CHAPTER 25
I do not own Merlin and I am making no profit off of this.
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A NOBLE SACRIFICE
The Old Woman and the Mother Goddess came down to the Isle of the Blessed from their home dimension, and smiled as one of their priestesses instantly appeared to greet them. They were glad after Alice's betrayal that they could at least still count on someone to be loyal to them these days.
The priestess bowed her head in obedience as she said, "I am yours to do with as you wish. What is your command?"
"Are you truly willing to do whatever we ask?" The Old Woman asked.
They had to do this just right. The sacrifice had to be a willing one for this to work.
"Yes. I live to serve you," the priestess said.
"Will you die for us as well?" The Mother Goddess asked.
The priestess nodded as she said, "If that is what you command."
"You must do this without any hesitation or mental reservations whatsoever. If you have any doubts at all about this, tell us now or your sacrifice will have been in vain," The Old Woman warned.
"I have no doubts. I will live and die to serve you with whatever you require me to do," The priestess said.
"Lie down on the altar then. We want you to know this. Your sacrifice here today will help us to achieve ultimate dominion over Albion at last. You will be remembered forever as the one who helped us turn the tide," The Old Woman said.
As if they would really remember her at all afterwards. They would forget her the second she expired. She didn't need to know that though or she might not go through with it.
"Then I will die gladly," the priestess said as she lay down on the altar nearby.
"Good," The Old Woman said with a sinister smile as she produced a knife from her robe.
Back at the Magic School, Alice suddenly screamed, "No!"
"What are you going on about?" Nimueh asked as she looked at her suspiciously.
Both Alice and Fiona had been taken to the Magic School to be watched over by either Nimueh or Merlin at all times because they still didn't trust either of them enough to bring them to Camelot. Oddly enough Gwaine had asked to help guard them, and it seemed as if he was doing it more to protect them from Nimueh than vice versa. In fact, Merlin had actually told Nimueh that he thought that Gwaine believed that Alice really had changed.
Nimueh herself would take a lot more convincing before she would ever believe something like that though. The Triple Goddess had done far too much to her for her to ever blindly trust anything that any of them would say ever again. She had made that mistake once too often before and had always wound up regretting it.
"Is something wrong?" Gwaine asked Alice with concern.
He had already started to think of her as a friend as hard as that was for some of the others to believe. Sophia though seemed to take it in stride amazingly enough with no signs of jealousy whatsoever and had even jokingly accused him of having a thing for magical women from other dimensions who chose to exile themselves on Earth. He had assured her that he loved her and only her of course.
"Yes, I can feel the Veil being ripped open. The Old Woman is behind this. She has to be. This has her handiwork written all over it," Alice said in an alarmed voice.
"The Veil?" Gwaine asked.
"It's the boundary between this world and the Spirit World. If it has been ripped open, then that means that the Dorocha have been released. They're the spirits of the dead who can kill the living with a single touch. No one in Camelot will be safe if they're unleashed upon it," Nimueh said as she looked at Alice with a mixture of skepticism, anger, and fear.
"What can we do about it?" Gwaine asked.
"The Old Woman tricked someone into sacrificing themselves to open it, and only another sacrifice will close it. I'm sorry," Alice said sadly.
"Why? It's not your fault," Gwaine said.
"Of course it is. They wouldn't be doing this if I hadn't left. Now they're desperate and willing to try anything including something as stupid as this. People are going to die, and it's my fault," Alice said.
"That never bothered you before," Nimeuh said.
"It does now. I've changed whether you believe it or not," Alice said in anger.
"Well, I don't believe it. I'm always going to think that you're up to your neck in whatever the other two goddesses do until I see solid proof otherwise," Nimueh said.
"I believe her, Nimueh. I really do think that she's changed," Gwen said.
"You're too naïve, Gwen. You always want to believe the best about everyone," Nimueh said.
"That's a good thing for you too because if I didn't believe you were basically still my friend I would never have tried so hard to convince so many of the students to stay here. Half of them are terrified of you," Gwen said.
"Only half? I must be losing my touch then," Nimueh said with a slight smile on her face.
"Stop that," Gwen said with a sigh.
"Thank you, Gwen. I really appreciate your giving me the benefit of the doubt after my recent change in personality. You're being right about me doesn't mean that you're always right though," Nimueh warned.
"It doesn't mean that she's wrong either. Thank you for sticking up for me," Alice said to Gwen.
"Don't mention it. I just want you to remember that if you're ever tempted to go back to the other two. Don't disappoint me," Gwen said.
"I won't. I promise," Alice said.
Nimueh groaned in irritation as she said, "Of course Merlin would pick now to go off and get ready to pull off his stupid Dragoon idea and take Gaius along with him. I need to check this out, but I can't leave her here alone and unwatched."
"Gwaine and I are both here to watch her not that I think she needs watching," Gwen said.
"Neither of you are sorcerers though. She'd overcome you and escape in an instant," Nimueh said.
"Just go and see what's happened for yourself then. I won't go anywhere," Alice said in irritation.
"How about we go together instead?" Nimueh said as she grabbed Alice's wrist, and they both disappeared in an instant.
"Do you really think it's as bad as Alice says it is?" Gwen asked worried.
"I'm afraid so. I must go and warn Arth – I mean Lady Morgana," Gwaine said as he instantly corrected himself.
"I'm not used to that yet either. Don't get me wrong. I love Morgana, and she's my best friend. She'd do a great job as the Queen I know, but it will take her a while to get used to things. Camelot could be in great danger in the meantime, and I'd feel much better about things if Arthur would just come to his senses. We need him whether he believes it or not. I really hope that Merlin's little trick on him works," Gwen said.
"So do I," Gwaine admitted.
He immediately rode off to warn Morgana of what Alice had said even as Gwen thought long and hard. Finally it occurred to her that maybe Arthur didn't need to be tricked as much as just appealed to in the right way in order to see reason. She wondered if maybe she could try talking to him herself. They had always been good friends despite her status as a servant so maybe she could talk him into going back to the throne.
It was worth a try anyway.
"Fiona, I want you to watch the students for me. I'm going to Camelot for a while," Gwen said without telling her what she was really up to since she knew that she wouldn't approve of it.
"You'd really trust me after everything?" Fiona asked with surprise.
"Yes, I do. I think you're a good person deep down despite what happened. Just keep them all here no matter what happens and be careful. You heard what Alice said right? If the Dorocha can come inside the cave, then you're the only one who can protect those kids," Gwen said.
"Thank you, Gwen. I won't forget this," Fiona said as she embraced her.
Then Gwen left as she rode off to try to do the impossible and change Arthur's mind.
As all of this was going on, Merlin, Gaius, and Sophia were hiding in a hut near Camelot as Gaius handed Merlin the potion that would turn him into an old man. The time had finally come for Dragoon the Great to make his appearance at last. Merlin just hoped that Arthur had bought all of the tall tales that the others would now be telling him about Dragoon.
Merlin hesitated for a moment as he looked at the vial. He wanted to do this because the kingdom needed Arthur, but he wasn't so sure about becoming an old man.
"What's the matter, little brother? Afraid?" Sophia taunted him with an evil grin.
"That's easy for you to say, Soph. You'll always be young. You're immortal so you never have to worry about aging," Merlin said.
"Don't worry, Merlin. The antidote will change you back whenever you want. You won't be stuck that way," Gaius reassured him.
"No, but I still don't exactly fancy the idea of becoming old even temporarily," Merlin said.
"You should be glad that it's not a permanent condition. Some of us have no choice but to be this way," Gaius said.
"I could change that if you want," Sophia offered.
Gaius looked at her in surprise and said, "Thank you, Sophia. I'm very touched by that. I think I'll just stay as I am though."
"There would be no strings attached or anything if you're worried about that. I'd never do that to you," Sophia said in a serious voice.
"I know that, Sophia. I just don't think that it's a good idea to try to change the natural order of things," Gaius said.
"The offer's always open, Gaius," Sophia said as she smiled at him.
"Thank you. Go ahead, Merlin. Let's see what you'll look like when you're an old man," Gaius said as he tried to change the subject.
Sophia took the hint and said, "Yeah, I can't wait. I wonder if you'll be as ugly as I think you will. Of course you're pretty ugly now so I don't think you could possibly look much worse."
"Ha Ha!" Merlin said before sighing.
Merlin then swallowed the potion and quickly changed into an old man with white hair and a long white beard. He felt positively ancient now and ached all over his body.
"I hate it already. I feel like I want to go to sleep for a hundred years. It's like all of the energy has just been sucked right out of me. I bet I do look just as awful as you thought I would," Merlin said to Sophia.
Sophia surprised him by saying, "You don't look that bad. Don't worry about it. If I didn't know it was you, I'd never recognize you. Arthur's going to be completely fooled."
"I agree. You're totally different now. You look much more powerful and wiser somehow. I can see that you truly are going to be a powerful sorcerer someday. Perhaps the most powerful one ever," Gaius said with undisguised pride in his voice.
Sophia looked extremely sad and wouldn't make eye contact with him causing Merlin to ask, "Are you alright?"
"I just don't like seeing you this way. I don't want you to grow old. I don't . . . I don't want to lose you," Sophia admitted.
"Don't worry. It won't happen for real for a long time yet," Merlin said reassuringly.
Sophia nodded but still continued to look extremely upset. Then she suddenly kissed Merlin's cheek and hugged him. Now he knew she was upset because she was being nice to him and showing her true feelings. She usually didn't do that.
"Don't worry, Soph. It's okay," Merlin said as he returned her hug.
Now Gaius knew where her offer earlier had come from. She hadn't wanted to lose him either. He was even more touched because he realized now just how much he meant to her. She meant a lot to him as well. He already thought of her as a daughter just as he thought of all of the others as his children because except for Nimueh and possibly Sophia they were all so much younger than he was.
He knew that he would do anything for them even die in order to keep them all safe.
"Now it's time for me to put my plan in action. I just hope that I have enough energy left to still ride a horse," Merlin joked as he left the hut.
Morgause, Morgana, and Freya meanwhile were all carrying out their part in the plan by trying to convince Arthur of how powerful a menace that Dragoon the Great was before Merlin even got there. They had been filling Arthur's head with stories about him the entire morning and warning him about his possible arrival in Camelot at any time now.
As Morgause started to tell Arthur another story about Dragoon, Arthur finally said in an irritated voice, "That's enough already. If I hear any more about this Dragoon, I'm going to slap someone in the stockade that isn't Merlin for once. I'm still the king until Morgana is crowned after all."
"You're still the king period, Arthur, and Camelot needs you against this new menace. The legends say only its true ruler can beat him and that's you. It would never be me," Morgana said.
"You'll do just fine. Even if you can't beat him yourself, Morgause will have him heading for the hills in no time. She's very scary when she gets angry especially now," Arthur said smiling reassuringly at her.
Morgause glared at him as she said, "What's that supposed to mean? Is that a pregnancy joke? If it is, I'll show you just how scary I can really be."
"See?" Arthur said to Morgana looking completely unworried at the furious look on Morgause's face.
"If I wasn't carrying your child, I would seriously consider ripping your heart out right now," Morgause said.
As Arthur laughed at Morgause which made her even more furious, Freya tried to diffuse the situation by bringing things back to Dragoon as she said, "Arthur, this is no laughing matter. Dragoon may be the greatest threat that Camelot has ever faced. I used to hear about him back home all the time. He tore apart entire villages and devastated whole areas. Wherever he goes, he completely destroys everything there within the week."
"Don't worry, Freya. The knights and I can handle him until Morgana can use her magic to finish him off. That's another reason she should be the Queen. She has magic and I don't," Arthur said.
"I'm still learning it too. It's not like I'm at my mother's level yet," Morgana protested.
"You will be though. I bet you'll be more powerful than anyone very soon now," Arthur said proudly.
Morgana couldn't help but smile at him as she said, "Thank you. I still don't want this job though. It was meant for you, Arthur, not me. What would you do if I suddenly renounced my claim on the throne? If you don't reconsider stepping down, I just might do that. I am not facing Dragoon all by myself."
"Morgana, don't talk like that. You're going to be wonderful. The people couldn't have a better ruler than you. You've always been so much wiser and better with dealing with others than I am. I really can't think of anyone better to trust with Camelot than you," Arthur said in a completely serious voice.
"I can. You," Morgana said in exasperation.
"Once Morgana is crowned, then we can finally get married, Morgause. If you still want to marry me that is," Arthur said.
"Of course I do. I'm sorry for running away before when I saw you with Sophia. I should have known that you'd never betray me," Morgause said as her anger at him instantly faded.
"How could you know? I wasn't even sure myself then. I was so furious at myself for making you leave because I didn't want to lose you, and then I guess I must have transferred that anger to Fiona. I let my emotions get the best of me, and a true king must never do that," Arthur said.
"Why not? Our father used to do it all the time," Morgana said.
"Yes, and look how much damage he did and how many people he killed because of it. I don't want to become him, Morgana," Arthur admitted.
"You won't, Arthur. You never could," Morgana said.
"No, you never could. You're far too kind to ever become like our father. You're the perfect choice to be the ruler for that very reason," Arthur said.
Morgana finally lost her patience and screamed in a furious voice, "I don't want to be Queen! Don't do this to me! Don't you think that I might have plans of my own?! Did you ever consider that?!"
Arthur was taken back completely by her sudden display of anger as Morgause said with a smirk, "Bet you don't think she's so kind now, huh?"
"It's what's best for the kingdom though. How would we ever get the students back without you?" Arthur said.
"We'll think of another way because it's definitely not what's best for me," Morgana said.
"No, this is for the best. Someday you'll see that," Arthur said unconvinced.
Morgana groaned in protest even as Merlin finally made it into the kingdom at last. He didn't think he was ever going to get there. The whole trip there on horseback was pure agony for him.
Now that Merlin could see his friends up ahead, he instantly went into the character of Dragoon as he marched towards Arthur with glowing hands and said, "I am Dragoon the Great, and I have come to finally claim Camelot as mine at last. Surrender to me now or I'll completely wipe it from the face of the Earth!"
Then to demonstrate his point, Merlin blew a huge chunk out of the nearest wall with a powerful mystic bolt of energy from his hands and sent many of the townspeople panicking as they raced away from him in absolute terror. Arthur, however, didn't seem bothered by this in the slightest.
He marched right up to Merlin and said, "Merlin, if you do that again, I'm going to put you in the stockade, old man or not."
"What?! I'm not Merlin. I am Dragoon the Great. How dare you confuse me with someone else?!" Merlin said as he tried to salvage what he could already feel was a completely lost cause.
"You can stop the playacting now, Merlin. You're not going to convince me to change my mind this way. Now just do whatever it is that you need to do to change yourself back because you look completely ridiculous," Arthur said with an evil grin on his face.
"How? Gaius and Sophia both said that I looked completely different. How did you see through me?" Merlin asked.
"Oh, please. I know that you have magic now, and I've been learning all about the different things that can be done with it ever since I started to allow it in Camelot so that I knew what I was getting myself into here. Besides that, the others have been talking my ear off about you all morning. Plus you made sure that the people were all out of the way before you attacked that wall. I'm not quite as stupid as you obviously think that I am, Merlin. Now change yourself back and stop all of this," Arthur commanded.
"I can't believe this. I really thought my plan was foolproof," Merlin protested as he took the potion to reverse his premature aging.
"Well, it obviously wasn't because you were involved," Arthur joked even as he watched Merlin change back.
"Very funny," Merlin said in his own voice now that he was himself again.
"I thought so. Now that the whole matter of my stepping down is completely settled, let's all go back to our ordinary duties. No more nonsense, Merlin. Got it?" Arthur said as he stared Merlin down.
Just then Gwaine came riding into the castle and warned Arthur about what Alice had told him. Arthur sighed and rolled his eyes as he said, "You can stop now, Gwaine. I've already discovered Merlin's little plan and put a stop to it."
"This has nothing to do with that, sire. This is the truth. The goddesses have unleashed the Dorocha on us all," Gwaine said.
"I must admit that you're a very good actor, Gwaine. You almost make me want to believe you," Arthur said impressed.
"I'm not lying. It's true," Gwaine said in exasperation.
"He's telling the truth, Arthur. This isn't my idea," Merlin said.
Suddenly as if to underscore his words, several skeletal Dorocha appeared out of nowhere and began attacking the people of Camelot. Arthur immediately called the knights to arms as the surprised king automatically started to come up with a plan to defend his kingdom.
It was at this moment that Gwen finally arrived and saw that she was much too late to talk to Arthur about anything. She could only hope that this battle opened his eyes up for him. If not, then she would make sure that he heard everything that she had to say. She was not leaving his side until he agreed to be the king again either one way or another. She picked up a sword and smiled at Lancelot as she went to stand by his and Gwaine's side while Arthur gathered the rest of the knights as quickly as he could.
Gaius and Sophia also arrived at this moment to see the entire kingdom in chaos and immediately went to help without hesitation. They joined with Merlin, Morgana, Morgause, and Freya as they used their magic to attack the Dorocha and try to keep them away from the townspeople.
It seemed as if everything and everyone was coming together now as Nimueh and Alice now arrived too. They had just seen the dead body on the Isle of the Blessed and had fought their way through an entire army of newly released Dorocha in order to come here to warn Arthur. They could see now that they were already too late though.
As Camelot descended into chaos, Alice warned Arthur, "They'll destroy everyone here unless the rift that's been opened between this world and the next isn't closed. Someone will have to travel to the Isle of the Blessed and sacrifice themselves in order to close it though since that is where it was opened."
"I'll go then," Arthur said.
"What? No!" Morgause shouted.
"It's my duty as the king," Arthur said.
"No, it's my duty. I caused this," Alice said.
"No, you cannot sacrifice yourself no matter how much you might wish to. Only a mortal can," A hollow, echoing voice said.
They turned to see an old woman with sad haunted eyes wearing a long black hooded robe staring at them. She looked at Alice with sympathy as the goddess went down on one knee in front of her.
"Don't do this, o mighty Cailleach. Call them all off, and you can have my life in order to close the Veil. I'll give it to you freely as long as you don't hurt anyone else," Alice offered.
Everyone except Gwaine and Gwen looked at her in absolute shock especially Nimueh. They finally realized at last that she had meant every word that she had said about changing.
"I cannot take your life. You are bound to the very land itself. You cannot die. It is your destiny to go on living and make amends for all of the terrible things that you have done. This is only the start of the very long road that you must walk," the Cailleach said.
"Like I said before, I give myself up," Arthur said.
The Cailleach laughed as she said, "Eager to die so quickly, Arthur Pendragon?"
"If it will save my kingdom, then I will in a heartbeat," Arthur said.
"Always so noble, aren't you? Or is it really nobility at all? Perhaps it is not your destiny to die here today though. Did you ever think of that? Perhaps you're trying too hard to run from your true destiny out of fear. You did almost kill someone because you feared their power after all just like your father," the Cailleach said.
"Maybe that makes the choice to sacrifice myself even easier. I don't deserve to be the king. Maybe this is what's best for everyone," Arthur said.
"So be it then. Come with me of your own free will, and I will spare your kingdom," the Cailleach said.
"No, don't do this!" Alice protested.
"Arthur, you can't. I won't let you," Merlin said as he attempted to knock Arthur out by punching him in the back of the head.
Arthur didn't go down though, and he began to fight back as he said, "Don't try to stop me. This is for the best, Merlin."
As the two of them fought with one another, Gaius stood before the Cailleach and said, "I am already an old man. Accept me and spare the king. He still has a child on the way and a woman who loves him to share the rest of his life with."
"No! Take me instead. He's a good man who's never done anything to anyone. It should be me. I've done so many terrible things," Nimueh said as she pulled Gaius away from the Cailleach and stood in his place.
"Everyone is so eager to die today it seems. I usually don't get this many offers," the Cailleach joked.
"Is this funny to you? I don't think it's funny at all. I will gladly sacrifice myself if I have to save my mother and brother, but don't expect me to grovel before you. I will not beg you to take me for your amusement," Morgana said proudly as she stood protectively between Nimueh and the otherworldly woman.
"What a noble queen you will become. I can already see the beginnings of that here today. Like so many here today, your destiny has been changed completely. Instead of the road to ruin, you now walk a road of peace. No, I don't think that this is funny at all, Queen Morgana. I simply do what I must. A sacrifice must be given to close the Veil in order to balance out the one that opened it. The remaining two members of the now broken Triple Goddess want that sacrifice to be Arthur so that Morgana will become the queen. It does not have to be that way though."
"Then take me. It's Arthur's destiny to be king not mine," Morgana said.
Even as they argued over who would be sacrificed, Camelot continued to be torn apart by everything going on around them. Arthur knew that many people would die if he didn't put an end to this now. He had to be the one whether the others liked it or not. He knew that Morgana would be a good ruler in his place. He had no doubt whatsoever that he was leaving Camelot in good hands.
He quietly slipped away while the others argued and headed for the Isle of the Blessed. If he had understood Alice correctly, then the sacrifice would have to be done there in order to work. He would ride there before anyone could stop him and walk into the rift himself. That should fix everything he hoped.
He thought that he had left without being seen, but he was wrong. Someone did see, and they followed him. They loved him more than he would ever know, and they were not about to let him sacrifice himself like this. Not if they could help it.
Arthur soon reached the island and quickly found the tear in reality. As he walked towards it, he was approached by the Old Woman. Somehow he knew who she was without having to be told.
"You think that you've won, don't you? You haven't though. The kingdom will go on even without me. Morgana will never be corrupted by you no matter what you think," Arthur said defiantly.
"I guess you'll never know, will you? All that is certain is that if you don't sacrifice yourself soon your kingdom will be lost anyway. Go now and fulfill your true destiny, Arthur Pendragon. Go and return this land back to us," the Old Woman said laughing as she disappeared.
Arthur began to walk forward without hesitation. Then his whole world turned black as he was hit from behind. As he fell, he was caught by his attacker who gently lowered him the rest of the way to the ground.
Gwen kissed the dazed Arthur gently on the lips as she said, "I couldn't let you do it, Arthur. I love you too much. I always have you know. I didn't say anything when you choose Morgause because I wanted you to be happy, and I think that you are despite how wild she seems sometimes. She truly loves you too. I can tell that. I think the two of you will be very happy together. In fact, I'm sure of it. When you go back, you marry her and you stay on the throne, Arthur. Camelot needs you. You are not your father, and you never will be. What you did was because you had lost the person that you loved, and it broke your heart. You weren't thinking straight because of that, and now that you know that you'll never make that mistake again. Your father may have started out that way too once, but in the end he only did what he did out of hate and nothing but hate. He could never have admitted that he made a mistake like you did. The two of you couldn't be more different. Don't let a single mistake keep you from doing what you were born to do, Arthur. You go back and you lead this land into a new age of peace just like you were meant to do. Tell Lancelot that I love him and that I'll wait for him on the other side for as long as it takes. Tell him not to grieve but to move on with his life for me. I want him to do that. I want you to do that too. Don't worry about me. I want this. Your people need you to live, Arthur. I need you to live too. Goodbye, my love."
Then she walked into the rift, and it instantly sealed behind her. Arthur now fully regained his senses just a moment too late, and all that he could do was grieve her. He had never even known how she truly felt about him, but he should have.
"Goodbye, Gwen, and thank you," Arthur said in tears.
Back in Camelot, the Cailleach bowed her head and said, "It is done. The sacrifice has been made, but not the one that was expected."
Merlin became enraged as he said, "Who then? If not Arthur, then who?"
"The person who was perhaps the most noble one of you all. She wasn't born a Queen, but she certainly should have been one," the Cailleach said as she vanished before their eyes.
Arthur returned later to confirm what the others had already guessed. He told Lancelot what Gwen had said, and he began to openly weep as did everyone else. They had all been touched by Gwen in some way or another, and they would all miss her greatly.
Alice found that she was crying as well. She teleported away now to the one person that she wanted to see the most, Fiona. Fiona consoled her even as she watched her in surprise. This was definitely not the same being who she had first met. This was someone else entirely. This was someone who had emotions and could feel. This person was now more a human being than a goddess.
The students of the Magic School cried now as well as Gwen had been close to all of them. They had all loved her and knew that they could always rely on her to be there for them no matter what. Who would they have in their lives to do that for them now, and who would ever be that good a friend?
Sophia meanwhile had her worst fears come true. She knew that Gwen was but the first to go. One day she was going to lose all of the people that she loved. One day she would be all alone, and the others would be nothing more but a distant memory. The thought of that was already tearing her apart, and she knew now that this was the true price that she would have to pay for her exile here on Earth. She would have to go on living while everything else around her crumbled.
Or would she? She looked at Merlin and she wondered. Had she always been drawn to him for a reason? Maybe someday she would find out. Eternity might almost be bearable if she had her brother there along with her.
Later that day as the entire kingdom prepared a memorial ceremony for Gwen, Morgana and Arthur met alone in the throne room. Arthur had told her that he had an important decision to tell her about.
"Morgana, I'm not sure what I'm going to do next, but I do know that I need time to think about it. I'm taking Morgause, and I'm leaving Camelot," Arthur said.
"What? What about what Gwen said to you?" Morgana asked in disbelief.
Would nothing change his mind?
"I don't know. I just don't know. I need some time to myself to think. I'm not saying that I'm still going to abdicate, but I'm not sure that I'm not going to either. I just need to discover who I really am because now I'm not sure anymore. I'm going to marry Morgause, and then I'm going on a short leave of absence. You'll rule while I'm gone of course. Don't worry. I'll be coming back. When I do, I'll finally know whether I'll be staying on or handing things here over to you. I'm sorry that I can't tell you anything more than that right now, Morgana. I'm just so confused and conflicted that I don't even know what I want myself. When I finally clear my head though, then I'll come back. Okay?" Arthur said.
Morgana nodded as she said, "You'd better come back quickly or I'll hunt you down. Trust me when I say that you don't want that."
Arthur smiled as he said, "I'll come back. I promise. I'm sorry. I should have asked you how you felt before I just dumped all of this on you. If I decide I don't want it and you still don't want it, I'll see if I can find someone else that we could give the throne too."
"No, you're not. You're going to go out there, get your head together, and then come back to the throne. Got it?" Morgana said.
"Maybe," Arthur said.
"No, that's what's going to happen. I command it," Morgana said smiling.
"Not even on the throne yet and already giving orders. I knew you were a natural," Arthur said as he hugged his sister tightly.
Merlin smiled as he silently watched them. Maybe just maybe things were going to be okay. At least he now still had the hope that they would. He just wished that Gwen hadn't had to die for it all to come to this point.
The Old Woman and the Mother Goddess meanwhile silently cursed the girl who had sacrificed herself so that Arthur would live. They couldn't touch her because she was now far beyond their reach, but they could still make her sacrifice be in vain. They would dog Arthur's steps on his little journey of self-discovery and make sure that they broke him one way or another.
They would not let Arthur keep the throne. Even though he survived that did not mean that he would still be king. He would never be the king again if they could help it.
Gwen's sacrifice had only dealt them a minor setback and nothing more. They would still have their way, and Morgana would still become the Queen.
It was only a matter of time now.
Next: Arthur and Morgause get married at long last, and he goes off to find himself. Will Morgana like the decision that he comes back with or will the remaining goddesses succeed in breaking his spirit forever? Maybe Arthur just needs a little help from a friend to finally make him understand his true importance. Meanwhile while Arthur is gone, Morgana faces her first challenge as acting Queen. Will she be up to the task?