Thank you all so much for your reviews! I really enjoyed them immensely and wanted to get the next part out as soon as it was done. Warning for scene of historically accurate child abuse, sorry, but this would most likely be what poor Arthur had to endure!

Thwack

Arthur whimpered as he struggled to remain over the bench as ordered. If he stood up, he knew all of the Underworld would tremble at his punishment. "And if you ever upset her again, I will make sure this seems like a pleasant memory. You will never defy me again," Father snapped, bringing the strap down again. Arthur spent a sleepless night, knowing what the morning would bring him and he had not been wrong about his future. This was the worst beating he had ever endured.

"Yes, Father," Arthur gasped, his backside aflame. He never wanted to see that wretched witch again and he would never speak to her again unless his father made him. He would ignore her and when he was king, he would have her whipped and all her pretty hair cut off and mud spilled on her dress.

"Morgana is here at my pleasure and you will not make it more difficult for her," Father said, laying down another searing stroke. "Have I made myself clear?" Another crack sounded, the seventh if Arthur's count was correct.

The trembled with pain and tried to hold back his sobs of pain. Father would not approve of him crying like a girl.

"Let that be a lesson to you. You may be my son, but you are also my subject. Your obedience to me must be absolute," Father snapped, putting the strap down on the table. "You may rise."

Arthur forced himself up, rubbing a grubby hand across his face to hide his tears. "Thank you for correcting me," he forced himself to say. "The fault was entirely mine." He hated thanking his father for his punishments, but he had to do it. The last time he had refused, Father had decided Arthur hadn't learned his lesson.

"I forgive your disrespect and trust this is the last time I must resort to this to teach you the error of your ways," Father said in a more gentle tone, before leaving the room. "Calm yourself down before you leave. I will not have my son mewling about like a kitten. You must learn to keep a civil tongue; a future king must not behave with such temper."

"Yes Father," Arthur said, and turned to wash his face in a basin. He hated Morgana, he was going to go into her room and put bugs in her bed and spiders in her hair and he was going to make her want to go back to wherever she came from.

"Your highness?" Gaius asked, entering the room. "I have a matter to discuss with your father, where is he?"

"I don't know," Arthur said, trying not to sob in front of a servant. "I think he went to the Great Hall." If he wasn't too afraid to say it, he would say he hated his father.

"I see. Your highness looks a bit tired, perhaps you might benefit from my experience," Gaius said sadly, putting his hand on his shoulder. "Tension can knot your muscles up, you know."

Arthur weakly nodded and allowed the doctor to pat his shoulder. He knew it was terribly undignified, but he wouldn't tell anyone he had allowed this. "I'm fine. It's just that stupid girl who is a problem," he confided after looking around to make sure no one could hear him. "Why did she have to come here anyway?"

"Drink this and perhaps I can explain. The Lady Morgana's father was a dear friend of your father," Gaius said, as he handed Arthur a sweet smelling potion from a vial. "And she is the wealthiest heiress of the Iles. Her family controlled the land from Cerniw to Gewisse, and her realm has much trade from the sea, as well as gold and silver mines. By having her as his ward, your father makes sure she doesn't marry an enemy and give him her riches."

"I understand why we need to make sure she marries someone loyal to the Pendragons. But why does Father have to be so nice to her?" Arthur hiccupped. He hated her for getting him into trouble, and hoped she was forced to marry a bear who would proceed to eat her. "Why can't we just stick her in the dungeons in chains until we find some poor fool to marry her?" It seemed like a lot more logical.

"Because she's a little girl whose father just died and she's sad?" Gaius said softly. "Imagine how you would feel if your father was ill and you had no relatives to take you in, so you had to leave Camelot and go to strangers? You'd hope they would be nice to you and try to make you feel better, wouldn't you?"

Arthur's eyes widened. "Oh," he said. He hadn't considered it that way. She was just an ugly stupid girl, but she had been orphaned and she might have been sad.

"Your father wishes her to be happy because she is all alone in the world and he knew that if he had passed, Lord Gorlois would do anything to ensure your safety. So you must repay such loyalty and protect the Lady Morgana," Gaius continued, as he motioned for Arthur to drink the tonic. "And while I doubt the king will allow me to help you further, this tonic will make the sting more bearable."

Arthur nodded and drank deeply, finding with some pleasure that the pain seemed a bit less sharp. "I'm going to go out and practice," he said softly, as way of thanks. He supposed he could just politely ignore the girl, and hope she would leave him alone as well.

"All right, sire. And if you should be feeling out of sorts, please come to my chambers for some more willow bark," Gaius said, patting his shoulder again.

"Thank you," Arthur said, walking down the hall, the world seeming a brighter place to be. He was still the future king of Albion and he would get used to having a pest, he did pity her. He wouldn't want to lose a father, no matter how much he hated being beaten.

His pleasant thoughts were disturbed by Morgana who had been waiting for him in the hall. "Hello, my lord prince," she said softly, her sharp blue eyes taking in his pained gait. "Having a good day?"

Arthur balled his fist and forgot every single word his doctor had just said. Had she been a boy, he would have bloodied a nose and put the unworthy in the stocks. As it was, he was tempted to push her. "You're a guest in my home," he reminded her haughtily. He was still a prince, the prince here.

"It's my home now too," Morgana reminded him primly in that snooty voice. "So mind your manners, my lord or your father will have to have another word with you." And he didn't care if she was all alone and an orphan, the brat seemed determined to make herself as unlikable as possible.

Arthur scowled, but was now armed with information that could make her pay for her rudeness. "I'm going to be nice to you because you're an orphan and you have no one and we're taking you in out of charity," he snipped, enjoying the look of fury on her face. "No one else wants you."

Morgana's eyes flashed fire. "How dare you? I'm the heiress to Cornwall, you foolish child," she sputtered. She wasn't so confident now.

Arthur smiled. "Foolish child who could end up being your king. And then you'll have to kneel before me and kiss my ring and beg me to listen to you," he said, feeling quite in control. "In fact, I could have you thrown in the dungeon right now!"

Morgana's lips tightened at that. "You wouldn't dare!" she shrieked, looking a trifle worried. "The king would never allow it."

"I'm the prince of the realm. And Father would let you out eventually…but how long would you survive the rats?" Arthur asked, feeling quite proud of himself. "All I have to say is guards, and you'll be in chains. Unless of course, you beg me for mercy."

"Beg you?" Morgana said, looking as if she was about to cry. "But I'm a guest in your home," she whispered, looking terrified. "Why are you being so cruel to me?"

"Cruel? You'll see cruel when I have your hair cut off," Arthur mocked, feeling quite proud to be able to break the brat.

Morgana's eyes narrowed as she stepped forward and then crumbled to the floor. "Ow!" she said, sniffling. "You pushed me!"

Arthur giggled at how frail she must have been to fall over her own two feet. "I didn't push you, you clumsy hag. You fell. If I wanted to push you, I would have have thrown you down the stairs," he said. Actually, that wouldn't be a bad idea.

"I see you haven't learned your lesson," a cold familiar voice said. Arthur gulped as he felt his ear tugged. "I leave you alone for a few moments and you manage to make the mistake again. I told you to treat her properly."

"She goaded me, Father. She spoke to me disrespectfully, you should put her in the stocks for this," Arthur said angrily. Father had to believe him.

"Is that true?" Father asked, turning his eyes to Morgana, who had a look of utter innocence on her smug little face. "Morgana?"

"All I asked him was how his day went. He just flew at me," Morgana said, before hanging her head. "He hates me."

"He does not hate you, dear. He merely lacks the maturity to understand his duty. I will make sure he learns to treat you with respect," Father said, with a significant look towards Arthur who gulped, realizing he had been played for a fool. His body ached already, he didn't know how he would endure a second dose of the strap.

"Maybe I should go home where I'm wanted more," Morgana said quietly, a spark of interest in her eyes. "I don't have to say here. You see how I'm treated here. "

"This is your home, child," Father said, patting her dark head. "I will deal with Arthur, but this is where you are going to live. No matter how much he does, you are part of my family now, as my ward and fosterling. I will punish him, and he will apologize to you. I will never send you away, I assure you."

"Maybe just for a bit till Arthur's more comfortable having me about," Morgana continued. "I could visit my lands and see if everything is all right."

"This is your home," Father repeated. "I won't hear another word about you leaving." Sad to hear.

Morgana's eyes had the same look of anger directed at Father now, a most horrible idea. "I hate it here. I want to go home. He hates me, and there won't be any peace between us. Send me back to Tintagel."

"Your father willed your care to me, Morgana, and I expect you both to remember this has been decided," Father said darkly, obviously figuring out the game. "And you will speak to me the way you would speak to a father, my girl."

"You aren't my father," Morgana said, amazingly brave for someone so tiny. "And I will go home, to my home. I'm the Duchess of Cornwall and my people will support me. You may be my king, but you can't make me stay here a moment longer." She stamped her foot and glared at the men without fear. "I'm your vassal, but I am not your slave."

Father did not look amused. "Kindly conduct her ladyship to her quarters. She obviously requires rest. Do not let her out until she's in better temper and is ready to apologize," he said, waving his hand.

Morgana did not take kindly to such an order. "My father was your friend," she shrieked. "What kind of friend are you?" she said as she was dragged away by two servants, overpowered but not cowed.

"Bread and water," Father ordered between gritted teeth. "She's not to leave her chamber or eat meat till she begs for forgiveness."

"We really should let her go back to whatever wilderness she came from," Arthur said quietly, looking up at his father.

"Silence. It is our job to welcome her, despite her behavior," Father said, but without sharpness. "She must remain here."

"This will not be pleasant," Arthur noted sadly, glad that Morgana had brought the wrath of Father on her own head and not his.

"Duty is rarely pleasant, my son," Father said, patting his shoulder. "Now, run along to your lessons. I'm sure Morgan just requires some rest and motivation to obey," he said kindly. "She will come around."

"Yes, Father," Arthur replied, having to be the favorite again. Little Lady Morgana was in a fight she was not going to win.

"And Arthur, if you push her again, I will cane you within an inch of your life."

Arthur rolled his eyes but nodded.

To be continued