Calm Before the Storm

Chapter Thirty-Seven

37. Not Being Prideful Just Honest

Magdelena entered the forest, now running toward the sounds of wings flapping and the roaring sound of a dragon breathing fire. She smiled knowing Merlin had called Kilgharrah, she raced forward skirting around the flames until she spotted Merlin entering a cave, and Agravaine and some of his following after him once he got away from the dragon. She rushes into the tunnels as well, following after them. 

Magdelena raced through the tunnels until she heard the sound of Merlin speaking and more importantly Agravaine. She raced through the tunnels finding Merlin backed into the corner Agravaine holding a dagger, "At Arthur's side. How you've managed to deceive him. I am impressed, Merlin. Perhaps we're more alike than you think." 

"Not even close actually," she voices revealing herself to the two of them Merlin smiles at his sister, "See I told you I would kill you."

He pulls a dagger and throws it at her but it freezes an inch away from her heart, she lifts her hand and the dagger follows. She spins it around still pointed at her chest, "You have magic?" 

"Not in the pure way that Merlin has when you first met me I was Death," she says shrugging, "Now Death is my son and I am now the Goddess, not being prideful just honest."

"First a false Queen now a Goddess," Agravaine says staring at her making her raise an eyebrow at him, "Where do you get these visions of grandeur?" 

"Probably the same place you got the idea that Morgana - who is acting more and more like her father, a man you claim to hate - is the best suited for the throne," Magdelena quips at him. 

"Uther was a terrible king! He killed my sister! Murdered her!" Agravaine yells making Magdelena look at him confused. 

"Yet here you are helping his blood not the blood of the sister you claim to care for and love," Magdelena says, "You are ten pounds of crazy in a two-pound bag. Arthur will be the king of legend, he will return magic to the land and be a better ruler than Uther or Morgana could ever wish to be. It is unfortunate that you will be unable to be here to see it." 

The dagger turned and plunged into his heart killing him instantly, Magdelena turns to Merlin, "I thought you would stay with your son."

"Not when Camelot is on the line, besides I know how useless Arthur can be when he doubts himself," she says staring at him, "Mother is caring for him I have little to worry about." 

"Come we better catch up to the others," Merlin leads his sister through the tunnels until the whilr around the corner to show Arthur standing there with only his sword, "Merlin!" Arthur says relaxing from his attack position, "Where have you been?"

"Were you worried about me?" Merlin asks with a small grin as he looks at the King.

"No," Arthur says his voice proof he was lying, "I was making sure we weren't being followed."

"You came back to look for me."

"All right, it's true," Arthur gives, "I came back because you're the only friend I have and I couldn't bear to lose you."

"Really?"

"Don't be stupid."

Magdelena follows the two males not saying anything to draw attention to herself from Arthur, she knew he was still angry at her and with very good reason to be so. She wouldn't be surprised if he never spoke to her again, banished her from Camelot on pain of death. They eventually made their way through the tunnels and onward to the Forest of Essetir. 

Once they were safely in the forest they made a camp, Isolde was sharpening her knife, Magdelena and Merlin were setting up a fire, while Arthur and Trisitan collected more fire wood. 

"Well, well, well, look at you," Magdelena hears the condescending tone of Tristan and listens in to their conversation, "First you go back to rescue your servant, now you're getting your hands dirty. But then again, why shouldn't you? You're just like everyone else. There's nothing special about you, is there?"

"Well, maybe you're right. Maybe I don't deserve to be king."

"Well, that's all right, 'cause you're not. Not anymore," Trisitan says, her eyes narrow as she stands walking after Trisitan confusing Merlin who figured she would head over to Arthur. Trisitan turns as he hears her shocked as a fist connects with his nose, "What was that for!"

"You have no right to speak to him like that," she snaps at him, "You don't know his story, you have no idea what he has been through, what he has seen. You have known him for a few days and dare judge him based on his brith right?" 

"You don't know my story either."

"I know but what I am collecting from you, is you are a theif you parades around thinking you are better because you may or may not have a cause that you live for," she narrows her eyes at him, "All you are coming off as is an asshole who doesn't care for anyone and certainly doesn't deserve the love of a woman. He has enough on his plate having lost his kingdom, he doesn't need your stupid comments." 

"Magdelena leave the man alone," Arthur says having come up behind them once he heard the man call out in pain, "He is right I have no kingdom I am no King."

"If you think that is what makes a King you are both painfully wrong," she snaps at them both, she doesn't bother on elaborating and takes her leave from the two of them picking up some firewood on her way to stoke the fire, "I fear I may cause more problems here then help. Besides the hatred that comes through each glare from Arthur is more than I can take."

"You aren't thinking of leaving are you?" Merlin asks quietly, "You must believe me, he has missed you just as much. He was scared you left because you didn't want to marry him."

"Maybe destiny was wrong, maybe we are not meant to be together," she says staring into the fire, "Maybe he would be better off without me." 

"He turned down a Princess and gave up long disputed land becasue he couldn't marry her," Merlin says in a hastened whisper, "He loves you, Maggie. He is just lost faith in himself." 

"Then you better find a way to restore that or we are lost before we have begun."