Author Note: Hey everyone. I've now got the next few chapters written in rough on my computer, so hopefully I'll be able to update with a few more chapters before next week. And don't worry, things are quite slow in Camelot at the moment, but they're about to pick up - and something is soon to happen to Dante that will throw everything into chaos, whilst bringing her and Gwaine closer, hehe.

So now that I've given you a little spoiler of what's to come, enjoy this next chapter. Dante is about to learn why you don't get on Morgana's bad side.

...

By the time Dante had reached Morgana's hovel, hidden deep within the forests to the south of Camelot's Citadel, she had forcefully calmed herself and her raging temper once more.

After all, she of all people should know how terribly unwise it would be to storm into the witch's hut, ranting, raving and throwing wild accusations around.

Reason is the first victim of strong emotion, her father had often told her, and Dante would need all her wits, reasoning and logic if she were to avoid incurring the wrath of Morgana now. So keeping her emotions in check was paramount.

Sliding from Gringolet's saddle, she tethered him to a tree near some lush grass so that he would be content - for the time being at least. The last thing she needed was for the spirited horse to get bored, work his way free, then bugger off back to the Citadel, where he would spark a frenzy by returning rider-less, which in turn would then cause a search party to be sent out, looking for her.

Once she was sure that his needs had been satisfied, she took a deep breath, walked over to the wooden door of the hut and rapped sharply with her bare knuckles, flinching as the rough, splintered wood scratched her skin.

When she received no immediate answer, she assumed that Morgana must be out somewhere. However, trying the handle, she found that it was actually unlocked. Stepping carefully and cautiously into the darkness beyond, she squinted, pausing for a moment to allow her eyes to adjust to the lack of light. Then she began to scan the hovel.

"On your knees," a soft, dangerous voice hissed in her ear suddenly, as the cold steel of a blade slid under her chin, pressing lightly against her throat.

Instinctively holding her hands up to show that they were empty, Dante did as instructed, sinking very slowly to her knees, glad that the blade was moving with her - otherwise this could have proved most awkward indeed. It remained pressed firmly against her exposed neck, but as yet, did not draw any blood. However, it would just take a single twitch from an unsteady hand to end her life forever, and she knew it. So she remained perfectly still, barely even daring to breath in case the movement should jog the blade.

"You are angry," Morgana noticed with both surprise and suspicion as she moved round to stand in front of her acolyte, keeping the blade steadily in position. "Angry with me, perhaps? Or with someone else?"

Both, Dante wanted to say. But she didn't dare admit something like that to Morgana as her eyes remained locked firmly with the witch's, even though every instinct was screaming at her to keep her eyes on the blade instead.

"Someone else, Mistress."

It took Morgana the best part of the next ten second to study Dante and decide that she was of no immediate danger to her. She had not come specifically to harm her, at least. Slowly, she removed the blade, placing it on the nearby table - well in reach if Dante needed 'reminding' to keep her temper in check.

"Tell me," she said, noting the look of relief on the young woman's face when the threat of the dagger was lifted.

"King Lot has attacked an innocent village and taken its entire population into slavery," Dante explained, her fists curling again as she was reminded of why she'd been angry in the first place.

"Yes," Morgana nodded. Dante blinked in surprise.

"You knew?"

"It was my idea," Morgana shrugged.

In an instant, Dante was back on her feet, regardless of the fact she had not been given permission to rise. "Your idea? Why?"

"Why not?" Morgana challenged.

"They are innocent people!"

"No-one is innocent, Dante. You should know this by now. Besides, what has any of this to do with you, anyway?"

"There was a woman in Ealdor who took me in and showed me great kindness when I needed it - as you once did. SHE was the one to come to Camelot, seeking help. SHE was the one who raised the alarm and made us aware of what Lot is up to. SHE was the one who made me aware of YOUR plan, Morgana!"

It was clear that through this little speech, Dante had been trying to control her anger. Trying...but sadly failing.

"You are angry that I did not tell you my plan?" Morgana laughed, an ironic, bitter laugh that held no humour.

"Yes! I'm your bloody acolyte! How can I trust you, if you don't tell me what the hell is going on?"

Morgana picked up the dagger then, and Dante flinched.

"Need I remind you," the witch spoke calmly as the dagger rose slowly and elegantly from her palm, floating through the air towards Dante. "I do not answer to you. I do not need to tell you anything, if I do not desire. I do not require your trust, because there are plenty of fools out there who would kill to have your job right now. I can take your life and replace it in an instant, and do not believe that I wouldn't."

The knife floated through the air towards Dante, and although she looked visibly terrified by the glinting blade, all credit to the girl, she stood her ground regardless.

"And need I remind you, Mistress," she started in reply, slowly, choosing her words VERY carefully. "I am on your side. I am not against you. All I ask is that you do not keep me in the dark about such things. The more I know...the more I can aid you, from the inside. That was why you had me enter the ranks of Camelot in the first place, was it not?"

Morgana thought about this for what felt like an eternity, even as the enchanted knife hovered at her acolyte's throat. Dante knew that this situation was about to go one of two ways.

Either she was a dead woman and Morgana would simply replace her with the next mindless fool she happened across, or -

The clatter of metal as the blade struck the floor made her flinch again. It took her a second to register that she was once again out of immediate danger. She looked down at the blade at her feet in surprise.

"Granted," Morgana nodded, conceding to this particular argument. "I suppose you have served me better than most. You've earned the right to know what's going on. Sit."

Tentatively, Dante did as she was told, sitting at the table opposite Morgana, who began to explain her plan.

"It's all a trap for Arthur. The woman you spoke of is Merlin's mother. She believes she had a lucky escape from the village, unseen. In truth, we let her go. She has run to Merlin and Arthur in the past when in need of help. It was only a matter of time before she'd do it again."

"You wanted her to go to Arthur for help," Dante realised, catching on.

"Yes. We needed some way to catch Arthur's attention, and what better way than to get to him via his manservant's mother. Merlin would do anything for her, and I believe there is little that Arthur would not do for Merlin."

"So why kidnap a whole village. Hasn't Lot got enough slaves?" Dante asked, not really understanding.

"We cannot afford to have anyone get in our way when our plan is put into motion," Morgana replied, as if the answer were simple. "They have been taken to the Castle of Fyrien, along with the livestock. Ealdor is completely deserted. The perfect place to spring an ambush."

"And when Arthur shows up, you surprise him and kill him?"

"No."

"No? But I thought - "

"Trust me, Dante. I've lost count of how many times I've tried to kill Arthur now. He simply refuses to die. So, I have decided that rather than keep wasting my time, energy and resources on something that I know to be futile, I'll focus them on another approach instead. Don't get me wrong, there will be death. But not Arthur's. Just those who accompany him."

"And what of Arthur?" Dante asked, trying to process all this information, even as a voice at the back of her head screamed out I have to find some way to get Arthur to come alone. Nobody else deserves to die because of him.

"I give him a choice," Morgana explained. "Either he and Gwen step down from Camelot's Throne and relinquish all claims for themselves and their future family, or..."

"Or?"

"Or I kill Gwen."

"You can't!" Dante stood so suddenly that her chair rocked backwards, threatening to tip right over.

"SIT DOWN!" Morgana commanded, slamming a fist on the table. Dante glared defiantly and for a moment Morgana believed that she may actually disobey her again, earning herself a fitting punishment in return. Just as she was debating what the young woman would look like with only nine fingers, however, Dante appeared to see sense and sank back down into the chair once more.

"You are far too highly strung, Lady Dante," Morgana scolded. "Curb your anger and let me finish."

"Sorry, Milady." Dante muttered.

"Now, as I was saying...I will 'threaten' to kill his beloved Queen, but that is all it will be. A threat. Arthur will never let anything happen to her. He will give me what I want, eventually."

Dante nodded slowly, clearly biting her tongue.

Well, someone has certainly found their voice since joining Camelot's nobility, Morgana thought, wryly. A year ago, Dante would never have DARED to answer back to Morgana, yet here she was now, not only arguing, but making demands of her own. She was fast rising above her station, and the sooner Morgana reminded her of this fact, the better.

"You have something to say?" She asked, wondering if she really should have let the matter drop there and then. After all, this was only encouraging Dante's freedom of speech, which in turn was simply asking for more trouble.

"I was just wondering, Milady, what my role in all of this would be."

"Your role?" Morgana scoffed. "Your role is to do as I say and..." She paused as an idea struck her, encouraged by Dante's anger and her insistence to get involved. "And you will ensure that Arthur allows you to accompany him to Ealdor."

"My Lady?" Dante frowned, not understanding.

"We need a back-up in case things do not go according to plan," Morgana explained thoughtfully. "You are perfect for this job! You can claim to have intimate knowledge of Lot's strategies and motives. Spin whatever lies you like, it won't matter in the end. Just as long as Arthur gets to Ealdor. And if, by some small miracle, he survives the village ambush and evades capture, you can tell him of the castle, where Lot is 'most likely' to keep hostages. Arthur will no doubt mount a rescue mission, and we can capture him then."

"And if that fails, Mistress?"

"Then you are heralded as a hero for saving hundreds of lives. That will certainly earn you Arthur's trust and respect."

Dante was just about to agree with this plan, when another thought struck her. "You said that all those who accompanied Arthur would die!"

"All those who accompany him into the village," Morgana corrected. "Ensure you do not enter the village. Make up some excuse about staying with the horses. You are not a warrior or a skilled fighter, after all. Arthur cannot expect you to walk into a battlefield."

"But everyone else who goes with him will be killed? Even his knights? And Merlin?"

"Especially Merlin. If I have anything to say about the matter - which I do - he will be the first to die. He has been a thorn in my side for far too long now."

To Dante this was the most brutal, horrific plan she had ever heard - this wasn't just treason she was being encouraged to participate in, but murder as well. Murder of people she had come to regard as friends. She was now wishing that she had never demanded to know the truth in the first place. Now, she had to live with the knowledge that tomorrow, when Arthur and his men set out for Ealdor, they were riding to their deaths, and she was supposed to ENCOURAGE it?

"My plan does not appeal to you?" Morgana challenged, noting Dante's obvious disgust.

"As far as plans go, Milady, it is as sound as it could be," she replied eventually, realising that carefully chosen words would once again be the difference between life or death for her. "As for the principle of the plan, I disagree wholeheartedly. Using innocent people in such a way is barbaric. No, more than that...it's low, Morgana. Even for you. And to kill Merlin, and the others so ruthlessly...so senselessly even...I want no part in it."

"You think it is that easy to back out now?" Morgana hissed, her eyes narrowing into the most evil glare that Dante had ever seen. All her bravado left her in that instant, and she found that her fists had once again clenched, but this time, not in anger. This time, they were clenched in fear.

"You will do as I command, Lady Dante," Morgana continued, rising from her seat to lean across the table, clearly trying to intimidate her acolyte.

It worked.

She could feel the whole table trembling as Dante fought to keep from shaking.

"Do you understand me? You will accompany Arthur to Ealdor, and you will ensure that he is captured. You will spin him whatever lies are necessary to get him to agree, and you will not tell ANYONE of what I have told you today. Otherwise I will not hesitate to kill you myself. And don't think that I won't! I have killed people for their failures in the past. You are no different to any of them." She paused for just a moment, to let her words sink in, before she continued.

"And if you so much as breath a word of this to anyone...if you warn Arthur, or his men that they are walking into a trap...if you try to RUN from me or slip out of my grasp, then known this. I will hunt you down. I will make your life a living hell. THEN I will kill you. Do I make myself clear?"

Dante gulped, her face inches from Morgana's, unable to look away from the cold, malevolent glare of the witch. She was quite literally frozen in fear, and it took her several seconds to will her voice to co-operate.

"C-crystal, M -m-Mistress," she stammered at last, consumed by such fear that all the colour had drained from her face, and she looked as pale as a ghost.

"Now," Morgana hissed, her voice so low it was barely audible. "Get out of my sight, before I change my mind and kill you for your insolence."

Dante didn't need telling twice and shot to her feet so fast that this time, her chair really did tip backwards. Staggering and almost falling over it in her hurry, she turned and fled from the hut, whilst Morgana looked on, fighting to hide her satisfied smirk.

She did not mean what she had said, about killing her acolyte, of course. Dante was much too valuable for her to even consider the possibility of disposing of her just yet. But sometimes Dante needed knocking down a peg or two and reminding who was boss. Otherwise she would become unruly, disobedient and uncontrollable. So a little threat here and there would do her no harm.

Not that Dante needed to know that these threats were empty, however.

...

Gringolet was tired, and bored - Dante could tell. He no longer picked his feet up high and tossed his head, or let out impatient snorts and bounce with each step. Now, he just plodded along, head low, feet dragging.

Mind you, Dante wasn't much better. After he'd unceremoniously dumped her in a clump of bracken an hour earlier, she'd given up trying to ride him, and was now walking alongside, holding his reins in one hand. The other hand held her forehead gingerly as a pounding headache hammered inside her skull, though this time it was no external trauma that was causing her grief, but rather the conflict going on in her mind.

She was in a predicament. Well and truly.

As a Quincailan of Essetir, she'd been raised very strictly, with certain morals and standards drummed into her from birth so often that now they were engraved in her mind, and she could not forget them, if she tried.

One of these lessons was that all debts must be repaid. If someone held you in a debt, then you owed it to them to repay that debt as soon as you were able.

Dante owed Morgana a life debt, after the witch had saved her during their first meeting. Dante had pledged herself to Morgana's services in return, and had vowed that she would obey Morgana and carry out her every command until the witch deemed the debt repaid. If she refused Morgana now, then she was breaking her oath, which went against everything she had ever been taught. Not only would she be betraying Morgana, but she'd also be betraying her entire family, and her honour in the process.

But now she was being ordered to commit treason and murder. Another of her childhood lessons was that these were the two greatest crimes a person could ever commit. She had promised long ago that she would never even contemplate either of these crimes, let alone actually go out and perform them.

No matter what she did now, she would be betraying one of her oaths, and would bring dishonour to herself and her family through her actions. The fact that her life was on the line didn't even factor into the equation, but was an unfortunate result none-the-less. If she did Morgana's bidding, she might die in Ealdor tomorrow with the rest of them. If she warned Arthur, she would die by Morgana's own hands.

"What am I going to do, Gringolet?" She groaned in frustration.

Hearing his name, the stallion's ears perked and he raised his head slightly to look at her. Then he nickered softly and blew out a great puff through his nostrils.

"Yeah. You can say that again," she smiled ruefully, ruffling his coarse mane. He responded by nudging her with his nose, gently at first, then more forcefully until she eventually took a few steps sideways. It wasn't until she glared at him to reprimand him, however, that she saw the hidden dip that she'd almost stepped into, and smiled.

"Well at least someone's looking out for me, I suppose." She patted his muscular neck. "Though that still doesn't solve my problem."

"And what problem would that be?" A familiar figure in a scarlet cloak asked, stepping out from behind one of the trees up ahead.

"Gwaine?" Dante cried, startled. Even Gringolet was surprised by his sudden appearance and threw his head up in alarm. Dante quickly soothed him, rubbing his velvet muzzle until he'd calmed once more. Then she glared back at the knight. "What are you doing out here?"

"Looking for you!" He retorted, manoeuvring Elyan's borrowed horse to walk beside her and Gringolet. "Do you know how long you've been gone from Camelot?"

Glancing up through the thick canopy overhead, Dante could just about make out a black sky and twinkling stars. "Oh. I must have lost track of time." She blushed, embarrassed. And then a though came to her, and she gasped in alarm. "You haven't got the whole of Camelot out looking for me, have you?"

Gwaine laughed then, shaking his head. "No. I haven't. Though the thought did cross my mind. But they're all busy getting ready for Ealdor tomorrow. I thought it best to come alone."

He smiled, unable to stay mad with her for long, and reached out to take Gringolet's reins, giving her one less thing to worry about as he led both horses with apparent ease. Gringolet had perked up again, now that his equine friend was by his side, and the two stallions began a display so typical of two men trying to outdo one another.

"So, what kept you so long?" He asked, ignoring the prancing horses as they showed off to one another.

"I've been thinking," she shrugged.

"Uh-oh. About...?"

"Stuff."

"Oh very informative."

"Stuff that doesn't concern you."

"Now you've just piqued my curiosity."

"tuff that I'm not going to tell you," she grinned. He debated for a moment whether to continue this inane prodding, simply for lack of anything better to do as they walked through the woods together, when something caught his attention. Transferring both sets of reins into one hand, he reached out and fished a twig from her mahogany hair.

"You fell off again, didn't you." It was a statement, not a question, and she found herself blushing in embarrassment again.

"No," she lied.

"Are you hurt?"

"Only my pride."

"You could have broken your neck! Why didn't you let me come with you?"

"I prefer embarrassing myself in private."

Gwaine laughed then, once again unable to stay mad at her for long. "Mission accomplished, My Lady."

"No-one likes sarcasm, Gwaine."

"I do."

She rolled her eyes, turning away to hide her amused smile as finally, the walls of the lower town loomed over them and they passed through the gateway together.

Glancing towards Gwaine, Dante was now more confused than ever about what she was going to do. Because his appearance in the woods had reminded her that it wasn't just Arthur's life that now potentially rested in the palm of her hand - but Gwaine's as well.

And Percival's.

Leon's.

Tristan's.

Elyan's.

Merlin's.

As they finally reached the courtyard of the Citadel once more and Gwaine took the horses off to tend to them himself, Dante made her way slowly back into the castle. Morgana's pendant pressed heavily against her chest, and finally, after hours of torture and agony, contemplating what to do, Dante finally made up her mind.

She was being given two options. 90% chance of death if she accompanied Arthur and commited treason and murder, or 100% chance of death if she betrayed Morgana.

Any chance of survival was better than no chance at all, she decided. It was perhaps a selfish thought, putting her life before everyone else's, but then she was simply choosing the lesser of two evils here. Could anyone blame her for that?

"Lord have mercy," she muttered quietly as she ascended the steps to Arthur's quarters.