Love by Any Other Name...
Part 4
"oh bugger this" Muttered Merlin as the first of the heavy raindrops began to fall from the darkened sky, the fire hissing and snapping as the rain began to pour harder. Grabbing his belongings as quickly as he could Merlin made a beeline for the trees, even as thunder rumbled overhead. He eventually took shelter under a large oak, soaked through and shivering he pulled his knees tight to his chest, looking out at the falling rain.
Arthur sat up in bed as a particularly large crash of thunder rolled over the castle, his window burst open from the gale force winds outside. With an annoyed snarl he got up and walking to the window slammed it closed, watching the heavy rain hit the glass, a part of him wondering how Merlin was faring in it. Hopefully the lovable idiot had managed to take shelter somewhere. More than likely however he was a drowned rat at the moment. With a sad sigh he shook his head and turned away, moving over to the bed, which was when the door burst open and Morgana ran in, tears streaking her face.
"Morgana?" he asked, as she ran to him.
"Please, he's in trouble, I know he is" she said, even as Gwen ran in a moment behind her. Arthur looked at her, and Gwen just shrugged, shaking her head.
"Who?" he asked gently. "Who is in trouble?"
"Merlin" Morgana said. Arthur smiled and pulled her into an embrace.
"Morgana its just a storm" he assured her.
"no, no.. its not…" she said, sobbing gently. Arthur sighed and shook his head again.
"what makes you think he's in danger?" he asked softly. Morgana blinked and looked up at him.
"I just know" she said. "Please, Please say you'll go and bring him back" she said. Arthur closed his eyes and looked away.
"I can't"
"Why? Its not like he's done anything bad, not really" she said.
"Morgana, If I could I would, I just can't" he stated.
"Why? Because we're in love? Because its wrong?" she demanded. Arthur looked down at her, shaking his head.
"No, its my Father" he said. Morgana narrowed her eyes. "He's decreed if Merlin ever returns he'll execute him" Arthur admitted. Morgana pulled away.
"He can't do that!" she said.
"Morgana he is the king, and he can will, you know that better than anyone" Arthur said. Morgana spun away from him then, her mind awhirl.
"Fine if you won't go, then I will" she suddenly announced, running out.
"Morgana" called Arthur. When the woman did not return her cursed and pulled on his tunic, before running after her.
Merlin was freezing, he knew that much, he could feel himself shivering as droplets of water fell from his hair, dripping down his face. Looking out he could see the large puddles forming on the ground even as the rain continued to pound. What he wouldn't do to see Arthur and the knights come charging into the clearing, all laughing and joking at him for being so stupid as to run away. But Merlin was nothing if not a realist. He's been alone his entire life, and he would spend the rest of it alone. With a cry of frustration he slowly stood, shivering, sniffing as the rain beat down around him. Yes he felt sorry for himself, he had a right didn't he? Forced from one life, self-expelling himself from the other, now look at him. Great warlock. Great joke. Slowly he made his way through the trees, looking down at his soaked holdall, watching as it dripped. He turned his attention back to where he was going, pushing branches aside, slipping on the muddy ground twice, before with another cry of frustration, he slunk to his knees, feeling the rain pelting his back, soaking him to the skin again. Above him another rumble of thunder echoed across the land. Slowly looking up, he peered around in the gloom, eventually spying a small cave entrance off to his left. With a weary sigh he forced himself to his feet, trudged to it, before collapsing into its mouth, sobbing. Slowly looking up as three old crones moved towards him from the shadows of the cave.
"There's magic in this one" said the one on the right.
"Who..?" asked Merlin, before a large wooden cane clapped him around the side of the head. The last thing he heard was the crones cackling with laughter before it all went dark.
The horses thundered across the wet ground, Morgana and Arthur riding side by side.
"Morgana, we don't even know where he is!" protested Arthur above the thundering hoof beats and pouring rain.
"Then go back!" she yelled. "if that's what you want!" she added.
"And leave you here? No thanks" he said. "how long do you plan to carry on looking?" he called.
"As long as it takes" she replied, urging the horse forwards, faster, as above them the sky lit up.
"They did what?" roared Uther, as he glared at Gwen. It was early the next morning, outside rain continued to pour down. But when neither Arthur nor Morgana had joined him for breakfast, he had grown suspicious, ordering his guards to find them, instead they had returned with Gwen. She had quickly explained what had transpired the night before, and Uther was livid. With a snarl he brushed past Gwen who was kneeling on the floor, and walked out.
"Ready the knights" he called out to the nearest guard, as Gaius ran up to him.
"Is something wrong?" asked Gaius, concerned. Uther turned to face him.
"It seems Arthur has been drawn into this infatuation between Morgana and Merlin, they left last night in the middle of the storm to go and find him" he said, as he walked briskly down the hall.
"What are you going to do?" called Gaius, after him.
"Bring them back, I'm sure a spell in the dungeons would do them the world of good, but god willing I do not find that boy before they do" he snarled.
Merlin awoke slowly, feeling a pain in his head, he opened his eyes, realising the one on the right was sticky, blood. That explained the pain then. Slowly he peered around the room, realising he'd been stripped of his tunic and boots, before he'd been strung up to a large wicked looking hook in the ceiling. He shivered as a cold wind swept into the cave, before he heard movement behind him.
"Ahh, your awake" the voice was shrill, evil. He turned his head to try to get a better look at his captors, they saved him the trouble by walking around in front of him. They were all old, ugly, the one on the left looked at him with her one good eye, the other eye was missing, just and empty socket.
"What… are you?" he asked his vision blurring.
"Oh names, he wants names" the one on the right said, poking him in the chest with her walking stick, the same shrill voice from when he'd woken up.
"What's in a name boy? Names are power" she said.
"I want his eyes" said the one on the left. "There's power in those eyes" she said.
"Sisters" said the one in the middle, speaking up at last. Of the three she was the most imposing of them. Her face was cruel, hardened, twisted in a permanent grimace. "we have much to do and little time" she intoned.
"What are on about?" asked Merlin, the sisters laughed, the one on the right setting him swinging again as she poked him with her stick. The one in the middle turned and moved to the corner, where she picked up a large, ornately inscribed dagger.
"The old religion requires sacrifices, and it has been so very long since we had one" she said, breaking into a toothless grin.
"honestly, I'd make a terrible sacrifice, I'd bleed everywhere, not nice, I have thin blood" Merlin said.
"Oh, but there is so much power in that blood" said the imposing sister, stepping forwards, merlin shivering again, but he couldn't be sure if it was from the cold or the look the sisters were giving him.
"and when we've given the gods your beating heart, we'll eat the rest of you" she added.
"I warn you, I'm powerful" Merlin threatened them. The sister on the right poked him again.
"Oh we know, that's why, you've got that" she said poking his stomach. Merlin looked down, seeing a glowing rune painted onto the skin in blood. More than likely his blood.
"No spells for you" she said breaking into a laugh.
Morgana and Arthur had dismounted from their hoses, looking around the small clearing, a drenched pile of burnt wood in its centre. Arthur looked up from where he was keeling at it.
"Well, someone was here" he admitted, standing.
"It was Merlin I know it was" she said. Arthur looked at her, wanting to tell her it could have been anyone, but the look in her eyes, no he couldn't break her hopes, not yet. Instead he nodded, and looked around, wiping the rain from his forehead as he did so.
"Assuming he wanted shelter from the storm, he'd probably have gone into the woods" Arthur said, walking forwards, Morgana behind him. Turning a moment later as hoof beats thundered towards them. Morgana looked at Arthur wide eyed as Uther rode into view, and brought his horse to a stop, glaring at them.
"What the hell do you think you're playing at?" he demanded.
"I had to look for him!" yelled Morgana. Uther shook his head, and turned his hard gaze to Arthur.
"and you?" he demanded.
"Father, I couldn't let her ride out alone" he said.
"No, you shouldn't have come out at all!" he roared. "Now get on your horses, get back to the castle, and pray I do not find that boy" he hissed.
"No, you can't!" yelled Morgana.
"Just watch me" Uther roared at her.
"I'll never forgive you! NEVER!" she screamed. Uther looked back at her.
"Then I'll just have to get over that" he snarled, even as Morgana sank to her knees in the mud, crying, Arthur holding her gently. The silence that followed was shattered by an echoing scream, a familiar voice. Morgana looked up sharply, pulling herself to her feet, running. Arthur cursing and running after her. Aware that Uther and the knights were also following. Another scream echoed, and Morgana pulled a branch out of the way, seeing the entrance to the cave just ahead. The cave from her nightmare.
"no.. please no" she said, breaking into a run, Arthur grabbing her arm.
"Morgana!" he snapped.
"They're hurting him!" she said, her eyes pleading. Arthur snarled in anger, then looked back at Uther who shook his head, eyes narrowed. Arthur turned back to Morgana's pleading face, then with a roar ran forwards to the cave.
"You stupid boy" muttered Uther going after him. Morgana went to move but he rounded on her.
"You, will stay here" he warned.
"Uther please-"
"ENOUGH I WILL NOT BE DISOBEYED, YOU WILL STAY HERE!" he roared at her. She shrank back, and nodded, and with a last glance, Uther followed Arthur into the cave.
In the cave the Crone in the middle raised the blade again, stabbing it into Merlin's side, he roared again, even as the blood dripped from the wounds.
"please, stop" Merlin gasped, the crones laughing at him.
"Please, it hurts" mocked the crone with the stick. The others laughing. The crone in the middle drew the knife back, then with a savage plunge stabbed Merlin in the side again. His cry was a whimper now, as the blood collected in the bowl beneath him.
"and now, the heart" she said lifting the dagger high, her eyes going wide as a sword plunged through her back. The dagger fell from her grasp, and she sagged forwards, the other two sisters hissing as an enraged Arthur took in the sight before him, Uther appearing a moment later.
"What in gods name…" Uther said, his eyes going wide, for once forgetting the reason he was here. With a roar of primal fury Arthur turned to the sister with one eye, being thrown back against the wall, only for her to be decapitated a moment later. Uther looked over to see Morgana there, holding a sword, her eyes hard, until she saw Merlin hanging there, moving weakly. Uther took the sight in, his fury rising again.
"Behind…" muttered Merlin looking at Uther. The king turned seeing the walking stick coming around, he whipped the sword up, and the walking stick and the arm, went flying. The crone shrieked, falling to her knees even as Uther plunged the sword deep into her. She let out a scream, then fell back, off the sword. Slowly Uther turned back to see Arthur unhooking Merlin from the hook, laying him gently on the floor. Morgana knelt next to him, eyes full of tears, she clutched his hand tightly, and he opened his eyes briefly.
"You came" he croaked, looking at her, reaching up with a weak hand to stroke her hair.
"of course I did" she said, with a smile, kneeling down and kissing his forehead. "I had to" she whispered.
"thank you" he replied.
Across from them Uther looked on dumbstruck. Arthur standing next to him, looking away from the scene before him.
"I was going to kill him" Uther said. "I was ready to kill him, and he warned me" he added.
"Not all people have to be noble to have honour father" spat Arthur, Uther looked at him, seeing the tears in his sons eyes, wondering how he could have been so wrong.
"Arthur" Morgana said softly. Arthur looked over at her.
"He wants to speak to you, and you" she added, glaring at Uther. Arthur stepped forwards, looking back as Uther quietly followed, both kneeling down.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked softly.
"Are you crying you prat?" asked Merlin with a grin. Arthur smiled and shook his head.
"you call me here to insult me?" asked Arthur with a chuckle.
"Thank you, for trying" Merlin said. Arthur placed a hand on his chest and shook his head.
"couldn't let my possible future brother in law have all the fun" he said. Merlin smiled.
"I like that, see that's a good idea" Merlin said with a small smile of his own, before he looked at Uther.
"Sire, I'm sorry, I didn't want to put any of you through this" he said. Uther shook his head.
"No, it is I who apologise. It seems my children are far wiser than I in some regards" he said. Merlin smiled.
"You're a good king, if a little tense sometimes" Merlin said.
"Well, when we're back in Camelot I'm sure we can have a long talk about your future" Uther said. Merlin nodded.
"I'd be honoured" Merlin said, then with a sigh, closed his eyes, even as Morgana began to cry, Arthur comforting her.
Nimueh snarled as she turned away from the font, suddenly realising something, she waved her hand back over it, her eyes glaring. The spell she had woven, the one to make the princess and pauper fall in love, it wasn't even in Merlin and Morgana and Morgana anymore. Yet they still…
"So, true love conquers all does it" she muttered. "We'll see about that, and you Uther Pendragon, you will pay" she hissed, turning and storming away.
"Owwww" muttered Merlin, slowly opening his eyes. Seeing a concerned Gaius looking down at him.
"Well you're a site for sore eyes" Gaius said with a grin.
"I thought-"
"you were dead? near but not quite" he said. "It seems the hags were more interested in your blood than your death, at least at first" he admitted. "now, take it easy, you've been through quite a lot over the past couple of weeks, the stitches are holding but I don't want you to pull them open" he said. Merlin frowned.
"Weeks?" he asked.
"Three, actually" said Gaius, standing up. Merlin sighed and closed his eyes briefly.
"I have to say, I didn't think I'd see you again" said Merlin.
"You can thank Uther for that" said Gaius. Merlin frowned and looked at him.
"Uther? I hate magic, off with their head, hello Marlow Uther?" asked Merlin.
"Whatever happened out there, it seems he's grown… attached to you" Gaius replied, as the door opened and Morgana walked in with Gwen. Merlin looked over at her, her beautiful face blossoming into a smile as she rushed forwards, kicking the bucket across the room.
"still inept as an assassin I see" muttered Gaius, with a wry grin. Morgana smiled as she knelt down.
"I thought…" she said, tears stinging her eyes. Merlin smiled and stroked her hair again.
"No, no more running away for me" Merlin said. She smiled and kissed him gently, as the door opened and Arthur walked in with Uther. Uther opened his mouth to say something, then turned around.
"I didn't see that" he said walking off, a moment later he walked back in, arms folded. Merlin and Morgana looking at him.
"You do realise this is totally unheard of" he said at length, then he shook his head, sighing. "And they say true love is blind. Just keep it secret until we can find a way to make him a noble, somehow" he added.
"Thank you sire" said Merlin with a smile.
"there's a lot to learn, but I'm sure Arthur can keep you busy" Arthur nodded then blinked, the smile on his face dropping away.
"What? Me? How?" he asked, looking confused. Uther smiled and looked over at Merlin.
"And welcome home Marlow" he said.
"MERLIN" everyone else said. Uther blinked then turned away.
"Just testing…" he muttered as he walked off. The others smiling as Morgana and Merlin embraced.
End
Authors note: okay I realise this is totally out of cannon with the show, and Uther is not the total git he is in that, but this is poetic license. And I can't believe he is all that nasty lol. Anyways hope you all enjoyed, and maybe in the future I'll do a sequel. And I know it wasn't all that long a story, but still, I hope you all enjoyed it.