Hey guys! I'm sooo sorry it has taken me this long to update! And then that this chapter doesn't finish up the Gwen/Morgana segment. I finally just said to myself, "Whatever. they don't care if this segment wraps up this chapter or not. They just want an update." So here is the update. I'd like to thank morganaforever for pushing me to update, otherwise I never would have gotten around to this. Well, I'm sujre you'd like to start reading this chapter now, so, by all means, read on! And don't forget to review and remind me to update! :)
Morgana awoke to the sound of a rooster the next morning. Forgetting that she was in Gwen's bed, she rolled over, expecting to find the rest of her bed rather than empty air. Falling off the edge of the bed, Morgana landed on the cold, hard, wood floor with a loud thump. Growling in irritation, she hoisted herself into a standing position using the edge of the bed. Going to Gwen's meagre wardrobe, she chose the lavender dress that Gwen looked so lovely in. Slipping into it, she then put on the floral printed bodice, lacing it up in the front. Finding Gwen's brush, she started detangling her long, thick curls in front of the small mirror. When she was through, she huffed at her reflection. Her hair had decided that it wanted to be a huge puff ball. Muttering to herself, she dunked her hair into the water basin to bring back her curls and get rid of the fluff. Her hair sufficiently soaked, Morgana began to prepare herself breakfast. Having never cooked before, she hadn't the slightest idea as to how to go about this task. Deciding to take the easy way out, she grabbed herself an apple, munching on it as she hastily made the bed. Returning to the mirror, she tied half her hair back and, glancing at the sun, realized that she needed to be at the castle and awakening Gwen in only a few minutes! Quickly finishing her apple, she put on Gwen's white apron, grabbed her plum coloured cloak, and tied it around her shoulders as she walked out the door.
Arthur and Merlin stood at the castle's gates awaiting Morgana's arrival. As she came hurrying through the gates, aggravated with herself for being late on her first day, Arthur stepped in her path causing her to come to an abrupt stop.
"Good morning, Morgana" he said smugly, his smirk speaking volumes. Morgana rolled her eyes and sighed in frustration.
"Arthur, please, I-
"Sire. You are to call me sire." Said Arthur, trying to make himself sound as stern as possible, considering he was speaking to Morgana. He saw the fire ignite in her eyes, though he had to admit, she controlled herself very well, all things considered.
"Sire, would you excuse me, I must awaken the Lady Guinevere and I'm running a bit late this morning," she said as respectfully as possible, head bowed. She intended to prove to him that she was not the spoiled princess he made her out to be. She could deal with an arrogant prince. Arthur was, in fact, a bit surprised at her subordination, but he got over it quickly. It was only the beginning of her first day.
"By all means" he said with a hint of arrogance and superiority, stepping out of her way and motioning toward the castle with his arms. "I wouldn't want to keep the Lady Guinevere waiting." Morgana dropped into a brief curtsy before continuing on to the castle. He is such a royal prat.
Arthur and Merlin shared a laugh as she left them.
Morgana sighed in relief when she finally found the entrance to her chambers. The servants around the castle had stared in disbelief as she attempted to find her way to her chamber via the servant's passages, and she was glad to be able to get away from their quizzical stares. Opening the door, she was pleased to see that Gwen was still sleeping soundly in her bed. Walking over, she gently shook her awake.
"Gwen, you need to wake up. You have to have breakfast with Uther this morning" she said softly. Gwen's eyes fluttered open and she seemed momentarily confused before realization washed over her features.
"Good morning" she said a bit groggily, smiling.
"Good morning, sleepy head. You have to be at breakfast with Uther in a little less than an hour" said Morgana, moving to her wardrobe. Gwen sat up, chuckling, now fully awake.
"Running a bit late this morning?" she teased.
"Mhmm," Morgana responded, preoccupied with picking out a gown for Gwen. Pulling out her silky green one, she displayed it, waiting for Gwen's approval. Gwen nodded, getting out of bed and taking the gown behind the divider to change.
"Morgana, I need some help with this clasp," she called, trying to get used to the idea of Morgana serving her.
"Where is that girl!" grumbled Uther, sitting at the head of the table. Arthur, barely able to contain his laughter, sat to his left. Morgana wasn't kidding when she had told him she was running late. Suddenly, the doors were opened revealing Gwen, dressed in Morgana's emerald green gown with her hair down, followed by Morgana. Uther's eyes widened in surprise and he was momentarily speechless. With a nudge from Morgana, Gwen walked to the table and seated herself in the chair across from Arthur. Morgana grabbed the pitcher and filled Gwen's goblet, just as she had seen Gwen do for her numerous times before. Setting down the pitcher, she stepped back and stood, ready to serve Gwen whenever she was needed. Merlin caught her eye and smiled cheekily, receiving an exasperated eye roll in response. Just then, Uther found his voice.
"What is going on here?" he asked irritably, sitting back in his chair and looking straight at Morgana, who shifted her weight nervously. Her expression, though, remained confidant.
"My lord, I realized the other night how ungrateful I am. I have taken your kindness and generosity for granted, as well as my position. I want for nothing. I know I never will be able to appreciate all you've done for me until I've experienced life without it, so I've switched places with my maidservant for the week. Perhaps then I will be able to truly understand how privileged I really am." She paused, hoping that she wasn't milking it too much and that Arthur's horrible attempts at a straight face would remain unnoticed. Uther seemed moved by her little speech, but just for good measures, she decided to add the bit about Gwen. "This is also the perfect opportunity for my maidservant to learn how she can better serve me!"
Uther sat contemplating this for awhile. Perhaps this experience might change Morgana for the better. He would have to command everyone to treat her as a servant in every way, though, or she wouldn't receive the full affect. And her maid might even be able to better serve her afterwards as well! He nodded his approval, beginning to treat her like a servant already. Sighing in relief, Morgana curtsied, and Gwen visibly let out a sigh of relief.
Gwen was sitting regally in the chair Morgana always occupied during court gatherings. All of the nobles were in the great hall, listening to Uther's newest command.
"Morgana has made a decision to switch places with her maidservant for the week so as to better appreciate all that she has and to give her maid insight into how she can better serve her." Uther said, emotionless as usual. "You all are to treat Morgana no differently than you treat her maidservant. She holds none of the power or rank that she usually has. Instead, Guinevere, previously her maidservant, does. If I find anyone treating Guienevere any less than they would Morgana, the consequences will be severe. Likewise, if Morgana is treated with any more respect than her servant would be, the consequences will be equally severe." Immediately the people began to murmur. This was far outside of the social norms. Had Morgana lost her mind? The noble women, though, grinned smugly. They would most certainly treat Morgana as they treated Gwen, if not worse. They would do everything they could to make her life as miserable as possible for the next week.
As people were filing out, several of the noblewomen cornered Morgana. Soon they were alone in the great hall. Morgana stared at them, trying to keep the fire out of her eyes. She could tell these women were not here to be kind to her.
"Morgana," began Lady Arabella in cruel, mocking tone, "Look at you, in your maid's clothes. You have absolutely no idea what you've gotten yourself into, do you?" They laughed, sharing a secret together without words. Suddenly they became serious again and shot daggers at her with their eyes.
"Morgana, I need you to wash my gown for this evening's ball and mend my shoes by noon." Lady Katherine ordered. Morgana's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. She was Gwen's maid for the week, not their maid.
"I will need the same done, also by noon," quipped Lady Elizabeth, shooting her a cruel grin. What were they trying to do? Before Morgana even had time to react to that last deman, Lady Arabelle started in as well.
"I will require the same as Lady Katherine and Lady Elizabeth. Have it done by noon." She demanded, looking at Morgana maliciously.
"I am the Lady Guinevere's maid, not your maid! And there is no way I can accomplish all of that by noon! That gives me a little less than an hour to do so, and my mistress will require my attention in that time!" Morgana cried, angered by their unrealistic demands. Lady Arabella stepped forward.
"How dare you speak that way to noble women! How dare you question our requests!"
"My Lady, they are impossible tasks!" Morgana protested. Lady Arabella suddenly backhanded her, taking her by surprise and knocking her to the ground. Morgana looked up at her in shock. The ladies sneered at her cruelly before walking away, leaving her alone in the great hall. Standing up slowly, holding her hand to her burning cheek, she let a few silent tears escape her eyes, thinking she was alone. But Merlin had been watching. He came over to her side and laid a hand on her back comfortingly, causing her to jump.
"Merlin, you scared me! I didn't know you were there!" she exclaimed, quickly trying to brush away the tears and hide her crimson cheek behind her hair, but since half of it was pulled back, she found it near impossible to do so. Merlin gently ran the tips of his fingers over her cheek, causing her to wince slightly,
"Lady Arabella packs quite a punch," commented Merlin, a dry half grin on his face.
"I can't believe she did that! I would think she'd treat me better than she does Gwen, but instead she treats me like any other maid rather than the maid of the king's ward!" Morgana hissed, having fully recovered from the initial shock of what had happened. When Merlin said nothing, she turned to look at him fully, meeting his gaze. He had that sad look in his eyes, the one she hated seeing. When she saw it, he never had to use words to share his thoughts.
"You mean..." she trailed off as the complete realization hit her. "They can't be treating Gwen like this!" she cried, enraged. "She is the kindest most humble person I know! Why would they treat her like this?" She glared at Merlin, expecting an immediate response.
"Well..." Merlin began, unsure as to what he should tell Morgana, knowing how blind she could be in the defense of the innocent, specifically Gwen. "Maybe you should go talk to Gwen about this."
"I will," she said, turning around and taking the servant's passage back to her chambers to find Gwen.
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