Teach Me

Chapter 11

"She likes you."

Merlin lifted his head up and raised an eyebrow at his mother, "who?"

"The Lady Morgana," Hunith smirked as she sat at the kitchen table while Merlin washed the breakfast dishes.

Merlin scoffed and shook his head, returning to scrub the plate he'd been working on, "no she doesn't. The only reason she's here is because we both helped the Druid boy out of Camelot."

"Does she know about your magic?" Hunith asked in a whisper after making sure they were alone.

Merlin smiled sadly, "I would be dead if she or Arthur knew."

Hunith disagreed but decided not to push the subject any farther.

* * *

"Why?" William asked as he walked up to Merlin later that day.

Merlin turned to face him, picking up firewood as he did so, "why, what?"

"Why won't you just use sorcery to defeat Kanan? That way none of us have to be killed."

Merlin shook his head and tried to figure out a way to explain this to his friend, "I just can't."

"Well why not?" William asked, crossing his arms.

Merlin set the firewood he was holding, down and sat down on a log next to William. William soon followed him and Merlin spoke, "Will, it's not my destiny. My destiny is to help Arthur become a great king. I can only do that if no one finds out about my magic."

"Merlin, these are your people," William told him, shocked, "you would put the life of Arthur over everyone in this entire village? The village that you grew up in? The village where all of your friends and family live in?"

Merlin gave him a sad smile, "Arthur will be a great king someday, it is my duty to be beside him when that happens. If I'm executed for anyone finding about my magic then that future can't very well happen, can it?"

William let out a bitter laugh and stood up, shaking his head, "forget I even asked, Merlin."

* * *

"I don't know if they'll be ready," Morgana said uneasily as she made her way towards Merlin and Guinevere who were watching Arthur train the men how to use swords.

Merlin sighed as he watched them, "I think you're right, but we still have to try." He turned towards Gwen, "thank you, by the way, for coming. I know you didn't have to."

Gwen smiled and quickly patted Merlin's shoulder, "you've been a good friend to me, Merlin. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't return the favor?"

"Well," Merlin said as he scratched the back of his neck, "Morgana and I are technically both wanted under arrest."

Gwen shrugged, "yeah well, I also knew the boy was there. So don't worry, I won't turn you in."

Morgana looked at Merlin, "Merlin, what are we going to do? We can't go back to Camelot, and if something bad happens here..."

Merlin ran a hand through his hair in thought and then smiled at her, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see how the battle with Kanan goes before we decide what to do."

"It won't go very well," Gwen noted, "there's not nearly enough men here to take on Kanan."

Morgana nodded, "the only way they'll have a chance is if they let the women fight."

Gwen pointed her finger at Morgana, smiling, "that's not a terrible idea!"

"Well thanks for the vote of confidence on my ideas, Gwen," Morgana remarked sarcastically.