A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay, life has been hectic these past few weeks. Anyway, to make it up to anyone who is still reading this, here are three brand new chapters! I hope you enjoy them! :)


Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any character and plot present in the tv show. I only own my main OC Asah, the plot surrounding her, as well as some other minor characters.


Chapter 9


A few days, or maybe more, stretched on again. Mordred was "visiting" almost every day, standing at the bars and surveying Asah in silence before leaving again. The red-haired Knight had not reappeared, and neither had the old physician.

She was aware of something shifting in the air, as if something important was about to happen. She could hear clamours that had nothing to do with training outside, and when trying to see through the high bars of her prison, Asah could only see columns of servants carrying things around. A feast, maybe, but why?

Had Morgana been defeated? No, if that had been the case, she'd have been told. Someone, more likely her knightly bane, would have basked in her face about Morgana's fate.

Asah looked down at her attire. She had chosen a new dress for the day, and had cleaned up more thoroughly, trying to tie her flaming hair into submission. The dress was a green as spring grass, a soft colour that highlighted the colour of her eyes. She had become thinner, of course, since being imprisoned, and she did not fill the dress as she once would, but the King's wife had given her a belt that she tied as tightly as she could around her skeletical waist.

She was bored, was the truth. At least, if she had had her magic, she could have spent the time practicing. But then again, she'd also have escaped and harmed people along the way. She understood her enemy's motivations a bit better by then. But still, why was she still alive?

One day later, she received an unexpected visitor. The Queen – well, false Queen really – descended the stairs in a simple lavender dress, carrying a basket of well-made food. She was sporting a small smile that unnerved Asah for some reason.

"Good morning," she said with that sickly smile. "I thought you'd like a piece of the feast to come." She gestured to the basket. "It's the King's coronation anniversary today."

Asah nodded stiffly. "And you'd give me some food to celebrate that with you lot." Her voice lacked the venom it once had, and the woman facing her seemed to notice.

"I know your current situation does not show it, but my husband is not a cruel man. He wants you to feel as comfortable as you can be in here until…well, until you can help us of your own volition."

"Ah. So that's what he wants. He wants to tame me."

"No, my dear," the Queen said while putting the basket down, "he wants to make friends with you. And with your people."

Asah's eyes flashed dangerously, but she could not act as she wished to. "Say that to the people of my village whom he murdered without a second thought." And she turned away from the dark-haired woman, eyes squeezed shut to prevent her thoughts from spilling into tears.

There was a silence, then "I don't understand. Arthur has not destroyed any druid's village. In all his reign."

"Are you telling me my Lady, my mentor, my friend, is a liar?"

A sigh. "Darling, you'll have one day to accept that Morgana is not a gentle soul as she used to be. She's turned to herself and her own wishes, no matter who she has to sacrifice in the process. I learnt it the hard way too. She and I…" pause, "she was my dearest friend. And she tried to kill me."

Asah whirled around, noticing the woman's teary eyes but ignoring it. "You stole her crown!"

Another sigh, and the chocolate brown eyes of Guinevere Pendragon met Asah's amber ones. "I was not responsible for the lies Uther gave her all of her life. And I am not responsible for Arthur falling in love with me. I hope you in time understand at least that. Have a nice day."

She turned to leave, and Asah realised that, for some reason, the Ursuper's wife was saddened by the thought of Lady Morgana, and not angered by it. She believed her, if only for one second. "Wait." It was almost a whisper, but the Queen stopped. "I'd very much like something to occupy myself with, if you'd be willing."

There was another pause, and then the two women's eyes met again. A small sad smile appeared on Gwen's lips. "I'll see what I can find."

And Asah found herself thanking the woman she had been told to hate.

Was her fire definitely going out? What was happening to her? These people were lying, the lot of them. They were very good at it too, but they must be lying. There was no other option.