A/N: Hello everyone! Well, at this moment I am in my vert first blizzard. It's rather exciting for a girl who grew up in Florida. My very first snow day.
So, anyways, here is the next chapter. Shorter, unfortunatly, because it is a "Meanwhile Back At The Ranch Also Known As Camelot" Chapter. But I hope you enjoy it anyways. ;)
Chapter 11- In Which Morgana Reflects on the Stupidity of Camelot's Guards
Morgana stood outside the door of the council chambers and watched as two guards strode out of the heavy twin wooden doors. Though their faces were mostly covered by their helmets, she could still see their expressions: both looked grim. Morgana straightened, trying her best to contain her smirk so as the guards standing at the doors would not see her sheer delight in the situation.
It had been two days since Arthur had disappeared, and despite the tireless searching of every guard that Camelot had at its disposal, not even a trace of the young prince's whereabouts had been discovered. The only clue into his disappearance – which, as per the nature of the object, wasn't much to go off – was a wooden box found in the prince's chambers, the box that Morgana knew had contained the bracelet. But the guards were unable to reason what the container had held or whether it had anything to do with Arthur's disappearance. Morgana was pleased that no one could understand what had happened to Arthur.
And she knew no one would ever know. She trusted Morgause to dispose of Arthur in whatever time he was now. It most likely wouldn't be difficult.
Morgana stood straighter and strode forward. As she reached the doors of the council chamber, the two guards bowed and opened them for her. She stepped inside to find Uther sitting at the head of a long wooden table, a variety of foods spread out before him. But even from where she stood, Morgana could tell that the great king had touched nothing.
"My lord," Morgana said, pausing at the opposite end of the table. Uther had not seen her come in, she could tell. He sat, one gloved hand pressed to his lips as he stared dismally down at the table. She could almost feel his frustration and desperation. Uther was a proud, hard man, and the disappearance of his only son and his guard's inability to find him were most likely driving the man mad. Morgana did not feel pity for him. If anything, she wished there was a way to make his pain more intense. And she knew there would be a way: when he realized that his son was not coming home and was gone forever.
Uther looked up, his blue-green eyes resting on his ward and daughter. She could see the anger there, but also the sadness. Morgana forced herself not to smirk.
"Morgana," he said simply, his voice far away, but his troubled gaze softening slightly at the sight of his daughter. He had no idea Morgana knew that the proud king of Camelot, the man that had taken her in as an orphan, was actually the very man who had fathered her. He did not know how fiercely she hated him for lying to her for all these years, for being so cruel, for choosing Arthur over her and for being so hateful to magic that she knew for certain he'd kill her if he ever discovered her true gifts.
She hated him for living. Though that would not be for much longer.
"I came to see if there was any way that I could comfort you, my lord," Morgana said, sweeping towards him and taking a seat beside him at the table. He looked down at his untouched plate, and she took one of his gloved hands in hers, squeezed it gently. It was hard to hold onto the sweet, gentle face she always used around him, trying to force herself not to laugh in his face or show him the true feelings she felt towards him. But she forced herself to do so. Now was not the time for Uther to know her true emotions. She must hold up the pretense.
"You are my only comfort, Morgana," Uther said. "Until Arthur returns to us, your love will be the only thing to comfort me."
"I am sure Arthur will return, my lord," Morgana assured him with a gentle smile. She honestly felt like retching, her words were so sweet. "He is your only son and only heir to the throne. He must return."
She hoped with those words she'd drive his sorrow further.
"I'm sure you're right," he answered, but his tone was more resigned now, and Morgana knew she'd done what she meant to do. "I cannot imagine losing him."
"Nor can I," Morgana replied. "I won't be able to rest until we are certain what has become of him."
Here she let herself tear up, held a hand to her mouth to stifle a sob.
"I simply can't think about him being gone forever!"
Uther cupped her face in his gloved hand and looked into her eyes. She wished she had a dagger, for she'd just kill him now. But she held back her hatred and played along.
"He will return," he promised her. "Just like you said."
Morgana stood quickly and wiped her fake tears away with a hand.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, my lord," she said, bowing slightly. "I've just been so miserable with Arthur's disappearance. I will leave you in peace now."
Quickly, she turned and left the room, and the guards closed the doors behind her. She swept past them and rounded the corner of the corridor before she stopped and finally allowed herself the smirk she'd been hanging on to. She could tell that Uther was weakening. When his son did not appear in a few days, she knew for certain that between his own inner turmoil and her words, he would surely break.
But then her heart stopped. A few days? She couldn't wait that long! Arthur always managed to come back, no matter what they did. And what if he did now? All their plans would be ruined! She didn't have a few days to wait! She must do this now!
She remembered Morgause's words in her mind earlier. She had spoken telepathically to her sister only just before she'd met with Uther. Morgause had warned her not to get ahead of herself, to bide her time. But Morgana wanted to do everything but. Morgause had told her that Cenred (even as much as she despised that man!) was waiting with a few of his men in the forests outside Camelot, silently waiting for Morgana's visit. Though it was dangerous for Cenred to be so near the great city with Uther's guards constantly patrolling, it was more convenient for Morgana who would not be able to ride to Cenred in time to inform him of Uther's downfall whilst Morgause was hunting Arthur in the future to kill him. Now Morgana's heart raced, willing her to go to him now and inform him to ready his troops. She wouldn't wait for long to get rid of Uther, and he'd have to be ready. She believed Uther to be weakening already. She'd go to Cenred now, and get him out of the way and preparing to take Camelot. Then she'd get rid of Uther, and all would be ready.
She nodded to herself and began once more to stride regally down the corridors back to her own chambers. Tonight she would visit Essetir's king.
It always surprised Morgana just how easily it was for her to get out of Camelot. Except for the time that Merlin followed her when she went to visit Morgause (that boy was terrible at being stealthy) no one had ever followed her or tried to stop her that she knew of. There was that one unfortunate moment when she'd been sneaking the Mandarin root back into the castle that the knight had stopped her and tried to convince her that she was wounded, but other than that, none of the guards ever seemed to notice her almost nightly now escapades from the castle walls.
She pulled her purple cloak tighter around her shoulders. It was cool tonight, almost chilly, and she also felt safer with the cape around her. Although it was interesting how despite the shawl's brilliant shade of purple, once again none of the guards ever seemed to notice,
But, she reflected, they guards most likely wouldn't even notice if she wore a sign on her head proclaiming herself to by Uther's ward sneaking into the woods. The knights of Camelot may be known across the five kingdoms for their courage and ability, but the guards of Camelot were not known for this. For obvious reasons.
She even managed to sneak a horse out of the stables, which she had done before. Every time she did this, however, she marveled at how stupid the guards were. Still, it allowed her to escape Camelot with no questions asked. She probably shouldn't complain too much.
But when I take my rightful place on the throne, she thought. I won't put up with such idiots in my service.
The night veiled her ride through the forest, though she still kept watch for any possible approaching patrols still combing the woods for Arthur. She smirked at the thought. They would never find the prince. Not here, at least.
She recalled the directions her sister had given her to find Cenred. Morgana may despise the man and look upon him with the same emotions she did a rat, but she had to admit that he was not stupid. He had concealed himself deep in the forest outside Camelot, with only a few men to make them as inconspicuous as possible. Morgause had warned her sister that he'd only be in the area for a few days, another perfect reason for Morgana to so quickly search him out. She did not want to miss her chance.
She had been riding for a good portion of the night when she rode up to a place where the ground fell away, a ridge that showed her the border of the land of Essetir in the distance. She glanced around at the trees around her. Somewhere around here should be Cenred's hiding place.
She slipped gracefully off her horse and tied it to a nearby tree in order to make sure it did not wander off whilst she was gone. Once again bringing her sister's instructions to mind, Morgana raised her hand, palm-down, and focused her mind. Her control over her abilities was stronger now, but she still required quite a bit of concentration in order to cast her magic. She envied Morgause for being able to so easily use her power, but the older woman encouraged her sister with promises that one day, she, too would be just as powerful.
Morgana's eyes flashed gold, and a few sticks and leaves nearby began to smoke and flame. With another flash of her eyes, the smoke became stronger and floated up into the dark sky, just as Morgause had instructed her to do. Hopefully, Cenred would still see the signal, though he wouldn't be expecting her yet. She didn't want to spend too long out here. It was a long ride back to Camelot, and though the guards never did seem to suspect her, she didn't want to change that.
Besides, she didn't want to spend too much time in the company of Cenred.
She did not have to wait long, and soon the distinct sound of men's footsteps could be heard in the still night. At first, her heart leaped in her chest for fear that a Camelot patrol had seen the signal instead of Cenred. But as the figures moved closer, her fears were quelled by the sight of only three men, and none wearing the red cape of the knights of Camelot. As moonlight hit the features of the man in the forefront of the group, Morgana could make out the slim but still well-muscled frame of the king of Essetir, his rough beard and long, stringy brown hair a clear giveaway.
"Lady Morgana," Cenred stopped and gazed with beady dark eyes at the young woman who stood before him, wrapped in her purple cloak. He spoke in a tone as if he was in charge of everything that was happening, though nothing could be farther from the truth. Morgana admired the cunning of her sister: she manipulated Cenred's mind so well, making him feel as though he was important when he was really nothing but a pawn, a rather dim-witted donkey being led along by a rope.
"I had not expected to see you so soon. This means that either things are going very well, or your plan has failed."
Morgana bristled at the man's tone.
"I came to tell you to ready your men," she told him, forcefully restraining her annoyance. "Uther is already suffering from the loss of his son. I think it will only take a few days to bring him to a state where his guard will fall. You must be ready to strike when Camelot's defenses are weakest."
"But how do I know that Arthur will not return?" Cenred demanded. "Your previous attempts at getting rid our young Pendragon have failed. If Arthur returns, Uther will not be so weak anymore."
"I promise you, Cenred," Morgana said, finding herself to sound like her sister. "Arthur will not be a problem. As I speak, Morgause is searching to finish him off. And I know she will not fail."
"Very well," Cenred relented. Morgana found it interesting that even at the mention of Morgause's name Cenred seemed to become more agreeable. She certainly did have him under her spell. "How long until the kingdom will be weak enough?"
"Only a few days more," Morgana told him with certainty. "By the time you have your army ready to march, the kingdom will be ready to fall."
Cenred studied her for a long time, and then bowed his head in mock respect.
"So be it, my lady," he said, an ironic smile playing on his lips. "I trust we will not fail this time."
Morgana chose not to answer that. Her eyes narrowed as he turned to face his two bodyguards.
"Well, gentlemen," he said. "We have an army to prepare. Tonight will return to Essetir."
The two men, whose faces were masked so Morgana could not make out even their expressions (which unnerved her more than she'd like to admit), nodded their consent. Cenred turned back to the young woman, who once more bristled at his eyes on her. She tolerated Cenred because her sister knew how easy he was to manipulate, but Morgana hated the look in his eyes. She didn't trust him any further than she could throw him.
"My lady," he said, taking her hand and kissing it. "I hope to see you again soon. It has been a pleasure, as always."
"I cannot say the same," Morgana replied bitterly. Cenred smiled wickedly and turned once more to his men. Without another word, the three shrank back into the forest as quickly and quietly as they had appeared in the first place. Once they were finally out of her sight, only then did Morgana allow herself to relax slightly.
As she made her way back to her horse, she resisted the urge to find the nearest stream and wash her hand where Cenred's filthy mouth had touched it. She shuddered at the thought of him. But she also knew that he was a strong enemy of Camelot, and she could rely on him to bring a powerful enough army to aid in the downfall of the powerful kingdom. She required his services, no matter how revolting the man was.
Still, she wouldn't be sad to see him "accidently" killed in the battle that was to come between his men and knights of Camelot. Perhaps she could persuade her sister into achieving that.
Morgana mounted her white horse and cast a cautious glance about her surroundings before spurring the animal into motion. She had achieved what she came here to do, and that pleased her, even if Cenred was at the centre of their plans.
As she made her way back to Camelot, she knew that as soon as Guinevere arrived in her chambers the next morning, she'd tell the servant to prepare her a bath. She needed to get the slimy feeling of Cenred off her as soon as possible.
A/N: Don't worry, my friends. Arthur, Merlin and co. will return in the next chapter on Friday. Till then, have a good week!