"When I'm Not There" (Rose)
This feast is turning into one of the very examples of what I meant earlier by telling Merlin I'm only around sometimes. I want so much to rejoice in Morgana's safety, but no matter how much effort I put forth in doing so, it is not utterly sincere. Although I would never wish her harm, I cannot push past the feeling that something still is not right.
Merlin, a few other servants, and I are taking care of the tables and such when King Uther rises to make a speech, hushing the noise of the crowd. "Standing here, seeing so many happy faces," he begins, "Seems almost like a dream ... I can tell you, I have not felt like this in a long time."
"What? Drunk?" Arthur invades on his father's moment, causing the room to explode into laughter.
"Drunk with happiness," Uther slaps him lightheartedly with a napkin. "I would have searched the entire world- the seas, the skies, the stars- for that smile," he turns lovingly to Morgana, gesturing to her with his hand. She smiles, seeming incredulously touched. "To have it stolen from me was like a blade to my heart. Morgana, there are no words." She blinks away the tears tentatively, keeping a meaningful grin. "You mean more to me than you will ever know." She exhales with a wide smile. "To Lady Morgana," he takes up his cup, raising it in a toast.
"To Lady Morgana," everyone echoes, even me. However, unlike anyone else, mine was quiet and fraught with uncertainty. I watch them share an embrace and something is definitely wrong. First of all, why, after all she's done to blatantly betray Uther, does he care for her so? And secondly, although my view is obstructed, her thrilled countenance does not seem to carry through to the hug. Suspicion wells in me more than ever before as they pull apart. The king teeters a bit. "I need some air," he admits and takes his leave. An immediate feeling of confusion and concern grips me as a dark expression washes over Morgana's face, one of evil anticipation. I feel as if she has the upper hand on Uther through means unknown to any of us.
"You look pale," Merlin comes up to me from the side.
"I have a very bad feeling," is all I need say.
Alarm crosses Merlin's face and then, in a matter of moments, it doubles as guards charge in, exclaiming that the king was in a state of panic. We quickly locate him and the guards supporting him. Merlin and Arthur taking their places, they drag Uther to his chambers, laying him on the bed. "Careful," Morgana warns. "Is he going to be alright?" she asks with fake worry, covering him with his blankets.
"He should sleep till morning," Gaius informs her. I exchange a glance with Merlin, who exchanges one with Gaius as we make our exit.
"I knew something was going to happen," I state darkly as Gaius and I walk at a brisk pace to the physician's quarters. Merlin and Arthur trail us, not too far behind.
"What could have made him like this?" Arthur asks as he rounds the corner.
"I've no idea," Gaius answers honestly.
"Gaius," he motions with his hand back towards the room, "He was lying on the ground crying."
"Exhaustion," Gaius proclaims an excuse. I can tell he really does not want to be discussing this with the Prince. He definitely has at least one guess.
"Gaius," Arthur stops his movement, and then steps up to the older man, "What aren't you telling me? What's wrong with him?" Gaius raises his eyebrows in response. "Tell me," he says.
"When I found him," the physician starts his story, "He was mumbling. Most of it was incoherent, but ..."
"What?" Arthur presses.
"He kept mentioning your mother's name," Gaius confesses.
"He never talks about her," Arthur refutes.
Gaius tilts his head back slightly, "He claimed that he saw her … in the well."
Arthur looks to the side, frustrated, "Did the guards see him in this state?"
"I think you're worrying too much," the elder responds in a low voice.
"If the people get to know about this ..."
"We say that he was ill, but now he's recovered," Gaius offers a solution. Arthur ponders this for a brief few seconds, his gaze darting a bit, before walking off. Merlin eyes Gaius with a knowing look that something more is at work here than he let on.
"I see Gaius isn't the only one with a clue," Merlin remarks as we set on our way.
"I see that your eye for my intuition is sharpening," I reply.
"Early Call" (Merlin)
"Alright," I spin around on my heel once inside our front room. "Out with it."
"Whatever do you mean, Merlin?" Gaius questions.
"You both have ideas brewing in your heads, and I desire enlightenment."
"Well," he replies, "I can't be certain. I only have a few theories. What I can tell you, is that nearly all involve the use of sorcery."
"Great," I say, tongue in cheek, "Rose?"
"I figure same as Gaius," she crosses her arms, "With one additional detail: who is behind this." The look on her face says it all.
"No," I shake my head, refusing to believe what she is implying, although I think more of me agrees with her than that which doesn't. "We don't know that Morgana has anything to do with them," I only slightly object.
"And we don't know that she doesn't," she states her viewpoint. I cannot dispute this, so I merely point out that she can't prove Morgana is guilty. "No," she sides with me, "Not yet." Her words sting like never before. "Look, Merlin, I want her to be the compassionate ward I know she was. But, we cannot trust her. She has not proven herself loyal or opposing at this time. All I ask is that you do not put the thought of her betrayal out of your mind, and in the mean time, I will not pass judgment."
I nod in agreement. "I won't argue that."
She smiles empathetically, "I know."
While we aren't jumping to conclusions, another early call is made the next morning when an assembly is brought together in court. "I really hate these meetings," I whine to Rose on the way in. "They never mean anything good."
"Perhaps, today will be different," she offers with an attempt at optimism. She doesn't buy that any more than I do.
Arthur boldly approaches his father's throne, "We've had reports that mercenaries are streaming into Cenred's kingdom."
"Do we know why?" Uther gets directly to the point. At least these sessions aren't ridiculously lengthy, given the king's impatience when it comes to explanation and reason.
"There is rumor that Cenred is amassing an army," Arthur elaborates. "I think we should send a patrol out to assess the situation." Uther's distracted thoughts are apparent in his blank and wide-eyed expression while Arthur awaits his permission. "Father?" He still receives no response.
"He sees something," Rose whispers, and as if on cue, Arthur's gaze follows his father's to the middle of the aisle, as does the rest of ours. Our naked eyes see nothing, but because of the unique gifts of her people, there is one among us more in tuned than the rest. "Whatever it is, he's frightened by it." Our eyes dart back to the king, while she peers at the Lady Morgana. I can't seem to peel my orbs away from Uther as he stands with a dimmed authority.
"Leave me alone," he demands quietly, his eyes never leaving the spot, pointing at who knows what behind Arthur. We all look again. Nothing has appeared. And when we turn back, I note that Rose hasn't moved an inch. Whether Morgana realizes it or not, she has been studying her reaction to Uther this whole time. "Get out of here," he commands softly because of terror.
Arthur steps towards him cautiously, going to steady him, "Father, will you-"
Uther shoves him aside, stomping past him at the ... thing. "I said, get out!" he repeats, voice raising to shout, "Get out!" he rages, "I'll have you hanged!" Sir Leon assists Arthur in restraining the king. "You hanged!" he sputters with anger like a madman, "You- you- you!" He continues to struggle and grunt as they pull him out of the room. Awkwardness settles in the room as the people disband. Gaius, Rose, and I gather in a secluded area. It's time to get to the bottom of things before this gets any worse.