Happy Holidays everyone! Here's the chapter as a little gift to you all :) Hope you like it!
o}O{o
The day brought with it a cool breeze. It whispered inside the castle, making Sophia glad of her cloak. She walked through the halls alone now that she and her father had parted ways to execute their plan. Once assured that the physician was conducting his rounds for the morning, they moved into action at once- Sophia to the physician's chambers and Aulfric to the forest to await Emrys when Sophia brought him. They were so close to going home and the anticipation of it brought a cheerful smile to her lips. She approached the chambers and schooled her expression but allowed herself a quick smirk.
Sophia stopped at the door and knocked on it before waiting for a response. A short moment passed before the voice of a child called out to enter. She opened the door and stepped inside hesitantly with a pleasant smile on her face. The one who spoke, Mordred, was sitting on the bed with Merlin, a large book in front of their folded legs.
"Hello," she greeted and smiled shyly. Oh how she could not wait to relax her lips. Smiling all the time was so tiresome. Her greeting was not returned. The older boy's face was stern and he did not look happy to see her while Merlin hunched his shoulders.
"Gaius isn't in," Mordred said with a rude tone. Her nose wrinkled in scorn before she could stop it but it was only a split second mistake.
"Yes… well I've actually come to talk to Merlin," Sophia said to them still smiling. The boy's eyes became colder so she quickly continued, hefting the staff in her hands gently. "You see, I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I feel horrible for being so rude."
"Really?" Merlin asked in a small voice. Beside him, Mordred remained quiet.
Sophia breathed a laugh and regarded the child in an unconsciously higher voice. "Yes. I'm so sorry, Merlin. If you wanted we could go for another walk with Arthur. I'm sure we will have a better time."
Merlin began to smile but Mordred climbed off the bed and stood to block the other boy from view. "Arthur has a knighting ceremony to attend," he said in a frigid tone. "And I should be getting him his armour."
If Sophia was not so annoyed, she might have been impressed with the tact of his dismissal if not his lack of respect. "It's only a small walk. Why don't you come along as well?" she offered.
"I think you should leave," Mordred said in response.
Sophia allowed her smile to drop and lost her pleasant expression. Somehow this boy learned not to trust her and she was sick of keeping up the pretence. "You can either let me take your brother or come with us. It's up to you."
"Or what?" he hissed. Mordred did not move a muscle as Merlin sidled off the bed and behind him, he just held Sophia's gaze with a glare.
"I am not here to play games with you, little boy," she said sweetly.
Mordred tensed and balled his hands into fists. He opened his mouth but Sophia was prepared- if he was a warlock then she could not allow him to speak. She pointed her staff outward and activated its power, making sure to limit its strength. A beam of magic shot out the end and struck the boy's chest, making him fall like a puppet with its strings cut.
Merlin screamed as the older boy fell. A wave of magic burst out of the boy, speeding outward and making Sophia stagger. Merlin went to his knees and called out to his brother, shaking him to try and get him to wake. "Mordred! Modred!" he shouted and Sophia could hear the tears in his tone.
"I can make him better," Sophia called, trying not to smile too much. Merlin snapped his head up. He was breathing heavily with tears running down his cheeks. Pots were rattling together and books were thumping on their shelves. The boy's magic was thrumming inside the room and Sophia gazed in wonder at him. "But I need you to do something for me first."
The boy's chest was heaving with the effort of trying to calm his breathing and though Sophia was wary she approached him slowly. Merlin stared at her furiously but did not move away from the fallen heap that was Mordred. When Sophia knelt in front of him, sobs that he could not contain burst from his lips. She regarded him coolly and found that she was not moved by his fear and was rather annoyed. The sounds of his cries grated in her ears, forcing her to quickly enchant him to save her sanity.
After only a few words the boy's vivid blue eyes flashed crimson and he calmed. His tears stopped and he looked straight ahead without focus, his tense form becoming lax. Sophia breathed out in relief. "Come now," she said and offered her hand. Merlin reached his arm up and put his small hand in hers, completely obedient. Sophia allowed a smirk to don her lips- the hardest part of the plan was now complete.
o}O{o
"Enter," Arthur called. He turned toward the door when the short knocks entered his hearing, thinking Mordred was here at last with his armour. At this rate, Arthur was going to be late for the knighting ceremony and incur a greater wrath from his father.
But when the door opened, his face fell. Not Mordred, but Sophia walked through. She smiled at him and her beauty inspired a smile of his own. "I hope I'm not interrupting," she greeted.
"Not at all," Arthur said, straightening his red shirt. "Is there anything I can do for you this morning?"
"Well," she began almost sheepishly, "I wanted to know if you'd like to go for a ride. To make up for yesterday."
Arthur grimaced. "I wish I could. But there is a knighting ceremony I must attend and my father will have my head if I don't show up."
To his surprise she laughed. "Surely just a quick walk then?"
Arthur felt horrible having to deny her again. "I'm sorry I truly am. But my servant isn't even here with my armour yet and…" He paused at hearing Sophia's impatient sigh, swearing he heard disgust.
He blinked and the smile slipped off her lips and her face became cold, making her look almost like a different person. "I was hoping to not have to do this, but you leave me no choice."
"What?" Arthur asked, thinking this was a joke. That was until she reached into her cloak pocket and pulled out a familiar piece of blue cloth. The prince stared at Merlin's neckerchief as Sophia began speaking once again.
"Come with me now, or your precious Merlin dies," she said as if she were bored.
"Sophia?" Arthur breathed incredulously, "what?"
She laughed softly at him. "Oh, Arthur, are you upset?" she cooed. Arthur felt his surprise slowly start to slide into anger. "You can save Merlin and all you have to do is come with me. If I don't send word to my father soon, he will kill the boy. You may be able to hear his screams from here." The last part was coupled with a cruel smile blooming on her lips.
Arthur glared furiously at her, feeling betrayal, fear and anger all warring for purchase inside his heart. He slowly started to reach for the sword on his belt but before he made it half way Sophia raised her staff. Arthur hadn't paid it much mind before, only noticing it was of superior craftsmanship but he had never really had an eye for that sort of thing. He gasped at finding the jewel at the top glowing a soft blue.
"The only way to do this is quietly, Arthur," Sophia warned, swinging Merlin's neckerchief back and forth.
"You're a sorceress," Arthur stated hollowly, feeling everything fall into place.
"I am much more than that," she laughed and her eyes flashed red.
o}O{o
Merlin felt as if he was between the realms of sleep and reality. There was a lake not far from where he was standing, a range of snow peaked mountains behind a copse of trees at the end of the lake. Leaves were whispering in the cool breeze and birds were calling to each other in the forest around him. But he barely registered any of it, the fog in his head too thick to cleave through.
A low voice started calling out to him, causing his tranquil expression to be disturbed. The words were indistinguishable, becoming louder the longer he tried to listen. It was an old man's voice, calling his name. Merlin started to feel the breeze tousling his black hair and the smell of the pine trees behind him.
'Young warlock!' the voice shouted, 'Merlin wake up!'
But he wasn't sleeping. He could see the lake in front of him, reflecting the bank opposite. And someone was pacing along the stony beach, their heavy footfalls crunching back and forth. Merlin forgot about the voice and stared mindlessly across the lake. It made him want to smile but he didn't think he remembered how.
'Merlin!'
The voice was different this time- loud and angry, causing alarm to break through the fog trapping his mind. Merlin blinked. He knew that voice but why couldn't he remember who it was? There was a ripple in the still water, near some reeds poking out of the blue. Merlin's name was still being called as he heard a rustle in the bushes behind him. He forgot about it a second later but then there was the sound of running feet and a shadow fell in front of him.
Merlin's view of the lake was obstructed by a man kneeling in front of him. He wanted to look into the man's eyes because what Merlin could see of his face looked familiar. Large hands grabbed Merlin's shoulders and shook, the second voice still calling out to him. "Merlin! Merlin!" It made him frown, the voice was so familiar. The man crouched lower and made his eyes level with Merlin's own. He was speaking again but for a moment Merlin could not hear. And then the numbness ensnaring his mind and body cleared.
"What have you done with him?" Arthur yelled viciously, his hands still pressing on Merlin's shoulders. When Arthur looked at Merlin next, the boy's eyes were wide.
"Arthur!" Merlin cried, his limbs starting to shake. He grabbed the prince's wrists and looked wildly around, not remembering arriving at this lake. His eyes soon found Sophia a few paces away and he flinched closer to Arthur. She was standing beside her father, a calm smile on her lips.
"She hurt Mordred," Merlin said to Arthur and started to cry, "she hurt him!"
The prince stood up, glaring to the side at Sophia and Aulfric. Merlin moved forward but when Arthur straightened, the large old man raised his staff and pointed it in their direction. A gale of wind streaked between them, knocking Merlin off his feet and away from Arthur.
"Move and he dies, Arthur Pendragon!" Aulfric shouted as Merlin slid backward on the stony beach, close to the tree line. Merlin's breath came in short pants and he looked to Arthur in shock. The prince had his arm half outstretched and looked like he wanted to run to Merlin.
"Let him go," Arthur said to Sophia, "I've come with you, now let him go."
"Arthur," Merlin whimpered, drawing his knees to his chest.
"You haven't done all you are meant to," Sophia told him and nodded to Aulfric. The old man began walking to Merlin, prompting the boy to stand up. He stumbled in his haste and froze when Aulfric pointed his staff at him. Merlin watched the jewel until Aulfric drew close. The old man grabbed Merlin's arm in a tight grip, pushing him in front so Arthur could see.
"Ow, let go!" Merlin cried and tried to break away but Aulfric kept a hold of him easily.
"Don't hurt him!" Arthur pled and raised his hands. "I'll do what you want but let him go." Merlin kept struggling, even trying to kick the older man which earned him a shake that rattled his teeth. "Stop!" Arthur shouted, "Merlin! Stop!" Merlin stopped trying to get away and looked at Arthur, feeling tears swell in his eyes.
"Good," Sophia said and let her staff fall to the ground. She approached Arthur and offered her hand, smiling excitedly. "Now come with me, Prince Arthur."
Merlin watched as Arthur glared at her and then as Sophia led him to the lake. They did not stop and continued through the water. "Arthur!" Merlin yelled in alarm.
"It's alright, Merlin," Arthur called. The only thing Merlin could see of him was his back. They stopped when the water covered Arthur's hips and he glanced back at Merlin. He said something to Sophia but Merlin could not hear. He strained against Aulfric's hold but the man's fingers tightened which made Merlin wince. Arthur relaxed when Sophia said something to him but Merlin was left panicked as the yellow clocked woman exchanged glances with her father.
"Ia bend dǽdon níwe!" Aulfric shouted. Merlin jumped, recognizing the words of the old tongue. "Cúðon gare íewe deahl sǽ áre. Sé áre. Ig bæþ deahl sǽ néah. Déaþ ór cwylþ óga him."
"No!" Merlin shouted, starting to struggle again. Tears were falling from his lashes and fear gripped his heart. They were going to kill Arthur. From the lake, Arthur turned worriedly to Merlin but the child did not notice. Aulfric paid him no mind as Merlin tried fruitlessly to pry away his grip.
"Ia bend dǽdon níwe. Cúðon gare íewe deahl sǽ áre," Aulfric chanted in a booming voice.
"No!" Merlin shouted louder, "Stop!"
"Sé áre. Ig bæþ deahl sǽ néah. Déaþ ór cwylþ óga him! An 'wén. Flíete á. Dómdæg. Déa- AHHH!" Merlin dove for Aulfric's other arm and sank his teeth down as hard as he could. Aulfric howled in pain and pulled his arm away but Merlin did not let go. He bit down harder on Aulfric's sleeve as Sophia called out to her father in alarm.
But then he heard a loud splash and feared for Arthur. Sophia was the only one standing in the lake and Merlin let go of Aulfric in surprise. He stared at the water as the old man drew back and gasped as Arthur did not reappear. Aulfric raised his hand to hit Merlin but before his hand connected a high pitched scream came out of Merlin's lips. The wind picked up and the clouds became heavier and Aulfric flew backwards.
"Arthur!" Merlin screamed, his voice echoing down the lake.
o}O{o
Morgana couldn't believe her eyes. She stared out her window, down in the courtyard Arthur was leaving with Sophia. Her hands flew to the glass, and she leaned closer to better see. Arthur was wearing a worn red shirt, the kind he wore under armour. Sophia had his hand and was leading him out the courtyard, both of them ignoring the looks from the guards as they passed.
"Morgana?" Gwen's voice snapped her out of her shock. "Are you alright?"
Morgana turned to Gwen with fear in her eyes. "She's done something to him," she said, not giving Gwen any time to react before she ran out of her room. Her nightmare was going to come true.
"Morgana!" Gwen cried out and followed her. The king's ward did not slow, she tore through the halls only thinking of Gaius. He could help. He could save Arthur. Gwen stopped calling her and instead kept pace. They didn't stop running, their feet carried them down marble steps and through corridors. They were seen by servants and guards but neither woman paid them notice. Both of them were out of breath by the time they reached the physician's chambers and Gwen had to hold her side where a painful stitch had formed. "Morgana, what's going on?" she asked as the lady burst inside the chambers.
They were empty and Morgana's heart dropped to her slippers. She looked frantically around the chambers and her eyes stopped at the base of Gaius' bed. Surprise made her freeze but Gwen's entrance into the chambers prompted her into action.
"Mordred!" she shouted, running to the unconscious boy. He was crumpled beside the bed and made no response when Morgana called him. Gwen cried out as Morgana knelt and gathered the boy into her arms to try and shake him awake.
Behind her, Gwen froze on her way to them but Morgana paid her no heed until she yelled, "Merlin? Merlin!" Morgana paled and she felt fury bubble inside her veins. Her hands clutched the unconscious Mordred as she looked around at Gwen. The maidservant scurried to the boys' room and flew outside of it with a panicked expression. She checked the broom cupboard next but looked fearfully at Morgana.
"Help me put him on the bed," Morgana hear herself say. Her voice was cold with anger and she used it to regain a steely calm. Sophia hurt Mordred and must have taken Merlin for some reason, and Morgana would make her pay.
Gwen hurried over and helped her lift Mordred onto the bed, causing the boy to stir. But he did not wake so Morgana straightened and faced Guinevere. "Stay here with him. I'm going after Sophia."
"Sophia?" Gwen gasped.
Morgana stared at Gwen for a moment, allowing her fear to show. But she fixed a ready frown to her face and took off without another word. Her breath hadn't quite returned but she pushed past the pain in her chest and the burn in her legs, running as fast as she could toward the courtyard. By the time she passed through it and neared the south gate, a metallic taste filled her mouth and her lungs were burning.
But then she heard the sound of hooves clattering lazily on the cobblestones. Morgana turned to see a knight sat atop his walking horse, peering down the street, noticing her the same time she noticed him.
"Lady Morgana?" Leon asked in shock, taking in her appearance.
She was sure she was quite the sight- red faced with her hair sticking to her sweaty forehead. "Lend me that horse!" she ordered, and marched up to him.
"My lady?" Leon asked dubiously.
"Arthur is in danger, so lend me that horse or help me up," she spat.
To his credit the only indication of his surprise was his azure eyes widening. But he held his hand out for her and Morgana was quick to take it. She climbed onto the saddle behind him and kicked his horse. The beast whinnied but did not move, only going into a canter when Leon flicked the reigns. "Where are we going?" he called out.
Morgana bit her lip. "Sophia is not who she says he is!" Morgana shouted to be heard over the sound of the horse's hooves. She didn't know where to go, but then she noticed dark clouds swirling above the forest. The rest of the sky was clear except for that one area. "There!" She pointed to the dark clouds and Leon looked over the rooftops of the houses.
"Hang on, my lady!" Leon called. Morgana wrapped her arms around him and he kicked his horse into a gallop, heading for the gate. Morgana regained her breath as they travelled through the forest and was ready to go on foot when the trees became too dense for the forest. It was hard to see where the formation of storm clouds were through the trees but then a high pitched scream, the one she recognized from her nightmare cleaved through the forest.
"Merlin," she breathed in horror and started running. Her dress snagged on the underbrush as she ran, ripping as she kept on running. Sir Leon was right behind her, keeping a hand on his sword but not drawing it. Merlin's wordless screaming quickly changed into panicked cries for Arthur. They followed the child's screams until they broke through the trees and Morgana paused to take in what she was seeing. Merlin was running for the water where Sophia was standing waist deep, looking down the shore. Arthur was nowhere in sight but Morgana knew what the rippling water meant. Her gaze was drawn by Aulfric staggering toward Merlin and Morgana did not hesitate. She had no weapon but there was a dark staff laying at the base of the shallow incline she and Leon had emerged from.
Morgana hurried down the hill at once, grabbing the staff and running to intercept Aulfric. The old man spotted her but not on time. She ran in front of him and blocked Merlin, grabbing the end of the staff with both hands and swinging it at Aulfric with all her might. The end connected with the side of his face with a loud smack and he did not even make a sound, out before he hit the ground..
"No!" Sophia shouted out, starting to move closer to the shore.
Morgana eyed Aulfric who was unconscious on the ground and ran to Merlin, calling for the boy. He was already facing her and reached out his arms as she approached. "Arthur! He's drownding, Morgana!" She lifted his shaking body and rested Merlin on her hip before she started to back away.
Leon ran by them at once, drawing his sword and advancing on Sophia. The woman hesitated and looked back, her eye catching on something below the water. She screamed just as Arthur burst upward, coughing and spluttering but with his sword out. Morgana saw Arthur's eyes connect with Sophia who did not have time to even scream before Arthur thrust his sword through her middle. She cried out in pain, and Morgana held the back of Merlin's head to keep him from looking.
The king's ward had not the strength to stand any longer so she folded her legs on the ground and hugged Merlin close, watching as Sophia fell into the lake and Arthur stagger back. Once Sophia disappeared under the water, she let Merlin turn his head and smiled when the boy cried out in relief. Leon made his way to Arthur and helped the soaking prince back to the land.
Morgana noticed that Arthur looked dizzy and she thanked her lucky stars that she had ran into Leon, knowing she might not have been able to help Arthur on her own. Once Leon brought Arthur to safety, he knelt and lowered the prince to the ground. Arthur flopped onto his back, breathing heavily and coughing. "Sorcerers," he gasped out, causing Leon to glare at Aulfric.
Seeing that the old man was still knocked out, she allowed Merlin to pull away from her. The child ran to Arthur and crawled right on top of him. Merlin started crying uncontrollably and he hugged Arthur with all his might. The prince lifted one arm and rested it on Merlin's back, not bothering to get up off the ground. He spoke to Merlin but too quietly for Morgana to hear. She stood up and used Aulfric's staff as a support.
"Leon," Morgana called, "take Aulfric back to Camelot at once and inform the king of his transgressions."
"Yes my lady," Leon said and patted Arthur's shoulder before getting to his feet. "I will send a guard back for you."
She nodded and watched as Leon went to the old man, feeling a bit bad as the knight lifted him up. Not only was the sorcerer tall but he was heavy. Leon clutched the back of Aulfric's robes with one hand and gripped the arm wrapped around his shoulders with the other. The knight walked forward toward the trail he had spotted leading away from the lake, dragging the unconscious man beside him.
Morgana breathed out a long sigh, unbearably relieved that her dream had not come true. She looked around the quiet beach. It was small, interspersed with plants here and there but lovely. Her eye caught another staff on the pebbles, one she knew to be Sophia's so she went to retrieve it.
They were both handsome, though she liked Aulfric's more. Perhaps because she knocked the man out with it. But she decided that she would keep them both as trophies. When she turned back to Arthur, she found that he was rolling onto his knees with Merlin trying to pull him up. Morgana went to help and guided Arthur's arm around her shoulders. He let her take some of his weight and she fought not to grimace.
"Mordred," he said to her. "Is he-"
"He's fine," Morgana said gently, "Unconscious but Gwen is with him now." Arthur grunted and sighed with relief.
"He's okay?" Merlin asked tearfully. Morgana directed a smile to him.
"You were right about her," Arthur noted, taking a wobbly step forward.
"Hang on a moment," Morgana scolded and pulled at Arthur to keep him still. Her heart was lodged in her throat but she smiled. "Good thing I was," she said, unsure of whether Arthur heard the shake in her voice. Even though she feared what it meant that her dream came true, she was glad that Arthur was safe, and that was all that mattered.
o}O{o
Aulfric had been executed days ago now, but Arthur was still unsettled by it all. It wasn't even Sophia's betrayal or the fear he felt when Merlin was in danger. But he remembered that Morgana had come to him about Sophia, claiming that she wasn't what she seemed. That she had a dream, a nightmare. Arthur had passed her off as jealous but now, Morgana had been proven right.
Morgana's dream came true. The thought cycled inside his head leaving little room for anything else. His dinner remained untouched and he was aware that Mordred was watching him suspiciously. Even Merlin had stopped trying to talk to him when it was clear he was not paying attention. The boy was now doing who knows what around the chambers, making a mess that Mordred would have to clear away later. But Arthur did not give them any attention. Doubt and fear was growing inside him and try as he might, he was not able to convince himself that it was nothing. Morgana had a long history of nightmares and he knew that this time, it was out of the ordinary.
The prince unconsciously reached a hand up to rub his head and he uttered a long sigh. He wanted with every fibre of his being to deny it, but what if Morgana really could see the future? Arthur gave his head a shake. It wasn't true. It couldn't be. But the fact remained that she had known about Sophia… His thoughts chased themselves in circles until a high pitched voice broke through the silence.
"Mordred," Merlin was calling and not for the first time Arthur realized. "Mordred. Mooorrrrdred. Mordred. Mordred!"
Arthur's servant jumped, breaking his staring contest with the fire. The boy turned and blinked his eyes furiously, rubbing them after ignoring the brightness of the flames. "What?" he snapped, causing Arthur's eyebrows to rise. Mordred never got angry at Merlin, only if the boy snuck away but it did not last for long.
"You weren't answering," Merlin said pouting.
"Sorry, Merlin," Mordred sighed, "My mind is elsewhere."
"Well where? It's been gone for ages now!" Merlin accused.
Arthur laughed quietly while Mordred let a grudging smirk grow on his lips. "It has not," he said.
"Has too," Merlin insisted.
"Has not," Mordred replied.
"Has too"
"Has not"
"Okay," Arthur interrupted before Mordred could get Merlin going. "Instead of staring at the fire, Mordred, why don't you go practice."
Mordred looked at him and blinked before looking at Arthur's dinner. "But you haven't finished eating," he pointed out.
Arthur glanced down at his roast, still not feeling very hungry. "I'll finish it later. For now, you're dismissed."
Merlin inched toward Arthur and climbed up on a chair. "Do we have to, Arthur?"
"Yes," Arthur reported, "it's close to your bed time, I believe."
"No it's not," Merlin said petulantly and fidgeted his fingers. "I don't have a bed time." He looked away from Arthur and chewed his lip.
The prince was too distracted to tease Merlin for his pitiful lying skills. "Go on, Merlin. I will see you in the morning."
"Come on, Merlin," Mordred said and walked over to guide Merlin out of the chair.
"Don't wanna leave," Merlin mumbled to Mordred.
"Say goodnight," Mordred coached.
Merlin made a sad noise. "Goodnight, Arthur."
"Night," Arthur said, once again distracted by his thoughts.
The two boys started to leave but Mordred hung back while Merlin lingered at the door. "Sire," Mordred ventured. "Are you sure you don't want me to come back?"
Arthur nodded. "Remember to practice. We'll see if you can last more than ten seconds against me tomorrow."
If the prince was looking he would have been surprised at the genuine smile on Mordred's face in place of an offended pout. "Goodnight," Mordred called and led Merlin out the door. Silence filled the chambers, growing in the corners like shadows and he would never admit regretting dismissing his servants. Eventually Arthur managed to pick at his food but left most of it untouched.
He thought about Morgana for hours and even when he retired to bed his fears would not leave him alone. The fire had long gone out and darkness grew so thick, Arthur could not see two feet in front of him. Sleep alluded him and he gave it up as a lost cause, deciding to take a walk. The halls were peaceful even though they were a bit cool in the night. He realized too late that his feet had taken him to Morgana's chambers. Arthur made to stroll by but he noticed shadows flickering under the door and stopped, knowing it wasn't safe to have a candle burning in the middle of the night.
Aware that Morgana might be awake, the prince knocked softly on the door. Morgana's voice called out after a moment. "Who is it?"
"It's Arthur," he replied.
Morgana did not answer and Arthur shifted on his feet. The door opened and Morgana stood aside to let him by. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing," he said, glancing at Morgana's desk where the candle was flickering. Her diary was open but Arthur didn't make a grab for it like he usually would. To buy some time, he glanced to the newest addition to Morgana's room. Aulfric's and Sophia's staffs stood proudly on a sword rack, one of Gorlois' swords in the center. "I couldn't sleep. Looks like I'm not the only one," he mentioned.
Morgana made an unsuccessful attempt at a smile. "Nightmares," she said in explanation, her smile fading.
Arthur paused in the center of the chambers. He supposed he had been meaning to talk to Morgana about this but the question lodged in his throat. "Hasn't Gaius given you a remedy?" he asked instead, turning toward her.
"They never work," she said and wandered to her desk where she closed her diary. She took a seat and looked down. "I dreamt…"
She fell quiet and avoided Arthur's gaze. "You dreamt that Sophia was going to kill me," the prince stated. "And when we were kids you dreamt us getting lost in the forest." He'd only just remembered an hour ago.
Morgana finally looked at him and to Arthur's horror, her eyes were glassy. When she took a breath and spoke her voice trembled with her lips. "My dreams come true," she whispered tearfully. "Yesterday I dreamt I was thrown from my horse, and today I was. Arthur I-"
"Are you alright?" Arthur asked in alarm, striding closer to her.
"What? Oh yes, I'm fine. I landed in a haystack," she said distractedly but then rose out of her chair. She paced for a short moment before stopping in front of Arthur. The terror in her eyes took Arthur aback. Morgana was supposed to be the fiery one with courage to match his own. Seeing her like this broke Arthur apart. "Arthur, what am I?" she cried, the tears she had been holding in finally seeping out.
Arthur surged forward and seized her shoulders. "You're Morgana," he affirmed, "You're Camelot's favourite daughter. You're a bloody hero even though you're a royal pain in my backside." Morgana faltered and the prince gave her a gentle shake. "You're brave, you're kind, and you're not going to be afraid of a few little dreams."
Morgana's lips trembled and she swallowed a sob. "But, Arthur," she whimpered, "what if I have-"
"You don't," Arthur said, his eyes flashing, "You can't."
"I'm scared, Arthur," Morgana admitted, more tears falling from her eyes. She gripped Arthur's forearms, searching for strength. "What if I'm going mad?"
"I'll protect you. No matter what happens I won't let anyone hurt you," Arthur promised. "And you're not going mad, don't be ridiculous."
Morgana started to cry and she shook her head. "But-"
"Stop. Just stop," Arthur breathed, "They're just dreams. And, Morgana, even if they are something more... well I won't abandon you." He knew at least that for certain. Lord, if Morgana really did have magic Arthur knew he would defend her. She was the kindest person he knew and he wouldn't let magic ruin her. Right now he knew that Morgana needed a friend, even though he himself was terrified. "You are like a sister to me, and I swear I won't leave you."
Just a short while ago, Arthur would have fled at the sight of so many tears fleeing Morgana's eyes. But today he held her gaze and tried with all his might to show his conviction. If he had any doubts about his decision before, Morgana falling apart and weeping against his shoulder silenced them.
o}O{o
There we go, a few twist and turns from the actual plot that I hope will end up making this story interesting for you guys.
Happy Holidays, everyone and have a wonderful and safe new year.
Thank you as always for reading, I really appreciate it. And please review if you liked it!