The King's Word

by CJBH

Set after S4, and aiming to stay as close as possible to the series' characters and it's "feel". Morgana has a dream of the future and uses this knowledge to set in motion a train of events designed to bring Arthur to his knees and to change the future of Camelot forever. This may or may not interfere with Series 5, takes from one version of the legend.

1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The candle was burning low inside the small cottage in the forest. In the candle's dim light, Morgana began to twitch as she lay sleeping on her bed. And she became more agitated as the dream that had come to her began to play out its scenes within her subconscious mind. As on so many occasions before, she could see part of the future, but not how it would unfold. And one image in the dream caused her to cry out and wake suddenly, immediately sitting up and breathing heavily, her dark eyes casting around her as her mind raced.

Experience had taught her that she was not always able to change what her dreams predicted – she realised that now. But what she also knew was that the knowledge that her dreams gave her allowed her to plan and to be prepared. A cruel smile came to her face as a course of action began to unfold in her mind, and as she began to realise how this new revelation of what was to come could be used powerfully to her advantage.

As she sat on her bed, an old woman - Esme – came into Morgana's small sleeping chamber. She was the closest thing that Morgana had to a servant, and the old woman knew the art of sorcery. She had been a servant to her when Morgana was growing up in the palace, but had fled in fear for her life when Uther had began to suspect her of magic. When she heard of Morgana's powers and her stand against first Uther and then Arthur, she had sought her old mistress out and offered to help her in whatever way she wanted. She had given her small house deep in the forest over to Morgana, and for the moment it sufficed for the witch's needs.

By the time Esme came in to check on Morgana, having heard her cry out, Morgana knew what she had to do.

"Esme, I am going to send you to Camelot. Make sure no one will recognise you…."

"My Lady?"

"There is something you are to look out for and when it happens, you are to come and tell me. I am going to deal a blow to my dear brother that will bring him to his knees. I am going to make him wish he had never taken his place on the throne of Camelot."