Royal in Hiding

Chapter 15: Backstory

Shout out to clotpolemerlin for being the last vote on Chapter 14 before I published this chapter. Keep voting and commenting!

Morgana's P.O.V

When I first realized where I was, I was shocked to say that I felt comfortable. It was like I was sleeping on a cloud. I was warm, comfortable, and felt well rested.

"Merlin, I don't like this idea." A voice that I recognized stated, he sounded distressed.

Why? Why was he distressed?

"Arthur, I think I can persuade her to not try and kill us. Just go wait outside with everyone else." Another voice that I recognized but couldn't name argued with the first voice, Arthur.

Slowly, I blinked my eyes open as a door slammed shut. I was on a bed, I could see it now. Next to me but just out of my reach stood a very familiar face.

"Merlin." I hissed, I felt rage build up in me. How dare he save me? I owe him a debt now. How could he?
"Morgana, calm down and just listen." Merlin told me, his eyes wary as he stood up straight.

I wanted to curse him into oblivion, I should have. Maybe I should have yelled and screamed at him there, not listening to what he had to say.

I didn't do any of that though.

For some reason, that day I stayed still and listened to what he had to say.

And that made all the difference.

Normal P.O.V

Merlin was shocked when Morgana tensely nodded, allowing him to continue. Whatever her reasons were, he didn't question them as he went into a story.

"I'm going to tell a story. My story. Hopefully, after this, you can find it in your heart to forgive me for my deceit and move forward without hate for myself or Arthur.

This story starts years ago, in a kingdom named Larcean. It was ruled by the royal family, the Ambrosia's, who created the perfect balance between the world of magic and the world of non-magic. They themselves held powers beyond imagination through the father line. We could control the dragons, the men in our family are what is known as the Dragonlords.

The night we needed help the most, our magic failed us. Our enemies were masked by a power beyond belief, by Nimueh's magic. Through this they snuck past our magical boundaries and into the kingdom. Once in, they destroyed everything. The kingdom was lost and the royal family had to run.

My family and I escaped to a small village for a while, but I had to leave to Camelot when my seceret was on the brink of discovery. When I got there, it was a blessing in disguise when Arthur hired me as his manservant. Who would suspect me of magic? Of being royal.

When I found out that you had magic, I wanted to tell you. To help you. But, when I asked Kilgharrah, a wise dragon who was kept underneath Camelot, he advised me against it. Not telling you has been my greatest regret. There was so much we could have learned, together.

My next great mistake came when I killed your sister. It was Arthur or her and I made my choice. I did my duty to Arthur, to the Once and Future King when I should have tried harder to save them both. There were so many times that I could have tried to convince you off your course, that I should have tried, but didn't. I am sorry for that Morgana, I am, but what you are doing is something I cannot condone. So let me convince you now, as I take back my kingdom, that dark magic is not the way. Yiu can do so much more. There is a beauty in magic that can only be perceived in the light, let me show you.

Since Arthur found out about the joy in magic, Camelot has reopened it's doors to light magic. If you do not trust Arthur, then come to Larcean once we take it back. You will have a home, a place where people like you are celebrated. Don't be alone anymore." Merlin pleaded as he finished speaking.

The woman on the bed thought hard about everything he said. She knew that her sister did not practice a good form of magic, that she didn't either, but at the time it seemed fair to be able to punish Uther for his crimes. Then she did, she killed him. But the thirst for the power she felt didn't stop. It kept nagging her even though she knew that she had no reason for anger. And then, she took Camelot.

But it wasn't right.

Morgana never knew of she had started growing tired of her ways, or if she was out of things to be angry about, but she made a decision that changed it all.

"Okay. I will help you. I forgive you."

Merlin breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, helping the woman he had met long ago up with him.

"But Merlin, I don't know if I can forget." Morgana added as she stood up.
"Then don't forget, use your memory to get stronger." Merlin wisely stated, giving Morgana some long needed advice.

"Come on, any longer and Arthur will barge in to make sure I'm still alive." Merlin muttered with a lazy grin that is so completely his.

Morgana smiled and nodded.

Together, they walked out, both smiling slightly. It was a shock to Arthur and his knights, but a blessing to everyone else.

"Merlin!" His knights yelled happily.

"We need your help." Lady Imayn stated hurriedly.
"What happened?" Merlin demanded, going instantly into his King mode. The knights led him the ridge side. What he saw scared him.
"He never said he had this many." Morgana murmured softly and in shock as she looked across the vast sea of men.

Merlin was cataloging every single one, from here, he could see the poor posture of most, and the shifting on their feet.

"What will we do?" Arabella asked.
"We fight." Arthur strongly recommended.
"That's stupid, they'll kill us, we need to take out Draegan first." Morgana argued.
"Maybe if we just sent the dragons after them..." Gwain suggested.
"They have arrows that will seriously harm them." Lady Emelyne rebuffed.

"We wait." Merlin commanded.

"What?" Arthur asked.
Morgana followed up her own question. "Why?"

Merlin turned to his trusted group. "The men are tired all ready. They will eventually either leave or be so worn down that they'll be willing to let us pass. We can wait them out." Merlin explained. "Men, let's move."

"I thought we were waiting." Mordred stated in confusion.
"Apparently we're moving too?" Arthur stated as a question.

Merlin moved down the hill and stopped just long enough before the army that they wouldn't attack. "We make camp here and wait them out." Merlin ordered. "There is food here that they left unguarded, take only what you need when you need it." Merlin finished. His eyes flashed and immediately his tent was set up.

Morgana did a similar spell, making her tent of twigs, vines, grass, and logs that were around. It even had a door attached.

Mordred then hissed under his breath and set up his own tent, leaving the rest of the group alone.

"I hate not being a sorcerer." Gwain murmured, earning grunts of agreement as the rest of them started setting up camp.