Chapter 20-Mordred
Hey guys another day another chapter. I'm serious on a roll at the moment. Poll is still up for the moment so please vote, and review I love to know what you think. So I don't own Merlin, but Laudine, Kay and Elizabeth are my characters. Read and enjoy…
It was later on that night when Merlin and I walked back into my chambers finding Morgana there dressed in Gwen's clothing, "Did you get the keys?" Morgana asked us.
"Yeah, the door is behind the shield at the far end of the armory," I said handing over the keys to her.
"I've packed you some food and water for the journey, be careful," Gwen said handing Morgana the package.
After Morgana left I walked down quietly through the castle and stopped outside the armoury when I heard voices. A guard was talking to Arthur, "A servant saw someone entering. They had a boy with them."
I leant into the door and saw Arthur check his key ring, "Sound the warning bell," He ordered.
I took off running back upstairs into my room where Merlin and Laudine were, "Arthur knows," I said quickly before looking out of my window and down to see Morgana and Mordred trying to run away, but Arthur and the guards were blocking their exit. Morgana and Mordred hide in a building, but Arthur entered it after them. I couldn't see what was going on for a while. Until Morgana and Mordred make a break for it, but they run across a guard and Arthur blocks the other side of the path. Arthur draws his sword and places it at Morgana's back. Morgana turns around, I watched as the guards restrained Morgana and Mordred.
I ran down into the council chambers. Uther, Morgana and Arthur were standing there, "I've treated you like a daughter. Is this how you repay me?" Uther snapped.
"I did what I thought was right," Morgana said calmly.
"You think it's right to conspire with my enemies against me?" Uther questioned.
"How can this child be your enemy? He's just a boy," Morgana defended.
"He is a Druid," Uther said as if that explained everything.
"Is that such a crime?" Morgana pushed.
"His kind would see me dead and this kingdom returned to anarchy and you would help them," Uther snapped again.
"Then punish me... but spare the boy. I beg you," Morgana begged.
Uther paused for a moment before turning to Arthur, "Make arrangements for the boy to be executed tomorrow morning."
"No! Please. He's done nothing," Morgana said in desperation.
"Let this be a lesson to you," Uther said coldly.
Morgana turned to Arthur, "You don't have to do this."
"Do you hear me? I want him executed at dawn," Uther yelled.
"Yes, Father," Arthur said obediently.
"What have these people done to you? Why are you so full of hate?" Morgana questioned as she marched towards Uther and grabbed his arm. Uther grabbed her throat and pressed her against the back of the chair.
I stepped forwards and forcefully took Uther's arm, "You'll kill her if you do that."
Uther released her, "I will not hear another word! Do not speak to me until you are ready to apologize for what you've done," Uther left, followed quickly by Arthur. I took Morgana in my arms gently and lead her back to my chambers.
"Laudine. We need something for bruising," I called upon entering, Laudine nodded and began to search while Merlin stood there.
"I promised that I wouldn't let anything bad happen," Morgana said her voice breaking.
"You can't blame yourself. You tried your best," I said softly.
"It's not enough," Morgana shot back.
"He's in jail now. There's nothing more we can do," Merlin explained.
Morgana shook her head, "I will not let him die. Can I count on your help?" Both Merlin and I nodded, "Thank you," Morgana said in relief.
"We're going to need some more help through. I'll go to persuade Arthur," I said before walking out of the door and into Arthur's chambers and sitting down. Arthur walked in ten minutes after me.
"Make yourself at home," He said sarcastically.
"You can't let your father execute the boy," I said without bothering to do greetings.
"Why do you care so much?" Arthur questioned.
"He's just a boy!" I yelled back.
"You helped Morgana didn't you?" Arthur questioned more quietly this time. I slowly nodded my head, "Are you telling me he really was behind the screen when I came to search your chambers?" I nodded again, Arthur looked at me angry, "You could have been executed with him?!"
"I know you believe your father's wrong to execute him," I said ignoring his last statement.
"What I believe doesn't matter. My father's made up his mind. He won't be talked out of it. I tried," Arthur said taking off his sword.
I stood up, "Then the time for talking is over."
"Whatever you're thinking, it's not going to happen," Arthur answered immediately.
"We have to get the boy back to his people," I continued as if he had not spoken.
"No. Forget it," Arthur shot back.
"I can't believe you'd let an innocent child die!" I snapped.
"If it's a choice between watching him die or possibly watching you die with him then I will do it," Arthur yelled at me.
I took a step forward and rested my hand against his cheek, "And is this how you will rule when you are King? You're not like your father," I said softly.
"I will not betray him," Arthur said but leant into my hand anyway.
"If I know you at all, you won't stand by and let this happen. Please if you won't do this for the boy, then do it for me," I said leaning my forehead against his.
Arthur turned away from me for a moment and sighed heavily, "How can we do this?"
"What we need is someone outside the castle to open to tunnel up so we can get out, while you and I get the boy from the dungeon," I said getting more hopeful.
"Who can we get to do that?" Arthur asked, just as Merlin and Morgana walked in.
"Sorry. Was I interrupting something?" Merlin said apologetically.
"Nothing you need concern yourself with. Go make yourself useful, muck out my horses," Arthur ordered him.
As Merlin turned to go I turned to Arthur, "I trust them."
Arthur sighed again before indicating for Merlin and Morgana to come in, "We're going to break the Druid boy out of the dungeons."
"You can't do that," Merlin said immediately.
"We have to. Uther's going to execute him at dawn," Morgana said agreeing with us.
"I mean... it's too dangerous. You've already been caught once, and if the King catches you a second time he'll never forgive you," Merlin made an excuse. I decided that after this I was going to have a talk with him about what was really going on.
"I'm not worried for myself," Morgana shrugged it off.
"Merlin's right. When my father finds out the boy's escaped, he will suspect you being involved," I agreed.
"You must go to my father and apologies. Dine with him, he cannot hold you responsible if you're with him when the boy escapes," Arthur suggested.
"We can't do this plan on our own through," I said to Arthur.
"Merlin will be at the gate," Arthur informed us.
"Me?" Merlin questioned.
"We'll take the boy out through the burial vaults. There's a tunnel that leads beyond the city walls. Get my horse from the stables and meet me there. There's a grate that covers the entrance to the tunnel. Bring a rope and a grappling hook to pull it off," Arthur informed Merlin of the plan.
"No- no, I can't..." Merlin stuttered.
"Merlin. Do you understand? If you're not there to meet us, we'll surely be caught," I explained softly. Merlin slowly nodded his head, "Now Morgana you need to go to Uther, Arthur we need something to distract the guards and Merlin and I have to go and see Gaius," I said grabbing Merlin's arm and dragging him out of the room and down the wrong corridor to see Gaius.
"Where are we going?" Merlin asked confused.
"To talk to a Dragon who doesn't seem to want to tell you the truth!" I snapped getting a bit annoyed at all the secrets. It didn't take long to get down into the caves.
Kilgharrah was laying there already, "I need to know why you told me not to protect the boy."
"You seek my counsel and yet you choose to ignore it," Kilgharrah said angrily.
"Just tell him why," I snapped.
"You also ignore my counsel," The dragon said turning his nose up at me.
"I trust my instincts and they're telling me this can be changed!" I snarled back.
"If the boy lives, you cannot fulfill your destiny!" The Dragon said.
"What's he got to do with my destiny? You said it's my destiny to protect Arthur," Merlin questioned.
"The boy is supposed to be Arthur's downfall but I won't believe it!" I yelled out at the dragon.
"You're telling me that little boy is going to kill Arthur?" Merlin questioned in disbelief.
"It seems that is up to you," Kilgharrah said coldly.
I shook my head in anger, "No, you can't pressure him like that. You don't know that for certain."
"You have it in your power to prevent a great evil," Kilgharrah continued as if I had not spoken.
"There must be another way!" Merlin yelled back.
I took Merlin by the shoulders to face me, "The future isn't set in stone Merlin, I personally don't think I can live with knowing I've killed a child, but that's just me. I'll leave you to think about it."
I walked slowly back up to my room leaving Merlin alone to make his way back to Gaius' I knew he had a lot to think about. When I reached my room I muttered a spell. One of the ravens from outside appeared on my window seal, I quickly wrote a letter before shrinking it and attaching it to the bird's leg, "Take this to the nearest druid campsite," I ordered. The bird took off into the sunset.
It was only a couple of hours later when Arthur knocked on my door, "Are you ready?" He questioned.
"Yes, thank you for this Arthur," I smiled at him.
Arthur shrugged, "You're right. I can't let a young boy die."
I kissed him lightly on the cheek, "You will be a great king."
We walked quietly down the stairway, Arthur pulled me back about half way down and dropped a smoking bag down to the guards. They began to cough and passed out. I ran down the rest of the stairs and grabbed the keys to Mordred's cell. He was sitting at the back away from the bars, "Don't be scared, do you remember me. I managed to get word to your people, we'll taking you to them. You must come with us," I said offering Mordred my hand and leading him out.
Arthur lit and torch and we headed down the tunnels to the gate where Merlin was supposed to be, "Merlin! Merlin! Don't worry, he'll be here," Arthur whispered to Mordred.
We waited for a few minutes before the warning bells began to sound and Arthur began to push against the gate, "Damn it, Merlin!" I cursed hugging Mordred to me. We heard the door open at the other end of the tunnel, Arthur extinguished to torch, "It will be okay darling," I whispered rocking Mordred back and forth to calm him.
"I think they went that way," I heard a guard speak down the tunnel.
Mordred began calling out telepathically, "Emrys. Emrys. Where are you, Emrys? Emrys. Help us. Please! They're coming."
The guards voices seemed to be getting closer. I pulled Mordred into me closer. Arthur drew his sword while I pulled mine out carefully to avoid hitting Mordred, "I'm scared, Emrys. They will kill me. Don't do this. Don't ignore me. I know you can hear me. I thought you were my friend. We're the same. I don't want to die. Emrys! Emrys! Emrys!"
Merlin appeared behind us, "Take your time," I muttered angrily at him.
"I had trouble getting out of the castle," Merlin lied.
I narrowed my eyes at him, before whispering, "Well, get this grate off, they're coming!"
Merlin attached the grappling hook and pulled off the grate before we took off again, running over to the horses. I pulled myself up before Merlin lifted Mordred to join me, "If my father asks where we are, we've gone on a hunting trip. You'd better make yourself scarce, or they'll execute you in his place."
"Goodbye, Emrys. I know that someday we will meet again," Mordred said telepathically.
We took off into the night and the forest. Getting into the woods and meeting the druids, "Thank you for coming," I said politely.
"We are forever indebted to you, Elizabeth and Arthur Pendragon for returning the boy to us," Iseldir spoke.
"You must not let it be known that it was I who brought him to you," Arthur said immediately.
"We will tell no one. You have my word," Iseldir nodded before the druids turned to leave.
Mordred came running back to me and hugged my legs, "Go be with your people. I'm sure we'll meet again little one," I smiled at him.
"Wait, I don't even know your name! At least tell me your name," Arthur called.
Mordred looked up at Iseldir for permission, "It's all right."
"My name is Mordred," Mordred said quietly.
"Good luck, Mordred," Arthur nodded at him.
I took Arthur's hand as we watched the druids walk away and into the fog.
Okay another chapter completed . Please review and let me know what you think.
Until next time
Artistic-Blue-Eyes
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