Mithian brushed her hair slowly, thinking to herself that Merlin was still tied to that—that, well, she couldn't think of a polite term, and she wasn't going to call that—that thing a woman, so she could not go to him and tell him how brave he was for doing what he was doing for Arthur.
He had looked guilty after he slapped Morgana—guilty!
She wished she could tell him what she would do to the conniving bitch if she had the chance.
Morgana had brought Nemeth and Camelot to the brink of war, seemingly just so she could unleash some kind of calamity on her own people without Arthur and Merlin there to stop it.
And, Morgana had discredited her brothers-in-laws as regents, and now Mithian would probably have to be regent herself.
How ironic was it, that by trying to steal her brother's crown, the evil woman had foisted an unwanted crown on Mithian by accident?
"Maybe she did use magic," Mithian said.
"What, my lady?" her maid Elsa asked.
"Morgana. If she used magic to convince the regents to come to Camelot, perhaps Thano and Buri can still fulfill their duties," Mithian said.
"After being duped by a sorcerer?" Elsa asked doubtfully.
"Uther married a troll, and people still followed his orders," Mithian said.
Elsa giggled. In spite of Nemeth and Camelot's good relations lately, the songs about that marriage had bounced off of tavern walls for years—and probably would still be sung a hundred years from now. Mithian felt hope again. Perhaps she could ask Morgana for some kind of proof she had used magic—Merlin would make Morgana help her.
Mithian had Elsa put her hair back up and thought about what she was doing. Morgana had tried to stab Merlin earlier today. Perhaps what she was about to do would put Merlin in danger again. She wouldn't be able to bear putting Merlin in danger—but she had to take the chance.
"Thank you," she murmured to Elsa. She rose and went to the room that had been made up for Merlin and Morgana.
The thought of Merlin and Morgana sharing the same bed made Mithian's skin crawl. In spite of their obvious hatred for each other, or maybe because of it, Mithian had been forced to confront the fact that Morgana knew Merlin much better than she did…there was a certain intimacy in their conversations which set Mithian's teeth on edge. They seemed to have shared so many things—secrets, alliances, magic, betrayal. Suddenly whatever tenuous connection Mithian had forged with Merlin seemed thin and fragile.
What was with Merlin and his penchant for spending all his time with beautiful goddess types?
Mithian tried to empty her face of all concern and jealousy—tried to make her expression a blank—and then knocked gently on the door.
At first she was refused entry, but eventually Merlin heard her voice and he called out that she should be allowed to come in. She walked in and saw a strange tableau. Merlin was sitting cross-legged on one side of the bed, and Morgana was lying with her back to him on her side. Merlin's hand was still tied to Morgana's, and rested on Morgana's hip in an ugly parody of intimacy. There was a knight stationed on either side of the bed, and two outside the door.
"Princess Mithian," Merlin said, his voice deliberately distant. Mithian nodded, understanding that Merlin hoped Morgana would not notice any friendship or affection between the two of them. Mithian understood. If Morgana should get out of this situation somehow, she didn't want to be a target for Morgana's revenge.
"Merlin. I would like to question the lady Morgana about something, if I may," Mithian said.
"Of course," Merlin said. "I can't vouch for whether or not she will tell you the truth."
"Don't you know any spells to make sure I am telling the truth?" Morgana asked.
"Oh, yeah, I suppose I do. Would you like me to do one?" he asked Mithian.
She nodded.
He mumbled something in the old tongue and his eyes flamed.
"How did you get Agravaine to join your cause?" Merlin asked.
"The truth about Nimueh and Uther's deal, and the promise he could marry me when I was Queen," Morgana said.
Merlin laughed softly. "I think the spell is working. She'd never have admitted the promised marriage otherwise."
"I never would have married him. Power shared is power halved," she said.
Mithian looked at Morgana, then at Merlin. "You could ask her what she's planning for Camelot now, couldn't you."
"You're clever. Merlin already knows what was in store," Morgana said. "Ask your question. It has to do with what happened in Nemeth, I suppose?"
"Yes," Mithian said. "Did you use magic to convince my brother-in-law to come to Camelot to help you?"
"No. I thought I might have to, but it turned out a pretty face and a few well-cried tears were enough to completely turn their heads. I must mention that your sisters were fully on board with the plan, too. Not a good showing for Nemeth, I'm afraid," she said.
"Oh, thank you for telling me," Mithian said faintly.
"You didn't want to discredit them?" Morgana asked. She looked surprised, and Mithian realized that the woman bore her no ill will and probably would have told her the truth in any case.
"I think they might make me regent if Thano and Buri are forced out of the job."
"Don't you want to be regent?" Morgana asked.
"I really don't," Mithian said, smiling faintly.
"I heard you could have been queen but turned it down. I didn't believe it," Morgana said.
"Not everyone is a power-hungry harpy," Merlin said.
"I only want what's mine," Morgana said evenly.
"Thank you. I will leave you now," Mithian said, turning around.
"Why not lie?" Morgana called to her.
She turned around. "Tell my nephew that you used a spell to entice them to come here? But I know it to be untrue, as do Merlin and these knights."
"No one would tell. Merlin tells me I shall die as soon as I return to Camelot, and you can make knights swear vows of silence. Merlin is your friend and would do as you ask. Don't do anything you don't want to do," Morgana said.
Mithian smiled sadly. "I cannot lie to Donal. What they did was foolish, and it nearly brought our nations to war. I would sooner find another regent to replace me than allow them to continue."
"I suppose then you will be held in bondage by your own sense of duty," Morgana said lightly. She glanced at her own wrist, tied to Merlin's, and smiled. "I suppose there are worse kinds of bondage."
Mithian nodded and tried again to leave. Morgana stopped her again, saying her name. She paused once more. "Did you need something?" she asked.
"Merlin promised me something, before, but I want you to witness his promise. I don't trust him. He is no knight, and his word is worth nothing. He might keep his word if he makes his promise in front of you, my lady," Morgana said.
Merlin looked at Morgana. "I meant what I said," he said.
"Swear it in front of these knights and your friend," Morgana said.
"I promise you that you will not burn. I'll kill you myself before I allow Arthur to place you on a pyre and light you on fire," Merlin said.
"Thank you," Morgana said.
Mithian finally was allowed to leave the room.
Morgana had been surprisingly sympathetic. If Mithian hadn't known Morgana's true character, and what she was capable of, she might have gone to Arthur and begged him to reconsider his plans to execute his sister. But she did know who Morgana was, and she could not bring herself to feel sorry for the woman.
Mithian wished she hadn't gone to speak to her. She'd only found out things she didn't want to know, and she'd seen again how close Morgana and Merlin really were...tied together by hatred. He knew Morgana's deepest fear—to burn for witchcraft. He knew it because he probably shared it. He would keep her contained until Arthur was ready to kill her, but he wouldn't let Arthur burn her. That showed respect for her, as a person, as an enemy… and it rankled.
Mithian felt like a savage for her next thought, but a part of her was glad that soon the witch would be dead.