I Won't Leave You Again – Part 2
A/N: This is a continuation on I Won't Leave You Again (chapter 4).
A shot out to emrysmorgan who requested this. This one is for you. I hope you like it!
A huge thank you to all of you for reading and reviewing these stories. It means so much!
"Arthur, have you seen Morgana?" Gwen asked Arthur one day.
Arthur felt his heart skip a beat when he saw her, and he drew a breath to take control of his body before he answered.
"No. Have you seen Merlin?"
"No." Gwen said and shook her head. "And I've been all over the castle."
"Strange." Arthur said.
Gwen looked like she wanted to say something.
"What's on your mind Guinevere?" Arthur asked.
Gwen hesitated.
"You can tell me." Arthur reassured her.
"It's just… Morgana seems so much happier lately."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't that a good thing?" He said.
"Yes!" Gwen exclaimed. "Of course it is. It's just… she has disappeared a lot lately, and I'm wondering if whatever she has disappeared to is the cause of her happiness."
"Now that I think about it, Merlin has disappeared a lot recently too." Arthur said absently.
Gwen started to smile, a huge, knowing smile.
"What?" Arthur said. "What are you thinking?"
"Nothing." Gwen said, and winked at him.
"Okay…" Arthur said slowly, not knowing how to read the look she gave him. "Well, I need to go." He excused himself. "If you see Merlin, can you send him to my chambers? I have some chores for him. And I'll tell Morgana that you're looking for her if I see her."
"Of course. Thank you." Gwen said and curtsied, the smug smile still on her lips, before they parted, each looking for their friends.
A couple of hours later, Merlin came into Arthur's rooms. His cheeks were flustered, like he had been out the whole day, and his clothes smelled of fresh air. The prince looked up from his desk as the servant entered.
"Ah, Merlin." Arthur said. "Back from the tavern I see."
"What?" Merlin said. "I haven't… didn't Gaius tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Arthur said.
"I've been out all day gathering herbs." Merlin lied.
"Don't lie to me Merlin." Arthur said, but his voice wasn't cross.
"I'm not." Merlin said.
But it was useless.
"Merlin." Arthur said. "I'm the prince of Camelot. I've every reason to throw you in the stocks for not showing up to work. But instead I'll let it pass just this once."
"Thank you Arthur." Merlin said, having learnt a long time ago that it was useless to argue.
Arthur rose from his desk, a mischievous smile on his lips.
"And now for your punishment." He said.
"Punishment?" Merlin asked as Arthur gave him a scroll.
When Merlin rolled it out, it reached all the way to his feet, even rolling a bit on the floor. It was a list of shores.
"You can't be serious?" Merlin said.
"Oh yes." Arthur said, giving Merlin a punch on the arm. "Better get started."
Merlin started with polishing Arthur's armour. Having to do manual labour gave Merlin a lot of time to think. His thoughts wandered to Morgana. Merlin had kept his promise to her. It had been two months since the day of the attack of the Living Skeletons, and as he promised, Merlin had been there for Morgana. Through her fears, when she felt her magic taking control over her, he had been there. When she had wept over the loss of her sister, he had held her and dried her tears. When the guilt over betraying her friends and her city had been too much, Merlin had taking her out on the streets of Camelot and pointed out all the people and places she had saved by calling of the attack. And when she asked questions about magic, Merlin had answered. And slowly but steady, he had taught her how to control her magic. It had been hard. Not only did he have to teach her to control her magic. He also had to change her view on magic entirely. Morgause had taught her how to use it to the benefit of herself, and now Merlin had to teach her the opposite. They had been out this morning, one of many times these last months, castings spells and enchantments, but also just talking about magic. How to use it, and how difficult it was to hide such a huge part of yourself. But there, in the protection of the woods, they could be themselves. Merlin had never felt better, and he noticed that Morgana was happier than ever as well. The memories made him smile. She was a good student, and a powerful one too. She had quickly learned and mastered every task Merlin had given her. After time, he had also told her more about his own magic. It had been hard to put himself out there, and she had never pushed him, knowing that he in the beginning still had some hesitant in trusting her. But as time went by, and the friendship between them grew, Merlin finally told Morgana everything. He even told her what the druid called him.
Emrys.
Morgana had had tears in her eyes when he told her. After that, Morgana's respect for Merlin had grown. Merlin himself had since then felt light as a feather. All his secrets were out. He had someone who understood exactly what he went through. Merlin had never been happier.
A couple of days later, Morgana knocked on Arthur's chamber door.
"Come in." a voice said on the other side of the wooden door.
Morgana entered. Arthur sat by his desk. Behind him stood Merlin. Morgana's heart was filled with respect and warmth as she saw him. She still couldn't believe that the skinny young man behind the prince was Emrys, the mighty warlock that her sist… Morgause, had feared so much. A stab of pain filled her heart when she thought about the woman she had once called sister, but when she caught Merlin's warm gaze, the pain quickly disappeared. She would never understand how she could be so lucky to have Merlin in her life. He'd forgiven her a long time ago, just as she had him. She knew however that she would never forgive herself, and that Merlin still felt guilty over leaving her when she first discovered her magic. They were the same like that, quickly to forgive others but never forgiving themselves.
"Morgana." Arthur said and rose, taking her out of her thoughts.
Then he noticed Morgana's cape.
"Are you heading out?"
"Yes." Morgana nodded. "I'm headed to the woods to pick some herbs."
"Herbs?" Arthur asked.
"Gaius is teaching me medicine." Morgana said quickly. "So I can be of assistance if he ever need it."
"That's great!" Arthur exclaimed. "I'll gather some knights to escort you."
"No!" Morgana said.
When she saw Arthur's confused look, she quickly composed herself.
"No." She smiled. "That won't be necessary. But Merlin can escort me."
Behind Arthur, a smile grew on Merlin's lips. But it quickly disappeared when Arthur turned to look at his servant.
"Merlin?" he said.
"He knows the herbs, and he can protect me." Morgana said.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked again. "Are you sure we're talking about the same person?"
"Fine, I can protect him." Morgana said.
Arthur started laughing, and before he knew it, Morgana had dragged Merlin out the door. When the door closed behind them, Arthur composed himself and rose to his feet. He quickly ran to Morgana's chambers where he found Gwen.
"Arthur?" Gwen said surprised.
"Guinevere." Arthur said. "Morgana just came into my chambers. She said she was heading out. But when I suggested that I should gather some guards to escort her, she protested, said she just needed Merlin, and then they left."
"She left? With Merlin?" Guinevere said.
"Yes!" Arthur said.
A huge smile spread across Gwen's face.
"What?" Arthur said. "You have that look again."
Gwen said nothing. Instead she just took his hand and started dragging him after her, just as Morgana had done with Merlin.
"Come on!" she said, the smile still on her lips. "Let's see if we can find them!"
Arthur and Gwen had only been walking for a couple of minutes before Arthur gave up.
"Okay." He said. "Why don't you just rub that smug smile of your face and tell me what you know that I don't."
Gwen's smile died just a little.
"Promise me you won't overreact." She said.
"Overreact? Me?"
"Arthur." Gwen said firmly.
"Fine." Arthur sighed. "I promise."
Gwen's smile came back.
"I'm surprised you haven't guessed it yet."
"Guessed what?" Arthur said.
"That Merlin and Morgana are courting."
Arthur stopped dead.
"Don't be ridiculous." He said, his voice starting to panic.
"I'm not. It's obvious." Gwen said. "They're smiling towards each other. They both disappear at the same time. We both can tell that they lie about where they've been. Obviously, it's because they don't want us to know."
Arthur stood very still.
"Arthur?" Gwen asked worryingly.
"I'm gonna kill him. I'm gonna kill him." Arthur said and started walking fast through the woods.
"Arthur, you're not going to kill your best friend." Gwen said, following him.
"He's not my friend! And he is out there, doing… something with my sister. I'm gonna kill him!"
Even though Gwen had to run to keep even steps with him, she couldn't stop smiling.
"It's not funny Gwen!" Arthur said.
"Yes it is. It's very amusing." Gwen said.
Arthur just muttered back. Then he suddenly stopped.
"What was that?" he said.
Gwen stopped to listen. There was an even sound heard through the woods. It sounded like the sound of huge wings. It was followed by a woman's laughter.
"I don't know about the first one, but that was Lady Morgana." Gwen said.
"Come." Arthur said, following the sound. "And be quiet."
In a clearing not far from there, Morgana and Merlin was casting spells and laughing. The practice was over for the day, and what they did now was only for fun. Morgana laughed as a firework of magic exploded around her. The happiness in her eyes made Merlin laugh.
Morgana's laugh suddenly died when she saw a cut on Merlin's arm.
"Merlin!" She said. "Why didn't you tell me you've hurt yourself?"
Merlin looked down on his arm.
"Oh this? It's nothing. I'm fine."
Morgana walked over to him with determent steps. She took his arm and closed her eyes.
"Ahlúttre þá séocnes. Þurhhæle bræd." She chanted and opened her eyes, now filled with gold.
Merlin felt the cut healing on his arm, and he smiled at her. Merlin had never been good at healing spells, but Morgana was a natural at it, so Merlin had let her practice it. He could see the effect it had on her to know that her magic could help people and not just destroy them. Her healing abilities had been a huge help in her process to forgive herself.
"Thank you." Merlin smiled.
"That is one of my favourites." Morgana whispered, pride visible in her eyes.
"Mine too. I also like this one." Merlin said, and his eyes turned gold. Out of the small fire Morgana had made out of magic earlier, a huge fire dragon rose. It sailed around the clearing, before it ascended upwards, still in protection of the trees. The two sorcerers looked at each other, a smile on their faces.
"What is going on here?"
An angry voice, one that they would recognize everywhere, echoed across the clearing. They both turned around, to see Arthur and Gwen coming towards them. Gwen was smiling, but Arthur was looking like he was going to kill someone. His gaze was on Morgana's hand, which was still holding on to Merlin's arm. She let go as if she had burned herself, and the two friends broke apart.
"Arthur." Morgana said.
"Silence." Arthur said. "Explain yourself."
"I was just helping Merlin…" Morgana began.
"Ew!" Arthur said, racing his hand, his face showing horror and disgust. "I don't want to know!"
"Arthur?" Morgana asked confused.
She had expected more of a reaction when her brother found out that his sister and best friend were sorcerers.
"You and Merlin. You're… you're…" Arthur couldn't bring himself to say it.
"I know, we should have told you." Morgana said. "But you know how Uther would have reacted. He would have executed us."
Arthur raised and eyebrow in confusion.
"I don't think he would have taking it that far…" He said. "Merlin maybe… but not you."
"Really?" Morgana said. "Then you don't know him."
"My Lady." Gwen said, stepping forward. "If you had told me you had a sweetheart, I would have helped you. You know I would have kept your secret."
"What? What sweetheart?" Morgana asked.
Then she looked over at Merlin, and back at Gwen.
"Wait, you don't think we…? No! No!"
Merlin looked at the two women in confusion before he realized what they were implying.
"No. No!" he said, shaking his head.
"Don't try to hide it!" Arthur said. "You're a terrible liar Merlin."
"Arthur, we're not together." Merlin said.
"We're sorcerers!" Morgana blurted out.
At that moment, the fire dragon chose to descend. It flew around the clearing one lap before dissolving.
Everyone froze. After several seconds of silence, Gwen finally spoke up.
"What?" she said.
"Don't be ridiculous." Arthur said.
Morgana gave Merlin an apologetic look, but Merlin just smiled a reassuring smile back.
"Arthur, we've magic." Merlin said. "And we've been coming here for the last months to practice."
"That dragon you saw there." Morgana said and pointed where the dragon had been just minutes ago. "It was magic. Merlin's magic."
"I've been teaching Morgana how to control her magic." Merlin said. "How to use it for good. For you and for Camelot."
Arthur just blinked, not being able to say anything.
"So all this time, you've been out practicing?" Gwen said, trying to get a grip on the situation.
Morgana nodded.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you Gwen." Morgana said. "But I was trying to protect you. Knowing about me would have put you in terrible danger."
"It's alright my lady." Gwen said. "I understand."
The two women hugged each other.
"I'm sorry too." Merlin said, earning a smile and hug from Gwen in response.
Arthur still hadn't said a word. He just stood there, blinking.
"Arthur?" Merlin asked carefully.
"So…" Arthur finally said. "You're not courting?"
"No!" Both Merlin and Morgana exclaimed, a disgusted look on their faces.
"We are just friends." Merlin said, sounding exactly like a ten-year-old trying to convince everyone that girls were the worst thing ever.
Arthur breathed out in relief.
"Good." He said. "Good."
Arthur turned around and started walking towards the castle. Gwen slowly followed. Morgana and Merlin looked confused at each other.
"Come on!" Arthur almost growled. "And step away from my sister Merlin."
Merlin and Morgana followed the others. The walked in silence for several minutes before Arthur suddenly froze, and turned around quickly.
"Wait." He said the two sorcerers. "You've MAGIC?!"