Chapter 10

Gwen could not help but feel protective of the King as Arthur struggled to carry him to his bed. They had found him rolled up in a tight ball in the court yard, crying and mumbling to himself. Gwen had prepared a strong sleeping draft on Gaius' orders.

"Careful." Morgana instructed as Marina helped her to rearrange Uther's bed sheets. "Is he going to be alright?" she asked.

"He should sleep 'til morning." Gaius reassured.

Arthur looked down on his father, his face riddled with concern. He needed to know what had happened.

"Marina, stay with your Lady and see to her and the King's needs." Arthur ordered, before turning to leave his father's chambers followed by Gaius. Merlin and Gwen looked at each other, silently confirming their permission to follow.

"What could have made him like this?" Arthur demanded, looking past Gwen and Merlin at Gaius, who he felt knew more than he was telling.

"I have no idea." Replied the physician as he started to make his way to his chambers.

"Gaius, he was laying on the ground crying." Arthur said in exasperation.

The old man paused and turned to face his Prince, "Exhaustion."

"Gaius!" warned Arthur. "What aren't you telling me? What's wrong with him? Tell me!" Arthur had walked up to his physician; he stood inches away from him eying him intensely.

"When I found him he was mumbling, most of it was incoherent, but..."

"What?"

"He kept mentioning your mother's name."

"He never talks about her!" Arthur mused.

"He claimed that he saw her... in the well." Gaius explained.

"Did the guards see him in this state?" Arthur asked after he had looked around him, making sure that only Gwen and Merlin were within earshot.

"I think you are worrying too much." Gaius said calmly.

"If the people get to know about this..."

"...we say that he was ill but now he's recovered." interrupted Gaius as he attempted to reassure Arthur.

oOo

Marina was about to leave for bed when she noticed that Morgana's chambers were still lit. She decided to check on her mistress before heading for the servants' quarters. As she approached, Marina could hear rustling from inside.

"My Lady," she called out as she entered the chambers. "I saw the light; I wanted to make sure you were alright." Marina explained as she smiled politely.

"I'm fine." Morgana answered quickly.

"You're still dressed." Marina made for her mistress, ready to help her change.

"I will prepare myself for bed."

"Are you sure?"

"That will be all, Marina." Morgana answered sharply as her eyes flashed dangerously.

Marina looked into them. They seemed to extend deep into her soul; although not quite like Merlin's. They seemed to be laced with something more, something dangerous. Marina blinked once to clear her mind before bowing awkwardly and heading for the door.

oOo

Gwen sat in her bed, a candle beside her, reading through an anatomy book that Gaius had lent to her. She was so fully engrossed in it that when Marina slammed their bedroom door, she jumped in shock. Gwen looked up in surprise as she hurried towards her and sat on the edge of her friend's bed.

"What's wrong Marina?" Gwen asked with concern.

"I'm not sure…" replied Marina as she frowned deeply, her thoughts miles away.

"What do you mean? I know that look; something is bothering you. Just tell me."

"It's Morgana."

"What about her?"

"I don't know... it's just that she seems to be pushing me away from her...I know I'm a replacement and that she doesn't know me very well yet but...I feel like there's something more to it..." answered Marina, her eyes fixed on her hands as she tried to make sense of her own words.

"Well, maybe she just sees you as her maid and that's all?" suggested Gwen. She hated seeing this confused and worried Marina who was so different to the friend she knew: the bubbly and confident Marina who never failed to make her smile.

"No, I feel like she's hiding something, something bad which she doesn't want me to find out about." Marina finished before looking up to study her friend's face. Gwen was focused on every word that Marina had spoken. She stayed silent for a few moments as she processed Marina's worries.

Finally she spoke, "Marina, I trust your instincts as should you. So when you tell me something is off about Morgana, I believe you. No shadow of a doubt. But you have to be careful."

Marina smiled softly at Gwen. This was why she trusted her with her own life. She always understood her better than anyone else.

"Yes I will be, Gwen," reassured Marina, "but don't you think I should do something... I don't know what but—"

"Marina, I think the only thing you can do is keep an eye on Morgana. You're her maid so it's only natural for you to be at her side as often as you can. That could easily be your cover, but don't forget what I said before, you need-"

"To be careful, I know." Marina interrupted as she winked at her friend before getting up for bed.