Autumn Moon Fae- "I definitely have never been Queen of Camelot." In that line Morgana was being completely sarcastic because it was a stupid question Arthur asked. Hahaha. I'm glad you liked Gwaine in the last chapter.
gorgeousangel- I reckon that Morgause told Morgana that Arthur was born using magic and from Morgana's point of view she probably thinks Arthur shouldn't exist. Making her the only Pendragon and heir. Presuming that Morgana is older than Arthur, Uther would have already known that he would have an heir so using magic for Arthur's birth was unnecessary. It's a bit complicated but I hope it helped.
RealaCarsona- I'm glad you like it.
Gwaine had felt Morgana's arm becoming increasingly colder and had felt her presence drifting but that was to be expected though Gwaine didn't expect. Perhaps it was the fact that she was a heartless witch, that made Gwaine think that Morgana would act different to being sentenced to death. Now, beneath it all, Gwaine could see how human she was. Morgana may have been as hard to crack as a coconut but Gwaine had managed to find his way through her layers of nastiness to her true heart. He had seen the fleeting moment of vulnerability and sympathy when the boy had blamed her for destroying his family.
When Morgana had fallen out of consciousness Gwaine had yelled her name and caught her before gently placing her on the ground and feeling for her pulse. It came as relief to feel Morgana's pulse beating extremely slowly. Gwaine didn't know why it was a relief as it would have been kinder for Morgana just to die right there in his arms. The knight guessed that it was just trauma and fear that she was suffering from. Picking Morgana up, Gwaine tenderly carried her to back to the dungeons and lay her carefully on the straw covered floor wrapping the huge, fur blanket round her. The witch still shivered violently though. Gwaine took one of Morgana's frozen hands and began to rub it between his warm hands. If she was going to die, Gwaine would want to make her have a comfortable and peaceful last day. Well, as comfortable and peaceful anyone could have with thought of dying consuming them.
As he wondered back to Camelot after a entire day of sadness spent in the woods where he sat supposidly gathering rare herbs that Gaius, Merlin took into account what had just happened. Merlin couldn't of stayed in Camelot and witness Morgana being sentenced to death. After the magical battle he and Morgana had, he had teleported himself, Arthur, Morgana and King Stewart out of the castle. After that Merlin had gave Arthur a magical poppet and told him to keep it near Morgana every night and she would be powerless. Running away while Arthur lifted Morgana up and checked if King Stewart was alright, Merlin had quickly turned himself young again. He had confronted a stressed Princess Mithian that was out of her mind with worry and had tried to convince her that he had got lost in the woods for two hours. When Arthur had managed to find his way to Mithian and Merlin, Merlin had acted elated and surprised. Especially at Arthur bundling his half-sister in his arms. Arthur had gently lifted Morgana, like you would do with a sickly child, onto his horse with sorrow in his eyes. Looking like he was on the edge of tears, Princess Mithian didn't dare to ask him what had happened. They rode steadily for the rest of the day in silence until they had entered the boundaries of Arthur's kingdom and made camp. Following old Merlin's advice, Arthur had kept the poppet near Morgana all day. Arthur had also kept her well sedated all day. As well as ceasing her from escaping the sedative would keep her calm and peaceful in the last few days of her life.
To busy dwelling on the horrible decisions he had made Merlin had walked right into a young girl with dark pale young girl stumbled but just managed to keep her balance. It was the early hours of the morning and Merlin had not been expecting anybody else to be walking around. The fact that it was still quite dark did not help Merlin avoid walking into her.
"I'm sorry," Merlin apologised.
"It is alright. I am fine," the girl replied hastily tucking the pendent from her necklace behind the top of her dress. Merlin's eyes had caught the pendant of the necklace. It looked like a pure gold dragon decorated with jewels. Compared to the normal plain dress she was wearing the necklace didn't match. The necklace would have cost a fortune and the grey dress very little.
"Nice necklace," Merlin complimented. "I'm Merlin by the way." Looking at her face she had eyes the same colour as the sea was under a stormy sky. Her hair was jet black very long and plaited. He would have estimated that she was around fifteen years old due to her appearance and use of language.
"My name is Cate and my necklace is a family heirloom. Do you live in Camelot?" the girl asked. Her accent was strange not like any accent Merlin had ever heard before but she still used quite formal language.
"Yes. I'm King Arthur's man servant. You don't sound from around here. Have you come here to find a job?"
"No, not to find a job. My mother and father both came from around these parts but there both dead. I grew up along way away from here," Cate explained. Merlin stare at Cate. She didn't seem to be upset at all when she said her parents were both dead. "I came here to ask a question and you shall be able to answer it."
"Me?" Merlin asked uncertainly with a puzzled look on his face.
"What happened to the last Dragonlord, Balinor," Cate whispered. This really shocked Merlin and creeped him out. Did she know Balinor was his father? Did that then mean she knew that he had magic? Or did she know that he was Emrys?
"Why? How did you know?" Merlin fearfully asked.
"My father was a friend of his so I went to seek Balinor out. I never knew my father because he died before I was born but he left me a letter which told me that if I ever needed any help that Balinor would give it to me and the letter said vaguely where Balinor dwelled. A man in tavern near where Balinor lived was desperate to feed his six starving children but knew where Balinor dwelled so I gave him the food and told me where about the cave was. He also informed me that a few years ago King Arthur and his manservant came to find Balinor. I knew that I probably would not be able to talk to King Arthur so I asked what his servant looked like and came to Camelot."
"Balinor is dead," Merlin announced glumly. "Were you hoping that he would look after you?"
"That and I was hoping to ask him a question. When my mother was dying she told me to find something but I suppose I could ask you now. She asked me to find..." Cate whispered the last word of the sentence in his ear. Merlin's eyes widened in shock. This was the last thing he expected her to say. He began to wonder if Cate was just making this all up or not. Merlin sprinted up to Gaius's chambers leaving poor Cate struck on the spot.
"Merlin? What's wrong," Gaius asked. Gaius had been lying down in his bed but had been unable to sleep due to visions of poor Morgana in the flames.
"Well," Merlin sighed and he began to tell Gaius what Cate told him.
Back in the dungeons Morgana was restlessly tossing and turning as she normally did when having a prophetic nightmare but the exception this time was that the nightmare had no prophetic properties. Merlin had made sure of that. Seeing that Morgana was obviously uncomfortable Gwaine entered the cell and shook Morgana awake. The instant Morgana was awake she felt reactively for her dagger but could not find it so instead she hastily tried to hit whoever was standing beside her.
"Morgana. Witchie. It's Gwaine. I not going to hurt you," Gwaine coaxed. Morgana shot up and looked around in fear. She was still half asleep but was looking quite hysterical like she had been years ago.
"Gwaine?" sobbed Morgana.
"Yes, it's Gwaine," Gwaine whispered trying to calm Morgana. He needed to keep her reasonably quiet before the guards came along to investigate the commotion and did something dreadful.
"It's all my fault. She's d-dead," cried Morgana. She was still half dreaming and was revisiting her memory of killing Morgause. "She made do it. She wanted to d-die. She wanted to d-do it for me. I killed her. I hate myself. I want to end. I WANT TO D-DIE!" Gwaine made a small shushing sound and felt the back of Morgana's neck which was dangerously cold. Her forehead had sweat which was so cold Gwaine was surprised that it had not frozen to ice.
"I'll go and get something to help you, Morgana," Gwaine called striding out the cell and locking it. Morgana had already fallen asleep though.
Hastily pacing to the kitchen, Gwaine found himself face to face with a young blonde cook.
"Stealing food from the kitchens are you?" the cook scolded giggling.
"No," Gwaine charmed innocently. "I was wondering if you could make me a drink of warm milk and honey. I have been in the dungeons all day for the past couple of days and have an irritated throat." The cook couldn't resist Gwaine on charming mode and dashed off to prepare the warm milk. Gwaine hummed happily trying to deny how upset he was to himself. He had made a friendship with the enemy and there had been bars between them when they had done it. A one way friendship. He liked her to some extent, not including all the awful things she had done, but she loathed him. From then until the cook came back with the milk Gwaine dwelled on thoughts of random things such as why is wine more posh then mead when mead tastes much more appetising.
"Sir," the cook shyly muttered bringing Gwaine back into reality and back to the thought of poor frozen Morgana. Handing over two blankets and the tankard of milk the cook said, "I thought you might need these incase you get chilled down in the dungeons."
"Nice one," Gwaine flirted. "I would have never have thought of that. You're a genius. What's your name?"
"Devona, sir," the cook murmured blushing a deep shade of magenta.
"Pretty name for a pretty girl. Got to go. See you around." Gwaine rushed away into the distance, leaving Devona looking extremely elated until she looked down at her scarred wrists.
When Gwaine entered the dungeons, Morgana was sitting up violently trembling.
"So," Morgana mocked clenching her mouth shut afterwards to stop her teeth from chattering. "Has the Knight of Camelot been killing more people?"
"No. I have been out flirting and dreamily about mead." To Morgana's shock, Gwaine unlocked the cell and strolled towards Morgana. Morgana glared into his soft chestnut eyes disguising her anger with fear. Gwaine took the tankard of milk and placed it into Morgana's hands. The heat of the tankard instantly made her stiff hands loosen.
"Is this for me?" Morgana stuttered completely shocked.
"No it's just for you to sit and hold, genius," Gwaine sarcastically laughed sitting down beside Morgana.
"Wha-"
"I was only joking," Gwaine hastily injected. Suspiciously looking at the milk to check it hadn't been laced, the sweet vapours Morgana could smell made her mouth water. The only things she had consumed and drank since waking up in prison was water, half stale bread and slightly stale cheese. Morgana sipped the frothy milk and the combination of sweetness and warmness overwhelmed her. The witch could feel the hot liquid rush to her stomach. "It's honey that is mixed in with the warm milk. My mother used to give it to me when I was unwell as a child. Are you alright?"
"What do you think," snapped Morgana rashly. Morgana regretted what she had said the minute she had said it. Gwaine had been protecting her and standing up for her since she had been imprisoned by Arthur but she could not disgrace herself by being even slightly friendly to him.
Forgiving her as the expression on Morgana, Gwaine realised his mistake and corrected himself by saying, "I meant you were pretty shaken when I woke you up- you kept saying it was all your fault."
"When did you wake me up," asked a bewildered Morgana.
"Not that long ago. Do you not remember me shaking you awake or saying that I'd get something to help you?" Gwaine did not want to go into too much detail so he would avoid angering or upsetting Morgana.
"No," Morgana replied truthfully. She was beginning to wonder if he was mocking her. Finishing the last of the milk, Morgana wrapped the blankets Gwaine had brought firmly round herself. She had one night left. She hoped Gwaine would stay with her as he would be a great distraction of the pain she would feel. Although her eyes were closed and she was lying down Morgana was still very alert and responded to any noises in the bone dead silence. Feeling Gwaine's presence right next to her gave her the strength to remain fairly calm. Hearing footsteps steadily growing louder Morgana tensely bolted up. The tenseness was contagious and Gwaine stood up and drew out his sword. He stuck it back in the sheath when he caught sight of Merlin strolling into the dungeons. Gwaine went to embrace his good friend locking Morgana's cell behind him.
"Merlin, you alright?" interrogated Gwaine stressfully.
"Not too bad I suppose," Merlin lied.
"I need to tell Leon something," Gwaine pressed. "Could you keep an eye on her for a few minutes?"
"I suppose," Merlin sighed.
"I won't forget it," Gwaine promised dashing out the room with great haste. Morgana stood up and trembled across so that her and Merlin's faces were inches apart.
"Morgana, I don't want this to happen. We can find another way," Merlin pleaded.
"My mind hasn't changed and never sha-"
"You'd rather die?"
"Dying is easy. Why do you care? Are you not happy that I am going to die?" Morgana's soft voice angrily questioned.
"Oh I care. Who are you and what have you done with Morgana?" Merlin asked sadly.
"I am Morgana. I think you need a new brain. Did the fommorah destroy you're brain?"
"No. You are not Morgana. The girl I knew and liked called Morgana was kindhearted and hated bloodshed and death among the innocent. You are bitter and have killed numerous people including children therefore you are not Morgana," Merlin said.
"I am Morgana. I am trying to stop the persecution of innocent people but to do that I have to unfortunately sacrifice some people. Long term it will be better for everyone."
"Arthur is beginning to accept magic or are you too stupid to realise?" Merlin argued.
"He won't really accept magic. What I want most of all is revenge. He condemned me to the Isle of the Blessed for three years and then left me to die with that animal, Gremian," Morgana hissed.
"It's your own fault, Morgana."
"You are completely deluded now Merlin and you will pay. I shall have my revenge," Morgana laughed. Morgana's laughs turned the water to ice. They were so cold and bitter."
"You can barely have your revenge Morgana. You are going to die," Merlin fumed. His strategy of trying to make Morgana show signs of redemption had drastically failed. "In flames." This was his last chance but Gwaine came bounding into the dungeons to Morgana's aid.
"Leave her alone, Merlin. She is going to die so let her last night be peaceful," Gwaine whispered into Merlin's ear. "She won't change her mind." Merlin deeply sighed and decided that it would be best to leave Morgana in Gwaine's care.
Deciding to try and change Arthur's mind Merlin tiredly strolled up to Arthur's chambers. He wasn't shocked to see that Arthur's possessions were all over the place, some broken. No doubt Arthur had come back from the trial and out of anger thrown his possessions around. Arthur was sitting in a chair gazing into space and didn't even move when Merlin had entered the room.
"You can't do this Arthur," Merlin pleaded quietly.
"DO YOU THINK I WANT TO!" Arthur raged. "I HAVE NO CHOICE! IF I DO NOT KILL HER THE PEOPLE WILL START RIOTING! YOU CANNOT EVEN BELIEVE TO THINK WHAT I AM FEELING!" Arthur paused for a moment, thinking what to rage about next. "YOU ARE JUST A LAZY SERVANT WHO HAS NO RIGHT TO SAY WHAT HE HAS SAID! YOU ARE DISMISSED FROM MY SERVICES AND I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN! IF I DO I WILL SEE TO IT THAT YOU ARE KILLED!" Gwen hearing all the commotion had decided to investigate the source of it. A glistening tear was running down her cheek but apart from that, Gwen seemed to be not afraid o Arthur at all.
"He didn't mean it," Gwen whispered to Merlin. "He did the same to me earlier. It's got to be expected. Let me deal with him while you relax." After managing to calm her husband done Gwen went back to her chambers to cry. One night was left in that one night no one could sleep. Gwaine and Morgana both sat shivering and gazing into space. Arthur lay down on his bed and tried to distract himself but failed. Gwen had collapsed on the floor of her chambers and let the tears stream down her face. Even Elvina (her maid) couldn't calm her. Merlin had sprinted out of Camelot to the forest and was continuously thinking of poor Morgana. Gaius lay in his bed too trying to distract himself with a book.
"Morgana," Gwen called. It was just a few hours before Morgana was going to die and Gwen couldn't stand not speaking to Morgana for one last time.
"My little Queenie, come to gloat," Morgana said her voice trembling.
"No I have came to apologise for whats going to happen to you. I'm so sorry but it has to happen," Gwen stated clearly.
"I felt the same about killing you," Morgana lied trying to make Gwen upset. It worked and Gwen ran away in tears. Morgana felt the seconds of her life ticking away. One hour to go. Thirty minutes. Fifteen minutes. Morgana felt truly sick. Ten minutes. Five minutes.
"It's time," Gwaine sadly announced. "Prepare yourself."
Thanks for reading. A traditional cliffhanger for you. Review, please. Make me happy and motivated
