Chapter 2
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"Does Morgause have a way to know if you did as she told you?" Emma asked Morgana.
"She trusts me to do as I am told," Morgana said. "She doesn't need to watch my every move."
"Good." Emma sighed. "You will go about your day as if nothing happened. When she will call upon you again, you will answer."
"And what then?" Morgana asked her as both women walked side by side in the castle's hallway.
"Then, we'll improvise." Emma sighed.
"What about Merlin?" Morgana asked her.
"There's nothing we can do for him, now." Emma regretfully said. "But he's stronger than he looks. Trust me when I say, he'll survive whatever Morgause will put him through." Emma did not know who she was trying to convince; Morgana or herself.
Emma had to trust that Merlin would come back to Camelot. She needed to believe it. As she needed to trust that Morgana had told her the truth. She was willing to believe the young woman. She would love nothing but to trust Morgana. By coming to her, Morgana had shown herself to be a friend of Camelot. She had shown to be Emma's and Merlin's friend. All that Emma hoped for was that it wasn't a ruse on Morgana's part.
"Good morning, Emma," Arthur said as Emma entered his bedchambers with his breakfast.
"Good morning, Sire." Emma smiled at him. "Here's your breakfast."
"Where is your brother?" Arthur asked disregarding the platter that Emma had put on the table. "And don't try to cover for him?"
"Unfortunately, Sire, I don't know where my brother is," Emma answered. It was the truth, all she knew was that he had been taken by Morgause. "He hasn't come home last night."
"Where is that half-wit?" Arthur grumbled. "I have no socks, no breeches, and a target practice to go to."
"Well, first thing first. My brother is not a half-wit." Emma defended Merlin. "And there are your socks and your breeches." Emma put the articles on his bed. "As for your target practice—well, I can't help with that."
"Of course, you can," Arthur said. "When you see your brother, you can tell him he's the target."
Emmanuelle left his chambers and went about her day. She did not have any other choices. She did her chores and those of Merlin. She did her rounds with Gaius. When the latter asked her where her brother was, Emma, told him the truth. She didn't know where he was. However, she kept Morgana's and Morgause's involvement in his disappearance for now. She did not know where he was but she knew how he came to disappear.
A day went by and Merlin still had not reappeared. Emmanuelle was worried sick. She was distracted in her chores, half-listened Gaius when he was explaining how to properly prepare the potion for the King. She was worried about her brother, worried about Morgana. She didn't know if Uther's ward could be trusted. She wanted to believe her. After all the lady confided in her, trusting the maidservant with her secret.
Morgana came to her the night after. She had come back from a meeting with Morgause. In her hands was a cloth that had been stained by some dark and thick liquid. She unwrapped it to reveal a strange-looking plant.
"This is the mandrake root," Morgana explained. "Any magic users can hear its cries but for non-magic users, the mandrake root would make them lose their minds."
"So, this is why Uther had been unwell," Emma stated. "We need to get to Gaius. He'll know what to do with this."
"No!" Morgana looked terrified now.
"We can trust him," Emma assured him. "Plus, he's the only one who would know how to help the King recover."
"Nellie—I trust him but—"
"Your secret will be safe with him. As it is with me." Emma assured her.
Emma and Morgana walked towards Gaius' chambers. The hallways were dark and empty. Most of the knights, standing guards in front of Uther's chambers. Mostly to avoid the King walking out on his own. So, no one to be seen and no one to see them. As they entered Gaius' chambers, the latter was already up, behind stood Merlin.
"Merlin." Emma breathed out, relief washing over her.
"Oh, Merlin. I'm glad you're alright." Morgana said relieved to see the manservant had survived his captor. Merlin glared at Uther's ward.
"Morgana," Gaius said. "What brings you here?"
Emma nodded at Morgana. "Show him." Morgana hesitated. "It's alright. They both can be trusted."
Morgana fearfully pulled out the mandrake root, unwrapped it, and presented it to Gaius. Gaius gingerly took it from her hands. He slightly stepped away from them.
"The Mandrake root." He hummed non committedly.
"Yes." Morgana followed him. "Morgause used it to weaken Uther and Camelot."
"And you helped her," Merlin said angrily.
"And she's helping us, now." Emma countered.
"She's in league with Morgause," Merlin replied. "I've heard you speak in the woods. I know what your plan is."
"It's Morgause's plan, not mine," Morgana said back. "I don't wish any harm on any of you. She is the one who wants to destroy Camelot and Uther. Not me."
"Why should we trust you?" Merlin asked her.
"Because I do," Emma answered. "Merlin, she came to me. She told me about the mandrake root, of what had transpired in the woods. She told me everything. And I want to believe—I believe she's our friend still." Emma took Morgana's hand. "If you can't trust her then trust me."
"Thank you, Nellie." Morgana smiled at the maid.
Right at this moment, Merlin and Morgana flinched. Gaius had thrown the mandrake root into the fire that he just ignited.
"I will leave immediately for the King's chambers," Gaius announced taking a vial with him.
"Will he be alright?" Morgana asked him.
"Yes." Gaius nodded. "He will have to rest and it will take a few more days for him to fully recover." Morgana smiled, relieved to know that Uther would be fine. "The root is gone now, it can't do no more harm, my lady."
"I'm afraid the harm is already done," Morgana said.
Morgana told them all of what Morgause's intent was. All the while Merlin remained quiet. Emma could feel that her brother was still wary of Morgana. Whereas her own wariness was withering away as Morgana kept telling them more of Morgause's plans. Gaius, Merlin, Morgana, and Emma were all sitting around the small table in their chambers.
"If we tell Arthur, we would have to bring him proof and what proof do we have?" Emma asked them.
"What do we do?" Merlin asked.
"I will keep working with Morgause," Morgana said.
"Now that we know the truth, you don't have to do it," Emma said gently.
"I must." Morgana looked determined. "It is the only way to stop her."
"You will put your life at risk for Camelot?" Merlin asked her.
"She already had in the past, brother." Emma reminded him.
"Morgause has sworn revenge and she will not rest as long as Camelot stand," Morgana said. "And I will do everything I can to stop her."
"And we will help you," Emma promised. She looked over at Gaius and Merlin and both gave her a nod.
"You should get some rest, Morgana," Gaius suggested to her. "As we all do."
Morgana gave him a tight smile, stood up, and left the chambers, chancing a last glance in Nellie's direction. The latter kindly smiled at her.
"You trust her?" Merlin asked as soon as the door was closed.
"I do." Emma sighed. "I gave her a choice on that day and she remembered." She looked up at her brother. "We are not her enemy. Morgause is." And for the first time since Morgana had returned, Emma truly felt relieved. Morgana was home.
Emma trusted the Young Ward. She believed her words and her intentions. However, she was aware of the tug of war between light and darkness within Morgana. Emma believed that light would prevail within Morgana.
Morgana's words rang true when the knights came back from their patrol. Cenred's army was marching onto Camelot. The kingdom now weakened and rumors of Uther's illness spread throughout the kingdoms, it was the right moment for Cenred to strike. And with the help of Morgause, he had a great chance to succeed in his attack. Camelot was preparing for siege under Arthur's order. His father being ill, Arthur had no other choice but to assume the regency of the Kingdom. Two days before Cenred and his men would reach the Kingdom. They had two days to move the people within the fortifications of Camelot, two days to prepare for the siege. Two days to wait for Cenred and Morgause.
Two days.
"Sire." Arthur's back was facing her Emma called as she walked into his chambers.
"Emma." Arthur turned around to face her. "How is my father?"
The servant walked further into his chambers. "He's faring better. He still needs to rest but he's recovering."
"I wish he was here." Arthur leaned against the table.
"You're doubting yourself," Emma stated.
"What are the people saying?" Arthur asked instead.
"They're glad that you've taken charge." Emma smiled at him.
"I've committed them to a siege." Arthur reminded her. "There's going to be casualties, Emma."
"I know." Emma exhaled. "And I have faith in you, Arthur. More than I have in Uther, more than I have in any man." She stepped closer to him. "Worries is not a man's council. Forget everything else. You have to follow what you believe is right." She rested a hand on his arm.
Arthur laid his hand over hers. Emma looked up at him. His eyes roamed her face before settling on her lips. He leaned down and their lips met in a soft and tender kiss. His arms went around her waist as hers found their way behind his neck. Those moments that the Prince and the maidservant shared were so rare and few in-betweens. As soon as they could, they would steal those moments. Away from prying eyes. It was to remain a secret. A royal Prince and a maidservant could not fall in love, it was forbidden. But no one could choose who they were falling in love with.
They pulled away from each other. "I have to go, Sire," Emma said stepping away from him. "Gaius is expecting me."
"There's no need to call me that," Arthur told her.
"There is every need, Sire." Emma curtsied slightly.
Emmanuelle joined Morgana at the top of the stairs. Together they watched the servants gather provisions. Morgana looked worried and Emma knew why. Uther's ward was going to meet up with her sister, Morgause. She understood why the woman would be anxious. She was meeting up with someone dangerous, her captor for an entire year. To whom she had lied and to whom she would lie again. Morgana knew the risk and she would take them for Camelot.
"Put all the blame on me and Merlin." Morgana looked down at Emma. "Tell her, we found the root and that Merlin has survived her attack."
"Why?" Morgana asked her.
"You look nervous," Emma explained. "Let her believe it's because of the root being destroyed or Merlin's surviving her. Do not give her a reason to believe that you have betrayed her."
"I won't let you down, Nellie," Morgana said.
"You still have a choice," Emma told her. "You can stay here and not meet up with her."
"I know." Morgana retorted. "But I want to do this."
"Be careful," Emma said at her retreating back.
The people from the lower town were walking into the Citadel, with all of their belongings. The servants and the knights were rushing around gathering all the provisions they would need for the siege. Emma and Gaius set up makeshift beds for the wounded, thus creating their own hospital in the main hall. Emma caught sight of Arthur as he walked past, accompanied by Leon and Merlin. She gave him a small smile nodding slightly. He returned the gesture, smiling.
The tension was thick. Every knight, every servant, every citizen of Camelot were anxious, afraid of the outcome of the siege. Frightened of what was to come. Arthur was carrying the weight of his Kingdom's future on his shoulders. He wanted to make sure that his father would still have a kingdom when he would recover.
Cenred's army was now at Camelot's gates. There was no more escape. They had arrived during the day and yet, they did not attempt anything. And then night came. Balls of fire came down on the walls of Camelot. The first wounded were making their way through the hospital. Emma and Gwen were taking care of the wounded. Morgana stood by Gaius helping him with bandages and bringing him water. She and Emma exchanged glances. They would need to act soon.
Emma spotted her brother speaking briefly to Gaius before he disappeared again. Emma walked up to Morgana.
"It's time." She whispered to the woman.
Morgana nodded and together they left the hospital. As she walked past Gaius, Emma gave her uncle a slight nod of acknowledgement. They rushed to Morgana's chambers and retrieved the staff that Morgause had given to Morgana. A magical staff is carved from the Rowan tree. A tree that grew at the very heart of the Isle of the Blessed. From there, they went to the burial vaults in the undergrounds.
"This is where I'm supposed to do it," Morgana said as she moved to the center of the room. She lifted the staff and hesitated before bringing it down.
"If you don't do it, Morgause would know that you betrayed her," Emma told her softly. "We will stop it in time."
Morgana glanced up at her and with a yell, brought it down. Rays of light came from the staff and hit the different tombs surrounding them. Skeletons burst out of the tombs and walked out of the burial vaults, as Emma watched in horror. This was Morgause's plan all along. Attacking Camelot from outside and within its walls. The knights would not be able to fight two armies at the same time. It would be an impossible task.
"Enough time has passed. You can do stop it now!" Emma said looking at Morgana. "Morgause has probably seen the soldiers by now, she knows the spell was cast. You can destroy it now." Morgana took her sword, raised it but it didn't come down. "Morgana, women, and children are dying, the city will fall."
"I have magic, Nellie," Morgana confessed to her. "Uther hates me and everyone like me. Why should I feel any differently about him?"
"Hate cannot be defeated by hate, Morgana," Emma said. "Only love can do that. The love that you feel for your people and for your friends. You shall remember it because hate will only consume you. You have a kind heart, Morgana. Do not lose it because of Uther. Because of Morgause."
"Snides" Morgana's eyes flashed as Merlin's did when he cast a spell. She swung her sword at the staff and it broke.
"In my time, we've won many battles." Uther started. "But none so important as this. Every man, every woman, and child has performed their heroic best. And I thank you and I salute you all. Even before the battle, we knew there was a traitor in our midst." Merlin and Emma glanced at each other. "One who was almost the undoing of us. However, we have to thank the one person who outwitted them. And who almost singlehandedly turned the battle. The Lady Morgana." Emma and Merlin smiled and clapped as did the rest of the assembly as Morgana walked up to the King. "Cause it was she who found the magical vessel and destroyed it. We must be vigilant. We must stand firm against the dark forces of magic and ensure that they will never penetrate our walls again."
Camelot had survived the Siege. Cenred's men retreated and Morgause's plan had failed. Morgana had not let the darkness and the hatred within her heart win the battle this time. She chose instead to save the people of Camelot. Emma had faith in her more than she had when they found Morgana. Emma was not sure that it would forever be like this but she hoped that Morgana would choose light instead of darkness.
Destiny would have it that Morgana would fall to darkness and hatred but destiny could be changed. After all, the very reason she was here was to save Arthur from his own fate. Why couldn't she save Morgana from hers too? At least, she would try.