Hey everyone! I lost a lot of my motivation to keep writing this after the writers' of Merlin mangled the story (or what I thought it should be). So here is the continuation of my creation of how the tale of Arthur and Morgana should have gone.
Disclaimer: If they did belong to me I'd change lots of things but, sadly, the character of Merlin do not.
Calm, be calm. Don't scare her. Like a sister, that should ease her thoughts. Arthur wasn't sure what a normal reaction to this discovery would look like. Morgana? The girl who he used to chase around that castle hallway, that Morgana was a sorceress? Should he be shouting? Should he be running for his life? Probably. But surprisingly, after the initial shock, he just felt…intrigued.
He felt if he misunderstood this new side of her at all, a permanent rift could form. But if he was the only one who knew her secret… His heart swelled at how close they could become. He could become the one she confided in and he would never have to resort to the sibling excuse as an explanation for his affections.
"How long have you been sneaking off in the night to practice?" He demanded, hungry for as much information about her as possible.
Morgana pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows at his commanding tone. "Coming from the man who stalked me all day and night?"
Arthur had the decency to lower his gaze and grin sheepishly at her accusation. "Noticed, did you? You're more keen than I give you credit for."
"I've been coming here almost every night for about a fortnight. Couldn't allow myself to be out of my own control." Morgana's voice became slightly higher with distress. "A danger to myself and everyone around me…" Her voice trailed off as she became overcome with emotion and she wrung her hands even more tightly, staring at them with anguish.
"Morgana," his voice held so much passion, the prince surprised even himself. "You never meant for any of it to happen. And now look at you, lighting candles at will! It's very impressive, and it could be useful too." He hoped he was reassuring. He didn't really have much practice encouraging anything.
He stepped closer and took her hands away from each other and into his own. He loved those hands, almost as much as the woman they belonged too, and hated seeing them crush one another. "When I'm king of Camelot, I know I'll need someone with your skills nearby." The prince silently rearranged the words to be closer to the truth. I need you nearby.
Morgana's eyes flew up to his in surprise and Arthur realized it was because he was holding her hands and was only inches away from her lips. I'm scaring her. Dropping his hands away quickly and turning away the prince headed over to pick up the candle, and to hide his face.
After a few moments, Morgana cleared her throat and recovered her voice. "Thank you, Arthur. I really do appreciate how coolly you're taking this."
The prince scoffed, "As if this is the strangest thing I've ever discovered about you! This is nothing compared to when I discovered you were repulsed by meat. I mean, really Morgana. Animals are delicious!"
His teasing tone and crooked grin was infectious. The Lady smiled back at him, her laugh lighter than it had been in years. "You only threw a fit because this revelation occurred when I refused to eat an animal you slaughtered. As if you shooting it somehow affected its taste, it's not like you cooked it!"
"I did not throw a fit." His dignified tone transitioned back to being serious. "In any case, I cannot allow you to venture alone back to these woods. It's too dangerous for anyone, especially for the King's ward."
She immediately began to protest. "I'm hardly in control, I've really only just begun to practice. You've got to let me do this here, away from anyone I might hurt."
The prince couldn't help but smirk. "Well then, I guess you'll need someone to accompany you, to ensure that no harm comes to you."
Morgana fidgeted slightly as she tried her best to look indifferent. "And I suppose that someone is you."
"Well, I was thinking a mere knight, like Gareth, would do the job."
"Gareth!" The lady could hardly hide her disapproval but she quickly amended her rejection with a reason upon seeing Arthur's reaction. "I…. I would have to reveal everything to him and it is… it is dangerous enough having one other person know!"
He sighed loudly, feigning annoyance while barely able to keep from grinning. The idea of spending more nights, alone, with Morgana was very appealing. "Oh alright, I suppose I'll do it." He blew out the candle and began to head back to the castle with a gait that suggested that he expected Morgana to follow.
Suddenly, the candle ignited itself once again. The rapid shift from dark to a bright glow caused Arthur to freeze and yelp in surprise, "Morgana, you could've roasted me!"
"What was that about needing someone to protect me?" She remarked scathingly while shooting the prince a disdainful look. Morgana took the now lit candle and strode confidently past him, spilling light onto the surrounding forest floor ahead.
Arthur stared at her retreating figure in amazement. The prince shook his golden hair as if that could make the thoughts in his head come together and make a shred of sense. And it's only the start…
Morgana was quite certain that sparks were coursing through her veins, spreading restless excitement as they went. It was the type of restlessness that made it nearly impossible not to shout, jump, or do some other equivalently foolish action. Just a guard, he's just going to be a suit of armor. She consciously rationed her breath in attempts to reign in her excitement.
She only needed to recall one part of the conversation to slow everything to be within inches of life. Like a sister… Her heart paused and her lungs seemed too pained to move at all. And yet, after a moment, they did keep working. Her heart and lungs pushed on. As must I.
The night veiled the extent of her emotions. Currently, Arthur was behind her and so the lady was free to let her face express what it wished.
"Morgana?" His voice always instantly held her full attention. Though she spent half her energy making it seem as if she was not quite that pathetic. Morgana imagined that she would rarely be exhausted if she did not have to control her every move around Arthur. If I didn't have to control myself, I doubt happiness would allow me to sleep at all. The lady remembered the prince was waiting for a response.
"Yes, Arthur?" She responded with dramatic sigh, as if his questions were becoming irritating.
"When is the next time we need to return here?"
She couldn't help but let her lip twitch slightly as she continued walking. We. She could definitely get use to the sound of that.
"No one is forcing you to come with me. In fact, I've been coming here alone for a while but I will want to practice again tomorrow. I am getting so close to where I need to be."
"Don't tell me that you've been wandering out in these woods alone at night, Morgana! You don't know what lurks in the shadows and if anything ever happened to you…"
"If anything ever happened to me what?" Morgana challenged back. "Yes, Gwen would be upset for some time, as would Uther. They would recover, with you there to comfort them."
" And what about me? I would feel nothing at your death, is that what you think?" His voice seemed to shake with anger. Upon seeing the lady's shock, he shook his golden head and sighed. "Then tell me, Morgana. Why would I bother following you and insisting on guarding you? For Gwen's sake? Or my father's?"
"I suppose," she murmured, mostly to herself. Morgana found it increasingly difficult to continue walking ahead, all of her body seemed to beg for her to turn and face Arthur. Despite the efforts of her head, she eventually gave in and turned rapidly to study the Prince's expression.
"Arthur, I understand you feel a responsibility for me, just as you feel a responsibility for all of Camelot. I also understand that I'm like a sister to you, and there's that responsibility as well."
The Prince's brow furrowed at the mention of responsibility and he closed his eyes as if that would allow him see what he needed to say. His eyes flew open and held what Morgana judged to be pain. "Responsibility…. you must think that's the only reason I do anything. But that's not true, Morgana. I wish I could explain but I know you must feel it for yourself."
After attempting to process all possible meanings of Arthur's response, Morgana turned away and began to continue walking back to the castle. Maybe? She wished she could banish hope from her thoughts. She might be able to, if Arthur didn't keep looking at her that way.
Tomorrow night, she would be able to spend hours with the Prince whereupon she could ask countless questions she had spent the day forming.
Hope you liked it! I think I'll continue writing this, but I must say motivation would be in the form of reviewing and giving me feedback!
3 Lots of love,
Cheerios