Ch.5- Elixir
A/N: Sorry guys, I was hoping to start trying to post chapters on Sundays, but I got a little side tracked with Life…Sooo, I got the ten Reviews that I wanted, but I guess I failed to live up to the expectations of my readers…I want to apologize the failed attempt at a chapter, and all I can say is that I hope this one is better…
The second days' festivities were as lively as the first. Since leaving Morgana's chambers, Guinevere had been steady at work in the kitchens. She decided that if she helped out there and only to the feast to serve food, that she could kill two birds with one stone. She had no desire to be at the short end of Morgana's ire, nor did she want to be anywhere near Prince Alexander after the stunts he'd pulled. She also feared for his life, Arthur seemed quite adamant about her welfare…
Guinevere was ignoring him, and he knew it. Had she a reason to? Sure. He had come on too strongly, but he was a Prince. What he wanted, he usually got. He didn't understand her, maids in Kaparoe usually jumped at the chance to bed the Prince, yet she had refused.
It angered him to no end, and he had twisted his mind into believing that she was playing a game of hard to get. So he kissed her, and she still refused. He had found out that she was Arthur's personal bed warmer, yet he didn't seem to care, he only wanted her all the more.
She was different, this Guinevere. She was not of Noble blood, but she carried herself as though she was. She wasn't wiry like most maids were, no, Guinevere had curves and a bust to match. She tended to dress better too. She was intelligent as well; he could see it in the warm brown of her eyes.
He found it completely understandable how Arthur could be so possessive of such a fascinating woman…
"It is common practice for Princes of Kaparoe to sit in melancholia during a feast that is supposed to be joyful?" A voice questioned, bringing Prince Alexander out of his mental excursion. He looked in the direction of the sound and found the Lady Morgana staring at him with one of her eyebrows arched in what he assumed was curiosity.
"I apologize mi lady; it was not my intention to upset you." Alex said.
Morgana waved a hand in dismissal.
"I'm not upset; I just meant that you don't seem to be enjoying yourself." She amended.
"I assure you that I quite enjoy these festivities." He replied, his eyes scoping the room for any sign of Guinevere. All he found were the plain wenches, or so they all seemed compared to Gwen. He subconsciously sighed in disappointment.
"It's just not normal to sit while there is a room full of Noble ladies waiting to be danced." Morgana noticed his eyes wander around the room, as if looking for something in particular. "Is there something on your mind?...Or, perhaps, someone?"
"I wouldn't want to trouble your thoughts."
"It's no trouble at all, I'd love to help, and after all, women do tend to have insight into these sorts of matters…" Morgana hinted suggestively. Alex's head turned sharply in her direction.
"How did you—"
"Call it intuition." She said with a smirk "So, who is the Lady in question?
"She isn't exactly." He said looking away.
"Oh?"
"She isn't of the noble sort."
"Really?" Morgana asked, her curiosity now genuinely piqued. "So she's a commoner. Does she work in the castle?" She wondered out loud, taking a sip from her goblet.
"Yes." Was all he said.
"May I ask her name?"
"Guinevere." He replied.
"Gwen!" Morgana cried, unceremoniously snorting in her wine. The Prince of Kaparoe had a thing for Gwen? Well this just gets better and better.
"You know her?" The Prince was interested as well.
"She's been my handmaid since I was ten. This certainly makes helping you easier. Have you tried to approach her?"
"I did, but she didn't take too kindly to it. She brushed off my first attempt, and was rescued by Arthur at the second." Alex said, watering down the level at which he actually approached Guinevere. "I'd given up hope after that."
"Pay no mind to Arthur; he's been having his way with the serving girls for years. As for Gwen, well, she tends to be a rather shy thing. You can't be too forceful or she'll shy away. Take it slow, and try to make her feel special." Morgana spoke while Alex drank up all the information. "She'll be clay in the palm of your hand before the end of your stay, as a matter of fact, I guarantee it." Morgana mended assured of herself.
"How can you be so sure?" Alex asked not wanting to his time to have been wasted listening to empty words.
"I've known Gwen most of my life." It was true. "I consider," considered, Morgana mentally corrected. " her a friend, I think I would know her better than anyone."
Alex had to agree that she did have a valid point. "I see…Well, thank you for your kindness, and help Lady Morgana. I do wish you a good night." Alexander said, planting a customary kiss upon her hand.
"And to you too." Morgana replies. Alex nods, and turns to leave with his thoughts, the feast completely forgotten. "Oh, and Alexander…" Alex pivoted around at Morgana's call. "Good luck." She said with a smile.
As soon as he turned his back, one the most sinister smirks yet, crept it's way unto Morgana's face.
Alexander pondered over Morgana's words.
She said that Arthur has had his way with many a serving girl; perhaps he would soon release Guinevere of his claim. If Arthur did so, then Alex would be right there waiting oh too eagerly…But, Morgana also said the Guinevere was shy, if he wanted her(and he did) then he would have to play nice, and be subtle in wooing her.
That was the part that would inevitably prove difficult; Alex wasn't fond of the chase. He preferred his prizes hand delivered. Guinevere though, was worth it. Patience is the key, and victory will be sweet.
After Prince Alexander left the feast, Morgana told Uther that she would retire early, that she had a headache. Uther nodded and wished her well, before continuing his conversation with King Baron.
Morgana made her way out of the Banquet Hall, and pretended to head towards her chambers before slipping into one of the abandoned servant's exits. She pushed cobwebs out of her way as she felt her way toward the end.
When she reached outside, it was directly in the back of the castle. She quickly looked to see if anyone saw her, then began her trek to the darkling woods.
Morgana had been waiting a little over an hour in the specified clearing before she heard the snap of a twig, then a familiar voice followed.
"Sister, have you made it into Camelot safely?" Morgause asked, stand before Morgana with outstretched arms. Morgana quickly went to hug her sister.
"Yes."
"And Uther?"
Morgana's emerald eyes darkened at the mention of her father's name. "Eating out of the palm of my hand. Though Arthur is proving to be trouble. If Uther wasn't where he shouldn't have been, I would have been sentenced by my dear brother." Morgana finished with a scowl.
"If Arthur is suspicious, you should not have come, what if he saw you leave?" Morgause questioned, her eyes darkening a shade at Morgana's incompetence.
"He didn't, I'm sure of it, I feigned a headache." Morgana replied defending herself.
"It was still a very uncalculated move, this could slow down the plans." Morgause said.
"Ahh, but that is precisely what I came to speak to you about. I have brought news that will put into place out plans, faster than we anticipated." Morgana said with a grin.
"Is that so? Do tell."
"It would seem that the visiting Prince Alexander is fancying a certain maidservant of mine." Morgana informed.
"He has told you this?"
"He has. He also expressed his wish for her to like him in return, but he fool is afraid of Arthur."
"Arthur will relent, he only has to see that this Guinevere, is no longer interested in him." Morgause said rethinking her plans to accommodate this very welcome change.
"I hope that I am to assume that there is an elixir of some sort, to aide in this." Said Morgana.
"You are. When you return to your chambers, you will find it sitting on your vanity. You will give it to Guinevere, pouring in some sort of drink will be the easiest way. She must consume it all. Afterwards, the more Prince Alexander is around her, the more amorous she will become towards him. If Arthur sees that her attentions lie elsewhere, he will be broken." Morgause finished with a satisfied smirk.
"Are you sure that this will work?" Morgana wondered, not wanting to do something that might not work.
"If he is as smitten with the serving girl as you claim, then yes. We must strike his heart, for without it, he is but a shell of the King he could be. His defeat will be simple, and you Sister, will take your rightful place, permanently on the throne. Then you shall rule, as Queen of Camelot."
That seemed to both satisfy Morgana, and give her more motivation.
"Yes of course. Thank you Sister, I should go, the feast is nearing its' end, and there is no doubt that Gwen will be searching for me."
"Very well." Morgause said. "Do not forget Morgana, every, last, drop."
"Yes, yes of course. Farewell Sister."
"And to you too." Morgause said, before disappearing into the black darkness of the night.
Morgana had been waiting for Guinevere to return, she was pacing in front of her window that over looked the courtyard, before she saw a red blur in her peripheral vision.
"Gwen!" She said a little too enthusiastically. Guinevere looked at her in complete surprise.
"Mi Lady? Is there something I could help you with?" Always the cordial and sweet Gwen, too bad she was a nuisance.
"Yes!..No,well…I was wondering if you wanted to join me for a drink." Morgana asked.
"Oh I couldn't, I still haven't deposited your laundry." Gwen said eyeing the floor.
"Nonsense, you need rest, the laundry can wait."
"Mi Lady—"
"I insist."
"But—"
"Gwen."
"Okay." Guinevere said finally giving up, she made her way to pour the two goblets sitting beside the pitcher.
Morgana stopped her.
"No, I invited you, I'll pour, you relax." Morgana told her.
"I should—" Gwen started.
"Sit." Morgana said sharply.
And sit, Gwen did.
Morgana walked over the wine set, and turned so her back was facing Guinevere. She poured two full cups of wine, before discretely sliding the vial of elixir out of her sleeve, and slipping it into one of the cups.
"I wanted to apologize for the way that I treated you last night, I know you were only trying to help." Morgana spoke as she worked. The cup started to glow for half a second before returning to its' normal state.
"There's no need to." Gwen responded curious as to what was taking Morgana so long.
Morgana grabbed both cups, careful to hand the tampered one to Gwen.
"I think we should toast to the renewal of our friendship." Morgana stated.
"To Friendship."
"To Friendship." Gwen gave loosely. She didn't really want to drink it, but it was given to her by her mistress and out of duty and courtesy, she was obliged to drink it whether she wanted to or not.
Guinevere brought the cup to her lips, and began to drink the crimson liquid. Morgana watched her over the rim of her own goblet. Guinevere's cup slowly began to ascend, its contents deplinishing. As soon as she tilted it back for the last drop, Merlin burst into the chambers, almost knocking the door off of its hinges.
"Gwen!" Guinevere immediately lowered the cup, and then set it aside.
Merlin saw Morgana sitting glaring a hole into his face. "Lady Morgana." He said very curtly.
"Merlin." She replied in kind.
"Do you happen to know where I can find…Gwen! Oh thank goodness, I've been looking for you everywhere."
"What is it Merlin?" Guinevere asked concerned for her friend.
"Agnes wanted me to find you, and I couldn't, and I was so worried that I thought for sure that she was going to have my head. She wanted me to tell you to bring the laundry, its linen washing day, and she didn't see you bring any." He said.
Guinevere's eyes widened when she remembered what she had forgotten.
"Oh goodness, thank you Merlin." She said as she grabbed the linen basket, and very nearly ran out of the room.
Merlin gave Morgana a very terse nod and Morgana glowered. Merlin rolled his eyes, and followed after Gwen.
All Morgana could think of was,
Dammit!
A/N: was that any better than the last one? I tried not to make too many mistakes with the grammar… I know there wasn't any Arthur, and very little Merlin, but rest assure they shall be in the next chapter, along with Prince Alex, and little too friendly Guinevere. If you read and enjoyed please review. If you read, and hated, please review. Or if you simply have a comment, PLEASE REVIEW…Thank you;)