Lost in Albion 3 (Merlin) - Completed

Chapter 27: For the People We Love

Chapter 27

Arthur and Merlin scout ahead to search for the entrance to the labyrinth and any other unexpected obstacles that may appear, leaving Morgana and I hidden alone together near the edge of the Castle boundaries, close to the ocean but still hidden by the wild green. I think I'm more nervous about being alone with her than the idea of sneaking into a well-fortified castle. Not to mention she has magic and Merlin is too far away to help me.

"I know what you are," she says. I turn to meet her gaze, keeping my own innocent as I can. Her eyes seem to pierce my skull, through one end and out the back.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I retort, turning back to the slowly shrinking figures of the men. Her hand grasps my arm tightly, sure to leave a bruise and tugs the sleeve of my shirt back on my right arm up high. I try to struggle but before I can do much, the mark is revealed.

"Who is it?" she hisses, holding my own arm up to me as though I've never seen it before, but I know she's referring to the sorcerer.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I restate, though firmer in my defence. I try to snatch my arm back again, but her grip tightens, earning a small whimper of pain from me.

"Who is it?" she asks again, her face leaning in, in an attempt to intimidate me.

"Someone I met on my travels," I answer quietly, figuring my lying skills are decent enough. "They forced me to. The only way to break it is to die."

"I don't believe that," she seethes but lets my arm go. I hold the arm close to my chest, pulling the sleeve back down. I find my eyes flickering back to her in curiosity.

"Morgana," I say, hesitating before I manage to spit out what I want to ask. She glances at me, the glare still as sharp as ever. "If you know, why haven't you said anything?"

Her glare drops for a second, and for a moment I feel as though I'm actually seeing the true Morgana. Not the one filled with hate or the act of a loving daughter of Uther but the side that she hides from everybody including herself.

"I don't know," she answers, her eyes going back to being glued towards the ocean. "You're like me I suppose. I want our people to be free and I'm hoping that you'll see that what I'm doing is to help us."

I contemplate her words, not in agreement, maybe a little shock but there's a passion behind her words. I don't say anything in retaliation, knowing it will get me nowhere but my mood drops, if it is even possible, knowing that both her and Merlin are fighting for the exact same cause, just from opposite sides.

Arthur and Merlin come back shortly after and they lead us back to the tunnel entrance, which is facing the ocean, which is decorated by large grey rocks rather than sand.

"Here we are. Stay close," Arthur warns us. Doing as he says, I put myself in front of Merlin, holding my sword out so I'm both watching Arthur's back, and acting as a blockade for Merlin.

The tunnel is dark even more so the further away from the entrance we get. It is littered with massive hanging cobwebs. I duck, almost in a squat to miss the ones that I don't cut away with my sword. I hear Merlin splutter behind me and we look back, watching him.

"Blech, augh," he grunts, swiping the thick webs off him but they settle in his dark hair.

"Quite a look you got there," I say to him, keeping my voice low. Merlin frowns, his hands ruffling through his hair.

"Stop worrying about your hair, Merlin," Arthur says. Merlin rolls his eyes, dropping his hands.

"Very funny," he huffs.