Chapter 18-The Price of Truth is Pain
Hey guys, another day another chapter :D I hope you lot are all okay. I don't own Merlin, but Elizabeth, Laudine and Kay are my creation. Enjoy!
"What was your mother like?" Merlin asked when we had finally sat by the campfire that evening.
"I never knew her. She died before I opened my eyes," Arthur admitted.
"I'm sorry," Merlin said softly.
"I barely know anything about her,"
"Can't you ask your father?" Merlin questioned.
Arthur shook his head, "He refuses to talk about her. It must be too painful for him."
"It's the same for my father," I explained resting my head against Arthur's shoulder in a comforting motion.
"Sometimes it's as if she never even existed," Arthur said his voice cracking slightly, "I still have a sense of her, almost as though she's part of me."
"That's the same with my father. I never knew him," Merlin told us, "And my mother's barely spoken of him. I've for this...vague memory. It's probably just my imagination."
"Imagination is sometimes better than reality," I muttered.
Arthur heard me anyway, "Your mother?"
I nodded, "I remember both the good and the bad from before she died."
"I'd do anything for even the vaguest memory," Arthur confessed.
There was a pause before Merlin spoke, "Is that why you're so determined to find Morgause? To see what she knows about your mother?"
"Is that so wrong?" Arthur asked almost desperately.
I shook my head, "No."
We all fell silent for a while lost in our own minds before Arthur pulled us out of it, "I should get some rest."
I kissed him gently on the cheek, "Night my Lord."
Most of the journey was quiet in the morning, no one was really sure what to say. It was about midday when we made it to a beautiful lake with a waterfall, "It seems your horse has brought us to a dead end," Merlin laughed.
Arthur's horse however had other ideas as he continued to walk forward into the water, "Now where's he going?"
"I think you're going to get wet," Merlin laughed.
"You don't say," Arthur called back before disappearing under the waterfall.
"Guess we're taking a side trip," I muttered before shifting my horse towards the waterfall as we emerged the other side Arthur had stopped just in front of us, he was staring straight ahead at the beauty castle. The air around us was screaming with magic, "Honestly this is not what I was expecting."
"Where are we?" Merlin asked.
"I don't know," Arthur answered.
They both turned to me, "I don't either," we started moving again towards the castle.
"Well if we weren't sure Morgause was a sorcerer before, we can be certain of it now," Merlin said looking at me when he spoke.
"That must've been how she defeated me, she was using magic!" Arthur exclaimed happy at the idea he had an excuse now.
I laughed without meaning to, "No she didn't Arthur. She just trained in combat the same as you and I. Unless of course you believe I cheated to beat you?"
Arthur shook his head dismissively, "No, no."
We dismounted and entered the chamber in front of us which was empty except for a block of wood and an axe, "Now what?" Arthur asked.
"Maybe we should ask the horses," I replied sarcastically before looking around, "There's no one here."
"Don't believe that so quickly My Lady," A voice spoke from behind us and we turned to see Morgause standing there.
"Morgause, I would say it's a pleasure but that wouldn't be very true right now would it?" I muttered knowing she could hear me.
"What is the nature of the challenge you wish to set me?" Arthur asked taking the attention away from the starting argument.
"Place your head on the block," Morgause said picking up the axe. I felt my magic react inside of me ready to destroy the axe if I had to. Arthur didn't move, "You gave me your word that you would do anything I asked."
"Arthur don't," Merlin begged as Arthur knelt placing his head on the block, "What are you doing? I won't let you do this!"
"Stay out of this Merlin!" Arthur ordered.
"Morgause, if you wanted him dead you would have killed him in the torment. Don't play games with us, what do you want?!" I snapped at her having enough.
Morgause put the axe down, "You have shown that you are truly a man of your word, Arthur Pendragon, and for that I will grant you one wish. Tell me what it is that your heart most desires."
"You said you knew my mother. Tell me all that you know about her," Arthur requested.
Morgause smiled at him, "Perhaps you would like to see her."
"I want that more than anything," Arthur replied honestly.
"As you wish," Morgause said.
We stood off to the side as she prepared for the spell, "Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked for probably the tenth time.
Arthur nodded, "If you were granted it wouldn't you want to meet your mother again?"
"I understand, trust me I understand, but you can't trust Morgause," I pleaded with him.
"But what if everything we think about magic is wrong?" Arthur asked me.
"You really think that?" Merlin asked hesitantly next to me.
Arthur shrugged, "Perhaps it's not as simple as he would have us believe. Morgause is a sorcerer, she has caused us no harm. Surely not everyone who practices magic can be evil."
"Arthur I would love to believe that, but please I beg you don't trust Morgause she will have her own game," I said softly.
Before Arthur could reply Morgause spoke, "It is time, but you can only take one of your two followers with you."
Arthur looked between us, "Take Merlin," I told him simply, "I can protect myself, Merlin is generally useless."
"Oi! Right here," Merlin argued from behind me.
Arthur nodded at me before pulling me into his arms and kissing me on the lips, "It will be okay."
"I know, stay safe and don't believe everything you see," I whispered in his ear before letting him go.
"Close your eyes," Morgause ordered, both Merlin and Arthur obeyed, "Arásae mid min miclan mihte þín suna to helpe. Hider eft funde on þisse ne middangeard þín suna w'æs," I watched as Arthur stepped into the darkness, Merlin followed him automatically leaving Morgause and me alone.
"If you hurt him…" I began to warn her feeling my emotions getting the better of me.
"I am not stupid," Morgause shot back before I could finish, "I know that you wouldn't hesitate to kill me for hurting him. Don't you think it will kill him through when he realises what your mother was."
"I am not my mother," I replied sharply, "Even she knew that the way to win this war wasn't killing the others but teaching them."
"Your mother was a dear friend of mine, but she was wrong. She paid with her life," Morgause said her voice cold.
"My mother was kill by a high priestess not a mortal. Nimueh only cared about power and destroying my family, she did her damage," I snapped back.
"From what I hear you got your revenge, after all Nimueh is no more," Morgause smirked at me like she knew what had happened.
I couldn't help but wonder for a moment if she knew about Merlin before dismissing that idea. If she had even the slightest clue who Merlin was he would have been the one she targeted not Arthur, "You know I don't have the power to kill Nimueh, I'm not a high priestess. You however seemed to have been training, I take it your now a priestess."
"I am," Morgause nodded not giving any more away.
"And Morgana what do you want with her?" I asked feeling protective over my friend.
"You know what she is," Morgause accused.
"I know she is a scared girl who you will take advantage of," I argued back.
"Morgana and I have more in common than you will ever understand," Morgause said cryptically.
Before I could ask further Arthur and Merlin came back in. Arthur looked furious, "Bring her back! I want more time!"
Morgause shook her head, "I cannot. Once the doorway is closed, it is closed forever."
"Arthur what happened?" I asked quietly.
Arthur just shook his head, "Fetch the horses, we're returning to Camelot."
Merlin followed after Arthur to the horses while I turned back to Morgause, "What did you do?"
"Nothing I just make Arthur see the truth. I'm sure soon enough you will understand My Lady," Morgause smiled at me, "We will see each other soon."
"I really hope not," I whispered back before following after Merlin and Arthur.
Arthur rode ahead of us back to Camelot pushing his horse as hard as he could. Merlin rode next to me in complete silence only speaking once we entered the main square. Arthur took his sword and ran up the steps of the castle.
"Arthur was born of magic, wasn't he?" Merlin asked me before I could ask what was wrong.
I froze for a second remembering what my mother had told me about those times in Camelot, before magic disappeared for good, I nodded slowly.
"All those people he's executed...he's as guilty as they are. He sacrificed Arthur's mother! He as good as murdered her! People should know the truth about what he's done. How could you not tell me?" Merlin snapped at me getting off his horse.
I followed suit handing the reins to one of the stable boys, "Think Merlin, Arthur was born of magic, and you are magic. There a reason you're destinies are joined. I couldn't tell you, I took a vow of silence. What happened with Morgause?"
"She showed Arthur Ygraine and he found out the truth," Merlin said simply.
"And he has just gone to confront Uther?!" I exclaimed ignoring the looks I was getting, "We need to stop him."
"Why?" Merlin asked.
"He will never forgive himself if he hurts, or worse kills Uther. Can you imagine? It would destroy him," I explained quickly as we ran through the corridors and towards the Council Chamber.
Leon blocked our way, "The King has forbidden anyone to enter!"
"They're going to kill each other," I argued back, Leon didn't move, "I am your princess I will one day be your Queen. Now I order you MOVE!" I yelled out putting all my authority into my voice.
Leon moved out of the way immediately and Merlin and I burst through the door just in time to see Arthur disarm Uther, "Stop!" I yelled out.
"My mother is dead because of him!" Arthur shouted back his voice full of angst.
I took a step towards them speaking calmly, "Killing your father won't bring her back. You've lost one parent. Do you really want to lose another?"
"Listen to him, Arthur," Uther pleaded from the floor. I shot him a look and he quickly shut up.
"Arthur, put the sword down," Merlin asked from next to me speaking for the first time since we entered the room.
"You heard what my mother said! After everything he has done, do you believe he deserves to live?! He executes those who use magic, and yet he has used it himself! You have caused so much suffering and pain! I will put an end to that!" Arthur cried out.
I took another step closer but Arthur tightened his grip on his sword, before I could speak Merlin did, "Morgause is lying! She's an enchantress. She tricked you. That was not your mother you saw. That was an illusion. Everything...everything your mother said to you...those were Morgause's words."
"You don't know that!" Arthur argued.
I looked at Merlin and saw him nod sadly at me. I took a deep breath before lying through my teeth, "It would have been her plan all along Arthur! Morgause is evil, she plays people and hurts them. She wants power and what bigger power can she get than Camelot," I said softly moving until I was by him resting my hand on the arm with the sword pressed against Uther's throat, "She knew it would turn you against your father. She wanted you to kill him and then the Kingdom will be destroyed!" I said keeping as close to the truth as I could. Arthur didn't seem to believe me so I knew what I had to say and it broke my heart, "Arthur listen to me, Morgause is a sorceress. You and I both know that magic can never be trusted."
"Listen to her, she's speaking the truth," Uther begged.
"Swear to me it isn't true! You are not responsible for my mother's death! Give me your word!" Arthur said his voice sounding less angry than it had.
Uther looked Arthur straight in the eyes as he spoke, "I swear on my life, I loved your mother. There isn't a day passes that I don't wish that she were still alive. I could never have done anything to hurt her."
I felt sick as the lies that came out of all our mouths just to stop this from happening. I hoped one day I would be able to finally tell him the truth of what happened. Arthur dropped his sword and fell down to his knees muttering again and again how sorry he was.
Uther rested his hand on Arthur's shoulder, "You are not to blame."
"I will take Arthur back to his room you can finish the meetings," I suggested to Uther, "I think this conversation can happen once we have all calmed a bit."
Uther nodded his head at me. I gently pulled Arthur up into a standing position and we moved slowly through the corridors which were thankfully empty until we reached his chambers. Once there Arthur made his way over to the window, "I nearly destroyed everything."
"You weren't to know," I argued back softly, "She tricked you."
"No I should have known, you were right, all sorcery is evil. For a moment I forgot that, thank you for reminding me," Arthur said smiling lightly at me before kissing me on the head. I tried to keep the tears out of my eyes and wondered if I would ever be free to practice magic.
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Artistic-Blue-Eyes
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