Between the Storms

Chapter Eighteen

18. Uther and Arthur and Merlin Oh My

Magdelena watched the council members leave around noon, so as Magdelena served Uther lunch having been on her best behavior she prepared to ask him, "Why have you been so obedient and quiet?" he asks, "You are never like this, what is it?"

"I have an errand to run and I am unsure how long it is going to take," she says looking at anything but him, "I need the time off so I may run this . . . errand."

"That is hard to believe," Uther says staring at his servant who was looking nervous something he had never really seen her be, angry yes. Nervous never and it made him slightly worried, "I guess I can find you a replacement for the time if it is important to you."

"I can't thank you enough Uther!" she says grabbing his arm slightly, "May I have the rest of the night off?"

"Yes go prepare for your journey," he says, "What is your errand?"

"Don't worry about it Uther!" she calls as she runs from the room and to the chambers she thought Merlin might be in but he wasn't in the physician's chambers. She felt him out and found him down by the training ground he was watching the Prince train with some of the knights Sir Leon being one of them. She grabs his shoulder and pulls him away from the knights a bit, "Merlin I am leaving to run a favor for a sorcerer I owe a favor to."

"How long will you be gone?" he asks and she bites her lip knowing this was going to get worse and worse.

"I am unsure of the duration of the quest," she says looking at him as he looked slightly annoyed.

"What it the quest for?" he asks staring at her with narrowed eyes.

"The Eye of Ardon," Merlin's eyes go wide at the sound of the gem which had been in the magic book that Gaius had given him. The spell to turn him into pure magical energy at least he knew nothing else other than the thing inside the gem was a demon, an evil one, "Now before you freak out I have a plan."

"You can't go on that journey alone! Do you know the way there or what you may have to face to get the gem!?" Merlin says rather loudly enough that the knights turned to see what was going on but not loud enough that they heard what he had said, "I mean come on Magdelena! Arthur would barely be able to get through that quest with an army of knights!"

"Merlin I am not some mortal who can be killed," Magdelena says, "I am death, please Merlin you have to trust me to do this." 

"Let me come with you, Maggie! I can help you really I can!"  Merlin says Magdelena shakes her head, "Maggie! Let me come with you!" 

"Where is Maggie going?" Leon asks which earned Merlin a harsh glare. 

"What the little lady needs help carrying her dresses?" a knight that Magdelena didn't know and didn't really like she looks at him with a soft look.

"If you're going to challenge me you need to have a sword in your hand," she says looking down at his hand, "You don't have a sword in your hand so I will ignore your comment as incompetence." 

"Why!" the knight looked enraged and Leon took him to go get ready for their watch or whatever it was they were going to do making Magdelena smile as she watches them go. 

"Where are you going Mags?" Arthur asks she punches Merlin's arm before turning to look at Arthur seeing Merlin rub where she hit him.

"On an errand," she says, "I have been cleared by Uther, you may go ask him if it would please you."

"How long will you be gone?" Arthur asks her but she stares at him not answering so Merlin puts it upon himself to tell him for her.

"She has no idea!" Merlin says his voice now outraged, "I am going with her so you will need to find me a replacement as well."

"Merlin you are not coming with me," she tells him staring at him with a look in her eyes he had never seen before, "I understand that you feel the need to protect me but Merlin this is something I have to do on my own."

"Maggie it is dangerous!" Merlin snaps at his sister.

"Yes and you don't need to be put in harms way more than you already are," she says staring at him before turning to see the Prince still there and makes harsh contact with Merlin. Arthur watched them have a silent conversation he didn't understand. 

"Fine, I will stay but only cause Arthur would be in trouble without me," Merlin says making Magdelena smile at her brother knowing how much it was hurting him to not go with her to protect her. 

"Please all Merlin does is cower behind trees you are better off without him," Arthur says, "Why don't I come along with you? If it is going to be dangerous. I am sure my father may protest, but that hasn't stopped me."

"I will be taking no one but Gilthunder and perhaps Baxton," she says hotly, "I will hear nothing more of this foolishness! Merlin, you are not coming, nor are you, Your Highness. Now I must go prepare myself for the journey." 

Magdelena goes to walk away but Arthur grabs her arm before she can leave, "Will you please inform me when you are parting?" he asks she stares at him curiously but nods her head before making her way toward the chambers of Gaius where she planned to grab some herbs and medicines before she leaves. 

She turned a corner and collided with a hard chest, she looked up to see Leon who smiled down at her, "Greetings Maggie," he says, "You are leaving I heard? Off on an errand for the King?"

She shakes her head, "No this is a more personal one," she says with a soft smile, "Have there been any bad news? Bandits? Or creatures? Animal attacks?"

"Bandits are always a problem," Leon says, "Nothing really out of the ordinary. Though it depends on where you are going."

"If I had any idea I would tell you," she says, "Thank you for your help, Sir Leon. Now I must go prepare for my journey."