Hero
Merlin smiled.
Arthur had been in a good mood and had given him the day off.
Merlin believed this to be weird but he wasn't going to waste it.
Merlin's thoughts went to the woman in the woods.
It was another chance to have a day with her. Go searching for herbs for Gaius but spend the whole day with her.
"Do you need me to get anything Gaius?"
Gaius looked up from his bench. "I don't like how you can change moods so quickly."
"Gaius I can still be in control. I am still me after all."
Gaius nodded. "Doesn't Arthur need you?"
"He has given me the day off."
Gaius nodded again.
"I need some Lavender but that's it."
Merlin grabbed his herb bag and turned to leave.
"Merlin, even if I don't like the man you have turned into, I still don't want to see your head off your shoulders. Please be careful. Agravaine may be planning something."
Merlin smiled and nodded. "I am always careful."
Gaius shook his head as Merlin left.
Morgana was surprised to see Merlin at her door.
"And what do I owe the pleasure? Has my brother died a unexpected death and the people in Camelot asking for me to be queen?"
Merlin laughed. "Unfortunately not, but your brother was in a good mood and has given me the day off."
Morgana went wide eyed. "Really?"
"Yep." Merlin said popping the p. "And I want to spend my day with you."
Morgana shook her head.
Merlin took her somewhere different this time.
It was a meadow, just outside of the forest.
There was not a tree to be seen for miles.
Wild flowers grew and it was unspoilt.
"How do you find the most beautiful spots?" Morgana said in awe.
"Collecting herbs for Gaius brings me to weird and wonderful places. This is just one of them. Lavender grows nearby and I need to get some. But I remembered about this place on my travels."
"Have you been around all the lands of Camelot in search for herbs?" Morgana said looking up at him.
"Probably. Let's eat shall we."
Merlin laid down the blanket and started to arrange the food that he had brought from the kitchens.
"Merlin, this is really too much." Morgana said as she sat down on the blanket.
He looked up at her smiling. "You should get use to eating properly again. You will soon be Queen of the most powerful kingdom. I need you to look the part."
Morgana couldn't help but match his smile.
Mordred watched them as they conversed and eat.
He would have to get back to Camelot soon so that he could bring Arthur.
The first part of the plan had gone down very well and it didn't take much convincing to get Arthur to give Merlin the day off.
Merlin had walked into their plan.
Mordred turned his horse around and spurred it onto Camelot.
"Milord?" Mordred said as he found Arthur with his uncle.
"What is it Mordred?"
Mordred panted. "There's … trouble … on … the … border, … near the … valley … of the … fallen kings."
Arthur looked at Mordred.
"Come on show me then." Arthur started walking down the corridor. "GEORGE, GET MY HORSE READY!"
Mordred controlled his breathing. "Everything is going to plan at the moment."
Agravaine nodded. "If we cannot make her see reason to leave Merlin, then we will tear them apart with their execution."
Mordred nodded before running to catch up with Arthur.
They needed this. Yet Morgana would never be able to become queen this way. Morgana would die too.
Mordred started to question Agravaine's motives.
Morgana enjoyed this.
She felt free in the meadow, laying the grass, her head on Merlin's front.
She hoped this same feeling would come when she was queen and magic was free once more.
"Merlin, have you ever thought what it would be like if magic was free?"
Merlin smiled. "If magic was free, I could be myself. I wouldn't have to hide. It would be a lot safer and you wouldn't be the person that you are."
Morgana turned her head so she was looking at Merlin. "You have thought about it a lot."
"Don't you?"
Morgana turned her head back. "Not really. Maybe it's because I haven't known my powers as long as you."
"What did you use to dream about?"
Morgana smiled. "My father. I use to think of what would happen if he hadn't died and I was still with him."
Merlin sat up making Morgana's head dropping into his lap.
Merlin brought his finger up to his lips.
Merlin got up, leaving Morgana lying in the grass.
"Merlin?" Arthur said.
Morgana lied still in the grass. She hoped that it would be long enough to hide her.
"Arthur what are you doing here?" Merlin said.
Arthur turned to Mordred. "I heard there was trouble here."
Mordred could just see Morgana in the grass.
"Nope, no trouble here. I was sent to get some Lavender and decided to remain here on my day off."
Arthur noticed the blankets.
"We better leave Mordred. Looks like he has finally got himself a girl."
Mordred shook his head as Arthur turned around.
Merlin smirked at Mordred.
"Well well Mordred, you seem to be working on the wrong team." Merlin sent Mordred.
Mordred turned following his king.
Morgana looked at Mordred.
"What has he offered you Mordred? Why would you betray me?"
Mordred looked up at her. "Everything is wrong. Destiny has cut one path and we are in the forest cutting another. It isn't meant to be this way."
Morgana sat on the side of her table. "Mordred, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe Arthur wasn't as forgiving as we all thought he was. Maybe he could never get over his father's teachings. He has been taught that magic is evil since the cot."
"But this changes everything."
Morgana didn't want to argue with Mordred. "What has he offered you?"
"Nothing really. He has promised that he would help me get destiny back on track."
Morgana smiled. "We may all be pawns of destiny but even she cannot have everything go her way."
Mordred nodded and go up.
"Morgana, Merlin isn't meant to help you to glory. I am. I have dreamt of the moment I help you to the throne. I have been told that I was meant to help you since I was born."
Mordred stepped towards her.
"I wouldn't want it to be any other way."
Morgana tried not to look confused.
"I can give you so much more than he can. He was the one that betrayed you, he was the one that never told you who he was, he is the reason why you constantly fail at your goal."
"I understand that but now he is on my side. There is no one to stop us now."
Mordred looked at Morgana.
"You cannot even see what he is doing to you."
Morgana stood up. "He has done nothing to me."
Mordred turned around. Merlin wasn't here and he only had one chance. Agravaine had tried to talk him out of doing this but it had to be done.
Mordred turned back around and advanced on Morgana, placed his lips on hers.
Morgana struggled to push him away and felt Mordred be dragged away from her.
Mordred looked shocked.
"I think you better leave and not return." Merlin said calmly.
Mordred turned to see the door open.
"You were spying on us."
Merlin turned to Morgana and she nodded.
"After what happened today we knew you were going to try something. I never thought you would do something like that."
Morgana stepped forward. "Mordred, I treat you like a son because that is what you are to me."
Mordred stared at Merlin.
"This is not over Emrys. I told you once before and I will tell you again. I shall never forgive this, Emrys. And I shall never forget."
Mordred turned and left.
Merlin turned to Morgana once more.
"I didn't want to do that." Merlin said.
"Nor did I. We have lost a strong ally." Morgana said sitting down in front of the fire.
Merlin turned to the open door and closed it with his magic.
"Perhaps but now Agravaine has lost another one too."
He sat down next to her.
Morgana swallowed. "I never realised you were this protective over me."
Only I can love you went around Merlin's head.
Merlin just smiled.
Morgana went to kiss him but he pulled back.
"I am sorry milady." He said. "I have over stepped the line. You are my mistress and I am here to serve you."
Merlin looked at the door.
"I must leave." He said quickly leaving.
Morgana watched him in confusion.
