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You can't fight fate 1: Camelot

Chapter 50: Free to move forward

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Merlin shock Arthur to get him to wake up, but the prince didn't respond. The warlock was about to try and use his magic to wake his friend. When his vison started to cloud as head felt like it was swimming. A few seconds later he was laying on the damp forest floor as well. It didn't feel like he was lying on the forest floor with his eyes shut. He could still hear all the sounds that were going on around him. It just felt like he was hidden under a blanket, filtering out most of the sounds of the world. The sound so of the world slowly started to get louder, till he was forced to open his eyes. They blinked a few times, before he was able to focus properly. Using what little strength he had, Merlin pulled himself up to a sitting position. His head was swimming, and his body ached.

The pain was worse in his right shoulder. Pulling his shirt back a little he saw an ugly looking bruise. There was something odd about the bruise, the more he looked at it the stranger it looked, there were dark blue lines coming out from it. It was not a normally bruise. Covering it with is hand he mutter a healing spell under his breath. When he removed his hand the bruise was still there. A little less ugly and the pain was gone, but it was still there. As he healed it he knew that this was a magic attack. He had never seen magic used in this way. Magic was the ability to use, manipulate the natural world with the power of your will. This was using magic as a real psychical force, which causes pain.

Feeling stronger, he moved over to Arthur, who was still unconscious. He took the brunt of the hit, so it was no wonder he was still knocked out. Placing ha hand over the prince's head, he spoke the same healing spell. When he removed his hand, he called his name, tried to wake him again, but he still didn't move. He had known this would happen. He had felt it when he was trying to heal him, he knew it wasn't working. After a deep intake of breath, he pulled himself onto his feet, pulling Arthur with him. That was the easy part, compared to getting him onto the horse. By the time they set of for Camelot the sun was setting.

The streets of the city were empty by the time they returned as night had fallen a few hours ago. With the help of the stable boy who had been finishing cleaning up for the day, Merlin moved Arthur to Gaius's chambers. The boy was sent always and told not to tell the king or anyone till the physician had looked the prince over. Once alone Merlin told Gaius all that had happened. Gaius had no more idea what had happened than Merlin did. Except that that kind of magic Merlin spoke of was used by one kind of person.

"What can we do." Gaius didn't look up at Merlin as he spoke. His eyes remained on the ugly mark on Arthur left side. "Gaius." The young warlock coxed the old physician.

Who slowly lifted his head to meet his eyes. "I fear there is nothing I can do."

"There has to be something, he can't die." Panic clear in the young man's voice.

A shocked looking Gaius met Merlin's eyes. "No he will not die." Merlin's whole body relaxed. "It will take time to heal on its own, a long time. This kind of magic can only be removed by another form of magic that neither you nor I possess." There was an odd tone to Gaius's voice when he said, you nor I.

Merlin nodded, understanding quickly what he was being told. "I'll get her." He stated firmly as he swiftly left. 

When he reached her room, he didn't bother to knock he was in to much of a hurry for pleasantries like that. The room was cloaked in darkness. The only light  was the faint light that fell in from the small window. Morgana was lying fully dressed on her bed. Her back to the window, casting her silhouette in an odd light. 

"Morgana." He spoke just above a whisper. Wanting to wake her, but not scare her. 

As he moved over to her, he noticed that her eyes twitched a little and her body seemed tense. He guessed that she was having one of her dreams. If he had not been in such a hurry, he would have noticed the half glass of wine on her bedside table. Morgana not touching a glass that he had poured for her, was now normal. Leaving a glass of wine, unfinished was not. If he noticed the glass, he would have known it was odd. Then possibly noticed the oddness of its taste. The wine had been drugged with her sleeping draft. Gwen had spent the day with Morgana in her room. Both worried about Arthur. Worried about Morgana, not wanting her to become stress and do something drastic, Gwen added her sleeping draft to the wine she had with her supper. In hopes that a good night's rest would do her some good. It worked to well, and she was asleep fully dressed before she had finished the wine.

Her hand lay by her head, twitching as she dreamed of some unpleasant thing. Slowly, now a little nervous, Merlin placed a hand on her shoulder, shacking her a little. "Morgana…..Morgana." His voice growing more desperate each time he said her name. 

In the blink of an eye, her eyes shout open, and she pulled herself up to a sitting position. Her head still as her eyes darted around her. Till they fell on his face. Their eyes met. She saw the worry and fear in his and knew what was going on. That something had happened to Arthur. She had been dreaming of it, unable to wake and do anything. In the same second, without a word, he turned to the door, moved to leave, moving off the bed she followed him.

As they entered Gaius's chambers, Morgana first set her eyes on her brother lying on the bench in-front of her. His chainmail had been removed, revealing the dark mark on his left side. No one spoke and she and Merlin moved to opposite sides of the bench, with Gaius at the top, standing behind Arthur's head.

"As a high priestess of the old religion, you can heal this kind of injure." She nodded in responses to Gaius's comment.

Her bony hand reached out to the mark. When it was an inch from the mark, it stopped. Her eyes lifted, darting between the two men watching her. "What is going on. You don't need me to heal this." Her hand returned to her side, as she took a step back from the bench. "It will heal in time on its own."

The two men looked at each other. "You can heal it now." Merlin now looked back at her.

"Not with this I can't." Her left arm lifted again, revealing the bracelet she was forced to wear.

"You know that is not true." Her eyes glared at Gaius for his input.

Merlin was chewing on his lip, a million thoughts raced through his head. "Leave her Gaius." Almost all the eyes in the room were on the warlock now. "We can't make her do it, if she doesn't want to."

"I never said I didn't want to help him." Morgana snapped back. 

"I know." As she spoke Merlin moved round the bench to her.

Out of shock she stepped back from him. "Merlin-"

"You are so filled with hate and bitterness. I've seen it. Seen how it eats away at everything that made you the person I first knew. The person I carried about." She looked away from him. "I'm to blame, in part this is all my fault." Her eyes slowly moved back to meet his. "You played your part to, but I will admit that I didn't help things." He noticed her head nod a little. She was too shocked and confused to say anything. "If you want to be angry and bitter-"

"Do you really think that is what I want." She almost sounded hurt. 

"No, but I don't think you can help it. so keep that anger, hate, if you have to. Let it fester away at you, if you can't let it go. Then hit me with it, I can take it….and I deceive it. Most of that hate is directed at me after all." A deep sadness was now clear in her eyes. "But I promise you that if you do anything to hurt anyone, anyone that I care about. Get in the way of Arthur's destiny, than I will do whatever I have to."

"Is that a threat." She tried to sound strong, confident, undaunted, but it was just for show. 

"Just a warning." While he had been talking, he had slowly been moving towards her. Now he stood almost right in-font of her. Forcing her to look up if she wanted to meet his eyes. "I have lost, sacrificed to much to give up on my destiny now. You know what it has cost me."

"I do." Though she tried to sound pitying, she sounded more sad. Sad for him. 

She nodded a little. Knowing full well what he had lost, himself. He had lost the person that he used to be. He had changed so much since he arrived in Camelot. He had had to. If he wanted to achieve his destiny, then he had to do whatever it took, even if that was going against what his instincts told him to do. That was the hardest part. He never knew it was happening, it snuck up on him. It was only when he was faced with a situation that was similar to one that he had been in before and he acted differently, that he saw how much he had changed. Sometimes it made him a little proud, other times it scared him.

"It's all you have now isn't it. Your destiny. What would you have if you didn't have that." Like before Morgana wanted to sound snide and condescending, but it seemed to Merlin almost like a warning. To not lose sight of what was truly important, in the process of achieving a goal. Something he knew she understood very well. 

He seemed to brush off her words, knowing she was only trying to get a reaction from him. Even if their was more behind it.  "Are you going to help or not." 

"Why don't you. You don't need me. You are the great warlock Emrys after all."

"I prefer sorcerer."

"Of course you do." A smile with a tiny hint of fondness crossed her face for a brief second. 

His face fell into a slight grin too. "And you are a Sorceress."

"I prefer witch." She affirmed with pride. 

"Of course you do." They heard Gaius clearing his throat to their right. "Are you going to help or not." Merlin pressed again. 

"You don't need me. you are powerful enough to do it yourself."

"Not without the right spell." Gaius pointed out what they all knew. 

She let out a small laugh. Her eyes left him, falling on a small table to her right. Covered in books and other objects. In one quick move she stepped away from Merlin and walked to the table. Picking up a quill she wrote a few words on a small parchment of paper. Holding the paper between her middle and index finger on her left hand she turned back round to face the men that had been watching her not sure what she was doing. Her eyes looked on Merlin as she stepped back towards him.

"This is the healing spell you need. I'll give you it to help him." He didn't make a move to take the paper from her. She knew why. "But that isn't what this is about really is it. This is the both of you trying to make yourselves feel better about what you've done."

Gaius spoke up first. "Morgana-"

"Don't lie. I've heard enough of them from both of you." Her eyes turned back to Merlin. "I'll heal him. He'll then wake in a few hours, like nothing happened, but you have to do something for me." He didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes told her to go on. "Remove this bracelet, I'll heal him. Then you let me leave."

A stunned silence feel over the room. Neither of them had been expecting her to ask this. Merlin looked away from her, not wanting to look at the slightly pleading look in her eyes. A part of him wanted to do what she asked. Another worried about what she would do with her magic fully returned.

Seeing a chink in his armour, she moved a step closet, lowering her arm. "I can't stay here. It is going to drive me mad. Please Merlin, I'm scared…of what I'll do if I stay."

This was what Gaius had been worried about. He knew the effect Morgana could have on people, men mainly. She could twist them round her finger. She could always read people. Knew how to get what she wanted from them. He had worried she would do the same with Merlin, lead him to do something that would in danger his life or destiny. She was spirited and stubborn, she could get most people to see things her way. After all What she wanted was not so wrong. It was what Merlin wanted too. They just went about it differently. The old man had feared that together they would encourage each other to do something reckless and dangerous. 

"You're not alone Morgana. You know that we can't let you leave." The old man offered her support, but couldn't encourage her wish. 

She ignored him. Looking back at Merlin she spoke directly to him.

Please, Merlin.

He didn't know what to do or say. The words just came. "I can't."

She nodded a little. She understood, it hurt painfully but she did understand. With a quick glance to Arthur she lifted her left arm up. holding up the paper again. Merlin's hand reached out to her hand. For a brief second it paused an inch or so from the piece of paper. Them lowered and took hold of the bracelet. In a harsh tone he removed the enchantment from the bracelet. When he took his hand away, the bracelet fell to the stone floor with a loud crash. Morgana watched it fall, then lifted her gaze to look at Merlin. Not knowing what to say.

"Merlin…." Gaius attempted to move forward as he spoke. Merlin turned to face him before he could say more.

"I trust her." Was all he could say. The only thing that made any sort of sense. He didn't really understand why he did what he did. Why he trusted her, he just did. Deep down he knew that things could not go on as they where. This constant back and forth between them. He could see that she knew that too. That she wanted to be in this viscous cycle no more than he did. Being here though was doing her no good. It was stopping her for being able to move on. Morgana was grateful to be able to make peace with Arthur and Gwen. To get to know Gwaine. Understand why Merlin acted as he had, but she couldn't stay here. They both knew it. Everyone did deep down, they just didn't want to admit it or think of the alternative. 

A small smile spread across her face, as she heard, but didn't look at the people taking. She was to busy looking at her know bare wrist. The bruises, red marks and small cuts that had been hidden underneath seemed to start to fade already. It felt like a weight that had been pressing down on her chest had been removed and she could now truly breath again. 

Merlin looked back at Morgana. "She knows that if she does anything to harm Camelot, then I will stop her." She looked up at him, but gave no sigh that she was intimidated by what he said, just that she understood.

Walking right past him, before he had a chance to change his mind. Morgana placed the paper down on the bench that Arthur rested on. Then quickly moved towards the door. Just before she could open the door Merlin called after her. Not wanting to risk him changing his mind. She turned to look at him. 

"Aren't you going to heal him." 

"You don't need me." 

It was clear to Merlin that she was talking about just healing Arthur. She was not need here, in any of their lives. Their great destiny didn't involve her, except to be in opposition to it. He couldn't have understood how lonely that must feel, if he hadn't felt it himself throw her. 

"No one else can do it as well." While This was the truth, she didn't seem convinced. "You once spent over an hour healing a child's broken leg. Knitting Together the bone, muscles. He wasn't a druid, the longer he stayed the more dangerous it was for you all. People would come looking for him soon, but you took your time. Others could have healed him fine, but she wanted to make sure he recovered fully, no lasting effects. He was a stranger. Arthur is your brother and your going to let me heal him."

Slowly Morgana turned round as he spoke, till she was facing him. "And you have stopped the most powerful and fearsome creates, a Dragon with just you voice. Killed two high priestess. You are more than able to heal him know you have the right words." 

"I may be strong enough, but I'm not skilled enough."

"Merlin stop, This is not complicated." 

She clearly wanted to leave before she lost her chance, but she did also want to make sure Arthur would be well. Merlin also realised that she was also nervous. Nervous that she was not strong able to heal Arthur or anyone right now. Having just been given access to her magic again after mouths of having it locked away from her. 

"Together." Merlin offered. 

Only hesitating a little, she moved back over to the bench. Standing next to Merlin she placed her cold hand over the dark mark. Merlin quickly covered hr hand with his larger one. she spoke in a low almost soft voice, with closed eyes. As Merlin focused his magic into his hand and into hers. Where she took it and channelled it in to breaking down and removing the magic that ate away at Arthur. His Power and her skill quickly healed the prince. Lifting her hand she took Merlin's with it. Turning to look at him for a second they for a look of pride and what they had achieved working together. 

With their hands away the dark began to slowly disappear, getting lighter and lighter. Though he had not been exactly pale, a bit of colour came to Arthur's face. Morgana looked at her brother's face and gave a slight smile. She said nothing, but Merlin could see in her eyes what she was thinking. She was glad he was okay, even if he hadn't really been in danger. Also that while she wanted to go. Get away from here and he didn't blame her for that. She was going to miss Arthur and Gwen, especially as they had started to really put things behind them and move on.

Morgana stepped back from the bench. Looking down onto her hands. It felt like she was able to feel things again, after wearing gloves for a long time. The light seemed brighter and the smell of the herbs and plates around the room all seemed stronger. She could take a deep breath again after she had been pulled into a corset so tight that it stopped her from breathing properly. A warm feeling spread through her whole body. As her magic spread began to circulate. She felt whole again, like herself.

She had been to preoccupied to notice Merlin slip away to his small room. When he returned, she was walking towards the door again not wanting to delay anymore.

"Morgana…you'll need this." He walked towards her, holding out an old dark brown cloak. When he reached her, she took the cloak from him. Tying it around her neck, she covering her thin bright purple satin dress. "The patrol will have started by now. I'll help you get out." She nodded and turned to leave.

Before she slipped through the door she looked to Gaius. She didn't smile, but she gave a nod, which the old man returned. making peace. At least trying to. He was still left  with a worried feeling. He trusted Merlin and his judgment most of the time. He had to hope this was one of the times where his judgment was right. He desperately wanted Morgana to find some peace, somewhere she could feel safe. He that was not here. For many reasons. With a little bit of effort he bent down to pick up the fallen bracelet. The stones had now returned to their original red colour. He was to busy looking at the bracelet to notice Arthur waking up.

"Gaius." The prince asked weakly. 

When He turned to the prince, his eyes where now looking at the bracelet. There was no need for him to tell Arthur anything. It was clear to the prince that Morgana's bracelet had been removed, so that she had healed him. Though there was no sign that told him, Arthur knew that she was gone too. He didn't blame her, but he still worried. About her and about her actions in the future. With a sigh he lowered himself back down to a lying position. His mind thinking over what came next. 

"You're going to be fine. She is a talented healer. You should rest now, I'll leave you for a while." As he left he placed the bracelet on the table by the door.

The patrol was easy to get passed, they both had a lot of practice at slipping by them. That was not why he had really came with her. He waited till they were out of the city, surrounds by trees on a rarely used trail before he spoke. "Morgana-"

"Don't. You don't mean it, so don't say it." She had been walking in-front of him, but now stepped back to join him. "You're not sorry. So don't lie and say you are. You did what you thought you had to, as have. I" She moved to walk on, but he spoke again. 

"where will you go." He asked with a hint of worry in his voice. 

For her or what she might do Morgana wasn't sure. She also didn't know the answer to his question. So as an answer she offered a small shrug.  Her eyes moved to the right, back to the castle. "Tell Arthur and Gwen, I truly hope they will be happy." He nodded knowing there was more she wanted to say, someone else she wanted to leave a parting word for but wouldn't. "If Uther keeps his word, I'll keep mine."

Once again She turned from him to begin moving forward again. He stayed rooted to the spot. Not being able to move forward or back. There was something he had to say, before he could. "Morgana-"

"Let me go." She said with her back to him. 

She wasn't talking literally of course, he was not stopping her from going. She meant that he had to let go of the guilty he felt. Not just for her, but for all the things he had done that went against what he had believed, who he was. She was telling him to let go of the past and move on. Like he had told her to. Like she was trying to do now. Encouraging him to be himself more. While he agreed with her in part, he couldn't agree fully.

"No. I'm not going to let go. In the back of my mind I still believe that one day we'll get a second chance. That we will be able to make up for the mistakes that we have made, put things right."

She  turned her head to look at him, offering a light smile. Hoping deep down for the same thing. After turning away she walked forward. That was the one thing that was so different about them. She had found that there were things that they had in common. The one difference that seemed to cancel all of that out was this. He had hope, he saw a future. He lived his life looking forward to what was coming. She on the other hand, lived in the past, and didn't think about the future. She saw to much of that in her dreams. His hope and her lack of was what put them on different paths. Knowing that she could never fully move on, but that she would try, Morgana moved on. Leaving the castle and city she had once called home behind. 

Merlin stood in the same spot for a while, watching her walk away. A fear growing in the pit of his stomach about what was going to happen now. Yet he didn't try and stopping her. This was the best chance for her. It was a huge risk, but if it worked it would have the best outcome. When he lost sight of her, he turned and headed back to the castle.

Arthur feel asleep a few minutes after Gaius left him. He didn't sleep for long, an hour at most. When he woke up the light from the only candle still burning in the room was getting faint. Sleeping with her head on the bench next to him, was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. He didn't want to wake her, she looked so peaceful, but she woke up, feeling his eyes on her.

"Hey." She smiled at him, as he pulled her head up.

"Hi." He too now pulled himself to a sitting position.

Her hand lifted and rested on top of his, which rested on the bench. "How are you."

"Fine, tired but fine."

"Good." She noticeably let out a sigh of relief, but she still looking rather worried. He lifter his other hand, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Their eyes met and she quickly throw her arms around his neck.

"I was so worried."

" Guinevere."

" I, we knew something was going to happen."

"Guinevere." He tried again to get her attention. 

She stopped babbling with a small smile on her face. His hands now rested on both sides of her face. Her warm loving eyes looking deep into his. The faint candle light, made her skin glow, and her hair shine. He had never seen her look more beautiful. "I love you." Her smile grew wider, as she tried to look away from him. Feeling a little embarrassed at such praise. 

"I love you too." After she spoke, her eyes returned to his.

A huge smile now on his face.  "Marry me."

The words came out of his mouth so suddenly he didn't really have time to think them over. They just slipped out so smoothly. it felt like the right thing to say. The only thing to say. The surprised look on her face told him she didn't know if he was being serious or not. He smiled and slowly asked again. More certain this time. "Marry me Guinevere."

The shock started to leave her face, and her face lit up even more.

"I know that you have had to wait for me and I'm sorry I put you through that. The future, being king. All of that scares me. I don't know if I can do it." She took his hand showing her belief in him. "The one thing I am sure of, that doesn't scare me about the future. Is that I know It will be with you. We will have to wait a little longer, but I want to start planning for that future now. I want you to be my wife."

While he spoke tears built up in the corners of Gwen's eyes. She was so happy, she didn't know what to do. She had thought about, dreamed about this moment for years. In her head she had planned out her answer, so perfectly, all that she wanted to say. Now, looking into his bright eyes, shining at her, just for her, all of that went out of her head. All that went thought was that she couldn't believe she was so lucky. Her hands lifted up, wrapped around him, making it easier to kiss him. When they finally pulled apart, they were both smiling.

"Is that a yes."

A laugh escaped her. Her arms again wrapped tightly around him. "Yes, yes. Of course it's a yes."

The tears were now flowing as she closed her eyes and held him tightly. He did the same. Feeling her heartbeat, against his chest. Her breath, and tears on his neck. Her warm body against his. He had never felt so excitedly happy, yet so peacefully content in his life before. It all just felt so right.

Merlin slumped against the stone wall next to the door. A soft smile on his face. He took in a deep breath as he looked out over the city from the narrow window across the corridor from him. When the rain started he noticed it first by the way it was lit by the faint moon light and light from the city. Gwen smelled it first. The smell of the first rain in a long time to touch the stone ground. Arthur heard the rumble of it and the sharp sound at it hit the earth. Morgana felt it lightly at first on her forehead before pulling up the hood on her cloak, as she continued to walk forward. 

A figure sitting alone under a tree in the forest a few miles for the castle, noticed it as they reached out their hand from under their dark cloak. The cold rain gave comfort. A sensation of life. They brought their hand back in, lifted towards their face. A faint glow appeared from under the hood of the dark cloak. Then a small flame sprung to life in the palm of their hand. In the faint light, a small grin could just be made out on the figures face.

Notes:

Thank you for reading. I hope that you enjoyed it and will enjoy the next part too. Also that you had a nice holiday season. I hope to post chapter 1 of part 2 tomorrow. It will b called you can't fight fate 2: Albion

Notes:

I know I'm not the best writer. So I feel I should explain a few things. Morgana has been living with the druids. I have decided to make Morgana more like the character in the legend, moral ambiguous. Not really having a side, just doing what is best for her. She was also a healer. So I thought I would make her magic different from Merlin's by having her not have to speak in the language of the old religion. This chapter is also short, but the other will be longer. I would love to hear any comments, good or bad that you have. Are there any characters, episode ideas you would like to see?

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