Chapter 41
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just the plot.
The pain. It agonized as Morgana focused on her wound and tried to breath. It was harder than it appeared. Soon Morgana was coughing and clutching at her chest to get some air into her lungs. The ground beneath her probably made her back ache most, but she rolled over and hoped to the Gods that her stomach would stop burning with pain.
"Morgana?" A voice reached her ears. She looked up and a few feet away from her was Merlin. He looked at her incredulously and with slight worry in his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." Morgana croaked out after she controlled her coughs. With effort she sat up, but when she did. Cloaked figures around her decided to help and she stared at them as a man smiled at her.
Alrionn smiled at Morgana. When she didn't smile back he frowned and cleared his throat. "Are you well, Lady Morgana?"
"Yes." Morgana answered uncertainly. She looked at the six figures around her. Morgana's mind was already working fast inside of her. What if they were here to hurt her and Merlin?
Where's Morgause?
Almost like he read her mind the man next to her (Alrionn) smiled slightly. "You're safe now, my lady."
Morgana looked around them all again and her eyes landed on Merlin.
"Are you okay, Merlin?" She asked, before she began to cough once more.
"Yes, Morgana, I'm fine." Merlin shared a look with the woman next to him and cleared his throat. "Although, I'm not sure how or why. Last thing I remember Morgause had stabbed me with a knife."
Morgana's eyes darkened. "Yes, she did that." She smiled without mirth. "I would of been able to make her pay for what she had done, but you stopped me."
"I don't think that hurting her would of helped." Merlin said sternly. The thought of death never really went well with him. It was something disgraceful and he hated it.
"That still is a wonder." Erell said from behind Alrionn. "How exactly did you do to help Merlin?"
Morgana looked at him. "Who are you?" She changed the subject.
"Erell, and tell us, Morgana, how did yo-"
Alrionn clamped a hand over his mouth. "Would you be quiet already? You know bloody well what she did!" He turned from his brother to Morgana. "This was very dark magic. Merlin could of been in the brink of death. By taking his wound you could of died!"
"Better me than him!" Morgana screamed her answer. Her green eyes challenged Alrionn to keep reprimanding her. "That was why I saved him, because he could of died! It didn't matter if my life was lost in the process. As long as Merlin was saved from certain death."
"Brave of you, Morgana. However, you have to think that perhaps -I don't know- you're magic wouldn't have saved him. That you taken his wound and both of you died. One life lost is better than two."
"Who told you that?" Morgana asked impassively.
"My Father." He answered quickly.
"I would of never tried anything if I hadn't known that it would work. One life lost is better than two, yes, but I wouldn't keep myself on that philosophy if I could trade mine for his."
"Stop fighting with her." A woman with red hair that sat next to Erell quickly. "Just be grateful that you're alive." The woman tells Morgana after a pause.
"Who are you?" Morgana asked. "I mean all of you, not just you." She added when the woman opened her mouth.
Merlin looked at Morgana and tried to get closer. He hissed and stopped when his movement sent pain up and down his stomach.
"You're still healing. Don't move." Elyon said from where she sat with Erell. "What exactly do you mean? We're just like you, aren't we?"
Morgana rolled her eyes when Elyon raised her hand and Erell's. "Druids? Are you Druids?"
Alrionn smiled at her. "How in the world did you figure that out?"
"It took me hours of extensive search from country to country." Morgana responded in seriousness. "I have to admit my work paid off with my vast amount of knowledge that I acquired."
"We're glad that it did." Alrionn said with a nod back than shot her a smile. "Well, it is rather obvious, but we are Druids."
"What are you doing here?" Morgana asked slowly. A moment of silence passed, and she tried to think of ways to escape with Merlin if she had to. So far, she had no ideas.
"We came to save you of course." A man (Ayer) next to Morgana answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"And why would I need all of you to save me?" Morgana asked with a raised eyebrow.
"We knew you were going to be hurt. In truth, we knew that you were going to try and save Merlin." Aeldric answered.
"How could you possibly know that? Do you see the future?" Morgana joked.
"Yes, just like you." Aeldric answered confused. The tone Morgana used made Aeldric wonder if she was a seer. Did Morgause lie about Morgana's ability?
His simple, (not to mention serious answer), made Morgana lose her smile and she nodded to him.
"Oh yes, of course." Morgana paused. "What else did you see?"
"What?" Aeldric asked, a bit confused.
"You must of seen what caused my wound. Not to mention you -Why were you attacking Camelot?" Morgana asked suddenly sitting up and with wide green eyes.
All the Druids looked at each other. Not sure what to answer. "We had a plan to attack Camelot if needed." Elyon answered ominously.
"Needed?" Morgana stared at him and he stared back. "What exactly was the plan?"
"Morgana." Merlin called for her, noting her sudden distress.
Morgana ignored him. A feeling of foreboding filled her insides. Yet, she had to know why.
The Druids all looked at one another uncomfortably, before they looked at Erell.
"No, no way." Erell shook his head. "I hated the purpose of this all in the first place, I'm not going to explain it to her."
"You can tell her brother she had magic, but you can't tell-"
"WHAT!" Merlin and Morgana screamed in unison.
"Why did you tell him?" Morgana whispered shocked.
"He was going to learn the truth one way or another." Erell responded. "And no, he doesn't know you have magic."
Merlin visibly relaxed. Morgana glared at him. Merlin smiled slightly, and flushed in embarrassment.
"How-how did he react?" Morgana asked, trying to be casual and indifferent, but the worry was clear in her eyes.
"It was well received. After he understood that Uther might have you burned at the stake, Arthur was very calm about everything else." Alrionn shrugged.
Morgana pursed her lips and shook her head. "What am I going to do when I have to face Arthur?" Morgana moaned into her hands.
"Nothing. You just look at each other. Wait for the other to speak. When none of you do, then just make sure you're a safe distance from him." Alrionn said, not helping any.
"Why?" Morgana looked at him confused.
"He might be angry that you didn't trust him." Alrionn shrugged. "He might not even talk to you."
"I can do that. As long as he doesn't talk to me, we won't have to discuss anything."
The Druids once more looked uncomfortable, and shifted nervously where they sat.
"What is wrong with all of you?" Morgana snapped, which made them all jump in surprise. "You're making me nervous."
"Erell." Elyon said softly. "Should we tell them?" Elyon looked at him, and waited for an answer.
It never came.
"What happened?" Morgana asked finally.
"You almost died Morgana." Erell said with a sigh. "Why do you think you survived?"
Morgana thought for a moment, but nothing came to mind. She shook her head and looked at him.
"Everything has to have a balance." Aeldric began.
Morgana looked at Merlin when he jerked shocked. He looked paler than usual. Morgana looked at him worriedly, but when he looked back he tried to smile at her.
"It means, Morgana, someone had to die for you to live." Elyon explained.
"Isn't that just a belief people have?" Morgana asked not believing that information.
Aeldric sighed. "Yes, but sometimes it doesn't have to be a person. It could be a tree, an animal, some life form has to die for another to live. Coexistence is what this world aspires to have and will keep it at any cost."
"What are you saying then? Someone or something died so I could live?" Morgana asked with disbelief.
The Druids all nodded as one.
"Who died instead of me?" Morgana asked, one look at Merlin told her she wasn't the one who had to die. Then her eyes widened. "Did Gwen die? Arthur?"
Aeldric shook his head. Then laughed. "Its funny how this life works."
Morgana looked at him patiently.
"We were to attack Camelot to bring Uther down. Morgause planned it all. She sent two of our Druids, Aroded and Eroded, go into your city and gain your trust. When time came one of them had to kill Uther, and to distract the others, Morgause would make sure Uther died by their hand." Aeldric explained, quickly. He looked away from Morgana.
Morgana was shocked, to say the least. A feeling inside of her grew stronger and stronger until she began to bat her eyes to control the tears that were beginning to take over. She looked down, not wanting to let them see her in this state.
"Does this mean. . ." Morgana couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Yes." Alrionn whispered, not a single ounce of child-like playfulness in his tone.
"Oh, Gods!" Morgana screamed and hugged her knees to her chest, hiding her face on them. She ignored the pain that grew from the change of position and focused on it. She couldn't cry, she wouldn't cry. Morgana didn't know when or how, somebody hugged her tenderly. She unwrapped herself, and threw her arms around Merlin. He hissed in small pain and Morgana loosened her hold on him. "I'm sorry." She mumbled.
Merlin shook his head next to her and she buried her head on the crook of his shoulder.
For a moment she just sat there. Sinking lower and lower in her disbelief of this all. She hugged Merlin tighter for dear life and buried herself deeper in his comforting arms.
Uther was with her, she could of saved him. Morgana was so closed to him, and now he was. . .gone.
A sob broke its way out of her mouth, but she soon clamped her mouth shut. She wasn't going to cry, not now.
With a shaky breath she pulled away from Merlin, but still held him close.
"We're sorry, Morgana." Elyon whispered, and averted her eyes from Morgana.
"If I'd just stay in Camelot, he would of been alive now." Morgana said to herself.
"Yes, but Morgause would try something else. Her hate for Uther grows stronger every day. . ." Erell trailed off with a shrug. He stood up and wandered off into the woods. Elyon trailed off behind him, she turned and gave a smile to Morgana.
"Well, we part ways now, Morgana." Aeldric stood up.
"What?" Morgana whispered up at him.
"I'm sure Merlin will take care of you. All we needed to tell you was Uther's departure of the world. Now that we have, we must take our leave." He stood up and with slight limping he left to follow his sister. The remaining three Druids stood up and left as well.
"That's a nice way to say goodbye." Morgana whined. Glad that she had something to think about other than Uther.
"They have mysterious ways of doing everything." Merlin reasoned. "Or they just had no reason to stay any longer."
Both of them watched the backs of the Druids as they walked away and left them on the small mountain top.
"We need to return to Camelot." Morgana said and at once got to her feet. Her balance wasn't well so she stumbled back, but Merlin caught her easily.
"You're not well enough, Morgana." Merlin said sternly, and let Morgana put her weight on his weak frame. Morgana looked up at him with defiance in her eyes, but pain was there in her eyes. Something told Merlin that this wasn't going to be easy for Morgana. With Uther dead, nothing was going to be simple.
"I am too." She said and pushed him to stand on her own to feet. Morgana spread her arms for a moment, before being sure that she wouldn't fall and looked at him smugly. "See."
Merlin smiled at her adoringly and hugged her again. Morgana relaxed on his hug and breathed in his familiar smell, this time it was filled with blood. The dirt was something Morgana as used to.
"What are we going to do, Merlin?" Morgana asked quietly. Merlin stood there in silence.
Merlin thought for a moment, not sure what to do, but responded with a, "Return to Camelot."
Morgana looked up at him and smiled slowly. Fear ran through her, but nodded nonetheless. "Yes, return to Camelot."
Over the next few days Merlin and Morgana tried to keep themselves standing. With both of them worrying over the other, they barely made it half a mile before either of them claimed a stop. Morgana was furious with the thought that Merlin considered her weak, and Merlin only laughed and hugged her which made Morgana kept mock-glaring at him until he kissed her.
"You're lucky I love you, Merlin." Morgana said one night. "You would be dead otherwise."
"Can't blame someone who cares for you." Merlin shrugged at her.
"Yes, you can." Morgana chuckled and threw a leaf into the air. It swiftly made it's way to Merlin's hand. Morgana looked at him, and his attempt to hide the gold in his eyes was futile. "Hey!" She exclaimed. "That's considered cheating."
"Not if the other person doesn't know." Merlin told her with mischief in his eyes.
"I know." Morgana pointed to herself as she sat up and slowly made her way to Merlin.
"Aren't you observant." Merlin teased her. Morgana smacked his arm and hugged him.
"Very." Morgana leaned down to kiss him, but a noise made her look to the left. "Did you hear that?" She whispered to him.
"Yes." Merlin tensed beneath her and before Morgana knew what was happening, Merlin whispered some words and Morgana felt like cold water ran down her whole body. She looked at Merlin confused.
"They won't be able to see us." Merlin whispered to her, and Morgana nodded in understanding.
They looked where the noise came from and no sooner than they did cloaked figures walked out of the passage. There were hundreds, thousands, millions of them. Morgana and Merlin both found, to their relief, that none of the people looked at them. As they passed. Morgana stood up and Merlin did as well. The noise from the others made it easy for them not to notice them.
Silent murmurs filled their ears, but only the confirmation that 'the king is dead' was enough for Morgana to feel like it was her fault. Nothing she could of done would of saved him, but Morgana felt guilt spread over her. Uther and Morgana might have never seen eye to eye, but he was Uther. The man that took care of her, the man that took her under his wing when her Father died. It was enough for her to feel sad because of his death.
As hours passed and both Merlin and Morgana watched as the Druids walk oblivious to them, Morgana walked over to Merlin and whispered to him.
"We have to return." Morgana was loosing patience. Her body still ached, her head was warm in the beginning of fever and she really wanted to go see if Arthur and Gwen were alright.
"Yes." Merlin thought that was a good idea, but then again, he thought that was a good idea the ninth time he thought of it. Merlin entwined his fingers with Morgana's and silently led away from the Druids. As quick and silent as he could.
A few Hours Earlier
Arthur had woken from a nightmare. He sat up groggily. His sleep filled mind had thought nothing of the fact that the Druids had left. The memories of when they had confessed Morgana's powers to him was enough to wake the dead. Arthur looked at Gwen and after telling her that they had to make their way to Camelot, he was surprised to find no resistance from her.
From then onward, things had taken an uncomfortable and very palpable tension. Silence was all Arthur heard, birds were in their trees. His natural skills as a hunter told him that some squirrels were a couple of meters behind him and Gwen. Some deer and other animals were farther away. They walked for hours and met no obstacles in their way.
Once Arthur tried to look at Gwen, he was going to ask her if she needed to rest, but as soon as Gwen looked up at him, she looked back down. Arthur stared at her quizzically, before pushing any doubt from his mind and kept on walking to the point where he practically ignored Gwen.
Arthur was sure he could go on for a few more hours, but he was dead wrong.
"What is wrong with you, Gwen?" Arthur snapped, making the small servant girl jump with a start.
Gwen looked at Arthur wide eyed, but otherwise remained silent. Arthur's lips formed a firm line and he let down his sword. The loss of weight from his body was a big relief, but he kept clear eye contact with his current companion.
"Are we going to have to stay here until you tell me or am I going to have to make you talk?" Arthur wasn't sure what he just said. He made a fist and breathed out. "What I mean is, why are you so quiet? Is something wrong?"
Arthur and Gwen stared at each other for what felt like hours until Arthur crossed his hands over his shoulders and turned to walk away.
Gwen's eyes widened slightly. She wasn't sure, herself, why she had opted to ignore the Prince. Her worries had taken a large part of her mind and she could only resolve that with withdrawing. Arthur's constant attempts to talk to her only made it worse. Gwen was losing her mind here, and the last thing she wanted was to make Arthur worry over nothing.
"I'm just. . .tired." Gwen called out to him. Arthur stopped his steps, and his shoulders slumped before he turned to her.
"Why didn't you just tell me before?" He asked, his blue eyes intently on her chocolate brown ones.
Gwen smiled and hoped it was convincing. "I didn't want to be a burden."
Arthur looked at her for a minute and walked to his sword and picked it up. "You'll only become a burden if you kept silent, Guinevere." Arthur gave her a dazzling smile and Gwen returned it.
Arthur looked up into the sky and nodded a bit. "It seems to be mid-morning, we can rest and hurry back to Camelot after we're well rested." He took off his cloak and his sword and stretched a bit. Relief from not having the cloak on and the sword made Arthur wish he never had to put them on again.
He put them close to his legs and then sat on the floor. Gwen was across from him and watched him for a moment before sitting down herself.
Arthur tried to think of anything, but current things on his mind. He thought he was doing a good job at ignoring his mind when Gwen smiled at him.
"Did you know?" Arthur blurted out, and quickly hid his surprise as he looked at Gwen as she tried to look back at him calmly.
"Know what?" She asked, and Arthur was surprised by how well she managed to sound innocent and oblivious to something so important.
Gwen waited as Arthur thought his next words. Her heart was beating fast in her chest, and she wished Morgana was here. How could she explain to Arthur something that she had minimal knowledge.
"Morgana's magic." Arthur said simply.
Gwen pursed her lips. Alright, that was something she knew well enough.
"Yes." Gwen said quietly. Too quiet, she thought he hadn't heard her.
"How long?" Was all he said before he started to grasp at the leaves on the ground. He threw them away one by one with his other hand. After the last leaf was thrown he repeated the action again.
"A few days." Gwen answered and avoided eye contact.
"How long Gwen?" Arthur asked, loosing patience.
"The day she arrived." Gwen snapped at him, but soon she began to apologize. "I'm sorry, sire. I'm sorry, I just. . .it's . . .I"
Arthur watched her carefuly before clearing his throat. "She told you the day she arrived? You didn't know prior that?"
Gwen shook her head as her only response.
Arthur sighed and they both sat in silence for a bit.
"I'm surprised she was able to keep this all a secret for so long." Arthur joked weakly.
"Me too." Gwen answered with a forced smile. That was the least she could do for the moment.
Arthur was about to respond to that when his quick ears got hold of noise coming from their direction. Gwen looked at him wide-eyed and quickly they tried to hide where ever they could. In a matter of panic-filled moments, Gwen and Arthur found some bushes. Arthur made sure that Gwen was well hidden before he put of his cloak over his head and ducked beneath it. A march of Druids promptly showed up, all dirty and weak looking. They were some who ran as fast as they could, while others trailed behind them, trying to keep up.
They both tried to remain as motionless as they could. A few more passed and soon Gwen moved a bit to sooth her burning legs. When she did, some of the Druids stopped and looked over at where they thought Gwen and Arthur were. Both of the froze in place, and hoped to whatever force was in the heaven's that the Druids left them. Anyone could tell that the six Druids they had met before were not like these ones. They looked fierce, he promise of a quick death was all Gwen could think of them. Arthur worried for that. He slowly and careful wrapped his arms around Gwen and tried to keep her as close to him as he possibly could.
A woman with long black hair that cascaded down her back walked forward. As soon as she did, her eyes met Arthur's and he hugged Gwen close to his chest.
"Just an animal." She said in a loud voice. The other Druids visibly relaxed. Arthur watched as the woman smiled at him and winked.
Gwe watched astounded as the woman began to walk, the others walked as well with no objection. Was she there leader?
Is she was, then why did she not tell the others that she and Arthur were there.
Her mind forgot all of that as soon as small, tired chatter began between all the Druids. Gwen was content with being in Arthur's arms, she even smiled some of the time, but nothing had prepared her for the unsuspecting news. The most the Druids talked about was the death of the King.
Arthur tensed as he held her close and Gwen began to wish she was deaf. She grabbed Arthur as well she could and for hours they seemed to listen to them talk of the King's death. Gwen knew it was Uther they were talking about, no matter how she wished it wasn't.
Arthur closed his eyes, his body strained with his tense position and with holding Gwen in his arms. At the moment, Gwen was the only one that kept him sane. He would drown in grief if she wasn't here. He tuned everyone out, his ears deaf to the world around him.
Arthur couldn't, no, he wouldn't believe that his Father was dead. It was too much to take in. It was impossible.
It couldn't be true.
"Arthur." Gwen called softly to him, he opened his eyes and met her worried ones. "They're gone now, Arthur."
In no time, Arthur was on his feet, almost stumbling to the floor as he moved down the path the Druids had arrived. Gwen watched in shock before she ran after him. "Arthur, wait." She called out to him.
"No, I have to return to Camelot!" He screamed back to her, anger laced in his voice.
Gwen flinched involuntarily and bit her bottom lip. "You have to relax, Arthur."
Arthur turned to look at her and tried to do as he said, but soon he released his anger and he was punching the bark trees. His knuckles were quickly left raw and soon blood appeared.
Gwen watched worried. Arthur was going crazy. She ran to him and jumped on his back. Arthur tried to push her away, but Gwen didn't let him. "Stop!" Gwen cried, tears ran down her face. Her fear and worry were what pinned Arthur down to the ground.
"Guinevere. . ." Arthur said quietly. His own voice full of sadness, but he remained faced-down on the ground. Gwen straddled him, sniffling here and there.
"You have to relax, Arthur." Gwen said softly, and pushed herself away from his body. Arthur looked up at her for a moment before he lunged at her and wrapped his hands on her waist. Gwen tensed for a moment, before she hugged him back and ran her hand over his hair, scratching at his scalp slightly. It seemed to sooth him as he hugged her, his head on the crook of Gwen's shoulder.
The world was spinning. Arthur felt lost and alone, there was no one to help him now. He pushed away from Gwen and tried to smile at her. "We should keep going." He hoped he looked and sounded relaxed.
After a moment of careful inspection, Gwen nodded to him. Worry still one of her strongest emotions in her, but no good would come from keeping Arthur in place.
They both stood up, Arthur grabbed his sword and wrapped the belt around his hips. Gwen got the small bag she hid on the bush and put it on her shoulder. With no more words, except their intertwined together, both Gwen and Arthur walked back to Camelot.
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