"I didn't think you would come," Morgause said, pulling back her cloak, her blonde hair tied back into a long braid.

"I gave you my word, Sister," Morgana said, dismounting her horse carefully in the dark, and letting the filly drink from the stream.

Morgause did the same, and then moved to embrace her. Morgana knew she should be apprehensive about her, but she couldn't help but have a great deal of affection for her. Perhaps it was their blood bond, or perhaps it was the Morgause of her dreams, the one that saved her life after Merlin poisoned her, the one who taught her magic when Merlin wouldn't even so much as reveal his to her. Either way, despite her fear, she still loved her sister.

"I brought you something. I didn't get the chance to give it to you before," Morgause said, pulling up her sleeve and removing an ornate piece of jewelry. "This was our mother's. It bears the mark of our father's House. I know she would want you to have it."

"It's beautiful," Morgana smiled, fondly remembering a time in her dreams when Morgause gave her the bracelet. "I think it's also a healing bracelet, is it not?"

"You are very perceptive, Sister," she smiled.

"Thank you for this," she said, putting it on her wrist.

"Tell me, Sister. What news of Camelot?" Morgause smiled.

Morgana's smile waned. "Things are stable. But there is talk of future raids on Druid villages. I need your help to prevent it."

"You would betray your king? I thought you were remaining loyal to Camelot?" Morgause mused.

"I remain loyal to what is just. And massacring people just for having magic is not justice."

Morgause nodded. "With Cenred's help, we can intercept Camelot soldiers and…"

"No. I just need you to take the Druids to safety. Get warnings out to them."

"And how are you going to get that information in the first place? Don't tell me Uther lets a woman in on his plans for military skirmishes."

"No, but he lets his son," Morgana said firmly.

"And you can get this information from the gullible prince," Morgause said, impressed.

"Yes," Morgana answered confidently.

"Well, by all means then, tell me how we can help the Druids."

"I let her think I was stealing the information from you," Morgana said, removing her cloak, and hanging it on the hook in her room.

Arthur frowned. "If you're caught though…"

"Then you won't be implicated. You'll merely look careless. Then only one of us ends up in the dungeon," she said, sitting down at the vanity and removing her jewelry.

"I still don't like it. Her involvement is risky," Arthur said, sitting on her bed.

"We've no other way of getting word out safely about the raids. If there was another way of protecting the Druids, kids like Mordred, just trying to exist, I would do it, but this is the safest way. They'll listen to Morgause."

Arthur sighed. "Eventually Uther is going to realize the Druids are being tipped off."

"And he may drive himself mad looking for the spy, but he'll never suspect us," she said. "There's something else you should know. Morgause has an alliance with Cenred. Tread carefully when raiding the Druid village, it could be an ambush."

He groaned. "Great, that's all we need."

"Arthur, I know this is risky, but thank you. This means everything to me, to protect the innocent," she said, moving to sit next to him on the bed.

"You don't have to thank me," he said, looking down at his hands. "I have a lot to make up for."

She grabbed his hands in hers. "And you are, I'm certain of it. Now that you know magic isn't the evil our father has always told you it is, you've chosen to do what is right and just for Camelot."

"All the people before that though," he frowned. "Can I ever make up for that?"

"You can't undo it, but you can build a better future. You're Camelot's protector," she said, with pride in her voice. "The Once and Future King of Camelot."

He looked at her quizzically and smiled. She knows he would never quite understand her faith in him. "Thank you," he said, raising her hands to his lips before departing.

Uther had ordered raids on the Druid villages, only to find the villages empty upon arrival. The first time it happened, he allowed himself to believe it was just misfortune, but the second time was certainly espionage.

"I need to know who tipped them off!" he fumed at the council meeting.

"Father, I believe they must be watching for troop movements," Arthur said, trying to soothe his suspicions.

"Nonsense, they must have a spy here. They must know we're coming even before we leave Camelot."

"Perhaps they are watching using magic, Sire," Gaius suggested. "A powerful sorcerer among them would be able to do so."

Uther paled. "Could they be watching us now?"

Gaius sighed. "Unfortunately, Sire, they could."

Uther slammed his fist on the arm of the throne and shouted, red-faced. "I won't tolerate it. I want this sorcerer found, and I want all of the Druids executed. They are a threat to Camelot!"

Arthur wasn't sure this was any better than believing there was a spy in the court, but at least it would take the suspicions off of Morgana and him.

"Nonsense," Morgana told him later. "It's the perfect cover. Now we can worry less about what information is being provided. If any Druids are captured and interrogated, it will reinforce what Uther believes, that Morgause is watching him."

"This may drive him mad," Arthur sighed.

"Then we will help him. Maybe he'll realize at some point that this is a losing battle, and stop targeting the Druids," she said. "We might be able to end this persecution of magic-users once and for all."

As the months went on, Uther did become more and more agitated as each raid was thwarted by a sorcerer spying upon him. He was becoming paranoid, now only willing to write down his orders in hopes the sorcerer couldn't read it. But each time, he was met with disappointment. Not a single Druid was captured.

He began to act erratically, paranoid, and stopped eating and sleeping.

"Father, you must get some rest," Morgana soothed him. "Camelot needs you at your best."

"No no, no time to sleep, I must think, I must plan…" he paced around his chambers, looking manic.

"Perhaps Gaius could give you a sleeping draught? A good night's sleep would do wonders."

"Certainly not. I need to be awake when the sorcerers come…," he said, wide-eyed, looking out the window.

"Father, no sorcerers are coming. They're only protecting the Druids. Leave the Druids alone and surely the sorcerers will leave us alone," she said. "Then everyone will be healthy and safe." If only she had a good mind control spell she could use to fix this problem.

"The Druids must be destroyed…," he ranted, as though she wasn't even there.

"Uther!" she said, sharply. "You must pull yourself together. You are the King, and you are acting like a raving lunatic. Arthur's birthday banquet is in a fortnight, and we cannot have you acting like a madman."

He looked at her strangely, as though he were not quite recognizing her.

She sighed. She was going to need to find a way to heal his mind.