Merlin fic: A Better World (2/2)

[dk323]

Title: A Better World (2/2) ("A Better World" is a Two-Part Sequel to With a heavy heart)
Author: dk323
Rating: PG
Word count (for this part): 5,010
Spoilers: Up through 3x04 "Gwaine" (3x05 “The Crystal Cave" episode didn't happen in this fic verse)
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Merlin, implied Arthur/Gwen, Morgana, OCs
Disclaimer: The show Merlin is property of the BBC.
Part 1 summary: There’s a threat on Arthur’s life, but with Merlin around, Arthur isn’t too worried about it. Merlin is still hurting after losing two years of his life. Morgana decides to turn the tables on Fate, and she ends up pregnant as a result. With Freya’s help, Morgana is able to rectify the problem.
Part 2 summary: Merlin confides in Arthur and their relationship is all the better for it.

Meanwhile, Morgana officially meets several people of the Alpha World. In the Alpha World: Merlyn is Arthur's grandfather (Ygraine is Merlyn's youngest daughter), the Lady of the Lake (Viviane) is Arthur's aunt as well as Merlyn's eldest daughter. Lancelot is Viviane's son, so he's Arthur's cousin as well. Morgan is Merlyn's ward and Arthur's wife.

Eight months later, Merlin takes Arthur with him to go see the Crystal Cave. When Morgana returns to her world, Merlin is at the lake to welcome her back.

Author’s Notes: This fic is set after 3x04 "Gwaine" and is AU after that point. Specifically, it has been around two years since 3x04 and Arthur has been recently crowned King (toward the end of "With a heavy heart"). Since “With a heavy heart” was completed prior to 3x05, I’m going to keep to that. So anything that happened in 3x05 didn’t happen in this fic verse. Though I’m keeping the revelation that Uther is Morgana’s father to remain true to canon. But everyone finds this out in a different way since the events of 3x05 did not take place here. The Crystal Cave is featured in this part, but Merlin didn't discover it like on the show as the episode didn't happen in this fic verse.

A Better World: Part 1

~ * ~

His brow furrowed in thought, Merlin bit his lip as he wrote on the sheet of parchment at his writing desk. Unfortunately, his promise to himself to get some rest had been easily broken. He felt the need to do something, and though his body protested, he decided to not go to sleep just yet. He could make better use of his time doing something productive like writing down all the spells he knew and…

“Honestly, Merlin. It’s the middle of the night. I thought you were tired?”

Arthur’s reprimanding voice took Merlin away from his writing. The king had come into his chambers without Merlin even noticing. He felt denied the chance to escape before Arthur began this whole ‘tell me what is wrong with you, Merlin and tell me how to fix it’ conversation. Merlin had thought Arthur would wait until the morning to speak to him, but clearly he had underestimated the king’s impatience.

“I had something to take care of,” said Merlin with a small shrug.

Arthur gave him a disbelieving look. “I know you haven’t been sleeping. You need to get some rest. I can’t have you like this. You’ll get yourself sick eventually.”

“I have been getting some sleep, I assure you. I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself.”

“You haven’t been getting enough sleep though.”

Merlin frowned at him. “Leave me alone, Arthur.”

“Well I can’t have you setting your bed on fire or whatever happens when a sorcerer is running on little sleep! I wouldn’t be surprised if your magic acts up…”

“I’ve had my magic all my life, Arthur. I am quite capable of handling it -- sleep or no sleep.”

“I want to help you, Merlin. I truly do. I know I can hardly fathom what you must be feeling now…losing those two years, sleeping through them.” Arthur paused, coming to realize what truly must be wrong with Merlin.

“Yes,” Merlin interrupted, “You should go.”

“Merlin, I’m sorry,” Arthur said emphatically. He looked positively stricken, and it hurt Merlin to look at the king. To see the deep regret in his now darkened blue eyes.

He stood up abruptly and waved his hand in the direction of the door. “Just go, Arthur. Or I swear--”

“I only want to help.”

“You shouldn’t have let me go!” Merlin shouted at him. “You shouldn’t have sent me away! How could you? You should have fought harder against the visions…I, really Arthur…why didn’t you? Why didn’t--” Merlin paused, breathing hard.

“Merlin…I don’t know what to say. I regret it, you know I do. But what I had seen, I’m grateful enough that I didn’t call for your execution. That even after I exiled you, I didn’t go to my father and inform him about your true nature.”

Arthur embraced him while Merlin stood there, stiff and eerily quiet. But Arthur could see the surprise in Merlin’s blue eyes. He lifted Merlin’s chin with a finger. “Merlin, it’s true,” Arthur emphasized, “I kept your secret, whatever good it did you considering what happened to you.”

Arthur sighed. His blue eyes dimmed. His sadness was clear on his face.

Merlin shook his head. “I can’t…” he said quietly.

“What?” Arthur asked, confused.

Merlin tried to push him away, but Arthur wouldn’t let him go.

“Merlin, what do you need me to say or do?” Arthur asked him, his tone desperate.

“Losing all those months, I can’t - I don’t know how to recover from that and--” Merlin paused and then he swore. Another hallucination had formed right before him.

“Do you see that, Arthur?” Merlin asked him, pointing toward the far window. He sincerely hoped he wasn’t the only one seeing these waking visions.

Arthur looked at him strangely. “No, what is it?”

Merlin watched as a dark-haired woman with blue eyes held a blond baby in her arms. Her hair was braided around the top like a crown, a blue flower joining the braids at the back. She was donned in a long-sleeved blue dress, tight at the bodice. Below the waist, the dress flowed down elegantly. It was peculiar, actually, how her gown rippled as if it were made of water. A necklace with a pendant full of clear liquid was at her neck.

“I’m your Aunt Viviane, my dear,” the woman informed the baby she held. “I look forward to seeing you in Avalon. I grew up there you know,” she explained, her voice and face conveying her passion for the place.

The baby only gurgled in response. The woman, Viviane, gave an almost musical-sounding laugh. She bent down to kiss the child on the forehead tenderly.

With the woman and baby vanishing into thin air, the hallucination concluded just as suddenly as it had begun.

“I’m going mad,” Merlin bemoaned.

“Merlin, what are you on about?” Arthur demanded to know.

Merlin was sure if he told Arthur that the king would draw the same conclusion: madness.

Merlin told Arthur that he had to go. Before Arthur could do or say anything, Merlin magically disappeared from his room. He locked Arthur inside of the room, keeping him there while Merlin escaped. He was only seeking a moment of privacy away from Arthur.

He was unwilling to deal with seeing the sadness, the regret in Arthur’s eyes. He felt guilty for placing such blame on the king, but Merlin didn’t know how to handle this situation. He had never known anyone who went through what he did - losing two years of life and then being expected to move on, to make up for what was lost.

Merlin knew that he should let Arthur in. Arthur was trying his best to help him, but Merlin could only feel irritated. He had an irrational fear now that if he fell asleep, he would never wake again. What if he went to sleep one night and the next morning, he would find that months, years had passed him by?

Merlin couldn’t bear the horrible thought.

He sighed resignedly, leaning against the wall outside his room.

The one thing, the one person, he could count on now was Arthur. Merlin couldn’t push him away. Merlin cared for him as he knew Arthur did for him. It was a foolish thing for him to force a distance between him and the one man who Merlin had been destined to stand by and aid.

And Merlin knew that Gwen would get involved if he continued to deny Arthur’s help. Gwen would be dismayed; he was sure, to see him and Arthur so distant with each other.

Merlin was broken out of his thoughts when, understandably startled, he saw a familiar-looking blond boy appear before him. The boy was definitely the same one he had encountered earlier.

He had a small, black kitten in his arms and the poor creature was meowing piteously. The kitten was clearly hurt.

The boy stroked the kitten’s head, trying to soothe the animal.

“Will these ever end?” Merlin asked to no one resignedly.

He rubbed his forehead to ease the ache there. If he had to live the rest of his life with these hallucinations, Merlin did not know what he would do.

The boy appeared not to have heard him. Merlin wasn’t surprised.

“Now don’t worry,” the boy comforted the kitten.

He opened the door to a room opposite Merlin, a few feet away where he was standing and watching the boy curiously.

“Grandfather! I need your help,” the boy’s voice echoed. Then he shut the door behind him.

Merlin opened the door and he found the room dark and empty. Suddenly an invisible energy pushed at him and forced him to leave the room.

The man with the blue eyes appeared in front of him. He nodded as if in greeting. “The barrier is now closed. None shall pass without the blessing of Avalon. I repeat: the barrier is now closed. Trust in the Mother Goddess. Good day.”

The man smiled quietly and then he vanished.

“…What?” Merlin breathed out, confused and intrigued all at the same time.

What barrier? And why were all these strange occurrences happening to him now? Maybe it had something to do with his vision of Freya and Morgana on that boat…

And the mists…so thick Merlin hadn’t been able to see past them. The mists had been like a barrier, Merlin mused.

Though his desire to discover the reason behind these waking visions increased, Merlin knew he had to wait for answers. His first priority was finishing his talk with Arthur and thereby healing their relationship.

If his vision of Freya and Morgana was related to his hallucinations, then that proved that Freya knew very well about why this was happening to him. She would surely provide him with the answers Merlin sought.

~ * ~

“Why hello, Freya. And you must be the Lady Morgana from the Prime Merlinian’s Experimental World,” Viviane greeted them.

She invited them to sit at the table. Viviane sat opposite them. Viviane, the Lady of the Lake of the Alpha World as well as Merlyn’s daughter, had dark hair and vivid blue eyes. She looked younger than Morgana had expected her to with her pale, smooth skin. The Lady of the Lake also carried the poise and grace of a young noblewoman. But then Freya had told her that the magic of this Avalon affected people in intriguing ways. And if Viviane had resided most of her life at Avalon, then Avalon’s magic would have certainly had a significant effect on her.

Morgana turned to Freya, a questioning look in her eyes. “I don’t recall you mentioning the Prime Merlinian to me, Freya,” Morgana remarked.

Viviane nodded. She gave Morgana a kind smile. She explained, “There was once a world, a dying world, my dear, where a very old but also very wise man lived. Terrible things had struck his world, causing the world to rot and collapse. In a last daring move, this wise man decided that if one world must die, then he would create another, better world. This man, as you can guess, was known as the Prime Merlinian. I believe his birth name was Merlion, but my sources are unclear on that. Much gets lost over time, unfortunately.” She frowned.

“And my world was the better world? How is it better?” Morgana wondered.

Freya spoke up then. “The Prime Merlinian was uncertain how his created world would unravel. One of the key aspects was that Merlin and Arthur would be close in age. That with the pair being equals in this way, then that would spell a brighter future for Camelot. Now whether that in fact will happen or not - it is too soon to tell, but I think it’s working well enough so far. They are more friends then mentor and student. Both ways have their advantages and complications…”

Morgana found this information about the Prime Merlinian particularly fascinating. The knowledge certainly was especially insightful.

Viviane revealed a few more interesting details on the Prime Merlinian’s ill-fated world. After they ate and drank a bit, Freya declared that she and Morgana should depart. Viviane thanked Morgana for coming and said that she was pleased to see her.

Viviane spoke to Freya privately for a few minutes before the two of them hugged each other. Freya returned to Morgana’s side. Morgana had been standing a few feet away to allow the two other women some privacy. Freya confided in Morgana that Viviane was like a sister to her.

With that last sentiment, Freya took her across the lake in the boat. At the shore, Morgana would meet Viviane’s nephew, Arthur, and her son, Lancelot. Morgana decided it would definitely be something to get used to - that this world’s Arthur and Lancelot were cousins by blood. Certainly, it explained why Arthur would make Lancelot his First Knight in this world. Of course Morgana was sure Lancelot was just as great a swordsman as he was in her world. If this other Arthur were anything like the Arthur of her world, then he would judge first on merit over any familial connection. That is what made Arthur a noble and true King after all.

~ * ~

Freya left Morgana in the other Arthur and Lancelot’s hands. The two men - King and his First Knight - were, as expected, waiting for their arrival upon the shore. Their horses were drinking water nearby.

Arthur and Lancelot greeted Freya, exchanging pleasantries with her, and Arthur offering a room for her to stay in at the castle. Freya politely declined the offer, saying she had things to be done that were pressing for her attention.

After Freya’s departure, Arthur engaged Morgana in conversation.

“I don’t understand your world,” Arthur ventured. “--what with your Arthur being advised by a child.”

Lancelot nodded. “I find that a strange predicament too.”

“Merlin is just two years younger than him. He is not a child,” Morgana countered smoothly.

Arthur looked at her nonplussed. “…but he is still younger than him. From my perspective, you see, I don’t believe one could be effective as a part of the King’s advising counsel if they lack the years behind their knowledge and wisdom.”

“You do have a point,” Morgana conceded.

“And after all, you have come here to see my grandfather, haven’t you? Maybe if the Merlin of your world wasn’t so young, you wouldn’t have considered seeking my grandfather’s counsel,” Arthur reasoned out.

“I can’t accurately say what the state of my relationship would have been with Merlin if he had been older,” Morgana noted.

Maybe things would have turned out differently if Merlin had been older -- maybe he would have behaved differently. Maybe she wouldn’t have felt so deceived by him. And maybe now Morgana wouldn’t be in the position where she found it easier to delay confronting Merlin and settling their conflict. The animosity was still present, no matter how subdued it had become since she had left Morgause.

“But still, I’m really not the best person to be defending Merlin,” Morgana informed them.

“Oh yes. Lancelot and I know about how it is between you and the Merlin of your world. He poisoned you, you tried to kill him. Frankly, I don’t know why I’m not more interested in venturing into your world. It all sounds so…” Arthur paused, waving his hand as if searching for the right word.

“Cheerful,” Lancelot contributed.

“Ah yes,” Arthur acknowledged with a winning smile.

“You’re just as bad as my brother,” Morgana remarked, shaking her head in bemusement.

“Half-brother, is he? Does that mean my counterpart is only half as good?” Arthur teased.

Lancelot laughed.

Morgana rolled her eyes. “Yes, exactly that,” she remarked, “You two clearly have been on the cider. Intelligent conversation is beyond the both of you at the moment.”

“Oh, the Lady wounds us!” Lancelot exclaimed, pressing his hand over his chest to exaggerate his despair.

“All that aside, a gesture of gratitude is definitely in order,” Arthur declared, smiling at her. “I know what you did for my wife, Morgan. I’m most grateful to you, Morgana, for giving the child back to her.”

Morgana shook her head, waving her hand dismissively. “Oh no. There’s no need for the thank you. It was only the right thing to do,” she said.

“I thank you all the same,” Arthur reiterated.

Morgana smiled. “You’re welcome,” she accepted.

“Queen Morgan is nearly glowing now in her pregnancy. She looks forward to seeing you,” Lancelot informed Morgana.

Morgana inclined her head at him, expressing her pleasure at the happy news. She looked forward to meeting her counterpart as well.

Arthur graciously offered Morgana a ride with him on his horse. After all, she was his guest. She didn’t mind either way. As long as she wasn’t walking the whole time to Camelot, then it mattered little to her whose horse she was on. Yet Morgana wished that there had been a spare horse for her. Riding alone on a horse would have been her preferable option, but it certainly wasn’t the first time she had shared a horse with a man.

The three of them - Morgana sitting behind Arthur on his steed -- soon began their journey to Camelot.

~ * ~

“Arthur, I’m sorry,” Merlin began sincerely when he re-entered the room.

Arthur didn’t say a word, only looked at him - his blue eyes bright and perceptive as they pierced Merlin’s own.

“I just want you to tell me what’s going on. If there’s anything I can do to help. I’ll be quiet, I promise, while you speak. I’ll be listening to every word, which I’m sure will be riveting,” Arthur joked lightly, coaxing a small smile from Merlin.

Arthur smiled back at him. And so, Merlin sat down beside Arthur and confided in him. The words came easier as he went on. Merlin didn’t think he felt as grateful as he did then for Arthur’s support and friendship.

Merlin couldn’t deny that he really did love the man. No matter his flaws, he was a good, no, -- great -- man at heart.

And Camelot was lucky to have him as her King. Merlin certainly felt lucky to be at Arthur’s side.

~ * ~

Eight Months Later:

“What do you see?” Arthur asked with undisguised interest. He sat down on a ledge of solid rock as Merlin peered at the crystals nearby.

Merlin held out his hand, telling Arthur silently to wait.

Arthur let out a huff. “Honestly, Merlin, why did you bring me here anyway?”

Merlin turned his head and he gave him a quick, cheeky grin. “Well, I can’t talk to myself now, can I? Much better to have someone accompanying me,” he explained easily, “…and well, the last time I came to the Crystal Cave with Freya, I developed an awful headache and was overcome with lightheadedness. So in case I fall in a dead faint, you’ll be there to rouse me.”

Arthur quirked his eyebrow. “Those are the most ridiculous reasons I have ever heard. You do know you have to tell me what you see in those crystals. To make up for dragging me along.”

“I saw your face, Arthur. I know you wanted to come here. Don’t lie to me.”

“Yes, well. Maybe you’re right,” Arthur conceded.

Merlin smiled, shaking his head wryly. “I think I should be fine now. Freya said it would only be the first visit that I would experience an intense reaction to the Crystal Cave.”

“…where magic began,” Arthur noted idly, recalling what Merlin had told him.

Merlin nodded. “I think I’ll be visiting here a lot. Maybe with you coming with me,” he added, winking at Arthur.

Arthur gave him a long-suffering sigh. Knowing that Arthur was only being contrary, Merlin grinned at him in return.

~ * ~

When Merlin and Arthur departed from the Crystal Cave, they were surprised to see two people - an older man and a younger woman - near the entrance to the cave.

Merlin recognized the man as Merlyn, and his daughter, Viviane, also known as the Lady of the Lake of another world. Freya had explained all this to him about the other world - the Alpha World - some months ago. He had learned that’s where Morgana had gone to. Merlin told Arthur about the identities of the two people.

Arthur raised his brow, half-startled and half-curious to see a version of Merlin who was much older. And apparently, who was also the grandfather of the other world’s Arthur. Though this other Merlin was looking rather good for his age as he reminded Arthur of some of his older knights, still ready and willing to give a good fight. One sign of aging was the man’s graying dark hair, but other than that - it was a surprise to know that this man was a grandfather to grown men already.

The pair had apparently been in the midst of an argument.

Viviane answered her father’s question with a weary note in her voice. “He told me, ‘Aunt Viviane, I love you, and I admit you do give good advice most times, but this time is not one of them.’”

“Well, there you are, my dear,” Merlyn said smoothly.

“But, Father, you have the most sway over--”

“I have my own advice, you have yours. If you believe I will be your mouthpiece…” He gave her a stern look.

“Oh no. Of course not,” Viviane acknowledged quickly.

Then Merlyn turned his attention to Merlin and Arthur who were standing near them, trying not to look like they were eavesdropping.

“Hello, I’m Merlyn. You are the Merlin and Arthur of this world? Am I right?” Merlyn asked them. He beckoned the pair to come closer.

Merlin and Arthur nodded. “Yes. If we’re intruding--” Merlin began apologetically.

Merlyn shook his head. “No, no. This is your world,” Merlyn intimated with a smile. “My daughter and I are the ones who are intruding. We just need to take a look inside the Crystal Cave, and then we’ll leave your world in peace.

Viviane nodded at them. “I am Viviane, the Lady of the Lake of my world,” Then she turned to Merlyn. “I will go on ahead, Father,” she informed him.

She kissed her father on the cheek before venturing into the Crystal Cave.

“I admit Viviane has a tendency to meddle. But she means well,” Merlyn confided in them.

“You gave her to be raised by the priestesses at Avalon, right? Freya told me a little bit about your world,” Merlin told his other self.

“I’ve never felt so well-known,” Merlyn quipped. His gaze settled on Arthur, and Arthur felt like the older man was attempting to unravel his thoughts. It made Arthur uneasy on the one hand, but also oddly comforted by the feeling that he could depend on the man. That he didn't feel so alone in his responsibilities as King. The feeling echoed how he felt when his Merlin was by his side.

Arthur wondered what it was like for the other Arthur to have this man as his grandfather.

“Yes, that is true about Viviane. It is a tradition, you could say, for those raised at the Isle of Avalon to give this gesture of gratitude. The firstborn daughter would be given to the High Priestesses of Avalon to be raised on the isle. I have no doubt the practice may appear strange to others, but I was still able to see Viviane. And she certainly flourished at Avalon. Becoming the Lady of the Lake is no easy feat.”

“I’m sure,” Arthur said, unable to quite keep the flippant tone from his voice.

Arthur would be the first to admit he'd plead ignorance here. He didn't know what all that entailed to be in such a position. Simply going by the title -- Lady of the Lake -- Arthur thought it had to do with guarding a lake, maybe, or being a patron of a special lake that people paid tribute to. Or like with Freya, their Lady of the Lake, who had looked after his sword, Excalibur. All together, the position didn't appear as taxing as his role as King.

All the same, Merlin glared at him. He punched Arthur in the shoulder.

“I’m sorry for Arthur. He can be, well, Arthur sometimes,” Merlin said, shaking his head. He felt proud of himself for not calling him a ‘prat’ this once. That was an accomplishment.

His older alternate self only looked amused. “Ah of course. I don’t take offense. Don’t worry. Did you know, Arthur, that I was born a son of a King? Fourth son, so not as impressive, I’d wager. But the High Priestesses at Avalon were aware of a prophecy about me and my magical prowess. My mother and father were persuaded that I’d be better off growing up in Avalon. The Isle of Avalon is the best place after all for those of magic kind to thrive. To this day, I am grateful for my parents for giving me the best of the world, even if it meant giving me away. Now when I was grown, I left Avalon…and one of my older brothers, now King of my kingdom, gave me the position as advisor on magical affairs. By the time my grandson, Arthur, was born--”

“You had already been on a King’s counsel for years,” Arthur finished.

Merlyn nodded. He mused, “I don’t know if there is such a thing as a better world. My grandson would be the first to say his world is certainly superior. But I do believe what you two have here, Arthur and Merlin, is a great thing. I hope your bond of friendship remains strong as the years wear on. I truly wish you both the best, and for your kingdom as well, Arthur,” Merlyn said frankly, giving him a nod.

“Thank you,” Arthur replied, feeling slightly taken aback by the older man’s heartfelt words. “And I wish the best for your grandson’s kingdom,” he added.

A fleeting expression of sadness swept over Merlyn’s face before he smiled. The smile didn’t quite reach his eyes though. “Thank you.”

“It was nice to meet you,” Merlin said.

His alternate self acknowledged his words, saying he felt the same. Merlin shook the hand that his other self offered him. Merlin felt a not unpleasant sensation as the older man grasped his hand.

He put it down to a reaction resulting from him making contact with another version of himself. The two of them were connected after all despite growing up in different circumstances. They still shared the same purpose of guiding Arthur to make Camelot the best kingdom it could be.

Not long after Merlyn left them to go into the Crystal Cave, Arthur grabbed Merlin’s hand and then maneuvered him so that he faced Arthur.

“Arthur, what--?” Merlin asked.

But Arthur didn’t answer him. He kissed him instead, and then pulling away, he smiled. “I think we should take the long way home, Merlin,” Arthur suggested.

Merlin shrugged, easily agreeing to the request. He also wondered what Arthur was planning.

But first - Merlin couldn’t resist kissing Arthur back and locking his fingers into Arthur’s blond locks. Merlin loved to make a mess of Arthur’s hair.

And undeniably, their day was looking to be a particularly good one.

~ * ~

One Month Later:

Freya had shown her how to part the mists. The task required more than just gestures, but also the trick of bending one’s magic to speak to the mists, requesting them to shift at the person’s command. And so, Morgana parted the mists as she crossed the barrier that divided the Alpha World from her own.

Merlin was there at the shore when Morgana returned to her world.

“Welcome back, Morgana,” Merlin greeted her solemnly. “Freya told me you would be coming. And I met Merlyn and Viviane as well,” Merlin informed her once she left the boat.

She nodded, acknowledging his words. Then she confided in him quietly, “Merlin, I’m pregnant.”

Merlin looked at her, startled. “What?” He uttered in surprise at the news.

Morgana collapsed to the ground, covering her face with her hands. Merlin noticed the exhaustion and melancholy crossing her features.

“Morgana?” Merlin said her name in alarm.

He sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. She let him, needing the comfort desperately, no matter who it was from.

She wept on his shoulder while he rubbed soothing circles on her back.

“I’m glad to see you return,” Merlin whispered to her.

Morgana gave a half-choked laugh.

“Thank you, Merlin,” she answered him, her words sincere.

Morgana remembered Freya telling her to talk to Merlin, really talk to him, and move on past their differences.

She knew now, more than ever, that she would need Merlin’s help.

For Camelot’s sake, they had to work together.

~ * ~

As it so happened, Gwen was unable to bear a son for Arthur. Morgana had informed Merlin that this occurrence was due to Morgause’s machinations. Fortunately Morgause could do nothing against the boy Morgana gave birth to some months later. When Merlin inquired as to whom the father was, Morgana had only told him that “he is a good man.”

Morgana gave her child up to Arthur and Gwen, so they could raise the boy as their own. So that he could be the future King of Camelot.

Behind closed doors, Merlin saw how heartbroken Morgana was to give her child up like this. Now, she was glad that she could help her half-brother, and was firm on the future of Camelot holding more importance than her own future happiness. But despite that, she still couldn’t help but feel sad. Her child may never know who his mother truly was if they wished to keep the truth well-hidden from the public.

Unsure what else to do, Merlin settled for simply comforting her and letting her cry on his shoulder.

That left Merlin exhausted, heavy with worry and the burden of trying to be strong for Morgana. He was a fellow magic user for her to lean on, to find solace in.

So to remedy that problem, Arthur took on the task of being there for Merlin. After all, Merlin had been through enough. While Merlin felt it his duty to look after Arthur and the people of Camelot - his bleeding heart would not demand anything less - it was Arthur’s duty to return the favour. Someone needed to make sure Merlin didn’t spread himself too thin. Arthur was more than ready to fulfill that role. Side by side they would be. The two of them were working toward the same goal, the same purpose of establishing a better Camelot, a better world.

And when their mortal lives were done, they knew that Avalon would await them.

Their work would not be over. Their immortal bond would see them through.

~ * ~

The End