Chapter 28

Gwaine and Gwen headed home the next day to prepare for the King's tour in a few days. Usually, the King showed the visiting king around the kingdom briefly, staying for dinner at certain keeps.

Merlin and Elyan came to visit later that day. The sorcerer announced that they would be leaving in a few weeks. The two kings were working on an alliance. Though nothing was said, the knight and lady were relieved. The entire encounter had been a bit awkward. Merlin tried to explain Arthur's behavior.

"For Arthur, it never ended. He saw himself as robbed. You moved on. He had hoped for so long you'd come back or be found. Then to hear you died, only to find out later you weren't. Too see you here, happy, living the life he wanted to live with you has been very difficult for him. It brought out feelings he'd buried for a long time."

Meanwhile, the other side of the coin was riding, his thoughts echoing Merlin's words to Gwen. She was beautiful. He envied Gwaine a little. Every night, he lay next to her. Every morning, her face was the first thing he saw. He was gifted with her smiles, sweetness, and laughter. Gwaine was living the dream he'd carried in his heart for so long. It was the dream he'd lost. He wasn't unhappy with his life in Camelot, in fact, he was quite content. It was just looking at Gwen and Gwaine was a stark reminder of what he lost due to the deceptions of others.

Both kings enjoyed their visit. A shipping and trade agreement was reached between the two kingdoms. Arthur was saddened by the shell that was once his vibrant sister. She said little, the words she spoke sounding like a child's babble. After a few weeks, they prepared to leave. Once they had ridden out a few days, Merlin would activate the transportation spell. He wanted Morgana safe at home. The entourage left, riding through the country. Norian was a vast kingdom, its wealth rivaling Camelot's.

Screams pierced the air. Several horses startled at the sound, causing the knights to work at calming them down.

"IT BURNS! " It was Morgana.

"The king rode to her carriage. "What's wrong?" He shouted in order to be heard over her screams.

"We don't know", one of the maids said. "She just started screaming."

The king looked in the carriage. His sister was screaming, her limbs struggling to fight against the hold the ladies surrounding her had on her to keep from harming herself.

"Your Majesty, she was scratching and pulling her hair," one of the maids said. "We didn't want her to injure herself further."

Arthur nodded, his eyes widening in shock as Morgana wrenched free from the grasp of one of the maids. Immediately she began pulling at her skin, her long fingernails drawing blood.

"IT BURNS! MAKE IT STOP BURNING!"

The king was at a loss of what to do. Despite the description of some of Morgana's odd behavior from King Marshall's report, it did not prepare him for seeing her this way.

He was used to seeing her fierce and fiery. Even when she betrayed him, she was this way. This raving woman before him was a stranger to him.

Maybe we could stop for the night? Hopefully we can settle her down." The soft voice of the maid interrupted his thoughts. Looking up, the king noticed a keep not to far away.

Arthur nodded to Merlin "Go and see if the owners can host us." They were just outside of Fernstone. Merlin nodded, and headed to the manor, shaking his head at the irony.

Gwaine was riding in from work in the fields. He wanted dinner, a bath, his wife and sleep. Hearing horses' hooves, he looked in the distance. The rider was coming toward them rapidly. The lord was surprised to see Merlin. He smiled at seeing his friend.

"Merlin! What brings you?'

"Lady Morgana suffered a fright. The king wants to know if they can stay the night." Gwaine looked at him shrewdly.

"Does he know that this is our home?" Merlin shook his head.

"No." Gwaine rolled his eyes. Merlin could have given Arthur a little warning. He still didn't like the staring at Gwen, though it had decreased during their visit.

"Tell him they are welcome." Gwaine went to tell his wife the news.

The royal entourage settled in a few hours. The king, his wife and son, his sister, her maids, Merlin, his wife, and the personal guard were staying in the house. The knights stayed outside.

As the party headed towards the house, Gwaine and Gwen walked to meet them.

"Thank you,"Arthur said. Gwen curtsied and Gwaine bowed.

"It's no problem Your Majesty." A maniacal laugh filled the air. Everyone turned to encounter Morgana.

She was standing alone and unaided in the clearing across from them, the darkness of the forest behind her. A gasp emitted from the group as a whole at the sight of her.

Morgana's eyes were filled with madness. Her eyes flashed gold as she warily eyed the people around her.

"Finally, I have the people together responsible for killing my sister." Her voice was filled with anger.

The small gathering of people was silent. Finally one lone voice rang out into the night.

"Your sister died from her own foolish mistakes. She was bent on revenge. She was only using you Morgana." Merlin countered. He was the only one seemingly able to speak, as everyone's faces were frozen in shock.

Gwen stood with her mouth agape. Her nightmares were coming to life before her.

Arthur couldn't believe it. She still was evil. He had hoped that she would change to being herself again.

It was not to be.

Morgana looked at the group before, relishing in their shocked expressions. She had regained her memory shortly after coming to King Lionel's castle. She figured that it would be easier to continue pretending to be catatonic. This way, she could hear everything going on around her, and plan her revenge while seeming insane. She was thrilled when she discovered that Arthur was coming to get her. As they all faced her, she knew that she could now kill them all, and avenge Morgause. She was powerful. The only one more powerful than her was Emrys, and he wasn't there. Her eyes flashed, and a circle of fire surrounded the group.

Gwaine looked over at Gwen. She stood completely still; her wide eyes fixed in horror at the scene before her. Grabbing her arm, her pulled her to him. The sudden movement shook the lady from her trance. She turned large, frightened brown eyes to his.

"It's happening!" She cried. "Just like in my dreams!" Grabbing his arm, she pleaded "Don't leave me!" Gwaine pulled her close to him. She buried her face in his chest as his eyes scanned the scene before him. His main concern was getting Gwen somewhere safe in this surreal situation. The fire surrounded them like a fence. Looking up, the knight was taken aback at the flaming logs and branches headed straight for them. Briefly looking at Morgana, he noticed she was the source of the attack, using her eyes and hands to move the fiery logs. He moved quickly, throwing them to the ground at an angle where he would hit first, Gwaine moved them out of harm's way. Once they landed, he covered her trembling body with his own. Lowering his lips to his wife's ear, he spoke softly.

"We will make it." Gwaine's voice was calm as he spoke to Gwen. He felt her nod against him. He then rose, and pulled her up and alongside him.

"We have to find a way to help Merlin stop her."

0000000000000000

Merlin stared at his nemesis. One look into her eyes and he could see that she was unstable. Still, he didn't want to hurt her. Turning, he locked eyes with Sirian.

"Do what you must." Her voice spoke into his mind. Numbly, he nodded. It was a shock to see her this way. He remembered the loyal friend who fought for right, in spite of her impulsive ways. He thought of the lies that surrounded her that was a catalyst for her downward spiral, including his own.

He would never forgive himself for killing her. He knew that was the final act that made her their enemy.

Crackling branches sent all eyes skyward. Morgana continued to set the falling branches on fire and hurl the weapons towards them. Everyone moved to avoid getting hit, horrified that the circle was growing smaller. The heat and the smoke were stifling. Morgana's laughter rang through the night.

Whispered words from the king's advisor were spoken. Instantly, the fire died out and the smoke disappeared.

Morgana was dumbfounded. What had happened? She looked at the scene before her.

Gwaine was helping Gwen stand. She fell into his arms and wept.

Arthur was pulling Elaine to her feet. Relief filled his face as he held her close, his lips gently kissing her hair.

Merlin was holding a woman she recognized as his wife from the mirror. He was gently stroking her face.

In an instant, she realized she was surrounded by a force greater than her power.

Love.

They always triumphed because they loved. There was no love in her, not anymore. Her hatred killed it.

She was always alone. The people she thought she loved always betrayed her or left her. So she allowed her heart to grow cold. The very thing she wanted, her cold heart denied.

Limply, she sank to the ground, the strength from her limbs gone. She began to weep, her broken sobs carrying far into the night.

As she wept, her magic became unstable. The ground shook and lightning filled the sky.

Gwaine was holding Gwen when he heard it. Looking up, he saw a huge, heavy branch headed straight for Gwen. Quickly he pushed her out of harm's way.

Gwen looked in horror as the large log fell from the sky. Gwaine jumped back, but he wasn't fast enough. The side of the branch hit his temple and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

"GWAINE! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Gwen tried to run towards him, but she was trapped. Another log had fallen on her train, preventing her movement. She tried pulling her gown free, but the large log was too heavy.

Everyone looked up at her shout. Gwen was frantically unlacing her gown. Kicking it free from her feet, she ran to him. Cradling his head in her lap, she assessed the wound. A gash was on his temple, and bright red bleed tricked down his face. Quickly she began tearing strips from her underskirt. She held it firmly to his head to slow the bleeding.

Morgana continued to sob hysterically. Merlin walked over to her with his hand outstretched. Morgana's sobs ceased, then stopped as she was put into a deep sleep.

A/N: I agonized over this chapter. I promise that it gave me fits. I hope you all like it. It's pretty much happy times and resolutions from here on out. Thanks for reading, reviewing and adding!