Another Way Out

Returning to Morgana pt. 2

Ever since that day, about a week ago (A/N: about a week ago, week ago....sorry 😂), Merlin found that the tension that usually surrounded Morgana and himself, seemed to be dissipating.

He often found her with his mother, surprisingly. He didn't think she'd bother but she seemed to enjoy having female company for the first time in a long while. No matter what the job, Morgana always made time to help out his mother and for that, Merlin was truly grateful.

She offered small, barely-there smiles to Merlin when he tried to do her part of the work, being a gentleman as always. Slowly but surely, the wall around her heart was melting, leaving her to ponder what changed in the last few days.

Morgana really was enjoying her time outside of the prison she was in for the last couple of years. Everything around her screamed "Freedom!". The breeze that tickled her face softly, the children chasing each other in the town, and most importantly, the lack of shackles on both Morgana and Aithusa's limbs. She thought about how Merlin had risked them getting caught and somehow knocking out a man twice his size. He seemed to outlive everyone despite just being a man-servant and never wanted praise for all the good he did. Merlin truly was something else.

She didn't know where these thoughts were coming from but knew that if left unchecked, might create problems later on for her.
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Merlin watched Morgana sweep the hay off the barn floor through a small gap in the wall. Both she and Aithusa seemed to be healed and he knew that Arthur would come looking for him if he didn't get back to the castle soon. He knew how Arthur got when he wasn't there and smiled slightly when he realised what George must be going through...except George liked to do work so Arthur's "torture" wouldn't have any effect on him. His smile disappeared and a  thoughtful look planted itself onto his face. What would he do with Morgana? His mother already offered to "keep her" last night but he had to have a back up plan to keep everyone safe. He needed someone patient and also able to help her and Aithusa. Who could do that? Merlin thought of his past adventures and thought of the one time he went alone. Radagast. 

Yes. Radagast the Brown was the answer. He was a wizard, one who associated himself with all things 'Nature'. You could often see bird poo dripping down the side of his hat and into his scraggly, brown hair. He was one person that not only could put up with anything Morgana could be cooking up but could also further her own development as a person with magic.

Deciding that Morgana and Aithusa would be safe with Radagast, he packed a little food and water for himself and his horse (named Loki), and set off to find the wizard in his forest a few miles away.

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After half an hour of riding, the young manservant finally found his destination. He tied Loki to a nearby tree and left him 2 apples to eat. This is it, Merlin thought. This is one of the biggest forests around and he is a Protector of the Forests. "Radagast? Radagast?! Where are you?", Merlin shouted into the clearing he just walked into. Turning and looking in all directions, there was no sign of anyone else in the forest. Just as he was about to give up, he heard the familiar voice of the old wizard he was looking for.

"Merlin? Is that really you?". Merlin turned around at lightning speed, slightly surprised at his friend's arrival. "It is you! Oh my..", Radagast grabbed Merlin by the arm and pulled him into a tight hug, holding onto him like a boa constrictor.

The joy he was so obviously feeling at this moment, seemed to infect Merlin too as he too, was overjoyed at seeing the wizard. After filling in his friend, Merlin decided it was time he got down to business. "Radagast, I have a favour I must ask of you. Feel free to say no but just know that I am in real need and would be ever so grateful if you do indeed help me out." The wizard looked up at him, the expression of curiosity taking over his face. "I need you to look after and mentor Morgana. She's in need of a place to stay and belong, and I feel like you can really help her out in that department. She even has a dragon. I know you love nature and you can study her dragon too. You can teach Morgana how to love the world once more.", Merlin said, speeding up at the end.

He was worried that Radagast wouldn't accept but it went away when his friend replied. "Of course I will, Merlin. I'd love the opportunity to have someone to accompany me and someone who can learn from me. A dragon too. Would be a great chance to collect some of its scales when it sheds for my special little potions", he winked, looked at his small watch then muttered, " Oh, how time flies when you're having fun. I must be off, Merlin, but should Morgana ever need me, just tell her to stand right here and speak my name. I'll be there in no time!" Merlin knew the last bit to be a bit of a white lie considering it took Radagast almost 15 minutes to come to him. He smiled, bid the wizard goodbye, and made his way back to Loki who was waiting patiently for him, eating nearby plants.

He sat himself atop his steed and started making his way back to Ealdor. The ride seemed to be quicker for him but maybe it was the fact that he wasn't really focusing on what was going on around him, just thinking of how he was going tell Morgana and what choice would she make.

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(Radagast is from the LOTR universe)