Chapter Text
Morgause was angry
Not unexpected given her whole get-Arthur-to-kill-his-daddy plan had failed. Uther still lived. Arthur still lived. Magic was still forbidden in Camelot…. and Morgause still had no omegas.
“Cnihtas Medhires, éower sáwla sind min sáwla. Onwác and cóm hér eft. Rid eft ond forsliehð eft. Gehðu, Uther Pendragon!“ Morgause chanted at the circle of shadowy figures that surrounded her.
To complete the spell she lit the Fires of Iridholas and the cobwebbed figures came to life.
“I'm a herder from the northern plains, Sire. Three nights back, we were camped beneath the walls of Idirsholas.” Said Joseph, unimportant but named beta from the northern plains.
“I'm not sure I would've chosen such a place.” Arthur frowned. The Castle of Idirsholas had long been abandoned and was believed to be haunted.
“Good pasture is scarce at this time of year, Sire.” Joseph pointed out. Betas were far more pragmatic about things like ghosts – and they weren’t to come between a man and an honest living.
“And what is it you have to tell me?” Uther interrupted impatiently. It was nearly lunchtime and Merlin would be prowling soon. He didn’t have time for this nonsense. As King and an alpha, he had banned magic in Camelot, and obviously that included ghosts, so this beta was clearly challenging his leadership if he claimed to have seen one…
“While we were there we, we saw smoke rising from the citadel.” Not stupid enough to suggest magic was in anyway involved, Joseph suggested “Perhaps bandit?”
“And did you see anything else?” Intruded Gaius, who as usual knew a bit more about Idirsholas than anybody else and needed more details.
“No.” Joseph replied.
“Did you go inside?” Uther probed. Perhaps this herder was secretly a magic user…? It had been so long since he’d been able to burn someone at the stake…
“No. Nobody has stepped over that threshold for 300 years! You must know the legend, Sire.” Appealed Joseph, desperate to stress that he had in no way come into contact with anything magical.
“When the fires of Idirsholas burn, the Knights of Medhir will ride again.” Quoted Gaius.
Uther sighed. No burning today… “See to it this man is fed and has a bed for the night.” He addressed the chamberlain before turning to Arthur, “Arthur Take a ride out there.”
“Why?” Asked Arthur grumpily. Merlin had been in mourning for Sir Radnor the last week and insisted on walking around the castle wrapped in a black blanket and little else. Keeping the other knights at arm’s length had been a constant battle.
“So we can put people's minds at rest.” Uther slyly replied. And while Arthur was away, it would fall to Uther to console Merlin…
“Surely this is superstitious nonsense?” Arthur pouted.
“Gather the guard and do as I say!” Insisted Uther.
Merlin for his part didn’t really give a rats-arse about Sir Radnor, sure it was a waste of a perfectly good alpha, and Radnor was totally his type (beefcake blonde), but it was in their natures for omegas to move on from alphas quickly (on account of a dead alpha didn't put blankets on the bed).
No, this had all been a lie perpetrated by Gaius to cover the fact that Merlin was still pining for the druid boy. Uther had been chomping at the bit to burn a magic user lately and Gaius didn’t want anyone associating druids with Merlin and by proxy himself (on account of an omega couldn’t possibly do anything wrong, so it must be the beta Uncle leading him astray).
“The Knights of Medhir are a force to be reckoned with!” Gaius warned Merlin, knowing full well Merlin would wander after the knights when they left the castle. “It's more than a story, Merlin. Some 300 years ago, seven of Camelot's knights were seduced by a sorcerer's call. One by one, they succumbed to her power. At her command, they became a terrifying and brutal force that rode through the lands leaving death and destruction in their wake. It was only after the sorcerer herself was killed that the Knights of Medhir finally grew still. Merlin, if what Joseph says is true, then something has awoken them, and I fear for each and every one of us.”
Morgana entered her room and found a box on her window ledge. Inside was a note.
Finally. Finally some alpha had had the guts to sneak into her room! Even with Uther’s threats and beta guards and door locks she was finally going to become an adult! Then she would show Merlin who was still a child…
"Are you all right?” Gwen asked, entering the room behind her.
Morgana crumpled the note quickly.
“Cold!” She complained.
Gwen nodded but ignored the comment. Omegas were always complaining about the cold to attempt to leverage more blankets.
“Yes, it is a little cold.” Gwen agreed, “perhaps if I close the window?”
Morgana scowled. Windows were not blankets…
“Do you need something warmer?” Gwen suggested with a sigh, pulling a woolen blanket from Morgana’s blanket chest.
Morgana nodded.
Arthur's party rode through the woods, Merlin had finally shucked his mourning blanket but was still rather morose, so Arthur hazarded a guess as to his foul mood.
“What is it, Merlin? Don't tell me you're still thinking about Radnor?” Arthur pouted. It was quite irritating to him that Merlin might have been interested in the other knight. Apart from visual appreciation and a little ab petting Merlin had never shown that much interest in the other knight before… and why should he when he had Arthur?
And now to make matters worse the other knights were all clambering to get Merlin’s attention because it was the greatest of honors to be mourned by an omega after death… Arthur growled lowly when another knight rode his horse a little too close.
“You look well.” Complimented Morgause when Morgana met her in the woods.
Morgana scowled. She hadn’t crept out of the castle to meet an alpha just to find out it was family… still she had to be grateful for that bracelet that still had Merlin hissing every time she wore it (plus it helped with her nightmares or something). Morgana twisted it around her wrist to show the alpha she still had it (it was common practice for omegas to hock gifts from alphas and purchase things they would rather have – although Morgana was already independently wealthy (thanks to never actually returning Arthur’s key to the vault after the whole crystal thing), or simply throw them away once they were bored with them – it was quite a compliment to Morgause that Morgana had retained it.
“…you do not seem happy. Why is that?” prompted Morgause.
Morgana rolled her eyes. Being grateful for a bit of bling was hardly outweighing the fact that she had come out here tonight to seduce some alpha and now the vial of aconite she had secreted in her bosom would be for naught (Morgana had a slightly skewed idea of what 'seduce' meant). On top of everything else Uther had made Arthur go chase off Baby and his friends. Insufferable.
“Have you ever imagined a new world, Morgana? One where Uther was no more?” Morgause interrupted, as though she had been reading Morganas thoughts. Which wasn’t that hard to do when the omega in question was spitting and fretting and muttering ‘Uther’.
Morgana nodded emphatically.
“And is that what you'd like?” Morgause prompted, then paused before adding, “and what stopped you?”
Unfortunately, like most alphas, Uther had a ridiculously robust constitution that allowed him to survive thus far (and possibly extra kidneys* because with the number of times Morgana had stabbed him in the back, he should definitely be dead by now).
*Supernumerary body parts was surprisingly common in alpha, presumably an evolutionary adaptation that allowed them to survive the high number of ‘accidents’ omega had when holding knives.
“So, you want Uther destroyed and his reign to end?” Morgause supplied.
Morgana growled an affirmative. But how? Uther was immune to her omega charms, had a contingent of beta guards and with his silver cutlery and food tasters was almost entirely beyond her reach…
“You are wrong, Morgana. You underestimate your importance. The decisions you make now will change the shape of everything that is to come.” Morgause manipulated (not that it took much manipulation to convince an omega of their own importance). “Whose side are you on, Morgana? Are you with Uther? Or are you with me? Are you prepared to help me bring about his downfall?”
Morgana rubbed her hands together gleefully. Omega loved a good plot* (perhaps the primary reason she kept Merlin around to discuss court intrigues with (this mostly involved Morgana and Merlin slinking around in the middle of the night and checking to see who was bedding whom amongst the castle beta)).
At the confirmation Morgause's eyes glowed and Morgana passed out in Morgause's arms. Morgause laid her carefully on the ground and began to draw a circle around Morgana with a stick. “Acene slæp swilce ... Acene slæp swilce ... Acene slæp swilce...”
Morgana began to glow.
Morgana woke the next morning in her own bed. Not that unusual since she liked to experiment with her own concoctions in unusual places (because if you were going to be found unconscious it might as well be somewhere interesting) – but this time it had not been her intent.
“Morning, My Lady.” Greeted Gwen cheerily, coming to attend her. “Did you sleep well?” Gwen yawned.
Uther sat up in bed, sweating. Not that unusual since he was a randy old coot and there was an unbonded omega in the castle – but this time it wasn’t just because he was horny.
“I have urgent court business that needs attending to!” He declared (possibly a euphemism).
“You have to stay in bed, Sire. You have a fever. I'll prepare a tonic for you.” Gaius intervened, having been called to the King’s chambers. He turned to Leon. “When did he first fell ill?”
“It came on this morning.” Leon informed. “Is it something to worry about?”
“No.” admitted Gaius, “it will soon pass. Be sure to let me know if there's any change.”
Gwen sat, waiting for Gaius to treat her.
“I fear this contagion is spreading.” Admitted Gaius. “You're the fifth person I've seen today.”
“I'm sure it's nothing.” Sighed Gwen, who had been fatigued all morning.
Gaius went to reach for a potion bottle and knocked it to the floor by accident.
“Damn.” He grumbled. Bending down to pick it up he was struck by dizziness and quickly straightened up. “I'll pick that up later. I think I might need a little something myself. If I can ever find what it is I'm looking for.”
Arthur's party entered the chamber in the fortress where Morgause awoke the knights of Idriwhasit. Arthur checked the ashes of the fire, finding them fresh. “It seems part of Joseph's story was true.” He glanced at Merlin who had been whining and rubbing at his ears since they’d arrived, and quickly reassured him “Probably just travelers passing through.” Poor thing was clearly frightened by whatever Gaius had told him about Idirsholas. “There’s no need to be frightened.” Not when he had a big brave alpha like Arthur to protect him.
Merlin evaded the Arthur’s attempt to reassure him and turned to head back toward the entrance with disgust (frightened indeed… it was just noisy was all). Or maybe not. There were a bunch of undead knights there.
Just in case it wasn’t obvious that a group of undead knights meant them harm, the Knights of Idirsholas drew their swords. Arthur's party engaged them rather unsuccessfully (given that the normal knightly tactic involved pushing your sword into the other parties soft bits, and the undead weren’t affect by it at all.
“Run, Merlin! Go!” Cried Arthur desperately. There were unspoken alpha priorities in these kinds of situations and those priorities said save the omega first.
Merlin passed Arthur with a put-upon sigh, but then stopped. This was it! The moment to reveal his magic, save everyone, have his way with two or three of the better-looking knights and ride off into the sunset. Personally he would have preferred to have packed more blankets, but needs must…
“What are you...?! Do as I say!” Arthur insisted, shoving Merlin toward the door and ruining his big reveal.
Rude much? Merlin waited in the doorway for Arthur who continued to fight. “Ahríes þæc!” he muttered darkly, causing the roof to cave in on the undead knights, before pulling Arthur bodily out of the room.
Free of the ruins, they ran into the woods and stopped when they were sure the undead hadn’t followed them.
“What happened to your arm?” demanded Arthur, noticing Merlin’s torn tunic.
Merlin rolled his eyes. It was only a flesh wound. He’d had worse than that wrestling wild boars in Ealdor.
“Let me see.” Arthur inspected the wound. “Your first battle wound.”
Merlin preened. He quite fancied having a few scars. In Merlin’s experience that’s what manly men did… they went to the tavern, took off their shirts and bragged about their battle wounds. Then they took off their pants and bragged about their battle wounds. Then they took off their small clothes and bragged about their battle wounds…
Actually.. now that Merlin thought about it… it was only the alphas… weird.
“Here.” Arthur interrupted his thoughts by ripping the bottom off his tunic and drawing a gasp from Merlin (the destruction of textiles was heresy to an omega… too much like destroying blankets – the exception being if it was Merlin doing the destroying of course, that was fine).
“Don't worry. It can be mended.” Arthur wrapped Merlin's arm to stop the bleeding. Once the wound was hidden he seemed to return to his senses. “Did anyone else escape?”
Ah, that’s right… there had been some other knights in the party… oopsie, shame about that roof crushing them all… which of course Merlin knew nothing about… nothing…
Merlin shook his head negative.
“We need to get back to Camelot, gather reinforcements.” Arthur declared.
Merlin and Arthur dismounted at the city entrance where the guards were lying on the ground.
“…dead?” asked Merlin, searching his bag for his feasting dagger.
“No. They're breathing.” Arthur exclaimed.
They jogged into the Square where more guards and knights were strewn about.
“What's going on?” Arthur demanded as a horse trundled by with a bright red swagon, the driver fast asleep. At first he had presumed Morgana, but Morgana exclusively poisoned adults and there had been several children in the square.
If anyone knew what was going on, it would be Camelot’s resident know-it-all Gaius. Merlin ran into the palace with Arthur at his heels. The running part of course was made much more difficult by the fact that the stairways were somewhat festooned in passed out people.
“They're all fast asleep. Must be some kind of sickness.” Arthur declared. “Where's father?”
Arthur ran off to check the Council Chamber.
Meanwhile Merlin located Gaius exactly where he expected to, at his work table. Regrettably asleep.
“It must be the work of magic.” Arthur declared returning. “We have to find my father!”
Merlin didn’t see why, but with Gaius asleep he had nothing better to do (thankfully it hadn’t occurred to him that if everyone was asleep, that would mean cook too, leaving the larder completely unguarded), so followed Arthur.
They checked Morgana’s Chambers next, where they found Gwen passed out on the floor, Arthur quickly gathered her up and placed her on the bed while Merlin went about to see what he could loot (no time like the present) – which resulted in a screeching Morgana appearing from behind a curtain and attacking.
“It's me! It's me, Morgana!” Declared Arthur (presumably misinterpreting her behavior for fear of intruders) grabbing her arms to prevent her clawing out Merlin’s eyes. “What's happened?”
Morgana continued to growl lowly as Merlin backed out of her chambers. The thieving cat wouldn’t have even dared to enter her room if he hadn’t thought she was asleep like the others.
“Calm down, Morgana. Just tell me what happened.” Begged Arthur.
Morgana made some rather vague gestures.
“And what then?” Prompted Arthur.
More vague gestures.
“Was someone here?” Arthur clarified.
Morgana shook her head.
“Then why were you hiding?”
Morgana cocked her head. She just presumed everyone would blame her for people collapsing everywhere (well… it wasn’t totally implausible…) and hidden on instinct.
“Where's father?” Arthur asked.
Morgana shrugged. Like since when was she Uther’s keeper?
Merlin pulled Arthur away from the distressed Morgana (mostly because he could use Arthur to shield her line of sight as he edged a blanket toward the door with his foot).
“If she was awake then she must have seen something!” exclaimed Arthur.
“Nothing!” Chimed Morgana.
“You saw people getting sick, what did you do?”
Morgana probably didn’t need to mention that she took advantage and looted a couple of things she’d had her eyes on for a while… Gaius had been asleep and would never miss that cyanide...
“Morgana, I don't understand. Why is it that you're the only person awake?”