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I literally have enough written for this week. I need to not work as much next week or otherwise, I won't be updating.


Chapter 6

Merlin knows that he shouldn't be sitting in the chambers, re-reading the letter, waiting for Morgana to walk back through the door.

He had asked everyone that he passed if they had seen her as he ran through the castle to Arthur's chambers. No one had seen her, except for one serving girl, but she didn't know how long ago that was. As soon as he told Arthur, he had sent out guards to search the surrounding area, telling Merlin that she couldn't have gone far.

He knew who was to blame for her disappearance. It was his fault.

He knew that she wasn't taking the death of his father well. He knew that she was blaming herself for it. He knew that he should be keeping an eye on her. He knew that he should have spent more time with her. He knew he should have sent her back to Drugonia to be with his mother and her sister. He shouldn't have brought her back to Camelot.

"Stop worrying, we will find her."

Merlin looked up to see Arthur standing by the door.

"I have my reasons to worry."

He watched Arthur as he walked across the room and dropped into the seat opposite him.

"A problem shared is a problem halved," Arthur said.

"My father used to say that."

"It is who I heard it off of."

Merlin sighed. "When I was told, by the dragons, to come back to Camelot with you, they also told me to keep Morgana close. They said that the battle between us, between Camelot and Drugonia, might be over before it even started but the battle for Morgana's soul had just begun. They also said that more is at stake than I realise. Arthur … What if I haven't done enough?"

"You've lost me."

"When I came to Camelot, the first time, I was told that Morgana needed to be taken away from Camelot. I guess it was because of her magic. I wouldn't like to think what would have happened if her magic had revealed itself while she was in Camelot. I wouldn't want to think about what Uther would have done. But I feel like if it had then she would have turned on you and Camelot and Uther and would have been, I suppose, seen as evil." He paused. "I thought that I had stopped that."

"Then we have been doing the wrong thing."

"What do you mean?"

"I will send the next patrol of guards out dressed as peasants," Arthur said. "I don't know why I didn't think about it before. Did Morgana tell you why my father went to war?"

"No."

"Morgana was angry when she found out that my father was doing very little to have talks with you and Balinor. I tried to stop her. I wanted her to calm down a bit before she spoke to him. For her to think about what she was going to say to him. I was on my way to speak with him, to even tell him that I thought it would be better for Morgana to return to Drugonia.

"I followed her as she stormed into the council chamber, basically demanding that Uther agrees to the talks so she could return to Drugonia. I tried to stop her but she was just angry. You probably know how I am going to end this."

"Emotions and magic have never been two things that should go together." Merlin sighed. "She used magic on Uther and then Uther declared war."

"There was the question over the enchantment that you had over both me and Morgana. My father didn't believe her when she said that she loved you. I never realised how blind he was to magic until he told me that you and your father had bewitched or enchanted Morgana to have magic."

"At least you see differently."

Arthur gave him a smile. "She is probably blaming herself for this. She hadn't meant to use magic and it resulted in Balinor's death."

"What about Uther's death?"

"She wouldn't blame herself for that. And nor should you. These things happened. I am not saying that I am not saddened by his death because I am. No matter what anyone thought about him, he was first and foremost my father. But that doesn't mean that he was always right. The one thing he was wrong about was magic."

"It is my fault."

"Merlin..."

"No, Arthur. I promised her that I wouldn't allow her to return to Camelot until you were king."

"And I was there when you gave your side of the argument. My father would have never listened to me like Balinor listened to you."

"My father always wanted to know whether I would be ready for the role. I am sure your father did listen to you."

Arthur sighed. "Never felt like it." He paused. "Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Do you feel ready for your new role as king?"

"No. Part of me always hoped that my father would live to a grand old age and pass power over to me when he felt like he couldn't rule as he should do. Then I could have him on my council still and run to him with questions. He always gave the best advice."

"I wish I knew him for longer."

Merlin gave Arthur a smile. He was no longer the arrogant Prince that he first met when he stepped foot in Camelot. He had no idea what had made him change his attitude, but Merlin was glad of it. He could see them making this golden age together, as equals.

"Merlin, Arthur, no luck?"

Both of them turned to the door to see Gwen.

"Unfortunately not," Merlin said. "You know you said about peasant clothed guards."

Arthur nodded.

"Well, I think it might be beneficial if we maybe go out as well. We would be another set of eyes and also we are people that she knows."

"Maybe we should try and find some druid camps." Gwen offered. "She would want to be somewhere that she feels safe. Maybe she would have tried to find the druids."

Arthur stood up suddenly. "Then what are we doing still here? I will quickly change. Meet you both out in the courtyard in half an hour."

Merlin couldn't help but smile as Arthur stormed out of the room, like a man on a mission.

"We will find her Gwen."

"I know we will. But when?"

Merlin sighed, knowing he was asking himself the exact same question.