chapter forty-three!
043. nightmares of the witch

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    THEY DID not know how it happened. 

    A fire had started in the Lady Morgana's chambers last night, and if Guinevere had not been in the antechamber, the King's Ward might not have survived. It was most absurd. The flames had engulfed the curtains at the window, which was now shattered out into the courtyard below. It was easy to deduce that the fire had started from the burnt candle at the table beside the ashen curtains ... but Guinevere had blown out that candle. She vividly remembered doing so. 

    Merlin helped Guinevere and Odette clean up Morgana's rooms. He had a troubled frown on his face, sweeping up ash and pieces of burnt fabric▬and unable to get the smell out of his nose. It burned his senses, as if the fire was still going; lingering in the air even hours after it had been put out. Morgana was with Gaius▬she had been since yesterday late evening. Merlin woke up to Arthur shouting and the warning bells and it took them and three guards to put the fire out. 

    It bothered him, as he hovered by the burnt curtains and the shattered window. He glanced out and down to the courtyard, where the glass had scattered in shards that glinted in the morning sun. 

    "Merlin," Odette whispered, grabbing his attention▬very careful with the King in the same room. He was not in a good mood. He scowled at every burn mark and everything that had been damaged with a livid set of his jaw. 

    The Prince's manservant glanced back at her, and she subtly gestured for him to get back to work. He did as she advised, none wanting to test the King's anger▬especially when Guinevere was currently under his suspicious gaze. 

    Troubled and his mind wandering, Merlin brought the ash and burnt pieces of the curtain over to the bucket and tipped them into it. He didn't consider how slowly he should have done it and winced amongst his cough when the ash billowed up slightly into Odette's face. She made a face and stifled her cough, waving the smell away. 

    Sorry, Merlin mouthed to her sheepishly. 

    Prince Arthur crossed his arms and sent the two servants warning glances. Merlin sent him a sheepish smile, too, while Odette frowned at the ash that coated the tip of her nose. She wiped it off, refusing to meet Arthur's gaze. 

    "I came back in with some extra blankets," meanwhile, Guinevere was explaining to the King. "There was a candle, but I put it out."

    The King turned to her with a steel gaze. "Are you sure?"

    She nodded quickly. "Yes. Yes. I blew it out, Your Majesty. I swear."

    Lord Ronyn glanced away from the damage he was examining to nod at the King. Following in his father's footsteps▬whether by choice or not▬, Ronyn was starting to be at the King's side more whenever requested to provide advice and counsel. Though it was quite obvious the advice and the counsel were reluctant on his tongue. Merlin knew that Ronyn was at Arthur's side than more anybody else. Still, he was determined to provide advice this time in Guinevere's favour:

    "Guinevere has been Morgana's servant for many years now," said Ronyn to the King. "She has shown herself incredibly loyal. If she says she blew out the candle, I believe her."

    The King hummed, not really caring. Which hopefully meant he cared little about Guinevere and her fate, too. He passed Ronyn and when no one was looking, the Lord Vecentia met the gaze of the handmaiden, and they shared a gentle smile. Gwen subtly nodded at him, grateful. 

    "She could have been burnt alive," murmured the King, eyeing the curtains and the window. 

    Arthur pursed his lips and pushed off the wall. He had been leaning on it. "Lightning struck the castle roof last night," he suggested. "That could have started the fire."

    "Perhaps..."

    "What other explanation is there?"

    The King turned to face his son. "Someone started the fire deliberately."

    When he wasn't looking, the servants, Lord Vecentia and the Prince of Camelot all shared anxious looks. 

    Merlin, Guinevere and Odette continued to clean out Morgana's chambers for the rest of the morning▬all of them quite troubled. There was something unspoken between them▬something of which they dared not speak of. But the circumstances of the fire in Morgana's chambers didn't feel right ... Didn't sound right. Merlin refused to think of it any more. Those thoughts troubled him▬troubled him very much. 

    His eyes wandered to the shattered window once more, frowning. 

    Afterwards, when Guinevere left to dispose of the ash, glass and burnt debris from Morgana's room, she didn't notice someone whispering her name. It wasn't until she heard a sharp: "Guinevere▬!" and she looked up, startled. 

    Gwen's eyes widened and then her expression grew flat when she noticed Ronyn discreetly gesturing to her to come from where he hid in an alcove. But by the look on his face, whatever it was he wanted to talk to her about, it was urgent▬especially if he was prepared to do it here.

    Guinevere pursed her lips, glanced around to make sure they were alone and then rushed over. He looked over her shoulder before guiding her further into the shadow of the alcove with a hand on her back.

    "What is it?" she asked him in a whisper, concerned. "You cannot just▬"

    "Yes, yes, I know," Ronyn fixed the sleeves of his doublet and looked down at her, hiding her from the corridor outside. "It is just..."

    Guinevere arched a brow, patient as she waited for him to finish. When she just saw him gaze at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, Guinevere sighed to hide her blush. "Ronyn?"

    "Hmm?" he blinked out of his stare. "Sorry, what was that?"

    He knew exactly what he had done and Guinevere couldn't help the good-natured roll of her eyes, starting to smile up at him with a breath of exasperation that turned into amusement very quickly. 

    "You wished to speak about something?" Gwen prompted him with a breath of mischief. 

    Ronyn blinked again, and then he chuckled. But that chuckle soon disappeared when his mind returned to what he wished to speak of. Guinevere watched the air between them turn worrisome as Lord Vecentia leaned against the stone of the alcove wall, crossing his arms. "This fire in Morgana's room troubles me▬and it troubles the King. He assumes it to be sorcery. He is ordering Arthur and his men to gather up all those under suspicion."

    Gwen felt her chest tighten. "A▬Am I under suspicion?" she asked in a fearful whisper. 

    "No," Ronyn quickly assured her. At her worried glance, he shook his head. "No, Guinevere, you are not. I will make sure of it."

    "But with my father and▬?"

    "Gwen," Ronyn cut her off, gentle but sure. "Your name is not on the list. Both Arthur and I made sure of it."

    Her chest lifted with relief, but also gratitude. She slumped a little and nodded. "Thank you," she told him, soft. Then, another thought crossed her mind and Guinevere whispered to him: "Do you think it was magic? A magic user started the fire?"

    Ronyn pursed his lips and it told her that he thought so, too. He shifted, tense and shuffled closer. He said in a very low voice to ensure no one overheard: "It is strange, that the glass in Morgana's room shattered out into the courtyard below. If lightning did strike the window, then it should have shattered inside. And as you said, you blew out that candle. How come it started again?"

    Gwen frowned. "But ... what would they want with Morgana?"

    He shrugged, not too sure. "She is ... she is the King's Ward? She is close to him? There could be many reasons."

    "I am worried about her, Ronyn..." murmured Guinevere. "Recently, she only seems to have gotten worse. Her nightmares leave her terrified▬I fear this fire will only heighten them. She is screaming when she waves up. Her sleeping draughts from Gaius are not working."

    Ronyn frowned, too. He sighed and admitted: "She is not the only one. Adelynn is not sleeping, either. She tells me nothing, but I can see it in her eyes. Something is keeping her up at night and I do not know what it is. I am worried about her, too."

    Guinevere's brows lifted, concerned. But before she could say anything else, the sound of a door opening down the corridor told them that their conversation was over. 

    Ronyn pursed his lips, wishing otherwise, but promised her: "We will speak later." He hesitated but then leaned in and kissed her forehead, a little red at his ears. "Good day, Guinevere."

    She smiled as she watched him leave. "Good day, My Lord..." she murmured, admittedly feeling an upset weight in her chest. 

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    MERLIN'S duties for Arthur finished very quickly. He wasn't needed to be around him constantly while he and his men started their search for those in Camelot under suspicion of magic. Merlin tried not to think too much about it. Some days, it was easy to forget Arthur's view on magic▬until Merlin is reminded like a painful punch to his gut. 

    He slowly made his way back to Gaius's chambers, walking with a little drag in his step. Until he heard a voice speaking inside the ajar door. A woman's voice. Merlin stopped and shuffled closer to the door, frowning as he recognised the voice. Careful and silent, he peered through the ajar door and his heart lifted up into his throat when he saw Morgana sitting at Gaius's table. She was still shivering under one of Merlin's blankets▬quite shaken and upset by the whole ordeal.

    Gaius was trying to comfort her as he brewed up a potion for relaxation to aid in her recovery. As he did, he was saying to her: "What I do not understand, Morgana, is how the fire started in the first place?"

    The King's Ward held her breath for a moment. Merlin couldn't see her face, but her voice was heavy and trembling▬as if terrified of what she was about to say. "It ... it happened so quickly," she managed. She sounded as though she had been crying. "It was terrifying."

    Gaius briefly squeezed her shoulder. "It is all right," he reassured her. "You are safe now."

    Morgana hesitated. She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders and glanced up at Gaius. "You ..." she swallowed hard. "You are really the only person I have told about my dreams. I▬" she hesitated once again. "I know I can trust you, Gaius."

    The physician quickly wandered back over to her side. "Yes," he told her, "of course you can."

    The King's Ward went to say something, but then she held back. Merlin frowned. For some reason, he could feel his heart race▬anticipating something a part of him seemed to already know, and yet the rest of him did not. Morgana hitched her breath and then whispered in a fearful breath. "I ... It was me. I set the room alight. I started the fire."

    Merlin's eyes widened. His own breath hitched, his mind buzzing as her words turned into a muddled repeat in his ears. He barely heard Gaius say with a frown: "I do not understand...? Did you knock a candle over▬?"

    "N▬No, that is not what happened," said Morgana quickly in a frantic mumble. Gaius continued to frown at her as the King's Ward took another shaky, terrified breath. "I ... I did it just by looking at it. The flames suddenly leapt higher."

    "It could be a gust of wind▬"

    "It was not. It was me." Morgana was trembling as if her blood was made of ice under the blanket. "It▬it was ... magic▬" she hitched her breath as soon as she said those words as if just by uttering it she would die by horrible means. 

    Merlin's chest twisted. He couldn't breathe for a moment, staring in shock as Gaius stepped back from a frantic Morgana. The young warlock watching through the gap in the door could feel his entire heart squeeze and churn with a feeling he could not describe. 

    At first, the physician did not know what to say. He tried to reassure her that she could be wrong, seeing the small-eyed look in Morgana's eyes▬she was a cornered animal, ready to flee. "My child▬"

    "I am not a child!" snapped the King's Ward through her tears. 

    Gaius continued despite her outburst, "▬Last night was an accident," he told her, stern as if willing her to believe his words. Merlin felt sick. "It had nothing to do with you. How could it have?" Before she could say anything else, he added: "I am going to draw you up a fresh remedy that will make you feel better." Morgana shook her head but he just continued, not up for negotiation. "I promise. You must trust me."

    And then he walked to his potions and Merlin shook his head, too, unable to believe the sight. He swallowed back his churning anger▬and it was easy when the feeling that replaced it was a horrifying shock. 

     Later that evening, Merlin tried to keep his mouth shut during dinner. The silence between him and Gaius as the physician worked was almost suffocating. Merlin couldn't stop thinking about Morgana, and about how Gaius had reacted▬it made his chest boil up with a fury. He knew what it was like to be so scared, and unsure, and living in the real nightmare of finding out you had magic▬thinking you were going crazy. How Gaius acted was only going to make things worse for Morgana. Merlin knew it, and he tried not to feel hurt by it▬but he did. 

    How could Gaius look Morgana in the eyes and tell her what she experienced wasn't magic?

    Merlin tried to believe it was that simple. He wanted to think the troubles behind this were that simple. But his mind wandered to another witch, alone in her chambers in her brother's manor▬and Merlin remembered how terrified he felt trying to talk to her. 

    But just like Adelynn, Morgana needed someone to help her. Someone to let her know that her gifts were just that▬gifts; they weren't something that made her a monster. 

    Merlin eyed Gaius as he worked, barely able to eat his food. In the end, he couldn't hold it in any longer. "I was helping clear up Morgana's chambers earlier," he began, not taking his stare off the Court Physician. 

    Gaius hummed, concentrating on his work.

    "The window was blown out into the courtyard below," said the young warlock. When Gaius just hummed again, Merlin raised his brows, accusing. "That is odd, is it not? If lightning struck the glass like Arthur said, you would think the glass would fall on the inside of the window." He grew frustrated when Gaius did not answer. He leaned forward on the table and stated, angrily. "It was magic. You know it was. And more importantly, so does she."

    Gaius finally turned to him with that look in his eye that told Merlin he was miffed by his words. "Morgana knows nothing for certain."

    "Which makes it even worse," said Merlin. "She is not sure what is happening to her and it is tearing her apart!"

    The physician frowned, annoyed. "Well, what would you have me do?"

    "Talk to her," breathed the young warlock, his tone turning gentle as an overwhelming feeling clouded in his chest. He stood up from the table and approached his uncle. "Tell her she will be okay. Tell her that her powers are not something to be afraid of."

    Gaius continued to frown. He turned back to his work. "I cannot."

    Merlin pursed his lips. He weighed out an option, careful and slow. "Well, then ..." he took a short breath, "... perhaps I could speak with her?"

    At this, the physician spun to him with a breath of urgency. "No, Merlin," he said▬and it sounded more like an order. "You cannot."

    "Why not? I understand what she is going through."

    His uncle marched up to him and pointed his quill under his nose. "You must never reveal your secret," he told him. "Not to anyone."

    Merlin tried to argue, but he faltered. His heart skipped a beat at Gaius's words, thinking of Adelynn even if he tried not to. He has not told Gaius the truth about Ronyn's sister▬or how she knew of his powers. And now, his throat closed up when he realised that he could not tell Gaius because he was afraid of how he would react. 

    (Or maybe he was afraid of something else▬What that was, Merlin did not know).

    He stammered, finding his voice again: "W▬well, if not me, then someone else!"

    "Who?" Gaius dropped his quill. "This is a kingdom where magic is outlawed, or have you forgotten that?!"

    "But there are those who still practice it," argued Merlin. "What about the Druids? You said they helped people like this▬"

    "Uther's vowed to destroy them! The Druids cannot help her. It would be suicide!"

    "Then who can?!"

    "I will," stated Gaius, confident as he made his way back to his worktable. "Like I have always done."

    Merlin slumped with a pleading breath. "Then you must be honest with her!" he cried softly. 

    "What makes you so certain that you know better than me?"

    "Because I went through the same thing!" Merlin raised his voice as much as he dared. Gaius pursed his lips. The young warlock threw his arms out, scoffing. "I know exactly how she is feeling right now."

    Gaius sighed and he relented his sharp tone, almost apologetic over his outburst. He walked back up to his nephew and warned him in a gentle tone. "Merlin, you cannot get involved in this. No good can come of it. I mean it, Merlin▬" he added in a sterner voice when Merlin set his jaw. "Stay out of it."

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    THE NEXT morning, despite Gaius's warning, Merlin couldn't stop himself from visiting the Lady Morgaan's chambers. He wasn't going to say anything about what he knew▬in fact, he wasn't going to talk to Morgana at all. But he couldn't just sit there, still and unmoving, knowing that she was suffering. They were friends. Morgana was his friend▬and he understood exactly what she was going through right now ... he couldn't keep himself from checking on her, even if from a distance; just to make sure she was all right. 

    He picked flowers▬which was strange of Merlin. He never really went out of his way to pick flowers for anyone unless it was out of pride that led to an ongoing bet between him, Odette and Guinevere. He never sought out flowers and delicately chose which ones to pick for someone else out of his pure concern and warmth from his heart. 

    But he wanted to make Morgana smile after everything. 

    He travelled up the stairs towards the hallway outside her chambers. Merlin fiddled with the flowers, hoping he had remembered from Odette right what colours and types were Morgana's favourites. 

    Merlin had almost made it to the Lady Morgana's chambers without being spotted until he saw the flash of blonde hair in a deep blue doublet pass underneath the archway▬the young warlock flung the flowers behind his back just in time.

    Arthur stopped in his march the moment he noticed his servant. He doubled back. "Ah!" he exclaimed, almost as if he was pleased to see him. "Merlin." He set his march in his direction instead. "There you are. I need you to▬"

    The Prince stopped mid-sentence, his brows furrowing when he saw the anxious shift of his servant's gaze. His gaze wandered, suspicious at the way he clutched his hands behind his back. 

    He huffed a frustrated breath. "What are you hiding behind your back?" the Prince put on his best stern, chiding tone. No doubt his manservant had disappeared and forgotten to prepare Arthur's breakfast because he and Odette were up to something. (And the fact that the Prince found his servant near Morgana's chambers only strengthened this accusation). 

    "Nothing," Merlin said way too quickly. "See?" He held out his hands away from his back, grinning. He shuffled on his feet. 

    Arthur knew better. He narrowed his eyes. "What are you up to▬?" he demanded and as he surged forwards, Merlin swivelled on the balls of his feet, turning around before the Prince could catch a glimpse of what he was hiding. He missed the lavenders and daisies bunched and tucked together in the back of Merlin's britches.

    "Nothing!" let out Merlin, chortling in that ridiculous way that told the Prince he wasn't being truthful. "Nothing. H▬honestly!" The Prince arched a disbelieving brow. "Arthur, I would never lie to you." His manservant cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. "I respect you far too much for that."

    Arthur watched him with an unwavering, accusing gaze. 

    Merlin chewed on the inside of his cheek, anxious to leave. "You wanted me to do something?"

    The Prince didn't look away. His gaze only narrowed more. "My chainmail needs cleaning," he said very slowly as he examined his servant for any more suspicious behaviour. 

    Merlin nodded quickly. "Oh, well, I will see to it right away!"

    He gave him his best grin. 

    Arthur watched him for a moment longer. 

    Slowly, in sync, the Prince and his manservant took a few steps backwards▬neither turning away as they eyed each other. Arthur set his jaw, his suspicion not leaving him. He shuffled backwards and started to make his way to the stairwell▬but at the last minute, he poked his head back around the corner. 

    His scowl widened when he saw Merlin snatch the bundle of flowers he had been hiding behind his back, rushing off towards Morgana's chambers. 

    Merlin made it the rest of the way to the chambers of the King's Ward without any more difficulties. He took a few nervous breaths outside of the entrance before plucking up the courage to knock softly on the door. A few moments later, it opened and Merlin met Odette's gentle gaze. 

    "Merlin," she greeted, happy to see him. 

    She noticed the flowers immediately, and a knowing smile tugged onto her lips. She tilted her head, letting out a soft, warm breath. Merlin scratched his head, matching her smile with an anxious grin of his own. 

    Merlin tried to see further inside Morgana's chambers, his eyes searching for the King's Ward. "How ... How is she?"

    Odette glanced back over her shoulder, too. Her smile fell and a heavy stare of worry etched onto her brow. She pursed her lips and fiddled with the brass door handle. She took a breath before admitting in a whisper: "I do not know..." she stepped aside and Merlin could see the Lady Morgana fast asleep. Though she stirred▬restless even when she was deep within her dreams. "I have never seen her like this before."

    The young handmaiden met the gaze of her dear friend and added, sounding upset. "Gwen and I are scared to leave her alone."

    Merlin twisted the flower stems in his fingers. "Is ..." he chose his words carefully. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

    Odette's smile returned▬she looked tired. She went to say something, but then Morgana murmured something▬incoherent▬in her sleep and the young handmaiden faltered. She glanced at her again. She chewed on her lip, filled with worry. "I ... I should get back to her," she murmured.

    Merlin was reluctant, sighing. But he held out the flowers anyway and Odette took them with a sweet breath. "I will make sure she knows who these are from," she promised him.  

    Night dawned once more, and while Morgana was coaxed bravery to sleep without a candle anywhere near, the young Miss Adelynn Vecentia was wide awake. The moon drew bars of light through her window▬and it casted a ghoulish glow onto her cheeks, turning her rich olive complexion to ice. 

    Adelynn stared at the ghostly figure in the reflection that was not her own. Eyes that truly were like ice bored into her's, and she could not quite tell▬still▬whether they were sinister or genuine; they were clouded like the mist on a stormy ocean morning. Adelynn couldn't see through them to decipher what any words the ghost spoke to be true. 

    The ghost tilted her head, turning towards the shadows of the castle turrets nearby over the Upper Town walls; she seemed to be listening to something Adelynn couldn't hear. The ghost called herself Taryn▬though Adelynn wasn't quite sure whether she could believe even that. She shimmered in the candelight and disappeared before the sunrise▬she didn't seem at all real, and just a figment of the imagination. But her whispers were very much real. Adelynn knew that because she recognised them▬she recognised her voice; the same voice that had whispered things to her since she was a child. 

    And now she had shown herself▬and Adelynn didn't know why she chose now and never before. 

    Taryn seemed to be beautiful, in an elfin way that her features were pointed and her hair dark▬but her complexion was cold and seemed to always look a little blue; her tunic was dripping wet and never dried. Her whispers sounded distant, too, muffled as if she was speaking from depths of water. 

    She hummed a tune, though, and Adelynn heard it clearer than day▬she hummed that tune, herself, sometimes when she could not sleep. And now, she knew where she had received the notes from. 

    At last, the ghost turned back to Adelynn and said to her: "It has started."

    She frowned, holding her bed covers close to her chest even in the summer night. "What has started?" she asked Taryn, and Adelynn held this fear that she was speaking to no one else but herself▬and she had finally gone mad. 

    Instead of giving her an answer, the ghost gave her an icy-cold smile. "Do you not hear it?" she asked Adelynn, almost amused. "Listen to the wind and the birds, the insects and the midnight discussion amongst the frogs, child▬they will tell you more than I ever could. Have they not advised you before?"

    Adelynn pursed her lips. She had no idea what this ghost meant▬and yet, deep down, she did. She had always heard whispers as a child. Her whispers, the birds chirping and sounds of nature so very loud in her ear▬and sometimes she felt as if she could decipher them, giving her warnings that when she heeded them, she noticed that what they had warned her about, very much had been true. 

    She remembered just months past when the strange physician had both harmed and then cured the Lady Morgana. Adelynn had heard those insects as if they had swarmed her very mind. 

    "Magic is connected to nature," went on the ghost, wistfull. "It is the ocean waves, the blooming flowers and the ice that thaws from the river. You must feel it, do you not? A connection to the grass underfoot? Your magic is connected to it more than most. Listen to the wind, child, and you will hear the answer to the question you ask."

    Adelynn didn't want to listen to her, but as months passed since Taryn first appeared, she had started to do so anyway. She pursed her lips and tilted her head, frowning out into the night through her ajar window. After a moment of focusing on the sounds, she muttered: "I do not hear anything."

    "And is that not your answer?" Taryn mused. "The night is quiet. It is uneasy. They have nothing to say▬perhaps they are scared to speak. What do you see?"

    She frowned, incredulous but glanced around. There was little that she hasn't seen before. Her paints, her easles, her books and her unfinished dinner on her table that Claudia will clean in the morning. The only thing that was different was the spider that had started to weave its web in the corner of her chamber. An smaller, unlucky spider had gotten caught in its trap, and the owner of the web was drawing closer and closer towards it▬prepared to kill one of its own.

    "Nothing," answered Adelynn, shrugging as she returned her gaze to the ghost in her mirror. "I see nothing."

    This was not the right answer, she knew▬just at the way Taryn sighed to herself and glanced out of Adelynn's window once again. "There are signs in the world that will tell you the future, if you only learn how to look and listen▬and you learn to have an open mind, Adelynn Vecentia. One cannot escape Destiny, but one can become wiser to it."

    Adelynn gritted her teeth and set a scowl onto the ghost. "I believe we should make our own destiny. There is nothing out there that can control anything."

    Taryn chuckled and the sound echoed like many light-hearted giggles from children▬and it sent chills down Adelynn's spine. "You cannot chose your destiny, Adelynn Vecentia▬and you cannot escape it. You can battle against it however you wish, but it does not change a thing. You might not like it, but that is the truth."

    She continued to scowl and set her jaw. She looked away and frowned at the spider getting closer to the smaller spider in its web. "If I cannot fight against Destiny," she found herself muttering, "then I will be stuck here ... forever ... in this room, always looking down at others and rarely ever getting to be amongst them."

    "You are so keen to believe that is your destiny."

    "Is that not what you just said?" Adelynn scoffed. "I cannot escape Destiny."

    "I did not say what your destiny is."

    "Then what is my destiny, if you know so much?"

    Taryn just replied with that chilling smile and those clouded eyes. "You will have a mentor, child, but that mentor is not me. I cannot teach you all you will learn. That is reserved for a sorcerer far more powerful."

    Adelynn pursed her lips, growing confused. "What do you mean?" she asked the ghost. "Why are you here, then?"

    She shimmered when the candlelight flickered in the mirror. "I suppose I am just another whisper you will learn to listen to. The sorcerer you seek is whom you do not seek at all."

    The young witch rolled her eyes. "That does not make sense."

    "Emrys," answered Taryn in a distant voice. "The sorcerer, Emrys, walks a pathway similar to yours▬a path which you have already crossed. Like night and day, your futures meet together at the summit. He is a part of your destiny, as you are a part of his. If you wish to know the true exent of your magic, Adelynn, it is Emrys who you must ask."

    She continued to frown. "And I know him? Is that what you are saying?"

    The ghost chuckled in the muddy waters of her world. "Listen, child ... listen and look at the world around you."

    Adelynn wished she knew enough magic and a spell that will shatter her mirror and disperse the ghost forever. But with a frustrated breath, her eyes drifted off by themselves back towards the spider spinning in its web towards the other. It was so close now. It hovered right over the smaller spider with mesace on its fangs. It raised its long limbs and extended out, and in a blur it attacked▬

    The young witch gasped, flinching when she heard a sound pierce in her ears▬a sound so loud it left her shaking: a shattering shriek, and she felt it shatter deep within her bones, as if they were glass ... at the glass fell at her feet, leaving her dazed and confused.

    The spider had punctured its target, and the smaller spider stuck in its web grew still with paralysis as it slowly began to die. 

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    WHEN THE door flew open, Merlin hadn't been expecting it. The physician's chambers were quiet and lonesome as he wandered around by himself, taking his time to blow out each candle before he was to retire for the night. Gaius was with the King, and wouldn't return until late in the night. But when the door swung outwards, wide and rushed, he jumped and almost knocked a burning candle onto the floor. 

    Merlin glanced over and his eyes widened to see the Lady Morgana in just her nightgown, marching towards him with tears in her eyes. She looked distressed▬more than distressed. So distressed she had not even taken the time to put on a robe. Merlin's heart raced, slowly realising why she had come here.

    "Is Gaius here?" she aksed him, her voice heavy with frightened tears. 

    At first, he couldn't find his voice. He glanced around, trying to find a way to get himself away▬but he was trapped in a situation out of his control. His heart pounded faster and his mouth started to grow dry. "N▬no," he managed, anxious, "he is not here at the moment. But he should be back soon, though▬"

    "I need to speak to him," demanded Morgana as she came to a frantic stop in front of him. "Where is he?"

    "He has gone to see the King." Merlin saw a desperate slump in Morgana's figure, her breath hitching as she glanced around, realising that she was alone in whatever was bothering her. (And Merlin had a feeling he knew exactly what it was).

    He knew he should have guided her back to her chambers and let Gaius know, or offered her a blanket and let her wait here. Merlin heard the physician's warning clear in his mind, but as he looked at Morgana in front him, so miserable and vulnerable, he held no irrational thought when he asked: "What ... what is wrong?"

    The King's Ward went to speak but thought better of it. She looked away, her bottom lip trembling as she fought back more tears. 

    Merlin watched her, his heart skipping a frantic, terrified beat. He hesitated, too, but his heart ached. His chest twisted in to see Morgana look so upset and scared▬he knew exactly what that was like. In a soft whisper, he found himself saying: "You ... You can trust me, Morgana." She glanced up at him, her eyes rimmed with red. "You know you can."

    At first, she shook her head. She swallowed on her words and chewed at the inside of her cheek. But then, in a soft, trembling voice, Morgana whimpered: "I▬I am scared, Merlin ... I do not understand anything anymore." Her breath hitched. "I need to know what is happening ... Please."

    Merlin swallowed hard and it felt as though he had swallowed shards of glass. While every part of him wished to sit her down and explain everything from start to finish▬for it wasn't the first time Merlin had done this. He had seen how he had helped Adelynn ... and yet, this situation felt different. It seemed different. And Gaius's warning struck him deep, almost as if some part agreed with the physician▬could sense a danger in telling Morgana the truth even though every other part of Merlin did not understand why. 

    "G▬Gaius will be back soon," said the young warlock quickly. "He will be able to help you▬"

    Morgana shook her head. "He will not," she told him and took a step forward. Merlin went rigid. "I do not want any more remedies they will not do any good." She chewed on her bottom lip once again, fighting an inner war with herself until she whispered to him: "It ... it is magic, Merlin."

    Even though he knew, hearing her say it to him made chills roll down his spine. He took a breath, clenching his hands to stop them from shaking. "W▬what?" he croaked, his heart now in his throat. 

    "I am your friend, Merlin," the King's Ward rushed out, breathing heavily. She looked like a caged animal. "You know I would not make this up."

    "O▬Of course▬"

    "Then you believe me?" she hung on her words, watching him and his reaction intently. At his reluctance to speak, her brows furrowed into a crazed, frantic state. "You▬You think it is magic, too!" she exclaimed softly. At his troubled stare, she found herself almost begging: "Please, Merlin, I just need to hear someone say it so I do not have to keep feeling like I am imagining it."

    He nodded. Morgana's brows lifted, awaiting his words like she was hanging off the edge of a steep cliff. Merlin felt his throat close up, and he almost forgot how to breathe. He wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her so much that it hurt. He ached to comfort her and to tell her that everything will be all right ... and yet ... His nods turned into a pained shake of his head. 

    (And Merlin still didn't understand▬or had the courage to come to terms with▬the reason why).

    Croaked and upset, Merlin muttered. "I ... I really wish there was something I could say..."

    And the shattered look in Morgana's eyes haunted him. Like a broken mirror, they cracked and fractured the moment he answered▬unable to believe what he had just done. Merlin grew tearful, wanting to say something, but his words left him▬feeling as though a mortal blow had struck his chest at the broken betrayal that welled into the fractured cracks in the Lady Morgana's gaze.

    Slowly, she shook her head. He felt his stomach roll over painfully. Morgana took a few steps backwards.

    At last, a desperate whisper forced its way out of his throat: "M▬Morgana▬"

    Morgana set her jaw and shook her head, still, unable to look at him as she spun on her feet and stormed out of the room. "Morgana!" He tried to stop her. "Wait▬"

    She slammed the door closed and just like that, she was gone.

    After that, Merlin set his jaw and stormed out, too. Though he did not follow her, instead, the young warlock took a pathway he knew off by heart. He travelled through the hallways, snuck past guards and delved deep and deeper beneath the caslte floors. He travelled into the darkness with barely any light, into the dunegons and past the vaults▬deeper and deeper until he arrived into a cavernous space where a creature dwelled in its depths. 

    Merlin darted his torch around, the flames illuminiating only just a brief distance in front of him as he searched for the Great Dragon. He breathed heavily, flushed with both anger, desperation and shame. 

    He felt the wind shift around him and from the shadows above, there was a bellowing roar. From the darkness descended an ancient creature with golden scales, large, leathery wind and vicious talons. It landed on the rock fissure in the centre of the cavern, chained to the boulders below. 

    The Great Dragon folded his wings and narrowed his eyes at the warlock.

    "I need your help!" said Merlin, urgent and straight to the point. "Do you know where the Druids are?"

    The beast settled on the rock, towering over Merlin's small figure. "First, you must tell me why you seek them."

    He narrowed his eyes back onto the creature. He took a sharp breath through his nose and clenched his jaw. He did not trust the Great Dragon. Not with the same naive excitement he had previously. "That does not matter."

    "It does to me."

    Merlin gritted his teeth and grumbled out a quick lie: "I need to ask them something."

    But the Great Dragon was no fool. He reared his head back, not appreciating Merlin's reluctance. "I have lived more than a thousand years," he sneered, "seen civilisations rise and fall. Do not believe that you can lie to me."

    The young warlock took another deep and angry breath, but as he realeased it, his shoulders slumped. "Fine," he muttered. "I need their help." When the dragon narrowed his eyes again Merlin finally relented. "Fine! Someone I care about needs their help."

    The Great Dragon made a low rumble in the back of his throat, nodding as he understood. "You speak of the witch▬the Lady Morgana."

    The way he said the word; called her a 'witch' with a disdainful, bitter scrape on his slithering tongue made Merlin frown with fury. "She is not a witch!" Merlin snapped, scoffing at the creature's vicious tone. "She is my friend!"

    "She cannot be trusted!"

     The young warlock's anger faltered and his eyes widened. He felt his heart twist. "What ... What makes you say that?"

    The Great Dragon huffed smoke out of his nostrils. "It would be better if the witch▬"

    "Stop calling her that▬!"

    "▬It would be better if the witch never knew the true extent of her powers."

    Merlin shook his head. He couldn't believe this. The Great Dragon was calling Morgana a 'witch' like she was a horrible person. He could not even utter her name▬she was a thing that the dragon had a reason to distrust and hate. It made Merlin boil with fury. She was a person. A kind, wonderful and loyal person who was his friend. She helped him in Ealdor, she has never said a bad word against him, she has never gone out of her way to harm him. And now that same person was upset, and scared, and very confused▬more than that, she believed she was going mad. 

    "You are wrong," Merlin told the Great Dragon, stubborn. "I know her. She has a good heart."

    "You failed to heed my advice in the past," snapped the creature, "and it brought grave consequences."

    "I will not abandon her!" shouted the young warlock. "You told me that I should help Adelynn with her magic, what makes Morgana any different?!"

    "Everything!" warned the Great Dragon. After a short silence, he shook his head and decided. "I will not give you the help you seek. If you pursue this course of action, you do so alone."

    They scowled at each other for a long time. In the end, Merlin clenched his hands and turned away, realising he was alone in this▬but it wouldn't stop him. He was going to help Morgana. 

    He was going to help his friend. 

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    ODETTE TRIED to not be hurt when Morgana asked her and Gwen to leave instead of stay with her tonight. The King's Ward was going through quite a few troubling thoughts at the moment▬but it wasn't just from the fire nor her nightmares. Something else was troubling her, and she would not speak it to either of them. Odette knew this because she knew her friend. She knew that she never liked to be alone when she was having rough nights with her dreams, nor did she ever resist the urge to snap at Odette when she tried to reassure her that she didn't mind staying. Most times, she would have smiled and perhaps then sighed and admitted that she did want Odette to stay. Tonight, she had asked her to take the candle and leave, her words sharp and her mind elsewhere. 

    Maybe she was not hurt, perhaps Odette has been stressed, too, and the tone Morgana held took her by surprise. Even still, she did not make her leave towards the servants quarters, but instead travelled through the lonely hallways of the castle this time at night and settled herself by her favourite window.

    She wished she could fall asleep at this window and wake up to the morning sunlight warming her up through the castle stone▬and for no one to disturb her. Even though it was unlikey that a knight or guard would make the journey to this side of the castle before she'd wake, Odette could not risk it. 

    Odette watched the moon through the window, cuddled up in the corner of the stone sill and for a strange, solemn moment, she thought about her parents. Not Ivette Mason, who had become more a mother to Odette than anyone else. Not Gaius, whom had become someone as close to a father as she could imagine. But her real parents. The parents who had held her for not even a few weeks before leaving her all alone. She doesn't always think of the possibilities of what might have happened to them▬it was never a happy story.

    The most likely one is that her mother might have been a servant and had her out of wedlock with someone in the castle, and after she was shunned and thrown out, she gave birth. The experience had been painful and draining, and she could not care for Odette anymore. She had to get rid of her, or she was too ill and starving▬she might have been dying, and thought giving Odette away, hoping that someone would have pity on a screaming, crying newborn and take her in. 

    Or maybe her parents are somehow looking for her. Maybe they were out there, thinking of Odette just as she thought of them▬wondering where she could have gone? Whether she was okay. If she was living a good life ...

    Perhaps ... Or perhaps they simply just did not want her. 

    "What are you doing here so late?"

    Odette glanced over and resisted the urge to sigh at the world. Yes, no one often wandered these corridors at this time of night in the castle, but when it came to her luck, the one person who did decide to tonight had to be Arthur Pendragon. 

    She didn't speak to begin with, just drawing in a soft breath as she looked at him. The wise choice was to stand up and leave, but Odette supposed she was too tired to consider that. The Prince did not wear a doublet or vest, just in a loose white tunic and pants which told her that perhaps he was not sleeping well, either. She ignored how her heart fluttered, watching him roll up his sleeves as he walked up to her with a hesitant step. Odette thought him handsome▬very handsome, right now ... and she wished it did not make her cheeks burn. 

    Looking away when she felt the flustered warmth in her chest, the servant murmured: "I am just thinking ..."

    Arthur pursed his lips and faltered at the way her gaze left him. "I thought you would be with Morgana?"

    Odette shook her head and fixed her stare outside into the night. "She asked Gwen and I to leave. She said she wished to be alone." Frowning to herself, she took a deep breath and sat up straighter. "I should go."

    She went to stand up but Arthur's hand on her shoulder stopped her. Her breath hitched and he heard it. Realising, the Prince quickly let go, stepping away and clearning his throat. "I ... Sorry," he muttered, too. "But ... do not go, Odette▬not on my account, please."

    Odette watched him intently. She should leave now that he was here, despite what he said and what had happened▬no, precisely because of what had happened. Perhaps she wished to forget what he had said and promised, because it was easier that way. She did not have an answer for him▬at least, not what he seemed to want or accept. Odette could not believe Arthur had made that decision and she still wasn't too sure how to comprehend it. So, she has been doing quite well at ignoring it.

    But now that they were together, here, in the empty corridor, his promise came to the forefront of her mind▬as well as her troubling thoughts and feelings. Her war between the warmth and flutter of her heart, and the fear of what all of this meant▬of how badly this will end▬in her mind. 

    She did not leave, though. "Arthur..."

    As if knowing what she was thinking about, Arthur just shook his head and carefully leant against the stone wall opposite her. She looked up at him. "You do not have to say anything, Odette ... You seem as though you needed company, that is all I am here for."

    Her gaze softened. It turned sad and she fiddled with her fingers. "I am all right," she tried to reassure him, or reassure herself▬maybe both. 

    Arthur crossed his arms and watched her, his blue stare not stern at all▬it was delicate and clear. But he then frowned and looked down at his boots, as if troubled by her troubles, too▬whatever they might be. Realising he didn't believe her, Odette sighed and murmured: "I am worried about Morgana. And ... well, I do not know ... I just could not sleep."

    The Prince nodded. "I am worried about her, too," he said to Odette honestly. "But she is stubborn and determined. She will be all right▬Do not tell her I said that, though," he added and managed to get a soft chuckle out of Odette. "I will never hear the end of it."

    "It will be our secret," Odette murmured sweetly, her soft smile still there▬but it did not reach her eyes. 

    Noticing, Arthur uncrossed his arms and decided to sit on the sill opposite her. He rested his arms on his knees, watching her so curled up in the very corner of the window▬swallowed by the shadows and away from the dim torch light. "That is not all that is on your mind, though, is it?"

    When she shrugged and fiddled with her fingers, the Prince reached out and nudged her knees with his hand. She blinked, surprised and nearly slipped off the tight crevice she managed to squeeze herself onto. "Come on..." he coaxed, gentle but with that rare, caring smile. "Tell me."

    "It is nothing," she stressed, still taken aback by the slight teasing tone he held. Odette frowned and pushed his hand away that had reached out to try and nudge her again, not used to seeing this side to Arthur all the time. "Stop it."

    "Stop what▬?" he managed to reach out and nudge her chin, and she pulled her head away, both blushing and surprised. 

    "Stop," she said again, not realising how her chest seemed to feel not as heavy. She noticed Arthur grin brightly, amused by her reaction and finding her flustered blush amusing. "You should not even be sitting here. Stop▬" Odette couldn't stop the slight giggle when he ruffled her hair. "Hey!" 

    When he saw her smile and duck out of the way, blushing and trying to fix her hair, Arthur stopped. The Prince nodded, satsified. "There it is," he said to her, tender. "That smile..."

    At his words, she glanced up. Flattening her waves, her smile softened▬but this time, it reached her eyes. Odette blushed a pretty colour, realising what he had been trying to do. At the smile he returned, she became shy and looked down. 

    Right now, when he smiled like that and made her mood lift with little effort, Odette wanted to pretend that there was nothing keeping them apart. That this corridor where they sat, alone and together, was the only place in the world▬and they were the only two in it. And so, for this brief moment, she did. 

    Odette glanced up and sighed, that soft smile not leaving her face. "Thank you," she mumbled. 

   Arthur nodded, and she chuckled at the face he made, as if not surprised that he could make her feel better. He was so serious and stern and slipped easily into anger, but this side of Arthur▬a slight cheeky, carefree side that joked and teased ... Odette always did like this side to him. "You are very much welcome."

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    a/n: if this chapter is boring i'm sorry, but i needed to write the important morgana/merlin scenes because a: i like writing things essential to the plot even if they're scenes without odette (especially when i think some of y'all are reading this without ever seeing the show) and b: the merlin/morgana angst always gets to me.

     odette and arthur being cuties at the end of the chapter >>>>>>> 

     sunshine x grumpy sunshine protector until sunshine is upset and so he must make her feel better for real. 

     also i just want to say this so you guys don't get too disappointed on me, but odette's swan arc isn't right around the corner. it's a major part of the story, but this is a two-book series, and at this stage the swan arc won't be until later. it won't be season 2, is what i'm saying. but we do get to see more of the swan princess story in little bits and pieces, spread out amongst the og merlin plotline until we do get to the swan arc. (just in slightly different ways :) xx). 

    I hope you guys do stick around for when it does come because i'm super excited. but it's still a little while away. xxxx

    as usual, i posted this instead of doing my uni readings for tomorrow and after this, i'll probs play the sims until it's like 7 and i'm like, huh, i should probs do something productive.

     also odette definitely told arthur that the flowers merlin had were given to morgana because she is a tattle tale. so when arthur says 'a little bird told me' in this episode its not just because he caught merlin but because odette told him after that last little scene this chapter. it's cute and i just need to say this because this is just half of their relationship. odette telling arthur things like omg! this happened this was so cute! and arthur then going to the said person she spoke about and not-so-subtly discussing this knowledge odette gave him.

    y'all know that scene in season 5 ep8 where arthur is like misled information about merlin going to see a girl and completely just rats out gwen with every genuine love with the pure purpose of teasing merlin? 

    that's half of ardette in a nutshell. it's cute.