Chapter 12 Reparations and Preparations
A/N: Edited and revised May 2021
The weeks following Kilgharrah's warning, Merlin and Morgana were busier than they had been since before they had been dragonfasted. They spent their mornings either on patrol with the knights or on the training fields with them, sparring with both sword and magic. Unfortunately, the patrols had uncovered very little, save for a few bandit camps that were quickly dealt with.
Wherever Mordred and Alvarr had gone, they had hidden themselves well, likely biding their time until Camelot was more vulnerable. It made Merlin uneasy to have such a danger hanging over them. It reminded him of the nerve-wracking feeling of his first days in Camelot, when he'd still had the tendency to react with uncontrollable bouts of instinctual magic.
"Ah, Magic has arrived!" Gwaine called out as Merlin and Morgana joined the knights for training that morning.
"Yes, here we are," Morgana replied, smiling at Gwaine's enthusiasm.
"I want to duel you, Merlin," Gwaine said. "Hand to hand, sword to sword. Like you did when Arthur made you duel him with maces."
"You do realize that I used magic in that duel?" Merlin chuckled.
"Yes, but just a little magic. None of this all powerful, turn-your-sword-into-flowers business. Like what we might see from a sorcerer who isn't you."
"I suppose that's not a bad idea," Merlin allowed.
"Now you're talking!" Gwaine crowed. His enthusiasm drew the attention of the other knights, who gathered around them.
"How do we decide who wins?" Merlin asked.
"First tag wins?" Gwaine replied, shrugging.
"Seems fair," Merlin agreed. Elyan came forward, offering a blunted practice sword to the warlock.
"Let him have it," Elyan murmured, grinning mischievously when Gwaine protested.
Merlin chuckled as he took the sword and squared off against the eager knight. Gwaine took his time, eyeing Merlin as the warlock tested the balance of the sword. Without so much as a cry, Gwaine rushed forward, aiming a blow at Merlin's midsection.
With a subtle push of magic, Gwaine's blade dipped under the sudden exaggerated weight of the weapon. Merlin stepped aside, batting Gwaine's sword towards the ground. Gwaine gripped the hilt with both hands, adjusting his grip and stance enough to turn the weight to his advantage as he swung again at Merlin.
"You're not even trying yet!" Gwaine taunted as Merlin rushed to block the knight's sword with his own blade.
"You don't want me to really try," Merlin tossed back.
"You're right, I really don't," Gwaine agreed, feinting right but jabbing left. Merlin backed up hastily, letting the ground sink slightly below Gwaine's feet, causing the knight to stumble. They went back and forth for another minute, every time Merlin gained ground, Gwaine would push him right back until Merlin used a nudge of magic to stall or hamper the knight sufficiently for the warlock to retreat and regroup.
"You could do this all day," Percival teased.
"Perce is right, I think this one is a draw, mate," Elyan agreed. Gwaine stepped back, glad to see that Merlin was breathing just as hard as he was.
"Well done, Mate," Gwaine praised, giving Merlin a salute with his sword before he sheathed it at his belt.
"You too," Merlin replied, proud to have lasted so long against the man who was arguably the second best swordsman in Camelot.
"We'll make a swordsman out of you yet," Leon chuckled, reaching out and clapping Merlin on the shoulder.
"Bravo," Morgana said, clapping lightly and smiling at the blush that suffused Merlin's cheeks. "The next duel is mine," Morgana called out, smirking at the groan that the knights didn't hold back.
The following morning, Merlin and Morgana joined Gaius in his quarters, helping to prepare the tinctures, salves and tisanes that he needed to deliver on his rounds that afternoon. Hunith joined them midmorning, her basket full of the herbs she had gone to collect that morning.
"Oh, good, you found plenty of feverfew," Gaius said, relieved to see the large bundle. "There's an illness spreading around the children of the lower town at the moment. The usual sniffles and ailments that always crop up this time of year. I've nearly gone through my current stock."
"I was lucky to find a nice meadow not far from the citadel," Hunith said, smiling at Merlin and Morgana as they greeted her.
"The one to the east?" Merlin asked.
"Yes," Hunith confirmed.
"That's my favorite gathering spot. There's usually a good showing of comfrey and mint there as well," Merlin replied.
"Yes, there was," Hunith said, pulling those herbs from her basket next.
"Are those raspberries?" Morgana asked, delighted to find a handful of the red berries in Hunith's basket.
"Yes! I have some leaves of the plant as well. They're excellent herbs for women," Hunith said, sharing the berries around with the others.
"We'll make an herbalist out of you yet," Gaius chuckled, looking at Hunith proudly.
Medicines in hand, Gaius led Merlin and Morgana on his rounds while Hunith set to work on the fresh herbs. They had some tonics that the court physician needed to deliver to a few lords staying in the citadel, then they set off for the lower town. Merlin grasped Morgana's hand as they left the gates of the courtyard and moved into the town proper.
Neither Merlin or Morgana had ventured into the lower town since Morgana had been pardoned. They weren't sure what the people's reaction would be, but they were hopeful that coming under the auspices of helping Gaius in his duties would ease the fears of those who were still distrustful of her.
One of the patients that Gaius was most eager to see that afternoon was a field worker who had cut his lower leg open while harvesting the grain. It had been a few days and Gaius was concerned that the wound was beginning to fester.
"Owain!" Gaius called out as he knocked on the door of the man's home. A moment later, a young girl opened the door and wordlessly led them to the second room of the house where Owain lay on a pallet of blankets, his leg propped up on a bag of grain.
"How's your leg today, hmm?" Gaius asked, lowering himself gingerly onto the floor beside the pallet.
"What're they doing here?" Owain asked instead, leaning his head to the side to see Merlin and Morgana standing behind the physician.
"You know Merlin, Owain," Gaius said, his voice only slightly reproachful.
"Yeah, I do. But I know her, too. A witch she is." the man said, not at all concerned about his rudeness.
"I promise you, I am only here to help. I am fairly gifted with healing magics," Morgana replied, dropping down to her knees beside the elderly physician.
"She just wants to help," Merlin offered, smiling encouragingly at Owain. The man glowered at the three of them, but at a grimace of pain he nodded. Merlin smiled encouragingly, kneeling at Morgana's side while Owain lay tense and wary on his pallet.
"Let's take a look, shall we?" Gaius asked, reaching out and unraveling the length of bandaging around the man's calf. Merlin knew before the wound was fully uncovered that it was bad. The smell was foul, and when the wound was finally revealed, it was weeping with pus and was turning a green color.
"Owain..." Gaius murmured regretfully.
"I'm gonna lose it, am I?" Owain grumbled, understanding the look on the physician's face.
"If left alone, yes. I can clean it the best I can, but my own abilities are limited. We might be able to use other means to help it heal, though."
"What?!" Owain demanded.
"We can heal your leg, with magic," Merlin offered, gesturing between himself and Morgana.
"I don't trust her," the farmer said, looking at Morgana.
"You trust me, Owain, do you not?" Gaius asked. "I would not have brought either Merlin or Morgana with me if I did not trust them wholeheartedly."
Owain looked at the three of them mulishly for a long moment. Merlin was worried that the man would throw them all out, but a small voice broke the silence.
"Please, papa," the young girl implored, coming into the back room and kneeling down beside her father on the pallet. "I don't want you to die! If they cut off your leg, you might die like Coran's papa did!"
Owain closed his eyes, wrapped his daughter in his arms, and nodded.
"Fine. Do what you have to do."
Instantly, Merlin and Morgana began gathering the supplies that Gaius needed while the physician cleaned the wound as well as he could. Merlin put several herbs into a bowl and began crushing them with a pestle while Morgana began to enchant a spell over them. Her eyes glowed gold and the herbs began to foam.
"I can perform the spell, but I may need you to lend me some of your strength to heal a wound this advanced in decay," Morgana said, looking briefly at Merlin.
"Of course," Merlin agreed, helping Morgana to spread the foaming mixture over the cut on Owain's leg. The man grunted in pain, but otherwise, said nothing more. Morgana held her hands over Owain's leg and breathed deeply, then began the incantation.
"Ic ðe ðurhhæle ðinu licsar mid ðam sundorcræft ðære ealdan æ. Drycræft ðurhhæle ðina wunda ond ðe geedstaðolie," Morgana paused, breathing deeply as the wound began to lose the greenish tinge and closed nearly half way.
"Merlin," Morgana gasped, her hands trembling as she continued to push her magic into the spell. Merlin hurriedly reached out a hand to Morgana's shoulder and closed his eyes as he pushed magic towards her. He could feel the moment that their magic blended together; Morgana gasped and sat taller, repeating the incantation with more strength than before.
"Ic ðe ðurhhæle ðinu licsar mid ðam sundorcræft ðære ealdan æ. Drycræft ðurhhæle ðina wunda ond ðe geedstaðolie!"
Morgana dropped her hands and leaned back into Merlin's waiting arms, breathing heavily as Owain's wound knitted into a jagged pink scar.
"My word," Gaius breathed, leaning in to inspect their work. "That was amazing. I had thought you might accelerate the natural healing process, but this wound looks weeks old!"
"I couldn't have done it without Merlin's help," Morgana murmured.
"Be that as it may, well done, the both of you," Gaius said proudly.
"Thank you," Owain said, clutching his daughter tighter to him and weeping in relief.
"We will see ourselves out," Gaius murmured, gathering his bag as well as the weary witch and warlock.
As they wandered back to the castle later that afternoon, Gaius looked at each of them proudly.
"Your skills in healing are well matched. What one of you lacks in one area, the other supplements. I dare say your combined skills rival those of my dear Alice."
"High praise indeed," Merlin said, chuckling.
"Alice?" Morgana asked mentally, not remembering the name.
"Gaius' lady love, and a skilled healer." Merlin replied. Morgana nodded in acknowledgement and smiled.
"Definitely high praise," Morgana said aloud. Merlin slipped his hand into Morgana's and squeezed.
"Well done, love."
Two weeks later, Merlin and Morgana were awakened in the middle of the night to a pounding at their door. Scrabbling for his boots, Merlin rushed to the door.
"What is it?" he asked, blinking blearily at the sight of a guard escorting a young woman.
"Do you know Caroline?" the young woman asked, wringing her hands anxiously.
"Caroline?" Merlin asked. "Oh! Yes, the midwife."
"What is it?" Morgana asked, coming to Merlin's side, wrapped in her robe.
"Lady Morgana! Caroline has asked if you could come and assist her," the young woman replied.
"Me?" Morgana asked, confused. She had never assisted the midwife before.
"Yes, there's a woman in the lower town laboring. She's gone too long now, and Caroline fears that we may lose both of them if we don't find a way to help them. Caroline heard what you did for little Brennan and his weak constitution and thought you might be able to do something," the young woman replied.
"Lead the way," Morgana demanded, not bothering to change out of her nightclothes. Merlin grabbed his jacket and followed hurriedly behind them.
When they reached the home of the laboring mother, Merlin sat with the young father in the front room while Morgana followed the young woman back behind the curtain of the small bedroom.
"Caroline, I brought her," the midwife's apprentice called out.
"Thank you, Sefa," Caroline answered, turning from where she was mopping the tired mother-to-be's brow and looking at Morgana hopefully. "Can you help Aundra? She's been laboring for nearly two days now, and she's exhausted."
"I'll do what I can," Morgana answered eagerly. "I've never helped deliver a babe before."
"We would be grateful for anything you can do," Caroline replied. Morgana nodded, then moved to sit beside the woman on the bed.
"May I?" Morgana asked, smiling at the weak nod from Aundra. Morgana placed her hands on the woman's large belly and reached out with her magic. With a gasp, Morgana realized that she could sense the position of the babe within Aundra and immediately knew what the problem was.
"What is it?" Caroline asked, worried for her patient.
"The baby," Morgana answered, closing her eyes and concentrating. "Her arm is over her head. She's trying to come elbow first."
"Can you help her?" Sefa asked, grasping Aundra's hand supportively.
"I can try," Morgana replied. Repositioning her hands, Morgana willed her magic to bend to her will as Merlin had taught her, reaching out with a subtle tendril to try and move the baby's arm.
"Ahh!" Aundra cried out, causing Morgana to stop and move her hands once again.
"Almost there," Morgana murmured, sweat breaking out on her brow as she closed her eyes and concentrated once again on carefully moving the baby's arm.
"Got it!" Morgana cried out, keeping her hands on the mother's stomach as a contraction started anew.
"Let's get her up," Caroline said urgently, motioning for Morgana to take her place at Aundra's side. Morgana and Sefa worked together to get Aundra up and into a squatting position. Morgana sent tendrils of magic to strengthen Aundra as the woman panted and moaned with the contraction.
"I need to push!" Aundra cried out, her stomach clenching as she reflexively bore down.
"Slowly!" Caroline called out, helping Aundra to breathe. "I can see her head now! She's coming fast!"
Morgana watched in awe as Caroline and Sefa worked in practiced rhythm, soothing Aundra's fears and her body as her baby came quickly into the world within just a few pushes.
"She's here!" Caroline cried triumphantly, wrapping the babe in a clean blanket while Morgana and Sefa eased Aundra back into the bed. Caroline handed the baby to an exhausted Aundra and began to tend to the afterbirth. The babe began to wail in earnest, and Morgana laughed in giddy relief.
"What will you name her?" Sefa asked, looking on at the pair with relief.
"Morgan," Aundra replied without hesitation. "After the woman who saved our lives."
"Really?" Morgana asked, stunned at the gift that had just been given to her.
"A fine name," Caroline agreed, smiling at Morgana.
"Thank you," Morgana whispered, surprised to realize that she had tears in her eyes. "I am honored that you would name your child for me."
"I won't hesitate to tell anyone that you were our champion tonight," Aundra said, laying her head back in happy, if exhausted, relief.
A few minutes later, Caroline and Sefa began cleaning up the mess the birthing had left behind and Morgana moved into the other room of the house. Merlin and Aundra's husband stood and Morgana smiled at the eager new father.
"You can go in and see them now," she said softly, and the man wasted no time moving towards his wife and new daughter.
"You did an amazing thing tonight," Merlin offered, wrapping his arms around Morgana as she leaned heavily into him.
"That was the most amazing thing that I have ever done," Morgana whispered, allowing Merlin to guide her out of the house as they made their way slowly back to the citadel.
"Even more than being dragonfasted?" Merlin asked facetiously.
"Debatable," Morgana teased.
"I'll give you debatable," Merlin laughed, then fell silent in the predawn darkness.
"Think Arthur will expect us at training this morning?" Morgana asked as they finally reached their chambers.
"I hope not, I plan to sleep till the noon bell," Merlin replied.
"Yes, you worked hard tonight," Morgana teased.
"I'll have you know, I kept the fire tended," Merlin said in mock offense.
"An important job, no doubt."
"You really did do an amazing thing tonight, Morgana," Merlin said, dropping all pretense at teasing.
"It was. I want to help Caroline more often," Morgana replied happily.
"Then you should. But now? Sleep," Merlin entreated. Morgana didn't argue, simply fell into bed and was soon asleep, despite the dawning of a new day.
"I heard the two of you had a busy night," Gaius said as he greeted Merlin and Morgana that evening as they joined the king and queen for supper.
"Oh? What's this?" Gwen asked, looking between the physician and the magical pair.
"I've not heard anything," Arthur chimed in, not wanting to be left out.
"Caroline, the midwife, told me a very interesting tale," Gaius began, relating the whole story over dinner.
"That's amazing!" Gwen cheered, smiling at her friend in astonishment.
"Thank you," Morgana said, returning the grin.
"I think that ought to go a long way to changing people's minds about you and about magic," Arthur said, pleased at the unexpected boon.
"Yes," Merlin agreed. "A while ago, I had some thoughts about something else we could do to show the good of magic, and I've been researching exactly how to do what I've got in mind."
"What's that?" Arthur asked, curious.
"I want to enchant the walls of the city."
"Come again?" Arthur replied, his face showing his utter confusion.
"I want to put protective enchantments on the walls surrounding Camelot. To help them withstand attack, both magical and physical."
"That's a wonderful idea!" said Gwen.
"Why haven't you done that before?" Arthur asked.
"It isn't exactly subtle," Merlin answered.
"Alright then. Tomorrow, prepare to put on a show," Arthur teased. Merlin's face turned red at the thought, but he nodded nonetheless.
Arthur hadn't been joking, as it turned out. The king and his knights accompanied Merlin and Morgana to the city wall early the next morning. That alone would have been enough to draw a crowd, but the fact that the king's party climbed to the top of the sentry stairs and walked out onto the wall itself drew more curiosity in short order.
"No pressure," Merlin joked.
"You have my strength as well," Morgana murmured, grasping his hand in support. Merlin nodded gratefully and the two of them separated themselves from Arthur and the knights.
"Let's do this," the warlock said, tamping down his self consciousness. Merlin took a deep breath and concentrated on pulling his magic up in preparation for the spell. Morgana grasped his left hand and did the same, channeling her energy through their grasped hands. Merlin opened his eyes and began to enchant the spell he had devised.
"Scieldan se stânhege. Strangian duguð wîghûs. Scieldan se burgtûn til. Betēoþ se rícea! Bebugan se burgleód almægen!"
Merlin finished the incantation and dropped down on one knee, slamming his open right palm upon the wall of the city, though his left hand still firmly held Morgana's in a tight grip. Merlin's eyes flared gold and a bright light burst from the point that his hand touched and raced along the wall to his right. Arthur watched in awe as the light spilled over the edge of the parapet like a waterfall and raced along the wall to the north. A moment later, the gathered townspeople gasped as the light came along the wall from the south and flared brightly once again as the light reached the point where Merlin still knelt on the battlement.
"It surrounds the whole city," Leon said, awestruck.
"Bloody hell," Arthur murmured dully.
"Bloody hell is right," Gwaine agreed. Elyan and Perival merely nodded.
Merlin was breathing heavily as he stood with Morgana's assistance, but there was a bright, genuine smile on his face.
"That was brilliant!" Merlin crowed, feeling a natural high from using and releasing so much magic rather than holding it back. Morgana's magic was still sparking alongside his own, leaving him with a tingling sensation in his limbs.
"When will it stop glowing? Will it stop glowing?!" Arthur asked, unable to tear his eyes away from the shimmering light.
"It will fade once the spell has fully imbued the stones with the magic," Morgana explained, fully aware that Merlin wasn't in any state to answer any question intelligently.
"We should do the castle walls next!" Merlin said excitedly, finally catching his breath. "And the siege tunnels, and the exit from the siege tunnels! Mordred knows where at least one of them is! We should definitely ward that exit. Morgana! Wherever did those siege tunnel plans that you stole go!? We need to ward those tunnels!"
"Breathe, Merlin," Morgana said, grimacing at the memory of her second grab for the throne.
"It's like he's drunk!" Gwaine said excitedly.
"Drunk on magic. Is that possible?" Percival asked.
"It seems to be, at least in Merlin's case," said Morgana. "He does seem to be the exception to every magical rule."
"Drunk?! I hardly think I'm drunk. I feel great!" Merlin said. "Let's go do some more magic!"
"Why is he like this? He's never been like this after performing magic before," Arthur asked, not a little worried.
"I think it's the level and nature of the spell," Morgana replied. "And I was funneling my magic through him as well; it affects us both rather strongly to be connected that way."
"You don't seem so affected?" Arthur questioned.
"I was, believe me. But I wasn't the focus of the spell, I merely lent him some of my power."
"So he's drunk on you?" Gwaine laughed.
"Not drunk," Merlin scoffed.
"Yes, you are," Arthur argued. Merlin stuck his tongue out at the king, much to the knights' amusement. Morgana rolled her eyes.
"It was likely just the release of so much magic at once combined with the feedback from our connection. Merlin's power is significant, and he has spent a very long time keeping it held tightly within him. Imagine a spirited horse being given free rein after having been held to a slow walk for a long time."
"You two and your horse metaphors," Elyan chuckled, even as Arthur and Leon nodded in understanding. Morgana rolled her eyes again.
"So Merlin is drunk on magic," Gwaine replied, chuckling as Merlin swayed ever so slightly beside Morgana.
"He is standing right here!" Merlin said indignantly, sounding more and more like himself as the magical light sunk into the stones.
"Come on, Merlin, let's go do some more magic. We'll make the castle glow, see how silly we can get you," Gwaine said, leading their group off the city wall. Arthur had to admit, he was curious, too.
A week later, Merlin and Morgana holed themselves up in their secret study to have some time to themselves. It had been a busy week, fortifying the castle and the city. Morgana had also attended two more births with Caroline and Sefa, pleased to be of service to the women of Camelot.
"Will you teach me to transport?" Merlin asked, surprising Morgana.
"Now?" she asked, surprised by the suddenness of his request.
"Yes. There were a number of times when being able to transport Arthur somewhere would have been a blessing. I never could have done it then, obviously, but my secret is not a secret any longer and I want to be able to transport Arthur to safety if I need to."
"Alright," Morgana agreed, tucking her book away and joining Merlin where he stood beside the table. After some basic instruction, and a demonstration where Morgana transported them to their chambers, Merlin felt he had a firm grasp on the concept. Wrapping his arm around Morgana, Merlin spoke the words of the spell.
"Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard!"
"This is... Merlin, that is Ealdor!" Morgana exclaimed, looking at the little village across the river from where they now stood.
"Yes? You said familiar places were easiest to transport to?" Merlin asked, confused at her shock.
"That's a two day journey!" Morgana cried.
"Not anymore," Merlin shrugged, utterly nonplussed.
"I've never transported myself that far, let alone taken someone with me. How far do you think you could go?"
"I don't know?" Merlin shrugged.
"Gaius was right, you are sometimes incredibly idiotic!"
"Hey, I got us here, without a problem, didn't I?"
"I suppose you did. Now take us somewhere else," Morgana challenged. So Merlin did.
"What is this place?" Morgana asked, bewildered.
"The Labyrinth of Gedref," Merlin shrugged.
"The Labyri- Merlin, that's a two day ride in the opposite direction from Camelot! That's a four day journey in just seconds. It's entirely unfair how easy this is for you!"
"Sorry?" Merlin said, though his grin was anything but. "But all the wind and tumult, surely there's a way to transport with less drama?"
Morgana just looked at Merlin with indignant astonishment.
"You would know better than I at this point," Morgana groused, laughing when Merlin began pacing as he thought.
"I think I've got an idea, now that I know the theory. Come on," Merlin said, smiling with boyish enthusiasm.
"Are you not tired?" Morgana asked, beginning to wonder how long it would take to find Merlin's limits.
"Maybe a little?" Merlin allowed. "But nothing like at the end of a full day of chores and training and patrolling."
"Take us away, then," Morgana invited with a wave of her hand. So he did. Merlin transported them to various places he had been over the years, criss-crossing Camelot numerous times. Each time Merlin transported them, he altered the words of the spell slightly until he could transport them with barely any sound and no column of wind to speak of. Finally, Merlin transported them one last time, landing in their chambers in the citadel. Laughing in giddy delight, Merlin flopped bonelessly across their bed, falling asleep within moments with a smile on his face. Morgana shook her head in fond exasperation. Only Merlin would be so happy to be so exhausted.
"Are you going to brush my hair all night?"
Merlin snapped out of his absentminded thoughts, and met Morgana's amused eyes in the mirror.
"Hmm?" he asked, still brushing.
"Are you going to brush my hair all night?" Morgana repeated.
"Oh," he said sheepishly, dropping the brush onto the vanity. Merlin slowly began gathering her hair into his hands, savoring the silkiness. "Just thinking about how busy we've been in the last month."
"That we have," Morgana agreed. "Almost makes me miss being confined to our chambers," Morgana said coyly, once more catching Merlin's eye in the mirror and smiling. Merlin returned her smile, finally able to control his blushing, and responded by reaching out towards her with a tendril of magic. Morgana gasped at the sensation before her smile grew broader and she sent a tendril of her own to brush against Merlin's.
It had become their own private expression of affection; more intimate and personal than simply saying, 'I love you.' Merlin had no doubt that their affection for one another was genuine. Their experience with the magical energy that had reverberated and sparked between them as they had dueled on the training field and the few times they had lent one another power since that duel had laid them entirely bare to one another. They had felt one another's very soul. Coming together as husband and wife had only strengthened that connection.
Merlin smiled and pulled his magic back as he began to divide her hair into even sections. Morgana reveled in the feeling of Merlin's hands working in her hair. It had become one of her favorite times of the day, when it was just the two of them and no one was watching them like they were one of Gaius' experiments. Therefore, they were both surprised by the soft knock on their door just as Merlin began to braid.
"Come in," Morgana called. Gwen came in and quietly latched the door. As the queen turned and took in the sight of them in their nightclothes and Merlin braiding Morgana's hair, her eyes widened.
"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" she asked sheepishly.
"Not at all, I do this every night," Merlin assured her, though his eyes never left his task. Morgana nodded her agreement.
"I have to say, I'm impressed, Merlin. I didn't know you knew how to braid," Gwen admitted, watching spellbound as Merlin braided his wife's hair as well as Gwen herself could have. Merlin chuckled.
"A peasant farmer has to get rope from somewhere," he said, grinning.
Morgana was unfailingly reminded of when her husband had performed this now-familiar task for the first time. Merlin's tentative and gentle touches and the smoldering glances traded in the mirror had shocked Morgana, as had the disappointment she had felt when the evening had ended innocently. Merlin had been more willing than she to try giving affection at that point. She had dug in her Pendragon heels and proceeded to pull away from him for eight long weeks. Though the conclusion of those eight weeks had been utterly incomparable to anything Morgana had ever felt. She smiled at the memory, then turned to Gwen, her expression openly curious and inviting.
"I went to see Gaius or Hunith, but they were out. I think that there was someone in the lower town that they wanted to check on," Gwen rambled.
"Are you not feeling well?" Merlin asked, concerned.
"Well, it was something that I hoped to talk to Morgana about," Gwen answered evasively, though the hand placed subconsciously over her lower abdomen gave her away.
"I knew it!" Morgana crowed triumphantly in Merlin's head. "I win. You owe me!"
"What are you on about?! We both knew it. Gwen isn't normally one to turn green at the scent of smoked fish. She's even less likely to run to the privy because of it," Merlin replied.
"Does Arthur suspect yet?" Merlin asked, grinning. Gwen's mouth dropped open. "Or have you only just figured it out yourself?"
"How did you know?!" she asked.
"I have eyes, and unlike Arthur, I know how to use them," he teased, tying off his wife's braid. Morgana instantly stood and moved to draw Gwen into a gentle hug. "Is Arthur busy?" Merlin asked.
"He was reading over some reports when I left our chambers. George was supposed to be up soon to turn down the bed though," Gwen answered, allowing Morgana to pull her over to a chair at the table.
"I'll leave you ladies to it then..." Merlin grinned at them and donned his jacket over his sleep shirt before heading out the door. Morgana grinned excitedly at Gwen as she sat across from the queen.
"How long have you been feeling nauseous?" she asked without introduction.
"A couple weeks now, I thought perhaps I'd gotten a touch of the sickness that passed through a while back."
"And your monthly?"
Gwen blushed, but found comfort in Morgana's familiar bluntness.
"It hasn't come this month or last," Gwen admitted. "In all the stress of everything I didn't even think of it." Morgana calculated quickly.
"So you can expect to deliver between Imbolc and Ostara, roughly." Morgana nodded, standing and moving towards her healer's bag and rummaging through it. "These are dried leaves from a red raspberry bush. It makes a lovely tea and Caroline the midwife tells me it helps to ease things along. Have a cup every morning," Morgana instructed as she handed a small satchel of the leaves to Gwen. Then she smiled impishly.
"What are you thinking," Gwen asked warily, fighting a smile of her own.
"Arthur is going to be entirely shocked and I hope I'm there to see his face when you tell him."
"I don't think I could say it in front of an audience," Gwen blushed.
"Gwen, being a fruitful woman is nothing to be ashamed of. You are married and if anyone thinks it a scandal, then surely they don't appreciate the lovely benefits of marriage."
"Morgana!" Gwen laughed.
"What? I'm married, too, and I'm very appreciative of the benefits," Morgana said innocently. She and Gwen looked straight-faced at one another for just a moment before they burst into laughter.
Merlin had a feeling that Gwen and Morgana would be talking for some time. It had been a while since he'd had a simple, quiet moment to speak with Arthur alone without some pressing agenda, so Merlin decided to head for the king's chambers. Arthur was sitting at his desk when Merlin burst through the door as he always had.
"Marriage hasn't taught you to knock I see," Arthur drawled without looking up from the parchment he was reading.
"I knew I wasn't interrupting, and it's taught me plenty; though it hasn't seemed to have taught you anything," Merlin said, eyeing the clothes that Arthur had shed and left in piles on the floor and the balled up parchments that had been carelessly tossed aside. "What does Gwen think of your slovenly habits?"
"Obviously, she doesn't have to think about it, that's what y- George is for."
"You were going to say 'you,'" Merlin said cheekily. "Admit it, you miss me."
"I'll admit no such falsehood," Arthur said sternly, abandoning the letter he was reading and leaning back in his chair, propping his feet on the desk.
"That's alright, Arthur, I miss you- No... Sorry, I much prefer tending to Morgana."
"Tending to her? If that's what you're doing, you're missing the point entirely," Arthur teased dryly.
"I think the point was obviously well-made when we shattered the windows," Merlin taunted before his eyes flashed and a chair from the table moved towards him. Merlin sat in it in front of Arthur's desk and then went one step further by mirroring Arthur's position with his feet propped up as well.
"I think we've corrupted you," Arthur laughed. Merlin chuckled as well.
"I think Morgana has been the one to do that," Merlin admitted, smiling fondly. "If you can't fight them, join them. She can be rather bold."
"That she can," Arthur agreed. "Where is your better half? I didn't think you came separately anymore, that you were a matched set."
"She's talking to your better half in our chambers."
"Guinevere said she was going to talk to Hunith. I assumed it was to discuss Mabon celebrations. It is coming up rather quickly and your mother was quite helpful to Guinevere in planning the Lughnasadh festival."
"She said Gaius and my mother weren't in and that they likely had a patient that they wanted to check on. So Gwen came to see Morgana instead."
"That's odd," Arthur murmured.
"You really haven't noticed anything else odd lately?" Merlin asked, amused.
"Just you, Merlin. I always find you odd." Arthur grinned at Merlin.
"I can't imagine what you're talking about," Merlin said straight-faced.
"You enjoy being married to my sister, for one," Arthur grimaced.
"If you have to wonder why, perhaps you're missing the point," Merlin teased.
"I am the king, I never miss the point of anything," Arthur retorted. Merlin raised his eyebrow and pointed to the ceiling, wordlessly conjuring a flame on the tip of his index finger in response. They both laughed at the rather glaring example of a very big point that Arthur had overlooked for nearly seven years.
"How has everything else been?" Merlin asked, waving the flame away and turning serious, gesturing to the pile of correspondence stacked haphazardly on the desk.
"Well, for the most part," Arthur answered. "I've received pledges of support from Mithian's father, King Rodor. Lords Godwyn and Bayard, and King Olaf also express their support. Thus far, nothing has been heard from King Alined, King Lot or Queen Annis."
Merlin's brow furrowed, and his expression turned solemn. Arthur straightened slightly, recognising the shift within his former manservant from blitheful to insightful.
"I think Queen Annis will come around, though it may take some time. Regardless of your history with Caerleon, you've shown her that you are a good and honorable man, a worthy king. Alined is another matter entirely. While I know for a fact that he doesn't mind magic, I don't believe him to be trustworthy, not after the debacle with Lady Vivienne. He would love nothing more than an excuse to make war.
"King Lot is also not to be trusted. Escetians had long suffered under Cenred's rule, but Lot was always more feared than his elder brother. Where Cenred cared little for his people, Lot seems to despise their necessity. It's one reason that I'm hoping that my mother will stay in Camelot permanently."
Arthur nodded, acknowledging Merlin's wisdom.
"I agree, though Kilgharrah's news has left me feeling uneasy. I can only hope that this unity you speak of is not just an impossible dream."
"You will unite all of Albion, Arthur," Merlin swore. "I haven't been protecting your backside for nigh on seven years just to give up now."
Arthur opened his mouth to deliver a surly retort, but was interrupted by a swift knock at the servant's door. When Arthur bid them to enter, George came in and gave a deep bow, speaking without raising his head.
"Sire, I have come to prepare you and your chambers for bed."
The enthusiastically proper servant finally looked up and stopped in his tracks. George's eyes widened momentarily at the sight of the king and his former servant lounging together so casually. He recovered quickly, however, and cleared his throat as he gave Merlin a disapproving, raised eyebrow. Merlin grinned cheekily in response, not bothering to move his feet off the king's desk.
"Evening, George," Merlin greeted. "Gwen's visiting Morgana, so Arthur and I decided to catch up. I'm afraid I'm keeping the king up past his bedtime. He'll be a beast to wake up in the morning, sorry about that."
"Sire," George entreated Arthur while pointedly ignoring Merlin and his utter lack of propriety. "Would you like me to turn down the bedclothes and stoke the fire, my lord?"
"Of course, George," Arthur agreed, throwing a ball of parchment at Merlin's head. Merlin's eyes glowed and the parchment froze in the air and dropped to the ground. Then, with a wave of the warlock's hand, a fresh log landed in the fireplace and instantly set ablaze despite the dying embers that had lingered in the grate. Arthur smirked at the flustered look on George's face when the manservant realized what Merlin had done.
"Fire's set," Merlin said, smiling. George sniffed disdainfully at the warlock's lack of decorum and moved to the bed to turn it down.
"Merlin... Gwen is on her way. I'm waiting for you..."
Merlin's head instinctively turned in the direction of his and Morgana's chambers and his feet dropped off the table as he stood in a rush.
"Gwen's coming," he explained.
"How do you know?" Arthur asked, surprised, but getting to his feet regardless.
"Morgana told me," Merlin explained, pointing to his temple.
"That's convenient," Arthur said.
"It can be. Unless it's a dragon waking you before dawn," Merlin said grumpily, then turned to the door as Gwen quietly entered.
"I thought I'd find you here," Guinevere laughed upon seeing Merlin.
"Just doing some advisorly things," Merlin said, ignoring the quiet sniff from George as the servant finished his duties and came to stand beside the warlock.
"Is that all, your majesties?" George asked solemnly, pointedly leaving Merlin out of the honorific as he eyed both Arthur and Gwen.
"Yes, thank you, George, you may go," Gwen dismissed him kindly.
"I'll be off, too," Merlin said, smiling at Gwen as he moved towards the door. "Good luck," he murmured to the queen as he passed her.
"Goodnight Merlin," both royals entreated.
"Night," he replied, then Merlin closed the door as he heard Gwen softly tell Arthur that she had some news for him. Before he had moved more than a few steps away from the door, Merlin smiled as he heard a muffled thud. Arthur had taken the news exactly as Merlin had thought he would. He wasn't worried though. Gwen was a highly capable nurse and Arthur would likely come-to relatively quickly. Merlin chuckled and gleefully returned to his own chambers and his waiting wife.
"You knew, didn't you, with all your talk of odd things last night," Arthur said by way of greeting the next morning on the training field. Merlin turned from where he stood watching Morgana duel Gwaine and Elyan and eyed Arthur with amusement.
"Of course I did. Morgana and I have been waiting on tenterhooks this last week for Gwen to realise and tell you. Nearly drove Morgana mad with the suspense," Merlin answered.
"How could you have possibly known?" Arthur asked incredulously.
"As I told Gwen last night, I have eyes, and I know how to use them."
"You cannot tell me that you knew on your own that Gwen was with child. Morgana must have said something," Arthur argued. Merlin rolled his eyes.
"I did apprentice with a physician for six years, you know," Merlin pointed out with a cheeky grin.
"I suppose there is that," Arthur conceded.
"Yes there is that," Merlin agreed. "Not to mention that there is little that goes unnoticed in a place as small as Ealdor. It was all the village gossips could talk about when any of the women got sick to their stomachs."
"But a physician is not a midwife," Arthur said, not wanting to give up the argument now that they were having it.
"True, but I actually have helped Gaius deliver a child before. Caroline was away assisting a mother in an outer village."
"Have you really?" Arthur asked, wrinkling his nose.
"Yes," Merlin laughed, enjoying the consternated look on the king's face.
"How did I not know that you've delivered a babe?" Arthur asked, looking at Merlin in confusion.
"I helped deliver a babe. And well, you were a bit more concerned about your father, then. It was right after you became regent."
"Ahh," Arthur replied, turning thoughtful.
"You know Morgana helped Caroline with a difficult birth recently?"Merlin asked brightly, distracting the king from his melancholy.
"I did hear that!" Arthur exclaimed, gratefully grabbing onto the subject in order to push his mood away.
"I think Morgana wants to apprentice with Caroline, actually," Merlin said, filling the silence, which might have been helpful if he had steered the conversation away from babes and birthing.
"I'm going to be a father, Merlin," Arthur said suddenly, his face turning pale.
"Yes, Arthur, I rather thought that was the idea. You can't tell me that you hadn't expected this to happen?"
"Of course I did. It's just," Arthur uncharacteristically stumbled over his words. "Now it's real."
"You will be a good father, Arthur. You are not Uther," Merlin reassured him.
"Right," Arthur nodded, dazed. Merlin slapped the king on the shoulder in support as they both turned back to Morgana's furious duel with the knights. Arthur's brow wrinkled. "What about Morgana? Should she be doing all this if she could potentially be..." Arthur trailed off, gesturing towards his sister, not wanting to say the words.
"You try and tell her that," Merlin said, smiling. "Besides, it hasn't been long enough. We wouldn't know it yet if she was."
Though Merlin suddenly found himself wondering if it wasn't something to worry about as he watched his wife parry a strong blow over her head. Arthur followed Merlin's distracted line of sight and abruptly grinned mischievously.
"You can't deny it any more. I have irrefutable proof," Arthur crowed.
"Of what?" Merlin asked, utterly confused.
"You are a girl. You braid Morgana's hair every night. From your own mouth and witnessed by my wife." Arthur smirked triumphantly. Merlin shook his head.
"I don't expect you to understand, Arthur," Merlin said, folding his arms defensively.
"What is there to understand? You braid her hair."
"There's plenty to understand. One," Merlin answered, holding up a finger, "the only reason I know how to braid is because that is how we made rope in Ealdor. Two," Merlin continued, raising another finger. "You may not realize it, your royal pratness, but caring for someone that way can be very satisfying."
"If you say so," Arthur replied doubtfully. "I bet you two talk about her dresses. Do you make daisy chains with her as well?" Arthur asked incredulously.
"I've no intention of making daisy chains," Merlin scoffed. "And no, I don't usually discuss Morgana's clothing with her unless it is to ask, how does this come off? You may have your doubts about the merits of braiding your wife's hair, Arthur, but believe me, you should try it."
It was Arthur's turn to scoff. "Don't be absurd, Merlin. Kings do not braid hair."
"Suit yourself. But you don't know what you're missing. The look that Morgana gives me now when I so much as touch her hair brush? It could light a fire even without magic. I think Morgana would agree that I am in fact very much a man," Merlin answered smugly. Arthur grimaced at the thought.
"She really is rubbing off on you. Duel with me, Merlin," Arthur entreated him in an effort to forget about what Merlin had just said. Without waiting for a response, he moved to a clear spot on the field to wait for the warlock to retrieve a weapon.
Morgana finally disarmed Gwaine and Elyan, taking advantage of their distraction as their attention was drawn to where Merlin and Arthur prepared to duel. They both conceded gladly and all three turned to watch their king spar with the greatest warlock of all time. Leon and Percival were quick to follow suit; this was a match that was not meant to be missed.
Arthur had heard all about how Merlin had fought Gwaine to a draw the week previous and the king wanted to see how Merlin would fare against him. He and his former manservant circled one another, waiting for the other to strike first. Merlin drew magic to him and used it to steady his feet and his senses. Arthur found it unnerving to see how little Merlin resembled the bumbling oaf that six years ago couldn't even put on armor properly, let alone wield a sword.
Arthur lunged forward quickly, trying to catch Merlin by surprise, and the two of them traded a few blows before Merlin disengaged and disappeared. He instantly reappeared three feet to Arthur's left and struck a flat-bladed blow on the king's unguarded side.
"You can't do that!" Arthur argued.
"Why not? I'd do it to an enemy. Aren't we training here?" Merlin replied reasonably. Arthur growled and lunged again, catching Merlin off-guard and forcing the warlock to raise his blade in defense.
"You still cheat," Arthur groused as the grass under his feet grew thicker and attempted to ensnare his ankles.
"I never cheat," Merlin answered impishly. "Take advantage, yes, I'll admit to that, gladly."
"Stop it!" Arthur scolded when his sword hilt became incredibly slippery.
"Make me," Merlin taunted, prompting the king to rush forward with a growl. Merlin was distracted enough that he had to drop the spell on Arthur's sword as the two came together once again. They traded another swift series of blows, Arthur forcing Merlin into a retreat, when Merlin suddenly disappeared again.
Arthur stumbled with the lack of pressure on his blade and looked around him wildly. "Where are you? Show yourself!"
"I'm over here," Merlin said, and Arthur spun at the sound, but found no one but those observing.
"Did you make yourself invisible, Merlin? Couldn't keep up with me, so you had to resort to more cheap tricks?" Arthur taunted, watching the area around him warily.
"Cheap tricks?! Do you know how difficult an invisibility spell is? Let alone a wordless one?!" Morgana said incredulously.
"Obviously not, Morgana, now stay out of my duel," Arthur groused.
"You should be flattered that he's had to use such a defense!" Morgana harrumped. "Gwaine didn't merit such tactics!"
"Thank you, my lady," Gwaine said sarcastically. Arthur growled at the continued distraction.
Merlin instantly reappeared close to Arthur's right side. The king instinctively swung his sword towards Merlin, but found that it was suddenly incredibly heavy, causing the weapon to tip towards the ground. Arthur abandoned the sword and instead waited for Merlin to swing. He ducked under the blade and grabbed Merlin's wrist as the warlock tried to bring the blade back around. Arthur wrenched the sword away from Merlin and held it to the warlock's chest, expecting him to yield. Merlin's eyes glowed gold, however, and Arthur's newly acquired sword was parried away by his own abandoned blade, which Merlin now held in his hands.
"It will take more than that to win, Arthur," Merlin taunted, his eyes flaring gold. Suddenly, the ground beneath Arthur transformed into a thick, sticky bog. His feet became stuck within the tarry goo as he struggled to get free. Merlin stepped closer to attack and Arthur seized the opportunity, grabbing Merlin by the arm and pulling him down into the mud, forcing him to end the spell and drop his sword. Arthur moved as soon as his boots were free and used his foot to pick up the discarded blade, holding the both of them in front of Merlin who, though he had regained his feet, was now weaponless.
Arthur grinned in triumph until Merlin smirked and his eyes flashed again. Arthur tensed, waiting, only to be shocked to discover that he was no longer holding two blunted training swords, but rather two long-stemmed roses.
"Just try and kill me with those," Merlin said cheekily as everyone watching laughed uproariously at Arthur's expression.
"That's exactly what the little person at the bridge did to me!" Gwaine exclaimed. "I swear my sword smelled like flowers for a month afterwards!"
Arthur gaped at the blossoms in his hand for a moment before looking at Merlin incredulously. The warlock offered him a smile and a slight bow before Merlin was turned bodily around by Morgana and kissed rather thoroughly. Gwaine, Percival and Elyan began to whistle and cheer while Leon clapped Arthur on the shoulder.
"That was an impressive display, my lord," the second knight of Camelot offered. "Gwaine didn't last half so long."
"Thank you, Leon. Merlin!" Arthur shouted, pulling Merlin back from Morgana's attentions.
"Yes?" Merlin asked, shaking his head to clear it.
"What am I supposed to do with these?" Arthur asked petulantly, waving the roses wildly.
Merlin smiled, then flicked a hand towards the flowers and murmured, "Ic i ágiefe."
Instantly, Arthur held two swords once more. When he looked back to give Merlin a surly retort, the warlock smiled impishly and wrapped his arms around Morgana. Merlin whispered, "Bestealcedon ácweahtedon urnon!" and he and Morgana disappeared in a blur of color and a gentle breeze.
"Now that is a handy trick," Gwaine muttered, shaking his head as everyone looked to the once-occupied space with wonder.
AN: If you're as OCD as I am, you may want to know when the various seasonal festivals on Merlin occur. (Beltane, Ostara and Samhain are mentioned/celebrated in the series) Beltane and Samhain divide the year in half, with six months on either side. The year is then divided into quarters with Imbolc and Lughnasadh. Between each of the four major festivals, there are smaller celebrations to mark either a solstice or an equinox.
Beltane: May 1
Litha: June 19-23
Lughnasadh: Aug 1
Mabon: Sept 21-24
Samhain: Nov 1
Yule: Dec 20-23
Imbolc: Feb 2
Ostara: Mar 19-22
Reviews are appreciated!
