Darkness had fallen and the moon was high in the sky. A small army had gathered on the edge of the woods surrounding the outline villages. A hooded figure pushed their way through the men, as they raised their head up dark curls fell past their shoulders. Morgana pushed her hood back to reveal her pale face. By her side she was joined by Mordred. He had joined her when they found each other several months ago. He had last seen her nine year ago when he was a little boy and she had ventured in to the druid's camp. Mordred was wearing chain mail and armour, prepared to go into battle.
"Are you ready?" She asked, looking towards him.
"I am." Mordred smiles weakly back.
Morgana grabs hold of his gloved hand, squeezing it gently to offer encouragement. They both start chanting in a strange language: 'Thurh minum gewealde ond thinum maegen... geclippath we thone lieg the ealla awestath'. Slowly they start to rise their heads up, looking at the sky. When silence had fallen, Morgana let go of Mordred's hand. Her eyes were fixed to the sky, waiting for something to happen. Suddenly an orange haze filled the sky above illuminating everything. Mordred looked around seeing several fireballs flying through the sky in the direction of the castle and villages.
The first one fell with a thud landing in the street of a village causing devastation. Smoke rose in tight circle into the dark sky. More continued to drop with flames raging through the villages. Screams and cries of woman and children could be heard as they tried to run from the flames which burnt the wooden buildings to the ground. Men were shouting trying to put the flames out but the fire was too powerful for them. The warning bell in the castle had been sounded. The chimes were loud against the silence of the landscape.
"Elgan, you know what to do." Morgana said turning to a large, beefy man who held a mace.
He gestured at his army to follow him through the trees. A large group of men disappeared off into the darkness whilst some stayed with Morgana.
"What do we do now?" Mordred asked curiously, trying to block out the noise from below.
"We wait for the signal. Elgan and his men need to get into the castle before we can do anything." Morgana said raising an arm to stop the rest of her men from charging off.
Ailidh was woken by the warning bell that shook the whole castle. She pushed herself up seeing that the two guards that guarded her cell had vanished taking the keys with them. She looked through the bars at the back of her cell seeing orange flames dancing around the courtyard. Eamont Guards were trying to hold off the army trying to ambush the castle. Heavy footsteps hurried down the stairs to the cells. Ailidh held her breath hoping that it wasn't someone from the other army. She let out a sigh of relief when she noticed her father fussing about with a set of keys.
"Father, what is happening?" She asked desperate to find out.
"We are under attack. You need to get somewhere safe. Find Tatiana and she'll take you to safety." Her father said unlocking the door.
"But I won't see you again." Ailidh said wrapping her arms round her father.
"Quick go." Her father sighed. "Ailidh, please don't get caught."
She had a feeling that her father was hiding something from her but there was no time to ask him what it was. She quickly ran up the stairs which led to the ground floor of the castle. She caught a glimpse out of the window. The courtyard was strewn with dead bodies, either Eamont guards or the enemies.
She had to get to her chambers but that was nearly impossible with the enemy patrolling the corridors. Luckily she found a break when an Eamont guard struck down the enemy with his sword. Ailidh ran past finally getting to the corridor where her chamber were situated but there were voices up ahead. She ducked into a dark alcove where she stayed to listen to the voices.
"Where is she?" asked a deep husky voice.
"I-I don't know." stuttered a women's voice.
Ailidh tried to hold back the tears as she heard Tatiana's voice again. She had the urge to show herself now but it would lead to her either being captured or killed. She had to hold her breath when she heard the man's hand connect with Tatiana's cheek.
"L-Last time I-I saw her she was in the cells." Tatiana spoke as though she hadn't got enough breath left in her body.
Ailidh shuffled backwards hiding in the shadows as the men passed. When the coast was clear she came out of hiding and ran over to Tatiana who was lying on the floor.
"Tatiana." Ailidh spoke softly.
"What are you doing here?" Tatiana asked in shock.
"Father let me out of the cells and told me to come and find you. He said that you would help me escape." Ailidh said quietly not wanting to be heard.
She helped Tatiana to her feet seeing the extent of the men's beatings. She had a small cut above her eye and her cheek was bright red where she had been slapped. Ailidh went to go into her chambers but Tatiana stopped her. They need to get away from the castle fast and there was no time for dwindling. They ran through corridor after corridor, navigating their way through the castle.
After rushing down some stairs they heard some voices in the main council chamber. They ran round going through another door that led into the back of the council chamber. Her father's chair stood in the middle but he wasn't sat in it. Instead a woman was sat in his place. She wore clothes of a gothic nature, all black. Her hair fell in waves around her shoulders.
A man was stood at her side. The big heavy oak doors at the other end opened. In walked two guards that Ailidh didn't recognise but then it clicked. They weren't wearing Eamont colours. Instead they were kitted out in chainmail, black armour and black capes.
"What news?" Morgana asked.
"We haven't been able to find her milady." A man stepped forward with a look of fear on his face almost choking on the words he just said.
"I WANT HER DEAD!" Morgana shouted raising her hand.
Ailidh, watching from the shadows, saw the man fly across the room and smack straight into a pillar. He fell to the floor unconscious a small pool of blood forming around his head. There was no way anyone would be able to do that unless they had magic. Ailidh gulped at the thought of this woman being so powerful.
"Search again. She must be here!" She ordered.
Ailidh wondered whether these people were talking about her. There was no sign of her father anywhere which made her worry even more. She looked on as the woman got to her feet beckoning to some people who Ailidh hadn't noticed were there. They dragged someone between them. His head was bowed not wanting to make eye contact with anyone. Ailidh peered round the pillar that was hiding her and Tatiana, a strip of light illuminated her face.
"Morgana, do you really think this is necessary?"
"You know it is Mordred. I've already told you what the book said or do you have trouble believing me?" Morgana asked her attention turning to Mordred.
"No I do not," Mordred said avoiding her gaze.
Morgana turned her attention to the man who was kneeling on the floor, his hand binded by rope behind his back. Ailidh studied the person trying to recognise them. Then she spotted the royal blue cloak, the one her father wore. The rose their head once Morgana had started to speak. Ailidh saw her father's face battered and bruised. His eyes were full of sadness but his face was emotionless.
"I shall ask you again. Where is your daughter?" Morgana raised her voice, wanting to sound intimidating.
"She…she's probably out of the castle by now somewhere in the woods." Ailidh's father spoke showing no fear towards her.
"You're lying!" Morgana snapped. "I did say this was your last chance, dear king."
Morgana raised her hand towards Ailidh's father. Suddenly his face began to go red, chocking on his own breath. Ailidh watched as her father's body convulsed on the ground struggling for air. She wanted to scream out and confront Morgana but Tatiana placed her hand over Ailidh's mouth. Ailidh was on the brink of tears seeing her father die all because of her. One question was bothering her. What did this woman, who called herself Morgana, want with her?
