Third Person's Point of View
3 Days
For Morgana, three days passed fairly quickly. Through Gaius and various other messengers she was informed of the proceedings that would lead to her execution.
She was permitted to continue living in her chambers up until the formal announcement, and would then be transferred to a cell in the dungeons below the castle. Until that time she was to remain in her chambers with only Arthur, Gaius, and her maid allowed entry.
Being confined to only one room of the castle, she found herself without much to do. She read the books upon her shelves and slept hours into the day, hoping to make the time go quicker. It helped.
Arthur however stewed, unable to rest. His hatred for his father was growing, the thought of his sister burning creating a pit in his stomach.
"Are you ready?" Merlin asked.
Arthur sighed, stepping over to the window. He looked down to the square, where the pyre would soon be erected. The people were gathered, waiting for him to step out onto the balcony.
"No." he could think of nothing but Morgana, tied to the pyre, flames licking at her skin until it peeled away and death claimed her.
He couldn't follow through with this. He could not stand idly by as his sister burned for crimes she was not truly responsible for. He no longer cared if it meant breaking the rules he'd so long instilled, he refused to watch her die.
He swept from the room, shoulders squared. He would do this, he would announce her execution. And then, he would free her. Somehow.
Merlin followed at a safe distance until they found themselves at the balcony. Arthur's crown glinted in the sunlight filtering through the stain glass windows beside them, and he couldn't help but think that it should be raining.
It wasn't right that it was such a beautiful day witnessing such disheartening happenings. Morgana was innocent; he knew it with such certainty it actually frightened him. Why couldn't his father see that?
He stepped out into the light. The people below cheered and called his name, relishing in the presence of their golden Prince. A smile curved his lips at the loyalty of his people.
"Citizens of Camelot." His hand rose and they quieted. "I have called you here to announce the capture of the lady Morgana. For treason against the crown and the crime of possessing magic, she is to be punished in four days' time. Her sentence, to be put to death by way of fire."
He released them to return to their duties with some parting words, ignoring the dull roar of the crowds chatter. He turned and nearly ran to his chambers, his cape fluttering out behind him.
There was nothing in the world that could convince him to stay and listen to the angry slurs of his people, brandishing his sister with their hurtful words. And with all his heart he cursed Morgause, for putting her in this spot.
A hand through his hair sent his crown crashing to the stone floor. He couldn't bring himself to care. Merlin picked it up in his stead, watching solemnly as the Prince turned the corner and disappeared.
4 Days
Merlin knocked to no answer, and made his way inside the King Regent's chambers. Arthur sat despondently at his desk by the window, gazing out towards the square.
Preparations to build the pyre had begun, and he could not tear his eyes away from the partially constructed platform. The people milled about, going about their daily business, though some had stopped to watch the construction with flickers of excitement and satisfaction.
It sickened him to see the pleasure they felt at an execution. His father had instilled such hatred of magic in these people that they seemed to crave death, believing so strongly that all those with magic sought was to harm them.
He could not fathom how quickly they had turned on his sister. Morgana had been their biggest support, their most outspoken advocate. She had gone far out of her way to ensure they were well fed and taken care of, when his father could not be bothered to see their plight.
But then, from what they had seen she'd turned on them. Morgause had ordered her to put those citizens to death in the square, but they didn't know that.
"Arthur." he looked up, startled at Merlin's sudden presence.
He closed the door behind him and walked to the table, fidgeting with the scarf at his neck.
"Merlin."
"Sire..."
"Yes?"
"I have to ask..."
"Will you spit it out? I haven't got all day."
"You aren't really going to allow this execution to go forth, are you?"
Arthur looked at the papers scattered across his desk, scratching at irritation at his jaw. "No. Though I haven't the faintest idea how to stop it."
"Good. Because I have an idea."
"You've been plotting? Behind my back?"
"I would never do such a thing." he snipped. "I simply thought ahead to help you in your endeavors. Just as any other hard-working manservant would do."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "What did you have in mind?"
"Before we go any further, are you sure this is the best plan of action?"
"I can't watch her die Merlin. She's my sister. And I can't explain it, but I know she's telling the truth."
"So do I."
Arthur stood so quickly his chair fell back. "Guinevere?"
"I'm sorry sire. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but, I heard what you said." she clasped her hands resolutely and gazed at him evenly. "And I want to help."
5 Days
Her hay filled cot was uncomfortable and she found her skin had grown irritated from the straw that poked through the fabric, sticking her late at night. She'd only spent two days in her cell, but her body was already sore from the lumpy bed.
She didn't have a pillow either, not that she had a particular use for one. There wasn't much sleep taking place in her cell.
The nights passed without warning and suddenly that tiny strip of light had moved across the floor again. She had grown weary, the sleepless night coupled with minuscule portions of food having weakened her.
She supposed this must be intentional, to ensure she would not try anything at her execution. They thought so little of her; choosing only to see what she had become and not who she had so recently been.
It saddened her that the life she'd lived in Camelot could so easily be wiped away by the smear of one mistake, her good deeds so easily forgotten.
Her tired eyes lazily followed the dust motes as they drifted through the beam of light, her fingers reaching out. For a moment she felt the sun on her skin, and smiled.
6 Days
Their plan was finalized. It would take place that night. It was quite simple, but it was solid. There were a series of elaborate tunnels beneath that castle that snaked out into the woods, just beyond Camelot's walls. Accessible through a hidden passage in the library, which was brought to Arthur's attention through a sheepish and unable/unwilling-to-explain Merlin.
Their first step:
Gwen would bring Morgana's guards their supper, laced with a sleeping agent, and use Arthur's master key to open the lock on her cell.
The second step:
Merlin would wait in the library with enough supplies to last a two day journey. His ailing mother in Ealdor would be used to explain his absence, should anyone wonder.
When Gwen arrived at the library with Morgana, they would take to the tunnels. At the edge of the wood, they would take two horses -previously left by Merlin- and ride through the night until they reached Ealdor.
His mother would hopefully allow them to stay for a few days until Morgana found a more permanent location to stay until somehow, someway, Arthur cleared her name.
Anxiously Guinevere watched as the cook prepared the guards supper. It was still light out, the sun gradually lowering in the sky. The days were growing longer again, and it felt as if it was only midday.
She gratefully pulled the tray of plates she was handed into her arms and spun on her heel, being careful not to drop anything as she made her way to the dungeon.
To her surprise, a single guard stood posted at the entrance to the cells.
"I'm here to bring supper. Where are the others?" her voice trembled despite herself.
"You haven't heard? The King has moved up the execution, they're escorting the witch to the pyre as we speak." He took a plate from the tray as it dropped from her hands.
The potatoes and bread were flung to the stone and he cursed as sauce spattered his boots. Guinevere ran as fast as she could, her skirts fisted in her hands and she knocked shoulders with servants and ruched a corner.
She jolted to a stop as she hit Arthur's chest, her wrists held in his grasp.
"My father's moved the execution forward."
"The guard just told me. What will we do?"
A cheer rang out and they moved to the window, their matching horrified expressions finding Morgana. Her wrists were shackled behind her back and each guard held an arm, dragging her up towards the platform.
Time was up. They clasped hands and took to the square.
Merlin shoved his way to the front of the crowd, elbows knocking aside those who stood in his path. He didn't know what to do, he didn't what he could do.
Gaius grabbed hold of his arm as he reached the front line of spectators, shaking his head with guilt in his eyes. "I'm so sorry Merlin. He kept it from me."
His mentor spoke of Uther, whose decision to move her execution forward had been a sudden one he had consulted with no one. He had decided to leave nothing to chance.
His son had proven how far his determination would take him in the past, and Morgana was his sister. He was not so foolish as to believe Arthur would stand by and allow her death without trying to do something to stop it.
Now he sat in a chair upon the balcony, tears stinging at his eyes as he listened to his subjects call for his daughter's death.
She had killed their friends, members of their family, and they were eager to see her be punished. Some felt the sting of betrayal stronger than others, remembering a time when the lady had gone through their streets with baskets of food to be handed to those in need. They mourned her loss. But most others were blinded by the hate in their hearts, viewing her only as a creature of magic, and evil they had been taught to fear.
The King felt unimaginable guilt over what he was to do, but he knew it was right. She was a sin, an unholy being of darkness created through his own wrongdoings. She was born to bring about Camelot's downfall.
Merlin watched as she was led to the pyre, her wrists shackled around the stake. She faced the crowd defiantly, eyes open and gazing up at the sun.
"Morgana."
As if she could hear him above the hateful slurs she looked down, and saw him. Their eyes met, and she smiled.
"Thank you." she whispered, but he could hear.
He knew she was thanking him for his forgiveness, for finally believing the truths she had told. Somehow he knew this.
The crowd was quiet suddenly, turning to the balcony above where Uther had struggled to his feet. A guard stood on either side, helping him stand on feeble legs. He raised his hand, and dropped it.
The executioner dropped the lit torch to the base of hay bales that surrounded her stake. Arthur stood at the platform steps, screaming for her release, to the astonishment of the crowd. Gwen stood just behind him, hands clasped over her lips in despair.
The flames grew steadily and a single tear fell from Morgana's eye.
Something possessed him then, something he would never understand. Panic and determination seized him. Seeing her cry as the flames moved until they hid her from view sent him to a place he never knew existed.
He tore his arm from Gaius' hand and elbowed the guard in front of him with strength he wasn't aware he possessed, sending him to his knees. His hands found the platform and he hoisted himself up, the flames parting for him.
His eyes glowed as he grasped her through the fire, his lips moving rapidly as the wind whipped around them. Her body went limp and her head dropped to his shoulder and then, in a flash of light and smoke, they were gone.
Left behind were only the flames, licking at the straw as the sparks reached for the sky.
Arthur found that he could no longer hear anything; not the screams and shouts of panic from the citizens running for cover, nor Guinevere calling his name. His gaze was focused only on the spot where two of the most important people in his life had just been, now gone.
Uther stared down from the balcony at his bewildered son, his hand over his heart as sudden pain lanced through his chest.
She was gone. Morgana was gone.
So Morgana got away, but is she alright? Merlin just revealed himself to virtually all of Camelot, will he ever be able to return?
Reviews -as always- are welcomed and appreciated.