Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter Two: Truth among lies.
Mithian hardly glances up as Hilda shuts and locks the door after Alice had finally left. Gaius having left earlier to speak with Arthur and inform him of her condition. Mithian knew she should be resting and playing the weak and exhausted princess she had convinced Leon and Gaius she was. But something told her Alice had believed the act, but she hadn't mentioned it or voiced her suspicions to Gaius.
She watches Hilda carefully as she walks over to the dresser in the room and looks in the mirror, but the reflection wasn't that of Hilda the old maid, it was that of Morgana Pendragon the last high priestess of the triple goddess.
Hilda grips the side of the dresser tightly as her form changes into that of Morgana Pendragon. Mithian just watches, making no move to help her or to attack her in her weakened state. Morgana stares into the mirror for a couple of seconds, before she turns to look at Mithian.
"Your magic may be strong Morgana," Mithian states. "But you can't keep this up for long. It's exhausting you."
"Enough!" Morgana snaps. "You just concentrate on making sure your friends believe your story."
"And what if they don't?" Mithian challenges Morgana. "Arthur isn't a fool!"
"Arthur is the greatest fool I know," Morgana answers, with a smirk. "He'll believe your story."
"How can you be so sure?" Mithian asks, still not believing Morgana.
"Because Arthur cannot see betrayal for all that it is worth," Morgana explains, an evil joy shining in her eyes. "Arthur is blind to the treachery of others."
"Then another will see though the lies, Morgana." Mithian replies.
"Merlin!" Morgana spat out the name. "He is the only one you have to worry about, but he is not here."
"You're worried about Merlin?" Mithian questions.
"He has been a thorn in my side for far too long," Morgana snaps. "At every turn he has been there to stop me and he has destroyed all my plans, exposed my spies and he killed my sister! He may only be a serving boy, but he had great influence over the king."
Mithian frowns at Morgana, how could she not know who Merlin was? Everyone knew who Merlin was. In fact some people didn't even know he had once worked as Arthur's servant, he was such a power in his own right. He's king of the druids and part of the council which rules the magical kingdom.
"How could a serving boy have such an influence over the king?" Mithian finally asks, pretending to be curious.
"Because he and the fool King are friends." Morgana sneers.
"Arthur is friends with his servant?" Mithian replies, trying to make herself sound as surprised as possible.
Morgana didn't know her personally, so Morgana herself wouldn't know that Mithian was friends with her own maid, whom she prayed hadn't been killed in the struggle. She also took dinner with the kitchen staff on days her father wasn't around to dine with her.
Servant were of a lower class, but they were still people and should be treated as such, not like dirt under someone's boot.
"A servant sits on my throne," Morgana scoffs. "How could such a wench sit upon my throne and be called Queen?"
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Gaius was greeted by Freya as he entered Merlin quarters. Sibella, Hunith and Balinor were all sitting at the table eating breakfast while Freya busied herself by sweeping the room, but Merlin was nowhere in sight.
"Gaius." Freya greets with a smile as she catches sight of him.
"Freya." Gaius answers.
Freya puts the broom down and turns her full attention to Gaius.
"What are you doing here, Gaius?" She asks.
"Arthur has requested Merlin's presence at a meeting this morning," Gaius explains. "It's on a matter of great importance."
Freya shakes her head. "He isn't here, Gaius. King Sarrum has scheduled the executions of seven supposed sorcerers today… Merlin and Mordred along with a few others have gone to rescue them and hopefully avoid a war."
"Avoid a war?" Gaius questions raising an eyebrow.
"Last time Merlin rescued a young family from the flames," Freya explains. "Three days later a messenger arrived with a royal decree that King Sarrum would declare war if Merlin ever dared to intervene in his kingdom again."
Gaius stares at Freya for a moment. "Foolish boy."
"We both know Merlin isn't one to sit by and do nothing when he can save a life, Gaius," Freya smiles. "I would like to hope that King Sarrum wouldn't declare war, but if he does our kingdom is protected. No matter what he throws at us, his men will never pass through our borders."
"Sarrum isn't someone to be taken lightly." Gaius warns. "He was Uthur's greatest ally in the fight against magic."
"A fact we are aware of," Freya answers. "But we will not let innocents die at the hands of a tyrant. It is our duty to protect our people and that is what we will do. This kingdom is a safe haven for all those with magic, we will protect out people no matter what the cost."
Gaius nodes. "You are a good Queen, Freya. Merlin is honoured indeed to have you by his side."
"You flatter me, Gaius." Freya laughs. "I do my best, but there are those more suited to rule than I."
"Yet the druids would have no other as Queen." Gaius answers.
Freya smiles. "The druids love me because Emrys loves me."
"That isn't true," Gaius replies. "They love you for you are brave, loyal and just. You are one of their own."
"I'm not a druid by birth." Freya points out.
"Yet one of your parents was." Gaius answers. "You have lived among them and been taught by them and you hold them in high regard."
"They are my people," Freya answers. "How could I not?"
"That is why they love you," Gaius smiles. "Because you respect them."
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Mithian sat down facing Arthur, Gwen and the council. They were in the council chambers and Mithian was preparing herself for the lies she was about to tell one of her greatest allies. She didn't want to do this, but she feared what Morgana would do if she didn't. She had hoped Merlin would be here, but he wasn't… He was the only one powerful enough to take on Morgana.
"They came at night without warning." Mithian began, her voice breaking slightly with emotion. "We were unprepared… We could not hold them."
"This was three days ago you say." Arthur asks, sitting forwards slightly.
"His men," Mithian explains. "They showed no mercy… They cut us down like corn."
Arthur shakes his head slightly. "Odin has no care for the suffering he causes."
"And your father?" Gwen speaks up.
"He was badly wounded," Mithian answers, hoping that Odin hadn't done anything to her father while she had been away. "But we managed to escape."
"Where is he now?" Arthur asks, urgency in his voice.
"We made it almost as far as the border, but he could not continue any further." Mithian looks down at her hands. "Odin's men will be searching for us. It's only a matter of time before they find him."
"I see." Arthur nodes, thinking of how best to aid Mithian's father.
"My father is an old man." Mithian continues. "He cannot fend for himself… I have no one else to turn to, but you, Arthur. You're my only hope."
"Mithian," Arthur gets up from his seat and approaches her. "I understand how you must be feeling and I will do everything in my power to help you."
"Thank you, my Lord." Mithian answers, with a strained smile.
Arthur returns to his seat, as Alice takes Mithian back to her chambers and the council talk quietly among themselves. Gwen reaches forward and grips Arthur's hand.
"You know that was all a lie, right?" A voice suddenly snaps Arthur out of his thoughts.
The council quickly turn to see who had spoken. Merlin was standing in the middle of the council hall, pulling an arrow out of his shoulder and wincing slightly as he placed a hand over the wound to heal it.
"Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed jumping to his feet. "What on earth happened to you?!"
"King Sarrum." Merlin answers. "I didn't see one of his men… Did you not hear what I said? Mithian was lying."
"Merlin, you can't accuse the crown princess of Nemeth of lying." Arthur mutters, reaching forward and pulling back Merlin's shirt and cloak to look at wound. "You'll live. I've seen worse..."
"Yeah," Merlin grins. "On a dead man. And I'm not accessing Mithian of anything. She is lying."
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Hello, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.