(18) The Double
Khadgar offered her a hand when Morgana started feeling better. Morgana needed a moment before she took his hand trying to remember all the lady lesions her mother taught her when she was young. Morgana was once taught to dance, proper table manners, and how to curtsey in a skirt. Though she hadn't worn a skirt in nearly a decade.
"Thank you," she mumbled softly, rising to her feet.
"Now, what seems to be the issue?" Khadgar asked.
"I can't go," Morgana answered, keeping her head low. "I have other obligations."
"You realize the importance of a royal summons, don't you?" he asked, letting his staff stand on its own.
"Yes, Archmage," Morgana answered. "But I can't be in two places at once."
"Ah, that's the real reason she sent you to me," he said, lighting up. "You need a double."
"I do?" Morgana asked.
"How else are you going to fulfill your previous obligations and go to dance with Anduin?" Khadgar asked playfully as he turned to his study.
How can everyone say his name so casually?
"Thank you," Morgana said, still in a soft voice. "For helping me."
Not many do.
"Of course," Khdagar replied. "But on one condition."
Morgana sighed.
There's always a catch.
"I don't have any gold," Morgana said. "And I'm sure doubles are expensive."
"I will make this double for you, free of charge," he began before he turned back to Morgana. "But it is not going to be dancing with royalty tonight."
Morgana's heart sank, "I can't. I have nothing to wear and I haven't bathed yet today."
"One step at a time, my dear," he replied. "Come over here."
Morgana obeyed, approaching a corner of Khadgar's study with many books laying on the ground open and many other magical supplies she didn't recognize. Morgana did recognize a large cauldron looking object in the opposite side of the room but that was all she could name.
"I need a lock of your hair, and I need you to spit in this vial," Khadgar said, offering her both the vial and a pair of scissors.
"Spit?" Morgana questioned.
"It's for the double," Khadgar said lightly as he moved towards another side of his room. "Where will this double be going so I know what to dress it in?"
"Elwynn Forest," Morgana answered. "Wilderness training."
Khadgar glanced over at her from across the room, "At night?"
Morgana nodded.
"Huh."
Morgana waited patiently with both a lock of her hair and spit in the vial as requested. When Khadgar came back over, all he had was an open book and a torn tapestry. He took the ingredients from Morgana and held them out with the tapestry in one hand with the book in another.
"Put your hand on mine please, Morgana," Khadgar spoke.
Morgana obeyed. Khadgar spoke a few words she didn't understand before a loud pop happened and a puff of smoke caused her to flinch as it appeared before her. Morgana was still hanging onto Khadgar's hand when the spoke cleared.
"Did it wor-" Morgana asked, releasing Khadgar's hand and nearly lunging backwards.
Before her stood…. herself! Morgana starred as her double before her wore her exact attire complete with an upper and lower body harness. The hair was curly, the face was youthful, her body was recognizable. Everything about her double was eerily accurate.
"How did you do that?" Morgana asked slowly, stepping forward and reaching out to touch her double's hair.
"No, no," Khadgar warned, taking Morgana's hand in his. "If the double and its counterpart touch the double disappears."
"I'm sorry," Morgana apologized.
"You weren't aware beforehand," Khadgar spoke. "I just have to fill it's head with your training and off it'll go."
Morgana watched as Khadgar performed another incantation touching her doubles forehead. The double blinked a few times as if it was sifting through the information it was given.
It groaned, "Overnight training? Ugh!"
Morgana's jaw nearly hit the floor as her double first dropped it's shoulders in protest before turning to leave; exactly how she herself would react to overnight training.
Khdagar chuckled to himself, never getting tired of the reaction people had to their doubles.
"Now then," he spoke, getting Morgana's attention again. "You needed something to wear?"
"Um…"
"I believe your mother had something picked out for you," Khadgar spoke as arcane magic swirled around his hands.
Morgana suddenly grew uneasy watching the magic move. Would it hurt? Would it work? Would she get sick like before?
"Hold still, "Khadgar advised. "Or you'll fall over."
Morgana let out a light yelp as Khadgar whorled the arcane magic to her. In her attempt not to fall over, Morgana found herself on the ground slightly out of breath. She was a bit dizzy for a moment but didn't feel sick or nauseous as she didn before with the teleporter.
Morgana raised one hand to her head trying to ease the dizziness before slowly realizing her sleeves felt tighter. She swallowed hard as she glanced down seeing a long sheer green sleeve with a pointed end connecting to her middle finger. She looked lower seeing her torso also dressed in a deep emerald green.
"Let's practice those lady-like skills again," Khadgar teased light-heartedly, offering Morgana his hand. "You can look at it when you get up."
Morgana took his hand and rose to her feet. Khadgar took a moment to look her over himself before turning her to the mirror he conjured for her.
Morgana's breath caught. The deep emerald green dress had gold and black accents with sheer sleeves and an off the shoulder collar. Black lace lined the bodice with gold embroidery crossing down the front. The skirt was fuller but not too full as Morgana saw a flash of Alliance blue tulle underneath. She turned to the back seeing gold lacing to the bodice and black paneling on her waist for the illusion of a nipped in waistline.
Her hair was done up in a few braids creating a low curly bun in the back with a gold headpiece waving into the braids. For beauty enhancements, a deeper but diffused red was swept over her lips and a light rouging crossed her cheeks. Morgana's eyes were darker and alluring with a hint of mystique to them making them look even bluer.
It was beautiful, her mother knew her well and designed a radiant dress for such an occasion. Morgana took one final look at herself before realizing the one final thing keeping her from the Prince.
Morgana turned to Khadgar
"I can't," Morgana breathed heavily. "I have-"
"These?" Khadgar asked.
He lifted his hand and immediately grasped onto long golden shimmery chains. Her neck piece glowed as Khadgar looked them over. Morgana felt deep shame wash over her again. The chain would always be a burden to her and Khadgar had already gone through so much trouble to get her ready.
I probably should've mentioned these before.
"It's adorable your father thinks he can outsmart me," Khadgar spoke with a grin. "I've known about these since you first stepped foot inside the mage tower."
"I'm sorry… I should've-"
Khadgar gave one good yank on her chains. Morgana braced for the pull only to see her chains chatter before her. Her breath hitched as she reached up to her now bare neck in disbelief. The golden shimmer slowly fell to the floor like dust before dispersing completely.
"How did- it's supposed to be unbreakable!" Morgana stammered looking from the floor to Khadgar. "Only he can-"
"Again, it's admirable he thinks he's bested me," Khadgar spoke with a grin.
Morgana now realized there were no more excuses as to why she couldn't attend the royal summons. She clasped her hands tightly in front of herself realizing she was shaking.
If he finds out… you're as good as dead.
"Come along," Khadgar said, offering her his arm.
It's fine. We'll go, keep out of sight, and leave as the first dance starts. That way I can say I went but-
"You are a creative one, just like your mother," Khadgar laughed.
Morgana's face flushed through the rouging, "Are you in my head?"
"Only for the moment, my dear." Khadgar answered, creating a portal before them. "I'll be introducing you myself just to be sure you don't run off before he sees you in this stunning creation your mother made."
Morgana felt her heart take off faster than a Stormwind charger.
A/N: YES I realize I made Khadgar the fairy god-mother but I think he could pull it off :-)