Chapter 3: Learning and Lancelot

It was the following day. Arthur had retired for the night. Merlin slowly and inconspicuously made his way to Morgana's chambers. Merlin knocked on the door, and Morgana opened it. He quickly got inside. Noticing that Morgana was only in her nightgown, Merlin lightly blushed. Morgana, finding a perfect opportunity for teasing, said, "Come now, Merlin. You're the one who gave me a rose." Merlin said, "That was just to show you my magic," and then added in a more serious tone, "Speaking of which, let's get started." Morgana asked, "And how do we do that?" Merlin said, "You created an accidental fire, right? Let's start with that. Remember in Ealdor, when I lit a fire, I used the spell 'Baern'. Why don't you try it on this candle?" he said, grabbing hold of a put-out candle. Morgana said, "Baern," but nothing happened. Merlin said, "You have incredible magical power, Morgana. You need to focus it." He then added, "Look, Baern," and the candle grew a flame. Merlin then blew it out and said, "Try again."

She did, multiple times, and still nothing happened. Finally, she got angry and said with passion, "Baern," and finally a flame grew, but this one was not like Merlin's. It was out of control, and the flame nearly touched Merlin, who blew it out before it could do so. Morgana immediately said, "I'm so sorry, Merlin. I didn't mean to do that." Merlin calmly replied, "I told you to focus, Morgana. For those with magic as powerful as ours, our very emotions can use magic. You didn't light the candle; your anger did. You need to focus." She immediately said, "Focus on what, Merlin? The magic, because that's what I've been doing." Merlin said, "No, you're missing the point. Magic isn't a thing that you can focus on. It is the very lifeblood of the world." Morgana looked confused and reiterated, "Then what do I focus on?" Merlin thought that it was already late. No more progress was going to happen that day. So, he simply said, "We'll pick this up tomorrow."

He then turned to leave when Morgana said, "I have a pilgrimage to my father's grave tomorrow. I can't practice tomorrow." Merlin then said, "What if you accidentally use your magic tomorrow? Going there will probably be pretty emotional, and we have already seen the danger that poses. Besides, we have to continue. Your gift is not without its drawbacks." Morgana said softly, "I suppose I'll have to cancel it." Merlin assured her, "That's probably for the best."

The next day, Merlin was in the courtyard when he saw a familiar face arrive on a horse. He looked at him with warmth and said, "Lancelot, you're back." Lancelot didn't seem as cheerful and asked, "Is Gwen dead?" Merlin confirmed him, saying, "She died about a month ago." Lancelot looked visibly distressed when he came down from his horse and said, "I had heard rumors but still hoped that she still breathed, but now to hear she's really gone, its ..." His voice broke at that point, and Merlin said, "It's hard at first. But we all recover. She died saving Arthur, a noble cause." Lancelot's mood didn't improve hearing that. Merlin then said, "Where have you been so long?" Lancelot said, "Here and there. Fighting for bread. I was stuck with a bandit by the name of Hengist for a while. When I heard the rumors yesterday, I stole a horse and rode here through the night." Merlin said, "You must be exhausted. You can stay with me as long as you like." He replied simply, "Thank you, Merlin."

It was then that Arthur came down the stairs and looked shocked for a moment before saying, "Lancelot." He bowed and promptly replied, "Sire." Arthur said, "No need; call me Arthur." Arthur saw the look on his face and said, "I think I know why you're here. You want to avenge Gwen." Lancelot looked astonished, "She has not yet been avenged?" Arthur replied firmly, "Magic killed her. She won't be avenged until magic has been wiped out from all of Albion." At that, Lancelot looked at Merlin for a second before turning to say to Arthur, "I heard the sorcerer who killed her is dead. I think that's enough." Arthur scoffed at that and said, "So be it." And he thought to himself how many more people have fallen for the lies of sorcery. Even Lancelot, the most honorable man he'd ever met. And why had he looked at Merlin, another one sympathetic to magic? He didn't know what to think, but he knew now that the fight against sorcery would not be easy.

Merlin had taken Lancelot to the physician's chambers. Lancelot finally asked him, "What happened with Arthur?" Merlin replied, "I don't know. I think he's lost his way. He blamed all of magic for Gwen's death." Lancelot said, "You can help him see the light again, Merlin." Merlin said softly, "I don't know anymore. Arthur seems pretty set in his beliefs. And my trying to question them only made him suspicious of me. He's suspicious of everyone now, or at least everyone who doesn't blindly hate magic." Lancelot said, "At least he is not Uther." Merlin replied, "Maybe, but he's not different from him where it really matters."

Lancelot looked upset again for a moment but then said, "Enough about him. How are you faring?" Merlin thought for a second before saying, "I'm teaching a very powerful sorceress, or at least trying to." Lancelot queried, "What's the problem?" Merlin replied frustratedly, "She has innate ability, but she can't focus. It's like she doesn't know what she is trying to learn." Lancelot said, "Maybe she doesn't have something to learn for. I had a drive to learn the art of sword fighting, and that was because I was fighting for something, to become a knight of Camelot." Merlin realized, "She needs to focus on a goal. Thank you, Lancelot. You've been a great help."

Later that night, she again entered Morgana's chambers and said, "I realized why you couldn't focus last night." She replied, "Oh?" Merlin said, "You don't have anything to fight for. When I use my magic, it's for one goal, a united Albion with magic being free. That's what gives me focus." Morgana thought that maybe he was right. She was only trying to light a fire to control her magic, nothing more. She took a candle into her hands. She focused herself on the idea of the liberation of magic, of the end of the great purge, of the freedom of sorcerers, and then finally said, "Baern," and the candle grew a small flame.

Merlin was elated. He said, "Finally, we can begin. I've not been practicing that long. With your talent, soon you'll be in league with my power." Morgana's face was full of hope and promise. She said, "Only due to my fantastic teacher." They practiced the rest of the night.

In the morning, he found Lancelot getting ready to leave and said, "You can stay, Lancelot. There's a place for you in Camelot." Lancelot said, "I should take my own advice, Merlin. I can't just live for bread anymore. I need to fight for what is right and live a life that Gwen would be proud of. And I cannot do that in Camelot. You know that. We will meet again, my friend." Merlin looked at him solemnly and said, "Of that, I'm sure. Farewell, Lancelot."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review if you have any thoughts, positive or negative.