Morgana had immediately gone to bed after dinner, not seeing much point of staying up. However she did not receive much rest. Morgana was used to waking up after two hours in a cold sweat. She woke up to the sound of screaming which wasn't unusual, it was just usually her own. She thought "no I'm awake" and she pinched herself but the screaming was still there. She looked out her window and she saw that the lower town was alight and there was an almighty screaming. She didn't see Thomas grab her arm and start to drag out of her room. She resisted more out of habit than having actual plan. She had no idea where she was going and she had no idea what she would do if she escaped her guard's grasp. She was bought to the dungeons and she vaguely saw Tomas take her into a mop cupboard and was stunned when she saw a good sized room. This time however she noticed that Tomas had locked the door behind her.
"What are you doing?" she demanded. But Tomas answered with his usual silence.
"I demand to know what's going on" she shouted.
Tomas was silent. Morgana needed to come up with a plan. She couldn't stay in here and wait. She had to do something. The screaming was muffled behind these walls but she knew that her people were in danger.
"How long are we going to stay here?" Morgana demanded. She wasn't expecting an answer but she got one.
"Until the rebellion is crushed" Tomas stated.
Morgana shuddered, it had finally happened. The people had broken of their chains and had risen against Uther. She knew this was coming, she'd seen it in her dreams but she'd always assumed it would happen when Uther was sick and weak unable to defend him not when he still had most of his faculties and a huge reservoir of strength both mental and physical. She feared Uther's wrath on them, more than anything else. She had to go and convince him to be merciful.
She wished Edwin had taught her some kind of offensive magic but he'd always refused insisting that you need grounding in the basics. He also explained that Gaius had only taught him the basics and he'd only really focused on healing magic in his own studies because that was what he was good at and it was the most useful. He didn't see any practical use in knowing how to throw a fireball in the day to day life of the court physician. She wished now that he'd seen use in learning how to throw a fireball or to fling him across the room. She decide to work on the latter option because she did have some basic telekinesis powers, she just didn't know how to use them offensively.
Morgana sat on one of the sofas and began meditating, hoping to channel enough energy into one big magical fling but she was finding it hard to concentrate. Tomas thought she was just in a bit of a huff and decided to let her stew until he was told to leave. Luckily for Morgana he was told to leave by Alyson de Grenefeld who after two hours came into the room and told Tomas that the king's ward was needed.
Tomas informed her that he was told to release Morgana only to the king. Morgana looked at Alyson and she could have sworn heard her sigh slightly but there was no hesitation in what she did next. She got out her dagger and plunged it into Tomas' eye. Blood stained the whole of her knife and she wiped it on one of the Pendragon tapestries in the room. Tomas just lay there with his eyes wide open. Whilst Morgana had never liked Tomas. She had always felt safe with him and now he was gone.
"Come on" Alyson said calmly "We need to get moving." Morgana cursing Edwin again that he'd never taught her any offensive spells. She decided it was best to follow her for now.
Gwen was in their makeshift hospital or as Merlin called it the biggest but unfortunately the leakiest tent the druids had. Gwen was glad when it had first started raining because that meant the fires would be put out and hopefully the lower town would remain intact but it was becoming impossible to keep the rain out and the solid dirt and had tuned into a not so solid mud. It didn't help that there was an almost constant stream of people now with progressively worst injuries. She wished Edwin was here. Hell she wished Gaius was here. She wondered what he would have thought about all this. Would he be happy that Camelot would soon be free or sad that it had to come to this? She shook her head and concentrated on the present as she got back to work.
Meanwhile the battle had reached a stalemate, they had taken the lower town but that was not particularly difficult because most of them were on Arthur's side. The difficult part had been evacuating them and killing the more bloodthirsty of Uther's knights. The ones who just wanted to see pain and feel blood. The amount of rape and murder that had happened this night sickened Arthur. He wished Courtney was a little bit bigger and stronger, it would make capturing the castle that much easier. Merlin had her fly around to offer hope but he dare not send her too close to the main castle. One lucky shot and half of his army would flee. He had his druids cast spells on the walls but they were having little effect and Arthur wondered if his father had magic proofed every brick of this castle. Conventional siege equipment wasn't working either because as his father had often boasted there isn't a siege weapon in the world that can breach Camelot's walls. They could not keep this up eventually Uther would push them back and that would leave Camelot in a worse state than before. It was a good thing he wasn't using conventional siege equipment
He led a small contingent of troops through one of the secret entrances that led from a brothel in the lower town directly into Camelot's castle. It was rumoured this passage was created by Arthur's ancestors to relieve themselves of worldly cares whilst Arthur never used it, Uther and some other nobles were known to frequent the venue. But it had allowed him to meet up with the knights that were loyal to him. It was good to have Camelot's finest around him again even if they were only 12 with the distraction going on outside that should mean they shouldn't run into too much trouble.
"Back together again" Leon remarked.
Arthur smiled "Let's hope it's not the last time"
"Do you think these things Merlin gave us will work?" Leon asked clutching a strange golden ball.
"He says he's been working on them for a while" Arthur replied with a hint of scepticism.
"That fills me with confidence" Leon remarked.
"Look I trust him and I know it seems crazy but this whole thing is crazy" Arthur said "However make sure you open the main gate first"
"Sure thing boss" Leon replied but then asked "What are you going to do"
"I'm going to find my family"
Alyson had led Morgana out of the dungeons and into the throne room where Uther was muttering over the table and then he looked up and saw Alyson and Morgana.
"How dare you?" Uther screamed "You Orlesian bitch."
"Now I've got your attention perhaps we can better discuss what the best strategy is for defending this castle."
"I already told you this place is siege proof, we just need to wait till they tire themselves out" Uther insisted through gritted teeth
"Meanwhile my men are stuck on the wrong side of this siege." Alyson shouted
"It's not my fault you're men didn't get into the keep in time."
"I don't know about Camelot but in Orlais, they haven't taught men to teleport, you closed those gates deliberately, to leave me stranded from my men."
"You shouldn't even have men and I refuse to listen to your whining any longer. Seize her." Uther commanded.
Alyson grabbed Morgana and put her dagger to her throat. "I have been summoned here to ensure peace between Orlais and Camelot so believe me when I say I do not want to hurt her but I will not let another drop of Orlesian blood to spilled on your account" Alyson demanded "Call a Parley"
"That might as well be surrender" Uther spat.
"Please Uther, if you stop this you can negotiate. I'm sure the people will listen" Morgana pleaded.
"I'd listen to your daughter, Uther" Alyson said calmly.
Uther sat on his throne and looked at his only daughter "I will not surrender" Uther stated in an almost calm manner "Kill her."
Alyson swore but she let Morgana go and ran out of the throne room.
"Don't bother pursuing her" Uther smirked "She's only a woman and a weak one at that."
Morgan couldn't believe Uther had been willing to sacrifice her. She stood still and muted. She wondered what had driven Uther to such evil but she knew whatever it takes he had to be stopped. She couldn't let this man rule over people when he cared for no one. She saw Alyson's dagger and grabbed it without attracting anyone's notice. As she held it in her hands, she knew what she should do but she couldn't do it. This man had given her life and even though he didn't value it that didn't mean she didn't. She looked at her father and she realised, she didn't hate him. She wanted to but he'd loved her and took her in even though she was a bastard. She dropped the dagger on the floor where it clanged on the hard stone
This attracted Uther's notice saw and ordered her back to the sanctuary. But at that moment a guard came in panting "The main gate has been opened, my liege"
Uther grimaced "Morgana is to stay here, we can still push them back, most of these fighters are peasants, our swords are better, our armour is thicker and we are trained to kill, we shall be victorious."
There was a cheer but Morgana just stayed quiet unsure if which outcome she wanted.
Arthur looked down at the body of Tomas Parris. He was glad he didn't see Morgana's corpse alongside his. He didn't know what he would do if he saw that so with as much as sadness as he could spare in a day full of death, for a man he hardly knew, he closed the man's eyes and headed to the throne room. He strode purposefully, he knew he would have to go up against and possibly kill his father and he didn't want to do that. His father had raised him harshly yes. But he'd cared in his own way and he'd taught him values of courage, loyalty and honour but these values kept pointing out opposite directions.
He shook his head, this was the right thing to do but that didn't stop it feeling wrong. Then suddenly he saw a woman dressed in armour, he drew his sword and she drew hers. They fought and Arthur did admire this woman, her sword craft was excellent and her parrying style perfect. If he hadn't been in a hurry, he'd probably have enjoyed this but he was in a hurry. They paused to catch their breath sizing each other up. Arthur was more tired than she was, she had been conserving her energy, and he on the other hand had been using all his power to get this over with as quickly as possible.
She smiled "Who are you?"
"I'm Prince Arthur Pendragon"
"So you've turned coat, that's unfortunate." Alyson remarked "I was hoping to negotiate with you; I do find your father so irksome."
"Negotiate then" Arthur replied
"I wanted to negotiate with the prince not a rebel leader."
"How about a successful rebel leader."
Alyson looked at him. He could feel her sizing him up, seeing how much his word was worth, how long it would take to kill him, whether he could beat his father. "What could you give me?"
"I promise that I'll uphold any deal my father made"
"Good start"
Arthur wasn't sure what to do now, he hadn't been planning any negotiations apart from stand down and you will be spared but he knew an Orlesian would want more than that. He decided to take a risk and flatter her ego.
"You've got the upper hand, what do you want from me"
"I wouldn't mind seeing you in my bedchamber" she enjoyed how that made him squirm uncomfortably "But I'm not unreasonable, I want pardons from me and my men and I want Oakvale." Arthur grimaced Oakvale had been claimed by Orlais and Camelot for hundreds of year. It was a rather unremarkable farming village but it was a point of pride. Arthur's distant ancestor, the first king of Camelot had been born there and had risen to great prominence and had built Camelot, the thought of Orlaiseans in Oakvale had made Uther's blood boil. But could Arthur do it, could he swallow his pride and let it be taken, give a village to gain a kingdom.
He already regretting it replied "Fine, I'll give you what you want but you have to help me."
"Agreed." Alyson replied.
They went to the throne room, Arthur shuddered but went in.
"Arthur, thank God you're all right" Uther hugged him "I feared for your safety."
"I'm sorry father" he said blankly although inside he was a cataclysm of emotions.
"It's good your here" Uther said truthfully "You need to protect Morgana apparently these savages have opened the main gate, it doesn't matter though we will soon see them all pay."
"I can't let you do that Father"
"What are you talking about" Uther asked looking at his son in disbelief.
Even though it filled him with pain, Arthur replied "I can't let you hurt my people anymore; I'm going to stop you"
"Traitor "Uther screamed "Kill them"
Arthur panicked as he saw 30 guards come towards him and Alyson but luckily they didn't need to fight long as a buzzing sound filled the air.
Meanwhile Leon had gotten to the highest point of the men as Merlin had told him and had let the golden ball go. He was expecting it to drop and do nothing but it didn't. It floated in the air for a few seconds and then it emitted a buzzing sound. It sounded terrible but it seemed to be working, Uther's men were dropping like flies. He saw them on all of the battlements. Unfortunately the same thing was happening to all of those in the castle walls so some of their men were falling as well. It didn't matter, he and his men weren't affected because Merlin had given them tattoos that should keep them awake and it seemed to be working so they had time to go and deal with Uther's sleeping army, meanwhile it was up to Arthur to deal with Uther.
As the guards dropped around him he held Alyson's hand making sure she touched the tattoo that was on it. For the first time ever he saw fear in his father's eyes. He'd hoped that the spell would work on him but Merlin said that was unlikely if the draiocht stone didn't work on him, it was unlikely that this spell would.
"What have you done" Uther screamed
"I've saved Camelot, please" Arthur pleaded "Let this happen, your time is over."
Uther screamed and pulled out his sword. Arthur defended himself and their fight began. Arthur communicated to Alyson that he didn't want her to join the fight so she stood on the sidelines. The fight was quite even as Uther's insanity drove him to his breaking points, but then Arthur got a lucky blow to Uther's leg and this knocked him of balance and he had his sword to his throat, "yield" he pleaded.
"Never" Uther spat. Arthur couldn't do it. He couldn't kill his father, he couldn't let his reign start with kin slaying. He's have to go to the dungeons maybe if he was made to see the error of his ways then he could join the council and live out the rest of his life in peace. As he looked at his father, he saw this was not possible; there was no peace in his soul. But he couldn't kill him so he knocked him out with his fist. He ran to Morgana, she was ok. He wondered how he was going to explain this to her. He'd think of something eventually. He smiled at her and whispered "Don't worry Morgana when you wake up, everything's going to be alright" he cried then.
He didn't realise Alyson was standing over Uther. She stabbed him through the heart with a dagger then she took it out and wiped it on her sleeve.
"What did you do?" Arthur screamed
"What I had to do, Orlais' alliance with you would have been insecure as long as he lived."Alyson said calmly. "It was the only way."
"Get out!" he screamed.
She obeyed and with his father dead, he looked at his throne and wept. He wept for his father, he wept for Camelot and he wept for himself and the sadness that would never leave him. He took Morgana to her room and went back to work sorting everything else out.
Edwin entered soon after; he was aching to see if Morgana was ok. He only wished there was a way to warn her. He went straight to her.
"Wake my love"He said softly and then he kissed her
Morgana woke up, screamed and punched him. "How dare you, you disgusting evil freak." She looked around for something she could defend herself with.
"Wait...I'm Edwin." He said clutching his nose.
Morgan looked at Cenred and wondered what the hell was going on. Edwin explained "I'm in Cenred's body; I just really wanted to make sure you were ok."
Morgan looked at him and even though it was Cenred the way he'd kissed her had been the way Edwin had kissed her. She hugged him "I'm glad you're ok to" she whispered before she kissed him.
"But can you do me a favour?"Morgana asked.
"Anything"
"Get back in your own body"
"But I'm not ugly and I could give you great wealth and power."
"I know" Morgan said "But I didn't fall in love with a man who was handsome and had a kingdom, I fell in love with the scarred physician" She smiled and he smiled back.
"It might take a while but I will return, my lady" Edwin bowed.
"Thank you" Morgan said and he left and as he did, she thought about Uther and the moment she thought about him, she knew he was dead it was like an invisible string between them had been cut and she cried for him. But then she realised for the first time her life was her own. She wasn't under Uther's control anymore, she could act any way she wanted do what she wanted and most importantly marry who she wanted. She would cherish this freedom and would never forget what it cost.
Alyson was quite content. It turned out Arthur was a more merciful man than his father was because her men realising they had been locked out with no chance of survival surrendered almost immediately to Arthur who had put them in a makeshift prison for her to return. She smiled as she looked at her register, only six had died and she had gained Oakvale which would be a fine jewel to present to her king. She could almost picture the jealous looks from her fellow captains and all the nobles who would want to hire her now. She worked on her letter to the king about her victory in the primitive Camelot and how she had regained Oakvale for the Orleasian Empire. Life was sweet.
She looked at the man she'd taken to bed with her after the battle; she didn't often take a mate while on an assignment like other captains did. She didn't want to be distracted from her assignment but with it over and all the crap she had to put up with, she figured she deserved it. He was handsome and not too drunk when she'd seen him. He had a good wit she remembered and he had a very talented tongue. Apparently he was an actor from some show about a horse. She also wasn't the only woman attracted to him but then she had her fair share of attention. He made the first move despite the fact she'd already chosen him. He introduced himself as Gwaine and told tales that were definitely lies but amusing nonetheless. She took him to her tent and he'd spent the night. He was certainly talented and despite knowing that she should probably send her letter to the Orlesian king and get reports from her lieutenants. Despite this when he woke up and kissed her, she let him take her again.
Merlin looked for Arthur and found him with Guinevere. He was crying into her shoulder. He wanted to go in and comfort him but he knew he couldn't do anything to help. He hated Uther and he wasn't going to pretend to feel grief. "No he has what he needs" so he decided to go find Freya and celebrate the rest of their lives together.
He ran into Mordred "So you were right, kid." He said to him.
He smiled and said "I'm always right"
"Don't get cocky, kid; you don't want to have a head the size of Arthur's do you?"
"No, but its true" Mordred said cheekily.
"I'm not going to argue about that" Merlin replied "So have you decided what you're going to do?"
"The druids want me to return."
"The druids are a wise and powerful people" Merlin stated.
"So are you."
"Now you're giving me a big head" Merlin laughed "But seriously I've been thinking of starting a school and I'm going to need students."
"I'd be honoured"
"Good, there is much I can teach you."
"I was thinking of teaching rather than learning."
"We'll see." Merlin smiled.
Mordred smiled "What you seek is over there?"
"Thank you." They smiled at each other and knew that their friendship was going to last a while yet and Merlin decided that Mordred should be a teacher and a student at his new school. He saw Freya and kissed her as if it was the last 10 minutes of his life.
"Wow" Freya said and then Merlin kissed her again.
"Stop it, Merlin" Freya said firmly. Merlin pouted and Freya gave in and for the next few moments they just enjoyed the fact that they were both alive.
Gwen looked down at her lover who was crying into her shoulder, she'd never seen him this vulnerable before. He's always been strong and stubborn but she like this side, it kept him human.
"I killed my own father Gwen"
"No you didn't, Alyson killed him" Gwen said firmly.
"No I did, I made an alliance with her, I started this rebellion, and I might as well have plunged the sword in him myself."
"But you didn't and what you did do was the right thing" Gwen said firmly "You saved your people from Uther's tyranny and Cenred's, you've bought peace and you've freed all magical people from fear.
"I know Gwen" Arthur said "But what does it matter if I'm a traitor, if I'm a murderer."
"Because none of the things I mentioned would have happened if you hadn't done what you did" Gwen assured "If you'd let Uther continue his paranoia would have led to Camelot's ruin."
"He was my father" he stated
"I know and I promise you that pain will never go away but it will get better and you need to use that pain to make sure nothing like this happens again" Gwen looked at him with tears in her eyes and tried to convey the faith and love she had for him.
He saw it and he wondered how he'd manage to make such an angel fall in love with him. "You'll stay with me"
"Forever my love, if you wish to have me"
"I do, I need you Guinevere, and I want you to marry me"
"I will marry you" Her smile was so large that it lit up the room. She cried as well and as she saw the sun rise over Camelot, she thought "A new kingdom is rising to wash away the sins of the last"
A/N Hey there hope you like this chapter. I thought I'd better explain Morgana's powers. Edwin has only taught her how to not set fire to herself as she sleeps and some basic spells and the reason she isn't as powerful as in the show is that I assume Morgause gave her a crash course whereas Edwin's trying to give her a more comprehensive education. So I really like writing this chapter and I especially loved the Alyson parts, she's such a bad ass, I might use her again, if I do a sequel or in an unrelated fic we'll see. Anyway, after this there's going to be an epilogue, which will be a couple of years after this chapter just to see what happened to everybody and I hoped you enjoyed this. Please review.