Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter Four: For what reason?
"Arthur," Gwen questions from where she's sitting at her dressing table, pulling a hair brush through her hair gently as she watches Arthur in the mirror. "Why have you agreed to help Mithian?"
"Because Nemeth is our ally," Arthur answers, without looking up from the map he was studying.
Gwen frowns slightly as she carefully untangles a knot in her hair. "One small slip and Camelot could find itself without a king."
"That's a risk I am prepared to take," Arthur replies, picking up a second map and tracing a route across it with one finger before looking back at the first map.
"For Nemeth?" Gwen questions. "Or for yourself?"
Arthur looks up from the maps he was studying and meets Gwen's gaze in the mirror. "What do you mean for myself?"
"It was Odin who took your father's life." Gwen answers, setting down her brush and turning in her seat to face Arthur. "You can't deny that you have been waiting for a chance to retaliate."
"What I feel about Odin," Arthur replies. "Has nothing to do with this."
"Really?" Gwen asks, holding Arthur's gaze.
"Absolutely not." Arthur answers, with conviction and determination. "This is about helping our friends, no more, no less."
"Good," Gwen smiles softly. "I just wanted to be sure."
"You were right to ask." Arthur moves across and stands beside Gwen offering her a hand and pulling her to her feet. "I rely on your honesty, Guinevere. And I love you for it."
Arthur leans forward and places a kiss on Gwen's forehead, causing Gwen to smile and wrap her arms around his waist.
"What would I do without, Guinevere?" Arthur asks himself, as he returns Gwen embrace.
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Odin stood by the window rolling the small scroll he had just received from Morgana's messenger raven, between two fingers. He watched as the raven flew off into the clouds, before turning his attention to the kingdom before him. His men were out taking care of the last of the residence, so soon all of Nemeth would be under his control.
But extending his kingdom wasn't the goal his wished to achieve. Slowly Odin unrolled the scroll which Morgana had sent him and read the message. A wicked smile spread across his face and her turned from the window and looked at Rodor, who was forcibly sat at the table in the centre of the room.
"It seems your daughter is not just a pretty face, Rodor." Odin informed him. "Arthur is preparing to depart Camelot."
Odin turned to one of the guards who was standing at the door, "Tell the men to make ready."
Odin and his men, along with Rodor set out on horseback no an hour after Odin had given the order to make ready. They were heading towards the ancient tomb of King Loath. They made it there before nightfall and as Odin's men set up camp in the woods surrounding the tomb, out of sight of any scouts Arthur may have sent ahead of himself and the main rescue party, Odin turns to Rodor.
"A tomb fit for a king," He smirks. "A fitting end to Arthur's journey, don't you think?"
Rodor glares at Odin from his place bound and kneeling on the ground, "You are leading an honorable man to his death, Odin. You're no king, you're a little more than a common criminal."
"Arthur is the criminal," Odin snaps back. "He proved that when he murdered my son."
"Your son challenged Arthur to a duel to the death," Rodor answers. "Arthur had no choice but to kill him, it was the rules. You had set such high expectations for your son, that he felt the need to prove himself worthy of being your son and to kill the son of Uthur Pendragon was the only he believed he could."
Odin stalked towards Rodor his eyes flashing dangerously, "My son was a great warrior and the heir to my throne. Arthur killed him in cold blood and for that he will pay with his life."
"You have already killed Uthur." Rodor argued. "Surely enough blood has been shed. You have slaughtered many of my men and killed innocent citizens of my kingdom, who had nothing to do with the death of your son. You have allied yourself with the witch Morgana and in turn the Saxons, whom wish nothing more than to conquer this land. You have allied yourself with murderers and thieves and those who want nothing more than death and destruction."
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Morgana lay asleep, her eyes flickering under their lids and her hand twitching as a vision haunted her dreams. Slowly Mithian crept across the room and reaching across the bed she reached for the keys on Morgana belt. Hardly daring to breathe Mithian slowly pulls the keys from Morgana's belt and quickly made her way over to the door.
Sliding the key knot the lock, Mithian glanced over her shoulder and held her breath as Morgana muttered something in her sleep. Turning the key in the lock, Mithian winced as an audible click seemed to echo around the silent room.
But when Morgana fails to wake, Mithian breathes a sigh of relief and quickly pulls the door open and slips out into the corridor. She quickly hurried down the corridor and turned in the direction she hoped would lead to the physicians' chambers, as that was where she was most likely go find Merlin.
Back in the chamber Mithian had just escaped from Morgana wakes with a start.
"No!" She curses, when she sees Mithian has escaped.
Morgana was up and out the door, anger flashing in her eyes and her hair flying around her shoulders as she storms down the corridor in search of Mithian. It doesn't take long for Morgana to catch up with Mithian, after all she had spent many years of her life living in Camelot.
"Looking for someone?" Morgana demands, as she grabs Mithian by the shoulder and spins her round.
"No," Mithian almost stutters out. "I was just..."
Morgana narrows her eyes and looks down at the bracelet on one of Mithian's wrists. A wicked smile crosses her face and her eyes flash gold and Mithian's bracelet burns red hot.
"Ah!" Mithian cries out and falls to her knees as a wave of unbearable pain shots up her arm.
"Did you really imagine you could go to Arthur behind my back?" Morgana demands.
"You're mistaken," Mithian answers, keep her eyes tightly shut as tears roll down her cheeks from the pain. "I-I was just…"
"If you betray me again I'll bury your father alive," Morgana hisses grabbing Mithian by the chin and pulling her up slightly. "Understand?"
"Yes," Mithian answers with a gasp. "Yes, please make it stop!"
"Is everything alright?" A voice behind them asks with concern.
"Get up," Morgana orders from where she was still bent over Mithian. "Slowly."
As Mithian slowly rises to her feet, Morgana recasts her again g spell and only once she is back in the form of Hilda the maid, does she slowly turn round.
"The princess was feeling a little faint that's all," Hilda answers with a slight bow to Gwen. "We were just getting some air."
"Well," Gwen answers with a sympathetic smile. "I hope you're feeling better now. If it does not pass, I'm sure Alice or Gaius will be able to help."
"Much better," Mithian answers with a forced and pained smile. "Thank you. And I couldn't possibly trouble your physicians this late at night."
"We won't detain you any further, my lady," Hilda cuts in skilfully. "Good night."
"Good night," Gwen replies with a slight frown. "Sleep well."
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Hello, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and sorry it's taken me so long to update, I've been quite busy at college, but it's the holidays now, so it shouldn't take me as long to put up the next chapter. Happy holidays everyone. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.