Title: Drowning In You
Rating: T
Pairing: Arthur/Morgana.
Summary: Someone is drowning young women in Camelot. With no motive and no suspects, Morgana must work out who the murderer is before she becomes the next victim…
Merlin wasn't sure what woke him. Cracking his bleary eyes open, he rubbed the back of his neck and stretched his aching limbs wide over his head, flexing his fingers. A casual look out of the window confirmed that dawn was breaking.
Dawn…
Merlin's heart leaped in his chest. Stumbling up from his chair behind Gaius' desk he moved over to Morgana's bedside…and came to a sudden halt.
A blonde haired woman was sat beside Morgana's bed, her hand pressed against the younger woman's forehead. Morgana, whose cheeks were flushed, whose skin shone rosy pink, whose chest rose up and down calmly in a deep, easy sleep.
The blonde haired woman turned to look at him before he could speak. She appraised him silently before smiling very slightly with lips as dark as blood.
"Hello, Merlin."
"Who are you?" hissed Merlin, feeling his fingers bend in anticipation of a fight, magic curling in his fingertips. "How did you get in here?"
"I am Morgause," said the woman. "Morgana's older half sister."
Merlin took an unconscious step back. "But how did you get here so quickly? The messenger…"
"I have remarkable hearing and I ride extremely quickly," she replied dryly. "And there's no need to whisper, Merlin. Morgana's in a very deep healing sleep and your Prince over there sleeps like the dead, so you won't be disturbing them."
Merlin glanced at Arthur protectively, sudden fearful...relieved when he noticed his chest moved up and down regularly in the slow, deep sleep of the weary.
Morgause only appeared amused. "Don't worry, Merlin, your precious Princeling is alive. It would rather ruin my plans to kill him."
"But you have killed someone, haven't you," he challenged, more bravely than he felt. "To save Morgana. Someone's died?"
"Gaius been filling you in on the old ways has he?" She tutted. "You know that's only going to get you into trouble one day, Merlin. But yes, he's right. Life for life. Blood for blood." She smiled nastily at Merlin. "I wouldn't worry your pretty little head about it. It's not anyone you know."
"How…how do you know my name?"
"I keep tabs." Morgause smirked and brushed a hand tenderly over Morgana brow, tidying away a lock of hair. "I take a great interest in my sister's welfare…and in her friends…"
"You mean you've been spying."
She raised one delicate blonde eyebrow. "Wouldn't you? If someone you loved was living within the walls of a man you despise?"
Merlin crossed his arms. "If you hate Uther so much why haven't you taken Morgana away with you?"
"Because she is- to my ever unfailing disbelief- happy here. Besides, who am I to decide where Morgana lives? I'm her sister, not her jailor." Morgause shrugged. "But if she did ever truly wish to leave then of course she could come and live with myself in Cenred's castle."
There was an awkward pause as Merlin watched Morgause fuss over her sister, raising her blanket higher and smoothing out the creases.
He wondered if there was another person's blood beneath her fingernails.
Wondered why he wasn't shouting for the guards.
Or why he hadn't woken Arthur.
Most of all though, he wondered about her.
"You know she's never mentioned you," he offered eventually, into the silence.
"I was already five when Gorlois married my mother. Morgana was born a year later. She grew up with me in her infant years and I was terribly proud of being an older sister. I took her everywhere with me, prized her above all the dolls I was offered, above all of the friends that I had." Morgause's faint smile quivered and then died on her lips. "Then our mother passed away one spring, before Morgana could ride properly-she must have been six. I went to live with my relatives in the North – my grandmother was still alive and so were my mother's two brothers and an aunt. Gorlois thought it would be good for me to be surrounded by my Mother's kin. He was right." Morgause pursed her lips and broke off a stray thread on the blanket of Morgana's bed. "When Gorlois died he could have sent Morgana to us, to her family. But he didn't. He sent her to Uther. Magic fearing, magic hating, Uther."
"Why didn't you take her then?"
Morgause held his gaze fast. "I don't remember my own father; he died before I was born. But I do remember Gorlois and he loved my mother very much. So I respected his decision to place Morgana under the protection of his best friend. It turned out he was right, again. This was the best place for her."
"So Morgana doesn't remember you?"
"Oh, she remembers me. We write to each other regularly. I see her occasionally when I can. But I don't think it's court etiquette to keep mentioning how close you are to your older half sister when you live under the roof of a man who can't stand her. Not really polite."
"Doesn't sound like Morgana to keep quiet about something just to please Uther."
Morgause shrugged. "Perhaps not. But why should Uther's ire be directed at my sister when it should be aimed at me? We are both very aware of each other. Neither needs a reminder. And if Morgana never speaks of me, it is not because she is embarrassed or ashamed or frightened. It is because she loves Uther and she loves me. I don't want to have to make her choose."
"That's diplomatic of you."
"Thank you." Morgause inclined her head with a smirk. "Makes you uneasy doesn't it?"
"Suspicious."
She held up her hands. "Don't worry; I'm not here to cause any trouble…yet anyway. Uther and I have old scores to settle but now isn't the time or the place."
The bells of alarm began to ring out their warning peals into the dawn light.
"Really," said Merlin dryly.
Morgause flashed her sharp white teeth at him. "Oh, that's just my mode of transportation finally being noticed by Camelot's knights. I'd say I was surprised she wasn't spotted before, but they're not exactly what one would call observant. They were trained by Arthur after all."
Said prince was stirring beside Morgana as the bells continued to ring, and Morgause reclined languidly in her own seat.
"Shouldn't you be leaving now?"
Morgause shook her head, held up her hand and counted down silently from five, long sinewy fingers curling into her soft white palms.
5...4...3...2...1
The solid oak doors to the apothecary were flung open, little flakes of plaster drifting down from the cracks left in the walls. Uther stormed in, followed by a wary looking Gaius, both men stopping short as they took in the scene.
"Uther."
"Morgause."
"Gaius."
"Huh?" (Arthur had finally woken up.)
Morgause ignored him and lounged in her chair indolently.
"Well, witch." Uther's face was twisted with hatred and fear, his mouth curled, forehead creased, eyes black as pitch as he gazed at the woman he despised and yet whose help he needed. "Is she cured?"
Morgana sneered, as if it were a light thing to heal the near dead. "Of course. She'll sleep for a few days now and when she wakes she will be weak and in some discomfort. But she is no longer in danger of dying."
Uther grunted, eyes fixed upon his ward as she slept peacefully. Arthur's fingers were still carefully interlaced with hers, relief plain to see on his face as he watched her almost reverently.
Morgause folded her arms. "Well, don't all rush to thank me at once."
"Saving one person cannot possibly begin to atone for your other crimes," Uther replied sternly.
"You know morality is simply the attitude we adopt towards people whom we personally dislike. A dangerous thing for a man to preach when his own crimes far outweigh those he condemns. But then, you always were a hypocrite," she scoffed.
"And every word from your lips is poison," he growled, hand twitching by his sword. "Get out, before I make you."
Morgause's brow knit and she glared at Uther, even as she stood languidly. "Careful, Pendragon. You promised to protect Morgana and you failed. Watch I don't make you pay for your carelessness with your own life, or that of your kin." She eyed Arthur even as Uther stepped forward, hand on his blade.
There was a sudden scream from the courtyard and a dark shape crossed the dawn light. Morgause flung open the window latch as the bells grew frantic. "Remember, Uther. I'm always watching." She gave a final smirk at Merlin and inclined her head.
And then she jumped out of the window.
Uther, Arthur and Merlin ran to the sill watching as Morgause slid smoothly down the cloth banners that hung down the battlements. A brief jump dropped her in the cobbled courtyard, where she bowed to her audience before clambering onto the large beast which had detached itself from the castle turrets and landed heavily in the courtyard.
"Bloody hell," said Arthur, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Is that a gryphon?"
"She did say she rode here quickly," Merlin shrugged in bemusement. "She never said it was a horse."
"A beast of Hell, fit for a she-devil," muttered Uther as with a shrieking cry from its eagle's head the great beast took off into the sky. It lashed out with its lion's tail at the knights of Camelot who trailed, too late, into the courtyard as the beast and Morgause disappeared into the rising dawn sun.
Gaius meanwhile had moved over to Morgana, calmly and methodically checking her pulse, her breathing and her wounds as she slept.
"Well, Gaius?"
The old man smiled softly, his wrinkled face creasing into pleased astonishment. "Sire, she's completely healed. From what I can gather she remains only in a deep sleep which I believe she will wake from naturally soon enough."
"Then… she will live?"
Gaius nodded firmly. "Yes Sire, she will live."
The blinding smile that passed across Uther's face transformed him into another man as he clapped his hands together.
"Excellent! Excellent news! Our prayers have been answered – this is a great day of joy and celebration. We will ring out the bells through Camelot to announce the Lady Morgana's recovery." He caught his son round the shoulders and beamed at him. "What say you, Arthur?"
Arthur laughed at his father's infectious, relief filled joy. "It's a good idea. It will cheer the people to know of good news after the terrible events of the past weeks."
Gaius shifted uncomfortably, clearly reluctant to voice his next thoughts but having little option. "And...Morgause, sire?"
Merlin watched as the other man, the happy joyous man who had briefly worn the King's crown died suddenly. Then Uther was back again, his face lined in its familiar scowl, the corners of his mouth permanently pressed together in an unrepentant frown.
"When Morgana wakes no-one is to tell her of her sister's actions or of her appearance. If she asks how she recovered all credit will go to Gaius."
The white haired man shifted uncomfortably. "Sire, I-"
"Arthur, post guards on the outer perimeter and the village, in case the witch dares to foolishly return. She is to be killed on sight."
"Father," Arthur interjected, dismayed but unsurprised at his Father's callousness. "She just saved Morgana's life. Surely a little leniency-"
"Morgause could save a hundred lives and she would still be our enemy." Uther fixed his son with a look that chilled him, a blank look of unremitting, cold and calculated hatred. "She uses magic, and anyone who chooses to do so is an enemy to the kingdom, to the crown and to the way of life we have struggled to establish and continue here. Magic will always be our enemy and those who use it are traitors to Camelot and its people. And they always will be. Am I understood?"
Arthur bowed his head; teeth gritted and bit his tongue. He nodded sharply.
"Good." With one final look at his son and his unconscious ward he swept from the room, leaving an uncomfortable silence in his wake.
Gaius fiddled with the many bottles that lined the Healing room for a few minutes, checking the ingredients in each vial before gathering together the empty ones and placing them in a brown wicker satchel. "You will have to excuse me, sire, but since the Lady Morgana is doing so well I should look in on my other patients."
Arthur waved his hand dismissively and with a nod to the prince and a curious look at Merlin the physician departed, leaving Arthur and Merlin watching over a sleeping Morgana.
Merlin began to unconsciously tidy up in the pregnant silence that remained, repositioning vials and candles, adjusting boxes and books as he worked his way around the room.
Arthur meanwhile continued to gaze at Morgana, frowning as she lay still and soft and quiet in the middle of the bed. "He'll never change, will he?" he said eventually, leaning against one of the bed posts.
"Who?" Merlin asked deliberately evasively as he closed the window Morgause had unlatched in her escape.
"My Father. He'll always hate magic. Even when it's so clearly been used for good."
Merlin stopped his unnecessary tidying and stared at Arthur. "Then…you don't think all magic is bad either?"
"How can I?" He motioned out of the window at the faint speck that was Morgause on the back of her gryphon. "It saved Morgana. How can something that saves a life be bad?"
Merlin wondered whether to tell him about the part where Morgause had killed someone in order to save her sister. He opened his mouth, thought better of it and shut it again.
"Besides, if I were to condemn all magic I would have to condemn Morgana too."
Merlin looked up sharply at that. "What?"
"She used magic to create that double, remember? Her dreams- they're the visions of a seer. That's not something I can ignore, or forget." Arthur sighed. "My father is blinded by his hate. He would have Morgana killed if he knew the truth, even as he now rejoices in her recovery."
"Then you're not going to tell Uther about Morgana?"
Arthur laughed incredulously, but the laugh held no joy. "Tell him? I open my mouth and I sign her death warrant. And I couldn't do that." Arthur shook his head fiercely. "I couldn't do that to anyone; not to a stranger in the street or a servant in this castle but especially not to the woman I-"
He caught himself in time. Merlin, for once, tactfully said nothing.
"My father will not always be king," Arthur continued. "Perhaps when that day comes Camelot will become a fairer, wiser place to live in…for all people." Arthur slid his gaze across to meet Merlin's, his eyes dark and solemn. "I hope I can trust you to keep Morgana's secret?"
Merlin allowed a small proud smile to bloom across his face. "With my life."
"Good." Arthur nodded and sat back in his chair. "In the meantime, clot pole I need you to start unpacking all of my possessions that escaped the fire in my room. And shine my armour. Oh and fix my shirts, several of them need darning. When you've done all of that come and see me, I have a list."
The smile slid off Merlin's face. He folded his arms. "You know in this fairer, wiser society of yours when you're king, do I get a promotion?"
"Of course," said Arthur generously.
"Really?"
Arthur smirked. "You'll get to be the King's manservant instead of the Prince's."
Despite Gaius' diagnosis that Morgana would come round of her own accord, after a week with no sign of her waking the atmosphere in the castle was once again growing more and more concerned.
The evening shadows were just beginning to lengthen across the courtyard when Bridget slipped quietly into Morgana's room. Seeing that she was still fast asleep Bridget sighed and shut the door behind her, taking up the vacant chair that stood beside the bed. She poured herself a glass of water, toyed with it for a moment and then sat it back down.
"Good evening, Morgana," she began brightly. "I thought I'd come and read to you. Your librarian recommended this volume," she picked up the book and read the title, "The Lament of Druvayne the Wanderer." She frowned and read aloud the opening sentences before abruptly shutting the book and sliding it under the bed. "Then again, I'm not sure Geoffrey understood that I wanted something exciting. I think I'm simply furthering your coma by reading this."
She smoothed her skirt and idly played with a bronze bracelet on her wrist, twisting the metal round and round her hand.
"So, Morgana. Any news?"
There was silence.
"You know it's terribly boring if you don't reply. If I wanted to talk to myself I could have stayed in my room and pretended to be mad."
Still, Morgana lay peacefully unaware and unresponsive.
Bridget fiddled with her bracelet once more before giving up and voicing her troubles. "You know you missed Thaniel's funeral. We had the ceremony outside the walls on the hill over looking Camelot." She swallowed around the lump in her throat. "It was a really beautiful day. And he would have liked the view. Uther offered to have his ashes interred in the royal grounds, for having been killed defending the king's son and his ward. Though it was a great honour Father said no, he wanted him buried next to my mother." Bridget sniffed and smiled ruefully. "I wish you'd have been there, you'd have known just what to say. Arthur's not so good with words and neither are my brothers. As it was Bedivere held my hand and let me cry on him."
Bridget worried her lip. "I think he's going to propose, Morgana. He's been getting more serious lately…well he was always serious anyway, but he keeps mentioning the future and security and making a commitment to each other. I just thought we were having fun."
She paused as though Morgana had interjected and fiddled with her bracelet again.
"Alright, so I know that's a lie. It started off as harmless flirting and then somewhere along the way I fell in love with him. And I do love him. Honestly. But I'm scared Morgana. What if he does propose?"
She got up from her chair and began to pace back and forth from the bed to the curtained window.
"If I say no I break both our hearts. But if I say yes I'll be married and someone's wife and I'll have to be sensible and responsible and start thinking about having children and sewing and being at the beck and call of my husband and then I'll grow to be resentful and cranky and then Bedivere will start having affairs and I'll get old and fat and ugly and saggy in places I don't want to be and I'll have to endure hundreds of fat grandchildren all over my castle and I'll die old and alone, and then I'll go to Hell because I'll have been a terrible wife and mother."
She slumped back down in the chair and worried the nail of her thumb. "And this is the part where if you were awake you'd be terribly reassuring and you'd have stopped my worried ramblings before they even started."
She took Morgana's hand in hers. "Do wake up, Morgana. I miss you, and I'm being terribly selfish but I need you because I can't tell anyone else about this and no-one else will understand."
She squeezed her hand earnestly and let out a small, sad little laugh. "Gwen misses you. She keeps asking me if I need my hair braiding or my clothes sewing even though I have my own maid. I think she's bored and lonely."
"And of course Arthur misses you." She patted her hand. "He's had to go back to training the knights since things have quietened down, but he checks on you every morning before he patrols and every evening before he eats. It's really quite sickening. You'd have laughed at that if you'd have been awake, and made some insulting remark."
She sighed. "Even Merlin misses you…though I think what he misses more is that there's no-one around to take Arthur down a peg or two. Uther misses you too. He doesn't come and see you very often." She frowned. "I think it reminds him too much of Igraine when she was dying, but he always asks for a report from Gaius and his shoulders always slump slightly when Gaius tells him there isn't any change. You have so many reasons to wake up, Morgana. Why are you still sleeping?"
Bridget pouted, gave her friend's hand one final squeeze and then let go. "You'd better be having a very good dream that's all I can say, and it had better be a very dirty one otherwise I'm going to be highly disappointed in you."
She tapped her fingers on the bedspread. "And I know you've been awake for the past five minutes you sly thing, so you can open your eyes and stop faking."
Morgana never moved.
Bridget sat back in her chair. "Bother, I was so sure that was going to work."
There was a knock at the door and Arthur appeared, still clad in his practice clothing, hair plastered to his head with sweat, and mud splattered across his shirt and body protector.
"Any change?"
"No, sleeping beauty is still beautiful, still sleeping," Bridget shrugged. "Still not much of a conversationalist."
Arthur smiled at the nickname but it was a sad smile, hope a little bit more dimmed.
"How was training?" asked Bridget, steering the conversation into safer waters. "I hope Bedivere didn't beat you too badly."
That got a smile.
"As you can see I escaped unscathed. The same can't be said for Readlyn or Galahad though."
"I'm sure you're just hiding your bruises under all that padding. I'll ask Bedivere later."
Arthur rolled his eyes good naturedly. "Who will no doubt paint a picture that is grossly inaccurate and unfair."
"Speaking of unfair has Merlin finished unpacking all of your belongings yet into your room?"
"Nearly. He is quite slow."
Bridget shot him a barbed look. "It'd be quicker if you gave him a hand."
"You know the point of servants is that they do the work for you."
"And the point of friends is that they help each other."
Arthur waved a hand carelessly. "He's got nothing else better to do all day."
Bridget shook her head incredulously. "I'm just glad the fire didn't do much damage or you'd be having him build a new room for you."
The dinner bells began to sound.
Arthur looked down at his clothes and grimaced. "I'd better change."
"I'll get Gwen to come and sit with Morgana," offered Bridget. Arthur nodded gratefully and disappeared, leaving Bridget once more alone with Morgana.
She got up from her chair and smoothed Morgana's hair before leaning down and whispering in her ear.
"Your friends miss you. Think about what I said and please wake up soon."
They were half way through the main course when there was a hurried knocking on the doors to the private dining room.
Uther frowned over the rim of his wine glass but called anyway. "Come in."
Gwen appeared dropping a curtsey, but she was shaking so badly with excitement that the curtsey was brief and wobbly and she could barely contain herself.
Arthur had already half risen from his chair at the sight of her. "Gwen, what is it?"
"She's awake. Morgana's awake!"
Arthur was out of his chair and running before Gwen had barely managed to finish and she was almost bowled over as he ran past her.
Fortunately she was laughing and crying too much to care.
Uther too made to follow, rising from his chair, but it was Bridget who spoke, a small self-satisfied smile on her face.
"Trust me," she said, calmly placing one hand over his. "I think it's probably a good idea if we give them some privacy. We can go and see her this evening instead. We don't want her to feel crowded."
Uther looked as though he was going to say something. Instead he nodded absently and sat back down in his chair, but his eyes followed the path his son had taken out of the hall and his gaze was thoughtful.
Morgana's eyes felt wet and sticky, as though she'd been crying in her sleep and her tears had shut her lids together. Weakly she raised one hand and rubbed at her lashes before blinking rapidly in the blinding glare of the room. There was a glass of water by her bedside and she took thirsty gulps, easing the burning in her throat even as her head pounded in her skull. She shut her eyes again, leaning back against her cool crisp pillow. Distantly she thought she heard the sound of pounding feet. But it could just have been her heachache.
When she finally opened her eyes again, Arthur was leaning against a bedpost staring at her.
"Don't ever scare me like that again."
Morgana opened her mouth to say something witty in response but she was too tired and her head ached.
"All right."
Arthur's brow raised. "Good grief, you're agreeing with me? Now I know you're possessed."
"Haha." Morgana's brow crinkled. "Shut the curtains please. The light..." She rubbed her aching head and winced. "What happened?"
"You don't remember?"
Morgana managed to shoot him a dry look, even whilst she massaged her temples. "Would I be asking if I did?"
"Your name is Morgana and you were born-"
"I know who I am, Arthur," she replied wryly. "I meant, how did I end up here?"
"There was a demon," Arthur began as he pulled the curtains closed, his fingers gripping into the material as if it would disappear. "In the water. A nixie-"
Morgana sat bolt upright in the bed and winced, as her chest ached. "You stabbed me!"
"So you do remember." Arthur's face tensed and something like agony flickered across his face. "Morgana, I'm sorry, I should have been more careful. I should have anticipated your move, I should have been quicker. You nearly died and it was my fault." He sat down in the vacant chair by her bed and took her hand, surprising them both. "How can I ever make it up to you?"
Morgana sank back into the pillows and squeezed his hand weakly, enjoying the sensation of his rough, calloused fingers against her own. "Give me time. I'm sure I'll think of something."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment as Arthur wrestled with whether or not to tell her the truth. Morgana, who had been lazily watching the candle's shadows trace across the wall, caught the look of internal debate on his face.
She pressed his hand. "Arthur, what's wrong? Is everything alright? Is everyone well?"
"Your sister paid us a visit," he admitted.
"And the castle's still standing?" said Morgana weakly.
"Just about. Don't ask me how she did it but she cured you. Father was relieved you were better and then the relief gave way to anger. Morgause had to jump out of a window."
"My sister jumped out of a window?"
Arthur smirked and nodded. "And then flew off on the back of a gryphon. It was rather impressive."
"She always did like to show off, even when we were little." Morgana smiled at the image and then sobered. "I suppose you weren't meant to tell me?"
Arthur nodded. "All credit to Gaius, I'm afraid."
"Don't worry I won't say anything." She smiled and then winced again as her head throbbed once more.
Arthur's face was pulled into a concerned frown and she found herself smiling inwardly at how adorable he looked when he was genuinely worried about her. He also looked tired, she noticed. As though he'd not been sleeping well. Or at all, her mind added.
He leant closer to her, pulling her hand closer to the warmth of his chest. "Where does it hurt?"
"My head," she replied simply.
And then Arthur managed to surprise even himself. He leant down and softly pressed his lips against her hair, lingering for a few moments before pulling back.
She smiled wanly and raised an eyebrow. "Are you kissing it better?"
"If it helps."
She bit her lip, heart racing in her chest. It was now or never. Time to make a decision. She closed her eyes and swallowed.
"Then my forehead hurts too."
She felt him move over her, felt his lips press firmly but softly against her brow. His warm breath gently grazed her hairline. She shivered but didn't open her eyes as she moved her finger and pressed it to her cheek.
His lips again caressed her skin, small deliberate movements of his mouth against her, each kiss more sensual than the last.
She pointed to her chin where he skimmed butterfly kisses across her jaw and neck. Her free hand fisted the bed sheets as she pointed daringly to her lips.
"Morgana?"
"Yes?"
"Open your eyes."
Brilliant, striking cobalt met jade as his breath ghosted over her lips. She gasped and then his mouth covered hers.
It felt like a fire was licking trails up her skin, her skin prickling with heat as he kissed her, slanting his mouth over hers hungrily, desperately. She felt like she couldn't breathe, as though he was trying to consume her, and she was letting him, urging him on, closing her hand into his shirt and puling him closer, her nails catching in the material and dragging him down with her.
She kissed him with all of the repressed desire she'd been feeling for months, for years as he'd chased other women and she'd pretended to love other men.
She kissed him with all of the anger she felt for letting him hurt her, for having him use her, for that moment in the maze when he'd so badly let her down, all those years ago.
She kissed him in relief that he was safe and she was alive and breathing and free to take what had always been hers.
Mostly though, she kissed him because she loved him and couldn't tell him yet. One day perhaps, but until then a kiss said more than words ever could and she hoped that he kissed her for the same reason.
Eventually she had to pull away to breathe, smiling at him as he traced her jaw line with his fingers, feeling the delicate bones beneath the skin.
Wordlessly she patted the space beside her and he hesitatingly lay down next to her on top of the sheets.
Her fingers reached for his again and she smiled slowly when he began to leisurely stroke the back of her hand.
"I do have one question, though."
"Anything," he replied earnestly.
"Why did I wake up holding a spoon?"
"Ah." Arthur rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, um…"
"You know, the next time I'm in a coma flowers are fine."
Arthur smiled back at her and slid his arm around her shoulders, pressing his head against her curls.
"I'll remember that."
"Good."
There was a comfortable silence as they lay together on the bed. Morgana was beginning to drift into the warm haze that begins before sleep when Arthur's quiet voice broke into the silence.
"Morgana?"
"Mmh?"
"I really am glad you're better."
Morgana breathed in the clean, warm smell of his shirt, of his skin and curled in closer, feeling the reassuring rise and fall of his chest.
"I can tell."
As the moon slid high into the star strewn sky, Gwen peered around the Healing room door, finding them curled up next to each other. Arthur lay on top of the sheets with his arms wrapped protectively around Morgana, cradling her sleeping figure. Gwen said nothing and quietly tiptoed out of the room.
"They're asleep," she whispered, smiling widely. "It's really lovely."
Merlin raised an eyebrow and stuck his head round the door, as Bridget peered though the gap and smirked.
"I don't like it," admitted Merlin, pulling his head back. "It's unnatural for them to be this quiet when they're together. At this point they're normally both arguing."
Gwen put her hands on her hips. "Maybe they've matured."
"Maybe he's smothered her."
"Don't be mean," Bridget smacked Merlin sharply. "She could have smothered him instead."
"I'm just saying it's unlikely this abnormal peace will last," he argued, rubbing his stinging shoulder. "I give them until tomorrow and then everything will be back to normal."
Gwen took one last look at the sleeping couple before shutting the door behind her. "I disagree; Arthur looked really lost when Morgana was in her coma. I've never seen him like that before." She smiled warmly and linked arms with Merlin as they wandered back down the corridor. "I really think this is it now," she beamed happily and began to daydream. "I wonder when he'll ask her to marry him! She'd be such a beautiful bride."
Merlin pulled to an abrupt stop. "You think he's going to ask her to marry him?"
"Why not? She was practically born to be queen and when he nearly lost her Arthur realised Morgana is his one true love." Gwen sighed romantically. "It's destiny."
"Gwen, firstly you give Arthur far too much credit, and secondly this is the Arthur and Morgana Saga," Bridget replied dryly. "One of them had to end up bleeding before they even admitted they liked each other."
Merlin nodded his head emphatically. "It took a water demon, the threat of impending death, and several drowned women for them to get together. I think you're going to have to wait for some kind of national earthquake or massacre before he admits he loves her, let alone proposes."
"Perhaps after a rain of toads?" Bridget offered as they set off once more down the corridor.
"Freak flood."
"Epidemic of boils."
"Attack by dragons."
"Hoard of barbarians."
"Infestation of chimera."
"Ooh, good one."
Gwen, romantic ideals crushed, sighed and trailed after them. "I'm not sure why I'm friends with either of you."
Please Read and Review!
Sorry for the huge wait guys but I hope it's been worth it.
One more chapter left to go now and then this baby is finished!
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