Jessie237 and fullhans1: Thank you much!
Samwise O'Keefe: Good to know you're not expecting too much too fast, because Arthur's transformation from a prat to someone you can actually stand to have a whole conversation with will be kind of a long process.
Warning: unlikable OC ahead.
Freya returned to her new mistress's chambers at half-past six, as per the lady's instructions. "My lady? I've come to help you prepare for tonight, as you ordered."
Morgana smiled. "Excellent. I've already chosen my dress, and Gwen has spent the last ten minutes trying to talk me into something more conservative. I don't know why she wastes her time so."
"Nor do I," the dark-skinned maid muttered.
Morgana retrieved her favorite red dress from where it was hung over the changing screen and held it up to herself for Freya's inspection. "What do you think? Will this do, or is it too much?"
"Representatives of every noble family in Dagon will be there, and the king plans to announce your engagement - you'll want to put your best foot forward."
"So there," Morgana said triumphantly to Gwen.
The next hour was spent making Morgana look her very best. Selecting the perfect jewelry, perfume, and shades of makeup was relatively easy, but her hair was redone three times before they found a style that pleased her. At last she settled on pulling it all to one side, where it was secured with an oval-shaped clasp of ruby and gold. Gwen arranged a loose curl so that it framed Morgana's face, made a final adjustment to the way the rest of her hair lay over her shoulder, then moved away so Morgana could step back for a good look at herself in the mirror and pass judgment on the final result of her maids' efforts.
She scrutinized herself ruthlessly, searching for any tiny flaw. She always tried to be mindful of how she looked, but tonight it was especially important; tonight she would be presented to all the nobility of Dagon as the intended wife of their future ruler. Tonight she had to be perfect.
"You look beautiful," Freya assured her. "You'll be the most stunning woman in King Balinor's hall tonight."
Morgana flashed her a grateful smile - unlike her, Freya had probably seen all the other women who would be at the feast, and it was a small relief to know she wouldn't be upstaged. She had grown accustomed to being the most attractive female in any room she entered, and she was just vain enough that she wanted to keep that distinction. "Thank you. Now you will show me to the banquet hall, please."
"That would hardly be appropriate. I can show you around the castle when it's just the two of us and Gwen, but it wouldn't be proper in front of the court. Someone will be sent to escort you."
"No one has asked to be my escort," Morgana said with a slight frown.
"Then the king can assign someone, probably a knight. He doesn't usually bother about who goes to feasts with whom, but since you're his honored guest he'll see that you're taken care of. That's why he put me and Clarence at yours and Prince Arthur's disposal for as long as you want us."
A knock on the door sounded and Freya went to answer it. "My lord! I didn't expect you - especially not on time."
"I'm not always late," Merlin's voice replied indignantly. Morgana, who had been deliberately hanging back, out of sight if one stood at the door - she didn't like the idea of the king dictating who took her to court functions, and had meant to show her lack of enthusiasm for her compulsory escort - reacted as if she had been jabbed in the backside with one of her sewing needles. Then she hastened to her chambers' main entrance, Freya sidestepping out of her way.
Merlin stood there in his finest clothes - satiny black shirt, crown, and a long, flowing cape - and gave her a slightly nervous smile. "I'm to take you downstairs, if that's all right. If not, I can just tell you where to go."
"I don't mind going with you," Morgana said quickly.
"Great! Follow me." He led her to the end of the corridor outside her chambers, down a short staircase, through a twisting, dimly lit hallway, and down more stairs; she made sure never to fall more than half a step behind him, because it seemed to her that she could easily become hopelessly lost if they were separated.
They passed a few servants in the corridors, but unlike the townsfolk they showed little interest in the stranger accompanying their prince. Morgana supposed they must be used to seeing guests come and go in the castle. She also observed that while Merlin returned their respectful nods, he didn't smile at any of them the way he had at Freya, and he certainly didn't touch them; apparently it was not his way to be overly friendly with the staff. That made his behavior toward the pretty witch all the more curious . . . and worrisome.
When they reached wider, better illuminated corridors Merlin stopped and held out his arm for Morgana to take; she surmised that they were now in the part of the castle where the court had gathered, so it was time for them to put on a show of togetherness. She hooked her arm around his just above the elbow and rested her other hand on his forearm, and they continued forward to a set of huge double doors with handles in the likeness of the kingdom's phoenix emblem, which were opened for them by a pair of spear-toting guards.
The banquet hall, like the one in Camelot's royal palace, had a large chamber for pre-dinner mingling adjoining the even larger room where the feast would be served. Unlike Uther's dining hall, both rooms of this one were connected to a terrace; in the anteroom there was simply a wide archway, but in the dining hall there was an entire wall missing. The roof was supported by stone pillars instead, leaving the entire room open to the night.
"What unusual architecture," Morgana remarked.
"Do you like it?" Merlin hoped she did; he wanted her to be pleased with her new home.
"It is very . . . scenic, but it seems to me that this hall must be awfully drafty when the wind is up."
"It isn't."
"How do you prevent drafts when a whole side of the room has no wall?"
Merlin raised his eyebrows. "Magic, naturally."
He hadn't spoken condescendingly, but Morgana still felt stupid. 'Naturally', yes, of course - how could I forget? My new maid is a witch, there's some sort of magical barrier keeping drafts and chills out of the dining hall, and the torches and candles in the chandelier burn so brightly one might wonder if the flames were conjured by magic as well! Next she wondered if her imagination was running away with her.
Arthur and Lancelot came over to talk to her and Merlin respectively, and Morgana hoped to snatch a moment's conversation with her brother while Merlin's attention was occupied by his second-in-command - she had heard Arthur and Sir Leon go on about training, tournaments, and military matters at great length - but it wasn't to be; once the kingdom's highest-ranking knight had approached and been acknowledged by the prince and his lady, everyone else followed Lancelot's example. Soon people were positively lining up to speak to them.
Merlin greeted each of his father's subjects warmly, shaking hands with the men and kissing the women's hands if they offered them, and introducing Morgana and Arthur over and over until Morgana thought she might scream if she heard him repeat their names one more time, keeping his left arm linked with hers all the while as if to let all and sundry know she was with him. Morgana was grateful for this; seeing that their prince had a prior claim on her deterred most of the men from doing more than bowing, and those that were brave enough to kiss her hand were quick about it. Still, it was a relief when the trumpeters summoned them to dinner.
She and Arthur were given places at the royal table to the left of the king, while Merlin sat on Balinor's right. The dragonlord waited for everybody to take their seats, then stood up, instantly commanding the attention of every person in the hall, and began to speak. "As you all will have noticed, we are joined tonight by Prince Arthur of Camelot and the Lady Morgana, ward of Uther Pendragon. It is my hope that each and every one of you will join me in extending a warm welcome to our honored guests." He paused as courtiers and servants alike dutifully applauded. "I am also pleased to announce that our kingdoms are soon to become much closer allies. My lords and ladies, people of Dagon, it brings me great joy to present my son's future bride, the Lady Morgana!"
Applause rang through the hall again, this time underscored by a low, hissing flurry of whispers and a great rustle of movement as at least two thirds of those assembled turned in their seats to look at their prince's fiancée. Morgana bore their stares - some of which she thought were insultingly disbelieving - stoically, keeping her face impassive and her head high, refusing to shrink away from their inspection.
Arthur laid his hand reassuringly over hers. "Don't worry about them," he said quietly. "They'll come around once they realize what a great queen you'll be."
"Thank you, Arthur." Morgana smiled tightly, briefly squeezed his fingers, then slid her hand out of his grasp, not wanting to appear dependent on her foster brother.
Balinor called for the food to be served; its appearance was greeted with great enthusiasm.
"Finally, we can get something decent to eat!" Arthur exclaimed. Then his face fell slightly. "You don't think Merlin was serious when he said they would serve beans, do you?"
Merlin's jest at Arthur's expense, however, proved to be just that - there was roast venison, diced tomatoes, drumsticks, three different kinds of bread, and an assortment of green, leafy things, but no beans. After the last of the dessert (chocolate custard) had been cleared away, the music and dancing began. Morgana hoped Merlin would dance with her, but he'd no sooner risen from his chair than he was surrounded by knights offering their congratulations on his engagement.
"Doesn't look like he'll be getting away from them any time soon," observed Arthur.
"No, it does not," Morgana agreed. "Which means I'll have to make do with you instead." She dragged Arthur onto the dance floor.
He escaped after the first dance, so Morgana headed back toward the royal table, hoping to extricate Merlin from his well-wishers. Before she reached her goal, someone else moved into her path: a noblewoman around her own age with a pale, creamy complexion, wide, dark gray eyes, and an aquiline nose that resembled a bird's beak just a fraction too much - the only thing detracting from an otherwise flawless face, which was framed by hair as long and thick as Morgana's. This girl's hair, though, was a lustrous, fiery red. If Freya had told the truth and Morgana was indeed the most stunning woman at the feast, this was clearly the one from whom she'd stolen that title. "Hello, Lady Morgana. I'm the Lady Sirenia of Stonecliff."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Sirenia of Stonecliff glanced over her shoulder at Merlin. "Not keeping you from your prince, am I?"
"No more than all those knights. I had hoped to dance with my fiancé, but it can wait."
"Perhaps you'll allow me to introduce some friends of mine, then?"
"Of course." I may as well occupy my time until Merlin is free meeting my peers in this kingdom.
Sirenia's friends were a pair of blondes named Lady Diana and Lady Karina, and a hazel-eyed brunette called Lady Amalla. Morgana was secretly pleased to see that these three, at least, couldn't touch her for beauty. Lady Diana was too plump, and Lady Karina's large, cow-like brown eyes and simpering smile made her look quite the dullard. Lady Amalla, while not ugly, was simply plain. As a group, the trio made for tedious company; Diana told Morgana when and where the ladies of the castle met to do needlework and then began prattling about her embroidery, while Karina and Amalla listened raptly.
Morgana's eyes had nearly glazed over from boredom when Sirenia suddenly asked how she'd met Merlin. Diana stopped talking the instant Sirenia's mouth opened, and she and Karina both turned their full attention on Morgana. "We met when he and his father visited Camelot, of course," she answered, thinking that it should have been obvious. "There really hasn't been any other occasion for our paths to cross, what with our kingdoms not being on friendly terms until recently."
"You've known one another for only a short time then, yet you're already planning to marry . . ."
"Ooh, I just love whirlwind romances," Lady Karina cooed. "They're so . . . romantic."
Sirenia shot her supposed friend a look of pure disgust. "This was no whirlwind romance, you fool!" she hissed. "Anyone with half a brain can see that this engagement resulted from our kingdom making peace with Camelot - Uther Pendragon knew he could not win once King Balinor had persuaded the dragons to fight with us, but rather than surrender unconditionally he took the opportunity to arrange an advantageous match for his ward."
Morgana realized she had underestimated the redhead; this was one noblewoman whose head wasn't filled only with air. The only intelligent woman I've encountered since arriving here, except perhaps Freya . . . and I find myself liking her less and less by the second.
"The one thing that is not clear," Sirenia continued pleasantly, "is why Prince Merlin gave in to the old tyrant's demands."
Morgana frowned, partly because her guardian had just been insulted - though that angered her much less than it might have once; she herself had harbored a few ungracious thoughts about Uther since he'd decided to marry her off - but mostly out of confusion. "If this was what his father wanted, what else might he have done?"
Sirenia, Karina, Amalla, and Diana all gaped at her. "Good heavens," Sirenia whispered, "you have no idea what he's capable of, do you? What he's meant to become?"
"He's meant to become king of these lands, I suppose," Morgana said warily.
"Oh, he certainly will be that. He's also the first person anyone knows of to be born with the powers of a warlock and a dragonlord in his blood. The ancient prophecies told us that when those magical lines united, the child born of their union would be the greatest sorcerer of all time. We all thought that if he ever married he would choose someone of comparable power, instead of which he picks . . . you? What on earth could have induced him to accept someone as ignorant and talentless as you?"
Morgana's fiery temper ignited; she may not possess powerful magic, but she wasn't useless. Nor did she think her lack of magic made her wrong for Merlin, and she said so in her coldest, haughtiest manner.
Sirenia merely arched her eyebrows skeptically over her malicious, stormy eyes. "Well . . . we shall see. Enjoy your celebration, Lady Morgana." She glided away, her friends - or followers - in tow, leaving Morgana fuming. How dare she!
"That went well." Morgana whirled around. There was Merlin, leaning on a pillar and watching her as if she had been putting on a show for his entertainment.
She stormed over to him, ready to vent her anger on the new target who had just presented himself. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough."
"Why were you eavesdropping on me?"
"That wasn't what I meant to do; I've warned Lady Sirenia once before to leave my friends alone and it looked like she'd forgotten, so I was going to remind her, but then I realized it might come off as defending you. I didn't think you'd like that."
"No, I would not have liked that at all," Morgana agreed. "Is my lack of magic really such a problem, though?"
"We haven't had a non-magical ruler in hundreds of years, and some people are resistant to change. Others just take any chance they get to stir up trouble." Merlin cast a dark look at the table where Sirenia was now flirting with five or six knights.
"Surely one woman cannot cause much trouble," Morgana said dismissively, wishing Merlin would take his eyes off the redhead; she didn't like him paying so much attention to another girl, even if he was glaring at her rather than admiring.
"She causes plenty of trouble," he snapped, "when she throws herself at my men, distracting them and making them fight over her." There was a barely perceptible note of warning in his voice - without saying it directly, he was cautioning her against engaging in similar behavior.
Morgana frowned; she might have flirted occasionally, but she never deliberately made trouble. Still, she was flattered that Merlin found her desirable enough to be capable of causing that sort of trouble. "If she is as bad as you say, why do you not expel her from court?"
"Because she's the daughter of the highest-ranking lord on my father's council," Merlin explained with obvious frustration. "Father won't offend him by throwing her out without a damn good reason."
Just then Will showed up, maneuvering between dancing couples to reach them. "Merlin, I think you should know Gwaine's found a new drinking partner."
"Who?"
"Prince Arthur," Will huffed, "and that bootlicking idiot Cedric - sorry, my lady-"
"No need. I don't think much of Cedric either," Morgana assured him.
"Right. Anyway, he won't cut them off!"
Merlin looked across the hall at the table where Arthur had taken a seat beside Gwaine, and Cedric was even now pouring them more ale. "This can't be good."