The Time Meddler (3/?)
Title: The Time Meddler
Spoilers: Up to "The Sword in the Stone", eventually, beginning with "The Nightmare Begins".
Warnings: Character death, violence, possibly incest?
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin; Arthur/Gwen; Arthur/Morgana; Merlin/Morgana; Merlin/Gwen; Morgana/Gwen; Gwen/Lancelot; Morgana/Gwaine - although it's not focused in the romance at all, they all might be mentioned, so you are warned.
Rating: R
Chapter Word Count: 2,446
Summary: They said no man can change his history, but Merlin doesn't believe it. Time is his to bend and his destiny is his to shape. Again.
Chapter 3
Morgana was tired, having spent the whole night kneeling beside her father’s grave, but she knew what she had to do. As the sun came up, she rose and looking for just a moment to make sure the two knights and Gwen were really asleep, she mounted on her horse and left.
Although it had been a fast conversation and there hadn’t been much time to go through the plan, it had all gone well so far. The potion Merlin had gave her to mix in their water clearly had worked, and if her through was raw from the long hours without anything to drink, it was a small price to pay. She rode back into the cover of trees, looking in the dim light for the path Merlin had told her to take. He said he’d meet her, but she had no idea how he’d be able to get rid of his duties in the castle.
She hoped Gwen and the knights didn’t suffer much from her escapade. It wouldn’t be fair, and she’d blame herself if Uther decided to punish them. Morgana heard someone coming and hid in the midst of the trees, but soon it became clear who was coming by. No one else in Camelot had so little acquaintance to riding. She came out of the trees, and the boy yelled and fell from the horse.
“You almost gave me a heart attack.”
She chuckled, looking at him.
“One would think that after so many bandit raids, magical creatures and hunting parties you’d be prepared for someone to show up in the middle of the woods - especially someone you were expecting.”
Merlin was back on his horse, and grinned.
“I’m useless, as Arthur always says. Shall we?”
He guided the horse towards a path some feet ahead, and she stopped before following him.
“Will they be ok?” she said, looking at him. “If something happens to them, it’s my fault. Uther…”
“Uther won’t punish them” Merlin said, steadily. “If it all goes according to plan, he won’t even know you parted from them.”
“But… How?”
He shook his head at her, clearly sorry, but his words weren’t a comfort when they came.
“Do you know how you sometimes dreams things, and they are so terrible, and you’re so keen to avoid them that you end up making it worse? Or making it happen in first place?”
She nodded, but her heart was chilled.
“Nothing that happens with them is your fault. It’s their destiny they’ll be riding for, and even you can’t stand between them and their destiny.”
She gave him a small sardonic smile, but rode towards him. The trail wasn’t large enough for two horses to stay side by side, so she couldn’t quite see this face as they talked.
“When did you become so wise, Merlin? And how can you be so sure? I thought you said you weren’t a seer.”
“I’m not” he said, sighing. “But there are legends… About all of us, about Camelot and its future. The druidic bards sing songs and tell tales about the days that are about to come, and I’ve heard enough of them to know some things can’t be changed, no matter what we do.”
His voice was strained, as if the thought pained him. Morgana didn’t like it either - she never believed in fate, unless the one she shaped for herself. That was what she hated the most about her dreams and visions: she couldn’t fight them or change them. It made her feel helpless and small, not being able to protect the ones she loved, and even worse: suffering in advance for things she could not change. She said this to Merlin, and he nodded in agreement.
“It’s gotta be hard, and you’re not the kind to just let things be and do nothing. But, maybe, with some help and training you’ll be able to avoid the things you don’t need to see and also summon the sight when you want to find out something.”
“Let’s hope so. It’s a burden, but there must be a way to use it to help. But even if I did manage to gather information beforehand, there is no way Uther would trust it. He would want to know how I found out, and he’d never accept a seer in his midst.”
“There’s Arthur” said Merlin, clearly not only trying to help, but wishing his words true with all this heart. “Maybe, when he’s king… Things might change, then.”
“Is that why you’re still in Camelot?” she said, amazed by his innocence and his loyalty.
“I believe Arthur will be a fair and just ruler.”
“Do you believe it, or it was something you heard in the songs as well?”
Merlin turned to look straight at her, and his horse stopped, sensing the rider’s movements.
“I believe it with all my heart, songs or no songs” he said, his voice deep and full of emotion. “I’ve seen it, many times, in his actions, the king that he will be. He saved my life, Morgana.”
“And how many times have you saved his?” she asked, a cutting tone in her voice. No matter what she wanted to believe, Arthur had proved her he was a decent man just about as many times as he had proved he was his father’s son. “That doesn’t count?”
Merlin took a deep breath.
“He saved my mother’s life, and my village” then, with a smile, he added. “You helped a lot, of course. He got the morteaus flower, defying his father and risking his life”
“I told him to go, or he wouldn’t have” she said, raising her chin. “And you helped, didn’t you? He said there was a light…”
“Yes, I guess I did”, he said, smiling at her. “And you’re one of the things that keep him from being an obnoxious prat, I never said otherwise.” She grinned back, and he turned serious again. “But when he killed the unicorn, in his final test, he drank poison to save me”, a stop, and the boy giggled. “At least we believed it was poison then. And he didn’t do it for me, either, or not only for me, but for the whole country, to stop the hunger that was devastating Camelot. He was ready to give his life to fix a mistake he made without even knowing. He’s a noble man, and will turn into a fine king when the time comes.”
The devotion in his words touched her, and she nodded solemnly.
“And it can’t come soon enough” she muttered, as they followed the path.
It was still mid-morning when Gaius was summoned into the throne room, and he wondered what would be the reason for that, since Uther hadn’t seemed gravely ill the previous night, and there was no council being held that day.
“Gaius. At last.” Said the King, and his face said he was very displeased. “Sir Lanval told me the most interesting tale this morning.”
Gaius eyebrows rose, he was sure this had something to do with Merlin.
“About your ward” he went on, and Gaius shoulders dropped.
“What has he done now?” asked the physician, in a tired tone.
“Sir Lanval was guarding the patrol on their way back to Camelot, when he saw Merlin rode by, an hour before sunrise” said the King, and the old man looked annoyed.
“He left very early.”
“They were patrolling the Southern Road” said the King. “While the boy was supposed to go West to find the flower.”
“What are you implying, my lord?” asked Gaius, without knowing what to say to calm the king and keep the warlock safe at the same time.
“Sir Lanval says he was heading to Gorlois’ tomb.”
“Ah” said the oldest man, but it was no surprise to him that Merlin and Morgana were up to something, or that Merlin was stupid enough to get noticed. He might have even greeted the knight, the idiot.
“And last month, I found him on Morgana’s chambers in early morning, before the maid had even arrived there” Uther inclined himself towards the other man. “Do you know anything about this, Gaius?”
“I’m afraid not, sire” he said, tense.
“I’ll have a party set to follow Morgana, and if I found out he rode to her, or, god forbid, talked her into eloping with him…”
“My Lord!” Gaius exclaimed, shocked, and almost chuckling. “I don’t think this is the case...”
“You better hope not, or I’ll have him hanged, ward of yours or not” he said, angry. “I’ve been thinking about finding Morgana a proper Matron since that day. It became clear to me that she has to be watched closely and protected from… possible suitors.”
“Sire” said Gaius, in a soft, calming tone. “I’m pretty sure that if Merlin was courting anyone on that party, or eloping, it would be with Guinevere.”
“Guinevere?” Uther asked, looking bewildered.
“Gwen and Merlin are very close, sire, and when he was poisoned last year, she kissed him as soon as he woke up, much to my surprise. I’m pretty sure they are an item.”
“Yes… I think I remember Arthur saying something about them being in love when she was accused of sorcery. Still, I think it’s best if we find her a matron, and I’ll have some man look for her, and if he’s near Morgana, or if he has taken her away, Arthur will have to find himself a new manservant”
“If he has anything to do with Morgana’s disappearance, I’ll kill him with my own hands” said Arthur’s voice, as the prince walked into the hall. He inclined his head towards his stunned father and handed him a note.
A ransom note from Hengist.
Merlin was in deep trouble.
By the mid-afternoon they were already as near the druid camp as they dared to get with their horses. Merlin arranged for an old woman that lived in the closest farm to look for them for a few days, and they came back into the forest, for the last few yards of their journey.
“How did you know where to find the Druids” she asked, finally, when the silence had lasted too long.
“You’d be surprised how many people are still in touch with them even after Uther’s prohibition.”
“I doubt it” she snorted, looking at him. “Actually, I think they aren’t near as many as they should be if he’s still in power. People hate him - but maybe they fear him too much to say.”
“So, I just needed to pretend to help in the Royal Records for a bit and got hold of a few names in the suspects of treason for consorting with magic users. Then, I asked them for help.”
“And why would they help you?” her eyes were piercing. “You’re Arthur’s manservant, one of the most likely people to be a spy trying to sell the druids off. Unless… Unless they know about you.”
Merlin gave her his best goofy grin.
“I’m not really the spy kind, am I? I’m terrible at stealth.”
She chuckled, nodding.
“It’s a shock that you kept your secret for so long, really” she said, and he pretended he had been shot an arrow to amuse her, which worked. It was easy being around Morgana, easier than it should be, considering how many difficulties lay ahead of them; how much history they had. But she didn’t know that, and Merlin could remember now more than ever why they had all loved and trusted her before she turned away from them.
“They don’t know” he said, finally, wanting to be as honest as possible. “But Arthur is well respected in the lower town, he treats them fairly. And, while I’m his manservant, I’m also Gaius’ ward and apprentice, and he has protected them to the best of his abilities for a long time.”
Her face turned dark for a moment at the mention of the name, and he knew she was thinking he hadn’t done the same for her. Merlin walked closer to her.
“He really thought it was the best way” he said, his voice low. “He loves you so much he didn’t want you to be burden with this knowledge. He never thought your magic would be so strong and break out like this.”
“He treated me like a child” she complained, her voice cold, and he looked at her for a second too long.
“We’ll always be children in their eyes” he said, finally, for there was nothing else he could say. “I hope you find it in you to forgive him.”
“Maybe one day, but not yet” she said, and then she looked up to see the sunlight being filtered through the leaves. The first orange tones were showing up in the sky.
“We’re close” Merlin said, reassuringly. “It’s just across that creek”
She halted just before entering the camp, and for the first time he noticed she was actually afraid of what would happen. He couldn’t blame her, Morgana was raised hearing about the evils of magic, of how those people were untrustworthy, and many other things he didn’t even want to think about.
“It will be alright” he said, holding her hand.
“No, it will never be alright again” she said, darkly. “But I’ll face it anyway.”
“My Lady Morgana” said the man that was clearly the leader and the owner of the castle. “You’re as beautiful as the reports make you do be. Hengist”, he said, trying to sound pleasant. “Enchanted.”
Gwen felt her blood freeze, and thanked the gods that her lady was safe somewhere else. She had no idea where she had gone, but the best she could do for both was playing her part.
“What do you want?” she said, as imperiously as she could.
“I’ve been told Uther Pendragon will do anything for his beloved ward” he said, offering her a place to seat beside him. “Don’t worry, you’ll be well treated, my lady, I’m just curious about how much you’re worth.”
She didn’t need to fake the look of contempt, but Hengist wasn’t looking at her anymore, but calling to the cage in the middle of the hall two men to fight for his entertainment. She wondered for how long she could keep this charade before he found out the truth and killed her. It was a matter of time, for surely she was doomed.
When she looked at the warriors, she felt her heart stop, for the winner was looking straight at her, his eyes shining with emotion.
Lancelot.
Maybe there was hope after all.
Spoilers: Up to "The Sword in the Stone", eventually, beginning with "The Nightmare Begins".
Warnings: Character death, violence, possibly incest?
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin; Arthur/Gwen; Arthur/Morgana; Merlin/Morgana; Merlin/Gwen; Morgana/Gwen; Gwen/Lancelot; Morgana/Gwaine - although it's not focused in the romance at all, they all might be mentioned, so you are warned.
Rating: R
Chapter Word Count: 2,446
Summary: They said no man can change his history, but Merlin doesn't believe it. Time is his to bend and his destiny is his to shape. Again.
Chapter 3
Morgana was tired, having spent the whole night kneeling beside her father’s grave, but she knew what she had to do. As the sun came up, she rose and looking for just a moment to make sure the two knights and Gwen were really asleep, she mounted on her horse and left.
Although it had been a fast conversation and there hadn’t been much time to go through the plan, it had all gone well so far. The potion Merlin had gave her to mix in their water clearly had worked, and if her through was raw from the long hours without anything to drink, it was a small price to pay. She rode back into the cover of trees, looking in the dim light for the path Merlin had told her to take. He said he’d meet her, but she had no idea how he’d be able to get rid of his duties in the castle.
She hoped Gwen and the knights didn’t suffer much from her escapade. It wouldn’t be fair, and she’d blame herself if Uther decided to punish them. Morgana heard someone coming and hid in the midst of the trees, but soon it became clear who was coming by. No one else in Camelot had so little acquaintance to riding. She came out of the trees, and the boy yelled and fell from the horse.
“You almost gave me a heart attack.”
She chuckled, looking at him.
“One would think that after so many bandit raids, magical creatures and hunting parties you’d be prepared for someone to show up in the middle of the woods - especially someone you were expecting.”
Merlin was back on his horse, and grinned.
“I’m useless, as Arthur always says. Shall we?”
He guided the horse towards a path some feet ahead, and she stopped before following him.
“Will they be ok?” she said, looking at him. “If something happens to them, it’s my fault. Uther…”
“Uther won’t punish them” Merlin said, steadily. “If it all goes according to plan, he won’t even know you parted from them.”
“But… How?”
He shook his head at her, clearly sorry, but his words weren’t a comfort when they came.
“Do you know how you sometimes dreams things, and they are so terrible, and you’re so keen to avoid them that you end up making it worse? Or making it happen in first place?”
She nodded, but her heart was chilled.
“Nothing that happens with them is your fault. It’s their destiny they’ll be riding for, and even you can’t stand between them and their destiny.”
She gave him a small sardonic smile, but rode towards him. The trail wasn’t large enough for two horses to stay side by side, so she couldn’t quite see this face as they talked.
“When did you become so wise, Merlin? And how can you be so sure? I thought you said you weren’t a seer.”
“I’m not” he said, sighing. “But there are legends… About all of us, about Camelot and its future. The druidic bards sing songs and tell tales about the days that are about to come, and I’ve heard enough of them to know some things can’t be changed, no matter what we do.”
His voice was strained, as if the thought pained him. Morgana didn’t like it either - she never believed in fate, unless the one she shaped for herself. That was what she hated the most about her dreams and visions: she couldn’t fight them or change them. It made her feel helpless and small, not being able to protect the ones she loved, and even worse: suffering in advance for things she could not change. She said this to Merlin, and he nodded in agreement.
“It’s gotta be hard, and you’re not the kind to just let things be and do nothing. But, maybe, with some help and training you’ll be able to avoid the things you don’t need to see and also summon the sight when you want to find out something.”
“Let’s hope so. It’s a burden, but there must be a way to use it to help. But even if I did manage to gather information beforehand, there is no way Uther would trust it. He would want to know how I found out, and he’d never accept a seer in his midst.”
“There’s Arthur” said Merlin, clearly not only trying to help, but wishing his words true with all this heart. “Maybe, when he’s king… Things might change, then.”
“Is that why you’re still in Camelot?” she said, amazed by his innocence and his loyalty.
“I believe Arthur will be a fair and just ruler.”
“Do you believe it, or it was something you heard in the songs as well?”
Merlin turned to look straight at her, and his horse stopped, sensing the rider’s movements.
“I believe it with all my heart, songs or no songs” he said, his voice deep and full of emotion. “I’ve seen it, many times, in his actions, the king that he will be. He saved my life, Morgana.”
“And how many times have you saved his?” she asked, a cutting tone in her voice. No matter what she wanted to believe, Arthur had proved her he was a decent man just about as many times as he had proved he was his father’s son. “That doesn’t count?”
Merlin took a deep breath.
“He saved my mother’s life, and my village” then, with a smile, he added. “You helped a lot, of course. He got the morteaus flower, defying his father and risking his life”
“I told him to go, or he wouldn’t have” she said, raising her chin. “And you helped, didn’t you? He said there was a light…”
“Yes, I guess I did”, he said, smiling at her. “And you’re one of the things that keep him from being an obnoxious prat, I never said otherwise.” She grinned back, and he turned serious again. “But when he killed the unicorn, in his final test, he drank poison to save me”, a stop, and the boy giggled. “At least we believed it was poison then. And he didn’t do it for me, either, or not only for me, but for the whole country, to stop the hunger that was devastating Camelot. He was ready to give his life to fix a mistake he made without even knowing. He’s a noble man, and will turn into a fine king when the time comes.”
The devotion in his words touched her, and she nodded solemnly.
“And it can’t come soon enough” she muttered, as they followed the path.
It was still mid-morning when Gaius was summoned into the throne room, and he wondered what would be the reason for that, since Uther hadn’t seemed gravely ill the previous night, and there was no council being held that day.
“Gaius. At last.” Said the King, and his face said he was very displeased. “Sir Lanval told me the most interesting tale this morning.”
Gaius eyebrows rose, he was sure this had something to do with Merlin.
“About your ward” he went on, and Gaius shoulders dropped.
“What has he done now?” asked the physician, in a tired tone.
“Sir Lanval was guarding the patrol on their way back to Camelot, when he saw Merlin rode by, an hour before sunrise” said the King, and the old man looked annoyed.
“He left very early.”
“They were patrolling the Southern Road” said the King. “While the boy was supposed to go West to find the flower.”
“What are you implying, my lord?” asked Gaius, without knowing what to say to calm the king and keep the warlock safe at the same time.
“Sir Lanval says he was heading to Gorlois’ tomb.”
“Ah” said the oldest man, but it was no surprise to him that Merlin and Morgana were up to something, or that Merlin was stupid enough to get noticed. He might have even greeted the knight, the idiot.
“And last month, I found him on Morgana’s chambers in early morning, before the maid had even arrived there” Uther inclined himself towards the other man. “Do you know anything about this, Gaius?”
“I’m afraid not, sire” he said, tense.
“I’ll have a party set to follow Morgana, and if I found out he rode to her, or, god forbid, talked her into eloping with him…”
“My Lord!” Gaius exclaimed, shocked, and almost chuckling. “I don’t think this is the case...”
“You better hope not, or I’ll have him hanged, ward of yours or not” he said, angry. “I’ve been thinking about finding Morgana a proper Matron since that day. It became clear to me that she has to be watched closely and protected from… possible suitors.”
“Sire” said Gaius, in a soft, calming tone. “I’m pretty sure that if Merlin was courting anyone on that party, or eloping, it would be with Guinevere.”
“Guinevere?” Uther asked, looking bewildered.
“Gwen and Merlin are very close, sire, and when he was poisoned last year, she kissed him as soon as he woke up, much to my surprise. I’m pretty sure they are an item.”
“Yes… I think I remember Arthur saying something about them being in love when she was accused of sorcery. Still, I think it’s best if we find her a matron, and I’ll have some man look for her, and if he’s near Morgana, or if he has taken her away, Arthur will have to find himself a new manservant”
“If he has anything to do with Morgana’s disappearance, I’ll kill him with my own hands” said Arthur’s voice, as the prince walked into the hall. He inclined his head towards his stunned father and handed him a note.
A ransom note from Hengist.
Merlin was in deep trouble.
By the mid-afternoon they were already as near the druid camp as they dared to get with their horses. Merlin arranged for an old woman that lived in the closest farm to look for them for a few days, and they came back into the forest, for the last few yards of their journey.
“How did you know where to find the Druids” she asked, finally, when the silence had lasted too long.
“You’d be surprised how many people are still in touch with them even after Uther’s prohibition.”
“I doubt it” she snorted, looking at him. “Actually, I think they aren’t near as many as they should be if he’s still in power. People hate him - but maybe they fear him too much to say.”
“So, I just needed to pretend to help in the Royal Records for a bit and got hold of a few names in the suspects of treason for consorting with magic users. Then, I asked them for help.”
“And why would they help you?” her eyes were piercing. “You’re Arthur’s manservant, one of the most likely people to be a spy trying to sell the druids off. Unless… Unless they know about you.”
Merlin gave her his best goofy grin.
“I’m not really the spy kind, am I? I’m terrible at stealth.”
She chuckled, nodding.
“It’s a shock that you kept your secret for so long, really” she said, and he pretended he had been shot an arrow to amuse her, which worked. It was easy being around Morgana, easier than it should be, considering how many difficulties lay ahead of them; how much history they had. But she didn’t know that, and Merlin could remember now more than ever why they had all loved and trusted her before she turned away from them.
“They don’t know” he said, finally, wanting to be as honest as possible. “But Arthur is well respected in the lower town, he treats them fairly. And, while I’m his manservant, I’m also Gaius’ ward and apprentice, and he has protected them to the best of his abilities for a long time.”
Her face turned dark for a moment at the mention of the name, and he knew she was thinking he hadn’t done the same for her. Merlin walked closer to her.
“He really thought it was the best way” he said, his voice low. “He loves you so much he didn’t want you to be burden with this knowledge. He never thought your magic would be so strong and break out like this.”
“He treated me like a child” she complained, her voice cold, and he looked at her for a second too long.
“We’ll always be children in their eyes” he said, finally, for there was nothing else he could say. “I hope you find it in you to forgive him.”
“Maybe one day, but not yet” she said, and then she looked up to see the sunlight being filtered through the leaves. The first orange tones were showing up in the sky.
“We’re close” Merlin said, reassuringly. “It’s just across that creek”
She halted just before entering the camp, and for the first time he noticed she was actually afraid of what would happen. He couldn’t blame her, Morgana was raised hearing about the evils of magic, of how those people were untrustworthy, and many other things he didn’t even want to think about.
“It will be alright” he said, holding her hand.
“No, it will never be alright again” she said, darkly. “But I’ll face it anyway.”
“My Lady Morgana” said the man that was clearly the leader and the owner of the castle. “You’re as beautiful as the reports make you do be. Hengist”, he said, trying to sound pleasant. “Enchanted.”
Gwen felt her blood freeze, and thanked the gods that her lady was safe somewhere else. She had no idea where she had gone, but the best she could do for both was playing her part.
“What do you want?” she said, as imperiously as she could.
“I’ve been told Uther Pendragon will do anything for his beloved ward” he said, offering her a place to seat beside him. “Don’t worry, you’ll be well treated, my lady, I’m just curious about how much you’re worth.”
She didn’t need to fake the look of contempt, but Hengist wasn’t looking at her anymore, but calling to the cage in the middle of the hall two men to fight for his entertainment. She wondered for how long she could keep this charade before he found out the truth and killed her. It was a matter of time, for surely she was doomed.
When she looked at the warriors, she felt her heart stop, for the winner was looking straight at her, his eyes shining with emotion.
Lancelot.
Maybe there was hope after all.