CHAPTER SUMMARY

The day of the royal wedding arrives.

BEGINNING NOTES

Chapter Rating: General Audiences
Word Count: 3958
Content Warning: violence (mild)

And all the characters are owned by Julian Jones and Shine Limited.

Credits at the end.

It was four days before the royal wedding, and at least a hundred nobles had arrived to attend. Merlin and Gwen were up at dawn to prepare the throne room, then forced to stand there as the herald introduced family after family to Uther, Arthur, and Morgana.

"Why do we have to do this when there's a banquet in three days?" Merlin whispered to Gwen.

Gwen shrugged. "At least we won't have so many people at our wedding."

They'd tried to secure time off to travel to the Lake of York--the halfway point between Ealdor and Camelot--to finally get married. But with so many moving parts in the royal wedding, that was impossible.

He had mixed feelings about the wedding. He hoped Arthur and Morgana would have a happy life together, but that was doubtful. They were repulsed by each other in a romantic sense. Still, it wouldn't be until the wedding that Merlin could move on. His feelings for Morgana wouldn't go away until the door was firmly shut on any sort of relationship, and that wouldn't happen until they were both married to other people.

It helped and hurt that Morgana hadn't spoken to him since they'd freed Gwen from prison. It kept his feelings at bay, but... well, he wanted to know why she was so distant. Yes, their friendship had been sudden, but she'd spoken to him here and there before their team-up. Now, she was silent.

"Morgana!" came a female voice, snapping Merlin from his thoughts.

Morgana's eyes lit up. "Elaine!" she cried. She ran from her spot by her throne, and the two women threw themselves into each other's arms.

"Lord Nentres of house Garlot and his wife, the Lady Elaine," the herald announced.

"That's Morgana's only sister," Gwen explained. "I don't think they've seen each other since Lord Gorlois's funeral. Lady Elaine's much older; she got married when Morgana was eight."

"I can see the resemblance," Merlin said. Elaine looked identical to Morgana, except she was slightly taller and had shorter hair. Uther spoke with Nentres, and Arthur joined the sisters chatting in the center of the throne room. "Quick, let's get out of here while they're distracted."

"Are you sure?" Gwen asked.

"Do you want to spend the rest of the day watching nobles bow to Uther?" Merlin asked. With a bit of a laugh, Gwen let Merlin take her hand and draw her away from the crowd.

An hour later, they were running through the woods together with a picnic basket in their hands. "Where are you taking me?" Merlin cried as he chased after Gwen.

"You'll have to see!" Gwen shouted back, and raced even faster with the basket, disappearing as she ran down a steep hill.

"Gwen! Wait for me!" Merlin called, stopping to catch his breath. There was no response. "Gwen...?" he called again, but there was no answer.

Merlin's heart pounded. This was a little too close to comfort for him. The last time he lost someone in the woods... "Gwen?!" Merlin shouted. He sprinted forward, but when he looked down the hill, she was nowhere to be seen.

Gwen screamed.

"NO! GWEN!" Merlin shouted, and ran to its source. His lungs burned and his feet were throbbing, but he didn't care. He wouldn't be helpless a second time.

Gwen was cowering behind a fallen tree. "Gwen!" he cried, relieved. "I-- I thought..."

"Merlin," she whimpered, pointing behind him.

"What?" Merlin turned around. There was a huge monster with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. It screeched so loud that Merlin's ears rang. "Run!" he shouted. He grabbed Gwen's hand, and they sprinted in a random direction.

"It's gaining on us!" Gwen shouted.

They tripped over a branch and fell to the ground. Merlin wrapped his arms around Gwen, determined to be brave. They held each other close, eyes squeezed shut, waiting for the end...

That's when Merlin heard a man shouting a battle cry. There was another screech from the creature and the swish of a sword. "Merlin!" Gwen gasped, pulling him up. In front of their eyes was a young man with a sword, battling the monster.

The man went in for the finishing blow... and the sword broke. "Run! Run!" the man shouted, and the three of them ran for their lives. They came across another fallen tree and ducked behind it. Merlin heard the screech of the monster, then the beat of wings as it flew away.

"It's gone," Gwen said in disbelief. She turned to the stranger. "You saved our lives. I'm Gwen."

She held her hand out to him. He kissed it. "Lancelot," he said with a smile. "And you?" he asked, turning to Merlin.

"Merlin," he said. "Thank you."

Instead of a "you're welcome," Lancelot groaned. Merlin glanced down. Gwen gasped. Lancelot was clutching his side, a large bloodstain below his palm.

"We have to get him to Gaius!" Gwen exclaimed. Merlin nodded. He wouldn't let this hero die.

***

The one good thing about the wedding was that Morgana was able to see Elaine again. She needed a rock to vent her feelings to. Once done with formalities in the throne room, Morgana retired to her chambers with her sister. She told Elaine everything, starting with meeting Merlin and concluding with Uther's ultimatum.

"That's... terrible," Elaine said when Morgana had finished. "But, at least Merlin is happy with Gwen. And alive."

"But for how long?" Morgana asked. "If anything goes wrong, what's to keep Uther from taking everything out on him? He's just a manservant, nothing to Uther."

"You must have faith, sister," Elaine said. "Sometimes, that's all that gets me through the day."

"What do you mean?" Morgana asked, concerned. "Is Nentres not treating you well?"

"No, he's fine," Elaine assured her, "but Cornwall is not. There's so much unrest; I had to send the children to my brother-in-law in Devon or I feared what might happen to them."

"You must stay in Camelot, with your children," Morgana said immediately. "You'll be safe here until things die down."

"My husband is the chief advisor to Uncle Urien; he can't just leave," Elaine said. "And my place is with him."

"But the capital isn't safe!" Morgana protested.

"Everything will be alright when you marry Arthur," Elaine said. "With a Cornish princess, the people will be at peace." She reached across the table and took Morgana's hand. "The people need hope. You are that hope."

Morgana looked down. "I know," she said. She thought wistfully of Gwen and Merlin. "Sometimes, I wish I was a peasant. Then, I'd have a say over my own life."

***

Merlin and Gwen were relieved when Gaius told them that Lancelot would be okay. Worried sick, Gwen spent the night at Lancelot's side. That was so like her, so caring.

Merlin suspected that there was something else to it, though. He'd caught Gwen staring at Lancelot with a doe-eyed look; she felt a connection to him. He wasn't jealous, though. It was natural that she'd feel something for the man who saved her life.

Once Lancelot was up and about, Gwen went home to get some much-needed rest. Merlin and Lancelot retreated to Merlin's room. As soon as Lancelot was inside, he stood on the bed and watched Camelot bustling about from the window. Merlin couldn't help but smile; he'd felt the same awe only a month before.

"Ever since I was a child, I've dreamed of coming here," Lancelot said. "It's my life's ambition to join the knights of Camelot." Merlin meant to interject, but Lancelot didn't take a breath. "I know what you're thinking, I... I expect too much. After all, who am I? They have their pick of the best and bravest in the land."

"Lancelot," Merlin interrupted.

Lancelot turned to him. "Yes?"

"They are going to love you."

"They are?" He sounded so shocked.

Merlin nodded. "I've seen you in action. You could shame the great Arthur himself."

Lancelot scoffed. "I hardly think so."

"In fact, you know what I'm going to do?" Merlin said. "I'm going to talk to him right now."

Lancelot's eyes widened. "You know Arthur?"

"Oh, yes," Merlin replied as dramatically as he could. Lancelot laughed. It was music to his ears.

Merlin met up with Arthur at the arena just as he'd failed yet another knight-to-be. Merlin groaned. He knew where this was headed: Arthur venting. He'd talked his ear off the closer the wedding got. Merlin understood he needed to blow off steam as the unhappy date moved closer, but did he have to do it to him?

"Grummund's the third to fail this month. How am I meant to defend Camelot with rubbish like that?" Arthur complained.

"Well, I think I might be able to help," Merlin said. If Arthur was going to rant, he was going to make it productive for once.

Arthur looked at him incredulously. "You, Merlin? You haven't the faintest idea what it takes to become a knight. Courage, fortitude, discipline."

"No, of course I don't, but I do know someone who does," Merlin said.

"Yeah?" Arthur actually looked interested.

"He saved my life--"

"That's blowing it for starters."

"No, he's really good. Honestly." Arthur had to make Lancelot a knight. It was the only way to repay him for saving his and Gwen's life.

"That's great, Merlin. I'm sure he's terrific, but you forget the First Code of Camelot."

Merlin's heart sank. "The what?"

"The First Code. Only those of noble blood can serve as knights. So, unless your friend is a nobleman..."

"Oh, uh, he-- he is a nobleman," Merlin said without thinking.

"Is he?"

"Absolutely."

"Very well," Arthur said with an air of authority. "Bring him to the training ground tomorrow. And make sure he brings his seal of nobility."

A servant ran to Arthur's side. "The royal seamstress is ready for your fitting, my prince."

Arthur stiffened. Merlin knew the last thing he wanted to do was think about that wedding. The servant bowed, then retreated into the castle. That seemed like a good idea, or Arthur was going to take his frustration out on him again.

"Thanks, Arthur. You won't regret it," Merlin said quickly. "I'm going to... wash the floors." And he ran off before Arthur could say another word.

As soon as the workday was over, Merlin told Lancelot what Arthur said. When Lancelot found out about the First Code, he was heartbroken.

"Why do you want to be a knight so much?" Merlin asked.

Lancelot's eyes clouded with pain. "When I was a boy, my village was attacked by raiders from the northern plains. They were slaughtered where they stood, my father, my mother. Everyone. I alone escaped. I vowed that day that never again would I be helpless in the face of tyranny. I made swordcraft my life. Every waking hour since that day, I devoted myself to the art of combat, and when I was ready, I set forth for Camelot. And now, it seems, my journey ends. Everything I fought for, wasted."

"I understand how you feel," Merlin said without thinking. It had been more than a month since he'd spoken about that to anyone; he hadn't said a word since it forced him out of Ealdor.

"You do?" Lancelot asked, surprised. Try as he might, though, Merlin couldn't bring himself to elaborate. It was still too painful.

Lancelot seemed resigned to his fate. Merlin wasn't. He knew what it felt like to find meaning from tragedy. Merlin wouldn't let anyone rob him of that.

"I give you my word, whatever it takes, I will make this right," Merlin promised.

Lancelot didn't look convinced.

That night, he tracked down a book with records of the nobility. Then, he used magic to counterfeit a seal of nobility for Lancelot. It came out perfectly.

He raced back to his room and woke Lancelot up. He held the parchment out to him in triumph. "What's that?" Lancelot asked.

"This is your seal of nobility," Merlin replied.

Lancelot furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't understand."

Merlin unrolled the paper and handed it to him. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Lancelot, fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria."

"No, Merlin. No," Lancelot said.

"Oh, right. So you don't want to be a knight, then," Merlin goaded.

"Of course I do!" Lancelot cried.

"Well... the rules don't allow it? Damn the rules! The rules are wrong!"

Lancelot shook his head. "But it's a lie. It's against everything the knights stand for."

"You have as much right to be a knight as any man. I know it," Merlin argued.

"But the rules, Merlin." Lancelot protested.

"We're not breaking the rules. We're bending them, that's all. You get your foot in the door. But, after that, you will be judged on your merit alone. And if you succeed--if they make you a knight--it'll be because you earned it, noble or not. I can't change the way things are done around here, but you can... if you let me help you."

Though conflicted, Lancelot finally gave in. Merlin couldn't help but smile. Helping Lancelot almost made his own tragedy a little less painful.

Almost.

The next morning, Merlin took Lancelot to Gwen. She was a talented seamstress and a blacksmith's daughter, so she had access to both fabric and armor. Merlin explained everything to her. "If he's going to be a knight, he has to look the part. So, I was hoping..."

"Of course," Gwen said without a second thought.

Lancelot walked in a second later, causing Gwen to blush. Merlin stood back as Gwen took measurements for the clothes. "Thi.." Lancelot cleared his throat. "This is very kind of you, er..."

"Gwen."

Lancelot smiled. "Gwen."

"Short for Guinevere."

"Ah. Then thank you, Guinevere."

Gwen caught Lancelot's eye and returned the smile. "Don't thank me. Thank Merlin. Merlin would do anything for anyone, wouldn't you, Merlin?" Lancelot looked disappointed at Gwen's praise, but Merlin knew she was just saying anything that came to mind. She babbled when she was flustered.

"I think it's great that Merlin's got you this chance," Gwen continued. "We need men like you."

Lancelot's disappointment vanished. "You do?"

Gwen must've realized how that sounded because she blushed again. "Well, not me personally, but you know... Camelot. Camelot needs knights. Not just Arthur and his kind, but ordinary people like you and me."

"Well, I'm not a knight yet, my lady," Lancelot said.

"And I'm not a lady," Gwen replied with a giggle. "Okay, we're done. Um... I should have these ready in no time. It's nice to meet you, Lancelot." Lancelot kissed her hand. Gwen blushed for a third time. Merlin didn't know how to feel about that.

"She seems lovely, Guinevere," Lancelot said as they walked back to the physician's chambers.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, she is. And the best seamstress in Camelot, I promise," Merlin said.

"Are you two... you know..."

"We're engaged." Merlin felt guilty revealing that information, but it didn't make sense why.

As promised, Gwen came the next day with the finished product. Merlin was amazed she could do that so fast, but, judging by the bags under her eyes, she'd worked on it all night. She seemed determined to impress Lancelot, and judging by his reaction, it worked. He tried it on; it fit perfectly. Gwen fussed over him, straightening out any wrinkles. "You have to look your best if you're going to be a nobleman," she insisted.

"Well... you certainly look the part," Merlin said.

"Doesn't he just?" Gwen couldn't take her eyes off of him.

"I don't feel it," Lancelot insisted.

"We have to get to the training grounds if you want to catch Arthur," Merlin said. "Thanks, Gwen."

"Anytime." Her eyes were still on Lancelot.

***

Morgana and Gwen stood side by side, watching Lancelot become Sir Lancelot. "Who is this man? He seems to have come out of nowhere," Morgana said.

"I know. It's been a bit of a surprise to all of us," Gwen replied. She was practically glowing. Morgana raised her eyebrows. Was there something going on between them? She looked smitten with him, even more so than Merlin. Had they broken up? Despite herself, Morgana's heart soared at the thought. Then, she felt horribly guilty. How could she hope for her friend's heart to be broken?

The formalities ended. Elaine walked over to Morgana and Gwen and said, "Come, sister, we have to get ready for the royal banquet."

Morgana's heart sank. For a few blissful moments, she'd forgotten about the banquet. While she loved a good party, the banquet was going to be her last day of freedom. If the banquet was tonight, the wedding was tomorrow.

"She's right," Gwen said, tearing her eyes away from Lancelot. "I have the dress picked out for you."

Lancelot was arrested at first light, when Geoffrey revealed that his seal of nobility was forged. Gwen was heartbroken, though she tried to fake cheerfulness for Morgana's sake. While Morgana appreciated it, nothing Gwen could do could pull her out of her misery.

Little did she know that she wouldn't be getting married that night.

While Gwen went about her daily chores, Morgana found Elaine. "Let's go on a ride," she said.

Elaine was a little surprised. "Morgana, you have so much to do before the wedding--"

"It's high noon. The wedding isn't until sunset. I have plenty of time." Morgana took her sister's hands. "I'm begging you. I need one last moment of freedom."

Elaine sighed. "All right, we'll go riding. But not too long."

Morgana felt like she was flying. She nudged Blackjack to go faster. She was riding so fast that her worries couldn't catch her. She felt elated for the first time in weeks.

"Sister, wait!" Elaine shouted from somewhere behind her, but Morgana didn't listen. She was too exhilarated to notice anything but the sound of hoofbeats below her. "Morgana!" Elaine shouted again. This time, it registered. Morgana halted Blackjack and looked behind her. She meant to call Elaine's name, but, instead, she screamed.

A massive creature with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion was flying... and diving at her. For a split second, she thought about riding away, but she knew it was too fast to outrun. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the impact.

Something crashed into her, making her fall to the ground. But it wasn't the creature, it couldn't be, she had heard it's squawk and a rush of air as it missed its target. She opened her eyes... and saw Elaine. She must've jumped off her horse and knocked Morgana out of harm's way. Morgana would be grateful... but Elaine wasn't moving.

"Sister?" Morgana asked. She was already crying. Slowly, carefully, she rolled Elaine onto her back. Her forehead was sticky with blood; she'd fallen face-first on a rock sticking up from the ground. "Sister?! No!" She started shaking Elaine, but there was no use. Elaine was dead.

Before she had time to process anything, she heard the squawk of the creature again. It was making a wide turn in the sky, ready to kill her again. But Morgana wouldn't let it. Elaine had died to save Morgana's life; she wouldn't let that be in vain.

As quickly as she could, Morgana laid Elaine on Blackjack, then climbed on herself. "Hyah!" Morgana shouted, and Blackjack went into a fast gallop. Morgana ran for her life, continually looking back to see where the creature was. She was forced to go off-trail and through the woods to keep it from diving again, but Blackjack was an agile horse and Morgana an expert rider. Finally, the creature lost her.

It was late afternoon when Morgana found the trail again, and sunset when she made it back to Camelot. She thought Uther would meet her at the stables, ready to run her through for delaying the wedding. But when she trotted through the gate, it was clear the wedding was off.

The city was in mayhem. People ran through the streets, screaming, and no guards stood at the gate. Camelot never left the gate unmanned.

She led Blackjack at the stables. She'd barely walked through the door when she heard a familiar squawk. The creature was here in Camelot.

Morgana tied Blackjack up as quickly as she could, then laid Elaine's body on a bed of hay. She'd come for her sister later, when the danger was over. She slammed the door shut for good measure, then ran to the armory and grabbed a bow, arrows, and a torch. No one else would die today.

She ran with her weapons through the streets until she saw the familiar figure flying above. The knights of Camelot were trying--and failing--to land a blow on it. Morgana knocked an arrow, lit it on fire, and shot at the creature. It missed by an inch.

She saw Arthur swipe at the creature with his sword, but it broke. The creature lunged for him. Morgana knocked another arrow, lit it, and fired. This time, the arrow hit the creature's foot. It wasn't a killing blow, but it was enough to save Arthur's life. It flew back into the sky, kicking the arrow off its foot as it turned around.

"Who shot that?" Arthur cried, looking around to his knights. Then, he saw Morgana.

"Arthur!" she shouted, and threw him the torch. He caught it and swiped at the creature in time to avoid another fatal blow. While the fire missed its mark, the creature decided it was in danger and retreated back into the sky.

Morgana breathed a sigh of relief. But, now that she was out of danger, grief hit her like a tidal wave. Without a word to Arthur, she ran back to the stables, sat with her sister, and cried.

Merlin found her there the next morning. "I've been looking all over for you," he said. "Arthur sent me. Uther wants to speak to you."

"Let him wait," Morgana said miserably. "I'm not in the mood."

Merlin noticed Elaine's body below her. "Oh, god, Morgana, I'm so sorry."

He knelt down to her and gave her a hug. Morgana knew she should pull away, but she couldn't bring herself to. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried. "She saved my life," Morgana said between sobs. "That creature was trying to kill me."

"The griffin?" Merlin asked. "It's dead. Lancelot killed it."

"So, he's a knight again?" Morgana asked. "I'll have to formally thank him--"

"He's gone," Merlin told her. "Arthur wanted to make him a knight, but he didn't want to divide Arthur and Uther."

"How noble," Morgana replied. "He deserves to be a knight."

"Yeah, but the King is stubborn," Merlin said.

Morgana gave a bitter laugh. "I know."

Merlin pulled out of the hug. His hands were still on her shoulders. He looked into her eyes and said, "Cornwall, the wedding, your sister, you'll get through it all because you're the strongest person I know. Everything will be all right, I promise."

"I suppose that's your way of telling me to go to Uther," Morgana said.

Merlin laughed. "That too. Arthur will string me up if I didn't bring you back."

"We can't have that," Morgana said. She allowed Merlin to help her up. "Swear you'll bring Elaine to Nentres. She deserves to be buried in Cornwall."

"I swear it," Merlin said.

Morgana had the smallest hint of a smile on her face. It was funny how easily Merlin could bring those out, even in her darkest despair. "I'm off to Uther, then. I suppose it's time to face the music."

END NOTES

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