Magic, Baby! Magic! (NasuFate - Artoria Pendragon SI Chapter 7)

So, it has begun. Morgan thought as Castle Aravius came into view.

She had been trying to ignore it, not think about it, but eventually the hatred inevitably returned.

For those year she was away, living in Orkney, in the northern lands of the Scots, married to King Lot, and with no news of her little sister she could keep being sane. She could stay just Morgan, rather than Morgan Le Fay.

But of course, the silence of no news of Artoria could never last, and news did arrive.

Except it wasn't what she had expected, of little Artoria drawing the Sword in the Stone. Rather she took over a kingdom.

The kingdom ruled by the giant Rience of all people. Honestly the news was so at odds from what she expected that rather than the usual rage, she would feel from her misplaced inheritance, her right born to rule-which was given to Arty, even though women can't rule, and even though Arty was a woman she can. Damn, Merlin!-what came to Morgan's mind was a memory of when she last saw little Arty.

Morgan had interacted sparingly with her little sister. She looked after her when she was a babe, remembering the look of wonder and joy at everything.

She remembered before being told my her father, that Artoria would be king, when her little sister was only three years old. Morgan had dressed her up as a princess for fun.

Artoria stood up with her hands on her hips, and her cheeks puffed up.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm projecting my cuteness. Since I'm a princess I'm going to be the prettiest of all!"

Morgan bit her lips to hold back a laugh, and ended up snorting.

"And why is that?" Morgan asked.

"Since I'm a princess, I'm going to be the very best, like no one ever was!"

That memory was what came to mind, when she heard Artoria had conquered Northgalis, effectively taking all of North Wales under her rule in one go. She imagined little Arty, holding some comically giant sword, and shouting in that cute voice.

And becoming Morgan's neighbor south of Orkney.

"I'wam ta kwing! Buw to mewe!"

Morgan ended up having a good laugh, before she actually though on what that meant, and her wrath returned.

It had begun, Artoria, or rather King Arthur's rise.

It was an odd move to start by taking over another kingdom, rather than assert her identity first by drawing the Sword of Selection. Merlin as fickle as he was, wouldn't do something like this without having an overarching goal.

The placement of Northgalis doesn't make it ideal to rule all of Britain, given we'll have to deal with attacks from Gaul eventually, and thus Rome. Morgan's eyes widen as another thought came to her. Although it is perfectly stationed to rule from, if one wanted to command all Britain and Ireland, including Scotland. It would be an excellent center to build from. Could that be the plan?

It was a long shot, but it was possible. Yet, such move didn't feel like Merlin's plans that acted on story, prophecy and the dreams of the people. It was too military like, rather than fantastical like Merlin's usual moves.

Could it be...that this is Artoria's move? Morgan Le Fay narrowed her eyes. So she's trying to show her prowess and foresight from the start. A sinister smile came to her. I'm afraid I'll have cut off your first act here, little Arthur. I'm going to show you what it's like to sit at the big boys table now. You may thank me for such a generous lesson being taught to you so early.

She nodded to herself, as well as making plan to make Arthur's trip to Logres City, to draw the Sword of Selection much harder. Arthur needed to see the folly in not asserting her identity and rule first.

Maybe that's why she invited me here? A sneer momentarily came to Morgan's face.

As Morgan and her husband's carriage along with others with them, arrived as Castle Aravius and showed to the guest rooms. They, along with other invitees, would be stay for a week, or two at most, to be welcomed by the new King of Northgalis, as well and come to know what his character and his inclinations for friendship or hostility.

Morgan Le Fay sent her second oldest son, Agravain, to ask what the people thought of the new king. As always he scowled at her order, but did as he was told.

The welcoming party, announcing Arthur and greeting his guests was a typical one she had seen hundreds of times. Nothing noteworthy about it, already a point against little Arty, not making a memorable impression.

Of course, when the subject of her identity came up, Arthur just said they are "Arthur Pendragon", which drew some eyebrows but the presence of Merlin did have the invited lords, ladies and kings keep their manners for now. Not that gossip will ever stop.

Of course Morgan used that opertunity to whisper some words here and there, that this "Arthur Pendragon", this boy, was merely a champion offered up by Merlin for the throne, rather than the real son of Uther Pendragon. And for there the rumor mill moved on it's own, since the suspicion was already present in people's minds.

"Will you be going to Logres to try out the Sword in the Stone?" Asked one of the many lords.

"If I have some free time, then yes." Arthur said with a nod.

Oooh, already a bad look, Arty. Morgan kept her grin to herself. It looked like her sister might flounder all on her own, without any help from her.

"Oh? And what could possibly keep the real king from proving his truth." Asked one of the invited kings, with all the subtly of a sledgehammer.

Morgan paid attention to Arthur's reply here. After all, if she gave a weak excuse, it will severely dirty her image and validity as the true king, making shallow excuses not to attempt to draw the Sword of Selection. If she goes back on her word, and say she'll go, she will still look bad. It would interesting to see how she'll play her way out of the hole she dug for herself.

"Picts!" Arthur said with a widen excited expression as she nodded to the king who asked her. Her friendly cheerful expression threw said king off. It seemed as if she hadn't even realized she had been insulted.

"Picts?" The guest king asked.

"Yes, Picts." Arthur nodded animatedly. "Seriously have you seen those? They're freaky. They are not just people. They literally infect the environment around them as they plunder it."

"I...Well, I fought a few, troublesome savages but they are hardly something so dangerous, that you can not take some time away from, to do something as small as try and draw a sword." The king said back, trying to push his point, but unable to muster his former hostility due to Arthur's friendly nature.

"As I said, maybe. I'll have to scout them out for a bit, to see how far they entrenched themselves in the land. If they are active, I'll have to deal with them. If they settle down for the winter, then I'll head to Logres."

Talks continued for a while, and it seemed like Arthur was doing mostly well in her talks.

Morgan frowned. While Arthur wasn't completely winning people over, she was able to at least build a repertoire to remove any hostility from forming.

It seems like I'll have to act directly to throw her off her again.

In a moment of rest between the conversations as Arthur and Merlin retreated to their table to talk, Morgan began to approach.

Arthur had been fairly polite but neutral to all the ladies that approached her. It seemed like even "famed" Guinevere wasn't able to leave an impress on Arthur, except when she saw the other Guinevere, daughter of King Leodegrance's seneschal. Morgan wanted to laugh out loud-but held herself back-at how that annoying tart, was only seen as interest to Arthur due to having a half-sister identical to her.

As Arthur noticed her, still from far across the massive banquet hall, she stopped completely, frozen at her sight.

Morgan grinned, expecting her little sister to begin to pale and be afraid.

"Merlin, whose that?" Using her magical abilities, it was child's play to listen in to what Arty was saying, even from across the room.

Merlin's eyes however widened in alarm. "That's Morgan Le Fay, Arthur. Be careful, it may have been years since you met, but she grew into a powerful and wicked witch. You must not let your guard down around her, even if she won't do much with guest around."

"...I wanna be in her."

Merlin and Morgan stilled. Merlin slowly turned wide-eyed to look at his king. His expression unable to decide to settle of shock or amusement.

"Excuse me?"

"I mean do you see those hips? Those thighs? I wanna be so deep in her, that whom ever pulls me out of her, will be crowned the king of all Britain." Said Artoria.

The words were so shocking to Morgan, that the Le Fay part of her was actually thrown to the back of her mind for now.

Immediately Morgan noticed a Bounded Field forming around Artoria's table, one of illusion for concealment. Morgan didn't feel like breaking it, but did want to see what's in it. So she did so as she approached.

"Arthur, that's your sister." Came Merlin's hasty reply. Hasty, because he wanted to say it before he started laughing.

Morgan herself felt her face completely flush, while wanted to pull at her hair, now remembering Artoria's words.

Did she seriously use the inscription on Caliburn's stone, to say what she wished to do to me? Her emotions started to be jumbled up at that.

"Incest is wincest, Merlin." Came Arty's instant reply. There was silence, then Arty look down next to her. "Merlin?"

Outside of the Bounded Field, it looks like Merlin and King Arthur were sitting calming, and discussing a serious topic.

Within the field, which Morgan could see through as it wasn't done at Merlin's best, she saw her little sister looking at her court mage in concern.

Because Merlin had fallen off his chair and was banging his fist on the ground, laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes.