Disclaimer: I still do not own Merlin. That hasn't changed, unfortunately :)
Warning: You may have noticed the rating on this story changed from Rated K to Rated K+. I wanted to assure you that this story will remain clean, I only changed the rating because there is more violence than before now, and it's a little dark.
Author's Note: I suppose you have figured out by now that we are disregarding the end of season three in this fanfiction? I had planned this before I saw the end, which is why this is the case. I did love the finale though!
Chapter Eleven, Magic's Sting
In a matter of minutes, the four of them were all locked in the dark room at the top of the stairs. Morgana and Morgause had both left the room, (Morgana had done so before Arthur arrived, and he was still unaware of her involvement in the whole thing.)
The door to the room was locked, but Merlin and Arthur had not been tied up, so they helped untie Verona and Gwen, but that was all they could do at the moment.
Verona sat curled up in the corner, rocking back and forth with tears streaming down her cheeks. She had a cut on her forehead that was long but not deep. Unlike the gash on her chin that was deep and still bleeding a bit. Her face was pale with fear and her eyes bloodshot from crying.
Merlin approached her slowly and knelt down in front of her, "Verona..." He said softly, extending a hand to gently move the hair out of the girl's eyes.
He hardly recognized the girl, she looked nothing like the Verona he had thought he knew before. And it was not the cuts on her face that changed her appearance. It was the terrible fear in her tear-filled eyes that made her appearance unfamiliar to Merlin. He'd only ever known the brave and adventurous Verona. He never imagined she could be like this.
For the first time ever, he felt like he was truly seeing the real her. He could see how she was really feeling, and while he felt horrible that she was so frightened and upset, it was a relief to know for sure how she felt.
Verona wouldn't look Merlin in the eyes, and he repeated her name trying to get her attention, "Verona." He said, a little more firmly.
She glanced up at him and then her eyes fell to the ground once more. "Oh, Merlin! This is all my fault!" She sobbed, covering her face with her hands. "If you die it will have been my fault!"
Merlin extended a hand and gently put it under her chin, lifting her face so she was looking at him, "We are not going to die. Not any of us!" Merlin said, with so much determination and strength in his assurance that he surprised himself.
He stared into the eyes of the frightened girl, and he did not recognize her. She was not who he had thought Verona was. But this was Verona. What he did not know was if he loved this girl, or if he loved the girl that hadn't existed. Either way, he was determined to make sure she lived through this day. He would protect her, and then maybe one day he would really understand who she was.
Merlin wrapped his arms around her in a hug and then leaned down to kiss her forehead, "I will get you out of here."
0000
Arthur sat on the other side of the room, speaking quietly to Guinevere. Her eyes were downcast, and Arthur had a difficult time getting her to say much. She wasn't in as awful a state as Verona was, but there was still a look of fear in her eyes, and Arthur could see how upset she was.
"We're going to get out of here, Guinevere, don't worry." Arthur said softly, reaching for her hand.
She looked up at him, her eyes were red from crying, but to Arthur they were still the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. "Oh, Arthur..." Guinevere seemed at a loss for words, and her eyes fell to the ground again. After a long silence, she continued, "Had I only been more careful...
"I still would have been dragged here by Merlin!" Arthur joked, trying to lighten the girl's mood, but Gwen continued to frown.
Guinevere's eyes widened and she shook her head, "You don't understand, Arthur!" Her eyes were pleading as she whispered, "You don't understand... It was Morgana!"
Arthur stared at her, "They've kidnapped Morgana too?"
Gwen's eyes filled with tears, "No, Arthur... Morgana kidnapped us."
"What? Guinevere! Surly you can't be serious!" Arthur said, thinking that this seemed an odd joke for Gwen to make.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered, tears spilling from her eyes and reaching for his hand.
He gripped her hand tightly, as if she was the only thing keeping him alive, "There must be some mistake, Morgana is our friend!"
"I thought she was too." Guinevere's tears continued to fall, but Arthur had no comfort to offer her. What could he say? He had been betrayed by a friend. They had all been.
"Are you certain?" He asked after some silence.
"I would not have said anything if I was not." Gwen murmured softly, "But I wish it were not so! I saw it all for myself. Besides, she is the only person who could have known about you and I, and about Merlin and Verona."
"Do you know why she did it?" He asked her, desperate to know why Morgana, who had always been a sister to him, would betray them.
Guinevere nodded, "I know much. But I think it is a conversation for later." She said gently, but he could see the pain in her eyes, that was nearly equal to his own.
He braved a smile, for Guinevere's sake, and forced a strong voice, "When we are out of here safely, everything will be explained."
Gwen did not look so certain.
00000
"Sister, I am eager as you are for you to take the throne!" Morgause said, with a smirk, "But all in due time."
"Too many things could go wrong this way." Morgana said urgently.
"Do you trust me?" Morgause asked, calmly.
"With my life." Morgana replied, in a low voice, "But why not just kill Arthur? I will be the only heir left to the throne, and when Uther is gone, I will be queen! This plan is too risky."
"No, Morgana, you think no one will be suspicious if Uther and Arthur are both killed in quick succession? No, it will be much safer to put a spell on Arthur keeping him under our control until further notice. We must go about this patiently."
"I am sure you are right, but it is too risky for my comfort." Sighed Morgana, but then she smiled, "But alright, sister, I trust you."
"There is more to the plan that I have not yet told you, dear sister," A grin spread across Morgause's face when she spoke, "It involves Arthur's servant."
Morgana frowned, "I was wondering why we involved Merlin in this. He has caused me much trouble in past plans."
"It is because he is a sorcerer."
"Merlin? You must be joking, sister!" Morgana exclaimed, staring at her.
Morgause shook her head, "It is odd, isn't it? But it is true."
"So, what will we do with him?" Morgana asked, curiously.
"As you know, our spell over Arthur will be a powerful one. We need three people with magic to complete it. Merlin will help us with it."
"How do you plan to get Merlin to help us? He is a traitor to his kin!" Morgana scoffed.
"We use the girl of course." Grinned Morgause, "Oh, sister, he will help us."
00000
Merlin was sitting beside Verona when the door to the room swung open, revealing Morgana and Morgause, Arthur jumped up as if to fight them, but Merlin called out.
"Arthur! Don't! You won't be able to fight them." He warned,
"Very wise, Merlin." Morgana grinned, walking towards him and Verona slowly.
Merlin moved protectively in front of Verona as Morgana came closer. But Morgana just smiled and waved her hand, and Merlin was knocked to the side and against the wall.
"Verona!" He called, but Morgana already had a tight grip on the girl and was holding a knife to her throat.
"I suggest you do what we ask of you, Merlin." Morgana said, smirking.
Across the room, Morgause was holding Gwen exactly the same way, and giving Arthur instructions.
"Both of you go through the door." Morgause said, looking from Arthur to Merlin and holding tightly to Gwen, and a knife hovering threateningly near her.
Merlin and Arthur obeyed quietly and were led outside the room and down the flight of stairs to the main entrance room.
"Do everything we say and your ladies will go free." Morgause told them, as if this was all perfectly reasonable. "Now, sit." She said, motioning from Arthur to a chair in the middle of the room that had not been there when they entered the first time.
Arthur did as he was told, watching closely to make sure they did not harm Guinevere. He sat in the chair and allowed them to tie him there. Around his feet were scattered strange plants he had never seen before and unlit candles were surrounding him.
"Let Guinevere go." Arthur begged, as he sat helplessly.
"Perhaps we will," said Morgause, calmly. "If everyone behaves themselves, certainly."
Then she turned to Merlin, "You see, Merlin," She gave a frightening smile, "There are only two witches here, and the spell we mean to cast requires the power of three magical sources."
Merlin swallowed, and glanced at the others in the room, before saying quietly, "And so, you plan to do what exactly?"
"Why, you are going to help us of course." Morgana said, smiling evilly as she stepped forward, dragging Verona with her.
"Don't hurt her." He said warningly, as he took a step towards them.
"Certainly I won't." Morgana grinned, "If you help us?"
He glanced at the others, "H-how could I help you?"
"Don't play dumb Merlin!" Morgana snapped, glaring at him. "We need a third source of magic, and unless you help us the girl will die!"
"Leave Verona alone!" Arthur said, and everyone looked at him, a little surprised, "She shouldn't die because Merlin can't help you. Don't be ridiculous!"
"Oh, but he can help us." Morgause grinned down at the prince, "Can't you, Merlin?"
Merlin stared across the room, swallowed hard and said quietly, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't play games with us!" Morgana shouted, raising the knife threateningly as if she were about to stab Verona.
"No!" Merlin shouted, stepping forward, "You can't hurt her!"
"Then don't lie to us!" Morgana shouted angrily, raising the knife higher.
"Merlin!" Verona's voice was full of fear, as she cowered with her hands covering her face. "Don't do what they ask-"
"Silence!" Morgause cut Verona off, and Verona appeared to be literally unable to talk. She reached for her throat, and then shook her head, tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Alright! I won't lie! I'm a sorcerer!" Merlin shouted desperately, and Verona let out a sob, her voice seeming to have been returned to her.
Morgause smiled, "Your friends may think you are lying to please us. Why not prove it to them?"
Trembling, Merlin raised a hand towards the table across the room, and mumbled a few words under his breath. It lifted from the ground before landing softly again. "There. Are you happy?"
Arthur and Gwen were staring at Merlin with something that was either shock or horror in their eyes, but Merlin could not tell which. Perhaps it was both. Either way, he couldn't look at them in the eyes, so he turned away.
"If you help us, neither the Lady Guinevere or your sweet Verona will be killed." Morgana said, as if she were offering him some kindness.
Merlin looked from each of his friends to the next, and knew that he could not win, no matter what he did.
If he refused to help them, then they would kill Gwen and Verona, and Arthur would hate him for letting Gwen die and for being a sorcerer, and he would hate himself for letting Gwen and Verona die.
But then, if he helped them with whatever they were going to do to Arthur, he would not be able to fulfill his destiny, and Gwen would hate him for being a sorcerer and for letting Arthur die. He didn't know what Verona would say, but he imagined she'd be disappointed in him.
Merlin could not win. No matter what.
He was silent for a very long time. He knew what he must do, and he knew what it would cost. But he knew it was right. If he did not save Arthur, then someday there would be war in the land rather than peace, because Arthur would not be there to rule a peaceful kingdom. Thousands of people could die. So what would it be, thousands of strangers? Or two people he loved dearly, one as a sister and one romantically?
Merlin felt pain throbbing in his heart and spreading throughout his entire body. He did not want to choose who lived and who died. It wasn't fair to have the weight of this choice on him. But he had to choose. He had to decide.
His voice filled with pain, he looked directly into Morgana's eyes and said, "I will not help you betray our friends."
And the knife descended upon Verona.
Author's Note: So, yeah, I'm really evil. I'm pretty sure that was three cliffhangers in a row. But please don't hate me! I'd love it if you would review! Do you think Gwen and Verona will die? What do you think Arthur will think about the whole thing? Merlin's magic and his choice? What would YOU have chosen? And, last but not least, what are your predictions for what is to come? Please let me know in a review! I love hearing your opinions!