Sjritts: I seriously don't know where all these speeches are coming from of late, lol. Oh well, they work well…
Well guys, this is chapter Eleven… Neither of the other fics has gone over eleven chapters, so this leads to a question… Shall I end this one here and start a fourth, or should I continue it here? Or, maybe you're all sick of this world I created and want it over now? :P Review and let me know!
Chapter Eleven
"How did Uther die?" Morgana asked quietly.
"Morgana, he died of a broken heart, Gaius said He was so hurt and broken-hearted after you left… He couldn't handle it, and his heart gave out."
Morgana felt tears well in her eyes, despite her anger and hatred for Uther Pendragon, the fact that he had died because of her tore at her heart. "Gwen…" she whispered.
"Morgana, it wasn't your fault. It happened. You were born with magic, you could no longer control it. Uther finally lost it, he was nearly mad with grief before his heart finally gave out. There was nothing anyone could have done. I'm sorry."
Morgana shook her head. "What did you do after I left? I feared Uther would be rid of you…"
"After Arthur guaranteed a home for me and job for me in Camelot after his father ordered my father's execution? He wouldn't dare. Imagine how that would look to the people."
Morgana smiled a little. "Indeed. Can't have that appearance, now can we?"
"How did Arthur propose to you?"
Gwen was straightening Arthur's chambers after the latest battle. She had just righted a chair when Arthur entered the room.
"It will take some time," she said, watching as Arthur looked around the room.
"Merlin can take care of it," he said, causing her to smile a little.
She took two steps toward him, her smile fading. "If you want to me go, to return to Ealdor…"
"I want you to stay," he interrupted.
They stared at each other in silence for a long moment before he took a step towards her. "Guinevere…"
"You don't have to say anything."
"Whatever's happened between us…"
"Please, Arthur, I can never forgive myself," she said quietly.
"I don't care," he said, looking into her eyes as he moved closer until he was right in front of her. "I just don't ever want to lose you."
She smiled a little as took her hands in his, so much sincerety and love in his eyes, touched with vulnerability.
"Will you marry me?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered, her voice breaking as her smile grew. "Yes, with all my heart."
He leaned in then, kissing her softly, her arm going around his neck.
Morgana frowned. "Gwen… I'm so sorry… Everything that happened, Lancelot, the betrayal… All of it was because of me. I ruined so many people's lives and happiness. All for nothing. I gained nothing from it, only lost the people I loved."
"All is forgiven, Morgana. You're not that person anymore. We know that."
"I…"
"Say nothing more, Morgana. You're a different person now. You're my best friend, Morgana. A sister to me, just as you've always been. Even in your darkest times, I still thought of you as a sister, as did Arthur. You never saw how torn he was. He knew he had to defeat you to save the kingdom, but he was so hurt and so torn over it. He couldn't bring himself to kill you, no matter how much of a threat you were. Merlin and Arthur fought many times, Merlin knew you had to be defeated, no matter the cost. He believed you could change, he was desperate to have you back, but if he felt he had no other choice, he would have killed you in a heartbeat."
"Merlin knows what needs to be done, and he will do it, despite the pain it might cause," Morgana agreed. "It's why we are here to visit, instead of the original plan of moving back. I wanted to just stay in Ealdor after all that happened that day, but Merlin wouldn't let me. He said we need to do this, for two reasons. One, we have to show Camelot that I have changed, that I'm not out to kill Arthur anymore, and the other, so that we can try and mend the broken relationships we have with you and Arthur…"
"Merlin is wise. Now, you're ready for the feast. Shall we meet our husbands and make our grand entrance?"
Morgana blushed. "I don't know about a grand entrance…"
"It's already been planned, Morgana. Merlin knows the cues. He knows what to do, just follow Merlin's lead."
Morgana nodded and walked down the stairs with Gwen, smiling when she saw Merlin standing beside Arthur, dressed as elegantly as any nobleman.
"Lady Morgana, Queen Guinevere," he said, bowing low.
Morgana blushed. "Merlin," she smiled.
Merlin took her hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss the back of her hand. "fy nghariad," he murmured. "You look beautiful."
Morgana blushed. "Thank you, fy nghalon."
Arthur and Gwen walked into the hall and Morgana tried to follow, surprised to feel Merlin pull her back.
"Wait, lovely Morgana."
"Good people of Camelot," Arthur said, his voice echoing through the room. "You all know of the return of my half-sister, turned dark sorceress, Morgana. What most of you do not know, however, is that she has changed. She found someone to help her learn to control her magic and use it for good. She fell in love with and married him. He, too, is someone you all know and nobody would suspect of sorcery. Merlin, my manservant, has married my sister and brought her back to light and goodness. They returned with us, to visit and see how things go for a while. At the end of these few, brief, weeks, they will decide whether to return to the modest life they created or to return, permanently, to Camelot. This feast is held in honor of their return. Merlin and Morgana Ambrosious."
Merlin led Morgana through the giant double doors and all the way to the head of the table, where he pulled out a chair on Arthur's left, allowing her to sit, before taking his own seat beside her. Morgana blushed at the cheers and applause that followed them into the room. Merlin kissed her cheek, entangling their fingers on the table top in a show of solidarity. Morgana smiled softly at him.
"Is there to be no justice for her actions?" someone demanded.
Morgana closed her eyes, willing the darkness to stay away, willing herself to be strong enough to fight it.
"Morgana has paid, in many ways, for the crimes she committed against us all. I see no need to further punish her. She battles the darkness inside herself at all times, Why should we make life harder on her than it has to be?"
"She murdered innocent people!" someone else exclaimed.
Merlin felt Morgana's body start to tremble beside him. "Gana, calm down, it's alright."
"As have I. As did my father. None of us are innocent of such a thing," Arthur argued.
"Kill the witch!" someone shouted.
Morgana's eyes opened suddenly, flashing gold as all the windows shattered and the flames in the sconces flared, setting curtains alight, the blaze spreading quickly through the room, screams of fear echoing off the walls.