Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter 38 – Le Morte d'Arthur
"Gaius!" Guinevere cried happily, needing some good news right now.
"My lady."
"Tell me." She knew by the look in his eyes that he had seen Arthur.
"He's alive." Relief shot through her and she began crying anew, though for a good reason this time.
"Then why isn't he with you?" Gwaine asked, the knight having been the one to spot Gaius riding into the citadel and taking him to see The Queen.
"He is wounded." Hesitantly Gaius held up the ring, giving it to Guinevere. "He wanted me to give you this, my lady." Her tears turned to sorrow once more when she saw it. If he was giving her the royal seal, it meant he didn't expect to survive.
"Where is he?"
"Though Morgana was the one to strike him down, she used Merlin's magic to do so. The power of Emrys is not easily countered, even by himself." He explained. "There is a place where he may be saved. Merlin is taking him there even as we speak."
"Well, we must send the knights." She turned to Gwaine. "Ready as many men as you can."
"No, my lady. Merlin can cope by himself."
"I don't like it, Gaius."
"I know you don't. But Morgana's forces are still searching for Arthur. Two men travelling alone stand a much better chance of evading her, especially if she has no idea where they're heading." She really didn't like it, but knew Gaius was right, knew that if anyone could protect Arthur it would be Merlin.
oo00oo00oo
Merlin and Arthur rode the horses hard, travelling as far as they possibly could before stopping and doing so again the next day. When Arthur fell from his horse, Merlin hoisted him up onto his own and kept going. It was no use though, for the more time that passed the weaker Arthur grew and eventually Merlin was literally carrying him, thankful that his magic could make Arthur lighter than he really was.
"We're almost there, Arthur. We'll get there." Suddenly the horses neighed loudly and started stomping around, something having scared them. Laying Arthur down gently, Merlin went to try and calm them, only to find out exactly what it was that spooked them.
"Hello Emrys." Morgana took him by surprise and managed to send him flying, leaving her alone with Arthur.
"What a joy it is to see you, Arthur." She scoffed. "Look at you. Not so tall and mighty now. You may have won the battle, but you've lost the war." She smiled sickeningly. "And you're going to die by Emrys' own hand. Who'd have thought the one who swore to protect you is going to be your downfall?" Arthur glared and tried to get up, though failed miserably. "Oh, don't worry, my dear brother, I won't let you die alone. I'll stay and watch over you." Her smile vanished and a look of utter hate graced her face. "Until the wolves gorge on your carcass and bathe in your blood."
"No." Morgana turned around to see Merlin, holding a sword she knew to be Arthur's aloft. "The time for all this bloodshed is over. I blame myself for what you've become. But this has to end."
"I'm a High Priestess." She said triumphantly. "No mortal blade can kill me." With a simple nod of his head, Merlin thrust the sword forward, piercing her flesh. Morgana gasped as she felt the blade hurt her as no weapon had before. This wasn't possible, no mortal weapon could kill her. And Merlin knew that.
"This is no mortal blade. It was forged in a dragon's breath." She grunted painfully again and Merlin did her a kindness she would never have done them. He fell to the ground with her and stayed by her side, not mockingly, but comfortingly, as she drew her last breath. "Goodbye Morgana." When she was dead, Merlin rushed to Arthur's side and lifted him back up, knowing they needed to continue and couldn't think more on the witch.
"Come on, we have to make it to the lake." Merlin said, trying to get Arthur to stand and failing.
"It's too late." Arthur murmured deliriously. "It's too late…even with all your magic, you can't save my life."
"I can. I'm not going to lose you."
"Just…just…just hold me…please." Merlin did as asked, knowing deep down that this was it and he rather spend the last few minutes with his friend properly than carrying him through the woods. "There's something I wanted to say."
"You're not going to say goodbye!" Whatever his heart of hearts told him, Merlin would not give up.
"No, Merlin…" Arthur forced himself to keep his eyes open and look Merlin in the eye; that simple action was harder than he thought it would be. "Everything you've done, for me, for Camelot, the kingdom you helped me build,"
"You'd have done it without me." Arthur tried to laugh.
"Maybe…though probably not. I want to say something I've never said to you before…thank you." Merlin waited for him to say more, but instead Arthur went limp, losing consciousness.
"No. No, Arthur…Arthur!" Merlin tried to lift him but quickly gave up and instead did the only thing he could think of.
"Dragon! Imala! Sungente gumenta! Keshophanekes!" He managed to get out from under Arthur before the Great Dragon arrived, but only just.
"Kilgharrah!" He cried. The dragon's look became concerned when he saw the distraught look on Merlin's face, while a quick glance to the Dragonlord's left told him why. "I would not have summoned you if there was any other choice. I have one last favour to ask." Kilgharrah said nothing as he allowed Merlin to climb on his back with Arthur, following his Dragonlord's instructions to take them to the Lake of Avalon. He knew, however, that it was too late, and no matter how hard it would be for Merlin to accept it, he knew he must.
"Merlin. There is nothing you can do." Kilgharrah said sadly even as Merlin dragged Arthur's body towards the lake.
"I've failed?"
"No, young warlock, for all that you have dreamt of building has come to pass." Merlin shook his head and began walking once more.
"I can't lose him! He's my friend!" Merlin sobbed, refusing to let go.
"Though no man, no matter how great, can know his destiny, some lives have been foretold, Merlin. Arthur is not just a king, he is the Once and Future King. Take heart, for when Albion's need is greatest…Arthur will rise again." Merlin felt his heart drop and he couldn't stop the pained sob that left him as he fell to the ground, cradling Arthur against him. Kilgharrah sat with him as Merlin gave in to his grief. Not one word left the dragon's mouth, nor did he chide or ridicule Merlin as he rocked back and forth, Arthur's body held tightly in his embrace. Finally, when he could cry no longer, Merlin rose and used his magic to summon a boat. He placed Arthur on it, wrapped in his brilliant red cloak, Excalibur resting atop him, clasped in his hands.
"What will you do now, Merlin?" The Great Dragon spoke for the first time in hours.
"It is tradition that The King's body lie in state for two days." He murmured. "The new King is meant to stay with him for a night, but Thomas is too young, even if I took him back to Camelot. I will go with Arthur to the Isle of the Blessed and sit with him in his son's stead. And he will be buried there, where the magic of the Old Religion can watch over him until his time comes again."
"Does not The Queen, and the people of Camelot, deserve the closure of knowing what happened to their King?" He asked softly. Merlin nodded.
"I'll return to Camelot and tell Gwen what happened. I'll even bring her to visit if she wants. Her and Thomas. I will stay with them and help them as best I can for I know its what Arthur would want. He loved them so much that even if they weren't important to me I would still care for them in his memory." Kilgharrah nodded, glad at least that Merlin had a plan for after he buried Arthur. It meant that he knew he had to continue living, and though Arthur's death would always bring him sorrow, he would move forwards, and prepare to help Arthur when he rose again as the Once and Future King.
"It has been a privilege to have known you, young warlock." He said as he spread his wings, preparing to take flight. "The story we have been a part of will live long in the minds of men." Merlin watched until Kilgharrah flew out of sight before turning to the boat. The King was dead. There was no denying it. Though it killed a part of him, Merlin climbed into the boat alongside Arthur and cast off, his magic taking them across the lake to the Isle of the Blessed where his friend would be laid to rest.
oo00oo00oo
A week had passed with no word from either Merlin or Arthur. Finally Guinevere could stand it no longer and sent men to find them, even against Gaius' wishes. They returned with no news of either of the men they sought, though they had found Morgana's body. The news that the war was well and truly over brought barely any joy to the people, who all mourned their King, though none more so than his wife. Guinevere had holed herself up in her chambers, only accepting Thomas as a visitor and turning all others away, including her brother and even her maid Sefa, who reported that The Queen barely touched the food she left for her. Everyone was worried, though they allowed her time to grieve; however, when the second week passed with still no news, they knew they could no longer let her be. Elyan decided that he would be the one to try and speak with her first, managing to gain entrance to the royal chambers by pretending to be the nurse with Thomas.
"Go away Elyan." Guinevere commanded, the smile she'd had for her son disappearing when she saw it wasn't him. Only Thomas could bring a smile to her face these days, and it was only for him that she even made any effort. Well, that was not entirely true anymore.
"No."
"I said go away!" She shrieked, her grief manifesting as anger.
"Gwen-"
"Do not forget your place, Sir Elyan. I am your Queen and-"
"I forget nothing." He said calmly. "Yes you are my Queen, but more importantly you are my sister. You're my sister, Gwen, and I love you. I cannot stand by any longer while you…waste away." The two siblings stared at each other for a moment before Guinevere's face crumbled and great sobs wracked her body. "Oh Gwen." Elyan murmured, going to her side and pulling her into his arms. They sat there on the floor for some time as she cried her heart out.
"I can't…I can't do this, Elyan. I can't do this without him."
"Yes you can."
"No." She was insistent. "Without Arthur I…I can't even breathe with the thought that I'll never see him again."
"But you must. For your people, and for your son." She nodded knowing he was right, and knowing that she had to move on, whether she wanted to or not. Especially as it was not just herself she had to look after.
"Elyan…it's not just Thomas any-" She cut off as a wave of nausea hit her. Pushing away from Elyan she reached for the chamber pot and heaved into it.
"Gwen!" Elyan cried in a panic prompting the door to open and all their friends to pour in, having not so subtlety been listening at the door.
"What is wrong with her?"
"Fetch Gaius!"
"I'm here."
"Help her to bed."
"Wait till she is done losing her lunch, though, will you?!" Each voice spoke over the others and through the chaos they managed to band together to do the right thing. When Guinevere was done heaving into the chamber pot, Elyan and Leon helped her to bed where Isolde and Mithian began fussing over her before stepping back to allow Gaius to look at her.
"I'm fine." She said, though not a single person believed her; Tristan even going so far as to scoff and roll his eyes with a muttered sarcastic "Sure you are."
"All right, I'm not fine, but I am not ill."
"I think Gaius will be the one to determine that." Said Mithian, her tone saying she would take no nonsense from Guinevere.
"And you'll forgive us for taking his word for it over yours, my lady, given the last couple of weeks." Gwaine added. This time she rolled her eyes but allowed Gaius his examination, smiling softly when he stopped poking and prodding her in favour of giving her a knowing look. She nodded and he smiled back.
"She is just fine." He proclaimed. "Perfectly normal behaviour when one is with child." He guessed correctly that she wanted her close friends to know, especially given that she knew they would not be brushed off and she would receive no rest until they were told the truth. The reaction was immediate and the congratulations abounded, and also explained her even more melancholy mood these last days. Discovering she was carrying Arthur's child would make her feel his loss even more. The thought of Arthur brought them back to the reason that they were all crammed inside the royal chambers.
"My lady." Leon started. "As much as I do not want to be insensitive…it has been two weeks. We must do something. The kingdom needs its King, whether or not that king be Arthur."
"I will do nothing until Merlin returns." She insisted. "So long as he is with him there is a chance…" She trailed off as she saw the look on Gaius' face. "Gaius?" The physician sighed. "Please."
"I fear Merlin may never return." He said to everyone's shock. "It pains me to say this, my lady, but The King could not have survived this long. If Merlin had been able to heal him they would have returned by now. I fear that Merlin was not successful and in his own grief cannot bear to return to Camelot." That was a thought that had not occurred to her and she did not like it one bit.
"But there is still a chance." Gaius looked like he wanted to say no, though couldn't bring himself to do it. This time is was Guinevere who sighed and all waited for their Queen's decision. "We shall give them one more week." She said finally. "On the day that marks three weeks since Arthur disappeared we shall either welcome him home…or Thomas shall be declared King of Camelot." Following that plan, it was with great sorrow that Guinevere sat on her throne, her crown on her head, as the court stood before her. Thomas sat in her lap, his tiny hands grasping the royal seal that had been placed around his neck, his father's crown sitting atop a pillow on The King's throne, for it would not fit on his little head. The entire throne room stood silent as they awaited the announcement that they knew would come, though their Queen seemed insistent on drawing it out as long as possible. Her head was bowed as she looked between the royal seal and her young son, who was far too young to be King. Still, she had promised the kingdom the peace of mind and security of knowing whether their King lived or died or if they had a new King, and so with great reluctance, she turned to Leon and nodded. Camelot's First Knight did not relish his duty this day, but he knew only too well the importance of having an established ruler, even if that ruler was but a babe and the realm would have a regent for many years to come. To continue as they had been and not knowing who was in charge would invite chaos as certain nobles scrambled for power. It was one thing to wait for a King to return from war, but when weeks passed with not even a word of whether he lived or died, people began to get antsy, and it would not be long before a grab for power was made. With a deep breath, Leon prepared to do his duty to Camelot, as he had always done.
"The King…is dead." He said in a loud and clear voice. "Long live-" He cut off as the doors to the throne room were thrown open. Each and every knight present drew their swords, fearing the worst, and the room descended into chaos.
A/N - Even in the show Morgana's death seemed that rushed, as did her finding Merlin and Arthur, and that worked for me since I felt done with Morgana last chapter, but still actually had to get rid of her for good.
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