Like a Father (Morgana,Uther)

[kinguthersqueen]

Uther hadn't been willing to lose Morgana again. Not after so recently getting her back safe and being able to know that she was alive after three months of uncertainty. He didn't know how the incident had happened, but the injury had been grievous and she'd been certain to die, according to Gaius. It was not something Uther would accept willingly.

He knew that his order to use magic if necessary made him a hypocrite, and he didn't care. No one outside of he and Gaius would ever know, and he would not stand by and watch Morgana die. He would do whatever it took to save her, just as he would have when Arthur lay dying. He had been so depserate that he ahd opened up to Gaius about the truth, even though he had intended to carry that secret to his death.

It had not been something he'd wanted to happen, and he'd known that allowing Vivian to seek comfort with him was wrong, but he had been unable to stop what had happened. Gorlois never questioned whether or not she was his until she was ten years old. Uther had been pained at having to arrange his friend's demise, but he was too aware of the scandal that would arise if his secret were discovered.

And, much as he would like to have told Morgana the truth, he kept it from her for the same reason. Besides, he feared her, even though he would never admit it, and feared what she might do to Arthur. She was so much like him that it frightened him at times. He recalled telling her at Gorlois's grave what she had inherited from her father, and though she had thought he spoke of Gorlois, he really spoke of himself.

Uther did not know how, but Gaius had been able to help her, and she was alive and healing. He'd been anxious to talk with her and make sure she was okay. That was why he now came to her room, gently knocking and nudging the door open, looking in to see how she was doing now.

"I do not have words to express how frightened I was...I thought I would lose you, and I could not bear that, not after fearing I'd lost you before."he said.

[mysery]

Seething inside did not even begin to describe what Morgana was feeling. It was a torrent of emotions, ranging from anger and hatred, to confusion and betrayal. And there might even have been some hurt and sadness in there also. For once, not so long ago, Morgana would have rejoiced in the knowledge that someone so close to her, that she loved and trusted almost above all others and whom treated her like a beloved sister, was in fact her brother by blood. She would have thrown her arms around Arthur, in private of course because then she would have to admit to liking the Crown Prince, and smiled so brightly the sun would be shamed. Uther she would have been more reserved about, but nevertheless, she would have embraced him as that which he was.

Now however, she was a very different person, and the knowledge that Uther Pendragon was not merely her guardian, but her father through a heinous act of betrayal, made her see red. He blithely walked around, preaching to the people about justice and goodness in the world, all of which, according to him, magic was not, when his own past was far from laudible. He had betrayed one of his closest friends by laying with his wife, and then refused to own up when the production of such a betrayal had entered the world. It hurt even more to know he had taken her in as his ward, when he should have been welcoming her as his daughter. But that was Uther, she supposed. His reputation and image would have crumbled faster than his sanity and he would never allow that to happen.

Gaius had flittered around her all day, checking her for any signs of lasting damage, and all the while she had had to keep a straight face until he had finally left her. The face of someone oblivious to the darker sides of the world, and merely happy to be awake. It sickened her to have to pretend still when she wanted nothing more than to expose Uther for the liar and coward he was. When the mask dropped, she thought the room should consider itself lucky for not being set on fire in her wake.

Now, a gentle knock came at the door and she schooled her features once more. She needed to talk to Morgause before she did anyting. See if she was aware of this lie, though her heart told her she did not. Morgause had only ever been honest with her. She would have told Morgana had she known. A softly replied 'enter' opened the door to reveal none other than the source of her ire.

A carefully constructed look of surprise crossed her features before softening into a sad smile. "I fear I must beg your forgiveness my lord," Morgana began. "It seems my fate these days to make you worry and I apologise for causing you such fear. It was unconciously done." Tentativvely, because through her pretense, she was still injured and it hurt to move too drastically, the dark haired young woman sat up in her bed, arranging herself so she was at less of a disadvantage when speaking.

[kinguthersqueen]

Uther still did not know how it had happened. He had a suspicion that Gaius had used magic, and he had sworn the physician to silence as a precaution-his enemies could not know that he had essentially broken his own law like that. He would be seen as a hypocrite and attacked for it relentlessly. But Uther didn't care; there were times when laws had to be broken, when it meant the life of someone who meant so much to him. He couldn't save Ygraine, and he wasn't going to lose Arthur or Morgana, either one.

She looked much better for what she'd been through-less pale and her eye were more clear now. She still had bruises and probably a hurting head, but there was nothing now that looked terribly serious. SHe would have to rest for a time, and take things slowly, but he was beginning to relax.

"It is not of your doing. You did not set out to harm yourself and cause me worry. I am only very relieved that you are all right. I am quite curious, though...what caused you to fall down the stairs? You are usually quite nimble,...if there is something in need of repair, something that made you lose your balance, it must be tended to immediately."He did not think it could be an intruder; the guards would have caught anyone trying to enter the castle who did not belong there or have buisness. He suspected something might have been damaged and caused her to lose her balance. If so, it needed to be repaired quickly.

[mysery]

Morgana kept the soft smile on her face, though she wanted almost nothing more than to rant and rage at Uther..... at her father for being a callous bastard who cared more for his reputation than he did for her.

So, it had taken her being on her deathbed for the High and Mighty King to admit his betrayal... Oh how she would relish the day when he discovered how it felt to be so betrayed by someone you loved. Hopefully that would be right before she drove the knife in.

Refocusing on Uther, who had finished speaking, she shook her head. "It was nothing, really. I had other things on my mind and was distracted. Clumsy me missed my footing," she said, shrugging her shoulders slightly but winced a little as that aggrivated her head a bit. She raised a hand and touched it tenderly. "I want to thank Gaius," she commented. "Im sure my head would hurt a lot more if he hadnt been there to help me," she added with a chuckle.

"There's no need to go changing the castle my lord. Just remind me not to be distracted when walking," Morgana added finally, reaching out and touching Uther's hand with her own. She wanted to slap him, but that wouldnt be how a respectful ward would behave, so she held off.

[kinguthersqueen]

Uther knew how that could happen, though he was still going to order things checked over. He couldn't take any chances of either Morgana or anyone else falling and getting hurt if something was in a position to cause a problem for a careless person. It was often hard not to be rushing someplace in the castle, and one couldn't be too careful.

"I hope everything is all right. And that you will not be afraid if you wish to talk."Uther said. He couldn't know, of course, that she could decidedly not tell him her problem.

"I will ensure that he knows of your gratitude. You were indeed most fortunate to have access to his expertise. And if he were unable to help, I would have searched until I found someone who could. And although I will do as you ask, I will still have the stairs checked.

"You are certain that you are feeling all right? I should let you rest, if you are."

[mysery]

Silently grateful that he didnt push the issue of how her accident had occurred, Morgana breathed a small sigh of relief. If he had pushed, he may have inquired as to what she was doing, and, while she had faith in her ability to lie to him, it was easier just to not get into the stubject altogether in her mind. Not to mention she hadnt been as clumsy as she portrayed. That door closing and torch falling were normal enough, but a feeling told her something else was going on. For now however that was forgotten as she had to deal with this new revelation regarding her heritage.

She had always known Uther's reputation meant alot to him, but to take it this far was a new level of low, even for him. Morgana wanted him dead for his betrayal. Simple as that. She didnt know what her sister would have to say, but her mind was made up.

"If there is one person I know I can always talk to, it is you my lord," Morgana replied evenly. And was that the hardest lie of all to tell? Nope. It was incredible how anger and frustration made one better at deception. And Morgana didnt miss the hipocricy of his latter statements. He would have gone to magic to save her. Bastard.

"I do need my rest, but thank you for coming to see me," Morgana said finally, a smile on her face. "If you see Arthur, and he isnt too busy, would you mind asking him to come and visit me?" she added.

[kinguthersqueen]

Uther listened, though he would be surprised if he knew the full truth, the fact that she could never talk to him. He hoped that she would confide any worries in him, but he had no way of knowing how angry her worries would make him if he knew about them. He made ready to take his leave, not wanting to overtax her or prevent her getting her rest.

"I hope that is true. I loathe seeing you ill at ease; if anything troubles you, I want to correct it quickly."he said, and moved toward the door.."I will go now; I do not want to keep you from your rest, no. And I will certainly tell Arthur that you wish to see him. Good bye, and rest well."

[mysery]

Morgana folded her hands in her lap and nodded though she remained silent for the most part. She just wanted him gone from her sight right now. She wanted to rant and throw things, something she couldn’t do while she was engaged in conversation with anyone, and every moment he remained was another she had to deny herself the privilege of shocking him with her real thoughts and actions.

“Thank you my lord,” she said softly, looking down at her hands as she nodded as he said goodbye. She had to see Morgause and soon. The need to speak her true feelings was burning inside her, though one would never know from her exterior. What kind of deceiver would she be if her feelings were there to be read like a book on the surface?

Morgause would know where to go from here, though Morgana wanted Uther dead regardless. Now it was more than just his hatred for magic. It was his blatant disregard for her when it came to the truth. He was a liar, a fraud and he deserved to die for his deceptions. What would Arthur have said, if she revealed to him the depth of his fathers lies? Would he welcome her with open arms, embrace her as his beloved sister and spite Uther? Or would his want of love from daddy overrule their blood relation to one another? One Pendragon had already turned their back on her for the sake of reputation.

Nothing would surprise her anymore...