The White Queen
Chapter 9- Willow Weep For Me
A/N: I'd like to say a brief thank you for my new followers and those who have stayed with the story. Also, when this fic is finished I am thinking of doing another it will either be Merlin turning into a child or him turning into a girl, feel free to review and pass your vote. Whichever gets the most votes will be what I'll go with. There will be a lot more bromance than in this fic ... so yeah. Anyway, on with the story and enjoy!
MERLIN MERLIN MERLIN
In order for the pendant to do its work, Gwen would have to wear it and then by succumbing to her emotions and hurt regarding Lea's pregnancy, slowly but surely it would consume her and she would do Morgana's bidding.
Agravaine went to see Gwen and presented her with the trinket. He told her that it was more or less a talisman to just promote fertility in women. She thanked him for his generosity and kindness and asked him to help her put it on.
It was a slower moving plan, but the time it took for the enchantment on the pendant to work ensured that they wouldn't be caught. It wouldn't take away Gwen's personality right away, she would still act herself. It took about three months for everything to be complete. Three months for the magic to be so fully imbedded in her heart that it would take equally strong magic to break it. Lea was six months pregnant by then and she looked a lot bigger, in fact she almost looked full term, but she remained healthy. Gwen had continued her visits to Lea and still drank tea with her as to not arose suspicion. On one particularly chilly afternoon when she went to make her visit she decided she would drug the queen. The pendant she wore actually opened and had a powdery substance that she put in the tea. She noticed her advisor continually yawning and began to help her to the bed where she drifted off into a deep sleep.
Gwen then ran down the corridor to find Agravaine and when she told him of the news he told her to ready the horses. Luckily at this point Merlin was helping Gaius and Arthur was training his knights before supper, so they were free to leave the Castle with little to no interruption. After all Agravaine could command several people in the castle without reason and could clear all the necessary pathways. Plus they took a route fairly close to Gaius' chambers so if caught with Elita they could tell them that she simply fainted and were bringing her for treatment.
Agravaine had Lea up against him on the horse and he held her close making sure not to put too much pressure on her stomach. Morgana may be heartless, but he wasn't completely; though it wouldn't do much good in his mind. Eventually they made it to a small hovel in a clearing not too far away from the castle. He got off with Lea and the assistance of Gwen brining the pregnant woman inside and laying her on a nearby cot.
"Well, well, well..." Morgana appeared almost as if from the shadows. "I am surprised Agravaine, you didn't fail for once."
"My lady-"
"Shhh, don't speak Agravaine you don't want to ruin all my good fun would you?" Morgana cooed and went over to Lea taking her own hand and running it along her cheek, neck, all the way down to her stomach circling over the life inside. "Althilador sentarie nevaradas." there was a silence and her grin widened.
"It seems that there is more than one life inside this woman. Two lives, a boy and a girl in fact; it matters little whether there is one or two within her. The outcome will still be the same. Agravaine get me the shackles. Gwen, get me some parchment and a quill. We will see to it that Merlin understands just what is in store for Lea."
Gwen returned shortly with the supplies and Morgana wrote a note and summoned a raven to deliver the message. This would ensure they got the boy's attention.
MERLINMERLINMERLIN
Arthur went to go get Lea and Gwen for supper but realized they were nowhere to be found. He looked in Lea's room and found the tea was cold and unfinished and the bed had some of the covers ruffled. He almost rung the bells, but stopped himself and realized that something more sinister had to be going on so he ran through the halls, downstairs and bust into Gaius' chambers.
"Sooner or later I'm going to need another door with all that slamming." Gaius and Merlin looked up to see Arthur looking as if he'd seen a ghost. "My lord, what on earth happened to you? Arthur's breath was in gasps since he ran the whole way there.
"It's Lea and Gwen, they're gone. I think they've been taken."
As if on cue Morgana's raven flew and landed on the table near Arthur, where untied the piece of parchment from its foot. He read it and handed it to Merlin.
"Merlin, what do we do? Morgana has Gwen and Lea. She said to come without weapons or both of them would die." Merlin looked as if he was going to snap right then and there, but when he spoke there was something eerily calm about it, though he wouldn't look anyone in the face.
"It's quite clearly a trap, but I must go and so must you Arthur. Morgana, Morgana doesn't know I have magic and mustn't know I have magic. I have a plan, but Arthur you must take Lea and Gwen and leave if you see an opportunity to do so. Do you understand?"
"I won't leave without y-"
"We don't have much time. My only duties Arthur are to you and my family. Whatever happens, promise you'll protect both of them and get them to Camelot." Arthur let out a frustrated sigh and agreed, running a hand through his hair. Merlin headed towards the door and before he could leave and start preparing the horses Arthur grabbed him.
"Merlin."
"What? We have to get going."
"I know. Just...don't be an idiot when we get there okay?" Merlin let out a half-hearted chucked and mumbled a 'yeah' before preparing them to leave.
MERLINMERLINMERLIN
Lea began waking up and realized her hands were bound with shackles and attached to the wooden post behind her. She pulled at the shackles and tried to wriggle free from them to no avail. She even tried using magic but when she used the spell to set herself free, they burned, tore at her skin and she felt her strength ebbing away, there was no escape.
"Ahh I see you're finally awake, My Queen." Morgana spat with delicious whim of sarcasm and bowed for full effect.
"Please, please let me go. What have a done to you Morgana? Please, don't hurt my babies!"
Morgana took that moment to laugh and she slapped Lea across the face and then took a fist full of her hair and moved her head upward with the motion.
"What have you done? What have you done! You have thwarted my plans to destroy Camelot and you've protected those insolent fools and even married one. You my dear have gotten in the way for the last time. Sorcerer or not you will pay with your life and the lives of your unborn children. Ahh, yes you don't know do you? You are pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. They won't survive though. As I bring your death about, your children will die as well. And then your husband will be so heartbroken, with my aide he'll self-destruct on his own. Oh and I have other plans for Arthur so don't worry."
"I'm sorry Morgana, I'm so sorry. Just please, please don't hurt them. Please" Lea was begging. She was sore and she could feel the babies moving, almost seeming to stir in regards to her fear. It was painful them moving within her in such aw way... trying to find a safer place as they felt their home slowly becoming unsafe. She gasped with pain.
"It was fortunate that Gwen was so easily enchanted by my pendant that I was able to get her to give you a sleeping draught of sorts. Only magic can restore her, but I quite like her this way; a mere slave to me instead of Queen of Camelot. I believe that she should remain forever in her servant linage, don't you think?" Lea looked up with an anger never seen before.
"Morgana what happened to you? Evil and hatred such as yours do not come naturally. You are willing to hurt children and to kill your own family. Such a coward to goodness, a queen such as that would not be welcome in Camelot." The queen knew how to reverse the spell, but she needed to get free somehow.
"Save your breath Lea and shut up. You know nothing, a mere outsider" Morgana struck her again, this time with her fist and her head knocked into the post behind her hard. Then Morgana took her dagger and lightly put the tip on Leas belly. "One more word from you and you may find your death come upon you sooner rather than later."
Lea began to silently sob. She had heard of stories when Morgana was once kind, could this even be the same person? At the moment she didn't think so and tried desperately not to make any noise as she cried. Lea's one eye was badly swollen. The pain in her abdomen was beginning to increase along with her worry. Her head felt like it was on fire, so much she was getting dizzy from it.
"You don't deserve to cry!" Morgana hit her once more, causing Lea's lip to bleed and she bit back her tears. She began to gasp in pain and pulled futilely at the shackles. "I hope you're feeling comfortable my queen."
Elita didn't remark at her comments and chose to remain silent, praying that Merlin and Arthur would somehow rescue her and soon. For if they didn't, Lea feared she would miscarry... the pains she was having this early were not normal.
MERLINMERLINMERLIN
Merlin and Arthur rode into the forests and made their way to where Morgana said she would be in her note. Merlin told Arthur that he would disguise himself and that they would if needed, relay to Morgana that Merlin himself had to stay and watch over the kingdom, or there would be no one in charge. Plus, Merlin needed no servants to dress considering that he usually dressed the king and Gaius stayed with him running interception on anyone who would pass. A few of the most trusted knights were in on the scheme and frequented Merlin's room with Gaius to talk about progress and making it seem as though Merlin was actually there. That way any spies would think none the wiser.
You see, after Merlin let out his secret to Arthur and Arthur accepted they had long discussions over the things Merlin had done to protect the kingdom and Arthur. He had mentioned that it was him who tried to heal Uther, but the effects of the spell Morgana had on him reversed the healing that it would do. Arthur needed time to think about that revelation, but eventually accepted Merlin's explanation. Merlin also revealed that Morgana was afraid of Emrys, the name the druid's called him and that he had appeared before as such to her and she was almost terrified of him. This would bring not only shock to Morgana but give them the advantage in saving Lea and Gwen.
As they rode on, they saw the hut of Morgana's and Merlin cast his aging spell on himself. It was so surreal watching Merlin age into an old man before him.
"Arthur, remember my name is Emrys, we can't let her know my true identity. Repeat it back to me."
"I'm not such an idiot as you that I can't recall a simple name." Arthur huffed, looking off into the direction of the hovel.
"Then sire," Merlin chided. "You won't mind if I hear your repeat it." Arthur gestured in a most noble way and repeated what he thought he heard.
"Emrice."
"No Arthur." Merlin sighed." Emrys."
"Emrys" Arthur repeated slowly and Merlin nodded.
They made their way down and were looking slowly into the window. They saw Gwen just staring off into space on the bed shackled like Lea, but Lea was far worse for wear. Her hair was a mess and sticking out in several places. Her forehead shined with sweat and Merlin could see blood running down her neck and lip. Her eye was swollen closed along with the corner of her lip and the shackles left burns that expanded and tore the flesh at her wrists. He prayed his child was still safe.
Arthur caught the look of clear anger in the aged man's eyes. His fists were balled up; shaking and the king thought he might explode. However, as soon as these features appeared they left him, he seemed normal again with the exception of the small fire in his eye, that is how Arthur knew he was still on edge. They got off their horses and walked up to the hovel.
"Do you think we should knock?" Merlin smirked and flung the door open with a glimmer of gold in his eyes.
"I take it that's a no..." he said as both he and Emrys let themselves in.