"Morgana!" Gaius couldn't stop the fumed and shocked Morgana from bursting out of his study and marching through the castle corridor. "Please, just give us a moment to explain."
"You're mad! The both of you!"
Merlin rushed over, grabbing Morgana by the wrist again. The images returned and she pulled away, her back colliding with the wall. Her breathing quickened as did her heart.
"You saw it." Merlin concluded. "I know you did."
Morgana stared at Merlin, face edged with horror and confusion. "What did you do to me?"
"I told you. We're blood. Our magic is linked."
Morgan a shook her head. "It's not possible." She flinched when Merlin stepped closer. She slipped and fell to the floor, clenching the stone walls. "Get away from me!"
"You hate these walls." Merlin said, as though it were a fact than a question. Morgana was silent. "You feel a sense of oneness with the waters and the wilds. You can hear, see and smell things others can't."
Morgana's head was throbbing. Her mind was flooding with images of what she presumed were the misty memories of her warped dreams.
Merlin kneeled in front of her, careful not to reach for her. Her body was shaking like she had been drenched in ice water. Finally, she looked into his eyes and in a flash as quick as lightning she felt a sense of familiarity.
Guin had said that she mistook Merlin for her, and now that Morgana looked closer…she could see it. Though the resemblance wasn't perfect, it was there regardless. Their eyes and hair matched, right down to the curls. Merlin had more color in his complexion while Morgana's skin was often described as to be as pure as marble which made her blood red lips stand out.
Gains helped Morgana back to her feet, Merlin being too hesitant to touch her at the risk of inflicting her with more visions. Morgana tumbled at first but found her footing. Her eyes never drew away from Merlin's/
"You're…you're my…brother?"
Merlin gave her a small smile and nodded. "Yes. Twin brother, actually."
"Twins?"
Merlin nodded again. The glee that bloomed on his face was infectious. All anger and confusion left Morgana. On instinct, she flung her arms around him, and he hugged her tight, laughing in relief. Morgana's coughed on her sobs. In spite of the many questions she still had, this she knew for absolute certain.
Merlin was her brother. She had a brother.
She released Merlin, blinking as though she were waking from a dream. "But, how? How did you know and…" her eyes widened. "Mother. Is she…?"
"She's alive."
Morgana started to smile. "And Father?"
Merlin's eyes glanced to the floor and Morgana's smile faded. "Oh."
Merlin lifted her chin and smiled, "You have his chin." He said, receiving a small smile from his long lost sister.
Morgana looked at Gaius. "Did you know?"
"Only when he arrived. Your mother, Queen Vivian, instructed him to find you."
"Queen?" Morgana said. "Queen of where? Where did I come from, w-why was I—"
"Slow down." Merlin said, a hesitant hand hovered over her shoulder. "First there's someone you should meet."
(~)
"This was the path you took the other night." Morgana said, following Merlin and Gaius.
"I know." Merlin said, taking the lead.
"You knew?"
"I was sort of hoping you'd keep following. Would have made things a lot easier."
"Why were you down there?"
"Patience, my dear." Gaius said. "All will be made clear in a moment."
Merlin stopped in front of the path where he had walked through before. Morgana flinched when Merlin summoned a flame from his hand. He smirked seeing her astonishment. Morgana took a moment to study the way the fires moved, pulsing seemingly in sync with Merlin's breathing.
The three went through the tunnel, growing darker and darker with every step.
Morgana…
Morgana froze.
"It's okay." Merlin assured her. He offered her his hand and she cautiously took it. When she saw no visions she relaxed and allowed her newly discovered brother to direct her path.
The voice echoed again, louder as they drew closer. They arrived at a ledge inside a cave deep beneath the castle. A haunting breeze blew through and Morgana almost screamed when she saw a massive claw puncturing a boulder bellow. The shadowy beast climbed upwards, its bat-like wings spreading to cast great shadows.
Before long, the three were face to face…with a dragon!
The creature of legend was larger than Morgana could have ever imagined. Its scales seemed as though they were made of the purest gold, and its wings were adorned with ancient symbols from the ancient days of Albion. A language that had been long lost.
The dragon perched itself on the rock it climbed. Morgana noticed the beat didn't fly. Instead, he was forced to crawl upwards on its belly, which was marked with scars from long ago. It's legs were cuffed by iron, which seemed to glow as red as fire when forging a sword.
Morgana stood frozen, the legendary beast staring at her. His piercing green eyes staring into her very soul.
Then, she realized something. It's eyes…those didn't look like the eyes of a savage beast that only knew how to kill. They were almost…human.
Merlin encouraged Morgana to stepped closer, her curls being swept by the breeze that formed from his breathing.
"Morgana."
"It's you. You're the voice."
"I have waited twenty years to see your face again." The dragon said. His voice was ancient, as ancient as the earth itself. Frightening, yet peaceful. The dragon lowered its head, so close Morgana could reach out and touch his nose.
Which she did.
The dragon seemed to melt from her touch and his eyes swelled with the promise of tears. Morgana could see the stains of precious tears on his large, scaly cheeks.
"Look how you've grown. Into the spitting image of your mother."
"You know my mother?" Morgana asked.
"Yes. She is my daughter."
Morgana pulled her hand away. Did…did she hear him right?
"Daughter? But, that's…that's not possible. You're…you're a dragon."
"Not just any dragon." Merlin explained. "This is Kilgharrah: High King of the Tuatha De Dannan clan. The Golden Dragon."
Morgana tried putting the pieces together. Merlin was her brother, and their mother was named Vivian. This dragon, Kilgharrah, claimed she was his daughter. On top of Merlin's ability to summon fire and the way he was eating earlier. This could only mean…
Merlin nodded, as though he could see the truth clinching in her head.
"Dragons. We're…dragons?"
Merlin snapped his finger. "Yep."
Morgana looked at Gaius, who nodded in confirmation.
Morgana was stunned silent for a could of seconds, her mouth ajar, then spun around to face the dragon, her curls smashing against her face and a strand landing on her tongue.
"I'm a dragon?! Of all the faerie creatures I could have been I had to be a dragon?!"
"Hey!" Merlin exclaimed, visibly hurt.
"Do not judge her too harshly, my boy." Kilgharrah said. "She was only an infant when she was lost to us."
"You mean stolen." Merlin said.
"Stolen?" Morgana asked.
"No." Gaius interjected, lowering Merlin's arm which still held the flame. "You weren't stolen, Morgana. Uther found you in the midst of a village in flames. He is as ignorant to your true nature as anyone. If I had known I would have told you a long time ago."
"Gaius has always been a loyal friend to the Fae Folk." said Kilgharrah, "Vivian was wise to entrust my grandson in your care."
Morgana shook her head, still trying to cope with all of this new information. "Okay, wait. So, you're my…grandfather?"
"Indeed."
Morgana's stomach twisted. A children, Uther told the story to her and Arthur about how he captured the last dragon to make as an example of his power. Her eyes landed on the iron cuffs her grandfather wore on his wrists.
The same iron Uther has somehow managed to forge which gave him the upper hand against the fae. The wolf man who was executed before wore the same style cuffs which burned his skin. It was no wonder Morgana felt sick and nauseous whenever she was near anything forged from that iron.
Morgana's breathing heaved and her eyes turned as gold as her grandfather's scales.
"Morgana?" Gaius didn't like the look on her face. Her hands trembled and her nails began to grow, puncturing upwards and curving inwards. The tips as sharp as the tip of a polished blade.
Merlin held Gaius back, shielding him with his body when Morgana released an earth shattering scream accompanied by a burst of fire that escaped her stretched mouth. The fire stretched almost to the end of the cave.
Morgana didn't feel week after that sudden, fiery outburst. If anything, she'd never felt more alive. She stared at her hands, her nails now claws. Her face too felt a bit tingly. Careful not to puncture herself, she caressed her cheek and felt something scaly. She turned towards Gaius and Merlin. Gaius was aghast while Merlin was beaming with pride.
Morgana pulled back her sleeve and saw more scales across her arm. Each one a different hue of green which brought to mind the lush, vibrancy of springtime.
She started to panic.
"No. No, no, no."
"What's wrong?" Merlin asked.
"What's wrong? Do you not see this?!"
"Yes! Your magic has been dormant for years and now, because I'm here, you've finally connected with them. This is great!"
"This is not great!" Morgana exclaimed. "I can't go back up there looking like this!"
"Back where?" Merlin pointed to the opening. "Out there? Back to the very people that destroyed our homeland? That forced us and our people into hiding? Back to that monster who killed our father and his bastard son?"
"Don't you speak of him like that!" Morgana warned, her eyes turning gold again and her teeth were starting to appear more canine.
"Careful, sister. If you get any angrier and you'll be sprouting wings and a tail."
Morgana stepped back and looked behind her. No tail or wings in sight. Still, these powers appeared to react to her anger.
"You've seen what Uther has done." Merlin motioned to their grandfather. "But now that we're together we can finally get our revenge."
Morgana got a cold chill at hearing the word 'revenge' coming from Merlin felt…wrong somehow.
"Merlin!" Gaius spoke, "You can't be serious."
"I'm afraid he is, old friend." Kilgharrah said. But Morgana could tell in his eyes that he didn't agree with his grandson's plan.
"That's the whole reason why I came to Camelot." Merlin continued, his rage building. "You think I wanted to come to his place? A kingdom built upon a the blood and bones of my people? I came to find you, bring you back to Mother and finally give Uther what he deserves."
"A war? You want to start another war?" Morgana said, standing firmly before Merlin, daring him to try and touch her.
"Not a war. A rebellion. A wave of change."
"Which will lead to death!"
"The death of a monster!"
"ENOUGH!"
The twins were silent when Kilgharrah released a roar that made the shave shake.
"Now is not the time to make up for lost years of sibling quarrels." Kilgharrah motioned for Morgana to come closer to him.
"Grandfather…I'm no fool to what Uther has done. But I've grown alongside humans. I've seen the good in them. Most of the people in Camelot didn't partake in the fae wars. Children should not be made responsible for the sins of their fathers."
"I know." The great dragon spoke, his voice like a comforting summer breeze on a lonely afternoon. "There had been a time where humans and fae lived side by side. But Uther's hatred has plagued the land and the hearts of man, severing the bond which made Albion the great land it once was. The magic fades more each day with every fae that is killed by human hands. And our kind grows more bitter and cruel as we shed human blood as recompense. For years, my heart was close to tipping over the edge of darkness. Until you, my child."
Kilgharrah moved his nose closer to his granddaughter, and she hugged his large nose.
"Your kindness towards others has rekindled the hope that Albion can become one again. What Uther destroyed with his hatred and fear, you can restore with your love and bravery."
"How?" Morgana asked. "I've tried to make Uther see reason and it's gone in vain."
"With Uther, perhaps. But there is another who's heart was changed because of you."
Morgana blushed, knowing where he was going with this. "Arthur."
"Arthur is the once and future king who will unite the land of Albion. But he faces many threats, from fae and human alike."
Merlin didn't like where this was going. "Are you saying you want Morgana to marry Arthur? Has old age made your memory slip? His father killed ours!"
"Arthur is nothing like Uther!" Morgana shouted, her voice embellished with a roar.
"Are you kidding? Even their names are similar."
"Alright, that's enough!" Gaius stepped in, pulling Merlin away from Morgana and allowing Kilgharrah to finish what he was saying. The dragon thanked his friend's cooperation by bowing his head.
"Arthur may share Uther's blood, Merlin. But he does not share his father's heart. Without you and your sister, Arthur will never succeed. Without you, there will be no more Albion."
"Me?" Merlin pointed at himself. "What do I have to do with any of this? I came to kill him, remember?"
"Stop saying that!" Morgana shouted, smacking Merlin in the stomach.
"You know that didn't hurt, right? More like a tiny pat, and barely that."
"Brother or no, you are working on my last nerve!"
The twins were surprised when Kilgharrah started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Morgana asked. "He wants to kill the man I love."
"No, he won't." Kilgharrah assured. "He takes after your father. He wasn't one to spill blood."
"I'll gladly spill Uther's." Merlin declared. This time Gaius smacked him in the stomach.
"It was the spilling of blood which started all of this. This battle can not be won with mere swords. Besides, your mother didn't send you to kill anyone, Merlin."
"She didn't?" Morgana asked. When Merlin stubbornly refused to answer, Morgana sighed in relief, then smacked her brother behind the head with more force this time, earning a legit reaction from him.
"Ow!"
"Did you feel that?" Morgana teased.
"You're lucky I don't hit women."
"What a gentleman." Morgana rolled her eyes.
Merlin dropped his hands after rubbing the spot Morgana struck him. A small part of him was proud of his sister's quick learning. "So, what exactly am I supposed to do then?"
"Tell your mother that your sister has been found, and is safe. And that I miss her every day." Kilgharrah said.
"But, we need to free you." Morgana said.
"I've already tried." Merlin pointed at Kilgharrah's iron cuffs. "No amount of magic can break them. That's kind of their whole point."
"But we can't just leave you here!" Morgana said to her grandfather.
"Do not fret, child. I have survived for this long, I can survive a while longer. You and your brother are the ones who must keep Arthur safe until he takes the throne. One the crown is passed onto him then he will have the power to change Uther's laws."
"Any chance we could speed up the process?" Merlin asked hopefully.
Morgana sneered. "I will hit you again and this time I will break your skull."
"Arthur is the key to restoring the land. You are his light, Morgana, just as he has been yours in this fallen world."
Morgana's heart dropped. "But…what if he…he may not hate the fae as much as Uther does but that doesn't mean he doesn't view them as monsters like everyone else."
"He only fears what he doesn't understand. If you can see the good that humans can do, then let your love reveal the same for him. That our people are no different from his. The two of you are the hope for Camelot."
Morgana knew he was right. Arthur would understand if she told him the truth. Of course, she knew Arthur. He could be stubborn, sometimes as much as Uther, but his heart had grown so much since they were children. And now that they were engaged, she could truly help him see that her people weren't monsters.
Morgana noticed her scales disappearing and her nails returned to normal. She kissed her grandfather's nose, hugging it for a while longer. For twenty years she thought her entire family was gone. Turns out, they were always a lot closer than she thought.
"One day, I will bring him to you." Morgana promised.
"I look forward to that day."
(~)