CARLEON – COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Norma, hands shackled before her, was thrown on her knees before Queen Annis by two guards.
They stayed at either side of her, swords in hand.
Annis towered before her, furs wrapped around her, demure and fierce.
Arthur stood at her side, arms folded, face pale and furious.
Gwen was in their chambers, being tended too and checked over by the court physician.
Alys stood by one pillar, regal and sneering in her nightdress.
Merlin stood just behind Arthur.
"Why did you try and kill Queen Guinevere?" Annis demanded in a regal voice.
Norma quivered and squirmed, not saying anything coherent.
Alys straightened and her mouth lifted at one side in a deepened sneer.
"I… I…" Norma sputtered.
"You have been caught." Annis stated coldly.
"You were caught by King Arthur's fool sneaking from the city and returning with a poison you intended to use on Queen Guinevere."
Annis tag of him made Merlin stiffened but he said nothing.
Arthur almost paced he was so furious.
Annis continued in her cool and regal voice.
"It was only by the fool's scrap of instinct that he caught the vial you dropped." She stated, "And then you placed a burning bark in the grate of the guest chamber to try and suffocate her, didn't you?"
Norma quivered but said nothing.
"Didn't you?" Annis demanded sharply.
"Yes… yes…" Norma sobbed, "But I didn't want to, I was made to, paid to, forced to… I have no quarrel with the king or queen…"
"And who made you?" Annis demanded.
Merlin and Arthur both snapped their eyes up to look at Alys who stiffened, pretending not to notice their gaze.
Norma stole a quick glance at her before looking down again, shaking her head.
"You need not be afraid Norma." Annis stated, her own suspicions rising.
"I have known you a long time… do not think that you can lie to me."
Norma spluttered for a moment as she quivered.
Arthur's steely eyes but through her worry and she looked back at Queen Annis.
The words wouldn't form in her throat, but her eyes flittered to look at Alys before down again.
She closed her eyes against frightened tears and whimpered.
Her glance at the princess was not missed by Arthur who stiffened and turned as Annis did, to stare at Alys.
Annis arched one eyebrow as the Princess stiffened and looked back at Norma.
"Was it Princess Alys who told you to kill queen Guinevere?"
Alys's eyes shot up, white hot worry searing through her veins.
"Don't be ridiculous…" She sputtered, her voice rising, "I would never…"
"I was not speaking to you." Annis stated coldly, her eyes looking down to Norma who lifted her trembling head to look at Alys before back at Annis.
She nodded.
"She said if I did not do what her father wanted she would kill me, and do the job herself."
Her words hung in the air and Arthur glared at Alys, his hands staying in his elbows where his arms were folded to stop himself from doing something rash.
Merlin watched him carefully, knowing that his temper was slowly rising.
"Of all the ridiculous…" Alys squeaked.
Annis ignored her, her eyes on Norma.
"And who did you go and meet outside of the city, who gave you the poison?"
Norma swallowed and her voice did not rise above a breath.
"King Odin."
Arthur seethed and his jaw flexed.
Annis straightened and gestured to the guards.
"Let her go."
As Norma was helped to her feet and released, Annis turned to sit on her throne.
She gestured with her hand once more.
"Arrest Princess Alys."
"What!" Alys shrieked as the guards grabbed her and forced her on her knees before Annis.
Merlin had to bite back a smirk.
She was not so high and mighty now.
"You would believe the words of a common servant, over a princess? Alys almost screamed.
Annis stared at her with cold and regal eyes.
"It strikes me Alys that there may be hundreds of servants in this world with more regal poise and grace than you."
Alys sneered, "Like the wench who wears the crown of Camelot."
"Don't…" Arthur made to stride forwards but Merlin grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back before Arthur wrenched away, seething.
Alys sneered at him.
He stared back with hard eyes.
"So where is your father, where is Odin?" He demanded, "Is he too cowardly to even try and kill my wife himself…"
Alys said nothing for a moment but sneered.
Arthur stepped closer, "he would use his own daughter…"
"Who are you to say what it is right to use a daughter for?" Alys snapped, "You are childless, without one, your barren wife as tainted as the floors she used to sweep…"
Arthur strode forwards, face murderous.
Alys shrunk away.
"Stop." Annis stood.
Arthur grunted and turned away, pacing to stand by Merlin again.
"Alys you have been caught." Annis stated, "And your bigoted notions towards Queen Guinevere are not respected here. You will be detained until your father can be brought forwards to answer to what he has done."
Alys looked down.
Annis stared her down.
"Where is your father?"
Alys said nothing for the moment.
Her eyes lifted and she swallowed.
She almost wilted under Annis's cold gaze.
Arthur glared at her and she swallowed.
Alys stared at Annis who almost glared at her.
The Queen stepped closer to tower over her and her voice was cold and regal.
"Where is your father…?" She demanded.
"Where is Odin?"
CARLEON: COURTYARD
Arthur was stood with Merlin and Annis's knights, as well as Percival and Gwaine.
The moon was high in the sky and the knights were bathed in moonlight.
Annis stood on the stairs before the front of the castle, wrapped in furs.
Arthur looked up as Guinevere appeared from the castle, wrapped in her thick crimson robe, a quivering and frightened Norma behind her.
Arthur sighed and walked up the steps to stand facing her, taking her hands in his.
"You should be resting, are you okay?" He asked.
Gwen stared at him.
"Don't hurt Odin Arthur."
Arthur's jaw flexed.
"Please." She whispered, "Peace is important… I don't want you to do anything because of me."
He sighed and nodded, "Alright."
She smiled and stretched up on her toes to kiss his cheek as he kissed hers.
"Get some rest." He whispered.
She nodded and watched as he swung up into his saddle and rode away from the courtyard.
She watched as they left to face Odin.
She swallowed and wrapped her arms round herself.
Guinevere sighed as she watched him go.
