[He's there, hands shoved into his pockets to keep from fidgeting too much, wearing an expression that's a mix of bashful and embarrassment.]
I realised...we'd left things unsorted because we thought it'd be better, with Ragnarok upon us, and our return home after that.
But it looks like we're here to stay, at least for another long while, and we shouldn't leave it any longer. [Now that Arthur's back with them, and they aren't grieving, this seems a good as time as any.]
Queen Skuld has given me help before and I'm grateful for it. She's a kind royal, too, and you know how rare those are. I do like her...as an ally and a friend at the most. That's all.
[Now he reaches up, skimming his thumb across her cheek with a small smile.] I meant what I said, before you received the new memories. I am sorry, for everything that's happened back home. And even if I have feelings for you--you, the Morgana I've come to know here--this needs to be your choice.
[His voice softens.] Even if you feel that you cannot look past what has happened in Camelot for this [He gestures between them] I hope we can still be friends here. It's we that are fortunate to have you, Morgana, not the other way around.
Merlin - [ her voice softens, much softer than it was in her fit of resentment and yes, ok, envy. ] This is home for me, Camelot is - you know I wish to escape it, you remember.
[ he's the one who took her to the Druids, after all. ]
Camelot and all that happened and will happen there - it doesn't matter here. You apologized once, let it be. It will not come to be here.
[ she's safe from all it, Merlin's wrong choice, her wrong choices, here. There is truth here where there were once many lies on her part and on his part. ]
[His lifts their clasped hands and kisses the back of hers with a bit of an exaggerated flourish. Then he leans in and presses his lips against hers lightly.]
Glad to hear it. [Merlin stays close, fingers curling around hers.] I won't give you reason to regret it.
One other thing, though. [Now the teasing smile makes an appearance.] Will you try to get along with the Queen now? I can tell you that neither of us have intentions toward each other, and you've probably just been confusing her.
[He leans in so he can whisper in her ear.] You have nothing to worry about. I'm yours to do with as you wish.
[Though he smiles cheerfully when he pulls away, there's a darker undertone to his words that he thinks only Morgana would understand completely. They might choose to ignore what has happened and what will happen in Camelot, but that doesn't mean they'll forget. It's a part of them now, shaping their actions, and Merlin still intends to make up for it somehow.]
[Well, he knows better than to argue with her about this. There's no winning when she's got her mind made up already.]
That's all I can ask for.
[He's silent for a moment, letting their new closeness wash over him.] So what do you think--let the others know or [grin] let them puzzle it out later? I think Arthur might suspect something already, though, after...earlier.
If Arthur suspects he may yet try to beat you up, knowing him. He used to torment every knight who looked at me - that in mind, I think you should speak to him, Merlin and -
No. There was one that attacked Camelot later. [His smile dims a little when he remember Balinor, but he shakes the melancholy feel off with the ease of practice.]
Besides, Aithusa seems pretty fond of you. I don't think she'd harm you at all.
[ She grows silent, some of her old resentment coming back. She and her guardian (father, she almost corrects herself) had a fond farewell before the end of the battle. But it is always the same with her and Uther, she forgives him from time to time and in between she is angry. She searches Merlin's face for something, explanation as to why this is a burden and she is certain it is. ]
Then he killed the dragons and those who could speak to them for having magic.
[ sounds like something Uther would do. Another moment of silence and she reaches for his hand again, entwining their fingers. ]
[Merlin studies her face, watching the emotions flickering there while his free hand traces down her cheek again.]
Hey. What he did was wrong, but what happened to the Dragonlords was years ago. Because of you and Arthur, he's begun to change his mind here. Uther deserves anger for what he's done before, but we should give him a chance if he's willing to listen now.
My father was a Dragonlord. [He finally answers it simply, quietly.] The power woke in me when he passed. So, yes. I can speak to them, but I think they're able to learn the common tongue when they're old enough.
[ He's right and even she can admit it, there is something different in Uther. He's listening at times which is already more than Morgana ever imagined he would do. You're too kind, Merlin, she wants to say, suspicion of Uther being her oldest friend but she doesn't. Instead she frowns a bit, fingers momentarily tighten over his again. ]
[ She knows what it feels like to lose a parent, she also knows what it's like not to know one. Her mother is a figure she sees only in her dreams, not someone she can recall the sight or sound of; just imagination, childish nonsense, but she thinks of her from time to time even so.
At times she wants to ask Uther about her; but she knows his answer will likely upset her and so she doesn't. She pushes away from the walls, takes half a step closer. ]
[Merlin looks down at the floor, thinking of that small, wooden dragon carving sitting on his desk.]
The knights of Camelot are brave, but they could not stand up to the dragon. My magic was no use against him either. Arthur was desperate...so we followed Gaius' directions and sought the help of the Dragonlord who had supposedly escaped Uther's purge.
[A quiet, shuddering breath. If only he'd been faster or better with his sword, his father would not have had to take that blow for him.]
We were attacked by Cenred's men on the way back to Camelot.
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Re: action
I realised...we'd left things unsorted because we thought it'd be better, with Ragnarok upon us, and our return home after that.
But it looks like we're here to stay, at least for another long while, and we shouldn't leave it any longer. [Now that Arthur's back with them, and they aren't grieving, this seems a good as time as any.]
Queen Skuld has given me help before and I'm grateful for it. She's a kind royal, too, and you know how rare those are. I do like her...as an ally and a friend at the most. That's all.
[Now he reaches up, skimming his thumb across her cheek with a small smile.] I meant what I said, before you received the new memories. I am sorry, for everything that's happened back home. And even if I have feelings for you--you, the Morgana I've come to know here--this needs to be your choice.
[His voice softens.] Even if you feel that you cannot look past what has happened in Camelot for this [He gestures between them] I hope we can still be friends here. It's we that are fortunate to have you, Morgana, not the other way around.
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[ he's the one who took her to the Druids, after all. ]
Camelot and all that happened and will happen there - it doesn't matter here. You apologized once, let it be. It will not come to be here.
[ she's safe from all it, Merlin's wrong choice, her wrong choices, here. There is truth here where there were once many lies on her part and on his part. ]
If it is my choice then it is made, Merlin.
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[His eyes scan her face, looking for the answers.]
So that's a yes, then?
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[ she smiles, takes his hand in hers and steps forward. ]
-- I do not regret staying here. Not one bit.
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Glad to hear it. [Merlin stays close, fingers curling around hers.] I won't give you reason to regret it.
One other thing, though. [Now the teasing smile makes an appearance.] Will you try to get along with the Queen now? I can tell you that neither of us have intentions toward each other, and you've probably just been confusing her.
[He leans in so he can whisper in her ear.] You have nothing to worry about. I'm yours to do with as you wish.
[Though he smiles cheerfully when he pulls away, there's a darker undertone to his words that he thinks only Morgana would understand completely. They might choose to ignore what has happened and what will happen in Camelot, but that doesn't mean they'll forget. It's a part of them now, shaping their actions, and Merlin still intends to make up for it somehow.]
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[ hold on let her think. ]
Well-mannered. Well-mannered should do. I will call her a cow to her face.
[ smirk. see? well behaved. ]
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At least give her a few days to recover before you unleash your temper--unwarranted temper, Morgana--on her again.
[His thumb strokes across the back of her hand in a soothing gesture.] I told you, there's no need for you to worry. You believe me, don't you?
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If she will remain proper, I shall too.
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That's all I can ask for.
[He's silent for a moment, letting their new closeness wash over him.] So what do you think--let the others know or [grin] let them puzzle it out later? I think Arthur might suspect something already, though, after...earlier.
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[ shrug ]
Make certain to be near a door at the time.
[ .... ]
Or a window.
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This isn't exactly inspiring a lot of confidence in me, you know.
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[ she is very, very amused. ]
What is one king that is interested in preserving you since you have enough patience to be his friend?
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What if I told you I already fought a dragon?
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Besides, Aithusa seems pretty fond of you. I don't think she'd harm you at all.
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[ grinning as he mentions Aithusa. ]
I found her sleeping on my pillow once. She is quite a darling. But she seems very attached to you.
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[Oh well. Arthur already knows, so it's not like Merlin has any reason to hide.]
Have you heard of the Dragonlords?
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I never heard of the concept. What are they?
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[Then he sighs, looking away.]
They didn't survive the Great Purge either.
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[ She grows silent, some of her old resentment coming back. She and her guardian (father, she almost corrects herself) had a fond farewell before the end of the battle. But it is always the same with her and Uther, she forgives him from time to time and in between she is angry. She searches Merlin's face for something, explanation as to why this is a burden and she is certain it is. ]
Then he killed the dragons and those who could speak to them for having magic.
[ sounds like something Uther would do. Another moment of silence and she reaches for his hand again, entwining their fingers. ]
Can you? Speak to dragons?
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Hey. What he did was wrong, but what happened to the Dragonlords was years ago. Because of you and Arthur, he's begun to change his mind here. Uther deserves anger for what he's done before, but we should give him a chance if he's willing to listen now.
My father was a Dragonlord. [He finally answers it simply, quietly.] The power woke in me when he passed. So, yes. I can speak to them, but I think they're able to learn the common tongue when they're old enough.
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You never spoke of your father.
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[Again, the regret leaks into his voice.]
I only got to see him for two days before he was taken from me.
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At times she wants to ask Uther about her; but she knows his answer will likely upset her and so she doesn't. She pushes away from the walls, takes half a step closer. ]
How? What happened?
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The knights of Camelot are brave, but they could not stand up to the dragon. My magic was no use against him either. Arthur was desperate...so we followed Gaius' directions and sought the help of the Dragonlord who had supposedly escaped Uther's purge.
[A quiet, shuddering breath. If only he'd been faster or better with his sword, his father would not have had to take that blow for him.]
We were attacked by Cenred's men on the way back to Camelot.
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