Thank you for reading.
There is a link to the dress that Morgana is wearing at the end in my profile under black red dress. If anyone is interested.
Mordred only heard the sound of someone approaching behind them when they were only a few feet away. He turned his head, just catching the shine of the sword as it was lifted up and pulled back ready to swing. He only had enough time to sharply pull on Kara's arm. Pulling her behind him, as he turned his back on the attacker. Hoping that his heavy and cumbersome pack would block, take the brunt of the swing of the sword. Kara looked up at him with fear and panic in her eyes.
The blow to the pack sent shock waves through the young mans body, but he bore it bravely and unfalteringly. Keeping his eyes on Kara, gave him the strength for such a feet. Offering her a pained smile to reassure her that he was okay. She did not look very convinced. Without thinking he spoke in as comforting a tone as he could manage directly into her head. Something he had only done once before. She didn't seem to be comfortable with it, who would hearing another persons voice in their head. He guessed he was just used to it. It had been the only way he communicated when he was younger.
For a split second she seemed to relax, but quickly tensed up as she caught sight of something in the corner of her eyes. Reaching out with her free arm, she pulled on the strap of Mordred's pack. With all of her strength she forced him down onto the ground with her. Mordred could just feel the air being displaced above him by the powerful swipe of the sword.
It had been a bold move that had bought them sometime that was all. Their attacker once again lifted his sword ready to strike for the third time. Kara dug her nails into Mordred's arm. Trying in vain to pull him out of the line of fire again, her awkward position on the ground stopping her from making much progress.
It was only now, looking up at him that they could finally get a good look at the man that wanted to kill them. For a reason they didn't know. He was older than them, but not by much. His hair was dark long and messy. shadowing his eyes, that too seemed to be dark. Mordred searched them for a reason that this was happening to them. but found none. They seemed blank, but the more he looked into them he was sure he saw deep regret. He didn't really want to be doing this, but was going to follow through because he most likely believed he had no choice.
He was going to be bitterly disappointed when he realized they had no money to speak off.
The fact that it didn't have to come to that nagged at the back of his mind. All it would take was a little effort and he could save himself and Kara. This person was trying to kill them, why was he scared to use magic to defend himself. If he had time to think over it more he would come to the realization that he was not scared to use magic, he was scared about making a choice. A choice about the life he wanted to live his life. What kind of man he wanted to be. That was if he lived long enough. Was he going to settle down, become a part of the greater society or was he going to continue live on the fridges of society. It was a choice even if he was given all the time he needed to make it now, he would not find a comfortable answer.
Fortunately fate seemed to step in, in the form of a blond man with a sword himself. King Arthur.
Merlin made his way as quickly as he could to the hovel. Morgana was both heaver and lighter than he expected. Meaning that he himself was stronger than he expected, that was the way he was choosing to look at it. She would be fine, she had to be. Her breathing was normal. This was all to do with her injury, he would worry about how she got that later. Right now he needed to focus on healing the wound so she could come to. It was blood loss that caused her to faint, that was all it was. She had been standing, moving when he saw her. This was fixable. What came after may not be, but this he could fix.
Kicking the door open, he made his way towards the bed with quick strides. where he placed her gently, calling her name again. Still she didn't respond, but she did seem to have gained a little color back in her face. That was a good sign. A little hesitantly he moved her jacket out of the way and placed his hand on the wound.
He could feel her magic again like a running stream just under his finger tips. It was trying, as he expected to heal the wound. He felt sure this was an unconscious act. Rather than trying to heal the damage with much procession Merlin choose to focus as much energy as he could to get the job down as quickly as possible. When he took his hand away all that was left was the rip in her dress and the blood. Letting himself relax for a second, knowing that there was going to be a lot to talk about once Morgana awake.
Arthur on his horse speed towards the attacking playing out in front of him. He called out loudly as he did. Hoping his authority would bring a swift end to the conflict before him. As he drew closer and was still ignored, he took hold of the hilt of his sword. Making ready to dismount. In one fluid movement he dismounted his horse and moved quickly towards the action. Calling out one last time and still not gaining so much as a glance towards his direction. Pulling his sword back he made ready to put an end to this.
As his sword speed towards the attacker they spun around to face the challenge. dogging the attack directed towards him.
Arthur was caught of guard at first but quickly recovered, blocking the attack that sent his way.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw the young man help the girl to her feet. Once standing, his hand still in hers, she moved to run away. She pulled his arm, but he didn't move.
The attacker quickly turned his attention from Arthur and back to the couple. It didn't make any sense. He was ignoring Arthur unless he was directly in his way. Why was he so set on them. Even when Arthur was the one that was a real threat to him. Something was not right about him. Moving between the couple and the man intent of harming them, Arthur firmly told them to get away.
The young man that the king was finally able to get a good look at, and he found to be a little familiar, eventually allowed himself to be pulled away. Arthur didn't bother to watch what way they went. As long as he didn't need to keep an eye on them. Make sure they didn't get hurt, then he didn't really care.
"You shouldn't have targeted the unarmed." He said in an even voice.
Still the attacker didn't pay him any great attention. Having the chance now to look at the man. Arthur thought he was younger than him, but not very, a couple of years at most. He was also sure that he knew him. He didn't know exactly from where, but he was sure that he had crossed paths, maybe even swords before with this person.
Just as Merlin was about to stand up, Morgana began to wake up. Her eyes shoot open first before she tried to quickly pull herself up. Merlin placed a hand on her shoulder keeping her from standing up as she moved to sit up on the bed. He gave her a minute collect herself before he asked her as gently as he could what had happened. It took her another few seconds to calm down and be able to get out a single word. That sent a chili down Merlin's spine.
"Nimueh."
A million questions played out in his mind. He didn't ask any of them. There would be time for that. Right now their was someone in front of him on the verge of tears. Someone that had been a friend once, may be again he hoped. Not giving her the chance to try and say more before she was ready or pull away he pulled her into a hug. A hug that to his surprise Morgana returned.
The relief that she had felt when she saw Merlin walking towards her returned quickly when she came to and found herself in maybe the only palace she felt safe and with someone that, despite all that had happened felt safe with. All to quickly the feeling left her as she remembered what had just happened. Pulling away from Merlin she looked him in the eye and told him everything that had happened.
Kara lead the way off the path and into the tress. A reluctant Mordred being dragged behind her. As hard as she held onto his hand and pulled him forward he was fighting against her. Not fully, she knew if he really wanted to he could pull free. The fact that he wasn't she knew was because he didn't want to put her in danger, which made her want to pull him away from danger even more.
The sound of swords clashing behind them began to get fainter. The fence that bordered the village drew closer and closer. The thought of entering the village still made her stomach ache, but it was the only choice they had. She knew Mordred well enough to know that he wanted to turn back. His moral decency or his male pride urged him to let her hand go and turn back. Stopping she turned and faced him throwing her arms around his neck.
"Don't."
She didn't have to say anymore. He knew what she was asking, begging him to do. He would do almost anything that she asked of him. A fact he knew she was well aware of. A fact that she never used over him. Never asked him for anything really. Nothing he wouldn't give her freely. Except this it seemed.
"I have to."
"No you don't." She firmly stated, holding him tighter.
"I have to, that's the king."
Frustrated Kara pulled back a little, so she could look Mordred in the eye. "You owe him nothing."
"Yes I do." He said before he quickly kissed her on the head and moved to leave. He couldn't remeber of he had told her about how king Arthur had helped him escape from Camelot when he was just a child.
She didn't let him leave. holding tightly onto his hand, she held him back. "No you don't, none of us do."
"I can't just leave him to fight-"
"Why, he can take care of himself."
"Kara-"
"No, don't do this. Please. don't put yourself in danger for a man that if he knew what we are would have left us to die."
Mordred had never heard Kara sound so despite before. It hurt him deeply to be the cause of it. There was also a little part of him that found himself oddly pleased about this fact. He had never needed any prof that she cared about him. Though they had never said it, it was never in question how they felt about each other. They loved each other. The thought of losing each other was the most painful thing they could imagine, but he felt he had to do this. That it was somehow something that he had to do, that it was important. Not just in this moment, but that it would have far reaching consequences. It was after all the life of the king that they were talking about.
"It's not about what kind of man he is." Mordred gently placed a hand on Kara's cheek. "It's about the kind of man I am."
The kind of man he could be, would be. The kind of man the deserved the love of the amazing women in front of him.
Merlin sat, balanced on his heels, taking in all that he had just been told. Morgana watching him. Waiting for him to say something, do something, but he had nothing. There was no move he could see that they could make. They still knew very little about what it was that Nimueh was planning. All they knew for sure now was that she could not be reasoned with. She wanted to burn it all to the ground and didn't care who got hurt in the flames.
Morgana have gained back much of her strength back moved to stand up. Needing some water after talking so much. Preempting this Merlin handed her the glass he had placed on the table by her bed. Downing it in one big gulp, Morgana once again moved to stand up. Only managing to swing her legs over the side of the bed. Not trusting her legs to hold her weight without buckling quite yet. Still waiting for Merlin to say something. He had to have a idea, something they could do. He always had a plan.
Gilli could be dead now. Mostly likely he was or worse and they were just sitting here not even talking. Just sitting doing nothing. Not able to stand it any more she forced herself to stand. Which she was able to do with only a slight wobble. Merlin too was forced to stand and move back a little out of her way. The pain she expected to feel in her side wasn't there. In fact she felt stronger than she had in a while. A unexpected benefit of Merlin's overreaching form of healing magic.
"You need to rest."
It was the first thing he had said since she had finished telling him where they now stood. It was not what she had expected. The look of confusion she gave him making that very clear to the warlock.
"You can't do anything if you faint again."
Annoyance now clear on her face, but she didn't try and move any further. He did have a point after all. Running without a plan wasn't going to do any good.
"What are we going to do."
It was now Merlin's turn to look a like surprised. She said we. Unfortunately his answer was that he didn't now. After a few more seconds he had a answer or as best as he could do.
"It won't do any good going after her now."
"Gilli could be dead."
Merlin know realized now why he hadn't been able to voice a plan. There was no plan that could save Gilli. From the minute Morgana told him what happened he knew this. As did she, but would still try and do something. Her main motivation was to get revenge on Nimueh. She didn't care much for the rest of it. He however had to think about the bigger picture. That left no place for a suicided mission to save someone that was already most likely dead. The priority had to be to get Morgana to tell Arthur all that she knew now about Nimueh. Then they could discuss what to do next. She was not going to like this. She was smart enough to know all of this, she just didn't want to accept it. Her anger blinding her to it.
"There's nothing we can do to help him." He saw her about to argue so went on. "Defeating Nimueh is the only thing we can do to help him. That has to be the priority for him and everyone. There is nothing we can do now. Gilli risked his life to save yours. Don't make that for nothing." He spoke as gently and firmly as he could.
Morgana wanted to argue but couldn't. She knew he was right.
"Then what do we do." Anger clear in her voice, but he knew while she directed it at him, it was really him she was angry with. Which was a nice change.
"Arthur is looking for you."
Panic flashed across her eyes as she quickly moved to pass him. He called her name gently but she didn't turn to face him or say anything. She stopped in front of small chest of drawers. Opening a drawer she pulled out a bundle of red fabric.
"Where is he." She said her back still to him.
Merlin opened his mouth to answer, then realized he didn't know. He lost track of him just before he came across Morgana. "Not far." He tried to sound confident.
Morgana finally turned to face him with a nod. Removing her outer jacket, she then unfolded the red bundle that was revealed to be a sleeveless over shirt. Pulling it on he realized her reason for her change. It covered the hole in her dress. He also couldn't help but let out a faint laugh at this.
"What." Morgana questioned. What could he find humor in at a time like this.
"Nothing, its just." He took a pause to best explain himself. "Its like a joke, before a battle a commander asks for his red jacket. When asked why he says so the enemy won't see me bleed."
"Hysterical." Morgana said dryly as she adjusted the new item of clothing to fit correctly.
"Before the next battle, he asks for his brown trousers."
Morgana took a second to get the joke. Not finding it all that funny at all she rolled her eyes dismissively. "Well I'm not the one wearing brown trousers." She said with a smile. Her gaze running down Merlin.
Merlin couldn't think of a comeback. It didn't take long for the levity to be replaced with the harsh reality of the situation.
Morgana was the one to speak first. "I'll tell Arthur what I know. Then I'm going to hunt her down."
"Morgana don't." Merlin moved to stand in front of her. "We need you, I need you. If we are going to end this we have to work together. You'll just get yourself killed."
"So." She flatly stated as she tried to move past him.
Merlin grabbed hold of her arm stopping her. "Don't throw your life away for nothing."
"Nothing, killing her is not nothing." She tried to pull free, but he held tightly.
"What happens then." He frustratedly questioned.
Again she tried to pull her arm free to no avail. "Merlin." She warned in a low voice.
"We are going to stop her whatever it takes, but we aren't going to make it easy for her by throwing our lives away. That is what she wants. We have to win and make sure that she knows we are going to go on. The world is going to go on without her, like she never existed."
There was a coldness to Merlin's voice that Morgana had never heard before. For a reason she didn't understand it gave her some confidence that they could win this and live. Giving a small nod she agreed to act calmly. Not worried anymore she would leave quickly, Merlin let her arm go. Now free Morgana walked to the table in the center of the hovel. Where she picked up her sisters scrying crystal. They needed to now where Arthur was exactly.
Where he was exactly was laying on his back looking up at the tip of a sword, which he was holding back with his own sword held horizontally in front of him.
The king had been holding his own easily against the oddly familiar man before he landed on his back. He had taken a step backwards to give himself more room to swing from. Something, he didn't know what must have fallen form one of the couples packs when the girl had rather brilliantly he thought at the time pulled them to the ground to avoid being hit. As he stepped back he stood on it. Losing his footing, stumbling back till he landed on his back.
Looking up at the mans face he finally recognized him. He didn't remember his name, bit he was sure he knew where he had seen him before. He was a knight that had come to Camelot to take part in a Tournament. What had happened to him since then that had lead him to hear.
Arthur never had a chance to ask.
All of a sudden, as his arms were starting to break under the strain of holding back the advancing sword, the once knight dropped his weapon. Arthur quickly began to full himself up.
Gilli looked pained for a second, then almost relieved. Slowly he turned to face the person that had stabbed him in the back. Seeing Mordred standing definitely back at him a bloody dagger in his hand he smiled through the pain. He couldn't help it. It was a fitting end, Karma. But this wound was not enough to kill him. Just like the one he had inflicted on Morgana was not enough to kill her. The young warlock still held his dagger out in front of him protectively. On edge from Gilli strange behavior.
Mordred had no idea what to do next. He had not expected this outcome. He really did not expect what came next.
After taking in a deep breath, Gilli reached out. Taking a firm hold of Mordred's shoulders. Quickly pulling him towards him, into a one sided hug.
Wrapping his arms around the young man's upper body he held him tightly. pressing the dagger in further. Resting his head on his shoulder Gilli whispered words of genuine thanks.
Thanks for allowing him to die on his own terms, as himself. Not someone's Puppet. Thanks for stopping him form hurting anyone else.
When he could hold on no longer his arms dropped. His legs gave out. Mordred while still in utter shock, instinctively dropped his weapon and caught Gilli before he hit the ground. Easing him onto the ground next to the sitting king, who looked as shocked as he did. He watched him taking his last few breaths. Not allowing himself to look at the new wound to the mans chest. The man that he now recognized. He had been with the sorceress that wanted the druids to add her in a war she said was coming, but never did. Any anger he felt toward him quickly washed away and was replaced by pity. He had not been acting on his own free will. He doubted he had in a very long time.
Reaching out he took his brothers hand in his as he spoke silent words directly to him.
"You can rest now, be at peace."
As the pain left him and his breathing slowed Gilli offer a faint smile of thanks before his eyes closed and he slipped away into eternal rest.
As always thank you very much for reading. All feedback, comments and input are very welcome. I love to hear from you. It really helps me plan out the story.