Forge

[servant]

"Hello? I don't have to polish this thing, do I?"

Comments

Private;

[servant]

[Well his bad feeling didn't prepare him for that. And his hesitation is damning, but Merlin always tries to stay one step ahead.]

Who told you such a thing?

Private;

[veneficus]

Merlin. Answer me, never mind who told me, did I or did I not?

Private;

[servant]

[He draws a breath to deny it, thinks that he could probably get her to believe him with a little convincing. After all, lying's his thing, right?]

[But then he thinks of Gaius. The theory that keeping her in the dark about things actually protected her. And how Merlin's thought about that, and wished he'd done things differently.]

Yes.

But you had help getting there.

Private;

[veneficus]

[ She doesn't say something for a long, long while. ]

Why? Who?

Private;

[servant]

First by Morgause, a sorceress. And...

[His instinct is still to hold back, so he does for the time being.]

And then by Arthur's uncle.

Private;

[veneficus]

Who is -?

[ She doesn't remember the name Morgause from anywhere and Arthur's uncle -

For a second, she looks like she might be sick. ]

Why? Do you know...? I don't understand.

Private;

[servant]

Uther had many enemies. Enough to want to stamp out the Pendragon line.

[But her role was a little more complicated, and Merlin thinks about her dream, the one of her father and the good man that he'd seemed.]

Morgana, think about if you should ask anything more. Like your visions, you can't un-know these things.

Private;

[veneficus]

I do.

[ At once. ]

I want to know. I - I never wished Arthur anything but happiness. I have to understand. What happened? Why would I do this?

Private;

[servant]

Arthur is your brother. By blood.

[He spits it out before he has a chance to retreat.]

[Softer.]

Uther was your father all along. But he wouldn't let it be known. He wanted Arthur to have the only claim to the throne.

Private;

[veneficus]

....Oh -

[ She grows pale and paler. ]

Oh.

Private;

[servant]

[Merlin sighs.]

Arthur didn't know. Not until it was too late. But Morgause supported you. Taught you about magic.

You started wanting the throne of Camelot.

I'm sorry. There's just so much that...happened.

Private;

[veneficus]

...The traitors who took over Camelot - the reason you cast a spell to sneak Arthur out, that was me wasn't it?

Private;

[servant]

Yes.

You would've killed him.

Private;

[veneficus]

Like I killed Uther?

Private;

[servant]

[More quiet than ever.]

Yes.

Morgana, these are things that you haven't yet done. And we're all here, and none of us know for how long. We can still...even Arthur realizes that you shouldn't be held responsible for it. Not here, not now.

Private;

[veneficus]

[ She moves a hand to wipe at her eyes, hands shaking. ]

You should not be...I don't know how you even manage to look at me Merlin I -

[ She doesn't deserve it. Uther is one thing, but Arthur...after all the times she tried to save him, all the times she dreamed his death - ]

Does Gwen know, too? Lancelot?

Private;

[servant]

Because I know what it is to do things and not be proud of them. And you haven't even done them that.

I haven't told them anything.

Private;

[veneficus]

Thank you Merlin. For still...for still being able to even be my friend again.

Private;

[servant]

You don't have to let this change you.

Private;

[veneficus]

I know.

[ she attempts a smile, even. ]

Private;

[servant]

Good.

[He nods, tries to give her one in return.]