A/N - I'm sorry there's been a long wait but I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's a sort of filler. Next is the trials! Please review to let me know your opinions and how you think the trials should go :D xxx

Affected

Morgana murmured incoherently in her sleep as she started to come to again. She opened her eyes to darkness and remembered where she was – the dungeons. Wait, wasn't she supposed to be dead. The last thing she remembered was Morgause pressing a knife to her throat and her brother shouting.

"Arthur," she mumbled, panic creeping into her voice.

There was no answer. Was she already dead? Maybe she was destined to spend the rest of eternity in the blackness with nothing or no-one around her. Perhaps this was hell. She wondered if this could be the price she was decreed to pay, for her sins.

A tidal wave of images coursed through her mind; emptiness, darkness. Morgana screamed in terror. She didn't want to live like that… or be dead like that; an anguished soul. Was this what Uther was suffering after the genocide he'd committed in his life? Why was she being punished for ridding the world of a monster?

"Morgana!" said a frantic voice; distorted slightly.

The young sorceress felt a warm hand on her shoulder; shaking her hard. It took a few moments before she was able to escape from the demons of her imagination. She was not alone!

Morgana's eyes adjusted to the darkness and she realised she was in fact in some sort of chambers. There were red drapes hanging over the bed where she lay and they were familiar…oh, so familiar. She turned her stiff neck to the sound where the voice was coming from and her eyes fell upon a silhouette perched on the edge of the bed. That fan of mahogany curls could only belong to one person.

"Gwen!" she said uncertainly. Was she still in her nightmare?

"Oh, Morgana," said her former maidservant, enveloping her in a suffocating embrace.

The seer hugged her back with equal vigour, confused by the display of affection, considering it wasn't that long ago since she'd tried to murder the other woman and her lover. Still, she didn't refuse. She stayed clinging to Gwen's frame like she was a lifeline until the last possible second; when her lungs felt like they were going to burst from lack of air. It brought back too many horrific memories and she violently pulled away from Gwen, gulping in air and trying to control her quivering body.

"Morgana! Morgana, what's wrong?" asked Gwen, concerned.

Gripping the shaking woman's hands in her own, she tried to find the source of the rapid breakdown. She was unsuccessful.

"Morgana, please, talk to me," pleaded Gwen, getting increasingly worried.

It was futile though, because Morgana seemed to have gone mute. She was trying to get out of Gwen's grasp and she let her. The ebony haired woman's hands flew up to her throat and she looked like she was struggling to breathe.

"I'm going to get someone!" decided Gwen.

"NO!" barked Morgana, suddenly.

Gwen jumped at the unexpected sharpness and turned to face her with a questioning look.

"Sorry," said Morgana, looking down in shame.

"What's wrong?" persisted Gwen.

"Poison…" Morgana trailed off.

It all made sense now and Gwen felt nothing but sympathy for Morgana. She wished she could do something for her but didn't want to risk another hug.

"I'll prepare a bath for you and then some breakfast," she settled for instead.

Before leaving the chambers, she went over to the window and pulled the thick velvet curtains open, flooding the room in bright morning sunshine. This surprised Morgana who dove under the covers to shield her eyes.

Arthur knocked timidly on the door to Gaius's chambers, not sure what to expect. Expectedly, when the old physician came to the door and opened it, he looked like he had half a mind to slam it in his face again.

"Sire," he said, strained.

"Gaius, I…" began Arthur before his words left him.

"Did you want something, your grace?" asked he physician, coldly.

"Yes, um, the court is to assemble at noon tomorrow for the trials," responded Arthur, sheepishly.

"Will that be all, sire?"

Arthur couldn't bear it; the hostility. He'd known Gaius all of his life, someone he'd always respected greatly, both because of his extensive knowledge and the wisdom carried with age. The fact that the physician was so cold hurt him more than you would think. He couldn't handle the disapproving stare and even as far as hateful look in the old man's eyes.

"How is he?" asked Arthur.

"Merlin is fine," said Gaius and appeared to have to forcefully close his mouth before any treasonous comments could be spilled.

Arthur cast his eyes downwards and turned to walk away. Before Gaius could shut the door however, he faced the old physician again.

"I'm sorry," he said, softly before walking off again.

Morgana sat at the dressing table and dragged a brush through her freshly-washed hair. She felt so much better now; cleansed and refreshed. It was like she had been born again; only she still had all her actions weighing her down. She tried not to dwell on them and pulled the brush even harder through the tangles.

Gwen, who Morgana had believed to be elsewhere, came over and removed the brush from her grip, afraid she would hurt herself. Despite Morgana's protests, she resumed the job and made quick work of smoothing the midnight-black hair and braiding it tightly.

"Thank you, Gwen. You really don't have to. You're not my maid anymore," said Morgana, once the brush was laid on the table.

"Nonsense, Morgana. Anyway, you've got to look presentable for your trial," responded Gwen, trying to lighten the mood of what was ahead.

The sorceress groaned loudly as she rose to her feet. Gwen placed her hands on her shoulders and guided her over to the screen and handing her a pearlescent dress. Morgana obediently slipped out of the nightgown she'd thrown on and pulled on the shimmering white gown. She had always deemed it too fancy but she couldn't care less now. Even so, she allowed Gwen to clasp a single ruby necklace around her neck.

"You're ready," said Gwen, checking her over before there was a loud knock on the door "And just in time too."