Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters and intend no copyright infringement. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and I make no profit from it
Prologue
Fog. Everything seemed so foggy and distant. The sounds around her were blurred and indistinct. Very gradually she came to and after a struggle finally opened her eyes though she still couldn't quite focus on the space around her. She knew it was dark and she was aware of another presence nearby. A small murmur from her lips brought that person swiftly to her side. This person...no...this woman slid a hand beneath Morgause's head, the blonde sorceress raising herself up at the touch. The other woman laid her free hand on her chest eased her back on to the...bed? The woman's voice when it came was soothing to her even if the sound itself was still ringing slightly in her ears;
"Ssh, Morgause, you must rest".
She didn't know why she trusted this voice but over the years she had learned to follow her instincts. Her instincts in this instance told her that this person meant her no harm. If only she could remember what had happened to her. Why was she here and why did this woman appear so attentive in her care? All she knew was that she was so very tired and rest was probably the best thing for her. She allowed herself to doze off, mindful not to let herself sleep too deeply. After all, she had...occasionally...been wrong about people before.
Chapter One
It was morning before Morgause awoke again with the fresh sunlight streaming through the window, the rays bouncing off wall and ceiling making shadows dance as a cool breeze caressed the curtains. She felt more certain this time, her senses sharper and her head clear of the mists that had plagued her before. As she sat up in the bed she took in her surroundings and found she was berthed in a large stone bedchamber, a fire had been burning through the night if the smoking embers in the hearth had been anything to go by. Draped around the room were various rich, vibrant tapestries depicting kings and queens of old done in silk threads of Scarlet, Sapphire and Emerald. It was Morgause's own bedroom. Now the question remained who had brought her here? She remembered the kind voice from the night before and the memory of it sent a shiver down her spine. Indeed, how had that young woman known to bring her here? The sorceress' castle had been secret but to very few, surely she had not told this person the secret of its whereabouts when she could not even remember knowing her. It was as she was contemplating this that said young woman decided to appear.
When the door had opened it revealed a tall, slender figure with long, black tresses and alabaster skin. She was clothed as fine as any Queen or Princess herself, dressed in a long green gown, tied at the waist by a long, golden bejewelled belt. As Morgause looked closer she realised that the woman was a girl of no more than one or two and twenty. She was vaguely familiar though the blonde-haired priestess couldn't quite place her. The girl smiled when she saw that Morgause was sitting up, a brilliant beaming smile that just made the receiver wonder all the more who her mysterious carer was. The dark haired princess (for that is what Morgause had chosen to call her) eased herself down to sit next to her, offering a cup of water. It was only then that the sorceress realised how thirsty she actually was and a sudden a wave of dizziness washed over her, leaving her to fall back against the pillows. There the girl was, lifting the cup to Morgause's parched lips. She drank steadily, forcing herself not to gulp it down even as the gentle command was given her'
"steady...drink slowly".
The hand was once again giving support to the witch's head, fingers absently stroking through blonde tresses. Apparently it had not gone unnoticed...
"who are you?"
Her voice was weak and raspy but the words stung Morgana to the core. The look of devastation must have crossed her face before she could hide it as Morgause immediately looked regretful.
Of course...Morgause thought to herself...this poor girl must believe I should remember her, after all, why else would she be doing all of this? Now look what you've done, you fool! Not that she knew why she should be so concerned or why she should know the girl at all. Still, she could not deny that the more she stared into 'Princess'' delicate features the more familiar she seemed. Perhaps...no, impossible... but it was...and she looks so uncertain.
"Please tell me who you are, I should like to know who to thank for such attentive care" she tried, perhaps a bit too hard but the effort was rewarded with a shy up-turn of her carer's lip. It was slight but it was there. There was slight hesitation before the answer came making Morgause even more nervous than she had been already;
"I...I'm Morgana...you're sister"
Morgause let go of the breath she had been holding but more came.
"You, you do not remember me do you?"
The look of horror on Morgana's face had turned to hurt and Morgause felt her head beginning to spin again. When Morgana spoke again her voice cracked;
"Morgause, what's the last thing you remember?"
"I am not sure, I am not sure I remember anything at all".
The realisation seemed only caused Morgause more distress and for Morgana the realisation that her protective, older sister was afraid. She wanted to reach out and wrap her up in her arms just as Morgause had done so many times for her but she didn't move, not wishing to be too intrusive on the older witch's space.
"You had a blow to the head, you have been unconscious for three days now. I was beginning to think...oh, sister, I thought I had lost you"
Despite the hand that had some up to try and hide her face, the tears that began trickling down Morgana's face were too much for Morgause to bear. Regardless of whether or not she could remember her she could not ignore the tug on her heart that this Morgana undeniably had. Almost as though her body knew something that she did not, she leaned forward and mindful of the tight throbbing in her shoulders tentatively slid her arms around Morgana's shaking form.
She knew it wasn't real, that Morgause was only working on instinct but it felt good to be surrounded by her warmth again. She leaned into the embrace but something was wrong, Morgause had tensed. Bolting upright, blue/green eyes bore in golden brown with concern;
"Morgause, what's wrong?"
The blonde witch was uncertain how to respond. Her body itself had responded in a way she had not expected at all and she could not, dare not, try to explain it.
"I'm...I'm sorry, it is...my back"
She forced a weak smile but Morgana still did not look convinced but forced a smile of her own and cupped her sister's cheek.
"At the same time you took the blow to your head your back was also hurt. I should let you rest although you should eat something as well, I will have something brought to you"
Morgause herself could only nod as Morgana made to leave;
"Thank you, you are very kind" but she couldn't let Morgana leave like this and she still needed to find out more information, "will you come sit by me later and tell me more about yourself, perhaps how we met?".
A small nod came from the doorway, "of course I shall, provided you are not too tired". The door closed but Morgana only managed a few steps along the corridor before allowing the wall to catch her, letting it support her as sobs racked through her slight frame though mindful to stay quiet for her sister's sake.