(10) Lily's Painting

Morgana sat in Stormwind Keep in front of a large painting. She cupped her bandaged wrist in her lap as her left cheekbone and eye throbbed. For all she knew she had a cracked rib too but her focus was on the painting.

It depicted her inevitable future unless she remained disciplined and loyal to her father. Sitting in front of it and staring at it was often a punishment for her when she couldn't perform well enough. She glanced up at it again, taking in the emotion and the action.

Morgana couldn't look at it long before she became emotional. She'd glance off to the side or down at her feet; crying wasn't appreciated. Showing emotion was one of her biggest obstacles in order to obtain the future she wanted.

The people walking through the Keep ignored her as they passed. She was in a neutral section of the Keep where visitors were allowed. A few of the passing citizens looked at the painting with her but carried on after a few moments.

Morgana grimaced as she sighed; a sharp pain in her side. Another reason to keep her emotions in check; if she started breathing heavily more pain would come.

Morgana was almost nodding off when the unfamiliar scent of honeysuckle took her attention. Her eyes went wide as she sat up straight in her seat and looked around; nothing. No one has passed recently to make her believe the scent came from them, and she doubted servants or help members wore honeysuckle. With how much dirt she ate today it was not her either.

Morgana went back to the painting staring at it with a slight frown. It depicted a young woman and the moment she broke from society and the rules around her. A dark part of Stormwind's history they didn't teach to try and forget about it. But for Morgana it was a future she'd more than likely see.

"Morgana?" a concerned voice called out to her.

She glanced over and immediately did the best bow she could with the injuries she had, "Your Highness."

Prince Anduin looked her over, "You look like you're pain."

"A little but it's… it's okay," Morgana answered, avoiding his eye.

"I can help," he offered slowly, sitting next to her.

Morgana stopped herself from awkwardly laughing, "With all due respect, Your Highness, after what happened last time I think it's best if you don't."

"No one else knows about how you react but me," he explained, taking another look at what he could heal if given the chance. "We can go somewhere private if that's what you're worried about."

Morgana's eyes went wide, "That's exactly what I'm worried about."

I could be arrested for being with him alone.

The Prince glanced up at the painting then, "You know, this painting has been in the Keep for as long as I can remember and I know very little about it."

"They don't teach about it anymore," Morgana explained. "It's a dark side of Stormwind's history they succeeded in forgetting about."

He paused for a moment, "You sound like you know about it, tell me."

Morgana looked over at the Prince making sure he was serious, but meeting his gaze frightened her so she turned back to the painting.

"The woman," Morgana started already getting emotional. "Her name… has been erased from history, so now people just call her Lily."

He looked at the art piece with her, "Lily?"

"It depicts the very moment she was seduced by darkness," Morgana explained looking at the most important part of the painting.

"I take it there's more backstory," Prince Anduin urged.

"Lily was one of the first bastard children of Stormwind," Morgana finally spat out. "Rumor has it her father abused her in every way possible so she could feel how much he regretted having her and claiming her as his own."

Morgana dabbed her nose politely trying not to sniffle in front of the Prince, "Sorry, this painting hits close to home for me."

"When you're ready," the Prince responded. "Bastard children?"

"The children born to two unmarried parents," Morgana explained. "They are social outcasts and are burdens to those that claim them."

He was silent waiting for her to gather her emotions and words.

Just spit it out you dumb girl!

"You can see it in her eyes," Morgana started looking up at the painting and it's most powerful part. "The fear, the pain."

The painting was a young woman being engulfed in darkness that resembled a demon of some sort. She was nude trying to get the demons hands away from her, but of course the demon had more hands than she could handle. Her face was being forced to look at his with one hand around her jaw. The only color in the painting other than Lily's ivory skin were her green eyes looking up at darkness.

"The desire," Morgana continued. "The lust for freedom."

"I…" Prince Anduin trailed off. "I wasn't aware bastard children were looked down upon."

Morgana now looked into the painting with hate as she finished the story, "She skinned her abusive father in the middle of Stormwind and then proceeded to roast him over a fire."

Morgana could feel the tears swelling in her eyes as she attempted to keep her voice steady, "She had maybe a couple of hours of freedom, true freedom, before Stormwind disposed of her."

"Who knew her this well to paint it?" the Prince asked, putting the puzzle pieces together.

"Again, it's been erased from history," Morgana answered. "The painting was signed back in the day but someone covered it with black in an attempt to forget about this event."

The Prince was silent for a moment then suddenly looked over at Morgana, "Does your father abuse you?"

"No, Your Highness" Morgana nearly whined at his question, rolling her eyes under closed lids.

"This was training," she continued looking down at herself. "I'm trying to perfect my grapple hook in a way that I can just keep going in loops and shooting a target but I kept missing the tree branch and hitting the ground."

"I'm sorry," Prince Anduin apologized. "I had to ask when you mentioned that the painting had relevance to you."

"My father may be cruel at times but he does it because it's the only way to seal my future in Stormwind," Morgana spoke, staring down at her shoes.

The Prince paused, Morgana assumed it was a lot for him to take in.

"Where are the others like you?" he asked finally. "I don't believe I know of many."

Morgana smirked for a moment, "That's because none of them last long."

She glanced over at him then as he turned to her. There were still so many questions in his gaze and Morgana wasn't sure if she could tell him everything. Not many people knew of bastard children because hardly any cared. They were the scum of Stormwind and weren't worth the time investing in. It wasn't even Stormwind's laws that made bastard children the outcasts of society; it was custom.

"I should get going," she said, standing slowly.

"Morgana, wait," the Prince spoke standing quickly.

She turned to him then wincing from the pain in her side.

Yep, bruised ribs.

"My father and I are having a small gathering at the Keep," he started. "A victory celebration for taking down the tower, will you be there?"

"Of course, Your Highness," Morgana answered with a lighthearted smile. "I'm always on guard duty when the Keep has it's celebrations."

"I meant as an honored guest since it was you that brought it down," the Prince clarified.

Morgana opened her mouth to answer but was caught in her thoughts.

How can I refuse royalty? Isn't there a punishment for that?

"Unfortunately, Your Highness," Morgana answered, realizing who she answered to at the end of the day. "Being on guard duty comes before being an honorary guest."

She could see the disappointment in his face.

"Just because I said I wouldn't be there as a guest, doesn't mean I won't be there at all," Morgana added with a smirk.

The Prince joined her in a playful side smile, "Your usual post?"

"Maybe I should switch it up," Morgana admitted. "Can't make it too easy for you."