Chapter 4: ~A Royal Butt Kicked
"Gwen, you came," Morgana smiled as Gwen walked over to her and Arthur as they were sword fighting the next day. "I'm so glad."
"Now you'll have no excuses when I beat you," Arthur said. Morgana laughed.
"You think you can beat me?" She raised an eyebrow at Arthur. "You're just a spoilt prince." She raised her sword for an attack but Arthur blocked easily and began a parry of attacks himself.
"And you're just a girl," Arthur countered. Gwen watched in awe as they attacked back and forth.
"And that's precisely why I'm going to win," Morgana told him as she brought her leg up and kicked him whilst he was distracted with an attack with her sword that meant his sword was locked with hers above their heads. He flew back onto the grass, his sword sliding out of his hand. "An that is how you kick a royal butt." Morgana smiled at Gwen before picking up Arthur's sword. "Want a practise?"
"If that's okay?" Gwen asked, looking anxiously at Arthur who was picking himself up and rubbing the dirt off him.
"Course it is," Morgana smiled, passing Gwen Arthur's sword. Morgana launched an attack and Gwen shakily managed to fend it off. "You're good at this."
"I could've killed her ten times over by now," Arthur muttered.
"No one asked your opinion," Morgana told him as Gwen blocked another blow. "If I remember correctly, and I do, the first time you picked up a real sword you immediately dropped it because it was too heavy."
"I was little," Protested Arthur. "If you're only going to insult me, then I'm going." He added with a huff.
"Be my guest," Morgana told him, gesturing him to leave with her sword. He sighed and walked off. Gwen took the moment while Morgana was distracted to launch an attack. She jabbed the sword into Morgana's sword, causing Morgana to cry out in surprise.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," Gwen gushed, dropping her sword quickly. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"It's fine," Morgana told her. "You just took me by surprise. It was actually a really good blow."
"Really?" Gwen asked, surprised.
"Really," Morgana smiled. "Do you want to try some archery now?"
"So you just get whatever you want whenever you want it?" Gwen asked an hour later as they stopped to have a drink. Morgana nodded.
"Yeah," She replied. "I'm the king's ward. He kind of has to."
"You're so lucky," Gwen told her.
"It doesn't feel like it sometimes," Morgana confided in her. "I'm not allowed to do most of the stuff Arthur's allowed to do. Everyone treats me like I'm really special. It's kind of annoying actually. I just want to be normal."
"You're allowed to train though," Gwen argued. "That's more than us village girls are allowed to do."
"I guess," Morgana agreed. "You probably think I'm despicable, complaining about life when I'm so privileged." Gwen shrugged. "It's okay, I'm not gonna get you arrested for agreeing." Morgana told her, smiling slightly.
"It is a bit annoying," Gwen agreed. "I can see how it could be frustrating for you though."
"Arthur can be such a pain," Morgana said after a moment of silence. Then an idea formed in her head. "Do you fancy taking him down a peg or two?"
"What do you need me to do?" Gwen asked and Morgana grinned.