"Through the Mist" (Rose)
Through the mist that thickens in my vision, I join in the rallying soldiers and force the enemy back through the gates. They've been called to retreat. They will try no more to take the city. The bellowing that reaches my ears is the epitome of triumph.
Random soldiers I've never even seen before are patting me on the back with widespread smiles and laughter in their eyes. I do find their joy infectious. I muster a weak laugh and a feeble, fleeting smile. I turn in the direction of the courtyard. If I could only make it back unspotted...
Forcing my way through the grime covered men dripping with sweat and their many cuts glistening with dark red liquid, all of this seems to fade when I examine their expressions. All of the worry that made them appear decades older before has vanished, and now, they look younger than ever before. I wonder if Merlin has this same look on his face ... It's disheartening to think that none of these people will know what he's done for them today. Arthur won't know how Merlin lives to keep him alive. "Maybe someday," I whisper sadly, looking downward as I traipse through those scattered in the courtyard.
I raise my eyes to the castle doors when one swings back, opening wide, revealing Merlin sprinkled with some sort of dust. He seems thrilled one second, stepping down a third of the stairs swiftly. Once my knees start to give out, causing me to sway, I bring my arm closer to my body to hide my wound. This isn't as subtle as I'd hoped. Merlin stops, eyes darting down to the bleeding spot, his face contorts into one of horror. I follow his gaze and notice that the mark itself isn't what he's seeing, but the trail of blood down the front of me.
He practically leaps in descending the remaining steps and halts in front of me. I open my mouth to speak as he pulls my limb away from the injury. His eyes widen at first and then narrow as he peers around us, as if checking to make sure no one is paying any attention. In one quick movement, he sweeps me off my feet, quite literally, and dashes back up through the doors.
"Merlin," I say quietly as he sets me on the patient's cot in Gaius's front room. He doesn't respond to me, but begins murmuring wildly, working hurriedly to get off the armor with shaking fingers. I gently grab hold of his hands.
He avoids my eyes at first, and then meets them with his own. Tears are threatening to spill from his blue orbs. "I'm not sure what to do," he whispers helplessly. "And you've lost a lot of blood."
I pull off the red fabric from over my chainmail shirt and survey it. "It's not that bad," I observe shakily, feeling the mass of wetness around the tear. I set the material aside and ask Merlin to help me with the belt. Once he lifts the chainmail over my head, I laugh a little. "Sorry about your shirt," I say, looking down at Merlin's old clothing.
"I never liked that one." He tries to smile, "Looks better on you, anyway." He turns away as I go to the lesion.
"It's deep," I tell him honestly. "But it's not too serious."
"What do you need for it?" he asks, facing me once more.
I bite my lip in concentration. "I'll need some hot water to help clean it out, bandages, and Arnica, some Centaury or Comfrey, and Rue to make a paste for healing."
"I'll bring you the herbs and instruments for the medicine so you can make it while I boil the water. In the meantime," he hands me a thick, fresh cloth, "To stop the bleeding."
"Thank you, Merlin," I take it from him and press it to the severed area.
"Does it hurt?" he inquires innocently as he spreads out the things I need next to me.
"Not terribly," I say as I take what I need from the plants. I drop them into the small bowl and grind them together. "If I move jerkily or breathe deeply or anything of that sort, it does."
He frowns slightly at the water over the fire. "A skeleton?"
"Yeah," I confirm softly.
"That'll be my doing," he says regretfully.
"Nonsense, Merlin! It would have been far worse if you hadn't stopped Morgana. Don't you dare go blaming yourself for my stupidity and lack of coordination." He manages a smile at this command. "What happened with her?" I ask warily. He calmly recounts what went on between them and how he eventually overcame her.
"I just couldn't help thinking," he recalls thoughtfully, bringing the boiling water over to the table, "What would have happened to me if it hadn't been for Gaius? There was a time when I used to talk just like she did down there."
"Well, thankfully," I begin, dipping a cloth in the steaming liquid. I wince before continuing, as it seems to scald my skin as I wipe the blood away, "You had Gaius, and you don't say such things anymore. I cannot say that I blame Morgana entirely. Although, I know that you and others have suffered the same persecution and dealt with it justly. Perhaps, she'll come around. But, no matter what happens, we mustn't let those who are lost direct our paths."
"Absolutely not," he smiles.
"And you know," I add, "Merlin, you have a tender heart ... I don't believe you'd ever be bad off even if you received no help from anyone else."
"You place a lot of confidence in me," he states matter-of-factly, eyeing me almost quizzically.
"I place my confidence in those who deserve it. You just so happen to fit into that division."
"I'm glad for that," he smiles once more.
"Merlin?"
"Yes?"
"Speaking of confidence-"
"Don't worry. I won't tell Gaius that you've been hurt ... as long as that paste your slathering on does its job."
"Deal," I return his smile.
The hours pass, and the bandaging is doing the trick to keep me mobile. Gaius doesn't seem to suspect anything, and he's had no opportunity to scold me yet for fighting. I know we'll reach that point soon enough, but for now, we all settle in for some proper sleep.
"Irony" (Merlin)
It feels funny to be waking up to quiet after remembering that just a matter of hours ago the city was rank with the scent of war. We three succumb as we attempt to manage a normal breakfast to an odd tenseness. A court session ordered, which is standard for the morning after a battle, we hurry off at the time requested. I know what I must do, I'm just not sure how to do it. Arthur has the right to know of the treachery of his father's ward. I remind myself that it is for his good that I should tell him.
As the people file into the throne room, I waste no time in trotting up to Arthur's side. "Sire."
"What is it, Merlin?"
I can't believe I'm crazy enough to speak the words. "I need to tell you something about Morgana."
"It's alright," he shuts me down quickly. "We know what happened."
Shock stuns me momentarily. "You do?" I ask after him as he proceeds toward his father. Upon receiving a puzzled look from Rose, I step towards her and Gaius to my right.
The King descends a couple of the steps before his throne. "In my time, we've won many battles," Uther's speech takes off, "But none so important as this." His eyes travel over the individuals standing in front of him. "Every man, every woman and child has performed their heroic best, and I thank you, and I salute you all." He pauses, and the confusion escalates within me. "Even before the battle, we knew there was a traitor in our midst- one who was almost the undoing of us."
'He knows?!' Rose's voice in my head sounds just as bewildered as my own.
"However," he continues, "We have to thank the one person who outwitted them, and who, almost singlehandedly, turned the battle ..."
'There is no way,' my mind tells her in surprise.
"The Lady Morgana!" he raises his arm and hails her forward. The room bursts into applause as I nearly gawk at this display. She marches to him and accepts his outstretched hand, smiling graciously at the beaming crowd. "For it was she who bravely entered the vault, found the magical vessel and destroyed it." Gaius glances at me with questions etched in the lines of his face. "We must be vigilant!" King Uther declares. As he blabbers on, I dare give Morgana a look of disbelief and irony. "We must stand firm against the dark forces of magic and ensure that they never penetrate our walls again." She simply glares challengingly in response. I give her a final look that should say that I am ready for whatever she brings. And I am.