Fic: A Queen's Vengeance
Title: A Queen’s Vengeance
Fandom: Merlin
Characters: Gwen, Arthur, Morgana, Mordred, bit of Morgause, Gwaine, & Leon
Rating: R
Word Count: 1,028
Warning: Character deaths
Disclaimer: If Merlin were mine, Gwen would be an equal character with Merlin and Arthur because she is totes awesome-sauce.
Spoilers: For series 1-3. Disregard anything you’ve heard about S4.
Summary: When Arthur becomes determined to avenge Merlin’s death by putting his own life at risk, Gwen seeks help from an unlikely source.
A/N: Written awhile ago for an Arthur/Gwen themed Last Author Standing (it won 3rd place). The prompt was this picture, which I decided wasn’t a particularly happy circumstance considering Arthur’s expression. I’m posting this before I get to posting the other LAS fics because I feel like posting the sequel I wrote to this.
llllllllll
Arthur Pendragon shared more qualities with his father than he or even Guinevere would have liked to admit. Both men were capable of fierce love, as were they both capable of fierce wrath when those loved ones were lost.
Merlin’s death turned Arthur into a different man - one whom his own wife often did not recognize. Whereas his father had sought vengeance on every person of magic in the kingdom, Arthur only wanted one sorcerer.
Mordred.
The child Arthur and Merlin had once saved from execution had turned into a monster unlike they had ever known. As soon as Merlin knew that Kilgarrah had been right about Mordred’s nature, he became set on keeping the rest of what the dragon foretold from coming true. Even if that meant sacrificing his own life to save Arthur’s.
Gwen had to beg Arthur not to pursue Mordred. She’d wrapped blocked his way and wrapped her arms around him in an attempt to hold him back. “Arthur, please,” she’d pleaded. “I just lost Merlin. Don’t let me lose you, too.”
She’d felt his panting breath slow and his body relax until he dropped his sword and shield and wrapped his arms around her in turn. His head had drooped and his face became buried in her hair. First she’d felt the dampness of his tears, then the shaking of his body as he began to sob.
Gwen had never seen Arthur break down like that before. But it was not nearly as alarming to see as the vengeful man he’d turned into the next day.
Not only was Gwen terrified of losing Arthur to his fury, she was afraid he would lose his life as well. Merlin had thought he’d changed Arthur’s fate to be killed by Mordred. But what if Merlin had merely delayed it? What if Arthur’s true fate had always been to die in pursuit of revenge?
Gwen was going to make sure that didn’t happen.
lll
The second time Arthur left with the knights in an attempt to track Mordred down, Gwen went on a mission of her own.
She traveled to what had once been Cenred’s kingdom, a land that was now split between Camelot and the other neighboring kingdoms. Cenred’s old castle, however, stood in the middle, unwilling to be claimed by any kingdom. No one dared to.
Gwen rode up to the gates, her had wrapped firmly around the protective amulet Merlin had once given her. Although she did not know if it would be powerful enough against whatever curses might surround this place.
The gates opened on their own accord, making Gwen wonder if she was expected or if it was a trap. Not knowing what else to do, she led her horse into the courtyard and dismounted just as the doors to the castle opened.
Gwen went inside, following the lit torches and opening doors until she came to what had probably once been Cenred’s throne room.
“I’m surprised to see you here, Gwen,” Morgana said. “What could possibly bring you here?”
Gwen swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “Merlin was killed.”
Morgana’s mouth twitched, finally becoming a smile. “And you thought you would bring me the good news? I’m grateful, however I already knew.”
Gwen’s jaw grew rigid as she fought back her anger. “I want you to avenge him.”
“You want vengeance, Gwen? I know you’ve always believed in justice, but never have you sought pure vengeance.”
“Well now I do.”
“No,” Morgana replied with a shake of her head. “It’s Arthur that wants vengeance. He’s put all his efforts into trying to find Mordred. And you’re afraid that when Arthur tries to kill Mordred, Mordred will just kill him with a snap of his fingers.”
Gwen’s breath shuddered. “Yes.”
“But why should I help you?”
“Because somewhere under all the hate that’s grown inside you, you once cared for Arthur and me. And you even once cared for Merlin.”
“Which would have once persuaded me, but why should I do it now?”
Gwen raised her chin. “Then do it because Mordred is a power-hungry bastard and I’d guess that one day he’ll come after you to get rid of the competition and prove himself as the most powerful sorcerer of Albion. Mordred only managed to kill Merlin out of luck, not skill, as his real target had been Arthur. I believe that you’re the more powerful one, so only you can kill him. But Merlin believed that Mordred had a way of quickly gaining power, so you should best do it before he becomes more powerful than you. And if he does kill you, who will take care of your sister?”
Morgana paused for a moment, her eyes growing soft in worry for Morgause, invalid since the two had attempted to take Camelot. But Morgana caught her moment of weakness and smirked. “I see you yourself have become more powerful, your highness. I would hate to face you in court.”
“So will you do it?”
“I’ll consider it,” Morgana said with a nod, before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
lll
Arthur came back three days after Gwen had spoken with Morgana.
His lack of progress weighed heavily on him and his frustration only increased. Gwen could tell by his distraction, by his fitful sleep, by his lack of appetite. He shut himself in his study when he wasn’t training, leaving Gwen to manage the court.
It was a week later when Gwaine and Leon burst into the courtroom.
“Your highness,” Gwaine said with a hurried bow. “There’s… there’s something you must see.”
Gwen was led to the courtyard, where a horse and cart was waiting. On it was the shape of a body wrapped in cloth.
“It just came here on its own. There was no driver,” Leon said as Gwen approached.
Gwen lifted the edge of the cloth to reveal the body’s face. She met the cold, lifeless eyes of Mordred. She swallowed, reminding herself that this boy of seventeen, just barely a man, was far from innocent. Gwen had done this for her friend and husband.
Finally she sighed and covered his face.
“Fetch the king.”
llllllllll
A/N: If you’re interested, there is a sequel to this focusing on Morgana called A Witch’s Vengeance.
Fandom: Merlin
Characters: Gwen, Arthur, Morgana, Mordred, bit of Morgause, Gwaine, & Leon
Rating: R
Word Count: 1,028
Warning: Character deaths
Disclaimer: If Merlin were mine, Gwen would be an equal character with Merlin and Arthur because she is totes awesome-sauce.
Spoilers: For series 1-3. Disregard anything you’ve heard about S4.
Summary: When Arthur becomes determined to avenge Merlin’s death by putting his own life at risk, Gwen seeks help from an unlikely source.
A/N: Written awhile ago for an Arthur/Gwen themed Last Author Standing (it won 3rd place). The prompt was this picture, which I decided wasn’t a particularly happy circumstance considering Arthur’s expression. I’m posting this before I get to posting the other LAS fics because I feel like posting the sequel I wrote to this.
llllllllll
Arthur Pendragon shared more qualities with his father than he or even Guinevere would have liked to admit. Both men were capable of fierce love, as were they both capable of fierce wrath when those loved ones were lost.
Merlin’s death turned Arthur into a different man - one whom his own wife often did not recognize. Whereas his father had sought vengeance on every person of magic in the kingdom, Arthur only wanted one sorcerer.
Mordred.
The child Arthur and Merlin had once saved from execution had turned into a monster unlike they had ever known. As soon as Merlin knew that Kilgarrah had been right about Mordred’s nature, he became set on keeping the rest of what the dragon foretold from coming true. Even if that meant sacrificing his own life to save Arthur’s.
Gwen had to beg Arthur not to pursue Mordred. She’d wrapped blocked his way and wrapped her arms around him in an attempt to hold him back. “Arthur, please,” she’d pleaded. “I just lost Merlin. Don’t let me lose you, too.”
She’d felt his panting breath slow and his body relax until he dropped his sword and shield and wrapped his arms around her in turn. His head had drooped and his face became buried in her hair. First she’d felt the dampness of his tears, then the shaking of his body as he began to sob.
Gwen had never seen Arthur break down like that before. But it was not nearly as alarming to see as the vengeful man he’d turned into the next day.
Not only was Gwen terrified of losing Arthur to his fury, she was afraid he would lose his life as well. Merlin had thought he’d changed Arthur’s fate to be killed by Mordred. But what if Merlin had merely delayed it? What if Arthur’s true fate had always been to die in pursuit of revenge?
Gwen was going to make sure that didn’t happen.
lll
The second time Arthur left with the knights in an attempt to track Mordred down, Gwen went on a mission of her own.
She traveled to what had once been Cenred’s kingdom, a land that was now split between Camelot and the other neighboring kingdoms. Cenred’s old castle, however, stood in the middle, unwilling to be claimed by any kingdom. No one dared to.
Gwen rode up to the gates, her had wrapped firmly around the protective amulet Merlin had once given her. Although she did not know if it would be powerful enough against whatever curses might surround this place.
The gates opened on their own accord, making Gwen wonder if she was expected or if it was a trap. Not knowing what else to do, she led her horse into the courtyard and dismounted just as the doors to the castle opened.
Gwen went inside, following the lit torches and opening doors until she came to what had probably once been Cenred’s throne room.
“I’m surprised to see you here, Gwen,” Morgana said. “What could possibly bring you here?”
Gwen swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “Merlin was killed.”
Morgana’s mouth twitched, finally becoming a smile. “And you thought you would bring me the good news? I’m grateful, however I already knew.”
Gwen’s jaw grew rigid as she fought back her anger. “I want you to avenge him.”
“You want vengeance, Gwen? I know you’ve always believed in justice, but never have you sought pure vengeance.”
“Well now I do.”
“No,” Morgana replied with a shake of her head. “It’s Arthur that wants vengeance. He’s put all his efforts into trying to find Mordred. And you’re afraid that when Arthur tries to kill Mordred, Mordred will just kill him with a snap of his fingers.”
Gwen’s breath shuddered. “Yes.”
“But why should I help you?”
“Because somewhere under all the hate that’s grown inside you, you once cared for Arthur and me. And you even once cared for Merlin.”
“Which would have once persuaded me, but why should I do it now?”
Gwen raised her chin. “Then do it because Mordred is a power-hungry bastard and I’d guess that one day he’ll come after you to get rid of the competition and prove himself as the most powerful sorcerer of Albion. Mordred only managed to kill Merlin out of luck, not skill, as his real target had been Arthur. I believe that you’re the more powerful one, so only you can kill him. But Merlin believed that Mordred had a way of quickly gaining power, so you should best do it before he becomes more powerful than you. And if he does kill you, who will take care of your sister?”
Morgana paused for a moment, her eyes growing soft in worry for Morgause, invalid since the two had attempted to take Camelot. But Morgana caught her moment of weakness and smirked. “I see you yourself have become more powerful, your highness. I would hate to face you in court.”
“So will you do it?”
“I’ll consider it,” Morgana said with a nod, before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
lll
Arthur came back three days after Gwen had spoken with Morgana.
His lack of progress weighed heavily on him and his frustration only increased. Gwen could tell by his distraction, by his fitful sleep, by his lack of appetite. He shut himself in his study when he wasn’t training, leaving Gwen to manage the court.
It was a week later when Gwaine and Leon burst into the courtroom.
“Your highness,” Gwaine said with a hurried bow. “There’s… there’s something you must see.”
Gwen was led to the courtyard, where a horse and cart was waiting. On it was the shape of a body wrapped in cloth.
“It just came here on its own. There was no driver,” Leon said as Gwen approached.
Gwen lifted the edge of the cloth to reveal the body’s face. She met the cold, lifeless eyes of Mordred. She swallowed, reminding herself that this boy of seventeen, just barely a man, was far from innocent. Gwen had done this for her friend and husband.
Finally she sighed and covered his face.
“Fetch the king.”
llllllllll
A/N: If you’re interested, there is a sequel to this focusing on Morgana called A Witch’s Vengeance.