The Sins of the Father

Uther nodded, withdrawing his sword as he finished knighting the latest additions to Camelot's forces, "Arise Sir Vidor, Knight of Camelot. Arise Sir Caradoc, Knight of Camelot. You have been accorded a great honor. But with that honor comes great responsibility. From this day forth, you are sworn to live by the knights' code. You have pledged to conduct yourselves with nobility, honor, and respect. Your word is your sacred bond. You will find no one who better embodies these values than my son, Arthur," he gestured proudly at his son, "Follow his example, and you will prove yourselves worthy of your title."

Suddenly there was a crash against the doors, the sounds of fighting beyond reaching them. The knights drew their swords as the doors burst open and a knight entered, walking right up to them, stopping only to throw their gauntlet down at Arthur's feet.

Arthur, having learned what would happen with his peers from the Black Knight, picked it up quickly, "I accept your challenge. If I'm to face you in combat, do me the courtesy of revealing your identity."

The knight reached up and pulled the helmet off to reveal a woman with long blonde hair and dark brown eyes, "My name...is Morgause."

~8~

Needless to say, Uther had not been pleased to discover a woman had challenged his son to a duel to the death, Arthur hadn't been thrilled either to have to fight a woman, though Marayna remarked women were just as capable and to not underestimate Morgause, reminding him of Urry.

Marayna was currently helping Gwen put some flowers Merlin had picked for Morgana in a vase, both of them knowing it was best for her to deliver flowers as a few people were already suspicious of Morgana and Merlin's relationship. It was more...the small walks they'd take in the market, how freely they smiled at each other and walked beside each other. They tried to make it seem like Arthur's servant was merely...attending to her while Gwen was busy, but it never quite came across like that.

"Who is she?" Gwen wondered as Morgana watched Morgause practice out her window.

"Why would she challenge Arthur is what I want to know?" Marayna commented.

Gwen shrugged, "It seems no one's ever heard of her."

"I feel as if I've met her somewhere before," Morgana murmured.

Marayna frowned, "You have?"

"Where could you know her from?" Gwen asked.

"I don't know," Morgana sighed and turned around, "I feel like when I first met you Rayna, I just...knew ...not from a dream."

~8~

"Do you know why she challenged you?" Merlin asked as he cleaned Arthur's room, the prince watching Morgause out his window much like Morgana was.

"I'm the King's son," he replied, "Perhaps she believed she will prove herself."

"Yeah, but you don't want to fight her, do you? Because of what happened to Aya?"

Arthur sighed, "I have no choice. If I refuse to fight her, I'm a coward. If I kill her, what am I then? What would Mara think of me?" he looked at Merlin to see him staring at him, "What is it?"

"You've never faced a woman in combat. What if you hesitate?"

"Then she'll do what any warrior would," Marayna answered, walking into the room, "She'll use that to her advantage and kill him."

Arthur rolled his eyes, "I'm so pleased to hear that you both think she's going to defeat me."

"I defeated Urry," Marayna shrugged, going to change the sheets on Arthur's bed.

"We're just saying," Merlin rolled his eyes at his sister, "You need to be cautious, because it sounds like she's pretty handy with a sword."

"Since when do you know anything about combat?" Arthur scoffed, before looking at his servants, "I need you to take a message to Morgause for me. If I'm seen to do it, it could be viewed as cowardice. You must persuade her to withdraw her challenge."

~8~

Merlin and Marayna knocked and stepped into Morgause's chambers, only for the woman to whirl around, pointing a sword at them, "What do you want?" she demanded.

"We have a message from Prince Arthur," Merlin began, "He wants you to withdraw your challenge. Arthur has no desire to fight you. Now, if you withdraw, he will grant you safe passage through the kingdom. Leave now, while you still can."

"If Arthur has no desire to fight me, perhaps he should withdraw."

"As though he'd ever," Marayna rolled his eyes, "It's not in him to withdraw, he'd rather fight an immortal wraith that can't die in a duel to the death than withdraw."

Morgause smirked, "Then we have that in common."

"If you fight him, he will have to treat you as he does any other opponent," Merlin got back to the point, "It won't matter that you're a woman."

"I do not ask for special treatment."

"What I want to know," Marayna cut in, "Is that...Arthur has no quarrel with you, so why would you challenge him?"

"My reasons are not your concern."

"Don't put Arthur in a position where he's forced to kill you," Merlin half-pleaded.

"Who's to say Arthur's life won't rest in my hands?" Morgause countered.

'I told you so,' Marayna laughed as she and Merlin left.

~8~

The next morning, Merlin and Marayna prepared Arthur for the fight, "You gave her a chance to withdraw," Merlin reminded him, "Whatever happens, you are not to blame."

"Please don't underestimate her," Marayna added, "Believe me, she WILL use it against you."

Arthur rolled his eyes, "I have fought before Mara, I'll be fine."

But still, just before he passed her, he gave her a small kiss on the forehead, and turned to enter the tournament grounds where Morgause was already waiting.

"The fight is by the Knights' Rules," Uther called to the crowd that had gathered, "And to the death."

"I'm offering you a final chance to withdraw," Arthur turned to her, "I suggest you take it," Morgause just readied her sword, "Then you leave me no choice," he sighed, readying himself as well.

They ran at each other, fighting hard, till Arthur managed to cut Morgause's arm, making her drop her sword. He paused, only a moment, but it was long enough for her to pick it up once more and run at him. The fight continued until Morgause got the upper hand, disarming him and pressing her sword to his chest, "Make me a promise and I will spare your life."

"What is it you ask?" he looked up at her from the sword.

"Come to me three days hence and accept the challenge I set to you."

Arthur frowned at that, unsure, "And the nature of this challenge? "

"That is for me to decide," she pressed the tip of the sword more firmly to his chest, "Do I have your word that you will accept, no matter what?"

Arthur nodded, "You have my word."

~8~

Marayna smirked as she and Merlin watched Arthur brood in his room after the fight, Morgause's arm being tended to by Gaius, "I DID tell you not to hesitate," Marayna half-sang.

"It could've been worse," Merlin shrugged.

Arthur looked at him, incredulous, "How, exactly, could it have been worse?"

"You could be dead," Marayna deadpanned.

"At least I wouldn't have to face everyone. I've never felt so humiliated in my entire life. I was defeated by a girl."

"It's actually quite funny when you think about it," Merlin laughed, till Arthur glared at him, "Or not."

"No. It's like you said. I was hindered because I was fighting a woman. I was worried I was going to hurt her," he nodded, "That's why she won."

"You didn't look hindered," another glare and Merlin winced, "I'll stop talking now."

"I won't," Marayna laughed, "Didn't Morgana used to beat you all the time when you were younger?" he threw her a nasty glare, "Oh lighten up Artie or your face will get stuck like that."

Arthur just rolled his eyes and turned to continue brooding.

~8~

Marayna accompanied Morgana as she went to visit Morgause, both women curious about her, though Morgana seemed concerned as well for some reason. Marayna well...something just didn't sit right with her so she thought it best if she went with the woman just to be safe. She...didn't trust Morgause much and she didn't trust the woman around someone like Morgana, someone so important to so many people, alone.

"I didn't mean to intrude," Morgana called as Morgause opened the door after she'd knocked, "I wanted to introduce myself. I'm the Lady Morgana and this is Prince Arthur's maidservant, Marayna."

"I know who you are," Morgause nodded, stepping back to let them in, though looking irritated with Marayna's presence.

"How is your arm?" her gaze flickered to the bandage tied around the blonde's arm, "You were wounded."

"It'll heal soon enough," she eyed Morgana, "You look tired."

"Do I?" Morgana blinked, glancing at her reflection in Morgause's mirror, she looked just fine. She looked better than she had that time two years ago, when the nightmares had been haunting her and keeping her up. She'd looked wretched then, but she looked...healthy now, rested, happy.

"Have you been...having trouble sleeping?" Morgause wondered.

Marayna frowned at that, while most in the castle knew of Morgana's nightmares, not many others did, and that was not something that was spread around. So why would Morgause ask something like that, unless...she knew something ELSE about it.

"Not at all," Morgana smiled, a faint blush on her cheeks that made Marayna smile to see, knowing the cause of Morgana's rest was her brother, "Might I ask...have we met somewhere before?"

Morgause shook her head, "I'm glad we have met now."

"That's a beautiful bracelet," Morgana looked down at it after a moment of awkward silence, noticing it on Morgause's injured arm.

"It was a gift. From my mother," she glanced at Morgana, before sliding it off and holding it out, "Please, I would like you to have it. It's a healing bracelet. It will help your sleep remain peaceful."

Marayna's smile faded again, why would a woman give up such a treasured gift to a complete stranger? Something like that, something that came from her mother...it had to have been important to her. Not to mention, why was she so focused on Morgana's sleep? It was getting to be a bit much for her, she KNEW something was wrong, that Morgause knew more than she let on. But...it seemed Morgana hadn't noticed, seeming still focused on how she might know Morgause, that small...connection she'd seen between the two women.

"Oh I believe my sleep will always be peaceful," Morgana smiled lightly, "And I could never take such a treasured keepsake..."

"You must be tired though," Marayna spoke up to Morgause, glancing at the bracelet with a frown, there was something about that as well that bothered her, "We should let you rest."

Morgana nodded, "Yes, rest well."

"And you," Morgause nodded, watching them leave, her face falling into an irritated scowl as she slipped her bracelet back on.

~8~

Later that night Morgause frowned as she stood at the foot of Morgana's bed, seeing her, her SISTER, sleeping nestled in the arms of a servant, Arthur's servant. Peaceful as ever. That wouldn't do, not at all. She needed Morgana to wear the bracelet, she looked down at it, taking it off and staring at it, her eyes flashing gold before she put it on the bedside table near Morgana's head. Smirking before she turned to leave.

~8~

Morgana yawned as she awoke, the sun's light streaming through her windows. She'd taken to asking Gwen not to draw them at night, she liked that, waking to the sun, the warmth of it. She looked over at Merlin, sleeping still and smiled, he was adorable when he slept. His head turned partially to face her, she noticed he always did that in his sleep, either touched her or faced her, always aware of her even in slumber. It warmed her heart more than she could say. She got up and moved to the window, looking out to see Morgause leaving, riding out on her horse as Arthur made his way back into the castle, having seen her off. She sighed, knowing she should wake Merlin before Arthur came looking.

But, as she turned, something beside her bed caught her gaze. She frowned, walking over to the small table to see that the bracelet Morgause had offered was sitting there. She stared at it, feeling the odd desire to put it on, just about to when...

"Gana?" Merlin called, bleary with sleep and squinting at the bracelet, "What is that?"

"It's a gift from Morgause," she smiled, about to put it on when Merlin reached up and stopped her.

"Wait," he took it gently from her, eyeing it with a frown, "There's something..." he frowned, feeling the same thing that Marayna had, "Acýðan drýcræft," he breathed.

Morgana's eyes widened, seeing the bracelet glow red. She knew what that spell was, it was one to reveal if something was enchanted. After Marayna had been struck by that arrow...Merlin had gone mad trying to find something to help them be aware of dangers like that. It seemed like the bracelet was enchanted!

"Oh my God," Morgana gasped, she'd nearly come close to falling under it!

"Gana, I'm sorry but..." Merlin sighed, "I don't know what enchantment it is or how to break it..."

"We need to get rid of it," Morgana cut in, a pit forming in her stomach. It was a lovely bracelet, but...that enchantment, the other objects she'd come across that were enchanted...they were never good and the fact that Morgause had been so adamant that she have it, wear it...Morgause had to have known.

She couldn't trust the woman or the bracelet.

Merlin nodded, "I'll get Aya and we'll take care of it," he got up, kissing her quickly, "I'm sorry."

"I'm not," she kissed him again, her hand curling in his tunic, "Thank you for stopping me, I don't even want to know what could have..."

He kissed her once more, "I'll never let anything happen to you Gana."

She smiled, "I know. Go find your sister, I want that thing gone."

He nodded and dashed out, Morgana breathing easier the farther it was from her.

~8~

Merlin and Marayna smiled as they made their way to Arthur's chambers. They'd taken the bracelet to the Dragon, who explained a compulsion charm had been placed on the bracelet, something that made the holder want to wear it without question, but that it was also full of darker intentions, manipulative magic. He gladly disposed of it, knowing that the two were trying their hardest to keep the Lady Morgana on the path of good and...actually starting to find himself wanting it to be so as well, the girl herself was proving to be much more determined than he'd given her credit for, but then again...he was quite biased against her due to her family.

They paused though, spotting guards outside the door and entered, "Why are the guards outside the door?" Merlin pointed back at it.

"My father has confined me to my chambers and has forbidden me from accepting Morgause's challenge," Arthur grumbled.

"The one about meeting her somewhere?" Marayna asked, before scoffing, "I don't see why you don't just disobey him, you've done it before."

"You should know a proper son never disobeys his father without just cause," he recited.

Marayna shrugged, "Never had a father, so I wouldn't know."

Merlin winced, he'd always been touchy on that subject of their wayward father and quickly changed it, "Well, maybe he's got a point. You...you don't know what she might've asked you to do."

He doubted it would have been good though, given what Morgause had nearly done to Morgana without the girl knowing. He could just imagine that Morgause had some evil plot in mind. He really tried not to fall to Uther's way of thinking, in assuming anyone with magic was evil, he and his sister and Morgana were proof that Uther was wrong, but...he could admit there were times where he just...couldn't help but think the worst in someone. But he had a good reason this time, she'd nearly corrupted Morgana with that bracelet of hers if he hadn't stopped her. He just...he doubted Morgause was honorable at all if she was willing to resort to enchantments.

"I gave her my word," Arthur shook his head.

"Well then, seems you've found your 'just cause,'" Marayna smirked, "Wasn't Uther just going on the other night about how your word is your sacred bond and so on and so on and how you were the best example to live up to?" she gave him a look, "He can hardly call you that if you break it now."

"So I take it we're going anyway," Merlin sighed, not understanding why his sister was so eager to let Arthur see Morgause after what the woman had done to Morgana.

'Because I'd like to know why,' he heard her in his mind, her having caught his thoughts, 'I want to know what grudge she has against Arthur and Morgana that she couldn't go right for Uther with. She has magic, she could have easily thrown the gauntlet at Uther and used magic to help her beat him. Why choose THIS method?'

"Gather some supplies," Arthur nodded, cutting into their thoughts, "We leave tonight. Oh, and...find a way to get me out of here."

"Well done Artie," Marayna smiled as she and Merlin headed for the door.

"Well done what?" he frowned.

She just smirked back at him, "Letting US work out a way to get you out? Letting servants come up with the plan...you're learning."

Arthur rolled his eyes, "Get on with it."

~8~

"How's Arthur?" Gaius wondered as they ate dinner that night.

"You mean after being defeated by a girl in front of the whole of Camelot?" Marayna snorted, "He's just tickled."

"We've seen him happier," Merlin shrugged.

"I think you're enjoying this," Gaius commented.

"Maybe a little."

"More like a lot," Marayna laughed.

They glanced over seeing a rope in the corner, 'You or me?' Merlin called to her.

'I can't hide it under my clothes since Arthur made me wear dresses,' she reminded him, 'Unless you'd like me to wrap it around my legs and hike up my skirts in front of Arthur to get them off...'

'I'LL get it,' Merlin grimaced.

'And I'll distract uncle,' she agreed, getting up to take her plate for washing, "Do you need any help with your potion Uncle?" she nodded at the small pestle and mortar beside him.

"Thank you dear," he nodded, holding a bowl out for her to grind, her moving to his side to ask questions about it as Merlin wandered behind them and quickly wrapped the rope around his stomach, pulling his shirt over it.

~8~

Merlin and Marayna entered Arthur's chambers to see him ready and dressed in chainmail, "We got the supplies," Merlin called.

"Merlin," Arthur eyed him, "Is it my imagination, or are you getting fat?"

Marayna rolled her eyes and lifted her brother's shirt to reveal the rope, "We're going to lower you out the window," she explained, helping her brother unwind it and secure it around him and Arthur, the prince moving to climb out the window.

"Are you sure you're strong enough to hold me?" Arthur looked at them.

"Yeah," Merlin nodded, "I'm stronger than I look."

"And there's two of us," Marayna reminded him.

Arthur sighed and turned, lowering himself out the window, managing to slide halfway down the side of the castle, "What are you doing?" he called when the rope stopped, "Lower the rope!"

"There's no more rope!" Marayna hissed.

"I don't know if we can hold on much longer!" Merlin added.

"Merlin, Mara, do not let go of the ro..." he shouted up.

Marayna rolled her eyes at the order and let go, Merlin being forced to as well...Arthur falling face first into a pile of dung just below the window.

~8~

"Which way?" Merlin looked around as he rode through the woods, Marayna behind him on Bartok, the two of them following Arthur, "Do you actually know where we're going?"

"It's this way," Arthur nodded, "Come on," he tried to turn the horse left, but it just stood there, "What is wrong with this horse?" before going to the right, "It's even dumber than you, Merlin!"

"Um...care to explain where you're headed?" Marayna frowned, watching the horse trot on.

"It's not me! It's the horse! Morgause told me, 'when the time comes, you'll know your way.'"

"So the horse knows where we're going," Merlin deadpanned.

"Wonderful," Marayna sighed, the horse was probably enchanted too...so that was Morgause's niche then, enchantments?

"What if Morgause challenges you to do something you don't want to do?" Merlin wondered.

"I'm not expecting it to be easy, Merlin," Arthur rolled his eyes, "That's why it's called a challenge."

"So you'd do anything she asks of you?"

"I gave her my word. It's a question of honor."

"What if she challenges you to do something even less honorable than breaking your word?"

"Like what?" he scoffed.

"Like kill someone in cold blood," Marayna remarked dryly, "What if she challenges you to kill Merlin? Or me?"

Arthur shifted, not willing to admit he hadn't considered that possibility, but...why make him do that? What would that serve for him to kill his servants? He swallowed, he'd just have to hope that wasn't the case, "Will you stop rabbitting on? We're in Odin's territory. We could be attacked at any second."

"We just think it's strange to agree to do something when you don't know what it is," Merlin remarked.

"One more word out of either of you and you'll be taking the challenge in my place."

Suddenly the siblings were shoved off their horse when a small group of men, bandits, leapt out from behind the trees, attacking them. They rolled over to see Arthur leaping off his horse to help defend them, attacking the men back.

"Gar onbærne!" Merlin hissed, throwing out a hand to trip one of the men.

"Forbearn..." Marayna gasped, focusing on another man, burning his hand to drop his sword so Arthur could stop him, the two of them flopping back onto the ground when they saw the last man fall.

"Don't worry," Arthur rolled his eyes at them, still on the ground, as he finished off the men, "I'll deal with this, you lie there, make yourselves comfortable."

"Don't mind if I do," Marayna smirked, putting her arms behind her head and crossing her outstretched legs.

"Maybe we should turn back," Merlin remarked, turning to help pull his sister to her feet even as she mock-groaned at it, "The woods could be full of Odin's men."

"You can go back if you want to, I won't stop you," Arthur told them.

"You don't know anything about Morgause!" Merlin nearly snapped, he just...he didn't want to deal with Morgause, finding out what she'd done to Morgana's bracelet had put him in a foul mood and he knew...seeing the woman would be hard for him to bear, to stand there and not lunge for her, he didn't want to see her, "You don't know what she's gonna ask you to do! We don't even know where we're going, we're following a horse!"

"Arthur..." Marayna hesitated, eyeing the prince closely, "There's something else going on here. What...what did she say to you that's making you so determined to find her?"

Arthur sighed, he should have expected that Marayna would notice that, "She said she knew my mother."

The siblings straightened and glanced at each other...now it all made sense.

~8~

Merlin and Arthur sat at a campfire that night, Marayna asleep on a small blanket, her back to the fire, beside them.

"What was your mother like?" Merlin asked as they sat in silence.

"I never knew her. She died before I opened my eyes."

"I'm sorry."

"I barely know anything about her."

"Can't you ask your father?"

"He refuses to talk about her," Arthur shrugged, "It must be too painful for him. Sometimes it's as if she never even existed. I still have a sense of her. Almost as though she's...part of me."

Merlin nodded, looking at the fire,"That's the same with my father," he sighed, "I never knew him. And my mother's barely spoken of him. I've got this...vague memory. It's probably just my imagination. Of his face," he sighed, "Aya hasn't even got that. I think...he might have been there when I was a baby, but before she was born."

"I'd do anything for even the vaguest memory."

"Marayna would too," he glanced over at his sister as she slept, "She doesn't even have that either."

Arthur looked over his shoulder at the woman, smiling sadly, they were the same in that sense. He imagined it might be harder for her, growing up, with her brother able to have a stirring of memory and her with nothing

"Is that why you're so determined to find Morgause? To see what she knows about your mother?"

"Is that so wrong?" Arthur looked back at him.

"No," he sighed, "Aya and I...we'd give anything just to know his name."

Arthur nodded, "I should get some rest."

Merlin poked the fire before turning to see Arthur lie down beside Marayna. He watched the prince lying there, rigid on his back, staring up at the stars...before he turned his head to glance at Marayna, hesitating before tentatively turning on his side and reaching out to hold her in his arms as they slept. He smiled softly at that, unable and unwilling to say anything about the action to the prince, he was as guilty of doing that with Morgana so it wouldn't be fair of him to chastise the prince or his sister for doing the same. And...he knew Arthur had a larger sense of propriety than Morgana did in the sense he knew he was more closely watched. Arthur didn't have the chance to spend time like that, intimate moments with Marayna as often as he did with Morgana...he would not begrudge the prince a moment like this. So he turned back to the fire, keeping watch, it wasn't like he was going to get any sleep anyway. He never seemed able to sleep well anymore without Morgana in his arms.

He looked at the stars, he missed Morgana, but he smiled as he looked at the moon. It was something Morgana had mentioned to him once, when they'd been separated while she'd gone to Nemeth, that if he missed her he should look at the moon. Because no matter where she was, she'd be able to see it too, and they'd be closer for having the same object in sight.

~8~

The horses paused the next morning at the edge of a lake with a waterfall to the side of it, "Has your horse got anymore directions for us?" Marayna remarked.

But the horse just walked on to the water, "Now where's he going?" Arthur asked.

"I think you're going to get wet," Merlin smirked.

"You don't say," Arthur grumbled as the horse led him for the waterfall.

"Arthur?" he called, seeing the horse disappear though it, not visible at all from their side.

"Come on," Marayna nudged her horse to follow, her and Merlin making their way through the waters as well. There was a tunnel behind the waterfall that led them out to a wooded area, a castle just a short distance away, "Where are we?" she frowned, hopping off her horse as the boys did the same.

"I don't know," Arthur sighed.

"If we weren't sure Morgause was a sorcerer before, we can be certain of it now," Merlin remarked.

"That must've been how she defeated me!" Arthur saw an excuse and clung to it, "She was using magic!"

"Or because women are just better than men at everything in general?" Marayna supplied.

"It didn't look like she was," Merlin had to agree.

"And what would you know about magic?" Arthur glanced at them.

"Nothing," Merlin smirked innocently as they walked towards the castle to see an empty courtyard with a block of wood and an axe beside it.

"Now what?" Arthur looked around.

"Maybe we should ask the horse," Marayna joked.

"Well, there's no one here," Merlin huffed.

"You kept your promise," Morgause spoke behind them, making them spin around to see her standing there in a dark red/maroon dress that made Marayna shift at how similar it was to Nimueh's.

"What is the nature of the challenge you wish to set me?" Arthur got right to the point of their quest.

"Place your head on the block," she gestured to it, picking up the axe, her intentions clear, "You gave me your word that you would do anything I asked."

"Arthur, don't," Marayna breathed, alarmed, stiffening beside him.

But Arthur just knelt to do so.

"What are you doing?!" Merlin shouted, trying to hold his sister back so she wouldn't get hurt in trying to stop him. If he had to choose, the prince or his sister...honestly, who did the world think he'd pick? His sister, every time.

"Stay out of this, Merlin!" Arthur snapped, lying his head down.

Morgause lifted the axe and swung it at Arthur, Marayna's eyes starting to flash, ready to throw Morgause away and expose herself...only for her to stop an inch from his neck and put it down, "You have shown that you are truly a man of your word, Arthur Pendragon, and for that I will grant you one wish. Tell me what it is that your heart most desires."

Arthur looked at her as he stood, "You said you knew my mother. Tell me all that you know about her."

"Perhaps you would like to see her?"

Arthur blinked, stunned at that, the possible offer behind her words. He...was fairly certain that she was a sorceress, and he was trying very hard to judge each sorcerer he met by their merit and actions and...if she was offering him this...perhaps it meant she was one of the good ones, "...I want that more than anything."

She nodded, smiling, "As you wish," she turned and led them through a small archway, to another courtyard where a small altar had been set up. The three watched as she moved up to it, preparing a spell.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Marayna whispered to him, putting a hand on his arm, this entire thing wasn't sitting right with her.

"If either of you were granted the same opportunity, would you not want to meet your father?" he looked at them.

"Uther won't forgive you if he finds out you've collaborated with a sorcerer," Merlin remarked.

Arthur swallowed, "I've begun to think my father's attitude to magic is wrong."

Marayna gave a small smile at that, "You really do think that don't you?" there had been so many times where Arthur seemed to think a sorcerer was evil, but...there WERE times he thought things through and judged what was happening based on circumstances. It...gave them both so much hope that he was going to be a better king than Uther was.

"It's not as simple as he would have us believe," he agreed, "Morgause is a sorcerer, she has caused us no harm. I do not believe everyone who practices magic can be evil."

"We don't actually know why she's doing this though," Merlin had to remind them.

"It is time," Morgause called, turning to them, "Close your eyes," Arthur did so and Morgause whispered, "Arásae mid min miclan mihte þín suna to helpe. Hider eft funde on þisse ne middangeard þín suna w'æs."

"Arthur," a woman's voice breathed.

Arthur opened his eyes to see a young blonde woman standing before him. She was pale, in a golden dress, a thin woman with...with his hair and his eyes and his smile...just as Marayna had said when she'd been poisoned. Marayna stared at the woman as well, recalling seeing the woman before though...she wasn't quite happy about the when. She had been trying very, VERY hard to trick herself into thinking she hadn't actually died when she'd been poisoned, that the image she'd seen had just been...Arthur cross dressing or something, some hallucination for her to be entertained by on the brink of death...to be confronted by this woman and know she really HAD seen Arthur's mother...it was disconcerting.

"Arthur!" the woman beamed.

"Mother?" Arthur's voice shook.

"My son," Ygraine ran over, hugging him tightly, tears in her eyes, "When I last held you, you were a tiny baby. I remember your eyes. You were staring up at me. Those few seconds I held you were the most precious of my life."

"I'm so sorry," Arthur murmured in her ear.

Merlin though, looked at Marayna, 'Uther told him that Ygraine died BEFORE he opened his eyes...' he whispered in his sister's mind.

'Maybe...he lied?' Marayna frowned, knowing what it would mean if Uther had told the truth. It was such an intimate, private moment...there was no way Morgause would know what had happened in that moment that Ygraine died, no one but Uther did, no one but he knew when she'd died. If...if the spirit of Ygraine really WAS talking...she'd have known she'd died before he looked at her.

If she was claiming she saw his eyes...maybe...it wasn't actually her but just...someone else using her to speak.

And if Arthur found out about that...they truly feared for what it would mean of his views of good and evil in magic, that someone would do this to him using his mother's own image against him.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Ygraine told him, pulling back to look him in the eye, showing how much she believed her words.

"It was my birth that caused you to die."

"No, you are not to blame."

"I cannot bear the thought that you died because of me," Arthur's voice broke.

"A true mother would gladly and willingly die for their child," Marayna whispered from behind them, Merlin putting an arm around her shoulders in comfort, knowing where her mind had gone.

"She is very wise Arthur," Ygraine smiled at her before looking at her son, "Your heart has chosen well."

"That's Mara, uh, Marayna," he blushed a bit, though he could feel his heart soar at the thought that his mother approved of her, "Her bother Merlin. My servants."

"But much more than that," Ygraine smiled knowingly, "I have been watching you Arthur always, from the moment I left his Earth."

He winced, closing his eyes, reminded of that, "I'm so sorry mother..."

"It was NOT your fault," she put her hand on his cheek, Arthur pressing it there with his hand, "It is your father who should carry the guilt for what happened."

Arthur's eyes snapped open, taking her hand from him to hold it tightly as Merlin and Marayna exchanged a tense look behind him, not liking the direction this was going, "What do you mean?"

"It is not important," Ygraine tried to brush it off, "What matters is that you lived."

"Why should my father feel guilty?" he started shaking, thinking back to what Marayna had said about his mother's birthing room what felt like years ago. Everything she'd told him then about how his mother had died...it had made it seem like it was Nimueh's choice to end his mother's life but...his mother was implying it went deeper than that.

Had...had his FATHER known she would die? Had he known Nimueh would choose his mother? Had he known it would be her that died?!

"It is better left in the past."

"You cannot leave me with more questions," Arthur shook his head, "Please."

Ygraine sighed but nodded to his request, "Your father...he was desperate for an heir. Without a son, the Pendragon dynasty would come to an end. But I could not conceive."

Marayna winced, Merlin squeezing her tightly.

"How was I born? Tell me."

"Your father betrayed me. He went to the sorceress Nimueh and asked for her help in conceiving a child. You were born of magic and it came with a price he was all too willing to pay."

Arthur shook his head, "That's not true," he knew about the magic...but...she was saying his father...he HAD known.

"I'm sorry, Arthur. Your father has deceived you as he deceived me. To create a life, a life must be taken. Your father...he knew that."

"No..."

"He sacrificed my life so the Pendragon dynasty could continue," she looked at Arthur, love shining in her eyes, "But it makes you no less my son, nor me any less proud of you. Now I see you, I would have given my life willingly. Do not let this knowledge change you," she smiled, before slowly fading away, "I love you so much, my son."

"No!" Arthur reached out for her but she was gone. He spun to Morgause, "Bring her back!"

"I cannot," she remarked sadly, "Once the doorway is closed, it is closed forever. I am truly sorry that you learnt of your mother's fate in this way. I can only imagine how it must feel to discover your father is responsible for her death. It is an unforgivable betrayal," she turned to leave.

"Are you alright?" Merlin asked Arthur, seeing him shaking.

"...Arthur?" Marayna frowned, all too aware of what the expression on his face meant.

"Fetch the horses," he ordered, his voice trembling in anger, "We're returning to Camelot!"

~8~

The horses trotted into Camelot, Arthur immediately dismounting and grabbing his sword as he headed up the steps into the cast.

"What is he going to do?" Merlin eyed him warily.

"Arthur!" Marayna shouted, running after him, just KNOWING what he was going to do, she'd...never seen Arthur that angry before, and she knew it, from when she'd told him about the birthing room, the anger festering, the...hatred...she knew exactly what he was about to do, 'He's going to kill Uther!' she told him.

"Merlin," Gaius called, rushing up to his nephew as he spotted him on his way back to his chambers, "I'm relieved to see you're safe. Where's Arthur and Rayna?"

"Arthur was born of magic," Merlin turned to him, urgent, "Wasn't he? Uther used magic."

"Did your sister tell you..."

"She knew?" he gaped.

"Yes," Gaius nodded, not surprised that Marayna hadn't told him, it was...FAR too personal and the less who knew the better, "And yes he was."

"All those people Uther's executed...he's as guilty as they are," Merlin shook his head, "He sacrificed Arthur's mother! He as good as murdered her! People should know the truth about what he's done. How could you not tell me? How could you tell Aya and not me?"

"She found out on her own," he sighed, "That room you cleaned..."

Merlin nodded, realizing what had happened. He just...he thought she'd let it go, he hadn't thought she'd found out who the woman was, but now, knowing who it was...it made sense.

"I feared what Arthur would do if he ever found out..."

"Oh, he's found out now," Merlin nodded running after his sister, realizing she was right...Arthur was going to kill the king!

~8~

Uther looked up when the doors to the Main Hall were shoved open and Arthur entered, "Arthur!" Uther let out a breath of relief, "Where have you been? I have had search parties out looking for you," but Arthur just glared at him, panting, "Arthur?"

"I know...what you did to my mother!" Arthur spat.

"Leave us," Uther ordered Leon, who he'd been speaking with when Arthur entered, "No one is to enter."

Leon moved to close the doors, but Marayna had already ducked inside, hiding behind a pillar before the men could see her.

"What are you talking about?" Uther asked.

"You were so desperate for an heir, you were prepared to use magic!" Arthur glared.

"Did Morgause tell you this? She's lying."

"Morgause only told me that you KNEW!" Arthur pointed an accusing finger at him, "You KNEW it would be her that would die! ANd now she's dead, my mother is dead, because of your selfishness and arrogance. Her blood is on your hands!"

He knew about the magic, Marayna had told him, and she'd been so new then, she'd had no reason to lie to him, he could see it in her face and hear it in her words, she was telling him the truth. But he'd thought his father hadn't had a hand in WHO was chosen, but that Nimueh had done it behind his back. Now...now he knew that Uther had been aware the entire time, he'd been prepared to sacrifice his mother to have a son.

"No," Uther shook his head, "That's not true. But Morgause would have you believe that."

"This is what fuels your hatred for those who practice magic? Rather than blame yourself for what you did, you blame them."

"You would believe a sorcerer's lies over the word of your own father?" Uther scoffed, "I can only think that Morgause has enchanted you."

Arthur stormed towards his father, disgusted at how he wasn't LISTENING. The second he started to think for himself, his father cried enchantment! Was it THAT deeply ingrained in his mind that everything even slightly out of the ordinary was magic-related?! How had he not seen just how paranoid his father truly was?

"You hunted her kind like animals! How many hundreds have you condemned to death to ease your guilt?" Arthur could hardly breathe, it was JUST like Marayna had shouted at him, how many had died who were innocent? How many had died merely for being born a Druid?

"Those who practice magic will stop at nothing to destroy us!" Uther insisted, "I have only done what is necessary to protect this kingdom!"

"You speak of honor and nobility! You're nothing but a hypocrite and a liar!"

"I am your king, and your father," Uther glared at his son, "You will show me some respect!"

Arthur pulled his gauntlet off and threw it at his father's feet.

Marayna closed her eyes a moment from where she'd been peeking around the pillar, slowly trying to make her way closer to them along the side of the room, knowing she couldn't let this happen and looked around for help, for something to stop this.

"Have you lost your mind?" Uther demanded.

"Pick it up," Arthur ordered.

"Arthur, I implore you, think about what you're doing."

"Pick. It. Up."

"I will not fight you."

Arthur drew his sword, "If you choose not to defend yourself, I will strike you down where you stand."

Marayna gasped, spotting Leon's sword lying against the table.

"You are my son," Uther lifted his nose up, "You will not strike an unarmed man."

"I no longer think of myself as your son," Arthur sneered.

"Then strike me down," Uther held out his arms, daring him to do so...fully convinced he wouldn't...

But Arthur moved to do just that, to strike his father...when a sword was put in his path, blocking the blow, "Mara!" he nearly growled as Marayna forced her way in between them, "Get out of the way."

"No," she swallowed hard, she knew she'd NEVER be able to beat Arthur, not without magic, not in front of the king...but she needed to stall, she just needed a few more moments. Merlin was coming and she was sure that, between the two of them, they could talk him down, the two of them distracting the prince from two sides of the room. She just needed a little longer.

"Move!" he shoved her.

But she shoved him back, holding up the sword, though Uther could see her shaking to do so, "I can't let you do this Arthur."

"I don't want to fight you," Arthur glared past her at Uther.

"Well I don't want you to commit patricide or regicide either!" she argued, moving into his vision again, "You want him..." she swallowed, "Get through me first."

And she knew it...she knew he'd do it too.

"So be it," Arthur lashed out, the sound of steel hitting steel as Uther backed up, cursing himself for not having his sword on him, having thought himself safe.

~8~

"Aya!" Merlin cried as he reached the doors to the Main Hall, Leon blocking him.

"The king has forbidden anyone to enter!" Leon shoved him back as Merlin half threw himself at the doors to get in.

"My sister is in there and Arthur's about to kill her!" he pushed Leon to the side, knowing that Marayna would do everything short of magic (and even then she'd probably resort to it if she desperately needed to) to keep Arthur from killing his father, no matter how much the man might have deserved it for all the evils he'd done, and threw the doors open, just in time to see Arthur swipe a sword at Marayna, cutting her arm exactly like he had Morgause...but this time...he didn't hesitate after.

Marayna dropped her sword with a cry of pain, clutching her arm as she stumbled away, giving Arthur a clear path to his father and Arthur charged...but Merlin ran forward to pull him back.

"Arthur!" he struggled with the prince, "Don't! I know you don't want to do this!"

"My mother is dead because of him!" Arthur snarled, pulling away and pointing his sword as this father's heart.

"And killing your father won't bring her back," Marayna hissed, "It'll just mean he's dead too."

Merlin nodded, "You've lost one parent. Do you really want to lose another?"

"Listen to them, Arthur," Uther pleaded.

"Arthur, please," Marayna stepped up, putting her uninjured hand on Arthur's arm though it was covered in blood, "Put...that sword...down."

"You heard what my mother said!" Arthur shouted, still glaring at Uther, shaking even more, "After everything he has done, do you believe he deserves to live?! He executes those who use magic, and yet he has used it himself!" he pressed the sword more firmly at him, "You have caused so much suffering and pain! I will put an end to that!"

Marayna swallowed hard, knowing what she had to say, despite genuinely not knowing if it would be true or not, "Morgause lied!"

"She's an enchantress," Merlin agreed, moving to the other side of him, "She tricked you. That was not your mother you saw. That was an illusion."

Marayna took a breath, "She was just an image that Morgause used to speak to you. So that you'd believe her."

"You don't know that!" Arthur ground out.

Marayna winced, it was true...she didn't. They didn't know what had truly happened with Ygraine's death, when she'd died, what she'd seen, who had known and who hadn't that the Queen would die. The Dragon said one thing, Morgause another, Uther a third...there was no way to know the truth. But there was only one thing tha mattered...Arthur could NOT begin his reign in bloodshed, he could not murder his father, they couldn't let him.

"This has been her plan all along!" Merlin told him, "To turn you against your father. And if you kill him, the kingdom will be destroyed! This is what she wants!"

"Listen to them, they're speaking the truth," Uther nodded.

"Swear to me it isn't true!" Arthur turned to his father, desperate, "That you are not responsible for my mother's death! Give me your word!"

"I swear on my life, I loved your mother," Uther spoke, Marayna and Merlin closing their eyes a moment as he didn't do what Arthur had requested...he hadn't said that he wasn't responsible, "There isn't a day passes that I don't wish that she were still alive. I could never have done anything to hurt her."

Yes...HE wouldn't have done anything to hurt her, in his mind...magic was the one that had killed her, not him. But as Arthur dropped his sword and fell to his knees, crying, they realized they couldn't bring that up to Arthur. They couldn't make him aware that his father hadn't given his word that he was not responsible for Ygraine's death, because the man was well aware he was, in some way, responsible, HE had been the one that had wanted to use magic, HE was the one who had trusted the wrong person, and HE was the one who had ensured they reached a place where a life was needed.

"My son," Uther knelt with Arthur, holding him as Merlin moved to Marayna's side and tugged her away, "You mean more to me than...than anything."

"I'm sorry," Arthur murmured, "I'm sorry."

"You are not to blame," Uther whispered, echoing Ygraine's words, before he looked up at them over Arthur's shoulders, but the siblings had already turned to leave, Gaius in the doorway, looking at Marayna's blood soaked arm with a frown before leading the pale woman out.

~8~

Arthur stared at Marayna's arm as she puttered around his room, wrapped in a white bandage though the red blood soaked through even still after it had been tended to, "I'm sorry," he called as she pulled down the sheets on his bed for the night.

She offered him a small, though pained smile, "This?" she gestured at her arm, "Don't be."

"It's my fault."

"I put myself in your way, knowing full well I'd likely get hurt," she shook her head, "I was the one who kept telling you NOT to hesitate when you're facing a woman. How can I be cross you actually listened to me for once?" she joked, "Picked a hell of a time to do it though," she offered a small chuckle, "But really Arthur...if it meant keeping your reign from beginning with spilling your own father's blood," she shrugged, "This..." she held up her arm, "Tis but a flesh wound."

He offered her a small smile in return, looking between her and Merlin as the boy stroked the fire, "I am indebted to you both," he told them, "I had become...confused. I had been trying to see good where...where I fear there may not be," the siblings stiffened at that, "It is once again clear to me that those who practice magic are evil and dangerous. They may begin innocent and kind and good...but that power..." he shook his head, "It corrupts them in the end," he looked at them, "But I have been shown the truth in it, and that is thanks to you."

Merlin offered him a tense, though SO sad smile, "Glad we could help."

Marayna just turned her back to 'blow out a candle' though she just stared at it, feeling tears prickle behind her eyes, all that progress...just...gone.

And all because of them.

~8~

Merlin and Marayna wearily entered the physician's chambers to see Uther waiting for them, "My Lord," Merlin greeted as Marayna sighed and plopped down onto a stool by the workbench, unwrapping her arm to tend to it, not bothering a proper greeting for the king. She had a long, angry cut along the back of her forearm, according to Gaius, given Arthur's anger and skill, she was lucky he hadn't nicked an artery and that it wasn't deeper than it was.

"I wanted to thank you both in person for your actions yesterday," Uther told them, "You are loyal servants to Arthur. I am most grateful."

"We were just...doing our duty," Merlin moved to Marayna's side, helping her.

"You've proven yourselves to be trusted allies in the fight against magic."

"Us?" Marayna scoffed at the irony.

"Those who practice magic will seek to exploit Arthur's inexperience," Uther nodded, "They will attempt to corrupt him. We must be extra vigilant."

"Well then we'll keep our eyes peeled," Marayna rolled her eyes.

"I know you will," he nodded, "If you ever speak of what happened between myself and Arthur to another living soul, I will have you hanged."

"Right, of course," Merlin nodded, half-expecting that, "Yes, My Lord."

Uther gave a nod and left, Gaius entering moments later, "Was that Uther I saw just leaving?"

"Yeah," Marayna huffed, "He just 'popped in' to say hello."

"What did he want?"

"He wanted to thank us for being 'trusted allies in the fight against magic,'" Marayna said bitterly, flinching as Merlin helped her apply a salve.

"How you've managed to keep those heads on your shoulders is a mystery beyond our greatest minds. Uther should be grateful," he looked at his wards solemnly, "Your lives would've been easier and safer if you'd let him die. You must have been tempted."

"Maybe for a moment," Merlin admitted, "But Arthur wouldn't have been able to forgive himself if he'd gone through with it. It would have destroyed him."

"I'm proud of you both, "Gaius told them.

Merlin smirked, "Arthur's thanking us, Uther's grateful, you're proud," he nudged Marayna, "We've never been this popular."

"I'm almost certain it won't last."

"Just let us enjoy the moment Uncle," Marayna smiled as Merlin wrapped a bandage around her arm, pressing a small kiss near the end by her wrist to help it heal, something their mother had always done when they were injured.

A/N: Poor Arthur :( There was so much confusion about his birth, I noticed the thing about the eyes being closed and open as I was writing it, which made the siblings doubt that it really was Ygraine, but...with only Uther and Nimueh having been IN the room when Ygraine died...no one really knows }:)

No real notes on reviews for the last chapter ;)