Chapter 12

Aithusa had an ecstatic dragon grin on her face. "Fyrdracafaestnian. It was my special assignment from the Goddess, necessary to break the dark curse. My dragon power, your magic, Morgana's magic had to be bound together to defeat the dark blood magic. It was the only way. You are now bound to each other in a ceremony reserved only for Dragonlords and their brides. Fyrdracafaestnian is called Dragon fasting in your language and is only valid in the pure of heart who truly love each other. Since Morgana is free of the curse, Her heart and soul have been cleansed and your union is completely valid. You will now be able to complete your destiny."

"Special assignment from the Goddess? Dragon fasting?" Morgana's eyes were wide as saucers, yet she wasn't raging. She actually had a small smile on her face because she loved Merlin with her whole heart and soul and was pleased but a little afraid to show her emotions. She was reviewing the past year and the wonderful times she had spent with Merlin. The joke she and Merlin shared since their journey began that it was more fun to do things together rather than do anything with Arthur or Morgause. For that matter, they would rather do things with each other than anyone else. It was an absolute truth that made her heart swell with joy.

Merlin had not been under the curse or the love spell and had treated her with more respect and kindness than she had received from any man. He had initiated many of their hugs and kisses, but she had initiated more. She knew there was a passionate connection between them that both had been denying and trying to keep under control. But the turquoise sparks and the glow that traveled through them when they did magic or touched told another story. Her magic wanted to be with Merlin and his magic. He was the only one who made her feel that way. Viviana and Aithusa may have given both of them a push, but if nothing had existed between them before now, things would not have progressed as they had.

Now that the curse was gone, feelings of love and respect for Merlin that had been locked in her mind came to the forefront. Merlin was a better man in every way than any noble she had ever met. He was not afraid of her magic. He was powerful and Morgana found it quite intoxicating. When he had cleansed her of the curse, it had initially been painful. But what she was feeling now with the curse gone was overwhelming in its scope and intensity. She was now seeing Merlin in a bright true light. He was courageous, kind, patient, intelligent, and loyal. He had offered to avenge her and Aithusa for the time they had spent in the Sarum's pit. No person, other than her parents, had ever offered more loyalty and love.

Morgana knew how much Aithusa loved her. Their bond was unique and so precious to Morgana. Aithusa had sacrificed her own well-being to bring her to Merlin. Aithusa was their unofficial cupid as well as their unofficial daughter. They were already family. Merlin was a gift to her from Aithusa, her mother, the Goddess and her creator. It was a gift she wanted to accept. All of them fulfilled an assignment from the Gods.

As Merlin searched his feelings, he was equally surprised, but not surprised. Things had changed between Morgana and himself in the last two years. They had worked together, learned together, laughed uproariously together, shared victories as they achieved mastery of their magic, and Morgana's seer powers, shared kisses and hugs. All of it lit up his days and nights and made waking up an adventure, something he looked forward to everyday.

His visit with the Goddess had changed him and he felt intense agape, philia, pragma and Eros, for Morgana. Even though the love spell was broken, he remembered what Viviana had said about the love spell; that the feelings he had for Morgana before the love spell would be magnified on more than one level. He had known for some time he loved Morgana with his whole heart and soul. THe emptiness that had devastated him after he poisoned her was gone. because that missing piece of his heart had been restored. He wanted her to be with him forever. He had wanted to marry her for some time now. He was sure it was another step in progress to the great love prophesied that he and Morgana were to share.

Before he had left Camelot and for a long while after, he had hesitated before because of Morgana's past and horrible deeds. But that barrier had been smashed as Morgana had mastered her Seer powers and emotions and worked hard to make restitution for past wrongs.

Any other reservations were blasted into oblivion when the Goddess had embraced him in the dream and when he had completely broken the curse. He completely understood that Morgana had not been in control of her own mind or actions when those horrible things had been done. As these pieces came together, he knew complete forgiveness toward Morgana was possible not only because the curse was broken. He realized he had forgiven her long ago. He was so proud of Morgana for everything she strove to accomplish. It had been his great privilege to help her this last year and he was so proud she had tried to make things right once Ysira had taught her to identify the snake as the curse in her mind and subdue it. A beautiful smile spread over his face. His magic wanted to be with Morgana's magic. That aside, he wanted to be with Morgana, it had been his dream and his fantasy since he had first laid eyes on her in Camelot. It was a wave that swept him off his feet and into the clouds. It was a wave he wanted to ride forever.

Morgana saw the beautiful smile on Merlin's face directed at her and ran into his arms and kissed him soundly.

Merlin returned her passion with his own unleashed desire.

He was sure part of her current positive reaction resulted from the fact the dragon fasting was a special assignment given by the Goddess. But as they kissed, he knew it was true feeling of philia, agape, eros and all the other aspects of love they shared for each other. The turquoise sparks now much brighter and clearer than they had ever been confirmed this for both of them.

Morgana pulled away, her smile brilliant. "We did it Merlin! We have broken the curse together, thanks to Viviana, Aithusa and the Gods... and mostly you."

"Yes we did! Merlin's smile was brilliant as he passionately kissed Morgana.

He pulled away reluctantly as there was more to share. He decided to focus on the gifts to Morgana from the Goddess and their destiny to hopefully, further soften the surprise to both of them and put the focus where they currently needed it.

Merlin turned to Morgana. "When I was speaking with the Goddess, she gave me many gifts that I am to share with you."

Merlin looked around and finally saw the staff the Goddess had made for Morgana. He grasped the powerful object carefully and held it out to Morgana. "The Goddess made this for you."

"Yes! It is beautiful!" Morgana whispered as her eyes turned shiny with tears and she reverently touched the carved flowers, leaves, runes and jewels.

"So you know it is a staff made specially for you to magnify your magical and seer powers. It will respond only to you and your magic.

"The Goddess made a staff for me." Morgana said in awe and reverence, "like yours." she looked at Merlinbiting her lip to keep the tears from falling.

"Yes." Merlin said quietly. "The Goddess loves you... and so do I."

Morgana was overcome with gratitude. Love magnified in her heart. She kissed Merlin thoroughly before pulling back to admire and study the beautiful staff again. "I am honored."

Merlin put his hands over Morgana's that were now resting on the hand grip of the staff. "There is more." He picked up the cup of life that had appeared at his side and held it out for Morgana.

"The cup of life!" Morgana whispered in shock. "The Goddess gave you this to give to me?" Morgana's face was turning white and her voice started to quaver with fear as she fought to control it and her breathing. "Morgause used this on her army before they attacked Camelot to make them immortal. They exploded when you spilled the blood in the cup." Morgana's anxiety increased and her chest started heaving in fear.

Merlin put the cup down and grasped Morgana's arms, rubbing them lightly. The turquoise glow, now glowing even brighter and warmer than ever before, started and spread. Merlin cupped Morgana's chin coaxing her to look at him. He gazed into her eyes with all the love and strength he had felt from the Goddess, letting that love flow from himself to her. "Morgana, you won't be putting your blood in the cup. You will be drinking the water of life from its contents. The Goddess said our immortality would be required to fulfill her wishes."

Morgana just stared at Merlin for a moment as she struggled to wrap her mind around Merlin's words and the change she saw in him. He was glowing with what she suddenly knew was a perfect love and a physical perfection. She felt so much better now the curse was gone, but when she looked down at her self, she didn't see the same glow Merlin had, and she wanted it. That desire spurred her next words remembering her dream but wanting Merlin to confirm it. "What are her wishes?" Morgana asked with some trepidation.

"When I talked with the Goddess she showed me an evil presence, a darkness that is on the Isle of the Blessed. That evil has corrupted magic and the Goddess' priestesses. She showed me how Morgause was corrupted by that evil and put the curse on you."

The tears that Morgana had been holding back rolled down her cheeks. "All that time Morgause thought she was in control of her destiny and thought destroying Camelot the best and only solution was her idea..." Morgana trailed off with a look of sadness and anger. "She wasn't controlling anything. Morgause was a puppet as well?"

Merlin nodded. "The Goddess gave us all these gifts; the staves, the power, the immortality. She says we will need them to cleanse the Isle of that evil presence, bring peace and the Golden Age of Albion. We won't be exploding. Not even Excalibur will be able to end our lives."

As Merlin talked, he continued to hold her arms. Morgana's breathing slowed as they started breathing together as they had when practicing other magics since their journey started "Oh!" Morgana bit her lip calming considerably. That does put things in a better light." Her mind raced in several directions with several questions before she settled on one. "But I will live while others around me die. I will be alone."

"No." Merlin shook his head putting the cup down. "You said I looked different."

Morgana scrunched her brow at him.

Merlin continued. "I have drunk half of the cup's contents already. The Goddess said the other half is for you."

Morgana's eyes widened as she realized the meaning of his words. "You are immortal... She lifted his shirt to gaze on his bare chest. There is no scar on you. And you look..." she paused gasping in amazement, "Perfect!" She said almost in shock, with awe in her voice.

Merlin nodded.

Morgana bit her lip scrunching her eyebrows in thought. "So if I drink this, I will be with you, immortal …and perfect too." Morgana whispered.

"Yes." Merlin nodded. "We will both be immortal. He looked deeply into her eyes with some trepidation and hope adding softly, "Together."

"We are dragon fasted. That is the same as married." Morgana whispered looking back at Merlin, "by the Goddess' assignment and blessing, Aithusa's dragon fasting, Mother's intervention."

In that moment, tears gathered in her eyes again as she realized the gifts of care and love around her that had brought her to this point. Morgana felt her heart swell with love for the Goddess, for her mother, and love for Merlin, greater than the love spell, combined with the released respect and love for Merlin previously blocked by the curse. Her feelings expanded into her magic. Morgana sensed the Goddess smiling in affirmation. All of that swirled and mixed with her own real love for Merlin that had been growing over the last years. That affirmation turned into surety that dragon fasting was right and wonderful. They were supposed to be joined forever.

Merlin picked up the cup and handed it to her.

Morgana's eyes were wide and shining with wonder, and awe. She didn't go into denial as she had done before. It was as if the Goddess was speaking through Merlin directly to her. She knew she had nothing to fear from the cup.

Morgana had clarity of mind. Love and concern filled her. It was her very own connection to Merlin, the Goddess and her Creator. It was light, beauty, understanding, stability and security. It was something she had never experienced to this point in her life. It was wonderful, refreshing, rejuvenating. She looked Merlin in the eye and said, "The Goddess and our Creator have given us so much. Of course I will drink from the cup.

Morgana took the cup from Merlin and emptied it into her mouth in a few swallows and could feel the change immediately. What pain and discomfort was left from the scars on her back from the torture and the sword wounds she had received in battle and throughout her life, disappeared.

Merlin's jaw dropped. Morgana had always been beautiful, but now she had an inner glow to match. It took his breath away.

Morgana smiled and looked at Merlin. "So.. do I look different?"

"Your spirit is shining so brightly and you are so beautiful." Merlin said in awed reverence.

"I feel different. I don't feel the scars on my back." Morgana said excitedly. "Look at my back."

Merlin loosened her dress and pulled the fabric aside.

Are there any scars there?"

"No," Merlin said, "Your back is flawless." he looked at her with awe then fastened her dress.

"This feels so amazing. The hurt is gone...we are bound for eternity but you didn't really ask me to marry you...she looked up at him through her lashes. "Do you want to be married to me forever?"

Morgana touched Merlin's hand. The turquoise glow of their combined magic spread to his whole body as he felt the expanded love from Morgana and the Goddess' smile of affirmation. Merlin too felt surety about the dragon fasting the Gods blessed. It was right and wonderful. There was a bond between them that had not existed before they had begun their quest.

Merlin went to his knee and looked up at her with those beautiful blue eyes that shone with his love for her and took her hand, " I know we have been enemies. But these past two years, we have become something so much better. Something I have wanted since the first time I saw you in Camelot. I want you for an ally. I want you for a friend, I want you for more. Will you be my wife, my ally, my love, my life, my partner forever?"

"The Caileach said you were my destiny and you were my doom. Until today, I was focusing on the doom because of the curse and it's poison that held my mind and heart. It frightened me. Now I understand you were the doom to the evil inside me. You, my mother, the Druids, Vadoma, the Goddess, and Aithusa, destroyed the dark curse that controlled me. You freed me. I realize now that you are my destiny as the Caileach said." Morgana's smile was brilliant as she answered, "I no longer fear her words that I understand them. With all my heart and soul, everything that I am...my answer is... yes!...Yes Merlin I will marry you!

"They moved together in the most passionate kiss they had yet shared. It quickly turned to more as their clothes came off. Turquoise sparks flew around them lighting up the grove they occupied with the magic of their passion. It was a complete physical, emotional, intellectual, magical, and spiritual bonding.

They enjoyed each other many times that night and enjoyed a bath together in a hot springs in the grove the next morning.

Something even more amazing had happened. Sometime during their first night joined in marriage, a channel of communication had opened up between them that was as fulfilling as all the physical things they had done. They could share magical power, communicate without words, and feel each others emotions. The intermingling of their magic during their days of riding horses, or learning at the Druid camp could not compare to what they experienced now without the curse. They had discussed the Goddess' wishes, washed and packed more quickly than they ever had, all without arguing, because their ability to communicate through this new channel. It was so marvelous and complete. Misunderstanding was a thing of the past and Morgana's magic, now joined to Merlin's magic, had unlimited reserves.

They had on their new cloaks. Their new clothes had beautiful lines and had the added benefit of changing color. Merlin's shirt was still white silk with magical runes embroidered in silver, gold, blue, turquoise, green and purple thread around the neck and cuffs. His leather pants had turned black with runes embroidered down the outsides of his legs and around his waist. His jacket was more in the cut of Arthur's long brown coat but was a royal blue with gold and silver runes subtly embroidered around the collar and lapels. A beautiful scarf of blue, tied comfortably like an ascot around his neck, tucked into a brown vest with threads the same color as his shirt.

Morgana's dress had turned into a purple velvet with similar runes to Merlin's but with a floral scroll, embroidered in purple, turquoise, green, blue, gold and silver at the neck, cuffs and skirt adding a feminine touch. Under all of that were fine hose with similar runes woven into them. The clothing energized and protected them. Both wore fine black leather boots, tooled with runes of magic. The clothing had protective magic woven into it similar to the properties of the capes Viviana had made for them. They had found another set of clothes in their packs that morning that were styled more plainly than the clothes they now wore. The quality, fit, workmanship and comfort of all the clothes the Goddess provided were unlike anything they had worn before.

The Goddess gave them knowledge how to shrink the staves while they were traveling so they could be strapped to their backs in harnesses the Goddess provided for each of them. The harnesses were made of leather and velvet, embroidered with the same threads, colors, and designs of their clothing and completed their ensemble and were hardly noticeable as they were so comfortable.

The Goddess had explained that the harnesses would protect them. The clothing gifts from the Goddess made the newly married, magical couple look every inch, emissaries and champions for good and for magic. They changed into the plainer set of clothes for their journey with Viviana's capes completing their ensemble and still looked royal.

As they left the grove to head for Caledonia, they experienced a strange sensation in their hands. They looked down to see matching silver and gold bands on their left ring fingers. These bands were carved with two dragons facing each other, their mouths were open holding a diamond between them. The eye of one dragon was blue sapphire and the eye of the other dragon was emerald. The dragon bodies and wings were accurately detailed. Their tails entwined to complete the ring. Morgana's was more feminine and ornate in design with gold flowers, vines, and leaves. The overall craftsmanship and materials were incredibly fine and pure in quality. The rings fit perfectly and did not seem heavy. In fact, they seemed to make their hands stronger and their blood flow better which is unusual for any ring.

The voice of the Goddess came to them saying. "These rings are symbolic of your love and commitment. They will shield you from harm. No one will be able to remove them from your person. Only you will be able to do that. If you become separated, these rings will help you find each other no matter how far apart you are. I love you my children. I will be watching over and protecting you."

Merlin and Morgana were overwhelmed with the gifts they received. The love they felt from the Goddess, for the Goddess and from each other strengthened and empowered them.

They stopped their horses and held hands staring into each other's shining eyes. The communication was quick, silent and immediate before the nodded to each other. "We thank you for these wonderful gifts and renew our promise. We will do everything in our power to fulfill the mission you have given us."

They felt the Goddess smile. They shared a sweet and passionate kiss before turning their horses and commencing the next phase of their journey.