Chapter 46.
The next day, we were reunited again to discuss something else, something more important: our plan to face Morgana. We needed to talk about fighting strategy in order to have the upper ground. Because even if we outnumbered her, she was powerful enough to take us all down. So, we required organization.
“We need to lure her in a place far away from outsiders, maybe in the woods where you found us Mordred,” said Arthur.
“Yes, so that she cannot hurt anyone,” nodded Mordred.
“Is she really that powerful?” I asked.
“She is far more powerful than me, maybe not Merlin, but since she has the grail, she would be invincible.”
“She did survive the thunder Merlin threw at her,” I said.
As I came with that realization, fear seeped into me. I knew that Morgana was powerful, immortal even, and that it would be hard to beat her. But as I listened to the two young men, I felt more like it was the impossible. That even with three of us, there would be a price to pay to defeat her. Only the prophecy and its last line managed to give me hope.
“Yes, and she has more training than you, even if you are Merlin’s descendant,” added the young blond man.
“What? Merlin is your ancestor?” asked Mordred.
“Yes, you missed a lot, my friend.”
“What else can you tell us about Morgana?” I questioned the black-haired young man.
Even if Arthur knew his sister well, Mordred spent more time with her, especially these last few years. He knew her more deeply than any of us.
“She is intelligent, driving by rage against Arthur. I am actually amazed that she waited six all days to find you, even after she send those skeletons. Because I think that was her.”
“Why does she despise you so much, Arthur?”
“He is everything she stood against,” answered Mordred for him. “Arthur was recognized as the son and heir of Uther, while she was not. She thinks it was because of her magic, that she has from her mother’s side. She is actually jealous of Arthur.”
A heavy silence fell. I had never considered Morgana's hatred in this sense. Never thought about it, not really. But I could imagine that her life had not been easy. I loved Arthur, but I could guess that always coming after him in the eyes of the entire court was not easy.
“She knows how to fight with a sword as well as with her magic. That is what makes her powerful,” continued on the black-haired man.
“But we have some advantages. First, Arthur has Excalibur and can conjured magic with it. And since it is the only weapon against her, we will need to focus on the sword. Second, I possess magic as well, which can help. And third, we have you as an element of surprise, since she doesn’t know you are in fact on our side,” I explained.
“Yes, that is why we should keep me hidden until the last moment, until I can kill her,” said Mordred.
“But the prophecy says that Arthur is the chosen one, and thus should be the one to kill her. And Excalibur is his sword.”
“Mordred can help me defeat her,” Arthur declared. “He can hold her off until I pierce her chest with my sword.”
“And reveal me in the last moment, for the final push,” commented the black-haired young man.
“Let’s hope it will be enough,” I whispered, deeply wishing that our strategy would work.
Chapter 47.
Our plan to lure Morgana in the woods was actually the easy part. Mordred showed me how to do it. It worked just like telepathy. It needed focus and a mental image of the place we had chosen. And I just send her the following message from my mind to hers: “If you want to fight, you know where to find us.”
Then, we waited. I thought we were going to wait for hours but she came right away. And we were ready to face her. Well, I was scared but as ready as I would ever be. I didn’t know how Arthur nor Mordred felt, but I guessed they wanted all of this to be over, as soon as possible.
Morgana arrived quietly, taking her time to join us. I was still amazed by her beauty. Her red hair was shining. The sun's rays reflected on them, illuminating her face and her freckles. But the spell was broken when I looked into her eyes. A veil darkened her eyes. A veil of anger and revenge that darkened her beauty and was directed towards us, towards Arthur especially.
She wore her golden armor, giving her the look of a queen. All that was missing was a tiara, and I could have believed it. Her sword was at her side, ready to wreak vengeance on her owner.
But luckily for us, we had also put on our armor and chain mail. Arthur was proudly wearing Excalibur while I still had the sword I had found at my grandparents' house. Did it belong to a knight? Or maybe it was even Merlin's? I'll never know, I guess.
“Finally, you stop hiding and come to face me Arthur,” says Morgana with hate.
“I never hid from you,” he replied in a harsh tone.
“No, instead you sent your poor knights to confront me. But they were no match for me, and neither were you. You know it and that is why you never had the courage to face me.”
“I am here now though.”
“Yes, you are. And I see you brought reinforcements. Ahah, what am I saying? Reinforcements? She is just a pathetic girl," she joked.
I'm pathetic? It upset me more than I thought. I knew she was just trying to provoke me, to start the fight, but I wasn't going to fall into her trap. Even though it affected me, I didn't show it. She could hurl ten thousand insults at me, but I wouldn't let her get to me again. She didn't know me. Fortunately, by the way. And she was going to see how pathetic I was when I let my magic loose.
Arthur took a quick look at me to see how I was reacting and how I was doing. I nodded and told him that everything was fine, that I wasn't going to make the first move, that I was waiting for his orders. Then we turned back to Morgana, who was pacing in front of us.
"Did you like the little skeletons I sent you?" she asked. "I must say that even I was surprised to see how resistant they were. Apparently, resting for centuries gives you strength, or maybe it is the grail. But it does not matter. The important thing is that I am more powerful, and I will crush you, it is inevitable."
“We will see about that,” I said with conviction.
"Oh Arthur, you did not tell me you found someone so reckless, so confident, but that will not do for you. Not to defeat me anyway. What are you going to do? Send her to the slaughter, let her sacrifice herself for you, it is pathetic" Morgana with despise. “Nothing is going to stop me from killing you. Nothing, you hear me!”
At his words, she charged. With a cry filled with wrath, she rushed towards Arthur, her sword in hand. Arthur drew Excalibur in his turn and positioned himself to face her. I was ready too, magic and sword at my disposal. I guessed that the final battle had finally begun.
Chapter 48.
Morgana was fierce and tenacious. She juggled magic and swordplay as she confronted both Arthur and me. She was an outstanding swordswoman, more skilled than the knights I had trained with I thought. Thankfully, Arthur held his ground, for he too possessed this talent. As for me, I couldn't face her, not with my weapon. So, I took refuge in my spells. I sent her one after another, but each time, she blocked them, just as she countered Arthur's attacks.
Arthur was defending himself well. He attacked her on her left side, which she countered, but he unbalanced her with a kick in her leg. She lost her balance, rolled over and before we could do anything else, she was up. Damn, she was fast.
Arthur began again with a new offensive, arming Excalibur with magic. He managed to push her back and put his sword through her shoulder. When he pulled it out, blood ran down her armor. But the next moment, there was nothing left. How could this be? Could the grail heal her like that? Were we wrong to think that Excalibur could defeat her?
Morgana smiled wide as Arthur turned livid. She took advantage of this moment to throw Arthur away from me with a powerful spell. She was only playing with us, for she knew very well that she was invincible, no matter how much we could hit her. Fury seized me. The images of the fight with the skeletons came back to me, especially one passage. This only fueled my rage and I rushed at her.
A little surprised at first, she pushed me back without difficulty. But I did not give up. Using my magic, I kept on attacking her without ever being able to touch her. I raised my sword, crossing hers and holding on. My arms were starting to hurt, but I didn't care.
"You killed my grandfather, you bitch," my hatred expressed.
"Oh, but she's got fangs, the little one," she replied.
"You're going to regret it. You have no right to mess with my family."
That's when my sword flashed. As one, Morgana and I turned toward the glow and then looked back at each other, both of us stunned by what was happening.
"I am dreaming," she declared. "You do not even know your sword is magic. Pathetic! A gift from dear Merlin, perhaps? I heard he died, but apparently he left some things in his wake."
I did not listen to her. Instead, I let her speak while I raised my sword and thrust it into her belly. She let out a cry of pain before sending me flying to Arthur's side with a strong magical wind. I landed heavily on my back, which made me grimace with pain. I had probably broken something.
Morgana pulled the sword from her abdomen and watched the wound close, just as it had done to her shoulder a few minutes earlier. Then she turned to us and what I saw in her eyes, the promise she was making, scared me. I wasn't sure we were going to survive what happened next.
"I have had enough of you, you little parasite," she yelled, out of rage. "You are going to die a slow and painful death, I promise you that.”
I tried to get up, but a strength like I had never felt blocked me. I could see that Arthur was struggling too, but Morgana's magic was powerful. Too powerful.
"Oh no, stay down, where you always should have been," she said, her hand raised toward us.
I attempted to conjure a shield, to escape the prison in which she was holding us, but it didn't work. I tried spell after spell, desperate, and yet nothing worked. I was totally distraught, so that I didn't see Mordred sneaked up behind her, with Excalibur in his hand. He had to pick it up from where Arthur had dropped it before being knocked over by his sister's magic. Morgana was so focused on us that she didn't see anything coming. The young man approached her at wolf's pace and thrust his sword into her chest.
Chapter 49.
Morgana screamed in pain. Blood was flowing everywhere. She turned to Mordred, and I saw her eyes widen in surprise. She began to shake, then her legs gave out and she fell to the ground. Mordred gently grabbed her, as if she were a porcelain doll. I could see tears in his eyes, regret so intense. I didn't know the young man well, but I had the impression that his action cost him. That even if he had to do it, he did it with difficulty.
“Why did you do that?” she asked him, shivering, and feeling betrayed.
“I am so sorry Morgana, I…”
“You chose Arthur, after everything he has done? To people like us? People who have magic?”
“Yes,” he whispered, still holding the young woman in his arms.
I could only watch the scene. I was hypnotized by what was happening. He was shaking with sobs as he listened to Morgana. I could see the pain it was causing him. In a way, I could understand him.
“Why?” the red-haired woman questioned.
“Because Arthur was and is still my best friend. He has made bad choices, but so does everyone else. I will not judge him because he thought it was best for his people.”
“But… it is going to kill you too!” she exclaimed.
“I know,” he responded in a low voice.
“What?” said Arthur, standing up.
I didn't understand. How was this possible? Mordred couldn't die. He seemed completely fine. This brought me out of my contemplation. I tried to stand up, but my back snapped at me. A pain spread through my body from the effort I had just made. Seeing me in trouble, Arthur joined me and helped me to my feet. He placed his hands against my sides and supported me. Then we moved to join Mordred and Morgana.
“Why is she saying that, Mordred?” Arthur asked again.
“Because we are linked to each other,” he replied.
“What does it mean?” I questioned.
“It means that if she dies, I die,” he answered.
“No, why did you do that? When? Maybe we could find a way to break the link,” said Arthur, completely in denial for fear of losing his best friend.
“It cannot be undone,” declared Morgana in a hoarse voice.
Her condition was getting worse. She had blood all over her and was shaking from head to toe. It was not pretty. Her pupils were full of fear. Fear of dying? Fear for Mordred? I didn't know.
“When I joined Morgana, to prove her that I was on her side, I bound my life to hers,” the young man explained.
“Why did you not say something before? Why did you not say it to me when you proposed yourself to kill her?”
Arthur was beginning to tremble with anger and fright. I could feel it in his voice and in his words. Then, everything degenerated and got worse. Morgana found it harder and harder to breathe, the time the sword did its work, I imagined. But the worst came later, when blood poured from Mordred's nose, and he collapsed beside the young woman. Arthur dropped me and rushed to him. I could only hold on to my weapon, which I used as a cane. Arthur took Mordred in his arms, the sorrow darkening his face.
"I am sorry, my friend. Sorry."
"No, no, you cannot die. Why did you not tell me sooner? We could have worked something out."
Mordred shook his head in disagreement. Then, he turned to Morgana. The latter has closed her eyes. She was still breathing, I could see her chest rise and fall. But the magic within her was leaving her body. She didn’t have long.
“I am sorry Morgana.”
“Did… you… even… love… me?” she asked with difficulty, having trouble to talk.
“Yes,” he whispered his last word.
And just like that, they were both dead. Arthur yelled in agony, tears crumbling down his face. Mine started as well. I move with difficulty toward him, and I wrapped him in my arms, as he had for me and my grandfather. I held him tight, telling him with my gesture that I was there for him, always.
Chapter 50.
We stayed in this position for a long moment, giving Arthur time to recover and to grief. He wanted to give them a proper grave. And we would, for Mordred, for my grandfather and even for Morgana. It was Arthur who gave the idea, for his sister as well. I knew he hated her, but I understood. No matter what she had done, she was his sister, his family and she deserved to rest in peace.
“So, is it finally over?” asked Arthur, after a long time.
“I guess so,” I replied.
“What does the prophecy say about it?”
“ ‘Arthur will be reborn on the island of Avalon, Facing powers of great blackness, Beware of the enemies of the kingdom Who attack in the darkness, For deceptive are the appearances, Victory will be only if the chosen one appears.’ ” I recited.
We meditated for a few moments on these words. Then something clicked in me. Finally, I understood the whole prophecy. And looking at Arthur, I saw that he was doing the same, that everything finally made sense.
The first line, we had deciphered rather quickly because it concerned me directly. I had saved Arthur by bringing him back with me to the present. For the next four lines, the enemy was Morgana, who was attacking in the shadows because we didn't know that she had survived all this time. And that she had taken the Grail, which was also the Philosopher's Stone. While the last two lines were actually about Mordred. Mordred, who I thought was against us. Whom I had never imagined as the chosen one, convinced that it was Arthur. But it was he who had saved us, who had revealed himself to us, who had chosen to sacrifice himself to save Arthur and me. And I would be eternally grateful to him.
“I have the feeling that everything is over,” I said at last.
“Me too.”
The silence fell. We struggled to get up. My back still hurt, but it was bearable. Arthur held me, so that I would not slump to the ground again.
"Shall we go home?" he said.
"With pleasure. But I think we'll have to stop by the hospital first."
He nodded and led me out of the battlefield.
“You know, I think Merlin help us a lot. First with the prophecy, then with the sword and his warnings. I do not think we could have win without him,” I declared while we put some distance between us and the woods.
“I wished he was with us,” Arthur only replied.
“Me too. But he is with us, in spirit, in our hearts. And will always be. So will Mordred, and everyone who helped us.”
Arthur stopped and turned to me, still holding me firmly. I could see the gratitude reflected in his pupils. He smiled at me and leaned in. The next moment, I could feel his lips on mine. I instantly responded to his kiss. I didn't realize until then that I needed it so much. Because it made me feel safe, it gave me strength, energy and love.
“Avalon, I could not have done it without you, you know that right? I know that I did not always act as I should, especially towards you, but I want you to know that I love you and that I am happy to stay here, in this area, with you," declared the young man.
I was speechless for a moment. Then I smiled. I was so happy to be here with him. To have him tell me all this. I couldn't have been happier.
“I love you too. And I don’t think anything will ever change that,” I said.
“Good, because I intend to stay with you for as long as I can,” he smiled back.
And just like that, we walked off the battlefield, leaving our fears, anger and worries behind. To start a new life, filled with joy and happiness, which I hope will last forever.
Epilogue.
It took a long time for Arthur and me to rebuild ourselves after the events that occurred ten years earlier, after that famous day when we lost more than a friend, but a brother, to win a battle that lasted for years. I had to do months of rehabilitation after my back surgery. I had been lucky, I hadn't broken anything too serious. Arthur had also taken his time to mourn, and then to acclimate to life in the 21st century, but he had succeeded, and I was proud of him. So proud.
And now we were happy. We had finally left these events behind and were enjoying life as we always should have. And anyway, we were together. It was the best part of my life. To live and experience everything with Arthur. We had grown together, each making the other better and we were still doing it. Especially now that we welcomed a new living being into our midst.
It was a boy. A sweet, lovely boy. That I already loved with all my heart.
“What will you call him?” asked the midwife.
“Maybe we can name him after your grandfather. What was his name?” said Arthur with love.
“Henry,” I answered, exhausted.
“Henry Pendragon then,” my husband told the midwife.
“Wait, maybe we should name him Henry Mordred Pendragon, what do you think?”
At my word, Arthur stood still. He looked at me, with tears in his beautiful eyes. Then, he regained control of his movements, leaned over and kissed me.
“I love you,” he said.
“Well, welcome Henry Mordred Pendragon,” declared the midwife. “Welcome to your family!”
Author’s Notes
This fiction is dedicated to my grandfather, a great man who left us too soon.
Although normally the story of the Arthurian legend takes place around 537-541, including the battle of Camlann, I decided to set the story in the year 1200, so that it would be closer to our century.
I also decided to change some aspects of the Arthurian legend for plot and suspense. Normally, Gwaine is not Morgana's son but her sister Morgause's. Just like I modified the legend about Lancelot and Guinevere.
Mercia was a reel kingdom near Camelot, it still exists nowadays under the same name.
Iseult were many names, the most known is Isolde but I wanted to be closer to the name in French, so I chose Iseult.
For the quest of the Graal, I chose to take Gwaine and Tristan in order to advance the plot, but Galahad, Bohort and Perceval were in the legend the three knights who had made this quest.
I also used as an inspiration, in addition to my research, Meg Cabot's Avalon High and her Order of the Bears for my Book of the Beowulf (everything I say about the Beowulf is true by the way), and the Merlin series for the ban on magic, Gwaine's name, and some of Morgana's background.
I also wanted to add that I am no expert of the etiquette and language of this era. I did the best I could with my knowledge to make it seems as if people acted and spoke as they did in the past. Please keep in mind that this is fiction and not the truth. Thank you.
THE END.
Photo Credits : Amélie Marmonier
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