His Majesty, Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot, invites you to the Marriage of Her Royal Highness, Princess Morgana, to His Grace, Merlin, Duke of Cornwall…
Morgana and Merlin sent the official wedding invitation to Hunith, along with a personal letter explaining how this had all come to pass. Hunith had long known her son's affections for Uther's ward, ever since the fierce young woman had come to their aid to defend Ealdor. It would come as no surprise her son would wish to marry the Princess; however, that he was permitted to do so by the new king, and was elevated to such a high status, Merlin felt would be quite shocking.
Nearly two weeks later, just before their official engagement announcement and celebration, they received word that Merlin's mother would arrive at the end of the season in time for the wedding. However, there had been no word from Merlin's father. Merlin was full of anxious energy, wondering when, or perhaps even if, his father would arrive in Camelot. He worried what Balinor would be like and Morgana, who never saw him in her visions, had no guidance for him. Gaius was tight-lipped as usual, and it was possible his father would arrive before his mother. He wondered if he should have warned Hunith in his letter but, ultimately, he decided not to get her hopes up if his father never arrived. Assuming she even wanted to see him again, of course. Fortunately, the preparations for the upcoming banquet, their wedding, training a new manservant for Arthur, and learning to be a nobleman kept Merlin far too busy to spend much time ruminating on the unknown.
The days passed quickly, and as promised, Morgause came to Camelot. She had arrived on horseback the morning of Arthur's announcement, with little fanfare. Morgana embraced her warmly, just before taking her place beside her brother.
Arthur stood before the Court, his crown shining upon his head, with Morgana standing beside him in an emerald green gown and a tiara to match. He took a deep breath before he began.
"It is my honor to restore justice in Camelot, by allowing those who practice magic to live freely once more. Sorcery is no longer a crime, nor shall it be reason for exclusion or banishment. Sorcerers who commit crimes shall be subject to the same laws and punishments as those without magic. But their craft may be practiced freely when harmless or when helpful, without interruption by the Crown or by our citizens alike. Every practitioner of magic, so long as they obey the laws of Camelot, shall be treated as equals to non-magic users. That is my command."
He scanned the crowd of faces before continuing. "For far too long, Camelot has done an injustice to the innocent among magic users, and those who associated with them. I have come to realize that it isn't enough to simply stop executing sorcerers; in order to right the wrongs of the past, we need restorative justice. To that end, the Old Religion is once again embraced by Camelot. Its celebrations shall be recognized, and its practitioners given standing once again. Space shall be carved out in our communities for magic users to peacefully co-exist. And reparations shall be paid by the Crown to the survivors of those who have been wrongly executed or deprived of their lands and property."
He took Morgana's hand. "My own beloved sister, the Princess Morgana, has magic." Some of the crowd murmured in surprise. "This is not a power she chose, but a gift given to her. She has used her power to save my life. She continues to use her power as a healer, to save the lives of our people. She is the very best of women, and the very best of magic. It is because of her that I understand the good that magic can bring. And it is for the love of her and her magical kinfolk, I am restoring magic to Camelot."
He paused before continuing. "And because I love my sister so deeply, I have given her my blessing to choose her husband."
Arthur looked at Merlin with resigned acceptance before continuing.
"She has chosen one of her people, a powerful sorcerer who has been with us all along, known to the Druids as Emrys. Who has used his magic to save my life, and the lives of all in Camelot, many times. Who willingly served, and used his gifts to benefit, those that would have executed him had he been discovered using magic. Who has been a true friend to me and servant of Camelot all these years."
He gestured to Merlin to come forward. "Kneel," he commanded. Merlin, dressed in finery befitting his new status, looked at Morgana, who had tears in her eyes, still clinging to her brother's hand. Merlin kneeled before his king and his princess.
Arthur let go of Morgana's hand to unsheathe his sword.
"Rise, Merlin, Duke of Cornwall, Sorcerer of the Court of Camelot, the betrothed of Her Royal Highness, Princess Morgana of Camelot," Arthur said loudly to the Court.
The crowd erupted in cheers as he stood, and Morgana embraced him.
In the crowd, Morgause watched with a critical eye.
Arthur silenced the crowd with his hands. "We have a long way to go to make up for the harm my father and I did to those with magic. My sister and I pledge that no more harm shall come to any person within Camelot for practicing magic, and a new alliance begins with her marriage and the reestablishment of the position of Court Sorcerer. Tonight's banquet shall be held in their honor, and for the welcoming of the Lady Morgause, sister to the Princess Morgana, to the Court of Camelot." He gestured for her to come forward.
Morgause looked surprised at that description, but came forward, dropped the hood of her cloak from her hair, and after a moment of hesitation, curtsied stiffly to the King.
Once the crowd had dispersed, Morgana embraced her sister again. "Morgause, I'm so glad you've come."
"Congratulations on your betrothal, Sister. How long has the fabled Emrys been living in disguise as Arthur's manservant?" she asked, eyeing Merlin suspiciously, who was across the room being nervously congratulated by the other nobles.
"He's been in Camelot for several years now, hiding in plain sight," Morgana answered.
"And how long have you known he has magic?"
"Since I first discovered my power. It was he who helped me learn to wield my magic," she smiled.
"So, this is a love match, and not Arthur's doing? He's not punishing you for your sorcery by making you wed his servant?" Morgause frowned.
Morgana smiled wistfully. "Oh, Sister. I've secretly loved Merlin for a long time. I was afraid Arthur would not give us his blessing to wed, so we had kept our love a secret for many weeks now, just as I kept my love a secret from Merlin for years to protect him from Uther. Once Uther was gone, I didn't have to fear for Merlin's life any longer, and I was free to love him without endangering him. And once Arthur discovered us, and discovered Merlin has magic, he gave us his blessing to wed, and to elevate Merlin's status."
"But to give him our father's title?" Morgause asked, skeptical.
"That was my idea, since Father had no male heirs to take it, and there was no one left to claim it but us. My wedding gift from Arthur is that Tintagel Castle will be ours again and shall no longer sit empty. We intend to stay here with Arthur for the time being, so if you would like to make it your home, you are of course welcome."
Morgause looked emotional for moment but quickly recovered. "I have no memory of the place."
Morgana grabbed her sister's hands in hers. "But I do. And our children will. Put aside the darkness of the past, Sister, and join with us in our future, one where our people are now free."
She pulled her hands away from Morgana. "Do you really believe it that simple? Do you really think it was only one tyrant upon a throne that slaughtered our people?"
Morgana frowned. "It was when Uther outlawed magic…"
"You know nothing of our history, Sister. But I expect you'll see it repeated," Morgause said, turning and walking towards the door.
Morgana sighed, and followed her out, catching Merlin's eye.
Whatever is wrong, my love, we'll find a way to fix it, he told her, walking towards her.
She smiled at him gratefully, and took his arm.
. . .
At the banquet, Merlin spent a great deal of time talking to Morgause, for which Morgana was glad. He had many questions about the Old Religion, from spell work to customs, things that both he and Morgana could not know, having been raised outside of magical communities.
Morgana noticed that many of the nobles were looking at her differently. She began to feel uncomfortable and exposed by some of their withering looks. Her conversations with them, usually warm and inviting, were unusually stilted. She was beginning to glimpse what Morgause had meant: Uther wasn't the only one who feared magic, and while laws may be easy to change under a sympathetic monarch, hearts and minds are not.
"Your Highness, would you do me the honor of a dance?" Gwaine asked, extending his hand. He leaned in, and kissed her hand. "It might help lighten the mood around here."
She smiled. "Thank you, Sir Gwaine, I would be delighted."
He led her to the dance floor and bowed, as she curtsied.
"This bunch over here," Gwaine gestured slightly to his left, "Is going to cause trouble if you aren't careful. They don't much like sorcerers. I spent a lot of time in their company as a lad. I know what they're capable of, and it's not for the ears of a lady."
"What do you suggest?" she frowned. "How do we diffuse this tension and seek acceptance among the noblemen, let alone the peasantry? I know you have largely rejected your upbringing and title, but surely you have some insight into their thinking?"
"I don't have any good ideas for you, Princess. Just be careful, any one of them could…," he grunted just as he'd turned her abruptly, collapsing in her arms, bringing them both to the ground. Several women screamed and the crowd was in disarray.
"Gwaine!" she cried, seeing the knife in his neck. She rolled him onto his back with his head in her lap, in time for his eyes to flutter shut.
The knife was in deep; it was a hard throw from a short distance away, likely intended for her. She could do this. She could save him. She closed her eyes to concentrate, pushing out all of the other sounds of the banquet hall. She shut herself off from even Merlin and, with her magic, slowed the flow of Gwaine's blood in order to remove the knife. She pulled the blade out at the same time as she began the incantation, holding her palm over the wound and chanting the words louder and louder, feeling the energy of magic flowing through her until the wound was repaired. His heartbeat was faint but was growing stronger.
Her hands and dress were covered in Gwaine's blood, and she was cradling his head. "Gwaine?" she said softly.
He groaned and opened his eyes. She sighed with relief. She looked up to find Arthur, Merlin and the rest of the knights surrounding them.
"He'll be all right. The healing will have taken it out of him, so he needs rest, and plenty of fluids. Water, not ale," she said, as Leon and Lancelot helped him to his feet.
Merlin helped her to her feet, as she struggled to get up in the large gown.
"Did you see who threw the knife?" Merlin asked, his brow furrowed in worry.
"No, but Gwaine had been warning me about those individuals over there, apparently they don't like sorcerers," she said, gesturing with a nod.
Arthur gave instructions to the knights, and he and Merlin escorted her to her chambers, with two guards following behind them. They entered her chambers, leaving the guards in the hall, and Merlin unlaced her gown.
"I don't think this will be as easy as I'd hoped, Morgana," Arthur sighed, sitting on her bed.
"No, I don't suppose so. Morgause even warned me as much." Morgana slipped out of the dress behind her dressing screen as Merlin warmed water in a washing basin for her. As she began to wash her face and arms, he picked up the discarded gown and muttered a few words, eliminating the blood from the dress.
Arthur frowned. "If you can do that, why are my shirts always stained?"
Merlin grinned. "Because you're a clotpole and you eat like a toddler."
He rolled his eyes. "You really were the absolute worst servant, and you're even more insufferable now."
Morgana shook her head at their constant bickering. "Merlin, can you lace me back up, please?"
"You can't be going back out there. Someone just tried to kill you!" Arthur said.
"Of course I am. I won't be intimidated into hiding. The banquet is in my sister's honor, and to celebrate our union and our magic. I intend to enjoy it," she said, her head held high.
Merlin nodded and laced up her gown, then offered her his arm. Arthur huffed and walked back in ahead of them.
However, when they reentered, the mood of the room had changed. The crowd rose to applaud.
"What's happening?" Arthur whispered to Sir Leon.
Leon answered, "Healing a wounded Knight of Camelot just made the Princess very popular, Sire."
As Arthur took Leon aside to discuss the situation, a middle-aged woman with graying red hair approached Morgana, and curtsied. "Your Highness, I had no idea you were such a powerful healer. Please, would it be possible for you to see my son? He's my only son, and very sickly, and our physician has been unable to make any improvement on his condition. I only left his bedside and came today to seek out Gaius's expertise, but maybe you could heal him?" Her voice trembled, almost afraid to hope.
"Of course, My Lady, I shall certainly do my best. Even outside of my magic, I have trained under Gaius as a physician for the past few years," she said. "It's Lady Gonilda, if I am not mistaken. We don't see you here at Court very often."
"Yes, my husband is Lord Ackerly, as is our son. He's only just reached his thirteenth year."
"Are you returning home tomorrow?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Then I shall travel to see your son the day after next," she said, gesturing to Sir Leon to come to them. "I wish that I could leave immediately, but my duty prevents it. In the meantime, please see Gaius for any remedy we might provide to take with you."
"That is gracious of you, Princess Morgana, thank you," she said, dabbing away at her tears.
Once Arthur walked away, she approached Leon. "Sir Leon, I must travel the day after next to treat Lady Gonilda's son. I will need an escort in light of this evening's threat."
"I will lead your entourage myself, Your Highness," he said. "I shall inform the King."
"No, no entourage. I want to travel quickly and discretely."
"The King will disapprove, My Lady," he frowned.
She grinned. "He is accustomed to disapproving of what I do."
Sir Leon gave a weary smile.
Many more of the noblemen and noblewomen of Camelot made their way to Morgana to discuss her healing powers. One woman who had lost six infants just after their births wondered what could be done to prevent it from happening again now that she was with her seventh child; one man suffered from debilitating pain in his joints and his physicians' remedies no longer gave him relief; and another whose father recently suffered a fall and has been unconscious ever since. Could these injuries and illnesses be treated with magic? They all wanted to know.
Morgause listened intently.
. . .
"Sister, thank you for coming," Morgana said. "Are you really certain you cannot stay more than one day?"
"I am certain, Sister. There is much to prepare for the seasonal equinox. If you are truly committed to bringing back the Old Religion, you should be making preparations as well," she said, mounting her horse.
"You could stay. Teach me the old ways," Morgana suggested.
"I will instruct you soon enough, Sister. I shall return to see you wed," she said, signaling to her horse to ride for the gate.
Morgana watched her ride away, longing for the bond between them she'd had in her dreams. She didn't want to share in her hatred of the Pendragons, but they had shared much more than that. She returned to the keep, still thinking on how to improve her relationship with her sister. There, she was surprised to encounter Gwaine.
"Sir Gwaine, you should be resting," she admonished him. "Taking a knife in the neck for your princess deserves a day of rest at the very least."
"I'm obeying Gaius's orders, nothing strenuous today, I promise, My Lady," he said, offering her an arm. "And, thank you, for saving my life."
She slid her arm in his, as they walked through the halls. "I did my duty, as you did yours. As I told all of you weeks ago, I am at the service of the Knights of Camelot."
"I'm grateful nonetheless," he said. "I could feel it, as I was dying. It wasn't particularly painful or even frightening, but when I felt your magic, your light, I was immediately comforted and drawn back. I knew where I belonged, and it was in this world. It felt like being blessed by a miracle."
"I'm glad you interpret my magic that way," she said, touched by the sentiment. "My father never would have."
"As I'm sure you know, I disagreed with a lot of your father's views, and that's only one of them," he replied. "But I am proud to serve Camelot for Arthur and for you."
"We are grateful for your service," she said, as they reached their destination. "We didn't get to finish our conversation, or our dance yesterday. Would you please join us for supper this evening?"
"Of course, Your Highness," he said, bowing and taking his leave.
. . .
"Arthur, this is now the third assassin Odin has sent. Surely you must see that!" Morgana said, pacing the floor of his room in her bare feet and nightgown.
"We don't know that, neither of these men is talking. We can't rule out other motivations, or other enemies," he said, sitting at his desk, clad in his nightclothes, watching her wearily. "Either way, one of these attacks was on you, so I'm not thrilled with you leaving tomorrow with only Leon as your guard. You really should take Merlin as well."
"No, we've been over this. Merlin needs to be here to protect you. I can protect myself," she said firmly.
"Even worse that you intend to take Guinevere with you," he frowned.
"She insisted! And she is quite capable with a sword as well," she said, crossing her arms. "
"I still don't like it," he grumbled.
"You don't have to like it, but it's necessary. You heard what Gwaine said about the nobles tonight at supper. They're far more upset about the legalization of magic than we realized. If they turn on us, we could have an insurrection on our hands. But I can save the life of the only heir for one of our most respected families, and that will help win their favor. Then we can concentrate on addressing the threat that Odin poses to Camelot," she said.
"You're right. About Lord Ackerly, not about Odin. I won't take action against him without evidence."
"He already killed our father. I'm certain he's been behind these latest attempts on our lives, but if you find the evidence to convince yourself, what will you do, Brother?"
"Then this cannot go on," he frowned. "I don't want war, but at some point, he'll find an assassin skilled enough that one of us will be dead, much like Father."
"I can turn the tables and kill him myself," she offered yet again.
Arthur sighed, resigned. "I don't want it to come to that, but I won't stop you if it does. Just please, let me make that decision, I don't want the blame anywhere but on my shoulders."
She nodded, satisfied.
He stood up from the desk and kissed her cheek. "Tread carefully, Sister. I want you and your companions returned safely."
"I will, I promise," she said, with a warm smile. I'll guard our future Queen with my life, she thought.
When she returned to her chambers, Merlin was already in bed, reading through one of her spell books.
"I hope you sent poor Sefa home before climbing into my bed in such a state of undress," she said, teasing. "The poor girl is already so scandalized by us."
"She ran off pretty quickly when I came in and started undressing," he said, pulling back the covers for her to climb in.
"You're going to chase away my lady's maid, you scoundrel," she laughed, climbing into bed and extinguishing the candles with a muttered command. She pulled up the skirt of her nightgown and straddled him, kissing him, all of her troubles and worries fading away in his embrace.