Estelle pt.36
Hello, hope you are having a good day.
Everyone celebrated Merlin's birthday. They had finished eating and were talking to one another when they saw Morgause coming up from the lake. Morgause went to Morgana who was talking to Gwen and Freya.
"Morgana, I must speak with you." Morgause said.
"No, Morgause. I'm not going to let you control me again." Morgana answered. Everyone looked over at the two.
"Morgana, whatever they said is a lie."
"It's not what they did or said, it's the consequenses of my actions and choices. My daughter suffered because of what I did. She doesn't derserve to suffer anymore."
"Daughter? You don't have a daughter."
"Yes, I do. I had Estelle when I was in a very dark place. Merlin is her father and raised her when I died. Now, she has a new mother, sibling, and children of her own. I never really got to be part of her life. All I want is to make her happy and if that means pushing you away then so be it."
"You will pay for this, sister. You will see why you should follow me."
"Leave Morgause. You are not welcomed here."
Morgause left. Morgana looked at Estelle and saw that Estelle was looking down at the ground. Morgana looked at Merlin and he nodded. Morgana went to Estelle.
"I meant every word, Estelle. All I want is to be in your life again." Morgana said.
"I know. I just don't know if I'm ready for you to be in my life." Estelle sighed.
"I understand. I'll be here when you're ready."
Estelle nodded and Morgana went to Arthur, Gwen, and Merlin.
"At least your love for Estelle is stronger than your want for power." Merlin said.
"I've lost my powers. But I fear that she may try to hurt Estelle." Morgana replied.
"We'll protect her. We won't let Morgause get to her."
After the party, everyone went to bed. Freya and Merlin were finishing their devotions when Estelle knocked on the door.
"Come in." Merlin sighed. Estelle went in.
"I need to talk to you." Estelle answered.
"I knew you would. Come sit down."
Estelle sat on the bed with her parents.
"I don't know what to do. Part of me wants to have my mother back in my life, but then part of me doesn't. I suffered so much because of her and I don't want to get hurt again but I know she is trying her best even if I don't want her to. Then what she said to her sister- it made me realize that she will stop at nothing to have me back. She made a dress for me, she made stuff for my kids. Then she pushed her own sister away. I've been thinking so much about what I went through that I forgot about what she went through. She suffered to make sure that I was safe. She did care but the world scared her and so she put a lot of pressure on me." Estelle explained.
"She did go through a lot and I'm sure it got harder when you were born." Merlin sighed. "When you were born, she had to take care of you and Aithusa, plus herself. I think she was scared of hurting you but what she didn't realize was that her fear of hurting you hurt you even more."
"I just don't know what to do."
"Spend some time with her. That's what she wants. She just wants to know her daughter. She wants to see the young woman that you've grown into. Let her have that opertonity."
"I think I will."
Estelle went to bed. Merlin laid down next to Freya and kissed her womb before kissing Freya's lips.
"Just a few more months till we get to meet this little one." Merlin whispered.
"I can't wait to meet her." Freya sighed.
"Her?"
"I just have a feeling that it's a girl."
"I hope it is."
"I think Samuel wants a brother."
"He does. He told me yesterday."
"I hope Estelle can get everything worked out with Morgana."
"I hope so too."
When everyone was asleep, Morgause appeared in Estelle's room. She grabbed Estelle and disappeared again. Estelle woke up and saw that she was chained to a wall in a cell. She saw Morgause and tried to get away. Morgause approached Estelle and grabbed her chin.
"You look like your mother and your father." Morgause said.
"Let me go." Estelle answered as she jerked her head out of Morgause's grip.
"Come now. We have a lot to talk about."
"I have nothing to say to you."
"So be it. I'll be back in an hour."
Morgause left. She went upstairs and looked down the grate that led to Estelle's cell.
"What are you planning to do to her?" Mordred asked.
"I'll will show her what her mother went through just for her. I will make her feel ungrateful. When they realize that Estelle is gone, Morgana will come crawling to me and by then, Estelle will be under our control." Morgause chanted a spell and Estelle gasped as her mother's memories flashed before her eyes. When it was over, Estelle let out a sob.
"That didn't take long."
"No, it didn't. The next phase shouldn't take very long either. Have a cell prepared for her. I will get the mandrakes ready."
"Yes, my lady."
Morgause left the room and Mordred looked down the grate and saw Estelle sobbing. In the cell, Estelle was sobbing as guilt washed over her.
Everyone woke up and saw that Estelle was gone.
"We should have protected her better." Merlin said.
"Merlin, you can't blame yourself." Arthur answered.
"We need to find her. We leave in an hour."
"Where will we look? We don't know where she could be."
"We'll start around here and work our way to the mountains."
"Morgana, where did Morgause hide before?"
"She hid with Cenred." Morgana stated.
"Where would Cenred's land be now?" Arthur asked.
"Ealdor is nearly five hours from here. His castle would be seven hours." Merlin sighed.
"We'll take horses."
"It'll take us a few days, Arthur."
"Well, we can't take cars. They'll hear us."
"Merlin, it's better to take horses." Freya said.
"We have an hour." Merlin stated. They got ready to leave. The woman and children stayed behind while Merlin, Arthur, the knights, and younger Elyan left to find Estelle. A few days passed and Estelle was under the influence of the mandrake roots. She didn't bend or break.
"Why won't she break?" Morgause questioned.
"We don't know. It's working but she just won't break." Mordred answered.
"I want her broken!"
"Yes, my lady."
Mordred left the room. He went to the cell and saw that Estelle was suffering.
"Estelle." Merlin whispered. Estelle looked to her left and saw her father. She knew that it wasn't him.
"Go away. You're not my father." Estelle replied.
"You stupid little brat. You will not speak to me that way."
"I can speak to you however I want to. You don't scare me. You are not my father. You are a ghost."
Merlin disappeared and screams echoed in Estelle's head. Estelle winced but ignored the screams. Mordred went inside the cell.
"Estelle." Mordred whispered. Estelle looked up and saw Mordred.
"Mordred?" Estelle wondered.
"It's me. I'm real. Morgause is trying to control you. I think she's planning of torturing you."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to rescue you."
"Wait till she actually tries something."
"Why?"
"She'll expect something to happen."
They heard footsteps. Morgause came in.
"Ah, Mordred. I see you have been trying to talk to our prisoner." Morgause said.
"I was trying to figure out why she hasn't broken." Mordred lied.
"Well, I think I know a way to break her. Go get some rest."
"Yes, my lady."
Mordred left the cell. He went upstairs to Morgause's room and looked through her keys. He found keys for Estelle's chains. He grabbed it and left the room.
Meanwhile, Morgause had unchained Estelle with magic. Estelle stood up and faced Morgause.
"Why won't you break?" Morgause asked.
"Because I'm stronger than you think I am." Estelle answered.
"You will break soon."
Morgause's eyes changed color and Estelle fell to the ground and screamed in pain. Bruises and cuts began to appear on Estelle's body. When it was over Estelle was covered in many wounds.
"You will break now." Morgause said.
"I will never break." Estelle hissed. Morgause did it again but Estelle didn't scream. She groaned painfully. Morgause became angry. She used her magic and Estelle became chained to the wall again.
"I will be back in the morning. I hope you night is unpleasant."
Morgause left the room and Estelle groaned. Then Mordred came in.
"Are you alright?" Mordred asked.
"I'm fine. Let's get out of here." Estelle panted.
"I hope they find her." Morgana sighed.
"I hope so too." Freya answered. Then Freya gasped painfully. Gaius went over to her.
"Are you alright, Freya?" Gaius asked.
"I'm fine. The baby just kicked really hard."
"You should rest. You have done more than enough."
"I'll be fine, Gaius."
"Go rest. That's an order."
"Yes, sir."
Freya went to bed.
The men had stopped for a break. Merlin was very anxious. He walked around thinking and keeping busy.
"Merlin, come sit down." Arthur ordered.
"No. I'm good." Merlin answered.
"That wasn't a request."
"You're not king anymore."
"As your friend I order you to sit down and eat something."
"We need to get to the castle before Morgause hurts Estelle even worse."
"We'll find her but you'll be of no use to Estelle, if you are ill."
"Got it. Let's go." Mordred whispered.
"Let's hurry." Estelle replied. They snuck out of the castle. "Which way?"
"Northwest."
They went northwest. They saw a fire in the woods and could hear talking.
"Merlin, if you don't sit down, I will make you regret that you were even born." Arthur ordered. Estelle ran to the camp and ran right into Merlin's arms.
"Father." Estelle exclaimed.
"Oh, Estelle." Merlin gasped as he let tears fall from his eyes. Then Mordred came into the clearing. "What are you doing here, Mordred?" Estelle let go of her father.
"He's fine. He saved me."
"BUt he killed Arthur."
"Father, the past is in the past. Can we please leave it there?"
Merlin let his guard down and sighed.
"You're right." Merlin sighed. Arthur went to Mordred. Mordred fell to his knees in front of Arthur.
"I'm sorry for my crimes. I was wrong to join Morgana." Mordred said.
"I had killed the woman you loved. It's understandable. I forgive you." Arthur answered.
"Thank you, sire. I will not let you down."
"Good. Let's eat."
Estelle whimpered as Merlin let go of her.
"What's wrong?" Merlin wondered.
"Morgause used her magic and inflicted wounds on me. Your hand is on one of the wounds." Estelle groaned.
"I'm sorry. Let's get them treated."
"Ok."
TBC