A/N: I'm so sorry guys! I was going to update when you asked but I've been so swamped with homework I just didn't have the time. But here you go! Thank you for all your support, you're all amazing and I love you!
~Khailin.
Chapter seven.
Morgana flicks her hair back settling herself into her throne as Aislinn watches her posture change and the woman relaxes a little "I'm the lady Morgana" she says "high priestess of the triple goddess." Aislinn scoffs a little "that is a very impressive resume my lady" Aislinn says flicking her hair out of her eyes "but what makes you think you're so special?" she asks. Morgana's face angers and she gets to her feet stopping a foot in front of Aislinn then Morgana launches her foot into the side of Aislinn's face.
Seconds later her mouth is welling up with blood and trickles down her nose "touch a nerve my lady?" she asks with a small laugh "Devon warned me about you" she says glaring down at her "said you were a smartass". Aislinn eyes her "oh and what else did the scumbag tell you?" she hisses "he told me that you are working at the Queen of Camelot's maid and that a knight has taken a fancy to you". Aislinn glares up at her spitting blood out of her mouth onto the floor "is that all?" she asks "I'm a bit disappointed" there is adrenaline coursing throughout her body and a majority of it is going towards pissing of this lady Morgana.
"Back to the point" Morgana says trying to drive Aislinn's attention back to where she wanted it "this knight who is it?" Aislinn's blood freezes realizing she means Mordred. Why does she want to know about him? She asks herself "I have no idea who you are talking about my lady" she says meeting her gaze and Morgana frowns "now you're just trying to be cute" she sneers. "He tells me the knight in question is Sir Mordred" by the way her face moves and the hurt welling up in her eyes she can tell something happened between the two, something that left Morgana scared.
"Then if you want him why do you want me?" Aislinn asks and Morgana laughs "sources tell me you're the quickest way to get to him, threaten you and you could bring him to his knees" she says smirking. "Well you've waisted your time because that is a load of shit" Aislinn says spitting out blood again "I don't believe that" Morgana says. "What is your quarrel with him anyway?" she asks purely out of curiosity and Morgana pulls herself up "that is none of your business" she snaps "Devon informs me you are a good fighter" Morgana says changing the subject.
"Are you?" she asks staring her down and Aislinn shrugs "it isn't my place to brag" she says glaring back at Morgana "well" she says smirking "we will see how you go against my champion."
***
"Leon you will escort the cargo down this path" Arthur says running his finger down a black line over the map indicating where the little party is to travel "Gwaine and Mordred will bring up the rear with Elyan and Percival up the front". Arthur glances around at the party of knights "any questions?" Leon drags his tongue over his lip "sire is there an alternate route?" he asks and Arthur shakes his head "not one that is this secure." Seconds after Arthur has finished his sentence the oak double doors open and Guinevere rushes in "I'm sorry to disturb you Arthur" she pauses a look of worry crosses her face "what is wrong?" Arthur asks moving around the table to Guinevere's side.
"It's my maid Aislinn she didn't show up for work this morning" Mordred freezes and straightens up "that's not like her" he says swinging around Guinevere nods "I know I'm worried especially after that attack I hope nothing-" Mordred's blood runs cold. "Oh no" he says and looks at Arthur "sire" he goes to plead but Arthur nods "take Percival with you" he says as if knowing what he was going to ask. Percival nods and they both run out of the council chambers and down the hall "what do you think has happened?" Percival asks catching up to Mordred.
"I don't know but there is a problem if I am expecting the worst" he says picking up his speed as her rounds a corner dodging servants carrying loads in their hands most of them moving out of the way to clear a path for the two knights. Percival runs ahead of him bursting through the huge double doors of the castle both of them jumping five steps at the time until their feet crashing against the stone of the pavement. The people around them stepping short when the knights almost crash into them or stopping to watch them run through the square and down the dirt path to the town.
There are a million possibilities running through her heard, all of them bad and not the usual she probably just over slept which he knows she hasn't because Aislinn has always had trouble sleeping during the day. The list of possibilities were growing longer with every few steps these possibilities included her not even being there, or worse dead. Some part of him was just hoping she slept in but he had already ruled the chances of that out, maybe she just completely forgot what she was meant to be doing but when Aislinn is concerned that isn't the case. One thing he could give Aislinn credit for when they were kids was just even though she was a trouble maker she was always punctual.
"Turn right here!" Mordred shouts at Percival who veers sharply to the right almost knocking over a woman carrying a pot of flowers "sorry!" he shouts back at her and the woman stares blankly at Mordred who runs past her moments later. "Left!" he screams forward over the people and he turns into the street on the left Mordred turns down the street moments later and then shouts out for him to stop. Mordred skids to a stop kicking up dirt as he stops next to Percival "it doesn't look like anyone is home" Percival says and this only confirms what he has been thinking.
Mordred turns the door handle and his heart drops a little when he discovers he is able to open the door "she would never go anywhere without locking her door" he says softly. There is something about her house that doesn't seem right and it's obvious..well to Mordred at least that something has happened "I'll take a look out back" Percival says placing a hand on his shoulder noticing the hurt on the young knights face. He doesn't make any intentions to move until Percival has left the room but when he does he walks over to the table and runs his hands along it it is then he notices his flowers sprawled on the floor.
Something inside him dies as he sinks to his knees bunching the flowers together in his hand brushing away the water that drips onto his pants "there is nothing out of the ordinary outside" Percival says closing the door silently. "Are you okay?" he asks standing beside Mordred who pulls himself to his feet "I am worried about her" he says looking over the flowers once more before placing them on the table. Percival glances from the flowers in his hand to Mordred whose face has contorted with a look of worry, pain and confusion "what are you thinking?" he asks. Mordred frowns "that she wouldn't throw the flowers I gave her off the table and onto the floor" he says still looking over the flowers.
"So what does that mean?" Percival asks
"That means the possibility of her not just picking up and leaving has become almost none" he says glancing around the room. "Do you think it was whoever attacked her a few weeks ago?" Percival asks and Mordred turns to face him "I don't know but if that is the case we better find her" he says solemnly.
There was some sort of warmth to be found curled up in the corner of the small cell at least there was until Morgana decided to throw a bucket of water over her "good morning sleeping beauty" she laughs handing the bucket to one of the guards with her. Aislinn licks some water off her lips trying to provide some relief to her dry mouth "are you thirsty?" Morgana asks smirking but Aislinn doesn't answer she just glares up at her captor. "If you survive I may just give you some water" she says waving her hand forward and the two men standing either side of her step forward and pull Aislinn to her feet then drag her off down the hall.
It's not long before they pull her through the double doors of the throne room and into a sea of men who seem to all be waiting for her arrival because they all cheer when their eyes land on her. When the men have dragged her into the middle of the floor they throw her down, her knees clashing against the stone and her face follows suit soon after. Morgana walks past her and to the foot of her throne "my loyal friends" she begins bringing her hands up "I promised you entertainment and now you have it" Morgana smirks "bring my champion forward".
The crowd parts as one of the men that dragged Aislinn in cuts the ropes around her wrists setting her free in a sense and another man stands before Morgana before he turns to face her. Devon stands before her glaring down at her "you" she hisses as the guard pulls her to her feet "long time no see" he says smirking at her "I see I didn't do much damage" he says glancing down at the spot where he struck Aislinn last time they met. "You always were a lousy shot" she growls "I see your face healed although it makes no difference what so ever" Aislinn looks at Morgana "I assume you're going to arm me" Morgana laughs "well my dear you assume wrong" she pauses "let the fight commence."
Morgana raises her hand then lowers is just before Devon draws his sword swinging forward to strike Aislinn but she ducks which is pretty much all she can keep doing. He swings again Aislinn tumbling over onto her back as Devon goes to swing for her shoulder but she swipes at his legs but unlike the first time it does little to move him so all she can manage to do quickly is slide away. The crowd are cheering but only for the victor until the tide turns and then they will be cheering for the new winner. Aislinn pulls herself from the floor swinging her foot at his head but he moves bringing his fist up to her face.
Aislinn stumbles backwards but regains composure moments later landing a blow in his ribs and he sways winded temporarily then kicks him in stomach toppling over his sword falling to the floor he does. Seconds later his sword is in her hand as she allows him clemency to get to his feet, the look on his face is priceless to her it's one that tells her he has no idea what to do. "Not so fierce now Devon" she hisses licking her dry lips Devon says nothing he stands there watching her waiting for her to strike him. For a few seconds all she does is stare at him, looking over the position of his body.
She steps forward slashing at his ribs hitting the skin tearing it open and his blood clings to the blade. Devon clasps his side stumbling a little; she raises her blade hitting the side of his face with the end of the sword handle. Aislinn steps back looking at him for a new place to strike but instead kicks his feet out from under him and Devon lands on his face. She looks around at the crowd some booing and some cheering for her then her eyes land on Morgana who is smirking at the fight scene in front of her. "If you don't finish your opponent I will finish you both" she threatens and Aislinn's eyes dart down to Devon who is still lying on the floor, she isn't exactly sure whether he is waiting for the right moment or he just doesn't want to move.
Aislinn eyes Devon then looks around at the crowd before her eyes land on Morgana again who is watching Aislinn intently. Devon pulls himself to his feet leaning on his knee before he makes it all the way, his eyes aren't focusing properly and he looks around before lunging at Aislinn who without thinking lifts her sword up. The blade severs his stomach and he gasps grabbing her arm to brace himself, his eyes turn glassy and he coughs blood spitting out of his mouth. Aislinn grabs his should detaching the sword from him and letting him fall to the ground in a crumpled heap, the crowd is cheering and clapping for their victor and it seems like a few odd years before Morgana silences them.
"Enough!" she bellows throwing her hands up "we have our winner" Morgana smiles stepping edgily down the stairs as Aislinn tightens her grip on the sword. Morgana notices this and her eyes flash gold and her sword is sent flying across the room hitting the wall then landing on the floor. Aislinn moves her eyes from the sword to Morgana "very good" she says walking slowly up to her "you may all leave" she adds a few moments later and the men in the room begin filling out until all that is left is Aislinn and Morgana.
Morgana glances Aislinn up and down before turning on her heal and walking to her throne brushing her hand along the arm "that was very impressive Aislinn; I can see why Mordred fancies you so much." Aislinn watches Morgana and flinches when she turns fast and walks up to Aislinn her face inches from her own "you're strong...beautiful" Morgana runs her hand softly over Aislinn's cheek and down her neck. She places her hand on the pendant dangling around Aislinn's neck then grips it "let us see how beautiful you are when you're dead."
***
There is only a handful of knights sitting around the table, for this there is no need for not even the amount of knights they have in the room currently let alone an entire army. Mordred is floating in and out of the conversation that they are all having about Aislinn and the fact that she has been missing for more than a day, right now he's not listening not because he doesn't want to listen it's because he can't. He can't listen to them debating his best friend's future and he can't listen to them deciding whether or not she is brought back or left wherever she is to rot.
He's sitting there hands in his lap and his attention on the sky outside the castle, it's overcast and not particularly sunny but every now and then there will be a burst of sunlight. Snow has piled up on the ledge outside and snowflakes melt against the window disappearing at its touch, the large oak doors to the throne room open and in rushes a servant with something clutched in his fist. Mordred snaps out of it and his eyes land on the servant who is standing beside him "SirMordred" he says "this is for you" the man at first takes a leather piece from his fist and lets it dangle from his grip.
Mordred's eyes widen when he sees what is hanging off the strap, a wooden circle with a druidic symbol in the middle surrounded by a circle; Awen. He snatches it from the man looking over it wishing that what he was seeing wasn't real, Mordred is just staring at it when the man interrupts him "this came with it Sir" the man passes him a piece of neatly folded parchment. Mordred takes the sheet from him and hesitates in untying the satin knot but he does anyway scribbled in handwriting in almost the exact middle is not even a sentence;
I don't take to kindly to traitors.
~ Morgana.