Right this is late, sorry, and also a bit of filler, so double sorry. But vents are going too start kicking off in the next few chapters if all goes to plan! Thank you, as always, for any favourites, follows or reviews please keep them coming and enjoy.
Uthur's POV
"Explain." I say to the young knight in front of me. When I found who his parents were, or more specifically his mother, I almost ordered his execution but Catriona stayed my hand. She claimed him as her nephew and that he doesn't have magic. Even still it's hard to trust a man who reminds me so much of both an old friend and a current enemy.
"I was in my quarters yesterday, my lord, after practice when I was attacked." He takes a breath and lifts his eyes off the floor to meet mine. "By my sister Morgause. She has magic and sees me as a traitor for leaving her and turning my back on her and her kind by becoming a knight of Camelot. I had just gained the upper hand when the guards and my wife came in and saw us. That's when she used her magic to disappear before she could be arrested for her crimes."
I look at his face to see if he is being honest and I see his father's honour and truth shining back at me and I find myself in agreement with my wife. This is Myriddin's son not Ambrosia's. "I believe you speak the truth. It is very unfortunate this sister of yours was not apprehended but next time she will not be so lucky."
"I hope not sire." I'm almost shocked by the ugly look that comes to the handsome face but then I remember that his sister is an abomination and its natural he should hate her and wish her dead. Especially as she tried to kill him in his chambers yesterday.
"Very well, Sir Mordred, you are free to go."
He bows and leaves with all the manners and correctness of his father before him and I can't help but think of how much I miss that friend. It used to be me, Myriddin and Percival as friends and brothers but then Myriddin died and I have no idea what happened to Percival as he never returned to Camelot. I miss them both of course and those happy days of innocence before my eyes were opened to the evils of the world but I'll never wish to be so foolish again. As I look at my beautiful wife beside me I feel my heart lighten slightly from memories of what has passed and feel some hope for better memories in the future.
Elaine's POV
I gently soak the cloth in the warm water again and then wipe the woman's forehead in an attempt to calm her slight fever. Galena told me it wouldn't last very long and was just because of the beating she'd suffered. She's been left in my care and Iseldir told me it's very important she is cared for, not just because it's right to look after those in need, but she is also important for something. Iseldir wouldn't tell me much but from what he said Morgause is definitely the daughter of Ambrosia.
My patient stirs slightly in her sleep and half opens her eyes. "Where am I?"
"With the druids. You're safe now, Morgause Le Fay Tregor."
Her eyes widen at the name but then before she can respond her face turns panicked. "My baby! My baby? Is it alright? Is it safe?" She looks anxious and terrified.
"We didn't find a baby with you." I say carefully.
"No I'm pregnant! Or at least I was. I don't know anymore." She looks at me desperately eyes full of sorrow yet hope.
"Give me a moment. I'll go talk to the healers." I get up hastily without waiting for her response.
I'm not even half way to the healer's tent hen Iseldir comes over to me. "Elaine, is the patient alright?"
"Yes she's fine, awake. But she says she was pregnant and now she's anxious to know if the baby lives after…" I trail off but Iseldir understands what I mean.
"Take me to her."
I lead him to my tent and show him inside. Morgause sits up immediately as he enters. "Iseldir! What's going on? Is it alright? Is it alright?"
Iseldir goes over to Morgause and lays his hands flat on her belly. "My child the baby is safe and healthy inside of you. Here." He takes her hand and places it where his once were. "Even in the first stages someone with strong magic can sense a baby's life force from within the womb."
Morgause lets out a relieved smile that despite the tired, sweat drenched face from the fever has got to be the best smile of pure joy I've ever seen. "I can feel it! I can feel its life inside of me."
"That's your baby Morgause." He smiles at her fondly. "As strong as its mother and father."
Morgause face suddenly darkens slightly. "You know?" She whispers, as if ashamed and despite the evident secrecy I can't help be intrigued.
Iseldir nods in his sage fashion and replies. "You will both make excellent parents."
"Leon hates me now." Tears fill her eyes and I go to her side. Wait, Leon? As in the knight traveling with Ambrosia? "I will never see him again."
"You must have hope Morgause. For hope is what gets you through the darkest of times." Iseldir rises abruptly and then says. "I have to go and speak to Briac. I shall return when I can. Elaine take good care of her." I nod and with a swish of his green cloak Iseldir leaves the room.
Kara's POV
"Are you ok?" We never talk about our feelings, Mordred and I, but after Morgause's betrayal… I kind of feel like we have to seeing as I'm the only one who knows the whole story. Not even his little handmaiden wife knows about Morgause.
"I'm fine Kara." Came the curt reply and I roll my eyes.
"Mordred your own sister just betrayed you. I think you're allowed to be a little bit upset." I take a seat on the other side of his desk from where he's sitting. "What did the little prude this time anyway? Wouldn't she agree to the alliance with Cenred?"
The sexy man in front of me lets a small smile slip past his defences as he probably thinks of the days when we used to tease Morgause for being a virgin. But then the smile drops and he scowls. "She got bloody pregnant!"
"Morgause!" I genuinely shocked. The girl wouldn't even acknowledge she had the capability of sex let alone actually have sex. And now the little princess prude is pregnant, if it wasn't for Mordred's face and the current situation I'd laugh. "So what? There are plenty of potion that'll kill the little youngling in the womb and what Cenred doesn't know won't hurt him."
"The problem is that the stubborn little bitch is keeping the bloody thing!" Mordred runs a hand through his thick dark hair and curses rapidly under his breath. "And there's no way Cenred will take her once he finds out she's had another man's child. He wanted to take her innocence."
"She'll come around Mordred. She always does." I say with a sigh absently wanting to run my fingers through his hair.
"I won't take her back after this Kara. She has gone too far this time and disrespected me and my cause."
I get up, as I have to rise at the crack of dawn tomorrow. "I don't blame you Mordred. That little princess has gotten away with too much in the past because she's your sister. It's time she learned that she needs you more than you need her." Mordred nods his head in agreement and I smile. "Well I have to wake early tomorrow so I have to go. Goodnight, my lord."
He doesn't respond and when I look back as I reach the door I see he's deep in thought. He looks cute, I think distantly as I walk down the corridors to the servant's chambers. Then taking an abrupt turn I suddenly decide to take a trip to the tavern to find a drunk knight to take home to my bed with me.
Arthur's POV
When I step out of my tent for a good stretch the first thing I see is Merlin sitting by a died out fire, blanket wrapped around her, staring at the charred remains of the fire. "Merlin, have you been up all night?"
She nods at me with a faraway look in her eyes. "I couldn't sleep."
I sigh at sit down beside her, but not too close remembering the promise I made myself about keeping my distance. "Merlin you've been very ill recently you shouldn't strain yourself."
She snorts, a family trait I think. "I've been resting for weeks and I'm fine. Stop worrying about me Arthur, it's everyone else who I'm more worried about. I don't know if Leon will be alright."
"Merlin." I take her hand, in a comforting not at all romantic gesture. "You are allowed to be upset as well."
"Other people have bigger problems, Arthur. Sure I'd have loved to get to know Morgause and have another sister but Morgana, Leon and Ambrosia are in worse situations." She gives me a look that tells me to shut up which of course I don't.
"That maybe so but-"
"Arthur, seriously shut up. It's almost as if you want me to be upset!" She's yelling now so I guess I succeeded.
"Well maybe I do so you don't bottle all your feelings up inside!" I shout back. Slightly hypocritical I know seeing as how I'm keeping my feelings towards her a secret.
"I'm fine Arthur! So just leave me alone." She storms off then and as she does a mighty gust of wind hits me knocking me off the log I was sitting on.
"Jeez Arthur what did you do to annoy her so much?" I look up to see Gwaine looking down on me. My only response is a groan.
Catriona's POV
I sit beside my king and I hold his hand as our subjects come forth to make requests of the crown. I never thought I'd be here beside the man I love helping him make decisions about his people. Ever since the wedding and subsequent coronation I've felt like I'm in a dream- a blissfully sweet dream but a dream nevertheless. We seem to be in harmony with each other and I find myself reflecting that my husband has hardly changed from the carefree prince I knew when I was a child. Yes- now he's more battle hardened and has more responsibilities but at his core he's still the kind, loyal young man I knew.
The only thing we don't agree on is magic. When he hears the word magic he seems to change into a different person, a madman. I know it has something to do with Ygraine's death but I know no more than that and he refuses to tell me. When Myriddin married Ambrosia she became practically a sister to me and even before that I'd always loved magic, it makes me sad to think that my niece wields evil magic against her own brother. I want to change Uthur's mind and to help him through whatever trauma he has with magic so that the kingdom can be free again and all our friends- Ambrosia, Balinor, Lilia, Nimueh- can return to us.
A young woman comes to bow before our thrones and I smile at her kindly as she is clearly afraid of speaking before the king. "What is your name?" I ask the timid girl.
"Olive, my lady."
"What business do you have with Camelot Olive?" Uthur cutting straight to the point as we've been sitting here for the best part of the morning and he starting to get restless.
"My village has been attacked by bandits, my lord, I was sent by our chieftain to request help of our king."
"Very well. How many bandits are there?"
"About forty sire and there are no warriors in our village." The girl looks so hopeful and happy that we've agreed to help that I get this warm feeling inside.
"Then we'll send about ten knights."
"My lord," I interrupt my husband with a friendly smile to the girl, "my nephew was saying just the other day how impatient he is help the people of Camelot. Maybe he could lead this mission?"
Uthur nods at my request. "Very well Sir Mordred shall lead the party. They will leave at dawn." With that he announces the end of today's court and we leave arm in arm.
"That was very kind of you to help that girl."
Uthur smiles at me as he draws a chair out for me before our heavily laden lunch table. "She and her village are citizens of Camelot and I shall always do my best to protect them." Except if they're magical, I think before I can stop myself, but I'll change that.
Percival's POV
"Ambrosia?" I go into her tent to see her sleeping in Balinor's arms. Golden light seeping through the light canvas of the tent bathing the Dragonlord and the High Priestess in a golden light. The tears stains in her face glow slightly in the light. Balinor's face isn't stained so but the lines of age and war are if possible deeper as he holds his mate in his arms.
I take a seat by the bedside of my two old friends. We've all changed so much in the last two decades, by war, by magic, by age and by loss. We've watched our friends and family die as they protect us but deep down we're still the same people we were then.
Ambrosia still has her fiery temper and passion which she has given to all three of her daughters and of course her magic. Balinor still has his stubbornness, his big headedness and tendency to always think he's in the right. Balinor and I had a strained relationship but nevertheless we were friends and hopefully still are. We used to challenge each other and argue but we'd always defend one another when it came down to it.
The Dragonlord stirred and woke. "What are you doing here Percival?"
"Watching over my friends." I reply making sure to put emphasis on the plural.
Balinor's eyes widen for a moment and then he yawns and they flutter closed again. I chuckle under my breath at the weary Dragonlord who, like dragons themselves, is very difficult to properly rouse.
I sit there a little longer in silence merely watching until I feel another's presence in the tent and I turn to see Merlin. "Are you alright?" I ask her taking in her distraught face.
She shakes her head but doesn't say anything and instead sits beside me at her parent's bedside and we sit in silence as we both contemplate everything that's going on at the moment. It's strangely companionable but also underneath it all harrowingly sad.