Fic - The Older I Get (3&4/4)
This is parts three and four, to avoid spamming you guys ;)
Title: The Older I Get (3)
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Merlin, Morgana with hints of Merlin/Morgana and Arthur/Gwen
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, I'm just playing around with the people.
Genre: AU, future!fic, angst
Summary: Merlin and Morgana sneak into Camelot.
Author’s notes: Second to last part.
Arthur was alive. It was a new day, and he had made it through the night. Beside him, Gwen slept, finally able to rest. It seemed that now that he no longer felt nightmares, their child also slept peacefully. He rolled out of bed, and moved to the window. The sun was up, and people were moving around in the courtyard and lower town. There was even a traveler on the road into town. No, he changed his mind as the two people moved into the city. It was two travelers. It was too far away to see if it was anyone he knew, and he wondered why he would think so. He didn’t know anyone who was not in Camelot that was not welcome there. For just an instant he thought he recognized the gait of the person on the left, it was gone in moments. His mind was playing tricks on him. Still, he was slightly interested why two people were traveling alone to Camelot. It wasn’t every day that they received visitors. But then it was like a shade had been dropped over his mind, and he wondered why he was staring off into the far distance. He should be getting ready for the day.
Merlin felt eyes on him, and instantly he adjusted his walk. He scoured the path around them, searching for the source of the sensation. It continued, even though he saw no one.
“Act natural” He murmured under his breath to Morgana. She nodded slightly and continued on. Merlin ducked his head and whispered an incantation, one that would confuse anyone who was watching. They would be forgotten in moments. But somehow he recognized that gaze. It occurred to him that it was possible that Arthur had been watching the path from the castle, but from this distance all you could see was two people, just walking the path into town. Still, he felt chilled. If Arthur found out why they were in Camelot…they would surely lose their heads. Merlin knew the charm he had cast was working, but he still felt uneasy. The reality of their plan was finally setting in. The easy part was getting into the city undetected and hiding in the dragon’s cavern beneath the castle. The hard part would be knocking out Morgana, stealing the charm, and activating it. Little did he know that she was pondering the same plan.
Morgana was tense. She knew how hard it would be to overcome Merlin. He was a sorcerer, while she was just a seer. Therefore, magic was out of the question. She had to trick him. But it would not be as easy as it once had been. Merlin had grown up, and lost his naivety. But, then again, he had not seen what she had learned. She may be on his side, but deep down, she knew she was a witch, and if she unleashed her full powers of hate, he would not stand a chance. That idea, however, was stamped out before it could even be considered. She was doing all this to avoid becoming the woman of her dreams. She searched her mind, looking for any weakness that Merlin might have revealed, but she could not find one. It did not matter. She would do anything. She would even tell him if she had to, but no matter what, she had to be the one holding the amulet when time unraveled. For if it did not work…she needed to be the one stolen away to the afterlife. Merlin had good in his heart, and she, she had evil.
She remembered a dream she had had nearly six years ago, before destiny had been ripped from her arms. In her dream, she was struck down by Merlin and Arthur, standing united to end evil. Her dream had frightened her, but it had faded into the mists of time. Until now. She wondered if that would have been her fate had time’s tapestry not been shredded. But, then the future was flexible. Nothing was set in stone. And yet she marveled how one choice, a choice of quick love and happiness over duty and the promise of a future, could change the world so much. It had never occurred to her until just now how much sway Arthur had over the fates of his entire realm. In her heart she knew he would not have made the choice he had if he had known the curses it would bring down on Camelot. And that, that was the only thing that kept her heart set on reversing this terrible fate.
Her mind was drawn away from its dark musings when they finally entered the castle, going over the drawbridge. It had been many, many years since she had been here, and while some thing stayed the same, other things had changed too much. Camelot was no longer her home. Merlin’s hand stayed firmly on her elbow, sharing his magical charm with her, and guiding her through the city, towards the entrance to the Dragon’s cavern. The door was old and it barely moved, the guards who had once sat on duty had long since disappeared, and the Dragon that had been imprisoned here for almost a quarter of a century was long dead and gone at Merlin’s hand. Now it was just a huge cavern under the city that no one knew about, save three people. And now, two of them are about to take the greatest chance possible, unleashing some of the world’s most powerful magic at the heart of the deadliest city in the land. Morgana glanced around. She had never been to the dragon’s cave before, but now that she was there, standing on the small ledge, she felt as if she had lived here for decades.
“You feel it as well?” Merlin’s torch wavered in the huge space, only showing a fraction of what she felt, she knew was there. She nodded. “It’s Kilgharrah's legacy.” This she understood. For a being so powerful, so magical, to have been contained in such a space for so many years, it left an imprint on the stones and the air. Tangible but immaterial. Merlin sat, laying the torch down next to him. He motioned her over, and she sat next to him, pulling off her pack and removing the precious amulet from inside.
“Merlin…” He grinned at her, that smile she had known so many years ago, and it melted her heart just a bit.
“Don’t worry about me.” He spoke in the flippant tone she remembered him using before he did something stupid. “Just give me the incantation, and I will be gone.” His encouraging smile almost coaxed the words out of her, but she recalled her vow and said nothing. She shook her head.
“I’m sorry Merlin. This is not your destiny.” She had caught him off guard, and he was unaware of the unlit torch she had levitated behind him. It hit him squarely in the back of the head, and he fell to the dirt, unconscious. She breathed a sigh of relief. It had been so much easier than she had hoped. Picking up the amulet in one hand, she touched his head with the other, and began an enchantment. She felt the power course from him into her, filling every fiber of her being with sheer and raw power. For a moment, she saw nothing, and then she saw everything. It was like going from blindness to having sight. She saw echoes of the dragon who had once resided here, she heard children running in the streets far above her, and in the distance…like a far off whisper, she head laughter. Gwen. All at once, her heart broke for what she knew she would be doing. She would be robbing her best friend of the life she had always desired. It forced her to hesitate, and for a moment, her devotion to the cause wavered. She would be taking away free choice, ruining life as everyone knew it. The only positive thing was that she knew not a person would know or remember if all happened as planned. She gripped the stone, her resolve solid once more, and muttered a hushed incantation, envisioning herself standing in the great hall. And then she was there. In a flash of light she arrived, shocking the entire court. For a moment, all was silent, the people reeling in shock. Arthur stood from the throne, his cloak brushing against the wood, the only sound in the room. Morgana wondered briefly if he even recognized her, but then her eyes fell the Gwen, and her heart broke just a bit more, for she could see the large swell of her belly. She was robbing her of her child. Again she faltered, but her mission brought her back to reality.
“Morgana.” Arthur’s voice was harsh, but low. Underneath it all, she could see that he was shocked, but still cared for her. “Seize her.” He stepped down from the dais as guards took steps towards her.
“You should know better, Arthur.” She waved her hand, and the men froze in their tracks. She herself moved forward, her dress gliding over the smoothly polished floor. “I have not come to make war with you.” He stood his ground as she drew ever closer. She wondered briefly how Merlin would have done this. He would have found a way to make it seem so much less obvious. But for her, time was running out, and the fastest way was the best way. His blue eyes burned with chained fire, and she knew she had to act fast.
“Please Arthur. I need your help.” She took the last step to bridge the gap between them. He turned away from her.
“Leave us.” He muttered under his breath, and the room quickly cleared, save for Arthur, her, and Gwen.
“It’s been nearly six years, Morgana. No word, no news. And now you return, in need of my help?” She opened her mouth but Gwen beat her to it.
“Arthur-“ She was cut off by his hand.
“This is not for you do decide on, Gwen.” He turned his piercing gaze back to Morgana. She saw the hurt in her eyes, and her shifting determination finally solidified. This was not the life any of them were destined to lead. Before he could do anything, Morgana’s hand shot out, gripping his forearm in a vice.
“Morgana! What are you doing!?” He was angry, but his voice was already fading away as she chanted the spell out. Around her the world slowed, then stopped. Like a beacon in the night, the amulet shone bright, and suddenly everything was torn apart, the fabric of time literally ripping and unraveling. In the midst of it she watched as she herself, Arthur, and the great hall all disappeared in the tangled mess that had been the future. Events were going by faster than she had ever thought possible, faster and faster, until she caught sight of the moment that had changed it all. At precisely the instant she saw it, she dropped the amulet, and the tearing stopped. Time stood still, and all was silent. Then there was a bright flash, and all was black.
Title: The Older I Get (4)
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Merlin, Morgana with hints of Merlin/Morgana and Arthur/Gwen
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, I'm just playing around with the people.
Genre: AU, future!fic, angst
Summary: Morgana finishes the job
Author’s notes: Last part! Not quiet how I wanted to end it, but I'm sick of reworking it, so this'll do
Morgana opened her eyes to see that she was lying on the ground, in an alley somewhere in the lower town. She stood, puzzled. Her hair was long and curly once more; her dress one she had worn as the king’s ward. But she knew she did not have the time to stop and wonder how or why this was so. Soon she would begin to unravel, just as her original time had. She had to find Arthur, before he did what she knew he would do. In her mind she played back the events that she knew had happened right after the fight that day. She had gathered that the point of divergence was that day, that from this day forward, Camelot’s destiny was forever changed. A flash of white on her right startled her, and she realized it was him, walking by the alley. He was wearing a simple white tunic, and carried a single rose. She had been right. This was the day. From what she had gathered from Merlin, this was the day that Arthur had pledged his heart to marrying Gwen, no matter what. And that was something she had to stop. She rushed out of the alley, but was suddenly aware of who she was and where she was when various people glanced at her curiously, obviously wondering what the king’s ward was doing in this part of town. Fighting to recall how she had been all those years ago, she adjusted her gait and speed. Ahead she saw Arthur, his back to her. Soon she was gaining on him, and just as he was about to step onto Gwen’s porch, she reached for his shoulder. He turned, startled.
“Morgana! What are you doing here?” He whispered to her, surprised. She searched he mind for an excuse, but could not find one At this point, she had no plan, and was flailing her way through this part. So instead she pulled him by his arm into the alley next to the house. “Morgana! What is going on?” His insistent protests were cut short by a hand over his mouth.
“Listen and listen well, Arthur. I have very little time for you.” He blinked at her, confused. “I know that you are planning to talk with Gwen. And you cannot do it. Believe me, trust me.” She knew she was about to choke up, but she pushed on. “Your destiny cannot be bound to hers at this time.” His eyes widened and she removed her hand from his mouth.
“Listen, Morgana, I don’t know what you think you know, or how you know it, but what I do with my life is none of your concern, thank you very much. Now if you will kindly let me go, I have something I need to do.” He nodded at her and began to walk off. Morgana rolled her eyes and reached for his arm, pushing him back against the wall.
“You’re not listening to me!” This was NOT something she had wanted to do, but it was something that must be done. He would not be reasoned with. She closed her eyes, and began to mutter out an enchantment. His eyelids fluttered shut and open again, becoming glassy and empty.
“Arthur.” His glazed eyes looked into hers. “Listen to me Arthur. Do not pledge your life to hers today. Do not make a promise that you will be bound to keep.” He nodded slowly, the enchantment holding. “And you will forget everything we have just talked about.” He frowned, but did not resist. “Do you hear me?”
“Yes…” he mumbled. That was all she needed. She nodded and released him, whispering another incantation to release him before stepping away and into the background, waving her hand to hide her presence. His eyes cleared, and he glanced around the alley, puzzled, before stepping out and into the main path. Morgana breathed a sigh of relief. This mission that had been planed and agonized over for so many years(even though most of the planning had gone to waste), was finally over. It had come down to the simplest of things, and she knew that if she had not been the one to do this, then it might not have happened. Despite the hardships he had faced, she doubted that Merlin would have been able to enchant Arthur, to force him to do this. She let out the breath she had been holding, and sagged against the wall. She did not know how many minutes passed before she heard voices from behind her, inside Gwen’s house. Rising from her hunched position against the wall, she placed an ear against the earthen outer wall. All she heard was snatches of conversation, but it was enough.
“…never loved another”
"…You will find your real princess. One day…”
“You don’t know that.”
She heard nothing for a moment, and then she heard the door shut. It was done. Fate had been rewritten, for the better this time. Or so she would hope.
Morgana sat up in bed, gasping. It felt like she hadn’t even been asleep at all. She shook her head, searching for what had woken her up. On the edges of her consciousness, something nagged at her, like a lost nugget of memory. There was a flash of something…and then nothing. She wondered what had woken her, but it didn’t really matter, she needed to be awake shortly anyway. She slid her feet over the bed. It looked like it was going to be a wonderful evening.
Fin
Title: The Older I Get (3)
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Merlin, Morgana with hints of Merlin/Morgana and Arthur/Gwen
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, I'm just playing around with the people.
Genre: AU, future!fic, angst
Summary: Merlin and Morgana sneak into Camelot.
Author’s notes: Second to last part.
Arthur was alive. It was a new day, and he had made it through the night. Beside him, Gwen slept, finally able to rest. It seemed that now that he no longer felt nightmares, their child also slept peacefully. He rolled out of bed, and moved to the window. The sun was up, and people were moving around in the courtyard and lower town. There was even a traveler on the road into town. No, he changed his mind as the two people moved into the city. It was two travelers. It was too far away to see if it was anyone he knew, and he wondered why he would think so. He didn’t know anyone who was not in Camelot that was not welcome there. For just an instant he thought he recognized the gait of the person on the left, it was gone in moments. His mind was playing tricks on him. Still, he was slightly interested why two people were traveling alone to Camelot. It wasn’t every day that they received visitors. But then it was like a shade had been dropped over his mind, and he wondered why he was staring off into the far distance. He should be getting ready for the day.
Merlin felt eyes on him, and instantly he adjusted his walk. He scoured the path around them, searching for the source of the sensation. It continued, even though he saw no one.
“Act natural” He murmured under his breath to Morgana. She nodded slightly and continued on. Merlin ducked his head and whispered an incantation, one that would confuse anyone who was watching. They would be forgotten in moments. But somehow he recognized that gaze. It occurred to him that it was possible that Arthur had been watching the path from the castle, but from this distance all you could see was two people, just walking the path into town. Still, he felt chilled. If Arthur found out why they were in Camelot…they would surely lose their heads. Merlin knew the charm he had cast was working, but he still felt uneasy. The reality of their plan was finally setting in. The easy part was getting into the city undetected and hiding in the dragon’s cavern beneath the castle. The hard part would be knocking out Morgana, stealing the charm, and activating it. Little did he know that she was pondering the same plan.
Morgana was tense. She knew how hard it would be to overcome Merlin. He was a sorcerer, while she was just a seer. Therefore, magic was out of the question. She had to trick him. But it would not be as easy as it once had been. Merlin had grown up, and lost his naivety. But, then again, he had not seen what she had learned. She may be on his side, but deep down, she knew she was a witch, and if she unleashed her full powers of hate, he would not stand a chance. That idea, however, was stamped out before it could even be considered. She was doing all this to avoid becoming the woman of her dreams. She searched her mind, looking for any weakness that Merlin might have revealed, but she could not find one. It did not matter. She would do anything. She would even tell him if she had to, but no matter what, she had to be the one holding the amulet when time unraveled. For if it did not work…she needed to be the one stolen away to the afterlife. Merlin had good in his heart, and she, she had evil.
She remembered a dream she had had nearly six years ago, before destiny had been ripped from her arms. In her dream, she was struck down by Merlin and Arthur, standing united to end evil. Her dream had frightened her, but it had faded into the mists of time. Until now. She wondered if that would have been her fate had time’s tapestry not been shredded. But, then the future was flexible. Nothing was set in stone. And yet she marveled how one choice, a choice of quick love and happiness over duty and the promise of a future, could change the world so much. It had never occurred to her until just now how much sway Arthur had over the fates of his entire realm. In her heart she knew he would not have made the choice he had if he had known the curses it would bring down on Camelot. And that, that was the only thing that kept her heart set on reversing this terrible fate.
Her mind was drawn away from its dark musings when they finally entered the castle, going over the drawbridge. It had been many, many years since she had been here, and while some thing stayed the same, other things had changed too much. Camelot was no longer her home. Merlin’s hand stayed firmly on her elbow, sharing his magical charm with her, and guiding her through the city, towards the entrance to the Dragon’s cavern. The door was old and it barely moved, the guards who had once sat on duty had long since disappeared, and the Dragon that had been imprisoned here for almost a quarter of a century was long dead and gone at Merlin’s hand. Now it was just a huge cavern under the city that no one knew about, save three people. And now, two of them are about to take the greatest chance possible, unleashing some of the world’s most powerful magic at the heart of the deadliest city in the land. Morgana glanced around. She had never been to the dragon’s cave before, but now that she was there, standing on the small ledge, she felt as if she had lived here for decades.
“You feel it as well?” Merlin’s torch wavered in the huge space, only showing a fraction of what she felt, she knew was there. She nodded. “It’s Kilgharrah's legacy.” This she understood. For a being so powerful, so magical, to have been contained in such a space for so many years, it left an imprint on the stones and the air. Tangible but immaterial. Merlin sat, laying the torch down next to him. He motioned her over, and she sat next to him, pulling off her pack and removing the precious amulet from inside.
“Merlin…” He grinned at her, that smile she had known so many years ago, and it melted her heart just a bit.
“Don’t worry about me.” He spoke in the flippant tone she remembered him using before he did something stupid. “Just give me the incantation, and I will be gone.” His encouraging smile almost coaxed the words out of her, but she recalled her vow and said nothing. She shook her head.
“I’m sorry Merlin. This is not your destiny.” She had caught him off guard, and he was unaware of the unlit torch she had levitated behind him. It hit him squarely in the back of the head, and he fell to the dirt, unconscious. She breathed a sigh of relief. It had been so much easier than she had hoped. Picking up the amulet in one hand, she touched his head with the other, and began an enchantment. She felt the power course from him into her, filling every fiber of her being with sheer and raw power. For a moment, she saw nothing, and then she saw everything. It was like going from blindness to having sight. She saw echoes of the dragon who had once resided here, she heard children running in the streets far above her, and in the distance…like a far off whisper, she head laughter. Gwen. All at once, her heart broke for what she knew she would be doing. She would be robbing her best friend of the life she had always desired. It forced her to hesitate, and for a moment, her devotion to the cause wavered. She would be taking away free choice, ruining life as everyone knew it. The only positive thing was that she knew not a person would know or remember if all happened as planned. She gripped the stone, her resolve solid once more, and muttered a hushed incantation, envisioning herself standing in the great hall. And then she was there. In a flash of light she arrived, shocking the entire court. For a moment, all was silent, the people reeling in shock. Arthur stood from the throne, his cloak brushing against the wood, the only sound in the room. Morgana wondered briefly if he even recognized her, but then her eyes fell the Gwen, and her heart broke just a bit more, for she could see the large swell of her belly. She was robbing her of her child. Again she faltered, but her mission brought her back to reality.
“Morgana.” Arthur’s voice was harsh, but low. Underneath it all, she could see that he was shocked, but still cared for her. “Seize her.” He stepped down from the dais as guards took steps towards her.
“You should know better, Arthur.” She waved her hand, and the men froze in their tracks. She herself moved forward, her dress gliding over the smoothly polished floor. “I have not come to make war with you.” He stood his ground as she drew ever closer. She wondered briefly how Merlin would have done this. He would have found a way to make it seem so much less obvious. But for her, time was running out, and the fastest way was the best way. His blue eyes burned with chained fire, and she knew she had to act fast.
“Please Arthur. I need your help.” She took the last step to bridge the gap between them. He turned away from her.
“Leave us.” He muttered under his breath, and the room quickly cleared, save for Arthur, her, and Gwen.
“It’s been nearly six years, Morgana. No word, no news. And now you return, in need of my help?” She opened her mouth but Gwen beat her to it.
“Arthur-“ She was cut off by his hand.
“This is not for you do decide on, Gwen.” He turned his piercing gaze back to Morgana. She saw the hurt in her eyes, and her shifting determination finally solidified. This was not the life any of them were destined to lead. Before he could do anything, Morgana’s hand shot out, gripping his forearm in a vice.
“Morgana! What are you doing!?” He was angry, but his voice was already fading away as she chanted the spell out. Around her the world slowed, then stopped. Like a beacon in the night, the amulet shone bright, and suddenly everything was torn apart, the fabric of time literally ripping and unraveling. In the midst of it she watched as she herself, Arthur, and the great hall all disappeared in the tangled mess that had been the future. Events were going by faster than she had ever thought possible, faster and faster, until she caught sight of the moment that had changed it all. At precisely the instant she saw it, she dropped the amulet, and the tearing stopped. Time stood still, and all was silent. Then there was a bright flash, and all was black.
Title: The Older I Get (4)
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Merlin, Morgana with hints of Merlin/Morgana and Arthur/Gwen
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, I'm just playing around with the people.
Genre: AU, future!fic, angst
Summary: Morgana finishes the job
Author’s notes: Last part! Not quiet how I wanted to end it, but I'm sick of reworking it, so this'll do
Morgana opened her eyes to see that she was lying on the ground, in an alley somewhere in the lower town. She stood, puzzled. Her hair was long and curly once more; her dress one she had worn as the king’s ward. But she knew she did not have the time to stop and wonder how or why this was so. Soon she would begin to unravel, just as her original time had. She had to find Arthur, before he did what she knew he would do. In her mind she played back the events that she knew had happened right after the fight that day. She had gathered that the point of divergence was that day, that from this day forward, Camelot’s destiny was forever changed. A flash of white on her right startled her, and she realized it was him, walking by the alley. He was wearing a simple white tunic, and carried a single rose. She had been right. This was the day. From what she had gathered from Merlin, this was the day that Arthur had pledged his heart to marrying Gwen, no matter what. And that was something she had to stop. She rushed out of the alley, but was suddenly aware of who she was and where she was when various people glanced at her curiously, obviously wondering what the king’s ward was doing in this part of town. Fighting to recall how she had been all those years ago, she adjusted her gait and speed. Ahead she saw Arthur, his back to her. Soon she was gaining on him, and just as he was about to step onto Gwen’s porch, she reached for his shoulder. He turned, startled.
“Morgana! What are you doing here?” He whispered to her, surprised. She searched he mind for an excuse, but could not find one At this point, she had no plan, and was flailing her way through this part. So instead she pulled him by his arm into the alley next to the house. “Morgana! What is going on?” His insistent protests were cut short by a hand over his mouth.
“Listen and listen well, Arthur. I have very little time for you.” He blinked at her, confused. “I know that you are planning to talk with Gwen. And you cannot do it. Believe me, trust me.” She knew she was about to choke up, but she pushed on. “Your destiny cannot be bound to hers at this time.” His eyes widened and she removed her hand from his mouth.
“Listen, Morgana, I don’t know what you think you know, or how you know it, but what I do with my life is none of your concern, thank you very much. Now if you will kindly let me go, I have something I need to do.” He nodded at her and began to walk off. Morgana rolled her eyes and reached for his arm, pushing him back against the wall.
“You’re not listening to me!” This was NOT something she had wanted to do, but it was something that must be done. He would not be reasoned with. She closed her eyes, and began to mutter out an enchantment. His eyelids fluttered shut and open again, becoming glassy and empty.
“Arthur.” His glazed eyes looked into hers. “Listen to me Arthur. Do not pledge your life to hers today. Do not make a promise that you will be bound to keep.” He nodded slowly, the enchantment holding. “And you will forget everything we have just talked about.” He frowned, but did not resist. “Do you hear me?”
“Yes…” he mumbled. That was all she needed. She nodded and released him, whispering another incantation to release him before stepping away and into the background, waving her hand to hide her presence. His eyes cleared, and he glanced around the alley, puzzled, before stepping out and into the main path. Morgana breathed a sigh of relief. This mission that had been planed and agonized over for so many years(even though most of the planning had gone to waste), was finally over. It had come down to the simplest of things, and she knew that if she had not been the one to do this, then it might not have happened. Despite the hardships he had faced, she doubted that Merlin would have been able to enchant Arthur, to force him to do this. She let out the breath she had been holding, and sagged against the wall. She did not know how many minutes passed before she heard voices from behind her, inside Gwen’s house. Rising from her hunched position against the wall, she placed an ear against the earthen outer wall. All she heard was snatches of conversation, but it was enough.
“…never loved another”
"…You will find your real princess. One day…”
“You don’t know that.”
She heard nothing for a moment, and then she heard the door shut. It was done. Fate had been rewritten, for the better this time. Or so she would hope.
Morgana sat up in bed, gasping. It felt like she hadn’t even been asleep at all. She shook her head, searching for what had woken her up. On the edges of her consciousness, something nagged at her, like a lost nugget of memory. There was a flash of something…and then nothing. She wondered what had woken her, but it didn’t really matter, she needed to be awake shortly anyway. She slid her feet over the bed. It looked like it was going to be a wonderful evening.
Fin