Chapter 21

"I'll take good care of them," Gwen promised with a hug. Reluctantly Morgana handed Lian, who she'd been holding, back to her maid. "And I'm sure they'll have barely grown an inch by the time you return."

How long did it take for a baby to grow? How much of her children's life was Morgana going to miss? She had to save Merlin, but why had her father had to destroy their family in the first place? Why was Uther such a bigot?

How had such a horrible man produced two wonderful children? "They'll be fine," Arthur assured his sister as they set off as fast as she could ride. "And we'll be back soon."

Arthur, Morgana, and Merlin in Camelot at the same time, not that they knew it. The Prince and Princess received a warm welcome from their father and people while the warlock was ushered into the deepest cell in silence.

"My children," Uther greeted with a smile. "I'm so glad you're safe from that evil sorcerer's clutches."

Morgana began sobbing. It wasn't particularly hard. She'd been on the verge of tears for a week, but it was an impressive bit of acting. "Oh father," she sobbed falling to her knees. "It was horrible and the King he… he took my children."

"WHAT?!" Uther cried pulling the girl up. Looking at her for the first time he realized what she'd said. "You have given birth already," he replied trying (and failing) to sound sympathetic. "And King Balinor kept them?"

Morgana nodded, "They're his heirs…"

Uther hugged his daughter, but inside his mind churned. He knew that Balinor must have induced the labor with magic, and he wasn't sure he believed that Morgana hadn't agreed to it. His informants all said she truly loved her husband, so perhaps she was blind enough to think Balinor wasn't evil. "Take my daughter to her chambers," Uther ordered. "She's been through quite an ordeal. Arthur, walk with me."

Arthur wanted to stab his father on the spot, but he remained the semblance of joy as the two walked together. "Arthur," Uther began. "My son, I am so sorry that I sent you and Morgana to Cymru. It was truly a lapse in judgment I hope you can forgive. To live amongst sorcerers…it must have been terrible."

"It was," Arthur replied shaking his head. "To look upon such evil every day…"

Uther smiled brightly, "I knew you'd understand. From what I hear though Morgana has been enchanted by her husband and find herself loving him. I need you to be honest with me Arthur, is Morgana a threat to Camelot?"

The only threat to Camelot was Uther, but Arthur knew that that wasn't what he was being asked. Uther wanted to know if Morgana was planning on freeing Merlin. Of course she was, they both were, but Arthur couldn't exactly say that. No, he needed his father to trust him. "Morgana is blinded. She does not know what she does. She allowed King Balinor to keep her children even when I tried to get her to keep them."

"Them?"

"She had twins father, a prince and a princess."

Uther looked at his son and shook his head, "This is my fault of course. I allowed her to be enchanted. Very well, I will tell the guards to keep a close eye on Morgana. It remains though that I cannot dispose of the sorcerer Merlin until my grandchildren are returned to me. I will send word immediately to King Balinor that I want to exchange his son for Morgana's children."

"I doubt he'll give them over," Arthur replied glad to be honest after all the lies. "He does not trust you not to slit Prince Merlin's throat the moment you have all you want.

Uther chuckled, "Then he is stupider than I thought?"

"Then you don't plan on killing Merlin? You're actually going to let him live?" Was there truly a glimmer of goodness in Arthur's father? Was there some hope that he could be saved?

Apparently not, "Oh no, I plan on killing the sorcerer, but I'd never give him the luxury of a slit throat. No he shall die as all his kind do-in the flames. If King Balinor truly cared about his son he would have taught him the one crucial lesson of life-play with fire, and you will go up in flames."

Uther left to go speak with Morgana leaving Arthur to wonder, not for the first time, how his father could be so hateful. Magic had been free in Camelot for the first half decade of Uther's reign, so why was it that during Arthur's own lifetime his father had begun his crusade against the magical? Perhaps if he knew what would happen he could change his father's mind. Arthur couldn't help but love his father, even if he hated him as well. He didn't want to kill Uther, but if it came down to it he had to be the one to do it. Arthur wasn't going to let that blood be on Morgana's hands. He was already a monster for following his father's orders so many times; Arthur wouldn't let Morgana go down that path too.

"Why won't they let me leave?" Morgana asked her father when he entered the chamber. "I'm not tired I want to do something. I've been away for so long I want to remember my home and see my people and…"

Uther raised his hand to silence her, "Enough Morgana. Your brother told me all about your plan."

"What? What plan?"

"Arthur told me that you to managed to gain King Balinor's trust. He told me that you left the twins behind on purpose; knowing that once you were here you could free your husband. I'm not mad Morgana. Don't worry. I know how powerful an enchantment can be especially when bound by the physical act of lovemaking. I daresay this is my own fault. I was the one who arranged your marriage to that wretched prince."

Morgana stood in shock. How could Arthur have betrayed her life that? Was he just playing their father, gaining his trust, or did he really hate Merlin that much? Surely it had to be a trick. Surely Arthur saw their father's insanity.

"HE'S NOT WRETCHED!" Morgana defended. If her cover was blown she might as well say what she thought. "Merlin is far nicer than you've ever been to me! Don't think I've forgotten the 16 years you let me believe that another man was my father! And he hasn't enchanted me! He didn't even want to have sex with me at first! We went over a week before consummating our marriage because HE know I wasn't ready. He let me make the first move! Do you know how rare that is to find a man who respects a me, a woman, as someone capable of thought and not just a tool to produce heirs? He loved me! And I love him! It's not an enchantment!"

The words were meant to injure, but Uther was so sure she was enchanted he ignored them. "I know this isn't you speaking Morgana. Once I've killed the sorcerer you will be grateful that I kept you from doing anything rash."

"HE'S A WARLOCK NOT A SORCERER!" It was a miracle the room didn't explode Morgana was so angry. She kept her magic under control though because that would be what Merlin would want. He would want her to stay safe no matter what. "He was born with magic; it wasn't a choice!"

That got under Uther's skin. "THERE IS NO SUCH THING MORGANA!" The king looked to the ground when he saw his daughter's horrified face. "I'm sorry…this isn't you speaking it's him. But Morgana, there is no such thing as someone born with magic. It's something people learn, something that as they learn corrupts their soul until they're no longer human. Magic is a choice Morgana, and those who chose wrong are punished. I will free you from this enchantment," he whispered kissing her on the forehead despite her struggles. "But only after your children are safely home. Once he's dead I'll find you a new husband, a knight perhaps, someone to help you raise your children in safety. Then you'll look back and see how wrong you were."

"I'm not wrong! You're the one blinded by hate."

"No," Uther sighed moving towards the door. "Everything I do I do because I love you, I love Arthur, I love Camelot. Even when you can't see it everything I do is for you. And I'll kill your husband for you don't you worry. Until then you will remain here under guard for your own safety. Truly someday you'll thank me for this Morgana."

As he left, Morgana threw her chair at the door smashing it. She'd never thank him for this, or, if she did, she'd thank him with the lovely present of a knife to the heart. Now that was her promise.