Ok so I haven't updated in a while but I'm hoping this longer-than-normal update will make up for that. Fingers crossed anways. Thank you for favouriting (still maintaining that's a word no matter what my computer says), following, reviewing and really just reading this story and it's all very much appreciated and please keep it all coming! This chapter is mainly druid festival stuff and some of it I'm not entirely certain about some of it so comments would be nice. IDOM but enjoy!
Mordred's POV
She's here. The Lady Catriona Tregor is here in Camelot. I'd known as soon as she'd stepped into the Camelot via Kara but I hadn't had a chance to see her yet because within moments she'd been swept up to the throne room to meet with the Great fool Blackwood himself. It must have been torture for anybody with sense and despite the fact I've never met her I've heard she's quite a wise, sharp woman. She probably sees through all Blackwood's pomp and can see what an idiot the man actually is.
I've been standing outside the chambers she's in for about five minutes to work up the courage to knock. I've never been one for court manners and I know it's not proper for me to visit her like this especially after she's retired. Not that I really care but I'm scared she does value court manners and I want to make a good impression on my only remaining relative on my father's side. My father was brave, noble and clever. He led the Knights of Camelot well and was undoubtedly one of the best knights this kingdom has ever seen so I want to make a good impression.
I should come back later, I decide but as I turn to leave the door I've been contemplating opens and a man pokes his head. "Hello sir? What business have you outside my mistress' chambers?"
Oh shit. Well might as well go with it now. "I'm sorry. I'm Sir Mordred Tregor. Your mistress is my aunt. I was merely wondering if she was awake and available to talk."
"She is awake. I shall ask her if she feels up to speaking with you at the moment- we had quite a trying journey." He smiles at me toothily and I can't help feel relieved that I haven't been sent away with my tail in between my legs.
"Of course." With my dismissal the thin man scuttles back into the room leaving me standing uselessly in the corridor again. I can't believe I was caught out here by a servant no less! I, supposed master of stealth, was caught out here by a simple minded peasant! Maybe I've been getting lazy with only the blind, death, surely-must-be-intoxicated Camelot guards to evade. I t really has been child's play.
The door opens again and the scrawny man pokes his head again. "My mistress is very eager to speak with you Sir Mordred." With that the door was opened wide to me and the servant moved so that I could enter.
The woman sitting at the table is beautiful with rich, light brown hair and-despite her age-a thin willowy frame. Poised and collected the woman smiles at me and calls me to sit at the table with her. I gladly take the indicated chair and her smile widens. "I never thought I'd meet another Tregor again, I feared our noble and ancient line was to die with me, it gives me hope to see you before me now looking so like your father. Now tell me Sir Mordred what was it you wished to speak to me about?"
My heart wells with pride at the thought of being similar to my father. "I'm sorry to call upon you with so little decorum-"
"Oh hush." She says across me with her kind smile still on her face, reaching out a hand to grasp mine. "We are family and family need not be so restricted by the proper manners of society, Sir Mordred."
"If that is true then maybe you could dispense of the 'Sir', my lady." I smirk teasingly.
"Why of course as long as you agree to cease with 'my lady'." She says it with mock pomp which reminds me shockingly of Lord Blackwood.
"Touché." I smile for real this time and lean back in my chair getting comfortable in the hard wooden chair.
"I hear you are to compete in the tournament tomorrow." She smiles warmly at me and I know that she's supporting me in the competition.
"Well I think the Tregor family has been away from Camelot for too long. It's time we got back our position within the court and Knights of Camelot."
"Indeed." She sighs and for a moment her smile fades and she looks sorrowful. "I think it is high time we stepped up to take charge away from those who are unworthy of power and back to those who truly deserve it."
"You mean Lord Blackwood?" Glad to see I've an ally against that fool.
"The man is an imbecile and awfully sickening. He has no right to the throne apart one very long family tree that shows his small share of blood in the Pendragon line."
"You believe that the Pendragon dynasty should continue? Even with Uthur mad and on his deathbed and Arthur nowhere to be seen?"
"I think that all we can do right now is pray for the King's speedy recovery and keep Camelot from its knees until then. You becoming the First Knight of Camelot would not only give me great joy but also the stability and authority Camelot needs right now."
"Speaking of the tournament I'd better get back to training. Thank you for talking to me."
"Of course Mordred feel free to drop by any time and it's been a real pleasure meeting my brother's child." She shows me to the door with a bright smile on her face. "And good luck in the tournament tomorrow."
"Thank you." With that I take my leave and head straight for the training fields, I like my aunt and I believe we can become valuable allies to each other.
Ambrosia's POV
When we enter I can't help fearing somebodies going to cry 'traitor!' and then I'll be sent away. Silly really considering it's been twenty years since I may have seen anyone here and they are all doing other things anyway rather than looking for long vanished High Priestesses. The druids we were travelling with before had been polite enough but they did warn me that some of the magical community weren't exactly happy with me right now. Understandably really.
Percival and Gwaine are actually catching the majority of the attention from the females here (and some of the males) and if I know the look on Gwaine's face, and believe me I've known enough randy knights to know that look, he's not sleeping in his own bed tonight. Although Percy is acting his usual awkward self around women which I find slightly adorable if I'm honest. Morgana is also causing a bit of a stir herself but she must be used to it because she's not reacting.
The festival itself is beautiful, with bright oranges and reds of tents all linked together with streamers of bronze autumn leaves. All around us are people happily celebrating and there's magic shows, jugglers, puppet shows, storytellers, fortune tellers and all sorts including what looks like a séance! The whole feel of the festival is excited but there's this undercurrent of fear beneath the surface of being caught by Uthur's men.
"What exactly is this festival celebrating?" Morgana whispers in my ear quietly her eyes wide with wonder and excitement as she looks around at the hustle and bustle of the festival.
"This festival is a prayer to the Triple Goddess to restore the Old Religion and the High Priestesses." I reply equally as quietly.
"The High Priestesses? Like you." She stops and looks at me. "Why don't you reveal yourself?"
I stay silent because honestly the answer is that I'm scared. Scared that they'll reject me and hate me or worse that I'll fail again and their hopes will be crushed. Actually I'm not scared I'm petrified.
"Hey Ambrosia," Gwaine hollers at me. "Me and Perce are going to get some drinks do you or Freya want anything?
I shake my head and Morgana yells back. "No thanks Gwaine I'm not sure I want anything you give me!" The man in question grins and winks roguishly before heading off with Percival into the gaggle of people.
Morgana doesn't speak for a while and we silently make our way through the festival together and soak in the happy, hopeful atmosphere. After a few moments of this I realise we're following the crowd to what must be the main attraction and in all honesty I'm intrigued so I lightly grip Morgana under the elbow and pull her along with me.
We're led to a sort of stage or a raised platform and standing in front of the crowd is a face I recognise- Aglain. Oh Goddess…
"Friends! We have waited for the return of the Old Religion for a long time. We have been persecuted, hunted and killed but I sense a time of change in the air. No longer will we live in fear of Uthur Pendragon and the 'justice' of Camelot. Take hope my kin for the time of Emrys and the Once and Future King is approaching and we must rise to help them in any way we can for that is our destiny- the destiny of all with magic- for we are the chosen people who will live to see the Golden age of Albion!" He stops when a giant roar comes from the crowd and I'm momentarily deafened! Then Aglain's eyes fall on me, eyes widening he puts up a hand for silence and a sense of dread fills my stomach. "Friends if any of you need proof of my claims I can show you proof of the Old religion's return!" Murmurs spread through those assembled. "Lady Ambrosia Le Fay, High Priestess of the Old Religion, has returned! Lady Ambrosia if you would come up here please?"
At this the murmurs increase and everyone looks around curiously. Cursing Aglain under my breath, I take my 'powerful High Priestess' stance and walk towards the raised platform. As I walk people begin to notice me and start backing away anxiously until finally there's a clear path towards Aglain.
Aglain nods at me when I finally make it onto the stage so I address the people nervously- it's been a while since I've spoken publically to so many and my life has changed quite a bit. "Thank you Aglain. My people, my friends and my kin- for that is what you all are to me- I am indeed returned and this time I bring a message. The time of Emrys and the Once and Future King is indeed dawning for I've seen then both and the bond between them and it brings me hope after everything I've seen since the Purge it makes me so happy to see the friendship, love and trust that blossoms between the pair. If we wish to bring magic back we must replicate this and have hope and faith not only in the Triple Goddess but in each other. For it is together that we stand strong and together that we follow the path that the goddess has laid at our feet. Hear when I say the golden age shall shine as brightly as the myths and freedom, acceptance and magic shall flow freely! This is the time we've been waiting for my friends and we must seize it!" Morgana, are you ready for something big?
I hear her surprise as she answers: What?
I take an internal breath as I reply. Are you ready to take your place within the Old Religion?
Yes…Of course! What do I have to do?
Come forward.
"Today I can offer you more proof-more hope- of the Old Religion's return than my message." Morgana is standing by the edge of the stage looking at me nervously so I try to smile reassuringly at her but I'm anxious too so I'm not sure how successful I am. Take off the necklace Morgana. "May I present to you the Lady Morgana Le Fay Pendragon, High Priestess of the Old Religion!"
Morgana takes the cue and she walks on the stage to join me. She looks like her regular self from Camelot- beautiful, elegant and powerful. Like a typical Le Fay actually but there's a dash of something that I have a sneaking suspicion is the Pendragon genes. There's also an uncertainty there that I've never seen before.
The crowd is silent which is probably because they caught the names 'Le Fay' and 'Pendragon' put together and also they also might recognise Morgana as a lady of Camelot. This was always going to be problematic- introducing Morgana to society as a High Priestess after her being a ward of King Uthur Pendragon- however it would've had to be dealt with sooner or later and this way means we can tell a lot of people quickly.
"I am the Lady Morgana Le Fay P-Pendragon, ex-Ward if King Uthur Pendragon, daughter of Ambrosia Le Fay. I am one of the High Priestesses of the Old Religion and it is my honour to serve the Triple Goddess." She trusts the disguise amulet up in the air for all to see. "I show myself to you now to show the return of the Old Religion and the end to the Purge!" With that her eyes glowed golden and soon a golden hue surrounded her whole body, the sign of a new High Priestess taking her place and with that all those assembled feel to their knees.
Gwaine's POV
I've lost Percival, well I didn't lose him exactly because I intentionally slipped away from him. Don't get me wrong I like Percy, the big brute isn't so bad and is an amazing hunter, but he was getting very tetchy amount how much drink I was necking down and when trying to find a bed for the night it doesn't do to have a prudish only-kiss-when-your-married guy on your back. So yeah I ditched him but I prefer to think of it as 'lost intentionally' and I'm currently content with a nice tankard of ale in my right hand and a rather well-endowed bar maid on my knee.
"Want to go somewhere less crowded?" Her hoarse voice whispered in my ear, sultry and sexy.
"I'm at your command my lady."
She giggles and getting up drags me over to a door when suddenly a man grabs her. "Mary where the hell do you think you're going with this bastard?"
"Oh come on Rowan I just want a little fun whilst I'm young- lighten up!" Her voice is still bright and excited.
"No sister of mine is going to sully herself with filth like this!" Ok this guys getting kind of angry… Maybe I should try for less challenging game.
"It's ok, Mary, I'll leave."
With that I walk away because as much as I love a good fight this doesn't feel like the time and anyway I have friends here so I don't want to get kicked out. Plus that guy didn't look half his bravado and it wouldn't have even been a decent fight.
I see a decent sized crowd and I wander over curious to see what all the fuss is about. There's a stage kind of get up and on top of it I see Ambrosia, wow I didn't think she has it in her to come out like this but whatever good for. I feel that as her friend I should probably stick around to give moral support or something never really had any experience but I'm pretty sure it's as easy as it looks- stand around and cheer.
The speech is pretty decent (who am I to judge?) and the crowd are wild about it too. Then Ambrosia announces a new High Priestess and a beautiful woman walks onto the stage- Morgana Le Fay Pendragon. She's a knockout, beautiful with long black locks that go to her waist and a curvy body most women would kill for. Then I see her eyes, even from how far I am away, green, glinting and all-knowing eyes- Freya's eyes. Holy shit! Freya is a High Priestess! Freya is Morgana- ex-ward of Uthur bloody Pendragon. Wait did she say her name was Pendragon?! Ambrosia slept with Uthur Pendragon! Holy shit.
Percival's POV
The festival is beautiful but thanks to Gwaine I don't get to appreciate it because the man has managed to give me the slip and there's no way that I'm dragging that drunk back to camp if he passes out again. Not that I seriously think he's intending to come back tonight but may the gods help me I'm going to teach that man respect to women if it kills me!
As I'm walking along I hear a voice inside my head. Hello Percival Du Lac…
Who are you? What do you want? Why did you call me 'Du Lac'?
That was your wife's name was if not? Of course I know that I was married to her.
Yes but that name is part of her High Priestess heritage and has nothing to do with me. Now if you don't mind getting out of my head…
You know Percival that you have part of your wife's gift. The sacrifice she made goes against any teaching in the Old Religion. She broke the High Priestesscycle for you. She tore apart the foundations of the Old Religion to keep you alive. This woman is really starting to get on my nerves, at least I think it's a woman from the voice, as if I don't already know all this.
Has this got a point or are you just trying to make me feel guilty for something I can't help?
This is just a reminder for soon you will need to make a decision and you need to remember all that I have said to you.
So you're a seer. Who are you? Show yourself!
All that matters is who you are Percival Du Lac, remember that. With that the voice in my head grows silent and I'm left adrift in the druid festival without one thought on where Gwaine is.
Morgana's POV
I am a High Priestess of the Old Religion. I wasn't expecting that to happen when I left for the druid festival! I have my normal face back and no offence to Merlin but it's such a relief because it's ten times more comfortable feeling like I'm back in my old skin. I have no idea how Merlin stomached wearing that necklace for a year the disguise made me itch and twitch and it did genuinely feel sometimes like I was crawling out of my own skin.
I'm heading back to camp without the others because I'm tired in all honesty after that speech and the whole glowing thing I felt drained and all I want now is sleep in my warm bed because it's pretty chilly out here too! But first things first I'm going to see Merlin before I turn in and tell her about being named a High Priestess. It's a habit I've picked up off Arthur- talking to Merlin- in fact I think quite a few people have because I've heard Ambrosia, Gwaine and Lancelot talking to her as well at some point. I know Merlin would've wanted to be with me, supporting me but as it is she couldn't but that's not going to stop me from telling her all about it.
As I reach the camps boundary and pass through the magical protection Ambrosia has put all around the camp I realise it's completely silent which is odd at this time at night. Normally there's a few people gathered around the fire telling stories and laughing, Gwaine even attempts to sing ballads occasionally. But at the moment the camp is silent and still.
Merlin's tent is equally as silent but as I approach I hear soft snores, poking my head through the flap I spot Arthur with his head on the head with his hand in Merlin's lightly dozing at her bedside. I smile at my tired looking brother but when I see my sister my smile fails because she looks so perfect as if just resting but I know she's not.
I take a step into the tent and pull up another chair beside Arthur and his sleeping vigil. I want them to get together I really do but not how Gwaine wants, a quick fling in the woods to release sexual tension, I want them to have the love and support they have for each other always. I envy them in a way because they have something so pure and so honest that I've never and may never have. It's beautiful.
"Morgana-?" I look up and see Merlin blearily rubbing sleep out of her eyes. Arthur jerks awake next to me and we both stare at her uncomprehendingly. Merlin is awake.
...Yeah... Good? Bad? Decidedly average?