Gwen has been in Morgana's service for a week when Morgana first wakes her in the middle of the night, screaming bloody murder. Gwen runs into her bedchamber.
"My lady -" her voice is breathless, the sight that greets her chilling: Morgana is sitting up in bed, terrified-looking, staring at some invisible ghost. "Morgana." Morgana looks at her and whispers her name, voice hoarse with sleep; she repeats herself, but it doesn't sound much better. She sounds, Gwen thinks, like a dying woman begging for mercy. Gwen runs to her, and as soon as she has her arms around Morgana, the King's ward holds onto her for dear life, drowning in her own nightmare, racing heartbeats thudding together where they press together.
"Guinevere, it was horrible -"
"Shh," Gwen says, pulling away slightly. Morgana resists for a moment before she realizes Gwen doesn't intend on letting her go completely. "It's over," Gwen reassures. She can't begin to understand what Morgana dreamt of, nor why it has torn her asunder so; she only knows that Morgana is torn, and Gwen - more than anything - wants her, needs her, in one piece. For more than just her pay; her father had suggested Gwen become a maidservant at Camelot after a near-accident while she watched him work, and though Gwen dreaded it and anticipated it in equal parts (hearing stories of pompous, cruel mistresses), she was fully rewarded with the King's ward, no less, and a kind woman, all in one. And, Gwen was forced to admit to herself, a beautiful woman.
Morgana looks at Gwen fearfully and Gwen brushes her hand through Morgana's hair. Gwen can sense her calming, but -
"Please stay." Morgana's voice is just above a whisper, pleading; Gwen nods her head. "I'll be just out in the antechamber, my lady..."
"Please," Morgana repeats, "here." She shifts slightly, and Gwen has to let Morgana go as the latter pulls back her bedclothes.
Wordlessly, Gwen climbs into bed beside her mistress; wordlessly, Gwen and Morgana entwine themselves together; wordlessly, Gwen kisses Morgana's forehead; and, wordlessly, Morgana kisses Gwen back on the lips, quickly, softly - and falls back on the pillows, in slumber.
(It becomes routine; though, later, less words are needed between the time it takes Gwen to get from the antechamber to Morgana's side in the bed; and, it will be later, after one of these dreams, when Gwen is lying awake beside Morgana in bed, that Morgana will look up at her through her lashes, eyes full of tears, and whisper:
"Guinevere, I'm a sorceress.")