After a four-days ride, Morgana reached the gates of Camelot. Facing the guards, she held out a slender hand. With eyes flashing, both knights (who had their spears held out) were sent flying against the stony wall behind them. Hearing the connection of stone, metal, and bone, she passed without a glance at the fallen men.
Looking around, a smirk covered her face. All of the entries and windows were closed and barred against an attack. Some of the shutters and doors were shredded. Most, if not all, were covered in claw marks. Blood stained the sides of the buildings. It appeared that Merlin had indeed taken his wrath out upon Camelot.
Sliding off the back of her steed, she tied the reins to a post. As she walked up the massive steps and entered the castle, she pulled the hood of her black cloak over her head. "Arthur. Oh, Arthur," she called in a sing-song voice. There was no answer. "Figures."
Entering the throne room, Morgana found that the King was not there either. Oh well. He'll be here soon, thought the sorceress as she strode to the throne and sat upon it. Resting her elbow on the armrest, she leaned her head against her hand.
Soon enough, Arthur strode into the room. Seeing Morgana, he drew his sword. "What are you doing here," he snapped. "What do you want?"
Morgana rolled her eyes as she shifted in the seat so she was sitting with her spine pressed against the back. "Really Arthur, is that how you greet your sister? What horrible manners you have," she said. "Can't I pay my dear brother a visit?"
"Morgana, what do you want," demanded the King a second time.
In exasperation, she sighed. "Oh, you're no fun," Morgana quipped as she stood and walked over to Arthur (who still had his sword drawn and pointed towards her). "I'm looking for my pet. You seem to have found him the other day and I'd like to take him off your hands. When I arrived, I noticed he was causing an awful lot of trouble. I'm sure you'd like to dispose of him…get him out of Camelot so that your people may once again be safe."
"What did you do to him?" the King asked.
"I turned into what he actually is Arthur! He's a monster – a beast. He doesn't care of anyone, but himself. He's a natural killer with a thirst for blood and vengeance all in the name who knows what."
"What are you talking about?" Arthur demanded, keeping his sword pointed towards Morgana. "Merlin couldn't kill a fly much less a human being."
"Like you don't know," Morgana said. She cocked her head to one side as she examined Arthur. There was a confused expression upon the Kings face. Obviously, he didn't know what his manservant was capable of. "Maybe you don't. Arthur, he poisoned me! He killed my sister. He killed our Uncle. I found him with his neck broke and a scrap of red fabric as proof. Inadvertently, he killed the druids – the people who could've helped me."
"Agravine betrayed me and so did you, Morgana, and Morgause," he said.
"You're a hypocrite! In any other instance you would damn the people who committed such heinous crimes and yet, you brush my words off as if we were talking about the weather. It's really wonderful to see what sort of king Camelot has," the dark-haired woman replied.
"Did it ever occur to you that I don't believe you," Arthur growled. "Now, I order you to tell me how I can reverse Merlin's curse?"
"Why should I?" Morgana demanded. She cocked her head to one side as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Give me a good reason."
"If you don't, I'll slit your throat faster than you could blink," warned Arthur.
"Oo….I am so scared! Please, that I such a pathetic and empty threat. I don't believe it for an instant," she said, shaking her head. "I could melt that blade before it ever wavers."
"Morgana, what do you want?" moaned Arthur. He was getting annoyed. The conversation didn't seem to be going anywhere.
"I want to see you suffer. I want to see Camelot crumble and fall," she replied in a blunt tone. "Which, that appears to be happening. Our little wolf Merlin is terrorizing the people and striking them down. I didn't think things would go so smoothly. I don't think I'll even have to intervene."
"Camelot will not fail! I will stop this. Mark my words, I will stop this. Camelot will prevail," the King declared
"We shall see about that, won't we brother? It will be fun to watch you squirm and suffer. There's little you can do to help that sniveling manservant who you can a friend," Morgana said. "The curse will end though…if Merlin's killed or blood is split on the necklace."
Arthur did not like either choice. He did not want to sacrifice anyone to suffer the same curse Merlin was under. He also did not want to murder his best friend. He couldn't. Doing that would be like killing himself, but worse. Arthur honestly did not think he could live with himself if he killed his best friend.
The dismal thoughts made Arthur frown and Morgana laugh a little. "Oh, brother, you do worry too much," she quipped, stepping around him and his knights. "It was really good seeing you, again. Let's do this again. Good luck. You'll need it!" With a little, pseudo-cute wave, Morgana exited the castle.
"Sire, what do you want us to do? Shall we go after her? Throw her in the dungeons," asked Leon. "After all she's done to us we could easily try her for treason and worse."
Arthur shook his head. "No, Leon. Let her go. She'll be back. We'll deal with her if and when that time comes," replied Arthur as he headed to the door.
"Where are you going?" asked the Knight. "We have council! We've got to solve this current crisis."
"I have to go talk to Merlin. He's got a lot of explaining to do," Arthur whispered. With that, he left the throne room.
