Chapter 11: Adjusting To A New Life
Having just seen their friend storm angrily from the council chamber, Anakin and Arthur felt the sadness for their friend, for their only lost one parent. They couldn't imagine what it would be to lose their father as well and while they were ready to welcome her into their family as a sister like they always thought, the question remained-would Morgana want to adjust to a new life?
Morgana meanwhile had stormed all the way back to the hospital wing where the servants continued to attend to the wounded soldiers. Some of the soldiers had been allowed to go back to their families. As she approached her father's body, she noticed a white sheet over him, only making her collapse to her knees beside his body, starting to cry,
"Oh father" she sobbed moving her hand underneath the sheet and found one of his cold hands, "I need you" she sobbed feeling the tears fall down her cheeks before a few minutes went by and one of the castle's maids came over and placed one hand on her back,
"Lady Morgana" she spoke. Morgana remained still and quiet, still uncomfortable with that title so the maid spoke again "The King has prepared you a room" she stated as Morgana softly replied "I'm fine here" just as Obi Wan moved over towards them.
"Morgana" he spoke, his voice somber as she lifted her tear stained face towards him. Obi Wan looked back at her, "Uther feels you might like to rest. He promises you will be able to say goodbye to your father" he assures her. Morgana wipes the tears from her cheeks before she then gets to her feet, she follows Obi Wan from the hospital wing silently.
As Obi Wan escorted Morgana to her new room, Anakin and Arthur had decided they wanted to be with their friend in her time of need. They felt slightly guilty they had not pushed their father to send more men out into the battle. As they walked down the hallway, Anakin heard Arthur speak up
"I hate seeing a friend in pain" he confesses going on "And Morgana's like a sister to me even if she is a year older than me" he points out as Anakin agreed
"Yeah, you're my brother and she's one of my best friends who's like a sister to me. I want to look after her always" he replied as they turned the next corner, stopping in their steps for they saw Morgana not too far ahead with Obi Wan and a maid moving up a set of stairs. Anakin looked across at his brother
"Guess we found her, now all we have to do, is follow them" he smirked hurrying off to catch up with them as Arthur hurried to catch up to his brother.
Stunned by Morgana's snap outburst, Uther had quietly left the chambers and headed up to his own quarters. He had half expected Morgana to be angry because right now she would be feeling a lot of emotions. He sent Obi Wan to go after her before he would meet up with him in his quarters. Gaius had returned to his responsibilities back in the hospital wing.
Uther entered the room and moved over towards one of the side windows. He looked out into the courtyard below, watching guards, servants and citizens move in and out of the courtyard. He thought about what had happened, the promise had made to Gorlois about Morgana and lastly his sons. He was the only parent they had left-that night he became a sole parent still played in his memory.
Flashback
Uther, still with his two year old son Anakin in his arms, turned back towards his two friends Obi Wan and Gaius. He then carefully placed Anakin down on the bed beside the crib and moved back towards his two friends, not seeing little Anakin place his hands on the side of Arthur's crib and look back down at his little brother as Uther, ensuring he was out of ear shot of his sons, spoke
"I never thought I'd lose Ygraine or Shmi, two women I loved dearly. They gave me two beautiful sons, two heirs to the throne of Camelot" he pointed out as Obi Wan exchanged a look with Gaius. They knew how Ygraine became pregnant but dare not mention it again, instead kept quiet.
"They know Anakin and Arthur will be raised in a caring, protective environment, they have their father and each other" Obi Wan explained before he then had a question "How will you explain where Anakin has been these last two years?" he asked looking over at Anakin who was playing with his little brother before Uther spoke
"All they need to know is that Anakin has been living outside of the kingdom with his uncle and aunt, the Queen's brother and sister in law for the last two years" he informed them adding "No one else must know about the affair only that Anakin is my son and second to the throne" he explained. Gaius and Obi Wan listened before Gaius spoke
"Of course sire. Anakin and Arthur will be raised to be the princes they were born to be, under their father's love and protection" he concluded before they both left his quarters leaving Uther with his two sons.
End of flashback
Uther was still looking out of his window and did not see the wooden door open until Obi Wan spoke.
"Sire" he spoke in a soft voice seeing Uther turn around towards him, sadness across his face watching Obi Wan enter the room. "She resisted at first but right now Morgana is resting in her new quarters and I believe she has some comforting companions" he smirked. He had sensed Anakin and Arthur lurking just outside her room before he left, knowing right now they were looking after her.
Uther gave a small smile before turning back to the window "I never thought I'd have to fulfill that promise made all those years ago. I promised Gorlois that he will always be in Morgana's life for a long time, many battles to fight and now…" his voice trailed off "Morgana doesn't want to look at me knowing it's my fault for her father's death" he added as Obi Wan moved closer towards him
"Right now, she's hurting, she will be grateful that she has someone to look out for her still. Anakin and Arthur already look out for her like a sister, even after I rescued them from Odin's kingdom. They were concerned about Morgana" he pointed out "She's grieving at the moment. Given time, she'll realize she has love and people looking out for her" he assured him.
Uther then had another thought. "And what if Vivien should return for her daughter?" he asked as Obi Wan sighed,
"Then Morgana will have her mother, however I feel Vivien may never come back" he regretted saying sensing that Vivien was broken hearted over losing her husband, she wasn't in the right state to care for a child.
Uther, unable to respond, turned back to the window. One battle, just one battle, changed so many lives.
After watching Obi Wan and the maid exit their friend's chambers, Anakin lead Arthur up to the door, knocking gently, "Morgana?" he called out before they both heard a small reply,
"Go away, I wish to be alone" she called back as Arthur looked over at Anakin,
"Do you think that includes us, or does she think we're father?" he asks as Anakin turned the door handle, opening the door.
"Only one way to find out" he simply replied quietly entering the room.
The room was the same size as theirs, except had been decorated with light flowery purple and pink colour on the bed, and on the table. They could see Morgana curled up on the bed, clutching one pillow, still quietly sobbing.
"Morgana?" Arthur spoke as he and Anakin approached her, seeing her sit up looking over at them. She wiped the tears from her cheeks. Anakin and Arthur sat on either side of their friend, placing one hand each on her back before Anakin spoke
"I'm sorry. We didn't try hard enough to persuade father from sending more soldiers into battle" he confessed as Morgana looked over at him,
"It's not your fault and now it's his mistake he will live with" she replied as Arthur spoke
"That may be so, but father is sorry now and he's welcome you into our family. Now you're really our sister" he grinned seeing a small smile cross her face
Morgana placed one hand on Arthur's arm and the other on Anakin's arm, "You both truly are such great friends I could ask for, you're always looking out for me" she told them as they hugged her close
"And always will be" they both promised before all three friends lay back on the bed before they started swapping stories and laughing.
As midday approached, Morgana, now dressed in a beautiful deep blue dress and her long black hair in curls, walked with Anakin and Arthur, dressed in their royal formal attire behind Uther towards the courtyard.
That morning, once the sun had risen, the servants had begun to prepare the funeral of the five knights who had been killed in battle. For Morgana, having spent the last few hours with her two friends, she was once more filled with sadness, knowing her mother was not here with her to farewell her father.
As they exited out into the courtyard, they could see the guards and families of the knights already gathered, bowing respectively to the King and his sons as they passed before they reached the front. Morgana kept one hand clasped in Anakin's hand, her head lowered as one guard handed a torch to Uther who then moved forward silently.
He aimed the torch towards the middle wooden funeral pyre lighting it before another two guards lit the end two and finally Uther lit the remaining two, watching the flames engulf the bodies.
Anakin felt Morgana grasp his arm before he wrapped an arm around her, the tears falling down her cheeks and onto his shirt as he pulled her close. Arthur moved in closer towards his brother and friend feeling Morgana reach out and takes his hand.
As the fires burned, Uther turned to see his sons comforting Morgana as she cried silently. She was part of his family now and he'd love her as the daughter he never had. He moved over towards his sons, wrapping his arms around them as Morgana looked back over at the burning funeral pyres, the orange light from the flames glisten in her eyes,
"Goodbye father" she softly whispers.
By early afternoon Obi Wan and Gaius had headed up to his chambers, the families and remaining knights had resumed their duties just as Uther, Anakin, Arthur and Morgana were settling down to lunch.
Morgana was still refusing to speak to Uther, so she sat quietly in her seat, fiddling with her food as Anakin and Arthur enjoyed their meals, but of course Uther knew they were always hungry no matter what situation and they were still growing boys.
"Anakin, perhaps when you and Arthur go down to the training grounds, you could take Morgana with you" he suggested before he heard Morgana softly speak up
"I don't feel like any training today" she told him in a tone of I just want to be alone as Arthur had a suggestion,
"Or Morgana could accompany us to the marketplace. Anakin and I were going to meet up with some friends" however Morgana shook her head
"I just want to be alone so may I be excused?" she asked Uther who then replied
"Not just yet. First I must address the council, and require the presence of all three of you" he informed them "So, finish your meals and then we'll proceed to the council chambers" he informed them before they resumed eating their meals.
One hour later, Anakin, Arthur and Morgana silently followed Uther down to the council chambers. Morgana was still coming to terms with her new title hour by hour, though as long as she had her two best friends with her, she felt at ease.
She felt all eyes on her as she entered the chamber with Anakin, Arthur and Uther, however she avoided eye contact with anyone and moved up to the front and beside Anakin. Uther stood in front of his throne, ready to speak when…
The wooden doors suddenly slammed violently shut, windows began to shatter down as panic erupted around the chamber from the council members before a sinister cackle filled the room, a cackle Obi Wan, Gaius nor Uther never wanted to hear;
"Uther Pendragon, king of Camelot, it's been a long time" they spoke in a cold voice. Obi Wan and Gaius moved over in front of Anakin, Arthur and Morgana as Uther saw the outline of a black cloaked hooded figure standing meters from him. He snarled from underneath his hood "Aw, don't tell me you don't recognize an old friend?" he asked
Uther remained strong and composed "You lost the right to being a friend nine years ago, when magic was outlawed and you almost killed me" he reminded him before he added "Palpatine" before there was a hush of gasps echoing through the room as he stepped closer towards Uther, his eyes glistened on Anakin and Arthur,
"His young sons, the heirs of Camelot" he scoffed as Uther then spoke once more
"And I know you were working with Odin and helped him capture them" he pointed out hearing Palpatine laugh
"I would have succeed too if it wasn't for their rescue" he spat with a glare at Obi Wan before he cast a look around the chamber, "I am here with a warning!" he declared "Unless Uther Pendragon allows magic back into this kingdom, he will die at the hands of sons!" he exclaims with a sinister chuckle before Uther pointed over at him
"Guards! Seize him!" he ordered as Palpatine saw the guards rushing towards him before he then force pushed them back sending them hurling into the walls and then within a flash he was gone, leaving behind the broken windows and wooden doors flinging back open.
Uther slumped down into his throne as Anakin and Arthur pushed past Obi Wan and Gaius and towards their father. They each placed a hand on their father's arm,
"He's wrong father. That man is corrupted with magic, he's twisted and evil. We would never hurt you" Anakin promised. Obi Wan sighed hearing Anakin's words about magic. It was clear that within the last nine years, Uther's thoughts on magic had been passed down to his sons, strengthening the law on magic even tighter as Arthur went on
"We love you father. We wouldn't turn on you or the kingdom. We will stop him" he assured him as Uther kept silent but gave a small smile at his sons. Palpatine's warning would not be brushed off so lightly. He will never bring magic back to this kingdom knowing what it has done to him, his sons needed further protection.
However, amongst the aftermath of Palpatine's surprise arrival, no one saw Morgana quietly sneak off.
Morgana had headed back to her room, where she climbed back onto her bed. She just wanted to rest, let herself take in the last few hours and what will become her new life from now on, as a Lady of Camelot. It wasn't long till Morgana was asleep
Morgana's dream
The chamber was beautifully decorated and well lit with candles with two long tables perfectly set in the middle of the room and one across the top, which is where Anakin, Arthur and Uther sat.
But something was wrong, they were asleep, everyone was, it was all a blur and then she saw him,
A young dark haired male was running towards something, two knives, aimed for Anakin and Arthur, the knives was coming closer and closer…then blackness
Morgana's eyes fluttered upon before she pulled herself up right on the bed, she found herself clutching the sheet underneath her. What was that dream about? Her friends were safe right now, probably still with their father.
She then got up off the bed and towards the window; sure enough there was Anakin and Arthur walking with their father across the courtyard. She hoped this dream didn't become real but she was curious as to who the other young man was.
