Thank you for reading. I hope that you enjoy it and that you are enjoying the story so far.
The sun had just risen as Morgana already dressed and ready to leave the city with Merlin and Lancelot, when she heard a gentle knock on her door. At first, she wasn't sure if she had really heard anything. There was silence for a second as she waited for there to be another knock, if that was what it was to come again. When it did, she smiled a little and moved to open the door. Normally she would have called out for whoever it was to entre, but it was still early and Gwen in the next set of chambers might still be sleeping. She didn't want to wake her. The future queen had a lot of planning to do for the wedding, now that the location had been changed and all the important guests who would soon be arriving. As she pulled the door open her smile grow as Gwaine slipped quietly passed her. Not wanting to wake any of the most likely still sleeping inhabitants of the castle.
"I wanted to wish you a safe journey." The knight said as he turned to face her.
"We don't leave for hours."
"No, but I do." Surprise and fear spread across Morgana's face. Gwaine offered his most charming smile to sooth her fear. "Leon and I are heading in the opposite direction as you all. We're heading to escort king Alined to the wedding."
"Then safe journey to you as well." She didn't know why but her voice was curt and a little shill. It made sense, of course Arthur would send the finest knights in the five kingdoms to escort his distinguished guest to his wedding. For some reason though it hurt her even though it made no rational sense.
Gwaine noticed that and too could find no reason for her reaction. "What do you think you'll find there." He asked hoping to get a better understanding of her strange mood.
A small laugh escaped under her breath. "Honestly I don't know."
"It's more the being there." Gwaine offered.
"Exactly." If anyone was going to understand it would be him. "I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "I think we-"
"Please don't."
Gwaine had been thinking over what he had to say. How best to say it. Went over it in his head one last time before he knocked on the door. He had to say it. Couldn't put it off. It was for the best.
"I think that we are hurting ourselves by." Morgana opened her mouth to interrupt, but he lifted his hands and placed them on her shoulders. "Holding ourselves to something-"
"I have never tried to hold you to anything-"
"Not directly, but..." There was no point holding back anything now. "We care about each other. There are expectations that come along with that." She gave a reluctant nod. He tried to lighten his tone a little. "We are never going to be like Arthur and Gwen. Marriage wouldn't suite us."
"Have I given you any indication that I either expected or wanted anything like that from you or anyone." Her anger grew with her voice. No longer caring if she woke Gwen or anyone else. She lifted her arms and pushed his hands off her shoulders.
"Morgana." He said gentle. "You know what I'm saying is the truth. We care about each other but know that nothing is going to come from it." She looked away, but knew he was right. "That doesn't mean that we don't care that it's not important or real." Lifting his hand he took a light hold of her chin, turning her head to face him. "We just have to-"
She nodded, she understood.
Gwaine relaxed a little. "Maybe if you were an ordinary woman, then maybe." Morgana scoffed and rolled her eyes as she pulled her chin form his light hold. "But then I don't think you could ever be ordinary."
After a beat Morgana stepped forward and hugged the knight. "I know your right." She said into his shoulder. "Holding ourselves to the expectations of others, what we are expected to do, be. That has never been us." She pulled back with a laugh.
Despite the laugh and the understanding, she looked said when he saw her face again. So did he, he just did a better job of hiding it. "Don't look so sad." Morgana smiled a real smile at him. "I'll always be your champion." The playful teasing earned him a light slap on the arm. "And you'll aways be me prin..."
"Don't." She said through a laugh.
There was really nothing to be sad about. They hadn't sent more than a few hours in each other's company in the last few years. If anything, she would see more of him now that she was returning to the city. Now of those facts stopped her from feeling a dep sadness that took her completely by surprise. It was more the sadness at the loss of a possibility. One that neither of them had even given much, if any real thought about.
"Always." She said as she stepped forward and hugged him again.
"Always." He confirmed as he returned the hug.
As they pulled apart, he kissed her quickly on the forehead and then left just as quickly. While not making eye contact. It was for the best. Create a distance between then now.
Gwaine didn't notice but he walked right past Merlin as he made his way along the corridor and out of the castle. The warlock had been on his way to tell Morgana that he and Lancelot were ready to leave when she was. Her door was opened a crack, so he approached slowly. He had expected that Gwen was with her or maybe Arthur. When he peaked through the crack, he saw the back of Gwaine's head. He jumped back as he noticed the top of Morgana's head moving in front of the knight. He didn't want to interrupt, so as fast and as quietly as possible he stepped back and slipped between a window and the curtain that was pulled Infront of it. He held his breath as not long after Gwaine passed him in his hiding place. When he was sure the corridor was empty, he pulled back the curtain and made his way back to Morgana's chambers. This time the door was fully closed. He knocked lightly and waited for an answer. When it came, he only opened the door enough to stick his head around it.
"We're ready to set out when you are." He did his best to sound normal and not like had unintentionally spied on her and hidden form his friend. Fortunately, Morgana was still thinking about her last conversation to pay him to much attention, so she missed his strange tone. Just gave a nod and moved to pick up her pack from the table before falling Merlin down to the stables.
Arthur and Gwen say the two parties off. Two more when be sent out in the next few days to escort more impotent guests. They had less of a journey before them and could afford to wait a few more days before they set off.
The witch, warlock and knight made good time on their journey, by the time the sun was at its height the city was a long way behind them. Once they could no longer see the spires of the castle in the distance Morgana announced that they had to make a stop at the hovel that she had previously lived in. There was something she wanted to collect. A wedding present for Gwen. While he made a show of seeming irritated by the detour, it was on their way and there was little Merlin could really object too.
The hovel looked exactly as it did when she had been there last. Of course, she expected that to be the case. Few knew of the place's existence, but still, it felt oddly strange to step back into the cramped room as if no time had really passed since she last entered it. When in fact the whole world had changed in that short amount of time. A thin layer of dust that covered every inch of the place was the only sign that anytime had passed since the three of them had stood in this place making planes for a fight, they didn't know they could win, but knew they had to fight.
Morgana made her way to a shelf on the far wall and began searching it for what she was looking for. Not finding it she described to the men what it was so they could help her search. A silver bangle with fillagree detail. Sharing a look that said that they weren't sure what exactly they were looking for but would look anyway Lancelot and Merlin shrugged and turned in opposite directions to try and find the seemingly ordinary object with the few details they had. Lancelot searched the bookshelf that was almost as tall as the roof of the room. Picking up the scrolls and fallen over books he didn't find anything. Merlin searched by the small area used to prepare herds and small plants for spells and cooking. At first, he didn't see anything resembling what Morgana had described. Giving up mostly he picked up a rag that lay across the small table. Hidden under the rag was a bracelet, but not the one Morgana had been looking for.
Picking up Morgana's healing bracelet Merlin turned around. Before he could say anything, Morgana called out joyfully that she had found the bangle she had been looking for just behind a jar of juniper berries. Her eyes landed on Merlin first, confused by his strange expression she lowered her eyes and saw what he was holding in his hand. It took her a few seconds to process what she was seeing. There had been so much else to deal with that she hadn't noticed if Nimueh wore her bracelet or not when they fought her. Afterwords, she hadn't let herself think too much about it. Believing that she had lost her chance to reclaim it. Not questioning how it was here, she placed the bangle she held in the pocket of her dress and crossed the small space in a few large strides. In one hand she took the bracelet, the other she wrapped around Merlin's neck pulling him into a half hug.
Not sure what to do Merlin tentatively returned the hug. Catching Lancelot's eye as the knight walked towards them, Merlin couldn't read the expression on his friend's face. It was almost one of sympathy, but for what he didn't understand. Merlin quickly explained how he had found the bracelet. When she pulled back, slipping the bracelet around her wrist Morgana looked just as confused as Merlin. Lancelot now next to them glanced down at the table Merlin had found the bracelet on. Standing out by being the only piece of paper that did not looked aged and distressed he saw what seemed to be a message.
"Someone left this." Picking up the paper he handed it to Morgana.
Taking the paper, she began to read. It was a short message that Gilli had left her. It appeared that he had been able to sneak the bracelet from Nimueh when he noticed it laying on a table in the crumbling large house she had been staying in while she plotted the downfall of Camelot. Before he had been sent to hunt Mordred and kill him, Gilli had left it here for Morgana to find. Once she had read out the short message, she placed her left hand over the bracelet. Running her fingers over the now very familiar engravings. Since she had dead for the second time and Merlin had saved her, Morgana had felt stronger, healthier than she had in years. Due of course to Merlin's powerful, though unfocused healing. Even still she could feel the soothing power of the healing magic of the bracelet. It gave her a deep sense of calm.
Feeling the two men's eyes on her she lifted her gave from the letter and bracelet. "I am proud that Mordred will be the first knight of Camelot to be a Druid. To openly have magic. Even if he won't use it. I just wish he wasn't the only one. Gilli should have joined him in making such history." Morgana said sadly.
"He may be the first and only one for now, but he will not be the last." Lancelot stated firmly. Neither Morgana nor Merlin doubted his words.
Morgana nodded and smiled a half smile. "With comrades such as you I have no doubt."
Feeling slightly uncomfortable with such open praise Lancelot deflected that they should move on, now that they had found what they came for and more. Once outside the knight parted ways with Merlin and Morgana after wishing them a safe journey and them doing the same. As Morgana placed Gwen's gift in the pack attached to her horsed saddle, Lancelot gave Merlin a quick half hug.
"Take care." He said before he pulled back and then patted his friend's shoulder.
Merlin didn't understand why the knight was acting so strange all of a sudden. Like he almost felt bad about parting with them. There was no reason he could think of that would make the knight reluctant to go to Nemeth. He had made many similar visits to the other kingdom before and nothing of any importance good or bad seemed to have happened. Merlin was also sure that Lancelot had no strong negative feelings towards Morgana. He treated her with respect and civility like he did everyone. Lancelot set for first as the pair decided to take the opportunity to search the hovel once more for anything that could be of use to take with them. Taking some herbs used to heal minor injuries and a few scrolls they added to their packs.
"I hope Princess Mithian returns to Camelot with Lancelot." Morgana said breaking the silence they had been in for the last few minutes.
Merlin turned around to face her, his pack not yet packed. "Why wouldn't she." He asked.
Morgana met his eyes trying to work out best to express her thought process. When she thought it over it made little sense to herself. How ridicules, childless would it sound to someone else. Lancelot had given her faith that there were still truly honorable people in the world. A true knight like her father Gorlois. Life as she knew was at times harsh and unfair. If the relationship between Gwen and Arthur had not grown so deeply, then Morgana was sure that Gwen and Lancelot would have made a happy match. It seemed unfair that such a genuinely decent person should miss out on happiness. There was also mixed in with this also some guilt for thinking poorly of the knight before she truly knew him. Mithian was also she knew a compassionate and just young woman. Who had at some point in the past been a possible wife for Arthur. If the king princess could find happiness with the loyal knight, then it was all to the good.
Of course, she could say none of this. So, she shrugged as she mounted her horse. "King Rodor is an insufferable bore. I would hate for Lancelot to be stuck travelling with him alone."
He was sure there was more to it than that, but he was very sure Morgana harbored no ill intentions, so he let it go. Once both of them had mounted their horses Merlin voiced a thought that he had been working over for the last few minutes as they pack the extra items.
"We need to make another detour." He said as they began to move along the path ahead. Seeing Morgana about to protest he went on. "It's not far out of our way, we'll still reach Ealdor by nightfall."
She didn't have the heart to argue so she acquiesced. Merlin led them a little off the worn track. After a while the trees began to thin out and a large field opened out before them. Morgana tugger at the rains of her horse, causing it to stop on the edge of the field. Merlin a little into the field noticed that Morgana was no longer following him and turned back to her.
"You're going to love it, I promise."
"Well, if you promise." Morgana retorted, before guiding her horse forward once again.
Turning back Infront of him Merlin muttered under his breath. While she wouldn't understand all of his words, he knew she would quickly figure out what he was doing. He wanted this to be a surprise. It would only take a few seconds, minutes at most before it was clear what was happening, but he wanted to try and keep it a surprise as much as possible. When she reached his side Merlin dismounted, and she did the same. Before she had a chance to ask another question the wind rapidly picked up. It hit them with so much force that they stumbled back a little. Reaching out to the other to keep them standing with one hand and the other raised to shield their eyes. Somehow despite neither seeing very well they managed to keep standing. When the wind died down and they lowered their arms. While he knew what he would see towering over him it still took Merlin by surprise. He had forgotten how very large the dragon was.
Morgana's breath caught in her throat. She had assumed what was going on when she felt the wind assaulting her, the sight of it however still caught her off guard. Not quit a scowl, but her face did slump downward when she saw Kilgharrah standing before her. That hint of a scowl was swiftly replaced by a wide smile as Aithusa, who had been hiding behind the much larger dragon stepped forward into the tiny human's line of sight. Taking two rapid steps forward she suddenly stopped. the last time she had seen the young dragon she had been sending her away. It had been for her safely. To stop the pure, innocent creature form suffering any further because of her. Though it broke her heart Morgana had known it was the right thing to do. She could stand Aithusa hating her as long as she was alive to do so. The gentle creature had kept out of sight from them at first. Morgana feared but understood that she had not wanted to see her.
"It's alright." Morgana said her voice breaking a little and a tear threating to fall.
Not even a full second after she stopped walking forward and spoke, Aithusa moved forward to meet the witch. Wrapping her long neck around Morgana's, pulling her in as close as she could. Quickly in relief and joy Morgana hugged her back.
"I'm sorry." Her voice muffled by the dragon's neck.
"It's alright."
The voice in her head was light but deep. While she had never heard it before in her life, she knew right away where it was coming from. "You can speak." Morgana said as she pulled her head back to meet Aithusa's eyes. Which were level with her own. "And you've grown." Her voice breaking just a little further.
Merlin stepped towards then patting the back of Aithusa's head before placing a hand on Mogana's shoulder. "You did the best you could for her always."
Aithusa showed that she agreed with Merlin by gently resting her forehead against Morgana. Words were hard. Took time for her to find the right way. So, she didn't bother with them this time. Instead, she focused all of the love she felt for the women that protected her and loved her from the second she had been called into life. Let her know that she understood that it had pained her to be parted from the witch and that she knew it had hurt Morgana as much as it did her. Morgana seemed to relax as she felt the return of all the love, she felt for the creature that had given her hope. When she had thought she would never find any again.
"I've missed you." Morgana said with a smile.
"Missed you too."
The tears fell, but she smiled as they slide down her face. Taring her eyes away she finally looked up at Kilgharrah. "Thank you for keeping her safe."
"You don't have to thank me." The great dragon looked down at the witch with the closest to kindness directed at herself she had ever seen in his large eyes. He then turned to Merlin. "I hear whispering of great changes."
It was now Merlin's turn for his face to spread into a wide grin. "Magic is returned."
"Well, not exactly." Kilgharrah couldn't help but point out.
"It will be." Morgana affirmed before Merlin had the chance. "We are going to Avalon-"
"You have been called to Avalon." He looked between the two. "Both of you."
Morgana couldn't help but feel insulted. Before she could snap back Merlin quested the dragon. "What do you know of it."
"Not much more than you." He said unhelpfully. Merlin was quickly reminded of just how unhelpful the dragon could be. Seeing the irritation in Merlin and Morgana's eyes he offered an olive branch. "I can't offer information, but we can offer you a faster way there."
It was a very tempting offer one that they both wanted to accept, but they couldn't. while they were sure Hunith would be pleased to see her son no matter how he arrived, the rest of the village would most likely terrified at the sight. They could be dropped off a little way from the village, but as it was still daylight there was a very good chance the two dragons would be seen by the whole village. Reluctantly they declined the offer.
"We may take you up on it at a later date." Merlin said.
The great dragon nodded. "You have done an amazing thing. I hope that you are able to enjoy what you have worked for."
"What does mean." Morgana asked.
"Do you know something about Avalon. Is there another threat-"
The dragon cut Merlin of. "There will always be another threat. People that want more than they deserve. You should make the most of the moments of peace when they come."
Feeling there was nothing further that had to be discussed Kilgharrah prepared to take his leave. There was nothing he could tell them that they wouldn't find out for themselves soon enough. He was also worried that he and Aithusa would be spotted. While the law regarding magic had changed the ancient creature was sure that the very rational fear of large fire breathing dragons was still very much unchanged and most certainly would never change.
Morgana pulled the smaller dragon into a last hug. It opened the wound again to have to watch her leave again, but at least this time she knew that she didn't have her for sending her away. She also knew that she would see her again soon. Right now, it was best for Aithusa to be somewhere safe. Not wanting to drag out the goodbye the two creatures took to the skies. Soon they were where just small dots in the sky.
Merlin and Morgana watched them go till they couldn't see them again more. Merin was the first to take his eyes off them.
"He'll keep her safe." He said as Morgana kept staring up at the sky. For a horrible moment he worried that he had made a mistake.
Morgana tore her eyes form the sky and turned to Merlin, giving a small nod. "Thank you." She reached out and patted the warlocks shoulder., as she tried to smile at him.
Silently they walked back to the horse they were sure must have backed further away for the field at the sight of the dragons. They were behind schedule and still had a way to go before they reached the village or Ealdor.
Hope that you enjoyed the newest chapter. It was harder than I thought to end the Morgana and Gwaine relationship. I never really meant for it become what it did. I hope it made sense and didn't feel forced for the characters. I don't think I did a good job describing the reasoning behind it.
I realized that I had completely forgotten about Morgana getting back the healing bracelet in the last part after the fight with Nimueh. So, I had to work in a way to get it back. Hope it didn't feel to contrived. As always thank you for reading. Any feedback, comments and input are very welcome. They really help to plan the story out.