"Emrys, Emyrs!" the druid boys tumbled into the campsite where the group was currently eating breakfast. The strategy meeting had continued long into the night, and all were bleary eyed and yawning. The boys chattered excitedly at Merlin, until one of them realised they were missing a rare chance to play without needing to work, or getting told off, and they scampered off. One, however, broke away from the group, and ran up to Morgana, who broke into a smile and held out her arms.
"Hello you. I was wondering where you'd got to." Mordred wrapped his arms around her and grinned widely.
"I found my clan! They're here!" he told her happily.
"Are they now?" She laughed a his giddiness, and then hears his stomach growling in time to his laughter. "Well, you've obviously been forgetting to eat while you're with them. Go ask Myla if she has any porridge left."
He went over to her, and the smile dropped from her face, replaced instead by a melancholy look.
"Why so sad?" Arthur asked her.
"Mordred got separated from the druids again. I've been looking after him until we could track them down, but I suppose he'll go back to them now."
"It is where he belongs." He reminded her gently. She glared at him sharply.
"I know that!" Further conversation was stopped when the young boy came back with a bowl and snuggled into Morgana's side, prompting a tender smile from her. She slipped her arm around him, and when Arthur raised an eyebrow, simply glared at him, wordlessly daring him to comment.
Ana made her way into the camp. "Good Morning. Your reinforcements are here." She told them, before slipping out again silently.
"Talkative isn't she?" Arthur said as he got up, quickly followed by his father and Merlin. He looked back at Morgana who stayed where she was, talking quietly with Myla. "Aren't you coming?" He asked, looking back at her. She raised an eyebrow.
"As far as they're concerned, I'm still their greatest enemy, whom they're supposed to arrest on sight, killing me if I resist. Why in the world would I come before you've explained?"
"You realise I still have no idea what it is I'm explaining, other than the fact everyone else here seems to suddenly trust you again?" He said pointedly. She sighed, looking down at the child cuddled in her arms.
"I... Arthur, I know I have to earn your trust again. I accept that. But I swear, on Mordred's life that I am not your enemy. Not any more." They stared at each other, until Merlin called for Arthur to hurry up, and he tore his eyes away.
"Ok." He told her softly. "But I swear Morgana, one wrong foot and I will kill you if I have to."
She nodded, a tiny smile gracing her features.
"I would expect nothing less."
He strode off towards the group waiting for him, leaving her to stare into the flames.
They watched as the army crested the distant hill, Uther and Arthur striding out beforehand, aware they needed to sooth the knights' fears before an accident could happen when they reached the camp.
As they watched, Leon rode in front with Gaius and Gwen beside him. Merlin strained his eyes, a smile reaching his face when he saw Percival, Elyan and Gwaine riding behind them.
Arthur forgot that his father was standing watching, forgot that knights surrounded them, forgot everything but her. As soon as the horses were close he ran forward towards Gwen, slipping his arms around her as she dismounted and holding her tightly. Gwaine whistled, but was quickly hit around the head by an amused Percival, swiftly shutting him up.
"I've missed you." He murmured into her hair, and she tightened her arms.
"And I you." She replied gently. She pulled away from him, touching his cheek in concern. "What's happened?"
He choked slightly. "Everything. Merlin- he has magic."
"What!? Arthur, that's not funny!" She scolded, pulling away from him. Gwaine, Gaius and Percival came over, concern on their faces. Arthur caught Gwen's wrist gently, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"I'm serious. Merlin has magic." He told them. "The Druids call him Emrys- the greatest warlock who has ever lived, and who ever will."
They stared at him in shock, before Gwaine burst into laughter.
"Well, it does make sense. All those battles, he never got a scratch on him!"
Meanwhile, Uther, Merlin and the twins stood watching the reunion. Uther made a sound of disgust when Arthur and Gwen held each other.
"They are so in love." Merlin told the king softly. Uther raised an eyebrow, and sneered
"She's a serving girl."
"Maybe. But Gwen is good, and kind and loyal. She's helped me and Arthur more times than I can count. She's fair, and she calms Arthur when no one else can. They're made for each other."
Uther watched them, an unrecognisable look on his face.
"They do seem to care for each other." He admitted. Merlin smiled.
"They do. They would die for each other in an instant, forgive each other for anything. Gwen... She changed him. He's... Better when she's around." Merlin explained. Seeing he was still unconvinced, he carried on.
"Sire... If Queen Ygraine had been a serving girl, would you have married another? Loved another?" He pressed, ignoring Uthers sharp glance. He sighed heavily, eyes returning to the couple, who by now were talking rapidly with their friends, occasionally looking over at them furtively.
"No." Uther said quietly. "Ygraine was... My everything."
"Arthur and Gwen feel the same way about each other." Merlin assured him. Just as he spoke, they began to advance towards him. Gwen broke away from Arthur, rushing into Merlin's arms.
"If you ever disappear like that again, I'll set Percival on you!" She said fiercely. Merlin grinned, but then bit his lip, looking at her uncertainly.
"Arthur told you?" He said nervously. Gwen rolled her eyes at him.
"You're not planning on killing us are you?" She asked.
"Noo?" He said slowly.
"Well then." She said matter of factly. "The way I see it, you've been saving us for years. You're still Merlin aren't you?"
Merlin stared at her, before beaming widely and hugging her tightly.
"You are going to be a great queen!" He told her, and she blushed. Gaius came up to him as they pulled apart and hugged him tightly.
"Oh, my boy." He murmured. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Sorry Gaius." He said softly, pressing his face into his foster fathers robes.
'Er, Merlin?! We may have a problem…' Merlin turned to face Myla, who was standing, eyes glazed over as she swayed slightly.
"Myla? What's wrong?" he asked urgently, but she didn't give an answer.
"Myla! Malin, what's wrong with her!?" he demanded. Her twin quickly entered her mind, and quickly saw the problem.
"It's Morgana, she's having a vision. It's important, so she called to Myla for help and now they're both trapped in it." He explained quickly.
"Did he just say Morgana!?" Gwaine's voice was low, and coloured with shock and anger.
"Later Gwaine." answered Arthur.
"But-"
"I said later!"
This stunned him into silence, long enough for Myla to snap out of her trance.
"M?" Malin's voice was uncertain, and she leaned heavily on him.
"I can honestly say i'm glad i'm not a seer." She murmured telepathically, before glancing up at Merlin.
"Morgana needs help. Judging by her emotions, this is the first vision she's had when she's awake." Merlin instantly muttered a spell, and in a flash the group was back in the centre of the camp.
"Why couldn't you have done that earlier?" complained Arthur, earning a glare from Gwen.
Morgana was kneeling, Mordred next to her. He looked up, relief on his face at the sight of them.
"Morgana?" Uther had knelt next to her, and she looked up at him with a tear-stained face, eyes haunted.
"They're coming. We can't win. They're so powerful. There's… the children. Everyone's gone. They're just children!" she whispered disjointedly, before she slumped to the side. Uther caught her easily, gently lifting her into his arms.
Malin looked around, face pale. "Did she… did she just see our deaths?"