All characters appearing in Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyrighted to Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company. I've taken the idea for the Unseelie Court from the TGS. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder. All original characters are the property of SN.
Note: I'm disregarding the events of the"Goliath Chronicles", with the exception of "The Journey" because I do not wish to use the rest of the "Goliath Chronicles" as canon to my story. This story takes place three days after "Home Again".
Mopping Up
By SN/TVfan
Email: Sam_Nary
London
Morrigan paced inside the basement of the home the former Unseelie had taken through her power. She was in deep thought as to how to separate Macbeth, Arthur, and the London clan from Merlin. Causing chaos was always an option, but it depended on Merlin never suspecting that there was a fey involved and staying out of the mix. But Morrigan couldn't rely on an excess of street crime to keep the gargoyles and Macbeth distracted long enough for her to deal with Merlin. Organized crime might be an option, but Morrigan was still trying to see into London's darker sectors and didn't know yet if there were large organized criminal syndicates.
She also couldn't gather enough slaves to distract her mortal opponents. She didn't have massive business to hide such numbers in, and she wasn't powerful enough to create one. None of her Unseelie compatriots were also here to help her.
"Maybe Mouse's idea of keeping the Court together wasn't such a bad decision after all," Morrigan muttered to herself, but she quickly changed her thoughts, "No. He would only want revenge on the Seelies, and it's quite clear that we've lost that war. He and his love for Madoc's cause. A blind fool. I can do better, and I don't need help to take care of one halfling and a few gargoyles."
Morrigan resumed her pacing again. She might need help if her plans were to be successful.
Macbeth's Mansion
"We may need your help in finding her," Arthur commented quietly, "The clan's looked all over in the past three nights and I've walked around myself during the day. We have no clue as to where Morrigan could be hiding."
"I'm not a hound," Merlin protested as the two sat drinking their morning tea with breakfast, "Simply having me accompany the clan's patrols will not draw her out."
"We've established that you are her primary target," Arthur argued, "You'd either sense her coming toward you or you could tell where her hideout is."
"As I said before, I'm not a hound," Merlin protested again, "I could locate where magic has been used, but I can't tell you who used the magic at that spot."
Merlin paused for a moment to take a bite of the food he was eating, and then continued.
"As for being the target," Merlin continued, "I doubt very much that she'll be willing to attack the clan and me at the same time. Especially now that Madoc is out of the way."
"So what can we do to draw her out?" Arthur asked, "We obviously can not let her terrorize London unchecked."
"I believe that in the long run it will come to a battle between myself and her after she's managed to distract you and the others away. And it will be Morrigan who comes after me."
Arthur looked like he was about to protest something, but Merlin cut him off.
"Not every battle will be yours to fight, Arthur," Merlin cautioned, "Don't try and do everything yourself."
"Almost makes me wish that Demona had remained," Arthur commented, "Her powers in magic in addition to being a gargoyle herself would be helpful."
"Yes, but she has already left with Wedrington for New York," Merlin answered, "We're going to have to figure this out on our own."
"What would you suggest as to the best method of dealing with Morrigan?" Arthur asked, "It's not like we can call Titania on Avalon for help. At least not easily."
"And we can not rely on the Legionnaire and or his partner showing up," Merlin added, "Their responsibilities go far beyond one area."
There was a brief silence before Merlin continued.
"As for defeating Morrigan," Merlin sighed, "I think that will hinge on your new profession."
"Huh?" Arthur asked, looking confused.
"Profession," Merlin replied, and then said somewhat humorously, but still with great respect, "You need a job your highness. It'll help take care of our current money 'situation' and if you take the right job, it could help in other areas."
"I am not qualified for a job though, Merlin," Arthur sighed, "What could I possibly do?"
"What about taking up a post as what the Yanks refer to as a 'PI'," Merlin suggested, "A 'Private Investigator'. Of course you'd have to register with the government and with Scotland Yard, but that shouldn't be too difficult."
"A 'Private Investigator'?" Arthur asked, "I'd assume that they at least know the basics of both detective work and the law. Of which, I am not that knowledgeable."
"I can help you with that," Merlin answered confidently, "but that sounds like the best source of work. It might even lead to some tips about what some of our more 'devious' enemies are up to."
"Alright then," Arthur sighed, "So let me guess, I have a crash course in law next?"
Morrigan's Lair
"What are your orders, mistress?" one of the apartment dwellers asked Morrigan as the Unseelie continued pacing inside her own private room.
Morrigan turned to face the slave. The escaped Unseelie had managed to enslave the entire apartment building that she had taken residence in, but since she didn't have to power to even risk duplicating what Madoc had done during his war, Morrigan worked more to keep her activities secret. Her slaves still went about their normal lives. She had worked her spell so that they could function under their own free will while they were outside the building and working in their jobs, although they had no memory of the fact that they were enslaved and that if Morrigan was present when they left the building, they would remain under the Unseelie's control.
"It appears that Arthur will not leave Merlin unguarded," Morrigan commented to the slave, "We are going to have to deal with his mortal allies before we will have Merlin alone."
"We are to fight the gargoyles?" the slave asked.
"We will probably have to," Morrigan sighed, "They have yet to leave Merlin unguarded, so we'll need to take out those that guard him. Arthur and Macbeth are both likely to participate in helping the gargoyles and they are the old wizard's weakness. Once they die, Merlin will come to me, and I will kill him!"
Morrigan turned to face the slave that she had been talking to. The slave stood there at attention.
"You and the others will need proper weaponry, however," Morrigan commented, "I can not go because that will only attract the attention of Titania and her followers. I don't want to take the risk until Merlin is alone."
The slave nodded, saying nothing.
"Gather the others," Morrigan ordered, "Tonight you will go gargoyle hunting."
"Yes, mistress," the slave bowed and then quickly ran to go about gathering the others.
Morrigan meanwhile turned to stare evilly at the mirror that hung in the room. Her face also showed serious frustration with the situation.
"I'll defeat your guardians, Merlin," Morrigan snarled, "Your weak spot. They'll die, and then you'll have to face me."
Macbeth's Mansion, After Dusk
"Are you sure you can't join us on patrol?" Griff asked Leo as the London clan slowly filed into the kitchen to gather whatever would be needed for their breakfast.
"Positively sure," Leo sighed, "Una and I are still working to get the shop open again, and we have to meet with the contractor to get the building permits that are needed."
"And I will need as much available time as possible to get the illusion spell ready," Una added, "Besides, you're likely to find her sooner or later. There are only so many places a villain like her can hide."
"Good luck then," Griff offered.
"What is the patrol schedule?" Gawain asked.
"You'll be with Octavia and me," Griff answered the young Avalon gargoyle, "And we will take the northern sections of London down to the docks. Julia and Chloe will lead Guinevere and Lancelot to patrol the southern sections of the city up to the docks. If Morrigan tries anything, one or both groups will find her."
"What about Arthur and Macbeth?" Chloe asked.
"They have volunteered to help Leo and Una, I believe," Octavia answered, "Just in case they get attacked."
"Yes, Arthur popped in while Una and I were packing the last of the paperwork that we would need before we came down here to join you," Leo commented, "They will be watching over us."
"Well, that takes care of the schedule then, doesn't it?" Griff chuckled, "Come on, might as well get some breakfast."
"What about Merlin?" Julia asked.
"He should be fine," Griff sighed, "He'll know if something is coming, and we're more likely to run into anything that might try to attack the mansion before it even gets there."
Elsewhere
Morrigan stood calmly in front of her gathered slaves on the rooftop of the apartment building that she had commandeered. All were armed with swords and wearing metal breastplates. Knowing that she would risk revealing herself to Seelie fey on Avalon if she joined her slaves on the hunt, she had altered her spell that kept her slaves under her control.
"You remember your instructions?" Morrigan questioned.
"We are to search the city quietly and undetected until we can find and ambush Merlin's mortal allies," the slaves answered in unison.
"And what are you to do, once you've ambushed them?" Morrigan continued the interrogation.
"Kill them," the slaves answered raising their swords.
"Good," Morrigan smiled, "Go now, and remember, do not allow yourselves to be seen until you have found Merlin's allies."
The slaves bowed and quickly headed for the stairs to head out into the night. Morrigan meanwhile decided to take a slight walk. She would continue her research of modern London and possibly see who was guarding Merlin tonight. She hoped that the London gargoyles were patrolling the way she had observed before, spread out and in small groups.
A middle aged man in charge of getting a building permit ready for any future building that was intended to be built looked on at four people. While two were strangers to him, the man recognized the other two people with them easily.
"Say, you two wouldn't be the two people the Queen knighted recently?" the man asked, "Forgive me, but I'm terrible with names."
"Yes," Arthur answered politely, remembering the events that immediately followed their finding of Merlin, "But our names for the moment are unimportant. We're here to help a couple of friends of ours."
Arthur then gestured towards the other two people who were seated there. The man looked over for the first time to get a good look at them. Both looked very fit, but at the same time struck the man as shopkeepers.
"Ah, yes," the man nodded, "May I help you…?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Griffin," Leo answered calmly, "I am Leo, and this is my… wife, Una."
"Well, Mr. and Mrs. Griffin, what can I do to help you?" the man asked.
"Well, you see we own a shop that was down in Soho," Una explained, "But some arsonists burned it down recently. We've finally gotten through all the paperwork to deal with the insurance companies and to get the items that we have delivered to the shop for us to sell ready and we need to have the shop rebuilt."
"I heard about that," the man commented, "Why did you say so little in the paper about it?"
Leo turned to Una for a moment and quietly sighed. Merlin had cast a spell that essentially gave brief statements to both the police and the newspapers on the incident when Morrigan had burned down the shop, but no one had actually spoken in person.
"We're really very quiet people," Una answered, "We didn't comment more because we didn't feel we absolutely had to."
"May I as how you know…?" the man began to ask, "Again, I'm sorry, what where your names again?"
"Lennox MacDuff and Arthur Dragon," Macbeth answered slowly, sounding slightly agitated.
The man nodded and then turned back to Leo and Una, "May I ask how you know Sir MacDuff and Sir Dragon?"
"Both Arthur and Lennox have offered to help us from time to time," Leo answered, "They've been old friends of ours, they're here to help."
"I see," the man nodded, "And you want to rebuild your shop?"
"Yes," Una nodded, "On its original site. We own the land there; we just need the building permit and a contractor to build a new shop building."
"Well, you've come to the right place," the man nodded, and rolled his chair over to a set of filing cabinets, "Let's get everything started."
Outside Macbeth's Mansion
Morrigan's eyes widened as she looked inside the building that Arthur and his allies had taken residence in. She had periodically come to visit the building over past few days to see if they had left Merlin alone or to see who was there. Normally, the Unseelie had sensed the presence of two gargoyles and one human in addition to Merlin. Now, the Unseelie sensed something totally different.
"You're alone tonight?" Morrigan exclaimed quietly, "I send my slaves out to kill your friends to get you alone, and I find you alone anyway?"
Morrigan sensed Merlin on the second floor of the mansion and he was alone. Morrigan looked in the general direction in which she sensed Merlin's presence and smiled evilly.
"You've just bit the dust, you stupid wizard," Morrigan whispered quietly and vanished from view.
Merlin was meanwhile involved in studying more about the Holy Grail and how it would be necessary to Arthur in the future. He didn't have the Grail with him, but he didn't need it to read a book. He had just turned a page when the wall near him suddenly and violently exploded,
making a large hole that let Merlin look out into the night. Who he saw floating in the opening was not someone he saw.
"Morrigan?!" Merlin growled angrily.
"Yes," Morrigan smiled, "and no gargoyle guardians for you!"
The escaped Unseelie then conjured up several darts that looked like ravens to a great extent and flung them at Merlin. The medieval wizard managed to avoid being hit directly by the fey's attack but quickly found that the darts exploded upon impact with anything they touched.
The shockwave from the multiple explosions threw Merlin into a nearby wall.
"My, you've gotten rusty since Wyvern," Morrigan laughed and then conjured up a fireball and threw it at Merlin, "Almost makes me sad I'm going to kill you. Almost."
Merlin had by now recovered enough from the surprise at finding that the Unseelie had attacked him to conjure up a shield around himself. The Unseelie fireball was easily absorbed by Merlin's shield, but the wizard did feel the strain of maintaining the shield. He couldn't keep it up for long, not against a full blooded fey. Once Morrigan's attack had been absorbed by his shield, Merlin shut the shield down and ran out the door into another section of the mansion.
"Arthur left Excalibur here when he left to help Leo and Una," Merlin thought to himself as he ran, "That may be my best chance."
"Running are we, Merlin?" Morrigan teased from behind him, "Not exactly heroic, now is it?"
Merlin ignored him until he came to Arthur's room. Hopefully the Once and Future King had left his sword there. To Merlin's surprise, he found that the sword was not there.
"Arthur would never allow anyone to steal Excalibur," Merlin thought, "Where could it be?"
"Looking for Pendragon to save you?" Morrigan asked as she floated in behind him.
Merlin turned and fired a lightning spell at the Unseelie. Morrigan had come too close to be able to dodge the attack and was thrown out the open door. Merlin then quickly chanted in Latin.
"Sword of stone sheath, send a beacon to me for your own safety," Merlin chanted.
As soon as Merlin's chant finished, the medieval wizard began picking up magical pulse waves that were being sent to him by Excalibur, thanks to his spell. He then turned and ran back into the hall to begin following those pulses to its source. Noticing that Morrigan was beginning to recover as well, Merlin hit the Unseelie with another lightning spell, insuring that she wouldn't be able to overtake him and get to the sword first.
Over London
Griff's patrol hadn't come across much. Their search hadn't had much luck in finding any sign of the Unseelie that was on the loose, nor did they find the sign of any other major criminal activity. There were still the average street criminals, but they were not real danger to gargoyles and were easily stopped.
"We should have found her by now," Griff grumbled in a frustrated voice, while Octavia tied several of the thieves together with their own crowbars, "Or at least a sign."
"The Unseelie aren't going to just pop out of nowhere," Octavia cautioned, "They lost the war and are divided. Hiding is their best option for survival."
"And their best option to plot evil doings," Griff grumbled, "I feel powerless when we keep looking and finding no sign of any Unseelie activity."
"We will stop Morrigan eventually," Octavia encouraged, "She can not hide for long."
"I'm still hoping we can find her quickly," Griff answered as he began to scale the wall of a nearby building, leaving the crooks for the police.
"Maybe we could warn the people of Morrigan's presence?" Gawain offered, "She couldn't hide if the whole city were looking for her."
"Maybe, but it would have to be Arthur, Merlin, or Macbeth that tell the authorities about Morrigan, and they would be sent to an insane asylum for it," Griff sighed, "What we need are more gargoyles to patrol. But…"
"Leo and Una are the only other gargoyles available," Octavia finished, "Not much help, they are helpful, but we need more than two?"
Griff nodded, "Yes. We need more than two."
Griff then looked over the skyline that London provided and sighed.
"We're going to have to cope with only having the numbers that we have," Griff sighed.
Octavia and Gawain nodded slowly as the three then took to the air once more to continue their patrol. All three of them hoped they would discover something that would lead them to Morrigan and allow them to stop the Unseelie.
"Ouff!" a thug grunted as Chloe drove her fist into his stomach.
The forest green female then turned to check on the others. Julia had easily dealt with the two thugs that had rushed her, while Lancelot and Guinevere teamed up to deal with the final street criminal. Like Griff's patrol group, they had not come across anything more serious then
common street thugs.
"It's amazing how easily you're able to deal with these guys," Chloe commented to the Roman gargoyle, "I think you had knocked both of those guys out before anyone else had fully won their 'fight'."
"It's all in the training," Julia shrugged as she looked for something that could be used to restrain the criminals they had caught, "The Legionnaire trained Octavia and I in gladiatorial combat ever since we were old enough to swing a sword."
Lancelot was about to ask something when he was startled to hear a voice speak from behind them.
"Gargoyles," the voice growled.
The four gargoyles then turned to see roughly ten people standing along the deserted sidewalk. All of them were wearing metal breastplates and were holding swords.
"For the Mistress!" one of the people proclaimed loudly and charged toward them with his sword held high.
The other humans quickly followed suit. All of them charged forward with swords raised. Lancelot and Guinevere tripped a couple that had come toward them and prepared to deal with two more that were coming behind them.
"These just might be the sign of Morrigan that we've been looking for," Julia commented as she dodged two attackers's sword thrusts and punched the third in the face before he could raise his sword.
Julia then grabbed the man's sword before his body hit the ground and then moved the weapon to block the attacks made by the other two slaves with their swords.
"And of course they have to be armed," Chloe commented as she ducked as one of Morrigan's slaves swung her sword over Chloe's head.
Chloe then punched the slave in stomach, taking the wind out of her and knocking her to the ground. The slave lost consciousness as her head bounced on the concrete of the sidewalk. Chloe's victory was short lived as she quickly had to retreat back to avoid being chopped into pieces by the two slaves that were behind the first one that had attacked her.
"What I want to know is why didn't she mutate them?" Guinevere asked, "They're obviously enslaved, why didn't Morrigan mutate them like Madoc did with the slaves he had in New York."
"I doubt she has the formula for that process," Julia answered as she used expert swordsmanship to disarm the two slaves that been battling with her, without doing either slave physical harm.
Guinevere dodged a slave's clumsy attack at her and tripped her opponent with her tail. The white female then had to scramble forward as one of the earlier slaves that she had tripped had recovered and had come charging at her again. She quickly glanced to see how Lancelot was
fairing. The male Avalonian gargoyle had managed to catch his attacker's hands before he could drive his sword into the gargoyle. In one motion, Lancelot then took the sword and threw the man across the street. He landed hard and lost consciousness.
"Guinevere!" Lancelot called to her as he turned and charged forward, hoping to deal with the slave that was chasing the female.
"Behind you!" Guinevere screamed with fear as she saw the other slave that she and Lancelot had tripped earlier raise his sword high to strike Lancelot.
Lancelot turned and barely got his sword up in time to block the slave's attack. The slave didn't get the chance at a second blow as Julia came up behind the slave and knocked him out with a single punch. Lancelot then looked around to see that both Chloe and Guinevere had dealt with their opponents as well.
"We need to get them back to Merlin," Julia commented looking down at the unconscious slaves, "He can free them from their enslavement, and then they can give us the answers we need about Morrigan's whereabouts."
"We'll need something besides these swords to tie them up with," Chloe warned, "Even if the swords wouldn't break when we bend them, the blade would cut them. We need something that won't break so easily and won't do them physical harm."
"Right," Lancelot acknowledged, "I think I saw a fire escape back there in that alley. Can we use the bars from the fire escape's railing?"
Chloe looked in the direction in which Lancelot was pointing and shrugged.
"I guess so," Chloe answered, "If there is a fire escape there."
Lancelot and Guinevere immediately went to check.
Macbeth's Mansion
Merlin stumbled down the last few stairs as he rushed as quickly as he could to reach wherever Arthur had placed Excalibur. The magical pulses that Merlin was following had so far led him to the basement where Arthur and Macbeth had set up exercise rooms where they or clan could work out. Morrigan chased after him throwing fireballs or her explosive raven darts at him as he went. He finally found Arthur's sword lying in its scabbard against the far wall. Merlin ran to it as quickly as he could and pulled out Excalibur and pointed it at the attacking Unseelie.
"Your King's precious sword won't save you," Morrigan laughed, "I'm a full blooded fey. I'm not stupid enough to let you get close enough to stab me. And my attacks will wear you down before yours even have a chance of doing me serious harm. And you're alone. No gargoyles to help you."
"You over estimate your abilities," Merlin answered.
Morrigan only threw a wide barrage of raven darts at the medieval wizard. Most of the darts landed around Merlin, but like the rest of the Unseelie's weapons, they exploded upon contact and the one that didn't go around Merlin, exploded upon hitting his chest. Morrigan only laughed as the resulting explosions knocked Merlin against a far wall.
"I doubt that is over estimation," Morrigan laughed.
Merlin rolled on the ground to avoid being hit by a fireball that Morrigan threw at him. He tried to hit the Unseelie with a lightning spell, but Morrigan dodged the attack and let Merlin's attack hit the ceiling above her. Fortunately for Merlin, part of ceiling fell and landed
directly on Morrigan's head. It wasn't all that heavy, but Morrigan wasn't expecting it hit her and the falling pieces of ceiling knocked her to ground.
Merlin got up and scrambled forward and swung Excalibur as best he could to try and do the escaped Unseelie some harm. Merlin was, however, unfamiliar with using such a weapon and all he managed to do was make a small cut in Morrigan's arm. The fey hissed with pain, but looked to be in no real disadvantage.
Morrigan blasted the pile of ceiling debris off of her and rose into the air. She glanced at the thin red line that Merlin had left in her upper arm with Excalibur's blade.
"You do realize Merlin that Iron must remain in contact with me in order to do damage?" Morrigan laughed again, "Giving me paper cuts won't help you."
"You can't win," Merlin retorted.
"And the defiant bravado comes forth once more," Morrigan laughed and attacked.
Outside the mansion, Arthur, Macbeth, Una, and Leo made their way toward the front steps somewhat quietly. Leo was carefully holding a large business folder.
"I'm glad that's all over with," Macbeth grumbled.
"It wasn't all that bad," Arthur replied, "The man was just curious, that's all."
"He was star struck," Macbeth grumbled back.
"Well, most modern 'knights' do not go to common agencies," Una commented as they walked through the doors and Una uttered the words that removed the illusion that made her and Leo appear human.
"Maybe so, but…" Macbeth was cut off when he saw the remnants of Morrigan's attacks on Merlin as the fey had chased the wizard through the mansion, "What the devil?!"
They then heard an explosion rattle the mansion from below.
"That came from the basement," Arthur exclaimed and then sprinted for the stairs, "Come on, Merlin may be in danger."
Macbeth and the others followed quickly. They found much of the interior burned away, as if by fire or by explosions. Macbeth himself was reminded of many old battlefields that had traversed trying to find Demona.
"It looks like a war zone moved through here," Macbeth commented.
The mansion shook again as something exploded inside the building.
"It hasn't left yet, either," Leo added as he noticed the door to the stairway that led to the basement was not only ajar, but off its hinges.
"Morrigan must have attacked while we were gone and the others were on patrol," Arthur commented, "We've got to get to Merlin before he's killed."
Merlin rolled along the mat that covered the floor of the exercise room to avoid a fireball that Morrigan threw at him. Once he could get to a kneeling position, he quickly fired a lightning spell at the Unseelie. Morrigan however raised a shield around herself and was not harmed in any way by Merlin's attack.
"Poor, old fool," Morrigan laughed, "You should have surrendered when you had your chance. Now that I've finally beaten you, I will make your suffering slow."
Morrigan then threw one fireball and one of her explosive raven darts. The dart landed on the ground first, and the resulting shockwave knocked Merlin into the fireball. The blast sent Merlin sprawling back and he quickly put out the fires that had started on his clothing. The Medieval wizard then decided to emulate one of Morrigan's tactics. The fey had either dodged his attacks or was able to shield herself from them. He had to launch an attack that would come from all angles. He managed to create four spheres of solid energy, and sent them into the Unseelie from four sides.
Morrigan was not prepared to deal with such an attack and each energy sphere hit her. She screamed with pain as the four energy spheres hit her and forced her to drop to the ground. She knew that she was more powerful than Merlin, he was only a halfling while she was a full blooded fey, but Merlin was an exceptionally powerful halfing. She would have to expect such types of attacks.
Merlin rushed forward and raised Excalibur to finish off the Unseelie. Morrigan rolled at the last second however, and the blade only went through her shoulder. Morrigan screamed with pain as the blade pierced her shoulder. She struggled to get the blade out of her, but Merlin put all of his weight behind the weapon to hold it in place. It was at this time that Arthur, Macbeth, Leo, and Una came into the exercise room.
"Morrigan!" Arthur exclaimed.
"Yes," Merlin sighed, "She attacked shortly after everyone left."
"We need to get some Iron chains," Macbeth commented and began to turn around, "Something that will hold her."
"That is unnecessary, Macbeth," came a trio of voices, speaking in unison.
They turned to see the Weird Sisters appear in the room, floating between Merlin and Arthur and the others.
"What are you doing here?" Macbeth asked.
Luna turned to face the immortal Scotsman, "To finish what has begun."
"The Morrigan will be released into our care," Selene added.
"She must face trial before the Queen for her crimes," Phoebe finished.
"Titania sent you?" Merlin asked.
"Yes," the Sisters spoke in unison, "The Unseelie Court caused much trouble for the fey race and the rest of the world. It is the Queen's judgment that all leading members of that court are to be punished accordingly."
"What will happen to her?" Arthur asked, pointing at Morrigan.
"She will be taken to Avalon and tried for her crimes," the Sisters answered, "which could possibly include her recent actions as we scoured much of Britain before finding her here."
Luna then turned to Merlin, "We did not expect that Merlin had already completed the 'mopping up' phase of this operation."
"Mopping up?" Leo asked.
"Queen Titania does not want the Unseelies to recover their power again," Selene answered, "And we are ordered to comb the world for their followers. Those that hide well may escape, but the ones that cause trouble will be found."
"This Unseelie will cause no more trouble," Phoebe finished.
And with that, the Weird Sisters vanished with the Morrigan. This left the others to deal with the remnants of the Merlin's fight with the Unseelie.
"I caused quite a mess, didn't I?" Merlin chuckled as he looked over the damage.
"We're glad that she didn't kill you," Arthur answered quickly as they came up the stairs, "The damage is repairable."
Merlin nodded, "I'll get to fixing the worst of it."
The Medieval wizard went straight to work in terms of using his magic to repair the structural damage. It took a fair amount of time to gather all the materials that had been damaged, but Merlin was able to do so. It was nearly dawn by the time he finished repairing the damage that the battle with Morrigan had caused. It was also about that time that Griff and his patrol team returned. Merlin was surprised to see that they had come carrying several unconscious people, tied together by pieces of a fire escape that they had found.
"Griff…" Merlin began to say.
"They're people that Morrigan enslaved," Griff answered quickly, "They attacked us on patrol."
Merlin took another look at them. Sure enough he could sense the presence of a spell on them. He sighed heavily.
"Well, this will deal with the last of the Morrigan, then," Merlin sighed as he used his magic to remove their restraints.
"What do you mean?" Julia asked.
"The Morrigan attacked here and was dealt with," Merlin answered, "She is currently being returned to Avalon to face trial."
"That does take care of things then," Octavia commented.
"Yes it does," Merlin nodded as he set to work at freeing Morrigan's slaves.
Avalon
"I don't see why you don't kill me now," Morrigan growled as she was held by two Seelie fey before Titania's throne.
"It would be dishonorable and cowardly to do so," Titania answered calmly, "You have committed great crimes. You must be tried before any punishment can be carried out."
"I was just trying to have fun," Morrigan grumbled.
"Fun that has cost people their lives in addition to fighting against the Seelie Court with your Unseelie comrades," Titania countered.
"They're mortals, it is their destiny to be ruled," Morrigan countered, "It's our birthright to have fun with them."
"We all must inhabit this world, Morrigan," Titania answered, "And the mortals grow stronger in their technology."
"Our magic is superior," Morrigan interrupted.
"Maybe so," Titania answered, "But no one has the right to torment or control others because of their superiority. Furthermore, Oberon's law commands all fey stay out of mortal affairs. You have broken that law."
"A foolish law," Morrigan snorted.
"Do you deny breaking it?" Titania asked.
"No," Morrigan answered, "What I deny is its authority. Your husband's silly law has no affect on me."
Titania frowned, "So be it."
The Seelie queen then stood up and walked toward the captured Unseelie. After taking a few steps, Titania stopped and raised one hand.
"I have a very fitting punishment for you," Titania commented before chanting…
"Villain with raven'swing,
you cause pain whenyou sing,
drop your evilforever,
and join your birds of a feather."
Morrigan looked on horrified as emerald energy leapt from Titania's fingertips and enveloped her. She looked down at herself and saw her arms and legs rearranging themselves. She also saw black feathers growing out of her skin.
"NO!" Morrigan screamed as she felt her powers drain and her own body begin to shrink in size.
By the time it was over, Morrigan had shrunk down to that of a raven and was seated inside a metal birdcage. Titania picked up the bird cage and handed it to the Sisters.
"She that she is properly taken care off," Titania commanded.
The three fey bowed and then turned and headed off for what was a small aviary elsewhere in the castle.
London
Merlin, Arthur, and Macbeth sat quietly around the breakfast table. Freeing Morrigan's slaves wasn't that hard, but trying to explain to them why they weren't in their apartments when they woke up was another matter. Merlin explained that they had been found, unconscious in an
alley and were brought to the mansion for their own safety. It took a while to explain everything, but they eventually bought it and left. This left the three men exhausted.
"At least we don't have to worry about Morrigan anymore," Arthur commented.
"You still have hard work ahead of you, Arthur," Merlin warned, "Remember that we are yet to face Britain's greatest hour of need."
"You mean…" Arthur began to ask.
"The Morrigan was hardly the beginning," Merlin said seriously, "The Lady of the Lake said it is coming, and we must be ready."
The End…