Merlin entered his home with his head held low. The talk he just had with Will was not exactly what was expected. He trusted Will, thought of him as a brother, and then he selfishly suggested that Merlin should reveal his magic. Albeit, for the safety of his village and home, but that should be a last resort, one that Will, as the best friend he should have been, should not have advised until the very end- when he knew that nothing else would work to stop Kanen- not at the very beginning when they hadn't even tried anything different.
He hadn't expected to see Hunith and his friends in his home either. Arthur, Gwen and Morgana were sat around his table obviously discussing something of importance. None of them had noticed his appearance except from Hunith, who looked at him with a concerned expression. He plastered a fake smile onto his face and took off his boots and jacket. He wouldn't tell them of his and Will's fight, they already had enough to deal with, he didn't want them to fuss over him because of a stupid little misunderstanding between him and his old friend.
As he walked over to the table he heard Arthur debating over something with Morgana, who didn't seem impressed.
"Kanen's men could attack from any position. We need to get the woman and children out of here before Kanen decides to strike," Arthur assured while doing hand demonstrations onto the table. Morgana rolled her eyes, and Merlin could have guessed the debate must have been going on for as long as he was absent. He felt like head banging his head off the wall, he had promised both Gwen and Morgana he would talk to Arthur about this yesterday night, he must have forgotten when he was too busy doing Arthur's morning chores.
"The women want to stay and fight Arthur. We can hide the children away in safety while we're fighting." Morgana proclaimed as she leant forward onto her chair. It was then that she noticed Merlin had entered the room, she sighed in relief- now that Merlin was there, Arthur would finally see sense.
"Merlin," Gwen more than exclaimed, happy to have somebody around whom didn't argue with someone every two minutes. He gave her a little nod and pulled out a chair for himself, which unfortunately happened to be in between Arthur and Morgana- oh great.
"And where exactly have you been?" Arthur asked motioning his hands in the air, his expression showing obvious annoyance- probably from listening and arguing with Morgana for an extended period of time- or so Merlin assumed.
"Will said he isn't going to help tomorrow," Merlin stated, knowing that was all that needed saying. Both Morgana and Arthur's eyebrows rose in shock simultaneously. Arthur blinked and cleared his throat,
"I'm sorry Merlin." He apologised, "I know he's a good friend of yours," Arthur recalled, placing his hands together on the table. Merlin nodded his head. Even though he was heartbroken inside, he didn't show it. He spent no time grieving over his friend's disloyalty and pulled his chair in so as he could rest his arms on the table, there were greater things at stake- one being his mother's life. He pulled a straight face and turned to Arthur, determination in his eyes.
"So, what are we going to do?" He asked, looking around the table at everyone.
Morgana looked at Arthur with a knowing expression, expecting him to tell Merlin that they would escort the women and children to safety and suggest the exact opposite to what she said, yet he didn't. Instead he scratched at his chin and nodded to her, as if giving her the chance to take command. Morgana gave him a perplexed look, and so did Gwen- surely by now he understood that his and her plans were opposite, so why would he let Morgana speak her opinion? Morgana then realised that Arthur may have slowly come to agree with Morgana's suggestion. Nevertheless, she turned to Merlin, who was awaiting some sort of plan.
"There's no way we can defeat Kanen without fighting back," she commented, earning a nod from Hunith and Gwen. "So I say we fight back just as hard." Merlin breathed in slowly, looked like he would need some armour himself. He then turned when Arthur began to speak,
"I told the people that we would have a meeting here tonight at the barn. Tell them what is happening," Arthur added on earnestly. "We can't do this without them, and after Matthew's death I'm not sure they're as ready as what they once were."
"These people have never witnessed death before Arthur, back in Camelot; people are burned to the stake and killed nearly every day." Gwen admitted rather soulfully. "I'm sure Matthew's death was a horrible shock to them, in fact to us all, they've just lost a friend. It's normal for them to not be as optimistic as before."
Morgana briefly watched Merlin as Gwen spoke. He seemed so calm and composed to say what they had been through that day, she promised herself she would talk to him later about what really happened between him and Will.
"Yes, of course, you're right Guinevere." Arthur replied solemnly.
\\Merlin/
They were all stood by the door, putting on their jackets and coats getting ready to meet everyone at the barn. It had turned dark outside and that's when they arranged for the meeting. As Morgana slowly pulled her leather boots on, she turned to make sure Arthur was out of ear's reach, seeing him in the other corner- with Merlin tying the laces on his own boots- Morgana moved herself closer to Gwen. Gwen, who at the time was tying a belt around her shirt, looked up to her mistress and smiled politely.
"Gwen, if I asked you to do something for me without asking why, would you do it for me?" Morgana asked in a whisper, checking to see if Arthur or Merlin had heard.
"Of- Of course my lady, but-" Gwen muttered confused, her expression baffled and slightly concerned. Morgana felt like laughing, she didn't mean the request in any serious way, and by the way Gwen looked at her worryingly, she guessed Gwen must have thought it was. She smiled lightly and placed her hand on Gwen's shoulder,
"I just need you to distract Arthur, that's all," she affirmed nonchalantly before continuing fastening her other boot. Gwen's hard expression soon softened when she realised Morgana was in no serious situation, but she still watched her in curiosity. Sure she promised she wouldn't ask, but she was still interested as to why she would need to distract Arthur. Gwen turned to watch the boys in the corner, hoping to find any clues as to why Morgana would need Arthur to be distracted. And then her brain ticked, Merlin. She wanted to be alone with Merlin. Without realising, Gwen smiled to herself while finishing her belt, earning a baffled expression from Morgana.
"What's with the heart-warming smile?" Morgana asked, slightly insecure that she had done something wrong when fastening her boot. She looked it over and saw nothing wrong, making Gwen laugh quietly,
"Nothing, my lady." She dismissed, dare the thought of her even mentioning Merlin's name. Then Gwen made sure to quieten her voice before she spoke again, "so when is it I exactly need to distract Art-"
"Right about now," Morgana interrupted quickly as Arthur and Merlin walked over to them, ready to leave. She made it look as if she was searching for something, trying to make it look unobvious. "Gwen did I forget to bring a jacket with me? 'Cause I can't seem to find mine…" She then winked at Gwen subtly, because of course, she had brought a jacket- it was just all part of her plan. Gwen quickly caught on.
"Oh, I apologise, I thought I put it in your bag whe-"
"Nonsense," Arthur called out as he watched the two girls dilly-dally over their clothing. He then turned and punched Merlin in the arm, "I'm sure Merlin has a spare jacket you can use just for tonight." Merlin then half smiled at Arthur mockingly and then rubbed at his arm.
"S-sure, I'll just go and-"
"No that's fine, I'll get it myself," Morgana then stood up and looked to Arthur, "you can carry on," she then turned to Gwen too, "I'll only be a second." Giving her the hint that it was now that she wanted her to distract Arthur. Morgana then made her way to what she thought was Merlin's bedroom. Arthur then looked at Gwen with a frown before Gwen decided to get up herself,
"We can't be late," Gwen reminded, making Arthur hasten his movement and place his hand on the door knob. He then turned to Merlin,
"Merlin try and see if you can find a jacket for her and then join us at the barn." Arthur commanded before he held the door open for Gwen. Merlin nodded,
"Of course, sire." He assured before walking into his own bedroom.
…
Morgana entered Merlin's room with one eye closed. She expected it to be messy, much like every other male's bedroom in Camelot, but was surprised when she found it nearly spotless. Well, he is a servant. She opened her one closed eye and found herself looking around Merlin's bedroom. It wasn't anything like Arthur's back at home, but it had a cosy, warm feel about it. It was simple and not too decorative- though she would have had to have more pillows herself.
Not long after Merlin entered the room.
"Right, umm.." He said out loud as he placed his hands on his hips, he then walked over to the end of the bedroom to check through his wardrobe.
"Merlin," Morgana called, she thought it was obvious that she wanted to talk to him, maybe not then. He stopped looking through his wardrobe and poked his head around the door, his face showing a blithe expression. Morgana then decided to sit on his bed and pat the side next to her, suggesting that she wanted to talk. Merlin then threw one of the clothes he still had in his hand into the wardrobe and joined Morgana.
"You want to talk about Will," he clarified, earning a nod from her behalf. He breathed in and sighed. "There's not much to say really. He thinks that I'm endangering the village, believes that the only hope we have is my magic." He told her, his voice soft yet clear. Morgana watched him intently; saw how his hands couldn't stop fidgeting with his shirt.
"Magic isn't something you should have to hide," Morgana countered. Merlin then looked up to her, is she backing up Will? "But…" Morgana then added on. "I don't think it's the solution to this. Kanen may have his men, but so do we. I've seen the work of magic, seen what it's capable of. But is it really worth the risk of everyone knowing of your powers?" She asked him honestly. Merlin looked down,
"If it comes to a choice between saving people's lives and revealing who I really am," his sentence stopped as he thought for a second. He then turned to look at Morgana, watching her eyes stare right back at him closely, "then there is no choice."
"There's always a choice." Morgana recalled confidently, still looking into his eyes. "And besides," her tone in voice then become a lot lighter and more spirited, "you don't have to choose them yourself anymore." She admitted and then poked him in the rib, making him flap his arms in the air like an idiot, making her laugh. He huffed in annoyance- only because she so easily managed to find his weak spot- and stood up,
"We best get going," he stated. After she had stopped laughing Morgana stood up and made her way to the door with a smile on her face. Merlin then frowned, "hang on." He then took off his jacket and handed it her, "You weren't wrong when you said you don't have a jacket, take mine." Morgana looked at it with a raised eyebrow and then looked at Merlin.
"Well, aren't you the gentleman."
"Only for you," he joked as he then moved to open the door for her. As Merlin's back was briefly to her, Morgana swore she had blushed. Only for you. She knew it was just a joke but it didn't stop her from freezing and flushing slightly.
\\Merlin/
Merlin and Morgana both walked into the barn. Everybody was already there, both men and woman, staring at Arthur who was in the middle of the huddled group.
"After some agreement, I've come to the decision that the woman who wish to stay here can stay. If you want to fight, then you should have that right to- I'm not going to stop you. If you want to fight to defend, that's your choice. I'd be honoured to stand alongside you." He announced, earning many, many appreciative nods from many women in the whole group. Arthur continued, "However, there are children here. So we're going to need some people to gather whatever belongings they can carry and go to the woods with them. Not all of us can stay here."
Morgana looked to Arthur proudly, she knew it was a big thing for him to allow woman to also fight. He wanted as many people away from this village as he could, but it couldn't work like that, not when he needed people to stay and fight.
"I just want you to know you're not fighting because someone's ordering you to. You're fighting for so much more than that. You fight for your homes. You fight for your family. You fight for your friends. You fight for the right to grow crops in peace. And if you fall, you fall fighting for the noblest of causes: fighting for your very right to survive! And when you're old and grey, you'll look back on this day, and you'll know you earned the right to live every day in between! So you fight! For your family! For your friends!" Arthur said, every single word expressed with true meaning and purpose.
"For Ealdor!" Morgana yelled, raising her arm up. Many of the townsfolk followed her actions and not long after the entire village was soon chanting 'for Ealdor'. Merlin smiled at Morgana,
"For Ealdor!" He yelled at the top of his voice.
\\Merlin/
Merlin awoke bright and early. He smacked his lips together realising he was in need of a drink.
"Finally awake, Merlin." He heard somebody call from beside him. Merlin's brow furrowed as he turned up from the floor, only to see an up and ready Arthur dressing himself. Dressing himself. Merlin nearly fell out of the bed it was that much of a shock.
"Ar-Arthur, you're dressing yourself!" Merlin exclaimed as he climbed out of bed and stared gawkily at Arthur, still too shocked to move. Is this a dream? Arthur looked at him with raised eye brows before he scoffed.
"I'm Prince of Camelot," he exclaimed with a hurt expression that soon turned into an annoyed one. He turned around on the spot to find something to chuck at him, 'something' being a helmet.
"Ow," Merlin cried in pain before instantly rubbing at his head soothingly. Merlin then huffed and made his way to get his armour that Gwen managed to collect from Camelot.
After a few minutes Merlin had managed to quickly dress himself into his armour- thanks to the many practises with Arthur back at Camelot, he could dress in literally seconds.
"Whatever happens out there today, please don't think any differently of me," Merlin said, his tone serious as he looked up from the buckles he was fastening. Arthur looked up from his own chainmail and observed Merlin, how nervous and anxious he appeared.
"I won't. It's alright to be scared, Merlin." Arthur replied light-heartedly while he pat him on the back. Merlin shook his head,
"That's not what I meant."
Arthur grabbed the sword from his bed and sheathed it into his holder.
"What is it?" He asked as he tightened the fastening on his own buckle. He turned around to look at Merlin properly. Merlin noticed how calm his face was to say he was going into battle, perhaps it's just me then. "If you've got something to say, now's the time to say it." Merlin had to bite onto his tongue from saying something he knew he would regret.
"Arthur," Morgana entered the room hurriedly, her voice nervous. "They've crossed the river." Both Merlin and Arthur looked at each other simultaneously and then swiftly grabbed their weapons and ran out the door. Merlin gave Morgana a little smirk before he moved past her.
So the next chapter will have LOADS of action. I hopefully plenty a Mergana teamwork. Yey. I think that will be the last chapter for this episode. So stay tuned (wow that sounds cheesy). And thank you for the alert. I'm three away from one hundred :o Oh my life, I can't believe it, THANK YOU SO MUCH
And to answer your question Esther. I think the song 'Little Lion Man' by Mumford and sons and also 'Lanfill' by Daughter, really suit Mergana. The lyrics just FIT. So I hope they're good for you :)