AN: Chapter three is pretty short, unfortunately. And I know that you have been waiting for Arthur and a scene between him and Guinevere. It will come sooner than you think.—BNQ
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"She will not help us," Morgana was on the verge of tears. "She will see us burn."
The word did not bring out the best of memories for both of them.
"I did the same once," Merlin whispered. "I stood by and watched her pyre."
He buried his face in his hands. He had done many great things through the ages, and to this age, his name was still synonymous with all things good and just and fair. But Merlin knew that was not enough. He had failed the one person who mattered the most, and now he would pay the price.
"I do not blame her," Morgana said. "What we ask is impossible."
She started to wring her pale hands. Helplessness was something Morgana was not used to; it often brought out the worst in her.
"We ask too much of her, Merlin," she regarded the warlock beside her. "She will not yield."
"Because she will be the only one to survive this," Merlin said the one thing both of them refused to acknowlege before. "The Queen will survive this purge."
"And we will burn," Morgana whispered as tears fell from her eyes.
Morgana closed her eyes and willed herself to be calm. Almost immediately, her mind traveled to places she cared not to visit any more. Once again, she felt the wrath, the envy, the hate bubble up inside her and Morgana saw how she had foisted them onto a woman who did not deserve it. Her mind made her remember every lie, every falsehood, every weapon she had used to bring down the only person who had ever been faithful to her.
It was with great effort that she pulled herself back from the past. She looked down and saw that one of her small hands was enveloped by Merlin's. He gave it a small squeeze before letting go.
"Don't," he cautioned her. "Don't do it Morgana or it will swallow you whole."
She nodded and dabbed at her eyes with shaking fingers. Then she looked down at her watch.
"We have to go," she said as she stood up. "Arthur will be waiting for us."
Merlin smiled. However helpless the situation may be with the Queen, they were at least partly salvaged by the relationship they had with Arthur.
"Does he remember yet?" Merlin asked Morgana.
"No," she shook her head. "I've dropped cues, set the spells, and settled the charms in his office, but it will take time."
"I trust you," Merlin said as he looked Morgana in the eye.
"There was a time when you didn't," she whispered.
"And look how we are suffering for it." He pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes in regret.
"We have time," Morgana said as she grasped his hand.
Merlin looked at the woman before him and shook his head.
"We don't. We only have this lifetime left."
