Comments: Thank you for your reviews and thanks Augustmist x
A few days later.
Morgana had struggled to keep her temper in check when in the presence of Uther, she hated him and she found it difficult to bite her tongue: one evening over dinner she lost the ability to keep quiet.
"I guarantee you, I will rid Camelot of magic – executing anyone who practises it, or associates with people who do!" his eyes sparkled with conviction and as if she could feel the noose around her neck, her eyes grew dark and she could not longer hold her tongue.
"You always have a propensity to destroy anything you do not understand!" As she replied to Uther, disdain was thick in her voice, causing Guinevere to shiver.
Arthur was not listening to Morgana but looking at Guinevere now and noticing her shiver, he sat up and paid attention to Morgana, her eyes now black with hatred.
Uther half laughed at her, "Surely, Morgana, your kidnapping only proves the need for destroying such practices, in order to ensure the safety of our citizens." He gulped down his wine.
Arthur watched as Morgana's fists clenched.
"The only person Camelot needs protection from is YOU!" She stormed out of the room leaving everyone astounded, no one noticed her eyes glow as she left. Morgana walked away hatred flowed through her veins and as she walked through corridors candles that were not lit, now magically illuminated her path.
Gwen recovered from her shock and went after her.
"I am sure, my Lord, Morgana is suffering from a great deal of stress from her ordeal," Gaius spoke up, having watched the whole ordeal from the sidelines.
"Yes, Father," Arthur added, "I know Morgana can be outspoken, but this is out of character – I am sure she will apologise after a good night's rest." He knew his father's patience was very limited and he would not tolerate such disrespect.
Uther's look of anger started to ease. "Of course, I am sure she has suffered a great deal." The silence that filled the air soon disappeared and the conversation continued as normal, if a little reserved.
Arthur fiddled with his food, concerned about what had just passed.
Gwen went to all of Morgana's normal thinking places and finally caught up with her as she stood on the east balcony looking over Camelot.
The maid looked at Morgana and another shiver ran down her spine, her friend of before was now gone and what darkness grew inside!
"My Lady?" she asked gently, approaching from behind.
"I am sorry Gwen; my patience for his hatred seems to be lost tonight."
Gwen went and stood by her.
"I know... Is there anything I can do to help?" She didn't know what to say.
"Kill him," her words so blunt and honest that Gwen felt sick.
"Morgana!"
"Sorry I forgot you do not have the stomach for such things," she said, her words void of any emotion.
"I do not know many people that do! Death is not something we should joke about."
Who is joking? thought Morgana, but she needed to pull herself together and not show the hatred that filled her veins. "I know... I think I am just tired, I need rest – it will all be better in the morning."
At her words Gwen smiled on the outside but her eyes swam with uncertainty.
"I will be fine...I expect an apology for my outburst will be due."
Arguing with Uther about such matters will not secure the completion of the mission, it would only arouse suspicion, and he after all will receive his just rewards.
"I am sure the King would appreciate it; he cares a great deal for you."
Morgana tried to muster a smile, but it did not reach her eyes.
Gwen stood in front of her, not sure who Morgana was anymore, she was definitely not the carefree girl she had looked after all these years, she was more distant... She often disappeared late at night. Sometimes Gwen felt like she had her old friend back and other times she did not know who she was anymore.
"Of course," Morgana replied after a pause, and walked back to her chambers, Gwen in tow.
Apologising to Uther had been very hard, Morgana hated every second in his company. Her eyes flamed as she left his chambers, walking straight past Gwen she entered her chambers and slammed the door.
Gwen didn't bother knocking; Morgana obviously needed time on her own. She did not come down for dinner in fact she was not in her room when Gwen came to see how she was...Gwen made her excuses for her and left for the night. Morgana obviously needed to think about things and she could appreciate that, sometimes being alone helped your mind to clear
The next morning Morgana asked Arthur to walk with her – they walked through town, talking. Morgana stopped and faced him, his attention however was not on her, he watched as Guinevere crossed the town square with a basket of flowers in her hand. Morgana looked out of the corner of her eye and didn't see anyone of any interest there.
"You pay no attention when a lady is talking, I thought you had more manners than that!" said, Morgana; Arthur looked back at her in surprise.
"I apologise, I thought I saw Leon," he quickly lied.
Morgana could easily see he was lying, she just didn't know why.
"Of course, you will join me for dinner in my chambers?" she asked, changing the subject.
Arthur looked surprised, so she continued hurriedly, "The King and I… Since the other day it has been difficult... I would appreciate your company."
"I gladly accept your invitation." At least he could spend some time with Guinevere as well.
"Excellent." She wanted to progress on her mission and so far all of her flirting had fallen on deaf ears. She had been surprised how unaware Arthur had been of her, he used to always notice her.
Gwen prepared the table for Morgana's dinner with Arthur, it seemed strange to her how much the Lady wanted to spend time with Arthur... It was not as though they did not get on before, it's just Morgana seemed to normally find Arthur's company tiresome, probably because they teased each other so much.
Morgana looked stunning in her red dress, she looked in the mirror 'this will get his attention' she thought.
Gwen suddenly felt very ordinary; she smoothed her purple dress self-consciously with her hands.
A light knock was heard at the door and when she opened the door, the way Arthur looked at her made her feel alive again.
"My lord," she curtsied.
"Guinevere," he smiled at her and entered.
"Arthur," Morgana beamed; she stood tall and walked over to him.
"Morgana," he took a brief look at her, and then his eyes fell back to Guinevere who was now pouring wine...she looked beautiful, she did not need the fine materials and fancy jewels, she sparkled from the inside out and this made her more beautiful than any other.
"The table looks nice." He directed the comment to Guinevere, rather than Morgana, and the maid smiled. He had to admit the last few weeks had been fantastic, he not only got Morgana back, but he had seen more of Guinevere and that always made him happy.
"Glad you like it, now please sit?" Morgana gestured for him to sit down.
As they ate their food, she noticed how Arthur would talk to her but his eyes would follow Gwen around the room. This surprised her and, from then on, she watched every detail of their interactions, the way his finger would brush hers as she poured the wine, how he tried to include her in their conversations...
The air felt electric with them together and Morgana felt like she was imposing on an intimate moment when their eyes met and she faced away. She was angry she had not spotted it before: the distant glances, the lack of interest in her advancements…
When had this happened? Had it always been so? Her initial surprise turned to anger and she looked at Gwen in a different light. In front of her no longer stood her faithful maid, she now only saw a traitor! Gently, Morgana spoke, her lips curling into a wicked smile.
"So Gwen, have you seen Lancelot lately?" Morgana knew it was a low blow, but couldn't help herself; this was not how it was meant to be.
In her surprise, Gwen nearly knocked a glass over and Arthur's whole body stiffened at the mere mention of his rival's name.
"No, my Lady," said Gwen, her voice a high whisper. At that, Arthur relaxed – but only slightly.
"I am surprised, considering the way you feel about him."
Arthur bent a fork back in his hand, desperately trying to suppress his rage.
Gwen turned to face Morgana, wanting to leave the room immediately.
"I think you are mistaken, my Lady."
She regretted confiding in Morgana about her initial feelings for Lancelot all those years ago. Arthur took a gulp of his wine.
Morgana's eyes were black.
"Oh come now Gwen, we are all friends here! I am glad you have found someone to love and he's very handsome too, even better!" The tension in the air could be cut with a knife. Arthur pretended to eat; Gwen fiddled with some dishes, her back to Morgana. What was she playing at?
She didn't need to look at Arthur to feel his distress; this conversation needed to end.
"Rest assured – I have no feelings for Lancelot." Gwen looked over at Arthur when she said this and he seemed to relax a little.
"Of course not." Morgana's eyes narrowed as she spoke.
The rest of the conversation was strained; it no longer flowed easily, like before. When the evening finally drew to an end and Arthur bade both ladies goodnight, Gwen started to clean up from dinner.
"LEAVE IT!" Morgana shouted, causing Gwen to drop the plate she had in her hand. It hit the floor with a resounding crack – and the sound somehow gave Gwen a little satisfaction. After the evening that had just passed, it was surprising, even to her, that she hadn't broken something deliberately.
"My lady?" she asked.
"Leave it... Off you go, it's late," Morgana said, trying to erase her outburst a moment earlier.
She needed to go and see her sister; this was not exactly how she had planned the evening to turn out. She felt so much anger for Gwen's betrayal of her trust, right now, that she didn't even want to be in the same room as her.
Before her sudden departure from Camelot she had become more distant, consumed with her visions and her growing powers, she had no time or inclination to know what ran through Arthur's heart. She should have spotted it, his concern over her kidnapping, the glances they used to make to each other, and she felt like a fool and very angry at them for not confiding in her, but also at herself, for not spotting it.
Her maid had no right to dream of becoming Queen; she should tell Uther and leave them to the fate of his cruel hand! She was sure he would not approve. But something stopped her; whether it was the loosely held loyalty she still had for her maid, or whether she knew that any hand she had to play in the matter would not secure the hand of Arthur. She needed help, and Morgause could provide that.
She walked through the forest, her green cloak swishing behind her.
Merlin had seen her leave the castle and silently followed, keeping in the shadows. He watched as she met with Morgause.
He listened on in horror as Morgana told her of Arthur's love for Guinevere.
"You must get rid of her!" Morgause spat her words out.
"There must be another way…" Although she felt betrayed by Gwen for not telling her, she didn't want to harm her – Gwen had been her closest friend in Camelot for so many years.
Morgause came close to her, whispering venomously. "There is no other way! No magic can change his heart; unless she dies, our plan can never come to fruition."
"I don't know if I can…"
"If you do not, Uther will reign on and the time of magic will never be upon us." She placed her hand on Morgana's face. "You know what you have to do." Her eyes glowed red and Morgana seemed mesmerized by her.
"Yes," said Morgana, any and all uncertainties gone from her voice now; she knew exactly what she had to do.
"Good," said Morgause, and Morgana turned and left, as if in a trance.
Merlin listened to everything. He needed to warn Arthur and Gwen!
The young warlock started to run back, he needed to make it to Camelot before Morgana, but he felt a sudden pain in the back of head and darkness took him.
Morgana stood over his body. "Sleep well Merlin."
Being left in this forest was not safe; she doubted he would make it through the night.