This is another one that is sort of eh. it's late. i went to the renaissance faire! it was awesome! i really wanted to walk the jousting though. oh well i will next year. i totally dressed up. super jealous? i know. anyway... yup... this one i don't like so much so because it's late, short, and not very good i will thow another up tomorrow. how's that sound?

"Could have been burnt alive," Uther muttered. Part Morgana's chambers were destroyed by fire. Artemis ignored the continuing conversation between Arthur and Uther. Instead, she looked at the candle that had started it all. She took the risk and muttered an incantation. The candle glowed blue before going back to normal. Morgana had used magic to lit it. Artemis rubbed her forehead in fustrution. This was not good.

Artemis walked into Arthur's room. She sort of lingered. They just stared at each other. It was awkward.

"Should I uh...," she gestured to his laudry in a basked before he could answer though they were interrupted.

"Artemis!" Morgana ran into Arthur's room without so much of a knock.

"Morgana, do you knock?" Arthur asked. Not like he was doing anything important. Morgana pulled Artemis into hug. She was on the verge of crying.

"I need to talk to you."

"Alright Morgana," Artemis said. "Alright. Calm down. Let's go somewhere private." Morgana nodded. The two ended up in a spare room somewhere in the palace. Morgana and Artemis sat together on the bed. Artemis made sure all the doors were locked.

"It was me!" she said almost crying. "I made the fire! It was magic!" Morgana cried. "I have tried to tell Gaius, but he refuses to listen! You are the only person who I knew would understand! You said that it was possible I could do what I could without magic, but I fear it is!" Artemis sighed. She didn't know what to say.

"You need to calm down, Morgana. I know it's confusing and I know that you're scared, but all that will do is cause worse nightmares."

"Artemis! Please!"

"I'm sorry Morgana. Now is not the time."

"But-"

"Calm, Morgana." Artemis stood and left Morgana crying. She could not say anything. As much as Artemis wanted to believe that Morgana was a good person and a good friend. Artemis just could not tell her the truth. There was too many prophecies of Morgana's betrayal of Camelot. It couldn't be risked. Helping Morgana would mean going against the Servants. Telling Morgana that she herself was a magical being was too much. It would compromise too much.

The next day, Uther was gathering everyone conspiring with sorcerers. He believes magic started the fire. He was right of course, but not completely. Morgana didn't mean to hurt herself obviously. Artemis watched out of Arthur's window.

"They're known for conspiring with sorcerers, druids, and the like," Arthur said watching her. She didn't look very pleased.

"You know I conspire with Sorcerers, druids, and the like. Are you going to arrest me too?" she asked bitterly.

"Don't be ridiculous," Arthur said. "I know you would never hurt Morgana."

"And does your father know about my acquaintances?" she asked. Arthur stared at her.

"Do you want him to know?" There was silence.

"I just think this is unjust is all," she said. "I didn't mean to snap at you. You're just following orders." There was something both dark and regretful in her eyes. Her face was slightly contorted with pain.

"It reminds you of something, doesn't it?" he asked.

"It reminds me of a memory a sorcerer showed of the first days of the Great Purge. So many bodies littering the streets. Uther lined them up and the knights slaughtered them. They hadn't even known what was happening. They were given no warning. For all they knew, they could have been being rewarded for something. Death and murder isn't something to be taken lightly, and your father executes people like they are nothing more than ants. He doesn't respect life. I have to go," she said suddenly. She left the room. Even if Arthur was different from his father at the moment she could not be in the room with a Pendragon.

The next day the warning bells were rung. Morgana was missing and Uther assumed that she kidnapped.

"All the prisoners executed," Artemis muttered. "Merlin! What have you done!" They stood together in his room. Merlin had told her that he had sent Morgana off to the druids.

"I didn't know this would happen," Merlin muttered.

"Do you think?" She didn't allow him to answer. "You know what? I think it's time I step in."

"What are you going to do?" Merlin asked.

"I'm going to the druids."

"Let me go with."

"No. Stay here. Keep the knights and Arthur occupied." Artemis slightly annoyed went back to house. She pulled on a black cloak so that her face would be hidden by the hood. She saddled her horse after telling Ava what was happening and rode off. She was quick, silent, and untraceable. She reached the druids easily.

"Ambrosine?" A woman asked.

"I'm looking for the Lady Morgana. I have no time to spare," she said getting off her horse. The women led her to a tent nearby. As soon as she entered, she saw Morgana laying down. Her leg was injured. Aglain was beside her and Mordred was right in front of her. Artemis messed with Mordred's hair. He looked at her.

'I thought I sensed you, Ambrosine,' he said.

"Good to see you too Mordred."

"Artemis?" Morgana asked confused. Artemis removed her hood.

"May I have a word alone with Morgana?" she asked. Aglain and Mordred nodded. Mordred lingered for a moment.

'Will you stay long?'

"No, I can't. The longer I stay the more suspicious Arthur and Uther will be of me. I'm sorry Mordred. Some other time though, I promise." They left the tent.

"Morgana… Merlin?" Artemis questioned as he came through the back entrance of the tent.

"I followed you," he said.

"You idiot!"

"This is my mess! Let me fix it!"

"What are you doing here?" Morgana asked.

"I've come to take you back to Camelot."

"I'm afraid you've had a wasted journey. I'm never going back."

"You have to," Merlin replied.

"Why?" she asked. "You were the one who told me to seek out the druids."

"He doesn't think, Morgana. He didn't think what could happen," Artemis said.

"What are you talking about?"

"Uther thinks you've been kidnapped. He's threatened to kill all the prisoners if you don't return."

"If I return, the same fate awaits me."

"Uther doesn't need to know about this. I won't tell a soul."

"I'm sorry, but I'm not going back. These are my people. They are like me. I don't feel so alone here."

"Morgana!" Artemis yelled. "We have no time for this! If you really wish to control your magic, I will find a teacher for you! We must leave! Now!"

"Morgana," Aglain said entering. "We must go."

"Who are you?" he asked Merlin.

"This is my idiot brother," Artemis said. "Emyrs. What's happening?"

"Arthur and his men are coming. Your brother has led him straight to us."

"Tell everyone to meet at the Caves of Uleene. It's safe there." Aglain nodded. Artemis pulled her hood back up. Morgana stood. Arthur's men flooded the camp as Morgana, Aglain, Mordred, Artemis, and Merlin escaped together. Morgana stopped in pain.

"We must keep moving," Aglain urged.

"My leg it's too painful."

"I'll try to create a diversion," Merlin said as the sound of dogs barking got closer.

"No Merlin! You can't!"

"You carry on! It's my fault they're here! Go! Go!" he urged.

"I'll never forget this," Morgana said. They continued down the path, but Merlin's diversion wasn't enough. They ran into the knights. Morgana collapsed.

"I can't go on."

"We're not leaving you behind," Aglain assured her.

"Please," she breathed slowly slipping into unconsciousness.

"There coming!" Mordred yelled. Suddenly, Aglain fell. He was shot.

"Come Mordred! Leave Morgana! She'll be fine!" Artemis shouted. They continued running, but the knights were relentless. Ten more followed them. "Mordred, keep running. I will hold them back. Understand?"

'Yes.' Mordred went and as the knights approached only a few got passed her. The rest were easily knocked out with a few selective jabs and a few skillful dodges. Artemis continued running to find Mordred. She found him staring around in a circle confused. Artemis grabbed him and ran. She made it to the pathway. Libera was waiting there for her. She breathed deeply. She thought she was in the clear.

"Stop. Don't move," a voice said with a sword tip at the back of her neck. She recognized Arthur's voice. Just her luck. "Turn around."

"Well, I can't exactly not move and turn around at the same time," she said snidely. She had said it so low she doubted Arthur could tell it was her voice.

"I said turn around." Artemis did. Mordred was in front of her. Artemis had her arms around him. Arthur and Artemis's eye met. "Artemis?" he asked both surprised and confused. "What are you doing here?"

"Searching for that damn purple unicorn that stole my falafel," she replied seriously.

"I'm serious."

"So am I." They stared at each other. "I'm trying to protect Mordred, Arthur. I didn't want what happened before when I was little to happen again." Arthur kept his sword up to her throat. They stared at each other. Slowly Arthur lowered his sword.

"Go," Arthur said after a moment.

"Thank you."

"GO! I expect you back in a few days tops," he added to inform her that she better come back. Artemis got on her horse with Mordred and the rode to the Caves of Uleene. The other remaining druids sat inside looking relatively depressed.

"I hope you're happy," Artemis said as she entered Morgana's room. She hopped out of her bed.

"Artemis. I was worried."

"I am fine as you can see. I just spent my last few days helping the druids reset up camp, respect their dead, treat their wounded, and pick a new leader."

"I'm sorry," Morgana said, "for causing so much trouble."

"I should have told you earlier," Artemis admitted. "Maybe that would have prevented this."

"You knew, didn't you?" Artemis nodded.

"I knew that there was strong magic that flowed through your veins since we met."

"Why did you never tell me?" Artemis was hesitant.

"Because if I had told you, you would not have accepted it. I said I could find you a teacher you, but I cannot Morgana."

"I don't understand."

"It's too dangerous, Morgana. Look what happened. You went off and Uther went overboard. If he knew you had magic… it would be disastrous. I fear what he would do."

"I understand," Morgana said. "Artemis?"

"Yes?"

"What do you think I should do?" she asked. Artemis sighed.

"… I… There will be a day not far off where magic reigns free again. There will be a day when Camelot is fair and just. There will be a time when Camelot is peaceful and the most powerful, prosperous city in all the world."

"How do you know this?" Artemis was silent for a moment.

"Seers have seen it. I have seen it in the man that will rule that Camelot."

"Arthur," Morgana whispered.

"Arthur," she confirmed. She smiled. "When the day comes when you can openly practice magic I will make sure you are taught properly." Morgana nodded. "Well, now I have to go convince the present Arthur not to execute me. He caught me leaving with Mordred." Before Morgana could reply, Artemis left. She knocked gently on Arthur's door.

"Don't be there, don't be there, don't be there," she muttered to herself.

"Enter."

"Damn." Artemis entered Arthur's chambers. He was sitting in a chair looking at the fire. "Trying to damper the fire with your nonexistent soul?" Artemis asked entering like nothing ever happened. "It's not going to work."

"Are you ever serious?" Arthur asked.

"I was once. It was the worst 5 minutes of my life." Arthur smiled and took a drink from his goblet. "Are you upset?"

"I was. I even debated throwing you in jail for a little, but I had three days to sleep on it, and decided if I was you in your position… I would have done the same thing."

"So your not mad?"

"No."

"You scared me a little there," Artemis admitted letting out a breath.

"Go home," Arthur said. "I'm sure Ava's been wondering where you've been."

"Yes, sire."

"And stop calling me sire. It's unnatural."

"Of course, telywazit."

"What?" Artemis laughed as she left out the door.

"So Arthur just let you go?" Ava asked after Artemis explained everything that happen.

"Yes."

"That was kind."

"I know."

"What's going on between you two?" Ava asked suspiciously.

"Nothing."

"There's something. This time I'm serious. Something's definitely there. It changed after Arthur stayed here. What happened between you two?"

"Nothing," Artemis said busying herself with dishes.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"You know I have the capacity to annoy you." Artemis ignored her. "What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened?"

"Ava, shut up!" Artemis yelled annoyed.

"No!" she yelled back and then continued. ""What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened? What happened?"

"Arthur and I kissed!" she yelled and then banged her head against the cabinet in front of her. Ava was grinning.

"And did you enjoy it?"

"No!"

"Liar! You did!" Artemis groaned. She slumped down in a chair.

"I did. It was perfect… more than perfect." Artemis smacked her head against the table. "This is awful."

"Why? Arthur's attractive. He's a warrior. He's a prince."

"Exactly! He's a prince."

"I don't understand."

"It's a law of the Servants of the World. We cannot marry royalty. It's against our beliefs," Artemis smacked her head against the table again.

"Why?"

"We aren't allowed to influence Kings not even a little. Being the wife of one is definitely influencing it."

"So… you want to marry Arthur?"

"No… yes… I don't know. I 'm confused."

"Wow… I'm just going to leave this alone then. You seem pretty beat up about it."

"I am," Artemis muttered hitting her head against the table.