Merry Christmas! It is hardly a Christmas story, though I hope you like it.

Where loyalties lie

Morgana hadn't expected to find her sister there when she woke up and least of all to see Morgause was getting well with their mother. Yet she was happy that things had ended that way.

"I've realized that I said things I should have never told." Morgause noticed the surprise on Morgana's face and felt the need to explain "I was just jealous you've got everything I hadn't and well... I didn't mean to…"

"It's alright." Lady Vivien stopped her."It's good you've seen your errors and that you've to be on our side. Isn't it, Morgana?"

The witch jumped from her bed and wordlessly she embraced her sister. Her happiness was genuine and Morgana didn't bother to hide it.

"Morgause has even offered to help us deal with Merlin, hasn't you, Morgause?" The blonde was a bit taken by surprised, yet she quickly gained her posture and answered on the coldest tone she could master.

"Yeah. I should have never chosen him above my family. Yet the boy still thinks I'm on his side."

"I doubt that." Morgana muttered. The two women watched her surprised. "I doubt he trusted you and I strongly doubt you will be able to foul him."

"Do not worry, sister. I will play my role wonderfully." Morgause answered. It was such determination in her voice and even hatred. Morgana couldn't help wondering what the warlock had done to her sister so she would hate him like that. In vain tried Morgause to change the topic by asking Morgana what she wanted to wear, her sister kept attacking her with different questions so she would find Morgause's reason for hating Merlin so much.

What surprised Morgana was that she didn't enjoy the situation. Well, she wanted Morgause at her side and Merlin kind of deserve being taught a lesson, but still she didn't like it. She spent whole morning telling Morgause what an idiot Merlin was and yet she didn't mean it. Not at all. Plus her mother kept talking about how great the world would be when she was to be queen. And her head was just too heavy.

Despite of those things, Morgana was stunning as she crossed the dining-room and sat next to Uther. He had always reserved the place next to him for her. Now more than ever he was very careful to make her feel well. That attention drove her nuts. Lady Vivien smiled in order to calm her daughter and it eventually worked.

Morgause and Merlin tried their best to make their masters happy. At least it was what any stranger would have said if he had seen them working around.

As the feast was over and Morgana stood up ready to leave, Morgause couldn't help, but threw the tray with dirty dishes in Merlin's arms. The servant hardly managed to caught them, but he said nothing as Morgause disappeared, following her lady.

"He will suspect you." Morgana threw at her as they were alone in her room. "You shouldn't have act like, Morgause." Morgana couldn't believe that she was actually scolding her sister for playing badly her role.

"I will look for him and apologise. Is it fine?" Morgause answered to her sister's reproches. "I will tell him I was in a hurry and believe me, Merlin could be very blind when it comes about people he cares about."

"Well, he definitely doesn't care for you, Morgause?" Morgana added and then she sat in front of the mirror.

"Why would you say that?" Morgause asked and Morgana could easily see that she had reached a weak spot.

"Why would you think he cares for you?" Her sister's reaction had made Morgana suspicious and in just a few seconds thousands of scenarios were rolling in the witch's mind. "What was between you two?"

"Well, Merlin used to love me..as a brother, of course. He still does. I don't know what this other world you've lived in was, this one is quite different. Everything is different - your life, mine, Merlin's. I've got a brother, Morgana and he gave me the love I never had the chance to have in the other world and I guess it made me see things in another colour." There was a kindness in the way Morgause spoke, Morgana had never got used to hear her sister speak about anyone else but Morgana herself. She couldn't help feeling jealous at the thought she would have to share her sister's love with someone else and someone who wasn't family. "But I've realized that family is much more important" Morgause added with a big smile on her face. "You are my family. I should have never went like that with my mother for a stupid peasant boy."

"That boy you think mother…" Morgana couldn't go on as Morgause stopped her.

"That boy?"

" Well, it wasn't mother's fault. Look, I know Uther pretty well. She couldn't have done anything."

"Have she told you that?" Morgause asked trying to control her emotions. She knew pretty well where the truth lay.

"No, but I don't need to ask. How could you think mother would do something like that? I know you are furious she did nothing to change Uther's mind, but there was nothing she could do. Trust me." Morgause turned around and went towards the window where she stopped. She watched outside as people came and go. It was clear for Morgana that her sister didn't agree with her.

"You don't have idea how much I wanted to have my parents back, but… I don't want my mother to be like that. Can you understand? She was supposed to be kind. She was supposed to do the right thing. It isn't right. And even if she did what you think I can't hate her. When I saw her suffering because of Merlin's spell, I knew I would do anything to see her well again. Even if I know she did what you said." Morgause listened quietly to what Morgana was saying. She was surprised to find her sister didn't know who that boy was and she was surprised to see how much Morgana loved her mother. "How do you managed to forgive mother if you believe she...? Well, you know?" That question complicated everything. What was Morgause supposed to answer?

"She's my mother and well, I guess that blood is stronger than anything, isn't it? And I guess I needed a mother."

Morgana didn't get time to answer as they were disturbed by a knocked at the door as a lad carrying a lovely bouquet of roses entered the room.

Morgause took the bouquet and put it on a vase near to the mirror.

"There is a note." Morgause said and she handed it to Morgana. The brunette opened it and soon she bursted into laughter.

"It's a child's drawing. Look." Morgana uttered and she handed the letter to her sister. Morgause took the paper and studied it for a while. Then she smiled as she threw the paper away.