[ Okay, firstly I'm SO sorry for the major delay in this chapter, and I'm afriad to say that it's not very good, since I wanted to get it finished so bad that I'm now half asleep, so if there are any spelling mistakes I DO apologize from the bottom of my heart. Sadly this chapter isn't very actiony, but it was essential that this chapter be here, as it implies an awful lot for the next chapters and possibly the rest of the story! (: So, the next few chapters will be gradually building up to a climax! :D The story kind of gets darker from here on in! :) I hope you all enjoy anyway! :) 3 ]
Chapter 7
"Night Terrors."
Verging in and out of consciousness, the blurring image of the silhouette of the four-poster bed slipping in and out of view, mixed with the dark images of slumber, some of Arthur, some of Uther- some of flames of bright swirling, almost blinding lights that blazed beneath closed eyes. Sound shuffled through ears, the faint buzzing before silence, slipping and swirling through slumber like a fish blubbering to the surface to a stream, before finally Morgana's eyes lazily pulled open. Blinking frantically to maintain her vision, the vision that would not come, her wide room blurred in a mass of colours and shadows. She bolted up the bed, feeling a sudden sickness wash over her, her cheeks flushed violently as her forehead burned painfully, she blinked and wavered between what seemed like a dream-like incantation, as the room stirred around her, the buzzing and swirling returning at a sickening rate- the sudden urge to vomit became very strong and the over-whelming heat that raged through her body was unbearable, what was happening?
Guinevere turned to see the Lady Morgana sat up in her bed, with an expression of bewilderment; her face flushed and sweaty as her eyes blinked slowly- looking as though she was struggling terribly to keep her head upright. Guinevere ran to her side before she pressed her delicate warm hand to the Lady's forehead, it felt so good- so refreshing; and cold, the sickness wearing off, but not for long. Guinevere's hand was removed quite violently before Morgana felt the gentle push on both her shoulders, before her head hit the soft pillow again. "Morgana! You're burning up like fire! Stay here, I'll go fetch Gaius!" Guinevere told her frantically, a worried glint in her tone, before she pulled the curtains around her bed. Of course these words to Morgana were more like a muffled buzzing; inaudible; it was so very strange. Unable to keep her eyes open Morgana found herself drifting between slumber and reality, it scared her but she was in no conscious state to want to worry, her faint dreams clung around the edges of magnificent colours that blurred and raged, nothing making much sense as the clouded dream world behind her eyes captivated her mind and body- before she felt another cold hand press firmly to her forehead, for a very short second the feeling of sudden cold was dream-like in itself, but it never lasted, soon the muffled buzz returned, but she was in no state to want to try to even listen.
"Fever." Gaius told Guinevere confidently. "Although, I'm not at all surprised." Gaius tutted, walking over to Morgana's medicine cabinet. "She was sitting in those soaking clothes all morning, I told you- that weather is not weather to be enjoyed!" Gaius complained as he rooted through Morgana's cabinet in search of something muttering something about 'kids these days' under his breath. "She has none." Gaius sighed, "No what?" Guinevere asked him, thinking she could perhaps help. "I'll need to go back and brew a new potion, I have none at hand." Gaius explained. "What's the potion?" Guinevere asked, her brows furrowed. "More of a remedy really, a keen mix of Chamomile, Cherry Tree and Sage, all to ward of the fever, and then some Chervil to keep the nightmares and hallucinations at bay- I expect she'll hallucinate with a burning fever like that." Gaius said with grievance. "You'll want to keep her cool. I'll be back later with the remedy, but keep her cold in the meantime, and open a few windows, its extremely stuffy in here..." Gaius tutted again before he scuttled out of the room and Guinevere went to soak a cloth in some cold water.
Meanwhile, Morgana was still drifting in and out of slumber, finally the blurring voices in her head stopped and a cool cloth, soaked in water was laid across her forehead, she feared that this cold sensation would be removed also, but it wasn't- it remained and it was enough to stop her drifting in and out of consciousness and allow her to sink into a sleeping-state.
Guinevere fussed over the ward, opening two of her bedroom windows, allowing the cruel and raging wind as well as the heavy rain to dampen the floor near the window, and true to his word Gaius returned a little over a hour later with four tiny potion vials. "I've made enough for two days, I'll make some more in the meantime." Gaius told Guinevere breathlessly, from walking up the long staircase. "How long will it last?" Guinevere asked, a worried expression on her gentle face. "Oh a few days, no more than a week- but then that nasty leg wound won't heel for another fortnight at least- but not to worry!" Gaius informed Guinevere with a faint smile. "I shall inform the King of his Ward's health, I suspect he will want to visit her, but I shall tell him she is well tended for." Gaius said as he walked towards the door. "Don't have yourself up all night worrying Gwen, she'll be up and healthy in no time!" Gaius said finally before he retreated back to his home.
Of course the fussing maid stayed the night, continuing to soak the cloth on Morgana's head with fresh water, she would occasionally pull her bedsores around Morgana's waist to keep her cool and then believe that she was too cold so she could tuck her up tight again. Guinevere constantly dampened the Lady's face with a cold cloth, sitting over her, too worried to sleep or think. Until finally; deep within the night she took a seat on the old red armchair at the corner of the room beside the window, to rest a while as her feet ached terribly from being on her feet bustling around all day.
Her eyes slipped closed unwillingly, she was so grateful for it, it seemed somewhat wonderful; the feeling of being allowed to sleep, the thought of being all warm in her bed overwhelmed her for a few minutes, the rushing rain battering off the window, still apparent in her mind. But soon another sound persisted with her slumber, calling her, begging her to wake-up. With much fight Guinevere opened her eyes, annoyance clearly gleaming in her pupils, before her face was washed of all bitterness and replaced with a panicked shock.
"Morgana!" Guinevere ushered as she roamed over to the side of the bed, still in broken slumber through drowsy eyes. Morgana however was once again caught between the cruel world of dreams and reality, she squirmed and tossed in her bed as the she muttered and squealed with distress. "Morgana!" Guinevere said again, more sternly now fully awoken. "No! No..." Morgana muttered as her eyes darted every which way, as though she were moving away from something, afraid of whatever it was. "Morgana!" Guinevere called for a third time, a hint of aggression in her tone. "You're dreaming!" She soothed, hoping that she would wake up, she didn't have the energy to pry her from her nightmare. Sadly she didn't awaken, as Guinevere stifled a yawn. "Morgana." She sighed, seating herself on the side of her bed trying her hardest to restrain Morgana from leaving the bed; she was ever-so defiant. "No!" Morgana persisted through gritted teeth as she fought with Guinevere, causing her maid to grab her by the wrists as she fought back trying to keep her in the bed. "No!" Morgana snarled aggressively, not caring if she hurt Guinevere, of course she wasn't in the right state of mind. "There's a fire!" Morgana explained, a tone in her voice implied that Guinevere would never understand. "I have to go tell the King!" Morgana muttered as though all of this nonsense were true. Guinevere's face broke into a smile as she shook her head. "There's no fire Morgana!" Guinevere said, trying to soothe her friend. "How would you know?" Morgana snapped back, not liking the thought of being laughed at. "You're just a maid!" She growled as she pushed Guinevere away and tried desperately to make her way from the bed, but her wounded leg was stopping her. Guinevere was taken aback by Morgana's cruel words, and she would be lying if she said she wasn't offended by them, even if Morgana was in a slumbering state, it still confirmed what Morgana really thought of her. "No Morgana!" Guinevere said, returning to her gentle disposition. "You must stay in bed, you're not well!" Guinevere tried holding her down, but she kicked and squirmed aggressively. "There's going to be a fire! And I'm perfectly fine!" Morgana snarled as she pushed away from Guinevere's hand on her forehead. "Morgana, you're burning up!" Guinevere sighed, clearly tried of the way Morgana was getting on- she knew she would work out of this nightmare in her own time. "There are people attacking the castle!" Morgana begged, her tone suddenly changed to a begging despair. "Please!" She begged. "Please! They're going to burn us!" Morgana pleaded, her eyes losing their harshness, replaced by a threatening fear. "Where's the fire?" Guinevere asked her like a mother to her child. "The castle." Morgana stated, not making very much sense. "Morgana..." Guinevere soothed, rubbing her forehead and tucking a strand of her raven dark hair behind her ear. "You need that remedy." Guinevere said, before walking over and unlocking Morgana's medicine cabinet finding that Morgana's violent period had stopped and she was now listening intently to her made like a puppy obeying it's master. She took out a small vial that Gaius had sent over earlier. "You'll drink this." Guinevere said, returning to her Lady's bedside. "Why?" Morgana asked with naive and innocent eyes of wonder. "It'll make it all go away." Guinevere told her, as though she were telling a bedtime story to a three year-old child. With one gulp Morgana had the vial emptied, "But there's too many of them!" Morgana told Guinevere her eyes glistening with tears; threatened on the surface but nothing more. "Of who?" Guinevere asked, her brows furrowing. "The Knights..." Morgana sighed heavily. "Dressed in yellow..." And suddenly she returned to her drowsy state, calming and easing back onto her pillow, muttering nothingness and exclaiming false truths before her eyes finally shut and she returned to her peaceful slumber. Guinevere sighed, before resting on the side of her bed, glad the strange hallucination had passed, Gaius had informed her she would hallucinate due to high fever, and those mixed with Morgana's dreadful nightmares wouldn't really end well- and with that Guinevere returned to the comfortable armchair, after placing the damp cloth on Morgana's head, and she drifted off into a sleep that seemed too surreal, the tiredness almost killing the fragile maid.
Guinevere's eyes shot open, and she was welcomed by daylight; seeing the candle on Morgana's side table had burned out. Shivering from the cold, Guinevere pulled her aching body off the red armchair, her body was pulled in all directions as her muscles twined and cruelly pulsed through her body from sitting in an uncomfortable position all night, she stretched before closing the window, the bustling wind and rain never yet ceasing. She was happy to see that Morgana was still asleep, lying on her side, with the blankets around her waist, her face washed of colour with heavy bags under her eyes- she did look awfully ill. Of course if anyone had seen Guinevere they would think she looked as equally ill, from the lack of sleep and the thought of having to scurry around all day pained her deeply, but it had to be done.
The worn maid went to cover Morgana with her blankets, feeling that her shoulders were freezing yet her face continued to burn like blazing flames. Through a yawn, she heard a knock on the door, and heavily dragged herself over to see who it was, but it was Gaius who had came to deliver the remainder of Morgana's medicine. "There's six there, I doubt she'll need all of them but just in case." Gaius told Guinevere as he moved into the room without invitation. "How is she?" Gaius asked, walking over to inspect the Ward. "Well..." Guinevere yawned. "She had a bit of an episode last night." Guinevere told him as she went to place the rest of the medicine in the cabinet. "Yes, well that was to be expected." Gaius told her as he pressed a hand to Morgana's forehead, finding that the cloth had rolled off sometime in the night. "It'll teach her for having early morning jaunts in the rain again." Gaius said without an ounce of sympathy as he turned to face Guinevere. "Good Lord Guinevere, are you sure you don't have a fever yourself?" Gaius asked, an anxious tone in his voice. "No!" Guinevere half-laughed. "No, I'm fine- nothing a nights sleep won't fix." She soothed. "Yes well, you won't be finding a decent night's sleep around here Guinevere, you need to go home." Gaius half-demanded. "And what about Morgana?" Guinevere asked, a playful glint on her lips. "I'm sure Uther can make arrangements..." Gaius told her. "I'm her maid Gaius, this is my job- I'll be fine!" Guinevere brushed off, directing Gaius to the door. "If you say so, but you look as though you're going to fall off your feet." Gaius complained, before leaving the room, allowing Guinevere to drop her false pretence, she sighed heavily, closing her eyes for a few moments, it felt so nice- she truly didn't know how she could stay awake all night again.
The maid trailed around the castle all day, doing what she normally would, half falling asleep in the process. She lazily assisted Morgana with washing and changing, as well as helping her to try and keep down some soup, although a bucket needed to be kept nearby and more often than not she needed to pull the mop out. Of course, it wasn't until she had gave Morgana her sleeping draught and fever remedy that she heard a gentle knock on the door. She opened it in the dim candlelight to see it was none other than the bright and happy Prince Arthur himself. "My Lord." She bowed, before allowing him in. "How is she?" Arthur asked, as he pushed a small bunch of white daisies mixed with lavender into Guinevere's hands. "Obviously the lavender is for some sort of calming, relaxing remedy..." Arthur lied, trying to stifle a small blush to his his cheeks when he say Guinevere raise an eyebrow. "Right..." Guinevere said, turning to put them in a vase, whilst Arthur took a chance to gaze at the sleeping Morgana. "Is that all you came for... Or?" Guinevere asked, she was never fond of the Prince so therefore she hated his company as it was often entailed with high arrogance. "Are you sure you're not the sick one?" Arthur said as he stared at Guinevere. "Why do you say that?" She frowned. "Have you looked in the mirror today?" Arthur asked, raising a brow- she looked like death. "I'm not that vain." She scowled. "Did you sleep at all last night?" Arthur asked her, as she tried her best to swallow a yawn that was slowly emerging. "Guinevere!" Arthur frowned, scolding her as though she were a young child in the wrong, a look of disappointment on his face. "Morgana wouldn't approve of you fussing over her like this, you know." Arthur said, folding his arms. "I'm her maid, if I don't take care of her, no one will." Guinevere informed him, through drowsy eyes. "Well- I'm the Prince so therefore I think I would be a good stand-in for you." Arthur told her, a playful smirk playing on his lips. "That sentence in itself doesn't make sense, you're a Prince, it isn't your job to take care of people." Guinevere complained. "I have to take care of a Kingdom one day Guinevere, I think you can trust me taking care of the King's ward for one night." Arthur told her, as he brought his arms around her shoulders, directing her to the door. "Give your father my well wishes." Arthur told her, before Guinevere stopped herself. "No, no!" Guinevere tutted. "This isn't right- no, I'll be fine- please, just go." Guinevere half-begged Arthur. "I wouldn't hear of it." Arthur told her, and Guinevere couldn't help but think there was a glint of sarcasm in his voice. "Please..." She half-smiled. "We both know you want to go home Guinevere." Arthur half smiled at her. "Fine." She scoffed. "But if there's any trouble, come fetch me." Guinevere informed him. "I'm sure I can manage Gwen, I mean- all I do is just sit here all night." Arthur said, throwing his eyes up in the air as he took a seat in the red armchair. "I didn't get this tired from just sitting there all night Arthur." Guinevere winked, before she showed herself out- happy to be heading home for a good night's sleep.
Arthur sat on the red armchair, gazing out the window, watching the wind swirl around and captivate Camelot in it's long and violent gusts, and as the rain swarmed around within, whacking off the glass window brutally- a night that certainly wasn't to be messed with, and he envied Morgana for being wrapped up cosy in her bed. Soon he dozed off in the armchair, as the candled flickered and burned, of course he could never drift into a proper sleep since this chair wasn't exactly the best substitute for a bed. Nevertheless he tried, and tried before he decided to ponder over to the table and pour himself a goblet of water, hoping that it might waken him up. But his eyes were averted to the sleeping Morgana who was tossing and turning in her sleep, whimpering slightly. "M-Morgana..." Arthur questioned, setting the goblet of water down and walking over to her. He heard her mutter words, some inaudible but some very clear, the more striking ones being 'Fire', 'Knights' and 'Camelot', all three of which not making sense in the slightest. "Morgana..." He nudged again, wanting to wake her from this cruel dream she was trapped in.
Morgana's eyes flashed open instantly, as she stared up at a bewildered Arthur, she was still again caught between the cruel the cruel world that was reality and dreams, causing her to bolt up in the bed as she stared at him, like a stranger. "No..." She muttered quietly, almost as though she were talking to herself- her eyes wide and full of fear and despair. "Morgana, you were dreaming." Arthur said, outstretching a hand to rest on her shoulder. "No!" She half screeched, squirming away. Her eyes wide, full of hallucination to the boy she did not recognize. "It was just a dream Morgana." Arthur soothed, but it wasn't just a dream, it was a nightmare, and both were very different- dreams were of fantasies of good thoughts and wishes combined, nightmares were a massacre of horror and pain, or dreadful things swirled in with dreams. Her eyes were fearful as they glanced to the window, her fever burning high she believed there to be an orange glow of flames shining off the glass of her window. "Fire." Her eyes gleamed, and Arthur heard. "What?" Arthur said, looking to where Morgana's eyes were directed. "What... No, Morgana." Arthur half-laughed, not understanding what she was going on about. "Here, I'll go get you some water..." Arthur sighed with a glint of humor in his eyes as he went to go fetch his water goblet, but Morgana stopped him with a single whimper from her pallid, pale lips. "What's the matter Morgana?" Arthur asked sympathetically, not knowing what exactly she wanted. He saw tears glisten in her eyes, as she stared at the window like a trembling child. "Huh? What's wrong?" Arthur asked her for a second time, walking back to her, but her eyes didn't move from the window. "Fire." She muttered again, making Arthur shake his head, as though he were tending to a toddler after a nightmare. "There's no fire Morgana, look." Arthur said, walking over to the window, and open it slightly. Morgana's eyes widened and she motioned her hands, whimpered and begging him to move away. Arthur closed the window again instantly, moving away from the window to get her to be quiet. "Now, what?" He asked her, moving back to the bed and sitting on the edge of it. She was now in a state of fear, wanting to tell him, beg him- but the words would not leave her mouth except for the odd whimper. "Come on." He told her, putting his arm around her, and rubbing her upper-arm in a soothing way. "Stop all of this now." He said in a chirpy sort of way. "Hmm?" He said, craning his head to look at her frightened face, she managed to nod but he knew it wasn't confirming anything- at least he was getting somewhere. "It was just a nasty dream." He half whispered through the candlelight. "But the fire..." She told him again. "No, there is no fire Morgana." He explained, but she nodded, half afraid of what he might do. "Now, do you think I'd be sitting here if there was a fire?" Arthur told her in a joking sort of way, but she didn't even lift the corners of her mouth to attempt a smile, her face still remained the same, in that fearful expression, as though she were a ghost of her former self. "And the Knights..." She whispered again. "Are all tucked up in bed." Arthur said, finishing her sentence, but she shook her head. "The Knights in yellow and black." She muttered, making his brows furrow. "We'll have to keep you away from the library Morgana, honestly..." He said throwing his eyes in the air, trying to lighten the mood, but she wasn't budging. "Come on, lets be getting back to sleep." He told her, pushing her back on the pillow, her eyes still wide and fearful. "It's alright Morgana." He ushered. "I'm not going anywhere." He explained as he brought the blankets around her, before he retreated back to his red armchair, drawing the curtains around the windows so she could no longer see outside and the 'burning flames' that she claimed were so real, Thankfully the next time he looked at her, her eyes were closed which gave him permission to close his own.
The next morning he was abruptly awoken by a knock on the door, he opened his eyes drowsily, going over to the door to answer as he yawned to see Gaius standing on the threshold. "Arthur!" Gaius belted in shock. "Good morning to you too..." Arthur yawned, stepping back from the door allowing Gaius through. "What're you doing here, where's Gwen?" Gaius asked as he scuttled in and to Morgana's bedside. "Gave her the night off..." Arthur said through a stretch as Gaius pressed his hand to Morgana's forehead. "Her fever isn't as bad, thankfully." He sighed, before looking to Arthur. "Anymore episodes?" Gaius asked him. "She did wake up at one point, rattling on about fire." Arthur explained as he retreated back to the armchair. "Typical hallucination symptoms." Gaius nodded, more to himself. "What do you mean?" Arthur asked him. "Well, she was obviously burning up- her body reaching extreme hot temperature due to the fever, so she believed to see flames- see the connection?" Giaus explained, but Arthur was barely listening. "Hmm... Yeah..." He muttered, falling asleep again. Giaus rolled his eyes, before he told Arthur that he was needed in the thrown room by his father, he persisted, but finally got up and left- when one Guinevere appeared again with a wide, healthy smile. "Everything alright?" She asked, as she set her things done. "You look a lot better." Gaius smiled, setting down a book he was studying. "But Arthur just left." Gaius explained. "And how was Morgana?" Guinevere asked, the worry turning to her face. "Oh, apparently another hallucination about fire..." Gaius informed her, not at all bothered or worried. "That's funny- she was imagining fire when I was here the other night too..." She said, looking confused. "Well, as I was saying to Arthur- it was because he body temperature was so high, that she imagined flames, see the con-" "Right..." Guinevere cut him off, going to soak a cloth, whilst Gaius rolled his eyes at no one wanting to hear his wise knowledge. "But she was going on about Knights the other night too- in yellow..." Guinevere told him, as she soaked the cloth. "Really?" Gaius questioned. "Yes, suspect it was just some sort of a dream..." Guinevere brushed off, as Giaus lifted his book. "Yes..." Gaius said, a hint of confusion and worry in his eyes, before he told Guinevere he would see her later- and he left.