To be told that someone was going to kill you was a fearful prospect to start with, but to be told that the assassin was to be your maid, and dare she say it, friend was even worse. Alethea hadn't known whether to take Morgana seriously or not when the King's ward had told them, especially when her evidence was a dream. After all, it could just be the stuff of nightmares. But as Alethea thought, she realised that she had had dreams before now which had later come true. The one where Camelot had fallen and she was killing Arthur was a prime example of this. Knowing that the nightmare could have been sparked by something that Morgana had heard, Alethea decided that she couldn't be too cautious and took the warning seriously. Smiling in thanks at Morgana for letting her know, and knowing the consequences should the dream come true, Alethea led Arthur from the Hall.
The Princess smiled when she saw the dark haired noble girl talking with Merlin but still no one knew her name. She seemed to be quite new to the Court but then again, Alethea had noticed many a new face in Camelot recently and she knew that they had all probably arrived whilst she and Arthur were on their honeymoon. It was only logical that this girl had arrived at the same time. Alethea couldn't help but wonder though just what was drawing all of these people to Camelot, for there was no real reason that she could see for them to traipse across country to come to a castle that they had all seen many times. It was then that it clicked. There was nothing new at the castle, but there was a new Princess. But surely they hadn't travelled for miles just to see her? Surely not?
"You will just have to guess…" the girl said to Merlin. Alethea smiled slightly and raised a hand in greeting.
"Then is it Lucia?" She shook her head. "Eleanor?" The warlock guessed.
"Nope." The girl smiled before she saw that there were people coming. "I'm afraid I must leave you. See you around , Merlin." she said before walking down the corridor. Alethea smirked as she saw the look in Merlin's eyes and knew exactly what he was thinking. She was very beautiful after all, Alethea did have to admit.
"Merlin, close your mouth before you swallow some flies, and go after her."
"But…" he went to object. Alethea sighed.
"Merlin, that's an order." she told him sternly. The young warlock looked at the Princess before running after the girl, whilst Arthur and Alethea stepped out onto the balcony.
"I'm sorry about earlier by the way." Alethea apologised as she leant on the stone wall.
"Hmm?"
"Penny. I don't know what came over her."
"Well, there's no harm done."
"Good. I think she was just scared. Mind you, it was just as well you left when you did."
"How so?" The Prince asked curiously.
"Well, more than one girl fainted from the sight of your bare chest. I tell you, it was total carnage." Alethea told him but Arthur was bemused, especially when he worked out just what the look in her eye meant.
"You're jealous, aren't you?" he taunted.
"I'm not." she said too quickly and a little too loudly.
"Yes you are. You're jealous of me."
"Why would I be jealous of you Arthur Pendragon?"
"Because all the girls want me for themselves."
"Ah, but you're mine."
"Oh? And who says so?" he asked, amused.
"Well, I do just so happen to be married to you. I mean, it's only a tiny little thing but…" she pointed out.
"How can I forget?" he sighed. Alethea glared at him before they both laughed.
"I know. It's horrible to be your wife."
"Likewise to be your husband." he paused. "Mind you, I wouldn't have it any other way."
"You know something? Neither would I." she smiled. "Do you think that Morgana's dream has any truth to it?" she asked after a moments pause.
"I don't know Alethea. I hope not for your sake and for Morgana's."
"Hmm… What happens to Morgana if she's right?" Arthur didn't reply. "Arthur, tell me, what happens to her?"
"The King may have her executed as a witch. At the very least he'd imprison her."
"But she's his ward. Surely he wouldn't…" Alethea said, surprised and horrified.
"Where magic is concerned, he doesn't seem to care who it is that he's executing."
"But his ward… He's raised Morgana as his own for so long, he couldn't… It's like asking a mother to kill their child."
"I don't know Alethea."
"But Arthur, he can't…"
"He once tried to have a young boy executed because he belonged to the Druids. He and his father had only come here to collect supplies."
"What? Who was the boy? Did he live?"
"He escaped with Merlin's, Morgana's and my help. I think his name was Mordred." Alethea visibly paled and held onto the wall to support herself. "What?"
"Mordred you say?"
"Yes. Why?"
"You let him live?"
"Yes. Why? What's the matter?"
"Mordred…he's…" the words were on her lips but she daren't speak them in case they were the truth. "Actually, it doesn't matter." she dismissed.
"Alethea, tell me."
"I…I can't Arthur."
"You can. Tell me, what's the matter with Mordred?"
"In the legends, he… he's the one who spreads the rumours about Lancelot and Guinevere." she said, deciding not to tell him the whole truth.
"Is that all?" Alethea nodded. "You really are strange."
"Great. I'm insulted." she said, poking him.
"Oi! You'll pay for that."
"You'll have to catch me first." she smiled as she rushed past the Prince and ran down the corridors.
Alethea happily ran ahead, feeling revitalised and full of youth and energy. She hadn't done this for a long time and it felt good. Looking behind her she saw her husband running after her but she doubted he would catch up with her for a while yet. Pressing on, she carried on down the corridor but didn't see where she was going and the next minute she was sprawled on the floor. Picking herself up and cursing her own lack of observance, she realised that she had gone and tripped up over a black cat. Good luck for a black cat to cross one's path for some, but today it was bad luck for Alethea. It was then that she realised the symbolism and laughed, wondering if Uther knew that black cats were supposed to be witches familiars.
"Jinx… Jinx… Where are you, you daft cat?" Alethea looked up as she heard the voice and found who it belonged to. Helped to her feet, Alethea found herself standing opposite the girl in the red dress.
"Ah, there you are." she said, scooping up the meowing creature in her arms. "I beg your pardon my lady."
"It's alright. My fault really. I should have been looking where I was going." Alethea told her, brushing herself down. "So what brings you to Camelot?"
"My father has some business here." the girl replied.
"I'm Alethea by the way."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm…" she began but was cut off by Arthur who had finally caught up with her.
"There you are. Caught you."
"Arthur, this is…" Alethea began, about to introduce the girl but found that she had disappeared. "You must have scared her."
"Ah well. Anyway, caught you Alethea. Now I will make you pay."
"Oh? And how are you going to do that then?" she asked, freeing herself from Arthur's grasp and making to run off. Slinking away, she found that she couldn't walk fast, let alone run, and that she was limping slightly.
"What's wrong?"
"I tripped." she told him with a rather sheepish expression on her face.
"Was it a nice one?" he asked her, smirking. Alethea whacked him playfully before leaning on him.
"It damned well hurt actually."
"Then I suppose I'll have to make it up to you." he said before sweeping her off her feet and carrying her to their chambers. Lying her on her bed, he removed her shoes for her and examined her ankles. "Well, I'm no physician but I don't think anything's broken."
"Just as well really." Alethea smiled before laughing as he began to tickle her feet. Grabbing one of the pillows, she threw it at him, causing feathers to come from it. Arthur glared at her, before picking it up and hitting her with it. Pretty soon they were having a full on pillow fight, laughing all the while until feathers were absolutely everywhere and the pillows were but pieces of fabric now.
"Oops!" Alethea giggled before picking a feather from Arthur's hair.
"Well, I suppose this needs cleaning up." Looking at each other, the couple knew exactly what they were thinking.
"Merlin!" They chorused.
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Two or three days passed by and nothing happened. Ceridwen showed no signs of wanting to kill Alethea but that could have just been down to the fact that Arthur never left the two of them alone. However, one morning Alethea sat reading one of Gaius' many books and shut it in complete boredom.
"What's the matter?"
"I've finished this one and it needs returning, but it seems pointless for us both to go up there together."
"Can it not wait?"
"Nope."
"Then surely Merlin can take it back… where is he by the way?"
"I think he might have had his heart stolen Arthur. He seems to be spending a lot of time with the new girl."
"She's out of his league."
"You're one to talk." she smiled. "Please Arthur, take it back for me. I don't want to have to face Lancelot." Arthur looked at her and conceded defeat. Taking the leather bound tome, he left the room whilst Alethea smiled. She knew that the mention of Lancelot's name would work just a treat. Getting to her feet, Alethea walked over to her wardrobe and started flicking through her dresses, finding a relatively easy one to get into and began to get changed. Hearing the door click a few minutes later, she called out, thinking that it was her husband but she could not have been more wrong.
"Arthur? Is that you?" she called, straightening out the skirt. Not receiving a reply, she stepped out from behind the screen to find Ceridwen stood there, her hands behind her back. "It's only you." she smiled, forgetting Morgana's warning for a moment.
"My lady." Ceridwen greeted before Penny flew at the servant and grabbed at her. The baby dragon clawed at the servant for no apparent reason and bit the girl, before setting her on fire.
"Penny, get off her!" Alethea ordered, but the dragon was too busy attacking the seemingly innocent servant. Grabbing hold of the black dragon, Alethea pulled her off the servant and turned her back on Ceridwen as the dragon struggled to break free, scratching Alethea's arms. Not a good idea really to turn away. Receiving a blow to the legs, Alethea buckled and fell to the floor. Stunned by the suddenness of it, Alethea only just managed to turn around before a sword blade was shoved into the space where she had been but seconds earlier. Her eyes flashed with panic as she looked around for something to defend herself with.
"Why Ceridwen?" she asked, but the servant didn't reply. Alethea noticed that the servant held a sword in one hand and an axe in the other, both of which belonged to her husband which had been left lying around, and that the girl had a look of pure hatred in her eyes. Alethea knew then that she had been wrong to pull off Penny. The dragon flew back at Ceridwen whilst Alethea grabbed the closest thing to hand as Penny went flying across the room with a cut to the chest and landed with a thud on the floor. Alethea was filled with fear as she thought that the servant had just killed the dragon but she didn't have time to check as the girl swung down with her axe. Alethea only just managed to block the blow with a stool in time, but not before the metal blade had nicked her forehead. The axe was stuck in the wood and Ceridwen threw them both away whilst Alethea looked around, her eyes resting on the poker from the fire. She picked it up, managing to block another blow but blood poured from her wound and clouded her vision. She felt a little faint to be honest but she knew that she couldn't give in now. Relying on what little knowledge she had of sword craft and trying to remember all the things she had been taught whilst under Nimueh's influence, Alethea only just managed to defend herself but it soon all became too much. One more blow and Alethea fell to the floor with a sickening crunch. Hitting her head on the cold stone floor, lights danced before her eyes and she looked up at the servant, knowing that this was it. There was nothing she could do to stop Ceridwen from killing her. She wouldn't see Arthur again, or anyone else in Camelot. Seeing the servant raise the sword ready to strike, Alethea closed her eyes and braced herself for the inevitable pain, Ceridwen being the last person she ever saw before everything went black…
