This is short. I know. But it's the second chapter today, so I'm not feeling to sorry for you.
Ladies, gentlemen, sorcerers, warlocks, and variations thereupon; it's time to play SPOT THAT REFERECE! First one who can correctly find the reference and name the Fandom wins a box of virtual Chocolate Frogs! (Btw, that is NOT the reference.) You will also be granted a shoutout on the next chapter's Author's Notes. May the odds be ever in your favor! (that's also not the reference…)
The winner of the last round of Spot That Reference is….*drumroll* Alligates! Not only did she spot one of the references in the chapter, she spotted the hidden reference in the author's notes! Forget the Chocolate Frogs, she gets Honeydukes. All of it. Well done you!
oOo
One week earlier:
In her hovel in the woods, Morgana was working herself up into a nice tantrum. She was tired of this house, tired of being dirty, tired of having none of the luxuries that were owed her. She was the rightful Queen, not that spoiled blond brat currently prancing about wearing her crown. She was Uther's firstborn child! Why was it Arthur who got to reap all the benefits of being a Pendragon, while she, the rightful heir, was groveling in the dirt like some- some commoner!
She would not stand for this. As her rage built up inside of her, she stopped her frantic pacing, and flipped over the one table she had, scattering papers, potion ingredients, and pieces of broken pottery from her last outburst. It wasn't nearly as satisfying as she thought it was going to be. The only satisfaction she got these days were her daydreams of killing Arthur in battle, becoming the Queen (as she should!), and then, only then, killing that miserable, interfering, traitorous servant.
Merlin.
Really, as she began to think on her current situation, she knew what it all lead back to. The fact that she was blessed with the powers of the Old Religion, and Arthur was not. Her father may have said that magic was evil and could only be used to destroy Camelot, but she knew better. She knew that it was only fear. Fear of what he could not control and jealousy over what power he could not hope to attain.
Arthur was of the same mold. He detested magic because he could not seize it could not control it, could not use it for his own selfish desires. Why that upstarting fool was on the throne was beyond her. Could the people not understand? Did they not have eyes? And what about Emrys? The so-called savior of the magical people, where was he when she was doing her utmost to root out this injustice? Protecting the Pendragons, that's where!
Of course when I'm queen I can change all of this, she thought with a smirk Burn it to the ground and start over. A golden age of magic and prosperity, with me as its sovereign.
Suddenly, the sound of a high wind tore around her shack, and the feeling of magic washed over her. She began to panic, thinking Emrys had come for her, but a knock at the door and a whispered "Your Majesty" put her at ease. She held her head high in the manner befitting a queen, and strode to the door, opening it to see a girl. A slight, common girl. Morgana had half a mind to send her away, but she remembered that this girl had magic, and now Morgana could see the markings of a druid across her arms.
"Yes? What business do you have with me?" she asked imperiously.
"I need your help. I don't know who else could help me with this; you're our only hope!" The girl looked down, brown hair falling out of her braids to cover her eyes.
At last, thought Morgana, these druid fools realize in whom to place their trust. She smiled what she thought was a friendly smile and drew the girl into the house, closing the rickety door behind her. "Come in, come in. What's your name?"
"Ceridwen."
Morgana smiled again, "What a lovely name. Ceridwen. How can I help my subject?"
Ceridwen wrung her hands, "I mean to help bring about the fall of King Arthur."
Morgana raised an eyebrow. What could this scrap of a girl hope to bring to the fight against her brother that Morgana didn't already have? "And how's that, my dear? I am open to suggestions, but…" she let her sentence trail off delicately.
It seemed that Ceridwen understood her perfectly. Her shy demeanor lessened slightly. "You, your majesty, have been trying to take down Camelot from the outside with grandeur and force. While that's a good strategy sometimes, I think that taking them down from within would prove more effective."
There was more to this girl than met the eye. "And you could do that? How?"
Ceridwen dropped her gaze again. "Prove that Arthur is not fit to be king. Show the knights his true colors. Make god bleed, and they will cease to believe in him."
The trademark smirk that Morgana was so known for came back in full force. "That is an excellent idea my dear Ceridwen. What can I give you to help you with this?"
Ceridwen's eyes sparkled. "Just a few memories."
oOo
So this was a character study of Morgana. As we can all see, she is crazysauce. Big time. And I found the name Ceridwen by Googleing some Welsh girl names. I think it's lovely. And it was the name of a sorceress. So it fits.
Ceridwen — (ker-ID-wen) Poss. from Welsh cerdd "song" + gwen "shining, holy"; or cariad "beloved" + gwen "shining, holy". Ceridwen was a powerful sorceress in the tale of Taliesin.
Next chapter, Merlin debates watching the memories and they eventually do. FEELS AND ANGST! MWAHAHA! THE BIG REVEAL!
You Know You Wanna Be Kate!