Morgana waited, her fingers clamped around the healing bracelet on her wrist, as Morgause strode to the centre of the raised dais to pause directly in front of the empty throne. Geoffrey stood nervously beside the seat of power, sweat standing on his brow as his eyes flicked between Morgause and the assembly of soldiers wearing Essetir's serpent crest, their heads wrapped with scarves, spears pointed at the Great Hall's vaulted roof as they stood to attention.

There was no sign of Cenred. Morgana had asked what had become of Essetir's king, but Morgause merely assured her that he had gotten his just deserts already. The soldiers followed Morgause, so Morgana decided it made little difference to her that Cenred was gone; the man had struck her as greedy and self-serving. Still, the complete lack of concern about her lover that she saw in her sister's eyes had been chilling. Morgana pushed aside her doubts; whatever had happened to Cenred, her sister would never harm her –Morgause cared for her deeply, she had proven that.

Morgause had promised that only those who fought would be cut down by the undead soldiers, no Camelot civilians would die, no one who surrendered, and she had kept that promise. The city had been taken and the only blood spilled was of those who resisted. Morgana refused to feel sympathy for the knights who supported Uther, who carried out his orders to hunt and execute her kind, although it had been a relief to learn Leon had been captured instead of killed.

The noise of a struggle echoed in the vast space and Morgana's eyes were drawn to Uther being dragged the length of the hall by two guards. None of the soldiers standing at attention in precise rows so much as glanced at the furious king. Their gazes remained fixed forward on the raised dais at the front of the room where Morgause waited calmly beside an empty throne. Uther's guards forced him to his knees on the floor in front of her.

"Well, Uther, how the mighty have fallen," Morgause said.

Morgana stared as her beautiful, powerful blonde sister smiled down at Uther, on his knees at her feet, pinned by soldiers of an immortal army which had taken Camelot with ease. The anger, the terror, the conflicted affection the man – her father – engendered in Morgana were swept aside at the sight of his total subjugation to her sister.

"I don't think you'll be needing this anymore." Morgause removed Uther's crown and gestured Geoffrey forward.

Uther glared at her. "This is unlawful. You cannot do this. You have no right to the throne!"

His shout echoed throughout the hall and Morgana nearly cringed, but Uther remained on his knees in front of Morgause, helpless.

Morgana smiled as she stepped forward. "No, she does not." She saw his eyes fix on her, saw them grow wide. "But I do. I am your daughter, after all."

The blood drained from his face.

"Don't look so surprised. I've known for some time. Will you deny it?"

His chin dropped, the balding spot on top of his head exposed by the absence of the gold crown. He did not acknowledge her, but he did not dispute her claim.

Morgana seated herself on Camelot's throne. Morgause nodded to a soldier who shoved Geoffrey of Monmouth forward with the crown in his hands. Sweat trickled down his wrinkled brow and his hands shook. He glanced at Uther before the point of the soldier's sword pressed between Geoffrey's shoulder blades. He obediently lifted the crown.

"By the power vested in me, I crown thee Morgana Pendragon, Queen of Camelot."

Morgana reached the privacy of her chamber, shut the door, and leaned against it. The crown was cutting into her forehead and she lifted it off, surprised by its weight. She turned the jewelled piece of metal in her hands, watching as its gems caught the light, then she set it down on the nearest table and backed away, smoothing her hair with her hands.

When she turned, her eyes fell on Gwen standing behind her and she jumped, one hand going to her heart.

"Gwen, I'm glad you're here." Morgana pasted a smile on her lips. She wished she could trust this woman who had once been her closest confidante, but Morgana was not convinced that Gwen's declaration of support was heartfelt.

The maidservant met her eyes. "Morgana, why are you doing this?"

The smile vanished. The girl had promised loyalty but of course she had only wanted to save her own skin during the attack, probably hoping her prince would yet save the day.

Morgause had said Cenred's men had been ordered to kill Arthur when they took the Cup, but the absence of a body made Morgana wonder if the prince was truly dead; after all, he had a powerful protector at his side. She could not decide if she was glad about that.

"You should be thanking me," Morgana said. "If not for me, you and your brother would have died fighting soldiers who do not fall."

Gwen's stare faltered. "I know, and I am grateful, Morgana, I truly am, but," she clasped her hands in front of her, "but Uther is the rightful king and Arthur is his heir. Why would you let them crown you queen?"

Morgana lifted her chin. "Because it is my duty to free this land. I have magic, Gwen."

"I know."

Morgana's lips parted but no sound came out. Of all the reactions she had anticipated from her maidservant, this was not one: Gwen knew. She knew the one secret Morgana had guarded so carefully when they were still friends. It had been the only thing she kept hidden when her maid was the one person she could turn to as she went crazy, the one who could calm her when she woke screaming, the friend who endured sleepless nights by her lady's bedside. Morgana had decided then that she could not risk Gwen's life by sharing this secret. And now she knew.

"I have known for many weeks now, since I saw you using magic while Arthur was on his quest." Gwen's eyes narrowed. "You seemed surprised that he returned."

Of course Gwen would never forgive the threat to her precious Arthur.

Morgana crossed her arms. "Uther is a vindictive tyrant."

"I understand why you would wish his tyranny to end."

Gwen shuddered and Morgana recalled how close the maid had come to being burned at the stake. Twice. And how her father's death pained her to this day.

"But you must know Arthur would not harm you, Morgana, despite your magic."

"He is like his father." Morgana's voice lacked the conviction her sister would have shown and she raised her chin higher in defiance of her own doubts.

Gwen lifted one hand as though she would reach out, then let her hand fall. "You know he is not."

"Everyone has a choice, Gwen," Morgana said. "If Arthur chooses to accept me, to accept magic, then he will be allowed to live."

"Regardless of his feelings, Arthur will not accept your claim to the throne."

And if Arthur did not accept her as queen, then Gwen never would. "That will be his choice, if he is not already dead."

Ignoring the tears welling up in her servant's eyes, Morgana spun on her heel, snatched the crown from the table, and marched from the room.

The hem of her long, purple cloak trailed in the grime of the dungeon corridor. Morgana had chosen purple as her royal colour rather than Camelot's red. Her elaborate gown matched her rich cloak and the loops of jewels around her neck were decorated with purple gems which flashed in the light of the torches.

Uther's cell had an iron door rather than bars, the very prison he had put her in when she dared him to restrain her, back when she believed he would never do such a thing and that he cared for her. His manacled wrists were fastened by a long chain to an iron loop firmly embedded in the stone wall, just as she had been. His face was grimy under a growth of beard, his greying dark hair was tangled with bits of dirty straw, and his ripped trousers evidenced the struggle he had put up in the battle for Camelot. His great coat and kingly medallions had been taken away, but he had been treated as a royal prisoner: he was fed, he received wine as well as water, a servant regularly emptied the chamber pot.

He was standing when she followed two of the immortal guards through the cell's door. His eyes lit with hope as they fell on her.

"Morgana, I knew you would not abandon me in this dungeon." He attempted to approach her but the length of chain held him back.

"As you did to me, Father?" It was the first time she had ever addressed him as such.

He seemed confused by her accusation and she wondered how chaining her down here could have meant so little to him that he did not even recall it.

"I would never do that to you."

"To your own daughter?" Her hand trembled and she clenched it tightly.

"I thought it best that no one should know."

"Best for who? For Arthur?" Her voice had risen but she could not stop it. "So there would be no doubt about his claim to the throne?"

Uther met her eyes. "A kingdom cannot be divided; there must be only one heir."

And of course he had put the welfare of the kingdom ahead of her.

A pleading look such as she had never seen entered his eyes. "I made certain you were well cared for, that you were honoured with a position of respect, first as Gorlois's daughter and then as my ward. Arthur loves you as a sister; I had no doubt he would look after your interests after I was gone. You never wanted for anything, Morgana."

"Didn't I?" She took one step closer to him. "As I suffered, alone and afraid, disgusted with who and what I was, living in fear of my life?"

Uther's brow furrowed. "Whoever threatened you, you must have known I would protect you."

"You were the threat to me."

"Morgana, I would never –"

"I have magic."

For a moment he stood in complete shock. Then a deep red flushed his face. "That is not true. It is impossible."

"You think because you fathered me that I cannot have magic?"

"This is why I tried to shield you from that blonde witch. She is manipulating you, stealing your loyalty away from me, infecting you with her evil."

"My sister has shown me more love and affection than you ever did."

He shook his head, reaching one manacled hand toward her. "Morgana, I love you more than you will ever understand. It was for your own good that I protected you from Morgause and sought so earnestly to rescue you from her."

Morgana made no move to take his hand and he allowed it to drop back to his side. The chain made a soft clank.

Uther straightened where he stood and looked her in the eye. "You have been headstrong at times but you have my courage and strength. You cannot have fallen prey to magic."

"Forbearnan!" Morgana's eyes flashed and the straw on the floor erupted in flames which formed a circle around Uther where he stood.

He tried to shrink back but he was surrounded. The colour drained from his face, leaving it pale beneath the grime and stubble. "No, it cannot be."

The corners of Morgana's lips turned up. "Did you really believe my nightmares were a simple malady? I am a Seer as well as a witch. Your daughter, a sorceress."

"No, your half-sister has done this, she has corrupted you."

"I had magic before I ever laid eyes on the sister you denied me, and I hated you for making me afraid and ashamed."

His face darkened. "You cannot have magic. I forbid it! I am the king."

For a moment his arrogance stunned her despite it all. "Actually, you are no longer king. I am the queen of Camelot." With a slow smile at the fury on his face, Morgana turned and left the cell, pleased at the sound of the lock clanking into place.

Morgana was seated on the throne, the crown of Camelot on her head, her sister standing at her right hand and her maidservant behind at her left, when the guards brought Sir Leon in. His wounds had not been serious, but the red cape he had been allowed to retain was ripped and stained with gore. Dirt covered his face along with a week's uneven growth of beard and his cheeks were sunken. He stumbled as the guards pushed him to the floor of the throne room at Morgana's feet. The chains around his wrists clanked together when he braced himself against falling over.

"Tell me, Sir Leon, how have you enjoyed the first week of my reign? Speak up. Are you and your fellow knights ready to honour and serve me?"

He raised his head to look at her and Morgana knew beyond doubt that Leon would never betray his king.

"I would rather die."

"That can be arranged," Morgause said.

Although she could not see her sister's face, Morgana knew the blonde priestess wore a pleased smile.

Morgana raised her chin. "I will give you one more chance to pledge your allegiance to me."

"My loyalty is to the king and Prince Arthur. There is nothing you can do to change that."

Morgana could not hold his gaze. She gestured to the guards who grasped the knight's bound arms to drag him from the room.

"Long live the king!"

Leon's shout reverberated in the hall as he was dragged out of sight back to the dungeons.

"You must execute him," Morgause said.

Gwen gasped.

"He is a danger to you. Those who resist you will rally around him. He must be executed so that does not happen and as an example to others who refuse to accept your rule."

Morgause was right; with the king locked away from their sight and the prince as yet unaccounted for, the other prisoners would look to Leon as leader. As long as he lived, the other knights would not break, and as long as the knights did not yield, neither would the people of the kingdom. Morgana's hands clenched the arms of the throne so Morgause would not see them tremble.

"Build a gallows," Morgause said. "Execute the knights we have imprisoned, one by one starting with Leon, until all who are left alive swear allegiance to you."

"Not yet, Sister," Morgana said.

In three strides Morgause was standing directly in front of Morgana, brown eyes fixed on the queen's face, blonde brows drawn together. Morgana met the intense stare as calmly as she was able, refusing to glance toward the guards, immortal guards who answered to the blonde priestess and not to Camelot's queen.

"Very well, Sister, but this standoff cannot continue much longer," Morgause said. "What of Gaius? Has he made any attempt to contact Dragoon?"

Morgana kept her voice steady. "The sorcerer has not been seen or heard of." Which meant he was dead at Arthur's side or the pair of them were going to make a spectacular return and retake the city.

"I have not been able to locate Arthur in my crystal; either he is dead as Cenred promised or the sorcerer is shielding him from my scrying. If Arthur lives, he remains a threat to your rule. The people will not yield as long as they hold to the hope of his return."

"You have an immortal army at your command," Morgana said.

"But Arthur has this Dragoon you spoke of. I am uneasy having Gaius free to roam the city; he will be in league with them. You should have let me get rid of him and the other potential traitors when we took the citadel." Her brown eyes flicked in Gwen's direction.

"He is a capable physician, the only one at the moment, and we have need of him."

Morgause bowed her head in a gesture of respect but when she looked up her eyes were piercing. "As ruler you must make hard decisions and carry them out boldly, Sister. Do not let your heart rule your head."

Only once the regal blonde marched from the room followed by her hooded blood guard did Morgana let out the breath she had been holding.

He watched Gwen rearrange the flowers in the vase on Morgana's bedside table, smooth the covers of the made bed, and finally snatch a cloth to polish the gleaming mirror. The maid was alone in the room. A floorboard creaked under his foot and she spun to face the servant's entrance, breathing a sigh of relief when he grinned at her. She rushed to wrap him in a hug.

"Thank you, Merlin, thank you for your message. I had been so worried! There was no word of Arthur, well rumours of course but nothing anyone could substantiate, and until Elyan made contact with you I didn't know if Arthur was alive or dead."

Merlin gave her a reassuring squeeze and stepped back, hands on her shoulders. "It's okay, Gwen, I understand." He glanced around at Morgana's chamber. "Is it safe to meet here, in the queen's chamber?"

"She and Morgause will be in Council all afternoon and no one else dares to enter her room." Gwen's worried gaze fixed on his face. "How is Arthur?"

"He was wounded in the leg but Gaius treated it. He'll be strutting around like a royal prat in no time."

Gwen shook her head. "I mean, how is he?"

Merlin sighed. "Depressed. Learning that his father never told him the truth about Morgana's parentage and seeing Morgana's betrayal hit him hard." The corners of Merlin's mouth twitched. "Arthur even refused to eat the lovely meal I prepared him."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Rat?"

"It's hard to get roast pheasant when we're hiding in a forest cave with immortal soldiers patrolling inside and outside the city, taking whatever they want from whoever they decide to stop."

"I'll send food with Elyan on his next trip to the Darkling Woods."

"No, Gwen. Neither of you should take any more risk than you have in passing information. The soldiers take pleasure in stopping those who appear to be worth robbing."

She raised one dark brow. "More risk than you took in getting here?"

He grinned. "I have special methods." Then he sobered and held her eyes. "How is Morgana?"

Gwen's eyes darted around before they returned to his face and her brow furrowed. "I don't know. Sometimes I think she regrets what she's done and other times she seems to agree with everything Morgause says. That one," Gwen's mouth thinned, "is a reason to hate people with magic."

A tiny stab of hurt cut him but Merlin ignored it. "There is something I need to know: where does Morgause keep the Cup?"

"Cup?" Gwen frowned. "I don't –"

The chamber door opened and Morgana walked in. "Gwen, please get …" Her eyes fell on the two of them.

Merlin froze. Morgana now had proof Gwen was in contact with them and her brother would be immediately under suspicion as well. Merlin tried desperately to think of an excuse, some way to absolve Gwen, but Morgana would never believe the maid had been forced or threatened.

"My lady," Gwen began.

Morgana's gaze fixed on her and Gwen fell silent. "There was a time when I called you a friend. But you have chosen your side." Hardness masked the hurt in her green eyes when she looked back at Merlin. "Leave us, Gwen."

The maid's frightened face turned from Morgana to him and back again. Her lips parted but Morgana forestalled whatever Gwen was about to say.

"Now."

Merlin tried to give Gwen a reassuring smile as she hesitated at the door to the chamber, throwing him a worried look over her shoulder, and it was difficult to appear encouraging in the face of Morgana's glare. With a final apologetic look, Gwen left the room, closing the door behind her.

"So Arthur is alive," Morgana said.

Merlin nodded slowly.

"Care to tell me where he is?"

He shook his head.

Abruptly she dropped the glower and pasted on a sultry smile, moving closer to him until she was standing directly in front of him. "Are you sure?"

"It won't work, Morgana."

Her eyes slid to the vial on her dressing table as her perfectly arched brows drew together.

"You can have your sister concoct more of that potion you used on me but I intend to be careful what I drink in future."

He wondered if it was relief he saw in her eyes rather than chagrin at the realization that the spell had been broken.

Her full lips thinned and her chin came up. "As will I, especially if it comes from you."

He flinched. "Morgana, I didn't want to poison you and I am so sorry, but I had no choice."

"Everyone has a choice."

He straightened where he stood. "And you chose Morgause over Uther, over Arthur and Camelot. You betrayed all of us, nearly cost us all our lives. You told her where to find the Cup."

"You chose Arthur's life over mine." Her green eyes were fixed intently on his face. "He has not the slightest idea how much you risk for him, does he? How often you have saved his life? When he has never once questioned his father's attitude to magic."

"He has, but Morgause crushed that thought when she tried to provoke him into murdering his own father."

"She showed him the truth, the truth about his birth, about his mother's death, about Uther."

"She manipulated him."

"Uther would have gotten what he deserved."

"And it would have destroyed Arthur."

Morgana's eyes widened. "You interfered then, too. What did you tell Arthur? That it was a lie?"

He felt warmth colour his cheeks but his voice was strong. "Yes. He deserves to know the truth but not to live with the bitter regret of reacting with violence."

"So you covered up Uther's hypocrisy and lies? Protected him again?"

"When Arthur is king –"

"But he won't be." She threw her head back. "I am queen."

"Only as long as you do what Morgause tells you."

Morgana sucked in a breath, her eyes brightening.

"There won't be peace under her rule, or under yours as her puppet." Unthinkingly he reached out and grasped her wrist. "Morgana, please. I know you can't ever forgive me but don't let your anger turn you against Arthur or Gwen or Leon or Camelot. If we have to be enemies, if that's my fault, then take it out on me but Arthur has never harmed you. He loves you; you're his sister, his friend."

"But I have magic, Merlin. What will he think of me now? What would he think of you? You have hidden the truth from him because you don't trust him."

"No. I kept my secret for the same reason I kept yours: I won't ask Arthur to commit treason against his father."

Morgana smiled. "Well, luckily for you it is no longer against the law to use magic. It was my first decree."

"What were your next decrees?" he asked softly.

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Is it the law that all must follow the Old Religion, regardless of what they believe?"

"Yes."

"Is it a crime to speak out against sorcery?"

"Of course."

"You would punish someone for believing what they have been told for twenty years is the truth?"

"Uther would punish you for being born."

"I'm not saying Uther is right." Merlin realized he was holding Morgana's wrist and abruptly released it to run a hand through his hair. "I'm saying Morgause is wrong to throw the rightful king into a dungeon and execute anyone who disagrees with her."

"Including you if she catches you?"

Merlin stiffened at the threat, then he gave her a lopsided grin. "Uther tried to execute me, too, that didn't exactly work out."

"Morgause has an army of immortals at her command. And you are not."

"No," he admitted. If Morgana alerted the guards, he was fairly certain he could avoid capture but it would be no easy task.

"Do you intend to stop her by attempting to assassinate me again?"

"No." Merlin looked at her in shock. "Morgana, I want to help you."

Her mouth tightened. "My sister has my best interests at heart more than you, I think."

"Does she? When she used you as the vessel for a powerful sleeping spell so she could have her knights murder whoever she chose, including everyone who cared about you?"

"None of you cared about me."

"Yes, we did. We do."

Her eyes darkened. "Not enough. Not enough to put me first. My sister gave up a kingdom to save my life, the life you nearly ended."

The pain in her face cut at him. He flinched.

Morgana stepped back. "You should go. Tell Arthur," Morgana hesitated, "tell Arthur that if he accepts my rule I will ensure no harm comes to him."

"You know he won't."

"That is my offer."

"Sister?" Morgana swept into the throne room. As instructed, Morgana wore her royal purple cloak and gown, although Morgause had not yet told her what was planned for that day.

Morgause looked up from her seat at the table where she was giving instructions to a soldier whose serpent emblem was embroidered on a crest of silver rather than the usual grey. Morgana recognized him as the one who was in charge of the palace guards.

Her sister acknowledged the queen, then returned her attention to the soldier. "If the dungeons are that full, convert a few of the basement storage rooms for now – they should be secure enough to hold the less dangerous prisoners. Starting today, we will begin emptying the cells."

The guard nodded at Morgause and left the room.

"You look like a true queen, Sister." Morgause stood and came to take both Morgana's hands in her own. The priestess wore her red gown with the straps which crossed her lace-covered shoulders and her hair was decorated with sparkling jewels, the regal attire she always wore when accompanying the queen to any public ceremony. Her ice-blue cloak was thrown over the high back of her chair.

"Thank you." Morgana was aware of her own beauty, her dark hair in loose curls beneath the jeweled crown, but her blonde sister still outshone her. "Why are the dungeons full?"

"You have many enemies, Sister. But do not concern yourself; we will soon rid ourselves of those who seek to harm us."

"From my window I saw a crowd enter the courtyard. They looked tired and dirty, several children were crying, then the guards rounded them up and moved them away."

"We had to clear the courtyard for your appearance this afternoon."

"But who were those people?"

Morgause waved a hand in the air. "Refugees from a small village a day's march away. The army was forced to burn it."

Morgana's breath caught. "But you told me the army would not cut down civilians."

"The village refused to provide them food. It was necessary to take what the soldiers needed."

"Was it necessary to burn the village?"

Morgause frowned. "An army, even an immortal one, must be supplied. If those villagers defied us in this they would have defied us in other matters. It is for the best, Morgana." Morgause released her sister's hands. "You did not shirk these responsibilities when Cenred's army attacked in the spring."

Women and children are dying. The city will fall. Good. Morgana tried to ignore the memory. No, you don't mean that. But she had. She had been certain that Morgause was right; that the only way was to take the kingdom by force, to impose a new order the way Uther had done when he outlawed magic.

You of all people can change Uther's mind. No, she could not. Not even Merlin believed that. He would have said anything to stop her at their showdown in the crypt; he had proved that he was more loyal to Arthur than his own kin. And Gwen, blinded by her infatuation, was loyal to the prince over her own mistress. Now the maid and her brother had disappeared, doubtless to join up with Arthur wherever he was hiding. Gaius would be there, too, all of them allied against her.

Morgause was the one who put Morgana first. And she had brought about Uther's downfall despite Merlin's interference.

"You are right, Sister," Morgana said.

Morgause gave her a nod of approval. "Good. Now we must go to the balcony overlooking the courtyard, there is business to attend to."

From the balcony, with the crowd of refugees gone, Morgana saw the platform and executioner's block and axe set up in the centre of the square. Her glance slid sideways to Morgause who was watching her closely. Morgana immediately looked back down at the courtyard.

People had assembled in a rough circle around the platform, but not as many as had gathered in the past for Uther's displays of power. The yard should be packed with people shoulder to shoulder; were they so frightened of leaving their homes that they would forego the spectacle?

The sound of marching came from the passageway which led from the dungeons to the square, then soldiers wearing Cenred's serpent emblem escorted a group of people into the sunlit courtyard. The crowd shrank back from the soldiers, muttering rather than shouting curses.

The prisoners' clothes were grimy and they blinked in the sunshine. They were not, as Morgana had feared, knights. They were a mix of young and old, men and women, well-dressed and peasant. As they were herded toward the platform, one prisoner looked up at the balcony.

The woman's face twisted with anger. "Sorceress!" she yelled. "Evil witch queen!"

One of the guards drew his blade and ran her through, cutting off her shouts. The woman's mouth was open, but only a choking sound came out as blood trickled down her chin. She sank to the ground at the soldier's feet.

Two of her fellow prisoners wore the dark robes of priests. The older one, a man whose hair and beard were entirely white, stared malevolently up at the queen, his eyes filled with hate, and made the sign to ward off evil. The other knelt beside the dead woman and folded his hands in prayer. He was roughly yanked to his feet by the nearest guard but he made no effort to resist, only stood quietly with his head bowed until he was released, then he lifted his face to the balcony. His expression was full of such peace and forgiveness that Morgana turned away.

The other prisoners except for one had averted their eyes from both the slain woman and the royal party watching from above. Morgana stared back at the young man glaring at her with the same hatred as the white-haired old priest, a boy too young to grow a beard.

"What has he done?" Morgana asked her sister.

"These are people who refuse to accept us, who say we are evil and should be destroyed."

"That boy is so young."

Morgause looked down at the prisoner. "He was old enough to recognize his sister's magic and he turned her over to Uther for execution."

Morgana gasped. The boy continued to scowl up at her, his pimpled face full of loathing rather than fear. She ignored him to gaze into the distance.

At a signal from Morgause, the guards escorted the prisoners one at a time up to the platform. Their hands were bound behind them as they were forced to kneel and place their heads on the block.

Morgana kept her eyes fixed on the city stretching beyond the courtyard as far as the protective wall, refusing to react when the axe thudded down, sometimes more than once in quick succession. Her sister was doing all of this for her, for everyone like her, to bring about a world free of Uther's tyranny.

When it was done, Morgause stepped to the edge of the balcony. "Those that defy the queen, that choose to fight, will die. But those who do not resist, those that choose to welcome change, have a future here." She looked to Morgana.

The queen nodded regally, careful to keep the heavy crown balanced on her head.