Title: Drowning In You

Rating: T

Pairing: Arthur/Morgana.

Summary: Someone is drowning young women in Camelot. With no motive and no suspects, Morgana must work out who the murderer is before she becomes the next victim…

There was a ripple of disquiet around the remaining group.

Uther's face was grim. "Let me know your findings as soon as possible. For now, no-one is to go anywhere near the lake." His eyes darted across the faces of his son and his ward, their servants and his guests. "Am I understood?"

They nodded quickly.

He turned back to Lord Bedworth. "I'm sorry that you've had such a poor start to your arrival here. Come, we shall dine in my personal chambers tonight."

Bedworth nodded. Morgana couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the man, who had somewhere in the last few moments lost some of his jollity. He even looked a little deflated. Still, he put on his best face and smiled, though the twinkle in his eye was somewhat dimmed.

"Of course, of course. Thaniel?"

Thaniel's face had completely shuttered, his expression inscrutable as he gazed at the dead woman pooling water on the floor.

"Coming, Father." He turned to walk after the two older men but stopped when Morgana still hadn't moved. "My lady?"

Morgana tore her gaze away from the young woman, (who could have been no older than Morgana herself) only once Gaius had closed the blank eyes. She sighed and took Thaniel's proffered arm.

But not before spotting the gold wedding band still glittering on the dead woman's left hand.

Dinner began quietly- everyone was too preoccupied with thinking about the young woman in the hall to entertain much conversation. Morgana fiddled with her goblet uneasily, wondering how to break through the subdued air that had overtaken them.

But then Thaniel complimented her on her dress (a new one Gwen had made up for her of midnight blue silk, studded with tiny seed pearls around the sweeping neckline) before lightly mentioning her home and she was soon swept away in the memories of her old life.

"And do you remember," laughed Bridget, "when you almost fell off the cliff at Eastleigh chasing after your dolly?"

"It was my favourite one. Mother had given it to me as a Christmas present." Morgana pouted and speared another slice of honeyed parsnip. "It wasn't very nice of you to throw it off the cliff edge, Thaniel."

The young man had the decency to look rather sheepish. "I was only six at the time. And I'm sure you deserved it."

"She normally does," Arthur said evenly.

Morgana kicked him beneath the table. The prince gritted his teeth and tried not to wince.

"You cried for three days straight," Bridget reminded her. "And then Father bought you a pony and you forgot all about it."

"I remember- little Shetland creature wasn't it? Piebald." At the other end of the table Lord Bedworth chuckled. "Feisty thing. Nearly took my hand off when we tried to feed it."

"Morgana or the horse?"

Arthur received another kick. Morgana merely smiled sweetly when he glared at her.

"I expect you miss your home, eh?" Said Bedworth, mopping up the last of the gravy on his plate with a chunk of bread. "Though the vassal Uther put in place seems to be running the place well. No doubt when you marry you'll return there."

"Yes, my lord." Morgana nodded, fingers tightening over her fork at the mention of marriage. "I will take up what was my mother's position as the Lady of the House of Gorlois."

"Would be better if you married a fellow from a neighbouring dukedom, then eh?" Said Bedworth pointedly, his eyes darting between Thaniel and Morgana.

Uther cleared his throat in the awkward silence that followed. "Well, we'll hold a feast in your honour in a few days time, you understand, when the shock of the incident in the Hall has died down somewhat."

Bridget clapped her hands in excitement, smearing cream on her sleeves as dessert was placed in front of them. She didn't seem to notice.

"Oh, how exciting. Will there be music and dancing?"

Uther nodded. "If you wish it."

"Oh yes please- there's never dancing at home anymore."

Bedworth rolled his eyes at his daughter's enthusiasm and waved his spoon loaded with thick apple pie in the air. "Bridget, the reason there is no more dancing is because you've exhausted our musicians. The poor men wore away their fingers with your incessant requests for jigs. I had to stop it before they collapsed under the nervous strain."

Bridget sniffed delicately and stabbed her spoon in the pastry crust. "One would have thought they would have been happy to acquiesce to my requests. They are musicians after all. What else do they do all day if not play?"

"May I request your hand for the first dance then, my lady?" Thaniel leaned in closer to Morgana. "That is, if the Prince doesn't mind?"

"Why on earth should he mind?" said Morgana casually. "Arthur dances as little as he possibly can, and certainly never with me."

"Really?" said Bridget, sympathetically. "Is it because you can't?" She lowered her voice. "Do you have a condition?"

"Yes," replied Arthur dryly. "It's called 'I hate dancing' and it strikes me down very suddenly just before public events."

Bridget tutted. "I don't understand how anyone can hate dancing." She swept her arms out wide, a trail of cream splattering out in an arc. "It's so invigorating."

Arthur wiped at the blobs of cream that now dotted his jacket with his fingers. "Clearly."

Morgana smiled into her goblet.

As the group began to retire for the evening and Merlin showed Thaniel and Lord Bedworth to their rooms, Gwen still hovered anxiously.

"Would you like me to show you to your room, Lady Bridget?"

Morgana shook her head kindly. "No, that's all right, Gwen. Lady Bridget and I have a few things to discuss in my room."

"As you wish." Gwen bobbed a curtsey and said goodnight.

"Does that happen regularly here?" Bridget asked as they walked back to Morgana's chambers. "Dead bodies in the hall and all? Must be awfully inconvenient."

"We have lots of things attack Camelot regularly, monsters and magical beasts." She shivered. "But nothing like this before."

"Sorry," said Bridget as Morgana pushed open her room door. "I've brought you down again. Don't worry though. I have just the thing to take your mind off things."

Bridget pulled her hands from behind her back and produced two bottles of wine.

"Bri! You sneaky thing." Morgana's smile fell. "But we don't have any glasses."

Bridget turned around and when she turned back she was holding two goblets. "Do not ask me where I was keeping those."

Morgana pulled a face. "I'm not sure I want to drink from them now."

"Suit yourself." The plump young woman sank down onto the bed, her eyes bright. She took a sip of her wine. "So tell me all the gossip in Camelot."

"And then!" Morgana paused to catch her breath, tears running down her face she was laughing so hard. "Then he says 'Destiny, my love. Destiny and chicken!"

Bridget almost choked on her wine and clutched her ribs, giggles shaking her frame. "Ow! Morgana, stop! My sides are hurting."

There was a sudden knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Bridget called cheerily.

"Arthur."

"Without chicken?"

The two women caught each other's eyes and burst out laughing again, even as Morgana stumbled off the bed and pulled open the door.

Arthur looked from one woman to the other and frowned. "Have you two been drinking?"

"No," said Bridget merrily, shifting the empty bottles under the bedclothes. "What a thing to suggest!"

She hiccupped.

Morgana giggled and grabbed at the door to keep herself upright. "Was- was there something you wanted?"

"No," said Arthur, a smile twitching at his lips. "I just wanted to check you were all right. The body in the hall and all that."

"I'm fine- we're both fine aren't we, Bri?"

Bridget nodded enthusiastically. "Of course!" Her hand that was holding her up slipped and she fell backwards on the bed covers. "I'm all right!" she called loudly. "Don't panic."

"Right." Arthur hid his smile. "You know, you're going to have a terrible headache in the morning."

"No I'm not," said Morgana haughtily. "Because I haven't been drinking."

"Morgana, you're drunk."

"Am not."

"Then why are you holding onto the door?"

"I am not. See?" She let go. And instantly fell forwards.

Two strong arms caught her and she suddenly found herself being held against Arthur's chest. Arthur's very flat, very muscled chest. She could feel the heat radiating from him through the thin material of his shirt. Unconsciously her fingers curled into the silk.

"So maybe I am a little," she conceded, her head spinning slightly. Had he always smelt this good?

"Just kiss her, you fool!" Bridget had managed to prop herself up again.

Arthur cleared his throat and hurriedly leaned Morgana up against the doorjamb again. "Well as long as you're all right. Goodnight."

He almost fled down the corridor. Morgana closed the door and Bridget pouted.

"Sorry- I didn't mean to make him run away."

"I didn't want him to kiss me anyway," said Morgana pointedly, flopping down on the bed beside her friend. "You're evil."

"Just a bit," Bridget agreed easily. Her voice turned teasing. "You know, if you don't want Arthur, who do you want?"

"No-one!" Morgana protested. "I'm quite happy on my own."

"Right."

"I am, honestly! I've got you and Gwen and a comfortable life here." She pulled out another bottle of wine from under the bed. "And alcohol of course."

"Of course."

The girls burst into giggles again.

Bridget propped herself up on an elbow, and raised an eyebrow. "So if Arthur had kissed you, you would have pushed him away and told him where to go."

"Of course."

"Of course."

Morgana caught Bridget's eye, blushed and shoved her friend. Bridget fell backwards again, giggling.

Morgana was helpless to do anything but join her.

"My lady? You need to get up."

Morgana blearily cracked open one eye. "What time is it?"

"Past noon."

Morgana let loose a string of words that turned Gwen's cheeks red.

"Sorry, Gwen," she muttered. "But you shouldn't have let me sleep so late. Did Uther ask where I was at lunch?"

"I told him you weren't feeling well."

She snorted. "And what did His Smugness say?"

"The Prince didn't say anything," said Gwen mildly, filling a bowl with hot water.

"Really?"

"He just looked rather self-satisfied. And then gave me this." She held up a tiny bottle full of red liquid. "He said it would help."

Morgana pulled the stopper out of the bottle, sniffed, gagged and put it back in. "I think he's trying to poison me. Did he say what was in it?"

"He said you don't want to know."

Morgana grimaced.

"He did say it would help."

"Fine." Morgana sighed and swallowed it in one go. Her face screwed up. "I am never getting drunk again if it means I have to drink that." She squirmed and then reached for the glass of milk Gwen had brought in. "Have you seen Lady Bridget?"

"Yes, she went to watch the knights training in the practice ring."

Morgana rubbed her forehead and groaned. "Did she look like I feel?"

Gwen came over with a washcloth, her voice only mildly disapproving. "No, my lady. She looked like she was enjoying herself."

Morgana rolled her eyes and pressed the warm cloth to her head. "I'm sure she was. Sir Bedivere was probably shirtless."

"Morgana!" Gwen was blushing once more.

Morgana brightened slightly. "What? I have eyes. And he is very pretty." She shared a smile with Gwen then turned and eyed her wardrobe.

"Now, which dress makes me look the least ill?"

Her head was still a little tender but Arthur's potion had done the trick and by evening she felt more or less human once again.

"My lady," said Thaniel, bowing in greeting. "Your maid said you weren't well this morning. I hope you're feeling better?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Good. You were missed at lunch." Thaniel smiled kindly and Morgana couldn't help the slight rise of colour in her cheeks. "I was wondering, my lady-"

"Morgana, please."

"Morgana," Thaniel smiled. "I was wondering then, in that case, if you'd care to go riding with me tomorrow. I hear you are a proficient horsewoman."

Morgana smiled at the compliment. "Of course. I'd be delighted."

"Excellent, I-"

"Morgana! There you are." Bridget wandered over and shooed her brother away. "I haven't seen you all day." She lowered her voice. "How are you feeling?"

"Better than this morning. How on earth did you make it out of bed?"

"Practice." Bridget winked and hooked her arm through Morgana's, drawing her over to a group of chairs lining the walls. "You forget I grew up with five older brothers. I had to make life bearable somehow."

Morgana smiled. "How was Sir Bedivere?"

"Deliciously half naked. Am I appalling you?"

"No," laughed Morgana. "But you did scandalize Gwen. I think she thinks you're a bad influence."

Bridget beamed. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me."

The musicians suddenly struck up the strains of a dance.

"I had nothing to do with it," said Bridget innocently, as Morgana turned to her with a questioning look and Thaniel wandered back over.

"Morgana. Would you care to dance?"

She shook her head regretfully. "I'm still not feeling myself. Forgive me, perhaps another time?"

"Of course." He turned to Bridget. "Come on then little sister. Let's go and dance."

Bridget pulled a face. "But I don't want to dance with you." The musicians began a jig. "Oh all right." She practically pulled him onto the dance floor.

Morgana felt someone sit down next to her. "Not dancing, Arthur?"

"Clearly." The prince crossed his ankles and leaned back lazily in his chair. "Though I could ask you the same question. It's not like you to refuse an invitation to dance."

She ignored the comment. "Why do you look like a wet kitten?"

Arthur frowned and ran his fingers through his wet hair, messing it up into little spikes and tufts. "I've been outside. It's what happens when it rains."

She rolled her eyes at his dry reply. "Doing what exactly?"

"Receiving the reports from the outriders that Father sent out yesterday about the woman in the hall. Gaius did the post-mortem this morning and he was right- she had been drowned."

"Has there been any information on who she might be?"

"No news yet, but several knights who've ridden to the outlying villages have yet to return because of the heavy rain. Perhaps we'll hear then."

There was a comfortable pause as they watched the dancers swirl by. Bridget gave them a little wave as she sailed past.

"Thank you, by the way," said Morgana eventually. "For the concoction you gave Gwen."

Arthur shrugged. "You're welcome."

Morgana licked her lips and tried not to fiddle with the folds of her skirt. "About what Bridget said-"

"Don't worry about it," he interrupted. "I wouldn't have done it. I would never take advantage of an intoxicated woman."

"And if I hadn't been intoxicated?"

Arthur gave her a strange look. "Morgana, don't worry, your honour will always remain intact around me. I wouldn't kiss you if you were the last person on earth."

Sir Leon came up behind him just then. "Sire, I'm afraid your presence is required in the outer courtyard." He bowed to Morgana. "I apologise, my lady. I will return him to you as soon as possible."

"Don't bother," said Morgana flatly. "I doubt I'll notice he's even gone."

What might have been hurt flashed across Arthur's face momentarily, but his cool mask was soon back in place. He bowed shortly and then followed Leon out of the minor hall just as the jig finished.

Bridget flopped down beside her in Arthur's empty seat. "Oh dear," she said softly, seeing her friend's face. "What has his Royal Pratness done now?"

"Nothing," Morgana replied flatly, swallowing past the lump in her throat. "And he never will. That's the problem."

"Morgana-"

She shook her head as Thaniel returned from the dance floor. "I've changed my mind. I would like to dance."

"Excellent." He smiled and took her hand as the musicians began another tune.

Bridget watched them, frowning.

"I believe I have to admit you may have won."

Morgana patted her horse's neck as a stable hand hurried forward to take the reigns. "Of course," she laughed easily. "I always win."

"At everything?" Thaniel raised an eyebrow, interest flashing across his face. "Will you let no man best you?"

Morgana smirked. "That almost sounds like a challenge, my lord."

"And if it were?"

She licked her lips, enjoying the flirtation. "Then I would accept."

"Then I look forward to being the one to best you, my lady." Thaniel winked and let his horse be led over to the far corner of the courtyard.

"We'll see," she murmured to herself. "No man has bested me. Or bedded me yet," she eyed his lithe athletic form as he dismounted from the horse onto the cobbles, "and I doubt you will be the man to do it. But we shall see."

Her smile left when she noticed the weeping man emerging from the castle and accompanying Gaius down the steps. Morgana dismounted and hurried over.

"Gaius?"

The older man shook his head. "Not now, my lady."

She continued up the steps in the entrance hall and almost bumped into a grave looking Arthur. "What's going on? Who was that man?"

"Ben Griffin. The woman in the hall was his wife. Emily. They'd been married a week."

Morgana shivered. "How awful."

A servant came to take off her riding cloak, and Arthur leaned against one of the marble pillars lining the room, arms folded. "How was your ride?"

"Lovely thank you," she breezed easily. "It was nice to go riding with a real man for once."

The arrival of Merlin cut off any retort Arthur may have made. "King Uther requests your presence in the Council chambers immediately."

Uther frowned and flexed his fingers across the tabletop. "Did she have any enemies? Anyone who might have wanted to kill her? Or hurt him?"

"No," replied Sir Leon. "According to her husband, Emily was very sweet, very kind. She was the village beauty but he didn't know any man who could have wanted to kill her."

"Could her husband have done it?" asked Morgana.

"It's unlikely," said Gaius. "His right hand has been crippled from birth. He would've had a hard time holding anyone under the water."

"But he could have done it?" she insisted.

"Possibly," the physician conceded. "If he was very determined. Or had help."

"It could have been a woman who killed her," Arthur supplied. "Perhaps they were jealous of her, or saw her as a love rival." He shot Morgana a look. "You know how women are."

"I doubt they'd be fighting over a man," Morgana scoffed. "Women have more sense."

"A pity you never use it then," Arthur snapped.

Morgana rolled her eyes. "It'd be wasted on your tiny mind."

"Well," said Uther pointedly, "if I may cut in at this point?"

Both Arthur and Morgana had the sense to back down, but still shot each other glares.

"For all our speculation, we still have nothing solid for a motive. You've told Griffin not to go anywhere I suppose?"

Sir Gawain nodded. "Yes Sire, he's staying at the Golden Boar in the town. I've told him that if he thinks of anything at all he is to tell me at once."

"Good." The bells began to chime for the midday meal and Uther stood. "You're all dismissed." He turned to Arthur and Morgana. "You two will remain behind."

He managed to reign in his temper until the last knight had left and shut the doors behind him.

"I don't know what the matter is between you two, and I don't particularly care, but you will do it in your own time," Uther exploded. "I will not have you bickering in front of the whole court. Camelot is supposed to represent a unified whole. We are a symbol to the people of unity and stability." He thumped the arm of his chair. "But you two seem hell bent on destroying that image with your snide remarks. You're both adults. It's time you stopped squabbling like children."

Morgana bowed her head. "Sorry, sire," she mumbled. She felt all of ten years old again.

"Sorry, Father. It won't happen again."

"It better not," said Uther quietly. He sighed. "You may leave."

"The last time he told us off like that we were children, do you remember?" said Morgana tentatively, as they walked down the corridor outside of the council chambers. "We sneaked into all of the guest bedrooms and put jam in the sheets."

Arthur smiled fondly. "Father was so mad he banished us to our rooms for a whole fortnight. And we weren't allowed any dessert for a month."

"And that time we put frogs in the water jugs. They infested the castle and the servants couldn't get rid of them for weeks."

"If I remember rightly, you put the frogs in the water jugs. I just caught them for you." He grimaced at the memory. "There was frogspawn everywhere."

"We used to have fun together, didn't we?" said Morgana, her smile fading. "What happened to us?"

"We grew up."

They continued to walk in silence until they came to the crossroads in the system of corridors. Arthur caught her hand as she turned to go.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Morgana's eyebrow rose. "For what?"

He kissed her.

Right there, in the middle of the hallway where anyone could see. His lips pressed wonderfully against hers. It was brief and chaste, but she suddenly wondered what it would be like to run her fingers through his hair.

"Consider that an apology for what I said yesterday. You're not the last person on earth that I'd kiss." The prince smirked. "I'd rather kiss you than Merlin."

Morgana rolled her eyes but a small smile was playing on her lips. "Thanks. I feel so much better now."

"Everyone feels better after they kiss me."

Morgana laughed. "Don't flatter yourself highness."

She only realised they were still holding hands when Arthur squeezed her fingers and then let go. She felt a strange sense of loss.

"I'd better go. Lady Bridget is probably terrorizing my knights again. That woman's a menace."

"You're just jealous she's only interested in your men, and not you."

"Well obviously," Arthur joked. "It shows poor judgement on her half."

"It shows sense if you ask me. Only the misguided fall for you."

"You shouldn't insult yourself, Morgana," called Arthur as he began to walk off. "Every woman falls for me eventually."

Morgana shook her head, ignored the tingling in her lips and walked back to her rooms, finding her maid airing the sheets.

"Hello," said Morgana cheerily, as her Gwen raised an eyebrow.

"You're in high spirits."

"I am, I feel very happy." She even managed a small spin when a thought struck her. "In fact, Gwen, why don't you have the afternoon off?"

"I couldn't, my lady."

"Yes you could. I can finish your chores for you." Morgana smirked. "And I'm sure you'd prefer to spend time with Merlin than air my sheets."

Gwen blushed prettily.

"Go on," and she shooed her out of the door.

Sometime later, as Morgana swept the floor, she heard something clatter against the stone and looked down just in time to see one of her pearl earrings roll under the bed.

"Damn." She knelt down and stretched her arm under, feeling around for her earring, but it had rolled further than she thought. She would have to crawl under.

"This takes me back," she muttered as she shimmied under, her fingers stretching out to pick up her earring. She was just about to inch herself back on her knees and elbows when there was a loud grating noise beneath her. One of the floor stones had moved. A childhood memory suddenly returned full force and she pushed at the slab, reaching into the dark hole it revealed. They had hidden something here…something important…

There was a knock at the door, and then it was pushed open as someone came in.

"I swear Arthur is so rude sometimes. He told me I was distracting his knights and had me escorted from the training grounds…" Bridget paused and took in the scene, eyeing Morgana who was still half out and half under the bed. "Aren't you a little old to be playing hide and seek?"

Morgana shuffled out from under the bed, her earring in one hand, a very old, very dusty leather book clutched to her chest with the other.

"Morgana!" said Bridget, feigning shock. "How scandalous! I didn't realise you were the type to keep dirty books under your bed." She leaned forward eagerly. "Has it got pictures?"

Morgana rolled her eyes. "You're terrible. And yes it has got pictures. But it's not the type of book you think it is." She flicked through the page until she found the illustration she was looking for.

"Morgana. What on earth is that?"

"That's what killed Emily Griffin."

Please Read and Review!

It's April Fools Day. The day of the fool. And as there can be nothing so foolish (or beautiful) as shipping a doomed romance - we know we're going to get our hearts broken and yet we cannot do anything but give them anyway - I thought I would treat us all to another slice of Ar/Mor.

Hope you liked it.