"Breakfast, Milord, Milady," Eilidh said, bobbing a curtsey after she set the tray down.
"Thank you, Eilidh," Hunith said, pulling the covers up to her chin as though she could hide the state of her undress.
"I'll return to help you dress soon, Milady," Eilidh told her, nonplussed at this point by the goings on of lords and ladies. "Milord, shall I send George in to attend to you?"
"I think I can manage my own trousers, thank you," Lord Balinor said gruffly.
Eilidh smiled as she left the couple alone and closed the door behind her. Balinor brought the tray onto the bed. "While I must say I enjoy the food delivery, I can't abide another man putting my pants on. What sort of useless prat can't dress himself?"
Hunith looked at him with amusement. "The king, I suppose."
Balinor shook his head. "He's a good lad, I'll forgive his inability to dress himself."
"He's family now. Can you believe it? Our son is brother-in-law to the king?" she said wistfully.
He smiled. "Had I known Merlin existed before recently, I wouldn't have imagined he could have a life that wasn't in hiding like his father, let alone this life he is living. But look at him now. All that he has accomplished! That's because of you, Hunith. He's the man you raised him to be."
"It was hard," she said, picking at the bread on the tray. "There wasn't a single day that I wasn't afraid for him. But I also had faith in him. He always reminded me so much of you."
"I will never stop apologizing for not being there. I know I failed you both," he said quietly.
She nodded. "While you were in Gaul, I did a lot of thinking. It was incredibly hard, being without you for all those years, believing you were dead. That pain, it will never fully go away, all of the heartache that I endured every day without you. But I realized that we can never know what would have happened if you'd returned. Maybe we would have been together and we would have been happy. But maybe instead, you would have put us at risk. Maybe Merlin would have been discovered by Uther if you'd been caught, and none of us would be here now. So I am choosing to be grateful you're here now."
"That almost sounds like you can forgive me," he said, a hint of hope in his voice.
"It is going to take time to heal, and to learn to fully trust that you're here and won't just disappear again. But yes, I can forgive you. I have forgiven you. I cannot continue to hold resentment in my heart for a life that might not have even been possible, and instead, I choose to live in the present, where our family is whole," she smiled.
"Hunith," he exhaled. He kissed her reverently. "Does this mean…?"
"Yes," she said, smiling widely.
He pulled her into his embrace. "My beloved bride," he whispered into her hair.
"I don't want to make a fuss of it, we're far too old for that. Most of the castle assumes we are already wed anyhow."
"No fuss, none at all. My Lady," he grinned.
"That is going to take some getting used to, I should think. What am I even going to do with myself? What do I know about being a lady in a castle? I've spent my entire life working the land," she mused.
"Whatever you want to do, My Lady. Whatever we want to do," he said, kissing her again.
…
It had been a long afternoon meeting with the council and the foreign dignitaries, so Arthur was relieved to finally be concluding business. "I am grateful for your support and your alliances. Together, we are stronger than Morgause and the Saxon invaders she brings into our lands. We are glad to have you in our home to celebrate my marriage, and the marriage of my sister. We look forward to a future of peace and prosperity for our kingdoms that our friendships will yield. Come, let us adjourn and we shall feast tonight to celebrate before the darkness of war is upon us."
The small group of noblemen and women exited the hall, leaving only Arthur and Merlin. They watched as their wives linked arms and chatted happily with a few of the other ladies.
Merlin waited until they had all exited before closing the door, then slumped back into a chair, exhausted. "Morgana had another fire episode last night, her dreams are getting more vivid as we approach the battle to come. I try to reassure her, but I fear for her, Arthur. And for you."
Arthur nodded. "If I thought I could lock her in the dungeon away from this battle, I would, but I doubt any cage would hold her."
Merlin smirked. "The same goes for you."
"A king must lead his army, but a princess? What business has a princess on a battlefield anyway?" he sighed.
Merlin shook his head. "If you think you can convince her of it, by all means, try. But so long as she dreams of Morgause killing you, she will be at your side, that is her business. Speaking of which, we need to chain that scabbard to you, Morgana dreamed it would be cut from your body before you died."
"Well, see, no matter what, we will be step ahead of Morgause. Come, Brother, you need to go change. We have more entertaining to do."
Merlin groaned, standing up. "I suppose it could be worse, I could be pouring the wine at this banquet instead of drinking it."
There was a knock on the door, and Arthur called for them to enter.
"Sire, My Lord," Mordred said, closing the door behind him. "We are ready to take our leave for Nemeth."
"Mordred, please be careful," Arthur said. "This is a very sensitive mission you're on, and a lot of lives are at stake. Are you sure you and Kara know what to look for?"
"We're certain, Sire," he said.
"Because I can send my father instead," Merlin said, looking worried.
"Merlin," Mordred sighed. "I promise, we can handle this mission."
"And you'll keep Kara safe?" Arthur asked.
"Iain and I can handle anything that comes our way. Kara certainly isn't helpless either."
"If anything happened to either of you…" Merlin sighed.
"Don't tell me you'd miss me, Emrys," Mordred said, teasing.
Merlin grinned. "Certainly not, but Morgana would be unhappy with me if I didn't at least pretend."
The young man shook his head with a smile.
"Seriously though, I appreciate this. And, I haven't had the chance to say so yet, but thank you for having my back with Morgause. I was… beside myself with grief, and acting irrationally. If it wasn't for you, I would be dead. So, thank you, I owe you my life."
"I had the favor to return, after all," Mordred said with sincerity.
"I appreciate it nonetheless. Mordred, you're family to Morgana, and as such, you're my family now too," Merlin said.
Arthur nodded in agreement. "We can discuss what it means to be part of the Pendragon family when you return."
Merlin clasped the man on the shoulder. "Be safe, son."
Mordred looked at him in shock, and merely nodded before taking his leave.
"Well, that is certainly an unexpected show of warmth on your part, Merlin," Arthur said, eyebrows raised in surprise. "What happened to Mordred being a threat?"
"I came to realize that Mordred is a threat in the same way that Morgana is a threat. It was my own bloody fault," he shrugged.
Arthur smirked. "As are most things. But how specifically?"
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Self-fulfilling prophesies, I suppose. By treating everyone as a threat, you make everyone an enemy."
"That's unexpectedly wise, Merlin."
"Ah, you see, that's because I am expectedly wise, Arthur," he grinned.
"Hm."
...
"Morgana, could I have a word?" Accolon said, a hand on her elbow.
"Of course, My Lord," she said, excusing herself from the ladies she had been speaking to, and taking his arm as they walked through the castle.
"I didn't get the chance to thank you, for what you did. You were willing to sacrifice your happiness to save not just my life, but your brother's and the future of our kingdoms. How can I ever begin to repay that debt?" he said kindly.
She squeezed his arm affectionately. "You can repay me by doing exactly what you're doing, by being our friend. I'm just glad you're back to your old self."
"Indeed, as am I. Better, in fact. I see Evaine for what she is now, and it is time for me to finally move on. And, of course, my kingdom needs me to find a queen."
"I am glad to hear you say so," Morgana said, smiling up at him. "And I would be glad to help you with that effort, if you like. Camelot has many fine ladies who would make an excellent queen."
"I will take any of your recommendations under advisement. I know I need to choose a wife very soon, so I haven't the time for a lengthy courtship. I need heirs for the stability of the kingdom," he said, flatly.
She sighed, feeling again a twinge of guilt for her own happiness. "I'm sorry the decision has to be so rushed. But I am certain we will find a maiden for you that you will grow to love. You deserve to be loved in return."
"Thank you, Morgana. I hope I can find a fraction of the happiness you and Arthur have found in your marriages," he said, smiling at the sight of the Queen of Camelot greeting their guests in the courtyard as the King approached.
She looked at them wistfully. "As fleeting as our happiness might be," she said.
"Don't despair, My Lady. With the strength of our allies, we shall beat the Saxons handily."
"But at what cost, Accolon?" she said quietly. "I'll do anything to save him, you know that."
"I know," he laughed. "I don't think my chainmail failed on accident, after all."
She groaned. "Oh, I am sorry for that, truly."
"I'm not. You did what you needed to do to stop the madness consuming me. And that's why I know when the time comes, you'll find the fortitude to again do whatever it takes to save Arthur. Even at the cost of your own life. And I'll admit, that both impresses and terrifies me, knowing your power."
"He's my brother. And he's my king," she said simply.
"Would that I had such a loyal subject, or sister."
"I'm not such a loyal sister, I suppose," she laughed bitterly.
"Morgause has lost the right to your loyalty. And you've seen her kill you in your dreams, so you know she has no loyalty to you."
"I know. It doesn't make it any easier."
"I suppose not. But it does make your choice more clear. Morgana, I can't help but think in these dreams of yours, what happens is a result of your hesitation to kill her. That if you fight offensively, if you don't hold back, you will be the victor."
She looked at him with surprise. "I hadn't considered that before."
"I know you're a formidable fighter and a powerful sorceress, but in war, it's a matter of survival, there's no room for mercy on the battlefield. It's them or us. You need to remember that."
"Excuse me, Princess Morgana, could I have a word?" Evaine approached, addressing Morgana with a hurried curtsey.
"I really don't think this is an appropriate time, Lady Evaine," Morgana said, testily.
"Please, Morgana, you must hear me out, it's urgent," she said, frantically, her eyes wide with fear.
"If you'll excuse us, Accolon," Morgana said, ushering the woman away from him.
"Gracious, what is all that fuss about?" Vivian said, approaching Accolon and giving a curtsey.
"I haven't a clue," he sighed. "May I offer you an escort to the banquet hall, My Lady?"
"Certainly, My Lord," she said, taking his arm.
As they chatted pleasantly, neither of them noticed a cloaked figure following them down the corridor, nor did they notice a frantic Evaine breaking out into a run behind them, leaving Morgana to follow behind, confused.
Evaine grabbed at the cloaked person who turned swiftly and blasted her with a burst of magic, throwing her into the stone wall. Accolon shielded Vivian with his body as Morgana countered the attack with a powerful shock wave. The cloaked figure merely blocked the attack and dissipated into a cloud of smoke.
"Morgause," Morgana whispered. Merlin! Morgause is here!
"Evaine!" Accolon yelled, as he saw the crumpled figure on the ground. Vivian held him back from rushing to her, choking back a sob.
Morgana broke into a run to attend to the woman, but she knew as soon as she approached, it was too late. She looked up at her shocked friend in grief. "Oh Accolon, I…"
"What's happened?" Sir Kay asked as he approached, making his way through the crowd. "Is she…?"
However, before Morgana could answer, they were interrupted by an explosion on the other side of the courtyard.
"We're under attack! Sound the alarm!" she heard one of the knights call as smoke filled the courtyard behind them.
Accolon unsheathed his sword, and his guards, who had belatedly rushed to his aid, quickly flanked him. "Vivian, get to your chambers and barricade the door, please," he said, as they moved into the courtyard towards the fighting.
"Kay, will you please take your stepmother's body inside, then to your station," Morgana asked, kindly. Kay nodded, looking conflicted. "You should know, she was very brave, confronting an assassin. Camelot is indebted to her and to your family for her sacrifice. I will come see your father once it is safe." He gave her a stoic nod and lifted Evaine into his arms.
"I will assist you, Sir Knight," Vivian said, removing her cloak and draping it across Evaine, then following him inside.
Morgana then followed Accolon and his men into the courtyard. The thick smoke choked her and burned her eyes, as a group of Saxons fought the knights of Camelot. Up ahead, she could make out flashes of magic. She cast a spell to make the smoke disperse, just in time to see her father-in-law about to be struck down by a Saxon's sword.
"Balinor, on your left!" she shouted, blasting the attacker to his right.
"Arthur?" Morgana called to him. "Where is Arthur? Where's Merlin?"
"Arthur took the queen to safety. Merlin is in pursuit of Morgause. You must find him!" Balinor said as struck down two more Saxons, one with his sword and the other with magic.
Morgana felt Aithusa approach and land on her shoulder. Merlin! Where are you?
I'm locked in the vault with Lancelot and Gwaine. Morgause is trying to get in, there's something here she wants. She won't breach though, I am certain my wards will hold. Protect Arthur.
Morgana hesitated. She was uncertain whether Merlin was telling the truth or not. It wasn't above him to lie to his wife to keep her away from a battle with Morgause. But Arthur could be in danger. She was about to go inside to look for him when she saw Leon's leg sliced by a Saxon. Leon ran him through, but the wound was deep.
"Leon!" she said, running to his side. "Come, we need to get you healed before you lose that leg."
He winced in pain as Morgana tore fabric from her gown and tied a tourniquet above the wound.
"Mama!" Aithusa warned, then blew fire at an attacker that approached them.
"Stay here and cover your ears, Leon, I am going to end this," she said with a growl. She stood up and gathered her strength, centering her magic.
"Camelot, ground maneuver on my command!" she shouted, and began the incantation. "Awendaþ eft wansæliga neat… Now!"
Just before she clapped, the knights of Camelot, as well as their allies who had taken up arms, all dropped to the ground simultaneously and covered their ears to protect themselves as Morgana unleashed her magic. The Saxons were hit with a sound wave that rendered them all unconscious.
"Balinor! Help Leon inside, get him to Gaius and Alice. Percival, the command is yours. I'm going to find the King," she ordered, then ran for Arthur's chambers.
"Arthur! Gwen!" Morgana called, banging on the door. "Are you okay?"
"Morgana! You're all right," Gwen opened the door and hugged her tightly. "Where's Arthur? I thought he would be with you?"
"No, Balinor said he'd gone with you," Morgana said, trying to catch her breath.
Merlin! Arthur isn't with Gwen! Where is he? she asked in a panic.
He's with me. He's injured, but the clotpole will live, Merlin responded.
"Arthur is safe. Come, we'll need to help Gaius with the injured," Morgana said, as she and Gwen ran down the hallway.
"What the hell happened to you?" Morgana asked, as Arthur limped across the room to settle into a chair.
"It was stupid really," he responded with a sigh.
"It was very stupid," Merlin rolled his eyes. "You're lucky all you've got is a rolled ankle. He tackled Morgause."
"Well, you certainly weren't doing anything about her!" Arthur accused.
"I was maintaining the ward spell on the room where we keep all of the magical artifacts! She couldn't get in until you broke my concentration with your antics!" Merlin fumed.
"How was I supposed to know that?" he demanded.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe the sight of me chanting loudly and her yelling at me because she's furious she can't break my wards?" Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Well, I very nearly captured her," Arthur said, defensively.
"She very nearly killed you," Merlin retorted. "And she got what she came for because I can't ward a door and save a hapless king at the same time."
"What did she take, Merlin?" Gwen asked.
"A crystal. I think she's trying to get a clearer view of the future."
"Hm. Well, even so, she didn't accomplish all of her goals. Accolon lives, as does Arthur," Morgana said.
"What happened with Accolon?" Arthur asked.
"Evaine saved his life at the cost of her own," Morgana said with a sigh. "She killed her like she was nothing."
"Poor Accolon," Gwen said. "He's been through so much already."
"I should check on him, actually. And I owe Lord Ecton and Sir Kay an explanation," Morgana said, standing up. "Gaius, can you manage without me for awhile?"
"Yes, My Lady, so long as Merlin can assist. Unfortunate that Kara had already left this afternoon. Once we've healed all of our men, we will need to check in on the prisoners."
"I will meet you in the dungeon then," she said, and went to look for Accolon.
On a hunch, she went to visit Vivian's room first, where she found him.
Accolon was physically shaking, as Vivian rubbed his back soothingly.
"I am sorry, Accolon. It all happened too quickly for me to realize what was about to occur," Morgana said, her voice full of anguish. "I should have been faster."
"Was that assassin your sister?" Princess Vivian asked. "It was a woman, I am certain of it."
"Yes. And I don't think she intended to harm you, I think she intended to kill Accolon," she said. "That's what Evaine was warning me about. She was definitely working with Morgause to cast that love spell. When her plan fell apart, Morgause decided to just assassinate you."
"Why me? Why not just kill Arthur?" he asked, still in a daze.
"I think she's trying to let destiny play out as it is in my dreams. She must have visions of it as well. She stole an artifact tonight, that will help her see the future."
"Morgana, remember what I said earlier," he said sternly. "Stop holding back."
"I… I wasn't…"
"You were," he said. "You did. You could have ended this right then."
Her eyes filled with tears. She shook her head.
"Dammit, Morgana!" he yelled. "She killed Evaine! She was going to kill me! She might have killed Vivian as well! How many people are you going to let her kill before you end her?"
"Accolon, that's enough," Vivian said, quietly, still holding on to his arm.
Morgana stifled a sob and fled the room.
"Morgana…" Accolon called after her. "I shouldn't have…"
"No, you shouldn't have, but maybe she needed to hear some hard truths," Vivian said, closing the door. "She's bringing our kingdoms into this war to defeat an enemy she isn't actually willing to kill. That's a problem."
Another wave of grief hit him. "Evaine died saving my life."
"She did. And probably mine too," Vivian said, matter-of-factly. "It doesn't erase the terrible things she did to you, and to her husband, and to the Pendragons. But she did redeem herself, and we must honor her bravery and sacrifice."
"I thought she didn't truly love me. But she actually did," he whispered.
"She did, enough to confront a dangerous sorceress. That, you can hold on to in your heart."
He slumped onto the floor, with his back against her bed, his head resting on his knees. Despite her restrictive dress, Vivian lowered herself on the floor next to him, leaning her head back against the mattress, one hand rubbing his back as he wept.
Meanwhile, Morgana fled to her chambers, her chest tightening with panic. Accolon is right, she thought. This is my fault.
She looked down at her hands, blood dried under her fingernails. Leon's, she supposed. And how many countless others? She quickly washed her face and hands again, and changed into a more sensible dress that wasn't torn or covered in blood. She frantically searched her cabinets before finding the small vial, a leftover potion from when Uther had died. She drank the bottle before going to see Lord Ecton and Kay.
She didn't stay long. There wasn't much to say other than to express her regrets, and praises for the lady's bravery. She was grateful they were stoic and respectful. She felt a twinge of sadness knowing that neither man had really loved Evaine, neither her husband nor her husband's son. Accolon had loved her, truly, but his love had not been enough. She knew Evaine regretted her choice, but Morgana had never stopped to consider exactly how lonely she must have been in a loveless marriage, lady to a house that preferred Lord Ector's first wife over her.
Morgana made her way down to the dungeon, to see to the wounds of the prisoners. There, she found an exhausted Merlin, along with a newly-healed but weakened Leon, trying to manually manipulate a man's dislocated shoulder into its proper position. Morgana took over for Leon and popped the man's shoulder back in one swift motion.
"Leon, you need to rest, you lost a lot of blood. I will have Eilidh bring your supper to your chambers, you're off duty."
He looked like he was about to protest but instead nodded, "That is kind of you, My Lady."
Merlin and Morgana finished up treating the prisoners, and the knights ensured food was delivered to them promptly.
"I am famished," Merlin said, his stomach rumbling at the smell of the meals brought to the prisoners.
"We need to get changed and meet back in the banquet hall," Morgana said. "Arthur will be waiting for us. Everyone will be waiting for us."
"Are you okay? You look like you've been crying," Merlin asked, gently.
She nodded. "It's fine, I'm just a little emotional, I suppose. This was supposed to be a joyous weekend, free from the worries of the impending war. Originally Morgause was even supposed to attend our wedding, but instead she attacks Camelot."
He pulled her into his embrace. "I'm sorry, my love. I know how it tears you apart for her to be our enemy."
"I worry not for me, but for all of us."
…
"And what exactly are we supposed to do with this?" Cenred asked, examining the crystal.
"I will use it to see the future, and keep one step ahead of my sister," Morgause said, slipping into the bath. She moaned in appreciation. A few of her ribs were certainly broken after the confrontation with first her sister, and then her brother-in-law, and her entire body hurt.
"And in that crystal, do you see the answer to my question? Will you be my Queen?" Cenred asked, grabbing a wash cloth and gently running it over her back.
Morgause sighed irritably. "Fine, but only after we have killed Arthur Pendragon and brought Camelot under my rule. The beginning of the end is in two days' time."