Fragile Peace

[elsewhere87]

~*~

The stew calmed her grumbling stomach. Gwen put down the emptied bowl, reminding Morgana of something. “I could help you wash the dishes if only you’d remove the binds on my legs.”

“What? And let you escape? I’m not that gullible Gwen, you should know.”

Sighing, her hand lifting to her back with some discomfort, Gwen answered, “I wasn’t insinuating anything like that. I know it’s foolish to try to escape. You’ve proven to me you still have magic that I cannot fight against.”

To that comment, Morgana gave a malevolent grin, aware that it made the scars stand out more, and yet she didn’t care. “You asked before what I wanted with you? Well I’ll tell you now, instead, what you took from me. Rest assured my magic still is strong enough to hurt you. But it is also sorely limited compared to what I could do before. It’s that I care about, not my grotesque appearance.”

“It is not grotesque Morgana.”

“You blanched when you saw me.”

“I was only shocked at what that day did.”

“What YOU did.” Morgana accused fiercely.

Gwen was tired, still quite cold, and emotionally wrung. She had heard enough of the accusations. “You hurt Lancelot. You used his body to hurt me! You made me kiss someone who was no longer even living! And you made me believe that I WANTED that. Don’t sit there and say I’ve done horrible things to you because what about the terrible things you’ve done to me, Morgana? I was loyal to you for so long-

Leaning on her cane, Morgana stood up now, pointing viciously with her free hand. “You were not loyal to me! You sided with Uther against me and Morgause, my sister, the one person who truly cared for me.”

That simplistic comment made Gwen’s eyes widen with shock. “How can you say that? Was Morgause there when you were young and had the dreams about your mother? Do you remember when we met Morgana? Your nurse that you had then introduced us. And you shunned me like you did everyone else. Because of Gorlois’s death. You would not talk to Arthur. You would not talk to Uther. You would not leave your bed. But then I just kept doing my job, my duty. And slowly you opened up to me. And you became my-

Raising her hand now, Morgana stopped Gwen’s remembrances. Truthfully enough Morgana had been so full of maddened grief then she hadn’t wanted anyone around her, but Gwen had been resilient, never giving up. Soon enough Morgana had no choice but to talk to her, to go outside with her when Gwen tempted her with pretty wild flowers she had picked in the forest, and juicy berries ever so ripe as it was spring time. That was long ago though. That faithful girl betrayed her.

“Loyal to me until you fell in love that is. You took Uther’s side because of who he fathered.”

Gwen shook her head strongly, not allowing that name to be used as the reason why their friendship was pieced apart. “That is not true. You know I never felt any kindness of heart towards Uther after what he did to my father. You of all people should know that most Morgana. Any respect I showed towards Uther was because of Arthur.”

“And see, you betrayed me still the same.”

“You wanted to be queen, Morgana! You wanted to end Arthur’s life. You had the military murder citizens that day in the citadel! I don’t even understand it. For years you shunned Uther’s way of ruling. You showed NO interest in being any kind of queen. Where did this strong desire to usurp the throne finally come from?”

“Because it is my right!” Morgana yelled. “Or it was, until you turned me to this!” She pointed disgustedly at her face. “What people would follow a disfigured queen?”

Gwen slowly closed her eyes, shaking her head with misery and confusion. “Then what is it you now want Morgana? Why did you bring me here? What purpose can my presence help you to serve?”

Cold lips stated it. “I could end your life.”

Gwen opened her eyes at that brutal statement, looking into Morgana’s scarred eyes, seeing pools of hatred…

But also the deepest pools of loneliness

And pain.

It was a haunted discovery as now Gwen flinched with her own anguish. She looked up with a quiet plea. “Morgana please, will you let my binds go for just a moment, so I can exercise my legs? My back hurts. Mordred tied me to a tree trunk last night. It gave no comfort. I need to move.”

It could be a trick, but Gwen was right in that Morgana had enough power to make her sorry for any tricks. It could also be the pregnancy poking irritation.

What harm would it be?

With a flick of her fingers she released the binds.

~*~

When he was far enough to not be heard, Merlin hastened away from the others. They all were asleep, but he had little time before the dawn commenced. Taking out the piece her had found earlier, Merlin finally gave it a good look. It was almost entirely the same as Serac’s.

Merlin put it back. If only there was some way he could get to him, but his camp was closer to Northumbria and-

“Emrys.”

Merlin turned around at the voice, perplexed to actually see Serac there. Giving a shake of his head, he thought how it couldn’t be.

“Yes it can.”

“You can read my mind?”

Serac smiled mildly. “Yes I can when you don’t guard against it. You can do so also, although you will need more training before you fully understand it.”

Inquisitively Merlin asked, “How did you get here?”

Serac took it away from his cloak. “The amulet helps with transference. I can move from one location to another as long as there are not deeply entrenched stone barriers in the way. For me it helps too when there are pools of water. There is one here and one back at the camp.”

“So you moved through one to the other?”

“Yes Emrys.”

“Can all Druids do this?”

“If they are taught well enough, they can focus their mind and use the amulet correctly. Not that the amulet has to be part of it. But it is hard to travel the same distance without.”

Merlin brought out the one he found on the forest floor. “What about this one? Do you think it belongs to one of your people?”

Carefully Serac took it from him, nearly dropping the amulet for a moment as his eyes widened with astonishment and then gave a look that bordered on pain.

“What is it?” Merlin asked tightly, holding onto its other end so it wouldn’t fall to the ground.

“This…one…Emrys. It’s been used in such dark ways.”

Serac took better hold of the amulet, calming his mind and closing his eyes, this time not flinching away from the contact. “Used to murder…to create a spell of vileness…to mutate…taken back and forth to…the snow…the mountains.”

His dream.

Merlin shuddered, watching as Serac slowly opened his eyes, murmuring, “The owner of this one has very sinister thoughts.”

“Can you tell me who that is?”

Serac grimaced, holding tightly to the amulet. “Not just yet. But there might be a spell that could give us the answer. Come with me.”

~*~

Lifting from his bedroll, Mordred looked around the camp, seeing every person there, but one.

“Emrys…” He spit out, wondering what the too inquisitive sorcerer was up to now that he had his amulet. He had no idea if Emrys would be able to guess the powers it possessed, but decided now that he’d spent enough time in this awful camp. He needed to get back to Morgana. There would be no hindrance in starting this new cycle of the plan as long as no one believed Emrys. Using a spell that he had learned from the Druids to create parchment and a quill from its most natural elements, Mordred conjured both, writing an important note that would stir up trouble the way he liked.

I told you once that I never forget Emrys. But it seems the mutation made YOU forget. It’s been easy fooling you. Not once did you remember how we telepathically connected, but for now I’ll let go of that control. My power is somewhat limited thanks to that awful wench Gwen tearing away my amulet and then you finding it. No matter though. None of them will believe you at first. And by the time they do start to, it’ll be too late.

~*~

With her legs freed, Gwen slowly walked around the cave, finally able to stretch her body some. Although after a few walks around, Morgana faced her harshly. “Okay, that’s enough. Sit back down so I can do the binds again.”

Gwen pleaded, facing Morgana without flinching, thinking if there was any ugliness it didn’t have to do with her physical features, but her cold heart. “Morgana, please. I’ll sit, but no binds. They restrict so much.” Already Gwen could feel some uncomfortable bruises developing from them.

Morgana relented, gesturing coldly for Gwen to sit. The handmaiden did, slowly and carefully. She wrapped her arms around her body, stating, “It is so chilly here.”

Morgana dismissed the comment, not wanting to make small talk. “Well in a dress like that of course you’re cold.”

Gwen looked down at her burgundy gown, made of cotton material, simple enough. “I wear something like this every day. You used to wear gowns of satin and finest lace.”

Sneering, Morgana gestured to her outfit now, black and thick, a dress that covered more than it revealed for necessity’s sake. “That time is gone.”

“I still don’t get it. Why you wanted the throne. You had no interest in it before.”

“Don’t be so sure you knew all my interests.”

Gwen said nothing, sitting there quietly, her look one that bordered too much on concern for Morgana’s taste, as it now got her to talk.

“For years I watched Uther burn every person with magic, drive away the Druid people to the forest to become nothing more than refugees. I always felt so terrible for them, hated Uther’s doings even if I still wanted to be loyal to him, care for him as my guardian. Then I found out I had magic too and the Druids were the one people I could go to. They were so good to me. They showed me the way and later my sister showed me too that my magic was a gift, not a curse. I hoped to be queen so I could bring magic back, allow people to live without fear who possessed it. But Arthur, you and that meddling Merlin, thwarted that.”

“And so you hated me?”

Morgana shook her head. “No Gwen. I did not hate you. It was just that you were in my way. It truly wasn’t your fault then.”

She took a step closer, blocking Gwen’s view of anything else, forcing her to see as she gestured to her face. “But this…my lack of magic now. That YOU did. And that I want you to pay for. I want you to feel the same pain I did when I lost so much of the one thing that truly made me special.”

Her skin was so red, glaring now with the ugly anger of her scars and her present feelings, but Gwen couldn’t let it be left there. Morgana had always been so much more dramatic than her, loving to play the part of the flashy character, whether princess warrior or bandit lady, while Gwen had always preferred the practical, a handmaiden like herself, or a helpful lady of the court. And now years later, Morgana was still the dramatic one, while she tried to temper the mood, give her a little reality.

“How do you know Arthur wouldn’t have done just what you wanted? He has already made peace with the Druids. There has been no hunting of their camps like there was sometimes with Uther. Arthur would not have hurt you if he knew you had magic.”

“How are you so sure Gwen?”

It was hard for Gwen to answer that. She knew nothing for certain, only that the man she had married and loved was not a cruel one. He would have taken no pleasure in hurting his half-sister.

“See, you’re not sure.”

Gwen shook her head, standing to face Morgana more directly. “And neither are you. So many have grown up with the ban on magic. Do you think it would have been so easy to quickly end it then? There is more tolerance now I believe with Arthur as king, his civility toward the Druid people known, but even a year ago, you would have had many against you.”

Morgana shrugged. “Well that doesn’t matter anymore anyway because I’m not going to be queen. And neither are you.”

“Then why haven’t you already killed me Morgana?”

~*~

Serac took Merlin to a small creek. There he placed the amulet into the water, letting it descend to the bottom. Merlin grabbed Serac’s hand, anxious that they would lose it, but the Druid simply told him to wait patiently. His ties to the element of water would keep the amulet from sinking forever. After some time passed, it did come back up and with it, images surfaced on top of the water that made Merlin blink.

“That boy. I’ve seen him before.”

“When, Emrys?”

Merlin couldn’t answer the question. He had no recollection. Taking his own amulet, Serac touched Merlin’s shoulder, whispering a few words. When he was done, the spell was lifted.

It made Merlin gasp to have his mind finally free, and it astonished him that it had been imprisoned in the first place. “Someone set a spell on me?”

“I only realized it now, but yes.” Serac replied. “It shows that someone has used some of the darkest magics to mutate into another being. It traps everyone else in a belief that the mutated being is really the original person.”

“How? How do they do this spell?”

Serac’s face whitened. “It is a horrible process. Cruel and uncaring of the victim. A life is taken away to act it out, but very slowly Emrys. Piece by piece.”

Merlin paled at the horror of what Serac was saying. “Who would do such a thing? I can’t even imagine Morgana agreeing to that.”

“The face of the person responsible for this dark magic Emrys…

Is in the water.”

Merlin gazed down into the pool, seeing the face of Valen, and seeing the face of a boy.

Emrys

Emrys…

I will never forget and I will never forgive you Emrys.

Emrys…

Merlin shuddered, seeing the boy forming into a man and then that dark haired man with pale white skin forming into

Valen.

“Mordred.”

Merlin whispered, the pieces now finally coming together into the most horrific of formation.

“Yes. I believe you are right. You must be careful Emrys. He will lead to your greatest fall. His one ambition is to make magic total and to bring you down, however that is necessary. He was once one of us, but he has strayed far and our power cannot match his. Only yours.”

“Gwen. He’s the one, isn’t he? Mordred took her, maybe showing her the face of Valen, Percival’s true friend. Where is he now anyway, the real one?”

“He must be dead. For the mutation to be complete, the other must be no longer living.”

“I have to tell Arthur…” Merlin muttered restlessly, getting up from the creek, but then Serac’s hand was on his wrist.

“And how will you convince him? By revealing your magic Emrys?”

The question frustrated Merlin, although it was entirely warranted. There was no way to assure Arthur that Valen was dead, and this one was really Mordred, unless he revealed his own sorcery, and then where to go from there? Arthur would put him in the dungeons or have him executed and Gwen would be in greater peril.

Recalling the worst part of it, Merlin nearly sunk to his knees in anguish. “Oh no.”

“What is it Emrys?” Serac helped to keep him standing.

“She’s vulnerable. She’s expecting.”

“Guard that secret in your heart Emrys. For Mordred to learn it, could lead to Camelot’s end.”

“And Gwen’s.” Merlin whispered. This was a nightmare. All this time he’d trusted the man who was the same boy who the dragon warned him would work in tandem with Morgana. Oh Morgana. Just like it was prophesized. “They’re working together, aren’t they? Morgana and Mordred.”

“I do not know for certain Emrys. But that is a dark possibility.”

A very dark one.

~*~

Mordred came in, hearing the tail end of the conversation. He had planted the seed of doubt. Now he’d just let it take fruit.

He responded to the question just asked. “Well because that just wouldn’t be productive Gwen. Better to keep you alive, for at least a bit longer. Having said that, you shouldn’t be walking around freely.” He lifted his hands, bringing the binds back to her arms.

Gwen looked to Morgana for some kind of assistance, but she received none.

“Now for your legs.”

Gwen put up her hand. “Let me get back to the chair first.”

Mordred allowed it with a shrug and then as soon as she got there, lifted his hand, stating with meaning. “Now, go to sleep.” Unable to fight his magic, she was under quickly.

Watching the drawn out display, Morgana said nothing. Mordred walked over to her, bringing his hand to her arm. “We need to talk.”

~*~

DAY SIX: Blood and Roses

Merlin reached the camp just as dawn was beginning to lighten the sky, spotting two men on horseback. It was Gwaine and Percival, both of them surprised to see Merlin coming into the camp.

Gwaine chuckled. “What’s wrong Merlin? Had a sudden call of nature?”

“Yeah, you know, too much water from the canteen.”

Getting down from their horses they gave him a friendly slap on the back for good measure. Although Merlin was not feeling amused as he realized the bedroll next to his was now empty. Valen had borrowed it from Elyan. Valen…who was really Mordred. There was a note on the bedroll. Merlin rushed over, but as he grabbed to get it, his hands met Percival’s.

Although Percival gave him a friendly smile, it was clear he intended to be the first to read it. Merlin had no choice but to hand it to him.

As Percival read, he kept darting interesting looks toward Merlin, and then finally getting to the end, a scowl lined his semi-rough features. It made Merlin curious as he asked quietly, “Can I give it a read? Just want to make sure Valen’s okay.”

Percival shrugged, handed Merlin the note, but not smiling in return.

Merlin began to read.

Hey Perc,

Hopefully you’re the one reading this.

Can you let the others know I decided to get out of here? Things got a little hairy late tonight. I don’t want to make a big fuss out of this. Honestly it’s probably nothing at all. But I noticed tonight Merlin wandering away from the camp. I would count it in as a call of nature, but he disappeared for a long time. In fact as I’m writing this, he has yet to come back. I’ m not one to take away anybody’s right to privacy, but with what’s going on…thought you should know. Not accusing him of anything of course.

Just another thing too that I hate to bring up. But got to say it. I had this piece of junk at the bottom of my sack of trinkets. Ah mate, you know what I’m talking about. Well Merlin got really weird about it tonight, accused me of dark magic and all and took it from me. I really don’t care. It meant nothing, but the accusation…wow…I thought he was a friend. I know there have been a lot of problems with sorcery in Camelot, but that’s where it gets too much for me.

I mean, he accused ME of being a sorcerer…wild. So I’m leaving now Perc before any more trouble can get started, but you might want to keep an eye out on him. Either he’s just really paranoid or he’s…hiding something. It’s often the ones we least suspect.

Until next time, I’ll be in Escetia for a few days if you need to talk to me on any of this.

Valen

Merlin’s face fell. He thought it all up, every part. He was bad enough when he was a boy. Now as some enhanced aged man, Mordred was the starkest definition of evil, hoping to turn them all against each other. And meanwhile, what was going to happen to Gwen?

Percival was glaring so Merlin tried to appease. If he said that Valen lied, it would just make him look bad. But if he played it like Valen was simply mistaken…

“Percival, I can explain. Valen’s right. I disappeared for a long time.”

Rounding his arms over his broad chest and sleeveless chainmail, Percival asked, “Why?”

Gwaine echoed the question, but with a bit more friendliness. Merlin was grateful for that. He got along with all the knights, but if needed Gwaine was usually the first to come to his defense.

Carefully Merlin gave answer. “Doing a bit of my own sleuthing. I’m just really worried about Gwen and want to find her. I know it was crazy, but I thought maybe checking through the wood I might get some lead to where the prisoner took her.”

“So you didn’t accuse Valen of being a sorcerer?”

Gwaine piped in there, voice raised so high some of the men sleeping started to stir with irritation. “Oh come on Percival! This is Merlin!”

Merlin feared soon everyone would be awake as he did his best to defend himself, blaming it squarely on emotion.

“No Gwaine, I probably did accuse him of that, but Percival you have to listen to me. We’re all going a little crazy because she’s missing now, Gwen. She’s been my friend since I first came to Camelot. I didn’t mean anything by it, just said something really idiotic.”

It of course wasn’t the truth, but then neither was Mordred’s inciting letter. Merlin needed to buy time if anything, find a way to get them to all listen, especially Arthur.

Putting his arm around Merlin’s shoulder, Gwaine chimed in, “Ah, see there now Percival. He didn’t mean anything by it. Come on, Gwen’s precious to all of us. We just want to find her. That’s it.”

Smarting, Percival replied strongly, “Oh that’s it, huh Gwaine? Well then what did Merlin take from Valen? Why doesn’t he tell me about how that happened during his emotional moment?” He looked to the servant. “Huh Merlin? Why don’t you hand it over, what you took!”

“What in all of Camelot is going on here?”

Arthur was wide awake now, standing behind them. “I could hear you yelling Percival all the way back there.” He pointed to where his bedroll was still messily out. He turned to his servant inquiringly. “What is this Merlin?”

Knowing he had no choice, Merlin now explained to Arthur the same way he had to Percival. When he was finished the king turned to the disgruntled knight strongly. “Well I think that explains it Percival. An idiot Merlin may very well be, but he is my servant and friend and so he has my complete trust.”

Percival’s stance was tense. Behind them Elyan was getting up too. Merlin sighed as Arthur asked Percival, “What is it now?”

Handing the king the note, Percival respectfully stated, “If you’ll read that Sire, I think you’ll know why I’m not ready yet to give this up. I want to believe Merlin too as I also count him as a friend, but Valen and I go way back…and…well just read it please.”

Arthur’s eyebrows lifted with wry questioning, but then he read the note.

Merlin swallowed hard as he finally looked away from it, turning directly to him. “So is this true Merlin? You took something from him? After you accused him of sorcery?”

This was all Mordred’s doing. Gwen could die and it was all because of Mordred’s trickery. Merlin didn’t know how much longer he could hold it in. They were wasting so much time! Merlin gave an insolent shake of his head, eyes hard.

Arthur knew that look well. Merlin gave it when there was something he didn’t want to admit. Never would Arthur think that Merlin was up to something against Gwen. He knew they had a strong friendship, but his servant was indeed hiding something. He spoke to him in a harsher tone. “Merlin, if you have something of Valen’s you need to show me now.”

He wished he could just knock some sense into all of them. Even Gwaine wasn’t saying anything anymore. With a heavy sigh, Merlin took it out of his cloak. It was a lost cause now. Arthur’s eyes widened at the fact that his servant had tried to keep it from him so Merlin went for broke. “Arthur! Listen to me! He’s lied to you. To all of us!”

“How DARE you say that about my friend! You’re the liar Merlin! You stole something from him!”

Gwaine was the only one who came close to defending Merlin. “Come on there Percival! Let him talk at least. Even if he’s wrong, he deserves to have his say.”

Coldly, Arthur faced his servant. “Yes, Gwaine is right. At least you should talk Merlin without shouting at me. I am your KING after all.”

Merlin looked up to the skies wishing he could send a dragon down to wake them up. Mordred might have even cast a spell to make them asleep to the truth. He turned to Percival first. “He’s not your friend Percival. He’s a sorcerer, one of the most dangerous sorcerers that has ever lived. He wants us all to believe these lies, to fight against each other. So we’re stagnant. So we do nothing.”

“So now you’re saying I was too stupid to not even know my own friend?” Percival sneered.

Merlin shook his head with misery, feeling Elyan’s added glare as even though he was a brave knight he was like a following sheep too. Even when Gwen, his sister, had been banished he sided with his sovereign for respectability sake and allegiance.

Turning to Gwaine for a fast moment, Merlin saw that even though he was giving him a few looks of sympathy, he probably didn’t believe a word he was saying. And Arthur looked ready to throttle someone. “It’s a powerful spell Percival. So powerful he fooled us all. Even that man that grabbed Gwen, it was all a setup.”

He lifted the amulet. “This…when I saw it and tried to give it a look, he grabbed it out of my hand.”

“It’s a piece of junk he was getting ready to throw away! You’re the one who put your nose into something that was none of your concern, but isn’t that what you always do MERLIN?”

Gwaine pushed back at the advancing Percival. “Hold on there. Just take a step back.”

Merlin turned to his king, showing him the amulet. “Arthur, you have to believe me. It’s an amulet of the Druids. Mordred has lived with them most of his life.”

Arthur was looking down, disbelieving. “He was just a boy Merlin. You wanted me to help him escape.”

“I know. But I was wrong. And he’s not just a boy. Not anymore.”

“He can’t be any more than maybe fifteen.”

Merlin insisted. “No Arthur, he learned to age himself. He’s a man now. I saw him in a p-pool of water…”

It sounded ridiculous to even his ears. Those without magic would never understand. They either laughed or roared at him now. Merlin could only apply to Arthur’s feelings. He did, stating emotionally. “Arthur, he’ll kill her. He’ll kill Gwen.”

The king’s face froze at that, before it turned to one of solid rage. “Shut your mouth Merlin.”

“ARTHUR, YOU CLOTPOLE, LISTEN TO ME!” He yelled, grasping the front of the king’s tunic. Every knight except for Gwaine raised their sword in threat, but Arthur put up his hand, signaling for them to lower each. Then speaking slowly, he whispered with hardened eyes, “Let go of me Merlin.”

Shaking viciously, the servant did as ordered. Arthur didn’t believe him. None of them did. Soon the king confirmed that.

“You’ve said a lot of things here Merlin that you shouldn’t have. Now be wise and shut your mouth. You’ve proven that Valen told the truth in his note by showing us what you stole. I’ll let that go for now though as I know you’re upset about Guinevere. So we’re going to go find her. Bring her back home.” He signaled to the knights. “We ride to Escetia now, using the route on the map Valen pointed out to me last night.”

“NO!” Merlin screamed. “SHE’S GOING TO DIE!”

Swinging around before anyone else could say or do a thing, Arthur furiously pointed his sword at his servant’s chin. “SHUT up Merlin. Or I will send you back to Camelot in shackles. Do You understand? I don’t want to hear another WORD from you.”

Merlin pushed the sword’s tip away with an angry grunt, knowing Arthur had only used it to make a point. And he knew Arthur was desperate to find his wife. But they were wasting so much time.

Mordred had her. And Merlin was helpless to save her. Maybe that was why the tear fell down his face now, shocking even Arthur.

But nothing would change the man’s mind. They were riding to Escetia.

Falling ever so messily into Mordred’s trap…

Merlin thought bitterly.

~*~

Their window of time was closing. Mordred had insisted that last night to Morgana. Recalling his plan of action he wanted to start enacting out today she shivered, feeling a chill worse than what the winter mountains produced. It had been horrible enough with that man. Now…with her? While she was with child?

Oh she needed to stop this. All these tragic pitiful doubts! Although death had stared her in the face twice, its dark lingering shadow always haunting her, Mordred was right. They had her, and so now it was perfect. Piece her apart like they had Valen. Use her identity to enter Camelot. They could bring down the king, destroy them all.

It was what she wanted, her just dessert that her soul yearned for.

She couldn’t be weak about it.

They’d kill her.

Slowly.

Piece by piece.

~*~

They found the cabin. They cornered it carefully. Then they broke through the windows and doors.

Finding nothing.

But a note.

And a rose.

It was what Merlin had dreaded.

Arthur’s scream confirming it.

He had her.

Entering the cabin now also, he painfully took it all in. Percival had a stunned expression from where he stood against the wall. Elyan’s fingers were rigidly pressed against the window as he pounded the wood frame with the hilt of his sword. Gwaine was shaking his head, raking his hands wildly through his hair. And Arthur was standing against the table, clutching the note in his hands, before dropping it, and crushing the rose until its fiery color bled into his fingers.

Swallowing, Merlin picked up the note, reading it.

Oh my.

How easily all you men are fooled. I am betting the servant warned you. And none of you listened, right? I bet you especially didn’t listen to him noble king of Camelot.

Do you remember me?

Ah, I remember you. And your father. He imprisoned me. And you so gallantly led me out of that prison, took me to the Druid people. I should be thankful for that, right?

Not so much.

It’s time for your father to pay for his many sins. And that unfortunately for your sake has to start with you King Arthur.

Oh I bet you are aching now to know where she is…aren’t you? Your precious Guinevere. Your secret wife that you told me all about. Well actually you told Valen all about. But see I am him. The real one is dead. In pieces. You can tell that to his best friend Percival. I would laugh at his reaction if I could be present for it.

Oh King Arthur, the grand king of the land, who so many times has allowed himself to be fooled by avengers. But you will see I’m the GREATEST foe.

By the time you read this, your lovely Guinevere…

Will be in pieces also.

Too bad. She had some exciting news to share with you. And she was quite enticing to look upon.

But who knows? Maybe I jest.

Maybe she’s still alive.

For a handful of seconds. An hour. A day.

RUN King Arthur. RUN and save her.

RUN to the wintry mountains.

Let’s see if you can run FAST enough.

It was signed,

Until we meet again,

MORDRED

~*~

The looks he kept giving her were dangerous. They made her flesh shiver. He had a plan he wanted to put in motion and it involved her. She looked to Morgana, getting no reaction from the woman who used to be her mistress. This was hers alone to deal with. She had been given breakfast, but the binds stayed in place. Now Gwen felt them fall, suddenly. She lifted her eyes, seeing him hungrily watching her. Morgana had turned away. Gwen wasn’t sure what kind of entrapment this was. But already she’d been pushed enough. How much worse could the bitter cold be to the company of two people who had made certain they wanted her dead?

So she got up and ran.

As she did, Mordred licked his lips.

Morgana, turned, watching him with hints of revulsion. There were so faint little aspects of the boy she once knew, or maybe she never knew him at all. Maybe she was just as tainted then.

Gwen made it to the cave’s aperture, before she felt an unbelievable force pulling her backward, making her boots literally slide over the stone ground. It was like invisible tendrils bringing her back into place. She couldn’t resist the force.

Taking it out from the pocket of his cloak, Mordred waited for her to come to his grasp.

Morgana’s brows tightened. His magical force in seconds would put Gwen in his hands, resembling talons now more than long thin fingers.

Gwen shuddered as his chest came against her back. She fought, but then saw it shine in front of her eyes.

The blade, long, sharp, ready to make the flesh bleed.

Mordred lowered it to her chest.

Gwen screamed.

Morgana broke away from her frozen state, hearing the anguished cries as Mordred whispered viciously his intent.

“I’m not going to kill you just yet. Don’t worry.

Has to happen slowly.”

That was what he had told Morgana last night he proposed to do. It would achieve their every goal he assured her. They’d do to her what they did to Valen. They’d take pieces of her clothing. Locks of her hair. Piece by piece. They’d slowly end her life. And then Mordred wanted Morgana this time to play the part. She’d go back to Camelot as Arthur’s Guinevere. That way she could quickly end the king’s life and they could start a new rule with magic at the forefront.

“Oops…” He ripped a bit of Gwen’s cloak.

Feeling the force of his hand, seeing no other choice, Gwen scraped his arm with her worked nails. He howled in pain and held her more fiercely, bringing the blade in closer.

Morgana never told him what she thought of the idea. She just went to bed with nightmares. But this was the reality. Gwen’s trying to get away. Her throbbing screams.

He pulled back at her hair. Gwen looked into the most hideous eyes ever, seeing them glow golden. “NO!”

She fought, looking to Morgana. Begging in her heart. Please.

Sick of all the violence, Morgana found some of her own magic, catching Mordred off guard. It made her breathe hard, but she tore him away from Gwen.

Feeling the loss of his wicked bolster, Gwen fell to the cave’s floor, clutching the front of her body, crying out for the man that she loved.

Stunned, forced to his knees, Mordred stared at Morgana.

“I thought you wanted to get rid of her!”

It was hard to avoid the crying form on the cave’s floor, curled into a protective ball. But Morgana looked away, instead facing Mordred with determination. “I do. Just my way. I want to be the one who kills her. I’ll be the one who uses the blade to take away each piece. Not you. Alright Mordred?”

He grinned at that. “Alright.”

Morgana smiled darkly in turn, musing on something. “Oh, I wanted to make a stew for tonight’s dinner. I can feel a winter storm coming. But I have so few vegetable left. Mordred, maybe if you could use the cave. Get me some?”

There were none that grew where they were because of all the snow. It was usually up to Mordred to find them on a trip of transference. He turned heated eyes to the sobbing woman sputtering out that name of Arthur Pendragon. He so badly wanted to yell at her to shut up. But Morgana was watching him pointedly, heading to the knife he dropped. He watched with satisfaction as Morgana played with it in her hands, kneeled down to the floor ever so carefully and threateningly brought it against the crying Gwen, watching with delight as she shuddered.

Knowing now that Morgana was fully on his side, Mordred got up, told her he’d make the errand.

She thanked him, holding the knife against the long curls of Gwen’s hair, and then when he was gone, starkly got up.

She had little time.

~*~

It was up to Merlin to get Arthur up off the floor after he fell to his knees, saying he blew everything. This was no time for rebukes or wallowings of pity. Merlin held tight to his shoulders, telling the man he had to get up because everything might not be lost. Merlin knew that Mordred loved riddles, little plots of action. This could all just be a game to make Arthur feel defeated.

“She could be alive. She is alive, you have to believe that Arthur. And you have to get up and fight to get her back. You have to get up now Arthur!”

The king lifted pained eyes to his servant, seeing conviction there. He never fully understood it, how in his most lost moments, Merlin was suddenly a pillar of strength, like when his vitality crumbled, Merlin’s formed. Clumsy and uncoordinated Merlin was somewhat flawed, but also gifted with stunning accounts of bravery and selflessness.

Finally Arthur nodded his head. He’d never forgive himself if there was a way he could have saved her and he didn’t do it. Pressing his palms into the wooden floor, Arthur got to his feet. He quietly ordered Percival to make certain of Valen’s demise. Then he turned to the other knights, haphazardly giving direction, like to make certain she wasn’t at Alana’s, and yet not totally sure what to do.

Mordred? The boy he saved. Now a man who took his wife. Who came to his kingdom and played a role so well everyy one of them believed it. Everyone, but in the end…one didn’t. Merlin, his faithful servant.

He admitted now shakily, this not a battle to fight, but a heart needing some direction. “I don’t know what to do. It’ll take days, maybe a week or more to get to the mountains. And what if that’s a lie? What if he doesn’t have her there? Merlin, what then? Will I ever see her again?”

Merlin shook his head. It was risky and the king wasn’t all that welcome with them, but they had no time to waste. It had to be done this way. He showed Arthur the amulet. “I know a Druid who can help us. Will you trust me Arthur?”

He hadn’t before. It was hard then being rebuked, but Merlin cared more now about Gwen’s life.

With Agravaine, he listened to the wrong person. With Morgana, the same. Valen now, truthfully Mordred, it happened once more. Arthur nodded his head, putting his hand on his friend’s wrist. “I trust you Merlin.”

That was enough. They departed the empty cabin, heading back to the woods, leaving the crushed rose to bleed its color into the floor.

~*~

She was crumpled on the ground still, at her last tether. Aware of a hand on her shoulder, she clutched her stomach, shunning away from it. “No. Don’t. My baby. You can’t hurt my baby.”

Morgana almost gently grasped Gwen’s shoulder, getting her to focus on her scarred face. “I’m not going to.”

Gwen stared through her tears.

Morgana told her strongly. “Get up. Now. There’s no telling how long it’ll be before he returns. You have to go now.”

Holding back, Gwen’s face was filled with confusion. “But you want to end my life.”

Morgana lowered her face, holding to her dark curls of hair, whispering, “Not like this. I didn’t know you were with child. If I had…”

Gwen moved up to her knees, shocked. “What?”

This was too hideous. Even though she had tried to convince herself that it was too weak to back away, Morgana wanted no part of it anymore. Still, she wanted to make certain something. “You shouldn’t think this changes things. Because really it doesn’t. I am no longer your friend Gwen. As you stopped being mine. We are enemies. What we want clashes with the other’s desire. Arthur may be my half-brother, but his throne should have been mine.”

“I don’t understand Morgana.” Gwen confessed.

Morgana laughed dryly, not really understanding it either. She had wanted revenge for so long, tasted and coveted it, but there was not supposed to be a child in the bargain. It wasn’t supposed to be so awful that Gwen screamed for her life and that of her baby’s. It couldn’t happen this way. In the future, yes. But not here. Not now.

“It’s different that you are expecting. It just is. You and I both grew up without mothers. This child deserves a chance. He or she must grow and then…when they are older…they can meet their fate, whatever that is to be.”

Those words chilled Gwen, as Morgana was right in that this would make them forever enemies. There was only a temporary truce here if anything, so fragile it could wither away in the snowy winds. It didn’t matter how grown her child was. Gwen would always fiercely protect those that were her family. And that included Arthur. “I won’t let you hurt him. I won’t let Mordred.”

Slowly, Morgana nodded. “I expected as much. But we’ll succeed one day.”

Gwen shook her head, facing Morgana pointedly, speaking passionately. “You are not like him. You should leave here.”

To which Morgana negated the thought. “No, you really don’t understand. I may not agree with all he does, how he acts, but his fate is forever intertwined with mine. You helped make that so Gwen. Now before I change my mind, before he comes back, you need to get out of here. You need to run fast. For he will chase you when he finds out. And he will make you suffer. You and that child that needs to be born.”

Morgana moved up off the floor. Gwen followed suit. Grimacing at Gwen’s lack of suitable attire, Morgana searched around the room, laying eyes upon it. She moved back to the handmaiden, cautiously wrapping it around her shoulders. “This is Mordred’s.”

Gwen started to push it away, but Morgana told her firmly, “It’s the warmest cloak we have here, made by the Druids so it is thick and meant for all types of weather. It will keep you and your child alive. There are more caves, but you will have to dig through the snow to find them. Take refuge in one and you will have more chances of protecting your body from freezing. It won’t be easy, but at least it’ll be better than slowly dying.”

Even as having any piece of clothing from Mordred made Gwen feel sickened, she wrapped the cloak tightly around herself for her unborn child’s sake. Then reaching up, she shakily fingered at Morgana’s scarred cheek. “I am sorry.” She whispered. “I never meant for you to be hurt this way. I truly didn’t.”

Morgana quickly nodded. “I know. But it changes nothing Gwen. You are no longer my handmaiden. I am far from your lady. Or any lady for that matter. I am the witch now. And you would be a fool to trust me ever again. This is the last time. Goodbye Gwen.”

She nodded, and escaped from the cave.

But the snowy world of outside would be no gentle protector.

~*~

It hadn’t taken Percival very long to sadly confirm that no one had seen sight of Valen for at least a month and he was believed to be lost or dead, confirming Mordred’s note. Also, Gwen never went to Alana’s.

Arthur, feeling distraught, and foolish, was following Merlin now through the wood to meet with the man Merlin had told him about, Serac. Although Arthur had not bothered the Druids for some time now, he still was wary about meeting with someone in possession of magic, and someone who may not want to meet him.

Merlin was aware of Arthur’s tense feelings, but also knew that this was their best way to find Gwen with greater speed. Since Arthur was now listening to him, Merlin had told him about his dream, which hadn’t really reassured the king. They both knew that the highest peaks of snow were filled with precarious obstacles and had brutally cold temperatures. He also told him about Serac, making up a story that Gaius had known him in the past.

Merlin wasn’t sure if it would be as easy to meet with Serac as it had been the first two times, but he didn’t have to wonder about that for long. Once they reached the depths of the forest, there he was standing in his dark green robes. “Serac.” Merlin said almost breathlessly. The knights were waiting for them at some distance and so they had walked this part.

It was maybe seeing the king in attendance that made Serac mentally whisper Merlin’s Druid name. Emrys. Merlin simply nodded, before gesturing to Arthur. “This is the king, Ar-

Arthur shook his head, moving forward, needing to get things moving along and knowing instinctively all the titles weren’t going to be helpful here. “I’m Arthur, Serac. Merlin tells me you helped him with finding out that the visitor who came to Camelot was a boy- well he’s a man now, named Mordred. We believe he’s taken someone who means much to me.”

Serac quietly scrutinized Arthur, saying nothing for a long time. Then he hesitated a bit on the name for the sorcerer, the Druid people used to calling him Emrys. “Yes, seeing the amulet that Mer-lin brought me, we were able to find that out. Also I told Merlin of my visions.”

Arthur’s jaw tensed. He had little belief in visions and such, but for his wife’s sake he’d still his tongue and listen to what the man had to say. “Mordred said that he would be taking her to the mountains just to the north of us. The highest peaks, what is called the desolate area by many. Do you have any reason to believe that he told us the truth?”

Serac glanced at Merlin, asking telepathically, You did not tell him the details about my visions?

Merlin gave the slightest shake of his head so Arthur wouldn’t view it. I did not because I wanted you to tell him. He’s already heard of my dream.

Arthur grimaced at the quiet, but then Serac was speaking again. “I have had visions of it, yes Arthur Pendragon. I know you hold no belief in these things, but we Druids hold strongly to the elements and believe each of us are born with one that is particular to our being. Mine is water.”

“What is Mordred’s?” Merlin asked.

“I believe, although I may be mistaken, earth.”

Once again Arthur’s impatience was growing. He frowned tightly. “Serac, the mountains will take days to reach. We don’t have that luxury of time. Is there any other way…a…” It stuck on his tongue, the memory of how his father died causing conflict and the reason why he never knew his mother, but it was time to put away those past fears, and to make his own decisions about it. “A way…using magic?”

“There is, but your rule does not allow magic. For the use of it, in which we have caused no harm to anyone, my kind have been hunted. How do I know this is not a trick? For your father would persecute those who did not even use magic, simply possessed it.”

Removing his sword, sticking its blade into the ground and then lowering to his knees, hands extended, Arthur spoke humbly. “I give you my solemn word Serac. This is no trick. It is only about finding someone who I love very much. Please, will you help me?”

Serac turned to Merlin, questioning.

Telepathically Merlin whispered,

Trust him. I do.

Serac nodded his head, taking the word of Emrys over the king’s for the bloodshed, the so unnecessary bloodshed and tarring of lives that both he and his father were responsible for, he could not so easily forget.

“I will help you.”

~*~

Morgana had been right, Gwen mused, shivering strongly in the cold, having to wrap both the cloaks she was wearing tighter around her body. She hoped to find shelter for the night. Truthfully she had no idea of the time of day as the sun was blocked by the clouds, thick heavy ones. Although, she imagined since they had eaten breakfast some time ago, that it was somewhere around late afternoon. Turning her head, searching with her eyes, she saw nothing but tall mounds of snow and a maze of evergreen trees. There were ways of survival. If she could manage to find some flint and use those branches of the evergreens, maybe she could even get a fire to start. If so, she could heat up the snow, make it clean, and drink it. Water was of course what she needed most. She had no food, but the stew from the morning should keep her for at least a day. It was just for her child that she worried.

Taking just a second to stop, Gwen placed her hand over her stomach, rubbing comfortingly. “I know this is all frightening. But we will be alright. We will survive this, just like the roses survived that fire.”

She pushed on, knowing that any moment Mordred could come back and start hunting her down.

~*~

The knights would return to Camelot making sure everything was still alright over there. That was the plan as sharing with them the magic of the cave didn’t seem such a good idea. On their way to it, they made a gruesome discovery. Arthur held his nose at the insect infested corpses. There was no mistaking the Camelot red of their tattered cloaks. Getting closer to one, flinching at the smell, but needing to be sure, Merlin spotted what he was looking for.

“Their necks are broken.”

“Sorcery?” Arthur asked.

Merlin nodded.

Getting up to his feet, Arthur ushered Merlin along. “Come on. We don’t have time for this.”

…

After walking much further they came to them. The sight of them flushed Arthur’s eyes with the fiery shade of wild red. He leant down to touch one, the petals grazing his fingers gently. After that note, he had thought he’d never want to see one again, but recalling the last time they were here, engaging in the most intimate makings of love, laughing, playing with each other, his eyes lit up with feeling. Studying the roses more closely, he noticed how so many of the petals were pulled away, in a fashion that was not natural.

But of course. He probably brought her by here. The cave was nearby so it was on their way. Maybe she pulled them apart to alert him to the direction they traveled in.

Merlin smiled with hope. “Maybe it’s a sign.”

Arthur held the petals in his hand, feeling them rub over his ring finger. “Maybe.”

Then he stood up again, depositing one unbroken rose into his pocket. That was when he felt Merlin’s hand come against his shoulder.

“What is it?” Arthur asked.

He had been sworn to secrecy, but to hold it in any longer felt wrong. Arthur needed to know now. “I didn’t tell you the whole truth about Gwen’s visit to Gaius.”

Those words chilled the king. Facing his servant sharply, he grasped his arm, fingers rigid. “What do you mean?”

Merlin shook his head, before letting out a slow smile, melancholy by the fact they still had to find her. “She’s with child Arthur. Gaius told her that the reason why she’s been having the dizziness and imbalance is because she’s expecting.”

Merlin watched as his king’s face fell, the sweat laced strands of his hair falling over his forehead. His eyes closed, lashes touching his skin as he held still miserably.

Arthur felt like his heart was sinking into the ground. What was supposed to be such a joyous moment was now tarnished by his stupidity.

Merlin placed his hand on his shoulder, whispering firmly, “Arthur, look at me.”

The king didn’t, eyes still heavily closed, face shadowed by the mountains in the distance, his form flooded by the surrounding wild roses.

“Arthur.” Merlin stated with a tone of clear authority.

The king finally opened his eyes, tears brewing in them, whispering painfully, “I can’t lose her. I will never forgive myself if anything has happened to her and our child. I should have been the one to protect her. I never should have left Camelot. I never-

Beating himself up about it wasn’t going to help. Merlin grasped Arthur’s shoulder tightly. “Enough. Alright, Arthur? We need to help Gwen. You need to believe she’s okay because I believe it. She’s strong and she will get through this. Let’s go find her. Let’s bring her home.”

Slowly Arthur nodded.

After many more moments of walking, they entered the cave.

~*~

Mordred returned with a slew of vegetables, turning to the side to taunt Gwen, but she wasn’t there. Morgana was already getting the stew water ready for another night’s dinner. She turned around at the sight of him, taking the vegetables with a wide smile. His brow crinkled as he asked,

“Where is she?”

Starting to cut the vegetables with a sharp knife on a crude makeshift table made from some of the thickest pines and oaks, Morgana didn’t answer right away. She just kept chopping.

“Morgana!” He called out pointedly, finally getting her to turn around.

Looking him in the eye with her own blurred ones, she told Mordred that Gwen had escaped. To that he ranted, looking around for his other cloak and not finding it. Already Morgana was hard at work again on the stew when he stated with rigidly placed lips.

“You let her escape.”

She didn’t say anything, fussing with her cooking preparations, so Mordred turned her around sharply, getting Morgana almost to lose her balance as he did so. He said it again slowly, enunciating each word sharply. “You-let-her-escape.”

With a nod of her head Morgana admitted it, telling him that his way was wrong and she didn’t want to go back to Camelot pretending to be her former handmaiden. It was sickening to think about and something she would never do. They could find another way.

Mordred was livid, making the pot smash to the ground with a fast golden glow of his eyes. They had worked so hard for this, and he had helped her so much. How could she do this? What was making her so weak? Mordred insisted she tell him, but then Morgana countered, as she leant down to pick up the fallen stew pieces.

“You haven’t even told me who Emrys is! You said you would and yet you never do!”

“Because of this Morgana. You ruined everything so now I have to get her back. You realize that, right? You need to stop being so weak.” He hissed angrily before wrapping his cloak around himself and heading out into the snow.

A bit after he left, Morgana moved to the mouth of the cave peering outside. The clouds above were signaling an impending storm.

~*~

The snow was thick, a new flurry of it just starting to fall from the sky, yet Gwen was doing her best not to panic. She needed to find some kind of shelter. Stepping into a cluster of the tall pine trees, she found a rocky overhang that sheltered a floor of rock below. If it was a cave it was tiny and much more open than the one Morgana and Mordred were living in, but it provided immediate cover and so it would have to do. She rubbed her hands together, feeling the bitter frost sticking to them. She needed to see if she could start up a fire, but hidden so Mordred would not see if he went looking for her.

Her bit of shelter was so enticing, but the sky was darkening, the clouds hanging heavily above as night approached. A tiny fire would warm her up some at least. Gwen perused the area, finding within her rocky surroundings some bits of flint and forest debris. Unfortunately much of it was frozen. She put aside the flint and made her way up a steep mound of snow. “Ah.” It wasn’t just steep, but so deep her boots sunk in. She needed to be careful. The snow was soft enough, but if she took a fierce tumble a hard fall could put her baby’s life in danger.

She found a tree branch, thick and rigid enough to be a good walking stick. It would help her keep her balance. Gwen came to a cluster of evergreens, finding bits here and there of twigs, ferns and other natural debris. She held a clump of it in one hand and with the other used her walking stick to navigate back to the small opening in the rock. Feeling the winds starting to pick up some, she set to work. She needed to get this fire lit before the blusters became too strong.

~*~

They were inside the cave now, the one that Serac had stated was magical, carrying torches to light the way.

Arthur was battling with his actions, wanting to find his wife so badly he would use anything, even magic. But it went against Camelot rule. Looking to Merlin, who was wearing one of the Druid cloaks, borrowed from Serac because once they reached the mountains the temperature would drop drastically, Arthur asked. “Do you think this is right Merlin?”

“Saving Gwen?”

“No, not that of course. I meant using magic to find her. Serac said this cave is filled with it.”

That was exactly what Serac had said, but so much more was spoken silently.

To Merlin alone, Serac had spoken telepathically, making something clear. Even though the cave had magic and the one that reached the mountains did too, It would have no effect unless at least one being traveling through it, had magic too. Serac had advised Merlin how to get from one cave to another, using a voiceless spell. Merlin was grateful no words had to be spoken because otherwise Arthur could get suspicious. Although on this it seemed Arthur knew, the crucial factor was to bring Gwen home.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily the magic that’s bad Arthur. It’s the way magic is used by people or creatures that determines its benevolence or malevolence.”

“I’m the king of Camelot now, Merlin. As the sovereign, am I showing a lack of faithfulness, of respect for the rules by doing this?” Arthur asked with agitation. “The only thing I have justifying this is that it’s about my wife and unborn child. What about others though? What if I’m not the only one who has turned to magic to help save someone they care for?”

Finally he was seeing it. Merlin kept his emotions in check. They were nearing the area of the cave where he would have to silently start the spell. “You’re not the only Arthur. I’m almost certain of that. Don’t you think that if this brings her home safely, then using magic will be for all the right reasons?”

Silently Arthur mused on the question for a while, before giving a nod of his head. “Yes, if it does that. It’s just hard for me to allow this and yet tell the people of Camelot that magic is bad.”

Merlin whispered carefully, “Maybe you feel that way because you’re realizing it’s not.”

“And Morgana, Mordred?”

“Arthur they both have done terrible things. They’ve made that decision in their mind or maybe their heart. Magic didn’t force them to that.”

“But did it turn them?”

Bewildered that they were having this conversation, Merlin wasn’t sure how to answer right away. He simply did his best to not let magic be once again the inherent evil of Arthur’s world. “If it did, they had to make a conscious effort to go that way, don’t you think Arthur?”

“I don’t know about any of that. I was raised to distrust magic, believe that it causes evil. And now here I’m using it, to fight evil. It’s so different from a sword fight. I understand what is wrong and right when I am at battle and I follow the knight’s code thus. But this Merlin, I have no code to follow.”

“You have your morals Arthur. You know what is right and wrong. Do you truly believe that saving someone you care about is wrong? Would it be wrong if you had to use a sword to fight off your enemy?”

Arthur gave no hesitation in answering. “Of course not. It’s noble to fight that way.”

“Well maybe there’s even nobility in magic.”

Getting no response to that, Merlin said nothing more. He was already working the spell, knowing deep in his heart it was the right thing to do.

~*~

A blacksmith’s daughter, she was able to get a shallow fire going, blocking it off with her hands as much as she could from the blowing winds that were intensely increasing.

Without anything even crudely resembling a bowl or cup, she ripped at her lavender cloak that she wore underneath the warmer one that was Mordred’s. Gathering up some heaps of snow, she dropped it into the bit of her cloak she had torn off, encircling it in the same way a bowl would. Then she slightly lowered it to the fire, warming the snow up.

When smoking steam was blowing out and the snow was starting to strongly melt she lifted her makeshift bowl away from the fire and quickly began to drink . It wasn’t the best, the water sometimes quickly dissolving into the material, but if it would just keep her for the night, protecting her unborn child, then it would serve its purpose.

Gathering her two cloaks tightly around her body, Gwen curled as far into the stone covering as she could so that the snow would not fall too heavily upon her. Reaching down, she brought it out of her cloak’s pocket, her ring that Arthur had put upon her finger when they married. Kissing the cold metal, she then lowered her hand to her stomach, rubbing gently. Her body was starting to ache with the bit of bruising from the magical binds of earlier, and the harshness of being out in the wintery cold.

She huddled as close to the fire as she could, staring into its faint orange blue glow. As its flames hypnotized her with their dance, her eyes grew heavy. Not even her level mind could protest against the sleep her body was clawing for and soon found within the most feral of surroundings.

~*~

“I’m assuming you didn’t find her.”

Clutching his cloak around himself, covered in snow from the currently vicious downfall, Mordred said nothing. He was cold and weary so without speaking to her he grabbed himself some stew from the pot, and then gritted out,

“In the morning I WILL find her. And then you’re going to prove how loyal you are to me by starting the kill. After that, and only then, I will tell you Morgana who Emrys really is.”

The usual spark of excitement that flashed through her when she heard that name now only dully glimmered. She wasn’t sure how much she believed Mordred anymore.

Day Seven