Lancelot and Guinevere pt.3
Hello, hope you are having a good day.
A few hours, they heard Merlin whimpered. They looked over and saw his arms flailing around as though someone was attacking him and he was trying to get away. They stopped the wagon and Lancelot put more sleeping draught in a cup of water. Arthur helped Merlin sit up enough to drink the liquid. Merlin fought against Arthur, but Arthur was able to restrain Merlin. When Merlin was asleep again, Gwen came over and tended to Merlin's rising fever.
"He's burning up. He can't hold out much longer." Gwen said.
"We have to hurry." Arthur sighed. They hurried towards Camelot. That evening, they stopped for the night. Arthur built a fire while Gwen went and picked whatever herbs she could find to make soup. Lancelot watched over Morgana and Merlin who sadly were not sleeping peacefully. Lancelot could tell that Merlin was stuck in a nightmare. Merlin's fist clenched the blankets tightly and then unclenched. His head jerked side to side and his breathing was erratic. His eyelids moved rapidly and every soon often would open. Morgana laid next to him with a very pained expression on her face. Sometimes, Lancelot could hear her whimper painfully. When the fire was going, Gwen went to work making dinner. Arthur jumped unto the wagon carefully and sat next to Lancelot.
"How are they?" Arthur asked.
"Not good. The sleeping draught is keeping them asleep, but they are in pain and the nightmares are plaguing them." Lancelot answered.
"We have to keep them asleep."
"I know, but it's hard watching them suffer like this. They've been through a lot; they don't deserve this."
"If they wake up, they'll be in more pain."
"Not to mention they might have an attack."
Merlin calmed down a bit and opened his eyes. When he saw Arthur and Lancelot, he grabbed Morgana and pulled her close. He curled in on himself.
"Merlin, it's alright. You're safe." Lancelot hushed.
"He's right. We won't hurt you." Arthur affirmed. Merlin looked at them with wide eyes. They could see that the fever had taken over. Merlin's eyes darted between the two as he watched them move. Arthur grabbed a waterskin and tried to move towards Merlin. As soon as he got closer, Merlin hid even more. "Merlin, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help you drink some water. You must be thirsty."
Merlin shook his head before a coughing fit took over. Arthur took the opportunity and gently grabbed Merlin helping him sit up. Merlin was too weak to fight. When it was over, Arthur held the waterskin against Merlin's lips. As soon as the water hit Merlin's lips, Merlin greedily drank as much as he could. After a few huge gulps, Arthur pulled it away causing Merlin to whimper. "You've had enough for now, Merlin. Save some for Morgana."
As soon as Arthur mentioned Morgana, Merlin looked down and saw Morgana sleeping. He curled up next to her and watched over her. Arthur gently patted Merlin's shoulder and went to Gwen.
"The soup should be ready in a few minutes. How are they?" Gwen stated.
"Not good. Merlin's awake. It's probably best that we wait to give him more sleeping draught until after he has something to eat." Arthur explained.
"Hopefully this will help him regain some strength."
"Me too."
Morgana's eyelids flickered open causing Merlin to sit up slightly so that he could look into her eyes. When Morgana opened her eyes, Merlin smiled sadly at her. Morgana smiled back before crying out in pain. Merlin pulled her close and shushed her. He leaned against the side of the wagon and rocked Morgana back and forth. Lancelot tried to help Merlin and Morgana, but Merlin slapped his hand away. Arthur and Gwen saw what was happening. They were unable to do anything other than wait till Morgana calmed down. When it was over, Morgana moved so that her head rested on Merlin's shoulder. Merlin pulled her unto his lap and shivered as the cold wind hit his skin. Morgana took the blankets and covered them up.
"The soup is ready." Gwen sighed as she spooned it into a few bowls. Arthur took two bowls and went to the wagon. He moved close to Merlin and Morgana who watched him carefully.
"Here, you need to swallow this. It will help you." Arthur suggested. Merlin stared at the bowls before Arthur set one down and put the other one against Morgana's lips. Morgana swallowed a bit before pushing it away. "Morgana, you need to finish this. It will help you recover."
Morgana shook her head and pressed her face into Merlin's bare shoulder. Arthur sighed and held the bowl up to Merlin's lips. Merlin swallowed the rest of the liquid in the bowl before pushing it away. Lancelot came over and sat next to Arthur.
"I wish we had some pillows to help make them more comfortable." Lancelot realized.
"I know, but we'll be home soon."
"Do you want to give them more sleeping draught?"
"Maybe in a bit. Let them enjoy each other's company."
An hour later, it was dark. Arthur patted Gwen's shoulder when he saw her yawn.
"Go get some sleep. Lancelot and I will watch the two till one of us is ready to go to sleep." Arthur all but ordered. Gwen did as she was told. Several minutes later, Lancelot got up and walked around while Arthur tended to the fire. Merlin kissed Morgana's forehead and pulled her closer. Morgana kissed the nape of Merlin's neck and felt Merlin shiver against her. Merlin moved his hand to the small of Morgana's back. He used his other hand and wrapped it around her ribcage. Morgana wrapped her arms around Merlin's torso. Lancelot poured water into a cup and put some sleeping draught in it.
"Merlin, I need you to drink this. It will help you sleep." Lancelot said. Merlin shook his head weakly. Lancelot sighed. "Merlin, please. You need your rest."
"No." Merlin whimpered. Lancelot sighed again as Arthur came over.
"He won't drink this. He needs it. So, does Morgana."
"Let me try." Arthur suggested. Arthur took the cup and held it up to Merlin's lips. Merlin tried to get away. "Drink this, you idiot." Merlin did as he was told. Lancelot handed him another cup and Arthur helped Morgana drink the liquid. When the two were asleep, Arthur put his hand on Lancelot's shoulder.
"I should leave. I'm still banished from Camelot." Lancelot sighed.
"I know. Thank you for helping us."
"It's the least I could do. I owe Merlin everything."
"At least wait until morning. It will be safer."
"I will. I'll watch them. You should get some rest."
Arthur found a place to lie down. Soon, he was asleep. The next morning, Arthur woke up and saw that Lancelot was gone. He saw that Merlin and Morgana were awake. Gwen was helping them drink some soup. Arthur sat up and went to Gwen.
"Lancelot left just before dawn. He didn't want to wake you. He said good bye to Merlin and Morgana." Gwen said.
"I knew he would. How are they?" Arthur answered.
"Not good. Both of them have fevers and they both had attacks."
"What could be causing it?"
"What?"
"The attacks of pain that they have. One minute they're fine and then the next they're screaming in pain."
"Arthur, they had an attack this morning that wasn't just caused by pain. It was like their worst fears were coming to life. They were beyond terrified."
"Hopefully Gaius knows."
"I hope so."
Gwen and Arthur went to the fire and got ready to leave. In the wagon, Merlin and Morgana were holding each other close.
"Do you think we'll be ok?" Morgana asked. Merlin nodded. "What's wrong?"
"Scared." Merlin rasped.
"I am too."
They kissed passionately. Arthur saw them.
"He did love her." Arthur realized. Gwen saw Morgana and Merlin kissing.
"They won't survive being separated." Gwen warned.
"I know. We should get going. Let's get them comfortable."
They went to the wagon and watched as Merlin and Morgana pulled away from each other.
"We're going to help the two of you be comfortable for the journey home." Gwen said as she took one of the blankets. Morgana and Merlin watched them closely. Soon Merlin and Morgana were in the corner cocooned in several blankets. They laid flat on the ground and tried to rest. Gwen watched them while Arthur drove the wagon. Later that day, they arrived in Camelot. Uther was in his chambers looking down at the courtyard. He saw Gaius rushing down the stairs to greet Gwen and Arthur. When he saw Morgana and Merlin, he went to the courtyard. When he got there, he saw Gaius, Arthur and Gwen surrounding Merlin and Morgana.
"What is he doing?" Uther hissed when he saw that Merlin had his arms wrapped around Morgana. He got on the wagon and tried to grab Morgana. Before anyone could stop him, Merlin slapped Uther's hand and started getting very upset and angry. He started having an attack. He pulled Morgana close and tried to hide themselves.
"Father, they've been tortured in ways that we don't know. He's protective over her and she's protective over him." Arthur explained as he pulled his father off the wagon.
"I do not want him touching her."
"Too late. Both of them are practically naked under those blankets. We don't know what's happened and we probably never will. All we know is that they are suffering."
Gaius got off the wagon and sighed.
"We need to hurry. Merlin has internal bleeding and I fear Morgana does too." Gaius said.
"You will treat Morgana first. Merlin can wait." Uther answered.
"Sire, I will be the judge of that. I will treat the one that needs to be treated immediately. Arthur, get them to my chambers."
Several minutes later, Leon and Arthur were carrying Merlin and Morgana into Gaius' chambers. Gaius and Gwen got to work. Merlin screamed when he saw Uther try to reach Morgana.
"Sire, you must leave. You are only making things worse." Gaius ordered.
"I am the king." Uther answered. "Drug him."
Uther touched Morgana and Morgana started screaming and trying to get away from Uther.
"Arthur, Leon, get him out of here." Gaius commanded. Arthur and Leon did as they were told. Arthur went back in and locked the door to Gaius' chambers. They could hear Uther outside shouting at Leon. "We have to hurry."
"Gaius, can you use magic to put them to sleep?" Arthur wondered quietly.
"Yes, why?"
"Do it. I know about their magic. Don't worry, I won't turn them in."
"If you say so sire."
Gaius uttered a spell over Morgana and Merlin and the two fell asleep. Gaius, Gwen, and Arthur got to work treating Merlin and Morgana's wounds. A few hours later, Merlin was carried to his bedroom. Arthur laid him down on the bed while Gaius got the extra bed made for Morgana. Soon Merlin and Morgana were resting peacefully in Merlin's bedroom. Gaius looked at Merlin's wrists and noticed that one was very red while the other one wasn't. He pressed around it and noticed that there was something hard there. He uttered a spell and the bracelet appeared. Gaius gasped and checked Morgana. He found the bracelet on her wrist and went downstairs where Uther and Arthur were talking.
"Arthur, I've found out why Morgana and Merlin are having the attacks. The sorceress put enchanted bracelets on them. It was invisible." Gaius said.
"How do we get rid of it?" Uther asked.
"If I'm correct, they are linked together. If we try to take it off of one, the other will be in agony. The bracelets link to their souls. We can't remove them without taking their soul and permanently damaging their minds."
"Is there any way to stop that?"
"Not that I know of."
"As soon as Morgana is well enough, I want her moved to her chambers."
"Sire, we can't separate them. If we do, both will die. They have to remain in the same room at all times."
"I will not allow a servant to be involved with my ward."
"Sire, it has already happened. The torture they endured caused them to lean completely on each other. The only way they will make it out of this is by being together."
Arthur looked in the bedroom and saw that Merlin was sitting up in bed panting and gasping.
"Gaius, something's wrong with Merlin." Arthur stated as he went in. He went to Merlin and shushed. Merlin was screaming but no noise came out. When Uther came in, Merlin started panicking and getting very upset. He tried to get away from Uther. Uther went to Morgana. As soon as he touched Morgana, Arthur had to restrain Merlin who was trying to reach Morgana.
"Don't hurt her! Please, don't hurt her!" Merlin cried. Uther saw how pale Morgana was.
"Gaius, will she be alright?" Uther asked.
"She'll be fine. She just needs time and rest."
TBC
