Reverlations
Chapter 7:
Harry was sitting in the court room located in the bowls of the Ministry Of Magic. In this currently on trial for breaking the restriction for underaged sorcery. He and Mr Weasley had just done a mad dash all the way down here, as they had only just a few minutes ago learnt that the time of his trial had been changed.
He was not feeling so confident, as he knew that Fudge would do anything to discredit him, all because the minister refused to listen to him and Dumbledore. Still, Harry thought that Fudge was being a little over-dramatic about the whole thing. Yes, the law needed to be upheld. Harry could understand that. But this, was just overkill. Surely someone in the Ministry thought that maybe this was a bit ridiculous. But then Harry remembered that common sense and wizards did not seem to go together very well.
Harry refocused as Fudge began the hearing.
"Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August," said Fudge in a ringing voice, "into offences committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.
"Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley..."
"Witness for the defence, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
Harry stiffened. He turned in his seat to see that Dumbledore had entered the room. For some reason, this caused a myriad of emotions which Harry had never associated with the sight of the old wizard. Fear, anger and hatred were only a few.
Harry had no idea why this was. The thoughts kept him distracted for most of the trial. The only time he was stirred from his thoughts was when he was asked if he could truly conjure a caporal patronus.
When the hearing was over, Harry felt an inordinate amount of relief, which only increased when Dumbledore disappeared. Harry still did not know why Dumbledore caused such a reaction inside of him. Maybe it was because Harry had been angry towards the wizard and him being responsible for Harry's annual torment via Dursley imprisonment. He really did not know.
He had been feeling strange emotions towards a lot of people lately. But this was the first time he felt so much hatred. This was all confusing to Harry. Even more than his dreams.
The majority of his dreams now seemed to be focused on the mysterious girl, Nimue. Even thinking of that name caused Harry to feel unbridled emotions, such as sorrow, joy, regret, pain, and many more he could not place. And try as he might, that name still remained to be one of the only features which he could remember.
When he had first arrived at Grimuld Place, and learnt that he would be sharing a room with Ron, he had asked the adults if any of them knew how to make it so no one would hear any noises he would make in his sleep. He claimed that it was due to a snoring problem he had developed during the summer. The twins however, had other ideas. They had asked if his nights had been "Haunted by a beautiful ghost?". This caused Mrs Weasley to go off at them about inappropriate questions. Harry just laughed it off. Mainly because Fred and George were sort of correct, though maybe not in the way they expected.
The truth was that he did not want anyone learning of his dreams. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, it was just that he felt as if these dreams should remain a secret, at least for now. Considering that Dudley had claimed to hear Harry yelling in his sleep, he really didn't want to risk anyone hearing any form of sound he made at night. Thankfully, Sirius was able to put a privacy ward around Harry's bed. So now he could sleep without fear of Ron or anyone else hearing him screaming names from his dreams.
He was fifteen now. Mordred had been living in Camelot for three years. Over these three years, he had changed a lot.
His combat technique had improved to the point where he was on par with all of his brothers, even Gawain. Many in Camelot compared his style of fighting to Arthur himself. Both had lean bodies, and preferred a more agile and fluid form of combat.
Occasionally, when he wasn't busy, Arthur would even spar with him. In these sparing sessions, a bond seem to grow between them. This bond was strengthened through their interactions and observations of each other.
While in the beginning, Arthur did not trust him, over time he began to seem more relaxed around Mordred. At times he would even confide in him. Though Mordred could see that there was something that Arthur was still holding back.
In turn, Mordred began to see Arthur as less of an unjust tyrant who was the product of deception and betrayal, as his mother would have him believe, and more of the king whom inspired all of Britain. He truly cared for Britain it it's people, and wanted on the best for them. This only caused Mordred to support Arthur more.
The only problem was that Arthur was extremely restrictive over what kind of magic was permitted. Whenever Mordred asked why he was so strict with this policy, Arthur would always deflect the question, or change the subject.
Another relationship that had been steadily growing over the past few years was his relationship with Nimue.
The two had grown extraordinarily close. They told each other everything, from their fears, to their hopes and dreams of the future. They continuously met every night, learning all sorts of magic together. Sometimes they even created their own spells.
Their love had not gone unnoticed. Only a few days after they officially began courting, Lady Vivien had visited Camelot to cess the young man whom had captured her Daughter's heart. Mordred had been polite towards her, but not overly so. Mordred did not want Vivien to think he was attempting to suck up to her. Thankfully, Vivien gave him her approval, but gave a very dire warning of what would happen if he were to ever hurt Nimue in any way. Outwardly, Mordred smiled at the sorceress and said honestly that he would sooner die than purposefully hurt Nimue. Inwardly, he thought that she seemed more terrifying in that moment than his mother in the worst of her moods.
Merlin, however, seemed less approving. Mordred did not know why, but no matter what he did, Merlin seemed to absolutely hate him. While he did not trust Merlin, considering what the old sorcerer had done, he was also wary around him, as one wrong move could spell his doom.
His brothers were extremely supportive of the relationship. Gawain would constantly ask if the two of them had been intimate, and then give Mordred advice on just how to please a woman. This would cause Mordred to turn red in embarrassment and splutter that they had never been more intimate than kissing.
Gareth, in contrast, was telling him to be careful and to not advance the relationship to quickly. Gaheris enjoyed teasing him about it, in all good fun of course. At other times, he would be the one describing what would happen if Nimue ever hurt him.
At first, Agravaine was skeptical that this relationship would last. However, now that he has seen how close the two have become, he was now pleased that his brother was so happy. He had even offered to write to both their father and Lady Vivien, to ask if they would consider a betrothal between the young lovers, as they were both reaching marital age. Mordred had replied by saying that he would consider it, but he would not agree unless Nimue felt comfortable with the idea.
Overall, their relationship was largely accepted, for the most part.
Much to Mordred's ever-growing sadness, his mother did not approve of Mordred's continued interaction with Nimue. He did not know why, but his mother seemed to hate her. This upset Mordred, as he and his mother used to be so close. Now however, this continued hatred of Nimue was causing Mordred to feel torn. Every time he attempted to persuade his mother that Nimue was good and the right woman for him, his mother would reply with increasingly angered letters.
Thankfully, Nimue was there to comfort him. She would be there to hold him in her arms and wipe away his tears.
Nimue never said anything against his mother. She did not seem to react to the insults targeted towards her. However, the same could not be said for how it hurt Mordred. Nimue however, had a good grasp on her temper. Otherwise Mordred feared that half of Camelot would go up in smoke.
No matter what anyone said, Nimue and Mordred were inseparable.
Now, they both lay in their usual field. They were in the middle of reading some of the newest books that Mordred had received from his mother, when he noticed that Nimue's face was scrunched up in concern.
Mordred closed the book and laid it down in his lap.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked her.
Nimue briefly looked up from her book.
"Oh, no, no." She said, unconvincingly.
Mordred, being sure not to drop the book on the ground, moved over to Nimue and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Nimue," He said seriously. "I can tell that something is bothering you. Please, tell me."
Nimue sighed and placed the book in her lap.
"It was a careless mistake." She said. "I do not know how I could have been so careless."
Mordred's eyebrows scrunched up in concern.
"What happened?"
Nimue drew in a deep breath and sighed.
"Guinevere accidentally court me practicing magic. Magic which was not approve of by Merlin."
Mordred's palms began to sweat.
"What are we going to do?" He asked, fear beginning to blossom in his stomach. This was not good. There was no telling what Guinevere would do.
Nimue sighed.
"I somehow managed to convince her to keep my secret. Do not worry, I did not say anything of you."
Mordred wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him.
"I do not care what she knows about me. All I care for is your safety."
Nimue smiled and pecked Mordred on the lips.
"Do not worry, the Queen of Camelot is good at keeping secrets."
"That is what concerns me." He replied. "As one who keeps too many secrets is hardly one to trusted."
She placed a comforting hand on his cheek.
"Do not worry." She said. "Nothing will keep us apart. Even if one of us was to die, are souls are intertwined."
"But what if you do die?" He asked.
Nimue shrugged.
"Sometimes, you cannot go against what is written in the stars."
Mordred grasped her hand tightly.
"Unless we rewrite them, to say that you will be mine forever."
Nimue shook her head.
"No one can rewrite the stars."
Mordred grinned.
"It's not impossible."
Mordred kissed her.
"And I will do that for you."
Nimue smiled, but it did not quite reach her eyes.
"As I said, our souls are intertwined. Not even death can change this."
For the next few weeks, Mordred was on edge. He was constantly worried that Guinevere would suddenly burst out that Nimue was practicing dark magic.
Nimue continuously attempted to calm him down, with mixed results. She insisted that Guinevere would not betray her. While it was true that Guinevere was close to her handmaidens, it was also true that Guinevere was not someone to be trusted. After all, what kind of a woman would have the nerve to betray Arthur Pendragon by having an affair with his closest friend behind his back?
Mordred could feel a storm brewing. He did not know when, and he did not know how, but he could sense that something was going to happen. An event which would change his life forever. And Mordred hardly thought that it would be for the best.
His fears came to fruition about a month after his and Nimue's conversation.
It was an early morning. The sun was just rising in the sky and the world was only just waking up. Everything seemed peaceful. However, it was not to last. For the peace was broken by a sudden explosion.
Mordred quickly dressed and ran down to the source of the commotion. Only to be met by a large crowd, blocking his path.
Using his agile and flexible movements, he wove through the congregated onlookers, only for the sight which met him to freeze him in his tracks.
In one of the courtyards stood two figures. They were Merlin and Nimue. The older sorcerer's body radiated anger, like a blazing inferno. Nimue on the other hand, stood still and serenely. However, her eyes portrayed her true feelings of distress.
"I should have known." Merlin growled. "I should have known that that, spawn of Morgana, would corrupt you."
Niue's gaze flicked briefly to Mordred.
"Mordred," She said calmly. "Has nothing to do with this. I have been learning completely independently of anyone else."
"You willingly delved into dark magic?"
Nimue's eyes met Merlin's.
"Magic is not separated by light and dark. It is not the kind of spell that is used that makes a sorcerer evil, but the intention behind it. And you, Merlin Emrys, are a dark sorcerer. For you are deceitful, manipulative and controlling. You have restricted what we can and cannot do, thereby weakening us."
Merlin spat.
"It does not matter what you think, you foolish girl. You have broken the law, and therefore must pay for your choices with your life."
"No!" Mordred could hear his voice yelling. He could not comprehend this. Nimue couldn't die. He had to do something.
He looked to Arthur. He met the king's eyes. After only a few seconds, Arthur looked away.
He turned to Guinevere. The Queen's head was bent in shame.
He knew he had to do something. He was a powerful sorcerer in his own right. Maybe if he and Nimue banded together, they could overpower Merlin.
He hadn't taken two steps when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Mordred, no."
He turned to see Gaheris, an expression of concern on the older brother's face.
"Ris, please." He begged.
Gaheris shook his head.
"We can't."
Mordred attempted to break free from his brother's grasp. He couldn't let Nimue die. He could see the two fighting. Nimue was holder her own, but she couldn't keep it up forever. Eventually, she will tire. Mordred knew that, for all of Nimue's talents, she was no match for Merlin.
Mordred could feel another hand grasp his arm. He looked to see Gareth.
"Let me go." He growled.
His brothers only shook their heads.
He thought against their grips. However, while he was agile, both Gaheris and Gareth were much stronger than he was. But that did not stop him from trying.
However, just as Mordred felt his brothers were tiring of having to keep a grip of him, he felt a sudden pain on the back of his head. As his world turned dark, his gaze flashed to where Nimue was still fighting Merlin. Their eyes met, and Mordred could not help but feel a tear come to his eye.
When Mordred woke, he had a pounding headache. He opened his eyes s blearily to see that he was back in his bed, with his four brothers sitting in chairs, surrounding him.
"Mordred," Began Gaheris. "You are awa..."
He was interrupted by Mordred's fist impacting with his face.
"Why?" He croaked out. "Why did you stop me?"
The four brothers looked at each other. Finally, Gareth replied.
"We had to Mordred. If you had gone into that courtyard, you would have revealed your magic to all of Camelot and both of you would be dead."
"I don't care!" He yelled. "I needed to do something. I couldn't just... Just let her die."
Gawain sighed, for once completely serious.
"Mordred, you are our younger brother. It is a duty to protect you."
"Then why didn't you protect her?" Mordred said, his heart in agony.
The four brothers exchanged looks. Gaheris went to place a hand on his shoulder, but the younger brother shoved it away. Finally, Agravaine spoke.
"Last night, Nimue came to us saying that she had had a dream. In this dream, she for saw that Guinevere would betray her trust and tell Merlin of her practices. So she came to us and requested that we'd vow to shop you from coming to her defense."
Mordred clenched his fists.
"Why did you listen to her?"
"Because we all wanted to protect you." Gaheris explained. "And we all knew that if Nimue was in the slightest danger, then you would try to help her. But that would only be putting yourself in danger. Mordred, please... We all..."
"Shut up." Mordred spat. "Just... Just shut up."
He took a deep breath.
"So, is she... Is she truly...?"
Mordred was holding onto hope that Nimue had found a way to escape Merlin. His hopes were dashed when his brothers shook their heads.
"Get out." He growled.
"What?" Gaheris asked, blinking.
"Get out!" He yelled. "If you truly loved me as you claim, then you would have thought beside me to save her. Get out! Get out!"
His four brothers quickly got up and retreated to the door. Gaheris made to turn around, but one look at Mordred and he was slowly leaving the room with the rest of his brothers.
Mordred curled into a ball, and cried.
The tears came like ran and flowed like rivers down his face. All of his pain, grief, anger, was channeled into his tears.
She was dead.
The thought rang in his mind like a thousand bells.
She was dead. Gone. No longer in this world. Nimue had said their souls were intertwined. But what had that meant?
He should have been stronger. He should have used his magic to throw his brothers away. He should have instantly ran to Nimue's sighed and helped her fight Merlin. Even if they were unable to defeat him, they could have escaped into the wild. Maybe they could have sort sanctuary with Lady Vivien. Surely she would protect her daughter. Maybe they could have even went to his mother. No matter how much she hated his choice of lover, she would always protect him.
His thoughts turned to Arthur. How could he be so cruel? How could he allow the death of a girl, barely in her womanhood, to be executed for seeking knowledge? Mordred thought that he had come to know him quite well over the past three years.
In anger, his thoughts turned to Guinevere. Mordred knew she couldn't be trusted. He knew it was her who betrayed Nimue.
Eventually, Mordred cried himself to sleep, the last image in his mind that of Nimue.
He woke again to a hand shaking his shoulder.
"Mordred."
He turned to see Arthur, sitting on the side of his bed. Mordred sat up and pushed the King's hand aside.
"My lord." He said, all of the usual respect absent from his voice.
Arthur's face showed no anger from his disrespect. Instead he appeared concerned.
Why hadn't he been concerned for Nimue?
Mordred asked himself bitterly.
"I am sorry, for your lose." He began. "Nimue was truly a kind young woman."
Mordred scoffed.
"Then why didn't you stop him from... From murdering her?"
Arthur frowned.
"Mordred, I cannot make exception to my own laws, no matter how close the guilty part is to members of my family."
"Guilty?" Mordred found his anger growing. "What is she guilty for? For seek knowledge beyond what is taught by that old fool? For wanting to be free to learn as she wished?"
Arthur seemed to grow angered.
"She was practicing dark magic..."
"Dark magic?" Mordred retorted. "What would you know of magic? The dribble which is said by a sorcerer whom tricked a woman into sleeping with her husband's enemy? A sorcerer who willingly did the bidding of a tyrant who began a conflict with his friend over his lustful desires?"
"That is enough." Arthur said forcefully. "Your heart is grieving. You do not know what you speak of."
"Oh, don't I?" Mordred retorted. "Then how about you give me some answers, oh wise king."
"Merlin only wants what is best, for the greater good."
Mordred could only feel himself becoming more infuriated. The greater good? How could killing an innocent girl be for the greater good?
"I put such tight restrictions on the practice of magic for the good of Camelot and all of Britain."
?Why?" He asked furiously. "Why do you hate magic so?"
"Because of what your mother did to me!"
Silence suddenly came to the room. Finally, Mordred broke out of his shock.
"What... What did my mother do to you?"
Arthur rubbed his temples and sighed.
"I suppose that you would have only discovered this sooner or later."
The king sighed again.
"I was as old as you are now, when I first became High King of Britain. I was young, and I wanted to improve the land I was now responsible for. When I had learnt of the story behind my conception... Well, I was disgusted by my father's actions and decided I would attempt to reconcile. I contacted my newly discovered sister, attempting to build some sort of bond with her. Morgana, however, was unwilling, to say the least. She absolutely hated me, and blamed me for our mother's death. She said that the blood of Pendragon was a stain upon the world. Despite this, I continued to try and mend bridges between the two of us."
"Every year I would invite her to Camelot. She would come with her husband and young children. But she would find any excuse to belittle me."
Mordred listened attentively, but had a hard time believing his mother could be so cruel.
"At my wedding to Guinevere, she had an argument with my bride-to-be. Apparently, Guinevere approve of Morgana openly disrespect both myself and Lot in front of the court. Morgana retorted by saying that Guinevere would bring the land to ruin with her selfish desires. While this was troubling, the true travesty happened the following year."
"Just after the birth of Gaheris, Morgana returned to Camelot. I should have suspected something. She seemed to polite, to cheerful. Part of me feared the worst. However, another part of me felt that I had finally broken through my sister's ice-cold shell. However, it was not to be. My fears came to fruition on the final night of her stay. I am not sure what spell or potion she used. All I know is that the next morning, I woke to see not my wife in my bed, but my own sister."
Mordred's eyes widened. His mother wouldn't.
Arthur sighed and continued.
"Neither of us said a would to each other. She just left, without even an explanation or an apology. I thought that that would be the end of it. However, a few months after the act, Merlin came to me. He told me that he had for seen my downfall, and that it would come at the hands of a child born of both Uther and Gorlois. I believe you are intelligent enough to to find the implications."
Mordred could hardly think. This couldn't be. His father was Lot, King of Orkney. It was not possible that his father could be...
Then he thought of how different he was to his brothers. While they were large and bulky, he was thin and lean. While they relied on brute strength to win battles, he relied more on agile movements. Still, he needed to hear it to believe it.
"Am I?" He asked, terrified for the answer. "Am I the result of... Of that night?"
Arthur sighed.
"At first, it was impossible to know from who's seed you were born from. Merlin did not wish for me to take any chances. He told me that I had to ensure you would not be a threat to the future by killing you as soon as possible, even if it meant ending you in the womb. He informed me that Morgana would most likely birth you in secret. So he urged me to send for every babe that was born on the predicted day of your birth, and have you sent to see to let the elements have you."
"And did you?" Mordred asked.
Arthur's eyes were wide.
"No." He said. "I could never do such a cruel thing to an innocent child. Not even for Britain."
Arthur sighed.
"Over the coming years, I kept a closer eye on Orkney. When I learnt that you had began your combat training, I decided to invite Gawain to Camelot. I did the same thing with all of your brothers. I wished to gain an idea of who you truly were. I feared that your mother was manipulating how viewed both myself and the people of Camelot. But I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw your loyalty to your brothers."
He placed a hand on Mordred's shoulder.
"You are truly a good person Mordred. I can see that. At first I intended to try and undo any damage that your mother had done. But as time went on, I began to care deeply for you. Now that you are older, it is easier to see a resemblance between the two of us. However, regardless of weather you are my Nephew, or that and my son, I still care for you. Do not let your mother corrupt you. I know of how much you care for her. But please, listen to my words."
"She intends to use you for her plans of vengeance. It is almost to perfect, is it not? She hates me for supposedly killing a parent, so she seeks for me to suffer the same fate. And at the same time, the grandson of Gorlois is avenging what was done by Uther Pendragon, long before either of us was born."
Mordred could feel tears coming to his eyes. His mother couldn't. But things began to make too much sense. Why she favoured him. Why she insisted he learn to use magic. Their conversation, the day before he had first left for Camelot.
"Mordred?" Arthur asked, concerned.
Mordred looked up.
"I'm sorry." He said weakly.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Arthur replied. "You are not at fault for your mother's actions."
Mordred took a shuddering breath.
"What now?" He asked.
"Now," Arthur said, "We ensure that the fate that was predicted to us does not come to fruition."
Mordred sighed.
"But if it was predicted..."
"We do not have to let such prediction control our actions."
"No one can rewrite the stars." Mordred muttered miserably.
Arthur squeezed Mordred's shoulder.
"We will see." He said.
The High King got up and left the room.
Mordred's thoughts were racing. The product of incest. A child predicted to be Arthur's downfall.
Mordred closed his eyes in an attempt to prevent more tears from escaping. How could his mother do such things?
His thoughts moved to the warning that his father... Lot, had given him the night before he first left for Camelot.
"Do not give into her manipulations."
He blinked back more tears.
If only Nimue were here.
He thought.
She would have the right words to say. She would wrap her arms around him and hold him close. She would whisper words of comfort into his ear and tell him that everything would be alright.
But she couldn't. She was dead. And it was all because of one individual.
Mordred now understood why Arthur was so strict with magic. He supposed that, in time, he could forgive him. However, there was one thing he could never forgive. Guinevere had betrayed Nimue's trust. And for that, she had to pay.
As Mordred lay in his bed, the song which his mother always sang to him flowed through his head:
Guileless son, your spirit will hate her,
The flower who married my brother the traitor,
And you will expose, his puppeteer behaviour,
For you are the proof of how he betrayed her...