Hey guys!
I'm sorry for making you wait so many days for this one. Writing ends is more difficult to me than writing other parts, I have to read what I've already published and try to make sense and give a response to each point which was started before...
Thank you very very much for the reviews and messages! Special thanks to Navy Babe, SeverusHermioneForever, Helen, Someone From Ireland (welcome here!), Maya and my younger sister Chris who has reviewed using my profile because I had forgotten to log out (lol... that's fine, sis, stop worrying! And welcome here you too!). Thank you so much, you're amazing guys! =D
Hope you like this one... Have fun!
Previously...
"You're wrong." She said in that powerful way. "People respect the ones who treat them with justice and respect." She said looking into his eyes. "And it's sad to say, but you don't deserve even a bit of respect. You're a terrible man! No! I can't call someone like you a man..."
"Oh?" He was furious now. Completely furious, in a way Morgana has never imagined someone could get. "My patience with you has gone, milady!" He screamed at her, sounding like an animal. "It's time, sweetie! I'll show you my own way of earning some respect!" He approached her, his eyes were hungry.
Goddess! Now she was alone with that man, chained in a weird tower and none of her friends knew where she was. Why?
"No!" She screamed the loudest she could. "I forbid you! You won't!" She tried to sound self-confident, but got scared when she noticed he wouldn't stop and she couldn't run away. "Help me! Help me please!" Her throat would sore later because of her desperate screams, but she didn't care. Not when the man was roughly biting her neckline and squeezing her bottom with both his hands. "Get away!" She tried to sound confident again, pulling him away without success.
"What the hell is happening here?" Someone asked entering like a storm in the tower.
Chapter 35
Cenred entered with two guards. He was furious.
"Some fun, my lord." Taranis answered with his usual irony. "Would like to join?" He offered.
The king approached them, looking with superiority. The sorcerer had a mischievous smirk. Cenred looked at him and then at Morgana, analyzing her. She was gorgeous. Probably any man would desire her. He took a lock of her dark hair, amazed by how soft it was.
"Unfortunately I can't accept it." He said, noticing Morgana's relieved sigh. "And so can't you, sorcerer. You caused me already enough trouble kidnapping Uther Pendragon's ward! I can't imagine what you had in mind to do that, but I surely don't want him even angrier because you can't restrain yourself! It would be the end of my kingdom." Cenred said coldly.
"But sir, she's a..." The man tried to discuss.
"She's out of reach!" The king interrupted him, speaking loud and slowly to make him understand it. "Even for a powerful sorcerer like you or for a king like me." He admitted. "She's gorgeous, tempting..." He looked at Morgana with lust. "But Pendragon's army is too strong to take the risk." Morgana sighed at that. She wanted to react but... how could her with that chains around her wrists? She feared that saying something she would take the men attention in a way she didn't want to.
"Uther Pendragon will take a while to find it out, my lord..." The sorcerer insisted.
"No, he won't, because I'm going to tell him as soon as I see his army approaching this castle!" Morgana shout at them. "He would know much faster than an old man like you would move inside of me!" She was furious and couldn't hold her tongue.
"You see what I mean?" The king said to the sorcerer. "Uther Pendragon gives her too much credit! I mean, she's only a woman, but he allows her to say her mind as she wishes! It's a great risk, and I don't want to take it. Not after what you've already caused bringing her here." He explained. "Now go, before I regret our deal..."
Taranis went out never saying a word.
"Thank you." Morgana said.
"I didn't do that for you." He said in a cold way, keeping a safe distance from her. "I did it for my kingdom. I don't want to lose it when Pendragon arrives here."
"Then set me free! Let me go and I promise you he won't know about this mistake." She tried once again.
"Now it's late." He said emotionless. "My army is ready to fight, milady. And I won't deny my men this pleasure. They're working hard and I think maybe we can beat Uther Pendragon!" He was excited now.
"Don't fool yourself. You know you can't." Morgana pointed calmly. "Look, why don't you escort me home? Then you can say the sorcerer committed a mistake and you help me! I'm sure Uther will be so thankful that you could try to make an alliance or something!" She suggested.
"Hahahaha! A woman talking about politic!" Cenred laughed in an impolite way.
"And so? It's a much better solution than yours!" Morgana shouted, what made the man stop laughing.
"A king never changes his mind." He said seriously, almost angry. "If I do what you suggest, milady, Uther Pendragon, his people, my people, everybody in this land would think I'm weak. They would say I can't deal with the consequences of my actions."
"No! You'd be seen as a merciful king, merciful enough to help a lady in danger even when the relation between your kingdom and Camelot is not the best one..." She pointed sounding hopeful.
"Oh, do not try to fool me! You're never a lady in danger, are you, Lady Morgana?" He sounded amused and impatient at the same time. "Now I have more things to do!" He went out the tower.
"Poor of you!" She yelled in fury to the king, who was outside of that place now. "When Uther comes you'll regret everything you've done!"
She heard him laughing on the other side of the door.
"When Uther Pendragon comes my men will beat him... so Camelot will be mine... and so will you, milady!" He said from the other side of the door.
How could his life change so much in such few time?
Merlin really couldn't understand it. He passed from Arthur's clumsy servant to the greatest sorcerer of those lands. From Gaius' young assistant to a wise young man, the responsible for Camelot's magical army.
"How are you doing, Merlin?" Uther asked approaching the table Merlin has sat in the courtyard. Kevin was playing around him, as usual.
"Very well, sir." Merlin was excited. We have already enough people with magic to prepare a fantastic attack." He was so happy! "And people don't stop coming!"
"Great, Merlin." Uther approved. "Keep taking their names and abilities. We'll need as many we can get."
Merlin could see worry and sadness on Uther's gaze.
"Sir, don't worry. I'm sure Morgana is fine, she's very brave..." The boy tried to comfort him.
"Yes, she really is..." The king had a sad smile. "When I think about Morgana alone with that... that monster all by herself I feel so angry that I think I could kill someone just looking at the unfortunate!"
"It sounds like magic." Merlin joked, making Uther a bit relaxed.
"Please, please..." Someone interrupted the naughty response Uther was about to give Merlin with a smirk.
"Yes?" Merlin looked seriously at the man in front of the table. He was short and very skinny. And, Merlin noticed, he had some kind of disability in his legs, because the man barely could walk leaning on a stick.
"You're Merlin, right?" The man asked. His voice had the strength which his body didn't. Merlin nodded. "My name's Carl McLean. I have magic."
"Oh, we have already enough people with magic to fight." Merlin said quickly. He was feeling a bit uncomfortable that a man like that was ready to risk his life for saving Morgana. "You know, you don't need to..."
"I know." The man interrupted Merlin. Uther was just there, observing the interaction with interest. "I don't need to help. But I wish to."
"Mr. McLean..." Merlin insisted. "I'd never make a man... uh... in your conditions fight in a war. It's dangerous."
"Yes, indeed." The man was very calm. "I know, maybe you and our king think someone like me would put you all in danger instead of help you. I barely can walk!" He took a breath. "But just like you, Merlin, I am not fighting with my body. I'm using my magic and my mind."
"He has a point." Kevin said. "I know how it feels to be small and have nobody who believes you can do something great when you know in your heart that you can."
"Kevin, you are not coming!" Merlin declared for the thousandth time. "You're only a child!"
"But... but..." Kevin's eyes were full of despair. He wanted so much to go with them! It would be so exciting! Oh, and he was worried about Morgana, she was one of his best friends after all.
"Give the man a chance to prove his value, Merlin." Uther asked. "I'm sure it's what Morgana would do." They could notice something on Uther's gaze when he talked about his ward. Something more than worry, something warm... "Besides, his body doesn't matters; we're looking for warlocks and witches, not for knights!" He completed seriously when he noticed Merlin's smirk.
The man smiled brightly at the king.
"Thank you my lord! Boy, could you take that stone to me?" He asked Kevin, who quickly took a medium stone on the floor. "Well, now throw it as hard as you can!"
Kevin did as he was told. The man pointed his hands to the stone and, for everybody great surprise, in the next moment, the stone has stopped. On the air. His palms still pointed to it. The king gasped.
"That's incredible!" Merlin was very surprised.
"I suppose I'll be helpful." The man said, putting his palm down and making the stone go softly to the floor.
"I'm sure you will..." Merlin wrote down the man's name on the list.
"What about me, Merlin?" Kevin insisted, always hopeful. "I'll be helpful too!" He was excited. "I'm the only one who knows psychometry! I didn't see nobody on your list with this gift! I'm sure it can help..." He was trying his best during all the day to convince Merlin. "I'm almost a man, Merlin, I can fight! And so I could be a brave knight, a real one! And... and... I want to help! Oh, and I miss Morgana so much that I..."
"Let's take him with us, Merlin!" The king declared. "He's going to drive Gaius crazy if he stays here in Camelot!" It made Merlin smirk and the kid wave an jump in excitement just like children use to do.
Morgana caressed her belly. It wasn't big, but if someone looked carefully, probably her baby would be noticed. She smiled. Hope in the middle of chaos.
She decided she would practice her magic. Not so hard to make her feel bad as usual in Camelot. She didn't have any potion to balance her energy after all. But she couldn't stop. She knew her magic was powerful and could help her to save her life if she needs to.
Morgana pointed her palm to the chains and murmured a spell, but nothing was happening. She knew there was nothing wrong with her magic. She was able to make those colourful sparks which Uther loves so much... and to make the lilac butterflies appear to, just like she used to practice with Gaius and Merlin.
When Morgana heard someone opening the door, she quickly made the lilac butterfly disappear.
"Still here, milady?" Cenred entered. "That sorcerer convinced me to give you one more chance."
What? That was new! Why would Taranis care about her?
"So, Lady Morgana? It doesn't look like your guardian is going to arrive soon."
"Yes, he will." She said confidently.
"Have you seen it? Like... a sight?" Cenred tried to hide how scared he was. But Morgana could take it on his eyes.
She smiled. It was strange to say that when she was chained in a tower... but Morgana was taking the control of the situation.
"Oh... yes!" She lied. "Yes! A terrible vision! So much blood and pain!"
"What! Blood? Who..." Cenred was scared.
"So many death which could be avoided..." Morgana was getting dramatic, having fun with the situation.
"How, milady? Please, tell me!" He approached her, desperate.
"Oh, I shouldn't say..."
"Yes, you should and you will!" He approached more.
"Oh..." He was getting angry. Morgana didn't expect that. "I saw your men dying in Uther's hands, one by one. He was furious!"
"You're lying!" Cenred paced around nervously.
"Will you take the risk?" Morgana chuckled. The king remained pacing, confused and nervous. "You asked for my help. Are you still interested?"
"Of course I am!" Cenred stopped and looked at her. "What should I do?"
"Let me go away before Uther arrives." Morgana suggested in that powerful way, sounding so self confident that Cenred even considered it for a while. Just for a while.
"Are you fooling me, girl?" He went to her in fury. "Nobody fools me! I can recognise a lie when I hear one!"
Morgana panicked. Goddess, what a terrible plan!
"I should know I could never seriously trust you!" Cenred said.
"If you think it's a lie, just wait and see!" She shouted back, but her voice was thinner with her panic now, it would never convince him.
"And that sorcerer said you would agree and help me after some time here in the tower..." He said pacing. "Your help is like venom! I don't want it! No, you must remain here in the tower, milady. And get prepared for a really cold night!" He said with an odd pleasure. "Oh, Lady Morgana." He said when he arrived near the door. "Because you tried to fool me, there will be no food for you until I change my mind..."
He went away, making Morgana sigh in relief when she saw herself alone again. Oh, goddess! Uther would arrive before that night, right?
"Gaius!" Uther said to the physician as the old man entered the throne room.
"Yes, sir? How can I be helpful?" He asked.
"I'd like you to take care of things here in Camelot while we're rescuing Morgana. I'm sure I can trust you and you'll do a great job!" The king said.
Gaius nodded at him with his blank expression.
"If I can make a suggestion, sire, you should talk to the dragon once again before you go. Maybe he has some good directions for you... he always has!" Gaius said to Uther.
"Oh..." Uther smiled sadly. "Thank you Gaius... I will."
Soon Uther was going to the dragon again, with Arthur and Merlin beside him. Their plan was talk to the dragon and freeing him. Then they would go to Cenred's kingdom and take Morgana back!
"What do we need to know now, father?" Arthur protested. He doesn't want to say it, but in the prince opinion, it was loosing of time. Precious time!
"I don't know, Arthur. But keep going!" Uther said. Merlin liked the way the king was trusting magic so sincerely.
"Here you are again!" The dragon greeted them. "It's time."
"Yes..." Uther said a bit confused. "I... uh... I'm going to free you now and I trust your promise. You're going to help us, right?"
"Of course, king. And you're going to free magic, right?" The dragon asked in the same way.
"Of course. I've already talked to my people about magic and Merlin formed our magical army. Everything is done." He sighed. "Oh, and about the laws and documents, Geoffrey is writing it and I'm going to sign it when I come back. I want Morgana to be by my side..." He added, what made Merlin smirk and Arthur roll his eyes.
"Yes, this is going to be the next challenge of love." The dragon declared.
"The... what?" Arthur was in shock while Uther was smiling in a passionate way and Merlin was looking at them both amused.
"Love has challenges, Arthur." Merlin said amused with the prince doubting face.
"Yes!" The dragon explained. "The first one the witch and the king faced was to see each other the way they really are, accepting with love each little part of the other one."
"Oh, her magic!" Uther smiled. "I can't understand how I could have been so angry and bad to her! Morgana's magic is beautiful and... hot." Merlin smirked at that.
"Father!" Arthur reprehended him shocked.
"The next one was to believe a happy ending is possible, even if everything shows the opposite." The dragon continued.
"Oh... that probably was when I was too stubborn to hear Morgana and I got locked inside of myself and my poor lady had to fix things again..." Uther said touched, making Arthur roll his eyes.
"Father, you know it's Morgana we're talking about, right?" Uther just ignored Arthur.
"And now the witch and the king have already a solid relationship. However, you're not alone in this earth." The dragon told Uther. "You must show people you're together as a couple. Only then you can have a complete life."
"Showing us publically?" Uther asked seriously. "I was intending to do that... And Morgana was so anxious for it!"
"Oh, I'm sure she is! I can't imagine Morgana without her... uh... her pleasure in being the centre of everybody's attention." Arthur commented.
"Don't be so feisty!" Merlin said to the prince, making Uther smile.
"Shut up, Merlin!" Arthur said. He wasn't angry, just a bit awkward with the new situation.
"It is not only about showing you both publically, king." The dragon continued. "It's about overcame the prejudice."
"Oh..." Uther was worried. "I know, it's going to be such a scandal!"
"Especially when they know about the baby..." Arthur remembered, causing Merlin to poke him and Uther to look at him in concern.
"Prejudice because the difference of ages, because the fact the witch uses to be your ward, because she has magic and because you're the king and some people think you should keep your focus in running Camelot..." The dragon said.
"Well..." Uther was confused. "We'll have to face it sooner or later. There is no other option since I can't consider my life without Morgana." He sighed. "Thank you for the warning." Uther said to the dragon. "But we must go now, right?"
"Not yet, king! You should know one more thing." The dragon said seriously. "To kill the sorcerer you'll need to know his name."
"His name?" Arthur asked impatiently.
"Yes, future king. The sorcerer had made a ritual when he was young and now he only can be killed if his opponent says his name while keeping the focus on his death."
"And can you tell us his name?" Merlin asked.
"I'm so sorry, young warlock, but I can't." The dragon said. "It's protected by an ancient magic. As a magical creature, I'm not able to say it."
"Great!" Arthur was being ironic.
"However, there is someone else who knows it." The dragon added, receiving the men attention.
"Who?" Uther asked in expectation.
"The witch!" The dragon just said.
"Morgana!" Uther smiled.
"Is that all?" Merlin asked. "Is there something else we need before we go?"
"Of course, young warlock. You'll need a magical sword. How can you fight against magic with an ordinary one? No, you need something special."
The dragon took some distance and breathed away some fire, making the men surprised. When the fire stopped, there was a silver sword, the best one Uther has ever seen.
"It's yours king." The dragon said. "While fighting with this sword, named Excalibur, you can't be killed. Then it'll be a fair combat, since the sorcerer can't be killed too."
"Thank you. Thank you very much!" Uther said sincerely taking the sword when it planned near him, by magic.
"But pay attention! You mustn't use it for ordinary fights! Or the magic will get weaker... Use it to rescue the witch. And then keep it in a safe place, where only a man of worth can find it and only in a moment of real need." The dragon warned.
"I promise I will!" Uther said.
"Now we should go." The dragon said. "It's time."
"Merlin, please, set him free." Uther said.
Merlin pointed his palm to the dragon and said a spell. The chains crashed and the dragon could fly away.
"Thank you so much, my friends!" The dragon screamed flying away. "I'll be waiting for you near of the place where the witch is."
So?
About Excalibur... in some versions of the legends, it was Uther's sword and, after his death, it was put in a stone, so a man of worth who really deserves to be king (Arthur) would be the only one to take it and bring Britain to an age of light and nice things.
Some people are asking me about a possible continuation to this story... well I don't have anything planned, but if I got an idea, why not? I'll let you know about it next update. =)
Please, review! =D