Guinevere sat in Morgana's chambers, waiting.
She could still smell the faint scent of straw and horse on her, she listened for Morgana's footsteps but the hallway outside the door was silent. Guinevere didn't know if what she had planned was the right thing to do but Morgana seemed so sure, so committed, and she could admit she felt Morgana growing distant lately. They still spent much of the day together but Morgana became more quiet, withdrawn, and didn't laugh as often as she used to. Guinevere bringing her wild flowers everyday only produced a fleeting smile, she was afraid something was wrong, something beyond her nightmares but when Morgause arrived in Camelot Guinevere could see the immediate change in Morgana, as if a wilting flower had sprung to life.
At first she didn't think anything of it, she only thought Morgana was curious about a mysterious Lady, who was brave enough to challenge Arthur to a duel but after their conversation this morning, Guinevere knew there was something more. Morgana believed that Morgause was connected to her and if Morgana believed it, she believed it too. She had failed her father; she wasn't going to fail her friend. Too many people she loved ended up in the dungeon awaiting an unfair judgment, had Uther grown more zealous? Or were there more Sorcerers plotting Camelot's downfall? Her father didn't have magic, she didn't have magic, Gaius, wasn't plotting against the king, she knew they were all innocent and yet they found themselves in the dungeon, Gaius was nearly executed! Even Morgana had been locked away for just speaking on behalf of the innocent. Guinevere thought of the druid boy they had all saved, she had hoped he was still alive, surviving, living, perhaps he found his family. She hoped that every day he could walk out into the daylight without fear, she was glad she helped him in some small way, if only she could have helped her father. Why didn't she help him escape? Would Arthur have helped her? Would Morgana have?
"I would have left with him," she thought.
Maybe Morgause could help Morgana leave Camelot, and maybe she'd leave with her, after all, there wasn't much left for her here. Perhaps Morgana would marry a good and honest lord, and she'd live miles away then perhaps she could go find her brother Elyan, she had not seen him in many years, she could even live in a neighbouring kingdom but what about Arthur? Nothing could ever come of them but still Guinevere could not deny that she lov-
"I take it you've heard the news?"
Guinevere looked up; she had been so deep in thought that she didn't hear Morgana come in. Morgana's face was red, her nostrils were flared, and she was breathing heavily, the tone of her voice suggested she was holding back her rage but only just.
"Yes," Guinevere replied, "I've heard."
Morgana began to pace, an angry habit of hers.
"I can't believe this! I can't believe Uther would do this to me! He didn't even ask me! He didn't even have the decency to tell me before the council meeting this morning. I was so mortified!"
How was she going to do this? How was she going to explain? There wasn't very much time, it was almost midday.
"I am sorry, my lady, that's certainly not the way for you to find out about your eminent engagement-"
"-to a man not of my choosing!"
Guinevere took a deep breath she had to tell Morgana before it was too late.
"Morgana, there is something I must tell you-"
"-and you know Arthur offered no sympathy, no solution, he didn't even offer to speak to Uther on my behalf! In fact he was so rude and so arrogant I wanted to ring his neck!"
"Really? That doesn't sound like Arthur at all."
"I thought so too, he's probably moping because Morgause didn't bother to meet him last night, and I'm glad she didn't, he is insufferable, less time in his presence the better!"
"Morgause didn't meet him last night?"
This but a damper on Guinevere's plan, if Morgause didn't show up last night how was Morgana suppo-
"Gwen?" Morgana stopped pacing.
"Yes, my lady?"
"Why is your yellow dress laid out on my bed like that?"
Guinevere looked back at Morgana's bed, her old yellow dress lay flat on Morgana's bed, ready for her to wear.
"Ah, yes well I was going to explain that. And the satchel of food and water, that I hid in your wardrobe. And your horse waiting for you at the south side of the castle, tied to that old oak."
"Gwen, what are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter now. I'll clean it all up and put everything back in its place."
She moved towards Morgana's bed, and began folding her dress.
"Gwen wait! Why is there food and water in my wardrobe and why is my horse tied to the old oak tree at the south side of the castle. What is going on?"
Guinevere turned around, and looked Morgana in the eye; she could see the confusion in her face.
"I wanted to help you Morgana. I wanted you to find Morgause." She took a deep breath "While you were in council I went down to the stables, I wanted to speak to Peter the stable hand. He's always been nice to me and he really loves talking, so I went down there to see if he had any information on where Arthur and Merlin had been the night before."
Morgana's eyes widened, she moved closer, "what did he say?"
"I knew I couldn't ask Arthur or Merlin without arousing suspicion, and I knew Peter wouldn't think anything of it, so asked him which way they traveled from, if he heard them mention anything about Morgause and their journey."
"What did he tell you?"
Guinevere could hear the desperation in her voice.
"He said they came from the west, and that judging by the state of their horses they had been close to a marsh, as it hasn't rained in days and their horses were covered in muck."
"And Arthur said they waited at some ruins!" Morgana said interrupting her. Guinevere could see the excitement bubbling up inside of her "I think I know which ruins he was speaking of, west? The mars? Yes, I know where they went!"
"But what does it matter? Morgause did not show up last night, all my sneaking and planning meant nothing."
"What was your plan Gwen?"
"I wanted you to meet with Morgause."
Morgana, blinked, "but why?"
Guinevere took Morgana's hands in her's, they were shaking.
"We do spend all day together Morgana and I have noticed a change in you. I see the dark cloud over you every day and I don't know what to do. I don't know how to help you, I want to but I don't know how but with Morgause being here, well, that dark cloud was chased away. I saw you again, and after this morning, I saw a spark in your eyes, colour in your cheeks, something I haven't seen in months. If you can find her, if you can talk to her maybe you'd feel better, maybe you'd feel like yourself again."
"Oh Gwen" Morgana embraced her tightly "you are my dearest friend you know that?"
Guinevere wrapped her arms around her.
"I don't know how good of a friend I am, I've failed haven't' I? If Morgause didn't meet Arthur-"
Morgana pulled away and held her by the shoulders.
"What if she's still waiting? What if Arthur didn't wait long enough? What if I could find a clue or pick up her trail?"
"Perhaps-"
"Your plan was for me to sneak out of the castle, find the ruins and meet Morgause was it not?"
"Yes."
"I can still go! She could be there! Arthur probably waited long enough to relieve himself and gave up, I could still meet her."
Morgana did make a fair point, everything was prepared, she should still go, if anything the ride and fresh air would help Morgana's mood.
"Alright" she said "but you have to promise me you'll be back before dawn."
Morgana's face lit up.
"I promise!"
"I mean it Morgana, if you're not back by sunrise, I will go to Arthur and tell him everything."
Morgana squealed in delight, Guinevere hadn't seen her so happy in ages.
Morgana moved behind the partition to remove her silk gown.
"What will you do, Gwen? How will you cover for me?"
"Oh I have the perfect excuse, my lady."
Morgana popped her head up over the partition, "why don't I like the sound of that."
"We need a really good excuse, and what makes men run screaming in the other direction other than childbirth?"
"Gwen no! You can't! I think I've been embarrassed enough for one day."
Morgana hung her gown over the partition; Guinevere passed her the woolen yellow dress.
"Think about it! They'll be more embarrassed than you, so embarrassed that they'll run away quick as lightning and they'll barely mention it the next time they see you, besides if I say you're suffering from any other ailment, they'll send for Gaius and there's no way I could get rid of him."
"You do have a point," Morgana said pulling the dress over her head. She stepped out from behind the partition.
Guinevere opened the wardrobe and retrieved the satchel, and handed it to Morgana.
"I've packed some apples, bread, and some water and," she said moving towards the trunk at the end of the bed, "I think you should take your sword, just in case."
She opened it and took out the longsword placing it on the bed.
"Wow Gwen, you've thought of everything."
"I do hope so. Now have a seat at the vanity, let me braid your hair."
Morgana sat down; she smiled at Guinevere in the reflection of the mirror, clutching the satchel. Guinevere started to brush out Morgana's long black hair.
"Gwen?"
"Yes, my lady?"
"This may be the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. Truly."
Guinevere began to quickly braid Morgana's hair.
"You are my friend Morgana. You are one of the very few people I have left, I couldn't help my father but I'm going to help you that is how I will keep his memory alive by helping my friends, by helping those in need."
Guinevere looked up; she saw the tears in Morgana's eyes. She had been quite shaken by her father's death, probably because she knew what was like to lose a father, to be left alone in this world. She had petitioned Uther for her father's release but Uther did not listen. Guinevere doubted if a rain storm could move Uther Pendragon.
"Thank you, Gwen" she said blinking away tears "I don't know where I'd be without you."
"Oh you'd be just fine," she smiled.
There was a brief silence as Guinevere finished braiding Morgana's hair.
"Alright, my lady all done."
Morgana got up; she attached the longsword to her belt, and hung the satchel over her shoulder.
"Are you sure you're going to be alright," Morgana asked her.
"Yes, of course, and you? Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes, I am sure."
"Any sign of trouble, ride back to Camelot and remember be back before dawn."
Morgana nodded.
"Are you wearing your bracelet?"
"Yes," Morgana replied.
"Good but just a warning if I have to tell Arthur, I'm blaming this all on you."
Morgana laughed, "you better not I actually think he'd be easier on you than me."
Guinevere froze. Did Morgana know? Not that there was anything to know. She had never mentioned anything about Arthur beyond calling him arrogant and spoiled. She couldn't know. No one but her, Arthur, and Merlin knew and she wanted it to stay that way.
"You better go my lady," she finally said "you don't want to waste any time."
"Yes, you're right"
Morgana hugged her tightly
"You truly are a noble woman, with a kind heart Guinevere," Morgana whispered in her ear.
Morgana left the room quickly, looking back to smile at Guinevere one last time, and shut the door silently.
Guinevere collapsed on the bed. Now all she had to do was wait for Morgana to come back.
"She'll be alright" she thought "She knows how to fight. She knows how to run. She'll be alright."
Thank you so much for your comments I have considered some of your advice, I really appreciate it and I'm so glad that you guys are as excited for this story as I am. Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me!
xo