Star-Crossed Lovers
Chapter 6
In the morning, Gwen enters Morgana's rooms, calling out, "Morgana?" as she crosses the room to the bed, looking around. She sees Morgana crumpled on the floor near the window. "Morgana!" she screams as she runs desperately to her mistress. She crouches on the floor next to her, and touches her head. Morgana is still, so still. Gwen sits, and cradles Morgana's head in her lap, crying out for the guards.
"Go find Gaius," she cries, tears streaking her face. "Hurry!"
She is still there rocking on the floor, cradling Morgana's head when Gaius arrives with Merlin trailing behind carrying the medicine bag. "What happened?" Gaius says as he kneels on the floor next to Gwen.
"I don't know. I came in just now and found her like this."
"What's she holding in her hand?" Merlin asks Gwen, pointing as he sets down Gaius's medicine bag beside the older man.
Gaius opens Morgana's fist and takes out the vial, sniffing it. "Poison."
"Oh, no!" Gwen cries. "She's taken her own life!" She rocks Morgana gently, "Oh my poor Morgana."
"Merlin, lift her and place her on the bed so I can examine her." Gwen reluctantly lets go of Morgana and allows Merlin to pick her up to carry her to her bed. Gwen jumps to her feet, ready to follow Merlin across the room, when she pauses realizing the Gaius needs assistance to rise. She gives him a hand, and he smiles at her gratefully. He eases his stiff legs, and crosses the room to the bed. He lifts Morgana's eyelids, and checks for a heartbeat or a breath. He sits heavily on the bed beside her as he gasps aloud, "she's dead."
Hovering nearby, Gwen covers her face with her hands, fresh tears streaking down. "No. Can't be. Oh no, Morgana!"
"Merlin, get the King," Gaius orders, and Merlin hastens from the room.
Merlin finds the King in the council chambers. Uther is holding a document, reviewing it with King Urien of Rheged, who is standing next to him near the head of the long table. Arthur is seated at the table across from them. All three look up surprised as Merlin rushes into the room. He freezes.
"What is it, Merlin?" Arthur says impatiently. "We're in the middle of a private conversation. You know the meaning of private, don't you?"
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry, please, I'm sorry, but you have to come. It's Morgana."
"Well, is she ready for her wedding?" Uther inquires.
"No, Sire. She's dead," Merlin blurts out, not thinking clearly.
"Merlin, is this some kind of a bad joke? If it is, it isn't funny." Arthur is suddenly angry.
Uther leaves his spot near the table, and advances toward Merlin. "Have you lost your mind?" He grabs Merlin by his shoulders and shakes him. "Where is Morgana?"
Merlin cowers under Uther's onslaught and says, "In her chambers, please come. Gaius sent me. She's taken her own life."
"No! Morgana would never do that!" Uther hisses at Merlin.
Urien drops the parchment that he had been holding, and says to Uther, "I shall take my leave, Uther. Be she dead or alive, there will be no wedding today." He stalks out of the room.
In a fury, Uther rails at Merlin, "that boy she said she loved will pay for this with his life. If she is dead, then he will be executed when she is laid to rest." Uther thrusts Merlin aside and storms out of the council room.
Merlin stumbles into the door, regaining his balance with difficulty. He looks up. "Arthur," he says, "I'm sorry. She's gone." Arthur rushes from the room after his father. Merlin follows.
xXx
That evening, just as it is getting dark, Merlin rescues Romulo. He isn't at all sure, but he thinks that Arthur wanted him to do this. He reflects on their conversation earlier that day.
Arthur had been training hard, beating at the straw dummy with his broadsword in fury. Merlin watched as he lashed out with his anger and his pain. They had returned to Arthur's chambers that afternoon after the training session, and Merlin had helped Arthur out of his armor and chainmail.
"Shall I bring up water for a bath, Sire?" Merlin had asked, carrying Arthur's chainmail to deposit on the chest near the door.
"No, Merlin. I don't want it. You can go."
"Would you like some supper?"
"No, I couldn't eat a thing."
Merlin hovered near the door, hesitant, at a loss what to do. "Arthur, I am so sorry. No one knew what she had planned. You know how stubborn and independent she could be. She saw no other way out of the terrible choice that Uther had given her."
"Yet the choice she made was equally terrible." Arthur sat down heavily in a chair next to his table, his hand rubbing his temples. Merlin walked over and filled a goblet of water for him. Arthur nodded his thanks, and took a drink. "But as terrible as it was, I don't think that Romulo deserves to die for it."
"What do you mean?" Merlin set the pitcher down, and looked at Arthur with a puzzled expression on his face.
"Well, he was locked in the cells, under threat of death. He did nothing to encourage her choice. He is not a sorcerer who enchanted a giddy girl," Arthur said pensively. "I think he really loved her. He was there, at Geoffrey's chambers, waiting for her to be hand fasted, when the guards came to arrest him. He was honorable."
"But the King has commanded his execution. Can you not convince him to set him free?"
"I wish I could, if only to avoid a war with Montague. There has been enough death. First his friend that Gareth killed, and now Morgana. It's too much."
"Yes," Merlin agreed softly.
"He should be allowed to return home safely," Arthur continued as if Merlin hadn't spoken. Arthur stood up suddenly, removed his belt with the keys on a metal loop, and dropped it carelessly on the table. He looked at Merlin pointedly and said, "I will be back in a short while." As he walked quickly from the room, Arthur had looked back at him with an unreadable expression. "You can go, Merlin," he had said.
Now Merlin is standing on the staircase peering over the railing at the guards outside the entrance to the cells, trying to decide how to make his way past them. He's reluctant to use magic, but has no other means of diversion to allow him to pass by unnoticed and to bring Romulo out. He takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders and holds out his right hand. His eyes glow gold as he utters a spell to induce sleep and forgetfulness. The guards below slowly lower their heads onto the table they are sitting near.
Merlin exhales with relief, and makes his way down the steps. He uses one of the keys from the belt that Arthur had left on the table to open Romulo's cell. Romulo sits in the far corner, with his head resting on his bent knees. He lifts his head at the sound of the key in the lock and looks impassively at Merlin.
Merlin stands in the open doorway and says, "I'm Prince Arthur's servant, Merlin, and I'm here to rescue you. You're going to have to trust me." He smiles wanly, trying to reassure, and steps over to Romulo to offer him a hand up. Romulo takes it and rises to his feet.
"Mercutio lives," Merlin says. "I'm going to take you to him."
"And what of Morgana? How does she fare?"
Merlin shudders in a deep breath, reluctant to speak. "Ah, Prince Romulo. I am sorry, so sorry," Merlin says grief stricken. "She . . ."
"What!" Romulo cries. "Tell me, now!" He clutches Merlin's jacket in dread.
"She's dead. She took her own life rather than marry another man." Merlin reaches out with his hands to support Romulo when he staggers backward at the news. "We must go now. Quickly."
Merlin leads a dazed Romulo out of the cell, past the guards, and up the stairs. He's relieved that his spell has held and the guards still slumber. They will awaken with no recollection of having fallen asleep.
Silently they cross the courtyard without encountering any other guards. At the stairs leading to Gaius's chambers, Merlin stops and tells Romulo about the incident with the squires. "He was stabbed under my arm as I tried to stop the engagement. The squires and everyone else think he is dead, but Gaius saved him. He is weak, but he will live and will be able to travel soon."
"Why have you done this?" Romulo asks.
"His secret needed to be protected."
Romulo nods gratefully; Mercutio is his friend.
Merlin mounts the stairs, with Romulo close behind. Once in the physician's chambers, Merlin indicates the steps to his room, where Mercutio is resting. He reaches out with his hand to stop Romulo in his rush to cross the room. "We need to get you out of Camelot. I will take you, and then when Mercutio is ready, I will bring him to you."
Romulo nods. He turns to face Merlin. "Where is Morgana?"
"No. It's too dangerous." Merlin drops his hand.
"Where is Morgana?" Romulo is desperate, his face a mask of grief.
"In her chambers, but you can't go to her. You must save yourself. Uther will have you executed."
Romulo says, his throat tight, "I must say goodbye to her."
Merlin nods. "And then you'll leave Camelot?"
"Yes," Romulo agrees. "Forever."
"Okay. Go talk to Mercutio. I will get some food and water for your journey. I'll be right back."
Romulo crosses the room and mounts the few steps to open the door to see his friend. A short while later, when Romulo comes down the steps, Merlin still had not returned. Romulo looks around the room, then walks to the shelf on the wall with its numerous small bottles and vials of medicinal potions. He rummages through them and takes one of the two vials of hemlock that he sees on the shelf. He leaves Gaius's chambers, clutching the vial, his face streaked with tears.