Chapter 2
It was strange where she was, standing in the hallway of a castle. Ladies from the pleasure house weren't allowed inside the castle and neither were the people of the court allowed to pay sessions with them in their rooms. But the lord's sons held a complete disregard for rules and she was a favorite of theirs…
The environment was different. It wasn't a cold, empty castle and no one looked down on her disdainfully. It was warmer, more welcoming, a bit homey for a castle. She wasn't back in Cervena… but where she was, God only knew…
Laila slowly came out of her sleep, blinking her honey colored eyes awake. She yawned and stretched as much as she could, scanning her unfamiliar whereabouts. Laila felt a slight pain in her shoulder blade and turned her neck to see a faint pink scar. It all came to her- the bandits, the fight, the dagger slicing down her shoulder…
"You are awake." Laila jumped out of her seat, her eyes flashing bright gold. A jug of water that had been on the table flew off and in the direction where the woman's voice had come from. "Fuck!" she cursed, her eyes turning the same color as Lana's, moving her head to change the direction of the jug. Lana should've been shocked but her memory came to her. The woman was the Lady Morgana. She was the one who saved her from the bandits.
"Are you mad, you little tramp? I save your life and you try to kill me?" Morgana snapped, her eyes returning to the same pale grin. She shot a menacing glare at Laila. The girl let out an exhale, biting back the fresh batch of insults in her head from being called a tramp. "Sorry. Basic instinct when a tramp is in the house of a stranger." Her voice was calm but on the inside, she was burning. The word was like a bitter taste on her tongue and it took all her power not to send more things flying towards Morgana.
Laila looked around the room. "Or should I say, a hovel?"
Morgana's mouth twitched into a smirk. "You've quite an attitude. I bet all whores acquire the same sass as you do when stuck in the pleasure houses all day with nothing better to do."
"We still have our manners, even for ladies from call houses. I am grateful for you saving me back there," Laila added. Even if she heard things about the Lady Morgana, it was only right to say that Laila was in some way in her debt.
"It was no trouble at all." Morgana bent down to pick up the jug. She muttered a spell under her breath to clean up the water. She placed the jug back on the table and sat, addressing Laila. "Sit down. We've a lot of bonding to do."
"I've told you I know who you are," Laila replied, not taking orders. She crossed her arms. "And I know what you've done. To take orders from you would be my death sentence waiting to happen. And I won't."
Laila's blatant remark seemed to have no effect on the ex-king's ward. Morgana's eyes stayed fixed on her. "I mean no harm to you. I simply want to know who you are."
"And if I refuse to tell you?"
"You are more than welcome to walk out the door. But I can promise you that within ten minutes, you will be captured and in the hands of Camelot knights. And I can assure you that as noble as they come, even they cannot resist an escaped woman with barely any clothes on her."
"I have my magic, I can stop them," Laila countered.
"Or worse, bandits. You were close to your death, last I saw you."
The girl hesitated for a moment, but Morgana made an infuriatingly good point. Sighing, she sat back down. Morgana smirked again. "Good girl. You made the right choice."
Laila looked at her. "Well then, what do you want to know?"
Morgana leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. "Why don't we start with your name?"
"Laila."
"No last name?"
"I was stripped of it when they gave me away so it's really useless of me to tell you."
"Fair enough. Where do you come from."
"Cervena."
Morgana raised an eyebrow. "I shouldn't have asked. Cervena is home to the most promiscuous of men and women."
"The only area where call houses are still legal. And it's mostly women," Laila reminded. It was true. Cervena wasn't exactly a kingdom as there was no official king who ruled the land, just a rich lord, his wife, and his sons. It was safe to simply call it a city. No other kingdom in the lands wanted much to do with Cervena and there was no need to ask why.
"Pray tell, Laila. Why is it that a witch allowed herself to be given away to the pleasure house in the first place?" Morgana questioned.
Laila raise the strap on her torn dress as to cover herself up as much as possible. She did her best not to shiver in the cold hovel. This was a question she wanted to avoid but unfortunately, she had no choice but to answer. "I may have been born with magic, Lady Morgana, but we don't all realize it when we are just born. After all, I can't say you found out when you were a baby, now can I?"
Morgana stiffened and Laila took silent satisfaction in finally making the witch uncomfortable. She continued, "I was given away at a young age- nine or ten, I hardly remember. That was when I found out I had magic. It's strongest when my emotions are out of control. And for years, I was so unstable and so was my magic. I had to keep the magic a secret but I was young and scared and they hated my resistance. I was always locked up or sent back. But I learned to control it."
"And you went back?"
"I had to."
"Explain." Morgana wasn't giving up.
"My father left Cervena shortly after I learned how to handle my magic. When you've nowhere to live and no one willing to take in a call girl, what other choice do you have but to resume the life you were thrown into?" Laila answered.
"I can answer that easily," Morgana said, "Look at me. I used to be the king's ward. I lived a life of luxury and no one could lay a hand on me. And here I am, forced to live in a hovel and nothing from my old life has remained. But I have grown powerful and I can do for myself. You should be no different."
"That's the whole point, Morgana. You've had your luxurious life, a sister to train you in those years, time to grow as a witch. I've had nothing to begin with and no one to help me. To this day I have trouble controlling my magic." Laila rubbed her head, feeling an ache coming on. All these questions were making her dizzy. She hated talking about her life with anyone, let alone someone she didn't know and didn't trust.
"I can't say I empathize with you there," Morgana murmured.
"Believe me, my lady. I've escaped a few times. But with magic out of hand like mine horny knights and bandits swarming the area near the city, I know what I'd choose," Laila said, "Besides, they welcome me back with open arms." She chuckled but it was flat and humorless. Her sarcasm was too much to actually be funny.
"I see your point." Morgana sat back. "Poor girl. It's a life of constant shame."
Laila's eyes narrowed. "I'm ashamed to have a family who would toss me away like that. But I will not apologize for the things I've done to keep myself alive. You struggle to make a living for yourself with your background and assistance from others. Then come talk to me."
Laila's statement seemed to shut Morgana up instantly and this time, Laila regretted ranting. She was letting too much of herself out and this wasn't good. Morgana would use all this to her advantage. And if there was one person Laila would not be victim to, it was the Lady Morgana.
"I don't aim to offend you," Morgana finally spoke, "Is that all?"
The girl shrugged. "I doubt you want to hear stories about my many experiences. Unless you take any interest in Lord Kanark's sons and their obsession with Cervena call girls. I've had quite a few moments with them."
Morgana looked a bit disgusted. "Uther had many qualms with Lord Kanark. Camelot forged no alliance with Cervena because he hated him. War was to be waged but in the end, Camelot gave up."
"That's because Cervena had a shit army back then. Now, I don't know. He's constantly planning war against Uther but he has no power, no one on his side, nothing."
A smile crept up on Morgana's face. "He has nothing to worry about. The king is dead."
Laila froze. "What?"
"Yes. He died a few days ago. Prince Arthur is crowned King of Camelot."
It took a moment for Laila to register this. Nearly all her life, all she would hear was about King Uther and his tyrannical ways, how he pursued and killed those with magic, and sorcery was banned in Camelot. Anyone breaking the law would be punished through execution. Laila shuddered to think what would happen if she had grown up in Camelot and was found out.
"Is he now?" she said, sitting up in her seat. "Am I to assume he's any different from Uther?"
"Not as much as he thinks he is," Morgana responded. Laila detected a hint of anger in her voice. She looked sympathetically towards the witch. "Call me mad again, but I'm finally starting to understand why you did what you did."
"Looks like we're beginning to understand each other," Morgana smirked, "How wonderful. So you do know that I am Uther's daughter by blood and that I claim full right to the throne? That I intend to rule fairly, remove the law banning magic, so on and so forth?"
"Now it is my turn to ask you," Laila started, "Why is it, that witch with a powerful sister and an immortal army was thwarted by a handful of knights?" It was Laila's chance to hear more about Morgana.
"Seems information really does travel across the lands. How have you heard so much about me?"
"There are a lot of men who come to Cervena from Camelot. They're not as pure and holy as you think," Laila informed.
Morgana snorted. "I would've guessed it. But back to your question. Let's go back a little before we get to that point." Morgana stood up and began strolling around the table. "When Arthur found me, I played a perfect role as the king's beloved ward. Staying undercover was my best option and it fooled everyone. I had Uther wrapped around my finger and no one had the nerve to place any blame on me. It was going to be easy. Or so I thought."
"Someone saw right through you," Laila guessed the reason. Morgana nodded. "Yes. Right from the beginning."
"Seems you weren't as graceful about it as you thought you were," Laila commented, twisting a strand of light brown hair with her index finger. "Well, who was it? A member of the court? A maid?"
"Not even so," Morgana said. She grabbed onto the back of Laila's chair and leaned in, speaking in a cold, deadly whisper. "It was his worthless, meddling manservant by the name of Merlin."
Out of nowhere, Laila burst into laughter. "What the hell is so funny?" Morgana demanded.
"You're kidding, right? Arthur's manservant was able to figure you out from the beginning?" Laila slowed down her laughter to small giggles. "Either he's the smartest servant I've ever heard of or you're just horrible at being subtle."
"This is no laughing matter," Morgana snapped, glaring at Laila, "That little shit ruined my plans, killed my sister, and forced me to live in this pile of dirt. Everything I had so carefully planned and worked for, he destroyed."
Laila stopped laughing completely, realizing it was inappropriate to laugh even if wasn't typical, having a servant smarter than the master. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed. It just seemed… ridiculous that this Merlin character figured you out before Arthur did."
"Oh, it's no surprise. Arthur's naïve. He believes the best in those he is close to," Morgana replied calmly. Laila was starting to shiver again and she noticed. Promptly, she turned to the fireplace and muttered, "Lígfýr." Immediately, wisps of fire began to burn and Morgana motioned for Laila to come join her. The girl happily obliged and this time, they sat around the fire. Laila instantly felt warm. "I know that spell. I've picked up a few here and there. The rest is all elementary."
"You have a lot of training to do," Morgana commented, sitting down. She momentarily forgot about her story and asked, "Is there anything special about your magic? Anything extraordinary?"
Laila thought for a moment. "I'm not sure if this is anything different, but… I see things, before they happen. Sometimes they do, sometimes they change. A lot of the time they change…"
"You're a Seer," Morgana said knowingly. "I know how you feel. I am the same. In fact, my dreams were how I found out I had magic. My visions were coming true."
"They're awful," Laila groaned. "I see things that I can't believe. Things that are impossible, can't happen. It's frustrating how my mind can play tricks on me like that."
"You should be wise not to ignore them, Laila," Morgana advised, "They may come true."
Laila rolled her eyes. "I doubt it. Just now when I was asleep, I saw I was walking down a castle corridor. And not the one back in Cervena. I don't know where it was but it was different. Warmer, not so intimidating."
Morgana looked at Laila with interest. "Is that right…"
Laila eyed her. "Yes. But that I will ignore. It's never going to happen. When am I going to find myself in a castle?"
"Indeed," Morgana muttered. She studied Laila for a moment before rising out of her chair. "You're probably hungry after today."
"Starving, actually. I haven't eaten since the bandits bought me from the house two days ago," Laila sighed gratefully. As appreciative as she was for Morgana's help, a part of her had to wonder what Morgana was being so kind. A woman like her wouldn't be like this- unless it meant she got something in return. Laila didn't think about it while she and Morgana ate. Her stomach ached for food and she wanted to be silent for a while, not even talk about herself.
When they were done, they resumed sitting by the fire. Laila wondered what would become of her later on. Would Morgana kick her out or let her stay? She tried not to think about when Morgana opened her mouth to talk.
"You have potential, Laila," she began, "You're still relatively new with all your magic. But with training, you'll have great power and no one can lay a single hand on you."
"And you're willing to be the one to help me with this?"
Morgana smiled. "You don't need to be a Seer to predict that, I see. But yes."
Laila knew what was coming next. "But there is something else, Morgana. You offer to help me- but I can sense you want something in return."
"How observant you are," Morgana murmured, eyeing Laila with what looked like slight admiration.
"I've learned a lot about you today. I respect you. And I am in your debt for saving my life. But I am not your servant and neither will I be. If that is what I owe you, you might as well let me go back to Cervena."
"You needn't get so defensive, Laila. I don't intend to make you my servant." Morgana got up and this time, she paced around the dying fire. "For years, you've shed your dress for the pleasures of other men, am I correct?"
"Explicitly so." Stay collected, Laila. She's trying to say something here.
"That's been your job all your life to keep you alive. What would you say if I told you that I could introduce you to a new life where you won't have to sell yourself to any man and no one will touch you in any way that displeases you?"
This struck some interest in Laila. "Go on."
Morgana was behind her again, hands on her chair. "Imagine it for a moment. You'd have a home and paid work, you wouldn't worry about food or water, all of that. And not in some town like Cervena. No. Imagine all this… in Camelot."
Laila scoffed at this. "You almost had me, my lady. But even you can't set foot in Camelot. How can you give me that so-called great life?"
"It's very easy," Morgana replied smoothly. "I have an insider at Camelot."
"You're telling me you've got another traitor in disguise doing your work for you?"
"Right again. And it's not just any man. It's the king's uncle. Agravaine is his name."
"The king's uncle? Gods Morgana, is everyone slowly coming to your side?"
"Soon they will," Morgana grinned evilly, "that is, when I take the throne."
Laila breathed a sigh. "Haven't given up, then? I wish you luck on that. Has Merlin caught on with Agravaine yet?" She was humoring Morgana at this point. After all, one insider wasn't going to do anything or work to her advantage.
"You're much more useful than I thought you to be," Morgana noted, "And you're guessing right. Agravaine has failed me many times and his greatest failure is letting a servant see right through him. He's fooled Arthur yet he cannot fool Merlin. For what reason, I cannot understand."
Laila looked down at her hands. It was just coming to her that maybe her vision would come true now that Morgana was talking about it- was the corridor one of Camelot's? Could she really have that life? The girl thought about this while Morgana continued, "Merlin was the reason my plans failed. I'm willing to bet my life that every attempt was ruined by him. If I had fooled him from the start, this all would've been okay. I would've been the queen."
"You've underestimated him," Laila murmured, "From what you've said, Merlin is not so easily manipulated. Not even by the king's uncle."
"You continue to be correct. Listen to what I have to say to you, Laila. Are you listening?"
"I have been and still am. What is it?"
Morgana began, "In order for me to take the throne, I cannot risk any more mistakes. Agravaine is working to help me but if he's under suspicion, it will all fail. He can't change Merlin's mind. I don't trust him, he WILL be caught every time."
"What are you saying?"
Morgana leaned and said into Laila's ear, "I need your help."
Laila felt a shiver run down her spine as she heard Morgana's whisper. She should've seen this coming- all this talk of a new life in Camelot, the complaints about Merlin, how Agravaine was letting Morgana down. The witch needed more help and at the perfect time, she came across Laila, a girl from Cervena. She stared straight ahead, her eyes darkening in color. How I wish I could've finished off those bandits myself. And now, I owe this witch.
"I know what you want me to do," she muttered, not meeting Morgana's eyes until she turned to look up at her. "And I won't do it."
Laila stood up, feeling a rush of anger inside of her. "So clever, aren't you, witch? A helpless call girl falls into your lap in desperate need of help. And you take advantage of her. I know what you want me to do and I won't do it. I will not be that manservant's whore. Find someone else."
Morgana's face flushed and she narrowed her eyes. "I saved your life and I'm giving you the chance to a new one. You'd be an incredible stupid whore if you much prefer going back to Cervena and letting Lord Kanark's sons leave all those bruises on your body"-
Laila hastily covered herself up. "That is no new life! It's the same one, with just a single person!" she yelled, her face turning red. Her dress was so ripped up, Morgana had seen the black and blue marks. She wanted to cry and already her eyes were burning but she held it back.
"Listen to me," Morgana insisted, reaching over and grabbing Laila. "Look at yourself. Look at your dress, if you can even call it one. Look at all these bruises. Not think about how you've been treated in the past? Have you been beaten?"
Laila shut her eyes. No, no, not this…
"Answer me. Have you been beaten by any of the men?"
"Yes," she choked, shoving Morgana back. "But what does that mean to you?"
"You can't protect yourself, Laila, because you don't know how to hone the magic inside you. I bet you are strong and you're a Seer." Morgana dropped her voice. "And you won't have that until magic is allowed in Camelot. When I'm queen, it will be allowed. You can practice it all you want. You can make those men suffer the way you have. I will let you because I know suffering. I know how it feels to be alone, to be scared. I can help you."
Laila bit her lip. "You can't help me. You barely know me."
"I can help you," Morgana assured, "I am helping you. I'm giving you a chance at a new life. All I ask is that you provide a distraction to Merlin so that when the time comes and I am queen, you will have your revenge."
Laila was silent. "And my magic? Just how will you help me with that?"
Morgana paused then walked towards her. "I'm going to make you a promise. If you do this for me, then I promise I will help you control your magic. In exchange for this, of course. A new life, control over your magic… what more could you want?"
The girl sank into a chair, thinking to herself. Yesterday, she had been a lady from the pleasure house, exposing herself to please men to be able to live. She was bought from there by bandits who were moments away from killing her when Morgana saved her. And now something was being dangled in front of her and she had never felt more taken advantage of than now. Provide a distraction for Merlin. Laila wasn't clueless, she knew what that was going to lead to. That was a life she had tried many times to run away from and to take this was the complete opposite of what she wanted. But now Morgana tempted her with training her and her magic. If Laila was able to master controlling her magic the way Morgana had, she would no longer have to be Morgana's puppet. If she spent some time in Camelot, provided extra distraction, and at the same time, got help, she would leave. That was it. She could protect herself from anyone who tried to harm her or lay a hand on her. Laila wouldn't even have to wait for Morgana to become queen; as soon as she had a grip on her powers, she was out of there.
They'll regret messing with me then.
Taking a deep breath, Laila looked up at Morgana. "Fine. I'll do it."
Morgana' lips curled into a nasty smile. "Good choice."
A/N: This took me forever… this chapter was basically to give some information on Laila and her background and also, Morgana's plan. In the next chapter or the one that follows, we'll finally see Merlin and Arthur. From the looks of it, you all are liking the story! I'm happy to hear. Please read and review, I greatly appreciate the feedback! Cheers!