The Rise of Druids

Ever since Balinor took the throne back from Uther, there had been a gentle rise in the amount of druids that visited and traded in Camelot. The forests that surrounded the great castle had also seen the druid community make them their home.

Obviously no one saw nothing wrong with this, magic was on the throne of Camelot. They would be more sympathetic to them. After all the druids were peaceful people. They had become the unfortunate victims in the purge. But then again, anyone born with the gift could have been seen as an unfortunate victim if they used magic in the right way.

No one bothered to ask them why they had moved. Everyone's opinion was different. Maybe if they had, they would have known the real reason. Maybe they would have offered help. Maybe what happened next wouldn't have happened.

The last person that Merlin had expected to see by Iseldir's side was Mordred. He knew that the man would still have the same views that he did the last time he met him. There was a part of him that hoped that Mordred could see Merlin as their saviour again but there was a big part that doubt that.

"And what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"We have some grave news Emrys. It needs to come to your attention." Iseldir paused, unsure about how to approach the matter. "Cenred and Odin have started up, what seems like, a second purge. The druids are flee from their kingdoms as fast as they can. Some are being spared because they have taken some oath or something to that description, I don't know, but most have died."

Merlin felt like he couldn't breath. Had he neglected the druids that much? He started to feel guilty. Not once had he thought about them.

"They are safe in Camelot's lands." He managed to get out.

"That's the problem. They aren't. They are running to you, running to Camelot's lands and they are still being slaughtered. They hate our kind so much that they are willing to cross over the border to kill them. And you have done nothing."

"Mordred!" Iseldir said sternly.

He is right though. Merlin thought and by Mordred's smirk, he knew that he had heard it.

"He is a coward. Magic would be made legal if he wasn't. He cannot even keep his own kind safe. His own kind is dying and I bet he didn't even know anything about it."

If Mordred was trying to make him feel guilty, he was doing it well. The young man gave him a smile before turning on his heel and storming out of the council chamber. Iseldir turned to follow him but Merlin stops him.

"Let him cool off." He said as he telepathically told Morgana to go and find Mordred.

"But he shouldn't talk to you like that. I am sorry for his behaviour."

"Don't apologise for him. I know where he is coming from. I have failed him many times."

It took her a while to find him but she did eventually. She watched him for a while, trying to see the boy she knew in the young man before her. He had grown up since she last saw him but she knew that he couldn't be any older than 14. He was still young and inexperienced.

Merlin had never told her what happened when they stormed the camp. He had never told her what came of Mordred.

She sighed before she walked up to him. "Is this seat taken?"

He jumped up at her voice. "Morgana." He opened his arms up to her and she entered them.

She held on to him. She felt quite protective of him. Part of her wanted him to stay in Camelot now. He didn't have to run from himself any more. He would make a great addition to the group that they were making.

"How have you been?" She asked him when they released each other and sat down.

"As well as I could be. You?"

"I am well."

"You look it." He reached up and stroked her cheek. "You look less distressed than the last time I saw you."

"I have had the time to accept myself and my magic."

"In a kingdom that it is still illegal when you would think it wouldn't be."

Morgana sighed. It seemed like she was having the same argument over and over again. "Merlin will. He is just ..."

"He is just what?" He said interrupting her, dropping his hand in the process.

"He is just waiting for the right time. His father was assassinated when he went to do it."

"He is a coward. You just cannot see that." He took a deep breath. "Look, you wanted to run away with the druids when you found out your magic. There is a group of druids that are fighting for their rights. They are trying to reverse the injustice done to our kind. We could be great additions."

Morgana refrained herself from dragging her hand through her hair. "Maybe when I found out about my magic but not now. There is a plan in place. We will be free one day."

"But will they get what they deserve?"

"Will who get what they deserve?" She asked. If anything, she was frightened by what he was going to say.

He gave a short laugh and shook his head before he replied. "Who do you think? Those that hunted our kind like animals. Those who cannot see magic for what it is."

That was the answer that she hoped he wouldn't give her. She looked up at him and tried to see the boy that was brought into her chambers.

"But that won't make us any better."

He laughed again. "A great injustice has been done to our kind. Magic should rule but instead it has been stamped into the ground. We should rise up against it and crush it. We should see how they like it."

"I never realised that you would become so full of hate." Morgana commented.

His expression changed. "I never realised that you were changed by your privileged life. I will remind you that Uther would have killed you if he found out about your magic."

"Two wrongs don't make a right Mordred."

He dropped his gaze and looked towards the floor. He stopped and looked at her hand. She placed her other hand over her wedding ring.

Mordred huffed next to her before standing up. "And that is why you have so much faith in him." He gave a short laugh. "I suppose you have to now that you are his wife. He will fail Morgana. The sooner you see that the better. Come and find me when you realise that Merlin isn't the one. I will make sure that you reach your potential. We would be brilliant together."

She was too shocked to call out to him. Afterwards, she knew that she would regret it but she just sat there stunned. How that little boy had grown.