Chapter 21 : Happy ending

For a few seconds, she felt nothing more than Arthur's arms around her waist. He murmured her name like a mantra "Morgana… Morgana…" in that special way only he had. Morgana let herself be lulled by his voice. She was so happy…

Morgause had said she was Uther's daughter… She had a bracelet to prove it. The heavy silver was embossed with dragons, a gift Pendragon men never failed to offer their offspring on their birth day… Uther hadn't wanted to break that tradition, even for an illegitimate child, because of Vivienne's gift…

Morgause had planned to come to Camelot, to help her with her magic, using a protective charm with the very same bracelet… She had changed her plans when Annis had said that she, Morgana, was coming to Isca with Arthur. Arthur…

"Morgana… Oh God Morgana… Morgana I'm so sorry… I didn't want to… Morgana…"

"Arthur…"

He held her close. He was entitled to embrace her, the man who was not her brother, the man she loved so much, always had… She coughed, he had to know…

"Arthur… I… We're not…"

A twist in her stomach stole her breath, forbidding her to finish her sentence. It burnt, as if someone was rubbing salt on an open wound. She panted, "Arthur?"

The pain in his blue eyes matched the one pulsing inside her. Her body tensed to escape the scorch torturing her flesh.

"Arthur… Arthur it hurts…"

Talking was too painful. Her vision blurred.

"Stay with me, Morgana! Please stay with me… Merlin! Merlin do something, anything… You have magic, use it Damnit!"

She was cold. She hated hearing the desperation in his voice.

"Morgana… Morgana please don't leave me… I can't do it alone, there's no dragon this time…"

She wanted the pain to stop. The dear fool, when would he realize he was the Dragon, the red dragon that would save the world, the High King that would lead Albion into another Golden Age… She wanted him to be strong for her, with her, her soul mate, her heart, her husband, powerful until Time itself end…

"Arthur, we can marry…"

"Yes, yes anything you want. Please Morgana… I love you, please, I'll do anything you want…Just stay with me… Merlin!"

Hands grabbed her, clawing at her dress, forcing her away from her love…

"Arthur…"

"I'm here, Morgana, I'm here… I'm not leaving you, I'm here…"

Her limbs felt so cold…

"Let me help, Arthur, I know what to do."

A palm she guessed belonged to Morgause pressed to her side, gently at first, then harder. Morgana swallowed a scream when ice filled the hole fire had carved in her side. Her hips bucked up in pain. She squirmed to escape the torture, it hurt, it hurt so much! Arthur's arms imprisoned her, keeping her at the mercy of the terrible pain. How could he!? He claimed he loved her, Love didn't hurt like that…

"Arthur! Make it stop! It hurt, make it stop!"

Unable to endure the pain any longer, Morgana stopped fighting the darkness, and let the shadows engulfed her.

"No! Morgana!"

Arthur cried out. His heart tried to escape his chest.

"Hum…"

Breathing hard, he shifted under the heavy duvet. Misty eyes met his, lids heavy with sleep. He pounced literally, hugging the lithe body as if he wanted to absorb it. Morgana whined, "Arthur… Can't breathe…"

"Don't care."

Arthur pulled her closer, forbidding the slightest space to come between them. His hands roamed over her back, her throat, her arms, relishing each part of her skin her nightshift allowed him to touch. Her body was warm under his palm, alive. He needed to feel she was alive. He assaulted her mouth, devouring her lips, desperate to feel her return his hunger.

Morgana squeezed one hand between them, finally depriving him of her mouth.

"We're not married yet, my prince."

She sounded her normal self, vaguely annoyed with him. Her voice contained a hint of a tease, a splash of seriousness. His Morgana… Panic receded, leaving behind a different form of frustration.

"So what?"

Morgana pushed harder, to no avail. She frowned against his heart.

"My mother may have taken a Pendragon out of wedlock, but I won't."

He grunted, then flipped on his back, taking her with him. Morgana tried to push away, once again overruled. Arthur caressed her hair to soothe her mood. He said, "Vivienne did it for us… Queen Annis said she had a vision of us on the High Throne of Albion. She accepted to bed my father so some of her magic imprinted on him and I could be conceived."

"I know. But it doesn't change the fact I want to wait for our wedding."

Arthur smiled. The word amazed him. The possibility of having her, every day, every night, forever, amazed him. He could wait a little longer. Everything would be all right from now on. She had promised…

Morgana writhed to find a more comfortable position. Arthur winced, brushing her flank through the fabric.

"Does it hurt?"

"No, don't worry."

She pressed a small kiss on his shoulder to reassure him.

"Did you dream about that night again?"

"Yeah…"

Arthur shifted to rest on his side with his head in the crook of his arm, watching her. His fingers caressed her cheek gently.

"I'm so sorry…"

"It was an accident, Arthur. At least you learnt to store your toys away when you don't need them."

"Not funny."

He pouted. Morgana chuckled, snuggling closer for a light kiss.

"Yes, it is; very."

He welcomed her caress, kissing her back slowly. Morgana clutched his shirt, her curves pressing dangerously into him. He rolled her on her back in the mattress, nuzzling the length of her throat. She whispered his name first in a moan, then like a warning.

"Arthur… Arthur James Pendragon if you don't stop this very minute, I… I'll change you into a toad!"

He growled in return, as always when she used his fully name. But it didn't annoy him so much now, especially when she was the one pretending her room was too cold so she could sneak into his bed. Arthur trailed kisses along her perfect jaw, playing with a strand of her hair. He nibbled at her shoulder, pushing the collar of her shift out of his way. Her sigh told him everything he needed to know…

"If by any chance you manage something like that, you'll have to kiss a toad to have me back…"

The tantalizing shivers his mouth created slowly overcame her resistance. She too, wanted the fastidious ceremony to be over. She had waited for him for so long… Her hands started an exploration of their own, pulling on his shirt.

"We'll be married tomorrow…"

Her murmur stopped him more efficiently than threats. He grinned in her hair.

"I can hardly wait."

Morgana giggled.

"I noticed… Ah! No! Arthur! Don't you dare! Stop it! Stop it!"

She erupted in shrieks and more giggles. When she tried to avenge herself, Arthur blocked her hands easily, caging her in his arms for more tickling. Morgana squealed, "All right! Please stop… I yield!"

Arthur obeyed with a broad grin, exchanging the feather touches for a stronger grip on her waist.

"I knew you would."

He pressed a sound kiss on her petulant mouth, then another one on her forehead, taking her back into his arms, sadness and guilt perking again in his voice.

"I love you. If Morgause hadn't healed you…"

"Shush… I'm all right… We both are… Uther consented to our marriage, and your uncle even promised to let his grudge aside for the time of the festivities…"

"He could have been your father, you know. Vivienne chose Gorlois after my father… Well, huh, you know. But Agravaine was on the short list."

Morgana pulled a face, pushing as far away from Arthur as the sheets swirled around them let her.

"Oh please… That's… Eew…."

Arthur pulled her back to him.

"Anyway, he'll be too busy tomorrow to annoy anyone. He wants to make sure Gwaine does not elope with your sister."

"Our sister."

He groaned.

"I swear, this man has a soft spot for trouble."

"Don't prat. Morgause just wanted to help me deal with my magic. Uther sent her to Annis when our mother died, because he knew that father had… mixed feelings toward her. He would never have hurt her, but…"

She trailed off. Some days, she regretted Gorlois had chosen to separate her from her half-sister. Morgause taught her magic, and was here to talk with her about all and everything: knights, Arthur, marriage, Arthur, magic, Arthur… She was more at ease with her than she had ever been with Gwen. Morgana realized only now how much she had missed a feminine presence that was her equal, in birth and in magic.

"I'm glad she didn't come to Camelot. I would not have survived past childhood with the two of you on my back."

Arthur tried to joke, but his tone was vaguely bitter. Morgana caressed his face lightly. The reunion between the son, the lost daughter and Uther hadn't been peaceful. She had never seen Arthur so angry, or Uther so embarrassed. Maybe there was hope for Camelot, and the Kingdoms.

"She couldn't know Uther would confound me with her because of the crest on the bracelet…"

Arthur stretched one arm behind him to pick up a silver jewel on the nightstand. He huffed, "This damned thing almost ruined our lives."

Morgana leaned on him to entwine her fingers with his over the bracelet.

"How…"

He shifted under her, bringing her closer. She felt good in his arms. She felt right, like her slender form pressed to his made his soul, along with his body, complete.

"This one is mine. Father took it in the vault before he left Camelot. Just in case I need it before we could travel back to Camelot…"

Morgana flushed, and then warned, "That's another good lesson for you. Don't have children with anyone else. You would only create havoc in the succession line to the throne."

"I don't want anyone else. And that would be a problem only if I father boys."

She pulled a face at him, the retort spoiled by the smile his answer had brought to her lips.

"You Pendragon men are a horrible bunch of sexists."

"Using new words again? Who taught you that one?"

Morgana sighed in false exasperation and turned her back on him, tugging at his arm to wrap it around her waist.

"Shut up Arthur, and let me sleep. I wanted to be at my most beautiful tomorrow."

"You're always beautiful."

She slapped a venturing hand down her stomach.

"Compliments won't lead you anywhere tonight, my lord."

Arthur chuckled and kissed her hair, keeping her in his arms while he hid his face her neck.

"Do you think we'll ever find out who spellbound Lancelot?"

Morgana shivered and cuddled closer to him.

"Maybe. But I'm in no hurry to find out. Good night, my Champion…"

"Sweet dreams, my lady."

The end is only the beginning

October 2012