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Morgana walked slowly behind Merlin and Lancelot. She had seen this place before, in Merlin's memories. It was a place of great pride for him and the others that had gathered here years ago. To her it was the place where her and her sisters fates were sealed. Where Arthur had gathered his allies to fight against their rule. What happened here had set the course of many people's life. A chill ran down her back. Merlin and Lancelot seemed relaxed, confident even. Having a plan now. Being in a place where they had set out once before on a dangerous and seemingly impossible task and succeeded. She wished she could feel a little confident too.
Their journey here was not a long one. Taking just over an hour. They had spoken almost constantly as they walked on. Working through their plan. Morgana had taken Lancelot's hand connecting again with the mark. With the lamia's magic. She had reached out to the other knights and as gently as she could, as not to risk provoking them to act violently in getting here, urged them to travel forward. There was something different about the mark, like a stream the current was stronger.
They had talked about weather or not they should also bring Arthur here too. They decided against it. He was not truly marked in the same way the knights were. He was safest in Camelot. The king would not be pleased about this when he found out, but it seemed worth it to keep him and Gwen safe. Right now they had to focus on removing any influence Nimueh had over the knights of the round table. There was no real plan for what they would do after that. Ideas half formed of course, but nothing that they talked to each other about.
Merlin was the first to pull out a seat. The one he had sat in all those years ago and sat down. It would take another few hours before any of the knight arrived. He would make himself comfortable. Morgana who had been staring at the table since they entered the main hall of the ancient crumpling castle. Read over the words engraved in the stone table. Reading the word magic in font of Merlin, the warlock, she lifted the gaze to meet his. Giving him a "not surprised look." To which he gave a small shrug and light smile.
"surprisingly I'm not surprised."
They both flinched a little. Morgana had not meant to say that out loud or in her head, just think it. Merlin lifted his gaze as she turned away and continued to walk around the table.
Lancelot hadn't noticed what had happened. He had headed straight to the dust covered window on the far wall. He was sure he remembered there being a window there that would look right down at the entrance to the dilapidated castle, from where he could see the other knights arriving. He didn't expect them to arrive anytime soon, but it didn't seem like a good idea to just have them arrive without warning. To his surprise he saw a horse tied up just below the window. Someone had arrived already.
Turning round quickly to tell the magic users he was stopped from saying anything as a shadow spilled into the room as a figure entered the hall shortly afterwards.
Morgana let out a sigh as she closed the distance between herself and the knight quickly. Throwing her arms around his neck.
The knight was too stunned to do anything as the witch worked at removing the mark for the man in her arms. When she was done she held him tighter, muttering how good it was to see him under her breath. Only now did Gwaine left his arms and return the hug.
"It's good to see you too princess."
Looking up he finally noticed Lancelot tentatively moving away from the window and Merlin pull himself to his feet.
"You two I'm not so sure about." He quipped, before adding. "What's going on."
Merlin didn't waste anytime in telling Gwaine everything that he needed to know. While he did Gwaine and Morgana moved towards the stone table. The knight keeping his hand on his lady's back and she too kept her hand on his shoulder for as long as she could without it being noticed. To which she was of course unsuccessful. Merlin and Lancelot were watching them both closely. Making sure there was not sign that Gwaine was still under the effect of the mark.
As Merlin finished explaining everything to Gwaine he pulled out the seat that had been he's years ago and sat down. The weight of what lay ahead of them pulling him down. Merlin sat down again too, one seat apart form Gwaine. Lancelot had come to lean on the table too joining the group to which Morgana stood a little apart from. It was hard to know who moved first, but both Merlin and Gwaine moved to pull out the seat between them for her. The seat tat had been Leon's. Seeing that Gwaine had the same idea he had, Merlin quickly pulled himself back to lean against the back of the seat. For a second Morgana moved to sit, but swiftly straightened herself, stepping back. Moved to look out the window Lancelot had just looked out from. Hoping she might have the same result and her looking form the window would speed another knight to them.
It took half an hour for anyone else to turn up. This time they had warning with Morgana seeing Eylan approaching the castle.
The men stood up and to the side of the table facing the door. Morgana slipped to the side of the doorframe. Once Eylan entered the room. looking a little shocked and happy to see his friends. He was about to ask what was going, why he had felt the pull to come here, when Morgana stepped behind him placing a hand over his forehead and she placed the other on his back to help catch him as she sent him to a deep sleep.
His fellow knights moved quickly to help move him to sit in his seat at the table.
It had been deiced that the rest of the knights were likely to arrive at about the same time. Gwaine having had a head start on getting here as he had a horse and had already left the city before the others. So it would be best to remove the mark form them at the same time. It was also best to wait and make the decision on whether or not they should remove the mark fully when all of them had arrived.
It took longer than they expected for the next knight Leon to arrive. The actions that transpired after Eylan's arrival played out again. Leon was only just placed into his seat when Percival the last knight arrived. His great height made it harder for Morgana to slip a hand on his forehead to get him to drift into sleep. Sensing that she would not be able to hold up the largest knight for very long once he was asleep Gwaine was by her side quickly taking hold of his fellow knight. This alerted Percival to the presence of the other knight. He was just about to take hold of his sword as Morgana placed her hand on his forehead.
With the sleeping knights in their seats the still awake ones and Merlin moved to stand around the stone table. Morgana still stood a little back from the table, behind what had been Gwen's seat. As she took a deep breath, lifted her arms and began to remove the mark. It took more effort to do so without making contact, but it was best to get it over with quickly. Once the mark had been removed as much as she dared right now she removed the sleeping spell. As her arms lowered to her sides the three sleeping knights began to wake.
They looked confused and a little nervous to find themselves in a place they didn't know why they where there. Seeing their brothers in arms, especially Lancelot and Gwaine and Merlin too who they trusted looking calm reassured them. Leon was the first to speak, waiting to know what was going on. Other similar questions were asked by the other two knights that had just awoken.
Merlin and Lancelot took it in turns to answer the questions put to them and fill everyone in on what was going on. Once they had done so Morgana spoke up. As she had been removing the Mark she had noticed something that she had failed to before. She was not the only one using the mark to draw to knight to her. Nimueh was too. That was why Leon and Percival had gotten into an argument and why Gwaine had left the city for no real reason. Nimueh had been pulling them gently towards her. Whatever her overall plan was she was starting to put it all into motion. The time they had to act first was rapidly running out.
As she explained this, she could see the unease and fear cross over the eyes of the men around her. They of course had no experience of knowing what it meant to have your life, your autonomy taken from you. They were men after all. Their lives were for them to chart the course of. Maybe Merlin, hiding so much of who he was could understand. But not fully.
"Are we truly meant to trust her." Pericaval asked after a few moments of silence.
Leon seemed to agree with the point that had just been made and Eylan the most understanding of the knights seemed to want an answer to this too.
"We-" Merlin began but was cut off.
"When I was traveling to Nemeth I fell from my horse in the snow. I was knocked out. I could have died of exposure, were it not for the lady Morgana. She found me and gave me shelter till I could travel onward." Lancelot Explained the events that had happened since he last saw his friends. "I trust that she means no harm to Camelot. That she wants the same as we do."
It meant more to the uncertain knights for Lancelot to speak up in defense of the witch. Gwaine they expected would defend her and Merlin they believed to be to kind hearted. They were still not fully convinced.
"No one is asking you to trust me." Morgana finally spoke. Walking forward till she stood around the table with the others. "Just that I will do whatever it takes to see Nimueh dead."
"And right now that means working with us." Leon Challenged.
"Exactly." Morgana answered.
Merlin knew that she was acting, putting on a harsh front to not seem weak, but he didn't understand why.
"I'm not asking you to trust me blindly." The witch said in a slightly lighter tone.
From the pocket on her thin jacket she pulled out a thin piece of rope. Tying it into an odd knot she wrapped both hands around it. Her eyes turned gold to the shock of the three knight that had just awaken form a deep sleep. Reveling the rope again it looked no different. Lifting her eyes she set them on Percival.
"You have more reason than most not to trust me." She said as she walked over to the knight. Handing out one end of the rope to him. "It's a trust me knot. Those holding each end can't lie to each other."
Percival took a moment to reach out and take the rope. There was a lot he wanted to ask the lady Morgana. So much of what was going on right now that he like the other knights didn't know. Wanted, needed to know. There was also much that he himself wanted to ask her.
"how do you sleep at night." He finally asked.
"Not at all." Morgana swiftly answered.
Merlin could see were this was going and it worried him. He had thought Morgana had made a brilliant moved when she created the trust me knot. Now he worried. If she had to be honest about all she knew of Nimueh there was a chance that she might expose his secret, his magic. His great role in all that was happening. He saw her move now as being a very risky one, but still a potentially beneficial one. He had to trust that she knew what she was doing.
Percival seemed pleased with her answer.
"Are you working with Nimueh." He asked next.
"No." She answered clearly.
Everyone seemed to let out a sigh of relief at this. Now they could move past this point and focus on the problem at hand.
"Why." The knight asked quickly after the witch had answered his last question.
Having no choice Morgana answered. "She and the Sarrum chained me to the wall at the bottom of a pit for two years."
A silence feel over the draft hall. This was not what any of the knights had expected. Knowing little of magic they believed Morgana to be powerful, the fact that she could be imprisoned like that was a little shocking. It made them fearful for who they were about to face.
Morgana looked like she wanted to force the words back into her mouth. She felt exposed and vulnerable when she need to remain composed and in control.
Lancelot how stood behind Pericaval as he faced Morgana placing a hand on the taller knights shoulder. "I think we know-"
"Do you ever think of the people that you killed." Percival asked abruptly
Fearing Morgana would let go of the knot, he wrapped his free hand over her. Keeping it gripping the knot. She tried to pull her hand free but the word spilled out.
"No."
His grip on her hand tightened as Lancelot's hold on his shoulder tightened too. Trying to pull him away, but knowing it would do nothing. Merlin swiftly moved around the table behind Morgana and tried to pulled her arm free from Percival's grip. Gwaine too was swift to act. Being closer to his fellow knight than the witch, he aided Lancelot in trying to pull him away. Knocking Eyaln out of his way as he did. Leon stepped back not wanting to get involved.
"You never think of-"
"I think of those that have died. Killed by a tyrants hate and those that mindlessly followed him." Morgana got out through gritted teeth, as Merlin tried to puller her free from Percival's grip. "Losses of those followers don't even begin to balance the scales."
Just as she finished she was finally freed. Gwaine giving up trying to pull Percival back stepped forward and brought his arm down onto the knot. Hitting Percival's hand and making him let go of Morgana's. Merlin holding her shoulders swiftly spun her round away from the group of knights. She shrugged his hold off and moved to lean against the wall. Seeing she wished to distance herself from what just happened, move forward. The knights moved back to where they had been standing or sitting around the table. Gwaine accidently knocking his shoulder against Percival's. Who threw the knot onto the table.
"We are wasting time." Merlin interrupted before a true argument could break out saying what he wanted to earlier. "We have to form a plan-"
"We have a plan. Remove the mark and return to Camelot." Gwaine said staring down Percival.
Surprisingly it was Morgana who disagreed. "It's not that simple."
"It never is." Percival muttered under his breath.
Morgana carried on, Ignoring the knight. "If I remove the mark she may notice."
"What difference would that make." Eylan finally spoke up. Speaking not with the hostility of Leon or Percival but with genuine curiosity.
Morgana turned to met the youngest knights eyes as she answered. Her tone losing all of it defensiveness. "She has been gathering her strength. Planning all of this for years." She went on to explain as best as she could all the times Nimueh had made her presence known in Camelot over the years. "We risk her moving forward with her plan with us left exposed."
The hall fell into silence once again.
"Not all of us have to have the mark removed fully." Lancelot said.
Gwaine understood quickly what his friend was thinking. A small smile crossed his face at the possibility of being able to act, to do something. "Some of us could keep the mark. Do as she expected."
Morgana was about to protest about the stupidity of the idea, Leon beat her to it.
"What would we gain from having some of us join her."
"Time for one thing." Gwaine retorted.
"An advantage for another." Lancelot added. "We can sabotage-"
"Do you think she would let you live long enough for you to try anything." Morgana snapped. "She is not drawing you to her to get information. She is doing it to kill you. So Arthur will have no close support around him."
"It could still work to our advantage. You know as little of her plans as anyone. Anything that could thwart her could be worth the risk." Leon tried to reason.
"And you would be willing to risk it would you. Brave sir Leon." Morgana sneered.
Leon quickly replied locking eyes with Morgana "Gladly."
"Enough." Merlin beat his hands onto the stone table. "Morgana is right it's to much of a risk-"
"I think its worth it." Gwaine said in a firm clear tone.
"So do I." Lancelot agreed.
Merlin didn't try and argue the point anymore. It was clear they weren't going to be deterred from their choice. Letting out a sigh he crossed his arms and stepped back from the table.
"And why are you two the ones to go." Percival challenged.
"Because we trust Morgana." Gwaine answered.
No one knew how to react to this honesty. They knew it was the case, but to have it pointed out so plainly.
"And what will the rest of us do. Sit back and watch you march to your death." Eylan's voice rose as he spoke, though he tried to fight it back.
"Arthur must know what is happening." Lancelot said gently as he placed a hand on the younger mans shoulder.
Gwaine on his other side did the same thing. "You are the fastest rider. We need to get word to Arthur as fast as possible."
Eylan knew he was being patronized, but he didn't argue the point. He was more relived that he wanted to admit that he did not have to walk towards danger. Also glad that he had something to do. A task to complete that gave him something to focus on. Distract him for worrying about his friends.
"What are the rest of us to do." Leon asked.
It took a while for Percival to think of an answer. "Camelot will need all the support it can get." Leon nodded in agreement. "We should visit the villages on our way back, get support."
Leon seemed to agree with this part of the plan, while he didn't like all of it. Looking around the table in his head going through what each person in turn were going to be doing. Their role in what was going to come. When his eyes landed on Morgana he was unsure. She had always made him feel a little unsure of himself, but this was easy to explain.
"You could gather the druids-"
"No." She said with unyielding certainty.
Leon was a little shocked at her violent response. He had been trying to find a way to work with her. She was helping them and he did trust her hatred for Nimueh was greater than her hate for Uther and Camelot. He had been trying to meet her half way. He could feel the hostility coming off of Percival and Morgana was very defensive. He wanted to find a way to work together. He thought showing willing to work with the druids would please her.
"You agreed we need more support-"
"I will not drag the druids into this."
"If they live in the kingdom they are already involved." Percival couldn't help but add.
"You have to be acknowledged as a human people worth anything to be considered a member of the Kingdom." Morgana bite back.
"They could still help." Eylan added, then seemed to regret it.
Morgana saw this and didn't want to be to harsh on the young man. He clearly had a good, gentle heart like his sister. She didn't want to damage that. She also didn't want to see him killed.
"They might." She agreed. "But I will not ask a peaceful group to risk their lives to save a kingdom that has given them nothing but hatred and hostility. That forces them to live like criminals. I will not have anymore innocent blood be spilled on the alter of Camelot."
"What of the innocents in Camelot." Eylan asked in utter earnestness.
Morgana scoffed. "There are no innocents in Camelot." She met the young knights eyes and felt regret at her harshness. "Except maybe you." She added as warmly as she could.
"Then what are you going to do." Percival challenged.
She understood his angry, knew it's kind well. She didn't blame him for it. In fact she was impressed that he had remained as calm as he had for so long. A detailed account of how she planed to make Nimueh suffer before she finally killed her were about to leave her lips when Merlin jumped in.
"Excalibur."
He said the word that had been going round and round in his head for sometime now. It was the only clear way he could think of that would granite the death of the high priestess. He looked across the table to Morgana, asking her to understand, back him up.
"What." Gwaine questioned.
"It's a sword forged by the breath of a dragon." Merlin answered.
Morgana pushed off the wall and moved towards the stone table. "Only of the few things that could kill a high priestess."
"Alright, where is it." Leon asked. Quickly jumping onto a plan that could help them.
Morgana looked at Merlin waiting for him to answer.
"Hidden, but I have heard-"
"So you want to go searching for something you didn't even know exists." Gwaine pointed out.
"I could find it." Morgana spoke up. "We can retrieve-"
"You want to go off-"
"It's no more dangerous that what you are planning on doing." Morgana spat at Gwaine.
The hall was silent again as everyone began to realize the individual tasks that lay before them.
"Do we stand a chance."
The question was asked in a voice just above a whisper, but seemed deafening in the eerie quite.
Elyan had softly moved from the table to stand by Morgana's side. Holding out the trust me knot, that he had picked up from the table towards her. The other men held their breath as they waited to see how this was all going to play out.
Morgana slowly reached out and took hold of the knot.
"I don't know, but there is always a chance."
It wasn't much, but the honest assessment of their current situation did offer some comfort. At least they were going in to this with their eyes open.
Elyan let go of the knot with a nod of thanks.
The men then began to silently go about getting ready to carry out their part of the plan. Elyan was the first to leave quickly riding away on Gwaine's horse back to Camelot. Leaving the others with a feeling of unease. Hoping that the youngest among them would be able to make his journey swiftly and unimpeded.
Leon and Percival left soon after having made a plan for the long and winding path they were to make back to the city of Camelot. Making sure they travelled through as many villages as possible. While Eylan would arrive back at the city within the hour their journey would take them most of the rest of the day. Gwaine had wanted to leave from the second his course was set, but found himself stalling a little. Taking a few seconds to make sure his sword was sharped. Lancelot moved away from the group that remained to check there was nothing in the hall that would be of use on their journey. Shields, smaller daggers, but found nothing. As he moved away he gave a glance to Merlin telling him to come with him. Leaving Morgana with the impatient and stalling knight.
She was angry with him. Trust him to make sure that he took on the most dangerous role. She had half a mind to ignore him. To let him go off on his reckless mission without a word of comfort or encouragement. But she couldn't.
"You truly are the most impetuous-"
He lowered his sword and moved to take her hands in his as she spoke, cutting her off. "And you are the model of restraint and causion." He teased gently.
"Don't." She pleaded. Not wanting to be drawn in by his charm. She was meant to be angry with him.
He understood and let her left hand go so he could tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. Then stroked her cheek as he lowered his hand to pull back the sleeve on his left arm.
"Always." He said in a whisper.
She looked down at the two ribbons that she had given him long ago. Enchanted with a protection spell that must have long since faded away. Yet it gave her comfort that he still wore them. That he still kept his promise. Not to make her worry. She hoped she could keep hers to do the same.
"Always."
Morgana affirmed, tilting her head upwards as she stepped closer. Closing the distance between them by placing her lips on his. Parting after only a short time, not wanting to make this harder than it already was. He rested his forehead on hers. Preparing to leave.
Merlin and Lancelot could hold off no longer and approached the pair. Clearing his throat Gwaine pulled back, giving Morgana's hand a last squeeze. The two groups said their goodbyes and wished each other luck. Morgana surprisingly pulling Lancelot into a hug and whispering he hopes for his safe return. It was a likely funny to see the shocked look on Lancelot's face. Gwaine let out a laugh as she patted his friends shoulder. and lead him away. They headed off in opposite directions, fighting the urge to turn and look back at the other.
Merlin felt his hand twitch. Wanting to reach out and rest on Morgana's shoulder. Offering comfort and reassurance to both of them, but he kept his hand by his side. It would do no good. They had to stay focused on the path ahead, not be distracted by emotions.
Thank you very much for reading. Any feedback or in-put is very welcome and would also be a huge help. The next few chapters are going to have a lot of action, that I honestly don't know how I'm going to write in a entertaining way. I want to try and give every character a moment to shine. I hope that the knights were all in character here. I have only written a few of them before and am not to sure about the others. Percival was difficult he should he angry with Morgana, but I hope he wasn't unlikeable.
All that said it might take me a little longer to write the next group of chapters. I aim to continue to update once a week, but it may fall to once every two weeks. Which I aim to be the longest gap between chapters.