"My lady, I beg you not to worry" Nimueh said as she sat on Morgana's bed stroking her hair gently.
"Why does no one believe me?" she asked. "I know it sounds impossible but I Know, I know that dream was a prophecy" she said.
"Morgana, your gift is one that will take years to master, what seems real and plausible to you. It cannot be real" Nimueh said softly, trying to reassure her.
"How do you know that?" Morgana asked, sitting up.
"Because of all the seers I have ever met, none of them have had a vision so vivid, so real, remember what I first taught you when your gift manifested?"
"That I should pay attention to those dreams that are disjointed, have no narrative" Morgana said.
"Exactly, those dreams Morgana, those ones will be the ones most likely to be of prophetic nature" she explained. Morgana shook her head.
"No, your wrong, all of you. I know something bad is about to happen" Morgana stated. "I just pray when it does you are able to stop it" she muttered, lying down and turning away, effectively ending the conversation. Nimueh sighed and looked at Vivienne.
"I will try to speak to her again" Vivienne said gently. Nimueh nodded and stood, leaving the room.
Gwaine was waiting outside, when Nimueh left the room, his features strangely closed. Nimueh looked at him, and began to walk away.
"Nimueh" he called. She stopped and turned to him.
"Yes Gwaine?" she asked, sounding almost cold.
"I know you have been teaching Morgana in the art of the seer, but I would suggest you do not ignore her warning" he said.
"And I Gwaine, would suggest you stick to your area of expertise and leave me to mine" Nimueh told him.
"When are you going to stop fighting me? And realise we are on the same side?" he asked.
"When you stop acting as if your knowledge is the be all and end all of existence" she said.
"I am trying to help!" he snapped. "you are too blind to your own teachings to see the possibility something may well be happening" he snapped, all pretence of patents gone. "You admitted as much to Uther, it could well be an even chance that she may be right"
"I did" Nimueh replied coldly.
"Then why the sudden denial? Why the change of heart to that regard?" he demanded. "Nimueh, I know I was gone for a long time, but I didn't believe for one moment you could be so blind to the possibilities" he said. Nimueh sighed and shook her head.
"In three days the princes will return Gwaine, and everything will be fine" she said. "Trust me" Gwaine shook his head as she turned away from him and carried on walking.
"I hope you are right Nimueh because who knows what the price will be otherwise" he muttered.
Night had fallen and the two brothers were sitting by a small fire they had got going, still the breeze was a little chilly, the heat from the fire only just able to stop it from becoming almost freezing. On the right hand side of it, Arthur stifled a yawn, while Merlin handed him over some food. Arthur took it without a word.
"You're welcome" Merlin muttered.
"What?" asked Arthur.
"Manners Arthur, doesn't cost anything" Merlin said. Arthur rolled his eyes and began to eat, grimacing.
"What is this crap?" he asked.
"Dinner"
"For the Unicorns perhaps" Arthur replied.
"Oh so sorry sire, perhaps you'd like me to go back to Camelot and whip you up a three course banquet?" Merlin replied sharply.
"I was only saying Merlin, no need to get touchy about it" Arthur replied.
"Sorry, I'm just worried about Morgana" Merlin replied.
"Maybe you should have stayed with her then" Arthur said.
"And let you face the wilderness alone? You wouldn't last a day" Merlin said.
"I would, I've been surviving on my own long enough" Arthur replied.
"Really?"
"Yeah, believe it or not Merlin, you are not the be all and end all of existence" Arthur said.
"And you are?"
"I'm the one who's going to be king"
"And I'm a Dragonlord"
"Well bully for you" Arthur said turning away from him, both men falling to silence. A few moments later he heard a rustling nose and looked back to see Merlin holding the Purple crystal, examining it in the firelight. Merlin looked up at him, and Arthur had to blink because for the briefest of moments he wasn't looking at his brother, but at something that was simply wearing his skin.
"What?" asked Merlin. Arthur rubbed his eyes and everything was fine.
"nothing" Arthur replied.
"You keep looking at me like that and I'll start thinking one of us has a problem, and its not me"
"I said it was nothing Merlin, just leave it be" Arthur said as Merlin replaced the crystal.
"Fine" Merlin replied as he lay down, looking up at the night sky, putting his cloak over himself for some warmth. Arthur did the same a moment later, then looked over to see Merlin watching him, before he closed his eyes and turned away.
The fire had died down somewhat and the two princes both slept fitfully, dreaming of war, chaos and death. Merlin inflecting unspeakable pain on Arthur and Arthur dreaming of running Merlin through with his sword while the land around them both burned. However neither of them awoke which meant neither of them noticed the soft purple mist that floated from Merlin's holdall the settle over the two princes. All either of them were aware of was that when they awoke the next morning it was on hair triggers and both of them heart hardened towards their opposite number.
"I bid you welcome to Camelot" said Uther as Sardor, back in his guise as trader bowed before him.
"Thank you for your generosity my liege" he replied, looking at Vivienne and Morgana who stood with them.
"Actually it was quite lucky I arrived" he said.
"Really?" asked Uther.
"Yes, if it wasn't for the timely intervention of two kind young men I would have gone in the completely wrong way" he said.
"Ahh, you must have met my sons then" Uther said.
"Your sons? Oh I was in true noble company, I must say I am grateful they took the time to warn me of the danger I was about to head into" Sardor said.
"And they were fine?" asked Morgana.
"Fine? They were teasing each other about some such, but appeared to be in high spirits" Sardor said.
"Not at each other's throats?" asked Uther.
"No. not at all, to be honest they seemed the type that would rather die for each other than attack each other" Sardor said. Uther looked at Morgana who seemed to relax just a fraction.
"Well, I'll see you have a space down in the market to set up for a time" Uther said to him.
"Thank you my liege" he said with a bow, then a smile for Vivienne and Morgana turned back to his wagon, before climbing back up to the riders seat and moving out of the courtyard. Uther glanced at Morgana.
"Decidedly not at each other's throats" he said, moving past her and back into the castle. Morgana watched him go, then looked at Vivienne, before storming into the castle.
"Already I can feel the magic working Sardor. Soon the princes will be the ultimate nemesis to one another, the king will weep and crumble Camelot shall fall and I shall have my beloved" Carrious muttered as Sardor slowly began to set up the cart in a relatively quiet spot.
"We must not be hasty however" Sardor cautioned. "One night is not enough for the Kalasta to do its work"
"I have been patient these past months Sardor, I can wait" Carrious said, stepping forwards from the shadows. Sardor grimaced and turned away from the other mans scarred half melted face.
"I still disgust you?" Carrious asked almost mildly.
"No.. not at all" Sardor said with an air of indifference.
"You do not lie well Sardor" Carrious told him. "I suppose it is a blessing it is not your affections I covert" he said.
"And what will the lady Morgana make of your appearance?" asked Sardor. Carrious grinned.
"There are ways and means" he said as he retreated back into the far shadows.