WiltingDaisies94: Laziness - Guilt - Writing - ArMor - Happiness.

In other news, you guys still have a while to go before the next reveal. I'm not talking thirty chapters, more like ten, so please sit back, relax, and trust me to steer. Lots of other goodness and badness to come first.

Enjoy!

Chapter 36

Where had all these trees come from?

Hadn't she been in the courtyard just a moment before, with a basket of clothes for washing in her arms?

Morgana looked around in confusion, squinting to see through the blackness; the forest loomed around her, menacing from all directions. She had no idea where she was, what was happening, or why everything was so dark… she shuddered as the freezing wind whipped by, cutting at her cheeks and raising gooseflesh on her arms.

Leaves crackled as that wind came rushing through, the few that remained clinging to the tree branches whining under the beating. Over the howling, Morgana heard (at first barely, but then quite distinctly) twigs snapping somewhere behind her.

"Who is there?" Morgana called, her voice echoing strangely through the trees, hating the quaver in her tone. "Hello?"

There was no answer, but what was most distinctly a footfall reached her ears, and Morgana jumped. As far as she could see there was nothing but trees and shrubbery, heavy bark and spindly branches. "Declare yourself!" she cried, trying to keep her breathing steady, and truly failing to do so.

"You know who I am, my sweet little dove," a voice in her ear whispered sinuously, and Morgana's eyes widened as she felt arms encircle her waist, pulling her against something solid.

"No!" She pulled away, struggling as fear rose in her throat. "Please," she heard her voice whisper, "leave me be, I have lost my way, and –"

"Shh, shh," the shadowed figure hushed confidently, and followed Morgana as she stepped away. "No fear, my love. I would never do you harm."

My dove, my love? Morgana couldn't believe her ears. What was happening to her?

Morgana moved backwards into a few trickles of moonlight, hoping to see something by the scant illumination. "Who are you?" she whispered warily.

The figure went after her, arms outstretched. "You know exactly who is before you, love." The moonlight slowly revealed his handsome, masked face, the darkness releasing its shadowy hold, and Morgana recognized him immediately.

"Leon," she breathed, relief flooding to the core of her being, a hand jumping to her chest to cover her heart. "Oh Leon, you frightened me!"

Behind his mask, his eyes glinted mischievously. "You need not fear me, love. Never."

Morgana sighed and held open her arms, thrilled to curl up against him, the one who she loved. He would keep her safe until they could find a way out of this eerie forest… but she could think on that later. For now did it really matter how she had so dreadfully managed to lose her way? All of Morgana's priorities shifted and became muddied, and all she wanted to think about was the handsome, strong, beloved gentleman in front of her.

Her body responded to his presence, and she longed for his touch on her skin, his lips on hers. Morgana felt his arms wrap around her and pull her close in his embrace. He leaned down and his lips worked against Morgana's neck, teasing a path upwards; shivers ran down her back as she quivered beneath his warm mouth. Morgana sighed out contentedly, her racing pulse calming. She wrapped her arms around him and tilted her head to further expose her neck to his caresses. She smiled, and let out a small moan of contentment, shuddering under his touch.

He moved to search out Morgana's lips and they kissed, moving together in the perfect harmony of sensuality. Morgana poured herself into that one touch, pulling into the heat of his embrace, skimming her fingers across the nape of his neck.

"I love you," Morgana whispered, her eyes still closed as they broke apart. "I love you so much, my darling."

"Do you?"

Morgana's eyes shot open as Leon's same voice reached her ears, but from behind, despite his standing in front of her. "What was that?" Morgana's eyebrows popped up and her head jerked around.

Behind her, arms crossed, stood Leon. Morgana blinked in confusion – it wasn't possible he could be there! He was standing in front of her –

"Who do you see?"

Morgana turned around slowly, and stared in horror up into the eyes of the man now holding her. Looking down at her, mask removed, was Arthur, the undeniable King of Camelot, with a cold smile plastered across his handsome face. His arms tightened around her waist as Morgana tried to pull away.

"Tell me," Arthur asked in a perfectly conversational tone, holding Morgana in an iron grip, "who do you see, Juliana?"

"Yes," the other Arthur, who was still wearing Leon's mask, chimed in, "who is it you love, Juliana?"

"Let me go," Morgana demanded, beginning to tremble. She fought down her fear, and pushed against Arthur's chest. "Let me go!"

"Why?" Arthur-as-Leon held Morgana's shoulders, leaning down to hiss in her ear. "So you can run again? Run from the truth of what you are and who you love?" He clucked his tongue. "You know what I believe? You know your own mind, Milady, but are too cowardly to own up to it."

Morgana swallowed deeply. "You cannot ask it of me!" Her voice rose in desperation. "You cannot!"

"I love you, I love you, I love you." The forest echoed back Morgana's words for her to hear. It wavered, surrounding Morgana, weaving in and out of the two Arthurs. "I love you, I love you, I love you, I lo–"

"No!" Morgana clapped her hands over her ears, shaking her head furiously, tears spilling over her cheeks. "No! Stop, please!"

"Admit it." Arthur released her waist and took her wrists in his strong grasp; Arthur-as-Leon disappeared into the air. "Admit who you love," Arthur goaded.

"I love you, I love you, I love you, I –"

Morgana tried to pull back, but he held her fast. "I cannot do as you ask," she replied in anguish. "Never. Not to my mistress, who trusts me so much. How can you expect me to deceive myself? Am I not tortured enough?"

Unfazed, Arthur picked up her chin in his hand, the horrible chanting continuing around them. "You torture yourself with your denial. Look at me!"

Morgana shook her head, but her gaze was forced upwards anyway. "What do you want of me?" she begged, throat choked with her misery.

Arthur's blue eyes stared through to her soul and Morgana's tears stained his fingers as they trickled down her face. "Tell me who it is you love," he answered smoothly, eyes soft, a contrast to his solid grip on her chin.

"I love you, I love you, I lo–"

"I love you!" Morgana cried out, drained of any will to fight. "Of course I love you!"

"Love who?" Arthur's impossibly harsh grip grew even tighter. "Speak my name."

"Arthur!" Morgana burst out, her chest heaving. "Arthur Pendragon! I love Arthur Pendragon!" Her sobs intensified, and completely emotionally drained, she collapsed on the spot –

Only to wake, wrapped painfully in her twisted bedclothes.

Heart racing like Kit at a full gallop, Morgana stared at the ceiling, paralyzed by her nightmare. It had been more than two weeks since she'd discovered the King's secret and he had successfully invaded her dreams every night since then.

Morgana ran a hand through her hair, which was damp with sweat; the remnants of tears covered her cheeks in streaky patterns. Altogether too chilled (her fire had died down) and agitated, the maid worked to straighten out her blankets and rearrange her bedclothes. She sat on the edge of the bed and placed her feet on the floor, closing her eyes.

The nightmare had thoroughly disturbed her, and Morgana rubbed her wrists gently, as if she had just had shackles removed.

She knew the truth of her dream: no matter if it was the very King of Camelot behind that mask, she loved him anyway.

She was ashamed of her falsehood, mortified at his betrayal, but Gods she would have given anything to return to his arms.

Morgana sighed and wiped her cheeks, clearing away her tears from her tired eyes. She was trapped; this would be her horrible secret until the day she died. She loved the King, her mistress's husband, a liar and unattainable lover.

With that depressing thought in mind, Morgana stood, and moved to rekindle her depleted fire.