Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any of its characters. I only own the ones that I've made up myself.
A/N- I'm so sorry for updating so late, but my internet stopped working somewhere last week so I hadn't been able to update sooner than this. So I came here as soon as it was fixed because I didn't wan't you to think that I'm abandoning this story ;) I'll do my best to update this weekend again to make up for all this.
- x Milou Lilly
Chapter twenty-five: The Witch Quickening
"Take the north door straight ahead. Keep going."
Lyanna was sitting up straight in the middle of her bed panting. There was only one person that she knew who used this way of communicating and she felt her entire body gone cold. At first she had thought that she had imagined it, but the voice inside her head had woken her up.
"Keep going. Hurry!" the voice now ordered.
She climbed out of her bed and wrapped a cloak around her neck before she hurried out of her bedroom to see what was going on. It was the middle of the night and the corridors were empty besides the occasional guards, who didn't look alarmed to see the Princess running passed them in her nightgown and a cloak.
As she went around the corner she almost bumped into Merlin and was relieved to see to see him there. He was wearing his nightshirt with his brown jacket over it to keep himself warm in the night cold. "Did you also hear it?" Lyanna questioned unsure.
Slowly, he nodded. "I thought it wasn't real at first, but I know it now. Mordred is in Camelot with someone and they're up to something," he responded.
As on cue they heard Mordred's voice inside their heads again. "Keep going. It's not much further now."
"I'm going to get him back for ruining my sleep," Lyanna growled as they started to hurry down the other corridor to where the voice had come from. "Do you have any idea why they could be here and attacking Camelot in the heart of night?"
"I have no clue. Maybe they'll lead us to what they're after," Merlin responded.
They were now running up the steps in the castle and listened intently to their surroundings. Unsure where they were going they kept pursuing them until they heard his voice inside their head again and they came to a halt.
"Be careful. At the end of the corridor. Morgana's chamber is next."
Morgana's chamber. It only seemed logical that a couple of Druids would go to Morgana after everything that had happened in their camp a couple of months ago. Mordred was incredibly fond of Morgana. But that that didn't explain why they were here.
"This way," Lyanna cried out and intertwined her fingers with those of Merlin as they began to run in the opposite direction. Both of them were panting from running through the palace, but were eager to keep going.
The warning bell began to sound, which meant that everyone now was aware of the intruders. "What do you mean you lost them?! They could be dangerous?" Arthur was shouting to his guards as he marched down a corridor. Merlin and Lyanna stepped around the corner and Arthur grabbed his servant by the throat and shove him against the wall. "Merlin? Sneaking around with my sister in the middle of the night?" he asked, noticing that they were holding hands.
"Arthur, don't be ridiculous and let Merlin go. They're in Morgana's chambers," Lyanna informed him and Arthur let go off Merlin. Arthur bolted and was followed by the guards, Lyanna and Merlin.
They walk further down the upper corridor. "Are you sure about this?" Arthur asked sceptically.
Merlin nodded a couple of times and let go of Lyanna's hand. "Definitely. We... saw them with our own eyes," he stammered.
"What were you two doing down there? Please don't tell me that you were making out somewhere -"
"Arthur, for crying out loud! Can you be reasonable?" Lyanna objected fiercely. Although the thought of making out with Merlin caused her to blush, she hoped that brother couldn't see it in the darkness. "We both heard voices when we were in our own chambers and thought that we should investigate."
Arthur looked at his manservant. "Frankly, Merlin, it's hard to believe. For once, you've shown some real initiative," he said, sounding a bit impressed. Lyanna gave Merlin a apologetic smile which only he saw.
They were now approaching Morgana's chamber. Arthur listened at the door for a moment before he kicked the door in and Morgana bolted up in her bed. "What on earth do you think you're doing?!" she demanded to know.
"I..." Arthur stammered and looked around the room. "I'd reason to believe that there was an intruder in there."
"Right now, Arthur, the only intruders are you and Lyanna," she sneered.
Lyanna anxiously bit her lip when she realized that Mordred and his company were nowhere to be found which meant that they had been aware of they were coming here. They were hiding elsewhere until the coast was clear.
"Camelot has been infiltrated. Did you not hear the warning bell?" Lyanna asked doubtfully.
"Of course I did! I was hoping I'd be safe in my chamber," Morgana responded. Lyanna could tell that the King's ward was lying harshly, but did her best not to show others that she knew.
"Well, if you'd just permit us to search your room..." Arthur began.
"You'll do no such thing! Arthur, do you think that if there was someone in my room I wouldn't know about it?" Morgana replied cleverly and Lyanna narrowed her eyes. She was well aware of how manipulative the King's ward could be. She could wrap everyone around her finger without much effort.
Arthur sighed. "Please accept my apologies," he humbly responded before walking out of the room with Lyanna.
"I don't understand," Merlin muttered quizzed.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Merlin. Which bit didn't you understand? the making a fool out of me, or making a fool out of yourself?" Arthur snapped back.
Lyanna growled. "You don't need our help to make a fool out of yourself," she retorted with narrowed eyed. "There was someone in there. We knew there was."
Arthur shook his head. "A word of advice to both of you. In the future, stick to what you do best: Nothing!" With those words the Prince of Camelot strode off, followed by the guards.
"I apologize for my brother's behavior," Lyanna said quietly. "I know that Mordred is here somewhere and that Morgana is helping them. It's the only explanation for why they weren't there."
"I know. If they're here then we will see them again. For now we should return to our own beds and get some sleep."
Lyanna looked at her own reflection in the mirror the following morning. After the events of last night she hadn't been able to get much of sleep, which resulted into bags under her tired looking eyes. She ran her fingers through her blonde hair before weaving it into a simple braid as Gwen entered her bedroom, carrying a tray filled with food.
"I've got you some breakfast," she announced cheerfully.
Lyanna turned away from the vanity. "Thank you, Gwen."
"Are you training today?" she asked and Lyanna nodded before nibbling on some bread. "Shouldn't you be going soon? I think Arthur is going to be upset when you turn up too late."
"Well, then I could always send you over to him to cheer him up," Lyanna teased, noting that Gwen blushed at her comment. "Oh, come on. I know what happened in that tent and it's nothing to be ashamed about. You two love each other. It's clear as day."
Gwen smiled shyly. "Yes, you know what its like to love someone and when nothing could ever happen between you and him," she sulked sadly and Lyanna caught her friend by surprise by pulling her into her arms. "Thanks. I needed that."
"It's going to be a though road and there will many bumps along the road, but we'll get through this eventually. Things are going to look up. For all of us. I promise you that," Lyanna assured her with a soft voice. "We just have to be patient."
"You always know what to say to make me feel better," Gwen giggled.
"It's just part of my charm," she replied cheekily and her friend only laughed harder at that. "I should meet up with my brother now. Bye Gwen." With those words the Princess hurried out of her bedroom just as Arthur was leaving his. "Hello Archie," Lyanna greeted him cheerfully.
He cocked one of his eyebrows. "Are you up to something?"
Lyanna gasped in shock. "Arthur Pendragon, I am offended and my soul is damaged. Can't a -"
"Alright," he cut her off before wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Don't be so melodramatic, dear sister." Lyanna let out a soft laugh, which let him know that they were alright.
The events of last night seemed to have been forgotten and they made their way to the training ground together. Once they were surrounded by the knights they began their training. Today Lyanna didn't spar with Leon like she usually did. "Are you up for another duel, Archie?" Lyanna asked her brother, her eyes twinkling in delight.
He frowned. "Didn't I beat you last time?" he retorted playfully as he took his stand in front of her, twirling his sword in his hand.
Lyanna scoffed. "But didn't I beat you like five times before that?" She wiggled with her eyebrows as the knights around them began to laugh. Seeing the two royal siblings banter with each other was always one of the highlights of the training. They all stopped with what they were doing to watch them. "So, are you up for a rematch, brother dear?"
"You're going to regret that, Lee. Just like that time you let a frog escape in my chambers," Arthur remembered her.
"Are you still holding that grudge? I was seven when that happened. I still remember the high pitched scream when you found him in croaking in your bed." She giggled quietly as the knights began to laugh, much to Arthur's annoyance.
"I didn't scream," he objected, trying to remain calm.
"Like a little girl, My Lord," she corrected him with an amusing smile on her lips. "When father came to check on you he thought that I had been the one screaming. I still remember how he laughed when he found out that it was you."
The knights laughed again and Arthur's frown went deeper. "Right... Are you still up for that rematch?" he changed the subject instead.
Lyanna bowed gracefully in front of him. "I was born ready, brother dear." She picked up her sword before taking her stance in front of him. Her gaze went to the knights for a second and they flipped the hourglass.
Immediately Arthur stormed towards her and began to swing with his sword at her, but Lyanna easily stepped aside. The knights were clapping ecstatic as their swords clashed together in an aggressive manner. Neither one of them was really using all their strength to injure the other and were quite cautious. During all those long years of training Lyanna had only received three cuts from her duels with Arthur, which wasn't much.
Lyanna twirled around and duck underneath her brother's arm. Because she was rather timid she was fast and was using that as her advantage because Arthur was build broad and was much slower. Their swords met again as Arthur turned around and Lyanna took a couple of steps back before he launched at her again. "You're. Getting. Slow. Archie," she remarked between breaths and she could only hear him let out a soft laugh. Good.
She stepped aside again and shove her right foot behind his leg to make him lose his balance and the future King of Camelot fell backwards onto the ground. The knights applauded cheerfully as the Princess claimed her victory and looked down at her brother. "I've lost count how many times this has actually happened," Lyanna teased him before extending her hand. "Do you yield?"
"Yes, Lyanna," he muttered under his breath as he took her hand and she smoothly pulled him back onto his feet. She began to pat the dirt off his armour as he eyed her. "That was a clever move. You haven't used that one before." Of course he knew because Arthur was very observant when it came to fighting skills.
Lyanna straightened her back. "No, that was a new one. I like to keep things exciting," she replied smugly, trying to keep the smile of her face but failed miserably. Arthur chuckled. "Do you want me to show you?"
"Perhaps next time, dear sister," he said instead and walked over to the knights to continue the rest of the training. Lyanna walked over to where the rest of the equipment lay and picked up a waterskin to still her thirst.
She spotted Merlin standing just outside the training ground, staring at the cloudless blue sky. It was from the way that he was holding himself that put Lyanna at unease, because it seemed as if something was troubling him. She made her way over to him. "What's wrong?" she asked.
He flinched at the sound of her voice and turned his head. A faint smile touched his lips. "Oh, Lyanna. You startled me," he gasped, sounding relieved to see that it was her. "It's nothing. I was just admiring the sky and -"
"You're a terrible liar, Merlin," she cut him off. "Can you please tell me what's upsetting you," Lyanna insisted.
Merlin exhaled deeply, knowing that he couldn't hide anything from her. "I just found Morgana in Arthur's chambers. She was looking for Arthur. She knows that he's trains at the same time every day, but when I told her that she pretended as if she had forgotten and quickly bolted. It seemed to me as if she was looking for something," he enlightened her.
"And you didn't see anything that she could've taken?" Lyanna wondered. He shook his head. "Odd. If she was really looking for Arthur she knows where to find him. It doesn't make sense. I fear that Aglain may've been right after all. We cannot trust her. She's up to something."
"But what do you plan to do about it? She's likely to admit anything, not even to you," he helped her remember.
Lyanna growled. "Yes, I'm aware of that. She doesn't trust anyone who doesn't have magic, and since she's unware that we have magic as well she had also turned her back against us. I'm convinced that Mordred is behind this."
"We don't know that for certain. Surely he has sneaked into the castle in the death of night, but that doesn't mean that their plotting something together. It doesn't seem fair to make any conclusions," Merlin said.
"You're right. It isn't. We can only be cautious and keep an eye on her. I should be going back now." She turned around before making her way over to the knights.
The rest of the day nothing spectacular happened. It was only that after nightfall the warning bells sounded, but Lyanna was forced to stay in her chambers by Arthur's guards because it might be dangerous. She was sitting on the edge of her bed and was desperate to find out what was going on, and only saw one solution.
"What's going on?" she asked telepathically, even now she despised this way of communication. "The guards are forbidding me from leaving my room." She only used it unless she didn't have another choice, like she had now.
For a couple of seconds nothing happened and Lyanna began to wonder if she had done it right. "The Crystal of Neahtid has been stolen," Merlin informed her. She could hear the hurt and confusion in his voice, which made her breath hitch and her heart rate increase. She knew well enough that this Crystal was being hidden in the vaults because according to her father the Druids had used it as a weapon.
"Do you think that it was Morgana?" she finally asked after a moment. Lyanna was fidgeting with her fingers as she awaited his answer.
"So far it seems like it. The locks aren't damaged so whoever stole it had access to the keys. Arthur blames me for the fact that someone who has stolen his keys. There are only a few people who knows where it is," he responded.
"That tells us enough. After all you've caught Morgana in Arthur's chambers. The question is what she intends to with the -" Lyanna stopped in the middle of her sentence as she realized something. She jumped from the bed and started to pace through the room. A thousands thoughts entered her head as her eyes widened in shock.
"Lyanna? Is all well? Did something happen? If you don't answer me soon I'm going to drop by to check on you," Merlin's worried voice interrupted her thoughts.
Lyanna clasped her hands together. "What if Mordred had asked her to steal the Crystal for him because she has better access to it. According to my father the Crystal of Neadhtid was being used by the Druids as a weapon. I don't know of the true powers of the Crystal though, so I'm not aware of what it can do. But what if the Druids are going to use it to attack Camelot because of the war between them and my father."
"Do you honestly believe that Morgana is capable to do such a thing? Plotting against the people who are practically her own family?" Merlin objected with a soft voice.
"I don't know. I'm only suggesting that this could be a reason. This entire situation scares me," Lyanna retorted.
There fell a short silence. "Since you're not too fond of this way of communicating, do you want me to come over so you're not alone?"
"Do you want to do that? Shouldn't you be checking on Arthur?"
"I'm already on my way." She practically fell their way of communicating closing which brought her some relief. She wasn't a big fan of talking to people this way, but hearing his voice inside her head made it so much better.
Minutes later she heard the secluded door open and close again as Merlin entered her bedroom. He approached her and pulled her into his arms to comfort her, noting the distress in her eyes. Lyanna always felt much better whenever he was around.
"It's all going to be alright," he soothed, gently running his hand through her golden hair. He was well aware that Lyanna was always pretending to be so brave, but she always showed how vulnerable she truly was to him. Only to him. She was a woman with a thick skin who pretended to be alright all the time, but inside was always scared to lose the people that she cared about. "We're going to get through this together."
They sat down on the edge of the bed without letting go of each other. Lyanna nuzzled her head in the crook of his neck as his arms went tighter around her. "Thank you for always being there for me," she whispered gratefully as she took in his scent, which always calmed her down.
"I don't want to be anywhere else," he assured her.
Her heart swelled in delight at his answer. He always knew exactly what to say to make her fall even more in love with him than that she already did. "I don't want you to ever leave me," she replied with a faint voice.
"I won't," Merlin vowed. "I will always be here with you."
She wriggled herself a bit out of his grasp so that she could look him in the eyes before she leaned forwards. Their lips met softly. It was a brief kiss, just to let each other know how grateful they were to have each other. She pulled back and placed herself against his chest again as the time passed around them.
Because of the break in last night the training session had been cancelled because everyone in Camelot was searching for the person who was responsible for stealing the Crystal. Lyanna then thought that it was a good idea to help Gaius, but the physician didn't require her service today which gave her a sea of time. Something which she wasn't used to since she rarely did something for herself.
Unsure what to do Lyanna paid a visit to the secret garden that she shared with her brother where she worked in the garden for a couple of hours to make sure that all the plants were looked after. Her gaze transfixed upon the little Snowdrop that had popped out of the ground of the memorial of her dear friend Marie.
She touched the Snowdrop and realized that it had been Marie's favorite flower. It had been a year and a half since Marie had died because of Nimueh's work. She often thought what her life would look like if Marie hadn't died that day. She still missed her friend a lot, but Marie's death had brought Lyanna closer to Gwen for which she was extremely grateful.
As Lyanna sat there by herself she thought of all the people that she had lost. Marie. Her mother. Even Freya appeared in her memory for she still wished that she had gotten to know the Druid girl better. So many innocent people had died before they had gotten the chance to live. She hoped that they were all in a better place without any pain.
"Lyanna? Where are you?" Merlin's voice interrupted her thoughts. For some reason he had chosen to use this way of communicating again after yesterday's events, and she hoped that this wasn't becoming a habit. She preferred to talk to him in person. "Can you answer me? Please."
She wasn't in the mood to talk, even if she appreciated his concern.
"I can't find you anywhere and no one knows where you are. Lyanna, I'm worried. Can you please tell me where you are? If not I'm going to use my magic to find you," he told her.
She scoffed. "Just leave me, Merlin," was all that she said before she broke off their communication. She knew that didn't put him at ease and that he was still going to use his magic to track her down and find her here. Therefore she leaped onto her feet and whispered a blocking spell. "Icwale chunas bywir."
She turned around and began to head for the secret exit out of Camelot so that she could go undetected in case Merlin would ask one of the guards if they had seen her pass. Once she was beyond the wall she ran towards the forest. It wasn't as if she planned to escape from Camelot. She honestly longed for some time to herself without being disturbed. One thing was certain. As soon as she put a foot back into Camelot Merlin would demand an answer.
Lyanna walked between the trees and took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air cleaning her lungs. There was nothing as peaceful as being surrounded by nature. This was one of the only opportunities that she had to spend some time on her own and she planned to use it wisely, without being disturbed.
For nearly an hour she continued to walk in silence, listening to the calls of nature around her. When she had reached her destiny she felt tears puddle in her eyes as she looked at the almost black water of Lake Avalon. She knelt down on the shore. The last time that she had been here they had burned Freya's body. Just thinking about that brought sadness back to her.
"I don't know what to do anymore," she said, trying to hold in the sob. "I'm either losing people that I care about, or they betray us."
A stronger breeze appeared out of nowhere. Lyanna closed her eyes as the wind blew through her long hair. "Darya, Witch of the Moon, there will always be people to stop you from achieving what you want. It makes you stronger, and builds you to the person that you are today. It means that you cannot give up and that you need to pick up the pieces to fight for your beliefs," a voice whispered.
Lyanna opened her eyes again and saw that she was alone. She realized that she must've imagined that voice which sounded a lot like Freya's. Maybe because the Druid girl had lost her life here was the reason that she was hearing her voice. Wherever it had come from the voice had been right.
"It is the duty of the Ilunavar to help Arthur to become the Once and Future King to unite the land of Albion," the voice continued. "You're not alone, Darya. There will always be people who guide you."
By now Lyanna was convinced that she hadn't imagined the voice. She was hearing it crystal clear and it indeed belonged to one person. "Thank you, Freya," she said gratefully, with a smile on her lips. "Or should I say: Lady of the Lake?"
She could almost hear her laugh. "Other people may call me the Lady of the Lake, but for you and Merlin I will always be Freya. One day I will repay you two for what you've done for me. Stay strong, Darya. You'll find your way. We will meet again."
With that the voice of Freya had ebbed away and Lyanna knew that she was gone. It surprised her that she was able to communicate with Freya even though the girl had died. That didn't mean that Lyanna was going to come here all the time to simply chat with her. Freya had more important things to do.
It was after nightfall when Lyanna was walking through the palace corridors again. She had sat by the lake for several hours until the sky began to darken. She opened the door of the physician chambers. As soon as she stepped inside she felt two strong arms pulling her into a warm embrace. The scent of lemon and forest surrounded her, and she was glad to be in his arms again.
"Lyanna, where have you been all day? I've tried to track you down, but you had used your magic to block mine so that I couldn't find you. I thought something terrible had happened to you," Merlin ranted and only tightened his grasp on her.
She nuzzled closer into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry. It wasn't my intention to worry you, but I just needed some time to myself. I went for a walk through the forest and eventually dropped by a lake where I sat for a couple of hours. I came back right away."
"Well, I'm glad that you're back save and sound. Don't ever do this to me again," he pleaded desperately, kissing her hair several times.
"I won't," she promised him as she slowly stepped out of his hold, immediately feeling colder. His arms went limp by his side. Lyanna now saw that Gaius had seen their emotional moment, and was looking at them with a raised eyebrow. Of course he knew. "Hello Gaius. Did you have a busy day?" she asked instead, changing the subject from them.
He shook his head. "Not quite."
"We think that Morgana has stolen the Crystal," Merlin suddenly blurted out. "I'm quite certain that she did it. I caught her in Arthur's chambers. She must have taken his keys."
"Can you prove any of this?" Gaius asked sceptical.
Lyanna walked over to the small kitchen to collect the dinner for them and bringing it to the table. "Not exactly," Merlin muttered before sitting down at the table. He looked up and gently pulled Lyanna beside him. She had already dinned with her father and Arthur before she came here so she wasn't hungry so she just watched them eat.
"I'm convinced that she has done it. I'm even willing to bet my life on it. I know that we cannot accuse the King's ward without any proof, so we won't. Morgana knows how to manipulate anyone anyway," Lyanna butted in, leaning her head onto her hand.
"It doesn't make any sense. Why would Morgana steal such a thing?" Gaius questioned them.
"My father told me years ago that the Crystal is an instrument of magic. Do you think that it can be used as some sort of weapon?" Lyanna asked in return.
"That I don't know. The sorcerers of the past believed it held the secret of time itself."
"What do they mean by that?" Merlin asked.
Gaius shrugged slightly. "I'm not sure. The Crystal's an artefact of the Old Religion. There is only one who could tell you more."
Lyanna's gaze lingered to Merlin who was staring at her and they both thought the exact same thing. After dinner was finished they left the physician chambers together and made their way to the tunnels underneath the palace. Lyanna was holding the torch which lightened their path.
"We need your help," Merlin said as they stood in the cave.
The dragon looked up at them. "I'm sure you do, young sorcerers, but first you must honour your promise."
"I said that I would set you free, and I will," Merlin continued and Lyanna looked at him in pure astonishment. She wasn't able to remember that promise. "When I know that Camelot is safe I'll set you free. Will you please trust us?"
"Why should I?" Kilgharrah asked sceptically.
"Because you don't have another choice," Lyanna retorted, biting her bottom lip.
The dragon gave in. "What is it that you wish to know, Milady?"
"Can you tell us more about the Crystal of Neahhtid?" she questioned him.
"To those who know how to use it, the Crystal holds great knowledge," Kilgharrah explained to them. "The knowledge of what is, what has been, and what is yet to come."
"Do you mean it can show you the future?" Merlin wondered.
The dragon nodded. "Among other things, yes."
Lyanna sighed. "Unfortunately the Crystal has been stolen by the Lady Morgana," she enlightened him.
It stunned both of them when Kilgharrah suddenly let out a booming laugh as if someone had told him an hilarious bad joke. Lyanna knitted her eyebrows. "The witch does not have the power to wield the Crystal," he said between laughs.
"Do you think that the Druids boy has?"
"Mordred? It is possible. Why do you ask?" Kilgharrah asked.
"We have a reason to believe they're involved in this together," Merlin said.
The dragon narrowed his eyes. "Once before I warned the two of you for the Druid boy. It is his destiny to bring about Arthur's doom! It may be that time is upon you."
"What do you mean?" Lyanna questioned, lowering the torch.
"The ancient prophecies speak of an alliance of Mordred and Morgana united in evil, but this union must be stopped, whatever the cost," Kilgharrah warned them before flying away and leaving them alone.
"Lyanna! Lyanna! Wait!" Merlin called after her as she stormed out of the cave with great haste.
"I can't! You heard what Kilgharrah said! We have to stop them!" she helped him remember. He caught up with her and she heard him breathing behind her. "If it is their destiny to turn against Camelot then it is ours to stop them. We have no other choice."
He gently brought her to a halt by grabbing her wrist. She stared at him before she felt his fingers intertwine with hers and warmth entering her body. "I know. If we're going to do this, then we're going to do this together," he replied and Lyanna placed a chaste kiss on his cheek before she pulled him along with her.
As they reached the outside of the castle they were just in time to see Morgana walking past them, wearing her hood up to cover her face. Lyanna looked at Merlin. "You go follow her. I'll go get a horse and catch up with you," she whispered to him before turning around and running towards the stables.
Since it was late there was no one there and she found Lumiere in the back end of the stables. She began to saddle the steed as fast as she could so she wouldn't waste any time. Lumiere was very obedient and didn't stir when she placed the saddle on his back. Once he was saddled when pulled him with her by his reigns and left the stables. She smoothly mounted him before kicking him into a canter and riding through the gates.
The only light Lyanna had was that of the moon and it was rather dark as she rode swiftly between the trees. Unsure where to go she used a tracking spell and followed it. Within a couple of minutes she caught up with Merlin. "Can I help you, Sir?" she asked him in a playful manner.
Merlin rolled with his eyes as she extended her hand and lifted him in the saddle behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she kicked Lumiere into gallop. Lyanna felt his body heat radiating though his clothes, which she was grateful for. It was a rather chilly evening and she hadn't brought a cloak with her. This way both they were keeping each other warm.
They rode through the forest for hours unsure where they were going. Lyanna felt Merlin snuggling closer to halfway through the night. Eventually the sounds of hoofs touching the earth and Merlin snoring quietly in her ear were all that she heard for hours. She didn't mind that he had fallen asleep. The events of the last day had been tiring for him and he needed some sleep.
Lyanna made sure that she kept a safe distance from the King's ward so that Morgana had absolutely no clue that she was being followed. She could still see her riding ahead of them in the distance.
More hours passed and the sun appeared above the trees and slowly began to light everything around them. Lyanna cursed under her breath. They had been riding all night. It was rather foggy when Lyanna pulled Lumiere to a halt. She slightly turned her head. "Merlin," she called out quietly. Since he was sitting behind her she had no access to wake him properly. He began to smack into her ear and she giggled. He really wasn't a morning person. "Merlin," Lyanna called again. His grip around her waist tightened. "If you don't wake up I'm going to throw you in that cold stream there and -"
That was enough for him. "I'm up. I'm up," he muttered with a croaky voice. "But can't I rest for another five minutes? I was having the most wonderful dream." He placed his head down on her shoulder to make himself comfortable again.
"And what was it about?" she asked with interest.
"We were inside the banquet hall in Camelot. There was lots of food and things to drink and they were playing the nicest music. Everyone was looking at us in awe as we gracefully swayed together across the dance floor. Only I wasn't a servant because I was wearing more formal clothes than that. When the dance ended we shared a kiss and hundreds blue butterflies appeared out of nowhere. To my surprise everyone began to clap loudly," he enlightened her.
Lyanna couldn't help but smile widely as she imagined what he had just described for her. It sounded like a wonderful dream. "Maybe some day it will be reality," she replied hopefully. "But are you sure that it was at Camelot because it seems unlikely that magic can be used."
"Yes, I remember the banquet hall. I even spotted Arthur in the crowd," he told her.
"Arthur?" she repeated puzzled. "Well, perhaps it how you imagine things to be in the future. Us being married and magic no longer being feared in Camelot under Arthur's reign."
"That does sound very lovely," Merlin agreed with her.
"Like I said, perhaps one day. Right now we have some important things to do. Come on, lover boy," she said before she hopped off Lumiere's back and tied her horse onto a tree. Once Merlin was standing on his feet she turned around. "She went this way."
An occasional crow squawked in the trees as they hurried after the King's ward but made sure they kept a safe distance from her so that they wouldn't be caught. Eventually they saw that Morgana had leaded them to a camp. They crouched down on the forest floor huddled together as they watched Morded running to Morgana and hugging her. She then gave the Crystal to another Druid man, which they quickly discovered was named Alvarr.
Lyanna felt her chest tighten. They had been right all along. Morgana had indeed stolen the Crystal and had given it to the Druids. They weren't able to guess their motives, but it seemed likely they would use it to attack on Camelot if such a thing was possible.
"We've seen enough," she said determined before standing up and hurrying back to where she came from. Morgana's betrayal was really painful and it felt as if someone was repeatedly stabbing her with a knife. Of course they had been suspicious after a while especially after Aglain's warning, but she didn't dare to believe it.
"Are you alright?" Merlin asked her when he caught up with her and when they were out of hearing range. He gently grabbed her by the wrist and forced her to look him into the eyes. Lyanna slowly nodded. "Morgana did just betray you and your family. Are you sure that- "
"Quite sure. We should be getting back," Lyanna cut him off as she walked back to Lumiere.
"I'll ride this time so you can get some sleep," he offered kindly and Lyanna figured that she couldn't argue with him. She climbed behind him onto the steed and she tightly wrapped her arms around his waist as he kicked Lumiere into a canter. Her head rested onto his shoulder as she listened to her surroundings, but mostly to his steady heartbeat which she felt against her skin. It didn't took long until the exhaustion from the past day caught up with her and she drifted to sleep.
Lyanna growled and slowly opened her eyes to get used to her surroundings. She was lying in her own bed in the same dress that she had worn the previous night. As she climbed out of her bed to open the curtains and to let the light in the memories came back to her. Her hands were shaking slightly at the anger she felt, but she chose to ignore it.
By the stance of the sun Lyanna figured that it was around noon and that she had slept for a while. She walked over to her vanity and began to untangle her long hair by brushing it before carefully braiding it to the back into separate layers. At that moment Gwen entered her bedroom, looking rather alarmed.
"Oh, there you are," she cried out in relief before she hugged the Princess. "When I came here this morning to wake you up you were nowhere to be found. I figured that you were with Merlin. So I asked Arthur if he knew where Merlin was, but he told me that his manservant hadn't showed up. Therefore I started to worry. Not even Morgana was around. Can you please tell me where you've been?"
Lyanna bit her bottom lip. "You remember that Crystal that was being stolen?" she asked and Gwen nodded as they pulled back, but held onto each other's arms. "Merlin caught Morgana in Arthur's chambers before that and only Arthur's key has access to the vaults. The person who had stolen the Crystal knew where the keys were because they were also missing, so we figured that Morgana was behind it. We followed her last night when she sneaked out of the castle. She had leaded us to a Druid camp where she delivered the Crystal to them. I don't know what her plan is, but she's up to something," Lyanna rambled, her voice trembling a bit from rage.
"Are you implying that she might be plotting with the Druids?" Gwen questioned in bewilderment. Lyanna shrugged. "Why on earth would she do such a thing?"
"You and I have seen how fond she was of Mordred. He had been the one who had sneaked into the palace a few days prior and was hiding in Morgana's chamber again, clearly to ask her to steal the Crystal. Gwen, Morgana has magic, but she doesn't know about Merlin and I because I was told not to trust her. And it turns out that I was right for not doing so. She's up to something and we have to be cautious."
Gwen blinked unsure a couple of time. "She has magic? Are you sure?"
"Of course, I am. Why do you think that she suffers from nightmares? She's a seer. Someone who sees visions from the future. But you must promise me not to tell anyone, Gwen. She can't know that I've told you. It's for your own safety," Lyanna pleaded. "I feel sorry for bringing it to you like this, but you have a right to know."
"I'm glad that you're being honest with me. It's just a lot to take in."
"I know." Lyanna pulled her friend into another embrace again to comfort her. She hated seeing Gwen looking so down and wanted to do whatever was in her powers to cheer her up.
"But what are you going to do about it?"
"We have to be cautious until we know more," Lyanna replied. "Don't worry too much about it. Please."
It was approximately an hour later when Lyanna was standing in the council chambers with her arms crossed in front of her chest. A small council was gathered and Lyanna was feeling extremely uncomfortable by the fact that Morgana was seated beside her, but did her best not to show it.
"You know the whereabouts of the Crystal?" Uther asked, eyeing the court physician.
He nodded faintly. "I believe so, Sire."
"I see. How did you come by this information?"
"In my capacity as physician I have dealing with many people. They hear things, Sire, and they see things. Last night Lady Lyanna and I were confronted by one such man during one of our rounds who told us that the Crystal had been stolen by a band of renegades led by a man called Alvarr," Gaius said, clearly lying. Lyanna chewed on her cheek, realizing what Gaius was doing. If the King believed them they had a reason to chase after the Crystal without telling on Morgana.
"Who exactly was this informant?" Uther questioned.
"Father, I think it would only be fair to protect their identity. If news of the betrayal were to reach these renegades, it could indeed endanger their lives," Lyanna quickly replied, acting along. She could feel Morgana's gaze burning on her, but she ignored it. Now was not to the time for it.
The King seemed to believe them. "Where is this Alvarr hiding?" Arthus asked them instead.
Gaius looked at Lyanna for a brief second. "He was last seen in the Valley of Chemray, Sire," he informed them.
"Summon the guards, Arthur. I want this matter investigated without delay," Uther ordered and Arthur walked out of the court room to do so. Lyanna hesitated for a second before hurrying after her brother. She found him in another corridor and she easily caught up with him.
"Is there any chance that I may come along with you?" she asked in a friendly manner.
Arthur frowned. "I don't know if that's wise, Lee. It may be dangerous out there," he objected.
"As if that should stop me. Arthur, I know how to fight so I'm sure I'll be alright. Besides isn't it wise to travel with a physician in case any of your men gets hurts? I like to think that will make your so say quest a lot easier," she tried to persuade him and it seemed to work.
"Fine," Arthur gave in. "We'll leave tomorrow morning. Bring some warm clothes with you because it will be chill outdoors." With that he strode away to summon the guards. Lyanna smiled proudly because it had actually worked before she made her way back to her own chamber with great haste.
Arthur hadn't lied when he had said that it would be cold outside. The red cloak that the knights of Camelot always wore, was now wrapped around Lyanna's neck to keep her warm as she kept shivering. One of the knights had been so kind to lend it to her.
For several hours they had been riding through the forest now and barely a word was being said. Even the large group of knights and guards were quiet as they marched further between the trees. It was a rather foggy morning which made the mood of Lyanna even more sour. A part of her longed to be back in her own warm bed, but she had insisted to come along herself so she shouldn't be complaining.
"I don't know why I bring you on these expeditions," Arthur suddenly said after a long moment of silence, eyeing his manservant. "You spend the whole time terrified."
"I'm not terrified," Merlin retorted. Lyanna knew that he was telling the truth. He was just kind of tensed because they weren't sure what they could possibly expect.
Arthur scoffed. "Yes, you are. I can tell you are," he replied convinced.
"No you can't."
"If you weren't scared, you'd be talking rubbish as usual," Arthur said before looking over his shoulder at Lyanna, who knittered her eyebrows in confusion. "Don't you agree, Lee? You're not even remotely scared as he is."
Lyanna was about to argue back, but Merlin was faster. "Well, I am talking rubbish as usual," he said, until he realized what he said. Arthur let out a laugh. "I mean, I am talking as usual, so clearly I'm not scared."
"Arthur Pendragon," Lyanna began, her voice surprisingly calm. "Can you please stop being so mean to Merlin? I could also share a story with these men about that time that you went to -"
"Lyanna!" Arthur cut her off and she giggled in return when he began to blush. It was a rare sight to see the Prince of Camelot like that, but she was enjoying in nonetheless. "Stop that! No one needs to know."
"I'm quite curious to hear about what happened," Merlin butted in quietly, earning an angry glare from Arthur.
"I'll tell you when we're alone," Lyanna assured him and gave the manservant a cheeky grin, causing Arthur to feel even more uncomfortable for the fact that his younger sister and his manservant were so smitten with each other.
"You'll do no such thing, missy!" Arthur protested.
Lyanna snorted. "Yeah, as if that's up you," she muttered in return.
The knights around them were laughing quietly to not draw a lot of attention so they wouldn't anger the prince, much to Lyanna's amusement.
They continued to ride for a while more and the fog slowly seemed to lift, making it much cleared for them to see where they were going. When they reached a fork in the road they stopped.
"Where now?" Arthur asked.
"No idea," Merlin retorted.
"I thought you said Gaius gave you directions."
Lyanna looked around the road and didn't seem to recognize this part from when they had been riding here a few nights ago, which meant that they had been coming from another way.
Merlin dismounted his horse while Arthur kept shouting at his manservant. Lyanna was pretty much throwing daggers at her brother as she crossed her arms. She bit her bottom lip as she able to hear Mordred's voice inside her head again. "They're coming! Warn the others!"
Arthur hopped off his horse now and walked over to Merlin. "What on earth do you think you're doing?" he demanded to know.
"It's that way," Merlin said after a moment, pointing them in the right direction. "I know this because there's a footprint here." Lyanna smoothly dismounted Lumiere to have a look and knew that Merlin had used his magic to create it.
"So? It's a footprint. Who says it belongs to a renegade?"Arthur protested.
"Quick! Create more," Lyanna ordered Merlin telepathically in a friendly manner who did it nonchalantly when no one was looking. "Arthur, there are more prints over here."
Arthur looked at them. "Follow me!" he shouted at his knights before he walked into the given direction. Lyanna's gaze met that of Merlin and she smiled proudly at him before walking after her brother.
The route leaded them to a more secluded part of the forest and they were forced to leave their horses behind because they didn't fit there. They were forced to sneak under low branches or through bushes and Lyanna cursed softly when the red cloak that she had been wearing got stuck onto a branch and she heard the fabric ripping when she pulled it free.
It didn't took long until they reached their destination and they were knelt in front of the camp. "You need to have more faith in Merlin," Lyanna whispered to her brother as she unsheathed her own sword, as Arthur glared at her in return. "He was right all along."
They sneaked into the camp. Arthur stood up straight and stuck his sword into the ground as he went to check the campfire. "Well, whoever was here, they're not here anymore," he stated.
Some thing didn't feel right with Lyanna. She had the oddest feeling as if they were being watched, but she couldn't stop anyone. "Yes, they are," Merlin said from beside her. Clearly he was feeling the same thing as she was.
The sounds of arrows being shot caused them all to turn around. Lyanna froze when she felt a stabbing pain coming from her right shoulder. She looked down and saw the end of an arrow piecing out of her shoulder, as blood dribbled through her chainmail. Lyanna watched with widened eyes as the renegades ran into the camp. The sound of battle was surrounding her at every side as she was slowly losing her vision and things became blurry. Her breathing became shallow as the pain in her shoulder only increased. She fell onto her knees and closed her eyes as the pain overwhelmed her. The sounds around her ebbed away and she was slowly losing her consciousness and it didn't took long until she was succumbed by darkness and fell to her side.
Meanwhile the battles had ended and the knights were looking around the camp for casualties when one of them caught sight of Lyanna. "My Lord!" he immediately called out with panic in his voice. "Lady Lyanna has been hit!"
Arthur was standing on the other side of the encampment and hurried over to them before kneeling down next to his sister and gently cradling her into his arms. He then saw the end of the arrow coming out of her shoulder and gasped in horror, unsure what to do next. Merlin sat down beside them, worry washing through him.
"Is there something you can do?" Arthur asked him with a faint voice.
"I...I'm not a physician," Merlin stammered in protest. "But I'll do what I can."
His world was standing still the moment he had seen Lyanna pale body lying in her brother's arms as most of her armour had coloured red because of her loss of blood. He hoped that Gaius long lessons were enough to help her.
Merlin pulled the arrow out of her shoulder and heard Lyanna groan in pain bellow him as more blood welled up out of the wound, with great haste this time. He took off his neckerchief and pressed it against the wound.
"Can anyone go back to her horse to get her satchel out of the saddle bag?" Merlin queried in a rather rude manner.
"Is she going to make it?" Arthur asked worried. His eyes refused to leave Lyanna as he softly caressed her face.
The young warlock swallowed loudly. "I'm doing my best, Arthur," Merlin retorted in a toneless voice. He couldn't lose her. She was the most important part in Merlin's life and was doing whatever he could to make sure that she would make it. If his treatment wouldn't be working he would use magic to save her. He didn't care one bit about getting caught. He just wanted her to be alright.
A guard came running back and handed Merlin the satchel that he had requested. Merlin opened it and looked through the healing supplies that Lyanna had brought with her on this trip. He pondered for a moment wondering which one she would use. He had spent many hours listening to her as she talked to him and made these potions and salves herself, which was a good thing because he knew what to use. He grabbed a salve and undid the lid before gently rubbing it in her wound.
Even when she was unconscious she still let out a muffled scream and somehow cradled closer to Arthur as sweat drops began to fall down her forehead. The herbs inside the salve were clearly stinging in the deep cut, but it helped to stop the bleeding.
Merlin grabbed some bandage and began to wrap it around her shoulder to keep a gentle pressure onto it. "So far there is nothing that I can do, but we need to get back to Camelot as fast as we can so that Gaius can have a good look," Merlin clarified. "She's going to be fine."
A sea of relief washed over both Merlin and Arthur, knowing that Lyanna was going to be alright. "Thank you, Merlin," Arthur said gratefully with a low voice. "I honestly don't know what I would've done without you. I could've lost her and that is something I can't bear."
Merlin smiled, stunned that Arthur had actually thanked him. "Well that is something you shouldn't worry about. She's safe now," he retorted.
Lyanna had a strange taste in her mouth and tried to open her eyes which caused her a lot of effort. It was all dark around her and the only light that she saw was that of the moon and the campfire next to her. She looked up and met Merlin's gaze who was looking concerned at her. He seemed to be having watch duty while the others were soundly asleep.
"Mer-Merlin," Lyanna croaked and tried to sit up, but Merlin gently held her down.
"You can't sit up. You've got shot in the shoulder and lost a lot of blood," Merlin enlightened her with a soft voice. Briefly her gaze went to injured shoulder and she saw the blood drained bandage. She looked back at Merlin again who was staring at her. "How are you feeling?" He gently placed his hand on her forehead to check her temperature. "You've been out for quite some hours."
"As long as I don't move it's not too bad," Lyanna replied with a faint voice. "Did you look after my wound?" He nodded. "Thank you."
He addressed her a warm smile. "We've captured Alvarr and got back the Crystal. It's over now. You should be getting back to sleep."
Lyanna took a deep breath. "Can you hold me?" she suddenly asked, noticing that his eyes widened and his pupils dilated. "It's just that I'm cold."
Merlin nodded hesitantly before scooting closer to her and carefully pulling her to him without putting any pressure onto her shoulder. Lyanna's was lying with her back against him, as her head rested on his chest. He grabbed a nearby cloak and lay that across her to keep her warm before he wrapped his arms around her waist as she nuzzled closer against him. "Are you comfortable?"
"Yes I am. Can you now please tell me what's upsetting you?" she asked softly.
"I just thought that I would lose you when I saw you there on the ground between the fallen knights," he admitted truthfully.
"No, there is something else that you're not telling me. Please, Merlin," she pleaded. "I can tell it when you're distressed and you can share that with me."
He was silence for a moment. "I... I picked up the Crystal and I saw... things. Things I wish that I hadn't seen," he said to her. "I saw flashes of Kilgharrah flying as Camelot was burning. I could hear the people screaming and I saw myself crying. It.. it was horrible."
"But it's over now. Whatever you saw doesn't necessarily has to come to pass. Or do you believe that the Crystal shows flashes of the future?"
She could feel him placing his head against hers as his warm breath gently touched the skin of her cheek. "I don't know. I can only hope that it will not happen."
"Can you promise me that you will not worry too much about it?" Lyanna pretty much begged him.
He placed a kiss on her cheek. "I promise, Lyanna. Now go back to sleep. No harm will come to you. I'll watch over you." That was all that Lyanna needed to be put at ease and she closed her eyes. She listened to his steady and clear heartbeat which soothed her to sleep.
It was around noon the following morning when Lyanna was being placed into her chair in the council chamber. They had traveled the entire morning and she had been placed in front of the saddle on Arthur's horse as he held her close. Gaius had just taken a close look at her wounder shoulder and had told her that it could be months before the pain would be completely gone, which was an upsetting thought.
Because she had gotten badly injured again she could tell that Arthur was extra alert around her to make sure that she was alright. Even now she saw that he kept watching her more than he always did. For some reason it was making her feel incredibly anxious.
Even Uther was bewildered when he saw how his daughter was being badly hurt, and had asked about a hundred times how she was doing. One thing was certain. If Lyanna had any intention of joining her brother on another quest they wouldn't allow her simply because they're scared that she'll get hurt again. She could only hope that would pass in time when she was feeling her old self again.
More people made their way into the council chamber and Lyanna felt herself tense when Morgana approached her. "I've heard you got shot. How are you feeling?" the King's ward asked her.
Lyanna seemed to choke on her saliva and cleared her throat. "I'm fine," she replied with a steady voice.
Morgana seemed to notice that her presence wasn't valued and took a few steps to the side. At that moment Alvarr was being dragged into the council chamber by two guards they threw him onto his knees.
"So, you admit to stealing the Crystal of Neahtid?" Uther questioned him.
"I do," Alvarr responded.
"You admit plotting against your King?"
"I do."
Uther placed his hands upon his hips. "And you acted alone? You were not aided or abetted by any citizen of Camelot?" Lyanna quickly asked instead.
The man narrowed his eyes at her. "I acted alone," Alvarr said, but Lyanna knew that he was lying.
"Then I find you guilty of treason," Uther called out. "You are an enemy of Camelot, Alvarr. You are sentenced to death."
"Then I die with honour. To be an enemy of Camelot is no crime."
"Take him away," Uther ordered.
The guards pulled Alvarr onto his feet. "You Uther, are the criminal," he spat back.
Uther waved for the court to be dismissed and immediately Gwen was at Lyanna's side. "Do you need someone to lean on, Milady?" she asked her.
Lyanna shook her head as she saw Morgana watching them in the corner of her eyes. "No, but I could use the company."
That night Alvarr had someone managed to escape out of the cells and was nowhere to be found. It had become clear that he had received help of someone in Camelot. As they stood in the council chamber again Lyanna listened to her father's words.
"Let this be understood, whoever has done this, they have betrayed me. They had betrayed the kingdom. If I ever discover who it was, the will rue the day they were born," Uther warned. As he said that Lyanna couldn't help but stare at Morgana who was looking incredibly uncomfortable.
Once again I apologize for taking so long to update, but that's over now ;) I've been filling my time without internet by watching the newest Hobbit movie in the cinema and I can't remember the last time a movie made me cry so much. So I really recommend that to everyone because it's glorious.
HPuni101: Ah thank you for saying that :D
Guest: Was there enough fluff for you haha ;p I honestly tried to update this chapter as soon as I could so I hope you understand haha ;) No, it's perfectly normal to jump up and down when you see that I've posted a new chapter haha. That doesn't make you weird haha. But thank you for your sweet review!
Ravenclaw Heronstairs: Yes, Lyanna and Merlin are so adorable together. I'm not going to stop with the fluff and plan to do that for the rest of the story haha. Well, Morgana is going evil now and Lyanna is determined to save those who she cares about ;) Thank you for your review!
jhahn1989: I'm going to respond to all your reviews in one time to make it easier for me haha. I'm glad that you thought that Lyanna's emotions towards her mother felt real to you :) and also that you really liked the way that the chapter with Freya turned out. I didn't want to make Lyanna angry towards Freya or have some sort of battle for Merlin, so this seemed better to resolve this situation haha. Merlin will always choose Lyanna, don't worry haha. And yes Merlin's speech to Lyanna made me emotional while writing it so I can imagine that you were gleeming. And yes Gwen and Arthur are such a perfect couple and their kiss is such an important moment. I loved the little forget me not bit with Myanna ;) The two of them are really in love haha. But thank you for all the reviews!
Lbunny: I assume that there was enough Myanna fluff for you in that chapter haha ;) I'm glad that you liked it.
ArmyWife22079: Oh yes I'm sure that the two of them had conversations about that. But he has been there all along and has seen Merlin and Lyanna falling head over heals for each other and he is glad that they've found it with each other ;) They're both like his children after all and they couldn't make him happier.
Bugsbunny: Ah bless you! And yes I'm bringing on more fluff! I seriously can't stop writing it and I have no intention to do so haha. And you're right haha. Gaius has an unfortunate timing but Lyanna had to be reasonable ;) They can't exactly rush things. But thank you for the review :D
lauren6498: Oh wow. It honestly warms my heart that you've read the entire story nonstop and that you're enjoying it so much. And yes I had to make Lyanna and Merlin's relationship develop slowly so that it's more natural ;) Thank you so much for your sweet review though.
Rosehanna: Ah you're back! I'm over the moon that you liked it so much. I was so curious to read what you thought about it and I think that I've done well haha. There was indeed so much fluff. I hope that helps to make you feel better though. And don't worry about don't reviewing so fast, it's not like you're expected to review all the time ;) Real life is more important unfortunately. Oh yes, I'm sure that must've been a hectic time :( and yes she will only ever marry him though ahha ;) And I'm glad that I've made your break from unpacking ten times better. I hope you're feeling better now. Thank you for always reviewing, dear.
Fantasyfiction1997: I'm glad that you like it so much. Thank you for saying that :D
Narnian Dreams: That's very sweet of you to say this :) I'm happy as long as you are haha. My English isn't my first language, but I'm glad that you love it though haha.
LunaPendragon: I've written much more and I'm going to update again soon ;-) And thank you for saying that.