Star-Crossed Lovers

Chapter 7

Romulo sneaks into Morgana's rooms. He had stayed in the shadows as he made his way from Gaius's chambers around the courtyard to the stairs. There were no guards posted at the entrance to the citadel or at her door. He enters her room, where she is laid out on her bed, ready to be removed for her funeral. Tall candles burn in candelabra positioned at the corners of her bed. She's dressed in the white gown that would have been her wedding dress, the beading catching the light. She is pale and lifeless, but beautiful still.

Romulo walks to the bedchamber and stands motionless by the side of the bed. His breath catches in his throat as he regards her. "Ah, dear Morgana, why are you still so fair?" he whispers, achingly.

He moves rapidly, climbing onto the bed next to her. He sits, with his back against the headboard, and pulls her into his embrace. He strokes her cheek with his hand and he memorizes her features. Clutching her to him he cries out, "eyes, look your last; arms, take your last embrace." He kisses her gently.

He stretches out next to her on the bed, still holding her close. "Here with you will I set up my everlasting rest," he says as he kisses her again. Raising himself up for a moment, he takes the vial of hemlock and drinks it quickly. He reaches out with his hand to touch her face, and falls with his arm embracing her on the bed next to her. The poison has done its work.

xXx

Arthur had returned to his chambers shortly after his last conversation with Merlin about Romulo, and waited there for Merlin to return. He is brooding near the window, a goblet of wine in his hand. The room is dimly lit, with only a few candles burning. He turns his head at the sound of the knock on his door. "Enter."

Merlin opens the door and cautiously peeks his head in to see where Arthur is. "Arthur?" he says.

"So you do know how to knock, Merlin."

"What? Yeah. Erm, . . . Arthur . . ." Merlin says nervously, as he steps forward into the room, holding the key that he had used to open the cell for Romulo. He places the key on the table, and takes a taper from one of the candelabrum to light more candles around the room.

"Did you . . .?" Arthur starts to ask, and pauses.

"Yes," Merlin says, not waiting for Arthur to finish his question. The abrupt sharp sound of warning bell interrupts their conversation. Merlin looks at Arthur with dismay. "He didn't leave," he says.

Arthur and Merlin hasten to the council chamber to find out what is happening. King Uther is eating his dinner, when they enter. A guard rushes in to tell the King that Romulo has escaped. "Find him!" he roars.

The Citadel is in an uproar, as the guard and knights search for the missing prisoner. A guard is sent to stand outside Morgana's chambers to wait should Romulo attempt to see her. When Morgana awakens screaming he rushes in and raises the alarm.

Uther arrives at her rooms, with Arthur and Merlin close behind. Arthur approaches the distraught Morgana, still on the bed clasping Romulo's body, and tries to get her to release her hold on Romulo. "No!" she screams. "No!"

"Morgana, please. Leave him," Arthur entreats. She lets go of Romulo and with a sudden movement, grabs Arthur's knife from his sword belt. She scrambles up to the head of the bed, brandishing the knife.

"Stay away! All of you!" she screams. "I want to join him." Arthur lunges toward her on the bed, but with a quick burst of strength, she fends him off. While she is struggling with Arthur to retain her hold on his knife, Merlin slips in behind her and takes hold of her arms. He pulls her toward him, gently putting his arms around her. All the fight leaves her, and her nerveless fingers relinquish the knife. Arthur scoops it up and replaces it in his belt.

Morgana is sobbing uncontrollably, inconsolable in Merlin's arms.

Uther steps up to the bed and reaches out with a gloved hand to touch her head. He looks at Merlin with a stone cold glare of contempt. Merlin looks up at him from where he sits behind Morgana, and with an audible gulp, he releases her and bows as he backs away from the bed.

"Morgana," Uther says. "This is unseemly. Get control of yourself."

Morgana swings her arm up to bat away Uther's hand. "I hate you," he shrieks at him. "You're responsible for this. I will never forgive you!"

xXx

After a few more days, Mercutio has recovered and is ready to leave Camelot. Merlin has retrieved his belongings from the inn, and is walking with him to the stables, helping him carry an extra pack with supplies for his journey back to Montague.

As they step into the courtyard Mercutio says, "you know, I had expected the great wizard Emrys to be older, what with the prophecies and all." He pauses for a moment. "How old are you, Merlin?"

"I'll be twenty come the turn of the New Year," Merlin tells him.

"Still so young!" Mercutio huffs a laugh. "I had imagined you to be an old, old man with long white hair and a long white beard. And a long flowing red robe. Definitely red. And flowing."

Merlin grins at that, "a long life for me, then?"

"I guess, should fate decree. Just don't get yourself executed in the meantime."

"Hasn't happened so far," Merlin snorts.

They walk a bit in silence. Finally, Mercutio asks, "what do you know of the prophecies?"

"Not a whole lot," Merlin confesses. "Only that my destiny is linked to Arthur's."

"That it is." Mercutio looks over at Merlin as they walk. "And Arthur knows nothing of what you are?"

"No." Merlin looks distressed. "He can never know."

Mercutio continues, "do you think you'll ever be able to tell him?"

"Only when he's ready to know – and accept it. The time has to be right."

"It's a heavy burden to bear alone, Merlin."

Merlin nods.

They reach the stables, where Tyr is waiting with Mercutio and Romulo's horses. Mercutio pays him and thanks him for his care of the animals. Merlin smiles at him.

Mercutio mounts his horse, reaches down and clasps Merlin's arm. Looking up at Mercutio, Merlin says quietly, "I did try to save him."

"I know, Merlin. But when he saw Morgana, he was already lost."

"I'm sorry for it. Truly."

"Yes. Me too." Mercutio lets his raw grief show for a brief moment. "He was my friend." He turns his horse and rides out of Camelot, never to return.

END