A/N: Good morning! At least it's morning when I'm posting it. For the rest of you, happy 3 am! Here is part two, I really hope you enjoy it!
The Tears of Uther Pendragon
Part Two
Per the usual I was not allowed to sit with Arthur. He had to sit at the head of the chamber with Uther and Morgana. Aleya had slipped in and sat down beside of me and Merlin walked over into his place in the corner with a giddy smile on his face.
I was bored out of my mind. Uther stood up and gave a speech about how he would search anywhere for Morgana and the entire thing really made me want to vomit. I was forced to be pessimistic about Morgana if no one else was going to be.
Not long after Uther had finished his speech he stood and walked out of the room. I noticed something when he left, Morgana had a sly smile stretching across her face. That was when I first thought that something had to be wrong and that I needed to go and investigate.
"I am going to go…..get some air." I said standing up and walking out the same way the king had gone. As soon as the doorway was in sight I heard shouts coming from outside. I quickened my pace and saw Uther lying on the ground next to the well screaming.
"My lord?" I said cautiously as I approached. He did not seem to hear me so I knelt down next to him and placed my hand on his shoulder. "My lord?" I said once more.
He sat up and began crying into my shoulder. He was mainly incoherent as he spoke, but I did hear one thing very clearly. Igraine, in the well. I placed a calming hand on his back as he continued to mumble. The man who had killed so many was now a crying mess in my lap. It was sad to see.
"It was just your imagination." I said in an attempt to calm him, it did not work.
"Will he be alright?" Samantha asked Gaius eagerly as he walked out of Uther's chambers. Arthur stood next to her and was obviously asking the same question in his head.
"The king will be fine." Gaius said.
"What could have made him like this?" Arthur asked.
"I have no idea." Gaius said, I immediately saw that he was hiding something. That was a common trait with the old physician, he was always short with his answers when he was hiding something.
"Gaius, he was lying on the ground crying." Samantha said in a matter of fact way. Surely that could not be fine.
"Exhaustion." Gaius responded.
"Gaius, even I find that hard to believe." Arthur said.
"That is my diagnosis." He responded.
"What aren't you telling us? What's wrong with him?" Arthur asked more urgently this time.
"When we found him he was mumbling." Gaius said.
"He said that Igraine was in the well." Samantha said. "Why?"
"He claimed that he saw her." Gaius responded. Arthur rubbed his hands across his face and then looked at Gaius directly.
"Did the guards see him in this state?" Arthur asked, sounding much more in control.
"I think that you are worrying too much." Gaius said.
"If the people get to know about this…" Arthur trailed off.
"They will see that he was ill but now he is recovered." The physician calmed. I could not help the sick feeling of foreboding that rested in my stomach. This would not be the last that we would hear about this.
"We've had reports…" Arthur dragged on. I zoned out pretty quickly into most of the council meetings that Arthur forced me to attend. There was nothing I could add to the conversation so there really was no need for me to give it my full attention.
I noticed that Uther was staring off into the distance. I looked over to follow his stare and saw nothing. His face seemed as though he saw something, though. He almost looked frightened of whatever the imagined thing was. Was this going to be another episode like the one on the night of Morgana's celebration?
"Father?" Arthur said questioningly. Uther did not seem phased by this as he stood up. I looked over at Aleya who was watching the king with a worried expression. I turned my eyes back to Uther when I head him begin to yell.
"Leave me alone." Uther said quietly, his voice quivering as he pointed to the empty corridor. "Get out of here!" He said more forcefully.
"Father." Arthur said as he placed a hand on Uther's shoulder. Uther angrily shrugged it off and shoved past him.
"I said get out!" He yelled fully enraged at this point. "Get out!" He repeated, "I'll have you hanged."
He tried to run at whatever it was that he was seeing, but was quickly stopped by Leon and Arthur. The two taller men managed to drag Uther from the room followed by Gaius. Uther continued to yell and scream, his cries echoing through the hallway as they went. I turned my eyes to Morgana and noted that she did not seem at all bothered by what had gone on. Her eyes were almost joyful as she watched.
Merlin and I had both rushed to the king's chambers knowing that whatever was going on with the king was fishy and it may require our assistance. Gaius exited the king's chambers and led the way down the hallway. We both followed the physician eagerly.
"What happened in there?" I asked.
"Uther said that he saw a boy standing in the council chambers dripping in water. Like a ghost." Gaius said in a matter of fact tone. I could tell that he was racking his brain to understand what was going on.
"There must be some explanation, why would he see such a thing?" Merlin asked.
"During the Great Purge, Uther drowned many he suspected of sorcery." Gaius said, his expression darkened, "And some, God help them, were children. Killed for the magic they were born with."
"So you think that this is his conscience catching up with him?" I asked. I could not say that I felt that the king did not deserve this, but there was still a part of me that wanted to help him.
"Whatever it is, we can no longer hide this." Gaius said as he opened the door to his chambers. "The king's hold on his people is a very fragile thing, if they start to lose faith in him then I fear for Camelot."
"Then we must find out what this is and how to fix it." Merlin said.
"Before the people lose their faith in him." Gaius added.
As soon as he finished speaking the warning bells began to ring. He began to walk back out the door and Merlin and I followed close behind him. What could it possibly be this time? This could not come at a worse time.
Arthur leaned against the railing on the balcony when I walked up to him. While I held little sympathy for Uther, it hurt a great deal that Arthur had to go through this. I walked up beside him and mimicked his stance, watching as the people rushed by. If the worst happened I had a sick feeling in my gut that Arthur was not ready to be king.
"I am sure he'll be fine." I said in an attempt to be comforting. Lying seemed to help comfort people, right? "Gaius is the best physician ever, if anyone can help him it'll be him."
"I don't understand what could have brought this on, Sam." Arthur said. "He was healthy as a horse yesterday."
"The mind is a strange thing." I said. I placed a comforting hand on his back. "Just know that he is in good hands with Gaius, that you have the allegiance of the people of Camelot, and that no matter what happens I will be by your side."
"Thank you, Samantha." He said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer. "What would I do with out you?" He asked in a lighter tone.
"Crash and burn." I responded smiling.
As we walked back towards the council chambers we met Sir Leon in the hallway. He explained that a guard had been attacked and his body had just been found. We rushed to the scene of the crime and I was alarmed at what I saw. A man, who could not have been older than 25, was lying dead on the ground.
"Take this man to my chambers." Gaius commanded as he stared down at the guard. The stoicism of a physician shone in his demeanor.
"What was his name?" I asked looking over at Leon. He looked at me confused for a moment before he responded.
"Matthew."
Gaius seemed to have taken an interest in the dagger that had been thrust into the man's stomach. It was ornate in design with a gold handle and two striking, green stones on either side of it. Alarm came across the physician's face.
"I need to speak to Arthur as a matter of urgency." Gaius said. In that moment the man coughed causing me to nearly jump out of my skin.
"Gaius, he's still alive!" Merlin said.
"Aleya, you and Merlin go and tend to his wounds while I speak to Arthur. I will be quick." Gaius said before walking off.
Two other guards walked up carrying the stretcher from the physician's chambers. I was not entirely confident in our ability to treat the wound, but it appeared to be mainly superficial. Perhaps the fall and blood loss was to blame for his lethargic state.
"The century must have been attacked at some time during the night." Gaius said. Leon had found Arthur and I and told us that Gaius needed him. We were then taken into the council chambers where Gaius and Morgana waiting for us.
"Who could have done this?" Arthur asked.
"That is the sigil of the blood guard." Gaius said as he produced a small dagger and handed it to the prince.
"Blood guard?" I asked, not liking the sound of it.
"Warrior priests who were sworn to protect the high priestesses of the old religion." Gaius said as he looked at me.
"Surely all of them were wiped out during the great purge." Arthur said dismissively.
"Not all of them." Gaius responded, the proof was right there.
"So you believe that there is a traitor in Camelot?" Arthur asked. I could not help but glance over at Morgana.
"It is possible, sire." Gaius said, "The century will be able to tell us soon enough. Merlin and Aleya are tending to his wounds."
"He's still alive?" Arthur said sounding hopeful.
"Indeed." Gaius said. I noticed a look of panic on Morgana's face. There was definitely something that she was hiding. I intended to find out.
The wound suffered by the century was in his left side, but it appeared to have missed all of his organs, which was a miracle in and of itself. Merlin and I had cleaned it and applied honey to it to prevent infection. The only other would he suffered was a small gash on the back of his head. We gave him something for the pain and allowed him to sleep. I sat and stared at the man while Merlin went out to get Gaius and get him to check our handy work. I had to admit, I rather enjoyed being able to help people in this way.
"Is that the century?" Samantha asked as she barged into the room.
"Yes, I presume Gaius filled you in?" I said. She walked over to me and grabbed my arm and began to pull me, "What are you doing?"
"We're going to find out who the traitor is." She said as we entered Merlin's room and she shut the door behind us.
"How?" I asked, intrigue sweeping over me.
"Well, word has gotten round that the century is still alive so whoever it is will have to come and clean up their mess." Samantha explained. "We'll just catch them in the act."
"You're a bit maniacal, Sam." I responded with a smile.
"Gaius?" A voice echoed from behind the door. "Merlin?"
It was Morgana. She walked into the room and I felt my stomach fall. Morgana was the one who did this. She walked over to the bed and looked at Matthew, who was still asleep. She moved over to a shelf and pulled a vial off of it. I could not see what it was, but I could guess.
She approached the bed and knelt beside of her victim. As she uncorked the vial I moved towards the door only to be stopped by Samantha. I looked at her questioningly and then fought her grip. I felt her hand come over my mouth as she held me still. I certainly did not remember her being this strong when we fought as children. I could only watch as Morgana killed the man who I had tried so hard to save.
The witch smiled evilly as she walked away, her job completed. The instant she was gone Samantha released me and I ran for the man, perhaps there was still something I could do. His breathing was slow and pained. Morgana had left the vial lying on the ground, I picked it up and saw the skull and crossbones meaning poison.
"Can you do anything?" Samantha asked. I was filled with rage. I dropped the vial to the ground with a clatter and stood to face my sister.
"It's aconite. The most deadly poison known to man." I said, "What the hell was that?"
"She would have killed you too, Aleya." Samantha said sounding apologetic. I was in no mood to hear it.
"An innocent man is dead, Samantha." I said, knowing that using her full name would resonate more. "This was not your choice to make."
"This is the problem." She said raising her voice for the first time. "You have absolutely no survival instincts."
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, still seeing red.
"I don't know, your persistent need to sacrifice yourself, it's getting a bit old." She responded. I heard the door open, but did not turn to see who it was. "The crap with Edwin, or Nimueh or those bandits. You do this stuff all the time and I can't just stand by and watch it!"
"You can't? You can't stand by and watch me do what I think is right and yet you can watch an innocent man die in your stupid attempt to protect me? How is that right?" I asked. "No one is asking you to stand by and watch."
"You're right." She said shaking her head. "You're damn right, I don't have to." She walked from the room. I stood there for a moment silently before I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"What was that, Ally?" I heard Merlin's voice say. I did not attempt to explain. I simply turned and began to cry. I felt his arms wrap around me, but for once I did not feel safe there.
I was so sick and tired of my sister's self-destructive tendencies. Why could she not understand that placing her head on the chopping block would never solve anything? Morgana was not someone to be trifled with, especially by a sorceress that knew like ten spells.
Our constant pattern of danger and pain since we were sent to Camelot was growing a bit old. This constant villain of the week crap made me want to scream. I was tired of nearly losing those I cared about. I was tired of always having some impossible task to complete. I was tired.
Not that my exhaustion mattered at all. It would still happen, and I would still be dragged into it, but that did not change anything. I went out on the balcony, apparently that is where one goes in Camelot when they are feeling depressed or angry or overall discontented.
"What's wrong?" Arthur asked as he walked up behind me. I really did not want to discuss it right now, but I knew that he would press me just as I would him.
"What do you mean?" I asked, a last ditch attempt to make myself seem alright. Arthur did not buy it for a moment.
"This is where I always come when something happens, so I advise that you tell me before I find out for myself." Arthur said.
"Aleya and I just had a fight." I said shaking my head. "I just get so tired of the fact that she feels like she has to put her head on the chopping block whenever things happen."
"I wasn't aware that she made a habit of doing so." Arthur said.
"She did it with the bandits, nearly got herself killed. She'll do it again the first chance she gets." I said, knowing that Arthur could not know about the most recent turn of events.
"I thought that what she did with the bandits was brave." Arthur said. I knew that Arthur would not simply tell me what I wanted to hear, but I did not expect him to be so unsupportive.
"Of course you did, you would have done the same thing." I said. I let my head fall into my hands. "I just get so tired of this constant danger."
"If I had it my way you would never have to worry about any of this." Arthur said as he too my hand.
"But you can't have your way." I said, "Neither of us can. We just have to deal with the crap that the world throws at us."
"That may be so, but at least we do not have to deal with it alone." He said, "I know what it is like to deal with someone like your sister."
"Really?" I asked incredulously, "You have no siblings."
"No, but I have Merlin and he is exactly the same way." Arthur said whilst shaking his head. "You know, he had been my servant for barely two weeks and he drank poison to protect me? Aleya places her head on the chopping block because she has had the best teacher in it."
"I guess I should apologize." I said, I should not have been so cross with her. I remember how frightened she had been when the bandits had taken her and when she had gone to the Isle of the Blessed to face Nimueh. At the end of the day she was just doing what she thought was right without question, and I really could not fault her for that, even if that annoying habit gave me a few grey hairs.
"I seem to remember a woman who nearly died saving me once." Arthur said as he looked up the sky, "Oh, what was her name?"
"I was saving that woman, not you." I said knowing exactly the incident he was referring to. When Sigan had attacked I had been injured shoving both Arthur and a woman out of the way of one of the gargoyles.
"Or the time when you got sliced in the arm blocking a blow to my back. Those knights of Medhir were brutal." He said.
"I see what your doing." I said as I stared up at him. "I did not come here to be personally attacked."
"No, you just prefer to take attacks destined for me." He said with a smile.
"You think that just because you're the heir apparent I would slap you." I said playfully punching him in the arm, "But I will."
"I suppose I must go and deal with this traitor situation." He said, gaining a serious tone.
"And I must go deal with my sister." I said.
"Honestly, I think the traitor sounds better, but I wish you luck, my lady." Arthur said as he bowed jokingly.
"I'll kill you." I said as I walked out.
"Threatening me is treason" He called after me.
"There is an exception to that rule when you're being an ass." I responded as I entered the castle. Leave it to Arthur to make me feel better about near death experiences.
There was something very therapeutic about venting to Merlin, he was a good person for it. He did not speak until I had said my part, but then he kind of made me understand Samantha's point of view which I did not like for a moment. It needed to be said, though. I was a little harsh on her, I was just so upset that Matthew had been killed on my watch and I could not stop it. Maybe she was right about this.
After Merlin and I had finished speaking we decided to go and check on the king. Since we knew that Morgana was not above murder we certainly needed to keep an eye on Uther. Arthur was not ready to be king, but he may have no other choice if Morgana had her way.
"Maybe she's being put up to it." I said in an attempt to defend the witch as we walked down the hallway.
"I find that hard to believe, Ally." Merlin said, "It takes a lot to kill someone who is defenseless. There has to be some part of her that desires whatever it is she is after."
"I wanted to be able to do something to help her, anything." I muttered.
"I think it's too late for that." He said, I knew that he was right, but it was so very hard to accept.
We walked into Uther's chambers and saw the king restlessly sleeping. Merlin walked over and pulled the blanket up closer to his shoulder and I noticed something dripping beneath his bed. I walked over and knelt on the opposite side of the bed to see what it was.
"What is that?" I asked as I examined the strange, brown object hanging from beneath the bed.
Before Merlin could respond the door opened. I was quickly under the bed and Merlin followed after me. The thing hit my face, but I ignored it and tried not to think about it. It was Morgana who had walked in. She went to the opposite side of the bed and pulled the root from its place. She walked out without noticing us. Merlin quickly slid out from other the bed. I followed.
"Let's find out where she's going." He said as he ran out of the room. I followed after him eagerly, wanting to unravel this mystery.
We followed Morgana out of the citadel and into the forest. She stopped in a small clearing where Merlin and I slid down behind some bushes that sat right at the wood line. It was not long before three horsemen rode up, one of them was Morgause. The sight of her made me feel very worried.
"I am sorry you had to wait." Morgause said. "There was much to discuss."
"But your visit was successful?" Morgana asked.
"Cenred's army will ride for Camelot on my command." Morgause said sounding almost giddy. I had not heard much of Cenred apart from the fact that his kingdom was where Ealdor was.
"There is nothing you cannot do." Morgana said excitedly. Why would Morgause desire to help Morgana? That is a question that I had not asked myself before. Was she just using the witch?
"It is you that gives me strength, sister." Morgause said. Oh, great. They were sisters. This did not bode well. Morgause was a fearsome sorcerer, and Morgana would no doubt follow her closely. "How goes the battle for Uther's mind?" Morgause asked. Morgana held up the root and smiled.
"When Cenred rides for Camelot he will find the kingdom without a leader." She said. My heart sank. Why did she want to wage war on the people of Camelot so badly? What had they done to her?
"Finally we are ready." Morgause said.
"Not quite." Morgana responded. "Merlin and Aleya suspect me." She said. I did not like the mention of my name in this setting. I wondered how she could have caught on to our suspicions. We had been nothing but kind to her.
"Have they told Arthur?" Morgause asked, concern welling in her voice. I wish that we had told Arthur or Samantha or somebody that we were coming out here.
"Not yet, but they will." Morgana said. "It is only a matter of time before Merlin runs to Arthur."
"Then we must stop them." Morgause responded, her voice filled with defiance.
"That will not be difficult." Morgana responded.
"Why?" Morgause asked with genuine intrigue.
"Because they're already here." Morgana spat. I felt the blood drain from my face as I looked to Merlin. He looked alarmed as well.
"Merlin?" I whispered, wanting him to have a plan. He shrugged his shoulders and I stood up.
"Did you really think that I was that stupid?" Morgana said with a smirk. Merlin stood as well.
"Yeah, Morgana, I think you're very stupid." I spat. She had crossed a line that she could not return from.
"Seize them." Morgause yelled to the two men who had rode in with her.
"Run!" Merlin said as he grabbed my hand and dragged me into the woods.
There was no way that they would let us escape, but it was our only option. Merlin led the way through the thick woods when I felt an arm wrap around my waist. I screamed and tried to fight my captor, but he was too strong. Merlin turned only to be captured by another man. So much for a brilliant escape.
I had tried to find Aleya after talking with Arthur, but to no avail. I decided that it could wait until later. She was probably in the library with Merlin or something. About two hours had passed since I had seen Arthur so I decided to check in on him. His father was doing no better and I knew that he would be upset. Also, Gaius had conned me in to trying to convince him to take the throne until Uther recovered. He said that I would stand a better chance of convincing him.
"How are you?" I asked as I walked into his chambers. He was hunched over his desk holding a quill firmly in his hand.
"I still don't believe he is sick." Arthur said.
"I am sure that over time he will recover." I encouraged, knowing that hope would make him take my suggestion better.
"I hope so." He said.
"What are you going to do until then?" I asked.
"What do you mean?" He asked with confusion.
"Camelot will be weakened without a leader, I think you should assume control."
"That's ridiculous." Arthur said, I knew that this is how he would react. He was so very stubborn.
"We need a leader, Arthur." I said in an encouraging tone. "I believe that you can do it, hell, everyone does."
"I am not going to take the throne as long as there is still life in him." Arthur said defiantly.
"The people are restless." I said, "Camelot is weak and open to invasion."
"Samantha, I swore allegiance to my king. That is an oath that I do not take lightly." Arthur said. "I have always accepted your counsel in the past, but this time I cannot."
"I understand, Arthur." I said, knowing that this battle was lost before it had even begun. "I am sure that your father will be back on his feet in no time."
"Thank you." He said with a forced smile. I turned to leave. "Samantha." He called after me.
"Yes?" I asked as I turned to face him.
"When you see that useless servant of mine, tell him that I need him." He said.
"Of course." I muttered as I walked out. Merlin and Aleya were both missing, this did not bode well. I tried to stop my mind from going to the worst possible scenario, but that was a difficult task. I remembered everything I had said to her in anger, that could not be our last meeting.
When I awoke I was lying on my side. My captor must have knocked me out as I fought him. I tried to move but found that I was restrained. Before I could fully regain my bearings I was grabbed by the shoulder and jerked upwards making my head spin. It was then I realized that I was tied to someone, presumably Merlin. I looked over and saw Morgause.
"You two intrigue me." She said, "Why does a lowly servant and a lady continue to risk everything for Arthur and Camelot?"
"How long have you got?" I asked, my voice filled with sarcasm. My comment earned me a slap across the face by one of the men.
"Don't you touch her!" Merlin yelled defensively as he fought against the restraints.
"I hardly think that you are in a position to be giving orders." Morgause said, her voice low and threatening. "You know the answer to my question but you are not telling me, why?" I honestly thought that our reasoning would be quite obvious. Both of us knew that anything we told her would not change our fate in the slightest. "Come on, time and again you have put your lives on the line. There must be a reason." She pushed.
"I believe n a fair and just land." Merlin said.
"And you believe that Arthur will give you that?" Morgause asked in disbelief.
"I know it." Merlin said confidently.
"And then what?" She asked, "You think you'll be recognized for your deeds? Is that it?"
"It's not about that, Morgause." I responded.
"No, you're right. There's something more, isn't there?" She asked.
"I've told you." Merlin said quietly.
"Well, you can take your secrets to your graves." She said. She spoke some spell and her eyes glowed gold. I felt the chains tightening around me and I momentarily thought through the idea of being crushed, that thought stopped when the chains stopped moving and Morgause knelt down to our eye level. "You poisoned one of my own. You may regret that."
She then walked away leaving Merlin and I alone in the clearing. This would be a tough one to get out of, but we had to. I could not let the last time I saw Samantha be an argument. I had so much left to tell her, I had to apologize for what I said. This could not be the end.
I had finally managed to go to sleep sometime late in the night. I was beside myself with worry. I woke up on my own, which was not a good sign. As soon as I was dressed I made for Aleya's chambers. When I opened the door I found that her bed had not been slept in.
I decided to go and see Gaius, to see if Merlin had disappeared as well. If he I had I would know for certain that Morgana had a hand in this. Those two where always sticking their noses in things.
"Abrica benda!" Merlin called out. The chains grew tighter. He repeated his shout, but it did the exact same thing. At best all this would do would kill us sooner.
"Merlin, she enchanted it." I said. "The spells won't work."
"We have to do something." He said, frustration apparent in his voice.
"I know that." I muttered, "Merlin, I can't let my last moments with Sam have been in anger."
"We'll get out of here, I promise." Merlin said. I believed him even though I did not see how. That was when a rustling noise came from the woods.
"What was that?" I asked, feeling fear well up within me.
"I think we're going to find out." He responded.
I knocked on the door and the physician pulled it open quickly. I immediately took note of the dark circles beneath his eyes and the worried expression on his face. I felt my heart sink.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Merlin did not return home last night." Gaius said.
"I assumed as much." I responded, "I cannot find Aleya anywhere."
"I fear that something must have happened to them." Gaius said, "I only wish I knew where to look."
"I do." I responded, "Morgana has a fowl smell about her as of late."
"Merlin spoke of his suspicions. You need to be careful, Samantha." Gaius said in a fatherly tone.
"When am I not careful, Gaius?" I asked with a smile. He merely shook his head and sighed deeply.
I looked forward and saw stingers peaking over the bushes that we had hidden behind. The bodies became visible and I immediately was afraid. I felt the scar on my right arm twinge in pain at the sight of them.
"Serkets." I muttered out loud.
"Abrica benda I matrion extringo!" Merlin yelled more urgently. I could see the Serket slowly moving closer as the chains tightened once more.
"Ferburne lucan ingringnot!" I called out feeling power surge through me. The serket was blasted away by fire.
"Where did you learn that?" Merlin asked with shock in his voice.
"You've been gone for a year, love." I responded. He laughed a bit but then turned his attention back to the battle at hand.
"Incantiones immatrion iminento!" He yelled and the creature approaching him was thrown into a tree.
"Is this going to become a competition?" I asked.
"You know I'd beat you." He responded.
"Oh, I'm sorry Mr.-most-powerful-warlock-of-all-time" I responded.
I knocked on the door to Morgana's chambers angrily. I needed to calm myself down before I spoke to her, but I did not have the will to do so. I heard Gwen's voice echo telling me to come in so I walked in. Gwen was standing at the table arranging some flowers in a vase.
"Hey, Gwen." I said. "Have you seen Aleya and Merlin?" I asked. She looked confused for a moment as she thought.
"I haven't" She said.
"Haven't what?" Morgana asked as she walked in the door behind me. I turned to look at her.
"It's nothing, I should be going." I said. She would never tell me anything if she was involved.
"What is it, Samantha?" She asked, a fake caring tone in her voice.
"Neither Merlin or Aleya returned last night." I said.
"That's not like them." Morgana said as though it was the worst thing in the world. Someone was overcompensating for being heartless.
"I know, that's why I'm asking." I said in a snide tone. She smirked at me.
"Well, I'm sure they're fine." She responded. I smiled and nodded before heading out the door. She knew where they were, and if she knew there was definitely something wrong.
"We can't hold them off forever." I said as more and more serkets filed out of the woods.
"I can't break the chains." Merlin said, sounding hopeless.
"How long until someone realizes we're gone?" I asked
"Even if they do they won't find us." Merlin responded.
"Great." I responded. "It's getting dark."
"Ansiangna Beriante Setuge." Merlin said. This spell only made the serket back away. I was distracted for a brief moment by the serket which was still coming at Merlin when I turned and saw one preparing to strike me.
"Merlin!" I yelled just before the stinger hit me. I felt a strong pain in my stomach and I cried out. I had never experienced anything like this before. The last time that this had happened I had only been nicked, this one was far worse.
"Aleya!" He yelled. "Ally, are you alright?"
"It got me." I said as my eyesight began to blur.
"O Drakon! Ftengamore a se Kalon, Imatrion un gringot!" Merlin yelled, I had never heard him speak like that before. "You'll be fine." He reassured just before I felt him tense up and he cried out.
"Merlin?" I said weakly.
"We'll be fine." He said with the same weakness in his voice that was present in mine.
I wasn't sure how he could be so sure, but I could not think. I saw the dragon swooping down at us as I felt myself losing my grip on consciousness. The last coherent thought that I had was the hope that Samantha would forgive me.
Indi: Thank you so much for your kind words! I am glad you like it. I always have such a hard time writing romantic scenes, I will try my darn-dest to put more in, though!
