A/N: For this chapter especially I give HUGE thanks to Sofiajedi, because she in her wonderful bffly listening to my ranting and writing out stupidly long plot ideas, cured me of writer's block. And helped me describe the evil!sorceress. I 3 my best friend.
She made no noise when walking. It was why so many men looked at her and thought of death, sweeping towards them without warning. Impossible to resist.
That was a reason she so often wore white, color of the pure, the innocent. Never let it be said that she had no sense of humor. To be true, and she was honest when there was nothing to be gained by lying, it was a cold and cruel humor, but the proper jest made her high laugh slice the air like a scythe. It was said one man dropped dead of her laugh when he heard it.
And besides, white set off her looks. Pale skin, and a dark curtain of hair that fell to her waist, all set off by a pair of blue eyes, which some cosmic force with a sense of irony had decreed to look strangely like the eyes of her only current rival. She was tall, taller than the King she had long ago entrapped, and needed no frippery on her gown to enhance her beauty. Her only ornamentation was a filigree crown of silver, set with blue sapphires.
She was a woman that men would throw themselves at the feet of, and knew it well.
But at present she was alone in her chambers, those more royal than the King's, because she found that when not needed for blood sacrifice, those pitiful mortal men got in the way of her spells.
The sorceress dabbed one finger in her bowl of water, and stirred. It was time for negotiations.
Morgaine, Queen of Orkney, smiled as she gazed upon the warlock of Camelot, and waited for him to sense that he was being watched.
Merlin straightened Arthur's jacket, and felt the sudden and unpleasant sensation of eyes on his back. He kept a hand on Arthur's shoulder and tuned the Prince out, turning to look behind him.
Nothing.
"Are you even listening to me?" Arthur demanded. Merlin switched his attention to the Prince.
"Sort of?" Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Of course. Anyway, I want you to polish my armor and clean off my shield. The big one." Merlin struggled to pinpoint the eyes. It wasn't like Nimueh, where she was just watching from above, it was far more disconcerting.
"The one with the crest of Camelot?" Arthur sighed.
"Yes, Merlin. The big one. And I want you to get the standard out of storage, and launder it. We may need it." Merlin nodded, wondering if it was worth the risk to use magic. Arthur's back was to him, currently…
"Right. Of course. We always need the standard." Merlin blinked. "Wait. No we don't."
"You are slow on the uptake, aren't you?" Arthur sighed. "The reports from Kai are worsening, thanks to the spring thaws that are starting the Saxons are bringing bigger ships and the sentinels-"
Merlin felt ripples of cold amusement. This sorceress had not been looking for Arthur's private counsel, but she would be glad to take it. Merlin wished that Arthur wasn't quite so fond of chatting while Merlin worked on his clothing.
Why oh why did he have to blush whenever he thought of himself and Arthur and the fixing of clothing?
"What are you blushing about?" Arthur sounded decidedly ugly. Merlin felt another flicker of amusement from the sorceress, this even colder.
"I have to go…" Merlin scrambled for a reason to get out of the room and hopefully take this consciousness with him "Meet Gwaine!"
Yes, that was a good one. Gwaine would back up any alibi Merlin needed.
"I have to do that now, actually, but I'll get your standard and all that later bye!" Merlin strode from the room, closing the door on Arthur's hurt expression. Merlin put a hand to his forehead and poked at the bit of his mind Morgana had been at earlier.
Nothing there. This was a new form of creepiness, great. Merlin walked to his and Gaius's chambers, trying to look as cool and unafraid as possible. He couldn't think of any other place he'd be guaranteed privacy.
"Merlin! I thought you were with Arthur!"
There was a flicker of disdain from the sorceress. She didn't think much of the pitiful old man the warlock had chosen as a mentor, one whose talent wasn't even a spark compared to her and the warlock's bonfires.
"I was, but this is more important. Gaius, you need to make sure no one comes into my chambers." Gaius opened his mouth, looking somewhat indignant. "I can't explain, just do it!"
"Am I to assume you will be doing some form of forbidden practices that would get your head-" Merlin cut him off before he could go into a lecture. Even if Gaius couldn't sense the eyes, they saw him just as well, and wouldn't look kindly to anyone who dared put aside such a wondrous gift as magic.
"Not now Gaius! Just make sure I'm not disturbed!" Merlin snapped. He grabbed a bowl off the table and slammed his door behind him. A glare and a flash of gold filled the bowl to the brim with water. Merlin sat on his bed and stared into a regal face, framed by dark hair and defined by glowing gold eyes.
Was it some sort of rule that powerful enchantresses were dark haired and pale? Sometimes Merlin wondered at the unoriginality of the universe.
"Well, those are hardly the quarters I would expect of a master sorcerer." She murmured. Her voice was captivating. "Then again, I believe I am right in assuming that you are an anonymous protector?"
"Yeah." Merlin thought of Arthur, and whatever hold the sorceress's voice might have had was undone. "Who are you?"
"I'm insulted. You don't know?" She raised an eyebrow. Merlin shrugged. "Queen Morgaine."
"The only true King this land has is Arthur, and he isn't married." Merlin corrected her. Her eyes narrowed, and Merlin held up a hand to stop the wave of magic. Her lips twitched up in a grudging acknowledgement of his defenses. "You're Lot's wife?"
"I see that the main point of this contact will not be possible." She didn't sound particularly sad over it. "If you refuse to acknowledge me as Queen, we cannot ally."
"You have no right to the throne." She tossed her head and laughed. The sound made Merlin's spine prickle.
"Wasn't that what a certain half mad King said to a dead sorceress?" Merlin froze. "So many things can be found in the mind of one woefully trained…"
"What have you done to her?" Merlin's tone was flint. The sorceress looked back at him, with all humor gone.
"Found from her all that I wished to know about Camelot, though certainly not more than I could learn from you." Her lips twisted up. "Poor girl was so shocked to find that powerful magic was protecting Camelot. So devastated. Of course, the knowledge that he'd been actively protecting her was even worse. She's no doubt very confused right now." Morgaine sounded as if Morgana's pain delighted her.
"What…" Merlin struggled between asking what Morgana knew and what had been done to her. "Have you harmed her?"
"Define harmed." Merlin glared at Morgaine. Her eyes narrowed. "Don't throw curses at me, boy."
Oops. Merlin thought he'd gotten the handle on doing magic without thought.
"Don't dance around the issue of you hurting someone I care for." Morgaine sniffed.
"I know that you have an infatuation with that Prince, but this is ridiculous. She's confessed to the killing of many. Oh, and she feels just terrible." Merlin wished he could close his eyes. The twisted look of pleasure on the woman's face was awful. "It's quite fascinating how many uncomfortable questions people ask themselves about motivation when their only ally dies and they've nothing else to think about."
"What else do you have to say?" Merlin was in no mood to listen to Morgaine recount whatever torments Morgana had gone through. Morgaine nodded as if to say that all pleasantries had come to an end.
"This was meant to be an offer for you to ally with Lot and I, but I no longer believe you would not immediately turn on me and kill me." Merlin snorted. "Indeed. At this point all I can do is tell you that neither of the Pendragons will die peacefully."
"Hurt Arthur." Merlin's voice was low. "And I will destroy you."
"Ah, infatuation." Morgaine sniffed. "How…hopelessly romantic. Do you kill off all the enemies of the man who would see you beheaded, or only sigh and blush whenever he looks at you?"
Merlin was silent.
"Oh I do adore mortal love. Do you two meet clandestinely to exchange desperate gropes before the rest of society catches up with you?" She read Merlin's face. "Oh, one of those self sacrificing passions wherein you pine for the remainder of his life."
"At least he'll live his life as a good man, not a bitter old woman." Her eyes narrowed, and the surface of the pool rippled. "I mean how old are you, really, because you were young when Uther started the war on magic and you've been hiding up with Lot all that time…"
"Hiding and waiting for an opportune moment are very different things. And I've waited in the bosom of luxury, with a powerful King of my choosing. If only you were enough to ensnare your own."
"Don't you have kids?" Merlin frowned. "You can't so callous towards them."
"I have sons. Kings value wives who procure such a brood highly, and after the required nine months I am free of them." She tipped her chin up. "What a pity that you don't have the same ability."
"Are you going to shut up about this anytime soon, or do I have to sever the connection myself?"
"As if you could. No, I want to fully understand why someone with power is tying themselves to a man who doesn't care a whit for them." Merlin gritted his teeth and remembered that shattering the water bowl would only mean he couldn't see her. There was some way to get ride of this. "Tell me-will I one day hear that your life was one great romantic tragedy?"
The water in the bowl burst into blue fire. Merlin felt mild surprise from Morgaine as she stepped back from her bowl and was then miles and miles away, out of Camelot, and he was only Merlin, sitting on the floor-when did that happen?-in a burning room.
"Merlin!" The door opened with a bang. Gaius stared around the room in shock. Merlin waved a hand and vanished the flames. He rested the his head against the bed and closed his eyes. Gaius sighed and levered himself down next to him. "Do you know that you are crying?"
Merlin wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand. They were wet. He offered no information to Gaius on what he had been doing.
"So, to whom were you speaking?" But the bowl for scrying had probably been a big clue.
"The Enchantress Morgaine." Merlin could not bring himself to call her Queen Morgaine. Gaius choked.
"What?" Merlin shrugged. "Merlin, that was dangerous! You cannot go about contacting beings of such power, she would kill you!"
"I think she already intends to do that much Gaius, and destroy the Pendragons, and she's been doing who knows what to Morgana for information about Camelot and there's that ever so wonderful bit that I can't tell Arthur any of this because I can't tell him how I found out!" Merlin glared at Gaius. "So if you're just going to lecture me, I'll find someone else to discuss this with."
Gaius was silent. Merlin sighed.
"Sorry. But I think I'm going to go talk to Gwaine and Lancelot." Merlin paused. Lancelot was happy now, with Gwen, and what exactly was he going to achieve by talking to him? Only burden his friend's mind with something he couldn't possibly fight against.
Gwaine always clammed up when the topic of enchantresses came up, and Merlin rather doubted Gwaine could do much about Morgaine either. He wasn't sure he could do anything about Morgaine. Or her promise to end Arthur's life in a non peaceful fashion.
He wiped his eyes again, and went to go clean Uther's rooms.
The sorceress Morgaine was not the only one who plotted that day. Even with the icicles dripping and the snow turning to sludge, it was cold enough the people flocked to the tavern in Camelot. Maids clustered around tables and discussed gossip, a few knights-notably Sir Elyan-sat and discoursed on Prince Arthur's skillful handling of the trade and the absurdity of the latest theory about Uther, and farmers cheerfully talked on how they would plant their fields.
No one cast a second glance the two knights in the corner, who talked of matters of greater import.
"Tell me exactly what he said."
"I accept that. I just wish that things were, and then he trails off, and goes 'never mind'." Lancelot shook his head. "He looked weary."
"And this was just after you told him that Merlin could love whoever he wanted…" Gwaine took another sip of ale. "That Prince doesn't make sense."
"He talked about Merlin's romance, so he seemed to know that Merlin loved him." Lancelot groaned. "I no longer understand Merlin and Arthur."
"They're both idiots." Gwaine grumbled. "We go to great troubles to get it through Arthur's thick head that he needs to shut up and shag Merlin, we've got Merlin admitting that he's hopelessly besotted, and they're still dancing around each other. Bloody ridiculous."
Lancelot nodded in fervent agreement and continued to drink.
"How's Gwen, by the way? I need news of someone who has a happy relationship." Gwaine regretted saying it a second later. Lancelot's eyes glazed over, as a stupid smile made it's way onto his face. Gwaine took a deep gulp of ale.
"And then we had a picnic by a waterfall that's overflowing now, and she sat on my cloak and laughed as I told her tales of far lands, and…Gwaine, are you still listening?" Gwaine blinked.
"You were um, admiring her hair. It's pretty." Lancelot shot him an annoyed look.
"That was a quarter of an hour ago." Gwaine nodded slowly.
"How time flies." Lancelot frowned. "Oh don't be offended, I just can't listen to you blabber about her for more than ten minutes. I know that she's a pretty girl but honestly, Lancelot!"
"She has changed my life and given me hope!" Gwaine restrained the urge to roll his eyes. "You have traveled for years, surely you understand the importance of having some faith to cling to!"
"Whatever you say." Gwaine grinned at him. "I have faith in my tankard and my sword."
"Fine." Lancelot made an amused sound. "Be that way. Do you have any ideas at all for the idiots?"
"…no." Gwaine sighed. "I'm out of schemes. I just don't understand why Arthur isn't acting on his feelings."
"I wish I had answers." Lancelot slumped over the table. "The two most powerful people in Camelot, and neither of them are smart enough to make a move."
"Royalty and magic." Gwaine drank deeply. "They mean nothing."
Arthur paced. Where the hell was Merlin when he was needed?
Probably still out with Gwaine skipping through fields of happy roses.
"Your highness, shall I draft a reply?" Arthur glared at Fenron. The advisor quailed. "Or, eh, fetch the boy?"
"He has a name, and he'll be here soon enough. Go…" Arthur wracked his mind. "Tell Leon that I want him to report to me with a list of how many troops we can muster, then ready a messenger to Caer Gal."
Arthur glanced down at the paper crumpled in his hand. It was a hastily scrawled note from the Lady Conduiramour, whose lands rested on the southern edge of Orkney, between them and Camelot.
Prince Arthur
The troops of King Lot have attacked. They were supported by Saxons. My people flee East to Caer Gal, we were overwhelmed by numbers. Please send aid, for I fear that they go towards Camelot.
-Lady Conduiramour
The door to the study closed with a click as Fenron departed. Arthur stopped pacing at looked towards the window. The windows in Camelot were all brightly lit, thousands of families who laughed and talked and drank and loved.
Looking out over that, Arthur felt remarkably lonely.
How many of them, he wondered, would die under his standard? How many would demand that they see the King in whose name Arthur was leading them?
"Arthur." Merlin didn't knock, but the door didn't open with it's customary bang. Merlin was paler than average, and his face was drained. "What is it?"
"King Lot has moved." Arthur clenched his fist. "He did not declare war, only attacked the lands of one of the most noble families in Camelot. I wonder if they had any idea it was coming."
Merlin held out the standard. The crimson was once again the brightest red, and the golden dragon seemed to almost move in the firelight. "When did this happen?"
"It would take at least two days for a messenger to ride from Belrepeire." Arthur saw a flicker of anger cross Merlin's face before being pushed under a neutral mask. Arthur, who was himself suppressing the desire to ride out immediately and rip King Lot's head off his shoulders, understood the feeling. "This will not stand. I swear to you Merlin, I am going to push King Lot off his throne once and for all, and shatter all Saxon control in Albion."
"Good." Merlin's tone was low and angry. "If these lands come under control of Morgaine, we're all doomed."
"Morgaine?" Arthur blinked at Merlin. Merlin shifted.
"King Lot's wife. She's…I did some research." Merlin stepped closer. Arthur swallowed. "Arthur, she does not know mercy, and if she gets her hands on you…"
"I think I can defeat a girl, Merlin." Arthur reached out and touched Merlin's shoulder. Half Merlin's face was shadowed, and Arthur read dread in Merlin's eyes. "Don't worry about me."
"I wish I didn't have to." Merlin said softly. Arthur let his hand drop.
"Find me the knights, and bid them to come here immediately. I need to send a falcon for Kai, he's been building up the troops for months." Merlin nodded and left at a near run. Arthur slumped into his chair, and rubbed his brow.
God, he wanted his father right now.
"Gwaine, Lancelot!" Lancelot buried his head in his pillow and thought that if Merlin wanted him to rescue Arthur again, he was letting Leon do it. The door burst open. "Up."
Gwaine pushed himself onto his elbows from his own bed and blinked at Merlin.
"What's wrong?"
"Arthur needs you both. It's a war council."
Gwen opened the door to find Merlin on her stoop, face grim. Her hands flew to her mouth.
"Arthur?"
"He's fine. But Elyan needs to get to his study." Merlin leaned down and whispered to her. "King Lot has begun march towards Camelot, and we cannot bear another siege. Tell him that, and no one else!"
Gwen rushed to wake her brother.
Leon and Percival both slept in the tavern. Leon was already on the move. He knew enough to know that if Arthur had sent a disgruntled counselor to wake him up for information on mustering troops, trouble was brewing. He'd woken Percival as well.
They met Merlin on the way out. Merlin directed them to Arthur's study.
The round table passed the slip of paper around as Arthur finished his letter to Caer Gal.
"We cannot let this stand. Camelot must not be besieged again, and not at the end of winter." Arthur said. Gwaine spoke up.
"I think that this is just to scare us." Arthur turned to look at Gwaine. Gwaine was holding the note loosely. "There's no possible way that all the Northern Chieftains could go against Camelot, not in direct battle, but if we rush up to Orkney we'd meet them on their terms." Gwaine handed the paper back. "And I'll bet you anything that's what Lot wants."
"And once we get close to Orkney, Morgaine would make the rivers rise." Merlin murmured. Arthur shot him an odd look. Merlin raised his voice. "King Lot's wife is a powerful sorceress, and if we brought the army to Orkney we'd be right in her center of power."
"Then we'll work out another plan." Arthur unfolded his letter and scribbled something on it. Then he stamped it with the royal seal and passed it to Merlin. "Get our fastest falcon, and send this to Kai."
"Yes sire." Merlin hurried from the room, pausing only to close the door behind him. He had a feeling that letting Arthur's knightly council be overheard would garner a blow to the head.
Merlin headed for the nearest window, and opened it.
Huh. Merlin could, for once, feel warmth in the air. He held out a hand.
"Nunitia." Merlin had seen the falcons of Camelot. They weren't nearly fast enough to get all the way to Caer Gal, not when they needed to contact Kai yesterday. Merlin called, sending the message through the air.
It took no more than a minute for a falcon to land on his wrist. Merlin whispered thanks and tied the note to one leg. His eyes flickered gold again as he planted the destination in the bird's mind and set it off. Merlin traced the path as it glided away, turning to a speck against the night sky.
"Oh, you're finally back?" Arthur looked up as Merlin reentered. "Well, we've got a plan."
"Yay. Please tell me it involves sleeping." Merlin flopped into a chair next to Arthur and grinned at the knights. "Everyone sane was in bed before now."
"And everyone sane will be back in bed after." Gwaine muttered. He glanced at Merlin, trying to convey "jump him after this meeting" with only his eyes. Merlin looked at him like he was insane.
"Gwaine, shut up." Arthur glared at Gwaine. "Merlin, we're going to muster all the troops possible than rendezvous with Kai at Badon Hill. That will put us between Camelot and Orkney, and in the perfect position to strike at their heart, at time of our choosing."
"Good plan." Merlin himself thought on Morgaine, and was grateful that Badon Hill was far from her castle. He had the feeling that he wasn't going to sleep well tonight.
A/N: If the bbc writers can decide that there will be "Morgana" and "Morgause" as separate characters, I can make my evil person Morgaine. Originality is for suckers. Also: You readers can feel free to review chapter by chapter. Just sayin'