Teaser, un-betaed.
Set at the end of 1x08 "Igraine"; alternative story from now on.
Chapter 1 – Prologue
"Good morning." She said in a melodious voice. The woman sported a broad smile, proud of her own accomplishment: she did sound like a convincing double for the woman in front of her.
Igraine stared in horror. It was like looking in a mirror, with the alarming difference that her reflection was moving, talking and smiling when she was not. It was magic, it was dark and it was evil, she could sense it.
"What are you?" She breathed out, her voice shaky.
"Really, Igraine." The other snorted, rolling her eyes and losing some of her composure in the process; she didn't care, because it was early and no one was up yet to see them interact.
"Morgan?" The older woman guessed, her heart stopped for a moment. She had always sensed the dark soul of that girl, but she had never imagined she was a sorceress, like Merlin but oh-so-different too."How- why-" She stammered, her vision getting blurred as tears of fright gathered into her eyes. That girl wanted to kill her from the first time she had laid foot inside Castle Pendragon, many years ago, and now she had the chance, she would take her place and Arthur and Merlin and everyone else would be in danger. "What do you want?" She finally managed to ask, her throat constricting.
Her double let out small, elated laughter. She didn't answer right away, but she started to walk calmly around her, the small heels hitting the stones in a rhythmic and unsettling pace.
"Redwald is a cute boy, isn't he?" She said calmly, rejoicing when Igraine gasped in horror again. It was obvious she cared for him and he for her, for how tedious it had been to pretend to be a sort of mother for that orphan boy, it had been useful – and yes, maybe she enjoyed it too a little, in the end, but it didn't matter now. "There are so many kind people here too, it would be a pity if the castle would – I don't know – catch fire in the middle of the night, don't you think?" She pursed her lips, faking causality when in reality, it was very much possible and they both knew it. Camelot was still under construction and with a fire, the castle would collapse and kill them all, cornered into a fiery trap.
Igraine couldn't let that happen: she couldn't have dozens of lives on her conscience, most of all, not of her son's.
"What do you want?" She repeated with a submissive voice; even if it was shaking, it carried some sort of determined fierceness in it. Morgan hated it.
She tightened her jaw and looked sternly right into her eyes.
Igraine now recognized that angry glare that belonged only to Morgan.
"I need you to do me a little favor." She murmured sweetly. "Go to Arthur and say to him that you're moving back to Castle Pendragon." She smiled, looking both graceful and demanding. It was Igraine's most powerful weapon and Morgan wondered if it would work on her own person too; Igraine bewitching herself, that would be hilarious. "Tell him that it's your real home, that you want to keep an eye on me because Merlin asked you to, I do not care – just do it." She ordered.
Igraine couldn't believe her own ears: she wasn't going to die and Camelot wasn't even in danger – not in imminent danger at least – for Morgan intended to move back to Castle Pendragon with her. It was the least expected thing, considering their past.
Maybe she would lock her up and throw away the key, she would torture her and let her die of starvation. But no, Arthur could've asked to come to visit them any time, so to keep her secret intact, Morgan had to have a more refined plan in mind – she wondered what was it.
"Why?" She breathed out in confusion.
Morgan's smile died on her face and Igraine was forced to stare at her own image giving a stern look at herself.
"That's none of your concern." The other replied, averting her eyes. Then, she turned again and walked closer to her. She smiled sweetly and her fingers grazed her cheek with a ghostly touch. Morgan's tenderness surprised her. "See you at home, Igraine. Soon, what games we will have."