Morgan's inspected her hands and arms over and over again. Even though Merlin assured her that the scales were gone, she couldn't help but keep making sure. After all, it wasn't everyday that one discovers they are a fire breathing dragon.
Morgan a could still feel the scorching heat against her throat. She couldn't describe the sensation as pain, but she couldn't think of another way to describe it. Gaius explained that her power was triggered by intense emotion so in the mean time she had to keep herself calm and controlled.
For someone like Morgana, it was a lot easier said than done.
"Morgana!" Arthur called her name as he rushed over, his arms caught her body and he held her flushed against his body. He hoisted her by the waist and spun her around. Morgana nuzzled against his neck, drowning in his heavenly scent.
"Where have you been?" Arthur cupped her cheek, a strand of her hair tickled his thumb. "I went to check on you but you weren't in your room."
"I was…I just needed some fresh air." Morgana just lied, and doing to to Arthur's face felt very, very, very wrong.
Every fiber of her being wanted to reveal everything to him. That Merlin was her long lost brother, that she was a dragon, and that there was hope for their kind to live in harmony again. The sensible part of her mind told her to hold back her tounge, something Morgana hated most in this world, and to think that this time it came from herself of all people.
Arthur's eyes landed on Merlin, and his concerned face contorted into one of suspicion and rising anger. "What are you doing here?"
Morgana quickly blocked his path before Arthur could even move. "It's okay, Arthur. Gaius vouched for him. He only wanted to explain to me what happened last night. He mistook something in Lady Helen's sleeve to be a weapon of some kind and he reacted on impulse. I guess the excitement of it all just made me a tad lightheaded."
Arthur was a bit perplexed by that last one. Morgana was not the kind of woman to experience fainting spells. She'd be the first to pick up a ladle to bash some heads with.
"He speaks the truth, My Lord." Gains said, standing next to Merlin who looked like he was ready to sucker punch Arthur in his chiseled face. Given that Morgana just discovered Merlin was a dragon, she didn't doubt he could have done some serious damage. His scrawny human frame was merely a front for the power hidden deep inside.
Merlin swallowed his pride, and it was quite a very large chunk to swallow, and bowed his head. "She speaks the truth, My Lord. Forgive my recklessness."
This was the first time Merlin showed any ounce of respect towards Arthur, which made the prince a bit worried there was a catch. He wasn't scared of Merlin besting him in physical prowess— being fighting fit and all—but he knew that anything scarier than a one's fists would be one's mind.
Those attacks one rarely saw coming. Morgana more than taught him that.
"Thank you, Merlin. Not only for your honesty, but also for looking after the people. You may just have the makings of a knight of Camelot."
Merlin scoffed. Him? A knight? That will be the day.
Morgana took her fiancé's hand. "Arthur, there's something I need to talk to you about."
Before she could, to Merlin's relief, Guin arrived. "Arthur, your father requests you presence in the throne room."
Arthur saw the worry in Morgana's eyes and caressed her cheek, smiling warmly. "Don't worry. It's going to alright, I promise. Meet me at our spot in an hour. You can tell me everything then."
Morgana nodded and the two shared a kiss. "Don't miss me too much." She winked and Arthur went off, nodding to Guin in gratitude.
Merlin mouthed Morgana's 'don't miss me too much' line with disgust. Gaius elbowed him in the rib agains, he lot count how many times he had to do that today.
"Is everything okay, My Lady?" Guinevere asked.
Morgana froze. Arthur was still on her mind, but now she wondered how she could tell Guin. She couldn't keep her in the dark, they told each other everything. Guinevere was the first person to find out about her and Arthur's romantic feelings towards one another. There wasn't a secret of Morgana's that Guinevere's didn't know about.
"Actually, Guin, there's something I need to—"
"My Lady, you look terribly exhausted." Merlin cut in, subtly kicking the back of Morgana's heel to make her look as though she were about to trip and faint again. "Gaius said you needed his specific tonic right away." Merlin smiled at Guinevere. "She's a stubborn one, isn't she?"
Guin rolled her eyes. "Believe me, I know all too well. Do you need to come?"
"No, no, no need. She's in good hands, come along, Gaius before she faints again." Merlin quickly led an annoyed Morgana past Guinevere with Gaius following after. He gave Guin an apologetic bow.
(~)
Morgana fidgeted at every turn and finally broke free of Merlin when the three of them were in an empty hallway.
"What is the matter with you?" Morgana hissed, her voice barley a whisper.
"Me? You were just about to blab about everything to your boy toy and handmaiden."
Morgan sneered, her nostrils flaring and she grabbed Merlin by the scarf. "Don't you speak of him like that!" She warned. Merlin didn't flinch.
"I swear, if old age doesn't kill me your bickering certainly will." Gaius rubbed his temples. "And people wonder why I never had children."
"Gaius, you know I can't keep this from Guin and Arthur. They need to know the truth." Morgana said.
"And exactly how do you expect them to react to the fact that you're a fire breathing dragon?" Merlin asked, his voice dripping with snark.
"Arthur and Guin are my best friends. They know me better than anyone. They will accept me for who I am, I know they will."
"Yeah, I can see that conversation going well. 'Hey guys, guess what—I'm a literal dragon! Oh and Arthur darling, your father killed mine and if he finds out he'll have my head mounted on his wall. Now what color tablecloth should we have for the wedding?"
Morgana rolled her eyes. "You know, you are the least supportive brother I have ever had."
"Too bad I'm your only brother."
Gaius stepped in, placing his hands on their shoulders. "Morgana, I'm afraid Merlin may have a point. Its not exactly the kind of secret one should reveal on a whim."
"But you told me everything just now, and I took it fine." said Morgana, "If anything, I never felt more myself in my entire life."
"That's because you've always known that you were different." Gaius explained, "Since you were young you came to me pleading to give you an answer as to why you never felt like you fit in Camelot. Now that answer has finally been given to you. As much as Arthur and Guin love and accept you, this isn't something they will easily swallow. My advice would be to expose the truth to them bit by bit. Especially to Arthur."
Morgana wanted to object, but knew that Gaius was right. If Arthur knew that it was his own father who killed her own, he would have the most difficult time accept this truth. For all of their disagreements and unaligned worldviews, Uther was still Arthur's father.
Morgana nodded. "Alright, Gaius. I understand. But, you must trust me when and how I tell them the truth."
Gaius nodded." I do trust you, my child."
Morgana and Gaius turned to Merlin who sighed. "Yeah, so do I. But just know, if either Uther or Arthur try anything, I can't promise there won't be charcoal splattered on the walls." Merlin stiffened when Morgana ambushed him with a hug.
(~)
Arthur marched into the throne room, ready to challenge his father in the matter of his engagement. "You wished to see me, Father?"
Uther sat upon his throne, an empty chalice in his hand. "You've made quite the spectacle last night."
"More so than Merlin attacking Lady Helen? Which by the way, he explained to me was a misunderstanding. He mistook something up her sleeve to a weapon."
Uther sighed, shaking his head. Arthur didn't miss the disappointment in his eyes.
"What?"
"You would take the word of a servant boy as truth?" Uther placed his chalice on a small table next to his throne and stood up, walking regally towards his son. "You've changed, Arthur."
"What are you talking about?"
"You spend more time with the serving folk than you do with your own knights. And now you're taking pity on those that practice magic. You seem to have forgotten your place as my only son and heir."
"I haven't forgotten. All I've done was realize that there is more to being your son than partaking and rowdy knight shenanigans and beheading people because they disagree with you."
"And there is only one person to blame for this." Uther said.
Arthur shook his head, revolted. "You can't blame Morgana for any of this. If anything, she's opened my eyes to the truth about Camelot and what it cane become. More so than you ever have."
Uther flared his nostrils. "You will not speak to me that way."
"You taught me that a king looks to the well being of his subjects, and that is exactly what I want to do father, and Morgana wants that too. Camelot couldn't ask for a better queen."
"That commoner will not sit on the throne so long as I am alive." Uther warned. "And you will not marry her so long as you live under my roof."
Arthur took that as Uther's final decree and left the throne room without saying a word. He didn't need his father's approval for what he would do next.
(~)
