Clarity
Part 1
"Tell me where Emrys is.." Morgana pried as her eyes narrowed in on the woman standing tall before her,
Morgana gasped as she watched the elderly woman before her thrust the gleaming blade she held into her abdomen; Her knee's quivering as she fell to the floor before the high priestess. Stepping closer in a slightly shocked way Morgana watched as Finna's eyes filled with a watery defiance. Her preys head remaining tilted up high as she slipped away before her pursuer. Kneeling down to the floor the witch glared at the elderly woman with a loathing,
"Tell me who Emrys is…"
Finna shook her head slowly as she smirked, A bright light slipping onto her face as she took a last frantic breathe before her eyes slipped closed and she fell into an oblivion. Leaning away Morgana sighed as she brought one of her hands up into her face. In all her years of fighting and killing Morgana had never seen so much passion in someone to die for another, Whoever Emrys was- He was lucky to have such loyal, brave followers. How she would have killed an army just to have someone like that there for her when she was at the bottom of the freezing pit, With only the cries and whines of Aithusa to comfort her in the darkest of times.
"Burn the body" Morgana growled as she stood upwards, Nodding one of the men wandered forwards; Grabbing the hilt of the gleaming sword and pulling it out from the victims abdomen. Spotting the blade Morgana frowned as she signalled for the soldier to stop. Freezing the man turned to the woman slowly, Holding the blade out towards her he allowed the priestess to take it slowly, Her eyes glancing across the blades surface as she noted the dull dark metal, The swords hilt a deep leather covered in engravings and an insignia of its creator.
"I recognise this blade" Morgana commented as she glared back down to Finna, "This is from the forge of Camelot, Not an expensive blade but-"
"Morgana" The leader of the bandits stated as he wandered into the room, His fists punching the rotting wood door wide as he wandered in behind the witch. The floor groaned at the man's sheer weight as he plodded forwards slowly, His face flinching as he spotted the dead woman splayed out on the floor before them.
"But this woman wouldn't have owned a sword from Camelot M'Lady" The guard who had been beside Morgana muttered causing the witch to glance across to him with a sparkle in her eye, Her dark raven hair tossed across her face as she slowly raised her hand to pull it away and reposition it to the side. Pulling off one of her dark leather gloves the woman ran her fingers over the rough callous metal, Nodding slowly.
"SHUT-UP!" The leader barked at the guard causing him to bite his lip, Slowly the much burlier man placed his hands deep within his cloak, His hand resting on the pummel of his sword as his eyes narrowed towards the guard with an unspoken threat.
"No-" Morgana cut through, Her eyes narrowing on the much larger man beside her, "He is right-This isn't her sword… Its barely used" Morgana mumbled as she glanced across to the soldier next to her, His feet locked into place as he stared at the woman in fear. "Well done-"
At that the guard visible relaxed as he smiled and nodded back, "I was only helping M'lady-"
Morgana smirked darkly as she handed the sword back to the leader behind her, "I always remember the people who helped me through these times, For when I regain the throne I will ensure I repay my debts", Slowly the witch glanced back to the guard, nodding her head as she began to bend downwards. Slowly she moved towards the body, The heat still radiating off Finna's aged skin as she laid sprawled out on the wooden floor; Giving off the pretence she was merely resting within the depths of the old tower. Placing her hand on the woman's shoulder Morgana frowned as her eyes narrowed on the wound which spanned her chest, Searching around it in more detail.
"Morgana?" The leader asked as he stepped forwards; The blade still being clutched in his hand as he turned back around and to the collection of guards in the doorway. Slowly he raised his hand as he signalled his men to split up and head back down towards the horses. Returning back to his original position the leader watched in detail as the dark haired woman placed her hand on the older woman before them, Her eyes narrowing as she moved her body to the side where a frown instantly crossed her features.
"There is no wound-" The guard beside them muttered again before he bit his lip, Turning the leader glared at the younger man opening his mouth to scold him before Morgana smirked and stood upwards; Raising her slender hand as she silenced him.
"He's right again-" Morgana muttered to herself as her eyes flickered over the bleak surroundings, The spider cobwebs hung in the corners of the room, Its ends swaying in the soft draught which rang through the room, Stirring the dust on the surfaces and leaving the air thick and heavy. "I Fear he may be smarter than you- There is no old wound…"
"But there was blood at the camp?" The Bandit leader murmured as he crossed his large arms, The leather across his chest stretching and tightening around him, "Are you implying that my man didn't hit his target?"
"I have no doubt that your man hit his target-" Morgana sneered as she turned around to the man before her, His thick leathers and large fur cloak wrapped tightly around his shoulders as he stared coldly at her. Matching his look the witch raised her chin upwards as she inhaled sharply. "Only if she didn't hit Finna- Then who did she strike?"
"Someone else?" The leader questioned as Morgana nodded slowly and laughed to herself, Turning on the ball of her heel as she stared down at the woman before her.
"Pre-haps it was her partner?" The guard beside them suggested, Obviously gaining confidence from his previous theories.
"She wasn't here alone-" Morgana uttered, Her dark eyes moving slowly around the room when a sudden thud sound emanated from above them. All eyes in the room shot to the ceiling above them and where the sound had come from, The surroundings turning silent as everyone strained to hear more.
"That sounded like a falling body-" The leader muttered as he stared at the spot from where the thudding had originated from, Smirking darkly the witch allowed her eyes to drop back to the room, identifying a small collection of stairs in the corner which spiralled sharply up towards the roof of the small tower. Laughing to herself Morgana snatched the blade back from the bandit, Spinning it in her hands as she wandered forwards as a briskly pace- "Oh- How brave she was a diversion-"
"A diversion for who?" The leader asked as he frowned, His eyes spotting something on the floor beside Finnah's body.
"Isnt it obvious?" Morgana asked aloud as she also stopped beside the stairs, having spotted the same thing to the leader. Allowing her hand to reach upwards the witch pulled her un-gloved hand across the cool stone beneath her finger tips, pulling it up for inspection as she smiled with a dark glee. Turning back to the bandits the woman showed them the thick red blood which covered her hand, the remnants of a hand print on the lower wall beside her. "Emrys"
"Emrys!" The men echoed as they drew their weapons and raised them, Morgana smirked as she raised her hands upwards,
"Lower your swords- I'll go and grab him- you prepare the horses and-"
"Morgana-" The bandit stated as he wandered forwards and placed his hand on the woman's shoulder, Filling her with an odd sense of comfort, "If this is Emrys surely you would want some guards- Rhydian here can-"
"An injured old man?" Morgana echoed as she laughed. Her fists clenching tightly as the leather glove covering her hand tightened and the smirk dropped from her face, "Even I am sure that I can out power an injured old man- Now go… this is between me and Emrys"
The bandit leader nodded as he turned and gestured for Rhydian the guard to follow, The wood groaning as they both left the room. Sighing the witch turned and smirked gleefully as she pulled away her gloves and tossed them to the floor, Her feet slowly making their way up the steep stairs; The blood droplets which covered the floor more and more noticeable the higher she climbed. For an elderly man, Emrys had the physique and endurance of someone almost half his predicted age. Slowly the dark moonlight from the roof slipped through the cracks in the wood from the door before her, Splaying patterns across the dark cracked mossy cobblestone which surrounded her. Taking a deep breathe the witch stepped forwards, Pushing the aging door open with a crack.
"Emrys?" Morgana questioned as she stepped out into the cool air, Her voice wavering slightly. Cursing herself mentally the woman narrowed her eyes on a dark shadow slumped on the floor before her. Noting to sound more malicious and intimidating despite the raw fear which pulsed within her she stepped closer, "Emrys- How nice of us to be acquainted again-"
Slowly the slump on the floor moved, As if it was trying to push itself away only as it did the man groaned causing her smile to grow wider across her face, approaching the man slowly the woman looked down at the blade in her hands. "That woman who stood before me was brave Emrys, Especially to sacrifice herself for your own safety", Morgana murmured as she stopped walking; Throwing the blade to the floor beside the silhouette shrouded in shadows. "I think this belongs to you afterall-"
The man groaned again as he tried to remain in the shadows causing Morgana to laugh, "Aw- How silly of me- Your injured- How does it feel?" Morgana crept closer as her grin deepened and darkened, Once again the slump on the floor cowered away deeper into the shadows.
"The great Emrys is cowering from me and hiding in the shadows- Well there's no more hiding now" Morgana stepped forwards to wrench the man out, However as she neared she instantly noticed something different, The man before her was too young to be Emrys, too innocent and idiotic to be an all-powerful wizard. No- Instead the only thing he was good for was being a servant, A servant for the one man leading a future which haunted her dreams.
"Morgana-" Merlin groaned as his eyes darkened and he stared deep into the witches dark eyes.
