DISCLAIMER: NOT MINE

NOTES: Sorry it takes me soooooo long! WORK ..Busy ..etc! There will be more soon! Thanks for the nice reviews, it means a lot that somebody likes this!

Works of Mercy

There was a feeling of unease Morgianna could not shake. She had watched Nimue's arrival from the wall and looking at the young woman from afar, she could not help but smile. The young girl she had once known had grown into a beautiful woman with wide eyes, blue as cornflowers, milk-white skin and long golden hair. Here features were not as schooled as Morgianna´s yet, so very so often her mask of calm would slip and show open feelings of delight and curiosity once she had passed the watchtowers and the gates. A part of Morgianna was almost saddened to burden her young apprentice with all the responsibilities she had carried for so long, but a part of her had grown egoistic in the short period since she had reunited with her brother. She felt her place was here now, by his side ….and not just to ensure that everything would play out as Viviane and Merlin had wished so fervently. Her aunt had given her whole life, her dying breath for this cause. And yet, Morgianna had long since begun to see Arthur and his knights as more than a means to an end. Viviane had warned her about this, as much as her reams had warned her. Once again she quelled the fear that looking at Nimue brought to her heart. If there was doubt in the young woman's mind about the position she was about to take on, Morgianna did not want to know. She was beautiful enough to tempt any man….maybe even the stalwart Arthur might be lured by all that beauty…

She could hear Bors and Gawain approaching her from behind her back, walking towards her and turned to face them.

"This morning finds you well?" she asked with a mild smile, watching Bors grimace at her with faint amusement.

"If your druids can bring men back from the dead, they might want to spend some time on coming up with a safe cure for my headache. " He grumbled. Still, there was something about their looks that told her, that the news of how she had spent a night with their friend had travelled fast. Morgianna chose to pay it no heed and followed Gawain´s gaze instead. The young knight's eyes were fixed on Nimue as she was helped from her horse by Merlin.

"Look at him, awake for an hour after a night of drinking, a few days since we decided to stay in this forsaken place and already Gawain is on the look out for a beautiful Briton to marry."

Gawain laughed, his gaze settling on Morgianna.

"You said you might help me find a suitable match." he said, shrugging with a roguish smile.

"Not her …." Morgianna said softly, the feeling of dread returning only to be squashed again by her pure will. "Trust me on this."

"She's one of yours?" Bors asked, nodding towards the yard where Merlin and Nimue were already immersed in a conversation. The young woman was shaking her head repeatedly, looking at her feet, obviously growing more distraught with every breath she took.

"Excuse me…." Morgianna whispered to the two men, walking swiftly towards the stairway. This time the growing feeling of wariness would not be silenced. Instead it blossomed in Morgianna´s chest like a cold, malignant flower until it was hard to breathe….

It took her a moment to catch up with Merlin and the girl as the walked from the centre of the yard towards a more secluded area, where Nimue could sit down in the shade. As Morgianna approached, they both fell silent. Nimue rose immediately, when her eyes fell on her mentor, bowing her head low. "Greetings my lady…." She whispered.

Morgianna´s eyes wandered from her to Merlin whose face was as unreadable as ever.

"Something is amiss." She stated, watching him with a calmness that did not betray the turmoil she felt inside. Merlin returned her serene, searching look for a while in silence. Then he took a deep breath and spoke. "I fear I will be forsworn, as will you. Whatever I promised you, it seems now that I promised you a freedom that was never mine to grant. You cannot rescind your duties, Morgianna."

Nimue stood by in silence, perfectly still like a rabbit trying to be overlooked by two big, hungry snakes. Morgianna swallowed, feeling her mouth going dry and her heartbeat picking up. "I do not see why. Nimue has been thoroughly trained by me. She is very capable. If it is fear that keeps you from accepting this office, child, I can assure you it is baseless. I was much younger than you when I wore the cloak of the lady for the first time. Do not fear, Nimue. I hold you in very high esteem, as you very well know and I will entrust you with my succession with all confidence that you are the right choice."

Nimue raised her eyes to Morgianna and there was an openness and defeat in her face that made Morgianna´s breath go shallow.

"I cannot …." Nimue whispered her eyes bright with unshed tears. "Forgive me, my lady, for I am not worthy."

Morgianna could feel anger stir in herself. She shook her head. "You speak nonsense, Nimue. You are very capable."

"But lacking none the less." Merlin said gravely, looking at the girl who lowered her head again. "I will leave you two to discuss this matter." He took Morgianna´s hand and for a moment his face became soft and almost sad. He kissed her hand lightly. "Find me when all is said." He added sternly before walking away with brisk steps.

Morgianna watched him go, the feeling of dread making her sick to her stomach.

"What is it, Nimue?" she asked quietly, looking at the young woman who still stood in front of her as motionless as a statue, as though the confrontation with Merlin had sucked all strength right out of her. She lifted her head, taking a deep breath. Her blue eyes still bright with tears she would not allow herself to cry. "I failed you, Morgianna." She whispered, looking embarrassed and inconsolable at the same time.

"I do not see how you could have …"

"Beltane…" she interrupted, wringing her hands. " The sight did not come to me since then."

"What are you talking about?"

"It seems that my ability to see depended on my chastity, Morgianna. You were gone, so I was chosen to take your place as vessel for the goddess on the night of Beltane. I can still see through the Hawthorn-smoke, but not as clear or vivid and true as I used too….not like you."

Morgianna could do nothing but stare at her apprentice in shock. This she had not foreseen.

"The true sight evades me now." Nimue confessed in a sore voice, as though she had been screaming for a very long time. "I cannot command it anymore; it will not come to me."

Morgianna remained silent, looking at Nimue but not really seeing her as thoughts and implications rushed through her head.

"The elders have agreed that I can be your stadholder, your eyes and voice behind the mist, so that you may stay at your brother's side as you promised. But they cannot abide you leaving your office behind. I can only be the lady in name. The land does not answer to my call; it does not recognize me anymore."

She let out a shuddering breath, finally giving in to the tears that were starting to flow across her cheeks. Nimue grabbed for Morgianna´s hands, holding them so tight it hurt.

"I failed you, sister." She sobbed, shaking her head in sorrow. It made the sunlight catch and shimmer on her honey-blond hair. "You who thought so highly of me, whom I loved so dearly…..forgive me, Morgianna. I did not know ….I had not foreseen, why did I not foresee this? Please forgive me!"

"Neither did I …" Morgianna whispered tonelessly, staring at the other woman. "Some things we cannot see, they are shrouded in mist. It is not your fault." Without even noticing she held out her arms and Nimue leaned into her, hiding her face on her shoulder like a scared child while her tears seeped into the cloth of Morgianna´s dress. She hardly felt it, one hand stroking Nimue's hair almost automatically while she stared into the distance.

"This is not your fault…" she said again, closing her eyes. The fault was her own, she realized. She could feel a coldness go through her, leaving her numb and empty.

She had made the unforgivable mistake, the beginner's mistake….and now not only she but all she loved might pay the price. Like an untrained beginner she had entertained the vain, idle hope that now that she had seen the future, she could change it. No matter how one turned the coin…..sometimes even the actions undertaken to change the flow of events was what would bring the foreseen outcome about. Sometimes the attempt to change the future was indeed the trigger of worse things to come. She had known and yet she had dared to hope…just like Merlin…that some things might be changed. But the dice had fallen and nothing any of them had done could overturn them…..

Long after she had sent Nimue away to clean herself up and rest, Morgianna sat under the oak tree, keeping from sight and watching the sky grow paler. How could she face her brother? What could she tell him? There was nothing to say …..

And to think that she had told Lancelot not to put his hope into idle magic that would make none of them happy …..Only to find herself at the same point. There was nothing she could do ….and yet, there was nothing he would not do …

The faint rustling of grass was all that whispered of Tristan´s approach." You have been missed." He said simply, watching her intently from behind dark strands of her. Events had shifted, she knew he could feel it, even if he would never breathe a word of it.

Morgianna turned to the knight with a face that looked like it was carved from stone.

"All is lost …"