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Chapter Twelve – Same Blood

BREAKING NEWS: Princess Morgana Le Fay of the Isles dead in plane crush above Camelot's ground. There is still little information from the kingdoms of the late Princess' plans on her sister's handfasting day. The crew of five Avalonians also dead in the crush.

The crown had slipped off long ago from Morgause's head as she had remained frozen before the massive plasma tv of her study. Her brown eyes were glued on the screen that showed ambulances, fire trucks and the Camelot Police rushing to the spot the small jet had fallen, from the first pictures the reporters of Camelot Channel had stolen, all that was left from the jet were ruins, the symbol of the sun and moon on the tale of the destroyed jet visible, signaling that indeed it had kicked off from Avalon…

The Druids take official responsibility for the tragic event.

Morgana age 24 had returned in Avalon for Queen Morgause and King Cenred's wedding. The Blessed Curse is still on for the women of Avalon who are bound to die young.

Morgause knew her entire council was around her, buzzing like bees about the events but all she could hear and see was the screen of the TV and the images taken from the distance the reporters were taken, she could see stretchers covered with blue plastic bags, moving the bodies but even if the title was saying her sister was gone, Morgause couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe it, until she saw her sister dead with her eyes, even if it could be the last image for herself as well…

'My Queen, do you hear me? We need to find out why the princess had left, we need to find out if she was kidnapped of some shorts….'

'Queen Morgause, we must demand the princess' corpse… Camelot cannot keep the Queen of Mora in their grounds…. It's a blasphemy for her memory.'

'First of all, we must demand to recognize the body, Camelot could be lying and keeping Morgana for their own….'

'If the body is burnt we'll have to run DNA tests, that could take weeks and given the relationships of the kingdoms right now…'

'SHUT UP!' Morgause bellowed as she finally turned around, still in her wedding gown as she stared down at her council, her eyes fell on Agravaine who was the only one who hadn't spoken, the moment he realized the queen was waiting for him, he spoke.

'My Queen… I don't believe the princess is dead indeed. Camelot Channel has been accused before for quick decisions and given the censorship in Camelot… we don't have any other source to confirm her death and with no body, there is no death. We must demand your presence within Camelot's grounds, either to bring your sister here so we can heal her magically… or at worst case scenario, to escort her body back home…' Agravaine said and Morgause could see crystal clear the guilt in his eyes, he had part in this but right then she didn't have time for his head, she needed to find her sister… or her dead body.

Across the sea, Arthur was still driving to Caerleon, finally reaching the Igraine Airport's private gate, he passed through the moment the guard realized who he was, he had kept the radio off, not wanting to hear anything about Morgause and Cenred or Uther and his wrath at the Le Fays. He had sent a message at Morgana the moment he was entering Caerleon's borders, a few minutes prior but she hadn't responded, possibly because she was landing. He couldn't wait to see her again.

He parked his red Aston Martin and moved close to the door of the small section when a Caerlian man approached him and bowed shortly at him, he was out of breath. Arthur knew the man, he was one of the trusted people in the services of Caerleon that Arthur had talked to.

'Sire, you learnt of the news about the princess?' the man asked and Arthur frowned at him.

'What news? She has landed? Where is she?' Arthur asked and his heart kicked in his chest the moment he saw the man's eyes filling with fear and sadness.

'The jet she was in… the Druids took responsibility for the explosion…' the man stammered and Arthur remained to stare at him with wide, blank eyes, an explosion, in the jet, Morgana had texted him just a few minutes before….the Druids… because he had asked her to come to Caerleon…

'Where… where is she? Is... is she alive?' Arthur finally asked in a broken voice, holding back his outburst of both agony and fury. The man's face was unreadable or Arthur simply didn't want to see the emotion in his eyes.

'They have taken her to Camelot's Hospital… C.C. says she's…' the man didn't have time to finish as Arthur was storming back in his car, making it move into an abrupt spin with the tyres leaving marks on the ground before he could leave with speed. No, she wasn't gone, she wasn't dead, she had texted him a few minutes ago… she was alive and he wouldn't believe otherwise until he saw her with his own eyes.

Merlin is calling you

He had mostly felt the vibration in his pocket than heard the sound as his ears rung with the blood that rushed inside his veins. Morgana was…

'Hello,' he said in a toneless voice.

'You know?' Merlin was heard asking and Arthur sighed.

'I don't know anything until I see her, where are you?' Arthur asked, trying not to burst at his friend for anything.

'In the hospital…' Merlin's three words were enough for Arthur to almost lose the control of his car, Merlin knew if the princess was alive or not.

'And?' he asked evenly, slowing down a bit as he was already exiting Caerleon city and was moving in the highway for the borders, in about half an hour at full speed, he would be reaching the Camelot Hospital.

'Arthur, she's alive, barely but alive, she's in the or right now, undergoing surgery, she's the only survivor from the jet.' Merlin's first words worked like a hot breath of relief and a cold shower of hope at the same time, Morgana was alive. Arthur didn't care about the or, the surgery or that she was still in danger, she was alive, breathing, her heart was still beating, he hadn't killed her in his blind need to have her for himself. Morgana was alive.

'I'll be there in a few minutes, keep everyone away.' Arthur said and Merlin didn't have time to say something more as the prince shut his phone completely and gained even more speed as to reach the hospital in time.

He could see the crowd gathered outside, reporters, journalists, everyone was there to watch the news unfolding, Arthur tried to move in the back doors of the hospital but there were reporters everywhere so he only passed through thanks to security and moved out of the car, not caring for the photos taken of his as he moved inside the hospital.

He moved up the stairs as a nurse helped him find the ors and soon he was greeted by a bunch of familiar faces, Merlin, Freya, Gwen and Lancelot were there, waiting for him. The moment he approached all of them stood up and greeted him, he was still lost, terrified so he looked at them waiting to hear what they had to say.

'She's still in surgery,'

'No one had informed us about her progress.'

'Your father decided to give out that she's dead so he can delay Morgause,'

'The doctors assume that Morgana survived because of her strong powers.'

'They have discovered the black box of the aircraft but the Druids have taken the responsibility already in a small document they sent in the kingdoms of Albion.'

'They also discovered Morgana's mobile phone… your father will probably get access to the data saved there…' Merlin's words made everyone look at Arthur pointedly, for his closer friends, it was no secret that he was in love with Morgana or that he had planned for her to reach Caerleon behind Uther's back.

'Right now I need to see her…' Arthur only whispered and Freya and Gwen patted his shoulders as he collapsed on a chair and hid his face in his palms. Now that he knew more of what had happened he felt the guilt returning at full force. She was alive but in critical condition, she could die after all in surgery or during recovery. Morgause thought her sister was dead already, everyone thought that. His father was cruel, letting a sibling thinking that the other is dead, that was plain vicious…

His thoughts were interrupted when someone was touching his shoulder. It was Lancelot who pointed at a doctor who had moved outside the or to speak to the people close to the Princess, who else was closer than the man who loved her?

'How is she, doctor?' Arthur asked as he moved close to the man with the rest creating a bunch behind him, the surgeon seemed tired and spent.

'The wounds are excessive, sire, her organs suffered the blow, she doesn't have as many broken bones but many of the vitals are suffering under blood lose that we try to stop for now… her brain function is satisfying but we're afraid we can't do a lot of things for her, it seems like her body has given up on working, possibly because of her magic.' The surgeon said and Arthur wasn't sure what to make of this words, he only wanted facts.

'What do we must do?' he asked and the surgeon sighed.

'She needs to be sent to Avalon, where magical healers will take care of her, or have healers sent here at best so she doesn't have to suffer the transfer. The Druids are magical beings and there are great chances she has suffered some kind of magical attack during the explosion… There have been attacks before and the victims died because of the lack of magical care. She also needs more blood to preserve a massive failure, her type is A positive, she needs it and we have used all our blood of that type so far in the bank here, we called for the blood bank in Caerleon but by the time it will arrive she might not have made it…' the surgeon said and Arthur raised his hands for everyone to stop murmuring, he needed a plan.

'Lancelot, go to the castle immediately, say you're send by me. I demand of my father to contact with me so we can send Morgana to Avalon, she needs to return there and have her medical care from magical people. Morgause needs to be informed asap so she can send healers if my father refuses to send Morgana to Avalon. Freya, Gwen, go with Lancelot and stay in the palace, I need ears and eyes inside the place. Merlin stay here for now, doctor, my blood type is A positive, I can give blood for her.' Arthur said in small sentences what made everyone start in motion.

The surgeon nodded to two nurses who escorted Arthur in a small chamber at the end of the corridor, he sat down and allowed the young women to draw the blood, he was so tensed he couldn't even fell the dizziness from the loss of blood, if he could, he would even rip out his own vitals to be given for her, he hated himself for having her in such condition and something inside him told him that his father would start the political games with Morgana's health. Morgana needed magical help and all he could do was give some blood.

Merlin waited in the corridor. In his far right, there was Morgana, on a surgical table, fighting for her life and in the far left, Arthur was giving his blood for her to gain some time. The young man felt awful at the memory of how he had spoken to the young witch when she obviously had meant her words, she didn't want to harm Arthur, she had stepped in the Druids' trap in her desperation to get to him and now she was dying.

Merlin knew Uther wouldn't allow Morgana to slip from his fingers once again even if that would cost her life, she had moved within the borders of the country, defying the rules he had set, she was his, and Merlin was the only man who could help her right then, but how would he do that in a hospital full of people of the royal staff? With Arthur close by, revealing himself to Morgana had been foolish and risky but it had worked thanks to the circumstances, now he was called indeed to help someone who was dying, yet if that person alive, could bring war upon Albion.

Arthur returned after awhile, he seemed a bit more pale than usual but he sat on a chair and waited expressionless. Merlin looked at his friend but said nothing, what could he say really? He was once again caught in things that didn't concern him yet he was tangled in situations only he could solve.

Merlin's mobile phone rang and he picked it up. It was Lancelot, informing him since Arthur still had his phone shut and forgotten that Uther indeed wouldn't allow Morgana to get out of the country even if it was a matter of health. He wouldn't even reveal that the princess was alive to her sister until he believed it was the right time, of Morgana made it to stay alive until Uther's change in judgment. Merlin didn't have to say a word to Arthur as he had turned on the speaker of the mobile so Lancelot's voice could be heard in the corridor. Arthur huffed and rubbed his hands in his hair and face, exhausted, spent, and so very lost in what had happened in a matter of days…

One moment she was arriving to Camelot and he had sworn he would at best bed her as to learn her scheming. Then they started getting under each other's skin and then the annoyance turned into challenging of equals and into attraction, and then… then he couldn't get her off his mind, he couldn't sleep without dreaming of her, couldn't not miss her eyes, her lips, her body, her very presence. And then she was gone for Avalon in a haste and now she was struggling to survive while Uther played his games on her still warm body…

Arthur didn't realize the struggled growl came from his lips nor that he was biting his own fingers to stop the actual sound, he felt it only when he saw the marks of his teeth on his pale skin. He sighed and kept his face hidden while Merlin stood by close in silence. A long time later, a nurse moved outside the or and looked at the prince who straightened up the moment he saw her.

'With the blood you given she will preserved for a few hours, we're done in the or, they're taking her to extensive care. She must be sent to magical care however… she will have a relapse if she's not sent to one of the magical isles within twenty four hours…' the nurse said and Arthur sighed and nodded his head in vain, mostly to show to the nurse that he understood, even if he couldn't do a lot, or anything to be honest.

'Can I see her, please?' he asked in a harsh whisper and the nurse nodded at the broken man and led the way, they moved to another corridor, obviously the doctors had moved her through other paths connected to the ors to her room.

That part of the corridor was quiet, very quiet, you could only hear the function sounds of various devices for each luxurious glass room that were the extensive care, the nurse paused before one and Arthur looked from outside the glass wall inside.

In a hospital bed she lay, beautiful like Snow White, yet so pale and tired. Her hair was pressed by her own head and body on the large pillow, a tube was parting her grayish lips, giving her oxygen, her eyes were closed but there were huge black cycles beneath them, there were scratches on her alabaster skin in the parts visible from the sheets and covers. Her right hand was connected to the serum, the blood and her medicines, her other hand's fingers were clasped with something that possibly kept record of her condition, Arthur had no idea, all he knew was the small black and green screen by her bed, counting her heartbeats.

The nurse didn't wait for Arthur to ask, she only opened the door in silence and kept Merlin outside as Arthur took a deep breath and moved inside the sterilized environment. He found a chair behind the devices surrounding her bed and dragged it closer to her. He collapsed on it and tried to touch her hand but it seemed too fragile with all the tubes connected with her flesh so he touched a bit higher on her forearm, her skin was cold.

'I can't believe I did this to you…' Arthur whispered as he pressed his elbows on the mattress, his eyes lost in her fragile face. 'I couldn't imagine the Druids would hurt one of their own… just because you wanted to leave Avalon… I can't believe I threw you in such trap…' Arthur went on and finally the tears started escaping his eyes. 'I have twenty four hours, Morgana, I'm supposed to help you somehow, to bring your people here to save you… and I don't know how… my father probably already learns of my feelings for you… I… I'm sorry!' he went on and tried to composure himself. His eyes fell on the bag of blood, his blood, moving inside his veins.

'All I could was give you blood, really, you would find it funny how Camelot's blood is getting mixed like this with Avalon's… in one of my dreams I imagined our blood mixed in other ways...' He confessed and he knew, he would sound corny at any other time but not then, not when he was about to lose her.

He felt a sudden urge to stand up and get things straight as to save her, there was no helping from his part by standing there, touching her forearm and mourning when she was still alive, she had survived the explosion, she had done her part, now it was time for him to do his own. He stood up and moved outside the chamber where Merlin was waiting.

'Do not let anyone but the doctors assigned for her to be here, do not get guards, I trust no one but you, if someone gets in, make sure he doesn't put anything in her serum, we don't know if the druids have learnt of her survival. I'll be back in a few hours.' Arthur commanded and Merlin gripped the prince's arm.

'Where are you going? Merlin asked and Arthur took his arm away carefully and looked at his friend.

'If my exposure to my father for her means the saving of her life, then this is what is going to happen. I'll play my last cards to save her, I must do it, Merlin…' Arthur said and Merlin remained to stare at the prince as he left the corridor of the hospital with the Camelot castle for destination. Deep down, Merlin knew, Arthur wouldn't make it, deep down he knew, he had to help Morgana and now that Arthur was gone, this was the only chance…

ooooh ok, lets breathe in relief huh? i can imagine your faces at the start of the episode with the channel saying Morgana was dead... but she wasn't... ok what you think guys? thank you so much for the reviews of the previous chapter, I am glad you enjoy the story so far, now what you think of it's continuation? we're gonna have an arthur-uther encounter for sure but time runs short for Morgana... i can't wait for your opinion! im doing my best on writing through my hyper life so give me some sweet motivation please

CP09