Mersan123: Muahaha, we're evil. This one explains her plan near the very end!
CHARLES CHUKU: Thank you! Well, the answer, is in this chapter...
Alaia Skyhawk: Great... writing? That is the highest of compliments! *Grinning madly* Thank you!
MerlinMorgana1579: Haha, sorry for the surprise! :D Okay, not really sorry, but I can still say it, right...? Hahaaha. Yep, I suppose she does...!
Superwholockdrem: Oh no, rant away, I love reading rants! xD Glad you like the way we're going with Morgana and Uther's characters, then!
Merlin woke with a groan. He tried to move, only to have several bones cracking at the same time. He choked on a gasp, pain shooting from his ribcage, like claws digging into his flesh and pressing down heavily. He panted, chest rising and falling as if some overworked animal on its death bed. "Arthur? Arthur?" he repeated, panic starting to blossom inside of him. Was he alone? Why was it dark? Why did it hurt so much?
Arthur flinched awake, flailing his arms and snorting. He stood up and gripped the window bars, looking through them, and through the dark, to where Merlin would be. "Easy, easy... calm down Merlin. I'm here. It's still night. Gaius removed the bolt. He said you're going to make a full recovery," Arthur stated tiredly, rubbing a hand over his face to wake himself up.
Merlin nodded, trying to relax. Somehow, he'd been moved to the bed, he noted. He rested his head back on the pillow. "Are you okay? Has Uther come down yet?" Behind his voice hid some raw emotion.
"No, not yet." He doubted his father even wanted to see him (any more than he wanted to see his father right then.) He felt as though he barely knew the man anymore. He'd always known his father could be unreasonable, but he'd always thought that Uther would do right, if it really came down to it. It turned out, he'd been wrong.
"All right," Merlin relaxed slightly. Blue eyes blinked up at the dull roof. It was dark; he'd never liked the dark. Darkness reminded him of being trapped, and being alone. It was peaceful, and quiet, and for that, he liked it. But it was pressing, confining. Hollow and selfish, because in the dark, there was only you, and your thoughts were only directed on you - and everything that hurt.
More subconsciously then not, he murmured something, and his eyes changed. Warm, golden light started to flow from him, and though it was silent, somehow there was a song in the light. A song of a soul, perhaps.
Arthur nodded, watching Merlin as gold light slowly floated around him. He smiled slightly, watching the light around Merlin. At least Merlin seemed more comfortable now.
"Oh, Morgana came by. She has a plan-an idea really. She's with us on this, she and Gwen both."
Merlin smiled.
...Uther walked down the steps. He felt... resigned. Arthur would change his mind, he would see the truth, or at least, Uther was trying to convince himself of that. He stepped into the dungeons, walking towards the end, where the sorcerer and the king's son were being held. He stopped in front of Arthur's cell, one gloved hand gripping a cold iron bar.
Arthur looked up, meeting his father's gaze. He wanted to say so much-but what was there to say? The king wouldn't listen to reason. Reason had left him so long ago, and Arthur had simply not seen it.
"What is it, Sire?" Arthur asked with a voice completely void of emotion.
"Have you rethought what you said? Surely you wouldn't die for a servant - and one that practiced magic?
Arthur gritted his teeth. His father never changed. He glared out of the cell. "Why? What crime has he committed? He saved my life-remember? It was the reason you appointed him! He has never used his magic for wrong, surely you must know that!"
"I know one thing, sorcery will not be allowed, not now, and not ever. It is banned, and he would have known it's not permitted! Why are you siding with him - with them, over your own father?"
"Why would I not side with the same man who said he would hang me if I'd been born like Merlin? Why do you think... Sire?"
"That is your choice, then."
...It had been several hours of riding, and they were almost there. Morgana felt apprehension rising inside of her. As she remounted from getting a drink from a stream, she was reminded once again why she was glad she'd decided against a dress, and just gone for a white blouse, black pants, and knee high boots.
She caught back up with Guinevere. "We're almost there," she informed.
Gwen nodded and ran a hand through her windblown curls. "Do you really think we'll get any help? I know we need it-but... do you trust anyone there to actually help us?" she asked.
"Yes. I do," Morgana replied. "We'll find help, I'm sure of it - surely we wouldn't be turned away?" She could see smoke rising in the distance. She tapped her heels into the white mare's sides, and the response was instant - the horse leapt into a strong-gated canter.
Gwen followed, speeding her horse to match pace with the other. She too could see the smoke rising in the distance. Chimney fire from several small cottages-she guessed.
They rose over a hill, and halted their horses for a moment. The village of Ealdor lie in the valley bellow, calm and undesturbed. Gwen hoped Morgana was correct-that someone here would help. She knew that Merlin's mother lived here, and that she would be more than willing to help. But would there be any others?
Morgana took the lead, and once they reached the bottom of the hill, she dismounted. Pulling the reins from the mare's neck, she waited for Gwen, before walking forward. Soon they were passing fences and small homes within the village. She dodged out of the way of a man pushing a cart full of what looked like carrots, and stepped over a close-to-rabid-with-fear chicken. "Excuse me," she said, speaking to a woman scrapping a rake over dirty straw littering the ground. The woman looked up.
Morgana smiled kindly, holding her hands out to her sides as she started to speak, "Forgive me - But I'm looking for a woman named Hunith?"
"She's just past that cottage, Miss."
"Thank you."
Gwen dismounted and followed Morgana, smiling at people who smiled at her. She lead her horse, quickly catching up to Morgana and taking her horse as well. "What do you mean to tell her? And how will she be able to help?" Gwen asked. She only knew a bit of Morgana's plan. She knew as much as getting to Ealdor, and talking to Hunith, also that they were getting help, but that was about all she knew.
Morgana decided to try and explain. "Do you remember when Uther got the rings? Do you remember The Finder? Or, do you remember when Merlin and Arthur disappeared at the same time as the wizard... Kalian did?"
Gwen tilted her head forward and frowned slightly, looking intently at her mistress. "Yes, what of them?" she asked. Even after the words left her lips, she wondered; were they here? If so, would they help? "Do you suppose they're here?"
"Merlin told me that they helped Kalian escape, and sent him to Ealdor... And when Flynn - The Finder - was in Camelot, Merlin sent him to Ealdor as well."
"Oh, I had no idea," Gwen said quietly, glancing around. She and Morgana walked side by side toward the place they'd been told to go to find Hunith. Gwen hoped that they would be able to find help-they owed it to Merlin and Arthur.
Morgana tied her horse to a pole that was made for that, and ran a hand over the sweat-glistened neck. The morning sun shone brightly and warmly, but it only reminded the Lady Morgana that time was running out. "Do you want to stay with the horses? It should only take me a moment to speak with her - She's a mother, all I will have to do is mention an injured Merlin and she'll be packing," Morgana smiled with an emotion like fondness.
Morgana quickly started her search for Merlin's mother. She followed where the woman had said, and found a small house behind the other. Hastily she knocked on the door.
Hunith opened the door hastily, having been sweeping just inside anyway. She peered out the door, which she'd cracked open a few inches. She recognized the Lady Morgana and glanced behind her, expecting to see Merlin-she had no luck.
"Lady Morgana, is everything all right? How is Merlin?" she asked..
"Somethings happened," Morgana tried not to just jump into the story in a blast of words. "Arthur was injured - Merlin had to heal him. Uther saw, and, I'm sure you can guess what comes next," she said bitterly. "He was shot - and his execution is set for today." Oh. Right. Hunith had no idea that Morgana knew about his magic. "He healed him, that is, with his Gift. I know, don't worry." She didn't pause long enough for Hunith to speak, "Flynn and Kalian, are they here? In Ealdor? Are there others that would help?"
Hunith took in the stream of information. She covered her mouth with a shaking hand and she turned pale. Her son, shot? A look of determination spread over her face. She wouldn't let the king of Camelot kill her son.
"Yes, they're here," she responded, glad her voice sounded so strong. She'd been ill recently, and wasn't entirely well, but now, nothing would stop her.
"They're staying at the inn near the edge of town-if we head back the way you came, we can stop and speak with them. Others... there are only a mere few... but they are farmers and can do little to help... but still, I will gather all who are willing to come."
The woman prepared to leave, gathering a few things and then heading back to the door where she'd left Morgana. "We ought to hurry," she stated