Hello my lovelies. I would like to thank Lunaday12, wynteralchemyst (Guest), Leonardo da vinci (Guest), emrysmorgan, Guardian of the Inheritance, Fangirl17, mersan123, OechsnerC and gaylelbf for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So firstly happy new year all. Secondly sorry for the long wait for this chapter, I had a complete block, and I do mean a complete block, I'd managed to back myself into a corner and I didn't see how I was going to get out of it, at how I was going to progress with this story. But I have a plan now (hopefully), yeah.
Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, nor any of the lines I have taken from the show.
Merlin and Gwaine sat by a small fire, for once both were silent as they watched Arthur lying between them, shivering. Merlin was at loss of what to do. He'd clean and bandaged the wound as best he could, but Arthur was still unconscious, still obviously being affected by something he could not see. There was only one possible reason in Merlin's mind. "The bolt must have been laced with poison." He said causing Gwaine's head to turn from the unconscious man and instead look at him.
"Can you heal that?" Gwaine asked, not sure what skills Merlin had, either from living with Gaius or his magic.
"If I knew the poison I could try and create an antidote, but without it…" Merlin replied not taking his eyes from Arthur. It didn't even cross his mind to say what he was thinking to his conscious companion. He didn't even consider mentioning using magic.
Gwaine luckily had no such issues. "What about with magic?" He asked bluntly causing Merlin to turn to him for the first time.
"Well, yeah. I could try." Merlin gulped before moving to place his hand on Arthur's forehead. He couldn't stop himself mumbling, "Whether it will help or not is anyone's guess." Before saying the spell he really hoped would help the man who destiny gave him to protect. The man who was his best friend.
Sitting back from casting the spell Merlin looked down at Arthur, hoping to see some sort of change in him, but he found nothing.
"Is that it?" Gwaine asked with a frown. It didn't seem to him that it had made any difference, though he had seen Merlin's eyes change to gold, so he knew he had performed some sort of magic.
"I'm not an expert at healing magic, okay?" Merlin ground out. He hated that he couldn't help his friend, and he really didn't want someone pointing out that fact to him thank you very much.
"Whoa mate, I didn't mean anything by it." Gwaine replied in a calming tone. He didn't want to upset Merlin more than he obviously already was, and hey, maybe it was some sort of spell that took time to take effect. He didn't doubt for a minute it would work though, because he knew that there was nothing Merlin would not do for Arthur. That much had been very clear on the quests he had accompanied the younger man on to help his friend.
"I know, it's just…" at that Merlin trailed off. He wasn't even sure what to say. There was too much on his mind right then. Arthur was injured, and the cup was missing. This quest had been a complete and utter disaster. But there was a glimmer of hope in Merlin's mind. The last time he had spoken to Morgana she had sworn that she and Morgause were going to stop fighting him, fighting Arthur, fighting them. And well, okay only Morgana had said the words, but he hoped with everything he had that Morgause agreed with her sister. Because if she did, then her having access to the cup was not a big deal. In fact as a high priestess she would protect it with her life and make sure it wasn't used for evil. But if she did not… Merlin did not want to think about what would happen then.
"Yeah, I get it. So what now?" Gwaine asked not knowing the thoughts going through his young companions mind, only wanting to know what they should do now. What they could to do to help Arthur get better. Because he had to get better. Camelot would need him. Gwaine didn't know of any prophecies or any talk of destiny, but he did know a kingdom needed a Crown Prince, and that without an heir chaos would rain down on all, the poor and rich alike.
"We wait, I guess?" Merlin responded with a shrug. There was nothing more he could do but hope and pray that his spell was working.
"Great, more waiting, my favourite pass time." Gwaine muttered as he rested his head back against the tree he was resting against. He knew better than to leave his back exposed to anyone approaching him.
"You could go get some more firewood, we're running low." Merlin suggested with a smile. He liked the idea of someone else getting the fire wood for once. He was so done with searching the woods in the dark for bloody wood.
"There's wolves out there, Merlin." Gwaine replied, a distance howl sounding to accentuate his point.
"I know, but you have your sword don't you?" Merlin responded with a cheeky smile spreading across his face now as the conversation took his mind away from the dark paths it had been following.
"You have magic." Gwaine countered with. Surely magic would be much better against wolves than a sword. Or at least he believed so.
"Weren't you the one just complaining about waiting? Do you really want to do that while I get the wood?" Merlin asked in a tone that was normally reserved for Arthur when he said something Merlin felt was extremely stupid, which was a lot more often than the Prince Prat would have any one believe.
"No. but if I die collecting fire wood, Merlin, keep it to yourself. I have my reputation to consider." Gwaine responded standing as he did so. At least it would give him something to do. With that he turned and made his way into the wood, collecting a large pile that could keep them going through the night.
And that was the last they truly spoke until the morning, when Arthur woke from what should have been a fatal wound and insisted that they continue to make their way towards Camelot. They needed to warn the king that the cup had been taken by Cenred's men. Needed to warn him to prepare for whatever might come from the enemy and the witch at his side.
Morgana watched in horror as the army surrounded Camelot. She had stood next to Uther and heard Leon's report of how the enemy soldiers could not be killed, and she knew of only one way to make an army immortal. All she could think as she watched the end of everything she loved was why? Why was her sister doing this? She had said she sided with Arthur, she trusted her to side with him and the vision the goddess had shown her, and yet now here she was tearing down the kingdom? How could she do this? How could she destroy everything this way? This wasn't how to bring peace to their people. This wasn't the way to achieve anything but death and destruction. Why was she doing this? The betrayal she felt as she was watching one she thought she could trust cut her completely to the bone. This was so much worse than what Merlin had done. It turned everything she had believed on its head and put everything into perspective. All he'd done was play with her heart, her sister was playing with a whole kingdom. How could she? Why was she? Because it wouldn't work. Whatever Morgause's plan, Morgana would not be part of it. She was not going to be her puppet queen, no matter what her sister said. No. She wouldn't do it. She had vowed to stand by Arthur, and stand by him she would.
Gwen entered her ladies chambers quietly, not sure what she would meet when she did so. Not sure if Morgana would be gleeful at the army surrounding them, or horrified. She hoped for the later, after their talk, after Morgana had told her everything. She truly hoped she hadn't been lying. Truly hoped she was behind Arthur. But there was the still the seed of doubt in her mind. After all Morgana had confessed about how she had tried to bring them down before. Confessed the plans she and her sister had made. Could she really be sure of her mistresses allegiance, now when Morgause was at the head of the army at their gates? But one look at the horror in the ladies eyes as she stared out of the window and she knew the answer to that. Yes. Morgana was with them, with Arthur, no matter what. That eased something inside her and made her rush to her friend's side.
"What are we to do, my lady?" She asked gently causing the other woman to turn to her with tears glistening in her eyes.
"I have no idea." Morgana replied, for once completely without a plan. This was a fight they would not win, she knew that. The warriors coming for them were immortal. Her sister had finally gotten hold of the cup of life. Though that raised another question in Morgana's mind that she refused to answer. How had she gotten the cup from Arthur? Or more to the point, how had she gotten the cup from Merlin? She could not imagine anyone taking it from Emrys's hands without a fight. And if he was as powerful as she had read he was, then how…?
"We need a plan, Morgana. A way to get news to Arthur, something." Gwen responded when she heard the despondence in her friend response. Now was not a time to admit defeat. No now was a time to fight, and win. They had to win, Camelot could not fall. She could not envision a future where Arthur was not victorious. Surely he would know what to do. Surely he and Merlin could come up with a way to save the day.
"Yes. You are right." Morgana replied straightening her spine as the fire returned to her eyes and a new purpose came over her. They would win this, because Arthur was going to become king. She had seen it. They just needed to get to him, get him the information they had about this army, and help in any way they could to bring it to its end. Yes, Arthur and Merlin would devise a plan and they would win. "Get you brother from the town and whatever weapons he has. We need to escape. We'll have to wait until they attack. But we will escape, and we will find Arthur, and we will come back and fight for Camelot." Morgana finished with, her mind turning over all they would need to escape the invading army. All she would need to escape her sister so she could go and warn her brother. No, don't think like that. She needed to stop thinking of it as choosing one sibling over the other. No she was not choosing Arthur over Morgause, she was instead choosing Camelot. Yes. She was doing this for Camelot.
With that renewed determination she started planning what they would need as the fled the citadel, and how she was going to hide from Morgause before they could do so.
Elyan had spent the day shaping weapons for all that came to him while helping prepare for the army that was advancing upon them. He knew nothing of their strengths and weaknesses, all he knew was it was large and it was heading their way. He thought briefly of his sister, but he knew she was safe up in the citadel. It had never fallen, and he could not see it doing so now. So no, instead he turned his mind to helping the towns people prepare.
Once dusk had fallen he returned to his own home, already planning his own preparations. Though they changed in a second when he saw his sister standing there, wearing trousers and a travel bag in hand.
"Gwen, what are you doing here? You should be with the Lady Morgana." He said moving to try and take the bag from her, but she was quicker than him and moved it out of his reach.
"Elyan. Do you trust me?" Gwen asked with such a serious voice it worried him. But still he answered her question honestly.
"What? Of course I do."
"Then I need you to bring whatever weapons you have and come with me to the citadel." Gwen replied grabbing more things to put in her bag, including food and Elyan's change of clothes.
"What is going on, sister?" Elyan asked even as he moved to grab the couple of swords he had around the room.
"We are going after Arthur. He needs to know what has happened, and he will be able to retake Camelot." Gwen replied quickly grabbing her cloak as she moved towards the door.
"When you say we…?" Elyan asked having a horrible feeling he knew exactly who she meant. But there was no way the Lady Morgana would go after the Prince, was there?
"You, me and Morgana, of course." Gwen responded simply.
"Of course." Elyan sighed under his breath, but he still grabbed his own cloak and followed her. The ladies would need protecting, and he knew how to use a sword. Maybe not as well as a knight, but you couldn't create something without understanding the full range of uses for it. He could fight and he would protect his sister and her friend on their crazy quest to the find the Prince. If only because he knew that once Gwen got an idea in her mind nothing could ever change her from her course. It was much easier to just follow than even try and argue.
Elyan followed his sister into the Lady Morgana's chambers to find she too had changed into trousers.
"Gwen, Elyan. Good, you brought swords." Morgana said when she saw them, making her way to the blacksmith and relieving him of one of the weapons he carried, testing its balance as if it was a nature thing for a lady to weld. Oh she knew they would do nothing against Morgause's soldiers, but there were other dangers they could face as they tried to find Arthur, and it was always better to be prepared in her mind.
"I have packed food, though only enough for a few days." Gwen replied moving to collect Morgana's bag and automatically checking it contained everything the lady would need.
"Well, hopefully that will be enough. Come we cannot stay here." Morgana responded moving to grab her cloak before turning towards the servant's entrance.
"Where are we going?" Gwen asked following her, Elyan doing the same and deciding to leave it to the ladies to plan. They seemed to have it under control, for now, and he was more than happy to just be there protection. Though he was glad to see that the lady Morgana knew how to use a sword just as his sister did. Their own father had taught her for her protection, he was pleased to see even nobles had the insight to do the same for their daughters.
"To the one place my sister will not think to look for me." Was Morgana's only reply before she shh'ed them all, leading them through the castle as it prepared for a war they could not win.
Gaius was preparing medicines he knew he would need the following day, though when he would get to administer them he did not know. He refused to let his mind think of Merlin. Think of the fact that somehow Morgause had gotten hold of the cup, and what that could mean for his ward. No Merlin would be fine. He was with Arthur. They would be fine, they had to be, though his heart did ache at the signs that lead him to believe that Morgana was lost to them. He knew that would destroy his boy. But how else could Morgause know about the cup of life if her sister had not told her? She had to have betrayed them. His hope that the feelings she and Merlin shared would save them both it seemed had come to nought. If only… but it was a bit late for if only's now wasn't it?
He was just finishing up his final draft when his door was flung open and the lady he'd been cursing in his mind ran through wearing trousers, followed by Gwen and Elyan.
"What is going on?" he asked the three noticing the travelling packs they had in hand and the weapon in Morgana's. Was she here to kill him? It would be pointless to do so now when she was on the eve of victory, surely?
"Gaius. We need a place to hide. Somewhere my sister will not think to look for me." Morgana replied noticing the frosty reception she was getting from the old man. Though she should have expected nothing less. He was Merlin's guardian, no doubt he knew more than anyone what she had been doing since her return, just as he had to know of the enchantment they had put on him to make him love her, and how it backfired.
"Oh? Why?" Gaius asked his eyebrow raising as he stared the lady down. The time for pretence was gone in his mind. Only truth would hold now.
"I believe you know the answer to that." Morgana replied cutting her eyes to Elyan, the only one in the room who was unaware of what she had done and what she had the power to do.
"I assure you, I do not." Gaius responded simply crossing his arms as he stood his ground. Making Morgana know she had to speak plainly to get him on her side.
"I do not know why Morgause is doing this. I have sworn my loyalty to Arthur, before the goddess and witnessed by Emrys himself. Believe I mean no one any harm, I just wish to save Camelot for its rightful King." Morgana replied with an open earnestness that Gaius had not seen upon her face for a very long time. Not to mention she called Merlin by the name that the druid knew him by.
"And did the goddess and Emrys accept your vow?" He asked needing to be sure he wasn't making a mistake in trusting this woman. Trusting the lady he'd help raise when she came to them after her father had died. Trusting the woman he knew Merlin loved.
"They did." Morgana replied standing straight as if daring the goddess to strike her down if she was lying.
Gaius looked at her and knew it was now or never. He needed to decide if he trusted her, if he trusted Merlin when he'd told him that they could trust her. Nodding he turned back to his work as he spoke. "Then you'd best hide in Merlin's room. You never know, you might find something useful in there while you are waiting. I always find it surprising what people will hide under their bed."
At that Morgana whispered a quick "Thank you," before leading her people to the small room at the top of the stairs.
Elyan wasn't sure what he expected of Merlin's room, but he certainly didn't expect there to be clothes all over the floor.
"At least we shouldn't have any problems hiding in the closet." Gwen said with humour in her voice as she saw the state of her friend's room. She always found it entertaining that Merlin would grouse at Arthur for the state he left his rooms in when Merlin's own was just as bad.
Morgana for her part didn't pay any attention to this. She was already on her hands and knees searching under Merlin's bed for whatever it was the Gaius felt they would need. For a moment she was confused. There was nothing there. But then she noticed one of the floorboards was lose. Without hesitation she pulled it up and stuck her hand inside. Feeling around she found something covered in cloth. It felt like a book. Taking it out carefully she sat back on her kneels as she unwrapped it. It was a book. Opening it, what she saw took her breath away and caused her to reverently run her fingers across the pages.
"What is it, Morgana?" Gwen asked crouching down across from her wondering what she had found in Merlin's room.
"It's a book of magic." Morgana replied not thinking to sensor her words as she ran her eyes over what was in front of her, taking note to not lose the extra pieces of paper held within its pages, even as she studied the notes written around some of the spells. Notes she knew Merlin himself had added on their effectiveness and requirements. It was a part of the man she had never seen, never known had existed until recently, and it was a part that seemed to call to her very soul. Call to the magic that she held in side her. It was the part she had fallen in love with even while she tried so hard not to.
"Did she just say… magic?" Elyan asked his eyes widening wondering if the world had suddenly gone mad around him. Why was there a book of magic under Merlin's bed? What was going on?
"She did. There are things you should probably know." Gwen replied standing up as she darted her eyes to her brother and her closest friend, though the latter it seemed was completely immersed in her discovery. It was time someone told Elyan the truth of what was happening. With that in mind she sat him down and gave him an abbreviated tale of the best kept secrets Camelot had to offer. She told him the story of Merlin and Morgana.