Servant and Master

Epilogue

Morgana awoke slowly, stretching like a cat basking in the sun. A small smile crossed her lips and she rolled to sit up looking around the room. It was empty and suddenly it lost a bit of its previous warmth. Lying on the pillow next to her was a folded piece of parchment.

With shaking fingers Morgana reached for it and opened it to read the words written in beautiful scrawling penmanship.

My Dearest Morgana,

I don't have the words to describe to you the emotions I am feeling right now. One part of me wishes I could stay with you forever while another has the need to run as far as I can get. I'm writing this now because I don't know if I can face you and still have the strength to leave, which for both our sakes I must do. 

I don't know if you can find it within yourself to give up this quest you have set upon to destroy your brother but I hope you can, for your own sake, and mine, let go of the hatred Morgana. It will only kill the things inside you that are still beautiful. All the beauty on the outside means nothing though, if your heart is cold as stone. 

I can and will someday forgive you for what you did to me, I just hope you learn to forgive yourself. If you even have remorse for it. Maybe I am assuming too much, but I have to believe that there is still good in you. It's that small light in you that I will take with me and hope that one day you are happy again. 

Because I wish you happiness Morgana, all the happiness that this world has to offer, when you'll allow it. I want you to know that it was real in many ways for me. I could have escaped long ago if I'd used my majik, part of me must not have wanted to. And, in those few, perfect moments we shared last night, I loved you. I loved what could have been, and I mourn what can never be. 

Morgana, find peace. Find love. Open your heart to the possibilities and live, truly live. For all our sakes. 

Forever yours,

Merlin

Morgana crumpled the letter in her fist as she clutched her stomach. She felt sick, sick with regret and loss. Tears welled in her eyes but she fought them back. She would not cry, she absolutely would not.

She stood and tossed the letter at the dying embers of the fire hissing in outrage at his audacity. It landed at the edge of the hearth. She watched as the parchment began to smoke as the heat of the embers tried to set it alight. Just as the first flame licked its edge, Morgana cried out and dove to grab it from the flames. Beating the flame out, singing her fingers, before it could destroy the only thing she had left of Merlin.

Crumbling to the floor, Morgana finally succumbed to the tears she could no longer hold back and wept into her hands. The druid had been right. She had been destroyed by a man named Emrys. But they had both been wrong in how. Because destroyed she was, her heart rendered into a thousand shattered pieces for what could never be. Her love for Merlin was all consuming. Love again he said. How could she ever find anyone to compare to him? What a sick cruel joke life had played on her. She supposed she deserved it, he was right. For what was an empty throne with no one to share in the joy of it. To stand next to her and look on her with pride instead of contempt for the ugliness she had committed.

Morgana stood and looked around the hovel dejectedly. Grabbing her cloak she flung it over her shoulders and walked out the door. Heading in no particular direction Morgana began to run. She ran until her breath came in gasps and her sides ached but still she ran. The sun was rising higher in the sky when she finally slowed her pace to a brisk walk.

Merlin. Emrys. One in the same. One man who had changed everything.

She would honor him by honoring his wishes for her. She owed him that. She would find happiness. Somehow she would carve a life for herself and take last night with her to remember. Remember the possibilities of what life could be like. She would prove her love for him by finding the peace he wanted for her, for all of them. She couldn't do that in Camelot. She would go far away and start over, somewhere where the possibilities still burned bright.

Morgana straightened her shoulders and began to walk with purpose, the crumpled letter clutched tightly in her hand.

~Fin~