|
Please remember to add a rating as there are people of all ages that come to this site.
| Merlin Season | post-series | Rating
(Refer to main page) | 13+ | Characters in the story
| Morgana, Merlin, Arthur | Pairings
(if needed) |
| Word Count
| 1540 approx | Disclaimer / Warning:
(if needed) | these characters are not mine |
Related fanfic Love of Camelot | | |
|
As an overture of peace, Arthur had invited Morgana Le Fey to join the celebrations for his coronation. They had grown up together and after the loss of his father the new king wished to lay all previous unpleasantness to rest. Morgana had been reluctant to accept, but his repeated invitations expressed such brotherly affection and mentioned so many fondly shared experiences she must relent. The ice which had formed about her heart was further thawed by Arthur's unguarded pleasure at her arrival and the stern admonishment to guards and soldiers alike as he came outside the city walls to meet her.
"My sister Morgana is my most welcome guest and therefore to be treated as nothing less. Let not my reign as your King begin in bloodshed and suspicion."
During the week-long festivities they were to discover that the loss of their earlier friendship cut both of them deeply, and neither wished the wall of anger to rise again. To further demonstrate this reconciliation Arthur sat between Morgana and Merlin at the final banquet. Morgana was impressed to see Merlin had finally learned the importance of proper grooming and courtly behaviour. She had been certain he was going to be a boy forever. The sorceress was surprised to find herself relieved that despite this more polished persona his ridiculously offenceless smile was unchanged. The celebrations culminated in a ball and Morgana found herself expected to open the dance with her almost-brother.
"Only one dance with me, I promise,' he offered his arm as he complimented her teal gown and touched the gems woven into her hair, 'these should not be wasted on one who cannot appreciate them fully."
After the first dance, Merlin approached to offer Guinevere's hand to Arthur and escorted Morgana to refreshment. She unconsciously dazzled every eye in the room, male and female, as she moved with her usual fluid grace.
"Look at them,' Merlin nodded toward the noblemen of Camelot, 'you still leave them breathless."
He was heartened by her playful reply. Morgana's last departure had been the most bitter and he had feared she would use this opportunity to exact retribution. This was after all the most complex and dangerous woman in the kingdom, possibly the world he amended.
"A shame, for without breath they cannot ask me to dance! You suffer no such affliction."
"A mere servant may not suffer so visibly but be assured there exists no woman more beautiful than you."
Morgana laughed spontaneously. "You consider First Advisor to the King a mere servant?"
It were as if the ugliness of the past had never been. They were equally astounded by the way a few simple words and smiles could mend such deep wounds; that they could still be friends after all that had passed. Morgana began to realise what she had truly lost in fighting against Uther and Camelot. Years were erased as they talked, laughed and eventually danced. Now Merlin was no longer so clumsy their dancing was more elegant than even Arthur and Gwen's. They simultaneously remembered Morgana teaching Merlin and Gwen this very dance in her chambers so many years ago. Radiant with mirth their eyes held and they leaned in intimately. Morgana saw a golden glaze in Merlin's eyes and then instead of falling into a kiss, they fell into premonition:
...Merlin beside a regally bridal Gwen as she basks in the adoring gaze of Lancelot, yet Arthur appears to be the intended groom. "Time to choose your destiny." Merlin whispers yet his voice seems to echo through the ages. As Gwen places her hand in Arthur's Merlin feels a weight upon his back...
...Soldiers without tabards stealthily capture the Queen and Sir Lancelot in adulterous embrace, gag them roughly and take them to the dungeons. Lancelot struggles. Guinevere stands as straight as she can, tears tracking from her finely lined eyes to soak the gag. They are bound in separate cells in such a manner that they have no choice but to face each other. Arthur descends in a rage such has Camelot has never witnessed.
"I will behead them myself."
The phrase is more horrible for his dispassionate tone. He removes his finery and takes a battle axe from the wall. Lancelot stares balefully at the furious King.
"You dare look me in the eye Lancelot? Look instead at the woman you've ruined,' his eyes stay on the trussed knight as he gestures unerringly to Guinevere with the axe, 'Look at what your supposed love for her has done. Your Queen,' He looks then at the former serving girl and she can no longer maintain her dignity, her wet eyes are pleading, and sneers at her, "My Wife."
He snaps back to Lancelot, like a crocodile on it's prey.
"LOOK AT HER!!" ...
...Arthur rides fully armed and escorted though a small town with Morgana, also armed, alongside him past rows of spiked heads, both unaffected by their grimacing gore. The rage is so deeply ingrained in his aging face that none living remember the radiant perfection that caused matrons and maidens alike to sigh in their sleep. Screams and metallic clashes accompany the King on his royal progress instead of the joyous welcome his arrival once induced. All light and love have been bled out of him as they now bleed out of his people. Once he would have died willingly to protect the lowest of them. Now they will all die for him, to atone for their betrayal...
...Merlin collapses with grief as the Great Dragon tells Merlin he will fail if he faces Arthur now while he is still allied with Morgana.
"All those people, my wife and daughter, I should have been using my magic to save them. Why do you keep me here?"
"There is too much you need to learn before you can defeat Morgana. This pain is but a part of it."...
...The Great Dragon, last of its kind, lies dead. A weary, bearded Merlin places his hands over the cold, still heart and breathes slowly as if inhaling the present and future and exhaling the past. Now he is free from all earthly constraint. Morgana robbed him of his family long ago and now she is also dead. The magic hoarded by the dragon has flowed into him. It is only he and Arthur...
...Steel-encased King and simply robed Warlock see each other through what will be the final battle. Arthur has remained undefeated in man-to-man combat since his ascent to the throne. This is the first time the former friends have met in over a decade. The paramount warrior draws his common sword and advances. Merlin encases them in a dome of energy to separate them from the battle.
"Why am I not surprised that you also betray me Merlin? All those years you lied to me."
These words reveal the boy trapped inside the man and Merlin is thrown off his guard.
"Would have been difficult to protect you with my head in a basket." Merlin can't believe he's fallen into the old pattern.
"Protect me? From what? My loving father, trustworthy sister and my faithful wife?"
Arthur's sneer is sharper than the blade of Excalibur residing at his hip. Merlin is struck. Had this generation of slaughter originated with Gwen's infidelity? Surely even Pendragon pride was not so irrational!
"Spare me your prattle about love and virtue Merlin for neither of them exist. The only truths are fear, pain and death." "So this slaughter is truth? This is what I kept you alive for?"
Words would not reach him. Arthur had become Wrath and Death. Merlin had left them behind as he reft life from Morgana to become Forgiveness and Life. They were one soul torn in two. The dome vanished and wordlessly, without gesture Merlin stopped the world. In no country did any living thing stir except Arthur as he drew dragon-forged Excalibur and rested the blade against Merlin's throat.
"So be it." Merlin's eyes phased gold...
Morgana's eyes mirrored the horror of Merlin's.
"This cannot be!" she exclaimed hoarsely having faced the true nature of the seemingly humble man before her.
Merlin himself is too shocked to notice her terrified retreat. Paralysed and nauseated by what he had seen, it took a while for Merlin to be aware of the anticipation of the crowd and Arthur's joyous voice. Eventually Merlin turns to see him standing on the main table.
"...share my relief when I tell you this beautiful and long suffering lady has consented to be my wife,' he helps a royally blushing Gwen to stand beside him. "Nobles and servants all, may I present your future Queen Guinevere!" He kisses her passionately, without shame as the disappointed ladies clap politely and the men holler out their approval.
All Merlin can do is stare mutely while internally he repeatedly screams.
"THIS MUST NOT BE!" | | |
| |
Share this
