for elenorasweet from dianelyn
Title: For the Love of Abrada
Rating: PG
Pairing/Characters: Merlin/Morgana, Mordred
Summary: Morgana POV AU in which Merlin is her husband, Mordred is her son and they are all royalty.
A/N: This is for elenorasweet who issued the following (completely fantastic) prompt: Well, due to a comment somewhere about how Morgana, Merlin and Mordred would make an adorable black-haired family, I sort of want that. A fic (any length) of the three of them as a family. No modern AU, please, but otherwise, go wild?! It isn't modern, but I did go a little wild with the AU.:D Hope you like it!
Morgana was standing at her bedroom window gazing out into the night when she spotted a dark shape gliding through the sky towards the castle. Her heart leaped so hard, she pressed a hand against her chest in an unconscious effort to keep it in.
By the flickering light of torches, she watched as a great, gold and black dragon landed gracefully in the courtyard below. A hooded figure floated off it's back to the ground and, facing the great reptile, raised an arm that rotated in ever widening circles. A golden light enveloped the beast, and the dragon began to shrink down until it became just a large amulet with bright, ruby eyes. The figure immediately tied the amulet around his neck, then vanished.
Morgana felt a gentle hand fall on her shoulder. She turned and came face-to-face with the being she had been observing not just a second ago. After throwing back his hood, he cupped her face with both hands and kissed her deeply. After several moments, he pulled his lips from hers, embraced her and touched her forehead with his own.
"Morgana, my love, it's been decided. The meeting of the Albion kingdoms will be held in Camelot."
The news made her gasp and take a step back. "Camelot!? But, Merlin! You know Uther has no love for sorcerers, and he must know that we are going to attend. Isn't there more neutral ground?"
Her husband gave her a rueful grin as he lead her by the hand to sit on the edge of their bed. "I'm afraid tensions are high between the other two kingdoms of choice, and as for us attending, the rules are the same as when we visit Arthur and Gwen: We cannot do magic of any sort, and we have to leave at exactly the pre-agreed upon time. I offered to host the meeting in Abrada, but King Uther refuses to allow Arthur and his family to come here where sorcery is not only allowed, but welcomed with open arms."
"Oh, of course he doesn't want Guinevere and little Igraine to come Abrada, but the old hypocrite sees nothing wrong with you bringing Mordred and I to Camelot. I swear to you, if I didn't love my godbrother and his family so much, I would have nothing more to do with that cursed kingdom."
"Morgana."
"I know, I know...I'm sorry, love. You know I would never say such things in public, but it's just hard for me to show respect for a man who has such prejudice and double standards. I love Arthur, Gwen and Rainy, but how such a wonderful family sprung from that hateful man, I'll never know."
Merlin put his arm around Morgana, and she leaned against his shoulder. She sighed - letting the tension drain from her body as she listened to her husband's calm voice.
"You and I know that King Uther wasn't always this way. He and my father used to be good friends, before Queen Igraine died. I remember playing with you and Arthur in Camelot's castle, and I remember sometimes he would even join us in some of our games. But Queen Igraine...her goodness and kindness had no match, and you could tell that King Uther worshiped the ground she walked on. I think I know something about that."
Merlin paused, and when she looked up, he pressed a kiss to her nose. Smiling, she nestled more securely into him as he resumed talking.
"So, when she fell from her horse and was told that magic couldn't heal her, he turned his back on it. Blamed it for it's inability to save the love of his life and leaving his 11-year-old son motherless. Thus, the banning of magic, and all who use it, from Camelot. You know this, Morgana, and still you cannot find it in your heart to forgive him?"
"Maybe I could have if he had just let me stay when the nightmares began, but he shipped me off to Abrada. He promised my father he would take care of me, but after he found out I had magic, he just...gave me away. I think that is what I can not forgive, Merlin...that broken promise to my father."
Morgana closed her eyes when she felt his thumb brush her cheek. She was mildly surprised when it came back wet. Framing her face in his hands, he kissed her cheeks and eyes and forehead, lingering a little when he reached her lips.
She couldn't help thinking that if she ever did completely forgive Uther, that this would be the reason.
This, and a little boy playing in his room just down the hall.
Pulling back, her husband smiled that contagious smile of his, which she returned in an unspoken agreement that it was time for a change in subject.
"So, when is this meeting to be held?"
"I'm afraid it's to be held rather soon...a week from today to be exact. It was the only time a royal representative from every kingdom could be available."
Morgana lept up off the bed and started pacing the room, not noticing that her husband had also stood and was watching her with something akin to amusement. "We only have a week to prepare?! That is not enough time, Merlin! And you know Uther won't like it if we fly in or use any other type of magic to travel, so I will have to actually pack bags! We must get started right away! First I will need to gather Mordred's winter clothes-"
Her words were suddenly cut off by her husband's hand over her mouth. He slowly lowered it, and then wrapped his arms around her waist. "No, the first thing you must do is get a good night's rest. Mordred's clothes and everything else can wait until morning."
"But, Merlin..."
"No, my love. On this I will not be swayed. Now, shall we check on our son before we retire?"
Morgana sighed and nodded. She knew when to pick her battles, and she also knew that whenever Merlin got that resolved look in his eyes, there was no arguing. After pressing a soft kiss to her fingers, he placed her hand on his arm and they walked down the hall into their son's room.
***********************
Merlin barely had enough time to alter the chair's course before it could slam into them.
"Good job, Redy! Your aim is getting much better! Has Gaius been giving you extra lessons?"
Morgana rolled her eyes at her husband's words, but smiled as she listened to their son's giggle and his promise that he achieved the magical feat with absolutely no extra lessons. Righting the felled chair, she sat and watched her husband tuck their son into bed.
She never tired of watching them when they were together like this. Mordred had received his nose and the shape of his face from her, and the midnight color of his hair could have come from either of his parents, but his eyes...those electric blue orbs could only come from his father.
"So, Redy, my boy. How would you like to take a trip with your mother and I to Camelot?"
"Will Rainy be there?"
"Of course Princess Igraine will be there, but I would consider it a favor if you two would at least try to include the other children in your play this time. You're getting old enough now to assume some of the responsibilities that comes along with being a prince of Abrada, and one of those responsibilities is the duty to insure the principles of inclusion and tolerance that this kingdom was founded on. Do you understand?"
"I think so, father. It's just...Rainy and I have so much fun together. She doesn't even care that I'm a sorcerer."
Morgana shared a worried look with her husband.
"Mordred, you know you can not do magic while we are in Camelot."
"Yes, sir. I know King Uther has forbidden it, but all the children know I am the son of two sorcerers, and sometimes they look at me like they're afraid of what Prince Mordred Emrys, sorcerer and future King of Abrada, might do to them. Rainy is the only one who has always treated me as just...just...Redy."
"Yes, your mother and I feel the same way about Prince Arthur and Princess Guinevere. However, we have also learned that if we give others a chance, more often than not they will see through what we are to who we are. We have made some very good friends that way, and I am certain you will, too. I must have your promise that you will try."
"I'll do my best, father."
"And that's all I will ever ask of you. Now, I think it's time for a certain young prince to get some shut-eye. We will talk more about the trip and it's preparations in the morning. Goodnight, my son. I love you."
"Goodnight, father. I love you, too."
Merlin kissed the top of Mordred's head, then stepped aside to make room for Morgana.
"I love you so much, my darling. Have sweet dreams for me."
"I'll try, mother. Love you, too."
As Morgana walked with Merlin back to their bedroom, she noticed a grin stretching across his face. She had always had a weakness for that particular expression, so she grinned back as she asked him what he was thinking.
"Just that I must be the luckiest being on earth."
Morgana leaned up and gave her husband a peck on the cheek.
"Second luckiest being, you mean. Obviously, I am the luckiest."
"Hmmm...you may be right about that."
Morgana playfully slapped his arm, but she joined in when her husband's laughter started filling up the corridor.
Rating: PG
Pairing/Characters: Merlin/Morgana, Mordred
Summary: Morgana POV AU in which Merlin is her husband, Mordred is her son and they are all royalty.
A/N: This is for elenorasweet who issued the following (completely fantastic) prompt: Well, due to a comment somewhere about how Morgana, Merlin and Mordred would make an adorable black-haired family, I sort of want that. A fic (any length) of the three of them as a family. No modern AU, please, but otherwise, go wild?! It isn't modern, but I did go a little wild with the AU.:D Hope you like it!
Morgana was standing at her bedroom window gazing out into the night when she spotted a dark shape gliding through the sky towards the castle. Her heart leaped so hard, she pressed a hand against her chest in an unconscious effort to keep it in.
By the flickering light of torches, she watched as a great, gold and black dragon landed gracefully in the courtyard below. A hooded figure floated off it's back to the ground and, facing the great reptile, raised an arm that rotated in ever widening circles. A golden light enveloped the beast, and the dragon began to shrink down until it became just a large amulet with bright, ruby eyes. The figure immediately tied the amulet around his neck, then vanished.
Morgana felt a gentle hand fall on her shoulder. She turned and came face-to-face with the being she had been observing not just a second ago. After throwing back his hood, he cupped her face with both hands and kissed her deeply. After several moments, he pulled his lips from hers, embraced her and touched her forehead with his own.
"Morgana, my love, it's been decided. The meeting of the Albion kingdoms will be held in Camelot."
The news made her gasp and take a step back. "Camelot!? But, Merlin! You know Uther has no love for sorcerers, and he must know that we are going to attend. Isn't there more neutral ground?"
Her husband gave her a rueful grin as he lead her by the hand to sit on the edge of their bed. "I'm afraid tensions are high between the other two kingdoms of choice, and as for us attending, the rules are the same as when we visit Arthur and Gwen: We cannot do magic of any sort, and we have to leave at exactly the pre-agreed upon time. I offered to host the meeting in Abrada, but King Uther refuses to allow Arthur and his family to come here where sorcery is not only allowed, but welcomed with open arms."
"Oh, of course he doesn't want Guinevere and little Igraine to come Abrada, but the old hypocrite sees nothing wrong with you bringing Mordred and I to Camelot. I swear to you, if I didn't love my godbrother and his family so much, I would have nothing more to do with that cursed kingdom."
"Morgana."
"I know, I know...I'm sorry, love. You know I would never say such things in public, but it's just hard for me to show respect for a man who has such prejudice and double standards. I love Arthur, Gwen and Rainy, but how such a wonderful family sprung from that hateful man, I'll never know."
Merlin put his arm around Morgana, and she leaned against his shoulder. She sighed - letting the tension drain from her body as she listened to her husband's calm voice.
"You and I know that King Uther wasn't always this way. He and my father used to be good friends, before Queen Igraine died. I remember playing with you and Arthur in Camelot's castle, and I remember sometimes he would even join us in some of our games. But Queen Igraine...her goodness and kindness had no match, and you could tell that King Uther worshiped the ground she walked on. I think I know something about that."
Merlin paused, and when she looked up, he pressed a kiss to her nose. Smiling, she nestled more securely into him as he resumed talking.
"So, when she fell from her horse and was told that magic couldn't heal her, he turned his back on it. Blamed it for it's inability to save the love of his life and leaving his 11-year-old son motherless. Thus, the banning of magic, and all who use it, from Camelot. You know this, Morgana, and still you cannot find it in your heart to forgive him?"
"Maybe I could have if he had just let me stay when the nightmares began, but he shipped me off to Abrada. He promised my father he would take care of me, but after he found out I had magic, he just...gave me away. I think that is what I can not forgive, Merlin...that broken promise to my father."
Morgana closed her eyes when she felt his thumb brush her cheek. She was mildly surprised when it came back wet. Framing her face in his hands, he kissed her cheeks and eyes and forehead, lingering a little when he reached her lips.
She couldn't help thinking that if she ever did completely forgive Uther, that this would be the reason.
This, and a little boy playing in his room just down the hall.
Pulling back, her husband smiled that contagious smile of his, which she returned in an unspoken agreement that it was time for a change in subject.
"So, when is this meeting to be held?"
"I'm afraid it's to be held rather soon...a week from today to be exact. It was the only time a royal representative from every kingdom could be available."
Morgana lept up off the bed and started pacing the room, not noticing that her husband had also stood and was watching her with something akin to amusement. "We only have a week to prepare?! That is not enough time, Merlin! And you know Uther won't like it if we fly in or use any other type of magic to travel, so I will have to actually pack bags! We must get started right away! First I will need to gather Mordred's winter clothes-"
Her words were suddenly cut off by her husband's hand over her mouth. He slowly lowered it, and then wrapped his arms around her waist. "No, the first thing you must do is get a good night's rest. Mordred's clothes and everything else can wait until morning."
"But, Merlin..."
"No, my love. On this I will not be swayed. Now, shall we check on our son before we retire?"
Morgana sighed and nodded. She knew when to pick her battles, and she also knew that whenever Merlin got that resolved look in his eyes, there was no arguing. After pressing a soft kiss to her fingers, he placed her hand on his arm and they walked down the hall into their son's room.
***********************
Merlin barely had enough time to alter the chair's course before it could slam into them.
"Good job, Redy! Your aim is getting much better! Has Gaius been giving you extra lessons?"
Morgana rolled her eyes at her husband's words, but smiled as she listened to their son's giggle and his promise that he achieved the magical feat with absolutely no extra lessons. Righting the felled chair, she sat and watched her husband tuck their son into bed.
She never tired of watching them when they were together like this. Mordred had received his nose and the shape of his face from her, and the midnight color of his hair could have come from either of his parents, but his eyes...those electric blue orbs could only come from his father.
"So, Redy, my boy. How would you like to take a trip with your mother and I to Camelot?"
"Will Rainy be there?"
"Of course Princess Igraine will be there, but I would consider it a favor if you two would at least try to include the other children in your play this time. You're getting old enough now to assume some of the responsibilities that comes along with being a prince of Abrada, and one of those responsibilities is the duty to insure the principles of inclusion and tolerance that this kingdom was founded on. Do you understand?"
"I think so, father. It's just...Rainy and I have so much fun together. She doesn't even care that I'm a sorcerer."
Morgana shared a worried look with her husband.
"Mordred, you know you can not do magic while we are in Camelot."
"Yes, sir. I know King Uther has forbidden it, but all the children know I am the son of two sorcerers, and sometimes they look at me like they're afraid of what Prince Mordred Emrys, sorcerer and future King of Abrada, might do to them. Rainy is the only one who has always treated me as just...just...Redy."
"Yes, your mother and I feel the same way about Prince Arthur and Princess Guinevere. However, we have also learned that if we give others a chance, more often than not they will see through what we are to who we are. We have made some very good friends that way, and I am certain you will, too. I must have your promise that you will try."
"I'll do my best, father."
"And that's all I will ever ask of you. Now, I think it's time for a certain young prince to get some shut-eye. We will talk more about the trip and it's preparations in the morning. Goodnight, my son. I love you."
"Goodnight, father. I love you, too."
Merlin kissed the top of Mordred's head, then stepped aside to make room for Morgana.
"I love you so much, my darling. Have sweet dreams for me."
"I'll try, mother. Love you, too."
As Morgana walked with Merlin back to their bedroom, she noticed a grin stretching across his face. She had always had a weakness for that particular expression, so she grinned back as she asked him what he was thinking.
"Just that I must be the luckiest being on earth."
Morgana leaned up and gave her husband a peck on the cheek.
"Second luckiest being, you mean. Obviously, I am the luckiest."
"Hmmm...you may be right about that."
Morgana playfully slapped his arm, but she joined in when her husband's laughter started filling up the corridor.