Music Choice: To Zanarkand - Final Fantasy X (Orchestra Version)
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, but I now own a mastery of the evil smirk . . .
CHAPTER 8 - The Shattered Walls
"Shall I set up here?" Merlin addresses Arthur as he joins them by the river.
"Merlin! What kept you?" Arthur pulls Merlin aside to move away from Elena. "Do not leave me again."
"You were riding so fast. I thought you were eager for some . . . alone time."
"Nobody likes a clever clogs, Merlin."
"Well, I'd say your gesture for flowers implies that you did want alone time," Morgana whispers teasingly at Arthur as she emerges from behind the forest.
"Morgana!" Arthur eyes her curiously. "What brings you here?"
He lets a sinister grin creep onto his face as he ostentatiously looks back and forth between Merlin and Morgana.
Morgana scowls at his reaction, "Hold your mouth Arthur. I swear, if you lecture me again about my friendship with Merlin."
"I wasn't going to say anything . . ." Arthur responds with a smile.
"Wait, you've lectured her about me?" Merlin interrupts.
"Yes, Merlin. I told Morgana about your . . . how should I put it . . . fondness of her."
"YOU TOLD HER WHAT?" Merlin screams in surprise.
" . . . just so she knows not to lead you on."
"Oh Arthur, stop it. You're making Merlin uncomfortable," Morgana interjects while she enjoys how Merlin squirms at the subject.
"I think he's feeling more than just being uncomfortable," Arthur says with a laugh.
Merlin forces words out in his defense, "Uh . . . uh . . . there has been a misunderstanding Morgana. Prince pratface got the wrong . . ."
"Don't worry Merlin, I understand," she says while shushing Merlin with her delicate fingers.
"Ouch! A little help please." The three friends are interrupted by Princess Elena who carelessly fell into a puddle and is having a hard time getting up. Arthur rushes to help her as Morgana moves to help unpack the supplies that Merlin has carried.
"Umm. . . Morgana?" Merlin addresses her as she untangles a rope holding several blankets together.
"Yes, Merlin?"
"Whatever Arthur has said to you, just know that they're not . . ."
She interrupts him, "Merlin, I told you I understand. I know how Arthur is and how oblivious he can be at times, so don't worry about it." She turns to smile at him.
"Okay, good," Merlin smiles. He moves to help unpack as the panic and the embarrassment he felt subsided. He's thankful that Morgana is understanding and quicker at picking up information. Explaining things to Morgana is easier than it is explaining to Arthur.
"Can I ask you a question though?" Morgana asks Merlin as they both unload the items onto good flat soil with just enough shade and sunlight for relaxing.
"What is it?" He responds without looking up from his work.
"What gave Arthur the idea that you . . . liked me?"
"Oh . . . it was the time when I found out about your magic," he says nonchalantly. "He found out about the flowers I have given you and he caught me several times leaving your room late at night."
"I see . . . " she answers, before continuing her thoughts. "Merlin, can I tell you something?"
"Mhmm" he nods.
"I . . ." she hesitates a little. "It's hard to say."
"Don't worry, I'm sure I'll understand," he answers while keeping busy.
"It's just that . . . I. . ." she takes a moment before mustering up enough courage to tell him. "I . . . miss . . . you."
Merlin stops what he is doing to look at Morgana.
"Merlin . . . I miss our friendship."
Merlin takes a deep breath and entertains his thoughts. Ever since he saved her life, had a deep conversation with her about the sins of the past, and the secrets he kept, they really haven't addressed their relationship with each other. They simply just started living their lives normally. If she was around him, he tried to be as cordial and polite as any servant would be to any noble. On the other hand, he knows that Morgana has tried hard to seek out his forgiveness, and may even be using her beauty for her cause. He would be lying if he said that he doesn't miss her too, especially now that she is someone who he can talk openly with about magic. Moreover, he also has sins against her that he regrets. He comes to a conclusion that the best decision for reparation, for the safety of Camelot, and for the fulfillment of his and Arthur's destiny is to reconcile with Morgana.
"I know our relationship hasn't been perfect, and I know that you are still not resolved to fully accept me back, but I want you to know that I miss what we used to have. These past days reminded me of that," she continues.
"Morgana, I have wronged you too. I have done horrible things to you. And truly . . . if I am to be honest . . . I do miss you too."
"You do?" Morgana smiles, close to the point of tears.
"Very much so," he answers. "Maybe we can start over? Maybe become friends?"
His words come out with conviction. In his heart, it seems that he has torn down the walls that he built against Morgana. He has finally accepted her back into his life. Now, he has to worry about not repeating the feelings he once had for her. He has to be more careful now that he has opened himself up again to his biggest weakness.
After sharing a few moments in silence together, they preoccupy themselves with the gear and goods around them. She shuffles with some stuff that Merlin set on the ground earlier. She finds Merlin's bag, inside it, she notices a familiar item and looks to Merlin to ask about it. "Merlin, why did you bring my bracelet here with you?"
"Ah, yes. The bracelet," he finishes his work and turns to Morgana with full attention. He searches for Arthur and Elena to make sure they're alone. "I was planning on giving Arthur and Elena alone time today. I had planned to meet with someone about the significance of this bracelet."
"Who are you going to meet with?"
"Hmm, I think its best just to show you," Merlin rises to his feet and grabs Morgana's hand. She allows him ownership of her dainty hand as she feels the gentleness of his calloused hand pulling her inside the forest. It makes her happy to have him as a friend once again.
"Hey Arthur, me and Morgana are going to get firewood," he yells to Arthur who is preoccupied with drying Elena's soaked dress. "We'll be right back."
Arthur turns to Merlin and gives him a look, ordering him not to leave him alone with Elena. Merlin merely smiles at his pleading and disappears from his view.
"So one thing about me. I'm not just a warlock."
Morgana raises an eyebrow at his statement and begins to wonder what secret Merlin is about to reveal to her. She smiles at the thought that Merlin trusts her enough to divulge a secret to her, or "maybe it is because he is trying to make up for the secrets he kept in the past?"
"What else can you be?"
"Right after you left last year, Camelot was attacked by a Great Dragon." He answers while keeping his focus ahead of him, it looks to Morgana like he is using some type of magic to navigate.
"Yes, I do recall Morgause telling me about this," she responds back, but she is not without questions. "She found it unusual for normal knights of Camelot to have slain a dragon. It didn't make sense."
"Ah, so she knows about Dragonlords then?"
"She does. She mentioned them to me, unfortunately, they are all but extinct."
"Extinct eh? I'm curious . . . what did she say about Dragonlords?"
"Well, she said that according to the Old Religion, Dragonlords are brethren to the dragons themselves. She spoke of them with such high regard. She couldn't understand how the Great Dragon was defeated without a Dragonlord," she answers. "I wish Dragonlords still existed. I would've done anything just to meet them. I'd like to meet a dragon as well."
Merlin can't help but smile, "Morgana, you have to be careful what you say . . .
O drakon, e mala soi ftengometh tesd'hup anankes! Erkheo!"
Morgana's eyes open wide after seeing Merlin speak a language that is foreign to her. His voice also changed, much to her surprise, to a very deep and strong tone.
They stop running just as they emerge from the forest into a clearing. Merlin walks Morgana a little further out before letting go of her hand. Her hand feels empty without Merlin's in it so she decides to hold the bracelet with it.
"Merlin . . . what's going on?"
"You said you wanted to meet a Dragon?"
"Well . . . yes . . ."
"And meet a Dragonlord?"
"That's right . . ."
Merlin turns to face her with a grin on his face, "Well . . . I'm just making your wish come true."
At that moment, a creäture soars into their view on the sky, flying with great massive wings. The creäture is ascending at great speed towards them, and Morgana's first instinct is to run from it. But Merlin's hand, which was quick to position itself on her shoulder, tells her that it is okay.
"I am the last Dragonlord."
The great creäture gracefully lands in front of them, it's gold eyes studying the two people in its presence. She is still in utter shock from the situation and doesn't notice Merlin move towards it. She could hardly believe that she is standing in front of it; standing in front of a Dragon.
"You summoned me?" The Great Dragon eyes him questioningly before moving its focus on Morgana.
"I need to ask you something Kilgharrah." Merlin says, but Kilgharrah has something else on his mind.
"I see that you did not heed my words once again," Kilgharrah eyes Morgana menacingly. "The witch still lives."
"Merlin, what is he talking about?" Morgana asks as she stares back at Kilgharrah and walks to stand next to Merlin.
"Nothing," he answers her quickly before turning to give Kilgharrah a commanding look. "And stop calling her that." Merlin unknowingly releases a little of his magic due to his anger.
Kilgharrah studies Morgana's reaction, and finds no surprise in her, "And it seems that she is aware of your magic?"
"She is . . ."
"Young Warlock, revealing yourself to your enemy is an action that you will regret. The Lady Morgana's heart is filled with evil. Her destiny runs in direct opposition with yours. You should've let her die."
"Kilgharrah!" Merlin addresses him warningly while he reaches down to hold Morgana's hand, intertwining his fingers in between hers. Morgana jumps a little at his gesture, but obliges it. "She is not evil! She has a good heart!"
Morgana looks sideways at Merlin and has an urge to kiss him on the cheek, but the tense situation disallows her to do so.
Kilgharrah notices the closeness between Merlin and Morgana. He doesn't like it.
"I told Merlin not to let you live, you are going down a path of evil," Kilgharrah adresses Morgana. "He should've allowed his attack to take its course and kill you."
A questioning look creeps onto Morgana's face. "What attack?" Morgana's voice breaks.
"It was Merlin's magic that pushed you down the stai . . . "
"KILGHARRAH!" Merlin's voice shakes the ground, and even causes the large dragon to tremble at his presence.
Morgana is devastated at the thought that this man before her has tried to kill her twice now. ". . . is this true Merlin?"
"Morgana . . . I didn't intend to . . ." but it is too late. Morgana pulls her hand away while dropping the bracelet in her other and has begun running into the forest. Tears streaming down her eyes.
"Morgana! Wait!" Merlin yells for her.
He hesitates to follow her before he gets what he came to meet Kilgharrah for.
"YOU! Tell me about this," Merlin grabs the bracelet from the floor. "Quickly."
"This was forged with dark magic. I see that the Lady Morgana has been using this to help with her dreams?" Kilgharrah sees Merlin nod. "She is a seer by nature, Merlin. Trying to block what should be second nature to her, something that is a part of who she is, has side effects. It is very possible that it can block her very character, and since it is forged with dark magic, it will only amplify and allow the darkness in her to seep through and block what little goodness she has."
"You're wrong! She has more goodness in her than you think," he looks angrily at Kilgharrah before turning to try to catch Morgana. "I will deal with what you just did later. Count on it!"
He runs after Morgana with Kilgharrah issuing his last thoughts behind him, "I'm only doing what's best for you. Magic can never bring her back to us. Evil is within her."
Kilgharrah's last words are lost on Merlin as he uses magic to search his path ahead of him for Morgana.
He can't believe how foolish he was to introduce Kilgharrah to Morgana. He had an urge to gain her trust, and one way he thought to gain it is to show her all of him. That he is a not only a warlock, but that he is also a Dragonlord. In some way, he wanted to brag about his gifts to impress her, but now he is asking himself why.
He begins to worry that opening his heart back to her has taken its toll too quickly. The tears and the heartbreak she felt a moment ago, he felt them. He thinks that maybe all the little moments that they shared have already been breaking him down. All the subtle jokes by her, the stolen kisses on the cheeks, and holding her hands have slowly been shattering his defenses; opening his heart once again to what caused it to be so fragile. He simply cannot understand the feelings that he's been having recently.
He sees her a ways away and decides to talk to her telepathically.
"~Morgana, Morgana. Let me explain . . .~"
Her voice comes back to him in pieces, "~ . . . stay out . . . of my head ~"
"~Morgana, I didn't mean to harm you. I only meant to stop you from killing Uther~ . . ."
Merlin can see that Morgana has already gotten back to the river and has mounted her horse.
"~Morgana . . . wait . . .~"
Morgana gits her horse and she begins her ride back to the castle with tears staining her cheeks.
Merlin is losing his composure as he sends out one last desperate plea. "~Morgana . . . please . . .I can't . . . I can't lose you again . . .~"
Those are the last words she heard in her mind before moving out of range for telepathy. Unfortunately, she didn't get to hear the last words that Merlin sent out to her, words that might not have a chance of reaching her ears ever again, words that help explain how easily he let her through the well-built defenses of his heart. . .
"~ . . . I think I'm falling for you again. . . ~"
I know I know I know
"I hate you FanFictionEngineer! Why would you do that?!"
"I want to strangle you FanFictionEngineer! They were getting there!"
"Here's some water FanFictionEngineer. . . oh wait, sorry. It's hemlock poison!"
hehe. Don't worry folks, it's all for the best :D
A friendship that can endure trials, will have a love that lasts forever -FFE
Don't you all want forever for them? HEHE
Sorry for the late update. I got caught up with "Servant of One Master" last week. Also, who saw ASA BUTTERFIELD on Ender's Games?!
Thanks for reading! And for the review. . .which you will be posting in 5 seconds. :D