Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
~Safe and Sound (Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars)
Morgana covered her mouth to stifle the gasping noise that was escaping from her lips. It had actually worked!
"You did it," Frederick whispered as he gripped her shoulder. Morgana nodded, still in shock.
"You controlled your magic beautifully, sister. No matter what you might think, your destiny is very great indeed."
"Well, it's nice to know I'm not the only one being bothered about destinies," a muffled voice cracked.
Morgana quickly looked down to see Merlin slowly sitting up. "Merlin!" she nearly shouted out of relief. "Are you alright?"
Looking around him in confusion, Merlin's eyes widened and then narrowed suspiciously when his gaze fell on Morgause. "Wh-what happened?" He dropped his hands to his chest where he had been wounded.
"My sister healed you," Morgause answered.
"Morgana…you healed me?"
"I think so…but it was Morgause who gave me all the words."
"But it was you who breathed life into those words. Never forget that."
"Thank you," Merlin said gratefully, although he still kept a wary eye on Morgause. "I suppose I must thank you as well," he said reluctantly to the High Priestess.
"What I did for you I did only for Morgana's sake. Keep that in mind."
As Merlin struggled to get to his feet, an outstretched hand shot down. "Need a hand?" Frederick offered. Wincing slightly as he stood, Merlin realized he hadn't noticed Frederick until now. He was beginning to wonder just how much Frederick knew…and if he should be worried.
"Thank you," Merlin murmured.
"I suppose it would be futile to even dare to hope that you would come with me now," Morgause said softly, the corners of her lips tilting up ever so slightly.
"Morgause…I'm sorry…but my place belongs…here," Morgana answered hesitantly, unsure of her choice of words. "But I will never forget your kindness." Morgana reached for Morgause's hands, once again eyeing the deep gash in her sister's leg. "Can I at least…ease your pain?"
"I think you've exerted yourself enough for today." Morgause deftly waved her hand over her wound and whispered a healing spell. The gash instantly vanished. "Morgana, if ever you should change your mind, you will know where to find me. And I truly believe you will come searching for me when you realize that Uther Pendragon will never change. He will never accept our kind. But I will always be waiting for you with open arms."
"Let us hope that day never comes. Uther may not change, but Arthur is different."
"Yes, Arthur is a different man than his father, but do you truly believe he will embrace the Old Religion with open arms? I think not."
"Arthur is a good man. I have faith in him," Merlin cut in. "He will rule differently than Uther."
"Do you really think so, servant boy? But that's right, you are not just a servant boy. How clever of you to be hiding…all this time…right under Arthur Pendragon's very nose. I wonder just how long you'll be able to continue with this masquerade of yours. Soon it might be your head on the chopping block…or yours." Morgause sharply turned to Morgana, her expression filling with concern.
"I will be careful, Morgause. But you must accept that this is the life I've chosen. Please."
Morgause nodded. "I suppose this is farewell, then."
"I suppose it is," Morgana said shakily.
Morgause unexpectedly pulled Morgana into an embrace. "Be careful, dear sister. Don't reveal yourself to Uther, no matter how much you are tempted to do so. He will not hesitate to kill you. Do you promise me this?"
Morgana paused before responding. "Yes…I promise."
Morgause released her, looking somewhat relieved. Coldly glancing over at Merlin and Frederick, Morgause's gaze remained fixed on Merlin. "No doubt we shall cross paths again, young warlock. You have given me much to ponder over."
"It's always a pleasure, Morgause, but I wouldn't like to cross paths with you again anytime soon," Merlin said sarcastically, earning him a reproving look from Morgana.
Morgause, ignoring his comment, focused on Frederick. "And I'm afraid I have the faintest feeling that a wedding just might not be taking place in the near future. Am I right?"
"That is none of your concern," Frederick replied, a hint of irritation flashing across his face.
Morgause seemed satisfied by his answer as she turned to leave. "Just as I thought. Oh, and Morgana?"
"Yes?"
"When you return, you will find an unpaid debt fulfilled. I hope it pleases you."
"What debt?" Morgana asked, perplexed.
"You shall see," Morgause called out without looking back.
"Why doesn't that make me feel any better?" Merlin remarked as they watched her form slowly disappear over the hill. "Morgana, you alright?" Judging by Morgana's wistful expression, she was having conflicting thoughts at the moment.
"Yes…I'll be fine." Morgana flashed a brief but vacant smile. "I think we had better head back. Uther must have sent out a search party by now." Without waiting for either of their responses, Morgana walked ahead of them.
"Well, I think she's giving the orders now," Frederick commented as Merlin and he kept up a steady pace, with Morgana leading the way.
"She probably wants to be alone to sort her thoughts. She always had a sort of…bond…with Morgause."
"You think she regrets her decision?"
"I hope not. Um, Frederick…" Merlin trailed off, seeming hesitant to continue.
"Yes?"
"What Morgause said to you…about there being no wedding…why would she say that?"
Frederick's jaw shifted. Merlin was about to mutter an apology, afraid he had offended him, until he finally replied.
"Because Morgana has feelings for you, and you for her."
"That's…that's…ridicu-"
"Oh stop it, Merlin!" Frederick whispered tensely, afraid that Morgana would overhear. "I heard everything between Morgause and Morgana. I was a fool to not see the signs earlier. Morgana knows."
"You've…already discussed this with her?" Merlin said uneasily, his face turning a shade paler.
"I have…well, briefly."
"Frederick, you know I can never act on any…feelings…I might have for the Lady Morgana. I'm not saying I do have feelings! Just that if I might…"
"Just admit it, Merlin. I'm not going to string you up. You'd be crazy not to be head over heels in love with her."
"Yeah, but you know nothing can ever come of it. She knows that. You can give her a better future than I could ever give her. She'll be a princess if she marries you. And one day she'll be the queen. What could I ever give her? Uther would have my head if he found out."
"Uther would have your head for other reasons, too. Warlock, eh?" Frederick said smugly, sneaking a sidelong glance to gauge Merlin's reaction.
Merlin winced. "I think you could have my head if you wanted. You know all of my secrets."
"Yes, it seems that I do."
"You going to give me up to Uther? I wouldn't blame you if you did."
"No, Merlin. That was never my plan. I know what I must do, but it's not going to be easy."
"You can't expose Morgana," Merlin said suddenly, his tone sounding fiercer than he intended.
"I would never risk Morgana's life, Merlin! It is not revenge I want. No…I have to set this right. And there's only one way to go about it. If you'll excuse me," Frederick said, walking briskly to catch up with her.
"Morgana, can I speak with you?"
Morgana's head snapped up and a brief look of panic appeared in her eyes. "Yes…I suppose we do have…matters…to discuss."
"I'm calling the wedding off, Morgana."
"You're what?" She whirled around to face him.
"Look, it's not right. Not this way. You did nothing wrong…and Merlin did nothing wrong. But I'm not going to fool myself into thinking that you would be happier with me when your heart belongs to someone else. It's not fair to either of us…and you deserve the best, Morgana."
"I…I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything. But I want to know that I'm making the right decision. So…is this the right decision?" Frederick drew in his breath, knowing many things depended on her answer.
His question seemed to hang in mid-air as Morgana took her time answering. If he wasn't mistaken, she fought back tears. For some reason he felt oddly comforted by the fact that her answer didn't come so easily.
"You're right," she finally responded, her chest heaving. "Because you deserve to be happy, Frederick. Truly happy."
Merlin watched anxiously as Frederick and Morgana spoke in low voices. Perhaps they would marry after all. But that was the way it should be, and he knew that. But it still hurt all the same. Morgana would leave Camelot for another realm. Who knows, maybe she would be happier there. At least she would be out of Uther's grasp. Merlin sighed. Just the thought of her gone left a void in his heart. This is the way things have to be done. You need to grow up and accept your lot in life. You have other things to worry about anyway. Arthur still needs you. Merlin smirked. Oh yes, Arthur would always need him. But as much as he tried to listen to the voice of common sense in his head, it didn't ease the pain of heartache.
A few miles further brought them out of the woods and into a clearing where the outline of Camelot's looming towers could be seen.
"We made it," Morgana said softly under her breath.
A horse's whinnying sounded in the distance, causing Morgana to stiffen. "It must be a patrol…I'm sure Arthur will have a few choice words for me."
Merlin winced. "Yeah…how exactly are we going to explain…"
"We're not," Frederick said. "All we need to tell Uther is that we went to search for Merlin, and that we found him. Tell him it was my idea. I'll speak to him…I'll have to anyway."
"But what about Morgause…"
"Tell him she released him to us. He need not know the rest of the details."
As the sound of horse hooves drew nearer, Morgana braced herself.
"It sounds like only one horse is approaching," Frederick commented, puzzled.
"It's probably Arthur. Bet he's furious with me," Merlin said.
"Wait…it's not possible…" Morgana muttered.
"Morgana, what is it?" Frederick asked, squinting his eyes in the direction she was fixated on.
"Do you see that horse coming to us? It has no rider."
"You're right. I guess it's not a patrol after all."
Morgana gripped his sleeve. "No, look closer. The horse…no, it can't be."
"Is that...Stargazer?" Merlin looked just as baffled as she.
"But…how?" Morgana said in a trembling tone.
"An unpaid debt…" Frederick murmured, casting a knowing look from Stargazer to Morgana.
"Morgause brought her back? It's impossible…"
"She is a High Priestess, and a powerful one at that," Merlin said, a smile lighting his face.
As the white horse came nearer, Morgana still eyed it skeptically. To her surprise, the mare headed straight for her. It nuzzled its nose into the palm of her hand, causing Morgana to jump back. A look of astonishment crossed her face. "Only Stargazer would greet me that way," she said as she slowly brought her hand to the horse's forehead, rubbing it in small circles. "It's a miracle," she whispered.
Merlin felt a huge load lifted from his shoulders as he watched Morgana embrace her old friend. Yes, it truly was a miracle. And a very welcome one at that.
Ahhhh one more chapter you guys! Can't believe this is coming to an end. I've been insanely busy over the past two weeks...and since I'm almost done with the story I've been putting off writing these last chapters. Sorry for the delay. So did you like the surprise with Stargazer? You know I never would have really killed her off, right? ;) I'm really sorry to some of my readers who wanted Frederick and Morgana together. :( But it all turned out alright, and Frederick came to realize for himself that it would be a mistake. But hey, if I decide to write future stories with him, I'll make sure he gets his own happy ending. ;) And thank you so much for all the feedback you guys gave me on that...I really appreciate it!
