It was fun reading all the guesses you guys had for the dream person, all I can say is one reviewer kinda got it :D
And if you're wondering how I managed to update in four days it's cause I split chapter 28 in two parts and here's the second bit. Hope you like it!
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"So what's going on with you and Morgana?" Gwen asked as she slowed down and fell in line with him.
Merlin had been contently riding in the back by himself where he could keep an eye on the rest of the group. Morgana occupied his usual spot by Arthur.
Leon was the only one who had given them trouble when Morgana and Gwen had come forward. The other knights had either averted their eyes or bowed their heads when Arthur informed them that both ladies would be joining the raid. Morgana quietened Leon's protests by putting on a tremendous show of being incredibly offended by the fact that even though she had been wronged the most by the magical community, she was not allowed to participate in taking down the perpetrators. She also reminded them in a lofty manner that she was a better fighter than the majority of the men lined up before her and without another word mounted her horse and began riding. There was little else anyone could do except follow.
"Nothing." he replied. It was the truth after all.
"Really? So all those lingering touches and long looks mean nothing? I mean sometimes it seems like you two can stare at each other for hours without pause and if that's not-"
"That's because we're talking in our minds."
"Oh."
"Yes, oh. Gwen believe me when I say Morgana and I are just friends and if we were ever more I'm sure you'd be the first to know." Merlin twisted his lips in a funny sort of smile. "But don't hold your breath."
They rode in silence for some time before she broke it again. "You wish for more though, don't you?"
"It doesn't matter what I wish for." he thought about elaborating but then he saw Gwen's face and knew she understood without having to be told the whole story. She reached out and patted his arm.
"All I can say is don't give up hope so easily." Her gaze flicked towards Arthur and Morgana. "You can find love is the unlikeliest of places."
"You and Arthur are a completely different story."
"Are we? Because I see quite a few similarities."
"Only on the surface. Morgana and I are far more tumultuous than you two could ever be. You're as steady as a rock while our emotions are scattered all over the floor and sometimes we don't even know which one we should pick up first. There's been so many ups and downs and we've been through all this..." he trailed off again, not knowing how to eloquently convey that basically they'd spend a lifetime trying to murder one another and it's not as easy to bounce back from that as he'd initially thought. Not for her at least, which is understandable given he'd been the one to finally kill her but Merlin preferred not to dwell on that for too long.
He looked at Gwen and shook his head. She must be confused, wondering what the hell they could have gone through in the three years they had known each other that was so massive and life altering. His answers probably made little sense to her. But in true Gwen style she still tried her best to cheer him up.
"Well you know what they say Merlin, the strongest ships are the ones that have weathered the harshest storms."
Merlin smiled broadly at her, grateful for her optimistic presence in his life. "I certainly hope so Gwen."
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"So remind me again, how exactly are we subduing a whole troop of knights?" Arthur whispered through his teeth as they got nearer to their destination. The night was unusually cold for this time of the season, and Morgana wrapped her red cloak tighter around her. Only a sliver of pale moonlight shone through the tall trees above, the forest growing darker and denser as they moved forward.
The increasing fog was a sign that they were close.
Arthur's question was answered once Morgause came into view. Eyes glowing gold and hands raised, she was a sight to behold. A second later they heard the collective sound of all the knights falling from their horses and landing on the ground with a clamorous thump.
Yet the frown on Morgause's face indicated that she hadn't even begun her spell. Making their way through the pile of bodies Merlin and Gwen came to stand proudly beside Arthur and Morgana.
"Hello Morgause." Merlin said smugly.
"You did that?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, he did. Because the last time I saw him, he appeared weak and unsure, rescued by Morgana and recovering from an injury one of my guards gave him. He wants to make sure that that perception of him is wiped clear from my mind and replaced with this Merlin instead. So he showed me that a spell which would've taken me time and a great deal of lengthy incantations can be performed within seconds by him using only his eyes and a whispered word." she finished bitterly, standing just as tall and proud as Merlin, refusing to be intimidated by him.
"Well it seems you are quite adept at reading people Morgause. Then again I would've expected nothing less from you since you figured out and exploited Morgana's weaknesses so well after only knowing her for a day."
"Oh that's rich coming from you traitor-"
"That's enough!" Morgana's shout cut through the air. She shot them both a glare before saying, "If you two are done bickering, then can we please get going? It's not like we have all the time in the world to stand here and argue about who is the reason behind my trust issues?"
Morgause regained a bit of her usual composure and schooled her features back into a haughty expression. "Very well. Just one more thing."
She flicked her wrist and Arthur and Gwen dropped unconscious.
"What was that for-" Morgana began but Merlin cut her off.
"Only magical beings can enter Avalon. The only way a non-magical being would be able to reach the land is if their dead body washed up on the shores of Avalon."
Morgause flashed him a sickly sweet smile. "So the rat isn't completely ignorant after all."
He stepped forward threateningly and muttered, "Oh I'll show you exactly what this rat can do-"
"Stop it you two!" Morgana said placing herself between them. "Please." she added entreatingly.
Morgause turned away and began marching down the sinewy path, green cloak trailing behind her. Merlin quickly placed a protection spell around all the bodies and followed without a backward glance. Morgana - after sending a silent prayer up to the heavens hoping that her sister and her friend manage not to kill each other in the next few hours- also walked down the same direction.
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All thoughts of Merlin and Morgause killing one another flew out of her mind once the mists cleared and she saw what was waiting for them at the gates of Avalon. A new fear coursed through her and instinctively she reached out and grabbed Merlin, leaning into him with her hand clutching his arm. Morgause noted with disdain how her first inclination was to turn to him, instead of her.
"What is that?" Morgana whispered.
"Chimera." he breathed out, afraid and awed at the same time.
And standing calmly right in the middle of all three giant, hideous beasts, was the man Morgause had brought them here to meet. A man who already disliked and maybe even hated her.
Merlin squeezed her reassuringly and held her closer. It made Morgana feel marginally better, to know he was by her side.
"It's not too late to go back to the twenty first century is it?" she tried to joke, but at that moment, it didn't seem like such a bad idea after all.
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lemme know your thoughts!
