Just a short chapter here! Not a lot of Amara, but the next chapter is going to be a big one.


"Get up! Get up!" Morgana yelled as she shook Amara awake.

"What are you doing?" Amara snapped as she rolled onto the other side of her bed, out of Morgana's reach.

"You have to get up. Quickly. We have to do something."

"Do what?" Amara groaned as she grabbed a pillow and threw it over her head. "It can wait until morning. Leave me alone."

"Tom's been arrested. Gwen's father has been arrested! Hurry!" Morgana yelled.

"What?" Amara asked sitting up in bed, suddenly alert.

"I don't know what happened. Gwen came in crying about it and then she fled. We have to find Uther."

"Ok, ok," Amara nodded. "Let me just get my shawl."

"Hurry," Morgana pleaded as Amara fumbled around her room. "Come on," she said grabbing Amara's hand and dragging her along as soon as she was reasonably covered up.

"What are you going to say to him?" Amara asked as they sped through the palace.

"I just need to know what's happened. Then I can make my own judgment. Tom is a good man, he would not have knowingly broken the law," Morgana said as she stormed into Uther's anteroom. "Would anyone mind telling us what is going on?" Morgana demanded as she looked between Uther and Arthur who were in the middle of talking. Arthur was leaned over the table while Uther was drinking wine on the other side of the room. Amara could tell this conversation between Uther and Morgana was going to be heated so she made her way to stand opposite Arthur at the table.

"I assume you are enquiring about the blacksmith?" Uther asked Morgana who eagerly nodded. "He is being charged with treason."

"Treason?" Morgana asked gobsmacked.

"Yes, Morgana. Treason. The blacksmith was consorting with a known enemy," Uther told her.

"Enemy? What enemy?"

"Tauren. The leader of a band of renegade sorcerers sworn to bring down the king," Arthur spoke up.

Amara's eyes widened. She knew of Tauren and he was bad news. "Tauren was in Camelot?" she asked and Arthur nodded.

"And where is this Tauren now?" Morgana asked further.

"He escaped," Arthur said disappointedly.

"Well then, how can you be sure?" Morgana asked as she approached the table the siblings were standing by, hoping to appeal to Arthur's sense of empathy.

"Because Arthur saw him with his own eyes," Uther assured as he came to stand next to Amara, placing one hand on her shoulder.

"Well even if the man is who you say he is you can't sentence Tom to death for just being seen with him," Morgana appealed.

"We have reason to believe he was forging weapons for Tauren."

"Rubbish! He would never do such a thing," Morgana snapped.

Uther stared at her in warning before slowly explaining, "every man has a price."

"But Tom is so kind and loving. I could never imagine him endangering Camelot just for money," Amara frowned.

"He's a blacksmith Amara, he is poor. If he thought he could build a better life for himself he'd taken it. We found this on the blacksmith," Arthur said, placing something in Amara's hand.

Amara looked down and her eyes widened. "Is that gold?" she asked and Arthur nodded. The gold in Amara's hand would be worth a lot of money. It could build Tom a whole new life.

"So? He was paid," Morgana stuttered. Even she knew there was no reasonable explanation for a blacksmith holding something of such high value. "He's a blacksmith. He could have been paid for shoeing Tauren's horse."

"In gold?" Uther asked her, hoping to make her see his side.

"This is madness. You condemn a man with no proof."

"I have enough proof," Uther said gesturing to the gold in Amara's hand before walking away from them.

"Arthur, have you nothing to say?" Morgana whispered as soon as Uther was out of earshot.

Arthur sighed before saying, "father, the blacksmith committed a crime, but we don't know for certain that he meant treason."

"No you're right," Uther agreed. "Nothing's certain, save one thing. The law stands or this kingdom falls."

"But the law must give him a fair trial," Morgana argued.

"He'll get a fair trial and he'll be found guilty because that's what he is."

"It's not really a fair trial if his fate is already predetermined father," Amara said quietly.

"You execute Gwen's father and I will never forgive you," Morgana promised before storming out of the room. "Never!" she called back.

Arthur took the gold from Amara's hand and looked at it before suggesting, "maybe we should investigate further?"

"Tauren's slept somewhere. He fed somewhere. Find anyone who helped him in any way. They must be punished. The people must see the laws of Camelot are not to be trifled with," Uther said as he turned and went to his bed chambers.

"Yes father," Arthur agreed.

"Arthur, he hasn't even spoken to Tom. He doesn't know all the information. Tom could be entirely innocent. He may not have known who Tauren was," Amara said sadly.

"I know, I know," Arthur agreed. "Come on," he held out his arm, ushering her along. "I'll escort you back to your chambers. You know as well as I that our father is blinded when it comes to crimes regarding sorcery."

"I know. But Tom is no sorcerer."

"No, he isn't. But any association with a sorcerer is just as guilty in the eyes of the king."


"You need to speak to him," Morgana said, breaking the silence in Amara's room the next day after sitting in silence for half an hour.

"Excuse me?" Amara asked.

"He'll listen to you."

"Morgana, he won't. Not when it comes to magic."

"Tom was not plotting against the king."

"I know that!" Amara snapped. "Of course I know that. Tom is not the only one. My father has had two men arrested who own an inn because they gave Tauren a bed for the night. Anyone who has provided Tauren with any aid is to be executed. Whether they did so knowingly or not."

"It isn't fair," Morgana complained.

"I know it's not fair," Amara agreed. "But it is not for me or you to question the actions of the king."

"You've never bent to his will so easily before?" Morgana queried. "Why would you do so now?"

"He'll get a trial tomorrow, Morgana. If he argues his case well enough maybe the king will reconsider."

"You know he won't. It's just like I told Merlin," Morgana sighed. "There is no hope."


"Is that Tom?" Amara asked shakily as she and Morgana looked out the window at the sound of screams the next morning. Hidden under a sheet and being pulled by a cart was a dead body, with Gwen chasing after it. "He's dead."

"He was murdered. Murdered by Uther," Morgana hissed.

"Morgana," Amara warned grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the window. "Watch your words. You angered him enough the other night. Don't do anything reckless."

"He needs to know," she snapped, pulling out of Amara's hold. "He needs to know what he's done," she growled before storming off.

"Morgana! No! Don't do it," Amara called after her. "Morgana!" She couldn't chase after her, if she involved herself in Morgana's tirade it would only make her father angrier. She was still not fully forgiven for sneaking out of the castle to help Ealdor. She didn't want to make him even madder at her.


"You're not Morgana," Amara said when Arthur walked into her room that afternoon for lunch.

"Thank you for that observation," Arthur said glumly.

"What happened with Morgana?" Amara asked and Arthur looked at her curiously as he took a seat. "She stormed off from me earlier looking for our father. She was furious."

"You didn't go with her?" Arthur asked. "I'm surprised. Wherever one of you goes the other usually follows."

"Arthur," Amara interrupted with a glare. "What did she do?"

"She's in the dungeon."

"The dungeon!" Amara gasped, leaning forward in her chair.

"She pushed him too far this time. He was going to leave her there until she apologized. I've convinced him to release her in the morning. I promised him she'd never challenge his authority again."

"So she's to spend the evening in a cell?" Amara asked and Arthur nodded. "Can I see her?"

"No. She's not allowed any visitors," Arthur shook his head.

"He was wrong. Executing Tom before his trial. He was wrong."

"I know," Arthur agreed as he poured himself and Amara a drink. "I think he knows that. I went and saw Gwen."

"You did? What did you tell her?"

"That her job and her house are hers for life should she want them. I told her I was sorry."

Amara smiled at him, "that's a good thing of you to do Arthur. I'm proud of you."


"Morgana!" Amara cried out as Morgana entered her chambers the next evening. "Are you ok?" she asked as she ran up and pulled her friend into a hug.

"No. No, I am not ok. I spent the night chained to a dungeon wall," she said tearfully as she sat down at the table.

"Chained?" Amara asked as she sat in the seat next to her. "Arthur said you were in the dungeons he didn't say you were chained!" She grabbed Morgana's hands and pulled them towards her and gasped as she saw the bruises and raw skin where the chains rubbed on her wrists all night. "Oh my goodness. Are you alright? Gaius should look at this it looks painful."

"I'll be fine," Morgana assured. Pulling her hands back quickly she wiped away the tears that fell.

"Do you want to have dinner with me tonight? You shouldn't be alone, nor should Gwen, bring her."

"No, no. We'll be fine," Morgana smiled. "Perhaps tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow night I'm having dinner with my father. I don't think you'll want to attend that evening."

"Perhaps not," Morgana agreed. "I should go," Morgana said standing up.

"You only just got here."

"I know. But I'm upset and I just wish to be alone. Thank you for your concern," Morgana smiled before racing out of the room.


"Perhaps you should talk with Morgana. She was devastated," Amara said to her father as they ate dinner.

"I'm sure she was. But she is yet to apologize," Uther frowned.

"I know. But she's stubborn. You may have influenced her a bit in that way," Amara smiled.

"Perhaps you're right," Uther agreed. "But I cannot have anyone challenging the orders of the king. Especially not my ward."

"She knows that. But father, respectfully, she is wise, sometimes it may be beneficial to listen to what she has to say."

"I value her council," Uther agreed. "But just not when she is filled with rage."

"That is fair enough," Amara agreed as the doors opened and Morgana walked in.

"I didn't expect to see you," Uther greeted her. "You wish to say something?" he asked as she kept walking into the room.

"I came to apologize, my Lord," Morgana said.

"Good," Uther nodded making Morgana freeze in annoyance.

"Father," Amara whispered to him and he sighed and lowered his goblet of wine in order to address Morgana properly.

"I didn't mean to rile you. I thought only of Gwen," Morgana continued. "The poor girl is all alone in the world."

"It was not my intention to hurt your maid," Uther told her.

"I know," Morgana admitted and Amara frowned at her. Only just yesterday when she'd last seen Morgana she'd been filled with a blind rage towards Uther. "But now she suffers and I know how she must suffer."

"Morgana…" Uther began, trying to prevent another argument.

"I only meant I know what it's like to lose a father."

Uther immediately looked her in the eye after that. If ever Morgana needed Uther to soften towards her she only needed to mention the death of her father. The lasting impact it had on Uther's spirit was severe.

"That was a terrible day. Your father was a great friend." Morgana made a small scoffing noise and looked at the floor. "I had no part in his death."

"You sent him into battle," Morgana whispered. "You promised him reinforcements and then gave him none. You sent him to his death."

Amara drank some of her wine with a smirk. She knew Morgana very well. Even though the death of her father still upset her greatly, she knew how to wield her sadness to manipulate Uther.

"That is not true," Uther promised falling prey to her trap. "It was never my intention…"

"But it happened!" she interrupted. "And it keeps on happening."

"Morgana," Uther gasped as he watched his ward break down.

"I'm sorry my Lord," she quickly curtsied before hurrying out of the dining hall.

Uther ran his hand down his face, "what do I do to cheer her up?" he asked.

"You should do something with her. Go for a ride with her? Ask her. I'm sure there's something she'd like to do. Some bonding time between the two of you is well overdue," Amara smiled softly.


"Let's go," Arthur said as he stuck his head in Amara's chambers.

"What is it?" Amara asked not even looking over as Juliana held up fabrics for her to look at.

"I need you."

"What for Arthur I am very busy. That one," Amara said as she pointed at the pink silk.

Arthur groaned as he walked into her chambers. "Father has gone for the day with Morgana to visit her fathers grave so he's put me in charge of greeting the ambassador from Gawant."

"I still fail to see why I'm needed. As far as I'm concerned that's a task for the heir apparent, that is you and not me."

"Typically yes," Arthur agreed. "But they are expecting to be greeted by the king and he's not here and everyone likes you."

"They like you just fine," Amara rolled her eyes.

"Not as much as you," Arthur stressed as he came towards her and placed his hands on her shoulders, steering her out of the room.

"Arthur," she whined. "My silks."

"Will still be there later."

"You owe me for this."

"I'll pay for whatever dress you're having commissioned. Happy?" he offered.

"Ooo very! Thank you!"