Nightmares – Chapter 3 – Truth or Lie?
Gwen felt strange as she opened her eyes. She felt afraid but also comforted and when she looked to her left realised why. Morgana lay beside her, she looked peaceful in sleep but she looked so different. Morgana's hand held hers tightly and as she studied her face she never dreamed she would see Morgana again. Had Mordred been right? Was Morgana supposed to be with Arthur? Arthur had always promised her, he never loved another.
Morgana stirred slightly. Opening her eyes she looked up at Gwen and smiled or was it a smirk Gwen didn't know.
Sitting up Morgana squeezed Gwen's hand and grinned.
"It's been along time"
Smiling Gwen laughed.
"It's been 4 years Morgana, so much has happened in so little time"
"What's been happening in Camelot while I have been away?"
"Well Uther died 3 years ago, He never got over your disappearance, and many say he died of a broken heart, Arthur became king and we got married. Merlin went back Ealdor for a couple of months after you were taken and he met a lovely girl Anastasia. Both of them have come back to Camelot and both live in their own quarters in the castle. Gaius is still court physician but enough about me, what happened to you? , we have been so worried, many believed you dead"
Morgana had acted strangely throughout her entire story. When she had mentioned Merlin, her lips had gone thinner and she seemed angry. Morgana froze slightly.
"Morgause didn't kidnap me, she saved me. Merlin tried to kill me Gwen, he succeeded but Morgause managed to save me. Since then I have learned so much about myself. The dreams I had Gwen, weren't dreams they were visions of the future. I have learned to harness my power and I can now perform advanced spells, that's how I contacted you in your dreams. I didn't want to come and see you for I feared Arthur may react badly to my use of magic. When Morgause and I were travelling to this castle, which was Morgause's home before it was destroyed by Uther's men several years ago, we came across Mordred. He was injured but we managed to heal him within seconds with a simple spell. He has stayed with us ever since. We are all family Mordred, Morgause, Alvarr and I."
Gwen frowned as she took all this in, Morgana a witch, Merlin tried to kill her!
"Alvarr? Who is he?"
"Alvarr is the man I love, he came to Camelot with Mordred several years ago, Uther tried to have him killed but I helped him escape." Morgana had a dreamy smile on her face.
"Merlin wouldn't have tried to kill you, he was your friend"
Morgana smiled bitterly.
"He told me to drink some water but it had poison in, it closed my throat so I couldn't breathe, I was so afraid, I was 20 years old and I thought I was going to die, at the hands of someone I loved"
Pulling Morgana into a warm hug, Gwen thought of Merlin. He wouldn't have hurt Morgana unless he had good reason would he.
Pulling away Gwen looked Morgana in the eyes.
"Come back with me to Camelot, Everyone would love to see you again"
"Gwen, we are never going back to Camelot, we can stay here together, and we don't need them."
Gwen froze when she said "we". Would Morgana allow her to return to Arthur and Merlin?
"When am I going home?"
Morgana looked at Gwen like she had gone mad.
"Home? This is your home."
"My home is Camelot with Arthur"
Morgana smiled at her before her eyes turned gold.
"Your home is here Gwen, and your gonna stay here even if you don't want too"
Gwen froze in fear, would she ever see Arthur, Merlin or Gaius again. When Morgana had spoken her voice had a dark tone to it and her face turned somewhat mad? Is this how she had been, 4 years ago when Merlin had been forced to kill her?
Her eyes grew heavy and as she felt herself fall onto her side onto the blankets and close her eyes, Morgana stood and looked down at her.
"Maybe when you wake up, you'll see sense Gwen."
As Gwen fell asleep, her whole body straining to stay awake, all she could think was would she ever see Arthur again?
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Arthur ran as fast as he could towards Merlin and Anastasia's chamber, Morgana's letter clutched firmly in his hand. His whole body felt strange. His face seemed to have frozen on the look of horror which had come across his face when he read Morgana's letter, when he had read the part of never seeing Guinevere again. Knocking loudly on the door, he waited impatiently for the door to open.
When it did, Merlin poked his head out, looking highly annoyed at his rude awakening.
Merlin looked as though he was going to open his mouth to give Arthur a piece of his mind but before he could, Arthur shoved Morgana's letter into his hand.
Quickly Merlin's eyes scanned it before he looked up at Arthur, his face mirroring the look Arthur had on his face.
"What are we going to do Arthur?"
"We're gonna find Gwen, that's what we are going to do"
"Morgause took Morgana, so wherever Morgause is Morgana will be" Frowning Merlin began to pace in the corridor.
"The castle, behind the waterfall"
"Were she preformed the spell which helped me see my mother but would she be stupid enough to go there when we know its location"
"Were else would they go? It's worth a shot, I mean, have you got any other bright ideas"
"Ok but we go alone; if we take any knights and they are there we don't want Morgause to harm Gwen into protecting her.
"I couldn't harm her with a simple spell, if need be I could distract her, giving us enough time to help Gwen escape."
Merlin was so glad Arthur knew about his magic. When he had told Arthur everything, including what he had done to Morgana, Arthur had been fine with it but he had been angry that Merlin had never told him and had promised Merlin as soon as he ruled all of Albion then Magic would be legal but only good magic. Gwen knew nothing about his abilities and that was the way he had hoped it was going to stay, until Arthur fulfilled his promise. Gwen's kidnap could ruin so much; if they couldn't get her back then Merlin doubted Arthur would ever be the same again. If you were to look at them in court they were so different than the other nobles. Arthur would look at Gwen with love and affection and would touch her hand or her back, just to comfort her if she became tired or nervous. Gwen was Arthur's life her cared about her more than anything, even Camelot.
"Merlin prepare to leave, I want to reach that castle as soon as possible."
"Anastasia will come and help you with your armour, while I pack"
Arthur nodded in approval and smiled at Anastasia who had come into the corridor, fully dressed. Anastasia was Lady in Waiting to Gwen and cared for her deeply.
"I need to wake Sir Leon and tell him of the events today. I will make him temporary King while we are away and Anastasia, you will make sure he doesn't make any rash decisions until I have returned" Smiling warmly at her and nodding Arthur walked quickly down the corridor.
Gwen woke slowly. Her head hurt so much, she remembered Gaius saying to her once that magic could do that, give you headaches. She remembered having a massive headache after Morgana had been taken. That was the night she and Arthur had spoken to his father. Uther had been furious and had even tried to have Gwen accused for Witchcraft but there was nothing he could do. Gwen became a noble and Uther never gave their relationship his blessing, even on his deathbed.
Gwen was pulled from her thoughts when a tall man with light brown hair and a thick beard walked into the room. Sneering at her, he walked closer to her.
"Stand up!"
Quickly climbing to her feet, she whimpered slightly as she pulled her roughly closer before looking her up and down and shoving her away.
"Arthur is a stupid man, he could have anyone but he chose you. You think he loves you but he doesn't. You're good to Camelot, that's all he wants you for. A queen who is loved by the people because she understands them, because she was one of them! Your marriage makes me sick."
Alvarr found this amusing. He watched with satisfaction as her eyes showed hurt but then the emotion he hoped. Insecurity was one thing this Gwen must feel from time to time.
"Arthur loves me"
Her eyes showed her hurt but determination and trust at the same time. Her eyes sent the image of a strong woman but her voice was weak.
"Just accept that he doesn't, you are upsetting Morgana acting like this. She loves you and was so happy that you would be coming here so be grateful."
With that he stalked out of the room.
Leaving Gwen feeling cold, hurt and the feeling of her heart breaking. It couldn't be true, it just couldn't. When Arthur had been enchanted her kiss broke the spell and it had to be the person you loved but Alvarr had awoken a small little thought which always bothered her. Arthur would come for her; he had before when she had been taken by Hengist in Morgana's place.
A small part of her heart told her he was on his way and laying back down on the blanket; she curled into a ball and fell asleep. Her heart had been right, Arthur was at this moment riding out of Camelot and coming to find her because if you love someone that's what you do.
Authors Note – Hiya, hope you enjoyed it. If some of you don't know Alvarr was the man who tried to help Mordred get the crystal in The Witches Quickening. I hope you like the story so far. Ideas are welcome. Please R&R and tell me what you think.
Huggins,
Little Glass Heart
