A/N: Thank you for your patience... Took a while to decide if I kept the two endings or not, which had an impact on that one. :)

Chapter 14

He escorted her back to her chambers after the feast his father insisted on giving for her recovery. Arthur walked one step behind her, ready to help her if she needed to. She refused proudly to take his arm, even when she trembled in the effort while climbing up the stairs.

"Can I bring you anything?"

She looked up to him with a thankful smile, but shook her head graciously.

"No. Thank you, Arthur."

"Sweet dreams, Morgana."

Helen closed the small door of the bedroom. Morgana had finally accepted to lie down a moment. The blond woman, who had presented herself as Morgause of Gorlois, was following each of her movements with a sharp look. One of the men, Merlin, was seated at the end of the bench, and played with his fingers nervously on the table. The two knights were facing each other. The silence was heavy, each one of them waiting for her diagnosis.

She turned to Lancelot, "Has her fever worsened these past nights?"

Lancelot blushed furiously and peeked at the other man in front of him. Helen noticed that except for the constant flexing of his hands, Prince Arthur stayed perfectly still. Even his face lacked to show any emotion.

"I had to escort her to her chambers yesterday evening, but she claimed she was fine when she joined me this morning for breakfast. She didn't want to come here, I had to insist. I supported her almost all the way."

Helen glanced at the door and approached the table.

"I'm worried, Lancelot. My herbs are not effective. She needs a physician."

His face gloomy, Lancelot nodded. He opened his mouth to address Arthur, but Morgause silenced him abruptly.

"The spell is killing her."

"Explain."

The sharp command was the first word Arthur spoke since his 'courtesy' to Morgana outside. Merlin glanced at him. Arthur had stood up. He was staring at the door, as if he could check on the lady through the thick panel. Morgause hesitated, maybe to mark her reluctance to obey.

"Morgause," his patience was shortening, adding threat to the previous irritation.

"To work properly, the spell needs to destroy her magic. But she is magic. She's a seer, Arthur. The Sight is one step farther than being a witch. And she is so powerful… The charm is consuming her from the inside."

There were tears in her voice when Morgause repeated, "It's killing her."

"What spell? What are you talking about?" Lancelot asked, completely stunned.

The blond sorceress sneered "Did you think she lost her memory while banging her head?"

Lancelot snorted.

"How would I know? I found her here alone. Ana didn't even remember her name!"

"I forbid you to call her that."

The command struck the air, icy and as hard as steel. Merlin had heard Arthur use this tone only once before. Even his father had not dared disobey at the time. Lancelot narrowed his eyes on the man facing him. But after a second he lowered his stare.

"Yes, Sire. I apologize for my irreverence. Except for her lack of souvenirs, the Lady Morgana, "he made a point to emphasise her title, "seemed well and happy with her life when I came to pay my respects. She offered me a position at the manor, and I accepted. I thought it was the best way to look after her until her memory returns. It was a couple of days ago."

Arthur nodded. Lancelot looked away. Merlin remembered he was holding hands with Morgana on their way down. Given Arthur's short temper with a man he respected otherwise, he probably had noticed too. Those two really had a knack to fall for the same women…

Arthur turned again to Morgause, who was standing up.

"Sit down. You still have some explanations to give."

Morgause stayed on her feet.

"I said, sit."

That tone again. Merlin wondered when Arthur had learned to act like the future king he was. He smiled then caught himself. About time.

Morgause obeyed slowly.

"Thank you. So Morgana asked the Dragon to vanquish her memory forever. Is that it?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"You'll have to ask her."

"Very funny."

Morgause held the silver stare fixed on her, stood and approached the closed door. Her own temper was rising. Merlin felt his skin tingled again when her magic grew inside her. He wanted to warn Arthur, but the prince pushed his hand away impatiently.

"Why did Morgana want her memory erased?"

"She didn't say, Arthur. When I asked, she told me she had her reasons. Maybe she didn't want me to try to convince her not to do it. Honestly, I don't know."

"Take a guess."

Morgause sighed. The tingling around Merlin decreased, but didn't disappear completely. She was taking courage into her magic he realized. Morgause was afraid.

"Maybe she had regrets. Maybe she foresaw what her future actions will do to the world and to you. Maybe she wanted to forget what she saw."

Suddenly, the witch was not afraid anymore. Her dark eyes glimmered like onyx. She walked to Arthur, furious. Merlin and Lancelot stood up. The prince didn't flinch and faced her anger.

"This is your fault! Yours and your hateful father's. He killed our mother. He destroyed our family. He launched a campaign against Magic because of that stupid pact he made to have an heir with a barren woman! And now my sister is dying because of you!"

"I'm sorry, Morgause."

The sincerity in Arthur's tone calmed her instantly.

"I will do my best to correct the mistakes of my father in my own time. Tell me how to break the spell."

"Only the Dragon can do that."

A noise from the adjacent room silenced them. Helen, who had listened to the whole exchange without even a gasp of surprise, opened the door quickly. Morgana was straightening on the small bed. Lancelot made a step toward the room; Arthur stopped him.

"Merlin, go check on her. Gaius has taught you some of his science, I believe."

"He is not going anywhere near my sister. He tried to…"

"Merlin."

"Yes, Sire."

Merlin followed Helen inside the little room. God, what a mess.