months later...

"so here is where you've been hiding."

she was sat out at the battlements again, which was the same spot Elaina always gravitated towards to look out on the city. However, in recent months her vision has been blurred to the scenery below and she actually feels little and does not string a single thought along in her mind.

"Gwen is beside herself with worry. You're starting to look thin and remind me when you slept?"

Elaina couldn't. If she did rest then they were dreamless and there wasn't any difference between wakefulness from sleep. Under the surface she was still battling it out with herself on whether to tell morgana the truth and it had become so overwhelming that she had numbed herself to it, but it was taking its toll. She stood at the battlements for hours because to walk was a task in itself. Everywhere she turned she could have sworn to see and hear Morgause almost taunting her.

since the sisters had been reunited, Morgana was slipping away from her; Elaina just knew it.

"you still wear that bracelet," she pointed out, seeing the thing glinting under the sun.

Morgana touched it with a fond smile, "it was a gift from a... friend."

It was a leash that bound her to a certain sorceress. Every time Elaina saw it she was sickened that their sister could help morgana more in one meeting, than she has ever been able to. Since Morgause's appearance the world had gotten a whole lot more complicated and Elaina had gone forwards with Gaius's plea to keep quiet, but fate was beginning to make it more and more difficult. Morgana was not the meek lady she used to be. She didn't look to Elaina for comfort and protection anymore. She was finding out for herself what the world entails for her. There was no point in secrets in that case as far as Elaina was concerned.

she chuckled coldly, "Morgause you mean."

Morgana hadn't learnt the art in subtleness yet as Morgause could by blending in with the shadows. Really whenever they were together these days, and those moments were rare, morgana was always having a raven at her window or running off to some hidden corner. Elaina just let her do as she wished. It was high time morgana made her own choices, as any grown woman should and if that meant Elaina would have to face the consequences of what her sisters planned then she just had to brave them. She was done with the lies where they were concerned.

"I'm not stupid morgana, she wore it when she arrived here in Camelot and you have never had a nightmare or a suspicious incident since she gave it to you. I would say it was because of the magic it possesses that you find comfort in wearing it, but that's not the only reason is it?"

The wind became still as it had already brought in the rain clouds just waiting for them to burst open. In fact, nothing much really stirred around them. Elaina searched the surroundings, letting morgana stumble on her words as she debated on using an excuse or to be as Elaina was and truthful for once.

Then Elaina found what she was looking for. It was Morgause, listening to their conversation. Not present as flesh and blood, she was manifesting herself by using her connection with the sisters to appear in Camelot. Anyone who walked by would not see the beauty, she existed just in Elaina's sight and it riled her up to think she was enjoying this turmoil.

"morgana; I know that she is our sister! Like you have already figured out, with some help from the woman herself I presume. I've been hearing her voice around Camelot."

Morgana's jaw hardened as she clenched her teeth, with her eyes sharpening almost like a serpent with Elaina targeted as prey.

"you knew! You knew and didn't say anything."

Her tone resembled venom too.

"I didn't want to admit it."

Elaina rarely thought about the bloodline of her father now. It was being overshadowed by the mother she had never known yet who had set in motion a series of misfortune, which made it so that her daughters could not be allowed to have a shred of happiness. To her Elaina felt like a tool, only she had been the disappointment as a useless grimoire, while Morgause and morgana; well, they were her hope for vengeance. The woman was long dead, yet Elaina could not help but feel her poison enfolding within them, forcing Morgause to do her evil and now morgana was at risk in following that same path.

She did feel shame; shame that her sisters were burdened with their mother's curse and by blood, she was tied to them and would hold a great guilt for any of their actions.

"you didn't want to admit that she is our sister! Does it sicken you to have a sorcerer for a sister that much!"

Whether morgana was talking about herself or Morgause it wasn't clear. But something said she felt more strongly at the suggestion it was herself, that Elaina was ashamed of. Either way it did not change her reply.

"what sickens me is what she uses her magic for. She is trying to bring down the kingdom and you are playing into her hands of making sure she succeeds."

While morgana had stiffened her whole body, like a threatened cat ready to pounce and claw at Elaina, she remained indifferent. Elaina had come to terms regarding where things were heading. Maybe that was why she came to the battlements, where the view looked out onto their old childhood home. A memory of two children happily living with their beloved father, without any care or worry.

They would not likely share in such days ever again.

"it wasn't long ago you helped in fetching a crystal from the vaults for those without good intentions. What do you think they wanted to use that crystal for? Every day since, you haven't been able to look me straight in the eye. Your anger grows hotter as does your hatred. I can feel it inside you. Maybe that's why I am like this. Morgana, you are breaking my heart."

Such a claim in the past would have had made morgana reach for her sister and hold her tightly, with a promise to never let go. They swore never to betray the other or to be the cause of the other's pain. Through thick and thin it had always been the two of them, however this was a storm they could not weather through and no promise could last forever.

Everything has its end.

"Morgause warned me you would be like this. What about my heart Elaina! How many executions have I seen knowing that could be me, or you! My heart has been breaking for years."

Elaina grabbed morgana's wrist where the bracelet sat, aware their older sister was still watching, as if this was her way of reaching for Morgause's throat if she could because of what she has done to her and morgana.

"and this is how you plan to mend it, by joining Morgause. If it came down to it morgana, if Gwen, merlin, Arthur, Gaius, myself or any of our friends stood in your way. tell me, Would you kill us if it meant Uther was dethroned and the old religion reigned? Morgause, would. Morgause without the slightest hesitation would strike us down like animals. Are you willing to follow her, knowing that?"

Her ruby lips sat in a tight line, no denial no confirmation. An answer in itself.

This; this was their end.