Ancient Help (A Harry Potter and Merlin Crossover)

Chapter Sixteen: The Rescue Mission

Morgana woke up with a gasp, the remnants of an old sorcerer, one whose name sent shivers down her spine, still vivid in her mind.

"Sister, is there something wrong?"

The lady once again gasped, this one because of surprise, and turned to her door. Morgause was standing in front of her door. Although it was dark, she could see that there was a look of concern on her face.

"I... had a dream," Morgana said breathily, confused of what she had seen. She glanced at her wrist and saw that her healing bracelet was in place. "There was a face, an old one. I... I was thrown on a ground, a battlefield, and I was injured... dying. This old man was hovering above me, an unforgiving look on his face. I asked him for help. I called his name." She paused and swallowed. "Emrys."

Now saying out loud chilled her in fear. She could not understand why she was frightened by just a mere face, by just a mere dream. But there was something about her dream tonight that unsettled her. After all, she was still able to dream about it despite wearing the healing bracelet that Morgause had given to her.

The said blonde strode towards her bed and sat down beside Morgana. "That is truly peculiar," Morgause said, also frowning at Morgana's story. Absentmindedly, she grabbed her wrist, the one that held the healing bracelet, and lifted it up. "For you to dream it must be powerful enough to change the future, Morgana."

Her eyes widened, frightened by her words. "What must we do, Morgause?" she asked, her voice strangely soft.

The High Priestess raised a hand and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "We will do something about this soon, my dear sister," she said. "But for now, let us focus on the current matter at hand. Your maidservant has already been gone for a day. I am sure that by now, Arthur already discovered of what must be done."

This information brought peace in her heart. Morgana looked up at her sister and smiled, great anticipation of what was to come. "And soon, I will claim the throne of Camelot," she declared, her smile slowly turning into a sinister smirk.

Morgause mirrored her expression. "Soon," she echoed.

__________

"You don't have to do this, Arthur," Guinevere, tearful, whispered, looking up at the Prince who was now pacing contemplatively in front of her. She nervously fumbled with her tunic, having changed from her dress into comfortable tunic and breeches for the travel.

After Merlin's persuasion, she told the predicament to Arthur. It somehow did not surprise her that he became livid, cursing Cenred for his bastardly schemes. After that, Arthur unwaveringly declared that he would do as what Cenred wished for her to do – go to the Castle of Fyrien in exchange for the lives of Hermione and Elyan.

"What I don't understand is how did they know?" Arthur then said, stopping his pacing and standing directly in front of her. "About... you," he said, answering her silent question.

Gwen sighed and looked at her calloused hands. She shook her head and lifted her head back up. "I don't know," she whispered.

The Prince sighed and approached her. "It doesn't matter," he said. "I already ordered Merlin to ready the horses for our journey."

"Are you sure about this, Arthur?" she asked worriedly. "I... I don't want you to give up your life."

He smiled and slightly bent down, clutching her hand and giving it a squeeze. "Your brother and friend are important to you," he whispered back. "Of course I am willing to give up my life."

Gwen gratefully smiled up at him. Arthur released her hand and wiped away some of the tears that escaped from her eyes.

"And besides, Hermione is imprisoned," he said, straightening back up. "I am quite certain that if for some strange reason I refused to embark on this rescue mission, Merlin would have gone there by himself and idiotically put his life into danger. I'd still rather have him as my manservant."