Chapter XI: Sophia Tir-Mor

A part of Morgana was disappointed that Uther still drew breath.

She was not proud of that part of her being. She didn't like it at all, would be happier if that segment of her soul did not exist. Nonetheless, it was very, very real.

Uther lived, and her life was still in danger.

Her dreams were magical. She and Gwen knew that now, had known it for weeks. They had warned her about the griffin (which hadn't been spotted for quite a while, now that she thought about it), about Edwin Muirden, and now about a pretty, baby-faced girl in a yellow dress who was coming to kill Arthur.

"It sounds as though she's a noblewoman," Gwen said after Morgana had finished telling her about this latest nightmare. "Perhaps a foreign one, since you don't recognize her."

Morgana smiled. Wonderful, loyal Gwen. She didn't know what she would do without her maid and friend. It took a brave, true soul to stand by a woman with magical dreams.

And that was another reason that the small, shameful part of her wished Uther had died at Muirden's hand. Gwen would be so much safer with Arthur on the throne. Instead, Muirden had died, had burned—though not before he'd accused Merlin of all people of sorcery. Fortunately, not even Uther was fool enough to believe that Merlin, who had enabled Muirden's arrest by knocking him out and then gone to on to (possibly) save the king's life, had magic. Anyone could see that Muirden's accusation was nothing more than a condemned man's revenge.

Gwen continued, "I can't think of any foreign visitors coming here until the end of the month. What were their names again?"

"It's a representative from Olaf. Lord Humphrey is a dear old man, but I know his daughters and they don't look a thing like the woman in my dream."

"Humphrey, that's right," Gwen murmured. "That rules out the possibility of a mistress. He and Lady Ariadne are so sweet together."

"He might be bringing a son along," Morgana mused. "His sons don't exactly take after their parents in the marital bliss department. They might have a mistress."

"Or a granddaughter of Humphrey's," Gwen suggested. "You said this woman is a teenager, twenty at the oldest. Isn't Humphrey's oldest grandchild fifteen?"

"Fifteen or sixteen, yes. I can't remember if her birthday is in summer or autumn. But I don't think it's her."

"But it could be," Gwen pointed out.

Morgana sighed heavily. "I suppose I'll know her when I see her," she grumbled. "But what should we do about her drowning Arthur?"

Gwen frowned, brow furrowing. "Warn Arthur, I suppose."

"How? Go up to him and say, 'Good morning, Arthur dear, I have magical dreams that let me see the future and I foresaw a complete stranger try to drown you for no conceivable reason'?"

"…Perhaps I spoke without thinking."

Morgana cracked a smile. "Maybe tonight I'll end up on the dream road. My guide might give me more information."

Gwen nodded. "Yes, I suppose that's as good a plan as any. Whoever she is, we do have time before she gets here."

Later, Gwen would look back on those words and wonder if she had jinxed it, for early that afternoon, her mistress was called on to attend the presentation of Lord Aulfric Tir-Mor and his daughter Sophia. Apparently Arthur had saved them from bandits on a hunting trip. Morgana watched in steadily increasing horror as Aulfric wove a sob story about losing their lands and loved ones, then being forced to flee with only the clothes on their backs and a few heirlooms salvaged from the wreckage.

Uther, naïve idiot that he was, welcomed them. He invited them to stay for a few days, enjoy Camelot's hospitality before continuing on to their distant relatives in Caerleon.

"What are we supposed to do?" Morgana hissed the second she and Gwen were back in her room. She was gripping the maid's arm, her nails digging into the dress and the skin underneath. "That was her, Gwen. She's the one who's going to kill him!"

Gwen tried and failed to extricate her arm. "First we have to calm down," she said, not sounding very calm herself. "And we have to keep her away from Arthur if it's the last thing we do."

"Right." Morgana realized that she was hurting her friend. Wincing, she unhanded Gwen. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

Morgana clenched her fists until the knuckles whitened and her nails drew blood. "Calm down. Calm down," she murmured, focusing on her breathing. In and out, in and out. She had learned breathing exercises as a way to settle herself after her nightmares, and the practice paid off. It took her less than a minute to regain her composure. Gwen, who didn't have nightmares and therefore lacked the practice, took a bit longer, but soon they were relatively calm and ready for discussion.

"Okay," Morgana muttered, "okay. It's like you said, Gwen. We have to keep her away from Arthur until she and her father go for Caerleon. Ah, when are they going to Caerleon?"

"I don't think they said," Gwen admitted.

Morgana spat a most unladylike curse. "So they could stay as long as they want."

"Unless Uther banished them."

"Why would he banish them?"

"I don't know." Gwen shrugged helplessly. "Or perhaps we could fake a message from their relatives in Caerleon?"

"If there actually are relatives in Caerleon," Morgana growled. "I don't buy their little sob story. Sophia looked very put-together for someone who had to flee for her life."

Gwen nodded. The visitors' bodies and clothing were mostly clean, dusty but unstained. Sophia's dress showed no signs of tearing. Neither did Aulfric's cloak. She was willing to bet that their shoes were hardly even scuffed.

"We need more information on them," Morgana decided. "I'll have to ask my—" She froze.

"What?"

"Their staffs."

"What about their staffs?"

"I knew that they looked familiar, but…." Morgana strode towards the door. "I need a closer look before I know for sure."

Gwen scurried after her. "What about—" she began, but then they passed a laundry maid and she shut her mouth.

Sophia and her father would be sharing a suite right next to Arthur's room. Merlin was helping them settle in when Morgana and Gwen entered. The manservant smiled, raised a hand in greeting to the maid. Gwen smiled back. Then she and Merlin dropped into a shallow curtsey and bow, respectively, in the presence of the new nobility. Morgana couldn't help but be touched. Merlin rarely wasted time on bowing. If he'd bowed to her, it was a gesture of genuine respect.

That, or Arthur had threatened him with the stocks if he wasn't on his best behavior in front of the pretty new girl. It would be just like the dolt to try and impress someone bent on killing him.

"May I help you?" Sophia asked coolly.

Morgana donned her court face. "I merely wanted to introduce myself. I am Morgana le Fay of Caer Tintagel, King Uther's ward."

"Sophia Tir-Mor," the girl replied, "but you already knew that. I saw you at the presentation."

Morgana affected sympathy. "Yes, the presentation. I'm terribly sorry for you. It must have been truly awful, losing your home like that. At least you have your relatives in Caerleon to take you in."

If she hadn't been looking for it, Morgana would not have noticed the flicker of confusion on Sophia's face at the mention of relatives. Then the visitor remembered her supposed destination. "Yes. The thought of rejoining our kin has been such a consolation to Father and me."

"What did you say their names were?" Morgana queried, the perfect picture of innocence. "I grew up near the border. I might know them, or at least of them."

Sophia's knuckles went white on her staff. Her smile became that much more forced. "Sir Roderick of Deira is my father's cousin. He has always been very generous to us, so we're certain he will take us in."

"Of course, of course," Morgana replied. If there was an actual Sir Roderick anywhere in Deira, then she was the empress of Rome. "I'm not familiar with him. What's he like?"

The girl was beginning to lose her composure. "I haven't seen him since childhood," she sniffed. "We have only kept in touch through letters and gifts, but as I said, he is a good and generous man who will certainly take us in, just as King Uther has graciously agreed to provide for us during our sojourn in Camelot." We're the king's guests, milady, and don't you forget it.

"I am very familiar with my guardian's hospitality, Lady Sophia." And I'm the king's ward, you little snake. Beat that.

Sophia's eyes narrowed. Her smile vanished momentarily, replaced by a frown, before she forced herself behind a mask of collected coolness.

Tension crackled in the air. The temperature seemed to drop. Morgana half-expected to see frost riming the windows.

Then Aulfric was there, smoother than his daughter by far. "It was a true pleasure to meet you, my Lady Morgana, but I'm afraid that, well…." He spread his hands, grinned apologetically. "The road is hard and long, and my daughter and I are in no fit state to attend the banquet King Uther is holding in our honor tonight. We need to bathe and rest. I'm terribly sorry, my lady, but we cannot in good conscience dishonor the king."

"Of course I'll leave," Morgana said sweetly. "I know better than to overstay my welcome. Perhaps we could talk again at the feast."

Anger flashed in Aulfric's eyes, anger and an alarming shade of red. Morgana's heart pounded. Sorcery?

Gwen chose that moment to contribute. "I can see that Prince Arthur has loaned you his personal manservant, but Merlin can hardly help Lady Sophia bathe and dress. I would be glad to act as Lady Sophia's maidservant until your departure, assuming, of course, that my mistress agrees." She looked at Morgana.

What are you doing, Gwen?

Actually, that was a silly question. She wanted an excuse to keep an eye on the little liar, and what better way than by serving as a maid? But that was dangerous. What if Sophia hurt her?

Caught between her desires to protect Gwen and save Arthur, Morgana hesitated too long. Gwen chose to interpret that as acquiescence. She dropped into a shallow curtsey and announced, "I will fetch the bathwater for you, Lady Sophia. Do you have any favorite soaps you would like me to bring?"

Sophia tittered. "That won't be necessary. I'm certain that Lady Morgana needs you much more than I do."

"Oh, no," Gwen said, "Lady Morgana is not the guest of honor at tonight's banquet. We would not wish to dishonor the king by depriving his guest of a servant's hands, and I don't know if we have enough time to find you another maidservant before the feast. I know exactly how long it takes a lady to prepare for these things."

"Which is why you should stay with your mistress," Sophia said. She looked like she'd bitten into something sour. "She will need to prepare as well. If you cannot find a maid for me, surely you cannot find a maid for her."

"With all due respect, my lady, Lady Morgana has more time to commandeer another maid. She has not been on a hard and long road, so she does not need to bathe."

Sophia glanced uncertainly at her stone-faced father, who inclined his head ever so slightly. Scowling, she snapped, "If you insist on serving me, girl, fetch a tub and water."

"The same goes for you, boy," Aulfric snapped at Merlin. Turning to Morgana, he said, "And I'm afraid we must bid you farewell, my lady."

"Of course." Morgana graced him with a dazzling smile. "We can speak again at the banquet."

Aulfric's eye twitched. Morgana internally crowed in triumph. On the outside, though, she remained utterly calm as she glided into the hall.

Merlin and Gwen rounded the corner moments later. "What was that about?" the manservant demanded.

Gwen's dark eyes bored into Morgana's face. The lady frowned, thinking. Merlin was ridiculously loyal to Arthur. He'd drunk poison for the man. There was no way that he would help Sophia. "I can't explain how because it's too long of a story, but Gwen and I have reason to believe that Sophia is plotting against Arthur."

Merlin's eyes went wide. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Morgana affirmed.

Merlin frowned. "Are you going to tell Arthur?"

Morgana winced. "I can't. The evidence that I have… it's not the kind of thing that Arthur would accept as valid proof. Uther wouldn't believe it either."

"Is that why you agreed to help Sophia?" Merlin asked Gwen. The maid nodded. "Okay. If you're that sure, I'll do my best to keep an eye on Arthur. Do you know how long they're staying?"

Morgana and Gwen exchanged incredulous looks. Was he really just accepting this and going along with it without asking for more evidence?

"Well, no," Gwen eventually confessed. "We were just talking about that, actually. They said that they have relatives in Caerleon they want to visit, that Sir Roderick fellow who probably doesn't exist, but they didn't say when they're leaving. In theory, they could delay their departure for weeks. Months, even, if they procrastinated until the first snowfall, though I doubt they'll be able to do that."

"Probably not," Merlin agreed.

"Perhaps," Gwen suggested, "if Merlin is watching Arthur and I'm tailing Sophia, you can look for more proof."

"Not a bad idea," Morgana acknowledged.

"I could maybe help with that tomorrow," Merlin volunteered. "Arthur's scheduled to go on patrol with Uther and some of the knights. Speaking of knights, do you think we should warn Lancelot?"

Morgana turned to Gwen, who pursed her lips and tilted back her head. "I can tell him tonight," she finally decided. "Ah, if that's all right with you two?"

"Of course," said Morgana. She genuinely liked Lancelot, and poor Gwen deserved happiness with him.

"It's fine with me," Merlin agreed.

"But why are you doing this?" Gwen blurted. "I mean, we haven't really explained anything at all, really, but you're still helping. Why?"

The manservant shrugged. "Because one day I might have to do the same thing with you, Gwen. You're not the only one with mysterious sources. My sheep smuggling ring keeps me very well-informed."

"Your what?" Morgana demanded.

"It's an inside joke," Gwen explained. "He doesn't really smuggle sheep. Thank you, Merlin. If something like this does happen again—which it probably will, given Arthur's luck—we won't question your knowledge if you don't question ours."

"It's a deal."

By now, they had reached the pumps. Merlin and Gwen began filling their first buckets. Morgana wished them good luck, bid them goodbye, and made a beeline for the library and its elderly keeper, Sir Geoffrey of Monmouth.

Under the pretense of seeing if Sophia and Aulfric had kin in Camelot, Morgana requested permission to browse through Tir-Mor's genealogical records and the records of Caerleon's nobility. Geoffrey must have been feeling rather bored, because he volunteered to help almost immediately, much to the lady's delight. Absence of evidence was certainly not evidence of absence, as the saying went, nor was it proof of ill intent, but perhaps it would be enough to seed doubt in Arthur's thick, stubborn skull.

Perhaps. He did seem rather smitten with her.

…maybe it would be better to present her findings directly to Uther.

Searching genealogies was not the most exciting work, but Morgana's focus meant that the afternoon passed quickly. Soon Gwen was entering the library and softly calling her name. "It's time to get ready for the banquet."

Morgana stood, stretched, and followed her maid to her room. "Did you find anything?" she asked softly.

"I'm afraid not," Gwen sighed. "What about you?"

A grim smile curled Morgana's lips. "No. Geoffrey and I haven't found any mention of Sir Roderick or either of our lovely guests."

"What about their staffs?"

"Their staffs?" It took Morgana a few moments to remember what her friend was talking about. "Their staffs. Right." She looked around the halls. No one was there. Still, she lowered her voice to explain. "I told you that my dream guide has a staff, right? Well, his looks almost exactly like theirs. The only difference is in the crystal. Theirs is blue, his is yellow."

"So they're probably magical too," Gwen concluded.

"That's what I thought. Did you see Aulfric's eyes?"

"No. What about them?"

"I could have sworn that they turned red."

Gwen's brow furrowed. "I thought that sorcerers had yellow eyes? When they're using their magic, that is. Not all the time."

"That's what I'd always heard too," Morgana confessed. "I really have no idea what it means." She pushed open the door to her chambers, made her way to the changing screen. Gwen headed for the closet. An idea struck. "Gwen. Do you remember that red-and-gray dress that Arthur said made me look like a wannabe knight?"

A slow smile spread across Gwen's face. "You haven't worn that for a while."

Morgana smirked. "Of course. I've been waiting for a special occasion."

The garment in question was the red of a knight's cloak, with a gray front meant to suggest a breastplate and gray embroidery along the skirt which was meant to suggest chainmail. Would it hold up in a fight? No. Would it make her intentions very clear to Sophia and Aulfric? Oh, yes.

Sure enough, Sophia's eyes nearly bulged out of her doll-like face when Morgana strode into the hall. She walked like a warrior, not like a lady, toward the high table. Arthur pulled out a chair for her. Morgana smiled. She placed a hand on his shoulder, gave it a tight squeeze, and looked Sophia dead in the eye. Her own eyes narrowed as she tightened her grip.

Sophia's nostrils flared. Her lips thinned. Her eyes flashed, turning the same color of Morgana's gown.

So she hadn't been imagining it then. Who and whatever Sophia and Aulfric were, they had some sort of connection to magic. No surprises there. Most people who wanted Uther and/or Arthur dead were magical (or had something to do with King Odin, but she'd ruled the possibility out almost immediately. Odin was hardly the sort to use a teenage girl as his assassin).

Not a surprise, but it made them ten times more dangerous.

As promised, Morgana turned her attention to Aulfric as soon as she sat down. Aulfric had noted her display just as his daughter had, and he was just as pleased as she was. The red was still fading from his eyes when she met them with her own steely gaze.

"I'm glad it's dinnertime," Morgana told him, still smiling that same sweet smile. "I was so enjoying our conversation this afternoon."

Sophia's eye gave a little twitch.

Aulfric laid a hand on his daughter's shoulder. Courtesy forced him to lie. "As was I, my lady. I wish that we had some of Sir Roderick's letters with us, but alas, they were all burned."

"Yes," Morgana said, "I quite understand how inconvenient it can be to travel without the necessary papers. Speaking of papers, am I to assume that your certificates of nobility were also lost?"

"Of course," Aulfric said, some of his annoyance leaking through. "We are no brigands in nobles' clothing, my lady."

Behind Morgana, Gwen sucked in a quick breath.

Oh, she could use this. "I didn't mean to imply any such thing," Morgana assured Aulfric. "I just meant to offer aid." Having bloodied the prey, she moved in for the kill. "Our court historian, Geoffrey of Monmouth, is more than capable of creating new certificates for you. Of course," she continued blandly, "he would have to be able to find your seals and pedigrees in his books."

Sophia's fingers tightened around her wineglass.

Aulfric was trapped. He knew it, too. "You are too kind, my lady," he said, "and I mean that literally. We have already imposed on your and your guardian's wonderful hospitality too much. Ours is an obscure branch of the family tree, and it would doubtless take your court historian many hours to find enough evidence. The same goes for Sir Roderick," he added before she could mention him.

"Geoffrey is very capable, Lord Aulfric."

"Yes," Uther agreed, entering the conversation for the first time since Morgana's arrival. "He is quite capable, and his aides are skilled as well." The tiniest frown marred his brow. Apparently Aulfric's protests were making him suspicious.

Aulfric's eyes widened ever so slightly with fear. "I believe you. It is just that Tir-Mor is far from Camelot, and I fear he might lack the records. Even the most skilled blacksmith alive cannot smelt without iron."

"I think that you underestimate the size of our library," Morgana said.

A drop of sweat beaded at the tip of Aulfric's nose.

Morgana would gladly have pursued that line of conversation, deepening Uther's suspicions and scaring the newcomers so badly that they did something stupid, but the kitchen servants chose that moment to arrive with the first course. Conversation lulled as the dishes were served. When it started up again, it was firmly under Sophia's control. The doll-faced girl spent more time praising the food than eating, only stopping to take a quick bite when Morgana's mouth was full or when Aulfric had something to say.

They made their escape rather hastily after supper, citing exhaustion from the hardships of the road and stomachs too full for comfort. Fortunately for Morgana, Merlin and Gwen were there, ready to take care of the lord and lady in whatever way they desired (and in several ways they did not).

Still, there were ways to sabotage Aulfric and Sophia without their presence. In a voice just a bit louder than necessary, she announced that she was going to see Geoffrey about making replacement certificates of nobility for their poor bereft guests. She did just that before returning to her room, where she paced and thought and fretted until Gwen's return.

"Sophia is reading in bed," the maid reported. "I stayed as long as I could, but then she outright ordered me to leave. I could try to spy on her if you'd like."

"No. It was daylight in my dream. And thank you, Gwen, you've done brilliantly."

"Thank you. You were completely brilliant as well." She smiled. It wasn't her usual sweet smile but something more mischievous, almost devilish. "But I have an idea that I think you'll like."

"What is it?"

That uncharacteristically devilish grin widened. "It was something Aulfric said. You recall he mentioned that they weren't brigands in nobles' clothing? Well, what if they were?" She walked over to Morgana's jewel box. "What if we were to discover that Lady Sophia had stolen, say, your ruby earrings and the matching necklace?"

By now, Morgana was grinning as well. "And wouldn't it be a shame if the jewels ended up in her room?"

"An awful shame," Gwen agreed. "Sophia and Aulfric would be banished."

Morgana's grin transformed into a smirk. "You know what, Gwen? I think I'd like to wear my rubies tomorrow."

Gwen picked up the jewels in question. "I'm afraid they're missing, my lady, and I need to go see if Lady Sophia requires an extra blanket." She grabbed a spare from Morgana's closet and wrapped the rubies up. "You know how chilly this old castle can get."

"Give her my regards, Gwen."

"Don't worry, my lady." Gwen checked to make sure that the rubies were hidden. "I will."

Because we all know that Gwen is secretly a devious plotter, which I guess makes it less of a secret. Oh well. We won't tell anyone, right, guys?

The inside joke between Merlin and Gwen is a reference to chapter 6, Gwen's first POV.

Next chapter: November 6. Merlin shows us some of what he's been learning from Kilgharrah, Aulfric conveniently lays out his plan, and Lancelot gets hurt. Sorry, Lance.

Alternate chapter title: "Wherein Sneaky Gwen Demonstrates her Sneakiness by Sneakily Sneaking Around Watching Sophia, Who Isn't as Sneaky as she Thinks she is."

-Antares