Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Face the Future
"Anwen." Arthur turned to stare at the older woman. The harsh light from the candles flickering in the corner did nothing to help. He could barely make her out. Her long auburn hair lay in loose uncared for plaits down her back as her face had the ruddy look of a woman that was more used to drinking ale and mead than water. He stepped nearer to her as Gwen slowly stood up, her joints protesting at being in one position for so long.
"The time is now." Gwen repeated the phrase, she felt sick at the thought of what could be going on in Camelot.
"That's what I said."
"Ok." Arthur glanced at Gwen before staring at Anwen. "I think I have had enough of talking to the monkey. Anwen, take me to the Organ Grinder." He stepped forward once more. Gwen held her breath, she knew Arthur well enough to know when he was about to explode. Every cell in his body screamed at how angry he was.
"Sorry, I can't do that."
"Oh I think you can and you will." Arthur towered over the smaller woman as lightening cracked outside.
"Do as he says Anwen." Gwen stepped to the side of Arthur.
"Ohhh she speaks!" Anwen cackled, clearly intoxicated. "The woman my daughter, my baby would rather spend time with! The woman who thinks she is a better mother to the brat than I am."
"Maybe that's because you abandon the child every five minutes. That you have no idea how to look after the girl. That you prefer drowning yourself in mead and ale rather than raising the girl. That Moira has seen more men in her mother's affections than I have had hot dinners!" Arthur snapped. Gwen stared at him with her eyes wide in shock. It was the first time she had heard him tell Anwen exactly what he thought of her.
"Arthur." Gwen almost whispered. "Morganna."
"Where is my sister?" Arthur watched as Anwen began to look genuinely afraid.
"Sire,"
"Anwen!"
"She left here, with Morguse."
"When?"
"Before you arrived. I was to remove Gwen."
"Remove Gwen?" Arthur felt his blood run cold. It would not be the first time Morganna had attempted to have Gwen killed. The thought that she had been in danger yet again made him almost incandesent with rage and fear.
"Kill me." Gwen clarified. "That's what Morganna wanted her to do. Kill me. That's right Anwen isn't it?" The older woman smirked as Gwen spoke. She could see that she was right.
"Anwen." Arthur was so close to the woman she could see the light change in his eyes. "You had better tell me where Morguse and Morganna are headed. What they have planned for Camelot and exactly how they plan to do it."
"Or what?"
"I'll remove you."
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Morganna stared at Merlin as he blocked her way to the doorway. She knew she would easily be able to defeat him but something was stopping her. She had no idea why she hadn't just killed him there and then. That would have been what Morguse would have said she should do.
"You know something?" Merlin held her gaze.
"I expect you are going to enlighten me." She watched as he nodded once.
"Yeah, you are wrong about Arthur. You are wrong about Uther and you know something else?"
"What?" She snapped as Merlin smiled cheekily at her.
"You are wrong about me." Before she was able to register what he had said she was flung against the far wall as his eyes glowed amber.
"MERLIN!"
"No Morganna, this ends now. We are ready for you. Cenred's men are not going to take over Camelot. You don't win. None of the history books will mention a Queen Morganna. None." He raised his hand and chanted in latin as Morganna did the same. A crack of thunder erupted as lightening threw the pair backwards.
"Ashinari! Sensenorai!" Morganna yelled as Merlin shook his head.
"Not this time."
"Ashinari Autocenarae! Loures sin mae." Morganna continued.
Merlin shook his head and threw his hand out towards her. The silence that followed was deafening. Morganna glared as she found her arms and legs were as heavy as lead. There was no way she was going to be able to move.
"Taste of your own medicine." Merlin smiled. "Not much fun is it?"
"You'll pay for this." Morganna yelled as Merlin stepped back.
"Maybe." He nodded. "Maybe, put I'd be more worried about paying the debt you have made for yourself."
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Gaius closed his eyes as he saw the arrows flying through the air. He gripped Moira's hand firmly in his larger one as they ran through the castle. He was terrified that Merlin and Arthur had got into more trouble than they could handle. He had a funny feeling that they had come up with a hairbrained scheme to rescue Gwen.
"Gaius!" Moira pulled on his hand as they reached the stone staircase.
"Yes."
"Leon." She pointed to an injured man laying at the bottom of the stairs. He was obviously injured and in pain. His breathing was heavier than usual and his left ankle bent awkwardly beneath him.
"Leon." Gaius hurried down the stairs. "What happened?"
"Oh." He winced in pain as Gaius set about removing his boot. "Gwaine and Percy have set off after Cenred while Elyan and I headed after Morguse. She's here, in the castle."
"And your leg?"
"I was thrown. I have never seen such strength in a woman of her size. She's tiny but stronger than any man I have fought." Leon tried to smile at Moira as she took his hand.
"Gaius will make your leg better." She smiled as Leon nodded. "Won't you?" She turned to the old physican.
"I'll try." He looked at the mess the other man's ankle was in. He knew he would have to inflict more pain than he wanted to but it was the only way to fix the obviously dislocated ankle.
"Don't worry Moira." Sir Leon gritted his teeth as he felt Gaius pull his ankle straight before sliding his boot back into place. He wanted to scream as the buring pain shot through his leg. Moira bit her lip as tears sprang to her eyes.
"That should be back in place now." Gaius watched as Leon nodded.
"Thank you."
"Moira, you'll have to help me splint this later. Until then, stay here with Leon." He helped Moira to half drag, half lift the young knight into the safety of the alcove. Moira looked along the corridor as Leon hissed in pain. He felt useless. He knew his friends were in trouble. Gaius ran a hand through his grey hair as he thought about what to do.
"Gaius." Moira bit her lip as she looked up.
"Stay here, little one." He smiled at her. "All will be well. You'll see."
"But."
"Moira, have I ever lied to you? Told you an untruth?"
"NO!" She shook her head.
"Then believe me. All will be well."
He turned on his heel and swept back up the stair case towards the Throne Room where he had left Uther. He could sense Morganna had got to the castle ahead of her sister. He just knew that she would target Uther personally and he half wondered if she would bring Morganna along to add salt to the wounds she had caused. Before he knew what he was doing he had opened the Throne Room door.
"Sire!" He almost yelled as he saw the King facing a petite blonde woman.
"Ah, Gaius." Morguse smiled. "Come to join the party? Ready to welcome your Queen?"
"There was one Queen of Camelot and it will never be your sister. I was at the funeral of the true Queen of Camelot as well you know." He stepped into the room.
"Oh but you are mistaken." Morguse smiled. "There is another."
"Well, where is she?" Uther glared. "Where is the girl that hates me so much she would have innocents killed to claim her throne?"
"The time will come." Morguse stepped towards him.
"I rather fear it wont." Gaius smiled slightly as he glanced towards the mirror. For a second he was certain he had spotted Elyan in the reflection.
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"Arthur." Gwen took his hand. "Leave her. She isn't worth it."
"I"
"For me, Arthur. She's Moira's mother."
"She doesn't deserve to be." He hissed as he felt her hand on his bicep.
"Just take me home. Please Arthur, just take me home."
He sighed. He knew that there was never a time he would be able to deny her anything. The lightening that had lit up the castle earlier struck again as Anwen backed away before turning and running in the opposite direction.
"Take me home."
"Gwen?" He turned to her and rested a hand on her cheek. Gwen felt her eyes begin to close as she felt his breath on her face. He was so close she wasn't sure where she ended and he began.
"Um?"
"Before we go home." He paused as he leant in to kiss her. The adrenaline coursing through his body as he realised how close he had been to loosing her forever. "We should really find Merlin."
"Oh." She sighed as he pulled her to him. "Good idea."
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Merlin ran through the corridors of the castle, desperate to find his friends. Now that Morganna was rooted to the spot he knew their only hope was to get back to Camelot as quickly as possible. He had to tell Arthur about Morguse' plans to use Morganna to take over Camelot. He gripped his ribs as he turned the corner into the room where Arthur and Gwen were stood.
"Er, sorry." He smiled as he tried to catch hs breath. "But there really is no time for all that funny stuff."
"Merlin." Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Hi Gwen." She bluished furiously.
"We have to get back. Morguse is going to use Cenred to take over Camelot. She wants the throne for herself. And as Morganna said, the time is now."
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A/N Really not sure about this chapter. Just one more left now.