MEEC7: Well, not yet. Her special friend will show up soon… I am glad I did alright, I was worried I would mess her up.

Sjritts: Well duh, lol. Pregnancy hormones, a constant battle with the darkness inside herself… That would make anyone a bit touchy. Lol.

Yes, I can picture the absolute GLEE on Merlin's face at that… He would take far too much pleasure in that.

Well, their discussion? Gossip, of course! And best friend/girl talk about their husbands and marital lives.

ProcrastinationIsMyCrime: Not sure what's nice, but I'm glad you liked it.

Chapter Ten

The door had barely closed behind the men when Gwen turned to Morgana. "Now then, what's happened since you and Merlin left? You're married? Since when? How did he propose? What was your wedding like? What was his reaction to your being with child?"

Morgana laughed, watching in the mirror as Gwen started brushing her hair. "Gwen, one question at a time."

Gwen blushed a little. "I'm sorry."

"Let me see… What has happened? I fell even more in love with Merlin. We got married, it wasn't big by Camelot standards, but the entire village was there. We've been married a year or so. His proposal? We were having a picinic by the lake and he sat down beside me, took my hand, and said 'Morgana, fy nghariad, you are my world and the only reason I get up anymore. You make me happier than I have ever been in my life, you have proven beyond any doubt that anyone can change who they are, that light and goodness can still be found. Would you make me even happier, if that's even possible, and become my wife?' It was adorable. Oh, Gwen, you should have been there! I didn't know what to say, I started to cry and the look on his face, he thought I was going to say no. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him. All I could say was 'yes'. His reaction when I told him I was with child? He was so quiet, I began to fear he wouldn't want the child. I suppose he must have realized what I thought, as he jumped out of the chair, knocking it over, and came to hug me and reassure me that he wanted our child more than anything."

Gwen smiled. "What an adorable proposal, Morgana. I never knew Merlin had all those sweet words in him. You seem so happy now, much more so than when you lived here."

Morgana smiled a bit. "Yes, well, I feel loved, accepted, and wanted for who I am now. I no longer have to fear who and what I am. I may not have the fancy gowns and the title I used to, but I don't need those things, in fact, I find myself no longer even desiring such things. They seem so frivolous now, so insignificant, as though perhaps having those things again will turn me back into the person I was before and I'll lose Merlin…"

"You won't be that person again, Morgana. Merlin would never allow that to happen. Not only that, but you don't want it to. You would give up the chance to have again what was once yours to be with Merlin. You have grown up so much and become a wonderful woman, Morgana. Arthur often worried how you were faring, if you were comfortable… I knew you would be alright, especially since you had Merlin."

Morgana smiled fondly. "Merlin is the only reason I made it those first weeks. It was such a change, I barely knew anyone, and everyone had heard the things I did… Gwen, I was hated, even there, by everyone. I cried every night for weeks, and Merlin would hold me and let me cry… Hunith tried to comfort and help, but I pushed her away, I didn't want to see her shunned by the villagers for caring for me…"

"Do they still feel that way?"

"No, they don't. Merlin called a huge bonfire celebration… He got up in front of everyone and told them exactly how he felt about it all."

Merlin stood in front of the raging flames, staring out at all the people he had grown up with, Morgana at his side, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist.

"All of you know Morgana," he began. There were murmurs and nods through the crowd. "You know what she's done, the good and the bad. But think of this, she was raised to hate and fear magic. She recently discovered that she possesses magic herself. By what she grew up being told, she should fear and hate herself, she should report herself to the King, she should be killed. She realized magic could be used for good or bad. She was kidnapped and held captive for a long time, she was driven, literally, into madness. She fights the darkness, the madness, constantly. It's never completely gone. She never hurt any of you, and she only wants to live in peace and be left alone to live her life. How much did she help all of us when she came to fight with us? Did she hurt any of you? No. She's a good and loving person. She feels hated and resented here, the place she ought to feel safe. She cries herself to sleep every night and often talks of going back to Camelot, knowing she would go back on pain of death, because it would hurt less than this place. Ealdor is supposed to be a safe place where everyone is welcome, is it not? You all say one thing and act another. You're all hypocrites, just like Uther. You'd all like to think you're better than him, wouldn't you? Well, you're not. You're all just the same as he, condemning someone without giving them a chance to explain, to prove anything. Come morning I'm leaving, and taking Morgana with me. We'll find somewhere else to start new lives, somewhere we're both welcome and wanted." He tugged Morgana's hand lightly as he walked, going back to his mother's cottage.

"Merlin… You didn't have to…" Morgana started.

"Say no more, my beautiful Morgana. I did what I needed to do. They need to realize what they're doing, how badly they're hurting you. We'll leave in the morning, if you still wish to go."

"Where would we go?"

"Anywhere we wanted, but Camelot. Morgana, we don't need anyone, we have each other, and we are more than capable of providing for ourselves, we'll figure it out. As long as you're safe and happy, nothing else matters to me."

Morgana smiled and leaned up to kiss him. "Thank you, Merlin," she whispered.

Gwen smiled. "Merlin would do anything for you, Morgana, I hope you realize that."

"Oh, Gwen, you've no idea! He's proven it so many times, I never needed him to prove it. Just knowing it is enough for me. Now, what of Arthur? What's happened here?"

Gwen sighed. "That, Morgana, is going to be a long story."