Love Conquers All

Chapter Six

It feels like I am just too close to love you
There's nothing I can really say
I can lie no more
I can hide no more
Got to be true to myself
And it feels like I am just to close to love you
So I'll be on my way

~Too Close, Alex Clare

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*Mordred's POV*

Mordred was awoken by an urgent knock at his door.

He glanced over at the window and frowned. It was not yet dawn.

"Come in," he called loudly enough to be heard as he flung his blanket aside and sat up.

He was expecting another knight or maybe a servant with a message, he certainly did not expect a thunderous looking Merlin.

"Merlin? What is wrong?" He asked anxiously, straightening his shirt and racking his brain for something he may have done to enrage Emrys so much.

They hadn't spoken much since Mordred's near death experience, however Merlin had seemed somewhat less hostile.

"It's Gwen," Merlin replied, his angry expression melting as he chewed his lip in worry. "She went to visit her fathers grave with a few of the knights, they stumbled upon a nest of snakes. She did not make it back with the others. The snake bites clearly show sorcery," he explained shortly.

Mordred felt his heart skip a beat in fear. "Morgana?"

Merlin nodded, taking a seat on the edge of his bed and looking away.

"Yeah we think so." He was quiet for a second, then looked Mordred directly in his eye. "We are riding out at dawn to search for the Queen, I put your name down as one of the knights going. Are you ready for another mission?"

"Of course," Mordred said quickly, then frowned. "Why though? You don't normally want me on missions."

As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them, but Merlin only sighed. "That's complicated, and no we are not going to talk about it. Morgana is extremely powerful and unpredictable, but you know her. Also,
Gwen is my Queen, but she is also my friend. I'm not taking any chances, I want another magic user as a second set of eyes."

Mordred's fear evaporated, and pride took its place. Merlin was finally trusting him, at least a little bit.

"Okay. Thank you Merlin, I swear I will not let you down."

Merlin stood, eyeing him warily. "No, I don't think you will."

He sounded almost surprised, but did not give Mordred long enough to question it.

"We leave in an hour, be ready."

"I will be," Mordred called out, but Merlin had gone as quickly as he came.

...........

They rode fast and hard , Arthur refusing to stop for even a second.  Before long they stumbled upon Gwen's mount from the previous day, it's halter caught in the bushes.

The horse danced backwards nervously as Elyan approached it, however allowed him to untangle its halter.

The horse's girth had been torn and Leon pointed out the obvious, that Gwen must have been knocked off with force.

Mordred could feel something in air. Magic had been used here. He looked to Merlin, who met his gaze and nodded once. He must have felt it too.

Percival quickly pointed out tracks, and they were off again, following the tracks east.