Love by Any Other Name
Part 3
The silence hung in the air between Gaius and Merlin and they stared at each other for several moments. It was Merlin who broke away first, standing up and gathering his meagre belongings.
"Go on say it" said Merlin, as he busied himself around his small room. Behind him Gaius sighed.
"I hope for you sake there an further complications from what has transpired" Gaius said. Merlin turned back to look at him.
"What, you mean if Morgana falls pregnant?" he asked.
"Indeed, we can hide you from Uther, but I seriously doubt he would fail to see his ward getting bigger as the months progress" Gaius said. Merlin rolled his eyes.
"But it would wipe that smirk off his face" Merlin muttered.
"Merlin this isn't a laughing matter. Uther is extremely protective of his Ward, he would see anything, whether consensual or not as a personal affront, he would have your head on the chopping block without a moment's hesitation" said Gaius. Merlin shrugged.
"it was only once Gaius, and besides I can see all the wanted: Dead or Alive Marlow notices posted all over town now" Merlin said, slinging his small holdall over his shoulder. "Besides, aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves here?" said Merlin. Gaius sighed and shook his head.
"come on, we can go together to explain to Gwen why you'll be staying with her" Gaius said. Merlin shook his head.
"You can, I'm not going to Gwen's" Merlin said.
"What are you talking about?"
"You said it yourself Gaius, I stay here then sooner or later I'll probably end up dead. So I'm leaving" Merlin announced.
"And going where?" demanded Gaius.
"I dunno, somewhere, maybe a place where I can be who I want to be and not have to worry about some damned King or his family finding out how different I am" Merlin said.
"Merlin you can't" Gaius said.
"Just watch me" he said, walking out. Gaius shaking his head, in disbelief.
"I take it that's your final word?" asked Gaius as he followed Merlin into the main part of the Pharmacy.
"Pretty much" Merlin replied, then turned to Gaius, with a sad smile. "except thank you" he added, then with a final nod, turned to the door, even as it opened and Morgana walked in, frowning at Merlin's full hold all.
"Merlin?" she asked.
"They know, Gaius, Arthur" he stated.
"What? How?" she asked. Merlin shrugged, then her eyes widened. "you're leaving?" she asked a shocked tone in her voice.
"I have to, there's nothing here for me, and the one thing I would stay for is the one thing I can never have" he said. Morgana approached him, taking his hand.
"Please, there must be some way we can work this" she said, tears falling from her eyes. Merlin pulled her to him in a soft embrace.
"I wish there was" Merlin replied. "Maybe one day" he added. Morgana looked at him sadly, shaking her head, even as the door opened and Uther walked in.
"Gaius, I wonder if you might take a look at my arm its – Morgana! What are you doing with Merlin?" he practically roared. Gaius had gone a deathly pale, turning away.
"Oh now he's pissed he gets my name right" Merlin muttered.
"don't get short with me boy!" Uther thundered as Morgana pulled away. "I'm waiting for an explanation" Uther said, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"It's not what you think" said Morgana, through her tears.
"Merlin and I, we've become close friends over the past few days" she said.
"Very close it would appear" Uther snarled.
"We have a lot in common, both wards in someone else's care, not knowing things from our past…" she said.
"And this has to do with what precisely?" Uther said, his voice lowering, just a little.
"I have to leave, there's been a problem at my village" Merlin lied. Uther looked at him, eyes narrowed again.
"I just came to wish him well on our behalf" Morgana said. Uther glared at them a moment longer then slowly nodded.
"I see, well I wish you well Merlin" Uther said shortly. Merlin bowed.
"Thank you sire" he said. Then with a sad smile to Gaius and a last look at Morgana he left the room. Morgana bowing and following a moment later, slowly Gaius looked at Uther.
"So, your arm?" he prompted. Uther shook his head, and sighed.
She stood at the in the hallway, looking out, watching as Merlin walked quickly away from the castle, glancing back once, up to her chamber windows, seemingly disheartened that she was not there. With a last glance, he turned and walked out of the courtyard. Morgana looking away, her heart thundering in her chest.
Night had fallen across the kingdom, and they ate in silence, Uther, Arthur and Morgana. Morgana having not touched most of the food on her plate.
"Not hungry?" asked Uther, looking over at her. She put on a smile, looking at him and shaking her head.
"No, not tonight" she muttered.
"I see" Uther replied, raising the goblet to his lips, taking a sip of wine.
"Nothing to do with Merlin I hope" he said, almost slyly. On the other side of the Table, Arthur nearly choked, causing Uther to glance at him.
"is there some problem?" he asked, rolling the goblet in his hand. Arthur looked at him and shook his head.
"Chicken bone" Arthur said. Uther glanced at him a moment longer then turned back to Morgana, before he put the goblet down.
"something is going on here" he announced quietly. "something to do with that Merlin boy" he added for emphasis.
"I'm just worried about him is all" said Morgana.
"Really?" asked Uther, mildly.
"Yes, really"
"Then please, tell me why it is you have been practically silent since he left!" Uther roared.
"Left? He's gone?" asked Arthur looking up.
"If I might be excused" said Morgana, standing.
"Today or tomorrow Morgana I want an answer" Uther said. Morgana looked at him, then without a word strode out of the hall. Uther sat back and looked at Arthur.
"And you" he said. Arthur looked up at him.
"Me? What did I do?" Arthur asked.
"He's your manservant you tell me" Uther said. Arthur shook his head.
"Honestly, If something is going on here, then I'm not privy to it" Arthur said. Uther sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose, eyes closed.
"Arthur you are my son, and if there is one thing I've learnt about you over the years its when you are lying" Uther said, dragging the words out. Arthur sighed and sat back, pushing his half-finished plate of food away.
"Merlin and Morgana are in love" he said at length. Uther opened his eyes, slowly turning his intimidating gaze on Arthur.
"And you just forgot to tell me this?" he asked.
"It's not what you think, well okay maybe it is, but we feel there may be an enchantment involved" Arthur said.
"I see, then why did Marlow-"
"Merlin"
"Why did your servant leave then? If it is an enchantment then surely it would act the opposite, pull them together" Uther said.
"I don't know why he left" Arthur stated, only to by cut off by Gaius as he entered the room.
"He did it sire for two reasons" the old man said, walking forwards.
"I did not give you leave to enter" said Uthur sitting up looking at him.
"Nevertheless, as he is my ward I feel I must explain his actions" he explained.
"As long as they provide answers" said Uther. Gaius nodded, and sat down as Uther motioned to a seat.
"Sire, Merlin comes from a very simple background, what Morgana told you was the truth, they have grown close as friends over the past few days, both having similar experiences. Even you have to admit that is understandable" Gaius said. Uther nodded, but remained silent.
"Merlin left because he knew things were getting out of control, and he knew what was happening was wrong"
"Now there's an understatement" muttered Uther. Gaius sighed and looked away.
"He also left, hoping that you would never find out, that you would not be put in the position of having to confront your ward about what transpired" Gaius added. Uther blinked and looked up at him.
"You're telling me you knew about this?" he asked.
"Only minuets before you did, I assure you" Gaius said. Uther nodded and sat back in his chair, eyeing the aging Physician.
"Arthur mentioned something about an enchantment?" Uther said.
"It is possible sire" admitted Gaius.
"Why would someone enchant my Ward to fall in love with a servant?" Uther asked. "It makes absolutely no sense" he said.
"Actually father, It makes perfect sense" said Arthur finally speaking up. Uther turned to him, frowning.
"And what would you know of enchantments?" asked Uther.
"Think about it, whoever it is makes them fall in love, you find out, realise its serious and have Merlin executed, Morgana would hate you with a vengeance, she'd never forgive you" Arthur said.
"don't talk nonsense" Uther muttered.
"Actually Sire, that is not an entirely impossible scenario, you would be in the position of allowing that love to continue or losing the love and respect of the Lady Morgana" Gaius said. "It would drive a wedge between the royal family as sure as any sword" Gaius explained. Uther held up his hand, sighing.
"Even if this is an Enchantment, and until I have hard proof, I'm not willing to agree to that, who would do such a thing?" he demanded. Slowly Gaius and Arthur looked at each other.
"As I thought" said Uther looking at their expressions. Slowly he stood and walked around the table.
"Merlin is banished from Camelot, if he returns it is under penalty of death" he announced.
"Father, see reason" said Arthur, watching him, Gaius sitting opposite, his eyes closed.
"That is my final word on the matter, be grateful I do not go and hunt him down myself" Uther hissed as he left the room. Arthur looked over at Gaius, rubbing a hand through his hair, before shaking his head.
The woods were not a pleasant place at night, but then, usually Merlin was with Arthur and some of the knights when he slept in them. Tonight he was alone. He had left Camelot, stopping briefly to say goodbye to Gwen, assuring her he did not blame her for Arthur's finding out. Gwen, as usual hadn't been willing to assure herself of the guilt she felt, but what was done was done. Merlin had hugged her briefly, then set out of the city and hadn't stopped walking, traveling well into the night, until he found this small dark clearing. Now exhausted he had gathered a little wood and made himself a fire, before laying next to it, eating an apple, one of the only bits of food he'd brought with him. He smirked silently looking at the apple, before throwing the core of it off into the woods. With a sigh he turned over, face to the fire, trying to get comfortable on the cold hard earth, jumping a fraction when an owl hooted off in the trees somewhere. Chiding himself, he closed his eyes, exhausted as he was, sleep evaded him. Slowly he reached out with his hand, waving his hand towards the fire, an image of Morgana appearing in the smoke. He smiled as he watched her, laying in her own bed, awake, looking at the window. With a sad smile, he waved his hand again.
"Sleep my lady" he said softly, Morgana's image slowly closing its eyes. The image slowly faded, and Merlin found himself, finally falling into a dreamless sleep.
Morgana awoke with a scream, the flashes of the nightmare vivid and real, a storm, a terrible
storm, Merlin taking shelter in a cave, then three old hags, Merlin at their feet, dead, the hag in the centre holding his heart high above her.
"My lady? My Lady?" asked Gwen rushing in, concerned. Morgana looked at her, tears in her eyes, embracing Gwen even as she rocked her gently.
"Merlin… he is in danger" Morgana said through her tears.
"Merlin will be fine, it was a simple nightmare. Said Gwen. Morgana shook her head, then began to shake as thunder rolled across the sky outside.