Hello my darlings. I would like to thank Adele (Guest),MindForgedMan, sandeezy, Moderately Mad Moxxi, DageRee, Gingeraffealene, parrillasquinn, Roswellian1984, phhsdj, Guest, SherlockHolmes4884, gaylelbf, mersan123 and Guardian of the Inheritance for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So sorry for the long wait, but I fell down the stairs and couldn't do any writing for a while. But I am better now and back at it. As such here is the next chapter, I know nothing much happens, but I hope you like it all the same.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Gwen was getting worried. Ever since they came back from the ride where they were ambushed by bandits, Morgana had refused to leave her room, telling all she was feeling shaken after their encounter. But Gwen saw her, and she knew the truth. And that was that Morgana spent her time reading a small leather-bound book. She had tried to get a look at it, to see what it contained, but her mistress was too clever for her to be able to do so. So yes, she was worried. Worried that without Merlin's love and support Morgana would turn from them all, especially after what she had heard between the two in the woods. She was worried Morgana was siding with Morgause to fight them all, just as she had been before she discovered Merlin's magic and put her trust in him to guide her friend to the right path. Because now he was no longer around to do so.
And then there was Merlin himself. Whenever she saw him he asked after Morgana, begging for any information she could give him about how she was. She wanted to talk to him about her suspicions of Morgana's changing allegiance, but knew she could not voice the words inside the walls of Camelot. There were too many ears that could here for her to risk it there. So instead she said nothing. Told him the party line that Morgana was shaken, told him she spent her time reading in her quarters, hoping that would be enough to get him to go and check on the lady she knew he loved. But he never did.
Arthur for his part was also worried, not that he would willingly put it in those words. Though that was mainly because his worry was more for Merlin than Morgana. Oh, of course he was concerned about her hiding herself away, but he still wasn't sure what to do with the information he had discovered about her. Not sure how he would react around the lady he thought of as a sister who he now knew, thought, suspected had magic. Around the lady that Merlin had accused of betraying them. No, if he was being truthful he was rather glad that she was not around. It gave him time to try and work out what had been going on. Not that he got anywhere further than a circle of questions in his mind. So on the whole he tried not to think of Morgana. But Merlin he saw every day. And since the morning they had talked and he had given him the advice to give her time, he had seen Merlin draw into himself more. His cheerfulness was noticeably forced, though it seemed only he noticed it. He had to wonder if he had been like this before but Arthur had been too blind and self-centred to see it then. Like after he had killed the first woman he loved. He was not the friend Arthur was used to having at his side, and he knew he needed to do something to help him, because this time he saw, and that was what friends did. But what could he do?
By the third day Arthur found he was starting to go crazy with it all. He needed Merlin to be Merlin again and he had so many questions he couldn't ask swirling in his mind, not to mention guilt gnawing at his honour. He needed to get out of the castle, and maybe that was what the other man needed to? Maybe if they went hunting they would be able to actually talk like the friends they were rather than the master and servant they had to portray when inside Camelot's walls. Maybe if he got Merlin alone he would answer some of those questions Arthur found he could no longer ignore. Maybe then he could understand just what it was that made merlin follow him even after all he had done.
Merlin on the other hand had spent his time trying to think of a way to persuade Morgana to forgive him. To find a way that they could get back what they had had when she believed he was under her sisters enchantment. He had also been on the lookout for any signs that Morgana had been in communication with Morgause again. Because while she had pledged herself to Arthurs side, and he trusted that, he knew that he had betrayed her. Knew there was a chance her sister could persuade her onto a different path. He just wished she would come out of her rooms so he could see for himself what she was thinking. Wished she would give him a chance to make things up to her, give him something that he could do to make things right again. Give him a way to win back her heart.
Oh, he knew he could go to her, secretly enter her rooms one night and confront her again, but he did not believe that would be the best way to go about getting her forgiveness. No in fact he was pretty sure that was one way to make sure she never talked to him again. So instead he watched and waited, and hated every single moment of it.
It was the afternoon of the third day and Merlin was ready to break. Was already planning the best time to go and see Morgana and what he would say when he got there, as he entered Arthur's rooms with his cleaned armour.
"Merlin, good. There you are. Pack a bag, we're going hunting." Arthur called as soon as he saw his friend coming through the door.
"Do I have to come?" Merlin asked with a groan as he heard the words. He hated hunting. He ready did not see how anyone could take enjoyment out of killing defenceless animals.
"Yes Merlin, you do." Arthur responded with a roll of his eyes at the expected question from the other man.
"Why?" Merlin asked not moving from where he had placed down Arthurs armour, and certainly not moving to pack anything. He really did not need a trip out into the words, that almost always ended with him and Arthur in trouble, on top of everything else thank you very much. He would do much better staying in the castle and trying to sort out the mess they currently had, without adding another one to it.
"As my servant it is part of your job. Now stop arguing and ready everything we'll need. We'll be gone for at least four days." Arthur replied in his best superior tone. He had made a decision, he needed answers, and Merlin was the only one who could give them to him. If he got them under the guise of a hunting trip, then so be it.
"Fine, Prince Prat." Merlin mumbled before moving to get things ready. He really hoped this trip was an easy one.
Morgana sat at her table and closed the book she had just finished reading. It had taken her some time to learn everything the diary had to tell her, but even with the answers it held she still had so many questions in her mind. The book had told her of the prophecy of Emrys and the Once and Future King. Had told how together they would unite the lands of Albion and bring magic back to the land. She had read how Emrys was supposed to be the greatest warlock that ever was, and ever will be. That was something she could not get her mind around. That it was Merlin the book was talking about. That Merlin was the one with all that power. It was something she could not understand. How could he have all that power, and yet settle for being Arthur's servant, even if he was the Once and Future king? How could he stand by and watch their people get slaughtered when he had the power to stop with just a few words? How could he stand by and watch the pain and suffering and do nothing?
The part that had truly captured her attention though, was the paragraph that spoke of how Emrys' destiny was entwined completely with that of the last High Priestess. How he would be the linchpin around which her decisions would be made. How Emrys had the ability to be her destiny and her doom. The same sentence had stared up at her from the pages as had she had heard in her own mind. But she still did not understand what it truly meant in the relation to her or the world in which they lived. For one she was not the last High Priestess, her sister was one too. None of it made any sense, but she knew if she was going to get any answers she was going to have to speak to Merlin himself to get them. She just… she really did not want to. She was still broken by his betrayal, the pain compounded by how he had come to her not to express his love or beg for forgiveness, but rather to make sure she would still side with Arthur.
The conflict in her mind at the idea of talking to him raged causing her to stand and move. She couldn't sit while the thoughts battled in her mind. Instead she moved to look out the window, hoping the sights of those below going about their daily business would give her the peace she craved, and while she did not admit to herself, she also wondered if she would be able to gain a glimpse of the man who still held her heart and had invaded her mind. Staring down at the courtyard she saw servants hurrying to do their duties, saw knights laughing together as they made their way towards the gates that lead to town, saw the guards nodding at the man leading a cart filled with hay. She also heard the hustle and bustle from below and it did soothe her. Or at least it did until a servant came in leading two horses. There was no mistaking who it was, nor could she mistake Arthur voice as he shouted at Merlin for being late. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the pair as she watched them mount the horses and left the courtyard, the usual banter flowing to her easily on the wind. Couldn't look away even when she could no longer see their departing forms.
Gwen entered her mistress's chambers expecting to find her sitting and reading the book once more. Therefore she was somewhat surprised to see the book closed on the table and the lady standing at the window.
"My Lady? Is there anything you need?" She asked gently, not wanting to startle Morgana, but this was the first time in so long she had seen her looking at something other than the words written in the mysterious book.
"Where is Arthur heading?" Morgana asked not taking her eyes from the place she had last seen the only one who could give her answers. The one she had such opposing emotions and thoughts for.
"I believe he is going hunting. They are not expected back for a few days." Gwen replied, noticing how Morgana had not spoken Merlin's name and asked only after Arthur. The rift between the couple was growing larger and she did not know how to close it.
"Thank you, Gwen." Morgana responded turning to her and smiling. It seemed the goddess had blessed her. Because if Merlin was not here, she could not seek him out to get answers, and she did not have to contend with the war her emotions were feeling over talking to the man. Or at least not until he returned. It may have only been a reprieve, but it was a welcome one. "I think I would like to take a stroll in the gardens. I have been inside too long." she continued with. Yes, get outside into the fresh air. It would do her the world of good.
"Of course, my lady." Gwen answered with, moving to collect Morgana a clock. Though it did not escape her notice that the first time Morgana wished to leave her room, was the same time she knew Merlin was no longer within the castle walls. Just what was she going to do with the pair of them?