The Beginning of the End
Marayna laughed at something Merlin told her as they walked through the halls of the castle, it had surprisingly been a rather calm time so far, after Arthur's whole debacle with Sophia. They were thankful that Uther hadn't found out what happened. Arthur had all but demanded the 'true' story when he'd had time to process the fact he'd been enchanted, he'd been rather focused on how he'd hurt Marayna than the fact that Sophia and Aulfric might still be out there. And given he couldn't remember anything after leaving his rooms with Sophia to waking up in them, he wanted to know if there was still a threat to Camelot. They'd told him as much of the truth as they could without earning their own heads on a chopping block, namely that Sophia and Aulfric were intending to barter Arthur's life for immortality. They said they'd followed the trio into the woods, waiting till they could make a move to help. They fibbed a bit in saying that the other party had tried to betray Sophia and Aulfric, that they'd fought back and begun a small fight against each other, leaving them time to rush in and pull Arthur back. They maintained the entire 'knock out' portion though, claiming that he'd struggled against them and they'd had to take drastic measures to get him to cooperate. They'd also assured him that they'd been peeking out at the ongoing fight, that both sides had died in the attack. They hadn't expected Arthur to believe that both sides had offed themselves, but it appeared he took their word for it and, when no new attacks against Camelot were launched in the days after, he seemed to agree that both sides had fallen.
They were a bit disappointed that they'd had to tell him he hadn't actually eloped with Sophia, when he'd demanded why (a bit more forcefully than Merlin would have expected, but then again he could guess by the looks Arthur had shot Marayna that it was because of the fact it hurt HER that he was more upset) they'd said that they weren't sure whether it was safe to tell him magic had been involved, they hadn't wanted Uther to launch a witch hunt of sorts for an enemy that had died. Because they knew that Uther wouldn't believe servants that the threat had passed. Arthur had agreed to that and was letting that particular fib slide for the moment. He...could admit his father did get rather zealous when it came to things like that.
But then the two siblings stopped, wincing and rubbing their heads, hearing a child screaming in their minds, a cry of pain. They looked at each other and quickly took off, following the pull they could feel that came with the scream, someone was in trouble, they needed help, a child…
'Help!' they heard the boy shout again.
They slowed to a stop, looking around, trying to spot who it could be, "That way," Marayna took Merlin's arm, pulling him towards the square, feeling the tug coming from there.
'Help me! Please!'
They nearly spun in a circle as they reached a small courtyard, knowing that the boy had to be there, but they couldn't see him...and then Marayna gasped, 'Merlin, there!' she pointed to a small boy in a light green cloak, sitting by a stone ledge, holding his arm, looking at them with startlingly blue eyes, his hair a dark brown.
'Please,' the boy spotted them, 'You have to help me.'
Marayna let out a breath as she stared at the boy, she didn't know what it was, but...it felt like something was pulling at her from inside, something that wanted to help him, protect him…
'Help me,' he pleaded again, clearly weak and terrified.
Merlin glanced at a group of guards as they entered the square, all of them looking like they were on a mission of sorts, "Search in there," one ordered, "Take the other side. You, did you see a boy run in here?"
'They're searching for me,' the boy told them.
'Why are they after you?' Merlin asked, unable to imagine what a child could have done that was so bad the guards were being called.
'They're going to kill me.'
'He must be a Druid,' Marayna determined, well, guessed was more like it.
But it made sense though, the boy had to have some sort of magic to be able to speak to them in their mind. They'd worked out from how the Dragon had called to Merlin that it wasn't just THEM who could communicate in their minds but just...those with magic. But it seemed only those with natural magic, like druids and Seers and those born with the potential. They couldn't hear Gaius, even when they'd asked him to try, he'd said it was either because he hadn't practiced in so long or because he had chosen to study magic alongside a few others ages ago as a way to help better their healing and scientific crafts. He hadn't been born with the natural magic but had studied it and learned to use it. If they could hear the boy, he had magic, and she knew the only magic users in Camelot were her and Merlin so it had to be someone visiting. The green cloak...she just got the feeling, as she'd heard that the druids lived in the forests, that the color was synonymous with them.
She took a breath, realizing the boy was injured and knew that he couldn't have done whatever it was that had the guards after him...he was about to be captured (and likely killed) just because he was a Druid. And she just...she turned to Merlin, "I can't let this happen," she told him, before rushing over to a guard.
"Guards!" she called, rushing past them to speak to them, making them turn.
Merlin smirked at his sister, 'This way,' he called to the boy, seeing her distracting them, giving the boy a chance to get to him without being seen, 'Run. Run!
The boy got up and ran to him, still clutching his wounded arm.
"And I saw him run that way!" Marayna called, pointing in the opposite direction of where the boy was running, making the guards turn even more as Merlin ushered the boy into the shadows of the pillar he was standing beside, him turning to lean casually against it, trying to seem innocent.
"Thank you," one of the guards nodded at her, the lot of them rushing off with cries of, "Alert the rest of the guards! In there. Quick, down there. We've got 'im."
Marayna waited a moment till the guards disappeared in the wrong direction before joining Merlin at the pillar by the stairs where he'd hidden the boy, "We need to get him somewhere safe," she hissed quickly.
Merlin looked around, "Follow me," he took the boy's hand and they all ran up the stairs, dashing down the halls, till they burst right into Morgana's chambers.
"Merlin!" Morgana cheered, laughing and not at all annoyed with his entrance, "Have you forgotten how to knoc…" she trailed off, spotting the boy, staring at him with the same expression Marayna had had on her face earlier.
Marayna could just tell, Morgana had felt that same pull she did, that...need to help him, "The guards are searching for him," she explained quickly, "I tried to distract them but it won't be long before they've moved from searching the market and courtyards to searching the entire castle."
"We didn't know what to do," Merlin added, stepping more into the room, "This was the safest place…"
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, a guard calling through, "My Lady?" before knocking more, "My Lady?!"
Morgana shook her head out of her surprise, "In there," she ushered Merlin and the boy behind a curtain before she motioned for Gwen and Marayna to appear like they were working on something, folding or sweeping or anything really, before opening the door.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, My Lady," the guard began, not noticing Marayna look up suddenly at the curtain, her heart stopping for a moment. Even with it closed, even with Merlin not saying a word...she knew the boy had just collapsed into Merlin's arms.
"We're searching for a young Druid boy. We believe he came this way..."
"I haven't seen anyone," Morgana shook her head, being sure to speak calmly and slowly so as not to give away anything, "It's just me and mine and Arthur's maids."
The guard nodded, "Best keep the door locked till we find him."
"Of course. Thank you," she closed the door and turned to see Marayna already running to check on the boy, throwing the curtain aside to see that the boy's arm was bleeding, the boy far too pale as he laid limp against Merlin's chest as he sat on the floor from where he had fallen catching the boy.
~8~
It hadn't taken long for word to reach Uther about the boy's escape into Camelot and, soon enough, he'd been demanding the man who had accompanied the boy, another Druid, be executed post-haste. They'd been alerted to that when Arthur had dragged Merlin, on his way to get Gaius to help them treat the boy, off to the execution, claiming that at least one of his servants ought to be there, else his father might have a conniption about the servants slacking off.
Merlin was NOT happy about that, about being forced to stand there as another magic user was killed, but...he'd rather it be him than Marayna forced to witness that so close. He knew, of course, that while he went with Arthur, Marayna and Morgana would be standing in Morgana's chambers with Gwen, watching the square below. The boy's father, or at least they thought it might be him, it was most certainly a guardian at the very least for the boy, had been captured and was set to be executed swiftly in just mere moments.
Marayna shook her head sadly, seeing Arthur standing beside his father, looking for all the world as though he were the loyal son, agreeing with his father, but she could see it in his eyes, even from here, in the line of his mouth, he was unhappy with this decision. From what Merlin had told her of what Arthur had mumbled on the way...the man hadn't done much to harm the guards who captured him, he'd merely thrown them back. They thought, given how it sounded, that the man had done it on purpose, to pull attention away from the boy and give him a chance to escape. It seemed Arthur thought the same, he wasn't seeing some evil sorcerer, he was seeing a man with magic that had merely tried to buy supplies and ended up having to protect his son, or at least someone in his care.
Marayna was thankful that he had taken it that way. It seemed he was holding true to his declaration earlier that he would only punish those who deserved it, those who used their magic for evil...even if he might think a majority did that, he was learning to wait and gather the whole story first before passing judgment. Now if only his father could be the same. Because that was just it, wasn't it? ARTHUR would refused to execute a man who did nothing evil or bad, but Arthur wasn't king yet was he? Uther was the king, and Uther would murder them all if he could.
"People of Camelot," Uther called to the gathering crowd, "The man before you is guilty of using enchantments and magic. Under our law, the sentence for this crime is death. We're still searching for his accomplice. Anyone found harboring the boy is guilty of conspiracy,and will be executed as a traitor," he glared at the Druid man, "Let this serve as a warning to your people."
The Druid simply looked at Uther, sorrow in his eyes, and shook his head, "You have let your fear of magic turn to hate. I pity you."
"I can't watch this," Morgana stepped away, shaking her head and moving to the boy's side.
"No," Marayna agreed, recalling what Merlin had said of his first memory of Camelot, "Nor can I," and turned to join the women on the bed. Morgana cradled the boy, who was awake now and had heard every word, while Gwen tried to tend to his wound. Marayna reached out, taking his hand as the boy squeezed it when they heard the axe fall.
'No!' he cried out in his mind, a mirror of Morgana's on the wall shattering as a result of his magical outpouring.
Marayna winced as she heard the shout, but...surprisingly...she saw that Morgana did too.
~8~
Merlin sighed as he finally made it to Gaius's chambers, pleased to see the man not there and began gathering as many supplies as he could remember being used for a wound such as the boy's to help tend him. But he froze though when he heard the door open and Gaius clear his throat behind him. He spun around, a semi-innocent grin on his face as he asked, "Do you know much about the Druids?"
"Very little," Gaius replied, eyeing him suspiciously, "They're very secretive people. Especially now they're being hunted by Uther. Merlin, please tell me you and your sister haven't got yourselves mixed up in this."
"Me? Aya? No. Us? Mixed up in what?"
Gaius raised an eyebrow at that, at how he was stuttering and speaking quickly and grinning too widely, "For someone with such a big secret, you are a terrible liar."
"Well, we haven't done anything," he insisted.
"Merlin..."
Merlin sighed, cursing himself for not being as good as his sister in lying, "We heard the boy calling out. He was nowhere to be seen, but we could hear him... like he was inside our minds," he eyed Gaius a moment, "That's never happened except between Aya and I...that IS normal for the Druids though, isn't it? For magic users to be able to do that?"
"Yes, I've heard of this ability," Gaius nodded, he hadn't been able to experience it himself, but he HAD had friends who were naturally born with magic who had told him of the ability they shared, it was one way to determine who had been born with magic and who had studied it, "The Druids look for children with such gifts to serve as apprentices," the hidden meaning of it wasn't lost on Merlin, the Druids searched for any children who could do that as it was a sign of magic, hopefully a magic that appeared before it physically manifested, and took them away so that no one could accuse them of the magic they possessed, so they could protect the children and their gifts, "While they're searching for this boy, you must be especially careful otherwise it'll be your heads on the chopping block."
"We're always careful," Merlin smiled, "You know us."
"Yes, Merlin," Gaius sighed, "Unfortunately I do."
~8~
"How is he?" Merlin asked as Marayna opened the doors to Morgana's chambers to let him in, not even needing him to knock to know it was him, speaking in each other's minds was good for things like that.
"He's just fallen asleep," she told him quietly, ushering him in, checking the hall behind him before shutting the door.
"He's very pale," Morgana added as she stood by the bedside, Gwen kneeling before the boy, taking the supplies Merlin offered her to do her best, "I worry he may have lost a lot of blood."
Merlin stepped closer to Morgana, pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. He knew their relationship was safe to express around those in the room. Marayna knew, Morgana had most likely told Gwen after he'd declared his love for her (girls did that right? Told their closest friends when they were in love?). Though he got the impression, judging by the little sweet smile that Gwen was shooting them, that Morgana had certainly told her. And the boy was in no fit state to either notice them or even speak out against them. And...he couldn't help it, he just wanted to comfort her, he hated seeing her so sad and hurt.
"Has he said anything at all?" he looked at his sister.
"No," Marayna shook her head, smiling softly, at least her brother and his love expressed themselves around each other.
Arthur took so much work! She was fairly certain by now that she loved him, and though she knew it was doubtful she'd ever be able to marry him or be accepted as his wife...she would have liked to at least enjoy the moment, enjoy it as long as it lasted before he realized her faults and turned away from her. Like their mother said, it was better to have loved and lost than never love at all and she just...wanted to have a chance to actually and openly be that way to Arthur...or as openly as they could when not around others who would report her to the king.
"He won't even tell us his name," Morgana sighed, closing her eyes, leaning into Merlin's embrace.
He smiled softly, dropping a kiss to her hair, "You know, you were very brave before, sending the guard away. You're the king's ward. You're taking a huge risk helping the boy."
"I wouldn't see an innocent child executed. What harm has he ever done anyone?"
Marayna looked up, eyeing Morgana closely, "It won't matter to Uther if the boy has magic or not, even if he does. Just being associated with someone who has it makes him guilty."
"Uther's wrong," Morgana stated, turning away to step a little out of Merlin's hold.
"You think so?" she had to ask, she had to be sure. This was her brother and, as much as she trusted Morgana, her natural intuition telling her the woman would never hurt her brother, she had to be sure. She would not see his heart broken because he'd told her he had magic and she turned him away or thought him evil.
"What if magic isn't something you choose? What if it chooses you?" Morgana hesitated, seeing Marayna staring at her with a proud smile, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Marayna took a breath, knowing Gaius didn't want them to tell Morgana nor did he want them to tell her about her dreams, but...Gwen knew, Morgana should know as well, and her actions with the boy proved she could be trusted when it came to things like that, "Morgana...there's something we should tell you about your dreams."
"What?" Morgana frowned, was there something else Merlin hadn't told her about?
"They're not dreams. They're visions. You're a Seer. You...you have magic, just like Merlin and I do."
"Thought as much," Gwen murmured under her breath as she continued to tend to the boy, she'd been suspicious of that for AGES. Merlin had said he'd look into it, it seemed he had. It made quite a bit of sense now and...she felt rather special to have noticed it first.
Morgana blinked, "I know."
Marayna frowned frowned at that, "How? Did you have a vision?"
"No, Merlin told me."
Marayna blinked this time, "Merlin told you did he?" and turned to him, her eyebrow raised in a striking impersonation of Gaius, "And when were you going to tell me you told her, brother dear?"
He gave a caught smile and quickly turned, dashing for the door, "I'm going to get more salve and bandages!" he called before he fled the room.
Marayna waited till the door shut before laughing.
Morgana eyed her, suddenly feeling nervous. She knew the siblings had a close bond, they told each other everything. She liked to think she and Arthur shared a similar bond, not nearly as close as they weren't blood related, but...she could only imagine what Marayna felt knowing that Merlin had told her something and not let Marayna know about it, especially something as important and dangerous to know as their magic, "You're not angry, are you?"
She smiled up at Morgana, "Of course not. I knew he'd tell you the moment I saw how he looked at you."
"And how does he look at me?" Morgana wondered.
Marayna stood and took Morgana's hand, "Like a man would look at his wife."
Morgana blushed at the implication, knowing marriage was a VERY far away thing at the moment, but beamed at the thought that it had to mean Merlin truly loved her, "Good, because I already see you as a future sister," she added, before hesitating, taking a breath, "Can I tell you something?"
"Of course."
"Just before you came to Camelot...I had a dream, a vision I think. You and Arthur were on the throne, Merlin and I were beside you, Gwen and Lancelot and a few other men as knights and ladies of the court. People were happy and...watching a magic show. Uther was gone."
Marayna eyed her a moment, "So that's why you've been pushing me and Arthur together."
Morgana laughed, "You noticed?"
"It's hard not to. Last week you literally pushed me into Arthur's arms," well, more like nudged her a bit too much as they walked down the stairs and she'd tripped on the last one, Arthur catching her immediately before she really fell.
Morgana nodded, "I'm sorry about that but..." she sighed, "Arthur was just...so happy, everyone was, they weren't afraid. And I just...I want that future as soon as possible."
Marayna had to smile at that, only for it to fall when she looked out the window to see Arthur now leading a hunt for the boy, "As do I."
~8~
The next morning things were worse. Morgana had been fuming when she returned to her chambers from having dinner with Uther and Arthur that night. Uther was on a rampage, doubling the efforts to find the boy, charging Arthur to be the one to do it. She had ranted for a good hour as they tended to the boy, pacing her chambers, cursing Uther ever which way she knew how short of actually cursing him with magic. Before she'd calmed and knelt at the boy's side, worried to help tend to him.
"His fever's gotten worse," Marayna sighed, looking over at her brother as he entered the room.
"How long has he been like this?" Merlin asked the women, they'd stayed with him all night while he'd helped cover for Marayna.
Marayna yawned hallway through her answer of, "Since dawn..."
"I think his wound may be infected," Morgana remarked, frowning at it, it was red, the skin irritated and not looking healthy at all, "We need Gaius before it gets any worse."
"No," Merlin shook his head, "We can't involve Gaius. It's too dangerous. Besides, if he finds out about this, he'll execute us himself."
"We need to get him out of Camelot, and we can't do that while he's sick. We need a physician."
"I'll treat him."
"Merlin, you don't know the first thing about treating an infected wound," Marayna reminded him.
"But I'm a fast learner," he smirked.
"Can't you two just...heal him?" Gwen asked as she dabbed the boy's head with a cold cloth.
The siblings looked at each other, "We um...haven't gotten that far in our studies," Merlin admitted sheepishly...though given how often people attacked, it was probably one of the first things they should have looked into.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Morgana quickly closed the curtains around her bed, hiding Gwen and Merlin, but pulling Marayna away and shoving her behind her changing screen as there were too many on the bed to hide her as well, before opening the door, "Arthur!" she greeted the prince as he stood there, oddly enough without the guards, though Morgana could see them checking the other rooms up and down the hall, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Don't get all excited," he rolled his eyes, "It's not a social call. I'm looking for the Druid boy. I'm afraid I'm going to have to search your chambers."
She scoffed, "You're not searching my chambers."
"Don't take it personally. I have to search the entire castle. Only take a few minutes..."
"I'm not having you mess up my things!"
"I'm not interested in your things, I'm just looking for any evidence that the Druid boy's in the castle."
'Merlin,' Marayna called, her eyes wide as she peeked around the changing screen, spotting something by the wall.
'What?'
'His boots, they're sitting out here!' she could see the curtain around the bed open slightly, Merlin peeking through it and spotting the boots himself.
"Perhaps the Druid boy's hiding in your chambers," Morgana countered, crossing her arms, "They're usually such a mess, you'd never know."
"It's hardly my fault I have a lazy woman and an idiot for servants."
"Bestepe scós," Merlin whispered, making the boots tiptoe to him.
"What was that?" Arthur asked, hearing someone whispering and trying to look past Morgana.
Marayna's eyes widened and she shouted out the first thing she could think of, "Morgana, is that Arthur at the door?"
Arthur's eyes widened as he stepped more into the room, "Mara?" he called, looking at the thick changing screen he'd heard her voice come from behind.
"Yes, it's Arthur," Morgana replied, smirking, "Do you mind Arthur, Rayna's in the middle of trying some dresses on for me, I hardly think she'll appreciate you 'snooping' around the room while she starkers."
Arthur blushed, tearing his eyes away from the screen, not even realizing how false that statement was in his flushings, Marayna? Willingly try on dresses? He couldn't have been told a more obvious lie.
Marayna laughed, "If you can't even find Merlin, what hope do you have of finding the boy, Artie?"
He glared, "I told you to stop calling me that!"
"And I told you to stop insulting my brother!" she shot back from behind the screen.
"Gestile scós," Merlin murmured, watching as the boots hid behind a column just as Arthur turned to it.
"Did you hear that?" Arthur frowned.
Marayna tugged at the sleeve of her dress till it came off her shoulder and peeked her head around the screen, her one bare shoulder giving the very worst impression to Arthur ,whose eyes widened, "Hear what?" she smiled innocently at him, though he could see a teasing quality in her eyes.
"Um..." Arthur swallowed, staring at the white skin of her shoulders, he had been right, the slight tan she'd had when she first arrived really had been just from her travels.
"Arthur!" Morgana snapped, trying to sound offended by what he was doing, but having trouble just trying to keep from laughing.
He shook his head, "The sooner we get started, the sooner we'll be finished..."
"Astýre scós," Merlin breathed, quieter this time, getting the boots to tiptoe to him.
"Well, I'll save you the trouble," Morgana began.
"Trust me, if I could find him, I would," Arthur sighed.
For some reason Marayna doubted that. Arthur was...well, he WAS a skilled tracker and hunter, if he really wanted to find the Druid boy...he would have by now. Especially with him being right there on the bed. She got the feeling he wasn't exactly trying his hardest in this mission...which was as close to outright defying his father that she'd witnessed personally.
"The Druid boy's hiding behind the curtain," Morgana finished, "I'm sure your father would love to know how you wasted your time by rifling through my things. Go on," she gestured at her bed, practically inviting him to do so.
"So you can have the satisfaction of making me look a fool?" Arthur rolled his eyes, frowning when Marayna started laughing behind the screen, pulling her head back.
Merlin and Gwen smirked at each other as they sat on the bed, trying to keep quiet at how Arthur had completely fallen for that.
Morgana smiled, "In my experience, you don't need any help looking like a fool. What are you waiting for?" she nodded at the bed again, "Take a look."
"Why don't you go back to brushing your hair, or whatever it is that you do all day?" Arthur mock-sneered.
"Bye, Arthur," she called as Arthur turned to leave, "Good luck with the search!" she shut the door and they all started laughing.
~8~
Marayna shook her head, she really should have gone to get the supplies for the boy instead of Merlin, her brother could never lie to Gaius, and while she didn't like to do so, she was better at it than him, due to the far less honorable men she'd come to know during her time with her aunt. He'd sent her a mental message that he was stuck learning about anatomy, that it would take a while before he could get the supplies to them.
Marayna stared at the boy's wound, something about it...niggling her, every time Morgana tended to it actually, which gave her an idea, "Morgana," she began, "How would you like a little lesson in magic right now?"
Morgana looked up, a spark in her eyes, "What kind of lesson? For my dreams?"
"No...I..." she hesitated, trying to figure out how to phrase it, "Sometime I get feelings about things, mum always used to say it was woman's intuition but...I think it might have a bit more to do with magic. I've learned over the years to just sort of go with them..."
Gwen frowned, "And you're getting a feeling about Morgana's magic?"
She nodded, moving to the side of the bed and sitting down beside the noblewoman, "May I?" she held out a hand to Morgana and she put hers in Marayna's, watching curiously as the girl turned her hand over and placed it on the dressings of the boy's wound as gently as she could, "Magic is...like breathing," she began, "It's natural. You just have to...want something and then let your magic help you get it. It reacts to YOU, to what you want. Close your eyes," Morgana nodded and closed her eyes, "Just concentrate. What do you want right now, more than anything?"
"I don't want him hurt," Morgana breathed, thinking of all the times the boy would flinch, how his face would scrunch up in pain.
"Good. Now...imagine when you get hurt, how it heals slowly over time. See that happen in your mind, feel how much you want him better...imagine his wound healing, but quicker, so much quicker, healed by how much you want him to be healthy again..." she watched carefully, testing Morgana...only to see the tiniest flash of gold under Morgana's eye lids and smiled, squeezing Morgana's hand, "Open your eyes."
Morgana's eyes fluttered open and Marayna reached out, slowly unwrapping the bandage around the boy's arm. Morgana and Gwen gasped when they saw the wound was gone, that it was completely healed.
"Oh my..." Morgana breathed.
"You healed him!" Gwen cheered, hugging her Lady, she'd been told of the evils of magic for so long, but meeting Merlin and Marayna, seeing what they'd done for her, but never really seeing them use their magic in front of her for something like this...to see this, to see it be used to help, to heal...it was incredible.
"I healed him?" Morgana looked at Marayna for confirmation.
"You did it," Marayna nodded, "I knew it. You're not just a Seer Morgana, I think you're a healer too."
Morgana smiled, thinking on the words she'd said to Merlin about believing she'd become evil with the power she had if she had magic...to hear that, to hear she was a healer...like Gaius, who always made her feel safe and loved and good as a child...it meant the world to her. Because she'd just been able to help someone, to take away their pain, to make them healthy again. Yes, she'd needed Marayna's help, she'd needed that push and true it was just a cut but...it was a start, it was a hint of the things she might one day be able to do and she was determined to find out more about it, about what healers were capable of. She just...she wanted to do good.
"Thank you," Morgana reached out and hugged Marayna.
'Thank you Reesa,' the boy called to her as well, now awake and looking healthy once more.
"You're welcome," Marayna smiled, though she was a bit confused as to who this Reesa person was and why he called her that.
~8~
"Sorry," Merlin called as he finally made it into Morgana's chambers, "Once Gaius gets talking about anatomy, there's no stopping hi…" he trailed off, spotting the boy sitting up in bed, looking healthier and eating a bit of bread and fruit on a tray beside Gwen.
"We know," Morgana smirked, seeing his startled look.
"What happened?" Merlin shook his head, moving over to join them.
"Apparently, Morgana's not just a Seer," Gwen smiled at her Lady.
"She's a Healer Merlin," Marayna added. She really had no idea how that worked but she almost felt like they might be connected somehow. She would most certainly be seeing the Dragon or Gaius about it to find out though.
Merlin's eyes widened as he turned to Morgana, "You healed him?"
Morgana gave a little nod, wondering what he'd think of that. But his wide, proud, awed smile was more than enough to reassure her he was pleased.
"That's incredible," he beamed at her, taking her hand, before getting a sly smirk, 'You're amazing Gana,' he told her silently in her mind, making her gasp, startled to hear him so intimately. Finding out she'd been able to heal the boy, it meant she had magic, it meant she had a natural magic which meant...they should be able to speak to her in her mind as well, which she confirmed with her gasp.
The boy eyed them a moment, knowing exactly who they were, the Seer Morgana and the prophesized Emrys, the warlock, the Archmage. He knew that they would be a powerful pairing, a powerful trio if Reesa was added to the mix. He tilted his head at the three of them, already he could see the stirrings of the abilities and magics they'd be famous for.
Morgana, the Healer.
Emrys, the Protector.
Reesa, the Fighter.
All three would one day help restore magic back to the land and Emrys had just taken the first step towards showing the good in it. That would be...essential to Morgana's path. The Druids...they had been keeping a very close eye on the Lady Morgana. It was one reason they remained so close to Camelot despite the danger in it, they'd needed to be closer to watch over her. There was doubt that there would ever be as powerful a Seer as Morgana, their own Seers needed to be closer to their object of sight in order to see it, so they remained near the castle to keep watch on her, to try and keep anything that might influence her to become a detriment in their quest of peaceful relations with Camelot, of proving magic was merely a tool, neither good nor evil, away from her.
The Lady Morgana's path would be one riddled with choice, to go one way would mean a peaceful return of magic, to go another would mean endless bloodshed and the prolonging of that event. But they could not tell her her destiny, it was not their fate to do so, and if they should try, there was always a risk that they themselves would influence her too much one way or the other or drive her to turn her back on one path for the other. No, it was best to watch from afar.
'Thank you, Emrys,' the boy called out.
Merlin looked over at him, a small frown on his face, 'Emrys? Why do you call me that?'
'He called me Reesa before,' Marayna chimed in, having heard the boy speaking in her brother's mind.
The boy looked at them, 'Among my people, those are your names.'
'You know who we are?' Merlin glanced at his sister, 'How?'
"Can you speak out loud," Marayna asked him, as thrilled as she was to find out this talent among magic users...she'd only ever had her brother's voice in her head so hearing another was a bit unnerving at the moment and would take some getting used to. That and she knew from how Morgana's gaze flickered between the three of them that she could hear the boy as well...but Gwen couldn't. The maidservant seemed to sense something was going on but didn't know what.
Morgana sighed when he remained silent, "I don't know if he can't speak, or...he's just too scared to."
~8~
Merlin and Marayna, contrary to what Arthur believed possible from them, quietly and carefully made their way down the halls towards the Dragon's cave, spotting guards searching for the boy as they went and taking care to be even more wary and alert.
"Hello?" Merlin called when they came to the empty cave.
The Dragon climbed around a corner and roared, startling them. Merlin sighed while Marayna gave a small squeak of fear, not having expected that, making the Dragon chuckle.
"Do you have to do that?" Marayna demanded, her hand on her chest where her heart was pounding, "You scared the life out of me!"
"The young warlock and witch return," he eyed them, "No doubt you're here about the Druid boy."
"How did you know?" Merlin frowned.
"Like you, I hear him speak."
"Why does he call us Emrys and Reesa?"
"Because those are your names."'
Merlin gave him a look as though he really had gone round the bend ages ago like Marayna had once feared, "I'm pretty sure my name's Merlin and hers is Marayna, always has been."
"You have many names."
"Do we?"
Marayna shook her head, "I don't need any more, I've got too many names already," she countered, "Marayna, Rayna, Aya, Mara, Ray..."
"Who calls you Ray?" Merlin looked at her, confused, he'd never heard anyone call her that before, none that he could remember at least.
They hadn't exactly had many friends in Ealdor, even fewer that would give nicknames to them, far less than that were the ones that gave nicknames that they actually liked. There had been quite a few children that called them, well, 'monsters' and 'freaks' and 'evil' at times. It was mostly when something bad happened, even if it was something far beyond the capabilities of two children, the villagers would whisper about them. They always heard though.
"A friend I met in East Anglia," Marayna waved him off, "He was half drunk and thought my name was Raymana. I think he was trying for Romona but kept slurring and eventually just left it as Ray and what does this have to do with the boy?" she shook her head at her brother, realizing they'd gotten off topic, but...it was a bit true, she really did have too many names. But, in a way each was just special and certain sorts of people called her by them. Their mother was really the only one who called her Marayna any longer, everyone else called her Rayna, Merlin was the only one who called her Aya much like Arthur was the only one who called her Mara, and Ray belonged to...
"Right," Merlin spoke, cutting off her thoughts as he looked at the Dragon, "How does the boy know who we are? We've never even met any Druids."
"There is much written about you that you have yet to read," the Dragon sighed, "You should not protect this boy."
"And why not?" Marayna frowned, "He's got magic, that puts him under our protection."
The Dragon had to smile at that, he doubted she even realized what she'd said, how she'd phrased it, as though those with magic were theirs to protect. It was true, though, far more true than she realized, her and her brother's destinies lied with the magical community, they WERE meant to be its protectors, but he hadn't said a thing about it, just that they would help return magic to Camelot. But he also knew that neither of them fully realized the titles they would one day come to bear among those with magic, that was a story for another day.
"He's just like us," Merlin agreed.
"You and the boy are as different as day and night," the Dragon remarked.
"What do you mean?"
Marayna shook her head, "Hold on…Merlin and I are as different as night and day as well. There's something more to this…" she hesitated, feeling something stirring in the back of her mind, "Is this one of the events that changed?"
The Dragon sighed, knowing she was referring to what he'd told her of her birth, how it would change the fate of Camelot and those in it. Already a change was beginning. He was aware Arthur knew at least a partial truth of his mother's fate, it had made him determined to see at least something good in magic. And the Lady Morgana as well, in being in Camelot, Marayna had made it so her brother need not focus entirely on Arthur...it gave him freedom to notice things he wouldn't have, a determination to do things he should have done.
But there were still many series of events to come that would shape the fate of the Lady Morgana and the boy the two were so keen to protect, "It is…but it is not complete."
"What does that mean?" Merlin frowned.
The Dragon looked at them, "The boy's path will split one day," much like Morgana's would though he said nothing about it, they had not asked of Morgana but merely the boy, "A path of dark or a path of light yet there is too much sway to the dark. Heed my words, do not protect the boy."
"But if he still has a choice," Marayna shouted after the Dragon as it he flew off, "Maybe we can sway him to the light…oh never mind," she huffed when he dived down and disappeared in the darkness.
She hated when Dragons just flew off like that.
~8~
Morgana looked up from where she sat beside the boy, her arms around him, him clutching to her, having woken from a nightmare of the execution that had happened only recently, when the door opened and Gwen stepped in with another small tray of food, the boy had woken with quite the appetite now that he was healthy again.
"Thank you Gwen," Morgana smiled, taking the food and offering the bread and cheese to the boy, "Please," she whispered, holding it to him, "Eat something more."
The boy eyed the bread a moment before hesitantly taking it from her, nibbling on it, before starting to truly eat it, almost exactly what he'd done before with the fruit and it broke Morgana's heart to think that he might fear they'd poisoned his meal or something like that.
"There we are," she grinned, absently running her hand through the boy's hair.
He looked up at her with his blue eyes, 'Thank you Morgana.'
She smiled at that and glanced at Gwen as she sat at the foot of the bed, curious about something, "Did you hear that?"
"What?" Gwen looked over.
"He said my name."
"Did he? I didn't hear anything."
"He said it in my mind…like when Merlin and Marayna speak," she added, thinking on that. It had probably been a bit of a stretch on her part to think Gwen might have some magic in her as well. It just felt like the girl was learning that everyone around her had magic, Merlin, Marayna, Morgana, so why not wonder if Gwen had it too, but it seemed not so.
Gwen gave a smile and sighed, "You're actually making me jealous I don't have magic."
Morgana laughed at that, that was never something anyone in Camelot would think to hear in such a place, "Then we've taken the first step to showing the good of magic then."
"Yes," Gwen nodded, determined to prove to others, when the time came, that magic could be good, not evil as Uther wanted everyone to believe. She would vouch for her Lady, for her friends, when the truth one day came out.
There was a knock on the door as a voice hissed, "It's us."
Merlin.
Gwen got up and opened the door, letting them in.
"How is he doing?" Marayna asked, making her way to Morgana's side. She couldn't explain it, but…there was something about the boy that made her want to protect him, much like she knew Morgana felt as well. It was like this little pull to him, she really didn't know what it was, whether it was magic or something else, but it was strong. For a moment though, she did wonder if it was because he reminded her so much of Merlin growing up, dark hair, light eyes, magical...that could be it. It might even explain why Morgana was so attached to him as well, if she was seeing a younger version of Merlin or something like that.
She honestly didn't know.
Morgana gave a little smile, "He's eating, which is good, but he still hasn't spoken…not out loud."
They glanced at the boy, watching him eat the last of his bread and start to move onto the cheese. He seemed better now, stronger, which meant it was safe to move him, and they'd have to do it soon before Uther turned it into a witch hunt. Unfortunately…the only one they knew with any experience sneaking a magic user in and out of Camelot…was Gaius and, as much as they didn't want to involve him, fearing for his safety should anyone find out, they needed help.
~8~
"The search for this Druid boy is becoming a real nuisance," Gaius muttered as he puttered around his work area, Merlin and Marayna sitting at the table, watching him even as they absently helped mix some liquids and crush some herbs, "With all the extra security around the castle, it's taking me twice as long to do my round. Is that everything?"
Marayna took a breath, "Uncle…there's something you should know…"
And then Merlin blurted out, "Morgana's hiding the Druid boy in her chambers."
Gaius just looked at them as though he half-expected the boy to be hiding, that they had hidden him as well, but just slightly surprised…and not really surprised at all…that they'd involved Morgana, "When you say that Morgana's hiding the Druid boy, I take that means that you're helping her?"
"Sort of."
"Merlin, you promised me that you two wouldn't get involved."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"It's not like we could just sit there and do nothing," Marayna shook her head, "He's a little boy!"
"Every guard in Camelot is searching for this boy, and you're harboring him under their very noses," Gaius shook his head, "Can't you see how dangerous that is? What were you thinking of?"
"Were we supposed to hand him over to the guards to be executed?" Merlin defended.
"You think you can save this boy? What happens if you're caught? Who's going to save you?"
"You're saying it's wrong to harbor a young magician?"
"Talk about the pot calling the kettle black," Marayna muttered, giving their uncle a rather pointed look. For all his preaching, he wasn't exactly practicing it was he. How could he expect them to really listen to things like that when he himself was proving an example against it? It was even worse for Gaius, he was 'harboring' TWO magic users.
"The difference is," Gaius sighed, "That your magic is still secret. Though it's a wonder how, considering how careless you both are."
"I'm a decent liar," Marayna shrugged, "And Arthur is very thick."
"The boy was hurt," Merlin cut in, "He was really sick till Morgana healed him and…"
"Morgana did what?!" Gaius shouted, giving them a glare, "You told her about her magic didn't you? After I specifically told you both not to!"
"We had to," Marayna defended, not about to let Merlin get in even more trouble, even though HE had been the one to actually tell her, SHE had 'told' her as well, "As much as I respect you Uncle and value your knowledge...this isn't something you have any sort of experience in. YOU have no idea what it is like to grow up with magic in a time where magic is hated," she gave him a sad look, making him hesitate because...he truly DIDN'T know what that was like. He'd grown up when magic was thriving and accepted and practiced everywhere, where one could wander the market and see a Druid healing someone or a magician playing tricks for the children, where it was such a common sight you hardly noticed. Yes, he lived in a time where it was hated, but he did not know what it was like to grow up like that, "You don't know what you start to think about yourself when you can do something others can't and no one explains it to you."
Their mother had tried her hardest to not tell them about the magic, trying to play off their abilities as strange occurrences, but making them swear not to do it around others or even speak of it. She had believed if they didn't know it was magic then they couldn't be doing magic. But when they grew stronger, their magic more wild, she'd had to tell them. But they had spent quite a few years so afraid of themselves, believing what their villagers called them behind their backs…neither of them wanted Morgana to feel that way, especially having been raised under Uther, she must have heard worse even if it wasn't directed at her.
"Please," Merlin added quietly, seeing Gaius calm down a little in his shock at having been put in his place by his niece, "We need your help to get him out."
"You want me to risk my neck, too?" he sighed, "I wish the boy no harm, but it's too dangerous."
"Well that's lovely," Marayna said dryly, "Do be sure to keep yourself back from the pyre when we burn after getting caught trying to get him out on our own, with no experience. Because we WILL help him uncle. No matter what, we will do our best, with or without your help."
Merlin nodded, "You didn't turn your back on us. Please don't turn your back on him."
Gaius looked at them for a long while, seeing the determination in their eyes, and sat down. Even if he physically couldn't help them...he could still help them plan.
~8~
In the market, Morgana, Merlin, and Gwen were watching the guards search, Marayna remaining in Morgana's rooms should anyone try to search them while they were out there. They knew it would be too suspicious for Morgana to remain in her rooms for the last few days, she had to step out, be seen, so as to avoid suspicion.
"Halt there!" a guard stopped a man pulling a cart through the gate, searching it.
"The guards are searching everyone leaving the town," Gwen sighed.
"There is another way out," Merlin told them quietly, "There's a secret door in the armory. It leads to the lower town. Aya and I'll take the boy out that way."
"No," Morgana shook her head, clasping her hands together so as to avoid the desire she felt to take his hand and squeeze it, there were too many people around to see it, "It's too dangerous. I'll do it."
"Morgana," he murmured quietly, "Aya and I, we have more experience in using our magic to get in and out of things…"
"But if you are caught, Uther will execute you, whether he sees you 'getting in and out' or not. The boy's my responsibility. I'll smuggle him out of the castle."
He sighed, but he could see her point. She had lived in Camelot all her life, she'd be better able to improvise, use back ways, she'd know the guards reactions, and…heaven forbid…if she got caught, Uther would never execute her. Lock her in the dungeons for the rest of her life, but not kill her.
...and they could always rescue her from the dungeons.
"You'll need a key for the door," he gave in, knowing for either her or the boy to use magic would be disastrous. A missing key could explain an open door as easily as magic, though the key wouldn't get you killed for it.
"Who has it?"
"Arthur," he pointed at Morgana as she opened her mouth to suggest a plan, "And no, we are not using my sister's 'womanly wiles' to get it from him."
Morgana sighed, she was hoping to tease Arthur with it should Marayna succeed in 'seducing' the key out of his hold. Though, now that she thought about it, that might be too obvious and fingers would point too easily.
~8~
Merlin and Marayna stood behind Arthur that night as he ate the soup they'd brought him for dinner. They kept glancing at the keys stuck to his belt. They'd tried all night to sneak it off him, but had had no luck doing it the normal way. It was time to resort to magic.
"Inbringe," Merlin whispered, his eyes glowing golden, "Cume mec."
"Is there any bread?" Arthur asked as the spell caused the keys to float off his belt.
"Right here," Marayna stepped up, handing him some bread, trying to distract him from the keys right behind his head, jingling.
He frowned, hearing them, and turned, the keys moving with him, "What was that?"
"What?" Merlin stiffened, standing there, the picture of innocence.
"There was a sound."
"There was?" Marayna joined in, pouring him something to drink.
Merlin glanced at the keys, moving to follow Arthur as he stood up, trying to search out the sound which was really just them jingling behind him, "What is that? Can't you hear it?!"
"I can't hear anything," Merlin shook his head.
"Are you deaf? It's like a...jangling sound…" he walked towards Merlin, the keys following him, too far away for Marayna to reach without being noticed as she realized her brother was doing it to have a bit of fun with the prince.
"There!" she shouted, pointing towards the door.
"What?" Arthur spun around as Merlin grabbed the keys.
"I thought I saw something," Marayna shrugged, this time it being her turn to look innocent.
Merlin, grinning at the chance to play a prank on Arthur, looked at a spoon which levitated before falling into Arthur's soup.
"What was that?" Arthur spun around.
"What was what?" Merlin asked.
"A different sound, like a...like a splash."
Marayna laughed and patted his arm, pushing him lightly back into his chair, "I think this whole search is starting to get to you dear, you're starting to hear things now," she patted his head, almost mock-patronizingly, "Eat your soup Artie."
Arthur rolled his eyes, grumbling to himself about deaf servants, before eating his soup once more, cautiously glancing around the room for more noises as his servants exchanged smug smiles behind him.
~8~
Morgana stood in her chambers with the boy beside her, dressed in Marayna's travelling clothes, a white tunic and black leggings, with boots, trying to look as different from her average noble self as possible, needing to be able to move quickly which a dress wouldn't afford. She could see now why Marayna disliked dresses, especially with all the running around she and Merlin had to do after Arthur.
"It'll have to do," she murmured to herself as Gwen stood there with a cloak over her arms. She sighed, looking at Gwen, "I feel I've put you in danger without ever stopping to ask how you feel about it. I'm sorry."
Gwen just smiled, "I know how it feels to face the threat of execution. And I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Especially not on a child, and especially not now that I know the truth," she added, smiling at the boy. She knew the truth, magic was not evil and she couldn't bear the thought of another innocent person losing their life to Uther's insanity.
There was a knock, "It's us," Marayna called quietly and Gwen rushed to let them in.
"We've got the…" Merlin started, before stopping dead, his eyes wide as he stared at Morgana. He'd seen her in dresses, even in her nightdress…but…in just a tunic and leggings…her legs…
Marayna rolled her eyes even as Morgana blushed under Merlin's desirous stare and punched her brother on the arm, "There's a time and a place to gawk at your beloved Merlin."
Merlin shook his head, "Right, right, yes…" he glanced at Morgana again, clearing his throat and shifting, Morgana blushing more to hear him not denying his sister calling her 'his beloved' or anything, "Sorry."
Morgana just smiled, before the boy clutched her hand, anxious. She smiled down at him, running a hand through his hair, "We're going to get you out of Camelot. I won't let anything bad happen to you. I promise."
"Are you ready?" Marayna asked.
Morgana nodded, "Did you get the keys?"
Merlin handed them over, "Yeah. Er, the door is behind the shield at the far end of the armory."
"I'll pack you some food and water for the journey," Gwen told them, rushing over to the table to pack some food for them.
"I wish you'd let one of us go with you," Merlin sighed, looking at Morgana softly.
She smiled at his concern, "If Uther found even one of you with me…" she shook her head, "I couldn't bear it if something happened to you Merlin," she glanced at Marayna, "And I know you and Arthur would be devastated if Rayna was hurt…"
They nodded, they didn't like it, but of all of them, Morgana had the least chance of being executed. And if the absolute worst came to it, they could cry enchantment, though all of them were loathe to do that and help continue to perpetuate the stereotype that magic was always used for selfish gain and evil.
"Be careful," Gwen handed over the food.
Morgana nodded, taking a breath and the keys before stepping towards the door, pausing to give Merlin a quick kiss on the cheek before dashing out into the hall with the boy, leaving them to wait.
~8~
Gwen paced through Morgana's chambers, "I hope they're ok. Morgana really cares about the boy. I've never seen her this way with anyone," well, with anyone she'd just met at least, she was rather caring with those close to her.
"I'm sure she just wants to protect him," Merlin had to smile, that was his Gana.
Marayna though, looked up, no, it was more than that. It was like…the boy was special, would be special, to the three of them. She didn't know how or why, but she knew both she and Morgana felt the same, the boy had to be kept safe. Only now she knew more why. If they could show him mercy, show him kindness…he'd be one step closer to the path of light, the Dragon would be wrong, she would make sure of that.
That boy would not fall to the evils Uther preached magic to be.
Her thoughts were cut off the moment the warning bells began to sound. The three of them looked up, alarmed, able to guess exactly what had set them off. They could only pray Morgana had made it to the horse they'd fed and watered for her, she had to be alright. She had to be.
'Goodbye Emrys,' they heard the boy in their minds, 'Goodbye Reesa.'
Merlin and Marayna exchanged a glance, able to tell that, wherever Morgana and the boy were...they were fleeing now.
~8~
Uther had not been happy to find that Morgana had been the one to hide the boy and try to help him escape. She'd been caught. A servant had seen her escaping with the boy and run to Arthur. Marayna had closed her eyes at that, adding another note to her long list of things to change. They would have to devise a way, a path, right from the castle to the forests, that just a select few would know about to avoid situations like these. Or at least have servants who were more sympathetic as to not run screaming about the laws when a child's life was at stake.
Morgana had begged and pleaded with Uther to try and spare the boy, but the man's temper knew no bounds. He'd nearly attacked Morgana herself, Morgana having to sit in Merlin's lap and tell him to hold her just to keep the boy from jumping up to go murder the king himself when he found out later. He could understand why Morgana sometimes feared the idea of having magic now. Knowing how bad Uther was being, how terrible, having the power to change it, to stop all the terror…but also knowing that to do so would devastate Arthur...it was the only thing holding them back.
"I promised that I wouldn't let anything bad happen," Morgana swallowed guiltily, tears in her eyes as she sat on Merlin's lap, the boy holding her close with his arms around her.
"You can't blame yourself," he kissed her temple, "You tried your best."
"It's not enough."
"He's in jail now," Merlin sighed, resting his head on hers, "There's nothing more we can do."
"Oh ye of such little faith brother," Marayna smiled, "I'm not about to let another child die at Uther's hands," she stood up, "Are you with me?" she held out her hand.
He grinned, taking it, gently shifting Morgana onto his chair as he stood, "Always," he smirked, "Where you go, I go."
"And me," Morgana stood up, putting her hand on top of theirs.
"Me as well," Gwen added her hand.
"Wonderful," Marayna smiled, "Because you see…those measly metal bars can scarcely hold a 'sorcerer.' Uther really should know that by now."
It was truly hard to say that as it was entirely true. Because all those people he'd had in those cells during the Purge…they hadn't escaped, because many of them were just family, friends, acquaintances of those who had even been just accused of being 'sorcerers.' They couldn't escape, and they were killed as a result. It was also sickening to think that, all those people who were believed to be 'sorcerers' who hadn't escaped...well, didn't that prove they weren't magic users if they had no magic to escape with? No one seemed to realize that though.
But that child, that little boy, they'd save him or die trying.
~8~
Arthur stepped into his room to see Morgana, Merlin, Marayna, and Gwen waiting for him and rolled his eyes, "Make yourself at home," he gestured sarcastically to the room, they were already 'at home' with Morgana seated on an armchair before the fireplace, Gwen beside her but slightly behind, with Merlin resting his arm on the top of the chair, Marayna leaning against the bedpost with her arms crossed...she seemed to like doing that, leaning and crossing her arms.
Marayna looked at Morgana, who nodded, before she pushed off the post and walked over to Arthur. They had all spoken and, upon a vote, decided she should be the one to talk to Arthur. Morgana had had a secretive little smile on her face that made Marayna think she might have seen many similar things to this in her dreams, her swaying Arthur's decisions. Well…it was time to find out.
"Are you really going to let your father execute that little boy?" she began.
Arthur nearly scoffed, "You're lucky he's not executing Morgana," he glanced at her, "Are you telling me he really was behind the curtain when I came to search your chambers?"
Marayna rolled her eyes, "Bleeding, wounded, and dying, thanks for the concern My Lord," she snapped, making him flinch, before sighing, "I know you don't want to see him killed…"
"What I want doesn't matter. My father's made up his mind. He won't be talked out of it," he sighed, "I tried. I really DID try Mara."
"I know," she said softly, looking into his eyes, she knew he'd try to argue against it, she knew Arthur. As much as she hated to admit it, she was starting to know him very well, better and better each day. He was a fair hunter, he would have found the boy within hours if he was really trying. It was her opinion he was trying to delay the hunt as long as he could to give the boy a chance to escape, "Words can only go so far Arthur, actions DO speak louder than them."
"Whatever you're thinking, it's not going to happen," he shook his head.
"What's so hard about getting him to the forest, back to the Druids? He'd be safe and they could protect him…"
"No," he shook his head firmer, "Forget it."
If she got caught, Uther would kill her outright, no talking, no hesitation, she'd be dead and he…he couldn't bear the thought of that. He felt guilty enough HE had tried to kill her not long ago, he'd...he'd made a promise to himself never to hurt her like that again, never to let her be hurt like that. He had promised he'd do all he could to protect her, he'd promised himself he would protect her.
"If you let him die, Arthur, if you let an innocent child die," she shook her head, "Then you're..."
"It's too late," he cut in, not wanting to hear what she would think of him for this, "He's been caught. I have no choice."
"You always have a choice. This one…this one is between what's right and what's easy. Do you save the life of a boy whose only crime is being a Druid? Or do you play the dutiful son and follow your father's orders? But think how this decision will affect your future Arthur, will this be how you rule as king? Just like your father?"
"I will not betray him," he said firmly.
"So you would betray your people then?" she countered, "I thought you cared more for the value of a child's life after you helped the orphans, but I suppose I was wrong. I wish you a merry old reign then My Lord."
And with that, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Arthur torn, but also disheartened that she saw his reign as being one of darkness, of his people unhappy with him…afraid of him…like he knew they were his father. He had seen what that sort of reign was like...he would rather be loved than feared.
"How does she do that?" he asked the other three, she always managed to walk away, leaving him either stunned, speechless, or thoughtful, before he could even form an argument.
"No idea," Merlin shrugged.
He really didn't know, she hadn't really done much of that to him in Ealdor, whether it was because they'd often been on the same page and it just wasn't necessary or because he hadn't been firm enough not to give into her requests he didn't know. But, it was almost like coming to Camelot, discovering her own destiny had made her…wiser. He could see it, in those moments when she one-upped Arthur, when she really got him to THINK about things...he could see her being the wonderful Queen the Dragon spoke of, the woman who could handle Arthur, who could make Camelot the golden time they'd been promised.
~8~
Merlin put his arm around his sister as they walked through the square, seeing the executioner sharpening his axe. She hadn't slept at all that night, just sat up thinking, so he hadn't slept either. They headed to Arthur's chambers, entering to see Morgana already there with Arthur…who stopped talking as soon as he saw Marayna.
"Sorry," Merlin began, confused, while Marayna frowned, "Were we interrupting something?"
"Nothing you need concern yourself with," Arthur said quickly, "Go make yourselves useful, muck out my horses."
"I trust Merlin," Morgana cut in, "And I know you want Marayna to know about this. You're doing it for her after all."
"Yes," Arthur rolled his eyes, "Thank you for saying that out loud," he sighed and motioned for them to enter, "We're going to break the Druid boy out of the dungeons."
Marayna smiled widely, launching herself at him in a hug that knocked him back a few feet. Arthur seemed a bit surprised at the reaction, but his arms wound around her quickly despite it, starting to smile as he held her tighter, knowing she would probably pull away too soon like she had with their kiss (which he really DID need to speak to her about) and just...wanting to savor the moment.
Morgana smirked with a smug look, she'd told him Marayna would do that, but he hadn't believed her.
Merlin though just looked at Morgana, "Are you sure?"
"We have to," she nodded, "Uther's going to execute him at dawn."
"I mean..." he swallowed hard, wanting so badly to touch her but knowing that Arthur, while clearly taken with Marayna, also had a bit of a soft spot for Morgana, as a sister to him, and to see her with his servant…well, they both wanted time to just be themselves and be together as opposed to hearing Arthur's comments on it. Not that they couldn't throw back comments of their own about him and Marayna, but…they'd declared their feelings for each other, they knew Arthur had not, not yet, "It's too dangerous. You've already been caught once, and if the king catches you a second time he'll never forgive you."
"I'm not worried for myself."
"Merlin's right," Arthur said as Marayna let go and stepped back, feeling very much like Morgana had when she'd kissed Merlin after the chalice had been poisoned, "When my father finds out the boy's escaped, he will suspect you being involved."
"It's suicide," Merlin agreed.
"So go to Uther and apologize," Marayna shrugged, not seeing an issue, "If you're dining with him, he can't blame you should the boy escape."
Morgana smiled, "That's genius."
Arthur nodded, "Merlin and Mara will take your place in helping me."
"Us?" Merlin looked over.
"I'm going to take the boy out through the burial vaults. There's a tunnel that leads beyond the city walls. One of you will get my horse from the stables and meet me there while the other brings rope and a hook for the grate that covers the entrance to the tunnel."
Merlin and Marayna looked at each other before nodding, they knew if they didn't help Arthur would surely be caught. Neither wanted that, nor did they want the boy to die. It had been their intention to help the boy all along, so of course they agreed.
~8~
"I need to know why you told us not to protect the boy," Merlin called as he tugged Marayna down to the Dragon's cave. She had been very determined to save the boy and get everything set up right that very moment, but Merlin, while he did want to save him, there was that niggling in the back of his mind, what the Dragon had said to them…and he didn't just have Aya to worry about, but Morgana…if that dark path the Dragon had spoken of led the boy to harm either woman…he needed to know.
"You seek my counsel and yet you choose to ignore it," the Dragon remarked.
"Just tell me why."
"If the boy lives, you may not be able to fulfill your destinies."
"What role does he have in our destinies?" Marayna shook her head, "You said it's my destiny to marry Arthur like it's Merlin's to protect him."
"Then you have the answer you seek."
Merlin blinked, "You're telling me that little boy is going to what, kill Arthur and steal Aya away?"
Marayna grimaced, the boy was a child! That would be entirely wrong and, by the time he was even old enough to steal anyone away she would have hoped, if the Dragon was right, that she'd already be married by then and there would be no reason for her to be interested in another man once married.
"It seems that is up to you," the Dragon stated, neither answering both questions nor denying them.
"No," Marayna shook her head, something inside her telling her that the Dragon, for all his knowledge was wrong, "You can't know that for certain. You said there were two paths!"
"You have it in your power to prevent a great evil," the Dragon sighed.
"There must be another way!" Merlin argued, knowing how much the boy meant to Marayna and Morgana, "The future isn't set in stone!"
"You must let the boy die."
"No!" Marayna shouted, turning to storm back up the stairs.
The Dragon was wrong. He had to be. He'd said there were two paths, the path of dark, where she could believe the boy might kill Arthur one day, and the path of light, where she couldn't see it happening. They just had to make sure he ended up on the right path.
They had to.
Because she couldn't bear the thought of losing Arthur, even years in the future.
~8~
Merlin sat in Gaius's chambers, Marayna with Morgana and Gwen, and couldn't help but think about what the Dragon had said, about Marayna's reaction to it, "I assume it's the plight of the Druid boy that's causing your forehead to wrinkle like a lizard's elbow," Gaius remarked, noting his frown.
"Would you let something terrible happen if it meant you'd stop something even worse happening in the future?" Merlin wondered.
"I suppose it depends on what the 'terrible' and 'even worse' things were."
"One of them's bad, really bad. And the other, it's...unthinkable."
"It sounds as if you've already made your decision. You can only do what you believe to be right, Merlin. I just hope it doesn't involve you putting yourself or Rayna in terrible danger."
Merlin looked at him, "Gaius…if you had known what Uther would do when Ygraine died, to all those who had magic, when he first sought the deal with Nimueh, would you have done more to stop him?"
Gaius sighed, "It depends what you mean by stop him. Would I have argued, yes, would I have gone to Nimueh, found a Seer, shown them what would happen. Yes. I would have done all I could short of killing Uther to stop the Purge."
"But you wouldn't have killed him?"
"No. As hard as it is to believe, Uther…he was my friend."
Merlin frowned, "Was?"
"Is…in a way," he corrected hesitantly, "Buried within his heart I believe he still considers me one as well."
Merlin nodded, thinking on that. If Gaius, who knew Uther would one day kill thousands in grief, wouldn't kill the king to save them…how could he just let a little boy die because he MIGHT one day kill Arthur…
He couldn't.
~8~
"Thank you," Morgana called as Gwen helped her dress for dinner.
Marayna was sitting off to the side, thinking quietly about what the Dragon had said. She knew, the boy…he wouldn't kill Arthur, not after the man risked his life to save him, he'd be indebted, he wouldn't break an oath like that. She just had to make sure that sweet little boy continued to be sweet, growing into a good-hearted, honorable man.
Morgana turned to see Gwen frowning, "What is it? What's wrong?"
"You're risking so much for this boy," Gwen answered, "You don't know anything about him. You don't even know his name."
"There's a bond between us," Morgana shrugged, unable to think of how else to describe it.
"Stronger than the bond you have with Uther?"
Marayna scoffed, "I would think she'd have a stronger bond with a leaper than the one she has with Uther."
Morgana laughed a little at that, before sighing, thinking of the bond, "It's like nothing I've ever felt before. Perhaps I was always meant to help him."
"How can that be?" Gwen asked.
"I don't know. I can't explain it."
"Your magic," Marayna called, getting up to go over to Morgana, "You dream the future. It's not a hard leap to imagine you might be more sensitive to it as well. Perhaps, one day, the boy will return, and you sense that about him. I felt the same," Marayna admitted quietly, "I saw him in the square and…" she shook her head, "I didn't even think, I just...HAD to help him."
Morgana nodded, that was how she'd felt when they'd run into her chambers with the boy. Just one look and she'd had to help, "I must go to Uther," she sighed, glancing out the window at the darkening sky.
"And I have to get that rope and hook," Marayna nodded, heading for the door.
"Good luck," Gwen called after them.
~8~
Arthur's plan had worked out near flawlessly. He had managed to knock out the guards with a little bit of smoke, getting the boy out of the dungeons and leading him to the tunnel, only for the guards to wake mere minutes later and sound the alarm.
But luckily, both Merlin and Marayna were waiting at the end of the tunnel with the rope, hook, and horse. They got the grate off in no time, getting the boy onto a horse in front of Arthur before the man rode off with the boy into the woods, telling them to say he'd gone hunting to explain his absence as the warning bells went off.
They had learned one thing though, when Arthur came back, the boy's name…was Mordred.
A/N: So now we know Marayna's name among the Druids :) I really have no idea where it came from lol, I think I sort of just continued with something that almost sounded like the end of Merlin's name :) But...Marayna also seems to ahve some sort of bond with Mordred, I wonder how that will affect her future }:) As for Morgana though, I really wanted to give her some sort of extra thing that I felt fit her personality, a manifestation of her desires to help the ones that Uther wants to kill, I can say there's more to her being a Healer that we'll find later ;)
Poor Marayna though, next chapter will give her quite a few nightmares }:)
Some notes on reviews...
I'm glad you're enjoying the story :) Morgana's future will be very affecting of Merlin and Marayna if she turns evil, we'll have to wait and see though }:) For updating, I can say that the next story in the series will be updated only hours after one series ends ;) So we'll get a double whammy of Merlin and Marayna on a few days :)
Oh I can say Arthur will find out MUCH earlier about the magic, but I won't say when }:) We'll have to wait and see about Morgana though ;)
There'll be quite a bit of sneaking around for Arthur and Marayna, especially with Uther around. I think they'll need to be very tricky in keeping things from the King, but I can also say that it might be quite hard at times }:)