Thanks for reviewing. Don't worry the chapter name isn't referring to it being the end of the story. Just the end of something different or maybe not.
"Mordred" gasped Gwen shakily. "Where's Arthur gone?"
"On a rescue mission to save King Stewart, I believe. Their kingdom was taken over by Saxons so Arthur agreed to help save the princess's father," Mordred explained looking remotely calm. "He ordered me to remain behind to make sure you would be alright."
"Are you sure? He did not tell me about it," Gwen pressed.
"The situation is a delicate matter and Arthur wanted to leave as soon as possible. He looked in on your chambers but you weren't there. I'm sorry but that is all I know. They left with such haste," Mordred bluntly said turning around to see Gwaine thundering down the corridor.
"Where's Morgana?" panted Gwaine his lungs not fully recovered from the smoke he had inhaled.
"She is the old lady that rode out with Arthur?" Gwen worriedly announced. Mordred frowned deeply, trying to work out the resemblance Morgana and the woman had.
"How did you work that, detective Pendragon?" asked Gwaine.
"I reflected this mirror off of the old lady where the old lady's face should have been in the reflection was Morgana's face."
"True, true. Morgana has probably used an ageing spell," Mordred guessed. "Or a brewed a potion to make her look like someone else. Someone will need to go after her to tell Arthur."
"I'll go and gather the knights and leave instantly to tell Arthur," Gwaine decided running down the corridor to go and find the knights.
Merlin's stormy blue eyes pierced into the old lady's emerald eyes. He knew those eyes though he had not seen them in years but he couldn't think where. Princess Mithian had explained that the old woman had smuggled her out the kingdom when the Saxons had attacked. Though the only things Merlin had heard about the old woman were good things, he still suspected her. When the old woman and Merlin's eyes met he felt that he detected a look of loathing though it was gone as soon as it came so Merlin began to wonder if it was just his imagination.
"So what's the plan," Merlin asked as they galloped through the trees.
"I am going to impersonate Prince Alexander and Mary is going to show me the way to rescue King Stuart ," Arthur whispered. Merlin took it that Mary was the old lady that he thought he recognised.
"And what do I do?" Merlin wondered.
"You look after Princess Mithian in the forest. Sorry I got that the wrong way round Princess Mithian will look after you," Arthur joked.
"I think that is a bad idea. I think I should come with you Merlin suggested.
"No. They'll recognise you but they'll hopefully just think I'm Alexander because I got Mordred to change my eye colour." Arthur's eyes were now green and brown and he was speaking in a lower voice imitating Prince Alexander.
Night had truly fallen by the time Arthur and Merlin could see a pale grey castle in the distance. It wasn't as grand nor as big as the Castle of Camelot but it looked like a pleasurable place to live in. Unlike Camelot though this castle was on slightly higher ground so the view had to be breathtaking.
"We are going to chance our luck and try and go into the castle just now," Arthur whispered.
"Good luck Arthur Pendragon. I shall remember your kindness until the day I day and no less shall I remember yours Mary," Princess Mithian formally said.
"I will try my best as long as you promise to look after Merlin for me," Arthur teased. Merlin threw Arthur a look while old Morgana waited impatiently for them to leave.
"I'm sure poor Merlin is a lot more capable of looking after himself than you realise," Mithian assured Arthur.
"Well lets hope so or you'll killed in two seconds by the Saxons," Arthur seriously said. "Come on Mary. Let's give the Saxons the shock of their lives." Merlin and Mithian watched as Arthur's and Mary's silhouettes got lost in the darkness of the forest. It took him a couple of minutes to come up with the idea of turning old and helping Arthur on his rescue mission to rescue Mithian's father. Then suddenly reality came crashing through Merlin. That lady may have been old and innocent but Merlin was sure that she was a lot less sweet then she was putting on. For Merlin it was his eyes that Arthur nearly caught him out for when he had turned old. It was Morgana's eyes that Merlin recognised and it had taken a while but Merlin suddenly realised that 'Mary' was Morgana.
"Oh great," Merlin gasped. Mithian turned around peering at Merlin with a concerned look.
"What's wrong? Is there anything wrong?" Mithian stressfully asked.
"Nothing serious except I am going to have to leave you on your own for a second because I need to empty my bladder," Merlin fumed.
"Make sure you don't go after Arthur," Mithian firmly said.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Merlin sarcastically stated, but fortunately Mithian didn't detect the hint of sarcasm in his voice. Merlin decided to stride to the edge of the forest before changing into his older self as it would be quicker.
"Miht dagan, beþecce me. Adeadaþ þisne gast min freondum ond min feondum," Merlin murmured. From his saddle bag, Merlin extracted a blood red cloak and the vial which contained the potion for him to transform back to his normal age. Merlin always kept them tucked away in his bag just incase he needed to use magic at any point.
As Merlin approached the gates he muttered, "Hleap apon baec." The guard was thrown against the wall as Merlin shuffled past entering the citadel.
"Through here," whispered old Morgana smiling.
"I, Prince Alexander, order you to open up the cell because I wish to torture King Stewart until he reveals where his daughter is," Arthur said.
"Yes, sire," the guard obediently replied. The guard unlocked the cell and let Arthur and old Morgana in. Unfortunately they didn't notice the guard lock the cell again and run away to tell King Gremian that he had found Arthur Pendragon.
"What do you want with me now," croaked King Stewart.
Arthur turned round making sure the room was deserted before mumbling, "Do not fear King Stewart. It is I, Arthur Pendragon and I have come to rescue you."
"Why?" questioned a bewildered King Stewart.
"Later. We need to leave before they start to suspect me." Arthur hauled King Stewart up and tried to push the cell door open but failed. "Mary can you get that."
"It's locked," old Morgana sighed. "You have failed to deceive the guard so I suppose now is as good as any time to reveal who I really am."
"What do yo-"
enchanted old Morgana. Suddenly gold vapour surrounded Morgana and her wrinkles began to disappear and her hair began to darken. Soon Morgana had transformed back into her youthful form. Before Arthur could reach for his sword it flew out his sheath and out of the prison cell.
"Hello dear brother," Morgana laughed enjoying the horrified look on Arthur's face. "Did you really believe that stupid, old Mary was on your side. Were you too stupid to recognise me? Just if you are not smart enough to work it out I am Mary. I used an ageing spell to make myself look older." Morgana gently rotated her shoulders to get rid of the stiffness in them.
"ARTHUR PENDRAGON!" roared King Gremian striding in. Morgana's eyes flickered gold locking the door behind King Gremian.
"Again," moaned Morgana. "Just leave me for five minutes to kill Arthur and then we can arrange your death." An infuriated King Gremian threw his sword at Morgana but she stopped it in mid air and levitated it so it was pointing at King Gremian's heart. "You need to learn to control your anger, Gremian. Especially when you have a High Priestess of the Old Religion standing next to you," Morgana said in her soft but dangerous voice. "How painfully shall I kill you, Arthur Pendragon? You have persistently persecuted my kind for years; you have forced me to live on an isolated island for three years now with just a cow and a chicken for company and you left me to die with that coward but I luckily managed to escape." Suddenly the dungeon door burst open and in stumbled an old man. The sword which had been pointing directly at King Gremian's heart had dropped to the ground lacerating King Gremian's stomach. He stayed crouched in the corner trying to avoid Morgana's gaze.
"Emrys," stuttered Morgana.
"Do not worry," croaked old Merlin. "I am just you're imagination. Pass over Arthur and King Stewart and we'll just leave."
"I am in a room with the three men I hate the most and a stupid old King. Prepare to die," hissed Morgana gleefully. Merlin's eyes flickered gold and he opened the cell door.
"Not without a fight," Merlin hissed. Morgana was first to try and attack Merlin. She levitated King Gremian's sword and it shot right at Merlin but it stopped in midair engaging with Arthur's sword. King Stuart gazed in amazement as the two swords floating in mid air started clanging against each other. It was basically a sword duel in mid air without anyone holding onto the swords. Soon Morgana became tired of the sword play and the sword she was levitating dropped to the ground. Dodging the sword that Merlin sent hurling at her she lost her footing but hastily stood back up.
"Hleap upon baec," Morgana shouted blasting Merlin back. "Forbaernan." Huge flames burst out of Merlin's cloak which Merlin easily extinguished with a simple water charm. Arthur's sword quickly shot up at Morgana but Morgana hastily stopped it with a floating chair.
"This is just too easy," Morgana laughed coldly, sounding more confident than she felt. The chair that Morgana had been levitating darted straight at Merlin. Merlin being old and weak tried to dodge it but it crashed into him. After all his reactions when he was old were not quite as good as his reactions when he was young. With all of this calamity no one had noticed King Gremian sneak out of the room. Merlin tried to stand up but Morgana had the chair pin him down to the ground.
"Goodnight Emrys." hissed Morgana brandishing a sword and pointing It directly at Merlin's heart. Unfortunately for Morgana, Arthur came up right behind her and stabbed Morgana with a tranquilliser arrow.
"I'm so sorry Morgana," Arthur murmured catching Morgana as she collapsed from the sedative. He sat down cradling Morgana's unconscious body. "This is the end." Merlin couldn't believe it but he saw a couple of tears trickling down Arthur's cheek. Arthur knew that he would have to take Morgana back to Camelot to stop her killing innocent people. He would give her a chance to change sides but he knew that she would never accept it so it left him with two options to imprison her forever or kill her and Arthur knew the kindest thing to do would be to kill her. He had made his decision. Morgana had to die.
Morgana was slowly awakening from a terrible vision. She woke up gasping with her eyes clenched shut. Whey wasn't Gwen there to comfort her? Or Gaius there to reassure her? Then it all came flooding back to her. The memories of how they had betrayed her. She opened her eyes and now though of how they had locked her in a prison cell and were about to sentence her to death. Not to mention that they had ordered the most annoying person to watch over her.
"Hello my true love," said an annoying voice.
"Thanks for reading. Tell me who you want Morgana to have one on one confrontations with. Next chapter is going to be called Morgana's Trial as I know many people want her to have a trial as Gwen and Arthur as King and Queen. Please review.
