Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter 28 – The Diamond of the Day
"GWEN!" Morgana surged forward and scrambled towards the fallen queen, her shaking hands reaching out though stopping short as if she was afraid to touch her. "No! No, no, no, no! What have I done?!" She sobbed.
"Morgana." Arthur murmured and she looked up at the man she had once called brother.
"Arthur…" She murmured back and for the first time since she had been captured by the Saxons all those years ago, Arthur truly saw the Morgana he had known in her eyes. They both wanted to say so much to each other, but did not delude themselves that they had time as both Gwen's moans and the pounding charge of the oncoming wraiths grew louder. While a part of her would love nothing more than to curl up into a ball and sob over everything she had done, Morgana knew that now was the time to right at least some of the wrongs she had committed, not to pity herself. Gathering her magic, weakened as it was after having forced out the soul that had possessed her for two thousand years, she sent a powerful blast outwards just before the wraiths reached the first of Camelot's army. The wraiths did not merely stop in their tracks as her magic hit them, but fell to the ground immobile, nothing but corpses once more.
"I'm sorry." She murmured, getting to her feet and backing away. "They won't harm anyone ever again."
"Morgana don't go!" Arthur begged.
"I can't…" She whispered brokenly. "Merlin, take Gwen to the Cauldron of Arianrhod. The Triple Goddess' powers are held within its waters and from there you can summon her yourself. Only she will have the power to heal Gwen."
"Come with us. The power of a High Priestess would only be of use." The warlock tried, but Morgana shook her head.
"I'm not a High Priestess anymore." She insisted vehemently. "I'm not sure if I ever was, but certainly no longer. The Triple Goddess will only respond to the call of light magic and we all know that is not me."
"Not even The Triple Goddess is all knowing, Morgana. She took away your High Priestesshood only because she truly believed you had turned from her teachings and embraced dark magic. But it wasn't you, we know now it never was, and she will return to you if you let her." Again Morgana shook her head.
"I can't…it's all my fault. I'm sorry." She addressed everyone though was looking at Arthur. "Hurry, you don't have much time. I hope she'll be alright." With a wave of her hand Morgana disappeared closely followed by The Lady who's departure went unnoticed save for Merlin; the implication was clear, Morgana would not be left alone.
"She's right that we don't have much time." Merlin concurred as Gwen let out a pained gasp, more blood seeping through her dress. With a quick spell of his own, Merlin sent the bodies of the Saxons back to their resting place, hoping they would never be disturbed again. Another spell saw the army and Knights transported back to Camelot, the injured arriving in the makeshift hospital that Gaius had had set up, while a third spell saw Arthur, Gwen and Merlin transported to a small lake at the base of a cliff.
"This is the Cauldron she spoke of?" Arthur asked.
"Yes." Merlin replied. "I'm going to wake Gwen. When I do you must convince her to enter the waters of her own free will, only then can I summon The Triple Goddess."
"Did you not say that waking her could cause irreparable damage?!" Arthur demanded, not liking Merlin's plan when it contradicted what he had said not too long ago.
"I did." He admitted. "But that was when we could not quickly heal her. As I said, when I wake her, her nightmares become her reality. If she stays in that state for too long, with her nightmares no longer sequestered in the dream realm but also here when she is awake then her mind will break. Nightmares are scary enough when we're asleep, but to have them become real for too long causes irreparable damage to the human psyche. Of course that's if she lives long enough for her mind to break." He muttered the last bit as yet another injury appeared on his Queen.
"But if we heal her quickly she'll be alright?" Arthur needed to know.
"Yes. But Arthur there is danger in this. Gwen must enter the waters of her own free will; she cannot be forced or coerced or The Triple Goddess will not answer my call. That could prove quite difficult depending what her nightmares are. She may try to run, or she may fight you, but no matter what you must reach that part inside of her that loves you and convince her to enter the waters on her own."
"If I don't then she is lost." Arthur said the unspoken words Merlin had left out. The warlock nodded and he watched the anguish on his King's face as he debated with himself before finally coming to a decision. "If I do nothing then she is lost to me anyways. At least this way there is a chance. Wake her."
"Prepare yourself. When she wakes you will have but a few moments." Arthur nodded and motioned for Merlin to get on with it.
"Gielde ic þec þissa meowles sawol... Gyden æblæce." For a few moments it seemed that nothing had happened. Then, Gwen's eyes fluttered open and she took in the scene around her before sitting bolt upright.
"Where am I?" She asked. "What have you done to me?"
"You were asleep-"
"Get away from me!" She cried, jumping to her feet and making to run.
"Guinevere!" He chased after her, catching up easily and pulling her back, ignoring her protests as he held her by the arms. "My Guinevere-"
"Your Guinevere?! You stupid foolish man! I was never yours, and never will be!" Arthur's blood ran cold as he looked into her hate filled eyes, hate that had never been there before.
"It is her nightmares speaking, Arthur." Merlin reminded him. "You must reach her or all is lost."
"What rubbish is this?"
"You love me, Guinevere." He insisted, focusing on Merlin's words and reminding himself that it was the spell talking.
"You're easily fooled."
"I know you do."
"It was a trick, nothing more. A subterfuge to pass Camelot to its rightful queen!"
"I don't believe that."
"Believe what you like, the fact remains-" She cut off as Arthur began to pull her backwards, towards the Cauldron.
"No it must be of her own will!" Merlin reminded him. Arthur stopped and looked to Merlin desperately before trying again.
"Look at me." He said, pulling Gwen to him to try and cease her struggles. "Tell me you don't love me."
"Let me go!" She demanded, though Arthur noted that she did not deny her love for him and it was on that which he now focused.
"You remember when you first told me you were pregnant? When we first confessed our love for each other? Do you remember what you said? 'With all my heart,' that's what you said Guinevere, that was no subterfuge, no trickery." Gwen's struggles stopped as he spoke and her eyes glazed over though he could see that they remained on him. Slowly Arthur released her and began walking back into the Cauldron. "'With all my heart.'" He said again, continuing to move backwards, though never breaking eye contact with her. "'With all my heart.'" When he was knee deep in the water he held out his hand, hoping she would follow him.
"With all my heart…" She murmured and began to take slow steps forward. She stumbled a few times though never stopped and reached out for Arthur's hand when she came up beside him. He led her a few steps further before releasing her hand and allowing her to continue alone.
"Yfel gæst ga þu framþisse lichaman. Biþ hire mod eft freo. Ar ond heofontungol sceal þurhswiþan!" Merlin cast his magic to summon The Trip Goddess when the water reached Gwen's waist. A light appeared from deep within the depths, surrounding Gwen and passing through her. Gwen made no sound when The Triple Goddess' power entered her, nor did she give any sign that anything was happening; they hoped the light was sign enough. When it died down Gwen turned, her eyes locking on to Arthur. Seeing the desperation in them, Gwen smiled softly and held out her hand. Arthur ran to her as fast as his armour, weighed down by water as it was, allowed, and gathered her in his arms. The two breathed a sigh of relief and held each other for who knows how long. When Arthur would finally release her, Gwen exited the Cauldron and went to Merlin's side, pulling him into a hug as well.
"Thank you, Merlin." She said.
"It was my pleasure, Your Grace." He replied, glad to see her back to normal. "Though it was Arthur who did the hard part, I merely summoned The Triple Goddess."
"Not everyone could summon her, Merlin." Gwen contradicted. "It takes a great deal of magic, a great deal of light magic, to do so. I don't think any other possesses both the strength and purity of heart to wield such light magic." She whispered the last bit for his ears only.
"Thank you, Gwen." He was touched by the sincerity in her words.
"If there is nothing else for us to do here, may we return home?" Arthur interrupted as he came over and drew his wife to his side once more, still not over how close he had come to losing her. Merlin merely nodded and waved his hand, returning them to Camelot. They were met by silence though the room was full, everyone staring at them, especially Merlin. Leon took it upon himself to explain.
"Apparently The Lady broadcast not only the battle but what transpired at the Cauldron just now as well. She used your crystal ball, Merlin."
"It was hers before it was mine." He admitted.
"But that's not all." Leon continued. "Queen Elizabeth received a call and it appears that what they saw on the crystal ball here was also broadcast on television. The entire country, and probably a great deal of the world, saw what happened."
"And that caused them to go mute?" Arthur wondered. His words had the effect of seemingly unfreezing at least some of their audience for their parents rushed towards them and engulfed them in hugs. The two allowed it for a few moments but not for long as they still had much to do.
"We must see to the wounded, they need our help." Gwen said as encouragement to get her parents to let go.
"Allow me." Said Merlin, already making his way out the door after greeting his relieved wife and mother.
"You've already used too much magic today!" Gwen scolded, knowing the more magic he used the more it drained him.
"I'll sleep for a week straight if needed, but if they are at all alive I can heal them even if they would normally be beyond a physician's care." She could not fault his logic, knowing as she did that magic, especially Merlin's, could heal many wounds that regular methods could not. With no other recourse, Gwen nodded her consent, not that she could stop Merlin if he was truly determined, and was thankful when Mithian followed him out; she would ensure Merlin took care of himself.
"Is everything else in hand?" Arthur asked his Knights.
"It is, Sire." Percival answered. "All things considered we lost few men, fewer still as many yet live, though they would eventually succumb to their injuries if Merlin were not healing them."
"We will arrange funerals in the coming days. Speak with their families on that matter, though if they have none they shall be buried here in Camelot with all honours." The Knights nodded their assent, unfortunately well used to making the rounds to grieving families.
"We shall co-ordinate with the General to contact the families of those in the royal army who lost their lives." Tristan added.
"Good." He said, dismissing his Knights. "Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses." He then greeted their guests, having spotted them a moment ago. "You are most welcome here. Please forgive me, I fear I am quite battle weary and not a pretty sight."
"After witnessing what we did we should be ashamed of ourselves if we thought you would be otherwise." The Queen was entirely serious as she spoke. Although both she and Prince Philip had lived through a world war, neither had seen the battlefield and films were a poor imitation of what they had seen here today. Arthur nodded before excusing himself and his Queen. The two made their way to their chambers, by passing the nursery for now as they did not want their children to see them in such a state. George was there with a bath prepared, though he quietly left when it became clear his services were not needed. Gwen helped Arthur out of his armour before he unlaced her dress and they both climbed into the tub, water splashing over the side as they settled against each other. They sat in silence for some time, Gwen's back pressed to Arthur's chest with her arms wrapped around her, before those arms tightened.
"I thought I'd lost you today." He murmured. "Seeing you on the battlefield, even with The Lady as protection…my heart stopped. Then when you were cursed…"
"I know. I know, my love. It is how I feel every time you go off to battle. The fear of losing you is horrible. Though apparently not my worst nightmare." She added, thinking on what the curse had made her reality.
"I had never seen hatred in you eyes. At least not directed at me. It was more than just unnerving."
"Even though it was not for long, the curse made it as if I had betrayed you. As if I had become like Morgana, and turned on you for seemingly no reason. Made all the worse because I had pledged allegiance to your worst enemy."
"She is an enemy no longer." He said.
"Merlin was finally able to kill her then." There was no joy in her voice. "For good this time?"
"No. No, Guinevere, Morgana is alive and not our enemy." Gwen spun in his arms to face him, confused, and he realized that Gwen had been unconscious when it had been revealed that Morgana had been possessed and so knew nothing of it. "She was enchanted. Possessed. By whom we know not, well maybe Merlin does, but the point is that Morgana did not betray us of her own will." Gwen burst into tears and flung her arms around Arthur, burrowing her head into his chest as her heart grew both lighter and heavier all at once. That Morgana, who had been her sister for all intents and purposes, had not actually betrayed them lifted a great burden from her heart; though the fact that they had so easily believed Morgana capable of such treachery weighed it down once more.
"Where is she?" Gwen asked when her tears subsided.
"We don't know." Arthur admitted. "Once she destroyed the wraiths and told us how to save you she disappeared."
"We have to find her! We have to bring her home!" Gwen stood and left the tub, grabbing a linen to dry herself before reaching for a clean dress.
"While I agree, I do not think it will be that simple." Her husband said as he too left the tub and began to dress.
"Then we will keep searching until we find her!" Gwen was determined and as his own thoughts mirrored hers, Arthur had no complaints. Once dressed the two went into the nursery to see their children briefly, glad that they were still so young they had not known that their parents' lives were in danger and so the hours they had been apart did not seem terribly long nor important to the children. Afterwards they made their way back down to the throne room where their family and the modern royals were still gathered, though they noted that The Knights had also left to clean themselves up.
"You alright, Merlin?" Arthur asked, seeing his friend sitting down with his wife standing over him. He looked tired, but otherwise not the worse for wear.
"Yes. Everyone is healed; Gaius is merely ensuring my magic has done its job before telling them to rest. As I am being forced to."
"Be thankful I have not confined you to bed." Mithian growled, not at all repentant for her worry over her husband. A smirk formed on Merlin's face and he sent her a look that had her blushing. Although he had not voiced his thoughts his expression clearly said he would not mind being confined to bed if she were with him. Seeing his look, The Knights and Arthur chuckled softly; such lewd comments, even non-verbal ones, were more their department and promised teasing material at a later date.
"Anyways." Arthur coughed when his own wife shot him an unimpressed look. "With the wounded dealt with we can turn our sights to honouring the dead. Though as it is getting late I do not think it improper to do so tomorrow morning. So long as families have been informed." He turned to his Knights, as they had been delegated this job.
"The General said he would contact the families in the royal army, and all those of Camelot have been informed." Tristan reported.
"Those with men who did not return home upon our return had gathered in the courtyard awaiting word. Many were thankful that their loved ones had merely been hurt and would soon be healed, though there are those not so fortunate." Percival added.
"We will visit them on the morrow." Gwen said. "Offer what comfort we can, though it will be little."
"Only two soldiers do not have any apparent family." The First Knight continued. "We have not given up the search, but they have no family in Camelot at least. If their modern selves have family we shall discover it soon, the General has said he will look into it."
"Then we have done all we can for today." Arthur said with a nod. "Next order of business…Merlin explain to us exactly what happened with Morgana."
"She had been possessed by another's soul for near two thousand years." He said. "Her actions during this time were not her own. Her betrayal was not of her will, she became possessed when first captured by the Saxons."
"So you're saying that the one who caused all this, is not really evil?" Alex, Arthur's modern day father, asked, though it was clear that more than one of the parents agreed with his scepticism.
"That is exactly what we are saying." Arthur replied to his father, a note of caution in his voice, though he tried to lessen it given whom he was speaking to.
"It sounds very convenient to me. And far too much like a fairy story." One of Lancelot's fathers, Liam, added.
"Regardless it is true." Arthur was trying not to lose his patience, but this was a sore subject, made all the more so by the fact that he should have his sister back.
"Is she in custody?" Prince Charles then asked. "We should inform the authorities so they may set a trial date."
"There will be no trial." Any patience he had had was gone as he turned his furious gaze on his fellow royal. "Morgana is not of this time, more so than even ourselves for she does not have a modern day counterpart. Your authorities have no claim on her."
"She attacked London." The Prince tried to argue. "Regardless of whether or not she was enchanted she must face justice!" Arthur was not the only one who had lost his patience. At an unseen golden flash of a pair of eyes, Charles found himself standing, making his way to Bors, and promptly punching him in the face.
"Oi!" The Knight cried, taking a step back out of shock, for the punch had not had much power behind it. With another flash of gold, Charles too took a step back in shock, cradling his hand.
"I…I don't…"
"You just assaulted someone with no provocation." Merlin spoke up, his voice as cold as his look. "Regardless of whether or not you were enchanted, you must face justice." He used The Prince's words against.
"You forced me to do that?" Charles asked, anger in his voice.
"It's not nice being controlled is it?" He confirmed with a nod. "You're not in control of your actions, your mind and soul are pushed down until all that you are is suppressed, being replaced by another. Under your own will you would never have punched Bors, but you were not under your own will. Had I commanded it you would have killed your wife and children that sat beside you without hesitating or even blinking an eye. Knowing he was not at fault do you blame him?" Merlin asked of Bors.
"No. But was punching me really necessary?" He grumbled.
"I knew he couldn't actually hurt you." Merlin dismissed, turning his attention back to Charles. "The one you have wronged does not blame you and I can see in your eyes that you do not believe you should be held accountable for what just happened. So why should Morgana? Because the repercussions of her actions were more severe? Because you might as well have given that mountain a love tap while Morgana killed people? Regardless of the outcome, neither of you were in control of yourselves. This is not someone who committed a crime out of duress, making the choice to do so, even if for noble intentions. This is someone who's body was used as a puppet, who literally had no choice in the matter. Morgana has been another's puppet for two thousand years, while you were controlled for but a few seconds, and even so those seconds were enough for you to know that she had no choice, just as you did not."
"But even so-" Charles tried to turn things back around, not liking that a mere boy was getting the better of him, never mind who this boy was, or what his real age was.
"But nothing." Arthur intervened, coming to stand beside Merlin. "Morgana is not to blame for her actions, the one controlling her is, and that person has paid with their life. When you leave here you may do what you like. Go on television, try and start a public outcry for Morgana's head, but know this: it will not work. Even if we knew where she is, which we do not, we would never hand her over to you and if you pushed the matter you would begin another war with the very people who have been fighting one for two thousand years."
"Oh it won't get that far. I won't let it." Merlin informed them. "You know who I am, how powerful I am. I may not want to use my magic to force my will on others, but in this I will. We have suffered and sacrificed far more than you can ever know and I will not let you force further sacrifice and take our sister from us now that we finally have her back. If you push the issue it will not be war, I will merely wipe Morgana from the minds of everyone on earth and allow her to start over." The room was silent and everyone was reminded of exactly who these two were and what they were capable of. For all their personable nature, congeniality, joking, and even occasional bumbling idiocy they were in fact The High King and Immortal Mage of legend; formidable enemies should they be made such.
"I think we can handle the authorities should it become necessary." Said Prince Philip.
"So long as we have your assurance she will cause no more harm." His wife agreed.
"You do." Arthur replied. "I doubt you will even ever see her again. She will not want to reveal herself to us, let alone to the rest of the world."
"Then perhaps it best the world think her dead." Philip then suggested. Arthur nodded, knowing it to be the best course of action and also that it was highly unlikely Morgana would want to integrate herself in the modern world thus making that plan impossible. Both The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh wore the royal masks Arthur and Gwen knew so well, concealing their true feelings though they could guess the two were not exactly happy with this decision. Even so, both modern royals recognized it as the best option. This situation was far from normal and so the normal course of action could not be followed; however, so long as their people were not in danger from Morgana any longer they could live with this outcome.
"Merlin do you know who had possessed Lady Morgana?" Leon tactfully changed the subject, at least somewhat. There were more answers to be had, but the discussion of Morgana's fate was over.
"Morgause." He replied. "I should have known it was her."
"How could you have known that?" Mithian asked. "She was still alive when Morgana first betrayed you, her soul could not have been inside Morgana at that time."
"But it was. At least part of it was. When I helped Morgana expel Morgause I saw everything. When Morgana was captured and told of her relation to Morgause and that she was Uther's bastard she did not believe it. She fought hard, discovering her magic as it tried to protect her from the…manipulations of Morgause and the Saxons." Those of the past knew manipulations to mean torture, whether it was of the body or mind, or both, they did not want to know. "When nothing they tried worked Morgause severed a part of her soul and planted it inside Morgana. The soul magic was made easier as they shared blood, and once Morgana was being attacked from both outside and in she could no longer fight it."
"You said that day that she wasn't under any enchantment." Arthur reminded him, trying to hold in his anger and wait for an explanation for her knew Merlin would not have simply lied to him, though it was possible he had been mistaken.
"She wasn't. Soul magic is not an enchantment, not like I used on Prince Charles. It is vastly complicated and has many layers. The magic used to implant the piece of Morgause's soul and that used to further push Morgana's down was not merely a spell,but magic so complex most of those who have tried it have perished. It is magic few would recognize, and certainly not something I would have recognized as I was back then. Perhaps had I encountered Morgana more frequently I would have recognized that something was amiss, for she is strong and she fought Morgause. That's why Morgause was easily killed in that battle. She had had to further sever her soul to continue to control Morgana and so was weak. Once she died what remained of her soul joined with the bit inside Morgana, making Morgause's soul whole once more and cementing her control over Morgana." They all accepted that explanation for with the new facts they had it made sense, though one thing still played on Gwen's mind.
"Kilgharrah said she had the potential to betray us, which is why she succumbed to the Saxons and Morgause so easily."
"She did have that potential." Merlin admitted. "As Kilgharrah said she was destined to betray you and be your downfall, Arthur. But destinies can change, the future is not set in stone and Kilgharrah was not all knowing. At some point Morgana's destiny changed which is why Morgause had to control her as she did instead of Morgana turning willingly." More pieces fell into place and those who had known Morgana before Morgause got hold of her were glad that they did. Nothing else was said, for no one knew what to say, though a look shared between Gwen, Arthur and Merlin told that they would not give up the search for Morgana so easily.
