Chapter 4
Morgana opened her wardrobe door and saw all of her old gowns, exactly as she'd left them. Her hangings on the bed were still there, that she had picked out when Uther first adopted her. She silently opened the door an inch and checked no-one was nosing around in the hallway.
She pulled the enchanted mirror out from under her cloak and spoke her sister's name. Morgause gazed back at her.
"Morgana," said Morgause. "I trust all is well?"
"Extremely well," smiled Morgana. "Arthur has welcomed me back with open arms. Soon I will have the Pendragons under my power, and we shall take control of Camelot."
"You have done well, my sister. Arthur's reign is at an end."
Morgause vanished from the mirror. Morgana stowed it safely in her old drawer and hastily glanced around the room. If she had used her magic carefully enough, she would have realised someone was hiding in the shadowy corners, invisible to Morgana.
Morgana opened her window and gazed out into Camelot, savouring the view she had almost forgotten. The busy streets bustled with people, and shouts of joy could be heard from the carefree inhabitants. She sighed wistfully, longing to return to the time when her life was normal and she could enjoy herself.
The open window suddenly let a gust of wind in, blowing the bedroom door open. Morgana rushed to close it, but not before she felt the presence of someone else, someone running as far away from her chambers as possible.
*-*-*-*-
Merlin raced down the corridors, glad that no-one could see him. He knocked gently on Guinevere's door, and became visible once more as he entered.
Guinevere was sat on her bed, anxiously wringing her hands. Rowan, Elizabeth and Phillip were tucked up in her bed. Arthur paced impatiently beside the window, annoyed that his wife and friend were so untrusting of Morgana.
"Merlin!" cried Guinevere, relieved. "What did you see?"
Merlin locked the door behind him with magic. Morgana had definitely sensed his presence, and the last thing he needed was for her to find him in here.
"Morgana has an enchanted mirror," he whispered. "She was communicating with Morgause about...about seizing control. Control of Camelot. They want to, well...they want to end the Pendragon dynasty. And by end I mean..."
"Kill us," finished Guinevere, glancing at Arthur in an "I-told-you-so" way. "She's changed, I could tell straight away. But why? Morgana was always so kind."
Merlin hesitated; there had never been any need before now to tell them why Morgause had taken Morgana. But this was different. Morgana was about to kill an entire family. Didn't they have a right to know?
"Morgause didn't kidnap Morgana, she saved her life," blurted out Merlin. Arthur and Guinevere turned to him, shock on their faces. "She healed Morgana after I poisoned her."
Guinevere stared at Merlin in horror. He glared back at her. "I had to, Gwen. Morgana found out she had magic, back when Uther was King and had outlawed magic. She used it to do terrible things. She stole the Crystal of Neahtid and agreed to help Morgause kill Uther, by becoming a vessel for the sleeping enchantment. The only way to end it was to kill her."
Arthur shook his head in disbelief. He had always thought of Morgana to be a kind, helpful girl, if a little stubborn. But he had never expected this.
"You can overpower her, though?" pleaded Guinevere. "Your magic is powerful too, and Morgana was never trained to use her gift."
"Morgause was trained by a priestess of the Old Religion," replied Merlin darkly. "She will have trained Morgana in the darkest of magics."
Guinevere laid her arm protectively around her children. They had so much to live for, so much left to do. Yet the decision of one cold-hearted witch was about to end their lives forever.
