Disclaimer: the usual...


VIII

Arthur didn't go hunting the next day. Or the next one. Rain poured over the country, damping the ground and flooding the fields. Easter holy week arrived and with it the town forgot about the bad weather and rushed into the organization of the holy Celebrations. On Good Friday, a timid sun broke through the clouds and Morgana joined their host on the barbican.
« Sir Leodagan, I'm sorry to disturb you… I've come with a request.»

« Please, my dear, ask. »

« I'd like to visit Berkeley. »

« Of course, my dear. I'm calling an escort for you right away. »

« No, I… I'd like to go by myself. »

« I'm afraid I can't allow that, Morgana. »

She turned to face Arthur. He's been avoiding her since their arrival, but now, he was standing behind her. She forced her smile to stay polite.
« That's why I didn't ask your permission. »

« Prince Arthur is right, my dear. A woman shall not go unguarded on these troubled days. »

« I promised my father I'll escort you. »

She retained an unlady-like snort. Promised his father had he. Truce was over.
« Thank you, My Lord. »

She bowed graciously to Leodagan and left to prepare. The old man turned to Arthur.
« I heard of abandoned campfires in the woods, and some villagers had been robbed. Are you sure it's a good idea? So much risk to visit an old manor… »

« I appreciate your concern, Sir Leodagan. We'll be fine. »

Berkeley was Morgana's first home, and her parents were in the cemetery near the chapel.

Merlin was nowhere to be seen. Arthur sighed, while he checked the saddling of their mounts. He had briefly talked to him in the morning, and then Merlin had disappeared. He was probably hanging out somewhere with Peisino. It did not bothered him that Merlin preferred some-else company; of course not. But Merlin was so now engrossed with Peisino he was neglecting his duties, which was inacceptable. Morgana impatient voice cut through his thoughts.
« I'd like to go today, Arthur, if you don't mind. »

« I nearly wait for you, Morgana. »

Gwen arranged her mistress dark green cloak, briefly squeezing her hand. Arthur noticed suddenly how pale Morgana was. She had that determined expression she always wore when she was upset.
« Something's wrong? »

« Nothing of your concern; let's go. »

She urged her mare into a quick trot, without answering Gwen farewell. Arthur nodded to the maid with a smile, and followed. They rode in silence, Morgana one step ahead of him. The woods around the road seemed empty. However, his instincts knew better than he refused to lower his guard.

Morgana stopped near a clearing. The small wall of copper bricks was still there, covered with ivy. A nut-tree had grown over the entrance and she dismounted to pass through the opening.

« Morgana, wait! »

She disappeared in the shadows. Arthur hurried after her, but he had to secure their horses first, and when he finally got through the scrubs, he could see he nowhere.

« Morgana! »

Damned fool careless woman! He looked for the cemetery. He would have gone there first. Sure enough, she was there, kneeled on the damp moss in front of a simple grave, Arthur moved forward, but stopped. She didn't want him there, or she'd have waited. He stayed put, looking helplessly at the emotions crushing on her. He knew she was fighting tears; she always did. He took another step toward her and stopped again. Her shoulders were shivering, no doubt she was crying now. Arthur muffled his hair, torn between awkwardness and an irrepressible need to comfort her. Before he could decide, she stood up and turned her head to him, her clear widening.

« Alvarr no! »

The heavy blow knocked him out.

*

Arthur woke up with a vicious headache. He was lying on a bed, hard and dusty. He forced himself up, rubbing the back of his neck. The room was empty and very silent. He recalled the cemetery, Morgana's grief and her betrayal. She knew his aggressor; the Druid.

Adrenaline and anger pushed to test his strength and he stood. She had known all along. And he had give in her enticing moves, fool that he was. His cloak and his sword were on an antique chair by the bed. He fetched the blade and prepared himself for the naughty confrontation to come.

The door opened into a long corridor feebly lit by the ending afternoon. He heard an angry male voice, and hers, urgent and pleading.

« He was no threat for you but now he will chase you. »

Confused, Arthur stopped to listen.

« He's our persecutor's son! »

« He did nothing else than followed orders! And he helped! »

« I don't care. Now you're here, we can go to the Sanctuary. He's waiting. »

« She won't go anywhere. »

Morgana and a beard man (Alvarr) turned to him. The man grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. Arthur growled and marched on them, his sword fetched. Morgana slowly broke free from Alvarr and approached him, trying to lower his weapon gently. Arthur pushed her away, his gaze still fixed on his rival.

« Who's waiting? Where is this Sanctuary? What do you want from us? »

Morgana fears of his reaction dissolved into thin air with his last question. Arthur will be by her side, no matter what. Alvarr smirked, his eyes mocking the steel pointed to his chest.

« I want nothing from you, Son of the Dragon. You can go back to your path of blind hatred and intolerance. »

« Answer my questions. »

« Arthur, please… »

Arthur looked down on Morgana. Her anxiety bounced back in one second under his icy stare.

« You knew they were here? »

« No. Merlin told me they were following us, but I didn't know he'd be here. »

« Mordred called Emrys, he told him not to come. But it's got him now, and it's your fault! »

Alvarr took a step to Morgana. Arthur placed himself between her and the druid. The stone on his stick glowed. Arthur stood his ground, his jaw clenched. Morgana took one step to the menacing man, one hand raised.

« Alvarr, don't. I won't allow you hurt him. »

Her commanding tone was effective. The stone dimmed and became inert again. Arthur was unsure if it was Alvarr decision, though. The warlock gave a resentful look to Arthur and stepped back. She glanced at the prince. He hesitated, then cast away the blade, but stayed where he was, ready to strike at the first alert.

« Alvarr, where is Mordred? »

« Mordred sought protection at the Sanctuary. The Siren had come from the northern sea. You were safe, you and Emrys, in Camelot, but he managed to sneak in and now Emrys got caught in his song. Now it can feed on him; we can not do anything to save him but we have to protect you at all cost! »

Arthur shook his head in disbelief.
« This is pure madness… Sirens? You mean the half bird half woman eating sailors after bewitching them? Cut the crap, will you… »

Alvarr snorted.

« Who is that Emrys, anyway? Another one of your exotic fable to lure her out? »

« Emrys is… »

'Morgana!... Please Morgana you can help… Together we can help him…'

« Arthur we must go to their Sanctuary. »

« No 're going back to Sudeley, and then to Camelot. I'll do you a favour, and I will forget all this. »

« Arthur, the pillage and the killing, that the barbarians following the Siren doing. If we stop it, we'll… »

« Nonsense. Listen to yourself, Morgana, how can you believe… »

« You fought a griffon, and revived a unicorn; you know these things exist… Please. Please, trust me»

« You're asking too much, Morgana. »

She held his stare. She opened her mind and let him read into her heart. If she wanted his trust, she had to trust him too.
« Arthur, Emrys is the name the People give to Merlin. »


N/A : if I had kept the original title (which was 'the Siren song' it would have been too easy... So, what do you think?