Chapter 10: The Perfect Knight V: Reckoning
Disclaimer: No I do not own Merlin or any of the characters within. If I did, Season 3 would have ended in a very different way.
Author's Note: Thank you all for the reviews last chapter! It was nice to see some new names as well as the people I recognize from before. I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as I did writing it; some certain parts were particularly fun to do. Please remember that I love all your reviews, and they really do encourage me to write faster.
Morgana awoke as the light of the sun shone through her stained windows, bathing her chambers in multihued colours; she did not gain much rest at all. The dreams have come again to plague her, the same kind of visions she saw before her father died. She knew they were magical in origin, but she still hadn't told Merlin about them; there was no need for the warlock to understand the full extent of her powers yet. She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts; the visions were trying to tell her something, but they were always so vague; what did it all mean? She didn't even know if the events she had saw would come to pass within days, months, or even decades.
She stared aimlessly at her mirror while Gwen helped her into her gown for the day. She was trying her best to imprint the dream into her memory, only to have her thoughts shattered as someone knocked loudly on her door.
"Gwen, go get the door please," said Morgana as her maid finished tying the final lace on her shimmering violet gown. While she loved the way it flowed around her, Morgana would prefer to wear something that was less cumbersome now that she had to practice with Merlin. Unfortunately, she had to maintain her image as the ward of the King. She wasn't surprised when Gwen opened the door to see Merlin standing outside; he was the only one brazen enough to risk his head by visiting her alone during the day.
"Come in quickly," said Morgana as she motioned for the warlock to enter. Gwen hastily closed the door behind her, looking like as if she was out of her depth.
"I need your help desperately! Ut-" began Merlin. Morgana raised her hand to stop him; didn't he realise that Gwen was still here? They needed to keep their secrets safe; Gwen was good at a great many things, but she had never been good at lying to anyone.
"Gwen, go outside and warn us if anyone passes by," instructed Morgana, knowing how scandalous this must seem to her. For a moment, Morgana wished she could tell her friend the whole truth, but Gwen dipped her head to acknowledge her command, Morgana cast that thought aside. It would best if she could keep this secret from her maid; she wouldn't be able to understand her motives, given how kind-hearted she was.
As her maid left the room, she turned back to Merlin. His clear blue eyes retained his challenging gaze that he bore yesterday; it seemed odd, but he preferred it when he was more sure about himself. He seemed less like the meek and pitiful servant she had met just a month ago with each passing day. For a moment wondered if it had all just been an act to divert attention from his true nature; could the manservant had fooled her for all this time? She quickly turned her thoughts to the conversation as Merlin began to speak.
"Look Morgana, I know we had our differences, but now I need your help," said Merlin hurriedly.
"That's a severe change in tune," remarked Morgana casually. "Is something wrong?"
"Uther plans to march on Essetir," said Merlin hurriedly. "My mother... she'll starve when Uther's troops march in to take everything; we barely get by as it is."
"So when it comes to avenging my father, you aren't willing to do what's right; but you'd do anything to protect your own flesh and blood," said Morgana in an icy voice.
Her mind however was elsewhere, trying to think of ways to use this completely unexpected change of events. How could she have been so stupid? Everything Uther did had been out of place from the very start; it shamed her to think that Merlin, of all people, had figured it out before her. As she considered this unexpected turn of events, an idea formed in Morgana's mind. With a shock, she realised that she had a chance to truly give her father the vengeance he deserved. Death would be too good a fate for the traitor. She recalled the words Lancelot had spoken days before: 'What greater victory would there be than to make Arthur side with you against his own father?'
"Please Morgana, I need your help; I have no one else to turn to!" pleaded Merlin. He seemed desperate now, his eyes had lost much of their gleam. Once again, he seemed like a hapless commoner who struggled to learn his place in the world.
"We need rid ourselves of Uther as soon as we can, and the only way we could do that is by revealing his plans to Cenred," lied Morgana smoothly.
"But that would be betraying Camelot," said Merlin fearfully. Even in this hour, the boy was still thinking about the country's wellbeing. Could anyone be so annoyingly selfless?
"In life, sometimes one has to choose," said Morgana in a soft voice. "Which do you value more, Camelot's fate, or your Mother's safety?"
Merlin however remained silent, as if he was struggling with some internal conflict with himself. As he turned his gaze to her, his eyes seemed to be wreathed in pain. Morgana felt a stab of fear in her heart. Would Merlin choose to protect Camelot over the life of his own flesh and blood? How could anyone be so frustratingly stupid and... noble? There were few men in the world who would even consider protecting the greater whole over their own desires.
With calculated intent, Morgana leaned forwards until her lips gently grazed against his. They were softer than she had imagined, chapped as they were. She knew that Merlin cared for her; it was cruel of her to use him in this way. However, this was her best chance to set things right for her father, and for Merlin himself; Arthur and Camelot did not deserve his loyalty.
Morgana had meant for the kiss to soften his resolve, a means to an end. She did not expect Merlin to respond as he did. Almost against her will, she gave out a soft moan as Merlin brushed his lips against her own again and again, seemingly becoming more urgent with each pass. Without warning, she spun him around and shoved him onto her bed. As he lay there, helpless before her, she felt a empowered; in that moment she knew that she owned him, body and soul. Her emerald eyes gazed unblinkingly down upon him, like a predator waiting to pounce on her prey.
With a shock, she realised that her actions had become more than just another move in her game; the touch of his lips on her own had ignited a raging inferno that threatened to consume her. It took all her will to pull back and cast aside the lust that threatened to overwhelm her. It made no sense! She had seen far better looking men kneel at her feet and ask for her hand; she had given them no more notice than she would an ant. It seemed ridiculous that the warlock, with his impossibly large ears, strong chin and cool blue eyes, would have this effect on her. She steeled herself and tried to shut out her emotions; they would do nothing except complicate the situation beyond all recognition.
"I'm sorry," said Morgana firmly as she collected herself. "That should not have happened."
"What do you want me to do?" asked Merlin quietly as he got back onto his feet, ignoring her statement and breathing heavily as he did so.
"You must persuade Arthur to write to Cenred; convince him that he must inform Cenred about Uther plans," said Morgana with a slight waver in her voice. "Tell him about the innocents who will surely die in this war; he'll act on their behalf."
"Arthur would never willingly betray his own father," said Merlin in a worried voice.
"Of course not; but that won't be how he sees it. He'll warn Cenred of Uther's approach, and he probably expects Cenred to act as he himself would and simply deny Uther passage into his lands." said Morgana with a hint of a smile on her lips. "I doubt he'd expect Cenred to use the information to lure Uther's army into his own lands before utterly destroying it; Arthur isn't capable of understanding treachery."
"But that's not right, using Arthur like that," said Merlin hesitantly. "It'll break him to learn that he caused Uther's death, even if he didn't want it to happen. And If Uther and the army falls to Cenred, we might as well hand Camelot to him on a platter!"
"Merlin, it may not seem like it, but this is for the greater good. It might not be obvious to you, but Arthur trusts you more than any other person. You must convince him to write that letter, both for your mother and for me," said Morgana softly. "Besides, Camelot will not fall; if Cenred does invade, the lords will unite against him. They may be a rabble, but the threat of foreign invasion always brings them together."
"What if we convince Arthur to send two letters?" asked Merlin with a hint of desperation in his voice. "One to Cenred, warning him of Uther's approach, the other to Uther himself, warning him that Cenred is prepared."
"Uther would not believe him; he'll think Arthur just wants to stop the war; the king knows that Arthur has always been too caring for his own good," said Morgana dismissively. Inside however, she was shocked that Merlin had thought of the idea at all. He was sharper than she had previously believed. If his intellect improved, he would almost become... dangerous. "If he does scout ahead and finds Cenred's men, he'll know that there is someone who works against him in Camelot. Is that what you want?"
"I suppose not," said Merlin wearily as he turned to leave the room. "I guess I'll have to go and talk with Arthur then."
As Merlin left the her chambers, Morgana released a breath that she did not realise that she had been holding; if Arthur did send two letters, it would ruin what she had in mind. She tried to remove Merlin from her mind, but the taste of his mouth remained in her own. She regretted how she had to deceive Merlin in order to achieve her own ends, but the boy had proved to her time and time again that he valued Arthur's welfare over her own.
Merlin stumbled away from Morgana's room in confusion, his mind reeling from the events that had just occurred. It seemed like something impossible, like a dream that had been horribly twisted. He remember the soft touch of her lips on his own. They had felt so delicate, soft and smooth but strong and unyielding at the same time. With that one simple move she had torn out all resistance from his very soul. In one moment, he had agreed to manipulate Arthur, destroy Camelot's army and sentence the king to death. And yet her words were compelling; Uther would take what he needed from his village until they had nothing left to give; he would send thousands to their death during the course of this war. Would the world not be a better place with him gone?
'And what did you really expect?' thought Merlin to himself. 'When the great Dragon said that Arthur would united Albion, wouldn't he also have to conquer every single kingdom in the land?'
He pondered on these unwelcoming thoughts, but he could not imagine Arthur becoming a tyrant as Uther had. Despite his irritating nature, he knew that Arthur was a better man than Uther. He would never conquer simply because of a lust for power; if he did become a conqueror, it would be to liberate those who lived under the tyrannical rule of kings like Uther.
'And Uther would have to die before Arthur becomes king,' said a voice within his own mind. To him however it sounded more like something Morgana would say. It appeared that she had entrenched a part of herself in him; either that or he was beginning to think the way she was.
In the end what choice did he have? Almost everyone he ever knew lived in Ealdor; he couldn't just sit by idly and watch as Uther condemned all of them to starvation, or worse.
Arthur was exhausted with the work he had been given. Who on this earth thought it would be a good idea to make him look over the kingdom's finances of all things? What use was it anyway? Coins were made so that they could be spent; he shouldn't have to waste his time counting coppers.
He sighed as picked up yet another piece of parchment; the lords had been piling him with requests in the recent days. He almost wanted to tear the letter in half as he read about yet another loan dispute between two minor barons. Couldn't they just sort it out through single combat instead of bothering him? He was a man of action, not a scribe; they shouldn't expect him to solve all their problems just because he was the regent.
He cursed Morgana again for giving him this role; no doubt she was laughing at him this very moment. He wished she was the one in charge of this menial work; that should wipe that satisfied smile off her face in no time. He paused as he realised that his dream could easily become reality; he was regent, she would have obey his commands. The beginnings of a smile began to form on the Prince's lips; let's see how she liked dealing with all this blasted paperwork.
"Merlin!" shouted Arthur loudly; he frowned when he received no response. His manservant had always been unreliable in terms of punctuality; well as punishment he'll get the task of explaining to Morgana why she had to do all of his work. "Merlin, I want you in here now!"
"Arthur, I'm here," said Merlin in an uncharacteristically bleak voice. The prince dismissed the thought almost as soon as it dawned on him. No doubt Merlin wanted to complain about his perfectly reasonable duties yet again.
"Merlin, I have a very simple task for you today," began Arthur. "Take these documents to Morgana, tell her that I command her to read them and do whatever she thinks is best."
"Arthur," said Merlin with a sense of urgency in his voice. "I need to talk to you about something important."
The Prince sighed; he had long given up on getting Merlin to call him by his proper title, but now he was going to try and make him listen to his problems? This was going too far. He began to raise a hand to signal for silence, only to lower it as he heard Merlin's next words.
"Your father intends to go to war with Cenred," finished Merlin.
"He's going to what?" said Arthur as he almost choked on his words.
"It's true," said Merlin in an earnest voice. "Why else would he agree so readily with you and take the entire army? He knows he'll never be able to catch the Gryphon that way, but it makes for a perfect excuse to mobilise without anyone suspecting too much!"
Arthur did not want to believe his manservant, but his words had a solid ring of truth to them. As the pieces slowly fell into place, he felt a great weight on his shoulders. He had no idea what he should do!
"Arthur, you can't let your father fight this war!" said Merlin urgently. "He may take Cenred by surprise, but Cenred has more men and it'll be his own territory. I don't know much about battle, but I'm thinking that defending a castle should be a lot harder than taking it.
"I need some time to think," said Arthur, his tone maintaining some semblance of pride as he tried not to show his manservant exactly how lost he really was. "How would this be possible? I don't understand is where my father is going to get all his supplies for his campaign."
"Lancelot said that the king intends on taking what he needs from the villages surrounding Cenred's keeps," said Merlin in a grim voice.
"That's ridiculous, my father would never do such a thing," said Arthur angrily as he marched right up to the boy. Who was Merlin to accuse his king of planning such a dishonourable deed?
"How exactly did you think the king got his supplies during his conquest of Camelot?" asked Merlin, his voice unwavering despite how Arthur was challenging him. The boy knew that he could easily have him executed, but Merlin stood firm despite this fact; despite his foolish appearance, Arthur realised that his servant was far braver than most men he knew.
"Even if you're correct, what could I do to make things right?" said Arthur, his voice tinged with despair. "My father never listens to me."
"No, but Cenred will," said Merlin hesitatingly.
"What do you mean?" asked Arthur, fury shining in his steel blue eyes. "I would never betray my Father."
"That's not what I meant," said Merlin hurriedly. "Write a letter and warn him that Uther is marching on him. Surely your father will turn back once he realises that his surprise campaign has been discovered before he could land a single blow. None of your men will be hurt, and no innocents need to be harmed either."
"I don't know how you do it Merlin," said Arthur with grudging respect. "But every once in a while you can come up with an intelligent idea."
To his surprise, his manservant did not come up with a smart remark, as he was apt to do. Arthur paid no attention to it; no doubt the boy had some inconsequential problems of his own. As long as he wasn't bothered, he would not pry into it. As Merlin turned to leave however, Arthur called out to him; the boy froze immediately, as if he was expecting some form of punishment. He really was acting rather strangely today.
"I still want you to take the documents to Morgana; it's up to you how you explain it to her," said Arthur as the beginnings of a smile began to reform on his face. You owe it to me for being late so often.
The boy seemed almost relieved as he quickly grabbed the stack of parchment and left the room without another word. Something about him really did seem off, but he just couldn't place his finger on it. With a sigh, he sat back down in his uncomfortable wooden chair and slowly began to write.
Morgana glanced around nervously as she pretended to read some tedious volume. Her normally calm face displayed hints of apprehension. Her eyes darted around the musty hall, looking for any sign of the warlock. Doubts began to surface in her mind; what if she had overestimated Arthurs's friendship with Merlin? Would he simply ignore Merlin, or would he even go as far as to execute him for plotting treason? No sooner than she had finished that thought, a familiar figure rounded the corner, carrying a rather large stack of parchment that blocked his vision. Despite the serious nature of their meeting, the sight was comedic enough to draw a small smile from her.
"I see you still have your head on your shoulders," remarked Morgana as Merlin put the documents on the floor beside her. "I assume that means you convinced Arthur to do what he needs to do?"
"Yes, I did," said Merlin in a sombre voice. "I just hope what we did was the right call."
"You did what had to be done," said Morgana simply. Being around Merlin now put her on edge, and she did not want to draw out the conversation. "So what did you bring me?"
"Oh that?" said Merlin as he gestured towards the stack of parchment. "Arthur told me to bring it to you. Err, I think he said that he was too busy to look through them."
"Already shirking from his duties?" said Morgana with a knowing smile on her face. "Tell him that I will take care of them once Uther leaves; I hear he plans to depart tomorrow."
"So this is it then?" asked Merlin quietly. "Everything will change now."
"For the better," said Morgana resolutely. "Oh and one more thing; when Arthur finishes the letter, bring it to me. I want to make sure that I'll be the one to personally deliver it; we can't trust servants with this task, least they link it back to Arthur."
"Why can't either Arthur or I deliver it?" asked Merlin suspiciously. Even at this hour, the boy did not fully trust her.
'With good reason; after all, you are lying to him,' thought Morgana to herself. Yes, the boy was definitely more intelligent that she had formerly believed.
"You're Arthur's manservant; it would look suspicious if you were caught delivering a letter to a foreign king," said Morgana slowly. She gazed at Merlin with unblinking eyes as she did so; she needed him to feel like an idiot. "As for Arthur himself; he is the regent now and all letters he sends should be sent officially. People will suspect something if he is seen sending a secret message in the middle of the night."
"So what makes you immune to suspicion?" said Merlin thoughtfully.
"Pretending to be a helpless damsel does have its advantages; none of the men would ever suspect me being capable of plotting anything," said Morgana with a devilish smile on her face. "That will have to change when Arthur is king, but by that time it will be far too late for anyone to warn Uther."
Merlin nodded thoughtfully to himself and seemed to accept her explanation. As Merlin turned to leave however, she felt a pang of regret in her heart. Although he was just a piece in her plan, it did not feel right to her to tear his word apart by using his desire for her to her own advantage. She would not have given it a second thought before, but on that morning, he had chipped away a small part of the armour she surrounded herself in since the day her father died.
The sun bathed the sky in red as it appeared over the eastern horizon. It seemed to be an omen to Merlin, the crimson sky was akin to the blood of Camelot's knights that would surely be spilled before long. It would take Uther nearly a week to march his army to Cenred's lands; during which only a small token force would remain behind in Camelot. Arthur had personally picked out the hundred or so knights who would remain behind as his honour guard, Lancelot among them. Merlin didn't know what purpose they might serve; a hundred men may as well be equal to no men at all. If anyone did decide to attack them while Uther was away with the army, they would be reliant on the nobles for protection. That did not sit well with the warlock at all.
"In recent days, our great kingdom has been plagued by a magical threat; a threat no doubt sent by our enemies to weaken our resolve," proclaimed Uther from the front of a great procession of men. His voice was strong and powerful, silencing the excited crowd of peasants who had come to watch him. "Long ago, I led a great crusade against the evils of magic and purged it from this land. Yet evil is subtle; it always seeks to return to the hearts of men who desire power. But we will resist, as we have always done, with our blood, and our steel!"
The people gave out a resounding cheer and raised their fists into the air. Merlin could only gaze in despair as he watched the people bay for the blood of people who were simply born different. It seemed that Uther truly had the kingdom in his grasp, both in body and mind. The people had been long fallen under the sway of Uther's indoctrination. After a few moments, Uther held out a hand for silence, and the entire crowd almost as still as a stagnant pool. How could one man alone hold such power over so man?
"Never again will we bow before those who seek to become master of us 'lesser' men. Today I ride to face our foe; when I return victorious, all will know that Camelot has triumphed over the forces of magic once more!"
A blast of triumphant notes sounded from many horns in the cool morning breeze, heralding the beginning of the campaign. Uther sat proudly as he rode past his people on his pure black stallion. He was clad in gleaming plate mail, with a red and gold cloak tied to his back. The commoners bent their heads in reverence as he passed by them, not out of tradition, but of awe. Despite himself, Merlin had to admit that Uther carried around an aura of power and respect around him; it was almost as if he was a god. No wonder Arthur was also so morose at times; it must be hard trying to live up to his father's reputation.
It took an hour for all the men to leave the city; they seemed like an endless tide of men clad in red and silver, all riding their mounts in perfect unison. They were followed by many servants and wagons; the sound the army created was almost ear shattering. It was a fearsome sight; surely no man would be stupid enough to stand against such an elite force. And yet he knew that they would all be dead before the month was over; it was a sobering thought.
As the last wagon rolled out of the city gates, the people returned to their daily tasks in a city that suddenly seemed far emptier than it had been hours before. Merlin sighed and turned back towards the Arthur, who was standing at attention on the courtyard. He seemed lost, as if he didn't know what to do now that his father was gone. At that moment, he noticed Morgana give a nudge to the prince, as if reminding him of his duty. He seemed to snap back to reality; even from this distance, he could see the prince scowl at Morgana.
"The procession is over," said Arthur in a voice that seemed severely lacking when compared to his father's speech. "I believe you all have work to do."
Merlin sighed as he filed back into the castle along with the other servants. It would be a long time before Arthur was ready to be king.
Morgana sat down at her polished wooden desk, trying to keep her mind clear for the task ahead of her. Her table was almost buried in letters that the nobles had given to Arthur. She was curious as to why all these 'issues' suddenly appeared as soon as the king has left the city. Surely even their fear of Uther would not be enough to stop the nobles from voicing legitimate concerns while he sat on the throne.
As the King's ward read one complaint after another, she became more and more furious with these lairs who dared to call themselves nobles. Only a few requests contained legitimate concerns; most were from minor lords who were trying to take advantage of Arthur while Uther was away. They demanded more land, more gold or more livestock from either the crown or each other, all in the name of 'serving the kingdom'. They set up 'proof' of their pathetic concerns, hoping to get the crown to side with them over their rivals.
Morgana however could see that many of their claims had no basis; the lords had created substandard excuses. It was likely they didn't believe Arthur would see through their ruse. It was obvious to her that the entire hierarchy was corrupt, and Uther had let it happen; no doubt he wanted them to fight almost themselves for the favour of the crown. And now they were trying to take advantage of Arthur's inexperience; it was an insult to the foundations of the kingdom that her father set down, and by extension, it was an insult to her.
Morgana set down the letters and slowly smiled to herself; well they would be getting a rather unpleasant surprise.
Morgana watched from the shadows as the nobles filed into the courtroom; it was always useful to observe people before interacting with them. Soon the room was abuzz with conversations; no doubt the lords were wondering about the purpose of this sudden meeting. She preferred it when they were off balance; it was far easier to frighten men who were unsure of themselves.
She strode out from the shadows and headed right towards the throne, silencing the hall instantly. As she sat down, one of the lords almost gave out a squawk of surprise. No doubt they were all wondering why she was the one on the throne, and not Arthur.
"My lady, we were expecting to meet the Prince Regent here," stated Lord Calhoun, the Duke of Durham; he was one of the more powerful lords in Camelot.
"Prince Arthur is not available at the moment," said Morgana with a deadly calm in her voice. "He has tasked me to represent him in all matters of state." She lifted Arthur's seal to show them all that he had indeed given her permission to rule in his stead.
She had gotten Arthur to give her his seal that morning; no doubt he was far more interested in training his knights. Despite their frequent disagreements, she had managed to convince him to allow her to take over the 'boring' task of keeping the kingdom together in one piece.
"My lady," said one of the lesser Barons in a slightly condescending voice. "Forgive the interruption, but perhaps it would best if you left the task of running the kingdom to more capable ha-."
"And who are you to challenge my wisdom, Lord Adalmund?" said Morgana with hidden menace in her voice. "My word is the word of the Regent, and the Regent represents the King. Would you defy your King?"
Adalmund fell silent at her words; his cheeks burning with both shame and anger. The baron was an ally of Calhoun. No doubt he thought he would be under the protection of his master; he would make a suitable example indeed.
"I am here to discuss the requests you have all sent to the Prince Regent," said Morgana as she had a servant bring in the documents. She had chosen Merlin for this task; she wanted him to see what the court was really like. Perhaps then he would understand exactly how fragile the realm really was. She picked through the documents until she found one from Adalmund; the man spoke out against her, and now he was going to pay dearly for it.
"Lord Adalmund, you asked for more grain and livestock from the crown. You say that the harvest has been poor lately, and your peasants were forced to eat the stores you kept for planting," summarised Morgana.
"That it correct milady," said Adalmund with a hint of concern in his voice. "We had a small drought this year, and my people suffer for it."
"I see you have increased the number of men at arms you can field, and the number of serfs you own have grown. Yet somehow you decided to sell grain to the crown mere months ago," stated Morgana in an icy voice. "Why is it that you would sell your supplies to the crown if you did not have enough to feed your own people?"
"My lady, at the time we didn't think that-" began Adalmund, but she silenced him as she rose from the throne to gaze down at him.
"Do you take me for a fool?" demanded Morgana fiercely. "You sold the grain to the crown, knowing that you would not have enough so that you could try and take it back at no cost when winter comes. The Prince may be a naive man fool enough to give you the grain, but I am not. You have attempted to deceive the crown, a treasonous offence."
"Lady Morgana, perhaps it would be best if we waited until the Prince arrives before we make any rash decisions," said Calhoun hastily; no doubt he was trying to save his foolish subject, but it was far too late for that.
"Did you not hear Lord Calhoun?" asked Morgana as she gazed mockingly at him. "My word is the Prince's word. And I judge Adalmund to be guilty of treason."
"You can't do this," shouted Adalmund in a near crazed voice. "I am the son of Eadric; he served King Uther well during the purge! You have no right to accuse me!"
"Your father served the crown well," said Morgana in an almost idyllic tone. "But I fail to see what part you played in it. Guards, seize him!"
The soldiers were men who served the house of Gorlois, she had changed the guard roster before the court session began. They obeyed her command without question, marching forwards and grabbed the Baron, forcing him to his knees. Morgana couldn't help but let out a small smile of satisfaction as she heard some of the other lords gasp out in horror; it was time someone set these imbeciles in their place.
"In the name of Uther Pendragon, first of his name and High King of Camelot, I judge you guilty of treason. I strip from you and all your bloodline your titles, your lands, your wealth, and sentence you to death," stated Morgana calmly, her voice completely devoid of emotion. "For your family's past service to the crown, I will allow your heirs to live, and grant you a merciful death; you are to be beheaded at dawn tomorrow. Your lands will return to the crown, and your men will have seven days to swear allegiance to the Prince Regent, or they will share your fate."
"Ignorant woman, you have no right to do this!" screamed Adalmund as the guards dragged him out of the courtroom. "My sons will avenge..."
As his voice trailed off into the distance, she turned back towards the other lords, who were still shocked into silence.
"Now, shall I go through the rest of these documents?" asked Morgana with a dangerous undertone to her voice.
"My lady Morgana, I believe them to be mundane concerns, not worthy of your time," said another Baron, one of the rivals to Adalmund. He seemed shocked, but in a glad way; no doubt he would somehow benefit from the baron's death. "It would be best if we all pretended they never existed."
"Very well then," said Morgana with a nod. She turned to look at Merlin, who was still holding the documents and looking at her with an equal measure of awe and fear. She couldn't help but notice how adorable he could be when he looked like that; it was almost as if he was a puppy, a creature who was completely out of his own element. "You there, throw those documents into the fire."
"Does anyone else have any other requests they would like to make?" asked Morgana as she turned back towards the nobles; not one man seemed to meet her eyes. The only sound she could hear was the crackling of dry parchment as they fanned the flames in the fireplace.
"We are done for today then; you are all dismissed," said Morgana as she rose from the throne. They bowed low to her, before slowly leaving the throne room in a subdued manner. In that moment, Morgana knew she had finally gained the one thing she had always longed for; the power to shape the realm for the good of all.
Arthur walked quickly up the stairs that led to the palace; he had been training with Lancelot all day, teaching him the various subtleties of swordplay that the man did not know. He had only just received word from Merlin that somehow, during that time he had apparently condemned a Baron to death. He didn't know what was going on, and he really hated being in the dark. He marched up to Morgana's chambers and forgot to knock before entering, almost running into Morgana's serving girl as he did so. He spared her a small glance before turning to Morgana, who seemed to be expecting him.
"I want you to please explain to me what is going on," said Arthur in an annoyed voice. "Merlin told me that you had decided to execute of the lords; care to explain why?"
"It's simple; I had to make an example of someone, and he happened to say the wrong thing at the wrong time," said Morgana carefree voice. Arthur always knew that his father's ward had a ruthless streak to her, but she sounded even more callous than his father.
"You've gone too far Morgana," said Arthur angrily. "What if they decide to rebel against the kingdom because of your actions?"
"They will do no such thing," said Morgana dismissively. "The moment any one of them marches their army to attack Camelot, the other lords will fall upon them like a pack of starving wolves."
"Don't you think it's a little heartless Morgana?" demanded Arthur in a self righteous voice as he changed his argument. "The man has a son no older than six summers, and you choose to take away his father because you didn't like him?"
"Heartless?" said Morgana, her voice dropped by several degrees as she gazed at the Prince with defiance. "The man was willing to risk letting his people starve just so he could have a few more pieces of gold in his pocket; do you want the kingdom to be run by men like him? If anything I was too merciful; I should have condemned his entire family to death for their treason."
"You don't understand, do you?" shouted Arthur. "I will not allow this realm to be ruled by tyranny!"
"No Arthur, it is you who do not understand," said Morgana in a scalding tone. "All you want to do is to play at being the honourable knight. You command no respect, the lords do not fear you, and they certainly do not love you. You're too soft to be a king; only I can make the necessary decisions to keep the nobles in line."
The words left Arthur speechless; it stung him to the core to hear his own fears spoken aloud. Every word she had said was true; his father always said he had been too naive. What good was he anyway? True, he was the best swordsman in the realm, but if that was what made a king, then Gorlois would have sat on the throne rather than his own father.
"Morgana, I..." said Arthur as he tried to think of something to refute her words, but no noise came from his throat.
"If you wish to prove me wrong, then you will preside over the execution tomorrow," said Morgana as she walked away from him. "Show me that you can be a king as well as a knight."
It was late into the night when Merlin sneaked into the library, clutching the letter Arthur had written to Cenred. He was still shocked by the way Morgana had treated the nobles, but he could not deny its effectiveness. The entire kingdom knew who was in charge now; he even noticed how the guards straightened themselves as Morgana passed them; whereas before they may have made crude comments behind her back.
He rounded the corner to find Morgana fast asleep at a desk, a letter unfinished on her table. It seemed that ruling the kingdom was a very tiring task indeed. She seemed so peaceful when she was asleep; it almost seemed like a crime to wake her. Never the less, he went over to her side and gently shook her.
Morgana snapped awake and pulled a dagger out from her cloak in one swift motion. Merlin's instincts trigged his inner powers, slowing time and space around him. Even so, he barely managed to step back just as the wicked blade slashed the air where his throat had been.
"Merlin, you startled me!" said Morgana with concern in her voice as she realised what she had just done. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, no parts damaged," said Merlin as he forced himself to relax; whatever Morgana had on mind had clearly set her on edge. "Afraid of assassins creeping in the shadows?"
"Just a bad dream," said Morgana wearily as she sheathed her blade. "Although I wouldn't be surprised if one of the lords wanted me dead."
"You mean Adalmund's friends?" asked Merlin.
"Friends?" responded Morgana incredulously. "Merlin, he was a noble; no doubt all the other lords are already trying to destroy any relationships they had with him so his treason would not taint them as well. No, if they did want me dead, it would be to destabilize Camelot and use the chaos to their own advantage."
"Well you know them better than I do," said Merlin as he sat down in the chair opposite to her. "Still I can't help but feel that there was something else you could have done."
"Enlighten me Merlin," said Morgana in a sarcastic voice. Even though she had said the words in such a disapproving way, Merlin couldn't help but give a small grin. He knew that Morgana would not have even considered listening to Merlin's opinion if he had said the same thing a few days ago.
"I just think that the more you oppress them, the more they will hate you; someone has to stand up for what is right; why can't it be you?" asked Merlin earnestly. "Wouldn't it be much better to have a kingdom founded on respect rather than fear?"
"If they were all honourable men like Lancelot, then perhaps it would be possible," said Morgana with a sad smile on her face. "But unfortunately, the court is filled with slippery eels like Calhoun. Men of honour die young, and only the cowards remain to live to a ripe old age. No, the only way I can keep them under control is with an iron fist."
Merlin couldn't help feel a stab of jealousy, but quickly crushed that thought. Lancelot was a better man than him, and he knew it. Lancelot would never willing send ten thousand men to the deaths.
"But what about the Baron's family?" asked Merlin. "They did nothing wrong to deserve their fate; you know they won't last long as serfs."
"I can't exactly keep them in power after I kill their father, can I?" said Morgana, her tone becoming slightly patronizing. "It would be foolish to leave someone who hates me in power; think of it like pardoning an assassin and letting him become your private cook."
Merlin found himself nodding his head in a minute manner; her every word made perfect sense. Although it seemed cruel to him, even he could not see any other way to deal with the situation.
"I bought you Arthur's letter," said Merlin quietly. "Just make sure it was all worth it."
"Thank you Merlin," said Morgana as she carefully put the letter away. "It seems my faith in you was not misplaced after all."
As their eyes met once more, Merlin was reminded of the kiss they had shared the previous day; her lips, full and luscious, seemed to transfix him. He could hear her breathing quickly, as if she felt the same urge he did. They both stood up at the same time and walked towards each other, as if some force was pressing them together. He leaned forwards, but Morgana gently pressed him back.
"I'm sorry Merlin, but this can never be," said Morgana with genuine sadness in her voice. "When Uther is gone, I will rule Camelot, and you will still be Arthur's manservant."
"What if that changes?" said Merlin fiercely. There was a fire in him that had been absent before; he wanted this, and he would fight for it. "What if one day, Albion was united and Arthur stood at its head?"
"Arthur? He wouldn't be able to keep his Camelot's crown if someone handed it to him," said Morgana with a laugh. It seemed that Morgana did not think highly of Arthur, and Merlin could not blame her, not with the way Arthur acted around her. But Merlin knew differently; Arthur could command respect; Merlin had seen it with his own eyes when he led his men to attack the griffin.
"I know I can help Arthur unite the lands," said Merlin. "Maybe once all this is over..."
"I was always meant to rule Merlin," said Morgana quietly. "And the only man I will have at my side will be a King, or I will have no one at all."
"Is that really want you want Morgana?" said Merlin with suppressed rage.
"It's not a matter of what I want Merlin," said Morgana with regret. "But a matter of what is best for the realm."
With that she spun around and turned to leave, her red cloak flowing behind her like a sea of blood.
Morgana continued walking until she had reached the tallest part of the castle, where they kept their messenger ravens. What was the matter with her? It would have been easy to give the boy what he wanted and kept him wrapped firmly around her little finger. And yet she had foolishly decided to tell the truth, possibly losing his trust in the process. Somehow, Merlin could break through the wall she had built for herself and trigger feelings long buried. It was a weakness to love; no doubt someone would try to use it against her.
She tore her thoughts away from Merlin; it was bad enough that he had broken through her calm facade, she didn't want to waste her time thinking about him when he wasn't present. She forcefully turned her attention towards the ravens. They were remarkable animals, bred by men long dead to carry messages across vast distances. Some say that they were magical, but even Uther was not foolish enough to kill them; they were the cheapest and most efficient way to send messages across the vast domains that Uther ruled.
She quickly tied the letter to the leg of one of the ravens; its black eyes seemed to gaze at her accusingly, as if it was begging her to reconsider her actions. She looked away from the bird; the black void in the raven's eyes sent chills down her spine.
"Go and find your King," whispered Morgana as she gave the bird her commands. They were remarkably intelligent, able to understand basic phrases; she had no doubt that magic had played some part in their creation. "Fly low over his camp, then onwards to Cenred's kingdom."
As the bird took flight, Morgana allowed herself a smile of satisfaction. Uther's men would shoot down the bird, and the King would see the message; there was no doubt that he would recognize Arthur's hand and his seal. Soon Uther would understand what betrayal was like.
"You were right Merlin, there is another way," she whispered to herself. "Uther will turn his army back, your village will be safe and the kingdom will be secure. The only ones who need to suffer will be the Pendragons."
Merlin looked through his spellbook feverishly, trying to keep his mind occupied so he would not think of the day's events. He was engrossed by his own research into the Gryphon; every single book he could find stated that the beast was mythological, and none of them offered any way to kill it. The only reference that referred to a way of defeating the creature was a single cryptic line: 'A creature born of magic can only be unmade by magic.' He did not notice Lancelot come in through the door until the knight put a hand on his shoulder, almost startling him into falling out of his chair.
"Is that a book of spells Merlin?" asked Lancelot curiously. "I have to admit, I would never have suspected you of being a sorcerer if Morgana hadn't told me."
"Lancelot, you shouldn't sneak up on me like that!" protested Merlin. "For a moment I thought someone had found out who I was."
"You should keep your door locked then," remarked Lancelot with a raised eyebrow.
"Anyway, what are you doing here?" asked Merlin as he composed himself. "I thought you had your own spot in the knight's quarters now."
"I just wanted to see how you were," said Lancelot. "I hope you managed to warn your family back in Ealdor in time."
"Oh that?" said Merlin tiredly. "Don't worry, I... took care of it."
"I'm glad to hear that," said Lancelot. "I must be on my way then, I'm on supposed to be on watch duty in a few hours and I need some sleep; who knows when the winged beast will return?"
As the knight turned to leave, Merlin had a sudden urge to ask the man a question. He was older than himself; surely he would have more experiences with women.
"Lancelot, wait," said Merlin. "I have a question that you might be able to answer."
"Ask away, but don't expect a wise answer," said Lancelot with a grin. "Wisdom has never been my forte."
"What do you think of the Lady Morgana?" asked Merlin simply.
"She's extraordinarily beautiful?" said Lancelot with a laugh. "But I'm sure you knew that already."
"Lancelot, you know what I mean," said Merlin with a serious look on his face. "I just don't understand her."
"She's hard, as she should be," said Lancelot his voice suddenly sombre. "She lost someone she loved at a young age, and as a result she does not want to care, least she experience that same loss again."
"And what if she does care about someone, but tries to shut out those feelings all the same?" asked Merlin in a voice barely more than a whisper.
"Then you'll have to convince her that it's in her best interest to try and care again," said Lancelot.
Merlin had no doubt that what Lancelot said was the truth; but the words still pained him. Morgana wanted a King, and that was someone he could never be.
"This man, Adalmund, son of Eadric has been judged guilty of treason," intoned Arthur in a strong voice. It felt hollow to him, but the citizens jeered at the man before them as he said the word 'treason'. It seemed they really did believe in whatever he said.
'Or perhaps they just like the blood,' thought Arthur to himself.
"The punishment for treason is death," continued Arthur. "But I will not allow him to be executed like a common criminal. His family was noble, and thus he will die by a noble's blade."
As the crowd gave out a surprised gasp, he noticed how Morgana sent him a questioning look. Yes, he may have agreed to carry out the execution, but he would do it on his own terms.
"Once there was a man who believed that if one is not willing to wield the blade when he kills, then that man who is sentenced to death did not deserve to die," proclaimed Arthur. "His name was Gorlois, and with his strength and wisdom, my father took this kingdom from the barbarians who held these lands. I would like to revive this tradition."
As this, the crowd gave out a thunderous cheer, Arthur walked down onto the execution platform, taking the axe from the execution as he dismissed the man.
"Adalmund, you tried to deceive the crown; you starved your own people so you could put more gold into your own pockets," said Arthur in the most righteous voice he could summon. "I will not tolerate such crimes in this kingdom; thus I, Arthur Pendragon, Crown Prince and Regent of Camelot, sentence you to death."
With one great stroke, he swung the axe down, beheading the man in one clean stroke. The axe was blunted so the execution would be more drawn out. Often it took multiple strokes before a man died, but Arthur saw no point in such needless cruelty.
As he motioned for the guards to take away the body, he scanned the faces of the nobles who were sitting on the benches at the side. Where there had once been looks of disdain or even pity, now they gazed at him with fear. Amongst them, he noticed Morgana give him an approving nod; somehow, none of it seemed to make him feel any better.
Suddenly a bedraggled man on a weary looking horse galloped through the gates, heading directly towards Arthur. The man clutched a minor wound in his side as he did so; something had clearly gone wrong.
"Sire, you must come at once! The creature has returned and was last seen in the village of Charham; I came riding as fast as I could so there might still be hope!" said the rider as he panted for breath.
"Knights of Camelot, we ride at once!" commanded Arthur immediately. "I want to reach that village within the hour."
As he rushed towards his stables, he ran into Merlin; the bumbling manservant seemed to be trying to stop him.
"Arthur, don't you remember?" said Merlin with an edge of urgency in his voice. "The Gryphon is a creature of magic, and it can only be killed with magic!"
"Are you saying I should leave everyone in that village to the deaths?" demanded Arthur. "I will not be seen as a coward who'll sit behind my walls while my people die."
With that he marched on towards the stables; fighting off a magical beast could not be harder than executing that man. In this case, doing the right thing would be easy.
Merlin struggled frantically to get among the knights who were preparing for battle; he couldn't see much in the mass of human bodies. It was either fate or pure luck when he finally ran into Lancelot, who was fully armoured and already mounting his horse.
"Lancelot!" shouted Merlin loudly. "I can help! Take me with you!"
The knight only had a moment's hesitation before he grabbed Merlin roughly and hauled him onto his horse. They broke out into a canter, following Arthur's steed out of the city gates. Merlin had never ridden on a horse before, and he couldn't decide whether he liked it or not. Although the speed was exhilarating, he was sent flying up into the air each time the horse took a step fowards; he didn't know if his underside could take too much of the punishment he was giving it.
"Just hold on to me and try not to fall off," said Lancelot with a laugh as he realised how uncomfortable Merlin was.
"Hey, try not to insult the person who'll save your life," said Merlin in a good natured voice.
"I'm going to become a laughing stock you know; the knight who carried the Prince's manservant into battle," said Lancelot.
"Maybe they'll change their tune if you were the one to kill the creature," retorted Merlin. "And I'll still be underappreciated by everyone."
"I'll take that as a sign that you do know how to kill the creature," said Lancelot.
Before Merlin could respond, an impossibly large shadow blocked out the sun above him. The men around him screamed in terror as the Gryphon, now three times its previous size, dived down onto the knights, tearing three men and their horses to shreds with a single attack with its vicious claws.
The Creature flew high up into the air before any of the men could attack it, before turning around for another attack.
"Split formations!" cried Arthur at the front of the group of men. "Go for the woods!" The knights galloped off into different directions, giving the Gryphon less targets to take in a single attack. Still, it would only delay the inevitable.
"Lancelot!" said Merlin urgently. "I need to get off the horse!"
"That's suicide!" shouted Lancelot as he urged his horse towards the forest.
"Trust me, I can bring that creature down from the sky!" shouted Merlin as he struggled to make himself heard over the din of battle.
Without warning, Lancelot reigned in his horse. The great stallion reared up on its hind legs and Merlin tumbled off the horse onto the hard dirt. The warlock immediately focused on himself, increasing his own weight by tenfold. He gasped as the sheer weight forced him onto the ground; it seemed that his own bones were collapsing on his own weight. In that second, he reached into his instinctive fear of the Gryphon and pulled as hard as he could on it. The gryphon gave out a loud screech as it was suddenly lurched out of the sky and was pulled with incredible force towards Merlin's position. Merlin released his pull and lightened himself, before enhancing his speed, allowing him to roll out of the way just in time.
The Gryphon crashed into the ground with incredible force where he had been a second before. The entire process had taken only one heartbeat, but he almost killed himself already; he could see black spots in his vision. He panted in exhaustion and looked to his side, only to widen his eyes in horror as he beast rose from the ground, it's wings shattered but still very much alive.
With a battle cry, a nearby knight turned around and charged the Gryphon with his lance. The beast shifted its head to dodge the blow, before thrusting its terrible yellow beak through the man's breastplate, killing him instantly. The beast was so beautiful and terrible at the same time; the head of an eagle and the body of a lion. How could such a creature even exist? At last, the simple truth of the matter finally hit him; how could he not have seen it before?
"Rally to me!" cried Arthur in the far distance. Merlin could see he and Lancelot had been left alone in the field; the other knights were either dead or somewhere in the woods. His anger built as he thought of all the men the creature had already killed; he would finish it, here and now. But first he needed to buy some much needed time. He focused his rage and created an image of a terrible figure the height of a tower, clad in black and cast it within the beast's mind. The Gryphon grew frenzied as it attacked the nonexistent enemy, seemingly writhing in pain with each unseen blow.
While the creature was distracted, Merlin forced himself to be calm and focused on Lancelot, who was watching the creature from a small distance, searching for a gap from where he could strike. He reached out into Lancelot's mind and tapped the power inside him. The power he used now could change the hearts of men, enhancing existing emotions while dampening others. He completely smothered the fear and uncertainly Lancelot felt, strengthening his rage, courage and resolve. Most importantly however, he forced Lancelot's disbelief of the creature to grow more powerful than any other thought.
"Lancelot, strike at its heart!" cried Merlin urgently. He didn't know how long he could maintain his hold on Lancelot's mind. It was more powerful than anything he had ever attempted before. Calm, he must force himself to stay calm! That was easier said than done when a massive creature the size of a barn was right next to him, tearing at an enemy that did not exist.
The knight obeyed Merlin's command instantly, charging forwards with all the speed he could muster. As the lance impacted on the beast's skin, the previously impenetrable armour gave way and parted. Lancelot's spear struck true, impaling the beast on his spear. The creature gave a final shriek of agony before it glowed with a brilliant white light, dissipating into the cool morning breeze.
"How..." said Lancelot with awe. "All our other weapons have failed before, why now?"
"I kept thinking back to how Gaius had said that he found the creature in books on mythology," explained Merlin with a grin. "When I looked at it up close, I finally understood; Gaius was right, the beast is a mythical creature, it didn't exist at all!"
"So what was the thing that just killed so many of us?" asked Lancelot grimly as he ran over to check on the bodies of his comrades.
"It was an illusion," said Merlin with a sigh. "The wounds it inflicted draw on our own imagination. Every time it attacks, it is our own thoughts that give it the power to kill. We believe we should die from a blow, and so we do."
"You still haven't explained to me why I was able to kill the creature when so many others before me have failed," said Lancelot.
"Everyone else feared it; fear was its armour. If there was a smart part in you that did not believe you could kill it, then it would not die," explained Merlin. "I'm sorry, but I had to change the way you think. I pushed away your fear and made you brave to the point of being suicidal. Most importantly, I drew on your disbelief of the creature; in that one moment, you did not believe that the creature could exist, and so you could kill it."
"For a moment, I felt empowered, as if I was a knight from the stories of old," said Lancelot bitterly. "My courage, my strength, it was all a lie. You created those thoughts in me, they were not my own. It was you who slew the creature."
"No Lancelot," said Merlin firmly. "Magic can only be used to manipulate, it cannot create. The courage and will you used to slay it was yours and yours alone; I only strengthened those thoughts."
Lancelot flashed small smile at Merlin, though it appeared that he was still not convinced. As the other knights rode back into view, they gave a resounding cheer for Lancelot; no doubt they had seen the fight from a distance. Merlin however felt only worry; if it was an illusion, then someone must have given it life. The question was who?
King Uther Pendragon watched with disdain as his commanders piled their questions before him; did the men have no minds of their own? Not for the first time, he wished he still had Gorlois to rely on, as he once did when he conquered Camelot. But those glory days were long behind him; his head was filled with grey now and his old friend had chosen to become his enemy. If only the foolish knight had seen see what he did for all of Camelot. Some men called him a tyrant, but was tyranny not preferable to chaos?
"Your Grace, even with all our numbers we cannot hope to take Cenred's castle," said Agravaine, the brother of his beloved wife and field commander of his army. He had no doubts he man still harboured a grudge against him for killing his brother, but that meant he was the only one willing to caution him, his other commanders were a bunch of fools who would agree with everything he said rather than risk his wrath. "He outnumbers us two to one, and we will have to fight him on his own ground."
"And yet Cenred knows we'll defeat him in open battle," said Uther, his own voice laced with impatience. "Our men are better trained, better armed and better fed. Cenred leads nothing more than a bunch of peasant boys; he cannot hope to defeat us unless he knows of our position in advance."
"And yet even peasant boys can throw rocks down from castle walls; we don't have any siege towers, all we have are these exposed ladders. It'll be a massacre if we attack the castle," said the Agravaine in a worried voice.
"Which is exactly why we won't be attacking the castle," said Uther with a smile. "We will take our men and ravage his country side. When Cenred's people sees their lands lying in ruins around them while their cowardly king sits behind his high walls, who do you think they will call king?"
"A... wise plan indeed, Your Grace," said Agravaine with grudging respect in his voice.
"Truly, there is no greater man on this earth," said one of his other generals, a man of no particular importance. Yes they were useful when keeping the kingdom in check, but when it came to war they contributed absolutely nothing.
"Lord Agravaine, you will take a thousand of our cavalry and scour the country side, take whatever we can use and burn the rest," commanded Uther. "Try to leave some of the peasants alive, we don't want to slaughter the entire kingdom."
"As you command," said Agravaine as he bowed his head and made to leave the command tent.
As Agravaine made it to the tent flaps, a messenger boy rushed in, carrying a raven with an arrow shot through its heart. He frowned as he saw that it was one of Camelot's ravens; the birds had a mark branded into them at birth.
"I hope you realise how expensive those birds can be," said Uther with a frown.
"Forgive me, Your Grace," said the boy fearfully. "But our scouts saw it flying towards Cenred's kingdom and managed to shoot it down. They said that you had to read the letter for yourself."
"Give it here," snapped Uther impatiently. The boy hurriedly walked over to the King and placed the piece of parchment in his outstretched palm.
As the King scanned the letter, his eyes became a veritable focus of both rage and sadness. Was this the gods way of punishing him? How could his own son, his flesh and blood, turn against him? He had expected treachery from all others except his own children. How could Arthur, who seemed the most innocent and foolish, be so heartless? Had it all been an act to fool him all along?
'And what did you expect, with a father like you?' said a voice inside his own head. 'A man who betrayed his one and only friend, stole his wife and fathered a bastard you won't even recognise?'
"Summon the bannermen, we march back to Camelot at once!" said Uther in a fearsome voice that made many of his commanders cower in their boots. "I will take our best men and their mounts; we will ride back to Camelot as fast possible. The rest of you will have to follow as best you can."
"Your Grace?" said Agravaine with shock. He was obviously the only one who dared to say anything at all, but the no doubt the question was on the lips of every man in the tent.
"It's Arthur," said Uther grimly. "It appears he tires of waiting for his father to die, and now he sides with Cenred to quicken the process. He wants the throne for himself."
A/N: I know, I said I wanted to end the episode in this chapter, but it actually wasn't possible. There's still so much left to explain and I really didn't want to publish a chapter with twenty thousand words. Did you like the way how I showed you Morgana's plan, or did you think it was too confusing to follow? (I'm sure some of you must have guessed her real intent long before she sent that raven away.) Anyway, please review if you can spare a moment of your time!
P.S I really did not like how there was a special 'Gryphon killing spell' in the show. I mean seriously? Hopefully you liked my explanation of it better than the original version; it fits in my magical system too!
ARS ARCANUM:
The Strength of the spell itself depends on the natural ability of the one who casts the spell, as well as the strength of the emotion they are drawing on.
Air – Emotion required: Instinct
External Effects: The ability to use one's mind to push or pull physical objects to or away from your own centre of gravity. Forces you manipulate push back on you with equal force in the opposite direction. These forces are existent in everyday life, except they push against each other all the time. Magic simply makes these forces unbalanced.
Internal Effects: Grants one the ability to see the world in a slower time; i.e have faster reaction speed.
Earth – Emotion required: Intent
External Effects: Changes your own mass. (Altering the way gravity works by increasing or decreasing its pull.) Can only be used on yourself.
Internal Effects: Enhances natural strengths, sight, scent, vision etc etc.
Fire – Emotion required: Rage
External Effects: Manipulates energy (fire, heat etc etc). Can 'create' heat energy. (Draws on the energy of matter around us and causes them to react, thus transforming stored energy into heat energy from radioactive decay; does not actually create).
Internal Effects: Makes people or creatures see what is not real; i.e Illusions. Cannot make someone see what they would never believe.
Water – Emotion required: Serenity
External Effects: Encourages or dampens all emotions in people (can choose the emotions to manipulate) Hate, Despair, Love etc. You cannot create emotions that are not there in the first place, and you cannot use it on yourself.
Internal Effects: Grants the ability to process ideas at impossibly fast speeds. Each person maintains their own logic however. For example, it would not make an idiot a genius; the spellcaster will still reach the same conclusions, just with less time.