Summary: Uther finds a suitor for his wilful younger daughter who alters his elder daughter's life.


A/N: As you might have guessed, this was suggested vaguely by Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew', but I haven't copied that plot.

A/N: BTW, for the purposes of this story, Morgause is a goodie.


The Taming of the Seer (Part 1: Two Brides) by frostygossamer


Once upon a time, there was a kingdom called Camelot. Camelot was ruled by the long-suffering King Uther. Long-suffering because his life was benighted by the demands of his two beautiful daughters, Morgause and Morgana.

"I love my daughters", he chuckled. "But, after Camelot, they are my two biggest worries."

The elder, Morgause, was blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and of a sensible and obedient disposition. She was Uther's favourite. The younger, Morgana, was a dark-haired, green-eyed tomboy with a spiky temper and a bitchy tongue. Uther fretted about her. The two sisters were as different as day and night.

"I'm as good as any man with a sword", swore Morgana. "My sister is all about duty. Hang duty, I want my own way."

King Uther loved his daughters, his only children. Since he had no son and heir, he knew that, with the girls now of age, he needed to find Morgause a husband. Then he would have a suitable son-in-law to inherit his kingdom, when the time came. Morgause, he knew, would make a very fine and regal queen, but she would need a general for her army and a father for her own sons. A woman, he thought, could not rule a kingdom alone.

Morgause raised her chin, proudly. "Royalty and duty go hand in hand", she pronounced.

He looked far and wide for the right alliance for his elder daughter, and several eligible suitors made their way to Camelot, to press their suit. Unfortunately, Morgana, her sister, wasn't very happy about this. She was jealous of her sister, and thought she had every bit as much right to inherit as she did. She knew that, once her sister was married, her own rank would automatically be reduced, and she would become an unnecessary appendage to the court of Camelot.

"I will not be made a nobody in my own home", Morgana declared.

Angered by her presumed fate, she set about scuppering each and every suitor that came to visit. She did everything she could to spoil their opinion of Morgause, and of Camelot, and behaved wilfully and disgracefully, making her father very angry. Her sister kept her opinions to herself.

"I love my sister. Really I do", Morgause maintained. "But she doesn't know her place."

Thus it was that, as a last resort, King Uther made the decision to advertise throughout the land, for a man to wed his unruly younger daughter, and thus leave the way open for Morgause to find a proper husband, to suit her wealth and station. The man who would marry Morgana would have to 'tame' her like a feisty young mare.

"The man that 'trains' me will need more than strength of mind and strength of body", Morgana muttered to herself. "He'll need wisdom and power to defeat my magic."

Because Morgana had a secret magic, and her magic was the angry magic of the unfairly scorned.

('o')

Half a year passed and suitors too numerous to mention, hailing from the four corners of Albion, descended on Camelot to sue for Morgana's hand, adventurers every one. Morgana gave each man short shrift, and found a way to make each one run from Camelot with their tail between their legs. Until our hero came along.

He was a wanderer, hoping to make his fortune, to marry well, and find happiness, and a purpose. Oh, yes, and he was also a warlock, and his name was Merlin.

Merlin entered the gates of Camelot with a joyful step, and a happy tune on his lips. He was very impressed with what he saw. If he married the second daughter of the king, he could make his home here in this wonderful city. That, of itself, made it worth his journey.

He made his way to King Uther who greeted him jadedly, as he had greeted so many others, and agreed with him the usual, that he would have three weeks to woo Princess Morgana and convince her to be his wife, or leave without complaint. They shook hands on the deal.

Morgana was introduced to her latest suitor at dinner. She wasn't very impressed. He was slight and strange looking, with overlarge ears. He didn't exactly look like the handsome prince that she had dreamt about in her girlhood. Morgause looked down her nose at him also, but she had manners enough to hide it.

"He looks weak", Morgana thought. "I'll deal with this one very quickly."

('o')

For two weeks they fought a battle of wills. Morgana wasn't ready, would never be ready, to bow and scrape to any man, let alone a common peasant without rank. But Merlin was clever, he found ways to curtail her cunning. Every blow she dealt him he dealt her back, every trick she played on him he played one on her, for every insult she gave him he had a perfect repost. He knew how to deal with a dragon.

So she moved it up a step and turned to magic. But he was a match for that too.

Merlin first realised what he was up against the morning he woke up as a toad. He noticed that the bed had got bigger during the night, and when he cursed in surprise, it came out as a burp. Now, that wasn't right. And then he heard the girly sniggering from behind the door. Morgana!

Morgana had done this. He should have known. He had perceived a luminosity about her that was above the normal, and her sister too, somewhat. So Morgana had magic? Well, she was in for a surprise.

Shrugging off the toad form, Merlin jumped to his feet and raced towards the door, just in time to grab Morgana by the arm as she turned to flee. Morgana stared him in the face defiantly.

Merlin chuckled. "I know your secret now, Morgana", he whispered. "We're alike you and me. Admit it. We belong together."

Morgana squirmed her arm out of his grasp. "Never", she gasped. "Whatever you are, Merlin, you're not my equal, and you never will be. I'm a Pendragon and you are... What are you?"

"I'm your nemesis, my darling", he replied, grinning.

She picked up her skirts and scurried off along the corridor as fast as her shapely legs could carry her, leaving Merlin laughing in his doorway.

('o')

So this was courtship, sorcery-style? A mini-war between the headstrong and the obstinate. Morgana was devious and ruthless, but her powers were inferior to Merlin's, who had travelled long and far, and studied at the knee of the wise and ancient, that being Gaius the Grey, the famous wizard of Caledonia.

Morgana spent all day, every waking minute, devising evil little spells to hex her unwanted suitor, and Merlin spent seconds shattering them. He had time to idle, as Morgana worked on his demise.

As he wandered aimlessly around the castle he happened upon his intended's straight-laced sister, Morgause. She was sitting in the garden reading a book. Merlin sidled up behind her and peered over her shoulder.

"'The Art of Chevalerie'", he read. He was surprised. "You like to read about knights and chivalry, my lady?"

Morgause blushed and quickly closed her book. "It's unmannerly to read over someone's shoulder, Sir", she retorted.

Merlin chuckled. "Sorry, my lady, I didn't mean to offend", he apologized. "May I sit?"

Morgause nodded reluctantly, and he sat down on the lawn beside her. "The garden is beautiful", he remarked appreciatively.

"Is it?", she said. "I seldom have time to look at it. My father keeps me busy with matters of state."

"He consults you on matters of state?", Merlin asked, disbelieving.

"He has no one else", she explained. "I have to do what I can to replace the son he never had." She sounded a little sad.

Merlin smiled understandingly. "I'm sure you make him proud."

"I only wish I could", Morgause retorted bitterly, and rising to her feet, she briskly walked away.

Merlin watched her go thoughtfully. Morgause was definitely a better person than wicked Morgana. He had to admire her spirit.

"Damn it!", he muttered to himself. "I think I may have contracted myself to the wrong sister."

As the days passed by, Merlin found himself increasingly drawn to the proud and loyal, yet undervalued, Morgause. Her gorgeous golden-hair and her pretty face were only half the attraction. Morgause was a truly noble woman, honourable and selfless. She didn't deserve to be treated as her father's chattel. She deserved better.

He realised that he was falling in love.

('o')

Merlin ran into King Uther's chamber and looked around. Morgana must be near. He could feel her energy. He bounded up to the end of the room, and lolloped under Uther's desk, pausing to lick his coat absentmindedly. Damn this bunny form! Morgana was getting better at this.

Just then Morgause entered the room, approached the desk, and began rifling it for something.

"Where did you put that damn edict, Father", she swore, flinging papers around.

She slumped into her father's chair, and sighed loudly. "I wish someone would come and take ME away from all this. Someone not chosen by Father. Someone like Merlin. I don't know why, but I can't help but feel a little happier whenever he's around. I do hope I'm not falling for him, the rogue."

Merlin shuffled his furry paws below her. Morgause looked down and noticed him for the first time.

"Ah", she said. "A bunny." A grin spread across her face as she picked him up. "I would really enjoy a nice rabbit pie tonight."

Merlin struggled in the girl's rather firm grasp. She lifted him to her face and stared into his bunny eyes. He stared back into her oceans of blue. He could feel his fur ripple with a peculiar electricity. Something about Morgause affected his magic strangely.

Suddenly Merlin squeaked and wriggled violently, causing his captor to drop him like a hot stone. He ran for the door, becoming human again as soon as he hit the corridor. He dusted himself off, and nonchalantly walked away.

Now where was Morgana? And what was that spell to turn someone into a small pointy-nosed rodent?

('o')

That evening King Uther called Merlin to his presence.

"Your three weeks will soon be over, and I don't see much sign of my daughter succumbing to your charms, Sir", he remarked.

"Well, I'm still alive, Sire", Merlin replied with a smile. "That, of itself, is an accomplishment."

"You know you don't have much time left on our agreement?", Uther continued. "Do you feel confident that my Morgana will agree to this marriage by the end of the week?"

"Most definitely, Sire", Merlin assured him. "Have no doubt. The wedding is as good as arranged."

"Wonderful", Uther responded gleefully. "Just as I'd hoped. I will name the day for your nuptials immediately. Then I can go ahead with finding a good match for my Morgause. Perhaps we can have a double wedding?"

Merlin adopted a fake smile. He was glad that Uther hadn't noticed that he had been spending an inappropriate amount of time dillydallying with his elder daughter of late.

"A double wedding would be marvellous, Sire", he agreed. Uther nodded happily.

A double wedding would have been lovely, if Merlin had been marrying Morgause, and Morgana had been marrying someone else. But, unfortunately, Uther would never allow that. Morgause was meant for greater things. At least, if Merlin married Morgana, he would be able to stay in Camelot, and be near to his new found love. Otherwise he would be forced to leave, and never lay eyes on her again. And that was something he couldn't bear to think about.

"There's just one thing I'd like to ask", Merlin ventured. "I'm curious. Does Princess Morgause have a secret?"

Uther sighed. "Well, since you're going to be family very soon, I might as well tell you her story". He motioned for Merlin to sit.

"My daughter is cursed", he said flatly. Merlin looked suitably surprised.

"Morgana's mother, Vivienne, is my second wife. I was married before. My first wife, my darling Ygraine, and I very much wanted an heir, but she was unable to conceive. So we employed a wise woman called Nimueh, to bring about that happy event. To our great relief, after nine months, Ygraine gave birth to a beautiful child, but tragically my dear wife died within days. I was overcome with grief. For a full year, I was beyond all consoling."

Uther paused and wiped away a tear. Merlin gave him a little smile.

"When Nimueh returned to Camelot, after a twelve-month, to collect the payment due for her services, I was still not thinking straight. I became very angry with the woman, and refused to pay up. Of course, she was very rightly hurt by my refusal, especially when I chose to banish her from the kingdom forever. I overreacted. Nimueh left, with some dignity, I may add, but before she went, she laid a curse on my child. Knowing that I had so wanted a son, she transformed the infant into... a girl."

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Morgause was a boy-child?", he gasped.

"Yes, indeed", Uther concurred. "My dear Ygraine named him Arthur."

TBC


A/N: Ah-ha! And you were wondering what had happened to Arthur. Please read on.