Madelyn couldn't decide what to feel. Of course she was overjoyed that Morgana was found, they were really friends. At the same time her brother had been the one to try and poison the king's ward to save Camelot and her anxious nerves made her walk restless in her house, waiting to see if Merlin showed up this evening. Realising that pacing didn't help Madelyn sat down and looked at her hands, they were shaking. Slowly lifting her gaze she saw the dress that sat on a wooden mannequin, the dress that Uther wanted made for when Morgana came home. It had been ready for over half a year and now it was to be altered, Madelyn knew that a year could do alot to change the form of a body and one who might have been in captivity ... Madelyn sighed sad and shook her head. She knew how Morgana had been before she went missing but she would never want anyone to be taken and held captured for so long, gone for a year.
A hurried knock made Madelyn flinch and she had barely unhatched the door before Merlin hurried inside and hugged his sister.
"She's said nothing ... yet." Merlin's voice was but a whisper as he hugged his sister tight and the rest of the evening was spent the two dining together, not knowing what the following day would bring.
Madelyn had been awake and dressed for only a few minutes when a smiling Gwen came knocking on the door, Morgana had woken up and so Gwen asked if Madelyn would join her with greeting the lady. Smiling widely Madelyn agreed and now they were almost at her room when they were greeted by Arthur who smiled extra wide towards Gwen. As Arthur passed them Madelyn glanced towards Gwen with a slight smirk on her face which was met with a nudge from Gwen. Just as they were to enter Morgana's room they come face to face with...
"Merlin." Gwen who didn't think much about Merlin exiting the lady's room passed him with a greet and a smile but Madelyn stopped and put a hand on his arm. Glancing to see that Gwen was out of hearing she turned fully towards her brother.
"Well?" Her hands gripped his and she looked up at him worried, her stomach twisting and turning. Merlin looked at her, his face showed nothing for a few seconds but soon his wide grin showed and he hugged his sister tight, his smile reaching from ear to ear.
"It's all alright, she said she understands and would've done the same." His whispering voice was filled with joy and you could hear his smile, it made Madelyn laugh in relief and she felt thousand times lighter.
"Thank God." Hugging him a final time she smiled up at him before entering Morgana's room with a smile to match the warmth of the sun.
Madelyn didn't take long with hugging Morgana welcome back, she saw how much Morgana still needed rest. The hug and Madelyn's eyes watching the lady was all the measurements the seamstress needed to do the final adjustments and so she spent the rest of the morning hours finishing the glimmering creamy white dress.
Madelyn smiled to herself as she walked home trough the darkness, the light from the torches casting dancing shadows at the castle walls. She had spent the evening making Morgana ready for the feast for the return of lady Morgana but she didn't spend much time at the feast, she wanted to get home early and sleep so she could start sewing early the next morning.
"Arthur?" A voice carried over the square of the castle and Madelyn tried to see who it was but only saw a shadow. Smiling slightly she shook her head as she saw how the figure stumbled slightly, probably someone from the feast taking some much needed fresh air.
"AAAAAAAAAGH! AAAAAGH!" The panicked scream made Madelyn turn towards the figure and seeing it on the ground she didn't hesitate to run towards it, and she dropped on the ground right beside the male as the guards arrived aswell. It was the king. Panicked he grabbed onto her wrist and as her eyes for a moment saw his face she saw pure horror filling his eyes.
"Get Gaius! Hurry!" Her shout snapped the shocked guards back to reality and away from the now crying king, and finally someome ran to get the physician.
Madelyn had promised Gaius to not say a word about the whole event and she knew why, even just a whisper of the King not being at his right mind would cause enemies to appear and that last thing Madelyn wanted was another attack on Camelot. Sitting on a bench she watched the fire in her house, the King had kept repeating the dead Queen's name which confused her alot. That wasn't normal drunk behaviour was it? She looked down at her wrist that Uther had grabbed, it was bruised, a huge dark purple mark all around her wrist. No, it had not been normal, he was scared out of his mind, he had grabbed her and held onto her arm as if he was fighting to stay alive. Her door opened and Merlin appeared, she hadn't heard him knocking and so he opened the hatch with magic.
"Maddy?" Merlin's voice held worry and he hurried towards her as he saw her wrist. Kneeling before her he held it gently but still it made her wince. "Are you in pain?" His worried eyes looked up at her.
"Not so much, I've had a cold, wet cloth around it for the swelling as Gaius told me." She smiled calming at her worried brother. "What... does Gaius have any idea about what happened?" Madelyn looked at Merlin as he shook his head and sat down beside her.
"No, but something is of... I can feel it." His wrinkled forehead told her more. Ever since he had gained the power of a dragonlord he was even more powerful than before.
"Magic?" Merlin looked up at her.
"I don't know." Merlin sighed slightly. "Arthur also made sure I needed to tell you about ... not telling anyone about what happend." His voice held slight annoyance, both Merlin and Gaius had told Arthur Madelyn wouldn't tell a soul but the prince was worried and needed to be sure.
"It's alright Merlin, I won't." Smiling she grabbed his hand with her unbruised one.
"I know and when I tried to tell Arthur he didn't listen! He almost wanted to send guards here to warn you about spreading rumours!" Merlin's voice was agitated and showed how annoyed he was at the prince.
"It's understandable Merlin. His father's... incident probably scared him. Also any rumours would be a danger to the kingdom." Smiling amused she watched how Merlin came to realise Arthur's feelings and danger of the situation. Now all they could do was hope this evening's event was the only one.
A few days later and the kingdom was getting worried, the King was but getting better. Madelyn didn't search for gossip or rumours and yet she had heard the people talking about the King and his mindless state. Other worrying things had started to appear, a knight had been found stabbed and killed and rumours of Cendred gathering mercenaries. Madelyn felt a shiver down her spine and worry filled her mind, her since she had woken up this morning she had felt worry, as if danger was behind her back and she found herself looking around as if she was expecting to be attacked. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes. She had to focus, if she showed worry and fear it would only frighten others aswell. She needed to stay strong.
"Madelyn?" A call, Gaius calling made her heart beat faster as the door and bell to the shop rang letting Madelyn know he had entered her shop. Taking another deep breath she put on a smile as she walked into the shop greeting the physician.
"Gaius." Smiling gently she walked through the doorway dividing her home from the shop. "Not another burned robe that needs mending I hope?" Her words were met by a small smile and a shaking head.
"No, I was just wondering if Merlin was here last night or if you've seen him today." Madelyn shook her head and studied Gaius. He tried to sound light in his voice, as if his question forcefully wouldn't worry her. Him pretending it was nothing to worry about only made her worry more.
"Gaius..." She tilted her head slightly the way he would do when he was pressuring Merlin to spill a secret. With a sigh he looked down at his hands then up at the young woman.
"I haven't seen him all day, his bed was empty this morning. No one else seems to have seen him. " Madelyn felt her eyes widen hearing this.
"W-what? " Her stutters made Gaius grab her hands reassuringly.
"I'm sure that whatever he's doing or wherever he is, he'll be alright. You know he'll manage to find his way out of any trouble." Smiling slightly Madelyn nodded. Yes, Merlin could always use his powers if he was in trouble.
A few days later was when it all happend. Merlin had returned safe and sound and he had saved Uther from the enchantment which caused the King to hallucinate. But now the kingdom was under attack, Cendred's army had been spotted by Sir Leon and Arthur had ordered to prepare Camelot to be ready for siege. Madelyn watched as people from around Camelot and outside the city walls came for refuge. She was ready to help and she would be with Gaius, helping and tending to wounded in one if the many rooms that had been prepared for wounded. Turning her gaze she saw Arthur walking with Sir Leon and Merlin, probably talking and discussing the situation, Arthur had shown great leadership these last days and the people had noticed. Merlin caught her gaze and gave a nod and a small reassuring smile. Smiling back Madelyn turned towards the arriving people and felt stronger, her trust in the prince and her brother gave her hope and she knew if there was ever someone to save Camelot it would be those two.
Camelot was under attack and Madelyn was in the infirmary, tending to the wounded alongside many others. She and Gaius held an eye on Morgana as they both had been informed by Merlin that she was in league with Morgause and Cendred. Merlin was doing as much as he could, running between the battlefield to protect the prince and the infirmary to watch Morgana.
"Gaius, Maddy. One of us needs to keep an eye on her." Merlin spoke and they all knew who he was referring to. Madelyn glanced at the lady who stood by the other end of the room, also tending to wounded.
"Don't worry, we both are." Gaius answer made Madelyn nod agreeing. She and Gaius had the agreement that they would both keep an eye on Morgana, and if they saw the other busy they would try and talk with Morgana to keep her busy.
"You mustn't let her out of your sight. " a sudden burst of flame outside the window startled everyone and Merlin grabbed looked at them both making Madelyn grab his hand. "I need to get back to Arthur."
"Be careful." Madelyn's words received a small smile and a kiss to her forehead before Merlin was running out again.
Madelyn kept busy, bandaging wound after wounds, cleaning deep cuts and stitching those who was in dire need. Her clothes was stained with blood and yet she kept working, her hands stayed firm and her face calm. She gave everyone who needed it a reassuring smile, a comforting hug or a hand to hold. Yet her eyes never left Morgana for long.
The moment came when she couldn't leave, she was stitching up a man's arm. His young son had helped him inside the infirmary and was scared to lose his father and so Madelyn had to keep much focus on not onky helping the man but also calming the boy. From the corner of her eye she saw a green cape leaving the room, Morgana. Looking up she shared a quick glance with Gaius and soon he left the infirmary aswell. Exhaling slightly Madelyn could all but hope Gaius would be able to keep his eye on the lady.
The battle was now over. Camelot had once again showed it's power and strength and staying undefeated from yet another siege. Madelyn had washed her hands and clothes with a heavy heart, Morgana had tried to raise an army of dead but thankfully Merlin had stopped her. But Morgana turned it to seem as if she was the one that saved Camelot and was now celebrated as the heroine of Camelot.
Sighing Madelyn sat down, remembering the happy and joyful Morgana and comparing it to the one that tried to overthrow and have everyone die was painful to Madelyn. Leaning back against the wall of her house she closed her eyes. Camelot was in need of rebuilding again. The people who shed sweat and tears to rebuild was now yet again without a roof over their heads, their houses and crops burnt down by Cendred. All this fighting and so many innocent people were always caught in the middle of the war, innocent lives lost.
Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and grabbed the necklace. Please, Lancelot. Give me strength.