Morgana already rose before daylight, and the reassuring lack of rain against her window made her a bit more light-hearted. The sun was already shining in the east. However, when she glared trough her window, she saw the world still looked like a big swamp. Nonetheless, she preferred the wet, spongy ground instead of the endless rain.
She stood up and put on the same white shirt, black trousers and brown, leather boots as always, but this time, she also took her black cloak.
Though she'd never met a real vampire, she still found herself looking like one, with her pale skin and piercing, green eyes, contrasting her dark clothes and her raven-black hair.
"Already dressed, I see", Morgause smiled when Morgana entered the small living room. Morgana nodded and took an apple that was placed on the table. It wasn't much, but she expected she could impossibly eat much. The fact they would later on travel to Cornwall to hear what her Test will be, still gave her more nerves than she cared to, though she'd determined herself she wouldn't let them deal with her.
"Morgana, go to Tintagel and hire two horses. Make sure you're back in the afternoon. If we make haste, we'll be in Cornwall when the evening falls", Morgause said, and she gave Morgana some money. Morgana obeyed and went outside.
She breathed in the fresh morning-air and walked on the rocky and wet path that would lead her to Tintagel, a kingdom were Magic was in the air. It was more of a home to Morgana than Camelot had ever been.
In the meantime, the faint sun shone higher and higher.
After fifteen minutes of climbing on the nasty road, Morgana reached the highest level. Now she'd only had to walk one mile to the city, where she and her sister were known as High Priestesses, and no-one cared about it. A large number of Druids often passed by, to buy herbs or to rest in the inn, and it was rare to find someone in Tintagel who didn't practice Magic.
Sometimes, Morgana wished she'd heard from Tintagel earlier. Than she could've fled away from Camelot, without having to lose all her friends. But she couldn't change the past any more, and the present she was in now, was one she could live with.
In the city, Morgana rented two horses, like Morgause had ordered her to. It were two strong mares that could make the trip to Cornwall easily. Morgana chose the black horse to ride back home, and leaded the other by taking its bridles. It was an advantage the horses were used to ride across rocks, so Morgana had no problem to be back home in time.
In the afternoon, after the horses had drank something and Morgause had packed food for the road, they departed. Morgana felt a certain flush of excitement running through her body when she thought about what was at hand. She wondered if the High Priestesses would be surprised to see her back after such a short time. Two years ago, after Morgana had rescued Morgause in a nick of time from death, they had entrusted Morgause with Morgana's education and had marked her with the Triskelion, the sign of Trinity, of the bond between heaven, earth and the underworld (it was the same sign that was tattooed on Mordred's chest, Morgana remembered, though many years had past since the last time she'd seen the boy). The following days, Morgana had past in pain in Cornwall, but when the scalds on her shoulder were healed, she moved with her sister to Tintagel.
She'd always associated Cornwall with Magic, even more than Tintagel, and she had reason to believe so. Already from a big distance, Morgana could feel the Magic that was flowing there, as the same kind of sweltering energy that could also be felt on a warm summer day, when a storm was coming.
When the sun set, Morgana and Morgause found themselves surrounded with Magical energy when they'd reached a big and overwhelming forest, and the sisters knew they'd came at their destination.
"Nervous?" Morgause asked, when she saw Morgana's look.
"I'm not sure", Morgana answered truthfully.
She felt the mark on her shoulder burn and wondered if Morgause felt the same (she also had a mark on her shoulder, like everyone they would find in the woods they were about to enter). Morgause had told her the mark was meant as protection, that it would defend the bearer of it against basic spells, but when it hurt that much, Morgana speculated if it was really meant to protect her and not to torture her. However, the Triskelion must've felt it'd reached his source, because it hadn't burned that much since Morgana was marked with it, two years back.
The horses started to behave anxiously. Morgana's black mare snorted deeply trough her nose, and refused to go into the forest. As Morgana eyes searched for Morgause's reaction, she saw her sister had already been prepared for that, and had descended from her brown horse.
"They can feel the Magic, just like us. But they are afraid of it because they don't know what it is", Morgause explained. Morgana had to think about the people in Camelot, and felt angriness grow inside of her for some seconds, but eventually, she repressed those thoughts. Those poor animals couldn't help it their instinct told them something was wrong. People, however, were able to use their common sense.
They bound the horses to a tree and stepped into the woods. The dark forest reminded Morgana of the time she wandered trough the Forest of Ascetir, and was nearly stung to dead by a giant Serket. She couldn't deny she felt a bit scared and, after all, she was happy Morgause, who -as usual- was calmness itself, was walking beside her.
The forest became darker and each step Morgana took, seemed harder to bear. The trees came to be bigger and larger than they were before, until their roots finally appeared to be giant pythons, which Morgana knew from the books that were stored in the library of Camelot and where she used to pry into when it was raining or she was simply bored.
After half an hour, which seemed like a lifetime, Morgana literally saw the light in the darkness, being the thankful signal they'd reached their destination. The light of the fire grew stronger as they made head-way, and sooner than Morgana had expected, they'd reached a big, open spot in the forest, which was the place were the meeting would be held. Morgana was aware of the fact she wasn't allowed to attend, but she had the feeling she wouldn't get bored in this Magical forest.
They entered the circle, formed by about twenty women, all dressed in long coats and emanating Magic. However they all had different ages, Morgana noticed that Morgause was definitely the youngest to be present at the meeting.
"Welcome, Morgause", the oldest High Priestess spoke. The old woman had long, ivory hair and a very severe, though wise, face. Her name was Lyra, Morgana remembered from her last visit. How could she forget? Lyra wielded power that awed everyone and wouldn't be forgotten soon.
Morgause bowed for the leader of the High Priestesses, and Morgana decided she'd better follow the example of her sister. Morgause would usually be the last person ever to bow for someone, but if she showed that form of respect, it meant that Lyra didn't tolerate if someone forgot it.
"I notice you are not alone", Lyra spoke, with a scornful tone in her voice. Morgana tried not to look into the ghostwhite eyes, which fitted perfectly with her hair, of the old sorceress, but when she turned away, she only saw the piercing, curious eyes of the other High Priestesses -apparently, they indeed hadn't expected to see her- and that was possibly even worse, so she glared to her right side and focussed her glance on the tranquil face of her sister.
"Morgana is ready", Morgause said steady.
"Is she?" Lyra drawled. Morgause didn't answer, but stared at Lyra defiantly. Morgana found it incredible her sister could act so indifferent towards that woman, who -according to Morgana- only consisted of Magic. Personally, Lyra gave her shivers. "She only served apprenticeship for two years", Lyra remarked, still gazing into Morgause's eyes. However, Morgause didn't look away.
"Morgana is ready", she repeated self-assured.
"If she fails, you fail with her", Lyra pointed out. Morgana didn't fully understand that phrase, and she also didn't want to. The thought that it had been a very bad idea to believe Morgause's judgement, caught her and there was nothing she'd rather do for the moment than running away from that cursed forest and spending the rest of her life peacefully in Tintagel. But she didn't have the chance, as Lyra now focussed her glare on her, with her ivory eyes, vibrating with Magic. "Are you ready?" she asked.
"Uhm," Morgana realized she shouldn't doubt, "yes."
"Then why were you hesitating, Morgana Pendragon?" Lyra sensed quite rightly. Unwanted, the old woman had said something that instigated Morgana's frenzies, and with that also her rashness. Although she was unfortunate enough to be called a Pendragon, she didn't feel like one of them. Even more, she took it in bad part if she was associated with Camelot and the Pendragons.
"I am ready", she spoke, and this time with a lot more confidence and stubbornness.
Completely unannounced, the woman putted her bony hand on Morgana's black, curling hair. Instinctively, Morgana, who didn't know what has come over the woman, wanted to pull her head back, but a faint voice in her head told her she'd better not thwart Lyra.
"You've got a lot of Magic," Lyra whispered after a while, but still her voice sounded powerful and it still made Morgana tremble, "powerful Magic." She pulled her hand back. "But you are young and reckless. There is so much anger, and hate, living inside of you. Why?"
That was probably the last question Morgana had expected to hear. Uneasy, she shove her feet over the sown area. She was looking for Morgause's glare, but her sister looked straight ahead, clearly not wanting to make eye-contact with her right now.
"I'd expected the High Priestesses were aware of my past", Morgana said eventually, not sure if she'd chosen the right words, but also not longing to tell the whole story again.
"We know your past, Morgana Pendragon," ("Is she saying that name to make me angry?" Morgana thought bitterly), "for someone who is so young, you've already done great things, and the end isn't within sight. You are writing history, and you aren't even aware of it. You are ignorant as a little child." Lyra said it all at the same drawling tone, and Morgana felt how her heart sank into her boots and, at the same time, how rage took possession of her thoughts. "You won't take the Test."
Lyra turned around, to mark their conversation had ended.
Morgana had already opened her mouth to protest, but one warning glare of Morgause made her reconsider quickly.
"Morgana, hang around in the forest, stay close and wait until I return", Morgause ordered, whispering, but with surprisingly much hardness in her voice. Although a part of Morgana wanted to contradict her sister, she decided it was wiser to obey, so she roved away hastily from the circle of High Priestesses and started to wander through the forest.
Her hate was very justified, she found. In Camelot, she had known nothing else but fear, pain and sadness. In fact, how dared they speak about her like that? If such a great destiny was waiting, they could better start listening to her instead of calling her a child. Had she been looking forward to this visit, just to hear she wasn't ready? And why didn't Morgause step into the breach for her?
Probably, they were all talking about her right now; Morgana wagered that so-called 'meeting' was nothing more than a pleasant tea-party, filled with a bunch of gossips. Why wouldn't she take a look? Then she could see with her own eyes what it was what she missed.
Morgana walked back to the open spot, where a fire was still burning and the twenty High Priestesses were talking to each other.
Morgana sneaked carefully closer and hid behind the closest, giant oak. Of course, she couldn't hear what the women were saying to each other.
"Fágettan mid wordum", she murmured. Her green eyes flashed amber, and suddenly she could hear the whole conversation as if she was standing next to them. She was aware of the fact it was a great risk to use Magic here, but the odds they would notice were, however, very small. There was so much Magic flowing through the air that a simple spell could impossibly disturb the balance of the forest.
Did the High Priestesses thought that was reckless?
After a while, she had to admit the discussions they talked about were indeed rather serious, and because of that, even boring. Without really paying attention, she caught things like 'war with the Giants in the north' and 'the bond of Witchfinders has gathered in Scarborough to wage war against the Magicians'. It were things Morgause had told her sister many times, until Morgana had grown tired of hearing them.
It went on like that for a couple of hours. Morgana's eyelids became heavier and before she realized it, she was lying against the oak, half asleep, until she heard the familiar voice of Morgause who -surprisingly enough- hadn't said a word until now.
"I would like to begin to speak." Her voice sounded fierce and determined, and Morgana was awake in an instant. Immediately, she got the hopeful feeling Morgause would try to convince Lyra so Morgana could take the Test. "It's about Morgana."
Morgana turned around, so she could catch a glimpse of the sorceresses in the circle. She saw Morgause standing up and looking straight to Lyra.
"She can't take the Test yet, Morgause," Lyra spoke against he youngest of the High Priestesses in the circle, "she is talented, but way to rash. She will fail."
"I know", Morgause said. Morgana looked up, shocked. Had Morgause just decided Lyra was right? She knew her sister, and it was nothing like her to give up if she believed in something. "That is the intention."
"What do you mean?" Lyra asked, and somehow, she sounded a bit curious, for the first time.
"You had asked me to keep an eye on the boy, Merlin?" Morgause asked, though she didn't expect an answer. "I did, and I'm afraid the Bond has come into operation."
"Are you certain of that?" another voice, which came from one of the High Priestesses next to Lyra, asked.
"Yes", Morgause answered.
"How?"
"He's dreaming about him and Morgana being in love", Morgause explained. Morgana had the feeling as if her heart had just skipped a couple of beats. She pricked up her ears, even more observing than before, afraid she would miss a word if she wouldn't focus for a second.
"How did you do it? Have you been looking in the boy's dreams?" Lyra asked inquiring, as if the fact Merlin and Morgana being in love was just as normal as a rainy day in November.
"No, that was too risky. Some days back, I dressed up as a peasant and went to Camelot, where I searched in the court physician's thoughts. The old fool didn't even recognize me." The contempt of her voice shocked Morgana, but not half as bad as the words her sister spoke. She remembered Morgause had been away for a while, for a task she had to complete for the High Priestesses, but she hadn't asked for more information, as it wasn't something unusual.
"Well done, Morgause," Lyra praised, clearly impressed, "you've always been one of our brightest and most talented sorceresses." Morgause smiled, but not in the way Morgana used to know. Although she stood some yards away from them, Morgana could still perceive the coldness in her sister's brown eyes.
"It is earlier than expected the Bond has come into operation", the High Priestess next to Lyra spoke again, returning the subject they'd started.
"That's why I want to send Morgana out now," Morgause said coldly, "she isn't standing in our way when she's dead."
"She would've come in handy", another woman spoke, with a small hint of protest sounding in her tone.
"Not if the Bond will come into operation and she will cooperate with the boy," Morgause invalidated automatically, "we cannot take the risk. There are many ways to get what we want. Morgana shouldn't necessary play a part."
"And what if she would succeed for the Test?" another voice asked.
"That would surprise me, but like I said, there are many ways to get what we want", Morgause smirked.
"So be it, Morgause," Lyra said then, with a strong voice, "I've always had faith in your judgement, and now as well. Morgana is going to take the Test."
Approving nods rose from the audience and Morgana felt how her world collapsed.