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Of Crystal and Rock

Not So Far Away

Morgana had erected a new little cabin, similar to her hovel and not as far away from Camelot as she should have. It was just outside Camelot's border up in Lot's kingdom. She wanted to stay hidden until she could figure out a new plan. How many times would she have to try and take over Camelot just to fail before one of her plans would pull through? How could it possibly be this difficult? She breathed a sigh and rested her head in her hands. Her long gorgeous black hair was still in its dreads and the dress she had been wearing for the past two weeks was dirty and stuck to her body. After some much needed tranquility she would need to find a lake to wash in. There were so many things she needed to take care of before she could start planning anything else. Her thoughts drifted back to the white dragon. Morgana had never seen a live dragon up close before. How had it gotten there and what was it doing? She hadn't even believed they existed until her magic came to her and that one dragon escaped and attacked Camelot.

A loud crashing noise sounded outside. She jumped up and grabbed the only sword she had, the one stolen the day she fled from Camelot. Morgana touched the knife that was fastened to her hip for reassurance. Silently she snuck to her front door and hid behind it. The crash sounded like hooves pounding on dry branches, cracking tree limps and dead leaves being crushed in its wake. When no other sound met her ears for a few minutes she lowered the sword slightly and waited. After a few moments impatience took hold and she pulled the door open. Outside her little wooden cabin stood a man in a hooded black cloak. A horse was tethered to a tree a few feet away. The wood creaked against the un-oiled hinges and she stood in her doorway, staring out at the person who just happened to end up at her doorstep.

"Who are you?" Morgana called out.

She had been expecting no guests after Helios had been slain and most likely Agravaine as well. Therefore she had no other allies to speak of at the moment. She eyed the intruder wearily as she waited, somewhat impatiently. Her nerves had been wearing thin in the solitude following her departure from Camelot and the loss of the only companions she had had.

The boy flips his hood off his head and looks Morgana straight in the eyes. The most piercing ice blue eyes she has ever seen meet her light green ones. Eyes she knows. Eyes of a boy she once knew.

"You," she whispers, "You're that druid boy I saved."

"Morgana, it's been too long."

Apparently that was the only invitation of recognition he needed. He makes his way towards her and enfolds her in his arms; she is too shocked to do anything but stand in his embrace. The sword is pushed away from them and Morgana sees he is taller than she is now. Had it really been that long since she saved him? Finally she moves her free hand and grips the fabric of his cloak and buries her face in his neck. It might possibly be stupid to trust this boy who has appeared out of no where after such a long time away. But it is nice to see someone who doesn't want to try to kill you or doesn't want payment or a favor or so many of the other things people always want. It's nice to just bury her face in his shoulder and receive the comfort it gives. Whatever he is doing here, it doesn't matter to her as long she has some company for a bit.

They pull away, "Come, you must come inside won't you."

Morgana hurries in. She doesn't have much, she only took the bare necessities she could carry from her hovel but luckily she had the good sense to take her teapot. Never know when you might need something hot or something to brew a tonic in. She quickly fills it with water from her barrel and puts it over the fire to warm. She fiddles with some herbs, picking out the ones she wants to add into the tea, mint leaves for flavor, rosemary to calm the nerves, and saffron.

Then a thought occurs to her, "Your name. You never told me your name."

"My name is Mordred."

"Mordred… it is so good to see you. I'm glad you safely escaped Camelot."

"I am glad to see you safely escaped Camelot as well."

"Yes I had some help," she doesn't elaborate that this help was a dragon.

It seems it doesn't matter as he already knows, "Yes Aithusa helped you I believe."

"The dragon? You know it? And how did you know that I escaped Camelot?"

"Know him? Indeed I do, he and I have become dear friends."

Morgana stares at him not exactly sure how to respond to that statement. He seemed to totally avoid the second part of her statement.

He changes topics smoothly enough, "I know you crave the throne of Camelot for yourself Morgana but so far you just haven't had the right allies to make this happen. I have been watching you, waiting for my time. I wish I could have come sooner but I needed to perform certain tasks before I could approach you. I believe you and I will be able to help each other immensely."

"I've taken Camelot twice already, no matter who my ally was I still lost it back to Arthur. Unless you kill him I see no reason why another siege would work."

"Then I will kill him."

Morgana took the kettle with a hot rag and poured the steaming water into two cups, adding the herbs and stirring it slowly. Her back is turned to him and she breathes in the aromatic smell, trying to figure out what he is truly after. She hands one cup to him and holds the other in both her hands. She studies him thoroughly through her dark lashes. He has jet black hair, similar to hers and just a touch of stubble on his young face. Morgana narrows her eyes suspiciously, "How?"

What made him so sure he could do something that countless people before him could not achieve?

"Excalibur."

"How will you be able to accomplish what so many before, myself included, failed to do?" Morgana wondered.

Mordred let a scowl cross his face, "I admit the task is a difficult one. I had hoped to come to you after I had already done the deed, bring you his head as a prize or peace offering, but I see I may yet need your assistance in that aspect. I attempted to lure him out to the border of his kingdom with a band of hoodlums, but it seems Arthur works quickly and has many knights to guard him. I didn't get close enough to do any damage, plus his protector was there."

"His protector?"

"Yes one of the strongest magicians I have ever seen, Emrys."

"Emrys?" Morgana yelped incredulously. She jumped up and strode towards him. At his baffled look she stopped took a deep breath and sat again. After a moment she asked, "You know who Emrys is?"

"Why of course," he responded surprised, "Don't you know?"

"No, I don't," Morgana whispered.

Finally after all this time she's going to find out who Emrys is. After all the times he sabotaged her, Morgana smiles as she realizes she will be able to exact the revenge she has been waiting for, for so long. Nothing else matters as she waits, more patiently than before. She had been looking for this answer for too long, even willing to pay with the enchanted bracelet her sister had given her. It had been eating away at her for so long; she couldn't believe she was finally going to find out who this warlock is. She met Mordred's eyes expectantly.

"He helped me escape that night as well."

"He did? Who is he then?" she demanded.

"Merlin."

"Merlin? Are you sure?" she asked skeptically. Merlin that sweet, loyal to a T fool was really an all powerful magician? It was a little difficult to believe. He did always seem to be at the center of the action but that was always where Arthur was so it never really surprised her to see him there. But then again he always did manage to get away unharmed when knights and men seemingly stronger than him fell all around. It was a bit of a shock.

"I'm terribly sure."

"That lowly servant? Merlin, the person closest to the king, has been deceiving him for the longest time. I cannot believe it. Arthur will be mortified when he finds out, he will be absolutely furious!"

Mordred nods slowly.

Morgana could already feel the plan formulating in her mind's eye.

"Don't you see? This is the perfect way to destroy him…"

"It is a good notion but how will you carry it out? And without proof will Arthur believe you? Believe it I mean."

"I'll have proof," Mordred says matter-of-factly.

"You're going to make him use magic in front of Arthur?"

"Precisely. That is where you come in to lend your aid. I'm thinking if you're spotted they will all come running to the scene. You are considered a huge threat to Camelot's wellbeing after all. We can have an ambush laid out for them. Aithusa will so graciously lend us his aid so we will most definitely have the upper hand. In the meantime I already have another plan in motion relating to Arthur's sword."

Morgana had to admit, she was impressed. Apparently he had been planning this out for some time. All the major factors were accounted for. Getting rid of Arthur's magical ally was the first step to success. Having the dragon would provide much needed manpower. Getting rid of the sword all the townspeople thought so highly of, would cause a rift between him and his people plus he would personally feel weakened. She could not find a fault in the plan yet.

She nodded, "It sounds like a good plan. Of course you will have my aid."

He smiled deeply, "Thank you. Excalibur is a magical implement whether our once and future king knows it or not. It derives energy and strength from magical creatures, and what is more powerful then that of the warlock Emrys who helped create it? We must separate Emrys from Arthur and Arthur from his sword for this plan to be completed. There's one other thing I would very much appreciate if you could do for me."

"And that is?"

"As I said I have been encouraging the outlying villages to voice their complaints about the bandits around the woods, about the bandits I have placed there for this purpose. I had an obnoxiously large group cause trouble around here and other areas to draw attention. As I predicted Arthur sent his trusted knights out to settle the peace. One of them shall be snooping around here to fix everything soon enough. What I would appreciate is if you could cast a suicide spell on him. If Arthur personally sees one of his faithful knights killed right before a big battle he will be disheartened."

"Morgause mentioned that to me once. She said they were tricky though."

"I'm sure you would be strong enough to pull it off. All you must do is boil the ingredients from this packet together and have him charge you the next time he comes into contact with you. If Arthur sees one of his closest, strongest friends get slaughtered he will be devastated and that much easier to destroy. If we can work out all these pieces everything will fall into place perfectly. Do you think you can do it?" Mordred wondered.

"Of course I shall be able to do it. What's in the ingredients?"

"I'm not sure about everything, I know sedative agents to calm the mind like lavender and humulus hops, cured furs from certain animals, and a bear's tooth. A druid made it for me," the teenage boy explained.

"Leave this part to me."

"I thought I'd be able to count on your talents."

They sipped their tea and chatted a bit more about Camelot, magic, and there scheming plans. By the time dusk feel they were both lost in thoughts and ideas, wondering how everything would play out in the end. Both were eager to get it under way and even a bit hopeful that they would really be able to destroy Arthur once and for all this time.

"I must be on my way now."

Morgana stood as he did, "You really think Arthur will disregard his friendship with Merlin because he has magic? I know Arthur absolutely despises it, but they have been friends for a long time now. How can you be sure?"

"I can't be sure of anything really, but I think the fact that Merlin never trusted him enough to tell will hurt him more than anything. We can only hope for the worst scenario to play out. Either way I think Arthur will cast Merlin out."

"When will you come see me again? To tell me of your progress and I of mine."

"Soon I promise you."

They walked out and Mordred un-tethered his horse from its post. The animal shook its head in pleasure of its release and stamped its hooves apparently ready to get going.

"Is that all then?"

"Well there's one more thing I shall tell you before we depart."

"And what's that?"

"Emrys had a dragon that had been helping him, but no more. He will be even more vulnerable than usual, for this I am thankful."

"How do you know the dragon is no longer helping him? And how did you even know a dragon was helping him in the first place?" Morgana questions as she holds the reigns for Mordred to mount up on his bay steed.

"There are many things I know and I know this because I have him trapped," Mordred says while a wicked smirk crosses his features, "Remember Morgana as long as we separate Arthur from his sword, he'll be ours."

With that Mordred kicked his stallion and Morgana watched the horse jump through the trees at a gallop with the young boy's cloak flying behind him like a tornado in the wind.

The witch had much to think about as she went back into her little cottage. She hoped dearly that she could trust this boy and that his plans really were as concrete as he made them sound. If everything worked out in their favor, a big wonderful change would be in order for Camelot and its people. Morgana couldn't help the chuckle that escaped as she thought about all the things she could do as Queen. She started some water boiling again and opened up the package Mordred had left her. As she shifted through the ingredients she made notes of all the objects. It did seem like a rather difficult spell to conjure up but she had had a good teacher so she wasn't too worried. She continued the brewing and took out a jar and vile to put the completed tonics in. Once they were completed, all she would have to do is wait for the knight to come her way. Waiting was such a boring thing sometimes, but when you knew what you were waiting for and what you would get when the waiting was done, it all seemed to be worth it. Morgana could wait a little bit longer to get what she really wanted. That wouldn't be such a terrible thing to wait for. Not at all.