A/N: First off, I want to thank each of you who reviewed and/or faved this story. I cannot begin to tell you how much that means to me. So here I bring you chapter two as a welcoming gesture. Also, I currently have no beta reader, so if anyone is interested please leave me your email in a PM and I will contact you :)

So, are you ready for the story? Then let's rewind a little…

Morgana

Ever since I was just a child I had a fascination with heights. I cannot remember a time in which I didn't seek solace in the crown of a tree or a window's sill. It was simply my means of escape when reality became too much for me to bear. It is no news that I'm the King's ward and with that, there also came lots of responsibilities and duties that I wasn't always too eager to follow. But that is just only one point in this complex life that I carry. There's also another part, one that is not always explored when you have royal blood. No. when you are born in a noble family everything is planned out for you since day one. Everything… including love.

That's why when he came in he found me standing beside the window with my back to the door. I didn't hear him coming; I was too focused on watching Arthur spar with one of his knights in the training ground below.

"Morgana" He called from a prudent distance, snapping me out of my absorption.

I turned around to face him. He was standing by the door, a goofy smile on his lips. I mirrored his gleefulness almost as a reflex. He seemed to have that effect on me.

"Merlin" I greeted him, slowly crossing the distance between us "What brings you here?"

The moment I stood in front of him, he lowered his gaze, suddenly too ashamed to look at me in the eyes.

"I… I uhm" He faltered, always too nervous in my presence. I wondered why.

"Merlin" I called him softly, forcing him to look back into my eyes "We're friends, you can look at me when we talk" I said mockingly but he seemed to flush, rather embarrassed.

"Oh yeah, sorry" He mumbled but managed to sustain my gaze "Arthur sent me to find you. He wanted me to deliver a message for you"

Arthur. Always so mysterious, until the irritating point. He could have come up to tell me himself, but no. He just had to send his manservant to do it. The brat…

"Which message?" I asked, trying my best to remain expressionless.

"He said that a banquet will be held tonight in honor of Prince Galean and his court" Merlin said, his tone very serious so as to be a random message.

He seemed to stop talking and I wondered if that was it, but at last he continued.

"He also said that he overheard a conversation between Prince Galean and one of his men…"

"And?" I asked, feeling the little patience I had already fading.

"And that Galean mentioned wanting to ask you to be his Lady during the festivities…"

I lowered my head the moment I heard that. Why would Arthur want to tell me that? Normally it would have been exactly the opposite. Normally it would have been him sabotaging all the invites I received from men. Did he actually want me to go with Galean? I brought a hand to my chest feeling as if my heart had constricted a little. There were a million things crossing my mind at that moment. I thought Arthur would be the one inviting me to the ball… Was I disappointed? Was I… sad?

"Uhm.. Morgana?" Merlin called me, snapping me out of my reverie for the second time in less than half an hour that day"I'm not done telling you what Arthur wanted me to-"

"I'll go with Galean" I interrupted him and watched as his mouth fell agape. He seemed about to protest so I cut him off "You can go tell Prince Galean that I accept his invitation"

"But.. Morgana?"

"And you can tell Arthur that I hope he'll be happy tonight, seeing me carrying out his wishes"

"But-"

"Now, Merlin!"

Merlin froze at the harshness in my voice. There were no signs of the joyful girl that he had seen just moments ago and he seemed to know better than to say anything else. He could be my friend, my best friend actually, but when I was hurt, I could be deadlier than a thousand swords. Merlin knew that all too well, that's why he nodded and said "My Lady" Before leaving the room.

Arthur

I must admit that the vision that my friends have of me is true. I am a prankster and possibly a prick. I enjoy messing with Morgana and I often push her to her limits. It's part of the relationship we have, it comes naturally with us. That's why when I saw Merlin talking to Galean in the distance I smug, very pleased with myself. If that lousy excuse of a servant did what I had told him to then right now he should be informing the Prince of Lot that the Lady Morgana would be assisting to the feast with me.

I was already smiling to myself; the sweet taste of victory was too good to be true. I decided to stay there, watching from afar. I wanted to see Galean's look on his face when Merlin told him of Morgana's refusal to go with him. However, what I saw made my jaw drop. Galean was practically jumping with excitement and that wasn't the kind of reaction that a good looking Prince would have when he just got rejected from the most beautiful woman in all of Camelot. Something didn't smell good and I suspected that good had to do with Merlin.

If that incompetent idiot have messed this up I would have him cleaning the stalls for a month. I headed toward them in very, and when I say very I mean VERY, large steps, all the while trying not to look too preoccupied.

Before I could reach them, Merlin turned to look at me and opened his mouth to speak "Arthur, there's something I have to…"

"She accepted!" Galean exclaimed, a look of pure joy brimming on his face "The Lady Morgana is coming to the feast with me"

I looked at Merlin. No, scratch that. I looked daggers at Merlin who swallowed very audibly. The boy was completely useless but he seemed to have a good sense of an imminent life threat because he quickly excused himself and left us. I turned back to Galean and forced a smile to my lips "Congratulations" I said between gritted teeth.

"Thank you, Arthur" He seemed not to have noticed my very visible frustration and moved to pat my shoulder.

I will kill this man.

"I will make her spend the most memorable night in her life" He added, a radiant smile flashing in his face.

Yeah, I will definitely kill this man.

Morgana

What I loved most about the banquets and balls was waiting in the Great Hall until the last guest had arrived. I would wait there, hidden from sight, until all of the people were gathered inside the Throne Room and only then I would make my entrance. I had a reputation to maintain, not for nothing I was known as the most desired woman in all of Camelot. But tonight, tonight was different from any other night. Tonight I wanted to shine.

And shine I would.

When I entered the Throne Room, dressed in a red gown with golden adornments and my hair held up high, every pair of eyes landed on me. I paid no attention to the slight vows of admiration from the noblemen as I walked, nor I cared for the awed whispers from the women. My eyes instantly sought a pair of baby blues, staring at me like there was nothing else in the world. I locked eyes with him, smiled lopsidedly and when he unconsciously stepped forward to meet me, I turned to the man standing beside him: Prince Galean of Lot and held out my hand for him to take.

I felt rather than saw Arthur's wounded look on his face as Galean leant forward to kiss my hand, never once breaking eye-contact with me.

"You look mesmerizing tonight, My Lady"

"Thank you, M'Lord" I answered and allowed the Prince to lead me to my seat, at the left side of my father's chair.

Prince Galean took a seat next to mine while Arthur took his rightful place at the King's right side. I have to admit that Galean was very handsome and chivalrous. He made good chat with me throughout the whole evening, which helped me ignore Arthur's casual glances toward us. He also made sure that my goblet of wine was always filled and indulged me with stories of his years as a lonesome hunter.

By the time the feast ended I was very proud with myself for not having given in to the temptation of looking back at Arthur and his companion: Lady Arabella of Panthos and I was also slightly drunk, for not saying completely drunk.

Prince Galean stood up from his seat and held out his hand for me to take. I took it without a second thought and let him help me up.

"Would you like to go for a walk, My Lady?" Galean asked me and I'm not sure if it was the effect of the wine in my head or what, but I accepted a little bit more than joyfully and followed him out.

Maybe it was my impression but I could feel a pair of eyes follow my every move, until I was out of sight.

Prince Galean led me through more halls than the ones I could count and, before I could notice, I was lost… in my own palace.

We stopped by a particularly dark pillar, one that I didn't recognize, and he pulled me roughly against the stone wall. I thought he'd kiss me but he took a dagger out of his sleeve and tucked it under my chin.

"Tell me who he is" He ordered me, his face merely inches from mine.

"Tell you what?" I breathed out. Galean was pressing so hard into me that I could hardly breathe.

"Emrys! You stupid wench!" He yelled at me, pressing the dagger deeper into my flesh. I could already feel the blood sliding down my neck.

"Emrys?" I cried when he pressed the dagger a little harder than what he had intended to, causing the wound to deepen and bleed more profusely "I-I don't know… I don't know who he is" I panicked.

Galean was out of control and very enraged. I had no idea of whom he was talking about, this Emrys person, and I was pretty sure that if I didn't tell him what he wanted to hear, he wouldn't hesitate in killing me.

"Oh but you do know, my Lady Morgana" He whispered, his lips barely touching mine "You see? I haven't come to you just because I like the looks of you. I've come to you because Emrys lives within these walls and you have great influence in here. You're the King's ward, My Lady, so you will find out who Emrys is"

"But I can't, I don't know how to. I-I don't…"

"Shut up!" He yelled, pressing his body against mine once more and, with it, also his dagger "You will find Emrys or you will die" Prince Galean finally stepped away from me and began casting an enchantment.

I brought a hand to the wound in my neck as I saw his eyes flashing gold. I felt a strange warm sensation creeping up my spine; my body temperature seemed to have fired up. I frowned in confusion. Galean laughed maliciously.

"Morgana?" I heard Arthur's worried voice calling out my name not too far from where we were standing.

"What have you done to me?" I asked, terrified.

"Morgana?" Arthur sounded close, too close.

"You have until tomorrow midnight to find him or Death will find you" He said before turning into a black wave of smoke and disappearing from sight.

The last thing I remember is Arthur's arms catching me as my world turned pitch black.

To be continued? You tell me, guys A simple review will do the trick ;)