The battle field was strewn with bodies, all wearing Camelot's bright red cloak. Merlin was thankful for the colour, it hid the blood well. The entire area was completely silent, the battle long over, who ever had done this had left none alive, Merlin suddenly wished he were back in the tense room with Bayard. The visit some weeks ago had been a most uncomfortable affair. Now he felt guilt for thinking such things while these men were killed.
"Check for survivors!" Arthur ordered, Merlin listened as several ravens's call echoed over the plains. They would find no survivors.
"Their attackers headed north!" Arthur called as he examined the ground, "Come on!"
"Do you think it's safe to go after them?" Merlin asked.
"You are such a girl" Arthur sighed, Merlin groaned. He had been sitting on that horse all day, frankly he was sick of it.
Again he felt a pang of guilt for complaining as the guards who were with them had to walk the entire way. That didn't stop him and Arthur arguing the entire way there, banter was in full swing today.
"Flags!" Arthur hissed, Merlin looked down the ridge to see he was right. A small and seemingly empty camp was resting just below them. Both princes dismounted and made their way down, swords drawn.
Arthur used his hand signals to order the warriors to search the camp, even in the years he had lived as a prince Merlin ad never mastered them. He simply stayed one step behind his brother. The entire camp was silent until the whiz of an arrow filled the air followed by a yelp of pain from another knight who promptly fell to the ground. The fog had concealed the camps true owners who swiftly made their way back, swords raised.
It didn't take long for the entire area to be filled with the sounds of clashing swords and warriors cries. As always Arthur was ever masterful with his sword, Merlin worked his way through defending. Occasionally sending out a burst of expertly aimed magic to help both he and his brother when needed. Soon Camelot was leading the fight and the remaining attackers retreated into the fog, leaving the survivors to look though the camp once more.
Merlin shot his head up when he heard a twig snap, Arthur was already advancing on the area from which the sound hand appeared. Why would one of the attackers come back? Then a stumbling figure appeared. Her face was smudged with dirt and grime, dress ripped, hair a mess of black tendrils and sticks.
"Morgana"
...
Uther could scarcely believe the news when Merlin had delivered it. The by had been so pale and shock that when he returned to report to Uther alone the king had feared that Arthur had been lost in battle. The news that they had found Morgana and that Arthur was currently helping her to her old chambers had made his heart sore. Now he and his sons stood in the hall, waiting for Gaius to return.
"How is she?" The king gushed when Gaius appeared
"She'll be fine" Gaius smiled
"There is nothing wrong with her?"
"Nothing physical" Gaius corrected
"May I see her?" The king continued, he was desperate.
"Best wait till morning" Gaius suggested, the king missed the small glance the physician sent to his youngest son.
...
Arthur found Merlin alone in his room sitting at his desk, staring straight ahead with dead eyes. They brightened at the sight of Arthur.
"Did she say anything? When you helped her to her rooms?" He asked, half hopefully half dejected.
"No" Arthur answered knowing full well what Merlin was near panic about.
"She's going to" Merlin moaned covering his face, "And when she does..."
"She doesn't know you have magic, you are safe" Arthur implored.
"She knows I tried to poison her!" Merlin countered tears appeared in the corner of his eyes, Arthur could practically feel the guilt radiating off the young man. Merlin had mostly managed to put the incident behind him now, however he knew that his brother still suffered from nightmares about the incident occasionally.
"You had no choice" Arthur replied laying a hand on Merlin shoulder comfortingly.
"Uther doesn't know that all she'll say is that I tried to kill her..." Merlin moaned, "What do you think father will do to me?"
"Lets just what and see what tomorrow brings" Arthur suggested, He didn't want to admit he had no idea.
...
Merlin stood in the doorway as Arthur sat with Morgana on her bed, he was too afraid to enter any further.
"I was kept in a cell for almost a year" She sobbed, "I thought I'd go mad"
"How'd you escape?" Arthur asked softly
"They moved me about a week ago" Morgana answered, "I don't know why, It may of been the patrol from Camelot"
"The patrol found you?"
"I thought I was going to be free" She smiled sadly, "Then I saw them killed, every one of them cut down. That night the bandits were distracted by their spoils, I took my chance. When I saw you I couldn't believe it"
The two hugged, Morgana's green eyes fell on Merlin, he felt his heart clench. Arthur stood and left the room after Morgana made some comment about needing her rest. Somehow Merlin knew he was supposed to stay. The air in the room fizzed with mixed emotions.
"I know what you did" She whispered, "You tried to poison me"
"I...I didn't want to" merlin muttered sadly
"It's alright Merlin, I understand" She half sobbed, Merlin felt a strange lightness fill his head, "You were protecting Camelot, I'd of done the same"
"Really?" He breathed
"I was so naive Merlin" She implored, "I don't think I understood what I was doing. But believe me, I have seen the evils in this world. I know what Uther fights against. You don't know how much I regret everything, I just...hope you can forgive me"
"I am so sorry for everything that you've been through" Merlin insisted, he felt like a weight had been taken off his shoulders, "It's good to have you back!"
...
Uther barely heard the sound of the doors to the throne room opening as Sir Leon explained the troubles at the border. He was too engrossed in his work, he glanced up expecting to see another knight or maybe a servant. What his eyes landed on was a pale cream dress, worn by his ward. One he had not seen in a year.
"Enough" He ordered, not taking his eyes of Morgana, "Leave us!"
He rushed down the stairs of his thrown and threw his arms around Morgana, tears leaked over both their eyes and for once the king did not care. Morgana smiled, wipping his eyes with her handkerchief.
"You should sit" He offered
"No, that's all I've done for the past year, sit" She answered through her tears, "And pray that you had not given up on me"
"Never!" He exclaimed hugging her once more.
"You've done so much for me" She smiled, "Loved me like I was your own daughter, yet I've hurt you. I don't know why you put up with me. I promise, I am going to show you the lobe and respect you deserve"
She kissed his cheek and he her hand before she turned, leaving him to his council. The king had not felt so much joy in his entire life. He could never of seen the evil smirk that was etched onto Morgana's lips and she waked from the room.
Dun dun duuuuuun! I only have limited access to the internet over the next few days so my updates will be slow. From the 13th-19th there will be no updates I'm sorry I will be away without a computer. However I will try and write as much as I can in the mean time.