A future haunted by the past

2. At sword point

"That's it then" Arthur said. "At least we've clarity now."

"I still can't believe it" Leon replied. "After all those years of friendship."

"Let me spell it out for you: They see an opportunity and grab it. End of story." Gwaine snorted scornfully. "End of loyalty and friendship, too. Remember what this oaf Tristan said? Yes? Well, there you are."

Naturally everybody present remembered the day Gwaine was referring to.

Two months after Arthur's and Morgana's coronation it could no longer be denied that they could as well have skipped the meaningless ceremony.

As Arthur had predicted, Tristan was the first of the primordial knights of Camelot who left. Very clearly the young King remembered Tristan's somewhat forced pithiness when he had resigned his commission. "To stay in your service would be against my conscience, Your Majesties. I've made an oath of allegiance to your father and I cannot honestly condone your accession to the throne."

It had been said with a lift of the chin, a defiant, in its unwitting childlikeness very moving gesture that Arthur was all too familiar with from the training grounds. "By all ancient rules and laws of the land, you both are unfit to rule and no knight with a sense of honour and duty can say otherwise!"

Tristan had visibly braced himself for anything that would come now, but in spite of his resolve he had become ghostly pale and gasped fearfully when the Queen's sizzling anger had reached his skin and mind like a red hot iron.

"Morgana, please, let me." Arthur did not know whether it was Merlin's soothing hand on her shoulder, as always miraculously just on time, or his own intervention that made his sister bite back her wrath with a will; the King was just relieved when he saw the blood return to the young knight's face.

"Let's not beat around the bush with fine speeches about conscience and high morals, Sir Tristan. You are Marke of Cornwall's nephew, your mother was a cousin to Queen Igraine and your uncle has ordered you to come home, that's all. You do not want to be used as a political pawn, but provoking us into arresting you will not wash, I'm sorry. As much as I appreciate the sentiment."

So Tristan had been honourably discharged, much to his own chagrin, but many had followed him. During the following three months old alliances had been revived, favours had been called in, friendships and family relations had been stressed to breaking point, and for a short while it had seemed that Arthur and Morgana would prevail, if barely.

Until Leodegrance, Bayard and Erec had succeeded in persuading Marke Duke of Cornwall to officially enter the stage. From his stronghold Tintagel, the old Duke had sent word to his ally Lot of Orkney. Together these noble and conscientious men had decided that Uther's disgrace must be avenged on his wayward, treacherous children, and that it was their most sacred duty to do just that.

Of course, the formal challenge they sent to Camelot said nothing about the spoils that would be theirs for the taking if Camelot were to fall into their hands; nothing about the horrible fight the good 'friends' would doubtlessly have among themselves as soon as the Pendragons had been extinguished. Instead it said much about Morgana's illegitimacy, the vile ways of the Old Religion and the fact that the Druid peasants now had a seat in Camelot's Crown Council. The pompous letter had even more to say about the burn mark on Arthur's chest and what it made him. 'A disgrace to the time-honoured Crown of Camelot' was among the more harmless phrases.

"I agree with Gwaine" the 'disgrace' now said. "No rest for the wicked."

"Let them come" Morgana replied "the sooner the better. They'll live to regret it!" She looked at Merlin, who didn't see it. He was far too preoccupied by keeping up his innocent expression, while Algernon and Gaius glared at him murderously.

"We are a trifle short of provisions for a long siege, My Lady" Leon said cautiously. "They'll cut us off from the Branguards' supplies and we're finished in a week." Needless to say that the Branguards were the last great house remaining loyal to them. With all the others leaving or plotting against the two young Pendragons, Arthur had quickly abandoned his plans to split up the Branguard fiefdoms. He couldn't afford to offend the brothers.

"What siege?" That was Lancelot's first contribution today. "They'll lay waste to the villages and settlements. By the time they get here, there'll be no Camelot to defend. A citadel alone is not a country."

That was a stone thrown into a hornet's nest and the others' reaction was accordingly. Arthur had much difficulty to restore order. Repeatedly he banged his – left – fist on the table; on the last hit the impact echoed from one wall of the room to the other thunderously; everybody ducked down instinctively and caught his breath.

"You wanted to say, Arthur?" Morgana asked innocently, while the thunder she had created faded away.

Her brother looked at her appreciatively, thinking once again that her magic was a blessing. At least sometimes. "There will be no siege and no destruction of the villages and settlements" he then said. "Our opponents know very well that a destroyed country can hardly bear the costs of war, let alone be a source of wealth in the future."

Gaius shook his head. "That's the sort of first class thinking that regrettably has hardly ever kept a conqueror at bay."

"I didn't say that they won't fight. They just won't fight Camelot's army or walls."

"And pray what will they fight instead?" Gwen's voice was cold and hard. Five months pregnant, her appearance had begun to show it. It did not soften her mood at all. She already knew the answer to her question and she didn't like it. Not one bit!

Arthur threw another document on the table, equally pompously adorned with seals and signatures and hollow presumptuous phrases, but smaller than the first. "They've sent a personal challenge. In other words, they will fight me."

Dumbfounded, the round fell silent for a moment. Finally Gwaine regained his voice. "That's ridiculous. We're talking Kingdoms, Crowns and thousands of gold pieces here. You do not conquer a realm in personal combat."

"They have no need to defeat Camelot. They only need to defeat me." Arthur insisted. "It's my claim to the throne they challenge, my entitlement to your loyalty and allegiance."

"Our claim and entitlement, you wanted to say." Morgana wasn't kidding any more.

"No" her brother answered. "Mine. They think you're unimportant, a woman, a bastard and a witch. But believe me, as you are a Pendragon woman, bastard or no, you're meant to add to the legitimacy of their claim. Before I'm cold in my grave and certainly not with your armour on, or anything else for that matter."

"It could work" Indifferent and matter-of-fact as always, Percival broke the horrified silence this brutal remark had caused. "If anything the Branguards are loyal to themselves and to the profit they want to make by supporting the Crown. Sorry Morgana, but neither they nor the brunt of the army would fight for the Queen, and surely not for the Old Religion. And we others are only a handful of people."

Morgana was as white as a sheet. Not with fear. With fury. "You're forgetting my sister" she said. "And you're forgetting me" she wanted to add, but Merlin kicked against her ankle and she gulped it down. The most important thing about a secret weapon was, after all, secrecy.

"With all due respect to the Lady Morgause, even if we knew where she is, if we use magic alone to defend ourselves, we can as well go packing now" Leon snapped angrily. "A bunch of sorcerers is no royal house. Not in the eyes of the people. And surely not in the eyes of the Knights of Camelot!"

"If the Knights of Camelot prefer to be uselessly slaughtered, that can surely be arranged" the Queen snapped back. There still was some unfinished business between her and those knights and, on occasions, it showed.

Arthur cut them both short. "Am I allowed to say something in this Crown Council? Last time I checked, one of these thrones was mine."

Morgana had a fitting repartee ready in no time, but the way her brother stared her down, even she thought better of it.

The King straightened his shoulders. "The good news is, they won't escape their own trap. For all the others being rank opportunists and Lot being a pompous fool, Marke and Erec are devout Christians. They style this as an 'Ordeal by battle', a judgement of their God. When I accept the challenge and defeat their fighters, there's an end to it. The coalition will break, with at least Cornwall coming back to our side, as Marke is a man of principle. With the others we can deal one by one."

"If" Gwen said. "Not when."

"I do beg your pardon?" Arthur was audibly at the end of his tether.

"If you defeat three opponents in sword fight in three sequential stages of the tournament you will have won the day. Was it not so?"

"Yes."

"And pray, what makes you think you stand a chance to win?"

If thoughts made sounds, the great throne room would have heard a cacophony of voices. As it was, the common embarrassment kept silent.

Arthur and his wife stared at each other. Neither of them backed down. Both of them stood firm.

One for her love and fear.

"You once said you'd relinquish your right to the throne for me. Have you forgotten? You are a great King, but Camelot doesn't want you. You fear for Morgana. What will these monsters do to our daughter?"

The other for his pride.

"How can you do this to me? How can you humiliate me such? You of all people."

And for the first time ever, Arthur Pendragon chose his pride over his love for her. "Guards. Her Ladyship has to lie down. She needs to rest. Now!"

It was Elyan who accompanied his sister out, the disconcerted soldiers trotting behind them.

"Arthur, you are a complete as..…" Morgana started to say, but Gaius drowned her out. "I think all has been said, Sire. Geoffrey will draft the answer to the challenge in no time."

"Thank you Gaius. I would want to sign it tonight. Dismissed!"

Leon took his lead from the Court Physician, and after some shuffling of feet, surprised murmurs and angry mutterings, the room was empty.

Except for Arthur and his sister.

"What do you want, Morgana?"

"Nothing. Look at you, that's all."

"What for?"

"It's not every day one sees a man come back from the dead."

The King snorted exasperatedly. "Whatever pleases you, My Lady."

"You know, I thought you'd finally gone to hell but here you are, Uther Pendragon, life-sized, bold as brass."

She smirked when she saw that she had hit a nerve with that. "Can't you remember dear brother, how much you hated it when he did this to you. Sending you packing, having you escorted to your room like a child, just because you'd said something he didn't want to hear."

"She had no right to say that, not in public. Damn it Morgana, you know I had no choice."

"That's all the excuse you ever need. No choice. It wasn't me, it was the circumstances. You're as pathetic as our father was."

"And what about you? Rambling and yelling through a Council meeting like a fisherman's harlot. You're supposed to be a Queen!"

"Gwen is my friend. I care about her. You humiliated her in front of everyone."

Maybe it would have worked.

Maybe it would have made Arthur think twice about his answer.

If Gaius hadn't told his Prince so much about Merlin's former adventures whilst they both had been in Devil's Claw.

As it was, Morgana's claim provoked her brother beyond endurance. "When was Guinivere your friend, eh? When Morgause and Cendred had her abducted? When you had her accused of casting love-spells on me? Or when you used her to find my hiding place in the forest? Hmh? When was she your friend?"

Neither of them thought of keeping his voice down and the corridor in front of the throne room emptied rapidly. Curiosity had killed more than just cats in Uther's time and from the look of things, his children were of the same inclination on that score.

Morgana glared at her brother but her chin was trembling. "If that is what you think of me" she finally managed to say "we could as well have stayed in Doloreux. It would never have come to this." She jerked her head back defiantly. "I've told you all I had to say back there and I thought you believed me. I will not apologize for my former mistakes again, I will not kneel to you any time it pleases you to remind me of them. I won't."

Arthur began to think he might have overdone it this time. It had not been much of a choice Morgause had given him on this day in Doloreux but a choice nevertheless, and he had chosen reconciliation with his sister willingly. "Morgana I…."

Yet she hissed back like an aggravated cobra "I don't know what I've ever seen in you, Arthur Pendragon. You can just go to hell for all I care."

"That's a wish most likely to be fulfilled" Arthur said to her departing back.

The Queen, who had already turned towards the exit, halted.

As cool as you please, Arthur continued "I say; you, Guinivere and Margaly make ready to leave Camelot by tomorrow; for the Isle of the Blessed or wherever Morgause and Morgwyn are presently hanging around together. You'll have to take Gaius and Merlin, for they're known as sorcerers by now, I think. The knights will be safe, though. Once I'm gone, they pose no threat to Camelot's new masters."

"I didn't believe Morgause when she said our father's cruelty had left you with a death wish" Morgana muttered.

She flinched when her brother took her by the shoulders from behind. "This has to do with facts, not with what I might wish. If wishes were horses, I'd still be Camelot's best warrior and to hell with the three measly snivelling simps they can send against me."

"It'll cost Merlin and me a wave with our small fingers to let your opponents crush to the ground helpless. They wouldn't even know it hadn't been you who struck them down. Why don't you accept our help, Arthur? Just this once."

"They would know, Morgana. They know what this iron club has done to me. Even if they couldn't prove anything, they would find another excuse, send in another army, another challenge. It would never stop. Camelot would go on suffering. You, my family – no one would be safe."

Morgana turned to face him, her little brother, unbelievably valiant, unbelievably foolish, and always most endearing when he was both "Then why fight these brutes at all? When you know you cannot win? If we've lost our cause already, why should you die for it?" She smiled weakly. "If you'd ask nicely, you could come with us."

"Many hounds soon catch the hare" Arthur replied softly. "If I leave now, they'll know it. If I accept their challenge they'll wait. And you and the others need the time."

"But I could…..or rather, Morgause could…."

"Lance is right, Morgana. Before she can do anything, most of Camelot will be destroyed. And we lack the means to shelter our people in the citadel. That's not an option this time."

"So you are going to die in five days time." She felt an unimaginable, unbearable wrath build up inside her. It took all her strength to keep it hidden. "Not much of a Golden Age, was it."

"It was great while it lasted."

"Will you tell Gwen yourself?"

Arthur shuddered at the mere thought of doing so, but he hardly could leave this special explanation to somebody else. "Of course. But, Morgana – not a word to the others. Promise me."

"Big promise, Your Majesty. My lips are sealed."

Arthur smiled, relieved. One of his womenfolk persuaded, one still to go. He had to be grateful for small blessings. "You will take care of them, will you not. Gwen and Margaly and…. whoever the child will turn out to be."

For a second, Morgana could see behind his façade and spot the raw fear he really felt, and it made her almost tremble with fury. "Do you think you have to ask?"

"No, not really. I know you will."

"You should go to Gwen at once."

"Yes. Yes, I should."

Morgana waited until he was gone before she left herself, heading to Merlin's new quarters in the palace with long, purposeful strides that virtually swept everybody in her way off his feet. However, as much as she searched, she could not find her fellow warlock. In the infirmary she found Merlin's neckerchief and some items he had left there, but neither himself nor Gaius.

So she finally withdrew to her own chambers, dismissed her servants and began to make plans of her own. One thing was certain: Merlin would show up rather sooner than later. Whatever happened, he'd come back from hell to pull Arthur's neck out of the noose.

Nevertheless, she had sat, paced, kicked her furniture and brooded some hours before someone knocked furtively at her door. She stormed through her room to open it and was more than a bit taken aback to find the Court Physician in front of it.

"Where the hell is Merlin?" was the first thing that came to her mind.

"I beg Your Majesty's pardon for disturbing you. May I come in?"

"Yes. Yes, of course."

Gaius was so very casual, so very natural about making himself at home on the small balcony of her sitting room, that Morgana could do nothing but simply follow his example.

Having him around in every childhood crisis had been part of both their lives and if the old man wanted to, he could play on her and Arthur's life long habits like a musician would play his instrument.

"Where's Merlin?" the Queen repeated.

"Merlin is with Algernon, in the Druids' encampment outside the castle walls. It'll be a while before he's back, I'm afraid."

"What in blazes is he doing there?" Angrily Morgana stood up; her fingers drummed an impatient rhythm on the balustrade.

"Having his ears boxed for what you two did this morning in the forest."

"What would the Druids know about that? They weren't invited!"

"That wasn't necessary. Every magician in Albion had his hairs standing up at what you did today! I'm astonished you haven't heard from your sister yet. Algernon surely is on his toes."

The Queen narrowed her eyes to slits, like a cat, and like a cat she snarled. "How dare the tottering old Druid fool meddle with what I chose or chose not to do with one of my own Courtiers?"

"Speaking from a Courtier's perspective, I'd say nothing at all" Gaius replied most gently. "Your Majesty's choices are yours to make and yours alone."

Morgana looked into his face sharply. Did he mean it or was this purposeful flattering? No, Gaius wouldn't sink that low.

"Speaking from the Druids' perspective, I'd say your and Merlin's antics in the forest hardly left Algernon a choice" the old man continued meanwhile.

"And why would that be?"

"You know what place the great Emrys has in the Druids' legends. They believe firmly in them. Not all their memories of the Blessed Isle's rule are altogether pleasant, and they dote on Merlin to protect the balance between their newly found position of influence here in Camelot and your Lady Sister's upcoming claim on their allegiance and services, once the Isle has been rebuild."

"All the more reason for Algernon and his lot to be grateful for our ability to secure Camelot. What we achieved in the forest this morning…."

Gaius noted her continuous use of the word 'we'. There had been a time when she would've said 'I'. It spoke well of her growing insight into her magic's volatile nature. However, what good did all of this now? "It was living proof that you two could lay waste to every hostile settlement, could flatten every attacking force and send all of Camelot's enemies to oblivion in less than ten minutes. I do not doubt that."

"There you are then." Morgana was visibly satisfied that she had made her point so easily.

Gaius sighed. "It's not so easy after all. The Druids have another look on the world. To quote our friend Algernon: 'Disturbing the peace of nature, unleashing aggressive energy like that, causing that much destruction, just for the fun of it – it's obnoxious. Abomination! Blasphemy!' End of quote."

"It was not just for the fun of it."

"But you did enjoy it, did you not?"

"And why shouldn't I? What's so bad about taking pride in my abilities? My brother always was proud of his skill in battle …." Her voice trailed off.

"And now that he's lost it you feel obliged to step in for him. I understand that. And I think it's admirable. I said so, to the Druids, to Leon and his bunch of sword-wielders; they're all buzzing around like a nest of much aggravated but utterly disoriented wasps ever since your brother announced that he's going to commit suicide."

Morgana flinched. "They know that Arthur has no chance?"

"The state of your brother's arms isn't much of a secret, to friends and foes alike. Osric's ritual is very well known for disabling a victim's fighting abilities as well as his reputation beyond repair."

The physician now rose too and stepped closer. "In spite of that the day for a great magic battle for Camelot has not yet come, My Lady. A show of invincible magic warfare, like the one you're aiming at, cannot save us in the long run. Not only our enemies would fear us far too much for our own good, our own people would do the same. People frightened out of their wits are dangerous and incalculable. That cannot be our way. You and Arthur, you need their respect, not a feigned submission whilst they're are plotting against you secretly."

"Much good their respect will do my brother once he's dead" Morgana said bitterly. "Or worse, once he's been taken alive."

Seeing Gaius frown she added "put yourself in our enemies' shoes. Uther is dead, Arthur was – is, if it weren't for the burn mark – the lawful heir. By the knights' code he has to face his challengers alone in the arena. What's easier than to overwhelm him? Hell, they could even sell it as an act of mercy. Once he's in their hands, they can do everything they want, like forcing him into admitting that he has been my helplessly enchanted prisoner when he went against Uther." She grinned viciously. "Which of course would make them the poor misled Prince's saviours, entitled to – well, do the maths yourselves. I'm sure I'd not be the only one who'd be forced down on his back to support our enemies' claim to our throne."

"I must admit, I hadn't thought of that" the old man said woefully.

"Neither has my brother, thank heaven for small mercies. It would haunt him more than his imminent death does."

Gaius looked up. "He realizes it then? He's not deluding himself?"

"Arthur knows it is suicide to take on that challenge." To hell with her promise to keep silent about his plans. "He wants to sacrifice his own life to ensure a stable succession in Camelot. I and Gwen and you all shall go somewhere safe." She snorted derisively. "Where would the Druids' newly found position of influence be then, eh?"

Much against her will, she was panting heavily by now, despairing at the others' inability to see the obvious, to see that her powers were the solution here. Stupid, stupid fools; all this idiotic, senseless talk about morality and ethics. Outside the wolves were gathering, ready to destroy everything she'd fought for; everything that was hers; her baby brother included.

Gaius saw her distress and felt miserable. On her behalf. And on Merlin's.

If Marke and his confederates got their way, the warlock would lose everything; his home, his best friend, and the woman he'd undoubtedly loved more than his life, or he would not have undertaken to bind his own magic to another as utterly alien as hers. For one thing was certain: Whatever orders Arthur gave; his sister would live or die by his side. Morgana Pendragon would not run from Camelot thrice.

And yet, what she was intending could not, in fact must not, be.

"Morgana" Gaius said. "There is something you should know. About your magic." Inwardly he cringed. It was not a small thing to break an oath to the High Priestess, no less. "For Arthur's and all of Camelot's sake you should make sure that Morgana will never know her true nature" Morgause had gnarled, and she had meant every word of it. Taken into consideration that she, as the High Priestess, was bound by a sacred duty to have her own sister executed should her nature become known, her passion was more than understandable.

"Save your breath, I've heard it all before" the Queen now said. "I need more control, Merlin is teaching me how to achieve that, so everything is well."

"Your magic can never be really controlled, Morgana" Gaius burst out. "Merlin was born with a natural restraint, I learned mine over years and years, but you can do what you want, you'll never be safe. You are what's called a Destroyer, child. Your magic isn't a gift, it's a curse!"

Morgana's throat was working under her silken skin. She was so tensed, she almost trembled. Gaius felt her instinctive reaction in every bone of his body, although he had done his best to conjure up a protective spell in advance. The painful pressure of her anguish grew and he fought for breath until, as suddenly as it had started, it washed over him and was gone.

"Yes, I can do what I want, you'll still think I'm evil" she said chokingly. "I should have known. You all hate me."

"You're not evil, you just can't help yourself" Gaius said despairingly. "Your magic was born to get its way in the end, not yours. It is the natural opposite to Merlin's ability. They may run together up to a certain point, but sooner or later your power will turn against his. Pray tell me, in your training lessons, was Merlin never hurt?"

Morgana lowered her head and chewed on her lip awkwardly. For all her proud speeches, things were far from clear, especially to herself.

There had been that one glorious moment in which her magic had combined with Merlin's potential, had filled every fibre of her mind and body, before she had sent it off to let earth and heaven know who and what she was, never to be forgotten.

Yes, this was about Arthur, about Camelot, and about Morgause's mission to re-establish the Blessed Isle. But somewhere deep inside her, nothing of this was important. It was that feeling of absolute power she cherished, that breathtaking glory she was longing to regain, like a notorious drunkard would pine for his next sip.

Yes, she could hardly bear the thought that it should not be her and her abilities that would turn events in their favour. But the pictures of Merlin's horse were still fresh in her mind.

Yes, she wanted to fight, wanted to strike, wanted to belong as one who had fought and won a right to be a part of the whole, wanted it with all the passion she was capable of. But what if the next collateral damage would not be an animal? What if it was someone she knew? Someone she cared about? What if it was….

"You're right, Gaius" the Queen said haughtily. "A show of strong magical power would be unwise under the circumstances. We'll have to think of something else."

"Morgana, have you understood what I just told you?"

"Naturally I have, I'm neither deaf nor dumb. If we are to use magic, and I still think we have no other choice, it must be from the back of the scene. As Merlin has a lot of experience on that score, as well as you, I'm sure we can come up with something accordingly subtle."

"My Lady, you must realize that your magic's nature is as devastating to you as a sorceress, as Arthur's crushed wrists are to him as a knight. His sword is lost to him and your magic is lost to you. These training lessons must stop!"

"I suggest you see to it that Merlin returns as soon as possible, we do not have much time to set a plan into motion."

"Morgana…."

"You are dismissed, physician!"

Gaius looked at her and his resolve left him. How very well he knew this face. The face of a Pendragon who chose willingly to ignore what he didn't like. Uther, his son, his daughter – ignoring reality when it didn't suit them was their royal aptitude and privilege.

The Court Physician bowed to his Queen. "My Lady."

While he bustled back to the infirmary, to wait for a probably very aggravated warlock to tell him what was expected of them both. At least he knew what Merlin would say. "Prats" he would mutter. "Royal prats, the lot of them."

Barely 15 minutes later, Gaius heard exactly these words.

It was sometime in the late night – the very late night – that the two wizards had worked out a plan that at least could work.

"We must inform Morgana" Merlin said. "We can't inform Arthur, or the element of surprise might be lost."

"Our young King is a very good actor when the situation calls for it."

"His act will be even more convincing if he doesn't know he's acting."

"Merlin, he thinks he's going to die in five days' time. Gwen will think the same. You must tell them."

"No!"

Gaius raised his brows. "You think he won't like it. You think he'll forbid it."

"What if he does? Do you want to see me go against his orders or will you see me and Morgana show the world what she is capable of? And please stop telling me this idiotic Destroyer crap Algernon came up with. It's superstitious nonsense. There is no such thing as a magic born evil. You taught me that."

Gaius stared at his ward. At his almost-son. "Do you love her so much, my boy? Does love make you that blind?" Yet he said something completely different. Something that chilled him to the bone, for the thought of Morgause. "Algernon knows about that?"

"He hardly talked about anything else. But don't we have more important things to do right now?"

Gaius needed a chair. "Yes. Yes, of course." He pulled himself together. "You're right. We must leave Arthur in the dark, as well as the others. It grieves me, but it has to be."

"I'll inform Morgana, so that she doesn't make her own arrangements" Merlin smiled.

And so he did. Surprisingly he hadn't much difficulty in persuading her. She was in love with the plan almost on first sight. It appealed to her playful side, to her joy in devious games and masquerades. And it was very far away from what Gaius had called 'destructive magic'. She didn't like thinking about that at all. "I like this plan. I like it very much." Her grin became broader. "I guess even Algernon could go along with that." Merlin grinned himself goofily when he was rewarded with an unexpected hug. It wasn't exactly a gentle one, but then – Pendragons and their knowledge about embraces…...

"About Arthur and Gwen..." he said reluctantly once she had let go of him. He wished she'd still had her arms around him.

"Leave Gwen to me. I'll see to it that she and Margaly will be secure while we pull this through. As for Arthur – once this is done, he'll love it too. My little brother likes to be the tragic hero, always has and always will do."

She was so radiantly sure of herself, and of the future, that Merlin couldn't help himself, he felt his own spirits rise, too.

This would work. After all, it wasn't much more than a lark, was it. What bad could ever come from a lark?