CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
Camelot seemed different now. The knights were people he should be wary of rather than as his friends as he used to think of them.
Around Arthur, he was nervous because he hoped that he could not see the resembelance between himself and Mordred.
Now, as he watched him spar with one of the knights, he could see it.
He could see himself when he was a little younger than Mordred was now and he could see Morgana in his trusting eyes.
Merlin forced a smile as Mordred passed him in the corridor one late afternoon.
"Merlin." He called.
He stopped and turned slowly with that false smile in place.
"Yes, Mordred, are you well?"
He nodded and returned Merlin's smile.
"I am thank you. I wanted to speak with you about Morgana."
Merlin stomach flipped and he swallowed.
"What about her?" He asked awkwardly.
Mordred shrugged a little.
"Well she is my aunt, Merlin. I wondered if you knew more about her than what she told me when I was growing up. Mother did not tell me much." He admitted.
Merlin sighed.
He knew, even if Mordred did not, that Morgana was his true mother and no father should bad mouth a mother to their son.
He thought back to when all she had wanted to do was to help people and make this kingdom fair and just.
"Morgana was a very compassionate person, Mordred. She lived to make people happy and wanted nothing more than for everyone to be treated as an equal. Uther was a stern king and with your... aunt, being as stuborn and she was and is, I should imagine, she found that hard to live with, so naturally, she rebelled." He told him as truthfully as he could.
Mordred nodded in understanding and with a small smile.
"I used to admire her so much, Merlin. She fought for what she believed in, in the name of good only but now... now I am not sure what she is doing."
Merlin shrugged and looked down at the floor.
"She just wants to be accepted, I think that is the bottom line."
Mordred nodded again.
"She must know that what she is doing is wrong though?"
Merlin nodded.
"We can only hope that given time, she will come to see the harm she has done and beg for forgiveness but I still believe her to be a good person deep down."
Mordred stared at Merlin and put a hand on his shoulder.
"She talked about you, Merlin... I could tell she loved you very deeply."
The words hit home and all Merlin could do was force a smile as his son walked off to join the rest of the knights in the weapons chamber.
...
Morgana waited patiently with her mother pacing around beside her.
"This is the worst plan you have ever had, Morgana! Lot will kill you! Why are you even bothering?" She fretted.
Morgana raised an eyebrow.
Nothing, not even her mother's words of concern would change her mind.
"I need an army and Lot has one. If he will not help me willingly, I shall have to use force and the only way I can gain control of Lot's army is to kill Lot."
She could hardly believe that she was travelling back to the place that had caused her so much pain. It was not just Lot that she was going back for though.
That druid had her magic and she wanted it back.
She went into the darkling forests, where she knew the druids resided, even if the right druid was not here, she would find where he was. She would make sure of it. Vivienne had made Morgana take her along with her after a heated argument and Morgana agreed that she would take her to the darkling woods but then she would have to turn back after that.
Vivienne reluctantly agreed.
They both stopped their horses and Morgana gestured for Vivienne to follow her into the dark cave.
She threw back her hood and strode in there with purpose.
An elderly druid was the first to appear.
He stared at her with a frown on his face.
The druids were peaceful people by nature and she knew that no matter what she did, they would not dare to harm her.
"You are Morgana Pendragon." He said, his voice shaky and uneven due to his age. She smirked at him as he huddled over to her.
"And you will do nicely." She muttered darkly.
She grabbed him and spun him around, using him as a shield to force her way in. When she pushed him into the larger part of the cave, she saw many more of them and they all got to their feet and frowned at her.
She stared at each one of them defiantly and held the man tighter to her.
Vivienne could only stand back and watch.
"I am looking for a druid, a druid who works for Lot." She told them.
A druid stepped forward, his eyes were sad.
"You have been robbed of your magic, Morgana... this is the cause for your anger."
It was not a question but she answered anyway with a slight shrug.
"Among other things."
He nodded and bowed his head.
"The druid you seek is not here."
"Where is he then?" She snapped.
The lead druid shook his head slowly.
"I cannot say. For you, Morgana to claim back your magic, could mean that Emrys will not fulfil his destiny and we cannot allow that to happen." He explained.
Her lips tightened and she pushed the man she had been holding in front of her as a shield, forward and pulled out the dagger she had had concealed beneath her dress. She held it up and Vivienne gasped as she stared at her daughter.
"Tell me where the druid is or I shall kill this man." She warned.
The lead druid sighed and stared at her.
"This man has no quarrel with you, Morgana. Release him."
She grinned and raised an eyebrow.
"As you wish..."
Within seconds the dagger was in the old druid's back and he gasped as pain wracked his frail body.
She pulled it free and pushed him onto his side as a few of his companions rushed to help him.
"Morgana stop this! You will never know of the druid's whereabouts."
She shrugged.
"Then more of you will die, the choice is yours, druid."
He sighed and shook his head at her.
"The druids once took you in, don't you remember that? How they looked after you before Merlin arrived in Camelot?" He questioned.
There was a time when she had been but a child, she had become lost in the woods and attacked by a serket. They had healed her wound and looked after her until they were sure she was safe to go back to Camelot.
Clearly, she had pushed that memory aside to focus on her main goal.
"That was a long time ago and now I am stronger than all of you put together." She boasted.
"You are with your magic, but without it... then what are you, Morgana?"
Her temper flared and she grabbed the nearest druid she could, a young girl, no more than fifteen years old.
"Morgana, don't." He pleaded.
She only stared at him and pressed the knife to the girl's throat.
"Does she have to die next? How many will you let go of before you tell me what I want to know?"
The druid's voice was eerily calm.
"As many as it takes."
Morgana stared at the druid to see if he was bluffing but he just stared right back at her and she gripped the girl tighter.
"I don't believe you... You will not let this girl die just to protect a druid." She sneered.
Vivienne spoke up from behind her.
"He will, Morgana..."
Morgana spun at the sound of her mother's voice and as her grip loosened, the girl ran free into the arms of the druid leader.
She turned and glared at the leader before glancing down at the terrified girl in his arms.
"You are all fools! Arthur will never acknowledge you, and this Emrys? If he is all powerful, then why is he not here protecting you all?" She questioned.
The druids remained silent and Morgana felt a tug on her arm. It was her mother.
"Morgana, lets leave this place. You will find Lot's druid by some other means."
Morgana allowed herself to be lead away by her mother.
Outside, they mounted their horses and rode off in the direction of Lot's kingdom. Vivienne remained quiet for the whole journey.
It was only when they neared the small town and Morgana slowed her horse to ride beside her mother, that Vivienne spoke.
"How do you plan to find the druid?" She asked slowly.
Morgana looked around at the rain soaked grass and the forest that crested the hill.
"There must be someone who knows these things around here. I have enough gold to bargain with."
Vivienne only nodded.
Her daughter frowned at her.
"You seem quiet, mother. May I ask what is wrong?"
Vivienne sighed.
"Back in the druid cave... you were..."
"Merciless? Heartless? Cruel? Take your pick, mother. I can also be all three."
It sounded like a boast but there was nothing to proud of about Morgana's murderous actions.
She glanced at Morgana's face and was shocked to find a cold grin playing across her pale lips.
Surely she was not happy about killing that old druid? She just had to know.
"Did you enjoy killing that druid?" She questioned and tried to keep as much accusation out of her voice as possible.
The grin disappeared.
"It had to be done." She answered simply.
"But did you enjoy it?"
She shrugged.
"Does a forest dweller enjoy killing a stag for something to eat?"
It was cryptic and a question within a question.
Vivienne took that to mean that Morgana took no pleasure in what she did but only that she felt it had to be done.
She stayed silent once more and Morgana found herself sighing at her mother's silence.
"You do not agree with what I do?"
Vivienne shot her a look and Morgana clenched her teeth.
"You said that I deserved the crown and that you understood me, why the sudden change of heart?"
"It is not sudden." Vivienne snapped.
Morgana stared at her mother, surprised at this change in her.
"You have been keeping things from me, Morgana, and Merlin knows something as well. I did not think that there was a soul in all this land who loved you, even now but there is and you seem to ignore that." She said disappointedly.
Morgana rode forward, ahead of her mother.
The gates to Lot's kingdom stood before them and Morgana stayed back.
She did not want to alert the guards to her presence just yet.
"There must be someone around here who knows the whereabouts of Atir." She whispered to her mother.
Vivienne only watched as Morgana dismounted and tied her horse to a nearby tree. She began to walk into the forest, leaving Vivienne to sit and watch.
Morgana knew that her mother would gradually break away from her. Everyone did. She ventured further into the forest untill she came across two young boys sitting by the small stream.
They looked like they were trying to fish and failing miserbly.
She stopped and stood behind them.
"Hello there." She said softly.
The boys jumped at the sound of her voice and spun on the ground to face her.
She offered them a friendly smile.
"Do not be afraid, I only wish to ask you a question."
They nodded in unison but said nothing.
"I am looking for a druid, a magic user names Atir, do you know of him?"
The blonde haired boy grabbed his friend's sleeve and shook his head at him. Morgana frowned.
They knew him but they were scared to tell her.
The dark haired boy looked as though he wanted to say something but his friend was warning him off.
"You know where he is then?" She asked, trying to sound hopeful and friendly herself. It was a difficult task for someone so resentful.
The dark haired boy tried to stand but the blonde one held him down.
"We are not to speak of him." He hissed into his friend's ear.
Morgana wanted to glare at the blonde one.
"I won't tell a soul that you told me, I give you my word." She told them.
The dark haired one found his voice and ripped his arm away from his friend.
"He lives in this forest. He is very powerful, so don't cross him." He warned.
Morgana smiled.
"I wouldn't dream of it. Thank you for telling me what I wished to know."
She then fixed her gaze on the blonde haired boy and the smile melted into an icy glare.
"You were lucky that your friend ignored you, otherwise it would be your little body that he would be fishing from the river." She threatened.
The blonde jumped to his feet and ran out of the forest screaming.
The drak haired one just stared at her with curious brown eyes.
"No harm shall come to you, boy. I promise."She said as she walked past him.
Morgana had not gotten very far when she heard footsteps behind her but when she turned, no one was there.
She frowned and continued walking. Probably just her imagination.
Twigs snapped beneath her boots and she quickened her pace.
There was just something about this place that unnerved her. That, or maybe it was the feeling of being powerless without her magic.
She moved on and kept her wits about her.
She didn't need anyone to startle or surprise her.
She stopped when she noticed smoke rising up into the air from a very cleverly concealed hut.
She smirked and began walking towards it.
The door was ajar and as she neared the druid's home, she noticed blood on the door handle.
Morgana went further into the little hut and looked around. She could hear someone and when she turned around to the cold and lifeless fireplace, she saw the same druid who had taken her magic, laying on the floor, his hand clutching his bleeding side. He was deathly pale and Morgana knelt in front of him, looking into his eyes. She frowned.
Had he not tried to heal himself?
She put a gloved hand on his shoulder.
"What happened?" She asked.
He glared at her.
"I was attacked... what are you doing here?" He spat with a cough.
"I have come to ask you to return my magic to me." She replied simply, as though he would do it there and then.
He chuckled as he stared at her.
"And why would I do that?"
She glanced at the blood seeping between his fingers.
"I can heal you. If you do not return my magic you will die. It's your choice, Atir." She told him.
He looked at her.
"What makes you think I cannot heal myself?" He shot back at her.
She stared at him cooly.
"If that were true, you would have done so already."
His eyes narrowed and he let out a long breath.
"If I give you back your magic, you give me your word you will heal me?" He questioned.
She nodded.
"I give you my word."
He nodded and with the little strength that he had left, he took hold of her hand and stared into her eyes. They flashed gold as he finished speaking the words of the old religion and she felt her old familiar power coursing through her, only it felt new and she felt strong and all powerful.
She felt as if nothing could stand in her way, not even the elusive Emrys, whoever he may be.
Atir coughed again, the effort it had taken him clear on his face.
"Thank you, Atir." She said as she looked down at him.
He nodded.
"Now... you heal me..."
She chuckled darkly and got to her feet.
"You... you gave me your word." He gasped as pain wracked his body.
"Unfortunately for you, Atir, my word means very little these days."
He glared at her and tried not to let her see how much pain he was in but she could see and she did not bother to watch as she turned and walked out of the hut, leaving the druid to die.
Mordred waited for the girl in the forest.
Her name was Kara and she was a druid girl. He had come across her when he was hunting with the knights and he was also surprised to learn that this was the same Kara he had met briefly when he was only a boy, travelling through the countryside with his mother and his aunt.
He had let her escape and lied to the knights and Arthur that she had overpowered him with her magic.
Thankfully, Arthur believed him.
Kara came to stand behind him as he stood with his back to the rest of the forest, looking into the river.
She made him jump as she put her hands on his shoulders.
"Kara!" He said with surprise.
She grinned.
"I could always startle you, Mordred. Glad to see that has not changed."
He smiled.
He loved Kara, anyone could see that.
Mordred looked at her, she was happy in herself but he could always tell when she was hiding something from him.
His smile faltered a little.
"What are you not telling me, Kara?"
"I... I am disappointed, Mordred. Arthur is the reason that we had to hide and still do as was his father, yet... you have become one of his knights. Why?"
Mordred sighed.
"Arthur fights for the right reasons. Morgana does the same but her methods are brutal. I could not side with someone like that." He explained.
She took his hand and pulled him away from the river.
"But don't you see? Morgana is not the enemy, Arthur is! Morgana wants all magic users to live like the rest of them. She, is who I fight for."
Mordred frowned, his eyebrows coming together.
"You fight for Morgana?"
Kara nodded proudly. "I do."
"Kara, Morgana is evil, she does not care about you or anyone but herself."
Kara frowned at Mordred.
"She is your aunt, Mordred. All she wants is justice for our people, but if you cannot see that, there is no point in me being here."
She turned to walk away and he stopped her.
"Kara wait! Look, I'm sorry but Arthur showed me great kindness-"
She cut him off.
"And Morgana has not?"
He stopped.
She had him there.
Morgana always made sure that Mordred was happy and healthy, she treated him like... well, like a son after Morgause died and even when she was alive, he felt that he could talk to Morgana about things he could not with his own mother.
He smiled at the memory of her teaching him how to ride his first horse when he was a little boy. But she was not that person now and he could not let himself forget that.
Suddenly, Kara's face turned to stone and she spun.
"Someone is watching us." She whispered.
Mordred drew his sword and stood protectively in front of her.
"Mordred you can't." She breathed fiercely.
He put a finger to his lips and waited.
Silence...
Kara glanced up at him.
"I should return to Morgana, she will be expecting me."
Mordred turned and grabbed her arm.
"No, stay here, with me in Camelot. You do not have to fight for her, she has many followers."
Kara shook her head.
"I love you, Mordred, but I am fighting for a world in which people like us can be free and not have to live in fear."
Mordred understood her frustration but he could not decieve Arthur, not after all he had done for him.
Suddenly, Mordred's fellow knights sprang from the trees and grabbed Kara. Mordred shouted at them to let her go but they ignored him and held Mordred himself as they were lead back to Camelot.
Mordred was put in front of the king and queen and he stared up at them from his place on his knees.
Athur was looking down at him, disappointment on his face.
Gwen sat by his side and she looked saddend by the news that Mordred had been seen with this girl.
They were told about the druid girl and someone told Arthur that Mordred was going to see her. That was how the knights came to follow them.
Arthur sat forward.
Mordred was glad that he did not have an audience around him.
"Why were you with the druid girl?" The king asked.
"I knew Kara when I was growing up." Mordred told him.
Arthur stared at his newest knight.
"Did you know she was a druid?"
Mordred hesitated, then nodded.
Arthur sighed.
"She has done no harm, my lord. I know she uses magic but not for evil reasons."
Arthur looked at him.
"Mordred the law is clear, she has magic, she came within Camelot's borders, she must be put to death."
Mordred stared up at Arthur and shook his head, his eyes filling with tears.
"No, please Arthur, there must be another way! Kara is an innocent! She would never harm anyone!" He cried desperately.
"We have reports telling me that she is in league with Morgana."
Mordred stared at him and swallowed, avoiding his gaze.
Arthur frowned.
"You knew?"
Mordred nodded slowly.
"I tried to tell her to stay away, I begged her to come away with me, I know Morgana is no good, sire, that's why I was speaking with her, I swear it!"
Gwen put a hand on her husband's shoulder.
"Arthur understands that you love this girl, Mordred-"
"She is my heart." He snapped, cutting her off.
His voice shook and tears filled his eyes.
Gwen nodded.
"But she is in league with Morgana and therefore cannot be trusted. We shall see her and let her speak but we cannot pardon her if she has no true claim to her actions." She told him.
Mordred nodded.
There was nothing more he could say to defend Kara.
He waited while the guards bought Kara before Arthur and Gwen.
She was shackled and made to kneel before the king.
"Kara, I do not want to sentence you if I believe that you do not deserve it." Arthur told her.
She stayed silent but he could feel the anger radiating off of her.
"Are you in league with Morgana Pendragon?" He asked her slowly.
She raised her head to stare at him.
"I am... and proud to be." She replied.
Mordred sighed.
"You came within Camelot's borders and used magic, are you aware of the law in this kingdom?"
She nodded.
"Yes but that does not mean to say that I agree with it."
Arthur sighed and looked at the girl.
"Morgana is using you, Kara. If you can apologize for your actions and working for Morgana, then I shall spare you, for Mordred's sake." He told her.
Mordred watched Kara intently. She had an opportunity to be free and avoid certain death, surely she would take it.
A cold grin split Kara's features.
"I have done nothing wrong and I shall apologize for nothing."
Her voice rose and she shouted about the injustice of it all.
Arthur called for the guards and they came to take her away.
"You do not deserve that crown Arthur Pendragon!" She screamed as she was lead away.
"Morgana is the rightful queen of Camelot and when that day comes I hope that you all burn in hell!"
Arthur stared at the young girl as she was dragged through the doors.
Mordred stared after her and shook his head.
He glanced at his king.
"She is just angry, Arthur. Please... don't put her to death. She doesn't know what she is saying."
Arthur sighed.
"I'm sorry, Mordred, she hangs tomorrow."
He got up and Gwen followed him out of the throne room.
Mordred turned on Arthur.
"I love her! Does that mean nothing to you?!" He raged.
Arthur stopped.
"You will learn to forget about her, Mordred... but I am truly sorry."
They left after that, leaving Mordred's anger and fury to fester into something more dangerous than any of them could have imagined.
