Fanfiction || To Rescue a Fair Maiden || Morgana/Morgause || Part Six

[cuzimastripper]

Title: To Rescue a Fair Maiden
Author: Sapphire Smoke cuzimastripper
Beta(s): BellaRei713
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: NC-17 for future chapters
Words: 47,095
Pairing: Morgana/Morgause
Summary: AU // As Morgana’s sixteenth birthday rapidly approaches, Morgause travels to Camelot with the hope she’ll be able to rescue her sister from King Uther before the binding spell on her powers breaks and Morgana finds herself alone in a place where having magick condemns her to death.
A/N: For NaNoWriMo 2012
Previous Parts: PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE | PART FOUR | PART FIVE

CHAPTER XI
The Dungeons

Morgana spotted Arthur from her bedchamber window about to take leave and took off, running as fast as she could through the castle halls to get to him in time. She knew Arthur was there when Morgause was questioned; Uther now preformed most royal business in front of him, to prepare him for when the time came that he would be king.

Morgana needed to know what was going on; it was killing her inside not knowing if Morgause had hope or not. If there was a chance that she could be released, Morgana didn’t want to help her try to escape. It could ruin Morgause’s chances of true freedom should she manage to screw it up, or condemn her to life as a fugitive when there was no reason for her to be. Morgana needed to go about this delicately.

“Arthur!”

Morgana took the steps two at a time to reach him, nearly tripping over her gown in the process, but she didn’t care; she was just glad she reached him in time before he set off. Arthur turned away from his task of fitting the saddlebag on his horse, his eyebrows rising at the sight of the Ward. “Morgana,” he greeted, surprised to see her there.

“Please, tell me what’s happening to her,” she begged, grabbing hold of his arm to further enhance her desperation. She didn’t even bother with pleasantries, though she doubted Arthur expected them.

“Morgana…” his tone was sympathetic and the Ward hated it. She didn’t want to hear about how he couldn’t speak about royal business; Morgause was her friend, her… her lover. She needed to know. “You know I can’t-”

“Please,” Morgana pleaded, knowing she looked as desperate as she felt. “Arthur, she’s my friend. I care for her and I’m worried. You know I have a right to know, please. Do this favor for me, I beg of you.”

Arthur let out a hesitant breath. His eyes shifted to Merlin, who was busy preparing the horses. “Merlin, go fetch some water for our journey,” he ordered, obviously trying to give them some privacy. Merlin didn’t catch on to the hint.

“But we already have-”

“Merlin,” he stated, a pointed look in his eyes. “Just do as I ask.”

Merlin looked between them, realizing now what Arthur was asking. “Right, of course,” he said, understanding. He made his way back into the castle and Arthur turned to Morgana, an apprehensive look on his face. He obviously did not wish to go against his father, but it seemed he did realize that Morgana had a right to know.

Arthur took a deep breath, hoping he didn’t regret speaking to her about this. “My Father believes your friend is a sorceress.” Morgana held her breath for a moment, her fear of the worst coming true. Arthur hesitated for a moment before finishing with, “A very specific one, actually.”

Morgana’s expression turned puzzled. “A specific one?” she repeated, confused by the Prince’s words. How would Uther know who Morgause was before she got here?

“There, uh…” Arthur stumbled, trying to think of how to word his explanation. Morgana knew that meant she wouldn’t be getting the whole story, but she would deal with that afterwards. “When the Great Purge happened, a few magickal children were smuggled out of Camelot,” Arthur explained. “One of them was named Morgause. Father has been expecting her to return for some time now, it seems.”

Morgana waited for him to continue, but that seemed to be the only thing she was getting out of him. She looked at him disbelievingly. “So this is all because she bears the same name as a sorceress who was in Camelot over fifteen years ago? That’s ridiculous, Arthur! There must be dozens of women with her name. How can Uther hold her like this? This isn’t just!”

“It’ll be fine, Morgana,” Arthur tried to reassure her, but Morgana feared it would be anything but. Even if Morgause wasn’t the child who was smuggled out of here years ago, she was still a sorceress. “I’m heading to Mercia to verify your friend’s story. If what she says about herself is true, my Father will free her. I promise you.”

That’s what Morgana was afraid of. If she was a betting woman, she would put money on the fact that Morgause did not come from Mercia. She was a highly skilled sorceress; she must have come from somewhere that would allow her to be trained and Morgana knew that was not the farmland kingdom that lied east of Camelot.

“There’s something you’re not telling me,” she said, noting how Arthur could barely look her in the eye. Despite his arrogance, which could drive Morgana crazy sometimes, Arthur had always been an honest man and she admired that about him. It was obvious that he felt uncomfortable being anything but what he was, but his loyalty to his father made things difficult for him sometimes. “Why is it that the King expected this other Morgause to return to Camelot, and not just any of the sorcerers?”

Arthur looked uncomfortable. “No, I didn’t mean-”

“I heard what you said,” Morgana told him flatly. She didn’t want him backpedaling out of this. “If Uther had been expecting any one of them to return, you would have said ‘them.’ Instead you said ‘her.’ Why?”

Arthur shifted his weight between his feet. He lost eye contact with her, staring at his feet. He sighed apologetically. “I’m sorry, Morgana. Despite my personal feelings on that matter, that is one thing I cannot tell you.”

Although Morgana wished to know more, she didn’t want to push him. Already he could get into trouble with his father for telling her what he had and Morgana didn’t want to seem ungrateful. It was probably the most she was going to get out of anyone anyway, save Morgause herself.

“I need to see her.”

Arthur let out a heavy breath, knowing that was coming. “No one is supposed to see the prisoners, you know that. You’re going to get yourself into trouble.”

“I don’t care,” Morgana told him firmly. What was Uther going to do, yell at her? She’d been yelled at plenty times before, she could handle it. “Please, Arthur, I just wish to speak with her. She’s down there all alone, imprisoned in a strange city for a crime she did not commit; she deserves to see a friendly face.”

Arthur rubbed his temples, beginning to get a headache. “I’m not going to give you my key, if that’s what you’re asking for.”

“I’m not trying to free her, Arthur; I just want to speak with her. We can do that through iron bars.”

Arthur knew she was not going to give up until she got what she wanted and he sighed. His gaze shifted for a moment, as if trying to assess that they were really alone. “Do you promise you won’t do anything stupid?” he asked, trying to help her but afraid of sticking his neck out too far. “Because if something happens while you’re down there, hell will rain down on my head and I won’t hesitate to throw you under the wagon with me.”

That was fair. Morgana would probably do the same thing if the positions were reversed. “I promise,” she stressed, needing him to know that she would not betray his trust like that.

Arthur still looked a little uncomfortable with the decision, but relented. “Alright. Before I leave I’ll speak with the night guard and tell him to let you pass. But you must not be seen by anyone else, do you understand? If it gets back to my Father…”

“I understand, Arthur,” Morgana replied, smiling gratefully for his help. “Thank you.”

She caught sight of Merlin heading out of the castle in her peripheral, so Morgana lowered her head a little in acknowledgement. “I’ll leave you to your business,” she told Arthur before turning around, making her way back inside. She breathed a sigh of relief, glad that she was going to have a way to see Morgause. If Arthur hadn’t helped her then she would have had to find a way to sneak past the guard and well, Morgana was anything but stealthy. Because of that she was a bit worried that she would be unable to keep her visit a secret from Uther, but she would cross that bridge when she came to it.

For now, she just needed answers, and Morgause was the only way Morgana knew how to get them.

[x]

Morgause sat in the corner of her cell, her back pressed against the cold stone wall with her knees pulled to her chest. The ground beneath her was hard and unforgiving, providing her with little comfort during the long hours of solitude. There was a distinct chill in the air that made Morgause shiver in her silken dress, the beauty that it once was starting to become unrecognizable with small tears and dirt stains. Her back ached from the blows she was dealt, but she would not risk healing herself whilst she was a captive; if anyone should see, her life would be forfeit. So she suffered in silence, finding it better not to use her magick until she was ready to escape.

Morgause had no idea what time of day it was, as the dungeons were provided with no outside light. It was like a tomb; even the air smelled of death and sorrow. A ways down from her cell she could hear a man praying to his God, asking for forgiveness. Morgause had overheard one of the guards saying that he would be hung come morning and the blonde felt for the man; even in his last hours, no one had come to say their final goodbyes.

He would die unloved and alone.

Footsteps echoed through the dungeon and Morgause rose to her feet, wondering if the guards were coming round with dinner. She was terribly hungry. Though she had been given half a loaf of bread earlier in the day, it was not enough to sate her. But perhaps that was the point; it would not do to have their prisoners strong, after all. Morgause could already feel her magick start to weaken from her mistreatment and it worried her, for if the time came when she needed to flee and she found she could not escape, she would be done for.

Then, like a ray of hope from the Goddess herself, Morgana appeared; bathed in the dim light of the torch that hung outside of her cell, her presence was a vision Morgause had been praying for. She ran to her, fingers curling around her sister’s hand that clung tight to the wrought iron bars of her prison. “Morgana,” she breathed, happier than words could ever hope to express. “I feared I would never see you again.”

Seeing Morgause in such a predicament made tears well up in the Ward’s eyes. She reached through the bars, gently caressing her face. “Are you alright?” she asked, her voice strained as she tried not to openly weep for her. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you.”

“It’s not your fault,” Morgause assured her, turning her face to kiss her sister’s palm. Everything she had gone through seemed to fade away in an instant at Morgana’s touch. It healed her better than any spell could dare to hope for.

“I don’t have long,” Morgana told her regrettably. “If Uther was to find me down here, he would not wait for Arthur to return. His anger alone would condemn you.” Morgause nodded, understanding. She had not expected that Morgana had come to her with Uther’s permission; he was too afraid that Morgause would tell her the truth.

“But please, answer me one thing,” Morgana requested, her eyes searching the blonde’s face. “Will Arthur find that you spoke truth when he reaches Mercia?”

Morgause pursed her lips, sympathy in her eyes. “No,” she told her softly. She saw Morgana’s face fall; she knew that meant that she would never be freed. “I’m sorry I lied, Morgana, but it was for my own safety.” She sighed softly, motioning at the space around her before she finished, “Although I guess we can see how well that worked out in the end.”

“Are you, then?” Morgana asked softly, needing to know. “The woman Uther thinks you are?”

Morgause held her breath. She wasn’t sure what Morgana knew, but she knew she had to be honest with her. “Yes,” she confirmed quietly, running her fingertips softly over her sister’s that clung to one of the bars. She wondered if she would pull away from her.

She didn’t.

“You were born here?” Morgana questioned, watching Morgause’s fingers dust across hers for a moment. Perhaps she didn’t know the whole truth after all, something Morgause was thankful for. She wanted to be able to tell her sister on her own terms, not Uther’s. Green eyes met brown as Morgana looked up at her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Morgause couldn’t meet her gaze. She shrugged and leaned against the bars, staring at the ground. “It was a long time ago; I didn’t think it was important.”

Morgana pursed her lips, deciding that it would probably be better if she didn’t pry into that topic anymore. The Great Purge was a painful time for a lot of sorcerers and their families and she probably didn’t want to rehash that, out of respect. Morgause was grateful. “You never told me,” Morgana began after a moment, “what it was you came here for.” The subject clearly pained her as her voice caught in her throat and her gaze was quickly averted. Morgause didn’t blame her; it was the topic that revolved around her leaving.

But Morgause wanted her to know that it didn’t mean leaving her, so she finally told her the truth. “You, Morgana,” It was said softly, but Morgana heard it loud and clear. “I came here for you.” That caught the Ward’s attention and she looked up at her, surprised.

“Me?”

Morgause nodded.

Morgana stared at her for a moment before realization dawned on her face. Unfortunately, it was not the happy one that Morgause was hoping for; instead she looked scorned. “You knew didn’t you?” Morgana accused, taking a few steps back from her. “You knew and you never told me! How could you? Do you even understand how frightened I was yesterday? I had no idea what was happening; I thought I caught it from you! Like you touching me made me…!” Morgana couldn’t even say the word; it stuck in her throat and instead she shook her head disbelievingly. She was probably better off that way though; Morgana was shouting rather loudly and if anyone heard they would both be dead.

Morgause was not expecting this kind of reaction and despite how upset she was that she received it, she tried to stay calm. She knew she was the one to blame, after all. There were probably a lot of things she should have told her sister, yet her own fear made it difficult to voice out loud. “It’s not a sickness, Morgana,” she tried to explain, but was cut off before she could say anymore.

“That’s not the point!”

“I know. I’m sorry,” Morgause conceded. She felt awful; she was supposed to be there when her sister’s powers emerged and she wasn’t. Morgana must have been so frightened, to have grown up in a place such as Camelot and then find that she was everything this kingdom hated. “I didn’t tell you because I thought you wouldn’t believe me. I was a stranger; what credibility would my claims have? You would have thought me mad.”

Morgana was pacing back and forth in front of her sister’s cell, running her fingers through her tussled hair. She didn’t comment on what Morgause said, which probably meant that she had a point and Morgana didn’t want to admit to it. Instead she asked, “So, what, you came to Camelot with the expectation that you could just… take me away with you?” The way she said it made it sound ridiculous and perhaps it was, a perfect stranger coming there to rip her away from everything she had ever known.

Morgause colored in shame, hating how presumptuous the whole thing was. “I had hoped, yes,” she admitted, voice small. “You weren’t safe here; I was trying to protect you. I wanted to give you a chance to survive.” She could stand trial in front of the ruthless Uther Pendragon, but it seemed she caved quickly when put against her sister’s scrutinizing questions. It got worse when Morgana stepped back into the torch’s faint glow and Morgause could see that her eyes were swimming with fresh tears.

“Why, because your kind is so few already? Am I just another number to you, Morgause?” The accusation burned a hole in Morgause’s heart. Morgana looked terribly distressed as she drew to a conclusion that couldn’t be farther from the truth, “Is that all this was then; a cheap manipulation, to get me to trust you, to get me to leave with you?”

“No!” Morgause exclaimed quickly, her hands holding firm to the bars as she pushed herself as close as she could get to Morgana. It wasn’t very far, since her sister had taken a step backwards to hide in the shadows; she didn’t want Morgause to see her cry. It broke the sorceress’s heart in half. “What I feel for you is real, Morgana, please believe me! You’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met, and sometimes I feel that I’d surely die should I ever find myself without you. I couldn’t bear it.”

Morgana did not move. Morgause heard a faint sniffle as her sister tried to control her own emotions. She wished more than anything that she could wrap Morgana up in her arms, kiss her and show her that what she felt could never be a trick. It was far too intense to ever be anything other than genuine. It took a few moments, but finally Morgana spoke.

“I’m scared.”

Her words were barely above a whisper, but the emotion behind them screamed volumes to Morgause. “I know,” she said sympathetically. How could her sister be anything but? She had to choose between everything she had ever known, and saving her life. Because if Morgana stayed here it would only be a matter of time before she was found out; magick was so very hard to control if one was untrained.

Morgana stepped from the shadows. Her eyes were reddened and she had her arms wrapped around herself, as though she were trying to protect herself from the reality of the choice she had to make. “Where would we go?” she whispered finally, her vulnerability making her look so much younger than her years.

“To my home, on the Isle of the Blessed; it’s the only place we can truly be safe. You’ll be taken care of, Morgana, I promise you.”

Morgana bit the inside of her cheek as another tear fell from her eye. “I don’t want to leave Gwen,” she told her softly. “She’s my dearest friend; it would tear me up inside if I could never see her again.”

“Then ask her to go with us,” Morgause answered. After seeing how close the two of them were, she had been expecting this. She didn’t mind; she liked Gwen and if separating them would do more hurt than good, she was glad to take her back with them. Besides, after Morgana left it was likely that Gwen would be questioned and Morgause would not want to put her through such an ordeal.

Morgana looked grateful that she didn’t mind, but her face suddenly turned distressed once more. “Why are we even speaking of this?” she asked, sounding terribly defeated. “I don’t even know how I’m going to get you out of here yet. I don’t even know if I can…!”

“Shh, love,” Morgause hushed, reaching through the bars to grasp her hand firmly. “Don’t worry about that, alright? I’m more than capable of handling this myself.” At least she hoped she was.

Morgause knew that she should have mastered that relocation spell before she came; it would have made this so much easier. However the farthest she had ever traveled was about twenty meters, and she still managed to leave her clothes behind half the time, so no, that really wouldn’t do her well in this situation. She had other ways though; they wouldn’t be stealthy by any means, but they would still be effective and that was all that mattered in the end.

“Just start packing your things,” Morgause told her, running her thumb over the back of her sister’s hand. She smiled at her. “I’ll meet you at the stables tomorrow at nightfall.” She wished Morgana would return her smile, yet she understood why she couldn’t. This was such a big change for her and it was obviously very frightening. Morgause just hoped that when the time came she could help make the transition a little easier.

Morgana’s gaze fell to the ground, but she nodded slowly. She squeezed Morgause’s hand before backing up a few steps. “I’ve been here too long,” she told her regrettably. “But do you promise?” Morgana asked, looking back up at Morgause, fear and doubt swimming behind her emerald eyes. “That you’ll be there tomorrow?”

“You have my word.”

Despite the conviction in her voice, Morgause knew that she would still have to pray to the Gods for a miracle in order to keep it. This wasn’t going to be easy.

CHAPTER XII
Escape from Camelot

“I can’t.”

Those two words broke Morgana’s heart. Perhaps she was foolish, to believe Gwen would leave everything that she had ever known behind just to go with her, but she would be lying if she said a part of her didn’t expect that she would. They were the best of friends and Morgana had assumed they would always find themselves together, no matter where they were. Even if she got married off to some cold-hearted king or a pompous prince, Morgana knew that Gwen would go with her, not just because she was her handmaiden, but because she was her friend. Morgana had foolishly assumed the situation would be the same even though she was now running off to God only knew where, but it seemed it was not. It was too unexpected for her friend; it was too fast.

Morgana understood Gwen’s reasoning of course, but it was still hard to swallow. She had her father, who would not fare well if Gwen disappeared without a word of goodbye. Perhaps if Morgana had given her more notice she would have come with her, but if they didn’t act now then Morgause’s life was forfeit.

Arthur had come back earlier that evening with the news that no one had ever heard of Morgause in Mercia and Morgana didn’t have to be told that shortly afterwards Uther had sentenced her to death. Lying was enough of a crime and when it came to suspected sorcery, the King would rather be safe than sorry. She was probably condemned to the flames come morning and Morgana’s anxiety rose up in her chest, hoping that Morgause was speaking truth when she said she could free herself.

The air held a bitter chill and Morgana wrapped her cloak tighter around her shoulders, leaning against the horse she had chosen for their journey. The heat from the animal seemed to help, albeit only slightly. Autumn was on the horizon, seemingly coming much sooner than anyone expected. It made Morgana fear the long winter that would soon follow, as she was unsure if Morgause’s people prepared for it as well as Camelot did. She did not want to starve. That is, if they ever made it out of here alive.

Morgana heard footsteps coming nearer and fear began to rise up in her chest. If it was a guard she would surely be done for. She quickly melted into the shadows, crouched into a ball behind the steed she had prepared. It only took her a moment to realize that was probably a foolish thing to do, as any guard would be suspicious as to why a horse was saddled up for a long journey, but it was too late to move. The footsteps grew nearer and Morgana’s heart leapt into her throat. She tried to keep still.

“My Lady?”

The words were said in a hushed whisper, but Morgana heard them loud and clear. She breathed a sigh of relief; it was only Gwen. She quickly rose to her feet, stepping out from behind the steed to set her sights on her handmaiden. A smile broke out across her face and she moved to her, wrapping her up in a tight embrace. “Gwen, I’m so glad it’s you!”

Gwen held onto her fiercely. “I wanted to see you off,” she told her, emotion in her voice as she had to say goodbye to the only true friend she had ever known. When they pulled away from each other they clasped each other’s hands and Gwen asked, “When is Morgause coming?”

Morgana shrugged, looking distressed over the question. “I don’t know; she said nightfall but it’s been quite awhile. I’m afraid she overestimated her ability to escape. I don’t know what I’m going to do if she doesn’t come.”

Gwen’s expression turned sympathetic and she tightened her grip reassuringly. “I’m sure she’ll be here,” she told her, wishing to calm her anxiety. It was a futile task. Morgana had never been more scared in all her life; she was afraid that even if Morgause did come that they would never make it outside of the gates of Camelot.

Morgana’s gaze met the ground and her throat constricted with emotion. Gwen being here had brought it all back again, her fear being quickly overshadowed by sorrow. “I’m going to miss you,” she whispered, distraught over the way things had worked themselves out. Morgana wished more than anything that she did not have to leave, but Morgause was right; this would give her a chance to survive. Uther might look at her like a daughter sometimes, but that would change in an instant once he found out who she really was.

“We’ll see each other again,” Gwen promised, trying to comfort her even though it was written clearly across her face that this was tearing her up inside as well. “When you’re gone I’ll no longer be needed as a maidservant; maybe I can become my father’s apprentice, help him out enough to feel like he’ll be well enough on his own should I leave him.”

Morgana looked hopeful at those words. “Should you leave him?” she questioned, praying that Gwen meant what she thought she did. If her friend could follow her sometime in the future, that would make things so much easier, just knowing that Gwen would be with her again one day.

Gwen gave her a soft smile. “Perhaps, in the spring. It’s not that I don’t wish to go with you, Morgana; I just want to be fair to my father. I want him to be prepared for my leave and able to take care of himself. Mostly I just need to teach him how to cook; the man would starve without me, I swear it.” Despite the heaviness in the air, both girls giggled. It lifted Morgana’s spirits significantly.

“I would love it if you came,” she told her passionately, meaning every word. “I would feel empty without your light in my life, Guinevere. You’re my dearest friend in this world.”

“One day I’ll find you,” Gwen told her, her promise making Morgana’s heart swell with happiness. “Outside of you and my father, there is nothing tying me to this place. If my father gives me his blessing once winter has passed, I will head out without a second thought. And who knows,” she continued, her smile faltering for a moment as she was reminded of something painful, “Maybe once I’m outside of Camelot’s gates, I might hear word of my brother.”

Morgana’s heart saddened for her friend. Gwen’s older brother, Elyan, had left Camelot a few years ago and had not been heard of since. Morgana knew that Gwen feared that he was dead, but she still kept hope in her heart that one day she would find him. Morgana hoped that was true; Gwen had taken it very hard when he left, as they were very close when they were younger.

“I promise you, if I hear even a whisper about him while I’m gone I’ll send word to you right away,” Morgana said, knowing how important it was to her that Elyan be found. Gwen smiled at her in thanks.

A faint boom was heard in the distance, sounding as though it came from the castle. Morgana’s heart leapt into her throat, hoping that didn’t come from Morgause; the sound would attract far too much attention. If she had to guess, it sounded as though Morgause blew her cell door off its hinges. She prayed that was not what it was though; that was a far cry from subtle and all of Camelot’s guards would swarm her in a second.

“Do you think that was…?” Gwen started to ask, but was interrupted by the sound of the warning bell echoing through the city. The two girls shared an equal look of worry; that was most definitely Morgause and that meant that sneaking out was impossible. They would have to fight their way out of the city and Morgana didn’t know the first thing about fighting. She began to grow terrified.

The chances of them actually pulling this off were getting slimmer by the moment.

“Go!” Gwen encouraged, pushing Morgana over towards the horse. She knew that once Morgause actually got to them, there would be little time; Morgana should already be prepared to ride. But fear seemed to have paralyzed her for a moment and the Ward couldn’t move. “Morgana, go!”

One hard push pulled Morgana out of her haze and she turned, enveloping Gwen in a brief, yet fierce hug. “Be careful,” she told her, voice frantic. “If Uther finds out you helped us escape he’ll have your head.”

“I know,” Gwen said, sounding frightened by the prospect. She still held her ground though, not wanting to leave Morgana by herself just yet. “Now go, you don’t have much time!”

Morgana nodded, trying to be brave as she turned back towards the horse. She mounted it and immediately squeezed the horse’s sides with her legs, encouraging it to move outside the stable doors. Her heart was beating erratically in her chest and she looked behind her, meeting Gwen’s eye. An overwhelming sadness rose from within her as she realized this was the last time she would see her friend in quite awhile. “Go home,” she told her, voice catching in her throat. “You need to be far away from here when she comes, please. I can’t do this and worry about you too!”

But it was too late. Morgana heard shouting in the distance and looked towards the castle, seeing Morgause emerge from it. She was followed by two heavily armed guards.

“Hide!” Morgana exclaimed, not wanting anyone to see Gwen with her. She would be blamed in an instant. Gwen didn’t hesitate, quickly running into one of the stalls and melting into the shadows. Morgana prayed she would not be caught there, but she didn’t have much time to think about it.

There were loud cries as Morgause had stopped momentarily to turn around, holding out her hand as she blew the guards backwards with extreme force. They landed on the ground in a heap, but just as Morgause turned back around to head towards Morgana, three of Camelot’s knights emerged from the castle, led by Arthur. Fearing that this was going to become a bloodbath, Morgana quickly brought the horse to a heavy trot so she could meet the blonde halfway.

“Morgause!” she cried out, extending her hand for her as she drew closer. “Come on!” She hoped to just grab hold of her and pull the sorceress up behind her on the steed, but a large rumble made her horse stop short. Morgana nearly got bucked off when the horse reared up on his hind legs, frightened as a large crack started to form in the ground separating them and Camelot’s knights. Morgana held on for dear life as she let out a startled scream. Her cries were echoed by the knights as they had to stop short in their pursuit so they wouldn’t find themselves tumbling into the deep crevice in the earth.

The horse was still frightened and Morgana was having a hard time controlling it. Morgause seemed to realize this and turned around, assessing the situation for a moment before placing her hand on the steed’s snout. Her eyes glowed gold as she whispered, “Mitigandae.” The horse was calm within moments and Morgana stared at her wide-eyed. Her attention was quickly diverted though.

“Go around it,” Arthur ordered his knights, and two of his men, each followed by a guard, went in opposite directions trying find the end of the crevice so they could come around and corner them from the back. His gaze met Morgana’s and her stomach dropped, hating the look of disappointment she saw in his eyes. “Morgana, please,” he pleaded with her, “Don’t do this.”

As Morgause mounted the horse - in front of her, thankfully, as Morgana was unsure she would be able to ride under such strenuous circumstances - she gave Arthur an apologetic look. “I’m sorry,” she told him, meaning every word. She did not wish to hurt him in all of this, but she needed to do what was necessary to survive. “But I have to.”

“You can’t come back from this!”

Morgana wrapped her arms tightly around Morgause’s waist as she turned the horse away from the crack in the earth, about to head off in a different direction. The Ward looked back at the only brother she had ever known and told him softly, her voice full of despair and honesty, “I don’t want to.”

“Don’t look for us,” Morgause told him, warning in her tone. “She is not yours, Arthur Pendragon. She never was.” She didn’t give the prince a chance to respond before she clicked her tongue, squeezing her thighs into the steed as they started to gallop back towards the stables, finding an alternate route to the gates that separated Camelot with the rest of the world.

“Where’s Gwen?” Morgause asked over her shoulder, assuming she was waiting for them somewhere. Sadness enveloped Morgana’s soul once more.

“She’s not-”

But she didn’t get to finish her sentence. A scream was heard behind them once they passed the stables and Morgana quickly yelled, “Stop!” Morgause pulled on the reins, halting the horse in its tracks. Morgana looked behind her, fear in her heart as she heard her name being shouted. It was Gwen.

One of the guards seemed to have found her hiding in the stables, having gone through it to find a way around the deep crevice in the ground. He had pulled her outside and Gwen was struggling against his grip as the knights began to swarm them, getting nearer every second.

A fear like Morgana had never known before rose up in her and she screamed, “Gwen!” as her control began to unravel. She felt so overwhelmed, so trapped, so damn frightened that her body reacted on instinct. Morgana knew what was coming and she didn’t even bother trying to stop it. She cried out, reaching out to her in the vain hope that her powers would somehow manifest by pulling Gwen towards them. They didn’t.

Instead, the stables erupted in flames.

[x]

Chaos broke out around them.

The knights seemed torn about whether their first priority should be saving their horses or capturing the prisoners. It was Arthur, who had finally caught up to them, who made that call. “Get the horses out!” he shouted, knowing they had a lot more to lose on that end. Three knights ran into the burning building without a second thought, freeing the trapped animals. Morgause would’ve been proud of her sister for such a distraction if she hadn’t known that she didn’t do it on purpose.

“We have to go back!” Morgana shouted desperately, furiously tugging at Morgause’s tattered dress. Her breathing was erratic, her eyes wild with fear for her friend. “We can’t leave her!” She tried to dismount the horse but Morgause gripped her wrist fiercely, making sure she didn’t go anywhere.

“If we go back there all three of us will end up dead! We have to go now, Morgana, while they’re still distracted!” Morgause hated the words coming from her mouth, but they had to be rational. There was no way they could ride directly into the crowd of knights and rescue Gwen; they were severely outnumbered and Morgana still did not know how to control her power. They were at a disadvantage should they opt for a full assault.

“I won’t leave her!” Morgana screamed at her, fire in her eyes as she stared down Morgause. “They’ll kill her for helping us!”

“No, they won’t; they’ll use her as leverage,” Morgause told her strongly, sure of her own words. Everyone in Camelot knew how much Gwen meant to Morgana. It would be a tactical advantage for them to use her as bait. Uther Pendragon hated to lose; Morgause knew he would make it his personal goal to destroy her for taking away his Ward, and the best way to do that would be to force them to come back and do battle on his terms. He would never get to them otherwise.

Morgause welcomed that challenge, but she couldn’t do it right now. They would be slaughtered should they try.

“I’m sorry,” she told her sister, meaning every word to the fullest extent. Morgause hated doing this, but it was the only way. “But we have to go, now.”

She kept her grip tight on Morgana’s wrist and pulled her closer before riding off, worry constricting in her throat as she saw Arthur and a few of his knights frantically trying to saddle the freed animals so they could go after them. They shouldn’t have stalled so long; it might be their undoing. They still had the gates to deal with, which would surely be closed after the warning bell sounded.

Morgana had started to cry behind her and it broke Morgause’s heart, but there was nothing she could do about it now. She would sate her fears later, promise her that they would rescue Gwen when they were more prepared, but first they had to escape.

When they reached the entrance to the city, Morgause had to stop short, being blocked by not only an iron gate but four guards and two knights. Her grip tightened on Morgana as she started to become afraid that they might not make it out. She didn’t think she could take on all six of them; she was good, but she couldn’t work miracles. “Get out your dagger,” she told her sister, knowing she probably couldn’t rely on her for the magickal aspect of this fight. “If anyone gets close enough to the horse, slit their throat.”

Morgana looked horrified. “I can’t-!”

“In the name of Camelot, I order you to surrender!” one knight demanded, unsheathing his sword. The others followed suit.

“It’s them or us!” Morgause shouted, needing Morgana to realize the reality of the situation. She had never killed a man before either, but they had to do what was necessary. There was no way they could get past six of them without bloodshed. “Now do as I ask!”

Morgana’s hands were shaking, but she slipped her hand up her cloak and unsheathed the dagger Morgause had given her from its holster. Morgause turned towards their assailants, a dangerous look in her eye. She held out her hand, feeling the power course through her as she lifted the knight who dared tell them to surrender up off the ground in an invisible choke hold. His eyes bulged as he gasped for breath.

“If you wish to live, open the gates!” she shouted at them. Her threat didn’t work, but Morgause would have been foolish to expect that it would. The other knight shouted something at the guards and they began to barrel towards them, swords raised.

Morgause swore loudly, dropping the other knight from the hold she had. She couldn’t split her attention; she wasn’t yet skilled enough. The knight fell on the ground, unconscious from the lack of air he was permitted during Morgause’s spell. Morgana was trembling behind her as the guards approached and Morgause used all of the rage she had in her for anyone daring to frighten her sister in such a way. Her anger gave her strength and as she felt her eyes change and the magick burn hot in her veins she hissed, “Incaendefacio!”

One of the guards became engulfed in flames and he screamed, staggering backwards to hit another guard. The second one ignited and they shouted in fear as they desperately tried to put themselves out. The second one might have a chance, but the first one would be dead within moments; he was akin to a human torch. Morgause didn’t have a chance to see if her theory were true though; there were still two more guards and a knight heading towards them.

But just as she was about to call upon the earth to swallow them whole, one of the guards reached them. His sword left a deep abrasion in Morgause’s arm and she cried out, her attention being diverted from her spell. “No!” Morgana screamed as she erratically lashed out with her dagger, but she was too uncoordinated in her haste for it to meet flesh. Not that it mattered; her fear for her sister erupted inside of her and all three of the guards were blown backwards with such force that it seemed the ground itself seemed to shake at the impact they made. The guard that had cut Morgause flew into the remaining knight, being impaled on his sword as they both went down.

Morgana cried out at her unexpected power and held tight to Morgause, her breathing labored with fear. Morgause wished she had time to calm her but with all six of them down momentarily, she had to act. She tried to ignore the pain shooting down her arm as she dismounted the horse, running over to the gate’s mechanism. Morgana shouted for her, afraid of being left on her own. Morgause prayed her sister’s fear would protect her; there was nothing else she could do. One of them had to open it.

The lever that raised the gate was heavy; much too heavy for someone of Morgause’s strength. She tried to focus as she hissed, “Da mihi virtutem!” The spell wasn’t as powerful as she would have liked due to being wounded, but as she pulled on the lever it still did the job. But just as she turned to head back to Morgana, she saw one of the knights get up in her peripheral. As she turned, her heart leapt into her throat as she saw Arthur and three more of his knights coming towards them from the south. She reached out, shouting in Latin to disarm the knight closest to them. His sword was ripped from his grasp and Morgause was hoping it would come to her, but her injury was affecting her magick and instead it flew past her to be imbedded in a barrel of ale. The contents poured out around its blade.

Morgause knew she didn’t have time to go back for it so she ran towards Morgana, a spell falling from her lips as she threw her hand down towards the earth. When it hit the surface the ground began to rumble, knocking down the knight that was closest to them and scaring the horses Arthur and his other knights were astride. Morgause was lucky she had to enchant their horse beforehand. otherwise this plan would have backfired quite catastrophically. If Morgana had been bucked off, she could have been seriously injured. As it was, only Arthur had managed to stay astride his steed, but he was holding on to the reins tightly in a vain attempt to control it.

Morgana extended her hand once Morgause had reached her, helping her back onto the horse. Morgause cried out in pain as it was her injured arm that Morgana had taken, but before Morgana lost sight over what was important, Morgause shouted, “I’m fine, hold on!” She forcefully pulled one of her sister’s arms around her waist and Morgana followed suit of her own accord before Morgause brought their horse to a gallop, riding out of Camelot as fast as she could get the animal to go.

She breathed a sigh of relief as they entered the forests, as it provided them with much better cover. Morgause knew it wasn’t over though. Arthur and his knights would come after them as soon as they were able; it wasn’t in the Pendragon nature to give up and with Morgause injured and Morgana unable to control her magick, their chances of taking them on again and surviving were getting slimmer.

They needed a plan, and fast.

GO TO PART SEVEN