How Long Is Forever? - Merthur

destiny and memories

Merlin stayed up the night before going over every scenario about what would they do if they woke up Morgana. Should they tie her up? Would she be a danger to them? He felt dumb asking himself that, in their last moments they were left trying to kill each other.

She left so much destruction in her path. He felt the ache of where it all went wrong. He knew that she just wanted to be accepted and all around her was the destruction pointed at her, but then again she didn't see all the people that were there for her. That we were all trying our best to get by and she didn't have to go down that path.

So Merlin decided not to give a impression that they were there to fight her. He didn't want to tie her up or make her scared. He wanted to give her one last chance. A thousand years later.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Arthur asked when Merlin brought it up to him.

"If she sees we want to attack her, she's just going to attack back. We don't know what's going on but we have to have a peaceful approach."

"Well you still better bring that sword with you."

And that was that.

________

So now, the four of them stood in the antique shop, Morgana laying in the room behind them. Merlins sword tucked by his side. He still doesn't know what Cerdan plans, but Merlin can't afford to mess up again.

"Who?" Gwen asked, behind them.

Arthur opened his mouth to speak but Cerdan intervened. "Why don't we just show you."

They all seemed to look at each other, concerned. Gwen was pressing her fingers into her palms, Arthur was kicking the front of his foot up and down on the floor. And Merlin himself was tapping his fingers at the hilt of his sword. Till Cerdan opened the back door and waved them in.

They were all mostly waiting for Gwen's reaction. Merlin started holding his breath.

Gwen almost seemed to skid to a stop when she entered the room. Morgana was still laying there as she has been. The only indicator that she was alive was her slow shallow breathing.

"Is that..." Gwen had to clear her throat. "How is this possible?"

"We aren't sure. But our guess was she was brought back like you were."

"Then why is she sleeping? Can she wake up? Do we even want her to wake up?" Gwen's questions floated around us, the weight hanging.

They all looked at Cerdan for answers. All he did was sigh. "My guess is as good as yours."

They all stood, looking at Morgana. As Cerdan pulled out some spell books, Merlin and Arthur caught Gwen up on what was going on. Merlin could feel Gwen's shock soak into him. But they decided that they have to wake her up.

Cerdan arrives with a armful of books and let them down with a slam on a side table.

"I thought you said all your spells didn't work." Merlin cut in.

"Yes, but that was before you three showed up."

__________

They let Merlin skim through the books. Page after page, Merlin kept saying most of them wouldn't work. He muttered to himself some small spells, and finally landed on three that they would try.

Arthur watched Merlin from the side. His ruffled hair with the ruffled books reminded him of being back at Camelot. His heart ached in nostalgia.

Merlin picked up the certain spells and faced the group.

"Are you sure this is..." Arthur gestured his hand at merlin, "safe?"

"You should have more confidence in the boy." Cerdan spoke strongly.

Arthur looked taken back for a second, then brushed it off.

"Shall we start now?"

_______

The first two spells was just all of them interlinked, saying phrases of a spell. Arthur kept tripping on the words, making them have to restart all over again.

"Arthur!" Merlin pleaded, and wanted to step on his shoe.

"This is a whole different language for me! How am I supposed to know how to say it?" Cerdan sighed loudly next to them.

Merlin looked at Arthur and finally smiled. "It's okay, we'll just try again."

Merlin lost count of how many times they had to try it again, but they finally got it right. The words seemed to pull towards morgana and sink into her.

They finished and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

But nothing happened.

The words seemed to finally dissolve and Merlin felt no more magic in the air.

Merlin felt the energy drain from the others of them giving up.

"How necessary is this?" Gwen tried to politely ask.

"Our destiny has been waiting for this to unfold for thousands of years. This is no coincidence that you are all here at the same time." Cerdan stated, once again.

They grumbled but Merlin picked up the last spell.

Merlin held his hand open by his side and waited for Arthur to grab it. The four of them were all interlaced again, holding hands. Merlin tried to ignore the blush fighting it's way up his cheeks.

Merlin cleared his throat and started enchanting, the rest not far behind.

After the second verse, movements in the air picked up again. The swirled in the direction of morgana. The harsher they said the words, the more energy filled the room. Till it felt like light was beaming out of the four of them and straight into morgana. They all said the last verse stronger and louder than the rest and finally exhaled, the air dissolving once again.

"I thought this was supposed to work!" Arthur said, frustrated. He dropped Merlins hand and landed on a chair that was against the wall of the room. "I don't even have magic, I'm just...me!"

The rest of them didn't know what to say, and all joined Arthur to sit down. They gazed at Morgana and felt defeated.

"Well, we aren't in any rush." Cerdan said. "We waited a thousand years, I'm sure a few days will be fine."

"But what if she never wakes up?" Gwen said softly.

Merlin looked at Morgana again. Her chest was still rising and falling. The soft sound of her breath filled the second of silence.

"What if it isn't meant to be?"

After Gwen said that, Merlin saw a slight movement. A finger slightly twitching. Morganas was...moving. after one finger started to twitch, the rest followed.

Merlin jumped up and the rest did too. "Guys-"

Morgana quickly sat up, wide eyes, and frightened. She turned to face them. She searched each one the their faces. Merlins hand slightly grazed the hilt of the sword. Merlin took a small step forward, one hand gesturing towards her.

"Morgana?" Merlin said, almost speechless. She seemed to be speechless also.

Her eyes kept going inbetween each of them. She swung her legs over to sit up straight and gripped the table. She gave one last look between all of them and finally spoke.

"Pardon me, but do I know you?"