you and i are a story that never gets told (11/12)
Title: you and i are a story that never gets told (11/12)
Fandom: Merlin
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Morgana, any and all other characters
Word Count: 9,709
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this stuff, because if I did ArMor would be canon.
Spoilers: Vague spoilers for all of Merlin series 2
Summary: Perhaps there was another way, if only it had gone a little different at the start. How it should've been, aka Series 2 the proper way.
Author's Notes: This chapter redefined the definition of late. But it's almost twice as long as usual, so yay? Also, there is going to be a sequel for this story, so DON'T KILL ME FOR THIS CHAPTER.
Previous Chapters: Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9
---
When it was all over, there was a moment, where Morgana saw the blinking colors of gold and red swirling past her eyes, and wondered if it was all worth it. But that was in the after. This was the before.
---
Night had fallen in Camelot, and Morgana was plunged deep into the throes of a nightmare. There were men in black, riders with no faces galloping towards Camelot. She saw Arthur, fighting for his life and no one coming to his aide. Then there was nothing but red as blood streamed across her vision.
Waking up with a jolt, Morgana screamed at the top of her lungs. Terrified for Arthur’s safety, she threw back the covers and ran out of her room, forgetting shoes or a cover in her hurry.
She navigated the familiar path with ease, and avoided the guards even in her haste. When she reached his door, she threw it open, praying that he was there and that he was safe. Things had been tense between them since Alvarr’s execution, but the thought of Arthur dying washed away any animosity between them and sent her running to his arms.
Arthur heard the door and woke up, his body on high alert. His eyes slowly adjusted to the dark and saw Morgana’s silhouette outlined by the light of the hall. He breathed a sigh of relief upon recognizing that there was no threat. Without any explanation needed, he pulled the covers back. “Come here,” he beckoned, his voice thick with sleep.
Morgana shut the door and practically sprinted to the bed. Her face was wet with tears, and she willingly crawled into the bed next to him, curling into his warmth.
Arthur pulled the covers over both of them, never looking away from Morgana’s face. Lifting a hand to brush the tears away from her cheek, he whispered, “Are you alright?”
She ducked her head, pressing her nose against his bare collar bone. She breathed him in, trying to calm her nerves.
He brushed his fingers through her unruly curls, trying to soothe her. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, he murmured into her hair, “I’m here, ‘Gana.”
Morgana nodded stiffly, her muscles slowly uncoiling as her body began to relax.
Arthur wrapped his arm around Morgana’s lower back, holding her tightly against his chest. He could feel the beat of her heart as it hammered away, and he dropped another kiss on the crown of her head. He knew that this was a result of a nightmare, and that she would possibly revert to being cold and distant in the morning, but it didn’t matter tonight.
Eventually Morgana’s heart stopped racing and her mind cleared itself of the horrible sight of Arthur’s blood spilling across the stones. She gently kissed his chest to convey that she was still functioning.
Still half asleep, Arthur nuzzled against her and his eyes started to close. He whispered, “You can sleep now. I’m not going anywhere.”
Terrified of letting him go, Morgana clung to him, her hands desperately seeking purchase as she wound her arms around his shoulders and then down his back. Her nails clawed against his bare skin, but Arthur showed no signs of protest. She finally settled against him, content in the knowledge that he would be safe until morning.
Something in her mind screamed that this would be the last time they would be here, but she ignored the chatter and closed her eyes.
---
In the light of the dawn, Arthur felt better than he had in days. He woke to the sight of Morgana’s body curved against his with her head resting on his arm. Her chest was rhythmically rising and falling as she continued to sleep beside him and he smiled at the sight. She hadn’t had any trouble sleeping once she was next to him, and the thought made his heart swell with pride. He dragged his fingers leisurely down her spine as he watched her slumber.
It occurred to him that he never wanted her to leave his bed, and he was surprised by the depth of his feelings for this girl. He never realized that he could feel this strongly about anyone.
Morgana seemed to sense Arthur’s changing mood, because she began to stir.
Arthur kissed her forehead lightly, trying not to wake her up completely.
Morgana was not a heavy sleeper, however, and Arthur could tell from the faster rhythm of her breathing that she was awake. Mumbling, Morgana griped, “You’re thinking too loud.”
He chuckled and pulled her closer so her head was resting on his chest. “Sorry.”
Tilting her chin up to look at his face, Morgana inquired, “What has you in such a pensive mood? It’s unlike you.”
“I do occasionally think about things, Morgana,” he huffed.
She leaned up and kissed the underside of his jaw, a smile on her lips as she pulled away. “No need to get offended, Arthur.” As she settled against him, she prompted, “So, out with it.”
He couldn’t possibly voice the million thoughts running through his head. He couldn’t tell her that he never wanted to wake up without her, that seeing his ring around her neck was giving him ideas he knew she possibly would balk at; it would be too much. So he smiled coyly and mumbled, “It’s nothing, Morgana.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” Patting his chest with her hand, she sat up and disentangled herself from his arms. “I should go before Gwen starts to worry.”
His resulting pout was adorable, and despite her attempts to resist, Morgana leaned down and kissed it right off his lips. Her long hair tickled his face as she moved, and Arthur began to laugh low in his chest.
Morgana pulled back and smiled at him, pecking his lips once more for good measure. “Thank you for last night.”
Arthur grinned in return. “You’re always welcome in my bed, Morgana.”
Scoffing at his cheeky response, she stood up to her full height and stepped away from his reaching arms.
He sat up against his pillows, the lack of her presence leaving him cold. “Will I see you later?” His tone let on more of his desperation than he would have liked, but he didn’t retract the statement.
Morgana smiled at his obvious need to have her near him, shaking her head as she walked to the door. “I’m always around, Arthur,” she quipped. With one last look, she slipped out of his room and shut the door behind her.
---
Unfortunately, Arthur would not be able visit with Morgana later that day, for he was called away on a reconnaissance mission. A man came to the city and claimed that he had seen smoke rising from the citadel at Idirsholas. There was a legend about Idirsholas that said when the fires were lit, the Knights of Medhir would ride again. No one had been in the citadel for over three hundred years, and therefore it was a matter that required investigation.
Though Arthur believed it all to be superstitious nonsense, he had no choice but to ride out and investigate. Uther had commanded it and whether Arthur agreed or not, he must obey his king.
Morgana feared for Arthur’s safety, but there was little she could do save for watch him through her window as he rode away from the city. Merlin was with him, and though Morgana may not trust him with a great many things anymore, she did trust him with Arthur’s life.
Long after Arthur had disappeared over the hills, Morgana remained at her window. Eventually she felt a hand on her shoulder and was jolted out of her trance.
“My lady, you should come and eat something.” Gwen spoke in hushed tones, all too aware of Morgana’s current state.
Morgana nodded stiffly, allowing Gwen to maneuver her away from the window.
Gwen smiled softly at her mistress as she lowered her into a chair at the table. She lightly squeezed Morgana’s shoulder. “He will be fine, Morgana.”
Morgana forced a smile onto her lips, determined to believe Gwen’s words. The images from her dream were flashing across the backs of her eyes, however, and her smile quickly vanished.
---
After a long walk around the castle with Gwen to calm her nerves, Morgana returned to her chambers feeling better than before. As she entered her room, she noticed that one of the windows was open. She was sure that she had shut it when she left, since there was a chill on the air. It was peculiar, and she found herself drawn closer to the window.
Once she reached it, she noticed something sitting on the sill. It was a small box, and it had clearly been left for her. She was curious as to who would do such a thing. With Arthur and Merlin gone, there were few left with reason to send her trinkets.
Cautiously, Morgana opened the lid to the box, revealing a rolled up piece of parchment inside. Extracting the paper, she unrolled it and began to read the message inside. It was addressed to her, and contained a plea to meet at twilight outside the castle grounds. As she finished the note, she saw the signature of the sender. “Morgause,” she breathed as her eyes scanned over the name.
Morgana bore no ill will against the sorceress, though she had all but forgotten about the bracelet that Morgause had left for her. The note sparked her memory, and she walked over to the drawer where she had stowed the bracelet. She opened the drawer and dug to the bottom to reveal the gold and silver bracelet lying there. She picked it up and studied it for a moment, struck with that same sense of familiarity she had when she first saw Morgause, but she still couldn’t place it.
Eventually she decided that she would meet with Morgause tonight, if only to return the bracelet. In order to remember, she slipped it onto her wrist, internally promising to only wear it for the day. There was something deeply powerful within this bracelet; she could feel it spiraling out through her veins from the point where the metal touched her skin. It was frightening but invigorating, and she found herself smiling at the sight of it on her wrist.
It was only for today. She would give it back to Morgause tonight, she would.
---
Arthur and Merlin had been riding for hours, and it was steadily growing darker by the minute. Idirsholas was not close enough, and Arthur was becoming restless. He still thought that this mission was pointless, and as the sun set the distance from home was beginning to make him ache.
He kept thinking back to the night before, and he longed to be in his warm bed with Morgana in his arms again. Throughout the day, he had seriously been considering what it would be like to marry Morgana, and he had yet to come up with a reason why he shouldn’t.
They were young, and he knew Morgana may not want to be tied down to anyone, even if it was him, but maybe in the near future. She was still wearing his ring, and that had to mean something, didn’t it?
Arthur shook his head firmly, trying to focus on the journey and not his daydreams.
Merlin was watching Arthur intently as they rode, noticing the prince’s far off stare. He knew Arthur was not worried about this journey, but Gaius had told him of the legends and Merlin put more stock in these things than Arthur did. There was something dangerous waiting for them ahead, Merlin could feel it.
---
As night fell in Camelot, Morgana prepared to sneak away to meet with Morgause. She considered telling Gwen of her plans, but she believed Morgause to be relatively trustworthy, and decided that Gwen didn’t need the stress of worrying about her.
Morgana wrapped up in her emerald green cloak and touched the bracelet on her wrist for reassurance before ducking through the corridors. Opting to walk through town without a torch to draw attention to herself, she was extremely cautious as she moved. Eventually she reached the outer wall and opened the gate, exiting the confines of the city.
As she reached the forest, she felt a chill deep in her bones. Her subconscious seemed to remind her of Arthur, and how he wouldn’t approve of this venture. Before she could change her mind, she heard rustling in the trees and spun to face the direction from where the noises had emanated.
Morgause floated gracefully out of the bushes and into the clearing where Morgana stood. She had a smile on her lips as she approached. “It’s good to see you, Morgana.”
Morgana hesitantly returned the smile, still feeling slightly uncomfortable. She pulled the bracelet off of her wrist to let it rest in her palm.
Morgause picked up on Morgana’s emotional struggle and remarked, “You look unwell. Have you not been wearing the bracelet I left you?”
Shaking her head, Morgana extended her hand to offer up the bracelet to Morgause. “It was a very generous gift, but I cannot keep it. It was from your mother, I have no right to such a precious heirloom.”
Morgause cocked her head and smirked, refusing to take the bracelet. “Have you looked closely at this bracelet, Morgana?”
Morgana shook her head and brought the bracelet closer to her face to examine it.
“The markings on the bracelet, they are a symbol of the House of Gorlois.” The name caused Morgana’s eyes to snap up in surprise and Morgause continued, “It was the house to which my mother belonged.” She smiled knowingly and clarified, “Our mother.”
Morgana’s heart seemed to stop at that moment. Her mouth opened and closed several times, her brain struggling to form words. After a few agonizing seconds she questioned, “What are you saying?”
Smiling wider, Morgause replied, “That you have as much right to this bracelet as I, sister.”
“Sister?” Morgana gasped, the word sounding foreign on her lips. Incredulously she demanded, “How is this possible?”
Taking a breath, Morgause launched into the story of her past. “Our mother, Vivienne, gave birth to me out of wedlock at a young age. Your father, a kind and caring man, loved her despite this, and they married when I was but an infant. He accepted me into his family and adopted me as a daughter, paying no regards to my actual parentage.”
Morgause paused, noticing Morgana’s sad smile at the mention of her father. She rested her hand atop of Morgana’s shoulder and continued, “However, shortly after you were born, Uther began his purge of magic throughout the kingdom. Our mother was one of the Bendrui, a group of women who had trained to become High Priestesses, and although she did not openly practice, she still was very powerful. She had begun teaching me the ways of magic, and Uther knew of this. In order to save my life, our mother asked your physician, Gaius, to smuggle me out of Camelot. He took me away and helped to fake my death so Uther would not search for me.”
“Gaius?” Morgana asked.
Nodding, Morgause went on with her story. “I was sent to live with the High Priestesses on the Isle of the Blessed. This bracelet was forged there, and our mother gave it to me as a parting gift.”
“And our mother?” Morgana inquired, “What of her? Did she come with you?” Morgana had never known her mother, not truly. Vivienne had vanished before Morgana had reached her first birthday, leaving her solely in Gorlois’s care.
Morgause shook her head, the sadness clear in her eyes. “I do not know what became of our mother, I am sorry.”
Morgana nodded in acceptance, knowing that it was an unrealistic hope that she would find her mother.
Trying to comfort her younger sister, Morgause smiled and said, “But she would be glad that we have found each other; that much I know.”
The words sunk in, and Morgana slowly put the pieces together. “That is why I feel as though I know you. We are bound by blood.” She reached up to where Morgause’s hand lay on her shoulder and grasped the hand with her own.
“Yes, we are, sister.”
Morgana smiled joyfully, suddenly craving the love of a sister she had never known.
Morgause’s expression did not reflect Morgana’s joy, and she sighed purposefully. “I would rejoice with you, but regretfully, I cannot stay here.” She pulled her hand back from Morgana’s hold. “Not while Uther still reigns, he would never allow it.”
The reminder of her tyrannical guardian made Morgana’s smile fall away immediately. “Living under his roof is a trying experience, I do not deny it.” The corners of her mouth fell deeper until it became twisted in a grimace, the thought of Uther making her see red. She clenched her fists and dug her nails into her palms to control her rage. “Every day I must live with the knowledge that if he were to discover what I truly am, he would have me killed.”
Morgause frowned. “Your destiny is to become a high priestess as I am, Morgana; you should not fear any man.”
People had been throwing around the idea of her ‘destiny’ quite often as of late, and it made her wary. How did they all know what it was she would become when she herself was still so unsure? She swallowed her doubts and calmly replied, “I do not fear him.”
That made Morgause smile again, and she began to walk around Morgana. “Do you ever dream of a new world, Morgana? One where Uther was no more?”
She wet her lips, considering the question. “Sometimes,” she answered.
“And is that what you would like?” Morgause asked. “For Uther to be destroyed and his reign come to an end?”
Morgana chuckled to herself. She did, if she was honest. It was horrible, but she knew that everyone in Camelot would be better off without Uther as their king. “Yes,” she admitted. “But it doesn’t matter; the future is not of my making.”
“You underestimate your importance.” Morgause rounded on Morgana, stopping in front of her. “There are ways that you can obtain your desires, Morgana. You only need ask yourself, are you with Uther, or are you with me?”
The question was startling. The idea that lines were being drawn and sides were being taken made it sound like a war was coming, and Morgana wasn’t ready. There were too many different sides already, how could she choose? There was Merlin with his grandiose ideas and superior view of how magic should be used; and then Arthur, who loved her and needed her, but was by default a Pendragon, and therefore something inherently dangerous. She wasn’t sure she could side with either of them, not if her life was on the line. And now this, to decide between Uther, who was her father-figure but a horrendous ruler, and Morgause, who was her newly discovered family, but still a stranger.
In the end, Morgana decided that blood was thicker than any other allegiance, and she answered, “You. I’m with you, sister.”
Morgause grinned, her expression bordering on vicious. “I’m so glad to hear you say that.” Before Morgana could say anything further, Morgause extended a hand to cup her sister’s cheek.
The last thing Morgana saw was the gold of Morgause’s eyes before her whole world went black.
---
The next morning Morgana awoke in her own bed, unable to remember how she got there. She was in her nightdress and her hair was undone, but she couldn’t recall anything after her conversation with Morgause in the woods.
Gwen came in to wake Morgana, but found her already sitting up in bed. “Good morning, my lady.”
Morgana smiled at her friend, suddenly wanting to tell her all about what had happened last night. She had found her sister, and the news was something she was dying to share. “Gwen, you’ll never believe what-” She stopped short, noticing the tired expression marring Guinevere’s features.
Gwen yawned deeply, struggling to listen to Morgana. “I’m so sorry, Morgana, what were you saying?”
Morgana cocked her head, assessing Gwen’s appearance. “Did you sleep at all last night, Gwen?”
She tried to deny it, but she was clearly exhausted. “Not very well, I must say. I’ll be fine, though, don’t worry about me.”
“Maybe you should take the day off, get some rest. I can take care of things here,” Morgana offered.
Guinevere smiled. “You are too kind to me. But I will be fine, really.”
Morgana nodded and excused her maid to go and do her work. She was worried about her friend, but she herself was accustomed to sleepless nights, and she knew that it would pass with time.
---
Morgana’s initial worry was not unfounded, it seemed, for later in the day, she watched as Gwen nearly collapsed while cleaning her chambers.
“Gwen!” Morgana called out. She rushed over to the girl, catching her in her arms before Gwen could hit the ground.
Gwen could barely keep her eyes open. She looked up at Morgana, the vision of her face blurring. “What’s happening?”
Morgana was at a loss. Gwen must be coming down with something serious, she had never collapsed like this before, even when she was sick. “I don’t know. But I’m going to get Gaius, maybe he can help.”
Gwen nodded, her head falling to rest against her shoulder as she started to fall asleep again.
Using all her strength, Morgana lifted Gwen up and set her on the bed. Gwen barely registered that she was being moved, and it scared Morgana. She left her chambers, reluctant to leave Gwen, but determined to get help.
As she walked through the corridors, she noticed that there weren’t any other people around. No guards on patrol, no servants doing their work. It was like everyone had disappeared. She exited the castle with a lump in her throat. The sunlight blinded her for a moment, but as her eyes adjusted, she took in the sight of the square. Her gasp echoed off the stones, with no sounds to block it.
There were people strewn all across the square, some lying prone on the ground, some propped up on walls or wagons. None of them were moving, and the silence was deafening.
Morgana walked up to one of them, her hands trembling. Trying her best to steady her fingers, she checked for any signs of life. Thankfully, the man appeared to be breathing. Were all these people asleep? It was too strange. Remembering her mission, she continued on to Gaius’s chambers, her steps hurried.
She didn’t bother to knock, opening the door and waltzing inside. “Gaius?” His chambers were quiet as well, and she began to fear the worst. “Gaius?” she asked again.
She spotted the older man sitting at his workbench, slumped over onto the table. Morgana ran to him and shook his shoulders, praying that he wasn’t asleep as well. “Please, Gaius, please!”
His eyes opened for half a second, noticing Morgana’s presence. “Morgana?” he questioned, his throat thick with sleep.
Her face lit up with hopefulness. “Yes, Gaius, it’s me! Please, you have to help me. Everyone is sick, we need to stop it!”
His head bobbed and his eyes blinked repeatedly. He hummed as though he agreed. “That’s nice, Morgana.” His head fell forwards again, nearly crashing against the table.
Sighing in frustration, Morgana left Gaius where he lay, determined to find someone else who was still awake and could help her.
---
After arriving at Idirsholas, Arthur and Merlin had been shocked to find that the castle was not as abandoned as they had presumed. It was inhabited by seven knights in black who seemingly couldn’t be killed.
They had done their best to fight off the immortal warriors, but there was no stopping them, and eventually all the knights assisting Arthur had been slaughtered.
Merlin had grabbed Arthur roughly by the arm and dragged him away, desperate to save the prince from sharing the same fate as his men.
They ran until they reached the safety of woods, never once looking back. Arthur rounded up the horses while Merlin tended to his first battle wound. Once Arthur returned, they mounted their horses and returned to Camelot at a breakneck pace, determined to reach home.
---
Everywhere Morgana went, she found people falling asleep. She had even resorted to seeking out the King’s assistance, but he had fallen ill sooner than the rest and had long since been asleep.
As time ticked by, Morgana discovered that she was the only one left awake in all of Camelot. She had tried the few spells she knew that could potentially help, but she didn’t have an extensive knowledge of magic, and her attempts were unsuccessful.
She was in the middle of searching for one of Merlin’s magical texts in his chambers when she heard the sound of hoof beats reverberating off the cobblestones. There were people approaching Camelot, and the whole city was left defenseless. Fearing the worst, she ran back to her chambers, praying that no one would see her.
Once in the relative safety of her chambers, Morgana peered out of the window to see who the newcomers were. Two horses rode into the square, and the sight of their riders was a welcome one indeed. Morgana sighed in relief and left her spot by the window to go down and meet them.
---
As Arthur and Merlin rode into Camelot, they were greeted by the sight of a dozen people strewn across the square.
“Are they dead?” Merlin questioned.
Arthur dismounted and checked some of the bodies, finding them to be alive. “They’re breathing.”
As they walked further into the square, they found more bodies, each one fast asleep. In the bizarre silence of the square, the distinct noise of a door being opened was loud enough to catch both Merlin and Arthur’s attention.
Arthur whipped his head around, searching for the source of the noise. He noticed the main door to the castle opening, and out of it came Morgana, barreling towards him.
“Arthur!” Morgana cried, the distress from the events of the day leaving her shaken and yearning for another living person to comfort her. She ran at him full tilt, and without bothering to slow her momentum, she crashed into him, throwing her arms around his neck.
Arthur caught her with practiced reflexes, his arm wrapping around her back as her chest collided with his. Her hair whipped past his face from the force of her body launching into his embrace, the smell of lavender drifting past his noise. “Morgana,” he murmured, his mouth pressed into the curve of her neck.
She allowed herself to hide her face for a moment longer, the cool metal of his chainmail digging into her chin as she shut her eyes against the world. Reluctantly, she pulled back so she could look into Arthur’s eyes.
Arthur loosened his hold but did not let her go completely. “Morgana, what’s happened?”
Morgana ducked her head, tears pricking at her eyes. She took a deep breath to calm down, knowing that waterworks weren’t the way to fix this. “Everyone is asleep. They started out complaining about not feeling well, but then they all started falling asleep, everywhere I went.”
“Everyone?” Arthur questioned.
“As far as I know. I tried to stop it, Arthur, I did, but there was nothing I could do. Nothing will wake them.” She spared a glance in Merlin’s direction. “Gaius succumbed to the sickness as well.”
Arthur shook his head dejectedly. Without Gaius they would have to solve this without medical assistance. Catching Morgana’s eye once more, he asked, “And the king?”
“Sleep pulled him under, too,” she replied.
Merlin slowly walked up to stand with the pair. “We should probably get inside.” He felt like they were too exposed out in the open.
Arthur nodded and released Morgana from his arms. All three strode into the castle’s deserted halls, the silence palpable and disconcerting. As they walked, Morgana kept glancing over at Merlin, wondering what his take was on all of this. She hadn’t spoken to him recently, but he knew more about magic than she did, and perhaps he could undo this spell. He never looked back at her, however, so she turned her gaze on the path in front of them.
They found themselves in Morgana’s chambers, since it was the closest. Once they got there, Arthur started asking more questions, trying to get a detailed description of what had transpired.
Morgana explained that there was little to the story. No one had come, there had been no attacks; the people simply fell asleep.
After listening to her explanation, Arthur cocked his head, confusion in his eyes. “Morgana… why are you the only one awake?”
The question took her aback. She had been so busy trying to save everyone that it had never occurred to her that she was the only one who hadn’t fallen ill. Once she thought about it, it seemed strange; she hadn’t so much as yawned all day, she was fine. “I… I don’t know, Arthur.”
Merlin stepped in, offering an idea. “I think I might.”
Morgana’s eyes flew over to Merlin, shocked that he was speaking to her.
“Morgana, it might be…” Merlin looked over at Arthur, as though he was debating whether it was safe to say the next words. “Your magic,” he whispered, “It’s protecting you somehow.”
Arthur stared at Merlin in stunned silence before sharply turning on Morgana. “He knows?”
Morgana waved off Arthur’s indignation. “Yes. But now’s not the time. We have to find a way to fix this before you fall asleep too.”
Arthur grumbled under his breath, “Can’t believe you told him.”
Morgana rolled her eyes. Arthur could be so petty. “We can talk about it later, Arthur. If you’re still awake, that is.”
Huffing, Arthur kept quiet about it for the time being.
---
Over the next hour, the three tried everything they knew to wake the people. Morgana tried some spells with Arthur while Merlin snuck down to Gaius’s chambers under the pretense of finding a potion that would work as an antidote.
Arthur stood by the window most of the time, watching and waiting. He alternated between that and pacing, until Morgana yelled at him and he sat down.
Morgana was growing weary, her attempts at magic taking their toll. “I don’t know anything else, Arthur,” she admitted.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Arthur kicked a chair over in aggravation. Sighing, he ran a hand over his face. Knowing that he had to hold it together for Morgana’s sake, he took a deep breath and pushed his shoulder’s back to stand tall. “Then we have no choice. We have to leave Camelot until we can find a cure.”
Morgana gazed at him, wide-eyed. “Arthur, you’re talking about leaving your people.”
He shook his head. “I’m no good to them if I’m asleep as well.” He could already feel the effects of the spell, his vision kept blurring and his limbs felt heavy.
Morgana nodded in agreement. “I understand.” She rose from her spot on the bed, walking over to Arthur. She set a hand over his heart, prepared to comfort him, but they were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.
Merlin stood there, gasping for breath. “The Knights of Medhir, they’re coming.” He looked over at Arthur. “And they have an extra rider with them.”
Arthur ran to the window and saw the figures as they neared the city. “The city is defenseless.” He turned around to face Merlin and Morgana. “We need to find the king, he probably is their target.”
Morgana took in Arthur’s statement and a feeling of dread washed over her. It couldn’t be Morgause, could it? She struggled to remember the events of the previous night, but she couldn’t think of anything useful.
“Morgana?” Arthur called.
Jolted out of her thoughts, Morgana looked over at Arthur. “What?”
“Where is my father?” he asked. He looked concerned, and it surprised Morgana. He hadn’t referred to Uther as his father in a long time.
Quietly, she replied, “He’s in his chambers.”
“That’ll be the first place they’ll look for him. We have to move him.”
---
They found Uther where Morgana had left him, and they picked him up and dragged him to another room.
As the boys set him down, they both looked exhausted from the exertion. Merlin looked over at Arthur, who was sweating and breathing heavily. “Are you alright?”
Arthur looked back at Merlin, noticing that the boy appeared to be in the same condition. “You’re feeling it, too?”
Merlin’s eyes widened as realization washed over him. “We’re getting sick.” He looked over at Morgana, seeing that she was still unaffected.
Morgana heard Merlin’s admission and her heart nearly stopped. Arthur didn’t suspect anything, but she knew; if Merlin was sick, then something else was protecting her, and it wasn’t her magic. She stared back at Merlin, noticing the all too familiar look of suspicion on his face.
Arthur started to discuss plans of saving the king with Merlin, but Morgana tuned them out, stuck in her thoughts. She didn’t know how, but this sickness was connected to her. She remembered the promise she had made to Morgause, about choosing sides, and she felt sick. If this was her sister’s plan, she couldn’t betray her, but she knew that this was dangerous ground she was treading.
---
Merlin came up with a plan to disguise the king, so he went to go find clothes, much to Morgana’s relief. She couldn’t bear to be stuck next to him, knowing he was judging her, especially when she was still unaware of exactly what she had done wrong.
Arthur was blissfully unaware, but he wasn’t completely unburdened, since he was fighting to hold on and beat the sickness. He found himself stumbling and nearly collapsed against the wall.
Morgana noticed and immediately ran to his side. “Arthur…” She whispered his name like a prayer, hoping desperately for him to stay with her.
He stood up, the action painstakingly slow. “It’s getting worse.”
Grasping his face in her hands, Morgana pulled him closer. His skin was warm under her hands, the sickness taking its toll. Swallowing her fears, she demanded, “You must stay awake. You can beat this, Arthur, you will.” Using her grip on his face, she yanked him down to her waiting lips. She kissed him fiercely, letting him use her as an anchor to stop from slipping away.
Arthur was breathing heavily as he pulled away, but he looked more alert than he had moments before. He chuckled, “How could anyone fall asleep with you doing things like that?”
Morgana leaned in and kissed him again, this time a bit softer. Her hands slid down over his jaw to rest on the sides of his neck. Lingering over his lips, she murmured into his mouth, “I love you.”
He reached up and covered her hands with his, pulling them away from his neck. “Everything is going to be alright, Morgana.”
She nodded, trying her best to believe him.
He stepped away from her arms. “I should go check on Merlin, he’s been gone a while.”
Morgana sat down in a chair, staring at where Uther’s body lay on the floor as Arthur left her alone. All this trouble for a man she despised, it seemed so silly; but if Arthur felt it was important, she would help him.
---
A few minutes had passed before Morgana heard the door open again. Merlin came in the room carrying supplies, but Arthur wasn’t with him.
He stared at her in consternation, something strange lurking behind his eyes. “They’re here. They’re in the castle.”
“Where’s Arthur?” she asked.
“He’s gone to find somewhere safe to move to.” Merlin replied, trying his hardest to avoid looking at her.
Morgana watched as Merlin started to prepare to move the king. Something was weighing on her, and she felt that she had to say something. “You’re getting sick,” she muttered.
Merlin’s movements stilled, and he slowly turned to face her. “Yes.”
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment before releasing it with a soft pop. Quietly, she asked, “Then what is protecting me?”
His eyes roved over her form, as though he was searching for something. It was clear from his face that he had his suspicions, but he said nothing.
“Merlin--” Morgana started, but she was interrupted by the door opening as Arthur barged into the room.
His expression was one of anger, and he ran past Morgana to the king. “We need to move him now, Morgause is coming.”
The name rung in Morgana’s ears, and her breath caught in her throat. “Morgause.” The word came out as a statement, not a question. The pieces were falling into place, and Morgana started to comprehend her part in all of this.
Merlin’s head snapped around when he heard her. He watched her, assessing her reaction to the news.
Arthur didn’t notice the silent exchange; he was too focused on Uther. “We need to get out of Camelot, it’s the only way.”
They began dragging Uther down a hallway, using a sheet now to pull him to make it easier. As they rounded a corner, two of the knights appeared in front of them.
“Arthur!” Morgana screamed.
Arthur dropped his hold on the sheet, unsheathing his sword and spinning around to fight the knights. “Get out of here!” he yelled.
Morgana and Merlin tugged Uther in a different direction, as Arthur fought off the attackers.
As they went down another hallway, another knight caught sight of them. He began to follow the pair as they hurriedly tugged Uther.
Morgana struggled to move fast enough, and her foot caught on the hem of her skirt. She tripped and tumbled to the floor, letting go of the sheet as she fell. The knight was gaining on them, and Morgana called out, “Merlin!”
Merlin considered the situation for a moment, but remembered something he had learned only a short while ago. Morgana was the source of this spell, she was working with Morgause. In order to stop this, Morgana had to die, and perhaps this was the way. Arthur would be devastated, but if it could save the kingdom… He began to pull Uther on his own, leaving Morgana where she fell.
Morgana crawled backwards, trying to escape the knight. She turned her head to look at Merlin, begging, “Please!”
The knight was on top of Morgana now, and he raised his sword to deliver the killing blow.
Unable to do anything to stop it, Morgana screamed at the top of her lungs, closing her eyes in fear.
However, the knight slowed in his actions before his sword hit her neck. The empty eyes looked down at her, chilling her to the bone.
Before Morgana could react to the strange situation, she heard Arthur’s yell as he ran towards them. He attacked the knight from behind, desperate to save Morgana. He shoved the knight hard and managed to knock the creature down a flight of stairs.
Arthur grabbed Morgana under her arms and lifted her up from the floor. He was too weak to carry her, so he took her by the hand and started to run, following Merlin.
They made it to the throne room and barricaded the door. Arthur shook his head to try and clear his muddled thoughts. The sickness was getting worst, and he was barely able to stay on his feet. “We need to find a way out of the city.”
Morgana knew that he was right, but they would never get past the knights. “How? We’ll never be able to drag Uther that far.”
Merlin piped up, “There was a cart in the square; we could carry him in that.”
A smile crossed Arthur’s lips and he ran over to look out the window. He could see the cart, but it was far away. He went back to stand by Morgana. Reaching into his boot, he pulled out his spare dagger and handed it to her. “Morgana, I need you to cut up the blanket and tie it together, we can use it to lower my father down to the cart.”
She took the proffered dagger, but she was skeptical. “Lower him?”
“We’re going to go out the window,” Arthur explained. Leaving her to her task, he went over to the door and started to remove the barrier keeping it shut.
“Arthur!” Morgana yelled, shocked by his actions. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to fetch the cart round to the window.” His tone conveyed his determination, but it was clear from his face that he was on the brink of exhaustion.
Merlin went to Arthur’s side. “You’ll never reach the cart alone, Arthur. It’s suicide.”
Morgana’s nightmare rushed back in flashes, the sight of Arthur’s blood clouding her eyes.
Arthur steadied himself against the strong wooden door. “I have no choice. I have to try.”
Merlin appeared to accept Arthur’s decision, but Morgana was terrified.
Arthur grabbed Merlin’s skin of water and poured some on his face to help him stay alert. He looked over at Morgana and mouthed, “I love you.” He gave her a small smile, one that seemed to say that he hoped to see her soon.
She wanted to say it back, or at least return the smile, but she couldn’t even manage to breathe.
Arthur nodded to Merlin before lifting the bar off of the door and pulling out his sword. Taking a deep breath, he threw the door open and ducked out into the hall.
Merlin quickly shut the door and put the barrier back in place.
Morgana stared at the spot where Arthur had been standing moments before, unable to move. “He’s not going to survive out there,” she muttered, the words leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
“I know,” Merlin admitted.
Glaring at the sorcerer, she finally gained the courage to confront him. “What do you know, Merlin? You were willing to let that knight kill me, I want to know why.”
He was surprised by her demands, since he had expected her to deny her involvement with the sickness. “This spell is powerful, Morgana; it has to have something strong to sustain it.” He watched her face for a moment before ducking his head, fearing her reaction. “In order to break this spell, we have to eradicate the source of its magic,” he explained.
“What is the source?” Morgana asked, dreading the answer.
Merlin forced himself to meet her eyes. “It is you, Morgana.”
“And the only way to break it is to…” she trailed off, the words too painful.
Merlin supplied the rest for her. “Kill you.”
Morgana’s mouth had suddenly gone dry, and she tried to wet her lips. “You were willing to let me die to save Camelot, weren’t you?”
He had the decency to look ashamed. “I didn’t want to, but what you’re doing, Morgana, it is dangerous. You cannot trust Morgause.”
Anger flamed up inside of her. How dare Merlin judge her after all he has done. “She has reasons for wanting Uther dead, as do I. He would see us all killed, why should we not kill him first?”
He saw past her anger, knowing that she was bluffing. “You had the chance to kill him before, but you didn’t. You cannot stoop to his level, Morgana, you are better than that.”
She didn’t dare question how he knew of her ill-attempted assassination. She was still processing the information that the solution to their problem was her death. She did not fear death, but she would not choose for her life to end at this moment, not if she could help it. Taking a breath, she murmured, “Just help me with the blanket.”
---
It had been a long time since Arthur had left, and the sounds of swords clashing could be heard outside of the door. Morgana had finished ripping the blanket apart, and she sat on the floor watching Merlin from a distance.
Desperate for anything to block out the sounds from outside, Merlin turned to Morgana. “We have to find a solution, Morgana. We won’t last like this.”
She tried to focus on tying knots in the material, but her fingers kept slipping. “I could try and stop her. Morgause will listen to me.”
Merlin stared at her, inquiring, “And if she doesn’t?”
Swallowing hard, she answered. “Then you’ll kill me.” She knew that he had planned to do it, and he probably had a means of doing so with him right now. Her nightmare had been playing on a loop in her mind, and she couldn’t let Arthur meet that fate, no matter how much she craved her sister’s love and Uther’s demise.
She stood up and walked to the door, removing the barrier. Knowing that Morgause would be able to hear her, she projected her thoughts as loudly as she could manage. “Sister, come to me,” she thought. For insurance, she added, “The king is here.”
Merlin watched, allowing Morgana to try, but knowing the potential for disaster. He fingered the small bottle of hemlock in his pocket, prepared for the worst.
---
Morgause heard her sister’s plea and came running, leaving the knights to fight Arthur. They would dispose of him soon enough, and then they could join her in killing the king. She followed Morgana’s trail and reached the throne room. She threw the door open dramatically, striding into the room.
Morgana tried to hide her discomfort, but it was obvious that she was nervous.
Merlin stood hidden away in the shadows, not wanting to reveal his presence yet.
Morgause smiled brightly at Morgana and came over to embrace her sister. “You’ve done well, Morgana,” she whispered into Morgana’s ear, her arms winding ever tighter.
Leaning back, Morgana pushed Morgause’s arms away. “No.” She shook her head. “I need you to stop the spell.”
Confusion swept across her face, marring her delicate features. “I don’t understand. We’re so close; we have almost reached our victory.” She looked over to where Uther lay. “We need only take that final step and we will be free.”
Morgana placed herself deliberately between Uther and Morgause, blocking the king from view. “I cannot let you do this. This isn’t the way to gain our freedom.”
Morgause looked disgusted by her sister’s decision. “You’re choosing him? Over your own flesh and blood?”
Morgana shook her head and vehemently exclaimed, “I’m choosing me!”
Morgause countered, “I did this to save you. Uther will see you killed, Morgana! He does not care for you; he will not spare your life.”
Shaking her head, Morgana scoffed, “You are no better. You used me! Do you know what I have been through, watching this sickness claim everyone I love?”
“I was helping you!” The blonde sorceress was slowly losing her patience. “The Knights will execute the king and then the spell will lift. Everyone you love will be safe once more.”
Morgana wanted desperately to believe her, but she could still hear Arthur fighting for his life in the hall. She remembered her dream and snapped, “They’re going to kill Arthur!”
Morgause huffed, not amused by her sister’s persistence. “He was supposed to be asleep, all of them were!” Softening, she lowered her voice and continued, “I wanted Uther dead, no one else. I put them to sleep to spare their lives; it was an act of mercy. I did it for you, sister.”
“But Arthur isn’t asleep and he will die, I have seen it. You must stop this!” She couldn’t stop picturing him dying; it was all that was driving her now.
Narrowing her eyes, Morgause replied, her voice filled with anger once more, “Perhaps he should die! He is a Pendragon, Morgana; he is no different than his father.”
“No! You don’t know him. I will not let him die!” Morgana shouted. She clenched her hands into fists at her sides, feeling the distinct pressure of magic building up in her chest as she fumed.
Morgause shook her head regretfully, refusing to give in to her sister’s foolish demands. “I cannot stop this, Morgana. Not until my work is done.”
Taking a breath, Morgana straightened to her full height, preparing for what she was about to do. “Then you leave me no choice.” She took out the potion she had pilfered from Merlin’s pockets and held it where Morgause could see. “Now you must choose, sister. Between me and your vengeance.”
Merlin sucked in a gulp of air, patting down his now empty pockets in disbelief.
Morgause seemed unaffected by Morgana’s challenge and laughed harshly. “Silly girl.” Her eyes flashed gold and in a blink the potion had flown across the room and into her palm. “You think I would let you die so easily?”
Morgana looked at her empty hand, cursing herself for not seeing that coming. A scream could be heard, and Morgana knew that she was wasting precious time. Arthur would lose this fight, and the knights would not hesitate to run him through. She resorted to begging. “Please, Morgause. I cannot lose Arthur, I just can’t.”
Ducking her head, Morgause murmured, “I am sorry, sister.” She lifted her hand in the air, meeting Morgana’s eyes. With a few mumbled words, she caused Morgana to fly across the room, clearing the path to the king.
Merlin came out of his hiding place, ready to fight Morgause. “You should have listened to her,” he warned.
Morgause tried to throw Merlin with her magic as well, but he blocked the spell before it could affect him. She was shocked by the revelation, but it didn’t shake the smile from her lips. “It doesn’t matter how you try to fight, sleep will consume you, warlock; and when it does, Uther Pendragon will meet his end.”
A soft, “No,” could be heard from across the room. Morgana pushed herself off the floor, pressing her back against a pillar.
Morgause turned her head to look at her sister, her reaction too slow this time.
“He won’t.” Morgana raised the dagger Arthur had given her and brought it down in one sharp movement, stabbing it deep into her gut. Unable to control it, she let out a cry of pain. The warmth of the blood caressed her fingers as it rolled down over the hilt of the blade.
Screaming both for her sister and her failed plans, Morgause attempted to run to Morgana’s side.
Merlin knew that Morgause would only try to stop it, and he couldn’t let Morgana’s sacrifice be in vain. He uttered a spell, freezing Morgause in her tracks.
Morgana rest against the stone pillar, her breath coming in slow gasps. Her voice quaked, but she managed to command, “Call off the knights, Morgause.”
Morgause’s eyes were brimming with tears as she helplessly watched her sister die. “Sister,” she cried.
“It’s too late. The spell is breaking, I can feel it,” Morgana coughed.
Merlin stepped in, “The city will wake, and the knights will never reach Uther. You have lost, Morgause.”
“I wanted so much more for you, Morgana.” Morgause continued to cry. Reluctantly, she began to chant the words to a spell. Her eyes glowed gold again; and then there was nothing but a crushing silence.
The sounds of fighting had stopped, but so had the sound of Morgana’s gasping breaths.
Merlin released his hold on Morgause, who immediately tried to run to her sister. She was cut off halfway, however, as Arthur barreled into the room. He caught sight of Morgause first, raising his sword to fight her.
Morgause glanced regretfully at her sister before muttering another spell. A cloud of smoke spun around in the air, engulfing her. As the smoke cleared, a vast emptiness was all that remained. Morgause had vanished.
Arthur chuckled to himself, thinking himself the victor. “We did it. See, Morgana, I told you, we’d-” His eyes had been roaming the room, but he lost his voice when they landed on Merlin. The boy looked as though he would burst into tears, and Arthur immediately followed his eye line, trying to see what was wrong. The sight caused him to audibly choke on his breath, his body struggling to process it.
Morgana was lying halfway propped up against a pillar, her head hanging limp against her chest and her skin drained of color. There was blood, so much blood surrounding her; it looked as though she had been drowned in it.
Arthur all but threw himself at her, his whole body collapsing next to her under the force of his grief. He collected her into his arms, pulling her across his lap. “Morgana,” he sobbed, his voice cracking with emotion. Cradling her head, he tried to get her to open her eyes. “Morgana, wake up. Please, wake up!”
Merlin watched in vain as Arthur started weeping. The prince lost all intelligible speech; his attempts to speak came out as pained whines. It was the most devastating thing that Merlin had ever witnessed, and he couldn’t help but cry as well.
Arthur bent down over Morgana, letting their foreheads touch. He kissed her lips once, twice, possibly a hundred times, but he never received any response. He couldn’t comprehend this, this couldn’t possibly be happening.
Merlin could hear the king beginning to stir behind him, but he didn’t care. Arthur had started to scream, and Merlin was losing all vestiges of his sanity. He should’ve done something; he should’ve known that this wasn’t the right decision. He wished more than anything that he knew an effective healing spell, but he was at a loss. He could not help Morgana anymore.
Uther rose from his slumber to the sound of his son in pain. He saw the scene before him and gasped.
The newly awoken guards began pouring into the room, all rushing to help Uther.
The king shoved them away, ordering them to help his son instead. It took several agonizing minutes, but eventually the guards pried Arthur away from Morgana’s body.
Arthur continued to scream, attacking the guards with flailing limbs as they pulled him away.
Eventually Merlin went to help, trying to calm his friend. He watched in his peripheral vision as the guards carried Morgana’s body away. Her hand dragged along the floor as they carried her, trailing a line of blood from her fingertips. Merlin cautiously guided Arthur back to his chambers and tried to get the prince to sleep. In the end, he stayed there with Arthur for hours, long after the screams had subsided and left Arthur in a comatose state.
It took almost an entire day, but Arthur finally opened his mouth to speak. “She’s gone.” It was all he said, and he refused to say any more after that.
---
Everyone in the whole city was broken by the news of Morgana’s passing. Guinevere helped to arrange Morgana’s funeral, knowing better than anyone what Morgana would have wanted. Arthur gave no input on the matter, still walking around in his zombie-like state.
They decided to give Morgana a funeral boat, since a pyre seemed wrong for someone who had been longing to be free. Guinevere decorated the boat with flowers, the purple ones that she used to pick for her mistress, and the white lilies that had been Morgana’s favorite.
Merlin suggested that they send her boat off at the edge of the lake that held the Isle of the Blessed in its center, knowing that it would’ve been important to Morgana. No one else seemed to understand the significance, but Morgana would’ve liked it, so Merlin made the decision.
They held the funeral the next day, and Merlin had to drag Arthur the whole way to the lake. Merlin and Guinevere refused to let the archers shoot burning arrows at the boat, despite what Uther had wanted. Morgana should be left whole to wash up on the shores, not charred and turned to ash.
As they went to send the boat away, Arthur finally moved on his own accord. He walked down to the boat and stared vacantly at Morgana, as though he didn’t even see her. He reached a hand into the boat, lightly dragging his fingers along the column of Morgana’s neck.
No one said a word as Arthur spent his last moments with the woman he loved.
His fingers stopped as they reached the chain of her necklace, his fingers running over the metal until they reached the ring at the bottom. The piece of jewelry was resting in the hollow of her throat, and Arthur stroked it lovingly. He had his first coherent thought since he had lost her, and he contemplated taking the ring back, but then he remembered that it was right where it belonged. With her, always. Bending down, he pressed a kiss to her forehead before standing up and returning to the bank of the lake.
The boat was sent out, and everyone watched with heavy hearts.
Arthur remained there until it grew dark, staring out over the water as Morgana drifted away. He could no longer see the boat, but he still hadn’t moved.
Merlin eventually came down and took Arthur by the arm, gently leading him away.
---
Morgana’s boat landed quietly on the shores of the Isle of the Blessed. The island had been abandoned since Nimueh’s death, but something was stirring on the banks.
A woman welcomed the boat and its passenger, taking them both up onto the land. Smiling, the woman ran a hand over Morgana’s cheek, her golden hair cascading over the red of her dress, leaving the colors blinking over Morgana’s unopened eyes.
Next Chapter
Fandom: Merlin
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Morgana, any and all other characters
Word Count: 9,709
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this stuff, because if I did ArMor would be canon.
Spoilers: Vague spoilers for all of Merlin series 2
Summary: Perhaps there was another way, if only it had gone a little different at the start. How it should've been, aka Series 2 the proper way.
Author's Notes: This chapter redefined the definition of late. But it's almost twice as long as usual, so yay? Also, there is going to be a sequel for this story, so DON'T KILL ME FOR THIS CHAPTER.
Previous Chapters: Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9
---
When it was all over, there was a moment, where Morgana saw the blinking colors of gold and red swirling past her eyes, and wondered if it was all worth it. But that was in the after. This was the before.
---
Night had fallen in Camelot, and Morgana was plunged deep into the throes of a nightmare. There were men in black, riders with no faces galloping towards Camelot. She saw Arthur, fighting for his life and no one coming to his aide. Then there was nothing but red as blood streamed across her vision.
Waking up with a jolt, Morgana screamed at the top of her lungs. Terrified for Arthur’s safety, she threw back the covers and ran out of her room, forgetting shoes or a cover in her hurry.
She navigated the familiar path with ease, and avoided the guards even in her haste. When she reached his door, she threw it open, praying that he was there and that he was safe. Things had been tense between them since Alvarr’s execution, but the thought of Arthur dying washed away any animosity between them and sent her running to his arms.
Arthur heard the door and woke up, his body on high alert. His eyes slowly adjusted to the dark and saw Morgana’s silhouette outlined by the light of the hall. He breathed a sigh of relief upon recognizing that there was no threat. Without any explanation needed, he pulled the covers back. “Come here,” he beckoned, his voice thick with sleep.
Morgana shut the door and practically sprinted to the bed. Her face was wet with tears, and she willingly crawled into the bed next to him, curling into his warmth.
Arthur pulled the covers over both of them, never looking away from Morgana’s face. Lifting a hand to brush the tears away from her cheek, he whispered, “Are you alright?”
She ducked her head, pressing her nose against his bare collar bone. She breathed him in, trying to calm her nerves.
He brushed his fingers through her unruly curls, trying to soothe her. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, he murmured into her hair, “I’m here, ‘Gana.”
Morgana nodded stiffly, her muscles slowly uncoiling as her body began to relax.
Arthur wrapped his arm around Morgana’s lower back, holding her tightly against his chest. He could feel the beat of her heart as it hammered away, and he dropped another kiss on the crown of her head. He knew that this was a result of a nightmare, and that she would possibly revert to being cold and distant in the morning, but it didn’t matter tonight.
Eventually Morgana’s heart stopped racing and her mind cleared itself of the horrible sight of Arthur’s blood spilling across the stones. She gently kissed his chest to convey that she was still functioning.
Still half asleep, Arthur nuzzled against her and his eyes started to close. He whispered, “You can sleep now. I’m not going anywhere.”
Terrified of letting him go, Morgana clung to him, her hands desperately seeking purchase as she wound her arms around his shoulders and then down his back. Her nails clawed against his bare skin, but Arthur showed no signs of protest. She finally settled against him, content in the knowledge that he would be safe until morning.
Something in her mind screamed that this would be the last time they would be here, but she ignored the chatter and closed her eyes.
---
In the light of the dawn, Arthur felt better than he had in days. He woke to the sight of Morgana’s body curved against his with her head resting on his arm. Her chest was rhythmically rising and falling as she continued to sleep beside him and he smiled at the sight. She hadn’t had any trouble sleeping once she was next to him, and the thought made his heart swell with pride. He dragged his fingers leisurely down her spine as he watched her slumber.
It occurred to him that he never wanted her to leave his bed, and he was surprised by the depth of his feelings for this girl. He never realized that he could feel this strongly about anyone.
Morgana seemed to sense Arthur’s changing mood, because she began to stir.
Arthur kissed her forehead lightly, trying not to wake her up completely.
Morgana was not a heavy sleeper, however, and Arthur could tell from the faster rhythm of her breathing that she was awake. Mumbling, Morgana griped, “You’re thinking too loud.”
He chuckled and pulled her closer so her head was resting on his chest. “Sorry.”
Tilting her chin up to look at his face, Morgana inquired, “What has you in such a pensive mood? It’s unlike you.”
“I do occasionally think about things, Morgana,” he huffed.
She leaned up and kissed the underside of his jaw, a smile on her lips as she pulled away. “No need to get offended, Arthur.” As she settled against him, she prompted, “So, out with it.”
He couldn’t possibly voice the million thoughts running through his head. He couldn’t tell her that he never wanted to wake up without her, that seeing his ring around her neck was giving him ideas he knew she possibly would balk at; it would be too much. So he smiled coyly and mumbled, “It’s nothing, Morgana.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” Patting his chest with her hand, she sat up and disentangled herself from his arms. “I should go before Gwen starts to worry.”
His resulting pout was adorable, and despite her attempts to resist, Morgana leaned down and kissed it right off his lips. Her long hair tickled his face as she moved, and Arthur began to laugh low in his chest.
Morgana pulled back and smiled at him, pecking his lips once more for good measure. “Thank you for last night.”
Arthur grinned in return. “You’re always welcome in my bed, Morgana.”
Scoffing at his cheeky response, she stood up to her full height and stepped away from his reaching arms.
He sat up against his pillows, the lack of her presence leaving him cold. “Will I see you later?” His tone let on more of his desperation than he would have liked, but he didn’t retract the statement.
Morgana smiled at his obvious need to have her near him, shaking her head as she walked to the door. “I’m always around, Arthur,” she quipped. With one last look, she slipped out of his room and shut the door behind her.
---
Unfortunately, Arthur would not be able visit with Morgana later that day, for he was called away on a reconnaissance mission. A man came to the city and claimed that he had seen smoke rising from the citadel at Idirsholas. There was a legend about Idirsholas that said when the fires were lit, the Knights of Medhir would ride again. No one had been in the citadel for over three hundred years, and therefore it was a matter that required investigation.
Though Arthur believed it all to be superstitious nonsense, he had no choice but to ride out and investigate. Uther had commanded it and whether Arthur agreed or not, he must obey his king.
Morgana feared for Arthur’s safety, but there was little she could do save for watch him through her window as he rode away from the city. Merlin was with him, and though Morgana may not trust him with a great many things anymore, she did trust him with Arthur’s life.
Long after Arthur had disappeared over the hills, Morgana remained at her window. Eventually she felt a hand on her shoulder and was jolted out of her trance.
“My lady, you should come and eat something.” Gwen spoke in hushed tones, all too aware of Morgana’s current state.
Morgana nodded stiffly, allowing Gwen to maneuver her away from the window.
Gwen smiled softly at her mistress as she lowered her into a chair at the table. She lightly squeezed Morgana’s shoulder. “He will be fine, Morgana.”
Morgana forced a smile onto her lips, determined to believe Gwen’s words. The images from her dream were flashing across the backs of her eyes, however, and her smile quickly vanished.
---
After a long walk around the castle with Gwen to calm her nerves, Morgana returned to her chambers feeling better than before. As she entered her room, she noticed that one of the windows was open. She was sure that she had shut it when she left, since there was a chill on the air. It was peculiar, and she found herself drawn closer to the window.
Once she reached it, she noticed something sitting on the sill. It was a small box, and it had clearly been left for her. She was curious as to who would do such a thing. With Arthur and Merlin gone, there were few left with reason to send her trinkets.
Cautiously, Morgana opened the lid to the box, revealing a rolled up piece of parchment inside. Extracting the paper, she unrolled it and began to read the message inside. It was addressed to her, and contained a plea to meet at twilight outside the castle grounds. As she finished the note, she saw the signature of the sender. “Morgause,” she breathed as her eyes scanned over the name.
Morgana bore no ill will against the sorceress, though she had all but forgotten about the bracelet that Morgause had left for her. The note sparked her memory, and she walked over to the drawer where she had stowed the bracelet. She opened the drawer and dug to the bottom to reveal the gold and silver bracelet lying there. She picked it up and studied it for a moment, struck with that same sense of familiarity she had when she first saw Morgause, but she still couldn’t place it.
Eventually she decided that she would meet with Morgause tonight, if only to return the bracelet. In order to remember, she slipped it onto her wrist, internally promising to only wear it for the day. There was something deeply powerful within this bracelet; she could feel it spiraling out through her veins from the point where the metal touched her skin. It was frightening but invigorating, and she found herself smiling at the sight of it on her wrist.
It was only for today. She would give it back to Morgause tonight, she would.
---
Arthur and Merlin had been riding for hours, and it was steadily growing darker by the minute. Idirsholas was not close enough, and Arthur was becoming restless. He still thought that this mission was pointless, and as the sun set the distance from home was beginning to make him ache.
He kept thinking back to the night before, and he longed to be in his warm bed with Morgana in his arms again. Throughout the day, he had seriously been considering what it would be like to marry Morgana, and he had yet to come up with a reason why he shouldn’t.
They were young, and he knew Morgana may not want to be tied down to anyone, even if it was him, but maybe in the near future. She was still wearing his ring, and that had to mean something, didn’t it?
Arthur shook his head firmly, trying to focus on the journey and not his daydreams.
Merlin was watching Arthur intently as they rode, noticing the prince’s far off stare. He knew Arthur was not worried about this journey, but Gaius had told him of the legends and Merlin put more stock in these things than Arthur did. There was something dangerous waiting for them ahead, Merlin could feel it.
---
As night fell in Camelot, Morgana prepared to sneak away to meet with Morgause. She considered telling Gwen of her plans, but she believed Morgause to be relatively trustworthy, and decided that Gwen didn’t need the stress of worrying about her.
Morgana wrapped up in her emerald green cloak and touched the bracelet on her wrist for reassurance before ducking through the corridors. Opting to walk through town without a torch to draw attention to herself, she was extremely cautious as she moved. Eventually she reached the outer wall and opened the gate, exiting the confines of the city.
As she reached the forest, she felt a chill deep in her bones. Her subconscious seemed to remind her of Arthur, and how he wouldn’t approve of this venture. Before she could change her mind, she heard rustling in the trees and spun to face the direction from where the noises had emanated.
Morgause floated gracefully out of the bushes and into the clearing where Morgana stood. She had a smile on her lips as she approached. “It’s good to see you, Morgana.”
Morgana hesitantly returned the smile, still feeling slightly uncomfortable. She pulled the bracelet off of her wrist to let it rest in her palm.
Morgause picked up on Morgana’s emotional struggle and remarked, “You look unwell. Have you not been wearing the bracelet I left you?”
Shaking her head, Morgana extended her hand to offer up the bracelet to Morgause. “It was a very generous gift, but I cannot keep it. It was from your mother, I have no right to such a precious heirloom.”
Morgause cocked her head and smirked, refusing to take the bracelet. “Have you looked closely at this bracelet, Morgana?”
Morgana shook her head and brought the bracelet closer to her face to examine it.
“The markings on the bracelet, they are a symbol of the House of Gorlois.” The name caused Morgana’s eyes to snap up in surprise and Morgause continued, “It was the house to which my mother belonged.” She smiled knowingly and clarified, “Our mother.”
Morgana’s heart seemed to stop at that moment. Her mouth opened and closed several times, her brain struggling to form words. After a few agonizing seconds she questioned, “What are you saying?”
Smiling wider, Morgause replied, “That you have as much right to this bracelet as I, sister.”
“Sister?” Morgana gasped, the word sounding foreign on her lips. Incredulously she demanded, “How is this possible?”
Taking a breath, Morgause launched into the story of her past. “Our mother, Vivienne, gave birth to me out of wedlock at a young age. Your father, a kind and caring man, loved her despite this, and they married when I was but an infant. He accepted me into his family and adopted me as a daughter, paying no regards to my actual parentage.”
Morgause paused, noticing Morgana’s sad smile at the mention of her father. She rested her hand atop of Morgana’s shoulder and continued, “However, shortly after you were born, Uther began his purge of magic throughout the kingdom. Our mother was one of the Bendrui, a group of women who had trained to become High Priestesses, and although she did not openly practice, she still was very powerful. She had begun teaching me the ways of magic, and Uther knew of this. In order to save my life, our mother asked your physician, Gaius, to smuggle me out of Camelot. He took me away and helped to fake my death so Uther would not search for me.”
“Gaius?” Morgana asked.
Nodding, Morgause went on with her story. “I was sent to live with the High Priestesses on the Isle of the Blessed. This bracelet was forged there, and our mother gave it to me as a parting gift.”
“And our mother?” Morgana inquired, “What of her? Did she come with you?” Morgana had never known her mother, not truly. Vivienne had vanished before Morgana had reached her first birthday, leaving her solely in Gorlois’s care.
Morgause shook her head, the sadness clear in her eyes. “I do not know what became of our mother, I am sorry.”
Morgana nodded in acceptance, knowing that it was an unrealistic hope that she would find her mother.
Trying to comfort her younger sister, Morgause smiled and said, “But she would be glad that we have found each other; that much I know.”
The words sunk in, and Morgana slowly put the pieces together. “That is why I feel as though I know you. We are bound by blood.” She reached up to where Morgause’s hand lay on her shoulder and grasped the hand with her own.
“Yes, we are, sister.”
Morgana smiled joyfully, suddenly craving the love of a sister she had never known.
Morgause’s expression did not reflect Morgana’s joy, and she sighed purposefully. “I would rejoice with you, but regretfully, I cannot stay here.” She pulled her hand back from Morgana’s hold. “Not while Uther still reigns, he would never allow it.”
The reminder of her tyrannical guardian made Morgana’s smile fall away immediately. “Living under his roof is a trying experience, I do not deny it.” The corners of her mouth fell deeper until it became twisted in a grimace, the thought of Uther making her see red. She clenched her fists and dug her nails into her palms to control her rage. “Every day I must live with the knowledge that if he were to discover what I truly am, he would have me killed.”
Morgause frowned. “Your destiny is to become a high priestess as I am, Morgana; you should not fear any man.”
People had been throwing around the idea of her ‘destiny’ quite often as of late, and it made her wary. How did they all know what it was she would become when she herself was still so unsure? She swallowed her doubts and calmly replied, “I do not fear him.”
That made Morgause smile again, and she began to walk around Morgana. “Do you ever dream of a new world, Morgana? One where Uther was no more?”
She wet her lips, considering the question. “Sometimes,” she answered.
“And is that what you would like?” Morgause asked. “For Uther to be destroyed and his reign come to an end?”
Morgana chuckled to herself. She did, if she was honest. It was horrible, but she knew that everyone in Camelot would be better off without Uther as their king. “Yes,” she admitted. “But it doesn’t matter; the future is not of my making.”
“You underestimate your importance.” Morgause rounded on Morgana, stopping in front of her. “There are ways that you can obtain your desires, Morgana. You only need ask yourself, are you with Uther, or are you with me?”
The question was startling. The idea that lines were being drawn and sides were being taken made it sound like a war was coming, and Morgana wasn’t ready. There were too many different sides already, how could she choose? There was Merlin with his grandiose ideas and superior view of how magic should be used; and then Arthur, who loved her and needed her, but was by default a Pendragon, and therefore something inherently dangerous. She wasn’t sure she could side with either of them, not if her life was on the line. And now this, to decide between Uther, who was her father-figure but a horrendous ruler, and Morgause, who was her newly discovered family, but still a stranger.
In the end, Morgana decided that blood was thicker than any other allegiance, and she answered, “You. I’m with you, sister.”
Morgause grinned, her expression bordering on vicious. “I’m so glad to hear you say that.” Before Morgana could say anything further, Morgause extended a hand to cup her sister’s cheek.
The last thing Morgana saw was the gold of Morgause’s eyes before her whole world went black.
---
The next morning Morgana awoke in her own bed, unable to remember how she got there. She was in her nightdress and her hair was undone, but she couldn’t recall anything after her conversation with Morgause in the woods.
Gwen came in to wake Morgana, but found her already sitting up in bed. “Good morning, my lady.”
Morgana smiled at her friend, suddenly wanting to tell her all about what had happened last night. She had found her sister, and the news was something she was dying to share. “Gwen, you’ll never believe what-” She stopped short, noticing the tired expression marring Guinevere’s features.
Gwen yawned deeply, struggling to listen to Morgana. “I’m so sorry, Morgana, what were you saying?”
Morgana cocked her head, assessing Gwen’s appearance. “Did you sleep at all last night, Gwen?”
She tried to deny it, but she was clearly exhausted. “Not very well, I must say. I’ll be fine, though, don’t worry about me.”
“Maybe you should take the day off, get some rest. I can take care of things here,” Morgana offered.
Guinevere smiled. “You are too kind to me. But I will be fine, really.”
Morgana nodded and excused her maid to go and do her work. She was worried about her friend, but she herself was accustomed to sleepless nights, and she knew that it would pass with time.
---
Morgana’s initial worry was not unfounded, it seemed, for later in the day, she watched as Gwen nearly collapsed while cleaning her chambers.
“Gwen!” Morgana called out. She rushed over to the girl, catching her in her arms before Gwen could hit the ground.
Gwen could barely keep her eyes open. She looked up at Morgana, the vision of her face blurring. “What’s happening?”
Morgana was at a loss. Gwen must be coming down with something serious, she had never collapsed like this before, even when she was sick. “I don’t know. But I’m going to get Gaius, maybe he can help.”
Gwen nodded, her head falling to rest against her shoulder as she started to fall asleep again.
Using all her strength, Morgana lifted Gwen up and set her on the bed. Gwen barely registered that she was being moved, and it scared Morgana. She left her chambers, reluctant to leave Gwen, but determined to get help.
As she walked through the corridors, she noticed that there weren’t any other people around. No guards on patrol, no servants doing their work. It was like everyone had disappeared. She exited the castle with a lump in her throat. The sunlight blinded her for a moment, but as her eyes adjusted, she took in the sight of the square. Her gasp echoed off the stones, with no sounds to block it.
There were people strewn all across the square, some lying prone on the ground, some propped up on walls or wagons. None of them were moving, and the silence was deafening.
Morgana walked up to one of them, her hands trembling. Trying her best to steady her fingers, she checked for any signs of life. Thankfully, the man appeared to be breathing. Were all these people asleep? It was too strange. Remembering her mission, she continued on to Gaius’s chambers, her steps hurried.
She didn’t bother to knock, opening the door and waltzing inside. “Gaius?” His chambers were quiet as well, and she began to fear the worst. “Gaius?” she asked again.
She spotted the older man sitting at his workbench, slumped over onto the table. Morgana ran to him and shook his shoulders, praying that he wasn’t asleep as well. “Please, Gaius, please!”
His eyes opened for half a second, noticing Morgana’s presence. “Morgana?” he questioned, his throat thick with sleep.
Her face lit up with hopefulness. “Yes, Gaius, it’s me! Please, you have to help me. Everyone is sick, we need to stop it!”
His head bobbed and his eyes blinked repeatedly. He hummed as though he agreed. “That’s nice, Morgana.” His head fell forwards again, nearly crashing against the table.
Sighing in frustration, Morgana left Gaius where he lay, determined to find someone else who was still awake and could help her.
---
After arriving at Idirsholas, Arthur and Merlin had been shocked to find that the castle was not as abandoned as they had presumed. It was inhabited by seven knights in black who seemingly couldn’t be killed.
They had done their best to fight off the immortal warriors, but there was no stopping them, and eventually all the knights assisting Arthur had been slaughtered.
Merlin had grabbed Arthur roughly by the arm and dragged him away, desperate to save the prince from sharing the same fate as his men.
They ran until they reached the safety of woods, never once looking back. Arthur rounded up the horses while Merlin tended to his first battle wound. Once Arthur returned, they mounted their horses and returned to Camelot at a breakneck pace, determined to reach home.
---
Everywhere Morgana went, she found people falling asleep. She had even resorted to seeking out the King’s assistance, but he had fallen ill sooner than the rest and had long since been asleep.
As time ticked by, Morgana discovered that she was the only one left awake in all of Camelot. She had tried the few spells she knew that could potentially help, but she didn’t have an extensive knowledge of magic, and her attempts were unsuccessful.
She was in the middle of searching for one of Merlin’s magical texts in his chambers when she heard the sound of hoof beats reverberating off the cobblestones. There were people approaching Camelot, and the whole city was left defenseless. Fearing the worst, she ran back to her chambers, praying that no one would see her.
Once in the relative safety of her chambers, Morgana peered out of the window to see who the newcomers were. Two horses rode into the square, and the sight of their riders was a welcome one indeed. Morgana sighed in relief and left her spot by the window to go down and meet them.
---
As Arthur and Merlin rode into Camelot, they were greeted by the sight of a dozen people strewn across the square.
“Are they dead?” Merlin questioned.
Arthur dismounted and checked some of the bodies, finding them to be alive. “They’re breathing.”
As they walked further into the square, they found more bodies, each one fast asleep. In the bizarre silence of the square, the distinct noise of a door being opened was loud enough to catch both Merlin and Arthur’s attention.
Arthur whipped his head around, searching for the source of the noise. He noticed the main door to the castle opening, and out of it came Morgana, barreling towards him.
“Arthur!” Morgana cried, the distress from the events of the day leaving her shaken and yearning for another living person to comfort her. She ran at him full tilt, and without bothering to slow her momentum, she crashed into him, throwing her arms around his neck.
Arthur caught her with practiced reflexes, his arm wrapping around her back as her chest collided with his. Her hair whipped past his face from the force of her body launching into his embrace, the smell of lavender drifting past his noise. “Morgana,” he murmured, his mouth pressed into the curve of her neck.
She allowed herself to hide her face for a moment longer, the cool metal of his chainmail digging into her chin as she shut her eyes against the world. Reluctantly, she pulled back so she could look into Arthur’s eyes.
Arthur loosened his hold but did not let her go completely. “Morgana, what’s happened?”
Morgana ducked her head, tears pricking at her eyes. She took a deep breath to calm down, knowing that waterworks weren’t the way to fix this. “Everyone is asleep. They started out complaining about not feeling well, but then they all started falling asleep, everywhere I went.”
“Everyone?” Arthur questioned.
“As far as I know. I tried to stop it, Arthur, I did, but there was nothing I could do. Nothing will wake them.” She spared a glance in Merlin’s direction. “Gaius succumbed to the sickness as well.”
Arthur shook his head dejectedly. Without Gaius they would have to solve this without medical assistance. Catching Morgana’s eye once more, he asked, “And the king?”
“Sleep pulled him under, too,” she replied.
Merlin slowly walked up to stand with the pair. “We should probably get inside.” He felt like they were too exposed out in the open.
Arthur nodded and released Morgana from his arms. All three strode into the castle’s deserted halls, the silence palpable and disconcerting. As they walked, Morgana kept glancing over at Merlin, wondering what his take was on all of this. She hadn’t spoken to him recently, but he knew more about magic than she did, and perhaps he could undo this spell. He never looked back at her, however, so she turned her gaze on the path in front of them.
They found themselves in Morgana’s chambers, since it was the closest. Once they got there, Arthur started asking more questions, trying to get a detailed description of what had transpired.
Morgana explained that there was little to the story. No one had come, there had been no attacks; the people simply fell asleep.
After listening to her explanation, Arthur cocked his head, confusion in his eyes. “Morgana… why are you the only one awake?”
The question took her aback. She had been so busy trying to save everyone that it had never occurred to her that she was the only one who hadn’t fallen ill. Once she thought about it, it seemed strange; she hadn’t so much as yawned all day, she was fine. “I… I don’t know, Arthur.”
Merlin stepped in, offering an idea. “I think I might.”
Morgana’s eyes flew over to Merlin, shocked that he was speaking to her.
“Morgana, it might be…” Merlin looked over at Arthur, as though he was debating whether it was safe to say the next words. “Your magic,” he whispered, “It’s protecting you somehow.”
Arthur stared at Merlin in stunned silence before sharply turning on Morgana. “He knows?”
Morgana waved off Arthur’s indignation. “Yes. But now’s not the time. We have to find a way to fix this before you fall asleep too.”
Arthur grumbled under his breath, “Can’t believe you told him.”
Morgana rolled her eyes. Arthur could be so petty. “We can talk about it later, Arthur. If you’re still awake, that is.”
Huffing, Arthur kept quiet about it for the time being.
---
Over the next hour, the three tried everything they knew to wake the people. Morgana tried some spells with Arthur while Merlin snuck down to Gaius’s chambers under the pretense of finding a potion that would work as an antidote.
Arthur stood by the window most of the time, watching and waiting. He alternated between that and pacing, until Morgana yelled at him and he sat down.
Morgana was growing weary, her attempts at magic taking their toll. “I don’t know anything else, Arthur,” she admitted.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Arthur kicked a chair over in aggravation. Sighing, he ran a hand over his face. Knowing that he had to hold it together for Morgana’s sake, he took a deep breath and pushed his shoulder’s back to stand tall. “Then we have no choice. We have to leave Camelot until we can find a cure.”
Morgana gazed at him, wide-eyed. “Arthur, you’re talking about leaving your people.”
He shook his head. “I’m no good to them if I’m asleep as well.” He could already feel the effects of the spell, his vision kept blurring and his limbs felt heavy.
Morgana nodded in agreement. “I understand.” She rose from her spot on the bed, walking over to Arthur. She set a hand over his heart, prepared to comfort him, but they were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.
Merlin stood there, gasping for breath. “The Knights of Medhir, they’re coming.” He looked over at Arthur. “And they have an extra rider with them.”
Arthur ran to the window and saw the figures as they neared the city. “The city is defenseless.” He turned around to face Merlin and Morgana. “We need to find the king, he probably is their target.”
Morgana took in Arthur’s statement and a feeling of dread washed over her. It couldn’t be Morgause, could it? She struggled to remember the events of the previous night, but she couldn’t think of anything useful.
“Morgana?” Arthur called.
Jolted out of her thoughts, Morgana looked over at Arthur. “What?”
“Where is my father?” he asked. He looked concerned, and it surprised Morgana. He hadn’t referred to Uther as his father in a long time.
Quietly, she replied, “He’s in his chambers.”
“That’ll be the first place they’ll look for him. We have to move him.”
---
They found Uther where Morgana had left him, and they picked him up and dragged him to another room.
As the boys set him down, they both looked exhausted from the exertion. Merlin looked over at Arthur, who was sweating and breathing heavily. “Are you alright?”
Arthur looked back at Merlin, noticing that the boy appeared to be in the same condition. “You’re feeling it, too?”
Merlin’s eyes widened as realization washed over him. “We’re getting sick.” He looked over at Morgana, seeing that she was still unaffected.
Morgana heard Merlin’s admission and her heart nearly stopped. Arthur didn’t suspect anything, but she knew; if Merlin was sick, then something else was protecting her, and it wasn’t her magic. She stared back at Merlin, noticing the all too familiar look of suspicion on his face.
Arthur started to discuss plans of saving the king with Merlin, but Morgana tuned them out, stuck in her thoughts. She didn’t know how, but this sickness was connected to her. She remembered the promise she had made to Morgause, about choosing sides, and she felt sick. If this was her sister’s plan, she couldn’t betray her, but she knew that this was dangerous ground she was treading.
---
Merlin came up with a plan to disguise the king, so he went to go find clothes, much to Morgana’s relief. She couldn’t bear to be stuck next to him, knowing he was judging her, especially when she was still unaware of exactly what she had done wrong.
Arthur was blissfully unaware, but he wasn’t completely unburdened, since he was fighting to hold on and beat the sickness. He found himself stumbling and nearly collapsed against the wall.
Morgana noticed and immediately ran to his side. “Arthur…” She whispered his name like a prayer, hoping desperately for him to stay with her.
He stood up, the action painstakingly slow. “It’s getting worse.”
Grasping his face in her hands, Morgana pulled him closer. His skin was warm under her hands, the sickness taking its toll. Swallowing her fears, she demanded, “You must stay awake. You can beat this, Arthur, you will.” Using her grip on his face, she yanked him down to her waiting lips. She kissed him fiercely, letting him use her as an anchor to stop from slipping away.
Arthur was breathing heavily as he pulled away, but he looked more alert than he had moments before. He chuckled, “How could anyone fall asleep with you doing things like that?”
Morgana leaned in and kissed him again, this time a bit softer. Her hands slid down over his jaw to rest on the sides of his neck. Lingering over his lips, she murmured into his mouth, “I love you.”
He reached up and covered her hands with his, pulling them away from his neck. “Everything is going to be alright, Morgana.”
She nodded, trying her best to believe him.
He stepped away from her arms. “I should go check on Merlin, he’s been gone a while.”
Morgana sat down in a chair, staring at where Uther’s body lay on the floor as Arthur left her alone. All this trouble for a man she despised, it seemed so silly; but if Arthur felt it was important, she would help him.
---
A few minutes had passed before Morgana heard the door open again. Merlin came in the room carrying supplies, but Arthur wasn’t with him.
He stared at her in consternation, something strange lurking behind his eyes. “They’re here. They’re in the castle.”
“Where’s Arthur?” she asked.
“He’s gone to find somewhere safe to move to.” Merlin replied, trying his hardest to avoid looking at her.
Morgana watched as Merlin started to prepare to move the king. Something was weighing on her, and she felt that she had to say something. “You’re getting sick,” she muttered.
Merlin’s movements stilled, and he slowly turned to face her. “Yes.”
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment before releasing it with a soft pop. Quietly, she asked, “Then what is protecting me?”
His eyes roved over her form, as though he was searching for something. It was clear from his face that he had his suspicions, but he said nothing.
“Merlin--” Morgana started, but she was interrupted by the door opening as Arthur barged into the room.
His expression was one of anger, and he ran past Morgana to the king. “We need to move him now, Morgause is coming.”
The name rung in Morgana’s ears, and her breath caught in her throat. “Morgause.” The word came out as a statement, not a question. The pieces were falling into place, and Morgana started to comprehend her part in all of this.
Merlin’s head snapped around when he heard her. He watched her, assessing her reaction to the news.
Arthur didn’t notice the silent exchange; he was too focused on Uther. “We need to get out of Camelot, it’s the only way.”
They began dragging Uther down a hallway, using a sheet now to pull him to make it easier. As they rounded a corner, two of the knights appeared in front of them.
“Arthur!” Morgana screamed.
Arthur dropped his hold on the sheet, unsheathing his sword and spinning around to fight the knights. “Get out of here!” he yelled.
Morgana and Merlin tugged Uther in a different direction, as Arthur fought off the attackers.
As they went down another hallway, another knight caught sight of them. He began to follow the pair as they hurriedly tugged Uther.
Morgana struggled to move fast enough, and her foot caught on the hem of her skirt. She tripped and tumbled to the floor, letting go of the sheet as she fell. The knight was gaining on them, and Morgana called out, “Merlin!”
Merlin considered the situation for a moment, but remembered something he had learned only a short while ago. Morgana was the source of this spell, she was working with Morgause. In order to stop this, Morgana had to die, and perhaps this was the way. Arthur would be devastated, but if it could save the kingdom… He began to pull Uther on his own, leaving Morgana where she fell.
Morgana crawled backwards, trying to escape the knight. She turned her head to look at Merlin, begging, “Please!”
The knight was on top of Morgana now, and he raised his sword to deliver the killing blow.
Unable to do anything to stop it, Morgana screamed at the top of her lungs, closing her eyes in fear.
However, the knight slowed in his actions before his sword hit her neck. The empty eyes looked down at her, chilling her to the bone.
Before Morgana could react to the strange situation, she heard Arthur’s yell as he ran towards them. He attacked the knight from behind, desperate to save Morgana. He shoved the knight hard and managed to knock the creature down a flight of stairs.
Arthur grabbed Morgana under her arms and lifted her up from the floor. He was too weak to carry her, so he took her by the hand and started to run, following Merlin.
They made it to the throne room and barricaded the door. Arthur shook his head to try and clear his muddled thoughts. The sickness was getting worst, and he was barely able to stay on his feet. “We need to find a way out of the city.”
Morgana knew that he was right, but they would never get past the knights. “How? We’ll never be able to drag Uther that far.”
Merlin piped up, “There was a cart in the square; we could carry him in that.”
A smile crossed Arthur’s lips and he ran over to look out the window. He could see the cart, but it was far away. He went back to stand by Morgana. Reaching into his boot, he pulled out his spare dagger and handed it to her. “Morgana, I need you to cut up the blanket and tie it together, we can use it to lower my father down to the cart.”
She took the proffered dagger, but she was skeptical. “Lower him?”
“We’re going to go out the window,” Arthur explained. Leaving her to her task, he went over to the door and started to remove the barrier keeping it shut.
“Arthur!” Morgana yelled, shocked by his actions. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to fetch the cart round to the window.” His tone conveyed his determination, but it was clear from his face that he was on the brink of exhaustion.
Merlin went to Arthur’s side. “You’ll never reach the cart alone, Arthur. It’s suicide.”
Morgana’s nightmare rushed back in flashes, the sight of Arthur’s blood clouding her eyes.
Arthur steadied himself against the strong wooden door. “I have no choice. I have to try.”
Merlin appeared to accept Arthur’s decision, but Morgana was terrified.
Arthur grabbed Merlin’s skin of water and poured some on his face to help him stay alert. He looked over at Morgana and mouthed, “I love you.” He gave her a small smile, one that seemed to say that he hoped to see her soon.
She wanted to say it back, or at least return the smile, but she couldn’t even manage to breathe.
Arthur nodded to Merlin before lifting the bar off of the door and pulling out his sword. Taking a deep breath, he threw the door open and ducked out into the hall.
Merlin quickly shut the door and put the barrier back in place.
Morgana stared at the spot where Arthur had been standing moments before, unable to move. “He’s not going to survive out there,” she muttered, the words leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
“I know,” Merlin admitted.
Glaring at the sorcerer, she finally gained the courage to confront him. “What do you know, Merlin? You were willing to let that knight kill me, I want to know why.”
He was surprised by her demands, since he had expected her to deny her involvement with the sickness. “This spell is powerful, Morgana; it has to have something strong to sustain it.” He watched her face for a moment before ducking his head, fearing her reaction. “In order to break this spell, we have to eradicate the source of its magic,” he explained.
“What is the source?” Morgana asked, dreading the answer.
Merlin forced himself to meet her eyes. “It is you, Morgana.”
“And the only way to break it is to…” she trailed off, the words too painful.
Merlin supplied the rest for her. “Kill you.”
Morgana’s mouth had suddenly gone dry, and she tried to wet her lips. “You were willing to let me die to save Camelot, weren’t you?”
He had the decency to look ashamed. “I didn’t want to, but what you’re doing, Morgana, it is dangerous. You cannot trust Morgause.”
Anger flamed up inside of her. How dare Merlin judge her after all he has done. “She has reasons for wanting Uther dead, as do I. He would see us all killed, why should we not kill him first?”
He saw past her anger, knowing that she was bluffing. “You had the chance to kill him before, but you didn’t. You cannot stoop to his level, Morgana, you are better than that.”
She didn’t dare question how he knew of her ill-attempted assassination. She was still processing the information that the solution to their problem was her death. She did not fear death, but she would not choose for her life to end at this moment, not if she could help it. Taking a breath, she murmured, “Just help me with the blanket.”
---
It had been a long time since Arthur had left, and the sounds of swords clashing could be heard outside of the door. Morgana had finished ripping the blanket apart, and she sat on the floor watching Merlin from a distance.
Desperate for anything to block out the sounds from outside, Merlin turned to Morgana. “We have to find a solution, Morgana. We won’t last like this.”
She tried to focus on tying knots in the material, but her fingers kept slipping. “I could try and stop her. Morgause will listen to me.”
Merlin stared at her, inquiring, “And if she doesn’t?”
Swallowing hard, she answered. “Then you’ll kill me.” She knew that he had planned to do it, and he probably had a means of doing so with him right now. Her nightmare had been playing on a loop in her mind, and she couldn’t let Arthur meet that fate, no matter how much she craved her sister’s love and Uther’s demise.
She stood up and walked to the door, removing the barrier. Knowing that Morgause would be able to hear her, she projected her thoughts as loudly as she could manage. “Sister, come to me,” she thought. For insurance, she added, “The king is here.”
Merlin watched, allowing Morgana to try, but knowing the potential for disaster. He fingered the small bottle of hemlock in his pocket, prepared for the worst.
---
Morgause heard her sister’s plea and came running, leaving the knights to fight Arthur. They would dispose of him soon enough, and then they could join her in killing the king. She followed Morgana’s trail and reached the throne room. She threw the door open dramatically, striding into the room.
Morgana tried to hide her discomfort, but it was obvious that she was nervous.
Merlin stood hidden away in the shadows, not wanting to reveal his presence yet.
Morgause smiled brightly at Morgana and came over to embrace her sister. “You’ve done well, Morgana,” she whispered into Morgana’s ear, her arms winding ever tighter.
Leaning back, Morgana pushed Morgause’s arms away. “No.” She shook her head. “I need you to stop the spell.”
Confusion swept across her face, marring her delicate features. “I don’t understand. We’re so close; we have almost reached our victory.” She looked over to where Uther lay. “We need only take that final step and we will be free.”
Morgana placed herself deliberately between Uther and Morgause, blocking the king from view. “I cannot let you do this. This isn’t the way to gain our freedom.”
Morgause looked disgusted by her sister’s decision. “You’re choosing him? Over your own flesh and blood?”
Morgana shook her head and vehemently exclaimed, “I’m choosing me!”
Morgause countered, “I did this to save you. Uther will see you killed, Morgana! He does not care for you; he will not spare your life.”
Shaking her head, Morgana scoffed, “You are no better. You used me! Do you know what I have been through, watching this sickness claim everyone I love?”
“I was helping you!” The blonde sorceress was slowly losing her patience. “The Knights will execute the king and then the spell will lift. Everyone you love will be safe once more.”
Morgana wanted desperately to believe her, but she could still hear Arthur fighting for his life in the hall. She remembered her dream and snapped, “They’re going to kill Arthur!”
Morgause huffed, not amused by her sister’s persistence. “He was supposed to be asleep, all of them were!” Softening, she lowered her voice and continued, “I wanted Uther dead, no one else. I put them to sleep to spare their lives; it was an act of mercy. I did it for you, sister.”
“But Arthur isn’t asleep and he will die, I have seen it. You must stop this!” She couldn’t stop picturing him dying; it was all that was driving her now.
Narrowing her eyes, Morgause replied, her voice filled with anger once more, “Perhaps he should die! He is a Pendragon, Morgana; he is no different than his father.”
“No! You don’t know him. I will not let him die!” Morgana shouted. She clenched her hands into fists at her sides, feeling the distinct pressure of magic building up in her chest as she fumed.
Morgause shook her head regretfully, refusing to give in to her sister’s foolish demands. “I cannot stop this, Morgana. Not until my work is done.”
Taking a breath, Morgana straightened to her full height, preparing for what she was about to do. “Then you leave me no choice.” She took out the potion she had pilfered from Merlin’s pockets and held it where Morgause could see. “Now you must choose, sister. Between me and your vengeance.”
Merlin sucked in a gulp of air, patting down his now empty pockets in disbelief.
Morgause seemed unaffected by Morgana’s challenge and laughed harshly. “Silly girl.” Her eyes flashed gold and in a blink the potion had flown across the room and into her palm. “You think I would let you die so easily?”
Morgana looked at her empty hand, cursing herself for not seeing that coming. A scream could be heard, and Morgana knew that she was wasting precious time. Arthur would lose this fight, and the knights would not hesitate to run him through. She resorted to begging. “Please, Morgause. I cannot lose Arthur, I just can’t.”
Ducking her head, Morgause murmured, “I am sorry, sister.” She lifted her hand in the air, meeting Morgana’s eyes. With a few mumbled words, she caused Morgana to fly across the room, clearing the path to the king.
Merlin came out of his hiding place, ready to fight Morgause. “You should have listened to her,” he warned.
Morgause tried to throw Merlin with her magic as well, but he blocked the spell before it could affect him. She was shocked by the revelation, but it didn’t shake the smile from her lips. “It doesn’t matter how you try to fight, sleep will consume you, warlock; and when it does, Uther Pendragon will meet his end.”
A soft, “No,” could be heard from across the room. Morgana pushed herself off the floor, pressing her back against a pillar.
Morgause turned her head to look at her sister, her reaction too slow this time.
“He won’t.” Morgana raised the dagger Arthur had given her and brought it down in one sharp movement, stabbing it deep into her gut. Unable to control it, she let out a cry of pain. The warmth of the blood caressed her fingers as it rolled down over the hilt of the blade.
Screaming both for her sister and her failed plans, Morgause attempted to run to Morgana’s side.
Merlin knew that Morgause would only try to stop it, and he couldn’t let Morgana’s sacrifice be in vain. He uttered a spell, freezing Morgause in her tracks.
Morgana rest against the stone pillar, her breath coming in slow gasps. Her voice quaked, but she managed to command, “Call off the knights, Morgause.”
Morgause’s eyes were brimming with tears as she helplessly watched her sister die. “Sister,” she cried.
“It’s too late. The spell is breaking, I can feel it,” Morgana coughed.
Merlin stepped in, “The city will wake, and the knights will never reach Uther. You have lost, Morgause.”
“I wanted so much more for you, Morgana.” Morgause continued to cry. Reluctantly, she began to chant the words to a spell. Her eyes glowed gold again; and then there was nothing but a crushing silence.
The sounds of fighting had stopped, but so had the sound of Morgana’s gasping breaths.
Merlin released his hold on Morgause, who immediately tried to run to her sister. She was cut off halfway, however, as Arthur barreled into the room. He caught sight of Morgause first, raising his sword to fight her.
Morgause glanced regretfully at her sister before muttering another spell. A cloud of smoke spun around in the air, engulfing her. As the smoke cleared, a vast emptiness was all that remained. Morgause had vanished.
Arthur chuckled to himself, thinking himself the victor. “We did it. See, Morgana, I told you, we’d-” His eyes had been roaming the room, but he lost his voice when they landed on Merlin. The boy looked as though he would burst into tears, and Arthur immediately followed his eye line, trying to see what was wrong. The sight caused him to audibly choke on his breath, his body struggling to process it.
Morgana was lying halfway propped up against a pillar, her head hanging limp against her chest and her skin drained of color. There was blood, so much blood surrounding her; it looked as though she had been drowned in it.
Arthur all but threw himself at her, his whole body collapsing next to her under the force of his grief. He collected her into his arms, pulling her across his lap. “Morgana,” he sobbed, his voice cracking with emotion. Cradling her head, he tried to get her to open her eyes. “Morgana, wake up. Please, wake up!”
Merlin watched in vain as Arthur started weeping. The prince lost all intelligible speech; his attempts to speak came out as pained whines. It was the most devastating thing that Merlin had ever witnessed, and he couldn’t help but cry as well.
Arthur bent down over Morgana, letting their foreheads touch. He kissed her lips once, twice, possibly a hundred times, but he never received any response. He couldn’t comprehend this, this couldn’t possibly be happening.
Merlin could hear the king beginning to stir behind him, but he didn’t care. Arthur had started to scream, and Merlin was losing all vestiges of his sanity. He should’ve done something; he should’ve known that this wasn’t the right decision. He wished more than anything that he knew an effective healing spell, but he was at a loss. He could not help Morgana anymore.
Uther rose from his slumber to the sound of his son in pain. He saw the scene before him and gasped.
The newly awoken guards began pouring into the room, all rushing to help Uther.
The king shoved them away, ordering them to help his son instead. It took several agonizing minutes, but eventually the guards pried Arthur away from Morgana’s body.
Arthur continued to scream, attacking the guards with flailing limbs as they pulled him away.
Eventually Merlin went to help, trying to calm his friend. He watched in his peripheral vision as the guards carried Morgana’s body away. Her hand dragged along the floor as they carried her, trailing a line of blood from her fingertips. Merlin cautiously guided Arthur back to his chambers and tried to get the prince to sleep. In the end, he stayed there with Arthur for hours, long after the screams had subsided and left Arthur in a comatose state.
It took almost an entire day, but Arthur finally opened his mouth to speak. “She’s gone.” It was all he said, and he refused to say any more after that.
---
Everyone in the whole city was broken by the news of Morgana’s passing. Guinevere helped to arrange Morgana’s funeral, knowing better than anyone what Morgana would have wanted. Arthur gave no input on the matter, still walking around in his zombie-like state.
They decided to give Morgana a funeral boat, since a pyre seemed wrong for someone who had been longing to be free. Guinevere decorated the boat with flowers, the purple ones that she used to pick for her mistress, and the white lilies that had been Morgana’s favorite.
Merlin suggested that they send her boat off at the edge of the lake that held the Isle of the Blessed in its center, knowing that it would’ve been important to Morgana. No one else seemed to understand the significance, but Morgana would’ve liked it, so Merlin made the decision.
They held the funeral the next day, and Merlin had to drag Arthur the whole way to the lake. Merlin and Guinevere refused to let the archers shoot burning arrows at the boat, despite what Uther had wanted. Morgana should be left whole to wash up on the shores, not charred and turned to ash.
As they went to send the boat away, Arthur finally moved on his own accord. He walked down to the boat and stared vacantly at Morgana, as though he didn’t even see her. He reached a hand into the boat, lightly dragging his fingers along the column of Morgana’s neck.
No one said a word as Arthur spent his last moments with the woman he loved.
His fingers stopped as they reached the chain of her necklace, his fingers running over the metal until they reached the ring at the bottom. The piece of jewelry was resting in the hollow of her throat, and Arthur stroked it lovingly. He had his first coherent thought since he had lost her, and he contemplated taking the ring back, but then he remembered that it was right where it belonged. With her, always. Bending down, he pressed a kiss to her forehead before standing up and returning to the bank of the lake.
The boat was sent out, and everyone watched with heavy hearts.
Arthur remained there until it grew dark, staring out over the water as Morgana drifted away. He could no longer see the boat, but he still hadn’t moved.
Merlin eventually came down and took Arthur by the arm, gently leading him away.
---
Morgana’s boat landed quietly on the shores of the Isle of the Blessed. The island had been abandoned since Nimueh’s death, but something was stirring on the banks.
A woman welcomed the boat and its passenger, taking them both up onto the land. Smiling, the woman ran a hand over Morgana’s cheek, her golden hair cascading over the red of her dress, leaving the colors blinking over Morgana’s unopened eyes.
Next Chapter