Chapter Two- Morgana's Plan
Morgana sat at the table, looking around her hut in the woods. It was a depressing necessity. She hated the dank musty smell, the dirt and dust mixed together in layers on top of everything that hadn't been touched for a few days. She felt dirty; she missed her baths, her warm comfortable bed. The hut was needed as it was secluded and dishevelled enough to not draw attention within the woods; however its location was close enough to Camelot that she could access the Citadel whenever she needed. There was little to do during the long days, waiting and plotting, hoping that her latest scheme had worked and that Arthur was finally dead.
On this particular day, she found herself thinking of Merlin, the boy who she once considered a true friend, and who was now the man who constantly got in her way. It was strange, because he really did manage to get in her way a lot. She remembered him from her time in Camelot; he always seemed so cheerful, so happy to help. He loved Arthur, and at one time, that was considered a positive trait. She remembered how kind he was to her, and how he was willing to put his life on the line for those whom he loved. She also remembered a time when she was considered one of those loved people.
Her stomach knotted at the memory, a little twist of pain and sadness. Ever since the death of her sister, she had longed for the feeling of being loved unconditionally, of knowing that there were people surrounding her that she could trust and would trust her in return. Now, she had to buy and barter her way through alliances, and alliances attained in such ways were easily broken. Merlin had provided her with such trust at one time. She had even confided in him her biggest secret, that she had magic. It was against the law of the land, and yet he had kept her and her secret safe, even directed her to seek the help of the druids. It was this deed that her thoughts kept replaying. Why would Merlin, who was so willing to help someone of magic, also be so loyal to Camelot and its king?
She grieved the loss of such a friend, and even though she refused to admit it to herself, she had always harboured a particular soft spot for the boy. He was servant boy, no one of importance, and yet, his character seemed more worthy to be one worthy of a knight. He was strong and brave, he had proven that during the many times he had stopped her plans, and regardless of what Arthur might safe, he was also an incredibly bright person. She missed the way his presence always lit the room, and made her feel safe. It was almost as if he were a guardian angel, always watching, always protecting. Even his quirky little neck scarf and fur boots were charming on him.
Morgana stood and walked to the front door, leant against the frame and looked out into the woods. Her new plan was in motion, and she was particularly excited for this one. It was a complete secret, she had told no one, and therefore there was no one to alert Camelot. It was fool proof. Morgana turned to look back at the table. On it was a crystal, dark red and rounded at the base with long spikes pointing upwards towards the roof. Inside was a golden glow, swirling and writhing, as if many tiny beams of light were trying to escape. Morgana smiled; there was no way they were getting out. This crystal was created by ancient magic, and hidden deep within a sacred cave high on the snowy mountains. She had travelled there alone, and it had taken her over a month. She had fought off the cold, the mountain bandits and snow creatures, it had been a true test of her magic and how strong she was becoming. When she had finally found the crystal its beauty had made her weep, never had she seen such an artefact. She wrapped the crystal in fine silk and buried it deep in her bag. She had trekked back down through the snow and into the woods and brought the crystal to a secluded grove. It was truly a creation from legend, and she had been strong enough to yield its magic.
It was nearly noon, and time to travel back to the grove and meet her secret army. She picked up the crystal and placed it into a chest, hidden under her bed in the corner. There was no chance that anyone would bother to come to her hut, but on the off chance that they did, she didn't want to risk anyone seeing the crystal. Morgana walked through the forest and came to the grove, there she pulled out a wooden whistle tucked into her dress and blew a single note. After a minute she heard a rustling in the bush behind her, and turning around, she was proud to see that her army was becoming more and more obedient to her call. Before her stood a centaur, tall and strong, with wide shoulders and bulging arms, thick black hair covering his head and running sleek along his body. He was pawing the ground with one of his hooves, and his tail was swaying in the breeze. He was alert to her, and the familiar gleam of hatred was burning in his eyes.
"Hello my lady." He grunted.
"Hello Jarivs, how are the warriors feeling today?"
"Well, they are almost ready. Soon we will ride Camelot, and kill Uther's son. Magic will once again be allowed to walk the kingdom freely."
Hope you enjoyed Chapter Two, stayed tuned for the next chapter where more will be revealed about the centaurs in the woods, and Merlin's disappearance from the hunting group!
Thanks for reading! - Magicsuperhero xx
