THE GUEST CHAMBER
Morgana entered the room further and Gwen straightened.
Mordred turned to face the high priestess and her eyes flashed, sending the sword from his hand and his neck twisting as an invisible blow sent him straight to the floor.
He landed with a slump and skidded towards the fire place, his head cracking on the marble base and rendering him unconscious.
Gwen drew in a small gasp as Morgana sneered at his unconscious body and trailed her sword with a chilling ringing noise along the stone floor.
"Pity," She spat at Mordred, mimicking the words the high priestess Nimueh had spoken to Merlin all those years ago.
"Together you and I could have ruled the world…" She hissed, "Before you chose this side."
As she spoke her eyes turned icily on Gwen, and the queen straightened, her hands in fists at her sides, although they fought to wrap around her stomach protectively.
She knew that Morgana was aware of her condition…
The way the witch's eyes grazed over her made her skin crawl.
She was afraid not for herself, for she pitied Morgana rather than being terrified of her…
Gwen was frightened for her baby.
Her maternal instincts coursed strongly through her veins.
She would do anything she could, to stop Morgana from hurting her unborn child.
"Well well well…" Morgana hissed and walked closer.
Gwen immediately took a step back.
Morgana sneered, bearing her icy teeth slightly at the power she felt.
"You have found yourself in a delicate condition Gwen… I bet you are so pleased after the wait and all the trying…"
"Leave me alone." Gwen spat, "It is of no concern to you…"
"Oh but it is." Morgana lifted one eyebrow as she hissed at the woman who had once been her friend and maid.
"That child is as much Arthurs as it is yours… and as such there are some who would see that they are above me in line to succeed the throne upon Arthur's untimely passing…"
The certainly she spoke with when referring to Arthur's death made Gwen swallow, but the look in her eyes made her stomach clench.
She stepped backwards and straightened.
"They would be right to think such things…" She breathed firmly, "This child is a legitimate Pendragon… unlike you…"
Morganas eyes burned.
"Uther was never my father but there is enough of his blood in my veins for me to take the throne…" She hissed, "whatever that means."
"Guinevere!"
Arthur flung himself into the room, sword in hand, nearly throwing the door off of its hinges.
Morgana cried out in rage and spun, her hand flying upwards.
The spell she built to cast was seen by Merlin, and he pushed Arthur out of the way to land on the floor.
Merlin was thrown backwards by her spell and into the corridor, he slid down the wall with a groan, clutching at his head as the world tilted and swam.
He could not find the strength to push himself up, and instead had to watch with blurry eyes as Morgana turned her eyes down on Arthur.
She lifted her sword and poked him hard in the side.
"Well well dear brother… how nice of you to drop in…" She sneered, "Gwen and I were just catching up…"
"Don't you dare touch her…" Arthur hissed and pushed himself up onto his knees, reaching to grab his sword.
Morgana sneered and pressed the blade to his chest so he could not reach.
She arched one eyebrow, enjoying seeing the painful flame of fear in his eyes, that she would see extinguished when the life leaked from his body by her act…
"Oh don't worry Arthur… I intend for her to be fully conscious and awake while she watches me kill you…" She hissed.
Arthur did not fear death, nor did he fear Morgana.
He pitied her, and mourned her for dead.
For the sister he had once known, the friend… she was gone.
Unable to tear her eyes away from the scene, but realising that she had to do something, and was not being watched, Gwen moved slightly to sink to a gentle crouch, and pick up Mordred's fallen sword.
She moved silently, and swallowed.
She flexed her hand around the handle, and took a hesitant step forwards.
From where he was slumped, Merlin stirred, grunting in pain and flexing his limbs to try and get heavily upright, when he saw Gwen move.
His eyes widened.
Neither Morgana nor Arthur turned away from each other.
"Let her go…" The king hissed, "Morgana she is of no threat to you please… she has nothing to do with this…"
"She has everything to do with this!" morgana cried and pressed her sword firmly to Arthur's chest.
"She is carrying your child… one that is of threat to me… she is your queen… and there will only be one of those into Camelot…"
"She is more a queen than you are... or will ever be… killing me won't change that…" Arthur hissed and grunted as she pressed the blade firmly over his heart.
Her sneer would have burnt a lake.
"We shall see."
Morgana lifted her sword to slam it down towards Arthur, but Gwen stepped forwards and turned to thrust her sword at the high priestess.
Morgana gave a shout of anger and turned to swipe her sword at Gwen.
The queen had her back to the door and her husband as she slammed her sword at Morgana's.
But Morgana was faster.
Arthur could not see what would have broken his heart.
Gwen dropped her sword and her eyes widened.
Morgana sneered at something that no one else could see.
As Gwen's blade clattered to the floor she stepped back and laughed once, a slow motion sneer.
Knights skidded in the doorway and Morgana threw her sword at them, clapping her hands above her head and disappearing into a cloud of flame and smoke.
It awoke Mordred, and made Merlin pushed himself to his feet, staggering slightly under the weight of his heavy head.
Arthur pushed himself up, watching as his wife stared down at herself, her back still too him.
"Guinevere?" He croaked, his voice dry from the desperation of the attack.
Slowly, she turned to face him.
He smiled at her in relief for a moment, before he saw her clutch at her side near her ribs, and fall to her knees, her arms around himself.
He saw the blood leaking across her dress and he thought his head would explode as he dove to catch her in his arms.
He wrapped his arms around her and sunk to sit on the floor, cradling her, so she was laying against his chest.
His hand immediately went to the side of her ribs and felt the pulse of her heart and blood against his palm.
The crimson stain dripped over the floor as her eyes rolled into the back of her head.
Everyone's eyes widened and Arthur felt his heart burn.
"Guinevere!"
**END OF EPISODE**
COMING UP NEXT: EPISODE 6 - 'THE LONGEST NIGHT'