Hey guys, so here is part one of the next chapter. I am planning on starting to bring the story to its climax in the second half of this chapter and then resolving things within one to two chapters with an epilogue. so 3-4 more uploads? anyway this is a fairly short chapter but hopefully still enjoyable?

anyway Read and review!

okokokokk

Chapter 16: The Grand old Duke of York: Part 1

-0-

"This is beyond understanding." said the king. "You are the wisest man alive. You know what is preparing. Why do you not make a plan to save yourself?"
And Merlin said quietly, "Because I am wise. In the combat between wisdom and feeling, wisdom never wins."
― John Steinbeck, The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights

-0-

Almost a year later

-0—

(9-10 months after)

"It's time"

Morgana startled from where she had been staring pensively out of the grungy window. She was surprised to find that Morgause had entered the room without her having even noticed. Then again she found that she noticed little these days, her disconnection with the world and those around her seemed to only have gotten worse lately. Again, she wondered if she had made a horrible mistake….

No, cancel that: she knew she had….but as things were now she couldn't take it back….it was far too late for that. At least that was what she believed.

She turned away from her sister—whose face was no longer it's once beautiful visage, she still couldn't believe that Merlin (Merlin of all people!?) had been the one to wound the powerful witch….it felt as though the betrayals just kept coming. Did Henry know that Merlin had magic as well? He must have, they were brothers after all…she couldn't help but feel further hurt over this newest secret, had he really not trusted her at all?—back to the blackened tree-d scenery.

They had been hiding in this cesspool for some time now and she was so very sick of it and everything it represented. When she had first escaped with Morgause (because at that point she had meant to leave—she had seen the decision in Merlin, and worse Henry's, eyes…she was no longer welcome in Camelot after what she had allowed to take place) they had moved fairly often, never staying in one place for too long.

She knew that they would be searching for her—whether to imprison or rescue, she did not know. She didn't know what they would tell Arthur and the king about her….she wasn't sure what her family would believe even if they had told the truth—but she did know that they would search one way or another; so they had to be careful not to be found.

They weren't just running though…she knew without Morgause having to tell her that her sister was not content to live out their remaining (however little might be left of them) lives in peace. She had known for a long time that Morgause was power hungry, and that despite having seemingly 'saved' her from Merlin's hands, she knew that it was not entirely because of some long time family loyalty or love. She knew that Morgause had and still saw her as a way to gain what she truly wanted; the Camelot throne.

Still she went along with it….partly because she didn't have very many options left open to her but more because she still thought she was right. Uther was a blight upon magic and her children…he would continue to massacre without guilt until he was stopped. Henry may not condone how she was going about it but that mattered little now. If tricking, killing and lying were the only way to remove Uther from the throne (and even Arthur, should he not be made to see reason) then she would do it.

Morgause might turn out to be a problem later on…but at least she would not be a problem to those with magic. Her sister, despite all her faults, respected and valued those with the gift—no matter what her personal grievances with them was. At least she hoped so.

"Are you not listening sister? I will not have you screw this up with some sense of misplaced guilt or morality" Morgause hissed—sounding thoroughly vexed by Morgana's continued silence.

"No I heard you" Morgana replied emotionlessly. These last few months had been nothing but Morgause's irritation and her flat affect. She knew that she was both annoying, and maybe even hurting, her sister with her lifelessness but she couldn't quite bring herself to care. She would go through with the plan because it would save magic but she would not enjoy doing it.

No matter that she had come to care (at least somewhat) for her sister, her first kinship and loyalty would always be to Henry. He had showed her that she was not alone; he had taught and teased her, pushed and helped her grow. Even his betrayal and secrets could not remove her affection for the boy entirely…..

If only he would just see reason!

She could feel Morgause's scowl without looking at her, "You had better be sure sister. Once we start this plan there will be no turning back….Uther has only grown more vicious since your 'kidnapping' and it is your brethren, those with the gift, that are paying the most heavily. There is no other way….you must realize this"

"I know"

And she did. Plus if Morgause was being completely truthful (something she was rather doubtful about considering how 'truthful' her sister had been with her in the past) then Henry would soon be made to see reason. The liquid concoction that was the main reason they had been hiding away for so many months (other than trying to avoid another run in with Merlin and her still looking brother*) would guarantee it.

Morgause promised that once consumed it would remove Henry's continued loyalty to Arthur (and therefore Uther—because while she knew her friend despised Uther, he wouldn't do anything against him in fear of hurting her brother) and attach it to their own side.

She knew that it was wrong, that she should not force his loyalty,..but desperate times. He would forgive her once Uther was dead and Camelot was under magic's rule. He would. Maybe they could give the potion to Arthur as well….allow Henry to have what he obviously so wanted, and have it out in the open….

She felt Morgause slip the vial deep into her cloak pocket, "You know what to do then"

"I do" she agreed finally turning away from the desolate dirt streaked view, "I'll be in contact when I'm able"

She felt rather then saw Morgause pull her into a loose hug, "Magic's future is in your hands sister. Don't betray her"

Morgana didn't look back as she walked out the door.

-0-

Morgause let out a huff of irritation as she caught Mordred sending her a yet another look. She was sure he thought he was being discrete with his silent judgment. He wasn't (she had a third eye for things like that).

"What?!" she snapped finally having had enough. To add to her overall bad mood, not only were they eating stale bread and some sort of unidentifiable meat mush again, but she couldn't quite shake off her own lingering doubts. Not that she would ever admit to doubt in the first place; it was beneath her.

Mordred's spoon paused on its way to his mouth; he didn't even look a little bit sheepish or apologetic for having been caught out. He seemed to internally debate for a moment before carefully setting down his utensil, food being left untouched.

"Do you think it wise to have sent Morgana?" he asked cautiously. While his tone was flat, not giving away what he might truly think, she was smart enough to hear what was left unsaid.

"Of course it was. She can pull this off….surely after all the training I…no we have given her in the last year, all of the history of our people and the truths she had been blinded to before, you cannot doubt that"

"No…I don't doubt that she can, rather that she will" Mordred stated frankly his gaze unwavering despite the deadly warning her own was giving.

How dare he question her sister…..more importantly; how dare he question her? Because that was what he was doing when he questioned Morgana's loyalty, he was also questioning her own ability to secure such loyalty. She would not have it. No matter that they were allies and she trusted his judgment more than most.

"You think she will betray us? After everything? After we uncovered and exposed the lies that her own father, brother, and even Henry Emrys fed her?" she asked dangerously.

Mordred remained silent for a period and she thought that he just might listen to her tone and back down but it would seem that he truly was worried about this. Not that she could blame him she would be worried too….that is, if she didn't know what she did.

She had, after all, already placed measures to protect them from just such a thing…..sure Morgana was family, but well….blood was only so thick…Still she couldn't help but feel a smidgeon of unease despite what she knew.

But it was virtually impossible for Morgana to betray her now…no she was just being paranoid. Her plan would go exactly as planned and she would finally get what was rightfully hers. Camelot had been under mundane rule for far too long.

"She does seem to have unnaturally strong feelings of affections towards Emrys and even, to a lesser degree, to the others that are in Camelot" Mordred finally settled on.

"That bracelet is not just for show Mordred. Surely you know that" Morgause lightly chided. He did know after all…or he should. Sure she hadn't let him in on every single detail of her plan but he was smart enough to at least guess the gist of it. And the fact that Morgana was always wearing that bracelet…..and steadily growing more and more loyal to Morgause and less and less so to Camelot could not have been completely lost on the Sorcerer.

The bracelet had been, perhaps, one of the best items Morgause had ever come upon. The most useful, definitely. Sure there were many magical who would disagree—call it dark and tainting—but they were the ones who refused to fight back. They were the ones who cowered and practiced their arts in secret, afraid to be exposed by their neighbors, silently hating but doing nothing to oppose Uther's tyrannical reign.

No…..sure it might feed on anger and hate, creating, amplifying and spreading them specifically, but it was just what she needed in this case. The spat and already lingering hurt and betrayal between her sister and her closest confidant…not to mention Morgana's long standing aggravation of Arthur and her down right despise of Uther, only served to help strengthen her and Morgana's own bond. These feelings of mistrust would only further her own goals in the end.

So yes if a bit of questionable magic was what it took to get what she wanted, then so be it.

This was war; wars were not won without casualties….even if they were caused by friendly fire. She was confident that when all was said in done, even if she lost a few allies in the end, that she at least, would be left standing.

She took Mordred's silence as acceptance; completely missing the way his shuttered gaze wandered over to his belongings. Belongings, that held a certain assassin provided clear potion.

Too bad for her there were more than two sides in this ever changing war of wills.

-0—

Arthur felt the smile on his face brighten as he looked down at his lovers sun dappled face. Henry wasn't exactly sleeping as he rested back against the Prince, simply sun tanning his eyelids. Arthur had found the expression hilarious when Henry first used it—he often found a lot of Henry's words and phrases a tad strange though, so it was nothing new.

"Stop thinking so hard, you're giving me a headache" said boy murmured barely moving in his position but somehow still sensing Arthur's thoughts. The sharp elbow that poked into his side when he smirked in amusement only proved it so.

Despite having only recently returned from a long and rather trying expedition (yet another several week journey across treacherous lands in hopes of locating the still missing Morgana) Arthur felt peaceful in the here and now.

It was easy to ignore the mounting tensions within the kingdom when he was enjoying a secluded break with his still secret lover in front of their well hidden lake.

It was only in the past year that he had actually even found the lake despite knowing he had ridden near here for years. It was weird but he had decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Plus the lake offered an almost perfect spot to be with Henry—nicely hidden from view by thick trees, the rocky terrain and foreboding mists encircling it (yet somehow remaining absent when one actually got to the lake) deterring others from stumbling upon the hidden sanctuary.

And he needed the break, Did He Ever.

He hated to say it, but his father was close to losing it: if he hadn't done so already. The disappearance of his ward at the hands of Morgause—a confirmed witch had made his hunt for the occult even more obsessive. His previous hatred of all things magic looked mild in comparison to his actions of the last year. He no longer even held trials for those accused, simply executed on sight….and the fear and resentment from his subjects was growing. And growing quickly.

Not to say that all of Camelot's citizens felt that Uther was wrong—no that was the problem; there was a good portion who like Uther, blamed not only their princesses kidnapping but all their problems (no matter how big or small) on the work of sorcerers. Even Arthur (who had come to severely dislike magic and all its forms) could see that many of the things going wrong within Camelot's walls had nothing to do with any supernatural cause. Though he suppose that the tax hikes, increased security and raids on people's private residences could be correlations of magic; they were necessary because of Uther's increased paranoia against it, after all.

The suspicion and fear running rampant within the gates was stifling—and had it not been carried with him on 'Morgana missions' (another term coined by his cheeky lover) he would have almost been thankful for the escape from Camelot they leant him. As it was, the only true escape he had found was his 'one on one' time with the physician's apprentice.

He was starting to realize that he would not, no, could not, give it up for anything.

He felt chapped lips brush against the underside of his jaw and leaned his head back to give his lover better access. "I thought I told you to stop your worrying" Henry teasingly reprimanded delivering a slightly chastising bite. Though the soothing kiss that followed sort of defeated the original reprimand. Not that Arthur minded.

"Hmmm….no…I believe…you told me to….stop….thinking hard" Arthur managed to get out even though it was getting harder and harder to keep focus on what he was trying to say. Again he couldn't find himself minding.

"Potato…patoto" Henry murmured as he continued his trail from Arthur's jaw downwards. Arthur couldn't hold back his groan as the descent continued.

"Well….then perhaps…ugghh…perhaps you should do a better job at distracting me" he challenged even as Henry got ready to do just that.

However before the green eyed teen could really start anything the sound of a twig snapping alerted them to the fact that their secret place was about to become not so secret.

Henry had just managed to yank himself backwards (off of where he had sat himself on Arthur's lap) when the perpetrator stumbled into view.

It took Arthur a minute—the dirty rag wearing woman, dark hair filled with twigs and debris, mud coating almost every piece of visible skin and clothing—to recognize her for who she was.

He couldn't believe it. No way. He felt his heart soar in hope even as disbelief and doubt sounded in his exclamation,

"Morgana?! Is that you?"

He never noticed how Henry's previously flushed face lost all colour.

Notes:

AN: 'Morgana you cock blocker, you'…heh heh, We are getting close to the last few chapters. I have 3-4 left…though I am going away for a month starting in April so I will try to get up one more chapter before I go but no promises…

*While the plot/actions have majorly veered away from the cannon I still think that Uther and Arthur would be searching relentlessly for Morgana believing her to be kidnapped. I also am choosing to have had Merlin and Arthur run into Morgause at some point after Morgana's disappearance and like in the cannon Merlin used magic (secretly—Arthur is still very much unaware) to defend himself and ended up disfiguring Morgause. This is the point where Morgana learns that Merlin has magic and that she was never told.

**I am choosing to completely ignore the whole dragon escape and attack on Camelot bit simply because it doesn't fit in with my story. ;)