Help is Always Given

Chapter 15

"What'd you do that for?" Arthur asks groggily and painfully.

"You fell asleep on your horse," Merlin replies.

"So I did," Arthur finally realizes he's still on his horse.

"Come on," Merlin starts helping Arthur dismount. "It's time to have lunch anyway."

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Mordred was happy when he was given the mission to go after Morgana. It means that everyone, or almost everyone, still has faith in him.

Knowing that Morgana can't be killed by a mortal blade, Mordred had packed the sword she had made for him in a dragon's breath. Before leaving, he had gone to the Queen. He told her everything he knows, and informed her where he is going and what he is tasked to to. Gwen was relieved to hear about Arthur, and said that she will send a patrol after Mordred if he isn't returned in seven days time. Mordred thanked the Queen for her concern and headed straight for the stables. This time, he picked the quickest horse.

Mordred had gone around Morgana and her men. They were going slower than Mordred, and he didn't have a hard time getting past them. He stopped before a little dished out spot, tied up his horse in an area well concealed, and laid on his stomach to wait for the enemy.

When they arrive, Mordred sizes up the patrol: six men, and Morgana. Mordred jumps down from his hiding place and surprises them. With his magical sword, he easily disposes of the first two men. The remaining men, still in shock, are slow at taking out their swords. Mordred kills a third, and meets resistance with the remaining three. One seems more skilled than the other, almost a match for Mordred, but not quite.

Morgana had just stood at a distance, watching her men be slain by her old friend. She knew, after his body hadn't been found, that he must have returned to Camelot. A small part of her had known all along that his loyalties didn't fully lie with her, what with his constant questioning of her orders.

"Well done, Mordred," she smiles evilly.

Slightly out of breath, Mordred says, "Hello, Morgana."

"Did they send you to kill me?" Morgana mocks.

"Yes," Mordred takes a few steps closer to Morgana.

Morgana looks at him sympathetically, "Come, Mordred, we both know that sword won't do any harm to me. I found the one I gave you, abandoned, on the battlefield."

Morgana is about to say more, but her guards are down, so Mordred uses his opening. He swings his sword at her, making a cut all along her stomach.

Morgana cries out in pain, falls to her knees, and clutches at her stomach to help stop the bleeding.

"You are mistaken, Morgana," Mordred says casually. "It was a decoy. My friends made me an exact replica of this sword, and I planted it on the battlefield just for you."

Not wanting to waste any more time or risk Morgana using her magic on him, Mordred runs her through in one swift movement. She gasps for breath for a few moments before going still.

"Goodbye, Morgana," says Mordred with finality.

He doesn't burry her. He just leaves her lying on the cold forest floor next to her men. Mordred takes off his long blue neckerchief and ties it around a nearby tree. He doesn't know why, he just feels that it's fitting.

Rapidly dwindling from his adrenaline high, Mordred stops half way back to Camelot to sleep for the night. He isn't afraid of the possibility of being ambushed while he's sleeping. The greatest threat is finally banished from this world.