Chapter Text
“Merlin, you have done much, but its time to return. The fate of Albion has been lost. The witch has won, Mordred is to betray the king and magic is to be locked away”.
“No, no way there has to be another way”.
“I’m sorry my child there is no more to be done”.
Fury and sadness blew over Arthur like a storm and then…
…
The space was familiar, dark yet comforting, but something wasn’t right, something has changed.
“Ahh” Arthur woke up panting.
“My lord your finally awake” said Leon, one of his most fearless knights.
The room was dark, it was the throne room with something missing. Many things missing. There was no windows nor any door to leave. This was wrong.
“Leon where are we” Arthur asked looking his man in the eyes, but as he waited for an answer another voice jumped in.
“Sorry queenie, but we do not know. We all woke up here. Surprisingly it took you the longest time to wake up, you looked almost comfortable while we all woke up immediately. The pressure is too strong for us apparently”.
Gwains voice was as horrible as ever and he was of course annoyed. Sleeping on the floor while the queenie slept on his throne which had a damn pillow on it. Royals!
Arthur looked around feeling confused. “What pressure Gwaine?”
Gwaine looked at the prince like he was losing his mind as did the other knights of the round table.
“Your majesty, you can’t feel it?” asked Leon just as confused. “It’s all around, like its keeping us in place, possibly to prevent us from escaping”.
Arthur took in the surroundings. It was dark with no windows, yet the candles have been lit all around the room. It felt like he really was in his throne room yet another look up and he saw what his men meant. The walls and the ceiling were shining, looking very much enchanted, like a barrier was set all around, leaving no escape at all, but it was weird he felt safe. There was no pressure, more like a protective barrier, meant to protect him and only him. It was the first time Arthur felt like he did not need to fear magic.
“It feels comfortable to me, like it wants to protect me”.
The men looked confused, yet before anyone could complain a voice rang around the room.
“I feel the same, o brother of mine.
“Morgana! What are you doing here!”.
The scream was feelt all around almost like it shook the ground.
Artur and Morgana both looked surprised yet Morgana quickly calmed.
“Wish I could tell you, brother yet neither I nor anyone in this room knows. I must say I agree with your knights on this It appears someone wish to keep us here, tho it feels safe to me it may be a trick”.
…
“You are wrong my lieges.”
Morgana, Arthur, the knights and everyone in attendance turned. The light was dancing around the candles, taking away their brightness and circiling around.
“Get behind us, my lord!” Leon shouted and all the knights circled the king.
“No need to be afraid queenie we will protect you” added Gwaine with his signature smirking smile.
“No need to be afraid” the voice said, light finally gathered in the center of the room as the voice continued to speak. “No harm will come upon you, this is a sanctuary for you all made by my son”.
“Your son? Who are you and why are we here” Arthur said stepping forward.
“It does seam rather rude to take us to a place forcefully and then call it a sanctuary” Morgana said fearsomely.
…
“You both are of course right but believe me neither I was capable of knowing this could happen. It was not written anywhere destiny or otherwise” the form spoke as it finally cleared up.
Before them stood a woman, white as a ghost yet beautiful. Like she caried all the goodness in the world.
The room froze before …
“My goddess” screamed a voice.
Arthur and the whole of Camelot party turned again, finding druids on there knees.
Arthur was confused. “Why are you kneeling? Goddess? What goddess and who the hell are you?”
The druid turned to the goddess silently asking her if he can respond. The beauty just waved her hand at him to go ahead.
“My name is Iseldir, your majesty and I am the chieftain of the druids”.
Arthur looked alarmed and steeped back.
“No need to fret my lord we wish Camelot no harm and we had no idea of why we were brought here. We are kneeling as the person you see in front of you is the goddess of Avalon herself.
The knights looked at him suspiciously and the king looked surprised.
“Okay then do explain to me why a goddess is here” Arthur asked laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
Iseldir looked ready to talk when Morgana interrupted “Brother I would kneel as well as the druid is not lying. As a priestess of the old religion, I can feel the power of a god who gives us some of our power during the rituals and I can confirm this is her” Morgana spoke in the most calm voice that Arthur has heard in months.
Arthur turned to look at her, but was quickly surprised. Morgana was on her knees. SHE WAS KNEELING.
Arthur feel to his knees, asking the others to do the same, as they did.
The whole room feel on their knees as the goddess spoke again.
“You posed a question Arthur Pendragon, do you wish to know the answer?”
She spoked softly, not arrogantly as most from Camelot imagined a god would be like. She was soft almost motherly.
Arthur stared for a moment before reminding himself he was asked a question.
“Yes, my lady, I would be pleased to know why you gathered us here”.
The goddess took a breath. “First, I would be pleased if you all referred to me as Macha. My child would not be pleased if I had his friends refer to me so politely. He would blame me for tarnishing his king” the goddess smiled sadly.
“I am here to show you the truth. As one of the triple goddesses and as one my child trusts not to harm any of you”.
Morgana looked weirdly at her god.
“My lady, do forgive my impudence, but since when do the triple goddesses have a child?”
“Ha, if he heard you be this polite he would be happy, but I am not so pleased with you Morgana Pendragon” the goddess snarled at Morgana yet looked almost resigned.
Morgana flinched back.
“No matter, No fear I will do nothing to you as for your question, the triple goddesses have a child, a child you know as Emrys and known to others by another alias. All in this room know him as one or the other, some as both”.
“Emrys?!” both Morgana and Arthur said at once. One screaming it the other clueless.
“Yes, Emrys my lady, my king yet for now it would be best to forget this information. I am here in his name as a witness to your reactions and to show you what has brought you all to this moment, from the point of a very important person”.
Morgana looked interested yet upset. Not willing to see her weak self. Arthur was curious as who would be important enough to know something he does not know. The knights all wanted to get tf out and Gwaine well he was bored and wouldn’t mind some drama.
“Excuse me, but do we have to watch this” said Mordred clearly uncomfortable.
“Mordred?” Morgana spoke surprised to see him here.
“My lady” Mordred just nodded yet his eyes did not fall from the goddess. He was clearly tired.
“Let me make this easier for you to accept shall I. Morgana you will learn the identity of Emrys and why he does not stand with you,” Morgana smirked wanting to know more, “Mordred you will learn why Emrys never trusted you or why you think he hates you, why he is so keen on abandoning you” Mordred’s eyes cleared a bit, hopeful that there is a reason. “Arthur Pendragon and Camelot company you will know who has been helping you, saving and protecting you and you will see him in a new light” Arthur did look more interested, but also looked upset at someone helping him secretly, not showing his face, “and druids you will learn of Emrys, see what he has seen and see what he has been through” all the druids nodded.
“These are the terms. You can make your own judgments, but do take in the whole story and the position the person has been put in. You can not fight, magic itself has been locked from all of you in most of its capacity and lastly know that this can decide the fate of the world. My child has put his faith in all of you”.
Morgana looked appalled and Mordred looked shocked that Emrys would trust him now.
“Yes, lady Morgana, you know Emrys’s real identity and he never hated you. You will see as you watch and Mordred, he is sorry of what he has done, he blames himself too much, yet he never could trust you, until now. He is putting all his faith in the two of you. Please do not let my sweet child do all this in vain, don’t make him blame himself even more”. Macha looked sad, but continued with a small smile “just something to think about”.
Mordred felt happy. He knew he shouldn’t, Emrys betrayed him time and again, but maybe there is a reason, maybe he can finally learn from him, but it may as well be too late. Morgana just shrugged burying the memories of Emrys attacking her, as the goddess she worships seems to believe in him maybe she will see why. Yet she can not understand why he would stand with a Pendragon, the one who wants magic dead.
“Well let us not waste any more time. Do you accept the terms?”
Morgana spoke first “Yes I am willing to learn”.
Mordred just nodded at Macha.
Arthur looked conflicted
“We will follow you my lord” said Leon.
“Thank you, Leon”.
“I do accept my lady, but I have a question” spoke a voice to Arthurs left.
“Gwen you can’t just accept!” yelled both Arthur and Elyan.
Macha smiled “ Of course my Lady Guinevere, what may I answer for you”.
“Thank you, my lady, I was just wondering someone from our group seams to be missing.”
“Missing!” Arthur yelled looking around. He noted that all his knights were present plus the council members, Gwen was here by his side and Gaius was sitting on one of the chairs nearby looking resigned, even Geoffrey was listening intently nearby, but yes something was missing. Artur spun to his right faster then he ever did and his face fell.
“Where is Merlin” Gwen said and Arthur’s heart broke. Where was he? He should be by his right at all times, how did nobody notice, how didn’t he notice.
Macha smiled contently “So you noticed. No need to be on your guard Merlin is completely fine, yet he is unable to be here in this moment as we will be watching his life and as some of you may know he wouldn’t want to witness it again, but have no fear king Arthur you will be able to talk to him later as will all of you be able to knights, Gwen and Gaius”.
Gaius for the first time since he stepped into this room felt relieved. So, his boy was okay. Then he has no need to refuse as Merlin would prevent this if he did not wish it.
“I accept if that is the case lady Macha” said Gaius, Gwen smiling in the backround.
Arthur looked conflicted even more. Why watch Merlin’s memories, but Gwaine interrupted his thoughts.
“I’m in, sorry queenie, but I would gladly watch Merlin when he was younger, when we haven’t meet. Maybe we will even see baby Merlin. I accept Macha” Gwaine all but yelled out.
Arthur smiled, guess he has no choice “If I can see Merlin be a fool gladly, I accept”.
All the knights nodded along, and the council members agreed as well and lastly the druids were all too honored to be a part of this quickly agreeing.
Mache smiled “then let the viewing begin”