Elizabeth and the Goddess of Death

Chapter Thirteen

Soon they approached the lake, and Elizabeth tried to get in the right headspace. Play nice, as if you were talking to the Morgana you grew up with. Not the one that killed Gwaine.

Percival unshackled Morgana, and as expected, she tried using magic to attack them.

"Won't work. We gave you a little something when you fell asleep last night." Arthur says nonchalantly. Before Morgana could run, Elizabeth grabbed her.

"No, you don't get to run. Now listen to me we have bent over backwards to make you comfortable because we want you back Morgana despite everything. The old you is still in there we're all sure of it." Elizabeth says, looking her in the eyes.

"There is no enchantment when will you understand?" Morgana snaps.

"Then humor me. I'm begging you Morgana, don't make me lose anyone else. I know more than anyone else here what it's to feel like you're a monster, I've felt firsthand the prejudice of Uther towards magic. But that's not Camelot anymore, we're free. Dig into the old you, and see me. See your siblings, your friends. We wouldn't have gone this far out had we not believed in you so believe us." Elizabeth insists.

Morgana's facial expression changed for a moment, a much kinder face than the one they've seen on her for so long. Realizing that, Elizabeth lets go and Morgana starts toward the water.

Merlin recites an enchantment to summon the White Goddess, and light encircled Morgana. The former enemy turned around with a face so guilt ridden that nobody could deny the enchantment was broken.

She came out of the water and only then did they realize she was crying.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Morgana whimpers as Arthur goes to hug her. Elizabeth just couldn't, not yet. She couldn't even look at her despite knowing the curse was broken because all she saw when looking at Morgana was Gwaine's murderer.

"It's alright. Let's go home." Arthur says with a grin, nothing but relief on his face. One of his sisters was back, and soon he'd get the old version of Elizabeth back too, he was sure of it.

The return of Morgana put everyone in a better mood, although some happier than others. Elizabeth was glad Morgana was back to her old self and knew she'd fully appreciate it eventually, but right now she just couldn't be as happy as the others.

She sat quietly as the others talked, deep in her thoughts as they all talked amongst each other.

"I just want to apologize again to everyone. I know I hurt a lot of you here, Guinevere and Elizabeth especially. I took family from you two and I couldn't feel any worse-" Morgana starts.

"Morgana you don't need to apologize or feel guilty. We understand it was the enchantment." Guinevere interrupts, feeling bad for her old friend.

Elizabeth just stays silent, not sure if she was as ready to forgive as Guinevere was. Losing Gwaine was the worst pain she ever felt, and she knew Morgana didn't mean it but that made it just a fraction easier to deal with.

Everyone picked up on her silence, but knowing now exactly everything that Gwaine had done for her, they didn't push her to say anything.

To give some random forest dweller a chance at not only friendship but love, to show her what loyalty and family should really feel like? That simply reiterated the kind of heart Gwaine had, and Arthur had full intent to thank him when he got back for being there for his sister when he couldn't.

Everyone made themselves as comfortable they possibly could be on the ground and tried to sleep, taking shifts to keep watch should there be any bandits nearby. Elizabeth volunteered to keep first watch, knowing she probably wouldn't get good sleep anyway.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but...I did the right thing about Morgana. I even had to be the one to heal her from this enchantment. I don't know how to feel. I know she's a friend now but looking at her just takes me back to what she did to you. I know I'm probably just talking to myself, but...it's therapeutic." Elizabeth says, wondering and hoping Gwaine could hear her in the spirit world. She fiddled with the bracelet she was playing with earlier, the one Gwaine gave her. "I know she'll help us in that tournament, so that's helpful towards fully forgiving her. We're going to get you back darling, I promise. I still have to hear what Percival said you'd tell me and you know I'm stubborn enough to find out exactly what that is. But I do want to hear it from you. I hope everyone is on board with rescuing you, but I don't think I could be upset if they chose someone else. I don't want to wake anyone by talking so I guess that's it for now. Goodnight Gwaine."