"I need to know you weren't responsible," Morgana said, her dark green hood covering her dark curls and the dark circles beneath her eyes. "Please, Sister, I couldn't bear it."
"Don't tell me you actually cared for him? The killer of our people? You could mourn the man who killed your own father?" Morgause said with disgust, repelling the rain from her blond locks with a wave of her hand.
"Uther was also my father. He was flawed, he did terrible things, but I loved him anyway. Please, tell me you didn't do this," Morgana begged, shivering in the cold, her cloak soaked through.
"Be still, Sister. Regretfully, Uther's death was not by my order. I have respected your wishes and stayed away for the time being, upon your promise that you will bring Camelot under our control. However, I am becoming impatient. With Uther out of the way, this is your opportunity to rule. Cenred will provide you with an army. We can force Arthur to give you the throne."
"No, that's not what I want. I want Arthur to ascend. He will be a good and just King, and give us what we want, I know he will," she said, her exhaustion apparent in her voice. "Please, just give me time before you do anything drastic, okay?"
Her sister stood for a moment staring at her, weighing the options before her carefully. "I will not be patient for long, nor will the Triple Goddess," Morgause said.
...
"Sir Leon, you're certain?" Arthur closed his eyes and exhaled. The Knights sitting around the table looked grim.
"Yes, Sire. We can trace the assassin back to King Odin," Leon said, his expression one of compassion. Everyone in the court knew how deeply Arthur would feel guilt over this revelation.
"Dammit," Arthur cursed, running a hand over his face.
"It's not your fault," Morgana said, squeezing his other hand.
"This was revenge, for his son," Arthur said, numbly.
"Yes, but it isn't your fault. The foolish boy got himself killed, that wasn't your fault. Odin commits an act of war in retaliation for his son's own follies," Morgana said, through clenched teeth.
"No, there will be no war," Arthur said, angrily.
"Arthur," Morgana said, shocked. "He murdered our father. He murdered the King! It would be cowardice to…"
"Enough," Arthur snapped at her, standing up. "I need time to think. I haven't even buried my father yet. There will be no war, and there will be no further discussion of such."
Morgana stared after him, the hurt apparent on her face, as he left the throne room, Merlin following behind him worriedly. She felt the rage growing in her chest. If she were Queen, Odin's lands would burn. They would all burn.
I'm burying him too, she thought bitterly.
She rose from her seat, dismissing the rest of the council, and Gwen trailed behind her back to her chambers.
"Arthur's just grieving, Milady," Gwen said, once the doors were closed. She unlaced the back of Morgana's gown so she could change. "And undeservedly feeling the guilt of surviving an attack that was supposed to kill him, not his father. I'm sure he didn't mean to speak so harshly to you."
"Even so, he said he wanted me to help him rule, but he's certainly not interested in my opinion," she frowned, stepping out of the black frock.
"Give him time, Milady. I know how much he respects you," Gwen said, soothingly.
Morgana sighed, and pulled on a green satin robe.
"I shall try. I will take my lunch here, Gwen. I need some time to better compose myself," she said, pouring herself a goblet of wine and taking a sip. She reached for a spell book. Despite it all, it was a relief to be able to openly read them.
"Of course, Milady," Gwen said, closing the door behind her as she left.
A knock came a few minutes later.
"Enter," Morgana said, flipping through the book aimlessly.
"Gwen sent me to bring your lunch," Merlin said, carrying in the tray.
"Did she?" Morgana asked, setting the book aside. "I suppose she had something to attend to in Arthur's chambers instead?"
He grinned. "I suspect she's giving him an earful right now about his behavior earlier. For what it's worth, he knows he's a prat. I reminded him anyway, just in case."
"I should hope so," she frowned. "The whole court knows."
"What spell were you looking for?" Merlin gestured at the book.
Morgana shrugged. "A spell to turn an annoying brother into a frog."
Merlin considered it. "It would be an improvement, I think."
Morgana picked at the food on her plate. "How will he ever bring magic back, if he won't even listen to my counsel?"
"Give him time, I know he'll come around. It's his destiny, and ours. You'll be his sorceress in a reformed Camelot," Merlin said.
She sighed. "I'm going to have to discontinue my studies, at least for the time being. There is too much to do at the moment, too many duties to undertake. The work of three now falls upon only two."
"It won't be forever. Your visions of Gwen as Queen…"
"It will be a tough sell to her when he's a frog…" Morgana said seriously.
Merlin laughed. "Again, an improvement."
She gave him a small smile.
"There it is," he said, softly. "It's good to see you smile."
"Thank you," she said, looking after him longingly as he turned to leave.
She picked the book back up as he closed the door, and flipped back to the section of poisons and curses.
...
Later that afternoon, Morgana had redressed for the afternoon council. Arthur did not make an appearance, so she made decisions as his proxy. Afterwards, when she returned to her chambers, she found him sitting on her bed.
"I came to apologize for how I spoke to you," he said, grimly. "But I won't be moved."
She stared at him coldly. "I thought you intended to value my counsel."
"I do, but I won't follow the loss of our father with even more death," Arthur said sadly.
"He won't stop after assassinating a King. He'll just become more emboldened," she said. "We fight him now on our terms, or we fight him later on his. Either way, bloodshed is unavoidable. The time for diplomacy has passed."
"Perhaps I am only delaying the inevitable, but at least it will be delayed," Arthur said. "I want peace in our land, at least for now. I won't start my reign bringing war."
She sighed. "Then at least we return the favor. Send an assassin to kill Odin. Send me."
Arthur grabbed her hands. "Never. I don't want that for you, that mark on your soul of taking a life so dishonorably. You are better than Odin."
"I'm really not," she said, seriously. "But I will accept your decision and let the matter rest. For now. I just hope we don't regret it."
"I hope the same," Arthur said, squeezing her shoulder before he left. "But we'll get through this together."
She watched as he closed the door then she sank backwards onto the bed. Would her brother continue to be so unmovable? If she can't convince him to restore the rights of sorcerers in Camelot, she will have to face off with her sister, who will bring Cenred's army. She doesn't know what Morgause would plan without her as an ally, which makes her even more of a threat.
She hasn't had any dreams lately, which is promising, but still she worries of what will come.