turned to her friends and she already missed them, Merlin most of all as he was her other half of course…but she found that she actually missed Arthur quite a lot. She missed his teasing, his caring, his protectiveness…but most of all she missed their horseback rides through the forest.
"Arthur…"
"You miss him My Lady?"
"Hmm? Oh…yes I suppose I do. I've been at Camelot for months now and…we've grown rather close."
"The King does not mind this?"
"Not at all…he encourages it actually."
"How interesting. Well, I'll leave you alone for now My Lady. If you need anything do not hesitate to ask for it."
"Thank you for your hospitality Aglain."
The Druid leader left the tent and Marlena sat down on the small cot nearby with a soft thump and placed her head in her hands as her thoughts became a whirlwind. A small hand landed on her knee and she smiled softly at Mordred's concerned face.
"Hello little one. Is everything alright?"
"I heard your thoughts…you seem…unhappy here…why?"
"I am not unhappy little one…I miss my brother and my friends…but that does not mean I am not happy to be here Mordred."
"Oh…can't they come and visit you?"
"I'm sure they will at some point…even if the king tries to tell them not to."
"He's…not as bad as everyone said he is…is he?"
"No…he's been hurt badly in the past by someone with magic…someone he trusted."
"Nimueh…it's said that she killed the Queen…"
"Yes little one, in a way she did, and because of it the King became cold and hard…but he is softening slowly."
"Thanks to you…you make everyone happier."
"Even you little one?"
"Especially me."
"Thank you little one. Now…how about you give me the grand tour?"
Mordred beamed up at her and took her hand, leading her through the camp and chattering away happily like a normal excited boy. The sight, and sound, of it caused a lot of the druids to stop and stare in wonder. They rarely heard the boy speak at all so to hear him chattering on was astounding, and the patient, adoring smile on the young woman's face as he lead her around spoke volumes of how attached she'd already become to the boy.
A week passed and in Camelot Merlin, Arthur, Morgana, and Gwen were sitting in Arthur's room looking rather depressed. Morgana kept shifting about and sighing while Arthur tried to glare a hole into the wall across from him.
"Oh…I miss her already and it's only been a week. It's so dull around here without her little tricks and her caring concern."
"She'll come back My Lady. When she feels she has learned all she can from the druids, she will come back to us."
"You can just call me Morgana, Merlin. We are friends…are we not?"
"Of course My L…Morgana."
"Much better. Oh honestly Arthur…you look like a child whose favorite toy broke or something. Pull yourself together."
"I want her back home…where she belongs."
"You would deny her something that will make her happy…and stronger?"
"What?! No, of course not. I just don't see why one of them couldn't come here to teach her."
"Because your father terrifies them…and with good reason. I must say though…Mara is certainly changing him for the better."
"I couldn't agree more. He's softer somehow…less cold and harsh than he used to be before she came here."
"I think he sees some of your mother in her…the way she carries herself and how she acts towards others. Everything I've heard about Queen Ygraine is that she was very kind but also very firm when needed."
"He hardly ever talks about her…"
"It probably hurts him Arthur. Maybe…now hat he's opening up more…you could try to talk to him again?"
"You're right Morgana…I'll do that."
Arthur kissed the top of Morgana's head in a rare show of affection and left the room, heading to his father's quarters. After he left Morgana sat there in stunned silence until Merlin's snickering brought her back to reality. She shot him a sly, sideways look and promptly shoved him off of the bed earning a decidedly undignified yelp of protest.
"Oy! What was that for?"
"For laughing at me. It wasn't very nice you know?"
Gwen laughed and shook her head at the pair she called her friends before heading to the door and stepping out, calling back over her shoulder as she left to tell Morgana where she was going.
"I'm going to go check up on my father for lunch My Lady. I will be back to your chambers in about an hour unless you send for me before then."
"I'll be fine Gwen…go have your lunch. As for you Merlin…"
Morgana stalked towards where Merlin had just managed to get off the floor and she watched him visibly swallow several times as she moved towards him with a feline grace.
"Um…My Lady…Morgana…what…?"
"Shh…hush now Merlin."
"I…I don't…"
Morgana pushed him gently into the wall and pressed her lips to his, fighting back the urge to smirk in victory at the low groan this action brought from his throat. She flicked her tongue against his closed lips and he hesitantly parted them, allowing her access to his mouth and making her purr in satisfaction as her hands twined their way into his hair to keep him in place. When the need for air became too much to ignore she pulled back and looked at him with his tousled hair and swollen red lips. She licked her own lips and gave him a saucy little smirk before sauntering out of the room, swaying her hips as she did so and speaking in a soft tone.
"Oh Merlin…my sweet little Warlock…I will have you in my bed one day…hopefully soon. I'll see you later sweet Merlin."
Merlin just stared at the door after she left, his fingers pressed to his lips as a dopey grin stretched his lips. That was how Arthur found him almost a half an hour later when he returned from his father's chambers.
"Well, that went better than I expected. He's actually going to have dinner with me tonight and tell me about my mother Merlin. Merlin? Merlin?!"
"Huh? Oh…Sire? When did you get back?"
"Almost five minutes ago…what the hell happened to you? You look like you got attacked by a wildcat or something…"
"Close enough Sire…Lady Morgana…"
Arthur's loud snort devolved into loud laughter as he clutched the bedpost to remain standing upright.
"So, she finally managed to corner you and have her way with you then?"
"What? Oh…no, no, nothing like that. She just…kissed me…quite thoroughly I might add."
"Well, it's about time."
"What about you and my sister? What do you intend with her?"
"Honestly? Merlin…I think I'm already in love with her…and that terrifies me, but at the same time it thrills me."
"She does like you a great deal…not sure if it's love just yet…but definitely strong like. When she comes back take her out for a picnic somewhere, or take her swimming in the lake…she loves nature."
"I'll do that…thanks Merlin."
"I want her to be happy Arthur…if that happens to be with you then so be it. I'd rather it was you…someone I can trust not to hurt her…than some stranger."
"I won't allow anyone to hurt her Merlin, and if I ever do you have my full permission to kick my ass."
"Can I get that in writing?"
"Oh shut up Merlin."
The two men shared a laugh and shoved each other around a bit before heading to the training grounds. Sir Leon met them there with the rest of the knights who all looked decidedly solemn.
"Alright then…out with it. What's got all of you looking so dismal?"
"How long will Lady Marlena be gone Sire?"
"As long as she feels she needs to be Sir Leon. She is not on holiday…she's training to be stronger with her magic…to get better control to help Camelot."
"Of course Sire…we just…miss her is all."
"As do we all Leon…as do we all. Now…shall we start beating each other up then?"
Leon's grin was answer enough and the knights all paired off to practice. Hours later they returned to their various rooms, all of them sweaty and some of them limping slightly, satisfied and aching as they headed for hot tubs of water. Arthur took a rather quick bath, resolving to take a longer one after dinner, and let Merlin dress him in one of his finer outfits for dinner with his father.
"I want to look good Merlin, I want him to see that I can be a good son."
"He already knows that Arthur. Lena says he talks about you often, about how proud he is of the man you're becoming."
"Really? Well, that's…that's good."
"You're ready. Go on then, don't keep him waiting."
Arthur grinned and headed off to meet with his father. Merlin went to see Gaius and the two went out to pick herbs together in the dying light of the end of the day. Arthur entered his father's private chambers and sat when he was told to. The two men eyed each other for a long moment before Uther gave his son a once-rare smile that was slowly becoming more familiar.
"This outfit looks good on you. I don't believe I've seen you wear this before…is it new?"
"It was a gift…from Marlena. She said the darker red would look better on me than my usual scarlet does."
"She's right…it does look better. She has a good eye for these things."
"She's a woman…I'm fairly certain they're born with it."
"Perhaps you are right. Your mother certainly had an excellent fashion sense. She always wore such beautiful gowns. She had hair like yours only much longer. When she let it fall freely it went past her waistline and it was ever so soft. You have her eyes as well, that same crystal clear blue. I miss her so much…"
"I wish I had been able to know her…"
"She would have adored you…and possibly smothered you with attention and worry. She always worried over me, and she worried over you as you grew inside of her. You weren't even born yet and she worried. It was her way to worry over those she cared about. She trusted a woman named Nimueh…she was the High Priestess of the Old Religion at that time. When we found that Ygraine could not conceive she turned to Nimue for help…and that woman promised to help us have a child. She said that there would be a price to pay but she never told us that the price would be your mother's life. She deceived us both and stole your mother's life from her…from me…and from you."
"That's why you hated magic so much…isn't it?"
"Yes…but Marlena has shown me that good magic still exists in this world."
"She's taught me that magic itself is neither good, nor evil…it is those who wield it that are good or evil. She is everything good in this world…and Nimueh is not."
"When did my son grow to be so wise?"
"Marlena tends to beat sense into me when I do or say something foolish."
Uther's deep laugh made Arthur smile in happiness. He realized, suddenly, that they were having a bonding moment, as father son rather than King and Prince.
"So…did mother ever make you crazy with longing or is it just a unique ability of Marlena's to do so to me?"
"Oh, no my son…that ability belongs to all women…they are most definitely born with it. Your mother could drive me absolutely mad sometimes, especially when I was courting her. She could flick her hair and make me want her…and then deny me in the next breath."
"Marlena doesn't even seem to realize how badly I want her…"
"Then you need to show her, woo the girl if she is the one you want."
"How the hell do I do that? Bedding a woman who throws herself at me is easy…but I don't want that…not anymore…not now that I know Marlena. I want to win her affections."
"You need to find out what she likes, and what she doesn't. Get to know her better."
"Merlin said she likes nature…picnics, riding, and things like that."
"There you are then. Take her out for a long ride and then have a picnic by that one lake she likes so much. Find out her favorite foods and have the cook prepare a basket of those foods to take with you. Another bit of advice…let Morgana help you."
"She already promised to do so. I think she wants us to get together as much as I do."
"I would not be surprised. What is this rumor I hear about her kissing your manservant?"
"Oh…that…I returned to my room earlier to find the poor guy staring at the wall with this big dopey look on his face. I believe she has him completely besotted now. It took him a good ten minutes to even realize I was in the room…and that was after I yelled him name several times."
"Oh my…she certainly did a number on the poor boy didn't she?"
"Oh yes…and that was merely a kiss…can you imagine how useless he'll be if she does more than that?"
"I daresay she has much greater plans for that boy than mere kisses. I see no problem allowing her to have her way in this case. He is a far better choice for her than any of the nobles who have sought her hand thus far. At least Merlin cares about her and has a kind heart."
"He'll do anything to keep those he cares about safe and happy. He has a good heart, even if he's the worst manservant in all of Albion."
The two men shared a fond laugh and ate together with a great deal of conversation and bonding.
"How did training go today without Sir Leon?"
"What do you mean? He was there as always…"
"I told Marlena to take him with her…"
"She was probably so excited that she forgot. I will go to him after we finish and tell him to ride out and find her."
"No, wait until she sends her next letter and he can follow the messenger back to her."
"Excellent idea father. I will inform him."
Arthur made a quick stop to inform Leon of the latest development and Leon was not at all surprised that Marlena had forgotten to tell him.
"I know she was excited, Sire, but I daresay she forgot on purpose. You know how she is about being protected all the time."
"Valid point…When he next letter comes you are to follow the messenger back to her location and watch over her."
"It would be my honor, Sire…even if I'm afraid she might hit me for it."
Arthur was still laughing when he returned to his room and Merlin was thrilled to see the big grin on his face.
"I take it things went well then?"
"Oh yes…very well. He approves of me courting Marlena…really approves…he encouraged me to take her out and court her properly."
"Well that's certainly good news. I knew he liked her but I didn't realize he was quite that fond of her."
"I'm fairly certain he wants to make her part of the family somehow. Oh, he also approves of you and Morgana so I say you go for it."
"I…I…um…uh…Morgana's…that is…she's…umm…"
"For pity's sake Merlin…just go and talk to her…she doesn't bite…at least I don't she bites."
"Right…I'll just…go then."
Merlin stumbled as he raced out of the room and Arthur snorted loudly before getting himself ready for bed. He stood and stared out of his window for a long time, thinking about Marlena and what he would do once she returned to them.
[Arthur…I miss you too.]
A soft melodic voice filtered through his thoughts and he turned, expecting to see her standing behind him but there was no one. The voice laughed in his head and spoke again, amusement clear in the tone and he huffed a soft laugh as he realized she was clearly learning that telepathy thing that the little boy could do.
[Oh Arthur…I'm not actually there with you silly. I'm still with the druids.]
The sudden realization that she was using it to contact him, of all people, made him grin and try to will his thoughts to reach her again.
[I can hear you Arthur. I…do not think I love you…not yet…but I do care for you deeply. I look forward to getting to know you better once I return. Sleep now My Prince. I will be back before too long.]
Arthur crawled into bed and let her soft voice lull him into sleep, and into dreams of what his life would be like with her by his side as his wife. In the druid camp Marlena saw bits and pieces of his dream and found herself blushing brightly. Mordred and his father looked at her in concern as she turned red.
"Are you alright My Lady?"
"I'm fine…I was merely speaking with someone important."
"Ah…which of your friends was it?"
"Prince Arthur. He was…restless and unable to sleep. He worries about me. I felt it, and I wanted to ease his mind. He's sleeping peacefully now."
"That is good to hear…and I believe it is time for us to be heading off to sleep as well."
"Can't I stay with her tonight Father? Please?"
"Only if she allows it Mordred. You know the rule."
[Please?]
[Of course little one.]
"He may stay the night with me. Go get yourself ready and then come back to me."
Mordred raced out of the tent, nearly tripping in his excitement and causing the two adults to snicker softly.
"You spoil him My Lady."
"He's a child…children should be a bit spoiled."
"He never really knew his mother. She was killed when he was still an infant. I believe he is viewing you as a sort-of mother figure."
"I don't mind. He's a good boy…and I want to help him."
"You are helping him."
"I'm ready!"
The two laughed softly as Mordred came back in with his pillow and his little stuffed dragon in his arms. Marlena had seen it in the cart of a travelling merchant and bought it for him, delighting in his wide-eyed joy. He didn't let go of it until well into the next day, and he still insisted upon sleeping with it…and her whenever possible. Cerdan bade his farewells and left the tent while Marlena got into bed, holding the covers open until Mordred had crawled in beside her and curled into her.
"There we are. Hush now little one and I'll sing you off to sleep."
Mordred settled in and listened to her soft voice as she sang to him. He loved it when she sang because it sounded so pretty and soft.
"Now let the day just slip away
So the dark night may watch over you
Then the view silent, true
It embraces your heart and your soul, Nocturne.
Never cry, never sigh
You don't have to wonder why
Always be, always see
Come and dream the night with me, Nocturne
Have no fear, when the night draws near
And fills you with dreams and desire
Like a child asleep, so warm so deep
You will find me there waiting for you, Nocturne
We will fly, claim the sky
We don't have to wonder why
Always be, always see
Come and dream the night with me, Nocturne
Though Darkness fades
It will give way
When the dark night delivers the day, Nocturne."
Marlena looked down to see Mordred fast asleep and she smiled softly, placing a gentle kiss upon his forehead.
"Sleep well little one. I will watch over you while I can."
A/N: I had to spit this one out b/c these little scenes were demanding to be written. I hope you all enjoyed this and I hope to get the next chapter out in the next week or two but I make no promises. Let me know what you think of this bit, Thanks.
The song she sings is "Nocturne" by Celtic Woman. If you haven't heard it, go and listen to it now…You Tube that shit. It is breathtakingly beautiful and I can imagine a mother singing it as a lullaby b/c it lulls me into sleep. It's also on my Pinterest board for this story. The link is on my profile page.
