Destiny - a Merthur fic

Chapter VII

Merlin's POV

After dashing away from Arthur in the woods last night, I hadn't known where to go. I couldn't go back to the camp, because that's where he was headed.

I don't know why I wanted to get away. Yes, it was a shameful thing, for two men to kiss. No, I wasn't ashamed, although I should be. I was insanely happy.

This is what I had been dreaming about, for the longest time. So why was I running away?

I don't think I could face Arthur again without getting "excited", and that would be hard to hide and surely others would notice and realize something was up. 

I still hadn't managed to convince him to come with me yet, come away from the battle. I wish I could make him understand, but there was no way to do that without letting him know that I was a sorcerer. Well, had been a sorcerer. My magic was still gone, thanks to Morgana.

This morning I found myself still in the woods, nestled between the roots of a large tree. It was a bit uncomfortable, but I'd slept on worse. 

I stood up groggily. I could vaguely remember stumbling around in the dark and then tripping over a root, dragging myself towards it, and then going to sleep.

I looked around. I didn't recognize anything, and I had gotten here in the dark.

I walked in the direction I believed I had come from, although I could see no trampled leaves or branches anywhere. I meandered my way around for a bit, but soon I was beginning to get a little stressed. Without my magic, I was hopelessly lost. Without it, I was useless.

"Lost, Emrys?"

I spun around, alarmed. I knew that voice anywhere. It was unmistakably Morgana.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, and as soon as it came out of my mouth I realized how pathetic it sounded.

She let out an arrogant ha, and took a few slow, smooth steps toward me. "I could ask you the same thing."

I stood frozen as she walked in a circle around me. She stopped at my ear and leaned in close. "But I won't." Leaning out again, she stopped in front of me. I wanted to ask her how she found me, but that would be pointless. Magic, obviously.

"I want to make a proposition." She looked me straight in the eye. "Upon learning that you were Emrys, I was very disappointed. You were the one thing..."

"The one thing...? The one what?" I asked incredilously.

She closed her eyes for a few seconds and then opened them again. They were blazing gold, but then the fire in them died and they turned green again. Green was a rare eye colour. Beautiful. Morgana herself was definitely beautiful. Beautiful and evil.

I wondered why she wasn't attacking me, as she usually would. But then again, she was making a proposition; that must be why she was letting me live.

"The one tender spot in my heart." She finished. "Now that you're powerless and out of my way, I'll make you a deal." Her lips curved upward. "You, in exchange for Arthur's life. I'll let him live if you come with me."

My eyes widened. On one hand, it would save Arthur's life. He could live out a long life, fulfilling his role as the best king that Camelot had ever known; on the other hand, I wouldn't be at his side to see it. Besides, this was fishy. Morgana wouldn't just give up so she could have me. After all those times she had tried to kill me? I sincerely doubted that I was a "tender spot" in her heart.

"No." I replied. 

Her eyes flared. "So be it." I felt something inside me crumpling - this must be what it feels like to have magic used on yourself. Next thing I knew, my vision went black.