Author: LadyFromPoland

Disclaimer: I don't own "Merlin". It is a TV show which belongs to BBC.

Warning: SLASH

English is not my mother language.

Engagement of an idiot

Chapter 5

"Different levels of pain"

Merlin stood up slowly, not turning his gaze away from her. She was tired but still beautiful. "Morgana," the warlock said as quietly as he could.

"Hello, Merlin," she said in a slightly melancholic way.

"What did you do to Arthur?" he asked firmly, glancing at his friend for the first time since she'd come.

"My brother is just sleeping," the witch assured him. "I don't mean any harm. I only wished to talk to you in private. It was the only way."

Merlin frowned. "You wanted to talk?" he asked. "Why? I don't think we've got something to talk about."

"You're wrong." Morgana came closer to the warlock. "There is something very important that you need to know before you make a mistake."

Merlin shook his head in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"I know that you're going to marry some noble lady. However you shouldn't do that," Morgana said smoothly.

"Why should I listen to you?" Merlin asked proudly. "You know nothing. You yourself made so many mistakes in your life that you shouldn't give advice to others."

"I'm gifted, Merlin. You can't deny that." The woman sighed soundly. "You have right to be angry with me and not to trust me but I have my visions and they don't lie."

"You abandoned your visions the moment you put the bracelet from Morgause on," Merlin replied.

"I don't use it any more," she said, showing him her wrists. "That's a punish that I've given myself. I can't escape from all those horrible things that I see at night in my sleep. The world needs my visions. They may be frightening but I've found out that they're useful."

"What did you do with the bracelet?" Merlin asked her a little bit curiously.

"I didn't want to destroy it because it belonged to my mother. However I'm afraid that I'm not strong enough to fight the temptation of putting it on again. That's why I want you to take it away from me." Morgana gave him the bracelet that once belonged to her mother.

Merlin glanced at the piece of jewellery which looked normal but he felt the magic that was running through it. Then he looked at Morgana and thought about his own mother. The bracelet was priceless to her but she was willing to get rid of it anyway.

The sorcerer closed his eyes and murmured a short incantation. "Take it back," he said to Morgana.

"But..." The woman was truly surprised and confused.

"I set the magic of the bracelet free. Now it's just a normal bracelet. You can put it on your wrist," he explained quietly.

Morgana smiled at him. "Thank you," she whispered. "It means so much to me."

"I know," Merlin answered, smiling faintly. It was good to see the old Morgana and her smile.

However after a short moment, it faded away. "I'm grateful for the bracelet but I've come here to warn you," she said. "I feel an obligation to tell you that marrying that woman is the worst of the given possibilities."

"Morgana," Merlin moaned. "I don't want to have this conversation with you. Why does everybody think that he knows better?" he asked slightly helplessly.

"You mean Arthur does?" She glanced at her half-brother and Merlin followed her gaze. He almost forgot that Arthur was lying unconsciously right next to them. "It's been obvious all along, hasn't it?"

"I don't really know what you're insinuating, Morgana, and I'm not sure if I want to find out." Nonetheless he sighed inwardly. It was true that Arthur didn't like the idea of Merlin's marriage and it saddened the warlock so much.

"You're so stubborn sometimes." The woman shook her head in disapproval. "All what I ask you to do is to listen to me carefully. If you don't want to follow my advice, you won't do it anyway."

Merlin didn't risk anything. Moreover, Morgana would leave him at peace right after her statement. "Fine," the sorcerer murmured shortly.

"Thank you." Morgana smiled at him once again. "You won't regret."

"Just go straight to the point," Merlin told her rather harshly.

The witch nodded, agreeing instantly. "I saw two ways... two possibilities of the future," she said quietly.

"There are plenty of possibilities," the warlock told her.

"That's true," she agreed. "However those two are the most intense and they depend on your decision. I saw what will happen to Camelot in a few years time. I saw Arthur..." Her voice cracked a little bit.

"What's about Arthur?" Merlin asked worryingly. "Just tell me!" It sounded almost like an order and Morgana didn't dare to postpone it.

"I saw Camelot ruled by a fair and just king. I saw happy people and happy families... it was a Golden Age of Camelot."

"I assume that I don't have a wife in this possibility," Merlin interrupted her.

"You assume correctly," Morgana confirmed. "However the frightening vision of Camelot always haunts me just after the first one. In this Camelot you are married to her and you try to do your best to help the shattered Arthur but it's already too late." She looked at Merlin very intensively, noticing every change in his facial features.

"What do you mean by shattered?" he asked after a long silence.

"He... well... I don't know what happened before but he looked like a broken and tired man who wasn't able to rule at all. The Camelot was literally ruined. The Albion was never born."

"What does it have to do with my marriage?" asked Merlin. "I... it doesn't make any sense."

"Well... it does to me," Morgana said. She glanced once again at the unconscious Arthur and said, "if you don't want to see him shattered, you know what you should, or rather shouldn't do."

"That's a blackmail and threat," he said. "I won't let some visions decide my life for me and I won't allow Arthur to ruin the idea of Albion!"

"That's impossible... You can't marry her and keep Arthur in a good state. My vision was clear... one thing excludes the other one." Morgana was looking at him sadly. He didn't really understand that it was deadly serious.

"I'll try," the warlock told her.

"Are ready to take such risk?" she asked in disbelief. It was so much not like Merlin. He was meant to protect Arthur no matter what and he always cared for him deeper than he let himself show.

Merlin swallowed hard and tensed a little bit.

"Are you?" Morgana asked once again.

"Arthur will be fine," the warlock said. "I'll do everything to keep him safe and my marriage won't change anything in that matter."

Morgana shook her head with disapproval and sadness. Merlin was a clever man but he certainly didn't understand some essential things about people and their feelings. "You don't get it, do you?" she asked bitterly. "Why are you so obstinate? Is it really such a great sacrifice? You've been sacrificing much more for Arthur and now you don't want to do it."

"What I'm about to do is a sacrifice but I don't expect you to understand," Merlin answered silently, looking Morgana in the eye. "I will never abandon my destiny, no matter what."

The woman sighed inwardly. She wasn't able to change his mind. If anybody was able to do it, then it was Arthur himself. It pained her so much that Merlin was doing everything to ruin the future that was within their reach. In the past Morgana had made so many mistakes, but her dream of a peaceful land ruled by a good and just king was always hidden deep inside her.

"I know," Morgana said quite softly. After all, Merlin wanted to do a good thing but he got lost among the way. "I just want you to promise me that you'll think it through one more time," she asked him.

"Morgana..."

"Promise me." Her voice was so demanding and her glance was so intense that Merlin couldn't say no.

"You have my word," he said eventually.

"Thank you." Then she came up to the unconscious Arthur, grabbed the bow and pulled it out. Surprisingly, king's skin seemed untouched. "He'll wake up soon," she said to Merlin and then straightened up. "I think it's time for me to go."

"Should I tell Arthur that I met you?" Merlin asked her.

Morgana glanced at him. "That's your decision. You can tell him whatever you wish." Then she walked away gracefully.

Merlin sat down next to his sleeping friend. He watched him very carefully, wondering if it was good to tell him about the incident or not. Eventually Merlin decided that Arthur didn't need to know everything. As a king he had plenty more problems to deal with.

After half an hour Arthur flinched and Merlin moved away immediately, realising their closeness. It was one of those times when he forgot that some things weren't meant to be.

Arthur groaned and slowly opened his eyes. "My head," he whined.

"I'm sure it's not so bad," Merlin said quietly.

The king looked up at his friend, realising that he was lying on the ground. "What happened?" he asked, slowly sitting up.

"You lost consciousness," the warlock explained.

"But..." Arthur looked around. "What? I did not!"

"Yes, you did," Merlin said firmly. "You must be exhausted and overworked. It happens sometimes," he assured him softly.

Arthur flushed slightly. His whole plan went wrong. It was a shame to faint in front of Merlin when he was trying to prove something to him.

"Shouldn't we continue our trip?" Arthur asked, trying to forget about his embarrassment.

"Well... we don't have to. We can stay here for a while and then come back," the warlock suggested.

"What about the fact that this piece of land belongs to somebody else?" the king asked.

Merlin shrugged lightly. "As long as he doesn't know, it's fine," he said, sitting down next to his friend.

They were sitting side by side, enjoying each other's company and talking about some silly things. Arthur didn't want to ruin the atmosphere so he didn't bring up the subject of Merlin's marriage or their last conversation.

It was painful to leave the place. Arthur postponed the moment but they had to come back to the castle anyway. The sun was already going under when they climbed on their horses. They reached the castle after the nightfall and everybody was already worried about king's absence. However Arthur didn't care about it. All his thoughts were with Merlin.

oOoOo

Merlin climbed on his bed with relief. He was happy that the day was about to end. It was a very long and very surprising day. He couldn't believe that it all happened in such a short amount of time. Finding out about Raven and the conversation that he had with Morgana saddened him but the afternoon that he spent with Arthur couldn't be more beautiful and magical. He couldn't help thinking that it was probably one of the last such amazing moments that they both shared. Merlin was going never to forget it and worship it till the very end.

At the same time Arthur was also thinking about their trip. He didn't want to lose Merlin for anybody but it was just a silly dream that was never going to be fulfilled. Merlin had a fiancée and he himself had to marry a princess. His people expected it and it was just a matter of time before they would try to push him.

Arthur was ready to keep his real feelings a secret until his death. It would be so much better to tell Merlin the truth but the king wouldn't stand the humiliation of rejection and probably losing his friend.

Merlin sought his blessing and Arthur was strong enough to give it to him. It would make Merlin happy and that was something that the king wanted the most.

Arthur closed his eyes tightly, trying to fight off the sudden pain.

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