Slightly Changes.
What if Gwen, feeling herself irresistibly drawn by Lancelot had decided to leave Camelot, leave Arthur before cheating on him ? How does the King would have react ? Would have he let the love of his life go away from him ? Would the Morgana's evil plan operates in this case ? The true love that share Arthur and Guinevere, could it survive to a true break up ? Would have it been the good answer ? In this version, set during 4x09, after Arthur's proposing, Lancelot come back and the enchanted gift this late gave to Gwen. This one decided to leave all that matter for her, including the man she loves more than anything, because of feelings she thought dead forever ...
Hello :) Here I am with chapter 13, it's very late here so I'm sorry, I'm too tired to really speak ^^ As always, I wanted to thank you, thanks all of my readers, followers, reviewer ! For this chapter, thanks to pwsm88,Cowboy's Lover Dimitri No,LHC1 and larasmith for their amazing review :)
XIII.
Suddenly, a bright light lighted them and Morgaine lost her smile. Gwen and Morgana turned around in a same time and a scream escaped them. Merlin. It was Merlin who litteraly shone...
"What happen ?" whispered Arthur,
Gwen let out a whimper then, and with a shaking hand, she pushed some damp hair away from his forehead,
"Nothing my love, Nothing. Keep your strenght, don't tired yourself talking..."
"Guinevere ..." he breathed, "I want you to know..."
"No." she interrupted him and he plunged his bright blue eyes in hers, "We will, we will save you."
She threw a hopeless look toward Morgana, who returned it, before laid her eyes on her brother and took one of his hand,
"Why did you do that, you arrogant prat... Why ?"
A slight smile escaped the King and he closed his eyes a few seconds, the tiredness heavier by the minutes.
"Morgana... You saved my life twice, I couldn't letting you be the hero ! I..." he coughed then and Gwen was horrified seeing blood coming out of his mouth,
"Shush Arthur," she then said, stroking his hair again, "All will be allright..."
"You lost Morgaine."
He opened his eyes and saw her stared at him, frightened.
"You lost." he said again in a cold voice and then screamed some words in a foreign language and the young woman was thrown away, in the other corner of the room. He walked closer, slowly, and saw her, keeping her eyes open with difficulty,
"All I wanted ..." she whispered, "was to revenge my sister."
Merlin shook his head and in the light who was still surrounding him, she saw a strange shadow and gasped. Merlin turned around but didn't saw anything. Morgana raised a scared finger toward him,
"You... An old man... behind you ... As if he were .. a part of you."
Merlin then smile, but not to her.
"An old friend." was all he said.
At this time, he felt a danger come to him and in a flicker of a look, he stopped it.
"Do you really think you can beat me ? " he then asked, "I'm the greatest sorcerer of all time."
Merlin wasn't someone arrogant. But she had hurt his best friend. She had hurt his brother of heart. She had gone way too far . She must pay.
"I'm so sorry ..."
"Morgana..."
"For all that I've done. You can't die." she then whispered, "You give me a second chance Arthur... There will never be another like you..."
"You're gonna be okay my dear sister, you're a Pendragon, a warrior. I trust you.
She let out a sob and he squeezed Morgana's hand before take Guinevere's and laid it against his heart, she had to hold on a cry when she felt it beat weakly,
"Guinevere..." he whispered,
With horror, the two women had noticed that when Arthur closed his eyes, it closed a little longer each time...
"I'm here..." she said in a small voice,
"Remember your promise.."
"I didn't promised anything."
He squeezed her hand harder,
"I love you. I..." he winced with the pain, "I want you to be happy..."
"Arthur..."
She sobbed hysterically and couldn't calm herself. Arthur then opened the eyes with difficulty and in a superhuman effort and especially painful, he raised a hand toward her nape, drawing her toward him. Their lips met and Gwen closed her eyes, printing the reminder of this warm and tender lips she loved above anything... They pulled away and his hand fell, while she whispered against his lips,
"I will always love you..."
A slight smile lighted up his face and he squeezed her hand harder. Gwen looked at Morgana and she raised a hand, squeezing Gwen's knee while this one laid her free hand on her mouth.
"Emrys..."
Merlin looked at her a few seconds, then raised his hand toward her,
"I'm sorry Morgaine..."
The young woman raised her hand but too weak after Morgana's blow and her fall, she sighed and dropped it. Tears in his eyes, Merlin waited a few seconds again, he had never killed in cold blood, with someone who was too weak to defend herself... Suddenly, he screamed and fell on his knees, a dagger planted on his calf and he screamed with pain while Morgaine got up,"
"Did you really thought I would go without a fight ? "
"Oh." smirked Merlin and she frowned, "I wasn't expecting less of you. "
And on this words, he looked up at her and she saw his eyes gold before falling on the ground, dead. Merlin then felt a huge tiredness seize him and he fell on the ground, the light leaving him. He winced feeling the pain in his calf but, hearing Gwen's and Morgana's whimpers, his heart stopped. Arthur was right there, dying. Crawling, he then joined them...
"I beg you..." whispered Gwen, approaching her face toward his and Morgana stared at them, helpless, letting them enjoy the last few moments together they had, "You have to hang on Love ..."
"Guine..." he said hardly, his breathing had quickened, he was pale, way too pale...
"You can't die. I need you."
He opened his mouth but nothing came out. With difficulty, Arthur then opened his eyes, a few seconds, feeling himself leave, to look at the woman he loved more than anything else in the world. He found the strenght to smile, before his eyes closed ... Morgana let out a scram, seeing him plunging into unconsciousness and Gwen totally freaked out,
"Arthur ? ARTHUR ?" she stroked his hair, his forehead, his cheeks, his face, "My love ? No. No..." she sobbed and then turned herself, "Merlin ? MERLIN ?"
"I'm here Gwen."
Merlin looked at his friend and tears pricked at his eyes. No. It cannot be. He didn't even say goodbye to him...
"Do something..." Gwen's voice broke, "You have to save him."
Merlin looked down,
"I had no power on this advanced wound Gwen. I... I'm sorry...
"No."
"I..."
"But I do." breathed Morgana in a barely audible voice,
Gwen and Merlin turned around toward her at the same time. Morgana was staring at Arthur, with a decided face, eyes shinning with determination.
"You can't mean that," breathed Merlin, "It's way too dangerous..."
"It doesn't matter if it can bring him back !" then moaned Gwen, pasting her forehead on one of the one she loved...
A tear rolled down Morgana's cheek and she turned toward Merlin,
"You know I can do it."
"Morgana..."
"I just need an extra-energy."
"You can't do that ! " interrupted Merlin, "You could let it your life..."
"Arthur had give me a chance Merlin, he already had given back life to me at the moment, in this dark cell, he showed me a way toward the light. He sacrificed his life for me. If there is, if only one way to bring him back, I'm in."
Merlin nodded, seriously.
"Take mine." breathed Gwen, getting up of his beloved's body, his pulse was weak, they had to hurry up...
"What are you talking about ?"
"Borrow my energy."
"Gwen," said Merlin gently, "You could die..."
" BUT I DON'T CARE ! " shouted then Gwen, looking up and they both saw the hopelessness in there. "I can't let him die. Without him, my life don't deserve to be lived..."
Morgana nodded and lent a hand toward Gwen who took it without hesitation, before the witch put it on Arthur's heart.
"It's an old ritual Gwen, that I learnt with Morgause, on the Isle of the Blessed. It could only be done by High Priestess of the Old Religion and I have to warn you, I'm not sure to be powerful enough to succeed..."
Gwen tried to choke out a sob before say, in a broken voice, her eyes didn't leaving Arthur.
"I beg you."
Morgana agreed and closed her eyes,
"Wait !" exclaimed Merlin and she opened them, staring at him with disbelief while he lent her a hand. "I don't have much, but I could be useful..."
For the first time in years, she smiled genuinely at him and took his hand, before put it on the top of Gwen's and hers. Morgana then closed her eyes, trying to feel the magic in her... Some weird words came out of her mouth, and she repeated them again and again,but nothing seemed to happen... She focused harder and resumed. This time, she felt herself thrill with energy and a halo of light surrounded them, letting a cry of surprised escape Gwen's mouth. Finally, Morgana let go of their hands and had to rely on the floor, exhausted.
"Are you okay ?" whispered Merlin, laying a hand on her shoulder, "You just did something very brave ..."
She looked up, her vision blurred, and saw him very pale, he too, ready to pass out.
"Did it worked ?" she noticed her voice were hoarse all of a sudden.
Gwen laid Arthur's head gently on the floor and then went lay a ear on Arthur's heart, searching for a pulse. She got up and Morgana whimpered while Merlin felt himself die. Something just broken up in Gwen's eyes while she let out a scream and buried her face in Arthur's chest. Hoping to disappear in it. Forever. He couldn't be dead. Merlin couldn't hold back the sob that took him, same as Morgana, and the three of them was standing there, crying the man they all lost...
...
...
...
...
"Guinevere..." a weak voice could be heard
Gwen got up right away, her breathing quickening, hope seizing her...
"Arthur ?" she breathed and she thought she would die when his eyelids opened, letting see his wonderful blue eyes which directly landed on her.
"My Guinevere ..."
Some hysterical sobs took her, from joy this time. And she looked toward her two friends, in who the tears of joy had remplaced the tears of mourn too.
"You did it..." she breathed toward Morgana, who didn't believed her eyes.
Arthur turned his face toward his sister and smiled at her,
"You saved me again, didn't you ?"
"Actually, everyone did..." she answered, modestly.
"Thank you, Morgana."
A teary laugh was then give him and he turned his attention toward Merlin,
"Are you crying Merlin ?"
"I've got... a dust in the eye."
"A big dust then,"
"Yes."
"In both of your eyes ?"
"Shut up Dollop Head." breathed Merlin and he couldn't help the affected laugh that escaped his lips.
Arthur laughed too and tried to sit, helped by Guinevere. Once at her level, he laid his hands on her cheeks and she plunged her brown eyes in his, her heart didn't quite succeed to believe he was there, in front of her, alive.
"My love," he whispered before leant in slowly and kiss her tenderly, "I'm here..." And then, he felt her shake, shake from all her being and she crumbled, in his arms. Crying the fear she had had, crying of relief, nestling herself in his comforting arms...
Arthur looked at Gwen, nestling against his chest, her little body glued to his, a hand on his heart, as if for checking it was still beating. He tenderly smiled at that and looked at the other side, seeing Morgana, asleep too, the more serene look she had had for years. He searched for his best friend and found him, at the window. Arthur then laid a small kiss on Gwen's forehead and pulled away slightly from her, trying not to wake up her. He got up, and still without a noise,walked toward his friend.
"Merlin ?"
"I think I know how to get out of here. The doors aren't doors. In order to getting out," he opened a window and they both let out a little cry of surprise, seeing a stair in front of them, "we just have to open a window." he ended, closing it. He then turned toward Arthur, "I'm sorry Arthur, for not having told you earlier."
"Why didn't you tell me ?" asked sadly the King,
"I didn't want to put you in a harsh situation..."
The King smiled and looked down. When he looked up, he saw Merlin look at Morgana.
"What will you do with her ?"
"I think Morgana proved she was worthy of our trust Merlin, she brought me back from the dead..."
"You weren't exactly dead." corrected Merlin,
"Perhaps, but I would be if she had not saved my life. So, I'll forgive her, openly. And I will make her a Lady of Camelot again."
"And what about..." Merlin hesitated, "magic ?"
He saw Arthur swallowed and whispered in a barely audible voice before go away toward Guinevere, who was fussing in her sleep,
"Well... maybe it's time the laws change."
He left and guessed, even without seeing it, the stupid smile on Merlin's face.
Arthur quickly got closer to Guinevere and squeezed her in his arms,
"I'm here. I'm here my love, you have had a nightmare but everything's okay..."
She slowly opened her eyes and again, laid a hand on his heart, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Everything will be fine Guinevere, it's over." he whispered and he felt her nestling against him, before she whispered at her, as to convince herself after all they've been through,
"It's over..."
The next morning, Morgana woke up first and smiled, seeing her friends still asleep. Her friends ? Was she really allowed to call them that ? Had she really the right, after all she had done ? The best she could do now, was leave, leave and make herself forget. Have a quiet life, maybe find the Druids, try to find the person she was once again... She then got up and wiped a tear on her cheek before head toward the door.
"Where are you going ?"
She turned around to see Arthur behind her, Guinevere by his side, Merlin behind.
"I... I thought you were sleeping."
"This doesn't answer my question Morgana," he said gently,
She looked down.
"I don't want to be a burden for you. And I ... don't deserve ..." her voice broke by the tears,
"Morgana..." he breathed, before walking toward her a little, "You saved my life. You're as to render thanks as Merlin..."
"So, I'm to render thanks ?"
Arthur rolled his eyes and Morgana let a small sad laugh escaped her lips
"Anyway, and I think that everybody in here will agree with what I have to say," he said, turning briefly toward the two person by his side, "I want you to come back to Camelot with us."
"But... But..."
"No Morgana, you will be openly forgive."
"No Arthur..."
"I'm the King dear sister, I do what I want to do. And he please me, having you by my side.
She looked up at him, then at Gwen who sweetly smiled, and toward Merlin, who nodded. She then let her eyes fall on Arthur again and a sob of joy took her while she threw herself at his brother's arms. He laughed and squeezed her, before they pull away.
"Thank you so much. You wont regret this. I... I will be the most loyal person you have ever seen !"
"I know Morgana." smiled the King,"And even better, I don't doubt it for a second."
They were all ready to leave, Gwen was holding Arthur's hand tight in hers, continuing to be amazed of its heat, continuing to be amazed of having him by her side, alive... Merlin opened the window and at the moment when Arthur was pulling her at the opening, she made him sign to go first, he looked at her, puzzled and suddenly, seeing Morgana behind, he understood. They understood each other. He then leant in and kissed her knuckles he was holding, before join Merlin. Gwen walked toward Morgana, and they walked side by side, before pass through the opening.
"I couldn't thank you enough for what you did..."
Morgana slightly shook her head,
"Gwen..."
"No Morgana. You brought Arthur back to me."
The look of the young woman laid on the man she loved, busy in bullied Merlin, a few steps in front of them and she felt her heart overwhelmed by gratitude toward the young witch.
"What ... what you did..." she felt tears pricked at her eyes, "You returned him to me and ... you ... you can't know how much I ..." she sighed deeply, "I couldn't have lived without him. What you just did Morgana," she looked at the young woman, who returned her stare, tears in her eyes too. "It erased absolutely everything that happened between us. The counters are reset."
"Wh... What ?"
"You heard me, and I talk in the name of everyone. We could never thank you enough for what you did. So, it's like the last years didn't exist..."
"You can't do that ..." breathed Morgana, "All... All those things that I've done..."
Gwen stopped and took her friend's hands,
"Passed Morgana. Passed and nothing but passed."
Morgana smiled then and understood, understood that in taking Arthur's chance, she had finally made the right choice.
Finally, following Merlin's advised counsels, they achieved the Castle door and once outside, all breathed. It was over, truly over ...They walked a little and made a fire, preparing the camp for the night, before start a rough walk toward Camelot. Arthur and Guinevere left searching for some wood, an excuse to spend some time together, while Merlin and Morgana found themselves in front of the fire, alone for the first time.
"Merlin..." started Morgana, hesitant.
"No." interrupted Merlin, "Me first, Morgana,I ... I'm sorry for what I did to you this day, in the throne room. But I have to explain... Morgause, Morgause had enchanted you, and you were the cause of the spell and I ... I couldn't let Arthur die... I should have find another way but I didn't had the time and I know it doesn't change a thing but... I am truly sorry."
"I know..." breathed Morgana, and when he stared at her, her bright emerald eyes was again filled with tears, "I got it." she looked down, "Too late but ... I understood why you did what you did."
A slight silence came before Morgana whispered, in a barely audible voice,
"Why... Why didn't you told me Merlin ?"
He sighed. Why ? He had not the answer himself. But he knew, deep in himself, that things would have been different if he had told her his secret, if he had helped her, if he had showed her that magic could be a force for good.
"I don't know Morgana..."
"I understand." she said then, and she truly did.
Arthur and Gwen was walking, side by side, in a comforting silence, her nestled against him. Finally, he stopped and stared at her,
"What happen ? " she asked, worried, "Are you ok ?"
He tenderly smiled and put a curl back behind her ear before stroke her cheek,
"Everything's allright my love. Just... I really intend to marry you, you know.
She smiled and leant against his hand,
"Without interruption ? Without drama ?"
"I swear it to you." he laughed, "Just you" he got closer, "And me" a little more, "Forever..." she smiled and he closed the gap between them in a tender kiss. However, it turned passionate when she tied her arms around his neck to bring him closer to her. Her tongue traced the contour of his lips and he grunted, a hand on her waist, the other still on her cheek, parting his waiting lips for her. "Guinevere..." he whispered when they pulled away and this way he had to say her name made her melt, and she kissed him again, gluing her little body against his.
"You'd better stop that..." he breathed and he saw a glint of teasing in his fiancées's eyes, she slipped her hand from his neck to his chest, and he closed his eyes,
"What ? That ?"
She slipped her hand a little more and it felt on his trousers' waistband...
"Guinevere..." he whispered and she couldn't tell if it was a request for continuing or stopping. She slightly laughed and he opened his eyes, and seeing those blue eyes so full by desire, she swallowed with difficulty. He got closer and kissed her jaw, then her neck, whispering sensually, "Because after, I'm not sure I will be able to stop myself."
She shivered in the tone of his voice and laid a hand on his hair,
"I'm not sur I want you to stop..." she muttered, and she heard him laugh slightly against her neck, more a chuckle actually, before he got up, against his will.
"I want our first time together to be perfect, and even if the idea of here isn't that bad..." she blushed and he nuzzled his nose with hers, "I want to make love to you properly first..." she blushed even more and kissed him, in order for him not to see her, her heart beating way too fast. My God, did he noticed the effect he had on her with just his voice ? They returned to the fire camp, hand in hand, the wood forgotten, the head full with delicious promises... Once arrived, they stopped a few seconds and Arthur laid an arm around his fiancée's shoulder, bringing her closer to him while she laid a hand on his chest. They watched as Merlin was trying to shape the smoke with his powers, making it look like a Dragon, well, trying to making it look like a Dragon, and they saw Morgana watched him with an amused smile. Arthur looked at Guinevere and she raised his chocolate's eyes toward him,
"I love you." he breathed,
"I love you too Arthur, more than anything in the world."
He smiled and she buried her face in his shoulder while he kissed her hair, before Morgana's clear laugh échoed in the forest. The two lovers turned around immediatly toward the scene, where Merlin was, covered in soot,and Morgana laughed, and laughed...
"I hadn't heard her laugh so genuinely in years..." whispered Arthur, seeing his sister truly laugh, a true and genuine laugh.
"What will you do about magic ?" asked him Guinevere,
Arthur seemed to think and his eyes landed on the man he considered as his brother, his bestfriend.
"Merlin saved my life more time than I could say, Morgana just did it. They proved me that magic could be a force for goodness. I'm going to do what my father was never brave enough to ..."
Gwen looked up at him and saw his decided eyes, she was so proud of him right now...
"I'm going to restore magic in Camelot."
So ? ARTHUR'S ALIVE ! :D I couldn't make him die, truly, I just couldn't. I'm totally lost for happy ending ... I think I can't do otherwise ^^ Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, really, Morgana saving Arthur ? Merlin killing Morgaine ? Arthur and Morgana ? Merlin and Morgana talk ? Morgana and Gwen talk ? Arthur and Gwen ? Arthur's decisions ? The next chapter is the WEDDING CHAPTER :D Ahah, but as I'm not here this week end, either it will be update friday morning if I can or monday...
I hope you had a great time my friend,
Keep Safe :)