Chapter Twenty-six
Arthur and Merlin walked quietly down the castle hallway, straining their ears for any sound of approaching footsteps.
"You're sure they've started dinner?" Merlin asked over his shoulder.
Arthur nodded and whispered back. "Yes, Gwen already helped Morgana dress for dinner and saw her off."
"Did you tell Gwen what was happening?" asked Merlin.
"I told her to be careful around Morgause. There wasn't time for details."
"Shhh!" Merlin said abruptly. He pulled Arthur into an alcove and the two waited, holding their breaths as they heard the tramp of the guards' feet as they turned into the hallway and began to walk down it. The two waited until the guards had passed and then they slipped out behind them and moved silently down the hall.
They reached the door of the bedroom Morgause had been given.
"You wait here," said Merlin. "Stand guard."
"Why can't you stand guard while I search the room?" argued Arthur, crossing his arms.
"Oh really? You know what to look for in a sorceress' bedroom do you?"
Arthur sighed. "Alright you have a point."
"Stand guard," Merlin repeated and he slipped into the room. There was a large four-poster bed, an old trunk at its foot, several wardrobes, closets and a long table with several pieces of parchment scattered across it. Merlin moved towards the table. He was just leafing through the papers when a voice behind him interrupted,
"I was wondering when you would show up Merlin."
He whirled around. In a large arm chair in the corner near the doorway, easy to miss upon entering the room, sat Morgause. She was dressed in a rich green gown with silver beading, her hair was curling over her shoulders and she was examining her nails, barely glancing towards Merlin.
"You're…aren't you eating dinner?"
"I wasn't hungry; I made my excuses to Uther. Given the trying experience I've been through he understood perfectly." She rose to her feet and came to stand near Merlin. "Besides, I wanted a chance to speak with you in private and somehow I thought you might show up in my room about this time." She smiled.
Merlin tried to smile back but it was a feeble attempt.
"Merlin," she said, sounding reproachful and hurt. "You don't have to look like I'm about to attack you, I was under the impression we were friends."
"What are you doing here?" asked Merlin abruptly.
"Not at dinner? I already explained that."
"In Camelot. In this castle."
"Oh. I want to tell you all about it." Her face lit up and she sounded eager. "But, not here." She sighed. "It's too dangerous. Too many ears and prying eyes. Come meet me in the woods tonight. Our usual place. There's something I want to show you."
"In the woods?"
"Yes."
"Alright," agreed Merlin hesitantly.
"Good," she smiled. "Midnight."
Merlin nodded and then happy for the chance to get away he hurried to the door and went through, being careful both to block Morgause's view so she would not see Arthur and to gesture to him to remain quiet.
After they had made it out of the castle Arthur asked,
"Well? Did you find anything?"
"Yes. Morgause," said Merlin feeling a little annoyed at the fact.
"What?"
"She was waiting for me."
"What happened?" asked Arthur alarmed. "What did she say?"
"She wants me to meet her in the woods tonight."
"What? Why?"
Merlin shrugged. "She says she wants to show me something. She also said she'd tell me what she's doing here."
"Do you believe her?" asked Arthur skeptically.
Merlin shrugged a second time. "I'm not sure, but if we can really find out what she's up to-"
"It's too dangerous," Arthur broke in firmly.
"Look, I was just alone in the room with her. If she wanted to hurt me, she could have, she didn't know you were there. If she really trusts me, we might be able to use that."
"You can't go alone," said Arthur, still firm.
"I can't bring you with me. She'd never trust you. You don't know what it's like. Being magic…knowing if the wrong person finds out you'll be arrested and executed and have the people you love suspected as well. You can't trust people that quickly when you have something like that hanging over you. I can't bring you along and expect her to trust you too."
Arthur sighed. "Alright, then I'll follow you from a distance. She won't know I'm there."
"It's too risky," said Merlin shaking his head. "We can't afford to alienate her before she talks to me."
"Merlin, I don't want you going out there alone."
"Look," said Merlin, "Even if she were to kill me, she has very powerful magic. There's much more I could do to combat her then you could."
While Arthur was never won over to the plan, he was finally forced to agree to it as he couldn't think of an acceptable alternative. He made Merlin promise to come to his house as soon as he returned and then they parted ways and Arthur headed home.
As midnight approached Merlin snuck past a sleeping Gaius, out into the city and then past the guards and through the gates. He made his way quickly to the usual clearing where he and Morgause met. She was already there, waiting for him.
"I'm glad you came," she said smiling. "Come," she held out her hand. Hesitantly, Merlin took it. "I want to show you something."
She led him off. Merlin wasn't sure in what direction they were heading, but it was deep into the woods. The already dark night grew darker as the trees grew thicker and higher around them.
Finally Morgause stopped in front of a low entrance to a cave. She let go of his hand and gestured to him to follow her. She ducked her head and entered the cave, Merlin following behind her.
Inside there were several oil lamps burning. There was a large stone alter, several small tables, one with a stone basin on top of it, and shelves full of potion ingredients, books and varies artifacts.
Merlin looked around in awe. So many things devoted to magic. His fingers practically itched to go through the books.
Morgause smiled at his expression. Taking him by the arm, she led him further into the room. Her touch brought him back to reality.
"I don't understand what this has to do with what you're doing in Camelot."
She shrugged. "I wanted to show you this. All these books and ingredients. I can use them all Merlin. I have power. Together, we're unstoppable."
"And what does that have to do with what you're doing up at the castle?" asked Merlin carefully, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Merlin, I've told you before. We could create a great era. People, our people, are dying. In the past few months alone Uther has increased the hunt for all magic users. How long before you are caught? How long before there is no magic left in Camelot or its countryside? And how long before that hatred of magic spreads past Uther's borders? Already several of other leaders have followed his example in his quest to eradicate magic."
"What can we do about it?"
"We kill Uther."
The words hung the in cave between the two of them. Powerful and unyielding.
"Is that why you're here?" asked Merlin trying not to sound as disturbed as he felt. "To kill him?"
"Yes."
"Then why haven't you? What are you waiting for?"
"I am waiting for the moment when his death can mean only one thing and leave but one option. For magic to destroy Camelot and rebuild a city in its own image."
Merlin let out a deep breath. "How?"
"It is your destiny Emrys. The fate of all is in your hands. You can build whatever world you want. And I have ensured that that destiny is now yours alone to write."
Merlin shook his head. "No, whatever my destiny is, it's not to destroy Camelot."
"Yes!" said Morgause eagerly, coming near him. "It's your destiny to create a great land, to build a beautiful future. A future of magic and wonder and freedom. You have the power and I have the power to help you." She grasped his arm. "Freedom Merlin. No more hiding. But free. Magic, allowed to reign as is it's right."
Freedom…no longer having to hide what he was. No longer having to hear the stories of those who died at the hands of Uther's hatred, while he could do nothing to stop it.
But this wasn't the way. Nothing truly good could come out of anything so ugly. He suspected Morgause was not talking freedom for all. Her hatred was the same hatred as Uther's, only directed elsewhere.
She must have seen the look on his face and understood it, and she read the no in his eyes as clearly as if he had said it. She sighed and turned away.
"I feared this would be your response. Perhaps you have not seen as much as I have of the results of Uther's cruelty. Or perhaps you would rather choose willing blindness." Suddenly she whirled around on him. "Ash clar, mor zalrinth jereth shi!"
Merlin felt himself being thrown back against the wall. Chains snaked out of the shadows and wrapped themselves around his arms, binding him to the wall. The cuffs slammed shut, the keys turned on their own and zoomed across the room into Morgause's waiting hand.
Merlin struggled helplessly against the chains but they held him tightly.
Morgause shook her sad sadly. "I so wanted you to join me willingly Emrys. But you will join me. Soon you will have no choice."
She walked over to the shelves, placed the keys down on them and started picking up several ingredients.
"Killing Uther won't suddenly change anything," Merlin argued. "That won't make magic accepted!"
Morgause smiled at him. "Camelot will have little choice in the matter."
"I'll never help you to kill Uther," said Merlin angrily.
"No. I can see that now," she sighed. "But after he is dead you will help me build a new future."
"I'll never help you!"
"Oh you will Merlin," she said smiling at him. "You'll see that you have very little choice once events are set in motion." She moved over to the stone basin.
Merlin couldn't see exactly what she was doing but it appeared she was preparing some sort of spell.
Very softly, in barely a whisper he began, "Corrith alseth yed-"
"Do you really think Merlin," said Morgause, not even bothering to look up from what she was doing, "That I would put you in chains and not cast wards on them to keep you from magicing yourself out of them a minute later?"
Merlin glanced towards the keys, resting on the shelf.
"Or the keys," added Morgause dryly.
She lapsed back into silence as she continued working over the basin. After several minutes she brushed aside what was left of the ingredients and picked up from a table nearby a small vial of what looked like blood. She poured it into the basin.
Holding her hands over the basin, palms down, she began to chant.
Merlin didn't recognize the spell, but it sounded powerful, it sounded dark and it sounded old. It went on and on, minutes slipped by and the chant continued, on and on. And then a faint glow rose from the basin.
Inside the items began to writhe and mix, the liquids swallowing the solids, and the whole thing began to congeal. On and on the chanting went, loud and louder. And then the ugly congealed mass shrunk in on itself, turning smaller and smaller, disappearing, until all that was left was a small round disc, it looked almost as if it were made of glass.
Smiling Morgause held up. "There. I'm sorry Morgana. But it is for your good as well as the rest of our kind. My poor sleep deprived sister, haunted by nightmares, already on the verge of losing control. This should push you over the edge."