Chapter 10
Duran came from around the side of the house and shouted. "Mummy!"

"Did you have a good morning, Duran?" Gwen said as he hugged her.

"Yes. Sire let me wiggle my toes in the water. It was cold. Then we saw a fish and it sucked on my toe." Duran said.

Arthur appeared at the corner of the house with a bouquet of flowers. "We picked you some flowers too."

"I shall have to share with Hunith." Gwen smiled as she took them from Arthur.

"Those are all yours 'cause we picked some for her too." Duran said.

"I see that you were very busy this morning so you won't fuss about a nap after you eat then." Gwen said as she looked at Arthur.

Arthur nodded. "I think we both could use a nap. He has so much energy. I'm having a hard time keeping up."

"No more fish sucking on your toes this afternoon. The water is getting too chilly for that." Gwen gave Arthur a look. "I don't want either one of you catching a cold."

"Yes Mummy." Duran said in a disappointed voice.

"We shall take a long walk and find some berries for later." Arthur said.

"That sounds wonderful." Gwen said. "Take Merlin with you so you don't get lost in the woods."

"I was planning on it. He will carry the basket." Arthur grinned.

"Thanks, I would love to come." Merlin said.

They went in and ate the nice meal that Hunith had prepared. Arthur and Duran lay on a blanket by the fire and fell asleep soon after. Gwen went back to the forge to finish her work.

Merlin was restless so he decided to take a walk in the woods. He wasn't very far from the village when he saw Micah talking to a woman in a black cloak. He ducked behind a tree and listened.

"My Lady, she isn't interested in me. I have trying to tell you this. She is leaving for Camelot in the morning with the King, Merlin and the old physician. The King has acknowledged the boy as his own." Micah said. "There is nothing that can be done."

"You leave that to me." The woman said. She turned just enough for Merlin to see her face. "I will not let this boy take my rightful place on the throne of Camelot."

Merlin froze when he saw Morgana's face.

"What are you going to do? Kill him?" Micah asked. "He is but a small boy."

"He is Arthur's son and that makes him my enemy." Morgana said. "You have failed me. What did I tell you would happen if you failed me?"

"You would kill me. My Lady, I did try. Gwen was just not interested. She is still in love with the King." Micah told her.

"Will they marry?" Morgana asked.

"She hasn't said but he bedded her last night." Micah said.

Morgana growled and sent the man flying into a large oak. "Will I never be rid of that handmaiden? I can't believe he forgave her. He should have killed her, beheaded her not bedded her again. I will not let her or her brat take my crown. I will kill her if it's the last thing I do."

Merlin watched as Morgana disappeared in a swirl of wind. He looked around and went to check Micah. He found no pulse or breathing. He rushed back to tell Arthur what he had just seen.

Arthur was asleep on the floor when Merlin got back.

"Arthur, wake up." Merlin shook his shoulder/

"What is it, Merlin?" Arthur looked up sleepily.

"Morgana was in the woods. She was working with Micah to keep Gwen from you. She is determined to kill Gwen and Duran." Merlin said.

Arthur jumped up and ran to the forge.

Gwen gave him a questioning look when he suddenly appeared. "Arthur, what is it?"

"Morgana is close by. She is here to kill you and Duran." Arthur said as he tried to catch his breath.

"Where is Duran?" Gwen started to get a knot in her stomach.

"I left him at Hunith's. You should not be alone here." Arthur said. He held out his hand. "Come with me now."

Gwen put down what she was working on and took Arthur's hand. They started to run to Hunith's house when they were knocked on the ground.

Arthur sat up and looked behind them. Morgana was standing there with a smirk on her face.

"Hello brother dear."

"Morgana, what do you think you are doing? They are my family. They are your blood. Why do you want to harm them?" Arthur said.

"I should be Queen not that handmaiden." Morgana yelled. "You should have killed her when I brought that fool Lancelot back from the dead. Now I hear you are bedding her again. As if one brat on her wasn't bad enough. Are you trying for another?"

Arthur stood up and pulled Gwen up behind him. "So it was an enchantment."

"Yes. You should have beheaded the bitch. Now I will have to do it for you." Morgana said as she held out her hand.

"I don't think so, Morgana." Merlin said from behind Arthur and Gwen. "I cannot allow you to hurt Gwen or Duran."

"How are you going to stop me? Polish me to death?" Morgana cackled.

"Merlin, get back inside and stay with Duran. Take Guinevere with you." Arthur said. He pushed Gwen toward Hunith's house. "Run."

Gwen started to run. Arthur kept himself between her and Morgana as he followed her.

Morgana held out her hand and started to say a spell when she flew back and hit the ground.

"Merlin!" Gwen stopped running. "You have magick?"

Arthur turned to Merlin. "It's about time."

Arthur grabbed a stunned Gwen and went inside the house.

Gwen and went to hide behind the table with Hunith and Duran. She scooped up Duran in her arms. She was still shocked by what she saw

Merlin had followed them in. He turned to Arthur with a confused look on his face. "You knew?"

"Please. You don't whisper that softly and the eyes are a dead giveaway." Arthur said. "I was just waiting for you to speak up."

"Arthur, what will happen to him?" Gaius asked.

"He will be polishing my armor day after tomorrow unless Morgana kills him first." Arthur said. "Is she dead or just knocked out?"

"Just knocked out I would say." Merlin looked out the window. "So I'm still a manservant then. I get no special appointment or anything?"

"Shut up Merlin! You get to live as long as you tell no one about your magick. Well no one else." Arthur said. "Can't you kill her at least severely injure her long enough for us to get back to Camelot?"

"Yes but it won't be easy. She has gotten more powerful than I expected." Merlin said as he walked to the door.

"Merlin, be careful. Hunith said.

Merlin set his jaw and nodded. He walked out the door as a fire ball started to form in his hand.

"You're really going to let him live?" Hunith said.

"I figured it out years ago and I have let him live. I have no intention of changing that. Besides he is a secret I want to keep. I know he protects me. I'm very grateful for that even though he can be an idiot sometimes." Arthur said as grabbed his sword and went to sit with Gwen and their son.

Gaius looked at him. "Sire, I don't think a sword will do much good against Morgana."

"I know but it makes me feel like I'm doing something." Arthur said. "How long have you known about Merlin, Gaius?

"Since before he came to Camelot. Your father would have killed him on the spot if he knew." Gaius said.

Arthur shook his head. "All this is my father's fault. All he would have had to do is acknowledge her as his daughter after Gorlois died. Now Morgana is seeking revenge against someone who is already dead. Tell me the logic in that?"

Gwen leaned her head against Arthur's shoulder. "At least we know it was an enchantment that made me betray you on that horrible night."

"We should have been married." Arthur said. "So much has happened because of the events that night. I don't think I will ever forgive her for that."

"Nor will I." Gwen said as she snuggled a sleepy and confused Duran in her lap.
X

Out in the village, Merlin slowly walked to where Morgana was laying. He wondered if she was really still unconscious or waiting for him to get close enough to strike. The fireball tingled his fingers but he didn't put it out.

He was standing over her when she opened her eyes. "Hello Morgana."

Morgana looked up at him and her eyes narrowed. "Did Arthur send you out here to see if I was dead?"

"No. He sent me out here to kill you." Merlin said with a serious look on his face.

"You can't kill me. You are nothing but a manservant." Morgana hissed.

"You're wrong. I am Emrys." Merlin saw the frightened look on her face before he sent the fireball into her chest.

At that distance the blow was fatal. Merlin knelt down to check for signs of life and found none. He sighed deeply.

Merlin remembered the sweet beautiful girl he had a crush on when he first came to Camelot. The woman lying dead on the ground was a completely different person. The girl he once had feelings for had died years ago.

Merlin stood up and turned to look at his mother's house. "Arthur!"

After a few moments Arthur appeared in the doorway.

"Is she dead?" Arthur asked. He hesitated. He didn't want to leave Gwen and the others unprotected if Morgana was still alive.

"Yes. She won't bother us anymore." Merlin said as he turned to Arthur. "I will build the pyre for her."

Arthur walked to where Merlin was standing and looked at his sister. "She used to be such a beautiful person inside and out. Now she looks like an old woman."

"Dark magick will do that. It takes your soul." Merlin said. "I don't enjoy killing. I don't think I ever will."

"I know." Arthur said. "Taking another's life is a burden on one's soul. I'll help with the pyre."

"No. I want to do it alone." Merlin said. He bent down and closed Morgana's eyes before he picked up her body. He carried her out to the fallow field and raised his arms. Branches and sticks arranged themselves on the bare ground.

He laid Morgana on the pyre and whispered in her ear. "I'm sorry." He waved his hand over her face making her beautiful and young again.

Merlin stepped back and said a spell causing the pyre to blaze suddenly. He watched with a stoic face as her body turned to ash.

Arthur watched from a distance. He realized by the way Merlin was treating Morgana's body that Merlin had feelings for his sister. It was something he had never known.