Chapter 16:

Merlin sat up in his bed when he heard some commotion outside of his door. He rubbed his eyes tiredly before fully standing up and seeing what was going on in the physicians chambers.

"Set her down here," Gaius instructed the knight and he carefully put her down on the bed.

When Merlin opened the door, he squinted to see who had fallen ill. "Mother!" In lightning speed, he was at his uncles side ready to assist him.

"She's cold, Merlin," he told him. "build a fire and get me some blankets."

He nodded and quickly made his way to the cupboard for blankets, and started the fire with magic as the guards had left the room already. "What do you think happened to her?"

"I'm not sure, Merlin," he said honestly. "it seems she's been riding all night from Nemeth, I assume, and it's had a great impact on her body. We must keep her warm."

"Perhaps I could," Merlin hinted. "you know." Gaius stood up and looked around his room, and sighed.

"You must know Merlin, that magic is not the answer to everything," he reminded. "but alright. She needs to be warm enough to reach her normal temperature."

Merlin sat beside his mother on the bed, and held her hand. He looked to the door once more to make sure no one was around and whispered a spell to change her pale, almost blue face and bring it back to it's usual color. Hunith shifted in her slumber, before opening her eyes slowly as it adjusted to the light in the room.

"Mother," he called out carefully, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Merlin?" Hunith smiled proudly as she looked up to see her son, all grown up. It's been too long since they last saw each other. She sat up to embrace her son in a tight hug and he breathed a sigh of relief as he hugged her back. She's going to be alright, he thought.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, concern evident in his voice. "Why'd you ride all through the night?"

A grave expression entered her face as she remembered everything that she'd heard from inside Nemeth's castle walls. "I need to speak to King Rodor. It's important."

"Did something happen?"

She turned away, not sure what to say. "A lot has changed since you left Nemeth, my son," she said vaguely. "I heard that King Rodor and his daughters made it out safely so I came to Camelot as fast as I could to warn them about their return."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll tell you more once I see the King," she said and he nodded, taking her hands so he could lead her to the throne room where everyone would soon gather.

King Rodor, Mithian, and Elizabeth walked together as Camelot knights delivered the message that one of their own had urgent news for the king. They were escorted into the throne room where Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, Gaius, Hunith, and the knights waited for them.

"Hunith!" Rodor smiled at seeing a familiar face, but his expression dimmed as he noticed the tension in the room. Hunith stood and curtsied to the royal family as they walked up to Arthur and Gwen's side.

Mithian smiled, and hugged the woman to greet her as she walked to where she would stand for the meeting.

"I apologize for the intrusion, Your Highnesses," she started to say, but Arthur waved her off.

"You are always welcome here as a guest," he informed her. "No apology necessary, especially not for Merlin's mother."

"Thank you, Sire." Hunith smiled at that, looking to her son before bowing slightly at the kings kind words. "There's been rumors of an attack on the throne of Nemeth," she informed them carefully. "a small faction of our people against our king's rule have been planning a coup and I believe they're plans are soon coming into fruition."

"Brennis and his father," Rodor acknowledged, fear seeping through his body. "I feared this day would come."

"What do you mean?" Arthur asked, unaware of the situation in Nemeth.

"There's been talk of a civil war in our kingdom," Mithian filled them in. "they're not in favor of my father's rule, and wish to remove him from the throne. However, it's only ever been talk."

"I'm afraid there's more," Hunith spoke up. "Sir Brennis is leading the attack, and all the knights he commands are loyal to him, but," she stopped, unsure how to finish telling the news.

"What is it, Hunith?" Rodor asked gently, his voice toned down to soothe the woman.

"Much of Odin's men has retreated, Sire, but Sir Brennis has enlisted help from another," she continued. "the Lady Morgana."

Everyone in the room tensed up, having been attacked by the woman recently and she was already planning her next attack. Merlin looked to Mithian, his breath caught in his throat in fear, and she held the same fear in her eyes. If Brennis intercepted their letters and read what was inside, Morgana could already have found out Merlin's secret.

"Morgana," Arthur's eyes looked distant as thought of his sister. "do you know when they plan on taking over?"

Hunith shook her head. "It hadn't started yet when I had left, but it will be soon," she said. "they wanted to strike now that the royal family were away and weakened by the recent attack from Odin's men."

"Then we don't have much time," Rodor announced. "I must go back and fight for my people."

"No," Arthur stopped him. "you've sustained great injuries these past few days. If some of you're people are turning against you, you can't just walk in to your kingdom and assume anything."

"Maybe not," he argued. "but I cannot leave my people alone and helpless while the knights who were meant to protect them terrorize the kingdom."

"You're not going to leave your people alone," he assured. "you will have Camelot to back you."

"I'm sorry, Arthur, but I can't ask you to do that," he rejected. "I've already put you through enough this past week."

"Morgana is my sister," he stated firmly. "I have no doubt she'll use Nemethian armies to later conquer Camelot if their plan succeeds. She was one of my own, and it is my responsibility to stop her," he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "no matter what it takes." His sister has caused enough grief these past few years, but he wasn't sure if he could accept how much she's changed and what he might have to do to stop her.

"King Arthur-"

"It is settled," he confirmed. "Camelot will aid in this fight, and end my sister's terror in these lands."

King Rodor bowed his head. "Thank you, Arthur. You are as honorable as they say."

"I'm sorry about how much pain and suffering my sister has put you all through," he expressed sadly. Gwen and Merlin also looked down somberly, remembering the Morgana they once knew. "We'll meet again later today," he later announced. "I need some time to figure out a plan."

As the knights of Camelot, Arthur, and Gwen dismissed themselves from the throne room, a few people remained in the room.

"Hunith," Rodor addressed as he took in the state of his physician. "I can't help but feel as though there is more you aren't telling us."

The woman in question nodded slowly. "There is a bit more," she looked to her son sadly. "perhaps we can go to the physicians chambers to discuss it more?"

Mithian and Merlin looked at each other, fearing the worst for what's to be heard. It didn't sit well with them that she had to keep it private from Camelot subjects' ears.

Rodor, Elizabeth, Mithian, Merlin, and Hunith then proceeded to walk to Gaius's chambers in eerie silence. On the walk there, Mithian reached out to hold Merlin's hands as she noticed how overwhelmed he was. It's not exactly how anyone would imagine seeing their beloved mother again after many years of being away from each other.

When they were all safely away inside the room, the six of them remained quiet as they waited for Hunith to speak.

"I couldn't exactly talk about this in front of the King and Queen of Camelot," she told them after a few moments of silence. "but Sir Brennis knows that the Lady Morgana has been searching for Emrys."

Merlin could feel his ears start to ring, his heart plummeting down to his stomach as what he feared is coming true. He started feeling nauseous and the room around him was starting to get dizzy, the figures blurring as he thought the worst.

Mithian held his hand once more to steady him, knowing exactly what he was thinking. "Merlin," she called out softly to try and bring him back to the present.

The warlock closed his eyes, and tried his best to relax his breathing. He listened carefully to Mithian's soothing voice. He kept a gentle hold on her hand, his heartbeat calming down as her presence gave him peace.

"I just found out about the true identity of Emrys," Rodor pointed out. "how could Brennis possibly figure it out?"

"The letters we wrote to each other," Mithian answered slowly. "we found out that Sir Brennis had took them."

Elizabeth closed her eyes as she finally realized why her sister was so adamant about getting information from the delivery boy. Hunith covered her mouth, and sat down at the nearest bench as they realized her boy's life could now be in danger. It was his secret that's kept him safe for so many years. Morgana's had it out for both Merlin and Emrys, and they feared what she would do now that she's probably find out they are one and the same.

"What if he didn't read them?" Beth asked hopefully, but it most likely would not be the case in the sense that he would not have cared to mention Emrys if he hadn't known he is.

"We'd have to assume the worst," Merlin finally spoke. "I'm not sure what Morgana would do now that she most likely knows about me. We need to be prepared for what might happen in the days coming."

"Arthur and your friends have yet to be aware of your magic," Rodor observed quietly.

"Not yet," he confirmed. "it's not the right time yet."

The king in the room furrowed his eyebrows. "It might not be," he agreed slowly. "but you may need to tell Arthur soon," he received some questioning looks from all the people in the room. "I can see how close you are with the King of Camelot. The two of you are best friends. If Morgana knows, I think it be better for Arthur to find out from you first rather than anyone else."

"He's right, Merlin," Hunith agreed, understanding his position. "you'll be stronger that way and Morgana wouldn't have anything to hold over you."

Merlin pondered for a few moments, their reasons weighing on him heavily. It's been so many years, and he couldn't possibly know how to tell Arthur about something he's been hiding for so long. He knew the king had a much softer stance on magic than his father, but there were so many reasons for Arthur to be against it.

"Magic has caused many grievances in Arthur's life," he finally said. "it's taken both of his parents' lives, he probably thinks his own sister has been corrupted by it, and there are simply far too many other reasons for him to be against it."

Mithian squeezed his hand, knowing how hard it's been to hide himself from so many of the people closest to him. "Merlin," she called out quietly. "if there is any reason for Arthur to believe that magic can be used as a force for good, it is you."

"She's right, Merlin," Rodor agreed with his daughter. "you've saved my life many times over with magic, and I know you would do the same for Arthur and all of your friends."

"I don't know," he thought out loud. "I've been hiding for so long, and-" he stopped himself. "what if it just makes him lose his trust in me?"

"You won't have to tell him by yourself," Mithian said. "we'll be there to remind Arthur of all the great things you've done to save him. That you're still the same person you always have been."

"But I haven't been," he argued. "I've made so many mistakes and I've failed so many people. It's my fault that," he paused, looking around at the people in the room who's always known him to have magic. "it's my fault that Morgana is the way she is."

Hunith furrowed her eyebrows, knowing much of what he's been through over the years from his many letters she's received in the past. "You cannot blame yourself for what happened to Morgana."

"If I told her about who I was many years ago, when she had a good heart," he started to say. "all of this could have been avoided and she wouldn't have turned out this way."

"Who's to say that she wouldn't have just killed you sooner?" Elizabeth asked. "You can't spend the rest of your life blaming yourself for someone else's actions."

"Perhaps," he said. "but I could have helped her and I didn't. I almost killed her when I should have been on her side. I've had so many people guide and influence me when it came to magic, and she had no one."

"Listen, Merlin," King Rodor began to advise the boy. "Personally, I believe that the Lady Morgana's evil spiral is the product of many years of distrust and betrayal as well as something that could have always been inside her. You can spend years regretting what you have done, but it's not going to change the present. I'm sure King Arthur and Queen Guinevere also wish they could have done more to help, but it doesn't change anything."

"He's right, Merlin," Hunith added softly, knowing how guilty he must feel. "I'm sure Arthur and you can argue about why Morgana is the way she is, but it won't solve anything. I know that he will understand that you aren't to blame."

"Arthur is not his father," Mithian said firmly. "yes, he's seen the worst of magic, but he's also seen how good it can be. How it's not some evil force of nature. He cannot blame you for what happened to Morgana for magic wasn't the only thing that made her who she is now," she pointed out. "I'm sure you did the best you could for her. For all the years I've know you, you never let your magic corrupt or change you. You'll always be the same Merlin to me, and I know Arthur and everyone will see that too."

"You'll be there when I tell him?" Merlin asked softly, bringing himself to look at Mithian.

"Always," she smiled, squeezing his hand. "for whenever you need me."

Merlin smiled back at her. He felt so lucky and grateful to have her there with him again, he almost forgot how much he missed having her around. Her presence made him feel so at peace. It was as if nothing could hurt him so long as she was around, and he didn't worry so much about the following days to come. Not so long as she was here for him.

The two hadn't realized it, but as they stared deeply into each other's eyes, they were gravitating towards each other. Their heads leaned against the other, hands clasped tightly as they felt comfort in each other's touch. Mentally preparing for the war ahead of them. They didn't even realize as it felt unnoticeable. To them anyway.

Elizabeth cleared her throat at the sight in front of her. "Do the two of you want a room or something?" The sound of her voice pulled them away from each other, their faces adorning a bright red color.

"Am I missing something?" Hunith asked, smiling teasingly as she wonders if her son finally admitted his true feelings for his childhood crush.

Merlin shook his head, remembering his conversation with Mithian from last night. "Sorry, didn't realize how close we were. I should go see if Arthur needs anything before the meeting."

Mithian and Elizabeth were walking back to their chambers after their private meeting with Hunith, Merlin, and their father.

"You're quieter than usual," Elizabeth remarked. "what happened back there between you and Merlin? The two of you had no problem being close in the woods before." She cringed jokingly at the memory of her sister and Merlin cuddling and embracing each other in the woods.

"There is no me and Merlin," Mithian told her sister. "I'm next in line for the throne and Merlin's destiny is beside Arthur."

Elizabeth remained quiet at how serious Mithian sounded, a bit stunned. She could easily tell that she didn't want to talk about her relationship with Merlin, and she will respect that. Their current situation not allowing them to have anything else on their mind as their home was at stake of being overrun. However, she couldn't help but feel for her little sister as she continues to be separated from someone she so clearly loves.

"If it's worth anything, I wouldn't worry," she assured confidently. "you and Merlin will be just fine. The two of you will have your happy ending."

"How can you be so sure?" Mithian asked, curious but she also made sure not to get her hopes up. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as her sister just smiled sweetly at her.

"Call it sister's intuition," she winked.

AN: ahh it was Hunith! I'm not sure if I wrote out the timeline well for this fic as a lot is canon but. Uther's Great Purge happened as per the show, but Nemeth fought it for many years, up till a few years before Merlin left for Camelot. I hope I wrote that somewhere LOL Thank you for giving this a read and for all the follows, faves, and reviews :)