CHAPTER XI
The Dungeons
Morgana spotted Arthur from her bedchamber window about to take leave and took off, running as fast as she could through the castle halls to get to him in time. She knew Arthur was there when Morgause was questioned; Uther now preformed most royal business in front of him, to prepare him for when the time came that he would be king.
Morgana needed to know what was going on; it was killing her inside not knowing if Morgause had hope or not. If there was a chance that she could be released, Morgana didn't want to help her try to escape. It could ruin Morgause's chances of true freedom should she manage to screw it up, or condemn her to life as a fugitive when there was no reason for her to be. Morgana needed to go about this delicately.
"Arthur!"
Morgana took the steps two at a time to reach him, nearly tripping over her gown in the process, but she didn't care; she was just glad she reached him in time before he set off. Arthur turned away from his task of fitting the saddlebag on his horse, his eyebrows rising at the sight of the Ward. "Morgana," he greeted, surprised to see her there.
"Please, tell me what's happening to her," she begged, grabbing hold of his arm to further enhance her desperation. She didn't even bother with pleasantries, though she doubted Arthur expected them.
"Morgana…" his tone was sympathetic and the Ward hated it. She didn't want to hear about how he couldn't speak about royal business; Morgause was her friend, her… her lover. She needed to know. "You know I can't—"
"Please," Morgana pleaded, knowing she looked as desperate as she felt. "Arthur, she's my friend. I care for her and I'm worried. You know I have a right to know, please. Do this favor for me, I beg of you."
Arthur let out a hesitant breath. His eyes shifted to Merlin, who was busy preparing the horses. "Merlin, go fetch some water for our journey," he ordered, obviously trying to give them some privacy. Merlin didn't catch on to the hint.
"But we already have—"
"Merlin," he stated, a pointed look in his eyes. "Just do as I ask."
Merlin looked between them, realizing now what Arthur was asking. "Right, of course," he said, understanding. He made his way back into the castle and Arthur turned to Morgana, an apprehensive look on his face. He obviously did not wish to go against his father, but it seemed he did realize that Morgana had a right to know.
Arthur took a deep breath, hoping he didn't regret speaking to her about this. "My Father believes your friend is a sorceress." Morgana held her breath for a moment, her fear of the worst coming true. Arthur hesitated for a moment before finishing with, "A very specific one, actually."
Morgana's expression turned puzzled. "A specific one?" she repeated, confused by the Prince's words. How would Uther know who Morgause was before she got here?
"There, uh…" Arthur stumbled, trying to think of how to word his explanation. Morgana knew that meant she wouldn't be getting the whole story, but she would deal with that afterwards. "When the Great Purge happened, a few magickal children were smuggled out of Camelot," Arthur explained. "One of them was named Morgause. Father has been expecting her to return for some time now, it seems."
Morgana waited for him to continue, but that seemed to be the only thing she was getting out of him. She looked at him disbelievingly. "So this is all because she bears the same name as a sorceress who was in Camelot over fifteen years ago? That's ridiculous, Arthur! There must be dozens of women with her name. How can Uther hold her like this? This isn't just!"
"It'll be fine, Morgana," Arthur tried to reassure her, but Morgana feared it would be anything but. Even if Morgause wasn't the child who was smuggled out of here years ago, she was still a sorceress. "I'm heading to Mercia to verify your friend's story. If what she says about herself is true, my Father will free her. I promise you."
That's what Morgana was afraid of. If she was a betting woman, she would put money on the fact that Morgause did not come from Mercia. She was a highly skilled sorceress; she must have come from somewhere that would allow her to be trained and Morgana knew that was not the farmland kingdom that lied east of Camelot.
"There's something you're not telling me," she said, noting how Arthur could barely look her in the eye. Despite his arrogance, which could drive Morgana crazy sometimes, Arthur had always been an honest man and she admired that about him. It was obvious that he felt uncomfortable being anything but what he was, but his loyalty to his father made things difficult for him sometimes. "Why is it that the King expected this other Morgause to return to Camelot, and not just any of the sorcerers?"
Arthur looked uncomfortable. "No, I didn't mean—"
"I heard what you said," Morgana told him flatly. She didn't want him backpedaling out of this. "If Uther had been expecting any one of them to return, you would have said 'them.' Instead you said 'her.' Why?"
Arthur shifted his weight between his feet. He lost eye contact with her, staring at his feet. He sighed apologetically. "I'm sorry, Morgana. Despite my personal feelings on that matter, that is one thing I cannot tell you."
Although Morgana wished to know more, she didn't want to push him. Already he could get into trouble with his father for telling her what he had and Morgana didn't want to seem ungrateful. It was probably the most she was going to get out of anyone anyway, save Morgause herself.
"I need to see her."
Arthur let out a heavy breath, knowing that was coming. "No one is supposed to see the prisoners, you know that. You're going to get yourself into trouble."
"I don't care," Morgana told him firmly. What was Uther going to do, yell at her? She'd been yelled at plenty times before, she could handle it. "Please, Arthur, I just wish to speak with her. She's down there all alone, imprisoned in a strange city for a crime she did not commit; she deserves to see a friendly face."
Arthur rubbed his temples, beginning to get a headache. "I'm not going to give you my key, if that's what you're asking for."
"I'm not trying to free her, Arthur; I just want to speak with her. We can do that through iron bars."
Arthur knew she was not going to give up until she got what she wanted and he sighed. His gaze shifted for a moment, as if trying to assess that they were really alone. "Do you promise you won't do anything stupid?" he asked, trying to help her but afraid of sticking his neck out too far. "Because if something happens while you're down there, hell will rain down on my head and I won't hesitate to throw you under the wagon with me."
That was fair. Morgana would probably do the same thing if the positions were reversed. "I promise," she stressed, needing him to know that she would not betray his trust like that.
Arthur still looked a little uncomfortable with the decision, but relented. "Alright. Before I leave I'll speak with the night guard and tell him to let you pass. But you must not be seen by anyone else, do you understand? If it gets back to my Father…"
"I understand, Arthur," Morgana replied, smiling gratefully for his help. "Thank you."
She caught sight of Merlin heading out of the castle in her peripheral, so Morgana lowered her head a little in acknowledgement. "I'll leave you to your business," she told Arthur before turning around, making her way back inside. She breathed a sigh of relief, glad that she was going to have a way to see Morgause. If Arthur hadn't helped her then she would have had to find a way to sneak past the guard and well, Morgana was anything but stealthy. Because of that she was a bit worried that she would be unable to keep her visit a secret from Uther, but she would cross that bridge when she came to it.
For now, she just needed answers, and Morgause was the only way Morgana knew how to get them.
[x]
Morgause sat in the corner of her cell, her back pressed against the cold stone wall with her knees pulled to her chest. The ground beneath her was hard and unforgiving, providing her with little comfort during the long hours of solitude. There was a distinct chill in the air that made Morgause shiver in her silken dress, the beauty that it once was starting to become unrecognizable with small tears and dirt stains. Her back ached from the blows she was dealt, but she would not risk healing herself whilst she was a captive; if anyone should see, her life would be forfeit. So she suffered in silence, finding it better not to use her magick until she was ready to escape.
Morgause had no idea what time of day it was, as the dungeons were provided with no outside light. It was like a tomb; even the air smelled of death and sorrow. A ways down from her cell she could hear a man praying to his God, asking for forgiveness. Morgause had overheard one of the guards saying that he would be hung come morning and the blonde felt for the man; even in his last hours, no one had come to say their final goodbyes.
He would die unloved and alone.
Footsteps echoed through the dungeon and Morgause rose to her feet, wondering if the guards were coming round with dinner. She was terribly hungry. Though she had been given half a loaf of bread earlier in the day, it was not enough to sate her. But perhaps that was the point; it would not do to have their prisoners strong, after all. Morgause could already feel her magick start to weaken from her mistreatment and it worried her, for if the time came when she needed to flee and she found she could not escape, she would be done for.
Then, like a ray of hope from the Goddess herself, Morgana appeared; bathed in the dim light of the torch that hung outside of her cell, her presence was a vision Morgause had been praying for. She ran to her, fingers curling around her sister's hand that clung tight to the wrought iron bars of her prison. "Morgana," she breathed, happier than words could ever hope to express. "I feared I would never see you again."
Seeing Morgause in such a predicament made tears well up in the Ward's eyes. She reached through the bars, gently caressing her face. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice strained as she tried not to openly weep for her. "I'm so sorry this is happening to you."
"It's not your fault," Morgause assured her, turning her face to kiss her sister's palm. Everything she had gone through seemed to fade away in an instant at Morgana's touch. It healed her better than any spell could dare to hope for.
"I don't have long," Morgana told her regrettably. "If Uther was to find me down here, he would not wait for Arthur to return. His anger alone would condemn you." Morgause nodded, understanding. She had not expected that Morgana had come to her with Uther's permission; he was too afraid that Morgause would tell her the truth.
"But please, answer me one thing," Morgana requested, her eyes searching the blonde's face. "Will Arthur find that you spoke truth when he reaches Mercia?"
Morgause pursed her lips, sympathy in her eyes. "No," she told her softly. She saw Morgana's face fall; she knew that meant that she would never be freed. "I'm sorry I lied, Morgana, but it was for my own safety." She sighed softly, motioning at the space around her before she finished, "Although I guess we can see how well that worked out in the end."
"Are you, then?" Morgana asked softly, needing to know. "The woman Uther thinks you are?"
Morgause held her breath. She wasn't sure what Morgana knew, but she knew she had to be honest with her. "Yes," she confirmed quietly, running her fingertips softly over her sister's that clung to one of the bars. She wondered if she would pull away from her.
She didn't.
"You were born here?" Morgana questioned, watching Morgause's fingers dust across hers for a moment. Perhaps she didn't know the whole truth after all, something Morgause was thankful for. She wanted to be able to tell her sister on her own terms, not Uther's. Green eyes met brown as Morgana looked up at her. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Morgause couldn't meet her gaze. She shrugged and leaned against the bars, staring at the ground. "It was a long time ago; I didn't think it was important."
Morgana pursed her lips, deciding that it would probably be better if she didn't pry into that topic anymore. The Great Purge was a painful time for a lot of sorcerers and their families and she probably didn't want to rehash that, out of respect. Morgause was grateful. "You never told me," Morgana began after a moment, "what it was you came here for." The subject clearly pained her as her voice caught in her throat and her gaze was quickly averted. Morgause didn't blame her; it was the topic that revolved around her leaving.
But Morgause wanted her to know that it didn't mean leaving her, so she finally told her the truth. "You, Morgana," It was said softly, but Morgana heard it loud and clear. "I came here for you." That caught the Ward's attention and she looked up at her, surprised.
"Me?"
Morgause nodded.
Morgana stared at her for a moment before realization dawned on her face. Unfortunately, it was not the happy one that Morgause was hoping for; instead she looked scorned. "You knew didn't you?" Morgana accused, taking a few steps back from her. "You knew and you never told me! How could you? Do you even understand how frightened I was yesterday? I had no idea what was happening; I thought I caught it from you! Like you touching me made me…!" Morgana couldn't even say the word; it stuck in her throat and instead she shook her head disbelievingly. She was probably better off that way though; Morgana was shouting rather loudly and if anyone heard they would both be dead.
Morgause was not expecting this kind of reaction and despite how upset she was that she received it, she tried to stay calm. She knew she was the one to blame, after all. There were probably a lot of things she should have told her sister, yet her own fear made it difficult to voice out loud. "It's not a sickness, Morgana," she tried to explain, but was cut off before she could say anymore.
"That's not the point!"
"I know. I'm sorry," Morgause conceded. She felt awful; she was supposed to be there when her sister's powers emerged and she wasn't. Morgana must have been so frightened, to have grown up in a place such as Camelot and then find that she was everything this kingdom hated. "I didn't tell you because I thought you wouldn't believe me. I was a stranger; what credibility would my claims have? You would have thought me mad."
Morgana was pacing back and forth in front of her sister's cell, running her fingers through her tussled hair. She didn't comment on what Morgause said, which probably meant that she had a point and Morgana didn't want to admit to it. Instead she asked, "So, what, you came to Camelot with the expectation that you could just… take me away with you?" The way she said it made it sound ridiculous and perhaps it was, a perfect stranger coming there to rip her away from everything she had ever known.
Morgause colored in shame, hating how presumptuous the whole thing was. "I had hoped, yes," she admitted, voice small. "You weren't safe here; I was trying to protect you. I wanted to give you a chance to survive." She could stand trial in front of the ruthless Uther Pendragon, but it seemed she caved quickly when put against her sister's scrutinizing questions. It got worse when Morgana stepped back into the torch's faint glow and Morgause could see that her eyes were swimming with fresh tears.
"Why, because your kind is so few already? Am I just another number to you, Morgause?" The accusation burned a hole in Morgause's heart. Morgana looked terribly distressed as she drew to a conclusion that couldn't be farther from the truth, "Is that all this was then; a cheap manipulation, to get me to trust you, to get me to leave with you?"
"No!" Morgause exclaimed quickly, her hands holding firm to the bars as she pushed herself as close as she could get to Morgana. It wasn't very far, since her sister had taken a step backwards to hide in the shadows; she didn't want Morgause to see her cry. It broke the sorceress's heart in half. "What I feel for you is real, Morgana, please believe me! You're the most wonderful person I've ever met, and sometimes I feel that I'd surely die should I ever find myself without you. I couldn't bear it."
Morgana did not move. Morgause heard a faint sniffle as her sister tried to control her own emotions. She wished more than anything that she could wrap Morgana up in her arms, kiss her and show her that what she felt could never be a trick. It was far too intense to ever be anything other than genuine. It took a few moments, but finally Morgana spoke.
"I'm scared."
Her words were barely above a whisper, but the emotion behind them screamed volumes to Morgause. "I know," she said sympathetically. How could her sister be anything but? She had to choose between everything she had ever known, and saving her life. Because if Morgana stayed here it would only be a matter of time before she was found out; magick was so very hard to control if one was untrained.
Morgana stepped from the shadows. Her eyes were reddened and she had her arms wrapped around herself, as though she were trying to protect herself from the reality of the choice she had to make. "Where would we go?" she whispered finally, her vulnerability making her look so much younger than her years.
"To my home, on the Isle of the Blessed; it's the only place we can truly be safe. You'll be taken care of, Morgana, I promise you."
Morgana bit the inside of her cheek as another tear fell from her eye. "I don't want to leave Gwen," she told her softly. "She's my dearest friend; it would tear me up inside if I could never see her again."
"Then ask her to go with us," Morgause answered. After seeing how close the two of them were, she had been expecting this. She didn't mind; she liked Gwen and if separating them would do more hurt than good, she was glad to take her back with them. Besides, after Morgana left it was likely that Gwen would be questioned and Morgause would not want to put her through such an ordeal.
Morgana looked grateful that she didn't mind, but her face suddenly turned distressed once more. "Why are we even speaking of this?" she asked, sounding terribly defeated. "I don't even know how I'm going to get you out of here yet. I don't even know if I can…!"
"Shh, love," Morgause hushed, reaching through the bars to grasp her hand firmly. "Don't worry about that, alright? I'm more than capable of handling this myself." At least she hoped she was.
Morgause knew that she should have mastered that relocation spell before she came; it would have made this so much easier. However the farthest she had ever traveled was about twenty meters, and she still managed to leave her clothes behind half the time, so no, that really wouldn't do her well in this situation. She had other ways though; they wouldn't be stealthy by any means, but they would still be effective and that was all that mattered in the end.
"Just start packing your things," Morgause told her, running her thumb over the back of her sister's hand. She smiled at her. "I'll meet you at the stables tomorrow at nightfall." She wished Morgana would return her smile, yet she understood why she couldn't. This was such a big change for her and it was obviously very frightening. Morgause just hoped that when the time came she could help make the transition a little easier.
Morgana's gaze fell to the ground, but she nodded slowly. She squeezed Morgause's hand before backing up a few steps. "I've been here too long," she told her regrettably. "But do you promise?" Morgana asked, looking back up at Morgause, fear and doubt swimming behind her emerald eyes. "That you'll be there tomorrow?"
"You have my word."
Despite the conviction in her voice, Morgause knew that she would still have to pray to the Gods for a miracle in order to keep it. This wasn't going to be easy.
TBC…
