9
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. Technically, I don't even own the idea of Mordred being Morgause's son, since it comes from Arthurian legend.
A/N: Honestly, I feel sort of "meh" about this chapter but I hope you like it.
By this way, this chapter is set sometime during early season 3.
Chapter One: The Prophecy
12 years later
"You have information for me?" Morgause regarded the man in front of her coldly.
He smiled, "Yes, information that I think will interest you greatly."
"Well, get on with it then," she said impatiently.
"I am a Seer, my lady," he said, "And I have spent much time studying the prophecies of others. I have information for you about something you greatly desire… the death of Arthur Pendragon."
Morgause leaned forward, a cold smile gracing her lips, "Go on."
"It is foretold that Arthur Pendragon will meet his death at the hand of a Druid," the man said, "I can tell you who that Druid is."
Morgause waited, trying not to let the man see how eager she was for this information.
"He is the child you left in the woods many years ago," the man said. Morgause's eyes widened as this sunk in.
"His name is Mordred." At these final words, Morgana, who was standing next to Morgause, let out an involuntary gasp.
Morgause watched, puzzled, as she stepped forward, "Mordred? Did you say Mordred?"
The man nodded, "Yes, my lady, I did."
"Here is your reward," Morgause held out a pouch to the man, "Leave us now."
She waited until he was gone to turn to Morgana. She opened her mouth to ask a question, but Morgana beat her to it.
"Mordred is your son?" she demanded.
"You know the boy?" Morgause asked, "How?"
"He's the Druid child I told you about," Morgana said, "The one who I hid in my room. The one whose camp was destroyed."
Morgause realized that the anger that flashed in her sister's eyes was not entirely at the memory of the destruction of the Druid camp.
"You just left him in the woods?" Morgana demanded, "You abandoned him?"
Morgause held her hands up in a placating gesture, "Sister, I knew the Druids would find him. I was very careful about where I left him. I knew he would be safe."
"But why did you leave him?" Morgana asked.
"I'm a High Priestess of the Old Religion," Morgause reminded her, "A baby would interfere with my life far too much."
"I should go," Morgana said abruptly, and Morgause could tell she was still angry, "If I'm missing for too long people will start to wonder."
"Sister, wait!" Morgause called and Morgana turned to look back.
"Do you know where the boy is now?" Morgause asked.
Morgana shook her head, "The last time I saw him was when Alvarr's camp was attacked." With that she turned to leave once more.
Morgause watched her sister leave with a frown, but though she was bothered by her argument with Morgana, that couldn't stop the excitement that the Seer's news had brought her.
She went quickly to her crystals and murmured a spell over them. One of the crystals began to glow, and a scene appeared in it. It showed a small, well-hidden clearing in a forest. In the center of the clearing a boy of about twelve sat by a fire. He had dark hair and wore a blue cloak around his shoulders.
Morgause smiled, "So, Mordred. It looks as if we're going to have a family reunion."
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Mordred made his way back to his little clearing, carrying two fish that he had caught. He ducked under the low hanging branches that formed a sort of small tunnel at the opening to the clearing.
Reaching the end of the tunnel, he straightened up, and then froze, almost dropping the fish in surprise. There was a woman standing in the middle of the clearing, next to the place where he made his fire at night.
She smiled when she saw him, "Hello, Mordred."
"How do you know my name?" Mordred demanded, "Who are you? What are you doing here?'
"My name is Morgause," she said, "I'm…" it seemed as if she had been about to say something, but thought better of it, "I'm Morgana's sister."
Mordred really did drop the fish at that, "Morgana? She has a sister? Did she send you? Is she here too?" he looked around the clearing hopefully, as if expecting Morgana to appear from the shadows.
Morgause smiled, "No, she isn't here now, but if you come with me you'll be able to see her soon."
Mordred narrowed his eyes, "How do I know I can trust you?"
"Morgana told me about you," Morgause said, "About how she cared for you… and about your camp."
Mordred flinched.
"How did you find me?" he asked, as much to distract himself from thoughts of his camp as from actual curiosity.
Morgause smiled, "Magic. I saw you in my crystals."
"You have magic?" Mordred asked, "Prove it."
Morgause extended her hand, "Forbyrne." A small flame appeared in her open hand. After a moment, she closed her hand and the flame vanished.
"So, will you come with me?" she asked.
Mordred hesitated for a long moment, and then nodded.
Morgause held out her hand, and after another moment of hesitation, Mordred took it.
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Mordred stared up at the castle as they approached it, a mixture of awe and apprehension on his face, "This is where you live?"
Morgause nodded, "Yes. And it's where you'll be living now too."
Mordred was silent, not sure how to respond to that, or even how he felt about it.
Morgause led him through the gates into the castle courtyard, and then through the doors, which she opened with a flick of her hand, and into the castle.
"You must be hungry," she said, looking at him.
Mordred's stomach growled and he nodded.
Morgause led him to an elaborate dining room. She walked to the far end of an enormous table and sat down at the head of it, gesturing for Mordred to sit beside her. He noticed that the seat she had taken was more elaborate than the others, almost like a throne.
Two servants appeared, bearing platters of food. Mordred couldn't help but stare as they laid it on the table. All this food for two people? It would have been enough to feed his entire Druid camp.
Mordred reached out to take a piece of meat, but Morgause held up her hand, "Just tell the servants what you want."
Mordred stared at all the food in front of him, feeling slightly overwhelmed.
The servant closest to him, a young woman of about sixteen, smiled kindly, "Why don't I just give you a little of everything?" she suggested, and he nodded gratefully.
She loaded his plate with meat, vegetables, and a piece of bread, and then handed it to him.
Mordred began eating hungrily, but found himself too full to eat another bite long before he had finished what was on his plate. He looked over at Morgause, who had remained quiet while they had eaten.
"Why did you bring me here?" he asked, "Just because Morgana told you about me?"
Morgause shook her head, "No, that was not the reason. You are a very special boy, Mordred."
Mordred blinked, "What? You mean because I have magic?"
She shook her head again, "No, that is not what I mean." Mordred waited for her to explain what she did mean, but instead she only smiled, "But we can discuss that tomorrow. You must be tired."
Mordred opened his mouth to protest that he wasn't tired, and he wanted to know why she had brought him here, but a yawn came out instead.
"Anna!" Morgause called, and the girl who had served Mordred's food appeared.
"Take our young guest to the room that has been prepared for him," Morgause said.
"Of course, my lady." Anna walked over to stand next to Mordred and waited for him to rise.
Mordred stood, looking over at Morgause as he did so. He wanted to question her again, but he sensed it would do no good.
"Thank you," he said instead.
Morgause smiled, "Of course. Good night, Mordred. Sleep well."
Anna led Mordred through the castle. Mordred was overwhelmed by how big the place was. He had been in a castle once before, but running up a staircase to Morgana's rooms, sneaking down to a secret tunnel, and being marched to a dungeon hadn't exactly given him much time to appreciate the sheer size of the place.
"Here we are," Anna said at last, and pulled open a door. Mordred's mouth dropped open, "This is for me?"
Anna nodded with a smile, "All for you, young master."
Mordred blinked. He had never been called young master before. But he was too busy staring at the room to give it much thought. It was huge; the little clearing where he had made his camp could probably have fit in it three times over. In the center of the room was an enormous bed, covered in a fine green bedspread. There was a chair in one corner, and a table with a cup and a pitcher of water in the other; both cup and pitcher were made of solid gold. There was a dresser against one wall, with an ornate mirror above it.
Mordred walked over to the bed and ran his hand over the cover. It was soft and smooth to the touch. He realized with a start that it was made of the same material as his old baby blanket, the one his father had found him wrapped in.
He looked back over towards the door. Anna was watching him with a smile. The neck of her dress has slipped down slightly to show a distinctive mark on her collarbone. Mordred's eyes widened, "You're a Druid."
Anna nodded, "I am," she said quietly, "My camp was destroyed. That is when I came to serve Morgause."
"My camp was destroyed too," Mordred told her.
Anna smiled sadly, "Then we have something in common. Though I am sorry to hear it."
She went to the bed and pulled back the covers for Mordred. He climbed into it. He had never slept on anything so soft.
Anna pulled the covers up over him, then extinguished the torch and walked to the door.
"Anna?" Mordred asked, and she turned back to look at him, "Do you know why Morgause brought me here?"
Anna hesitated, "I'm sure she will answer all your questions tomorrow," she replied after a minute, "Good night, Mordred."
"Good night," Mordred replied and watched her leave the room.
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