Work Text:
Morgana’s POV
“Arthur and Gwen are cheating on us.”
Morgana looked up and looked in the eyes of the man who had rushed into her room and made accusations about her brother and her wife. Merlin was pacing in her chamber like a caged lion. He looked hassled. There were dark marks below his eyes and his face was stained with tears. His clothes were rumpled and untidy.
Morgana soothed the poor dear, “Merlin, you know that is not possible. Arthur and Gwen are dedicated to us.”
Merlin shook his head, “No! I caught them in bed together. I could not believe my eyes.”
Morgana sucked the air. If anyone else had told her Gwen was cheating, she would have slapped the person. Merlin was different. He was dedicated to Arthur. He overlooked Arthur’s every flaw. He would never accept heresy about Arthur from anyone. Therefore, if Merlin was accusing the King, he must have a reason and Morgana was not a fool. She was not a toy to be played with; she will not be played by Gwen. If Gwen was cheating on her, then she will pay.
Morgana stepped closer to Merlin and made him stop his pacing. She looked directly into his eyes and asked, “Can you promise on your magic that they are cheating?”
He sighed and promised, “Keeping my magic as the custodian, I claim that Arthur and Gwen are cheating on us.”
Then he raised her bed with a complicated swing of his finger before he fell down on his knees crying. He was sobbing, “They are really cheating on us. He is cheating on me.”
It took Morgana two hours to calm Merlin before the King’s court sorcerer asked, “Why Morgana? Why did he do this to me? Why did they hurt us like this?”
Morgana sighed and said, “I don’t know why they did this to us but we cannot let this go. We will not forgive them.”
Merlin raised his eyes questioningly, “What?”
“We will not forgive them, Merlin. They cannot break our hearts and then come back to us.”
“But we love them, Morgana. How will we live without them? I cannot live without Arthur?”
“That is why you will make a promise on your magic. You will promise that you will stay away from Arthur until he is appropriately punished and he understands his mistake.”
“Morgana…. I can’t”
“Yes, you can. You must. This is the only way they can be ours or else they will keep breaking our hearts for others.”
“What if he decides I am not worth all the suffering? What if he decides I not worth apologizing?”
“Merlin, you are worth everything. And if he cannot see that then maybe he is not worth everything that you have, are, and will give up for him.”
“But I love him. How can I stay away from him?”
“I will help you. I am in the same precarious situation as you are and I will assist you. I want Gwen to understand what she will lose if she continues on the path.”
“What if last night was just a mistake? What if they already are sorry for it?”
“No. Even if the last time was the first time they cheated on us, I will not forgive so easily and will never forget. If I don’t make Gwen understand now, she will become bolder, and then where will we be. Hidden secret lovers of the King and Queen of Camelot. Is that what you want to be? Wasn’t hiding your magic was enough that now you have to hide your love too?”
Merlin shuddered and then broke down, “I can’t function like this. I can’t do this again.”
“Make the promise Merlin and then go to Ealdor for a month. Maybe it is time to take a break from Arthur. A few months away from him to grow up. Since you were sixteen, you have been his slave, manservant, and then court sorcerer but you never took a break. The break will help you.”
“Arthur will not be safe.”
“You have pumped the court with people loyal to you. He will be safe.”
“Morgana, is this necessary?”
“Merlin, if we are to teach them a lesson, then it is. We must do this. Now make the promise on your magic and I will make the promise on my magic.”
“Keeping my magic as the custodian, I promise to stay away from Arthur romantically until he realizes his mistake and apologizes for it.”
“Keeping my magic as the custodian, I promise to stay away from Gwen romantically until he realizes his mistake and apologizes for it.”
Once both of them had made the promise, they sat down on the floor. They were emotionally drained. Morgana felt a closure. She had been drained and for the first time, she was okay with it. Everyone had taken her for a ride, including her own father Uther Pendragon. She just never thought that Gwen will be amongst those people. Gwen’s attraction lied in the safety and promise of stability she provided. Now, her Gwen could no longer be her safety net. While Merlin still yearned for Arthur, Morgana had taken a sword and cut the part of her heart that was in love with Gwen. Gwen will never have her love again.
They sat there for hours until Gwen came into the room followed by the servants. She cheerfully said, “I bought dinner. You must be famished.”
Then she saw Merlin sitting on the floor with Morgana and continued, “Merlin, you are here. Arthur has been looking for you everywhere.”
Morgana looked up and said, “We are working on a spell. Can you please leave the dinner here and leave. Tell Arthur, that Merlin may join him when he is done here.”
Gwen looked surprised but did as Morgana asked. Morgana pulled Merlin up and forced him to sit at the table and eat the food. “You need the energy. You have not eaten anything today and it has been hard enough. Merlin, you have to prepare. We are leaving for Ealdor at first light.”
“Morgana,are you sure?”
“Yes. It is time. We will not return until they learn their lesson.”
“Okay. I will inform Arthur in the morning. I will let the others know tonight. I will tell them that we will be away for a fortnight.”
“That is good for now.”
Then she hugged Merlin and Merlin started crying once again.
----------------------