Chapter 16: Tales of the Past and Future

Arthur glanced rapidly at Gwaine and Galahad. Both knights seemed to be waiting for his command. But what could he tell them? Would he know it? If this was the Morgana who wanted him dead, would there be something in her eyes? If this was the evil witch, would he be smart enough to figure it out?

When he returned his attention to Morgana, he saw that she was standing on her own, pale and shaken but otherwise unharmed. She was now gently removing the hood from Merlin's head. They were standing so close to each other. As soon as she saw the dragonlord uncovered, her face lit up in the kind of smile that Arthur had not seen in a long, long time.

"Hello, Morgana," said Merlin in a voice that was almost a whisper.

She let out a sigh of relief and flung her arms around his neck. "I was coming to see you. I would have gone to Camelot. I didn't even care how. But you're here!"

Arthur couldn't help but stare at her face, her eyes, and her smile. They were so radiant, so cheerful and alive. The last image he had of her was completely the opposite. But a part of him still doubted so he decided to remain distant. Was this really a new person? Or was this the wicked Morgana playing with their heads?

Gently, Merlin took her arms away from him, but their eyes remained locked for a usually long period of time. Arthur could only see him from behind but he thought that his friend's ears were rather red. And now that he was actually thinking about it, it struck him as rather odd to see a woman show this kind of affection towards Merlin. He quickly shook the idea out of him mind.

"We need to talk," Merlin finally said, breaking the awkward silence.

A figure moved forward. It was the white knight who had offered ten thousand gold pieces. "That we do," he began to say. Then, bowing low, he added, "We meet again, Lady Morgana."

There were many more sighing and whispering voices among the noble and less noble guests.

Merlin took a step back, resuming his usual servant position.

"Lord Henry," Morgana said solemnly, rising to her full height and shaking her long curls. "We meet again indeed. And so soon. After our last meeting, I assume that you can only be on your way home. As I recall, I did refuse your offer of marriage. Twice."

That is the Morgana I know, Arthur thought instantly.

Gwaine suppressed a laugh, as did Galahad. Only Merlin did not seem to find the comment funny. He was rubbing the side of his forehead nervously.

"My Lady, you are the fairest lady in the land and I am of noble birth. It is a very desirable match. I assure you that the offer will not repeat itself," said the white-clad noble, puffing his chest.

"My Lord, I assure you that there is but one offer that I can accept."

After that statement, her cheeks became a little red and she looked away shyly. This time, the knight was less impressed.

"Not… love," he sneered. He glanced at Merlin with unconcealed dislike. "Is this… him? A sorcerer! A man who will be hunted all of his life! There are a dozen men now outside just waiting for him to come out. They all know how much he will fetch in one of the five kingdoms. Is this the life you will choose?"

"I shall choose as I please!" burst out Morgana in a tone that she had used many times with Uther.

This made Arthur uneasy. If she did not control her temper, this conversation could take a wrong turn. He was about to step up when he noticed that Galahad had been quicker to react. He was now standing next to Merlin, a firm hand pressed on the sorcerer's shoulder, his sword drawn defensively in front of the white noble.

"He's not just any sorcerer," he said for all to hear. "He's a Brittanicus. And a dragonlord. You are nothing compared to him. And if you are disrespectful again, I shall run you through."

The white noble's hand moved quickly in answer to the chalenge. He took off his glove and would have thrown it at Galahad's feet, declaring his intention to fight in a dual. But Arthur's blade was now blocking his way.

"I think we've had quite enough of this," the young king said with his best self-important tone. "We are here to talk to the Lady Morgana. The rest of you can just leave."

There were many grunting and pulling of swords inside the inn.

"Just who do you think you are?" yelled the orange bearded innkeeper.

Arthur pulled down his hood. It hadn't been his intention to put on such a show, but the situation was too critical to waste time in another tavern brawl. Also, the long and silent looks between Merlin and Morgana were getting on his nerves. Something was definitely going on there, but he could not quite put his finger on it. Surely, it couldn't be what the white knight – Lord Henry – had said. Surely it wasn't… love. That would just be ridiculous.

"I'm King Arthur of Camelot," he declared. "This is Sir Gwaine and Sir Galahad. As for the sorcerer, he's Lord Brittanicus and my closest friend. You would do well not to hinder him."

Merlin threw him a slightly surprised look, as though he had not expected such an introduction.

Slowly, and with only soft sounds and low whispers, the inn began to empty itself. The first knights responsible for the brawl seemed unwilling to leave, but Gwaine and Galahad's imposing figures soon changed their minds. The young noble in the silk tunic bowed curtly to Arthur and tripped on a fallen body as he left. Last to leave was the white knight. Now that Morgana had so whole-heatedly refused him, he was transferring a lot of his anger and frustration into his glare in Arthur's direction.

"Lord Henry, have you something to add?" asked the king as he was casually removing his traveller's cloak.

"It will not go well that you've entered Lot's kingdom, Pendragon," said the noble. "Even someone as open-minded as King Lot does not tolerate noblemen who use sorcery against their enemies."

Arthur immediately saw Merlin's face become crestfallen. "You may tell King Lot that I am well surrounded, and that I have nothing to hide."

With a final bow, Lord Henry turned his heels and left the tavern.

Now they could concentrate on the real purpose of their visit to this remote land.

"Morgana, we're here because we need your help. Camelot needs your help."

But she wasn't listening to him. She was not even looking at him. All her attention was turned towards Merlin.

"Arthur Pendragon? Why have you brought him here? What is going on?"

The answer did not come right away. Merlin seemed to be debating inwardly and he kept glancing from Arthur to Morgana. He was only shaken out of his deep thinking when she took his hand.

"It's time I told you everything," he finally said in a voice that was barely a whisper. Then, turning to Arthur, he added, "Alone. With your leave, Sire?"

The king tried to conceal his shock. "Err… All right. You two can talk while we… err… stay… here."

He had barely finished his sentence that Merlin and Morgana were already climbing the stairs under the startled gaze of Arthur, Gwaine, Galahad and the awkward innkeeper.

The remaining of the evening was spent quietly. Arthur ate dinner but he couldn't help glancing at the stairs. Galahad and Gwaine were on the other hand keeping watch by going from window to window.

"By morning, the entire kingdom will know that Arthur Pendragon has crossed into Lot's kingdom," said the knight from Aria's Cradle. "I thought you wanted to remain hidden."

"The situation was getting out of hand," Arthur said crossly.

Gwaine merely shrugged. "Well now we have to get back fast or the other-you is going to get a taste of what it's really like to be King Arthur."

Arthur's patience was running out. He put down his goblet with a loud thud that filled the room.

"It's been hours! What are they doing up there?" he burst out.

"Probably something we ought to be doing as well," snorted Gwaine. When both Galahad and Arthur threw him awkward glances, he added quickly, "I mean sleeping."

A creak in the wooden floor. And the sound of a door being shot. Finally, thought Arthur as he saw Merlin's silhouette. The sorcerer was coming down half-hidden in the candlelight, his footsteps heavy and his face pale.

He made his way slowly towards Arthur and took the seat opposite. "I told her everything," he let out in a long breath.

Arthur nodded gravely. "How is she?"

"Confused. She doesn't remember any of it. Not you. Uther. Not the discovery of her powers. Not her secret meetings with Morgause. I thought when she saw you… But that was just shock because I had told her stories about the Knights of Camelot. I think her memories, whatever happened to them, must be linked to her magic. Tomorrow I'll try something. But not tonight."

He was staring intently at the fire as he spoke. In the half-light, he looked so much older than his years. Careworn was the correct word. The young king could hardly imagine what Merlin had just gone through. He had just told Morgana that she was not the person she thought she was. That couldn't be an easy task.

Although a thousand questions were rushing through Arthur's head, he decided that it was time for all of them to retire to their rooms for the knight. Since they were the only customers now, they had plenty of choices.

The rooms at the Moon & Stars Inn were not exactly comfortable. When Arthur finally fell asleep, it was into a swirl of images full of memories of the past. Strangely, though, in the deeper night he dreamt not of the past but of the future.

Morgana was there; dressed simply in white, standing on top of a hill and calling out names that Arthur could not hear. Merlin was there too, but his back was turned. He glanced back and winked at Arthur. Then three children – three boys – came running towards them and Merlin swept them all into his arms. And Morgana remained watchful in the distance. Her face was like stone. Then Arthur saw the outline of Camelot, a fleeting reflection of Gwen, and the vision was gone.

…

Word from the author:

Hey hey! It's fun to add a little dream of the future to the whole mystery. More Merlin&Morgana in the next chapters. Thanks for reading, especially if you've gotten this far. Don't forget to drop a review!