Hello!

Thank you a lot for your reviews Someone from Ireland (thank you!), Maya (I think even if the show ends, I'll still write something about it or Arthurian legends) and Chris (oh, sister, so do I...). Thank you too for the favourite and alert. It means a lot.

And now, have fun! =)

Previously...

"Camelot needs a regent. A fair and capable one. A regent who will be a great king in the future. A man who is worthy of use his father's sword."

Arthur sighed and nodded. Then he took a breath and walked to the sword in the stone very self confidently.

"Look, prince Arthur will take the sword!" A girl said amazed.

The boys who were playing around Excalibur looked at the prince and walked back in respect. Every soul there, knights and commoners, people with or without magic, took a step backward. The woods were silent as Arthur slowly reached the sword and easily pulled it out, amazed, lifting its point to the sky.

Chapter 35

Morgause sighed as Agravaine rolled to her side, panting. Both of them had a satisfied face.

"Wow!" Morgause smiled.

Agravaine smiled at her, all proud.

"Come here." He asked, cradling her to his body. Morgause was so relaxed. He sighed. The good sensation decreased a bit as he looked at the sleepy man tied to the chair. "What do you plan to do with him?"

"Oh, let's kill the bastard!" Morgause said as if talking about baking cookies. "But not here. After tomorrow, during the full moon, when we may use his sacrifice to increase my magic."

"Oh. A smart girl!" Agravaine kissed her. "So his life will finally have a good use." He never thought about the risks involved in increasing Morgause's magic.

"And we'll do it in Avalon." She declared very excited, caressing his chest.

"In Avalon!" Agravaine echoed.

"Of course!" She looked at him.

"Morgause..."

"Agravaine!" She looked so amused. "Are you afraid of going to Avalon?"

"Oh! Well..."

"Nonsense! You'll be with me. There's nothing to fear there. Moreover, it's a sacred place!" She calmed him whole biting teasingly on his neck.

"I know how sad you must be, Morgana." Gaius said to the queen, who was sat on her bed tapping the baby's back. The physician didn't know if she was doing it in order to calm the baby or herself.

"Wh-what if he's dead?" Morgana said in a whisper, never daring to face her friends.

Kevin, who had been quiet until that moment, approached the queen and hugged her. His father and Hunith just observed everything, their hands intertwined.

"He's alive." Gwen said touching her shoulder in a comforting way and causing Morgana to look at the lady. "You'd feel if he wasn't, right? Or maybe have a sight or something."

"Gwen is right." Kevin said pulling away.

Morgana sighed and got up, pacing and kissing the crying baby's head.

"I promise you I'll bring him back, sweet." She told Vivienne.

"I understand your pain, Morgana, but you're the queen." Gaius said. "Your people deserve to know what's happening in the reign."

The door stormed opened and a very excited Arthur entered with Merlin following him.

"Arthur!" Morgana almost jumped. "What..." She stopped talking and got even paler when she saw the sword the prince had. Uther's sword. Excalibur, the one only him would be able to take from the stone.

"Good." Gaius smiled. "I was just suggesting Morgana to talk to the people and let them know what happened.

"Arthur..." Morgana sat again, holding little Vivienne tighter. "Is Uther..."

"I took the sword, Morgana!" The young prince was excited like a little boy in his birthday. "Isn't it incredible? You had to see everyone's reaction and..." He noticed Morgana's reaction. "Are you fine?"

"Uther!" Morgana screamed. "It's his sword! How could you take it?"

"Oh, well, you see, I'll put it back as soon as..." Arthur started awkwardly.

"I don't think the king is dead, Morgana." Merlin interrupted him, knowing what his friend meant. "You'd feel it." Morgana nodded, but still looked unsure. "Moreover, few days ago you told me he still carries always with him that ribbon of yours. The one we enchanted to protect him during the championship..."

"Oh!" Suddenly she was a bit less pale and has some light in her eyes again. "Yes, he does." She whispered and blushed at Arthur's grin.

"So we have an unexpected advantage." Gaius declared. "Morgana, child, I understand how you're feeling, but we must be very rational."

"We need a plan." Kevin said.

"Well." Merlin sighed. "If I can tell you what I think..."

"Do we have a choice?"

"Arthur!" Gwen reprehended the prince, sounding very shocked.

"Continue, Merlin. We clearly need your wise ideas." Morgana said, sounding calmer and royal.

"Oh!" Merlin smiled at that. "The first thing to do is telling the people."

"I'm not sure, Merlin..." Arthur said seriously.

"They deserve to know." Merlin pointed. "Your father has been ruling Camelot in a much more participative way since..." He looked at Morgana, who blushed a bit. Gwen and Hunith smiled at that. "Anyway, it's probably what your father would do."

"I'm not my father, Merlin." Arthur said.

The warlock sighed and looked very seriously at the prince.

"Well, Arthur, if you're to repeat one of Uther's acts, I'd suggest you not his stubborn ways or how he used to treat his people in the past, but his capacity to dance the music and his determination to do what must be done, even when it's hard to."

"Merlin!" Hunith sounded shocked. That wasn't the way she had taught her son to treat royalty!

"Thank you, Merlin." Arthur said looking at his friend. "That was... wise." He walked to Morgana. "As soon as you're ready, let's talk to them."

"The king did the same when Morgana was abducted." Kevin pointed.

"It was different." Arthur told the boy. "They really like Morgana, as they knew she was kidnapped, people had the will to protect her. They had a king to guide him at that time. A kingdom without a king, however, is doomed to be a land of fear and injustices."

"This land, however, has a queen." Morgana got up very determined. "And the queen will do anything to bring her king back."

"Are you ready?" Arthur asked Morgana just before they go to the balcony where the king uses to do his officials speeches.

She looked at her friends behind them. Vivienne was calmer, waving her hand in a clumsy way, Hunith, who held the child, was helping her to wave to her mother. Morgana smiled at that. Their other friends were near them too.

"I'd like Merlin to go with us, Arthur." Morgana declared.

"So be it. You heard the lady, Merlin!" Arthur said. "So, let's go?" He offered Morgana his arm, and she took it.

"Good luck." Gwen smiled.

They went to the balcony, feeling the fresh wind on their faces. The people was already there, all of them curiously waiting.

"Do you want to start it, my queen?" Arthur asked in a mocked politeness that made her smile.

"People of Camelot!" Morgana started it very seriously, promptly earning everybody's attention. "We bring bad news." She took a breath. That would be more difficult than she had thought. Arthur squeezed her hand in comfort and encouragement. "Our king is missing."

The crowd was instantly talking among them in shock.

"We were attacked." Morgana continued, wiping a tear before it would pour. "Cowardly attacked."

"My queen, who dared to?" A strong lad asked clearly worried.

"King Cenred and Nimueh, a powerful sorceress. They're both dead by now." Morgana informed them. "Princess Vivienne and I are perfectly well. King Uther, however, is missing. As Lord Agravaine was with them, we suspect he was the one who has taken Uther away." Her voice was a bit trembling as Morgana told that.

"Lord Agravaine!" Someone said.

"How can a man do that to his own family?" Someone else said all shocked.

"The fact is, he did it." Arthur said seriously. "He was under a spell. Oh, well, he still is. Merlin will help me to break it soon"

"Dark magic?" A man asked.

"Yes." Arthur looked at Morgana, who nodded. "By Morgana's sister. A love spell who has made my uncle to become her puppy!" He sounded hurt.

"Oh, but your uncle and Uther had never been the best friends!" An aged woman pointed sincerely.

"Anyway, we obviously must stop the spell and bring our king back." Merlin said very self confidently.

"I've took Excalibur, my father's magic sword." Arthur continued. "And Merlin and I are going to break the spell now. After that, we're preparing to go and rescue the king."

"Meanwhile, we'd like you to pay attention to any stranger who comes to Camelot. The ones who have magic and sights and find out any kind of information to help us, please tell." Merlin added.

"That's it for now." Morgana said, dismissing the crowd.

As they entered, Morgana took Vivienne, kissing the top of her head.

"My sweet... daddy will be back soon, I promise." She said in a kind voice to the child. "And then I won't allow him to leave our bed for a whole day!"

"Morgana, don't tell her that!" Arthur said annoyed and took the baby from Morgana. "You see, Vivienne, your mother seems to be madly in love, but as your big brother I'll protect you, while they have some fun we're going to... uh..."

"Pick flowers?" Merlin smiled.

"You're a girl, Merlin!" Arthur teased. "Yes, yes!" He smiled again at the baby. "We're going to pick some lovely flowers meanwhile!" He caressed softly her cheek. "Thank you, Merlin." Then he looked at Morgana. "I know how difficult it must be to you, Morgana. We'll bring him back, I promise." He said very seriously.

Morgana finally allowed her tear to pour, silently.

"Thank you." She whispered. "You know, what hurts me more, apart the fact I'm terribly worried about Uther, is that my sister probably helped Agravaine."

"Morgana... we don't know if she..." Gaius started.

"Yes, she did." Morgana interrupted him. "Agravaine wouldn't be able to do that without magic."

"Nimueh was there to." Merlin remembered. "She used to be very powerful."

"Even so. If Morgause has Agravaine's loyalty, he wouldn't do that if my sister at least agrees with that." Morgana pointed. "Why did she do that?" She sounded so heartbroken. "She knows I love Uther, why would she take him away from me?"

"Morgana..." Merlin patted her back. "She was clearly disturbed about your wedding. Anyway, she's the only one who may tell you the reason."

"Merlin is right." Gaius said. "The best we can do now is get prepared for the rescue."

"Yes." Arthur said and gave the baby back to Morgana. "Come on, Merlin! We have a ruby to destroy!"

When Uther opened his eyes, he felt like his head was spinning very quick. Poor Morgana, does she awake like this after having her sleep potions?

"What are we going to do as we take Camelot?" Uther listened to Agravaine's voice. It was unusually sweet and he heard a kiss after that.

"Oh... I have some interesting suggestions!" Morgause giggled.

Uther rolled his eyes, but continued pretending he was sleeping. Maybe he could find out how exactly they intend to take his kingdom, so he could escape soon and prevent it.

"Well, Agravaine..." Morgause got up and paced around, never bothering about get dressed. "My sister will be so fragile if she loses her beloved Uther... I'll be there, helping her and, bit by bit, taking the control."

"Only that?" Agravaine sounded very surprised. "No fight? No magic?"

Morgause sighed.

"I don't want Morgana or my niece to be hurt. Maybe they'll think the king's death was an accident."

"How could they?" Agravaine asked. "Your sister saw me!"

"Maybe she was too scared and imagined everything?" Morgause smirked. "Fear does weird things to one's mind..."

"You're impossible!" He kissed her. "So you take the power without fight... and with no magic?"

"Some months ago, Morgana took me to visit an old and wise woman. A villager."

"A villager? Really?" What the hell a queen... well, a court lady at that time, but even so! What does lady Morgana would have to do in a villager's house? Weird.

"Yes." Morgause whispered. "Magic is a very practical thing, Agravaine, but it's not always the answer. It may hurt the ones we love. And I don't want that." She explained remembering what the aged woman had told her in that time.

"And then?" He moved on the bed and trapped the lady under his body.

"Oh!" She smirked. "You daring boy!" Morgause said very amused and moved her hips, teasing her lover. "Then I'll bit by bit earn everyone's sympathy... and suddenly!" She flipped them, straddling Agravaine, who let out a rough groan. "Suddenly, Agravaine, I'll marry you and make you king of Camelot!"

"I can't wait!"

"You may kiss your bride!" She joked.

The man flipped them once again and restarted their lovemaking.

Merlin and Arthur finally arrived in the top of the north tower.

"Why here, Merlin?"

"Because if we need the dragon, we may call him here. Moreover, we don't have curious people around... oh, and I really have no idea of how much energy the ruby has, so we won't destroy your father's great hall if the energy gets... uh... explosively angry!"

"Merlin!" Arthur said scared. "Are you telling me it may cause an explosion like a... well, a bomb?"

"Uh... yes. That's it." Merlin smiled at the prince's shock. "Go ahead."

"What!"

"Break it." Merlin smiled once again.

"No!"

"Arthur!" Merlin couldn't believe it!

"What if everything goes wrong, Merlin?" The prince started yelling his worries at the boy. "Who will bring my father back? Who will rule the kingdom? Who will take care of Guinevere? And my sister and Morgana?"

"Oh, come on, don't be a prat!" Merlin rolled his eyes, making Arthur shut up. "I intend to absorb all the energy, so I may increase my magic."

"Are you sure?" Arthur looked at him in disbelief.

"Of course!" It sounded so much like Gaius!

"Won't you explode yourself or something disgusting like that?"

"You just don't be a prat and do your job. It always has a risk, but sometimes we must do it even so." Merlin said seriously.

Arthur looked at his friend very seriously for some moments. Then he took a breath, raised Excalibur and, using all his strength and determination, he hit the ruby. And then, a big amount of light.

Well, it seems the ruby was finally broken. Let's see if Merlin managed to take the energy. How will Agravaine react when he realizes he has been Morgause's puppy for so long? And let's go to save the king!

Hope you have a merry Christmas! I must tell you that there's a big chance I'm going to be late next week... I'm going to my grandparents' home for the feasts. =)