Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter seven: Be careful and good luck.
The Caerleon guards watch as Arthur's knights rode out of the courtyard, at a steady pace. Behind them Arthur walks along side Queen Annis, as they draw leave with the guards, Queen Annis stops walking and half turns to face Arthur. Her face serious, but her eyes are filled with concern and worry. Behind them Queen Annis' personal guards halt as well.
"Morgana has been devoured by hate," Annis warns, placing a hand on Arthur's shoulder. "Be careful."
"I will." Arthur answers.
"Good allies are hard to find." Queen Annis turns to watch Arthur's knights, her hand dropping from Arthur's shoulder. "I'd hate to lose one."
Arthur nodes and walks forwards and mounts his horse and joins his knights. Behind Queen Annis, her personal guards part as Merlin approaches, leading his horse. Queen Annis glances at him.
"Morgana's hatred knows no bounds," Annis speaks. "I fear even your great power will not be enough..."
"I believe you may be right, Queen Annis," Merlin answers, they both knew Morgana was looking for something and what ever it was, it held great importance and more then likely great power.
"But I can not leave Arthur unprotected..." Merlin continues. "It is my destiny to protect him as well as those with magic. Arthur is the once and future king... Magic is free in Camelot and Albion is almost completely united, if Arthur is to die, all that work will be undone. The lands will be thrown into war and chaos."
Queen Annis nodes. "King Sarrum would seek to strike Camelot while the kingdom is weak, Arthur has no heir."
Merlin sighs. "I sometimes wish my magic was still a secret... It far easier to ride into battle, when your enemies have no idea of your true power."
"Yet to battle from the shadows and to hide who you truly are, is no better." Queen Annis replies. "I was led to believe Morgana is ignorant to your druid name."
"She is," Merlin answers. "But those who follow her, know I am Emrys... She will not remain ignorant for long."
They watch for a moment as Arthur and the knights fall into formation and ready their horses.
"I wish you good luck," Queen Annis speaks. "May the fates be on your side."
"Thank you." Merlin nodes, as he pulls himself up into his horses saddle and rides away.
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Gwen stood preparing herself for the council meeting. Behind her, a maidservant was working, clearing away the dishes and tidying the room. As Gwen straightened her purple gown, she turned and watched the maidservant for a moment. She couldn't help but worry, this wasn't her personal maidservant. She knew a sickness had struck the lower town, only a couple of weeks ago.
"I most apologise," Gwen speaks. "But I didn't catch your name?"
The maidservant turns and bows quickly. "The apology is mine, my lady, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Rachel, I'm your new maidservant."
"What happened to-" Gwen begins, but is cut off by the chamber door opening.
Freya entered the room, bowing her head slightly to Gwen. "I must speak with you, Queen Guinevere."
Gwen watches as Freya glances at Rachel and narrows her eyes slightly.
"It's a matter of great importance." Freya adds.
Gwen nodes. "I am due to attended the council, we may speak there before the council arrive."
Rachel who had finished tidying the room, turns to leave. Gwen quickly clears her throat.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Gwen asks kindly.
The first time she had worked for Morgana had been incredibly stressful and she had made many mistakes.
"My papers for the council." Gwen prompts.
"Of course." Rachel answers, picking up Gwen's papers and handing them to her.
Gwen quickly takes them and notices that Freya is still glaring at Rachel.
"Will that be all, my lady?" Rachel asks, as she picks up the laundry basket.
Gwen nodes. "Yes, Rachel, you may go."
Freya watches her go, she knew Rachel was working for Jared. But without defiant proof, even with her high status, she couldn't call Rachel out on her treachery. She had been alone when she followed Rachel and as Gaius and Alice reminded her, that wasn't enough proof to expose her. She had the favour of many high working lords. How she gained such favour, Freya didn't bother to think about. A women could get many places by using the right means.
Gwen looks at Freya with concern. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." Freya answers, turning back to Gwen, with a slightly forced smile.
"You don't seem yourself today." Gwen frowns.
"I'm sorry," Freya sighs. "Last night... I left the castle."
Gwen raises an eyebrow.
"I discovered something..." Freya continues. "You need to be careful, Gwen."
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Ruadan rides through the snowy landscape, towards the Ismere fortress. His dark form a shocking contras to the land around him. The wind was cold and bitter, wiping up snow and ice from the ground. The sky is littered with grey storm clouds and Ruadan's horse shifts nervously, as he pulls back the ruins. As Ruadan glances round, a single howl echoes through the snowy land and Ruadan clicks and his horse sets off again at a steady trot.
Morgana looks up from her throne, as the doors to the hall creak open, sending a cold draft through the hall. As Jared approaches, his grim expression is clear in the low light.
"What is it?" Morgana demands, upon seeing Jared's grim expression. "What's wrong?!"
"Arthur is riding to Ismere as we speak." Jared answers.
"Impossible!" Morgana snaps, as she gets to her feet and approaches Jared. "I've had sentries posted at the border for weeks."
"He's approaching from the west," Jared explains. "Through Annis' lands."
"Why would he do that?" Morgana questions.
"He means to surprise you," Jared answers. "He will be on us in less than a day."
"Prepare for battle," Morgana smirks, moving past Jared. "We ride tonight."
Jared turns, watching her leave. The guards pull the doors open and Morgana storms from the hall, as the door are shut behind her, Jared turns and looks at the throne. Arthur's bane was real and as soon as they found it Camelot would fall. Albion would fall. And Mordred the dark could rise again.
A couple of hours later, Morgana, ridding a pitch black horse, leads her men across the snow covered courtyard and out of the fortress gate.
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Hey, I hope you enjoyed reading that chapter,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.