Hello!
Thank you so much for your reviews, they always encourage me to write! Special thanks to Maya, Chris, Guest and Someone from Ireland.
And now let's see how Merlin will explain himself. oO
Enjoy.
Previously...
"My sister told us Merlin raped her last night, Gaius." Morgana said directly, her voice shaking with emotions.
Gaius face was shocked and the old man had to sit.
"No... my boy... why would he..."
"Gaius..." Uther touched the man's shoulder. "I know it sounds terrible..."
"It is terrible!" Gaius was mad. Well, that was better than his shock. "That irresponsible brat!"
Soon the door was slowly opened and a smiling Merlin came in.
"Hello!" He greeted them happily.
"Merlin." Morgana's voice was cold in a way nobody had ever listened to. "What have you done to my sister?"
Chapter 12
"Morgana!" Merlin was very surprised and blushed. "Wh-what do you mean?"
"What I mean!" She was furiously walking to him. "What I mean!" She arrived near him, just inches from Merlin. So Morgana just started slapping his chest or wherever she could reach repeatedly, again and again.
"Ouch!" He tried to pull her away gently, but she was still slapping him. "That hurts!"
"Good!" She yelled at him. "So you can feel a little part of what me and my sister are feeling!" Morgana was still slapping.
Uther went to them worriedly, leaving Gaius sat on a chair with his hands covering his elder face in shame.
"Morgana, my dear..." The king held her arms in a gentle but firm way, trying to pull her away from Merlin.
In the next moment her arms were around Uther's neck and her face was buried on his chest. So she let her emotions out, crying. She didn't know if it was for Morgause, for Merlin or even for herself, kind of remembering what that disgusting man tried to do once.
"Morgana!" Uther was surprised at how she quickly changed her reactions. He looked seriously at Merlin.
In the next second, it was Gaius who was over the lad, slapping him on his head.
"You irresponsible brat! What have you done! Look at what have you done, Merlin!" The old man screamed, his face red in angry and shame for his pupil. "Do you understand it?"
"Ouch! Gaius, stop it!"
"You would have a great future! And then you throw it away in an only night!" Gaius said furiously.
"Gaius!" Uther made the old man sit, still having Morgana on his arms. "Come on, my friend, this is not the right way..."
So the physician's chambers were suddenly in an awkward silence.
"Morgana..." Merlin went to her carefully, touching softly her back. She looked at him, her eyes still full of tears. "Are you angry?" Of course she was! Idiot question!
"No." Her voice was almost a whisper. "Not angry. I'm sad. Disappointed."
"But... why?" Merlin couldn't understand why all of them were acting like that.
"Why?" She couldn't believe his sarcasm! Goddess, was that man really Merlin?
"Y-yes." Merlin said. "I can't understand why all of you are looking me like this!"
"Oh, maybe because you raped my sister?" She said ironically.
"I... what?" Merlin felt the blood leaving his brain. "It... wasn't like that." He said seriously.
"Oh, no?" Morgana continued being ironical.
"Morgana, let's listen to him." Uther held her before she could hit Merlin again. "You were always the one to say everyone deserves a chance to try to explain the situation..." He remembered Morgana's reaction every time he condemned someone with magic to be executed.
Morgana sighed.
"Fine. Come on, Merlin, tell us what happened last night!" She said bitterly.
Merlin blushed again and sighed.
"Well." He started. "After I left your chambers I went directly to Morgause's, so I could try to find out what was happening between Agravaine and her, just like you all suggested me."
"Oh..." Yes, it was all her fault. Morgana sighed and kept listening to Merlin.
"You, sir," He looked at the king. "You told me maybe I could see something I didn't want to witness if I went to her chambers while Morgause talked to Agravaine." Uther nodded at him with a serious and interested face. Morgana remembered last night. Suddenly, seeing the present situation, Agravaine wasn't exactly a problem anymore. "Well, and you were right."
"Oh!" Morgana was shocked. "My sister and Agravaine..."
"They kind of have a relationship or something." Merlin told them. Well, Morgause asked him not to tell a word of what had happened. But she clearly did, in her own way. He must try to fix it.
"So..." Morgana was shocked. "My sister is in love with Agravaine!" Uther smirked at that.
"No." Merlin continued. "Not in love... I mean... I'm not sure..."
"Try to explain it!" Gaius said still in his chair, too perturbed to look at his pupil.
"They... they had sex." Merlin's cheeks were pink.
"Did he forced..."
"No, Morgana." Merlin said sincerely. "In the truth they were very comfortable with each other." He smirked. "I was hidden under the bed, so they didn't see me." He sighed. All of them were listening carefully to him now. "Before they arrived in her chambers, I was already there." Merlin told. "And..." He looked at Uther and then to Morgana. Could he say it without putting Morgause in risk? He... cares about her.
"And?" Morgana encouraged him.
"And I saw a book there. A magic book."
"Well, we have magic books too, Merlin." Gaius was impatient.
"Oh, no that kind of book." Merlin smirked.
"Dark magic." Gaius concluded.
"Yes." Merlin confirmed.
Morgana felt suddenly cold. Her sister was involved with dark magic! That explains why she was so different!
"And... after they had... uh... finished, I heard some conversation. It seems they have a plan, I'm not sure what about. Agravaine would talk to Arthur today morning about succession. And... your sister didn't want nobody to know about her and Agravaine."
"That's why she didn't told me when I asked her..." Morgana said.
"Why would Agravaine talk to Arthur about that?" Uther was worried.
"Well, sir, maybe you should ask Arthur about that conversation." Merlin suggested.
"Yes, I will."
"Well, Merlin." Morgana was still angry. "Continue your explanations."
"I... I was under the bed." He said awkwardly. "And as soon as they stopped talking, Morgause asked Agravaine to leave." He told them.
"Yes, my sister has never being one to be romantic."
"As opposed to you, my dear." Uther smiled, making Merlin smirk in surprise.
"Uther!" She blushed. "Carry on, Merlin."
"Very well!" The lad sighed. "As Agravaine left, I remained under the bed, waiting for Morgause to sleep, so I could just leave."
"But you weren't satisfied with that!" Morgana was angry again.
"No, it is not that!" Merlin said quickly. "I... I was leaving, but I didn't know she was still awake. And... she didn't allowed me."
"Oh, I got it!" Morgana was being sarcastic again. "Let me tell you, Merlin, the victim is never the guilty one!"
"Morgana..." Merlin tried to explain again. "I feel like I was the victim."
"Merlin!" Gaius couldn't believe! Irresponsible brat!
"What do you mean?" Uther asked.
"I mean, I was just leaving. And Morgause saw me and we discussed... and she managed to take me to her bed." He blushed furiously. "I didn't want! I swear! Well, I'm not saying she isn't beautiful, she is! But... well, I..." He was awkward.
"Say it, Merlin." Morgana didn't know who she should believe, one of her best friends or her sister.
"I... I wanted it to be... special. I mean, with someone who loves me." He said sincerely. "It sounds girlish, I know, Arthur says it all the time! But it's the way I feel."
"I believe you, Merlin." Uther declared.
"I... I feel confused." Morgana declared.
"Morgana..." Merlin went to her and held her hands, Uther always observing them. "We were friends since the very beginning, years ago. You know I said the truth."
"Merlin... but my sister... she was so devastated!"
"Well, Morgana." Uther took her hands from Merlin's. "I know Merlin and I know he wouldn't just create such a story."
"Yes, me too." Gaius declared, calmer. "I couldn't believe Hunnith's son would do such a thing and his explanations seem very plausible." He sighed. "After all, we were the ones who asked Merlin to follow Morgause and Agravaine and to find out what is happening between them. And so he did."
It made Merlin sigh in relief.
"I know she's your sister but..." Uther started.
"I need to listen to someone else's opinion." The lady declared.
"Fine." Merlin said confidently. "Come with me to the woods, will you? So we can talk to the dragon. He always says the truth."
"Oh, if you don't mind, first of all I'd like to talk to Arthur." Uther said.
"Oh!" Morgana concluded something. "Yes, me too!" And she just left.
"Morgana!" Uther run to her, leaving Merlin and Gaius alone.
Arthur was in his chambers. He finished his work with the knights earlier today, since he would meet Guinevere. The prince had just bathed and was now finishing dressing. When he was about to dress his blue shirt, the one Guinevere thinks the match beautifully his eyes, the door stormed opened.
"Arthur!"
"Morgana!" He almost jumped. "What the... You should knock, you know it?"
"No time for knocking!" She was angry. "Tell me about Agravaine!"
"My uncle? What's the problem, isn't my father enough?" He shouted stubbornly like a little boy.
"Agravaine is evil! He... he will be bad to my sister!" She was disturbed. Clearly disturbed.
Arthur sighed.
"Well, Morgana..." The prince smirked walking around her and taking a lock of her black hair between his fingers. "You know... That is not what I've seen."
"What?"
"Your sister was the first one to look for my uncle, as he has told me." He said very confidently, watching how angry Morgana was.
"Arthur, we must stop it! He'll be bad to her! He's..." She stopped talking as he grabbed her arms, shaking her, her eyes opened in surprise.
"Oh, I can't hear more of it!" He screamed, still shaking Morgana. "You know, Morgana, you used to be the only one who didn't ask me to be careful with my uncle!"
That was when Uther stormed in.
"Morgana!" He looked at his future wife and his son.
"Father, it's not what it looks like!" Arthur let his hands off her.
"I know it, Arthur." He rolled his eyes. "Morgana, you must calm yourself." He went to his ward and involved her into his arms. "So much worries aren't good to you or our child."
"Touching." Arthur broke the moment, finally wearing his shirt.
"Arthur, we'd like to talk to you about Agravaine."
"Oh, again!" He waved his hands. "I know you don't like him, father. But he's my mother's brother."
"I know. And I want you to know I respect it." The king said. "But I came here to know if it's true he talked to you today morning."
"Well... yes." Arthur was calm now. "How do you know it?"
Uther and Morgana looked at each other.
"Today morning Morgause told us Merlin raped her last night." Uther said seriously.
The prince just laughed.
"It's not funny!" Morgana reprehended him.
"Of course it is!" Arthur was still laughing. "I mean... Merlin..."
"Anyway." Uther continued. "Merlin claims it was Morgause who called him to her bed insistently."
"Oh, so he finally is a man now!" Arthur was still smiling. "Nice to know!"
"Arthur, please, let's talk like adults!" Uther said a bit impatient. "Merlin claims he heard a conversation between Agravaine and Morgause."
"Agravaine was there too?" Arthur was very surprised. "I didn't know this side of Merlin..."
"Merlin went there to try to find out what's going on between my sister and Agravaine." Morgana added.
"Come on, Morgana, it's so obvious!" Arthur was amused. "Your sister practically threw herself over my uncle! And I bet she did the same with Merlin."
"What?" Morgana was angry again.
"Calm down you two!" Uther finished their childish argument. "The point is, Merlin claims he heard Agravaine telling Morgause he would talk to you today morning about succession. Is this true?"
"Yes, father."
"And?"
"Well he was... worried." Arthur told them. "Worried that Morgana and her child would steal the throne from me."
"That won't happen." Morgana said very sincerely. "The throne is yours! I... don't want it!" She said. "All I want... I just want Uther!" It made both the men smirk, Uther kissed her forehead.
"I know it, my dear." The king said.
"Well, it was the same I've told my uncle!" Arthur said. "Oh, I mean... That you two just were in love and wanted to be together, this isn't about the throne."
"Listen to me, Arthur." Morgana was serious. "I'll be the queen while Uther is king." She said. "When..." She stopped. She doesn't want to think about Uther dead or in a condition in which he can't rein his kingdom anymore. "When you're ready to be the king, and I'm sure you'll be a great one, I'll be just the former queen, as your father's wife."
"I know it, Morgana." Arthur's voice was serious and sincere now. "Thank you."
"Very well." Uther continued after a brief silence.
"Oh!" Another smirk came to Arthur's lips. "So Merlin was spying them!"
"Uh... yes." Morgana blushed. "Arthur, this is serious! They're plotting something! And my sister may be in danger!"
"Your sister? It seems it's my uncle who's in danger in these wicked hands of yours!" He said sarcastically. "Oh, and the poor Merlin, of course. He's probably in love with her now... Such a girl!"
"Merlin, I'm so sorry." Gaius said as they were alone.
"That's fine Gaius." He had a big smile. "How could you know it was a lie?"
"Morgana's sister is much smarter than we'd thought." The old man pointed.
"Yes, she is." Merlin said sadly. "Gaius, I can't understand!" He was sad now. "Why? Why did she asked me to keep it secret and then told that story?"
"Merlin, she probably used you to make Morgana and Uther instable." He said serious but empathically. Gaius could understand how terrible Merlin was feeling. "Can you imagine the scandal if the people knew the official warlock of Camelot did such a thing to the future queen's sister?"
Merlin remained in silence for some moments. Yes, Gaius was right.
"You know, I was so happy!" He confessed.
"I've noticed it this morning."
"She... I knew she didn't love me. But I concluded she at least... I don't know... I thought she cared about me."
"Oh, my boy!" Gaius hugged him paternally. "Some people are afraid of her feelings. Even of the good ones, like love and joy." He said wisely. "It seems to be Morgause's condition."
"Wh-why, Gaius?"
"You have a great heart, Merlin." He patted his back for comfort. "Your capacity of love is one of the things that make your magic so powerful and you so special."
"She used me!" He said.
"Yes." Gaius said. "And thanks god the king believes you!" Merlin looked at him astonished. "So we have solved part of the problem. Can you imagine how powerful Morgause and Agravaine could be if the king just lost his trust in you and if he and Morgana had problems in their relationship?"
"Oh, I was so naïve!" Now Merlin was angry. "Camelot would be ruined!"
"Well, Merlin. At least now you'll be more careful." The physician concluded rationally. "And now we know exactly in which side Morgause is."
"Yes." Merlin said looking down at his hands. "But it still hurts."
"I know." Gaius touched his shoulder, knowing that he could do nothing to make it better. Nothing apart give his pupil some space and some comfort. That's what friendship is about.
So? What do you think?
Next one: "(...) you can't be serious! Are you jealous of Merlin?"
Please review! =)
And have a wonderful weekend! =D