The Man in The Cave

Chapter 20

It was fast, and slow at the same time.

Far too slow for Morgana who kept staring from the distance turned into a raven, knowing that if she were to intrude things could get a lot worse than what they already were. She knew Morgause was pending, waiting for the outcome while Gawain and Agravaine had already chosen sides. One movement from her part and far more lives could be lost.

The fight had dragged, she didn't know how long it was taking, but she could see that every time Arthur held the upper hand he hesitated, whether it was in his sword or in his steps. Every single time, this gave Mordred enough advantage to continue the fight. It wouldn't take long before it got dark. Both of them seemed to be getting tired, the length of the fight getting to them; yet, none of them relented. She could faintly see their lips moving but she couldn't make anything of what they were saying. Next to her, turned into an owl, Emrys watched, his eyes never once moving away from the fight, his breathing stopping every time it seemed like if Mordred would win.

One second, she was watching both their swords clash against each other, the metal resonating before they were too close to each other. Each of them remained still for a moment, Morgana took flight.

As she was flying to them, Arthur and Mordred broke apart, hands resting over their fractured armors, their swords loose on their hands. No longer having the power to raise it again. Mordred let out a furious scream rushing towards Arthur as fast as his steps allowed and Morgana noticed the red stain growing in the side of his armor. Her heart twisted on her chest.

It should have never been like that.

Mordred shouldn't have become what he did.

But she watched his legs give up and he fell to the ground. Morgana's eyes then followed Arthur. She saw the stain on his chest and the way his eyes looked at Mordred with the deepest of sadness. He turned his back on the young knight, struggling to keep his steps. The boy seemed willing to drag himself through the ground if it meant stabbing Arthur a second time. Morgana heard the sound of leaves rattling and she knew Emrys had taken flight.

"This is all your fault" Mordred spat, his blue eyes throwing daggers at Arthur, who has leaning forward, his hand pressing against his armor "You're not living through this Arthur, I made sure you wouldn't, because you don't deserve it. You should have given me what I deserve, what I was born to have. I swear, I swear to you that one day, one wonderful day you will be gone from this earth and I will have the strength to take what should have always been mine, I will build a kingdom far larger than what you have created and your name will be meaningless"

Morgana approached the scene, turning back into a human, she looked at Mordred in the ground, the boy had turned and was looking at the sky. Morgana knelt down to his level, putting her hand in his chest. She couldn't heal him, but at least she could make his death less painful. Her eyes glowed blue, and she could feel him glaring at her as she pushed his pain away.

"I don't want anything from you, you traitor," Mordred spat, looking at Morgana this time. Her lips turned into a line,

"I know," Morgana mumbled standing up.

She turned to Arthur, who was staggering.

"Come here, big boy" Morgana muttered tenderly, throwing Arthur's arm over her shoulder, she turned one last time to see Mordred, but she found his body wasn't there anymore.

"I'm an adult Morgana, you can't call me big boy" Arthur mumbled, Morgana smiled with sadness.

"Sure you are" Morgana's smile didn't falter, but the pain in her eyes grew. She looked ahead of her where the boat rested "Hold on Arthur, just a little bit more, think of Aethel, that girl is waiting for you at her home and has yet to see the lengths that your stubbornness can reach" Morgana said watching Arthur smile despite the pain twisting his features. Arthur nodded, a hand over Morgana's shoulders as she tried to get him to move as fast as possible with the time ticking against them.