Chapter Twenty-four

The wedding was a very small affair. Gaius, Merlin and Morgana were the only three guests. Arthur couldn't help but consider how different his marriage was from what it would have been four months ago. Then it would have been a grand occasion with nobles, lords and ladies coming from all over. Now no one but those involved really cared. He couldn't help but feel, as night came and he brought Gwen home, carried her over the threshold and they were alone together, that this, this was better.

Uther kept his word and a sent a small wedding gift. A dress for Gwen, which Morgana confided she had picked out for him, and a small purse full of coin. Four months ago Arthur probably would have thought it wasn't very much, but with his new appreciation for how many hours of labor it took for most of the people of Camelot to make that much, and still vividly remembering the walk through the rain without horse, food or money as he made his way back from the druids, he was grateful.

Morgana had presented Gwen with a simple but beautiful necklace. She had also insisted on attending the ceremony. Uther had protested slightly but when she reminded him of the debt she owed Arthur and of the loyalty Gwen had always shown her, he had agreed.

And Arthur had made the wedding rings. They weren't fancy. They were simple rings, made out of metal, but he had worked at the forge for days struggling to get them the correct sizes. It had felt important to him. He felt an urge inside him to show Gwen he could do whatever it took to love her and make her happy. He felt a need to prove himself to her. And so he had made the rings.

Three months passed and Arthur never once regretted the life he was now leading. He had never felt as complete as he did now...with Gwen. When he was with her he felt as if this were the life he had always meant to have had. The only thing he missed about his old life, were the knights and the training. That had been something he was good at it. He suspected he would never be able to say the same about blacksmithing.

It felt strange now though, to think of the life he had had as Arthur Pendragon. Technically he supposed it hadn't been that long ago, but it felt an eon. Everything was worth it though for her. He still woke up every day in awe that he could call Gwen his wife.

He couldn't care anymore about what his father had done to his mother. The burning rage he had felt towards him seemed so distant. It had melted away and left a hollow empty space of indifference.

He did however care about what Uther was doing now. In the wake of the Shadow Hound attack and the near loss of Morgana, Uther had made further efforts to root out magic, increasing the focus on the villages around Camelot, hiring several Witch Hunters full time to scour the villages and countryside.

Arthur could see the effect the stories of the Witch Hunters' measures had on Merlin and he couldn't blame him.

Merlin seemed to find the opportunity to confide in Arthur extremely freeing. He told him everything. Growing up in Ealdor, what it had been like to be the only one in the village with magic, the reasons his mother had sent him to Camelot and how hard it was sometimes to hide something that was such an important part of himself. He also described a feeling that there was something more he was meant to be doing with his life then sitting around Camelot.

The insects chirped away their night noises and the forest felt forlorn and dark as Merlin made his way through it. He wasn't entirely happy to be here. He sighed and wished himself back in his own bed but he felt he owed it to Morgause to show up tonight. She seemed to think so to, as the first words she said as he emerged into the clearing were,

"You haven't come for quite some time Merlin."

"I'm sorry I've been…busy."

"How have you been?" she smiled at him.

"Alright." He took a seat on the grass and she came over and joined him.

"You seem upset?"

"No, not really."

"You've heard what Uther and his witch hunters have been doing in the surrounding countryside?"

He had, and since it was upsetting it was easier to attribute his mood to that, then admitting he wasn't entirely comfortable with her any longer, so Merlin nodded.

"Uther must be stopped," said Morgause looking away from Merlin and off into the forest. "Soon there will be no magic left in Camelot and her villages."

Merlin started absently pulling grass up out of the ground and shredding it into small pieces. Morgause glanced at him curiously and then asked, "How is Morgana?"

"I think she's having the nightmares again," said Merlin, relieved at the change of topic. "She seems…exhausted all of the time and strained. I don't think she's wearing the bracelet anymore."

Morgause nodded to herself and Merlin wasn't sure exactly how he would describe the expression that briefly crossed her face but he was fairly certain he didn't like it. Abruptly he stood up.

"I have to get back," he announced.

"You just got here."

"I know but…I have to get back." He hurried off before she could protest.

Left alone, Morgause looked after him thoughtfully. He might not be ready, but from what he said, Morgana was. And once things had started, he would have to see things her way. It was time.

The sun rose over Camelot. The sky was blue, clear and beautiful.

Morgana groaned as the light spread across her bed and she pushed herself up, shading her eyes from the light.

"My lady?" said Guinevere, concern in her voice, stepping away from the wardrobe she had been picking a dress out from. "Are you alright?"

"Yes…just a bad night's sleep."

"The nightmares," said Gwen gently, coming over to the bedside. "They seem to have come back."

"Yes."

"They have been back for a while now."

Morgana looked up at Gwen and then sighed. "Yes, I'm afraid so. When I started have them again after the attack of those hounds I thought maybe they would just be temporary, brought about by that night but…they don't seem to be going away again…" She rubbed her wrist where she had use to where the bracelet that had seemed to keep the dreams away. "I don't suppose you ever found that bracelet did you?" she asked Gwen.

"No. I searched all over your room for it."

"Hmmm," Morgana rubbed her eyes tiredly, she had not seen it since that night when those beasts had attacked…she suppose she must have lost it had some point in the confusion and she regretted it. She had no idea who had given it to her, or what exactly it was, but it had seem to bring her peace at night and she felt in sore need of that now. Slowly, she got out of bed. "I suppose I had better prepare for the day."

"Your Majesty," Sir Leon bowed to Uther. "There is a Lady who wishes to see you."

"A lady?" Uther asked. "What kind of lady?"

"She ran into our patrols this morning. She bears the crest of Lord Salvak of the East."

Uther frowned. "Show her in."

The knight nodded and backed out of the throne room. A short minute later he returned, leading a woman behind him. Her clothes were clearly fine and expensive. Sir Leon bowed and then stepped aside. The woman came closer to Uther's throne and sunk into a low curtsey.

"How I may I help you?" asked Uther.

"Forgive me to intrude upon you like this. I was on my way South to visit a friend on behalf of Lord Salvak. I had the good fortune to meet a patrol of your men early this morning and they escorted me back here to Camelot."

"You traveled alone?" asked Uther surprised.

"No my Lord. I had three of Salvak's finest men with me, but I am afraid we were attacked by enemies of our city. I alone escaped."

"That's terrible."

"As you have always been a good friend of our city, I beg of you both a place to stay and protection until I can get a message to Lord Salvak and receive further instructions."

"Of course," said Uther, rising to his feet. "We will send a messenger immediately. In the meantime we would be delighted to have you remain with us."

"Thank you my lord. Your kindness means much."

"I will send for Morgana. She will want to welcome you herself. What is your name?"

"Morgause, sire, I am the Lady Morgause."