Chapter 1 [Darkling Woods—Night After "Queen of Hearts"]

Night shrouded the countryside. A slight breeze rustled tree branches. A slight frost dusted the yellowed grasses. Sentries patrolled the ramparts for any activity below.

Pity they never saw the cloaked figure slip by them and into the forest beyond….

[Half a Turn of the Hourglass Later]

Morgana peered into the clearing. Her eyes discerned no pursuit from Camelot. She frowned. Caution had taught her to take everything into consideration….

…last thing she wanted was for Merlin to tail her….

She sniffed. How does that lowly servant boy do it? He survives out here. He slips into Annis' camp and gets Arthur out. He even helped Arthur to save Gwen. ARGH! She slapped at a tree.

A stick cracked close by.

"WHO'S THERE?" She stiffened. Canary hue glowed in her eyes. A spell began to form on her lips. Whoever was out there with her would regret it.

Sister! Calm yourself! I am here as we agreed! Morgause stepped into view. She lowered her hood. "Are you unwell? I sense outrage in you." She noted the heaviness and frustration in the other's eyes.

"Of course I am outraged! We could not get rid of Gwen! She is still a threat to my throne! The plan failed, Morgause!" Morgana folded her arms across her chest. "I do not understand!"

Morgause narrowed her eyes. "We underestimated certain factors. Well no matter. There are new opportunities." A smirk started to spread across her face.

"New opportunities? Morgause, we have to rid ourselves of Uther's damnable presence! That is before anything else!" Morgana's frown cut deeper into her facial expression.

Morgause flicked an eyebrow. She somehow kept Impatience's wrath from her sister. "You fixate too much on Camelot. There are other kingdoms in Britannia. Perhaps we may have to look elsewhere for inspiration." She rubbed her hands together.

"Elsewhere? Such as?" Intrigue drew Morgana into her sister's train of thought. She knew Morgause wouldn't simply spin her wheels on a simpleton's idea. Quite the contrary, she noted Scheme's glimmer in her half-sister's eyes.

"Matters move as we wish, Morgana." Morgause raised her eyebrows. "Nemeth it seems has an unfortunate tragedy. Alas!"

Morgana shook her head. She knew Uther had remained at odds with Rodor and Camelot's neighbors across the Severn for a generation. She'd seen Vitrol and Fire erupt between the two rulers over the Gedref and sorcery. "Pity Rodor burned the Lady of Shalott. I would've spared him if not for that."

"Aye that." Morgause frowned. "Yet another of Uther's crimes. Meleagant of Cawdor gave Rodor little choice in the matter. If Rodor wanted help and to save his kingdom, he had to bargain with Uther. I pity our sister for the pain she went through." She slid her hand along a tree's rough bark. "Quite the pity for Rodor and Nemeth."

"What did you do?" Morgana pressed.

Morgause shrugged. "Opportunity was there. I simply gave it a nudge two days ago." She produced a quarter full vial. "Nightshade. I slipped a bit into Rodor's wine goblet before it found its way to the dinner table. Poor man. He didn't even make it through the first course…and I hear the cook's capon was truly something to behold."

Morgana raised an eyebrow. "Sister, you give Uther the opening he has been waiting for! Now Nemeth has no heir!" She squirmed. "Well…there is Mithian." Her eyes rolled at the thought of Nemeth's Princess.

"The Princess that cannot play by courtesan rules. Aye her. Quite the pity she cannot inherit the throne due to Nemeth's laws. It will seem like an opportunity for Uther. After all, Arthur does need a proper marriage. Uther would see an opening for Arthur on Nemeth's throne." Morgause shook her head. "But a closer look offers us the advantage, Morgana."

"Offers…us? I do not understand." Morgana rubbed her chin. She tried to follow Morgause's line of logic. She wondered if Morgause had considered everything with this plan.

"Calm yourself." Morgause exhaled a soothing breath of her own. "Opportunities can benefit. They can also have consequences, Morgana. You have said that Arthur is taken with your chambermaid. Is he not?"

Morgana winced. "Aye." Nausea unsettled her stomach on that note.

"Well it is a matter of putting Prince Arthur and the maid together. Perhaps an aphrodisiac in his food or wine? They are seen. Uther has her arrested again. This time, however, he will banish or execute her. Then he doubles down on a marriage. He will not be able to resist Mithian as the opportunity I mentioned." Morgause shrugged.

"Merlin suspects me. He'll keep a close eye on Arthur's meals." Morgana curled her lip.

"So? He is a servant. You are the King's Ward." Morgause shook her head. "The boy is a pest. I believe I know just the way to get rid of him. Did you not say he was from some village a ways from Camelot?"

"Aye. He is from Ealdor. It is a half day's ride into the Essetir. He has not been back there for years. Why would he go now?" Morgana puzzled over her latest point.

"Perhaps Uther could send him? Negotiations are a delicate thing. We do not wish the boy to press Arthur where the Maid is concerned. Do we?" Morgause cleared her throat. "I know you can be quite convincing. Get Uther to see our point of view."

"And what of Mithian? If she is in Camelot, Uther will hold the advantage. I can see where Arthur would resent the marriage. There'd be a rift between Father and Son. Gwen would be in prison. I would have her burned at the stake immediately. Merlin would be distracted by Ealdor. But?" Morgana pursed her lips.

"If is the word you need to remember, Sister. Who is to say Mithian arrives in Camelot? The Gedref can be quite treacherous. I arranged for the Severn to be impassable along the main road. There is the northern route along Cedric's and Lot's respective borders. Cedric prepares as we speak. He will kidnap the Princess in those woods. Arthur will be forced to search for Mithian. Meantime you will be able to dispose of this Gwen. Nemeth and Camelot will see more hostilities. They and Mercia will go to war. We wait and pick up the pieces." Morgause pulled up her hood. "Do your part well, Sister. We will prevail." With that, she slithered back into the gathering mists.

Morgana grinned. Oh I shall, Sister! You can count on that! She headed back in the other direction toward Camelot.

Plotting loomed dangerously toward Camelot….