Chapter 10: The Lady of the Lake (2x09)

A/N: Extra scenes take place at end of the episode, but it doesn't really matter exactly where as this doesn't pertain to the episode specifically, it's just happening at the same time.

Morgana wasn't sure what had gone on, but Arthur's resolve against magic was more serious now. He appeared to believe what 'Igraine' had told him at the time. But now, the efforts to round up harmless sorcerers continued unabated, if anything Arthur was more determined. Arthur and Uther were getting along as well as ever too. Morgana couldn't understand it.

Morgana felt more isolated than ever from everyone around her. Except Morgause. Morgana dreamed about that kiss, over and over. Morgause was the only reason she was holding on. Morgana longed to meet up with Morgause again. She lit three candles in her window sill before she went to bed, and fell asleep, dreaming of the beautiful blonde with a large brown eyes.

Morgana was just finishing her breakfast when a large black crow flew in her open widow and landed on the sill. It squawked, before it took to flight and landed on her table before stealing a morsel of meat she had left. There was a small scroll attached to its claw, as Morgause had promised.

All the message said was,

Morgana,

Meet me in the woods behind the castle's northern wall, by the destroyed stone wall at midnight tonight. If you cannot, suggest another time on the scroll and send the bird off. Tell no one and come alone.

M.

Morgana was so excited she must have changed her clothes five times in anticipation of the meeting. Even though it would be dark and cold, and Morgause wouldn't see what she was wearing beneath her cloak anyway. Morgana slipped out and waited in the woods next to the partly ruined stone wall that had been erected in Roman times and laid to waste for the last century or so. She was almost bouncing out of her skin.

Morgause rode up on a black stallion.

"Morgana," The familiar voice broke her from her reverie.

Morgana ran towards Morgause, making too much noise, but she couldn't help herself. She nearly jumped into Morgause's now outstretched arms. She held her tight. She refused to let go. Morgause was not put off by her outpouring of emotion, on the contrary, she seemed to enjoy the embrace.

"Are you alright?" Morgause enquired, her concern evident.

"I contacted you because I missed you, my life is not in danger," Suddenly Morgana worried that her new friend may be angered with her, for wasting her time with frivolity.

Morgause smiled, "Then I am glad to see you. I have missed you also."

Morgana felt relieved. She held both of Morgause's hands in her own. But she was betrayed by her nervousness and couldn't quite form her words.

"I promised to tell you about your mother," Morgause said the words for her, much to Morgana's reprieve.

Morgana nodded.

Morgause broke hand contact with her to brush stray hairs away from Morgana's face.

"Vivienne was basically a mother to me. Since I am the child of Elaine and Gorlois."

Morgana was stunned, "My father's first wife?"

"Yes," Morgause said before looking intently at Morgana, expectant.

"He never spoke of her with me, a maid at Tintagel told me he was married before, but that she died in childbirth and the child died soon after," Morgana said the words out loud before she was able to process what they meant, "Then you and I are sisters?"

"I guess we are," Morgause said as if the thought had never occurred to her. "It was your mother who protected my life as a baby. She had me smuggled out of Camelot."

"Why was your life in danger?"

Morgause told her story, "King Uther it was said, desired the Duke of Cornwall's wife, my mother, Elaine, they almost began a war over it."

"What happened?"

"Our father left court, and vowed the independence of the Cornish Coast," Morgause told her, "He refused to recognize Uther as the King of Camelot."

Morgana was stunned, "I've never heard about this."

Morgause supplied the reason, "Uther has forbidden anyone from speaking of it."

"But there wasn't a war?" Morgana was confused.

"No, the High Priestess of The Isle of Mists stepped in, she held great influence back then, when Uther would still listen."

"What happened?" Morgana felt her heart thudding.

"The Lady of the Lake invited Uther to The Isle," Morgause said.

Morgana was surprised, "And Uther went?"

Morgause nodded, explaining as she went, "Times were very different then. You know nothing except how things are now, I'm sorry to say," Morgause reached out her hand to Morgana, to comfort her. "Ninianne is a very wise woman, she knew how to handle anything. When Uther returned, he had forgotten all about Elaine, made his peace with our father, and married Igraine."

"But why was your life in danger?"

"My mother was accused of adultery," Morgause said matter-of-fact.

"Oh," Morgana responded.

Morgause was quick to reassert herself, "But she swore she was never unfaithful, and I believe her."

Morgana nodded silently, she was intrigued by all this new information.

Morgause went on, "There was already a prophecy that the child born of adultery between the king and the Duke of Cornwall's wife would hold the key to the return to prominence of magic people."

Morgana was flabbergasted, "The prophecy, that would mean…. you are Uther's oldest child?"

"Nothing is known for certain," Morgause said cautiously.

"You are heir to the throne!" Morgana exclaimed.

"Uther swore it wasn't true, he is the king, his word is law," Morgause sighed, "Besides, no child born of adultery, especially an unacknowledged girl, will claim the throne, Morgana."

Morgause shook her head as if it didn't matter, "One of the seers on The Isle foresaw the need to pretend I died, lest the kingdom be torn apart. Neither Gorlois nor Uther knew that I survived."

Morgana was amazed, "What happened?"

Morgause became happy, "Your mother, Vivienne, raised me, until I was five when she left The Isle to marry Gorlois. My most prominent memory of her was that she was so kind."

Morgana smiled, remembering her mother's warm smile. Her hugs. The way she told stories.

Morgause continued, "We kept in contact, she would return to The Isle twice a year. She always remembered to bring me a present."

That's amazing," Morgana loved the heartfelt description of Vivienne, "I'm glad you had that…" She chose her words carefully, "Connection with her."

"Ninianne looked after me, trained me," Morgause stated, her expression became one of strength, "I am glad your mother left me there, it is a freer life for women on The Isle."

Morgana felt emotion overcoming her, she wanted to hold Morgause.

Morgause stood defiant, "I consider myself Gorlois' child. I want nothing of Uther."

Morgana couldn't help but wonder, "Couldn't you use magic to find out for sure?"

"I could, but I don't desire to know," Morgause stated firmly.

"My sister," Morgana smiled again, before remembering their kiss and feeling guilty. Morgause was all Morgana had been thinking of, of late, and not in a familial way. This means we can't be together. Morgana almost burst into tears right there.

Morgause knew this last time. Why did she let me kiss her? Maybe she really believes she is Uther's daughter? Then, I'm not her sister.

Morgana would never learn if Morgause was reading her thoughts again, but she pulled Morgana in close and leaned in to kiss her. Morgana tensed and tried to pull back.

Morgana protested, "But we're sisters."

Morgause seemed surprised by her answer, "So what if we are?"

"It's not right!" Morgana burst out. Why can't Morgause see this?

"The Isle doesn't follow the silly rules Christianity sets out for those in Camelot," Morgause let the derision she felt seep into her voice, "Actually, for families that are strong in magic it is often encouraged for siblings to lie together during Beltane, the children of such unions are often very powerful sorcerers."

"You cannot be serious!" Morgana felt sick.

"Of course," Morgause paused upon seeing Morgana's reaction, then lightened her tone, "You and I can make no children together, so I hardly see how it matters."

It was how calm and matter-of-fact Morgause was that bothered Morgana.

Morgause, began caressing Morgana's shoulders with her fingers, ever gently, waiting for Morgana to invite her to explore further.

"I, I, can't. It is a grievous sin," Morgana cried, she pulled away, deliberately breaking their body contact.

Then she was running. Morgana could hardly see, it was surprising she didn't fall since it was far too dark to perceive a clear path. Tears ran cold on her cheeks. She had to stop eventually because she was out of breath. Morgause had been left far behind by then. Morgana then felt a pain in her heart, now she really was all alone.

She slowly made her way back to the castle after that. Trying to go over the implications of everything Morgause had told her.

I have a sister, well maybe. She can tell me about my mother.

Uther had an affair with her… no their father's first wife… maybe? Morgause seemed sure they didn't, but that prophecy threw a shadow over her assertion. She is Uther's child, but she hates him, so she just doesn't want to acknowledge it. Morgana had been so stunned to learn this, she had forgotten to tell Morgause what she knew of Uther's affair with her mother. Or… what Uther was now doing to her. Morgana didn't really forget the last part, she felt ashamed and chose not to mention it.