CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Kara had been hanged and Mordred had left Camelot in a fit of rage.
He travelled to Morgana's castle and stormed inside.
Arthur had sentenced Kara to death, he now knew that his loyalty had been with the wrong person.
Morgana's guards stood in his way and Mordred glared at them.
"Let me pass." He snarled.
They still stood firm.
Morgana glanced over their shoulders from her place on her stone throne.
"Mordred... how nice of you to come by. It's been a while."
Mordred dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
"My Lady, I realize that I was wrong to have betrayed you and I am here before you to... beg for your forgiveness..." He said, fighting back tears.
Morgana stared at him.
She wondered if he knew who he really was, would he have betrayed her at all?
She pushed the thought aside as she stared down at him.
"Why should I give you what you wish?" She sneered.
Mordred met her eyes.
"Because I know something that you have wanted to know all this time... something that has eluded you but now, with my help, you will know all you need to." He told her.
She nodded, realizing what he meant.
"Emrys..." She hissed.
He nodded.
"I know who he is."
She sat forward, eager to hear what he had to say.
"Who is he?"
"He lives in Camelot..." He began.
She hit the arms of the throne with her fists.
"DAMMIT, MORDRED!" Her voice was loud and shook the very walls that she lived in. He swallowed.
"It's Merlin."
She stared straight ahead, not seeing anything or anymore.
Merlin was Emrys. Emrys was Merlin.
All through their time together and he had not once told her this.
She was angry, hurt and determined all at the same time.
Morgana stood and helped Mordred to his feet.
"Thank you, Mordred. You have my forgiveness. Now go and change into my armour, we cannot have you running around as a knight of Camelot now can we?" She said with a forced smile.
He nodded and went off to change.
Her guards stayed by her side until she dismissed them.
She paced around in front of her throne, wringing her hands.
Merlin would pay, she would make sure of it...
...
A crow landed on the window sill in Merlin's small room.
It made a noise, waking him at dawn.
He sat up and rubbed his eyes, frowning at the black bird as it sat with a small scroll attached to it's thin leg.
He got up and walked over to the bird, taking the paper from it.
It flew away and Merlin watched as it disappeared into the distance.
He frowned slightly and unravelled the paper.
Merlin
I need to see you. Come alone and meet me by the crystal cave. I wish to tell Mordred that I am his mother and you are his father.
I want him to know he has a family, Merlin. Please, do not deny him this.
Morgana
He screwed the paper up and put it in his pocket.
Morgana wanted to see him about Mordred?
He almost smiled.
Of course he would go to her. He would do anything if it meant that she felt she could change.
He packed a few things, got dressed quietly and snuck out before anyone knew he was gone...
The crystal cave stood before him. He stopped and looked at it.
He felt suddenly uneasy and hesitated.
"Merlin..." Her voice sang out from the cave.
He smiled a little.
Her voice would always stir him, he realized.
He pressed on and walked into the cave.
It was semi dark, a few sconces lit the dirt packed walls and he walked with purpose further and further into the cave.
He stopped once he found himself surrounded by all the crystals.
"Morgana?" He called out.
Nothing, no reply.
Merlin frowned.
No Morgana, no Mordred... where were they?
Suddenly, he heard footsteps on the earth.
He turned and there she was, standing before him like a gothic empress.
A smile played across her lips and she looked at Merlin.
He walked towards her and she took him into her arms in an embrace.
She sighed contentedly and relaxed against him as he held her.
"Why must we fight?" He whispered into her hair.
She frowned at the question.
"I do not know... but you are here now and I am pleased."
He pulled back and smiled.
"Where is Mordred?" He asked brightly.
"Mordred is not here. It is just you... and me."
She moved towards him again and snaked her hand around the back of Merlin's neck, bringing his face close to hers.
"I just want to be alone with you." She whispered as she brushed her lips lightly against his.
He frowned slightly but he let her continue to hold him in place.
She pressed her lips to his a little harder and gripped the back of his neck tighter. "Have you missed me, Merlin?" She asked slowly.
He found himself kissing her back and his hands ran up and down her back, feeling the lace underneath his calloused hands.
He found himself becoming a little possessive over her, grabbing fistfuls of her unruly hair and yanking her head back to claim her lips, until finally, she snapped her head back and grinned into his eyes.
"Emrys..."
He frowned and stepped back from her.
"You know?"
She chuckled.
"You have kept a very big secret, Emrys. Arthur has been lied to for all these years."
Merlin stared at her.
This was another one of her traps and he had fallen for it.
Her grin remained in place as she licked her lips and locked gazes with him.
"It feels good to finally meet the one who could ruin everything for me... at least now I know what must be done."
Her eyes flashed and she jumped back as the rock ceiling caved in and he was trapped.
The dust and debris nearly clouded her as she raised her arm against it.
When it all stopped, she stood, listening;
"Morgana?!"
"I'm here, Emrys." She replied in a mocking voice.
"Why are you doing this? I thought that you wanted to change, to let Mordred know the truth." He asked her, desperation and anger tinging his voice.
"I did... at first, but when I discovered that you were Emrys I could not believe my luck, you never had the courage to stop me, Merlin,... even now. I was standing right in front of you and you had all the opportunity in the world to run me through... yet you didn't." She sneered.
"You are weak and I shall take great pleasure in the fact that when Artur dies you will not be there to save him... Think about it, Merlin... all the lies, all the sacrifice for what? Nothing."
Her words were hard and cruel but they had some truth and Merlin banged his fist on the hard packed stone.
She could hear him trying to use magic to break out but nothing would work.
She was a high priestess and far more powerful than him.
She crouched down and placed a hand on the rubble as she leant forward to talk to him.
Her voice was a shaky whisper.
"You lied to me... you could have told me who you were... now you are nothing and at the one time when we could be together without judgement... you choose the life of your king rather than me."
She chuckled brokenly.
"I used to think that one day you would come back to me... that I would be out in the forest and you would be standing there, waiting for me... how wrong I was."
Merlin closed his eyes.
He knew that he had hurt her but now that she was lost to him, he knew there was no point in trying to talk to her.
"I have nothing left to give you, Morgana, except this promise... When I get out of here, I will find you again and this time, I will not spare your life." He snarled.
His harsh words made her flinch and she straightened, raising her head and glaring at the stone as if she could see him.
"If you get out of here, Emrys." She corrected before leaving the cave.
She had underestimated him and Merlin used all of his strength to break free.
He was cut and brusied but he was free and the rain pelted him as he came back out into the forest.
Emrys was free...
Mordred waited for her and his face broke out into a smile when he saw her walk through the doors.
"Morgana!"
He ran to her and embraced her fiercely.
She knew that he had been worried because of who she was facing but now he saw she was unharmed, he could relax but sadly, she could not.
Morgana pulled back from him and looked into familiar eyes as she lead him over to her throne and sat him down before her like a child.
She crouched down and placed a hand over his as she looked up at him with a broken smile.
"Mordred, there is a great battle coming and you must be ready... I trust in you but I cannot let you fight for me without you knowing the truth." She began.
Mordred frowned down at her and he noticed that her grip on his hand had tightened.
"Morgause... she was not your mother, Mordred. I am."
His eyes widened and he stared at her.
His lips parted as though he was about to speak but no words came out.
So Morgana continued;
"Morgause knew that if anyone found out that you were my son they would have you killed and I could not risk that. So for all anyone knew, I was just your aunt but I tried to be there for you as much as I could." She added quickly.
He nodded but he was no longer looking at her.
"Mordred?" She tried.
He didn't answer her.
She shook his hand underneath hers gently.
"Mordred say something, please." She begged with a small uneasy smile.
Finally, he turned his head to look at her.
"Who is my father?"
It was a simple question but his voice was hoarse and deep as he asked it.
She sighed and looked away from him.
"I- I don't know."
"You're lying." He snapped at her.
Morgana stood and turned her back.
"What does it matter who he is? We have each other, is that not enough?"
Mordred shook his head.
"I want to know... or will you deny me a father as well as yourself?"
The words cut and she sucked in a breath.
"If I told you, how do I know that you would not betray me, again?" She questioned.
"Because you are my mother and before I knew that, you were a good aunt to me. You always cared for me and helped me. You taught me new things, you were the one who taught me how to ride a horse... I have never forgot that." He told her sincerely.
Morgana turned back to him with a small smile on her face.
"Please... tell me..." He pleaded.
She swallowed and nodded.
"It is Merlin... Merlin is your father, Mordred."
He stared at her and the look of shock and hurt over his face.
"Does he know?"
She shook her head.
"He didn't for a while, no. I told him only a little whMordred clenched his fists on the stone arms of her chair and clenched his teeth. "Still, he knew... he knew and he did not tell me."
Morgana nodded and sighed.
"I wanted Merlin to join us Mordred but... he is too loyal to Arthur."
Mordred nodded in understanding and got to his feet.
"Are you prepared for battle?" He asked.
Morgana nodded.
"I am."
"Good, ready your men, we attack Camelot tonight."
Morgana grinned.
Mordred was starting to show his mother's determination already.
The knights were preparing themselves and Arthur sat astride his horse, giving out ordres as they prepared to ride out.
Merlin was packing, ready to defend his king.
He met Arthur in his chambers.
"Are you nervous, Merlin?" He asked his servant and friend.
Merlin shook his head then thought better of it.
"Maybe a little." He addmitted.
Arthur smirked and clapped him on the back.
"Don't worry, Merlin. Morgana will find herself trapped in Camlann."
Merlin stopped and his heart froze.
"Camlann?" He repeated.
Arthur nodded.
"Yes, it's where we shall meet her."
The whole prophecy came rushing back to Merlin in a wave.
Camlann, Mordred, Arthur's death, destiny unfulfilled.
He suddenly couldn't breathe and he had a horrible need to run.
Arthur noticed the change in him.
"Are you all right?"
He nodded and then made a hasty exit from the king's chambers.
"Yes I'm fine. I just need to get something."
Merlin ran from the king's chambers to Gaius.
Gaius was busy preparing another of his potions when Merlin ran in.
"Merlin? I thought you would be helping Arthur prepare." He said with a slight frown. Merlin paced back and forth, his breathing ragged and his blue eyes darting from the floor to Gaius and back again.
"It's all coming true, Gaius. The prophecy, Mordred, everything." He said hurriedly. Gaius sighed and stood back to look at Merlin.
"Morgana has declared war but that does not mean that the propehcy will come to pass."
Merlin continued pacing.
"Arthur intends to trap Morgana, but Morgana has Mordred on her side plus Aithusa and Kilgarah is wounded so I cannot call on him, if it was any other place, I would not be so worried but I have every right to be now." He fretted.
"Merlin, calm down. What is the name of the place where Arthur intends to fight?"
Merlin stopped pacing and stared at his guardian with frightened eyes.
"Camlann."
...
The sword that she held out to Mordred had been forged in the dragon's breath.
No mortal or immortal could be saved from it's blade.
Mordred stared at the weapon and grinned at his mother.
"No one will harm you as long as you wield this weapon, Mordred." She told him.
He nodded and swung the sword, testing it's balance and weight. It felt perfect in his grasp.
Morgana smiled with pride.
"With this, Arthur shall die at your hand, Mordred. You are my son and my greatest warrior... I wanted to prove that to you by giving you this weapon." She explained. Mordred smiled warmly at her and nodded.
"I swear to you that I shall kill Arthur and you, mother, shall reign once more." He promised.
She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.
"That's my boy."
Gwen and Arthur stared at Merlin shock.
"Is there any reason for this?" The king asked him.
Merlin shook his head and tried to stand straight with his hands behind his back.
"I have always been able to rely on you before, Merlin, why not now?" He questioned.
Gwen stared at her friend with a confused frown.
Merlin licked his lips.
"I don't think that I can accompany you, sire because I am needed elsewhere." He lied.
Arthur sighed and got to his feet, turning his back on Merlin and going to the window.
"For all my jokes, I never took you for a coward." He said sadly.
Merlin frowned but didn't say anything more.
Gwen gave Merlin a pleading look but he took in a breath and bowed.
"I apologize, sire. I wish you luck in battle."
He then left and Arthur let Gwen comfort him.
The forest did not seem far enough.
Fear had taken over Merlin and he had run.
Arthur would die at Camlann. The prophecy was true and there was nothing that he could do to stop it. Morgana would win.
He kept on riding as fast as he could until he felt a prescence above him and looked up to see the great dragon looming over head.
Merlin halted his horse and watched as Kilgarah landed in front of him in the field by the river.
"Where are you going, young warlock?" He questioned.
"I don't know... I don't know what to do anymore! Help me! Tell me what to do!" He pleaded.
Kilgarah stared levelly at the warlock they all believed to be so powerful and who was now running scared.
"You know what to do, you just have to believe." The dragon told him.
Merlin shook his head.
"Morgana knows who I am and she has Mordred."
Kilgarah nodded his head.
"That she does but young warlock, she is not you. She does not have your powers. A high priestess she may be but... she is not you."
Merlin gave his friend a small smile.
"You really believe that I can save Arthur?"
"I believe that you will fulfil your destiny as you should..." He answered.
Merlin nodded and let out a breath.
"I guess it's time for me to go back then."
Kilgarah nodded.
"I think it is."
Merlin turned to go back to Camelot and his king and then paused.
"Thank you... for everything."
The great dragon nodded before soaring away into the sky.
The saxons waited for their orders and Morgana sat astride her horse next to Mordred who wielded the weapon that was forged in the dragon's breath.
"You all know why you are here." She called out to them.
"We wish to take Camelot and we shall!"
They all roared and she grinned.
She looked to Mordred.
"I believe you to be my greatest warrior, Mordred... be safe."
Mordred nodded and moved his horse forward.
It was he who would lead the saxons to meet Arthur and his men.
Morgana stared after Mordred as he raised his sword high in the air and moved forward.
As soon as Mordred looked like nothing more than an ant in the distance, she turned and went to find Aithusa.
The crippled white dragon was concealed in a cave, waiting for her.
She knelt by Aithusa's side and petted the dragon's head.
"It's almost time, Aithusa, are you ready?" Morgana asked her pet.
Aithusa nodded and she smiled.
"Good. I know I can rely on you to protect my son."
She watched as it took off into the sky, ready to fufil her wish.
Morgana looked up at the sky and then down to where Mordred lead her men into Camlann.
Today, Arthur would die and Camelot would be hers'.
Merlin raced back to Camelot to find that Arthur and his men had already ridden out and were nearing Camlann.
Merlin raced back in the other direction and made sure to stay out of sight from Morgana's men.
While Arthur was at battle, Gwen had been put in charge and if anything was to happen to him, Gwen would be the only heir to the kingdom.
Merlin kept urging his horse on, hoping that he would get to Arthur before Morgana did.
He stopped on the cliff that looked down on Camlann. He was too late.
Below him, Morgana stood in front of her army with Mordred at her side and she faced Arthur with his knights behind him.
"This is your last chance, Morgana. Stop this now." Arthur told her.
She just chuckled.
"I don't think so, dear brother. Camelot is rightfully mine after all." She shot back. Arthur glanced at Mordred.
"Mordred, you don't have to listen to her, she has been twisted by anger, please, don't let her do the same to you." He pleaded.
Mordred looked at Morgana with a strange sense of pride.
"My place is with Morgana." Mordred replied.
Arthur sighed and looked at him with a broken smile.
"You were a great knight, Mordred. One of the best that I have ever seen... it can still be that way."
Mordred shook his head.
"No, Arthur... it can't."
He took a step back and Morgana smirked at him.
"It seems that he has made his choice, Arthur. His place is with me."
Arthur nodded and readied himself.
Morgana nodded to Mordred and slipped past him.
Mordred drew his sword.
Arthur stared after his sister.
"Where is she going?" He asked Mordred.
"She has other matters to attend to." He answered dodgedly.
Arthur frowned and took a fighting stance in front of Mordred.
They were about to attack each other when lightning and thunder rolled across the stone passage.
A deep voice roared out and everyone turned and looked up to see who it was. Morgana's face fell and her fists clenched at her sides.
"EMRYS!" She screamed at him.
Merlin stood in the guise of the old man.
Arthur frowned but watched in amazement as Emrys sent his enemies flying.
They all flew apart in different directions.
Morgana glared at Emrys and Aithusa flew out from her hiding place.
Emrys turned to her and spoke in the dragon tongue. She instantly backed off and Morgana watched in horror as her dragon obeyed someone else's orders.
Arthur stared at the old sorcerer.
"Who is that?"
Morgana glanced at Arthur and then at Emrys.
Maybe he had ruined this chance for her but she could perhaps break the bond between Merlin and Arthur for good. She had to sieze this moment while she could.
"Does he not look familiar to you, brother?" She called out.
Arthur turned to face her.
"You know him?" He questioned.
Morgana nodded and began walking down the rocky slope to stand between Arthur and Emrys.
Merlin looked down at her and watched the scene unfold.
"I do, and so do you as a matter of fact." She replied.
Arthur frowned and glanced up at Emrys.
"You're the man who killed my father." Arthur said distantly.
Morgana sighed.
"No, Arthur. He is someone much closer to you but yes, he was there when Uther died." She added.
Emrys bowed his head at the memory.
He had not particulary liked Uther but his death had hurt Arthur and in turn, that had hurt him.
"Shall I tell you who your protector is, Arthur? Do you want me to reveal his true nature?" She sneered.
Arthur nodded slowly but he was not too sure.
Morgana turned to Emrys and grinned, extending her hand.
"I am sorry, Emrys. I know this is probably not the way you wanted to reveal yourself but now seems a good a time as any."
Emrys stared at Morgana.
"Morgana, don't!"
She just shook her head and her eyes glowed.
Little by little, the disguise of Emrys disappeared and in the end, Merlin stood there, looking as he always did.
Morgana grinned with satisfaction.
Arthur's eyes widened.
"Merlin?"
Morgana turned to see the look on her brother's face and came to stand at his side. "Yes, Merlin. Your faithful servant has been lying to you all these years... how betrayed you must feel." She snarled.
Arthur was barely listening to her anymore.
Merlin looked away.
What could he say to prove to Arthur that he had kept this secret for so long only to protect him?
"Why didn't you tell me? You could have told me you had magic." Arthur called out to him.
Merlin looked at his king.
"I wanted to tell you, Arthur, but I was afraid of the consequences."
Arthur nodded and licked his lips.
"Did anyone else know you had magic?" He asked.
Morgana grinned again. This was just too perfect.
Merlin nodded and Arthur's face fell.
"Who?"
Merlin glanced at the king's sister.
Arthur looked at her as well.
"Morgana? She knew? Why did you tell her and not me?"
Morgana stepped in front of Arthur with a glance over her shoulder at Merlin.
"I'll answer this one, Merlin; Arthur, Merlin and I were more than just good friends at one point and learning that we both had magic, well that only strengthened the bond between us." She told him.
Arthur frowned.
"Did you..?" Arthur couldn't finish the sentence.
"Oh yes, many times..."
Merlin cut in.
"That's a lie!"
Morgana shrugged.
"Alright, only once or twice... but Uther almost caught us one time." She added with a smirk at the memory of having to tell her father that she seduced Merlin.
Arthur stared at them both.
"I told you that nothing could ever happen between you and Morgana and this whole time, you were together anyway, and you both told each other you had magic? Why was I kept in the dark?!" He roared.
Morgana's smirk turned into a glare.
"Because you are like Uther, you would never have acceppted us or the fact that we had magic. We had to keep it a secret. Besides, it was more fun that way."
Merlin sighed.
How could she joke at a time like this?
Suddenly Mordred stepped forward.
"Enough of this!"
He attacked Arthur, causing Morgana to jump back.
Arthur parried the blow and delievered one of his own.
Merlin stared at Mordred.
He didn't want any of them to die. Not Arthur and not his son.
Merlin called out to Arthur.
"Arthur no!"
Arthur jumped back from Mordred and Morgana held her son at bay.
"Why should I listen to you? You lied to me! All this time! Is there anything else you wish to tell me?!"
Merlin faltered and licked his lips.
"There is..."
Arthur gestured to him.
"No, don't tell me now, come down here and say it. To my face." He snarled.
Merlin straightened and nodded.
Arthur watched and waited patiently as Merlin climbed down the edge to stand in between him and Morgana.
"Arthur, I am sorry that you had to find out about me like this but maybe Morgana saved me the difficult task of finding the right time to tell you."
Merlin took a breath and glanced at Mordred.
"Mordred is Morgana's son and I am his father." He told him.
Morgana remained quiet for a long time, it was like she was in shock as well.
Arthur stared at both of them.
Merlin almost hit her when she came and slipped her hand inside his.
He moved away from her instantly.
"It was a mistake, I didn't know she had a son untill recently, I didn't know he was mine, Arthur. I swear!"
Arthur stared at Mordred and then at Merlin.
"How could I not have seen it? He looks like you and... her."
Merlin sighed and looked back his son.
Maybe he could avoid this prophecy after all.
"Arthur, I'm sorry but at the time, I loved Morgana. It wasn't just an affair, I loved her and sometimes I still do and I hate myself for it. I think she loved me too at one point."
"I did..." Her voice was so soft, he almost missed what she'd said.
He turned to her.
"Morgana, stop this attack. Arthur knows the truth, let it be."
Morgana frowned down at the dirt but her head snapped up when Mordred roared and charged forward, plunging his sword into Arthur's stomach.
"Mordred!" Merlin shouted.
Morgana pulled her son back but Arthur had already began to retaliate and stabbed Mordred as well.
Mordred went down on his knees as Morgana screamed and tried to catch him as he fell.
"Mordred! Mordred don't die! Don't you dare leave me!" She called but Mordred's eyes slowly closed and he surrendered to the darkness.
When she glanced over her shoulder, she found Merlin staring at their son.
"He's dead, Merlin..." She sobbed.
She also noticed that Arthur was laying beside Merlin.
He was losing a lot of blood.
"I cannot save him." Merlin told her.
She nodded and turned back to Morded, pressing a kiss to his forehead and then getting to her feet, wiping her tears as she went.
"Morgana, help me." Merlin pleaded.
She didn't even turn to face him.
"He killed our son, Merlin."
"He is your brother! Does that not mean anything to you?"
She began to walk away.
"Arthur never wanted to kill you, Morgana. He wanted to save you!"
She stopped walking and her eyes widened.
Save her?
Morgana did not think there was anything left of her to save.
