Note from the author: firstly, apologies that this chapter is so late. I didn't live up to my one-a-day brief that I set myself because my laptop decided to die until today and this chapter was tucked up safely in its harddrive. On the plus side it made me refine my storyline and learn that I need to back it up! So without further ado, I bring you chapter 11 -

Morgana sat alone in her room facing the grounds from her window. Lost in deep thought the King's Ward placed her hands on her lap as if to stop herself from fidgeting with them - a nervous trait which she had learnt to keep at bay. In the past three hours word had come from the King for Camelot to raise their defenses due to the news Nimueh was once again targeting the city and the royal family. For all the bad that Nimueh had done and the grief she had caused Camelot, Morgana felt a slight sympathy for her. She could understand how anyone could become hostile towards Uther - he did not help by encouraging such strong reactions with his harsh punishments and unwillingness to listen or give fair trials. His behaviour towards people outside of the court, whether accused of magic or not, had become far worse. Even those in his circles were not safe, and Morgana was beginning to fear for the security of Camelot on a much grander scale than Nimueh. Morgana did not condone her behaviour, but at the same time she could not pretend she did not see the sorceress' reasons.

"Morgana?"

The lady turned to greet Gwen as she came through the door holding a tray of tea and soup freshly prepared. Gwen had been very good to her as always, but had chosen not to share her opinions on the King. Gwen was mutual on all accounts, or at least she tried to be. She had done her fair share of disobeying his orders when she thought it necessary but did not really want to make a habit of it. Instead she focused herself on attending to Morgana, though Morgana herself had risked challenging Uther far too many times to count. As she placed the tray on the small table at the side, Gwen smiled.

"I thought you might be in need of something. It's been a while since you had some refreshment. It's so busy in the Castle - since Uther gave the warning everyone's been up in arms, the far gates are closing and every farm is being searched... it's as if an army's on its way..."

"It's never going to stop you know."

Gwen looked at her ladyship in surprise. "Pardon, my lady?"

With a grave expression Morgana returned her gaze to the window. "The bloodshed, the tyranny of Camelot's King. It gets worse by the day and his paranoia is now affecting the citizens more than ever. It's never going to stop. It will only get worse."

Unsure of what to say to this Gwen bit her lip and lowered her head in thought. The tray lay abandoned for now as she moved over to Morgana, hoping to console her. "You think Uther is overreacting to Nimueh's return?"

"Nimueh is a powerful foe that much is true, but I believe she wishes to target Uther more than his precious city. He is going about this in the wrong way. I think he is putting a cage around the Kingdom and targeting the wrong people and it will only end in tragedy. In fact I know it will."

"My lady do not dwell on such things. Your nightmares can't..."

"My nightmares have all come true so far," said Morgana, mostly to herself, and Gwen took her statement to be figuratively. If she knew that Morgana had dreamt of this day for the past two weeks she may have viewed things a little differently. Unable to add anything to Morgana's words Gwen simply gave a sigh and went towards the door.

"Please eat something. If Camelot is as doomed as you say it is then we will need all the strength we can muster. I will be back later this evening."

Gwen gave Morgana a smile and left her in peace but the lady's mind was far more troubled than she had admitted to Gwen. Some action would have to be taken eventually to stop this spiralling downfall of the Kingdom - though how Morgana would go about this she was not certain at all.

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Merlin fell to the floor with a clatter of armour and a loud yelp of pain.

"You could have given me warning!"

"Enemies don't give warnings, Merlin! They strike without it!"

Arthur went to bring down his sword on the panting man beneath him but rather than risk a rather nasty bruise Merlin rolled out of its path as the blade came in contact with the grass. The grounds of the Castle were shaded perfectly for practicing swordfighting and Arthur had taken advantage of the winter sun to try and build his energy since the fever. As usual poor Merlin had been drafted in as the opponent - or rather the target - but as any distraction was welcome from the dark cloud Uther's orders seemed to have brought on the castle Merlin wasn't complaining. Well, not too much.

"Wait a minute, wait, I'm too tired..."

"Enemies do not wait either!"

"W...!" Merlin narrowly dodged another swing of Arthur's blade as he'd begun struggling onto his feet. The armour he was wearing was far too heavy and too tight, not his fit at all, but that hadn't concerned the Prince.

"How are you going to give me a challenging practice if you're so easily beaten, Merlin?"

Severely out of breath, Merlin raised his sword and attempted to defend. "Why do you... why do you need to train? I thought you were the best?"

"I AM the best," said Arthur, and a second later Merlin was once again flat on his back facing the white clouds rolling up above him. Arthur stood over his manservant with his hands on his hips, a highly amused smirk on his face whilst Merlin fought the urge to hit him. "You seem to like it down there."

"You know - I do. And if it's alright by you I think I'll stay here a m..."

"No, Merlin. We train because the city is on alert as so must you be if you're to stand a chance of surviving." Arthur shook his head with a laugh then walked back to where their belongings were placed on the grass as he waited for the boy to get up. Merlin did so with the help of the sword, digging it into the ground and using it as a support to haul himself to his feet rather than use what little strength he had left. Out of the corner of his eye Merlin saw Théa and Gaius approaching on the Castle grounds, with the former pointing out some shrubbery which probably had some hidden medicinal qualities. Théa had been granted a position within the castle after her one week trial with Gaius, and due to the fact she had played a large part in saving the Prince's life. She had been cheerful ever since, despite the grave circumstances. With a wave Merlin seemed to beckon Théa from her path and after a word to Gaius she walked over to see him, holding the hilt of her dress in her hands as she trod on the sodden grass and greeting him with a smile.

"Morning, Merlin. Whose is that sword?"

Théa's question seemed to startle Merlin out of some reverie. "Oh, it's just a standard sword from the hold...."

"May I?" Merlin handed over the sword and Théa examined the halt, the breadth, the balance... "It is a fine piece of craftsmanship," she said finally. "Who made it?"

"I don't know his name... I'd never have picked you as being into weapons..."

Théa gave him a proud smile. "My grandfather used to be a swordsmith. He taught me a few things...."

"Merlin!"

The Prince appeared suddenly behind his manservant, his own sword raised high ready to strike in a surprise attack. Unarmed and vulnerable, Merlin was now facing being hacked to bits, albeit unintentionally, by his master and his eyes widened as he realised his impending doom... the silver streaked down upon him and it was over in seconds - having seen the dangers Théa blocked Arthur's blade with the sword Merlin had given her, meeting him in mid-swing: distracted by the fact he was fighting a woman instead of his intended target, Arthur paused, and Théa took advantage by engaging him in a spar to throw him off Merlin's path. Ever one to enjoy a challenge Arthur fought back but it was on unsteady legs - eventually beaten, Théa surrendered once Arthur put the sword to her chest. If Merlin had blinked he would have missed it.

Taking a few moments to digest what had just happened Arthur surveyed the woman, who was slightly out of breath from the exertion, with curious eyes. "Impressive. You are very skilled, though it's always astounded me why a woman would be so interested in training in battle?"

Théa laughed. "I'm a traveller... we were attacked so many times, I had to learn to fight from a young age."

"Surely that was not your responsibility?"

"You don't know much about us, do you, sire?"

"Travellers?"

"Women."

The two exchanged a significant look, Théa eventually having to stifle a grin under his gaze. It was clear Arthur liked this girl - normally he would only take such jestings from those he knew best. Now the priviledge had been extended to Théa's quick tongue. Taking his sheath from Merlin, Arthur offered the tiniest of smiles to encourage her to continue. "I have never been forced into anything. Using weapons comes naturally, it was taught to me as my right to fight... women may be complex creatures but the majority of us know what is necessary to survive. "

"Well then. Perhaps you could teach Merlin a few things."

"About survival?"

"Women."

Whilst the two began to chuckle at Arthur's joke it was clear Merlin didn't find this funny. Instead the manservant took the jibe, looking at the floor and bouncing on his heel to distract from the situation. Think of Gaius, he told himself, think of not using magic... don't pay attention to the blonde man stealing your new friend by way of over-the-top flirtation. Well - perhaps it wasn't over the top. It might not have even been flirtation, but whatever it was and for whatever reason, Merlin found it unwelcome. He shouldn't have been thinking so possessively about a woman he'd barely gotten to know.

A call of Théa's name alerted the three to Gaius who had been waiting patiently during their conversation. "If you'll forgive me I'd better get back to Gaius... good morning, Arthur. Merlin," she said with a polite nod, and headed back to the physician. Whilst Merlin watched her leave with a stony expression, Arthur glanced at him before giving a small laugh.

"I know you like her, Merlin."

Merlin jumped. "I don't know what you...."

"Don't worry - I'm not planning on stealing her from you, she's a nice girl. Not my type, but a nice girl. You'd be good together."

Arthur stepped away from the other man leaving him looking very perplexed. Once over the shock of Arthur's initial comment Merlin hastened to follow him and protested "I don't like her! And don't marry me off that quickly!"

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