Chapter 38 - Gone too far

A woman runs and runs.

She is running from the village she calls home.

Camelot will keep her safe for now, hopefully.

She saw the entrance to the crystal cave. Merlin and Gwaine walked up to it.

"Here is where I must leave you"

"So now I go back to Camelot? Look after the princess?"

"Yes, I will be safe. Once I get my magic back"

"Here" Gwaine handed Merlin his sword "take this. I know you know how to use one and which end to point them with."

"I can't, Gwaine you need it"

"No Merlin, you need it more than me."

The two friends embraced, hopefully not for the last time.

Merlin stepped up to the cave.

Inside it was dark.

"So you came" Mordred voice boomed in the cave

"Come out, I am not afraid of you."

"Are you not? Well you seem to be holding that sword tightly."

Mordred stood between Merlin and the exit to the cave.

"Then face me" Mordred whispered into Merlin ear.

Merlin turned to see Mordred, as he did he struck him on the right thigh.

"Oh dear me Merlin."

A dagger came out of nowhere and attacked Merlin, wedging itself between his ribs. Merlin screamed in pain.

"Let's see now if and how your precious king will save you"

Mordred walked backwards towards the exit " Stanas ahreosaþ! "

Morgana sat up fast "NO, Merlin!"

It was a dream, one she had to stop. She couldn't lose him.

Merlin was prepared and ready to leave just had to wait for Gwaine to be in the same situation. He knew that Gwaine would be a bad choice as he was always in the tavern, so never ready on time.

"Merlin!" Morgana shouted hysterically

"Morgana, what's up?" He could see her face tears stricken

"You cannot go"

She was still in her nightgown, running down the stairs towards him. This reminded Merlin when Arthur got bitten by the Questing Beast. The scared ward of Uther Pendragon had come back, scared of her dreams.

"Why? What did you dream?"

Morgana started crying again "Mordred, he is there waiting for you. You get trapped with a dagger in your chest. Merlin please don't leave me! Merlin, please don't go."

Merlin walked up to her and held her tight.

Arthur had seen Morgana run outside from the other end of the castle and came to investigate.

He saw Merlin hugging her close.

"Don't worry Morgana. I always come back, you know that. How many times did you try and kill me?" He pulled her back to look at her properly "if I am not back in a week, I give you permission to dispatch every knight in Camelot to look for me. Just keep Arthur here and keep him safe." Merlin used his thumb to wipe away any tears still left on her cheeks.

"Merlin please don't go. I don't want to lose you." Morgana leaned into his touch, hoping this was going to be the last.

Merlin dropped his voice to a whisper. "I have to my darling." He looked at her wondering whether it was okay to call her that "just keep the prat out of trouble."

Morgana laughed at this. She always loved the times when Merlin would insult Arthur, keeping him on his toes. Maybe that's why he had kept his job for so long, I hope he keeps up the pet names.

"I am ready to go Merlin"

Merlin turned to see Gwaine on his horse.

"I promise I will come back" he kissed Morgana's hand. He looked up to see Arthur "bye king of the prats"

"See you soon" he jogged down the stairs to get a clingy Morgana off of Merlin.

Morgana still held onto Merlin tight until Arthur had come to get her off.

The siblings watched their friend go. Morgana turned to Arthur to hug on to him now.

"He will be back. He always seems to come back."

"I just hope you are right"

"Let's get you in before you freeze"

Morgana looked up at Arthur. He was her brother and nothing else. She had been young when she had her crush on him but now all she could see was brotherly love from him.

Arthur led Morgana up the stairs back to her room.

She hasn't looked back and hasn't stopped moving. She knew something was up. Why would the Saxons attack a village in a kingdom that has little to do with them?

She knew the truth. People had died trying to save her. She had heard of rumours that the leader of the Saxons was in league with Morgana but another was ordering them about. It could be Morgana's second in command, if my son has messed up, goddess let's hope Morgana finds him before I do.

Merlin and Gwaine has been travelling all morning and decided to stop for some lunch. It was nothing special but it filled them up.

Merlin now knew another reason why not to choose Gwaine, the endless chatter. To be honest, Merlin didn't really mind it, but sometimes it could get damm annoying.

Snap

Merlin's head turned to the direction the twit broke in. "What was that?"

Gwaine unsheathed his sword, ready if need be to attack.

A woman fell into the clearing.

Merlin walked up to her, "Are you alright?" He carefully put a hand on her shoulder trying not to scare her.

The woman knew that she recognised the voice and turned to the young man who had his hand on her shoulder. "Merlin!"

Merlin smiled and embraced her "Mother, what happened? You look exhausted."

"Saxons attacked us." Hundith allowed herself to relax in Merlin's arms. She was safe now, she knew she was.

Merlin eyes darkened slightly. Mordred had attacked his village.

"Let's get her back to Camelot." Merlin helped his mother up and led her to his horse

"But what about ..." Gwaine tried to get Merlin to see reason, that they needed to go to the crystal cave.

"Not now please Gwaine. I need to get my mother to Camelot."

"But, but, we need to …."

"Gwaine please, she is exhausted and he has gone too far."

Gwaine looked at the woman in Merlin arms.

"Arthur won' be happy."

They jumped back on their horses and rode back the way they came. Hunith was seated behind her son.

"Have you done anything to upset Morgana?"

Merlin stiffened. Goddess, I have got a lot of explaining to do.

Arthur was shocked to see his manservant running up the stairs. He probably has forgotten something.

"Merrrrlin" Arthur shouted down the halls

"Yes Arrrrrthur" Merlin equally shouted

Arthur started to walk towards Merlin "What have you forgotten? Your head?"

Merlin laughed "Nothing, we meet my mother in the woods."

That's when Hunith came into view.

"Hunith, welcome to Camelot. You look awful, can I be of assistance?"

"Thank you milord but..."

Arthur knew that she wouldn't request anything form him so had to make the first move. "You look like your village has been attacked" there was concern in his voice, he knew how much Hunith meant to Merlin.

Hunith teansed and Merlin put an arm around her.

Arthur knew what he had to do now. "Merlin take her to Gaius, I will get the council together. If you village has been attacked we will help." He smiled at her "like last time."

"Thank you milord."

" Hunith, please call me Arthur, I know you idiot of a son hasn't got his manners from you."

"Hey" Merlin exclaimed in a fake hurt voice, he knew Arthur was only playing. "I respect you a lot more than I give off."

Hunith felt out of place. Arthur was sitting there, waiting for her to start. Merlin was behind him and a bit off to the right. The knights took up one side of the room, the lords took up the other.

"Saxons attacked my village. Their leader, a dark haired boy no older than about 17, came they were cutting every one down in sight. One of the farmers, that live opposite me, quickly shoved me into my house. He had heard them talking and they were after me and told to kill everybody else. He said he would get me out. He obviously did but I watch as a Saxon came up and killed him in cold blood. I then ran until I met Merlin in the woods." She was trying to hold back the tears and she could see out the corner of her eye that Merlin was itching to hug her. "I don't understand why though, why me? What's so special about me?"

Arthur turned to look behind him at Merlin. He had the same look in his eye, hatred, something he hadn't noticed since he fell in love with Morgana.

"Milord, sorry we are late." Gwen rushed in with Morgana not too far behind.

Arthur turned to his wife and sister.

Morgana saw Merlin and gave him a big smile then a confused look.

Merlin returned her smile then mouthed 'I will tell you later.'

Hunith saw this and was confused by Morgana's presence. Why is she here? I thought they did like each other and she has tried to kill them. I will have to ask Merlin later. But did he smile at her? Need to ask Merlin after this and hopefully it ends soon, I feel so out of place.

"It's alright, you are here now." Arthur smiled at his wife.

"What have we missed?" Gwen returned her husband's smile.

"Saxons have attacked Ealdor, with a dark haired leader, no older than 17"

"So Mordred?" Gwen questioned

"I believe so. He fits the description."

"Sorry milord, but if it is Mordred, shouldn't Merlin go on his little quest, they are trying to break him or slow him down. You know I don't want him to go but it means that they will think of new ways to get to Camelot. They may even be on their way as we speak." Morgana questioned. Morgana knew she should keep her thought to herself but it seemed nobody else was going to say anything.

Merlin sighs as he knows that Morgana is right, he needs to go and get his magic back but he wants to be with his mother as she has been through a lot because of him.

"Do you know how badly the village was destroyed?"

"Badly, we had only just finished all the rebuilding from when Agravaine attacked us."

Morgana stiffened. She had ordered that attack.

Merlin noticed Morgana stiffen and gave her a reassuring smile.

However this did not calm Morgana down one bit. She wanted this meeting to end now so she could go and hide from Hunith. Merlin had always said she was strict to him and she didn't want her fury, Ealdor is Hunith's home and she had set out to destroy it.

"If that's all council dismissed."

The council moved to leave and so did Morgana, she didn't want to be near Hunith because of all what she had done to her and the village.

Morgana was doing well of getting out of there and avoiding Hunith eye until Arthur said. "Morgana, come back."

Morgana turned on her heel and looked at Arthur, pleading for him to let her go.

Arthur shock his head at her. She wasn't going to get away with it that easily. He could see the guilt in her eyes.

Once the council had left, Hunith spoke up.

"Am I missing something?"

All four of them looking at each other, what did she mean was she missing something?

Hunith carried on, seeing their confusion "because the last time I saw my son he was in tears because he had been banished from Camelot, and he said that Morgana was trying to kill you all, even before this. Now in front of me, I see the four people that came and rescued my village all those years ago, however you have all grown up. Arthur isn't so arrogant and may take the food I give him, Arthur I did notice. Gwen is queen, after being banished for being unfaithful. Morgana is being followed around by 2 guards, don't worry Morgana I haven't forgotten your little attack on Ealdor on your second reign. I mean even my son has changed, I now do not recognise him now. He seems like the strong man I had hoped he would turn into."

They stood there wide eyed and mouths wide open at Hunith's outburst. They all knew how right she was.