Chapter 3

Morgana

Morgana woke up with a start. She'd just had an unnerving dream about Uther sentencing her to death while all of her old friends watched happily on. The same dream she'd had every few nights for the past month. Morgause had said that the dreams meant nothing, the magic surrounding the bracelet that kept Morgana in peaceful dreams must be wearing off, nothing more. She earnestly promised to rejuvenate the magic as soon as she had business taken care of. Lately Morgause had been visiting Cenred to keep an eye on his army and plan tactics for invading Camelot in a grand scheme they were coming up with. The Lady Morgana did not know what these plans were, but she knew that she must keep practicing her magic for she had an invaluable role to play in the ploy.

Morgana quickly got out of bed, for the light of the dawn filtered in through her tall window. She knew today was another day for her to practice what she'd learned, for Morgause was still in Cenred's kingdom. Morgana was quite used to being alone in the old tower nowadays, and she quickly made breakfast and went out into the courtyard. The fog was lifting beautifully this morning, and the sunlight touched her pale skin. She wondered to herself, as now the people in Camelot were becoming her enemies more and more by the day, whether or not she would ever exchange a true laugh or smile with them again. She smiled bitterly at the sun, always eluding her, like her once-friends. Would she ever exchange a joke with Merlin, and feel the true blossoming of friendship with in her again? Would she ever hug Guinevere to herself, feeling as if they were sisters? Would she ever beat Arthur in a sword fight again and laugh as he wouldn't admit that a girl, nonetheless the Lady Morgana, had beaten him?

She reached out her hand to the sun and whispered under her breath, "Árfæste mé."

Her eyes flashed a brilliant gold, and the fog flowed off to the side allowing the sunlight to shine brighter on the young woman, making her squint. It was nice to see the sun sometimes, so Morgana thought, for she didn't often get a chance to bathe herself in it. The sun was truthful, never discriminating. A sudden pain in her chest made her start, and she toppled to the ground, hand on her heart. The magic took a lot out of her. So much that she didn't do it often, only when she needed to. She smiled another sad smile. What was she to become? Only fate would tell her.

That night, Morgause returned, attitude cheerful and smiling all around.

"What have you and Cenred planned?" Morgana asked at dinner with a smile.

"Many wonderful things!" Morgause exclaimed breathlessly, "We have a plan that will surely cause Camelot to fall!"

"Is that our goal?" asked Morgana a little bit downheartedly, "To bring the destruction of Camelot?"

"Well," Morgause replied, slightly taken aback, "Isn't it?"

Morgana became very interested in the plate of food in front of her, "Yes, I am ready to see Uther fall."

"Uther," Morgause snapped bitterly, "More than just fall. He has been a slaughterer of all those who have sorcery. He has discriminated against all people, young or old, weak or strong, innocent or guilty! The truth is that those who have magic are no different from everyone else. We are all the same, but now Uther has declared himself better. In doing this, he has turned his own kind against him."

"But," Morgana was confused, "Surely we are different than them. We have power to rule over our environment, and they do not."

"Sister," Morgause smiled and set her hand on her sister's, "You are not alone in this world. Remember that, you always have me to be alongside you."

Morgana smiled back. A true smile. One she hadn't done in almost three months. She felt like a regular person when she was around Morgause, there was no reason to pretend she was anyone else. Morgause squeezed her sister's hand tightly.

"You are safe with me," Morgause smiled. When she turned her head downwards, her mouth contorted into a smile that Morgana would be doing for many months to come. A smile on manipulation. Of course, she loved her sister, but the Lady Morgana was vital in the plan to overthrow Uther, and Morgause couldn't possibly have such a powerful sorceress fighting against her such as Morgana.

"Thank you, Sister," Morgana closed her eyes, still smiling, "You have shown me what is the true side I should fight for. I have no doubts."

Which, of course, was a lie.

Merlin

Emilia's words stayed in Merlin's head for the next month to come. The Druids may be an enemy of Camelot, but Camelot is not an enemy of the Druids. Did the same thing apply to sorcery? Maybe if they got Morgana back, and she wasn't turned evil by Morgause, he could tell her his secret. Maybe they could be together.

Of course, his musings were interrupted by a certain blond-haired individual, "MERLIN! Where the hell are you?"

"I'm right here, Sire!" Merlin got up from cleaning the stables and walked out into the open air.

"There's another ride coming up soon," Arthur explained, arms crossed, "You have to lead it because I have an important meeting to attend, and Guinevere's proposed to come with you," he said this last part annoyedly .

"Good," Merlin smiled, "I'll enjoy the company."

"What, and you don't enjoy my company?" Arthur retorted.

"Prat," Merlin whispered jokingly as he walked by the Prince on the way back into the citadel.

"MERLIN!" Merlin heard a yell from behind him, but he laughed and kept on walking to retrieve Guinevere for the ride.

Guinevere was riding a white horse along with Merlin at the head of the pack. They'd brought along a couple of knights along with many soldiers, and were going to search for Morgana in some of the nearby towns.

Gwen turned to Merlin, "Do you really think all this searching is going to find her?'

Merlin looked back, "To be honest, no, but we can always hope for the best."

Gwen nodded thoughtfully, and after some time said, "I think about her all the time, wondering if she's safe or if she's been killed by slave-traders."

"I don't know," Merlin replied quietly, not mentioning Morgause, "But whatever it is, I don't think it will be good."

Sir Leon rode up alongside the twosome, "Excuse me, Merlin, but I think there's something afoot. If you listen closely, you can hear nothing, not even the wind."

Guinevere looked around concernedly, "You're right, Leon," she turned worriedly to Merlin, "Should we head back?"

Merlin listened, and felt the silence chill him, "Yes, let's go back now."

But it was not to be. Almost instantly, bandits emerged from behind the trees and surrounded the small party. With a loud battle cry, they commenced in fighting. Metal clashed on metal, horses reared and ran off into the woods. Merlin swiftly dismounted and helped Guinevere down.

"Quickly, get into that grove of trees over there Gwen!" Merlin yelled.

"No!" Gwen retorted, grabbing the sword of a fallen bandit, "I'm a blacksmith's daughter, remember?"

With no time to hesitate, Merlin left Gwen fighting along with the other soldiers. Suddenly, something made Merlin stop in his tracks.

A shrill cry sounded, "Help me!"

He recognized the voice, and wondered why no one else seemed to notice. Then it dawned on him: it was a druid trying to communicate. One druid in particular.

"Emilia! We're here, where are you? Why are you in danger?" Merlin thought as loud as he could.

"I was captured when these bandits raided my camp! The others are mostly hurt or dead, but they thought they could sell me as a slave," Emilia thought back from somewhere in the trees beyond.

It sickened Merlin, "I'm coming to help."

"Thank you," came a relieved response.

Merlin left the battle scene, only throwing one arbitrary spell in the direction of a bandit, who promptly went flying into a tree. Merlin hurried into a heavily wooded area and was relieved to find the girl sitting there, arms tied to a thick tree. The bandits' supplies were littered about a small area of bushes nearby.

"Emrys!" Emilia exclaimed exhaustedly, "Use your magic to untie these knots!"

"I will," Merlin replied, and was about to recite an incantation when who else but Guinevere ran up to check on the child.

"I saw you leave, Merlin, and I figured something must be wrong," Gwen said quickly, "Here, we must help this poor girl!"

Gwen and Merlin untied the ropes, then ran with Emilia deeper into the woods. They came across a small cave and stopped there.

"You will be safe here," Merlin assured the small druid girl.

"Are you sure?" Gwen grabbed Merlin by the arm and whispered in his ear, "The patrols often come near here."

"There's nowhere else to go," Merlin whispered back, "If we go any further Sir Leon and the other knights will wonder where we went."

Gwen nodded concernedly, then smiled sadly at Emilia.

"I'll be okay here?" Emilia asked for assurance, but a quick glance towards Merlin betrayed her emotions. She was scared, and she knew she wouldn't last long.

"You'll be fine!" Guinevere stooped down so that she was eye-level with the young girl and brushed the long hair out of her face, "We'll come by and check on you tomorrow, then we'll find a better place for you."

Merlin nodded, and Emilia seemed to relax a little bit. She nodded and retired into the cave, disappearing into the darkness. Gwen and Merlin exchanged worried looks, then headed back to where the knights were waiting.

Merlin heard a small voice whisper through his head, "Thank you for trying, Emrys, but there's nothing you can do."

He closed his eyes and sighed. He told himself that tomorrow they would go to check on Emilia and she'd be fine, but his true feelings betrayed him.

Guinevere smiled and leaned on Merlin's shoulder as they walked, "She'll be fine, Merlin. Just like Morgana is fine and safe right now. I know it."

Merlin nodded, thankful to have a friend like Gwen to be there.