Okie dokie, chapter 3... its a little bit short, but the next chapter is pretty heavy, and i don't want to flood with my attempts at angst!
Don't own :( but i'd take colin morgan happily :)
"It's Merlin My Lady"
"Come in then." Morgana called out. She was already dressed in her night clothes. She shot Merlin a grin when he entered the room.
"I have something for you."Merlin said. He pulled a thin leather bound book from beneath his coat.
"You didn't have to do that Merlin."Morgana said. She knew servants' wages weren't fantastic, and she certainly didn't need anybody to shower her with gifts.
"Its an apology for snotting onto your shoulder like a milkmaid."He said, pressing the book into her hand.
"That; and I wanted to."He added, fighting off the flush that threatened his cheeks. Morgana flipped through the book.
"It will never run out of pages, you can tear pages out and move them around and the book will hold them, and the pages will not betray their secrets to unfriendly eyes."Merlin explained.
"I couldn't resist."He added jokingly. Morgana smiled radiantly.
"Thank you Merlin."She said sincerely, rising on her toes to press a kiss to his cheekbone. She pulled out her various scraps of paper and began to transfer the records of her dreams into the book.
"Do you mind if I stay a while?"Merlin asked, pulling out the spellbook from Morgana's hiding place. Merlin had leant the book to Morgana when they'd started training together, but every time Merlin planned to sneak it back to his room, Morgana's Sight had made it clear he'd be caught and charged with treason.
"Go ahead." Morgana said as she floated several pieces of parchment into the fire. Morgana continued to write in her book.
"Can I ask you a question Merlin? I'm afraid it's of a rather personal nature." Morgana asked hesitantly.
"Of course."Merlin replied, slipping a marker into the book.
"Why were you so interested as to whether or not Freya was at peace?"Morgana asked. Merlin pondered the question.
"I believed myself in love with Freya."Merlin stated.
"I'm quite certain now that I really wasn't. I was in love with the idea of being in love, and I loved that Freya was an outcast, like me."Merlin recalled fondly.
"Freya's life was hard. She'd been cursed, and she was more alone than ever. Had she not passed on, I would have run away from Camelot and away from my destiny with her."Merlin recounted to Morgana.
"Her life was short, and largely brutal. Maybe I was never actually in love with her, but it makes me glad to know that wherever she is now, she isn't suffering any longer."Merlin concluded his answer. Morgana chose her words carefully.
"And that is why you are destined for such great things. Not only is your magic beyond compare, but your compassion is greater than anything I've ever experienced." Morgana said. Merlin couldn't stop the blush that spread over his prominent cheekbones.
"Thank you."He answered, a grin playing on his lips. Morgana returned to her transcription, and couldn't stop the enormous yawn that escaped her lips.
"I'm sorry, I'm keeping you up, aren't I?"Merlin said, quickly standing and moving towards the door.
"Merlin, don't be ridiculous. I'll be up most of the night whether you are here or not." Morgana said crossly. Merlin took in her exhausted features.
"I'm getting better at controlling when I See things. Its difficult because I was taught the principles, but I've never had anybody to guide me through the practice. I'll get there, I'm sure of it." Morgana attempted to convince Merlin.
"I know you want to learn how to control your visions. But you're exhausted."
"I don't want another sleeping draught." Morgana interjected angrily.
"I know you don't. None of them have worked because Gaius was attempting to use a conventional treatment for a magical condition." Merlin said.
"Not that I think being a Seer is a disease." He added hastily. He showed Morgana a page in the spellbook.
"Its for dreamless sleep. I can control its duration. I could give you a two hour nap or have you snoring for two days." He told her. She looked at the page hesitantly.
"I'm not saying you should use it every night. I'm just saying that you're wearing yourself out. Give your body time to recuperate, and your magic will follow. Sometimes you need to take some time away from the spell you're trying to master before it clicks into place." Merlin said earnestly.
"I'm just asking you to try it once." He said to her. Morgana nodded.
"Alright." She said. she put her things away quickly.
"Should I get into bed?" She asked.
"I would do what you have to do in order to be comfortable. The spell is instantaneous, and I'll cast it so you can sleep through the night. That would be a long time to have a crick in the neck." Merlin said.
"You'll be fine to sneak the book back tonight." Morgana told him. She adjusted her quilts and fanned her hair out across her pillow.
"I think I'm ready." She said. Merlin came over to her.
"I have to touch you for the spell to work, so I'll have to sit on the bed." He said awkwardly.
"Of course." Morgana replied, desperately hoping she was feigning cool acceptance. Merlin knelt on the bed.
"Good night Morgana." He said. She smiled at him.
"Good night Merlin." She replied. He placed a hand on her forehead, and muttered the spell. His eyes flashed gold, and Morgana fell into a deep slumber. Merlin took in her peaceful expression, and pressed his lips together tightly to stop a chuckle escaping his lips when Morgana began to snore lightly. He placed a kiss on her forehead. He hadn't thought about it, and if he was entirely truthful with himself, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. He magicked a log onto her fire, and quietly let himself out, magic masking his footsteps back to his quarters.
Morgana hadn't slept so well in years. Gwen had drawn her morning bath, cleaned her fireplace and begun hanging new dresses in her cupboard before Morgana had even stirred. Morgana finally opened her eyes and stretched luxuriously.
"Good morning my lady. I'd begun to think we'd need a handsome prince to break the sleeping spell on you." Gwen said. Morgana shot her a sleepy grin. Gwen was teetering dangerously near the truth, and yet completely ignorant to the fact.
"Well, if any handsome princes enter Camelot, please let me know. All we have is Arthur." Morgana joked.
"Well, Prince Lewis will be here in three days." Gwen reminded her.
"He looks like a toad." Morgana informed her.
"How are you so certain? He's never been to Camelot." Morgana froze. She'd just unwittingly revealed something she'd Seen.
"Oh, well, we ladies of the court talk. Lady Vivian complained about him to just about anybody who would listen." Morgana covered.
"Sounds like the only thing of value she's ever said." Gwen decided. Morgana climbed out of bed and stripped off her nightgown before stepping into the bathtub, nodding quickly.
It was obvious why a full court had been assembled. Uther was planning on sentencing a practicer of magic to death. Morgana's heart ached for her kinsmen. She prayed anyone truly in possession of magic would be more careful.
"I don't know why he insists on making such a spectacle of this. Some villagers from the Lower Town were approached by a Druid child, asking them to act as informants. They refused and reported it to the Crown. They face the flames for consorting with a sorcerer." Arthur told her.
"But that's ridiculous!" Morgana gasped. Uther the madman was back.
"I agree. They refused the offer, and believed themselves to be aiding the Crown." Arthur said tensely. The traitors were brought into the hall. Morgana froze. The crystal hidden beneath her clothes went icy cold against her skin.
"They're children. They're children and they're going to burn." She whispered to Arthur, horrified.
"They're Mordred's age." Merlin whispered in her mind. A vision flashed across Morgana's senses.
"They want me back, Merlin. It was Mordred. He was asking them when I'd next visit the Lower Town." Morgana's voice in Merlin's head was shrill.
"My Lord, we thought he was just a boy. He kept asking when the pretty Lady Morgana would come visit. He made rocks fly and hit us when we said we didn't know." The oldest, a girl of barely twelve said.
"When this land is rid of Uthur's poison, it will be a happy day." Morgana growled savagely in her head.
"My Lord, we know magic is wrong. We found our parents, and they brought us straight here." The oldest continued.
"Clear the room." Uther called. Morgana held her tongue until the doors were closed.
"You cannot execute them. They're children." She snapped.
"They admitted to conspiring with a sorcerer." Uther responded harshly.
"A sorcerer conspired with them! How were they to know? They left the second they realised, and they reported the appearance to the court. Did you notice that they refused to betray you? They said they would not defy their King." Morgana reminded him.
"Magic continues to strike at the heart of this kingdom." Uther sighed. Morgana considered the situation. Clearly fighting Uther's iron will with her own wasn't working. She tried a new tactic.
"My Lord, do you remember when Arthur and I were thirteen?" Morgana asked. She took a seat next to Uther.
"I used to come crying to you because Arthur kept calling me ugly and pulling my hair." Morgana retold the story.
"I was just coming into my womanhood, and my nightmares were steadily becoming worse. I was incredibly sensitive as it was, and his barbs didn't help. Do you remember what you said to me?" Morgana asked. Uther nodded with a deep sigh.
"I told you to stop reacting, because you were giving Arthur exactly what he wanted." Uther said.
"If you'll permit me, My Lord, after my time away I think I am able to guess at the motives of those who practice magic." Morgana offered demurely. Uther nodded and waved a hand for her to continue.
"It's the same reason that I tease Arthur about his pride, or him calling me ugly all those years ago. My Lord, everyone knows how you hate magic, and they know with what harshness you will react if magic threatens this kingdom. Your fervour for the punishment of magic blinds you, and it makes this kingdom vulnerable." Morgana said. When Uther made no response, Morgana dared to continue.
"Your people reacted out of love for you. Do not punish them by taking their children. Magic took me for a time. Don't give anyone else that heartache." Morgana implored. She stood and bowed respectfully.
"The druids had several children in the camp you were held captive at, didn't they?" Uther asked. Morgana turned to him.
"Yes Milord." She answered. She exited the hall and ran as fast as she dared towards her chambers. She broke through the door and began to rifle through the pages of her dream book. She heard the door swing open and she slammed the book shut as she attempted to hide it behind her back.
"Its me." Merlin said. Morgana barely felt the relief wash over her.
"Merlin, they're coming for me. I had a vision when the children entered the hall. The magical child was Mordred. They want me back to do their bidding. They want me to turn Gwen and Lancelot against Arthur, and Merlin, they want me to kill you. Everything I Saw, all the images that didn't make sense have become clear. That is what I will do if I go back. I don't want to go back there. All I want is for people to be free to use their gifts." Morgana was hysterical, her voice piercing and encumbered by tears. In her heightened state, she accidentally set a cushion alight. Merlin stretched his hand out and extinguished the flames.
"Morgana! Morgana! Calm down." Merlin placated her. He pulled her to sit down on her bed and handed her a glass of water. He took her hand.
"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you." He said calmly. She looked up at him doubtingly.
"Listen to me Morgana. I will not be letting anyone take you anywhere. I will keep you safe. Nothing will happen to you, I promise you." Merlin soothed her.
"Merlin, they've raised knights from the dead. They don't' care what they have to do to control me.' Morgana said.
"Well, I'm Emrys. That's got to count for something. I will do everything in my power to ensure you stay safe. If that means I have to call Kilgharrah here to act as your own personal guard dragon, I will." Merlin decided resolutely. Morgana couldn't think of anything she could possibly say, so she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you Merlin, for believing in me." Morgana whispered to him.
"You're far too important to lose." Merlin whispered back. They stayed like that until they were called to court, Merlin's hand running up and down Morgana's back soothingly.
Nobody was more surprised than Morgana when Uther announced that he would be sending the children home. Their parents had considerably heavier pockets, and there was a promise of more if they could offer the Crown any further information about the child who'd been asking about Morgana.
"Of course, the execution of children never sits well with Camelot's citizens. Uther probably wanted to keep the people onside for the Anglican envoy." Morgana commented to Merlin when they were training together later that afternoon.
"Morgana, I'm hearing an awful lot of talking, and not a whole lot of you casting a misdirection spell." Merlin teased.
Up next, is Prince Lewis of Anglia as much of a toad as we think?
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