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The forest is littered with lifeless bodies. Almost worse is those who were not killed right away, gasping their last breaths, whimpering and crying out. Some even praying, if not for themselves then for the protection of those they are leaving behind. It’s been a grueling battle, the week leading up to today was worryingly quiet.
Although everyone knew she was approaching no one could pinpoint exactly where she was and where she would be moving next. Almost in a taunting manner she would appear in one place just to pop back up later in a closer area in the opposite direction. Luckily Merlin could feel when she got too close for comfort (about an hour out on horseback) and warned Arthur and the knights. Of course only Gwaine and Lancelot knew how precise this information was, Arthur and the others being told it was information provided by a frequent Traveler between Camelot and nearby kingdoms. This caused a delay in the readying of supplies, knights and reinforcements to the border, allowing Morgana to get close enough to see Camelot when creating a hill with her own army. Luckily soon after this camelots own army came rushing foreword lead by King Arthur himself as well as the Royal knights (and of course his trusty servant). This leads us to Merlin’s current predicament.
“Morgana stop this!” Merlin yells out desperately shoving himself to the front of the knights. “This is not you! You are misplacing your anger if you even have any to begin with! You are and were hurt I understand that. Your father failed you – I failed you. I knew what was happening with you and did not do as much as I should to help, as your friend I should have been there to help you understand and practice, to not be afraid”. Merlin takes a step forward when he doesn’t see Morgana immediately going for a spell sure to kill. “Listen, I know you despise your father— and for a good reason too, he was a sick sadistic bastard— but Arthur is nothing like him. He is a good man with a good heart, he will learn. He needs people around who can help educate him, help guide him in the right direction”. Morgana scoffs.
“You really think that I will believe a man raised by Uther, with pendragon blood, cares about those with magic, and I took you as someone who was very intelligent. I mean we all know you are the only reason Arthur has lived this long”.
Camelots knights were beating against the shield screaming for their friend to let them help— to let them do anything. But quickly they were shushed, realizing that they were able to hear what was going on. Throughout this the king was staring wide eyed in disbelief, not believing that his manservant, hell his best friend (-cough- lover), was one dumb enough to try and go against Morgana by himself, and two had made it so that no one could come to his aid if something went wrong. It did not go unnoticed by Morganas army that Camelot was paying more attention to what was going on inside the shield rather than what was outside and an immediate danger to them. Subtly they spread the massage they were to get ready to sprint at the other army while they had their defenses down.
“Morgana please. You don’t need to do this, and I know deep down you don’t want to do it either. I know you and Arthur had a rocky relationship but you both loved each other. Arthur still loves you, you’re his sister. He has been trying for months to figure out some way to stop this from happening, to stop from having to hurt you. He was devastated when you left, even more so when you declared war on Camelot. Gaius even explained to him what led up to you leaving. Arthur was frustrated with how he handled your ailments, he even told Gaius he is banned from going about treatment that way for other magic users. Said education is more important than suppression”.
“Be quiet!” Morgana seems to almost sob out.
Merlin continues, “Morgana he has done everything he could in the short time he’s been king to make sure what happened to you never happens again. He was gutted to know you had to go through this all not only alone but in fear of what your father would do if he found out. He hasn’t been king for long and with the preparation of the battle he has not had time to fully implement any major changes, he has a draft created for the repeal of the magic ban in Camelot that he plans to refine and put into action as soon as he has more than two days to work on it. Even with out that he’s made it very clear that no one is to be imprisoned or punished for any magic unless it is malicious. Please Morgana you have to see that he is a better man than your father, he will bring the Golden Age to Camelot. He’s known about my magic for as long as he has been king and has not had me burned for it. We want you to be there to witness the change of Camelot, to right what’s wronged you. Arthur misses you, I miss you , and Gwen misses you”.
Merlin looks around at the battle that started up around them again. Luckily the knights of Camelot never put their guard down so when they were ambushed they were ready. Morgana breathing wavers on each exhale, her eyes are filling with tears that want to escape after being held in and pushed down for so long. “Morgana we can work through this together as a team, you don’t have to go through this alone, not anymore. Tell your men to stop, no more blood has to be shed. We can reach an agreement together”. Morgana closes her eyes and breathes in and out. Her eyes reopen, this time looking for where her brother is. Merlin has slowly let the protective Sheild fall away knowing the barrier is no longer needed, he has said what he wished and hoped it was enough.
“Stand down!” Morgana yells, confusing everyone currently in battle. They missed the last few minutes of what was said, only Merlin and Morgana knew what was shared. “There will be no more bloodshed today. The king and I will discuss the future of Camelot when it comes to magic, and we will hope it will be just”. Arthur finally makes eye contact with his sister for the first time during this long battle, he can still see the hurt and the fear in her eyes but this time there is what he can only describe as hope. He nods at her dropping his sword to his side, the rest of the knights following suit. As arthur does this he turns leaving his back vulnerable. Suddenly a figure darts closer, disregarding the truce that had just happened. Both Morgana and Merlin see what’s about to happen, Morganas eyes widen in surprise and Merlin’s narrow, almost simultaneously the both yell out spells. Morganas knocks the weapon out of the attackers hand, while Merlin’s throws him resulting in a loud crack as the body hits and breaks around a tree placed farther back. Arthur whips his head around to see what just happened, and was being greeted by the view of one of ‘his’ men’s lifeless body laying at the foot of the tree. When he looks down by his feet Arther finds a dagger, he can see enscriptions in the metal of the blade as well as an abnormal sheen on it. He understands now, how Morgana always managed to sneak around them how she seemed to know where they were at all times and how she knew their plans. It wasn’t luck it was Mordred. He was a spy for Morgana and a traitor to Camelot, and the kings attempted assassin. He initially thought Morgana was aiming the spell at him to kill him, but no she really was going to try and mend their relationship and she proved it by saving his life.
“Clotpole.” Muttered Merlin as he made his way over to his king. He gave him a once over to make sure there was no injuries that he didn’t know about (thankfully there were none), and whispered “please hear her out, to her this was all she could do, she had to find a way to use her sadness for something and that unintentionally turned into anger towards Camelot and it’s ruler. I will stand by you and make sure nothing happens”.
Arthur gives him a tired smile and pats his shoulder. “You will have to fill me in on what was said later, but right now I have to speak with my sister. Perhaps see if she would like her room back, I know Gwen would be excited”. He lets go of Merlin and slowly makes his way to his traumatized sister. Reaching out to her he wraps her in a gentle but secure hug, it cannot be heard what is being said other than Morganas sobs and apologies. As Merlin and the Royal knights watch the siblings reconnect they know that things will be alright, after all no one has to go through these things alone anymore.