Chapter Two, Tears of Uther Pendragon Part 1

A lot has happened in the last few months leaving Merlyn feeling rather weary, but she was glad that Arthur knew the truth now. However, she was getting extremely worried about what Morgana and Morgause were planning, Morgana was sneaking out almost every night and the next time she did, Merlin would follow her.

***

Arthur looked around at the picnic setup near the lake that he had George setup. He was a very efficient servant if nothing else; but he was extremely dull. He knew Merlyn was stressed over what Morgana's plans were and so was he to be honest, it was no coincidence that his father suddenly became so ill, now that he knew about magic and Morgana he'd started paying closer attention and didn't like what he saw. But, he still felt extremely guilty over what had happened when the Kings were here for the Peace Talks. So he has decided to treat Merlyn with this picnic not only to make it up to her but to take their minds off yet another plot.
"Right, go and get Merlyn. Please." Arthur said as he looked over the food, blankets and pillows. "Oh, and George." Arthur called before the manservant could leave. "If you tell anyone about this, I'll have you strung up. Understood?" Arthur warned.
"Perfectly, Sire." George said bowing to Arthur before he left.

Twenty minutes later, Arthur could see George returning with Merlyn behind him and she took his breath away. She was dressed in a silver and white dress, the white sleeves were short and off-the-shoulder, with a cream floral patterned corset over the top, and her raven coloured hair was half pinned up with the rest falling down her back.
"Thank you George. That'll be all." Arthur said dismissively. George bowed and quickly left the two alone. "You look stunning, Merlyn." Arthur said, making a blush rise upon her cheeks.

"Thank you." Merlyn said shyly before she got her confidence back. "I see you met George." Merlyn giggled as Arthur rolled his eyes.
"He may be efficient in what he does..." Arthur started.
"Oh really?" Merlyn asked, interrupting Arthur. "Maybe he would be your servant then." She teased.
"No!" Arthur exclaimed loudly, making Merlyn laugh. "That man is the dullest man I've ever met. He makes jokes about brass." Arthur deadpanned shuddering dramatically making Merlyn laugh loudly as tears filled her eyes.
"Anyway," Arthur cleared his throat. "I thought we could spend the day together and have a picnic." He said awkwardly as he pointed behind him.
"It's perfect." Merlyn said happily as Arthur led her over to the picnic.

***

Later that night, after the sentry had been killed in Gaius' chambers Merlyn was taking a Sleeping Draft to Uther, her mind plagued by thoughts. It felt like the picnic she had with Arthur this morning was years ago, so much has happened since this morning and she was exhausted. As she entered the chamber of the men she feared and pitied, any anger she held for him seemed to evaporate. He looked so pitiful shivering in his sleep with his laboured breathing. Putting the Draft down on the unit beside the bed Merlyn covered the King with his quilt to keep him warm when she heard dripping. Confused, she moved the covers aside and saw some black goo on the stone floor. As she went to examine it she heard Morgana's heels heading towards the room, and dived under the bed, ending up getting hit in the face by a strange root hanging under the bed which seemed to be the source of the goo.

She moved back and just in time too as a hand reached under the bed and grabbed the root. Moving to the other side, Merlyn peered out from under the bed spotting Morgana and knew she had to follow her. Gaius and Arthur probably wouldn't be happy but she had to find out what scheme the sisters were cooking up. Merlin followed Morgana from a distance all the way into the Darkling Woods, ducking behind trees every so often and being as quiet as she possibly could. But she wished she had brought her coat, she was freezing. As they reached a rather small clearing Morgana suddenly stopped and looked around her for something. Not five minutes later hooves sounded on the dead leaves on the hill opposite Merlyn, from where she stood hidden in the trees she got a clear view of Morgause and her Blood Riders coming over the hill.

Merlyn suddenly got a horrible sense of foreboding at the smiles the sisters shared and wondered if it had been wise to come alone.
"Sorry you had to wait. There was much to discuss." Morgause apologised to Morgana, both sisters holding hands.
"But your visit was successful?" Morgana asked eagerly.
"Cendred's army ride for Camelot on my command." Morgause said, causing Merlyn's eyes to widen.
"There's nothing you cannot do." Morgana said gleefully, as the two sisters continued to complement each other.
"How goes the battle for Uther's mind?" Morgause asked, apparently getting back to the task at hand.

"When Cendred's army marches on Camelot, you will find a Kingdom without a leader." Morgana said happily. Merlyn, deciding she needed to be closer, crept towards the sisters while they were gleefully talking about their plans, missing Merlyn appearing behind them hiding behind two large boulders.
"Not quite." Morgana answered her sister, turning slightly causing Merlyn to quickly hide herself praying she hadn't been spotted. "Merlyn suspects me." Morgana continued.
"Has she told Arthur?" Morgause questioned.
"Not yet, I don't think. She will, but Arthur has been acting strange towards me lately." Morgana mused.
"Well then, we must stop her." Morgause said a hint of urgency in her voice.

"That will not be difficult." Morgana said, coming closer towards Merlyn.
"Why?" Morgause asked.
"Because she's already here!" Morgana shouted looking in the direction of the boulders. Merlyn looked up slowly and saw they were near though directly above her and jumped to her feet.
"Did you really think I was that stupid, Merlyn?" Morgana scoffed.
"Yes actually." Merlyn quipped before she took off running. She may be magically stronger than both sisters put together, but that didn't mean she wanted to blow her cover.

Merlyn ran as fast as she could hearing the heavy footfalls behind her, but in the end it was futile as she ended up being caught, knocked out and bound in magical chains. Once she had awoken she noticed it was now dawn and she could sense the magic on the chains.
"Get off me!" Merlyn hissed, struggling against the two Blood Guards who picked her up she placed her in front of Morgause.
"You intrigue me, Merlyn." Morgause said looking at Merlyn as if she was a complex puzzle she couldn't figure out. "Why does a lowly servant continue to risk everything for Arthur and for Camelot?" She asked but Merlyn refused to answer and just glared at the witch.

"You know the answer, but you're not telling me. Why?" She questioned but still Merlyn refused to say anything. "Come on," Morgause said, getting frustrated now, as she walked around Merlyn. "Time and again, you've put your life on the line. There must be a reason." She said crouching besides Merlyn.
"I believe in a fair and just land. Not that it's any of your business." Merlyn snapped.
"And you think Artur will give you that." Morgause stated rather than asked. "What, all this so you can be a maidservant to the King." Morgause scoffed. "No." Morgause answered her own question as she peered curiously at Merlyn.

"There's something more. There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?" Morgause asked.
"I'm not telling you anything." Merlyn spat glaring at the blonde witch.
"Well, You can take your secret to your grave." Morgause said before she enchanted the chains making them tighten around Merlyn causing her to let out a small gasp. "You chose to poison one of my own. You may regret that," Morgause threatened before she and her guards walked away leaving Merlyn alone in the forest.

Meanwhile in Camelot, Gaius and Arthur realised Merlyn hadn't come home last night and immediately became worried for her as they started searching for her almost frantically, Arthur catching the malicious smirk on Morgana's face when she thought he wasn't looking, and it troubled him greatly. He only hoped Gaius' fear wasn't about to come true. While in the forest Merlyn was trying to undo the chains, starting with something simple.
"Abrecap benda." Merlyn enchanted her eyes glowing gold but nothing happened so she tried again this time more forcefully.
"Abrecap benda!" Still nothing. Quickly thinking of another spell, she enchanted as her eyes glowed gold and her voice became commanding.

"Irenfaestnunga onlucap me!" But unlike the other spell, this just made the chains tighten slightly.
Before she could cast another spell she heard branches cracking behind her. She needed to get out of here, now. She knew what dwelled in this forest. But it seemed it was too late, as hissing sound all around her and giant Serkets were coming towards her. She felt extremely drained as she had been trying to get out of the chains all day but she didn't give up as she incanted another spell.
"Min strangest might hate pe tospringan!" But still the chains didn't release her.

"Argh!!" Merlyn yelled in frustration as more Serkets appeared surrounding her, all of them creeping closer to her. While her loved ones in Camelot were worrying about her and wondered what had happened to her, Merlyn was not going to go out without a fight.
"Awendap eft wansaeliga neatu!" Merlyn shouted which drove a few away but not all of them, so she tried again using a different spell. "Forletap me a!" Merlyn shouted driving a few more away, but she suddenly got stabbed in the lower back by a Serket behind her  Much like she did when her father got stabbed, she let out a deep guttural roar, throwing the Serkets behind her, away from her with her raw magic.

She didn't know if she had knocked them out or killed them and frankly she didn't care. The pain from the poison was excruciating and she could feel her magic trying to fight it off and stop it from spreading as she fought to stay away.
"No." She whispered before throwing her head back she let out a guttural yell, sounding much like a dragon in that moment as she called out for Kilgharrah. "O drakon, emale so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes!" She roared to the skies.

She hoped Kilgharrah would answer her as she slumped to the forest floor, feeling completely drained with no energy left in her body, as the Serkets were creeping ever closer, as night fell above them. Just as the Serkets on her right were about to reach her, she heard wings above her before a torrent of fire was unleashed burning the Serkets. Unable to stay awake any longer, Merlyn passed out as she felt herself being scooped up, succumbing to the darkness that had been calling her.