One day, Morgana entered her chambers and saw Gwen absentmindedly fiddling with a small object in her hand. Morgana walked over to her. "What's that?"
"Oh, it's a button for my new dress," Gwen explained, holding out her hand to reveal a very nice silver button with an embossed design. "It was a gift."
"A gift?" Lancelot repeated, frowning. He also walked over for a better look. "Looks expensive. Who's it from?"
Gwen laughed at his poorly-concealed jealousy. "It's from my father, Lancelot, don't worry. You're still my only suitor, and the only one I want."
"Oh." Lancelot looked faintly embarrassed.
Gwen's humor quickly faded. "I just don't understand where he got the money, though. I really didn't think business at the forge had increased enough for him to afford this…"
Morgana put a hand on Gwen's shoulder. "Your father is an honest man, I know that much."
Gwen swallowed. "I know that too, but as much as I love my father, there are times when he isn't exactly the most sensible person. I just hope he hasn't gotten himself mixed up in something bad."
"Trust in him as he trusts in you, and if he does get into some kind of trouble, we'll be there for him," Lancelot suggested.
Gwen swallowed again and smiled at him. "Thank you."
Late that night, shortly after Morgana had retired to bed, Gwen burst into her chambers. "My father's been arrested for treason!"
"What?!" Morgana exclaimed. She rapidly got out of bed and grabbed her robe. "I'm sure it's a misunderstanding, I'll sort this out with Uther. Lancelot!"
Lancelot emerged from the antechamber, looking somewhat tousled. "I'll stay with Guinevere, my lady, don't worry." He walked over to Gwen and pulled her into a tight embrace. Morgana left to give the king a piece of her mind, satisfied that Gwen was in good hands.
As it turned out, Tom had been caught doing something for a sorcerer named Tauren, leader of a known plot against the king. Uther promised a "fair trial", but made it clear he had already decided Tom's guilt. Morgana stormed out of the room, recognizing a truly lost cause.
Arthur caught up with her a few minutes later. "There is worse to come," he said grimly—and quietly. "I've just been ordered to arrest anyone who fed or sheltered Tauren."
"So, what, it's now a crime to so much as cross a sorcerer's path?!" Morgana hissed angrily.
"It would seem so," Arthur sighed. He glanced around to make sure they were alone. "I suggest you and Merlin start working on a plan for a mass breakout."
Morgana took a deep breath, then broke into a vicious smirk. "I believe it's time that Emrys and Le Fay made their first appearances in Camelot."
"Good luck."
Morgana returned to her chambers, knowing there would be no point in staging the breakout until the guards had conducted all the unjust arrests. Gwen and Lancelot were gone, but Morgana didn't let this concern her. Wherever they were, she knew Lancelot would keep Gwen safe.
In the morning, there was still no sign of Lancelot or Gwen. Morgana hurriedly dressed herself and went in search of her maid. Gwen was not in her house, nor at her father's forge, but Morgana did find a curious orange stone in a small pouch. The thing radiated powerful magic; Morgana was sure it must be connected to Tauren. She picked it up and concealed it under her shawl.
Morgana's next stop was the physician's chambers, where she found Gwen sleeping on Merlin's bed. Lancelot sat on a nearby chair while Merlin and Mordred sat on Mordred's bed, all looking concerned. "How is she?" Morgana asked.
"She's doing okay," Merlin replied.
"We should let her rest," Morgana suggested, leading the way back into the main chamber. Merlin, Lancelot and Mordred all followed.
"Did you have any luck talking to Uther last night?" Lancelot asked.
"No," Morgana sighed. "Uther is beyond reason. He's ordered the arrest of anyone who had anything to do with Tauren at all." She looked directly at Merlin. "Arthur has as good as ordered us to make sure they escape before their executions."
"Absolutely," Merlin agreed.
Morgana nodded. "Have any of you had a chance to ask Tom for his side of the story yet?"
"He had no idea Tauren was a sorcerer," Lancelot explained. "Tauren hired him for some kind of experiment."
"Apparently it involved some kind of stone," Merlin added. "Gaius said it sounded like alchemy."
"Some kind of stone?" Morgana repeated. She took out the pouch and let the stone spill into her hand. "I found this in the forge. Do you think this could be it?"
Mordred's eyes went wide as saucers. That's the Mage Stone!
"The Mage Stone?" Morgana repeated.
Mordred glanced at Lancelot, then took a deep breath. "Wonder of the ancients, lost for a thousand years or more. It's said it could give the bearer the power of transformation. The power to turn things into gold!"
"Arthur did say Tom was found holding a lump of gold," Morgana said thoughtfully.
"And I sensed powerful magic last night," Merlin added. "I must have sensed the moment Tauren used that thing." He cautiously reached a hand out toward the Stone, then jerked it back. "And it's even more powerful up close…"
"Well, if the tales of Tauren plotting against the kingdom are true, it's probably best we hold on to this," Morgana mused.
"You think the tales might be false?" Lancelot asked, surprised.
Morgana snorted humorlessly. "Uther believes every sorcerer is plotting against him. Had it not been Arthur who said it, I'd have dismissed the idea outright."
"We should probably worry about saving Tom and all those other people Arthur warned us about before we deal with Tauren," Merlin suggested.
Morgana nodded. "You're right, of course. Do you still have the cloak you wore in Ealdor?"
Merlin broke into a smirk. "Yes. I do."
Morgana smirked back at him. "Then breaking people out of the dungeons should be quite simple."
Later that day, Morgana watched from her window as guards led a depressing parade of innocent citizens toward the dungeons. It took all of her self-restraint not to return to Uther and give him another tongue-lashing; she knew it would do no good, and it would be better not to give him any reason to suspect her involvement in the coming breakout.
Nonetheless, Morgana spent the afternoon entertaining herself by thinking up ever more creative insults for the king.
That night, Merlin and Morgana waited for the guard shift to change, then put on their cloaks and strode into the dungeons. The two guards on duty drew their swords, but Morgana chanted a spell and suddenly the guards were bound to their chairs. Merlin walked past her into the cells and chanted another spell, causing all the cell doors to open at once.
"Your king has failed you," Merlin announced, disguising his voice. "Come with me if you want to live."
"An' why should we trust you?" a woman demanded, giving Merlin a suspicious look.
"What other choice do we have?" a man retorted.
"How do we know you ain't cast a spell on the king what made him put us all here?" the woman challenged.
"Hush, Lynette, we all know what the king thinks of magic," Tom said. "He is under no spell and you know it. I, for one, would like to see my children again." He looked at Merlin. "Whatever price you demand, if it is within my means I will pay it."
"We seek no reward," Merlin stated. "We seek only to defend the innocent, as Uther should have done."
"Well said," a different woman murmured.
"Follow me," Merlin commanded, walking out the other end of the cells.
"I will ensure you are not pursued," Morgana promised, also disguising her voice.
One by one, every single prisoner followed Merlin as he led them toward a tunnel in the burial vaults. The tunnel in question would take them underneath the walls and into the woods. It was blocked by a grate, but Merlin would have no difficulty blasting it away.
Morgana turned back to the two bound guards. "Have no fear, we mean you no harm. We had to make it clear you were not complicit in this, lest Uther sentence you in their place."
"Th-thank you," one guard stammered, swallowing. He glanced at his compatriot. "Truth be told, we did not want to stop you."
Morgana inclined her head. "Tell the people, it was Emrys and Le Fay who protected them this night. We will always be here to guard them against their king."
"We will," the other guard promised.
In the morning, Lancelot cautiously entered Morgana's chambers. "Merlin tells me all went to plan?"
"Yes," Morgana confirmed. "All the prisoners safely escaped."
"And…where did they go? Merlin wasn't very clear on that part."
"We suggested they disperse, flee in as many directions as possible so that they are harder to track," Morgana explained.
Lancelot swallowed. "Do you have any idea which way Tom would have gone?"
"I imagine he's gone to seek out his son, though I'm afraid I've no idea where Elyan is these days," Morgana replied. Lancelot slumped in disappointment, and Morgana smiled softly at him. "Once the furor dies down, I'm sure we can find a way for Gwen to stay in touch with him."
Lancelot shook his head. "It's not that, it's…I've been meaning to ask his permission to marry Gwen."
"Ah." Morgana put a hand on Lancelot's shoulder. "Well, under the circumstances, I think Tom would forgive you for skipping that particular tradition. Besides, I imagine he would have given you the same answer he did when you first asked to court Gwen—as long as it's what she wants, he'll approve."
Lancelot swallowed again. "I just don't want him to think I disrespect him."
"If Tom ever thinks that, then he's almost as big a fool as Uther. You'll be fine, Lancelot, and Gwen is a very lucky woman."
"Thank you, my lady."
Morgana and Lancelot returned to the physician's chambers, where Gwen was sitting in the main chamber this time. She stood up and curtsied. "Words cannot begin to express my gratitude, my lady."
"No need to thank me, Gwen," Morgana replied. "I only did what was right."
"And what we would do for any friend," Merlin added, briefly patting Gwen's shoulder.
"That, too," Morgana agreed. "Now, with the prisoners safely away, we must figure out what to do about Tauren and the Mage Stone."
"I talked to Arthur yesterday," Merlin revealed. "He said there is good intelligence that Tauren is truly plotting treason. That's what led them to Tom's forge in the first place."
"So, simply returning the Stone is out of the question," Morgana concluded.
"Maybe he just needs to be told who Emrys and the Once and Future King are," Mordred suggested.
Everyone turned to him in surprise. "The idea does have merit," Lancelot said thoughtfully. "Perhaps Tauren, like Nimueh, has forgotten that Arthur is not his father."
"So, if Arthur and I go to secretly negotiate with him, we might be able to convince him to back down," Merlin mused. "I'm sure Arthur will be willing to at least give it a try." He made for the door, but suddenly paused. "What is that noise?"
Gwen walked over to the window. "It looks like something's happening in the lower town."
Merlin and Lancelot shared a look. "Merlin and I will investigate," Lancelot decided. "The rest of you, stay here."
Gwen nodded, still looking out the window. Merlin and Lancelot left.
The noise steadily grew louder while the two men were gone—a dull roar punctuated by the occasional sounds of fighting. Some of which, Morgana was concerned to note, sounded much closer than the lower town.
Merlin and Lancelot finally returned and slammed the door behind them, eyes wide with shock. "Riot!" Merlin gasped out. "There's a full-blown riot in the lower town, and the mob is moving this way!"
"And there are soldiers of Camelot fighting each other in the corridors of this very castle!" Lancelot added. "My ladies, I must insist you stay in this tower, it is the most defensible position in this wing! I will go to guard the staircase." He drew his sword and exited, closing the door behind him.
"What about Gaius?" Gwen demanded worriedly. "He's out on his rounds in the lower town!"
"Hopefully he's found shelter," Merlin replied. "I'm sorry, Gwen, but it's too dangerous to go out there now."
Mordred clung to Morgana. Are we going to die?
"No, Mordred," Morgana assured. "I don't think they're after us. I think Uther has finally pushed his people too far."
Outside the window, the mob soon filled the square. Sounds of fighting became louder in the castle. Over the course of the next few hours, Merlin went out to confer with Lancelot several times, but none of the rioters had shown any interest in their tower. Eventually, the sounds of fighting died down, but the mob remained in the square. Merlin went out to do some very careful scouting.
Fifteen minutes later, Merlin returned. "It seems that when Uther ordered the guards to quell the riot, at least half of them refused and began fighting the ones who didn't. A number of off-duty guards were among the rioters, and they soon joined the battle. Many of the knights made excuses to leave the city when the riot began, and quite a few more told Uther that they would not take up arms against their own people. The rioting soldiers now control most of the citadel; the loyalists control the council chambers and a few of the surrounding corridors. From the sound of things, Uther and Arthur are trapped in the council chambers. The rioters are insisting that Uther pardon all the escaped prisoners, and that he promise not to hunt down 'Emrys' and 'Le Fay'."
"He'll never agree to those terms," Morgana noted.
Merlin nodded. "But he doesn't have the manpower to regain control of the situation. And even if he did…this can't end well."
Morgana stood up. "Well, I'm sure Arthur has been trying to talk sense into him. I think it's time I added my voice to the argument."
Mordred grabbed her hand. You can't! What if they kill you?
"Or what if they try to use you as a hostage?" Merlin added.
"You know what? If they want to use me as a hostage, I say let them!" Morgana exclaimed, her temper fraying. "Whatever it takes to force Uther to act the wise and just king he is meant to be! I will not hide in this tower while the fate of the kingdom is decided. If you come up with a better idea, you're welcome to try it!"
Merlin swallowed. "No. I don't have any better ideas. Good luck."
Morgana exited the room and walked down the stairs. "Come on," she told Lancelot. "Merlin can look after Gwen and Mordred, and I refuse to stay here."
"But, my lady—!"
"Don't even try to talk me out of it," Morgana said sternly. "Either accompany me or let me go alone, it's your choice."
"Very well," Lancelot relented, obviously unhappy about it. He kept his sword drawn as he followed Morgana.
A few corridors away, they encountered a group of soldiers. Several drew their swords and pointed them at Morgana, but one man held out his hand. "Wait! Let her pass."
"She is his ward!" another soldier hissed angrily.
"I once saw her defy Uther to defend a servant," the first soldier argued. Morgana suddenly recognized him as the man who'd delivered the Mortaeus flower to Gaius, back when Merlin was poisoned. "She is not our enemy. She passes unharmed."
"Thank you," Morgana replied, smiling at him. "I give you my word, I go to plead your case."
"May you have better luck than you did last time," the guard replied, giving her a slight bow. Morgana passed unmolested, followed by a very relieved Lancelot.
The soldiers guarding the corridors around the council chambers were similarly relieved to see Morgana, and Uther was even more relieved. He rushed forward to take her hands. "It's such a relief to see you safe. I couldn't bear the thought of those vagabonds harming you."
Morgana pulled away. "It is not me they are angry with," she said coldly. She looked at Arthur. "I am aware of the demands. Where do we stand?"
"Father has commanded that we do not give a single inch," Arthur replied. He absently rubbed the back of his sword hand, which was wrapped in a makeshift bandage. "We are to regain control of the citadel, determine the leaders of this uprising, and execute them."
Morgana looked back at Uther. "Do you hear yourself? Do you have any evidence that so much as a single one of those prisoners actually knew who Tauren was? We must compromise; order a proper investigation, as you should have done the first time!"
"I will not allow this mob to tell me what to do!" Uther hissed.
"Look around, Uther!" Morgana cried, gesturing toward the windows. "This kingdom is no longer dictated by what you allow. If you do not bend, you will break!"
Uther glared at her. "You speak treason, Morgana. The law stands or this kingdom falls."
Morgana glared back at him. "Only a madman hears the truth as treason."
"Take care, child, or I'll have you restrained," Uther warned.
"And how do you propose to do that, when you no longer control your own dungeons?" Morgana snapped. "You are an arrogant fool. You are deaf and blind to the very needs of the people you profess to serve and protect. They will tolerate it no longer!"
"Enough!" Uther cried, now red with rage.
"You're right, I've heard enough," Morgana spat. "I see that you care not for me, nor anyone but yourself. That you're driven mad with power. That you're a tyrant." She whirled around and stormed toward the door, but paused and looked back. "From this day forward, I do not know you. From this day forward, I disown you."
Morgana marched out of the council chambers, crossing the hall and entering an empty room across the way. Lancelot dutifully followed her. Morgana angrily paced the room, seething both at Uther's stupidity and at her own for expecting any better of him.
A few minutes later, Arthur joined them. "What news from outside the council chambers?"
"Not much to tell, I'm afraid," Morgana replied, still somewhat irritable. "We've spent the morning holed up in Gaius's chambers. Merlin, Gwen and Mordred are still there; we're not sure what has become of Gaius."
"The rioters allowed Morgana safe passage," Lancelot spoke up. "I do not believe they will harm anyone who does not openly support Uther."
"That may be a problem, then," Morgana countered. "According to Merlin, Gaius is rather blind to Uther's faults."
"But he would pose no threat to them," Arthur argued. "Surely they wouldn't harm an old man?"
Lancelot grimaced. "If he keeps his mouth shut, I think he'll be fine. But if he tries to argue with them…"
"Look, wherever Gaius is, there's nothing we can do for him right now," Morgana insisted. "How are we going to make Uther see reason?"
"He's beyond reason," Arthur sighed. He held up his bandaged hand. "I had to resort to desperate measures to stay out of the fighting while also keeping his ear…for all the good it's done."
"Then what do we do?" Morgana demanded.
"Nothing much we can do, until something else happens." Arthur sighed and made for the door. "I'll keep trying, though."
Night fell, with no change in the standoff. Lancelot found a linen closet and set up makeshift bedrolls for himself and Morgana; on opposite sides of the room, of course. Arthur later came in to join them, and Lancelot assembled a third bedroll next to his. They eventually fell into an uneasy sleep.
Morning dawned, and neither Uther nor the rioters had budged an inch. The crowd in the square had thinned somewhat overnight, but it soon filled out again. Morgana began to regret her decision to join Arthur and Uther; the loyalists did not control either the kitchens or the wells, and they were refusing to let her leave 'for her own safety'.
By late afternoon, Morgana was finding it difficult to concentrate on much of anything beyond her empty stomach. Merlin? Have you had any ideas yet?
Other than donning my cloak again and joining the fight, no, not really.
Well why haven't you done that?!
Do you not remember what we told Morgause? Merlin snapped, sounding annoyed. We don't want Arthur's reign to begin with a bloodbath.
Well you've got to do something! Morgana begged. We can't wait here forever, we've no food or water!
As soon as darkness falls, I'll try to use magic to send some to your window, Merlin promised.
I'll start packing right now! Mordred offered.
Thank you. Morgana sat on the floor, feeling dizzy.
Arthur rejoined them at dusk. As promised, Merlin managed to levitate a sack of provisions and three waterskins to their window. Arthur, Morgana and Lancelot all tore into the food with abandon. Within minutes, they polished everything off.
Morgana took a long drink from her waterskin and sighed in contentment. "My throat was so dry, I thought I wouldn't be able to talk."
"Well, at least some good would have come out of all this, then," Arthur joked.
"This can't continue," Lancelot said worriedly. "The soldiers guarding these corridors received no provisions, they cannot hold out much longer."
Arthur sobered. "I know. Even the most loyal councillors are now trying to persuade the king that this whole business isn't worth dying over. If he is still deaf to reason in the morning…I will end this myself, no matter what it takes."
When morning dawned, both Morgana and Arthur returned to the council chambers to talk to Uther yet again. "Sire, this cannot continue," Arthur stated. "If we do not give the people what they want, we will starve."
"Then let us starve!" Uther snapped, a somewhat manic look in his eyes. "I would sooner die than bow to our enemies!"
"Enemies?" Morgana repeated coldly. "You speak of your own people."
"They are traitors, all of them," Uther insisted. "We must stand strong against the dark forces of magic!"
"No, Sire," Arthur said firmly. "This has gone on too long. You forget—without the people, there is no Camelot. We are as much their servant as they are ours. Those they would have us spare are guilty of nothing worse than offering succor to a stranger; we must issue the pardons they seek."
"Never," Uther snarled. "We rule the people! I did not raise you to be so weak!"
"This is not weakness, it is wisdom," Arthur insisted. "If you will not do what needs to be done, then I will. And if you make a liar of me…" He gestured toward the window. "You have seen what will happen." He turned and left the council chambers, accompanied by Morgana.
Fortunately, the loyalists controlled the great balcony from which Uther regularly addressed the people. Arthur and Morgana walked onto that balcony now.
"People of Camelot," Arthur called loudly. "We have heard your grievances, and we sympathize with them. I give you my word, both the Lady Morgana and I protested the arrests from the beginning. I offer now a pardon to anyone who was accused of aiding and abetting the traitor Tauren. Let no one harm them nor restrain them should they return to Camelot."
"And what of Emrys and Le Fay?" someone shouted in the crowd.
"They too are pardoned. If anyone hunts them down, I give you my word, it will not happen at my command."
"Bold words, Sire," called a different voice. Surprised, Morgana looked down and saw 'Emrys' standing by a side entrance, accompanied by someone wearing her own disguise as 'Le Fay'. "But will your deeds back them up? Here we are, two known sorcerers. What will you do with us?"
"I am a man of my word," Arthur stated. "I order all present to give these two sorcerers safe passage out of the city. And," he looked at Merlin once again, "I ask that you locate as many of the former prisoners as you can, and inform them of their pardons."
Merlin and 'Le Fay' both bowed. "It will be done, your majesty," Merlin agreed, still disguising his voice. He and his cloaked companion walked through the square unmolested and departed across the drawbridge.
"Have I assuaged your fears?" Arthur asked the people. "Will you return to your business, and allow us to return to ours?"
There were a few moments of silence as the people looked around at each other, then applause slowly broke out. "Long live the prince! Long live the prince! Long live the prince!"
Word soon reached the rebel soldiers inside the castle, and the internal siege was lifted. Uther immediately tried to countermand Arthur's orders, but even the soldiers who had defended him made no effort to obey. They hurried off in search of food, leaving the king to stew alone in his anger.
Morgana rejoined Gwen and Mordred in the physician's chambers, and learned that it was Lancelot who had borrowed her cloak to play the role of 'Le Fay'. Gaius returned soon after, having spent the uprising safely sequestered in the tavern. To Morgana's surprise, even Gaius could find no fault with Arthur's actions, expressing praise for the strong leader that the prince had become.
That night, Morgana and Arthur snuck out of the castle in search of Tauren. Based on the last intelligence from before the riot, they began their search in the Darkling Woods. About an hour later, it was Tauren who found them in a clearing.
"Well well well, what do we have here?" Tauren greeted, drawing his sword and pointing it at the two royals. Three of his men surrounded them.
"Greetings, Tauren," Arthur said politely. "I trust you are aware of recent events in Camelot?"
"Of course I am," Tauren replied. "But I'll believe your little show of sparing two sorcerers when you aren't being threatened by an angry mob."
Arthur and Morgana shared a look, then Morgana turned back to Tauren. "Forbearnen," she murmured, conjuring a small flame in her hand. Tauren's jaw dropped, and he looked back and forth between Morgana and Arthur. "I am the real Le Fay, and Arthur knows the true face of Emrys as well. It was Arthur who suggested we stage the breakout in the first place. He is the Once and Future King. If your motives are pure—if you truly seek nothing more than the freedom of our people—then you will not attack Camelot."
"If you can live peaceably, and cease all treasonous plots, then I give you my word, you will be welcome in Camelot under my reign," Arthur added.
Tauren stared for nearly a minute longer before finally replying. "And what of…what has become of my Stone?"
"It remains in our hands until we are convinced of your trustworthiness," Arthur replied. "Do you agree to these terms?"
Tauren swallowed. "Yes, your majesty. Your terms are agreeable."
