Morgana didn't really like the presence of the knights in her forest. All they did was hunt what was rightfully hers and she was already barely getting by as it was. Thankfully her spell had worked and the animals had managed to avoid their senses but then something delightfull happened. A cockatrice had appearantly left the Forest of Balor in search of food and Arthur was the next dish served.
The two knights were quickly dispatched of although she found it a pity they weren't dead yet. While Arthur was rolling on the floor she could see the creature's interest in Merlin who grabbed a shield and blocked the cockatrice's attack rather patheticly. Seeing Arthur join and protect his manservant at the edge of lake was revolting. Her two greatest foes fighting side by side, it was absolutely disgusting.
Then Arthur got knocked out of the way followed by Merlin and was now going to finish off the prince of Camelot. Perhaps it was going to be a good day after all.
"Over here you filthy lizard!" Merlin shouted.
Merlin, always playing the hero. She cursed internally.
The cockatrice hesitated before stepping on the ice but did so and slowly approached him. Morgana quickly saw what the manservant was doing, luring the beast onto the thin ice. As long as Merlin would remain on all fours the ice would hold him, but not the cockatrice. Morgana wasn't suprised when it finally fell through the ice and hadn't really expect another outcome. But then, then the manservant was so foolish as to stand up. The thin ice had become even more fragile by the hole made by the cockatrice and gave away at Merlin's weight.
Morgana's heart jumped with a double emotion. She feared for his life, probably because she was caught in the moment, but was also very excited because if Merlin did have magic, he would now have no choise but to use it.
The manservant had managed to latch onto the ice but lacked the strength to climb onto it.
"Help!" He began to scream. The thought of actually doing that never occured to Morgana, she thought he was simply checking if anyone else was around. It's what she would do.
Minutes passed and his screams became softer and softer, but she didn't save him. No, she wanted him to suffer. It had become clear to her that the lanky boy didn't have any magic, incapable of saving himself. The only question that remained was whether she would save him. Unfortunately the issue rose too soon for her to come to a decision. Merlin slipped or let go and disappeared from the surface. Morgana quickly ran to the edge of the lake and broke the icy surface, she didn't have to go all the way there.
"Ácymest fram meregrund, ar Camelot, ábirsteest inwitgecynd wítebend ond edryne þidercyme!"
[Come forth from the depts, servant of Camelot, break nature's bonds and return hither!]|
Merlin emerged from the gap in the ice, unconscience. Morgana pulled him out of the lake and laid him against a tree before even checking if he was alive. Putting her hand against his chest she felt a very slow pulse, it had been close but he still wasn't safe yet.
She thought of killing him right there but didn't, she wasn't the coward he was with his poison. She wanted to see the look in his eyes when he found out she only saved him to kill him herself.
AN:
There it is, the missing chapter.