Todenhin lived in a small, musty castle. The city that had once surrounded it was long gone. Trees, heavy with vines, grew up around the castle, camouflaging it from any hunter who happened to make his way this deep into the forest. With luck, our hunters would find it. If I wasn't so terrified by the man's threats, I would have smiled. Our hunters: King Uther, Prince Arthur, members of the royal guard, and one young sorcerer. Of course, they were coming more for Morgana than Gwen and I, but they were still coming. Hopefully.

As we drew nearer to the small castle, goosebumps appeared on my skin. The surrounding forest was eerily quiet, with no bird calls, nor the rush of wind in the branches. The horses' hooves echoed loudly on the stone. Gargoyles leered at us from every corner. We were led under a grand arch and into a stone courtyard. Three dozen soldiers in full plate armor shone golden. As we rode in, a single horn blew. Great doors opened to our left. As one, every guard saluted, then dropped to one knee. The barbarians did the same. Out came a man the likes of which I had never seen. His thin hair was grey and stringy, hanging just past his shoulders. He wore sweeping purple robes with gold trim and a matching gold cloak. He held his hands in front of him, curled up like a grasshopper's. He stopped and took a deep breath.

"What a glorious day!" He exclaimed. "And my favorite outlaw has brought me quarry!" He strode over to us, waving his hands in excitement. "Could it be?" He stopped by Morgana. "It is! The Lady Morgana! I am honored to have you in my humble house." He bowed low, sweeping one arm behind him and resting his other hand over his heart.

"Why have you brought us here?" Morgana demanded.

Todenhin ignored Morgana's question. Instead, he gasped, fluttering a hand in front of his mouth. "Your hands are bound! What atrociousness is this?" He spun in a circle, a hand on his heart again. "Ivori! Did you do this to the Lady?"

The leader of the barbarians flinched and dipped his head. "I am sorry, my lord. It is my grave error. I was under the impression that you wanted her to-" He was cut off as Todenhin slapped the back of his head.

"She is our honored guest! We will discuss this failure later. But now, my Lady Morgana, let me make you comfortable. My soldiers will tend to your beast, providing him with the finest oats, the freshest hay, the purest water." Todenhin gestured to one of his gold-armored guards. He stepped forward and carefully took Morgana down from the saddle and cut the rope around her wrists. While rubbing her wrists, she glanced back at Gwen.

"What about Gwen and Aleusa?"

Again, Todenhin ignored her question. "This way, mi'lady. An exceptional feast awaits you. And once you have satisfied your hunger, an exceedingly comfortable bed awaits. Be reassured that what happened earlier was a misunderstanding and that Ivori will be severely punished for his actions." He reached out and rested a hand on her arm, trying to lead her away.

"No! You will tell me what is going on!" Morgana shook his arm off and backed away.

"My dear, you are here so that you might be safe!" Todenhin set both hands on Morgana's shoulder and muttered some words under his breath. Suddenly, Morgana stopped struggling. "Do you understand?" Todenhin's voice was still pleasant.

"I do." Morgana intoned. Then she shook her head. "Wait! What did you just do?"

"I just put a spell on you, Lady Morgana, but it seems you were strong enough to break it." Todenhin grinned wickedly. As fast as lightning, he hit Morgana, making the taller woman double over. Then he hit the back of her head and she collapsed, unconscious. Gwen cried out. Several guards grabbed Morgana's body and carried it away, down a hall to the right.

"Take care of them. Their part will not come til later." Todenhin waved a hand in the general direction of Gwen and I. The barbarians dragged us off our horses and led us down the hall that Morgana had been taken down. I fought them, but to no avail.

"Alright, in here, little girls. Be good now!" They laughed and shoved us into a tiny cell, slamming the iron-barred door behind us. Tears threatened to escape as I pushed myself off of the dirty floor.

"Gwen?"

"Yes?" She was already standing and offered a hand to me.

I took it and she pulled me up. "Whats going on?" My voice shook a little and my chin quivered.

"I don't know, Aleusa." She grabbed my hands and pulled me over to a low bench- the only furniture in the room. "But I am sure that Arthur can track us here. He'll rescue us, and Morgana too."

"But- but, how?"

Gwen took a deep breath. "I don't know."


Curled up on the floor of the dungeon, I watched the shining boots of Todenhin's men as they marched by from under my lashes. Gwen had fallen asleep, stretched out on the bench, leaving me with the floor to catch a little sleep. But sleep would not come. I was terrified. Up until now, my life had been peaceful, apart from animals getting in the way of everything. Now, I knew that all the animals that seemed to follow me around begging for scraps were really honing in on my magic. Magic that I did not understand, much less control. I sighed and curled up tighter.

Banging on the door startled me awake. Not even sure when I had fallen asleep, I pick myself up off of the dirt. "Come on!" The guard's rough command wakes Gwen. "Todenhin needs you."

Gwen glared at him. "For what?"

"That is none of your business." He sneered. Unlocking the door, he laughed. "But it will be." Two other guards came into the cell and grabbed Gwen and I. They forced us down several halls and across the courtyard, into a large room. The ceiling was domed and covered in glass. A large pit in the center was ringed with stones sparkling with mica. Clearly, it was a bonfire pit. On four sides of the pit, there were stone tables. Each had a letter of the compass engraved into it. The stone was stained with blood. I shivered as the guards pulled us towards the far wall, towards the chains that hung there. Morgana was seated in an intricate throne. He hands were chained to the armrests. She stared straight ahead, a determined look in her eyes. Suddenly, she noticed us.

"You said you wouldn't bring them into this!" She shouted.

Out of the shadows, Todenhin appeared. "I said I would not kill them, yet. That does not mean they can enjoy the... entertainment." Morgana twisted to watch us as we were chained, with our hands above our heads- to the cold stone wall. A tear slipped out of her eye. "Now, we can begin." Todenhin gave a mock bow to Morgana. His earlier pleasantness was gone, replaced by a cruel wickedness. He paced in front of us, black eyes glinting coldly. He stopped and walked up to Gwen. "Such beauty, such strength! Woman with your strength are rare... It is shame that you will not live a full life."

Gwen glared at him. "Creep," she spat.

"And you!" Todenhin turned to me. "Such eyes... As clear a blue as ice, a winter sky. Again, it is a shame you must die."

I growled. "What are? Some kind of demon?"

"I am an sorcerer, my dear. Now be quiet, I have work to do." For the next hour or so, he ignored us. Todenhin busied about the room, setting up things on tables that his guards had brought. Jars of colored liquid, strange carvings, a huge, elaborately carved golden knife. I glanced at Gwen. She was staring at the knife. We both feared its purpose. The sun was setting when Todenhin turned back to us.

"My Lady Morgana, the hour has come. I will reveal your purpose here. You see, Camelot is corrupted. Uther Pendragon will be its downfall. I have taken the heavy burden upon myself to save it. The only way to save Camelot is to kill the king. But that is a difficult task. As you know well, he is a careful man. He does not trust strangers. So to get close enough to kill him, I need someone close to him. You."

Morgana jerked in her chair. "I will not do it." Her voice shook.

"I know. That is why having your servants here is such a great help." Todenhin clasped his hands behind his back. "Demons, Lady Morgana. I happen to know of one who would very much enjoy regaining a body, and is willing to help me complete my task. But you see, this demon is under the control of another demon, who is not willing to let this other demon possess you, Lady Morgana. Not without a blood payment. The lives of your servants, Gwen and Aleusa, will appease him, and make him more than happy to let this demon go. Once he possesses you, your desires will be useless. You will kill Uther, whether you want to or not." He grinned wickedly. "And everyone will think that you did it."

"You are insane!" Morgana cried.

Todenhin went back to ignoring her. "Now, you will all go back to your chambers and rest. We must wait until the moon rises, and tonight's activities will be very... tiring."

"You call that little hole a chamber?" Gwen exclaimed.

Todenhin had turned to leave, but he turned back. Anger blazed in his eyes. "Your impudence had gone to far. I will be glad to be rid of you." He slapped her, hard. Blood trickled out of the corner of Gwen's mouth as she glared, but she didn't open her mouth again. Guards appeared and unshackled us all. "Remember, Lady Morgana, there is no res." He smirked and left the room, vanishing down a hall.

"Be strong, Gwen." Morgana pleaded. "I will think of something." Then the guards took her away.


I shivered next to Gwen. Three hours had passed, and we dreaded every guard that passed would drag us to our death. The dungeon was dark and cold. Of course, we had been to terrified to sleep. "They will come," I whispered. "They have too. They won't forsake us."

Gwen hugged me. "I have been in a dungeon before. Arthur will rescue us."

"And the king. And Merlin."

"Yes." We held each other, giving comfort when there was none. We had grown close over the last day, and this only made our friendship stronger. Better to die with friends than enemies or acquaintances. As we held each other, I heard a soft hissing noise. I looked up and saw a snake slither through a crack in the dungeon wall. Gwen gave a muffled shriek. Staring at him, I knelt down on the dirt. He slithered up to me and raised his head. His scales were royal blue on his head, but darkened to black by his tail. His eyes glittered intelligently black. I saw the slightest hint of light in them and quickly focused on it.

Can you help us?

Help is already here, Mistress. You must be patient. Todenhin will not call for you. Rest, Mistress. You will need it to escape.

How can I be sure of your word?

The snake's next words sounded surprised. You have Beast Magic. An animal will never lie to you. Surely you knew that, Mistress?

I just found out yesterday that I even have magic. There is almost no record of it in Camelot.

That may be, Mistress. Rest now, we will speak of this later, in private. The snake flicked his black tongue in and out.

Later? The snake did not respond. "I don't think that Todenhin is going to call for anytime soon. Maybe we should rest? That way we can have the strength to escape." Gwen stared at me, then the snake.

"How do you know?"

I shrugged. "Maybe he has to wait til the moon is at the peak of its ascent. That isn't for another few hours."

Gwen blinked tiredly. "Sleep does sound nice." She curled up on her side and was sleep within seconds.

I sighed and tried to hide a yawn. Is this private enough now? I want to know how to control it. Can you tell me?

The snake slithered closer. I know some. But you must rest as well, Mistress. With another sigh, I lay down on the dirty floor. My eyes suddenly felt heavy. I had been awake since dawn, and the day had been long. Mistress?

Yes?

May I lay on your arm? It is cold down here, even for a snake.

Very well. I was too tired to protest. I stretched my left arm out, wrist up. The snake slithered across my palm and up my arm, resting his triangular head on my upper bicep. I shivered at his cold scales. He was just long enough to loosely curl the tip of his tail around my thumb.

Thank you, Mistress. The blood in your veins is very warm. Not knowing how to respond, I let my eyes close. Within seconds, I was asleep.


"Gwen! Gwen! Wake up!" A voice hissed. Slowly, I drifted out of the blackness of exhausted sleep. "Gwen! Come on!" I opened my eyes. "Oh, Alexa. Wake Gwen up. We have to go!" Prince Arthur's bleary form hissed at me. The snake was gone. I forced myself upright and walked over to Gwen. I could hardly believe what I was seeing was real.

"Gwen! Prince Arthur is here! Hes come to rescue us!"

She woke with a start. "Arthur?"

"Yes!" He hissed from the door.

"I got the keys," Merlin ran breathlessly up. "They're in there?"

"Look and see." Arthur rolled his eyes, grabbed the keys and began shoving them into the lock.

"Oh. Hello. Sorry we're late. King Uther is getting Morgana. Todenhin is dead, but his guards and a few of those barbarians are still around."

"Todenhin is dead?" I whispered.

"I killed him." Arthur said as the door swung open. "Now lets go before any guards come. And they will, once they realize that Todenhin is dead." He grabbed Gwen's arm and pulled her out. "Come on!"

Merlin grinned at me. "Ready?"

"Wait!" I looked around for the snake. I still wanted to know about my magic. Where are you?

Here, Mistress. He slithered out of the crack in the wall. I hid from Arthur, but this boy has powerful magic. He is like you.

My magic isn't powerful. I knelt and held out my hand. He slithered up it and wrapped around my forearm, under my dress. When I straightened, Merlin had a very peculiar expression on his face.

"That was a snake."

"Yes." The look on his face was priceless. Disbelief, confusion, amusement, and a hint of fear, all rolled into one. I smothered a laugh. "Thank you for coming," I grabbed his hand. "I was really scared." I admitted.

"We were too, from the way Todenhin was talking." He switched hands so he wasn't holding the one the snake had gone up. We broke into a run as we heard the clanking of armor behind us. As we caught up with Arthur, Merlin whispered in my ear. "I was so worried that you had been killed."

I smiled and opened my mouth to reply, but stopped when I heard the rasp of a sword being drawn. In front of Arthur's sword stood half a dozen guards in golden armor, completely blocking the hall. Four more came up behind us. We were trapped.