When You Love Someone

[Arthur Pendragon]

The past few days had been chaotic, stressful and . . . filled with fear and uncertainty. After the entire plot -- failed plot -- by Cenred and apparently Morgause . . . Arthur was not sure what to think or feel. He still had so many questions about everything. How had they known about his feelings for Guinevère? How had they known about the tunnels? The biggest shock of all however, was the alliance between Cenred and Morgause. The woman was not one that Arthur ever forgot. After what she did, the cruel way she created a false illusion of his mother . . . Arthur considered her a mortal enemy. Though at the same time, knew of her power and knew she would not be a formidable foe. But to see her there, standing alongside the man who's kingdom they were at war with, caused Arthur great concern. They were not only fighting a ruthless king now; they were fighting powerful sorcery. Magic was something they fought against almost every day, but it was different this time. It explained a bit, as to during one of the attacks the skeletons had invaded from within. Arthur knew Cenred held no magic, and now he realized how the man managed to have such power on his side.

But that was not something he could do anything about for the moment. Right now, all that mattered was that Guinevère, Morgana, Elyan, even Merlin were safe. That they had all returned from The Castle of Fyrien in tact. Well, with the exception of the trauma and Morgana's injury to her foot. They were alive, and that was what mattered. According to Guinevère, even Elyan seemed to be settling in rather well. He was continuing his father's work, which was always a good thing. And most importantly, Guinevère now had family around her. He was glad for that. That she would not have to be alone in her house; that her long lost brother was re-found and brought home to Camelot. Arthur knew that he was the reason that Elyan -- and all of them actually -- had been in danger. He never would have forgiven himself if something happened to any of them. He felt bad enough for the emotional turmoil they all had to undergo. And Morgana's injury which he hoped was healing well. Speaking of which, he recalled why he had made sure all his work was done and he would not be needed for some time.

So that he could check on the two women he loved. He made his way over to Morgana's chambers, hoping Guinevère would be there too so that he could see how they were both doing. He wondered if Morgana knew now. About the two of them. She had not really asked specific questions nor expressed surprise when Arthur said he was going to help Elyan. Plus, she had seen them nearly kiss . . . and he knew Morgana was no fool. Perhaps it was obvious to her now. For she knew both him and Guinevère extremely well, as individuals at least. And now, she may know them as something more. It was still not a topic that Arthur had discussed with her, for she had not been too inquiring into it. But he knew that if there was one person he trusted with such a strong secret, it was Morgana. His sister of heart. Merlin was the first to have found out, and if Morgana knew then he knew she would guard the secret with her life . . . that she would never tell his father. For it was something that would put them all at such great risk. With these confident thoughts, he arrived at her chamber door, knocking on it a couple of times, before he went ahead to open it and stepped inside, already closing the door behind him.

_{Setting: Morgana's chambers
Time of Day: Afternoon
Timeline: A day after The Castle of Fyrien when they have all returned to the kingdom of Camelot
Tag: Guinevère and Lady Morgana
Notes: I need to make a layout for this thread!}

[Guinevère]

Guinevère tended to talk to fill the silences. For some reason lately she didn't feel as free to talk around Morgana and it hurt. Morgana was her best friend and after being held hostage for a year, she seemed slightly different. Which only made Guinevère more determined to cheer her up at very turn! Today it was flowers again!

One of every color and type. The where on the table in the vase, and by Morgana's bed and on her vanity. Everywhere. Little bunches of happiness just to fill the room. She was forcing herself to talk to Morgana about things that she hoped would make her smile. "-then he actually fell off the horse!" she was saying, telling her injured friend about a arrogant young knight who had tried to show up some of the older more trained knights. "After all his talking of the tricks he knew, he could not even stay on. I really felt bad for him in a way, but I hope he learned not to be so rash. It would be a shame to see him injure himself or someone e--"

About then the knock came on the door, and Guinevère looked up from where she as arranging the flowers. And Arthur Pendragon himself walked into the room! Guinevère's words came to a stop, and a smile took over her face, but she looked down at her work. Every time she saw him her heart skipped another beat. Arthur! Arthur! She looked at Morgana, hoping she would not dismiss her, but let her stay in the room with him. She knew that Morgana knew how she felt about Arthur, for with his almost wedding Morgana had all but said it out loud.

[ladymorgana]

Those damn flowers, Morgana thought to herself as she eyed the mult-coloured irritants that now bedecked every spare inch of her chamber. She wanted to pluck them from their vases, and trample them under foot, one by one. She averted her gaze, letting it drop to the scented rushes that matted the chamber floor. A much more soothing, earthy colour to settle her tumultuous thoughts.

Everything had been so well planned, or so she had thought. They'd had Arthur right where they wanted him. How on earth did Cenred manage to cock this one up? Morgana heaved a sigh and reclined in her seat. He leg slid further down the footrest as she did so. She was meant to be injured, after all.

Forming a distant humming at the back of her mind, was Guineveré's voice. Morgana picked up disjointed words. Knigh. Horse. Knight falling off horse. She let out a cackle of mirthless laughter at the bit she assumed was meant to be amusing.

"That's men for you, Gwen," Morgana remarked. "They can talk the talk until the cows come home-" Her thoughts immediately drifted over to Cenred "-But they can't walk the walk."

Morgause was still insisting that the man had his uses, and Morgana trusted her sister implicitly. But, on the point of Cenred, Morgana was beginning to have her doubts. Before she could think on it too much, a knock came at her Chamber door, swiftly followed by the appearance of Prince Arthur.

If Morgana was at all relieved to see him, it was only because he would break the monotony of Gwen's babble. Otherwise, she was embittered all over again. However, she wore the expression on her face like a mask. A veil to conceal her true thoughts and emotions.

"Arthur," She greeted him with a smile. "How kind of you to come and see us! Isn't that so, Gwen?"

[Arthur Pendragon]

Upon entering Arthur immediately noticed Guinevère by the flowers, arranging them as she always did. It always made him smile, seeing how she wished to brighten up the room with her flower arrangements. His eyes then noticed Morgana, with her injured foot slightly elevated. He hated seeing her so wounded, but reminded himself that it could have been worse. Far worse. He knew of Cenred's reputation and tactics he used to extract information from others. The fact that he had gotten nothing from Morgana, showed what a true strong and courageous woman she was. Not that he ever doubted her. Stepping a bit more into the room, he commenced with a proper greeting. But one that didn't require formality. For he was in a room with the two woman he loved above all others. "Morgana," he said with a bit of a smile, his eyes having moved from her foot to her eyes so that it did not seem like he was mindlessly staring. His gaze then went to his beautiful Guinevère.

"Guinevère," he greeted, knowing that his eyes lingered on her a bit longer . . . probably longer than they should have. But for some reason, whenever in her presence, he often felt flustered and . . . how had Merlin described it once? Like a little lost puppy. As he stepped closer he pulled up a chair from one of the tables and situated it in front of Morgana, and thus Guinevère as well. So that he could look at them whilst talking. "I came to see how you were doing," he said, looking at Morgana first as she was the one who was physically injured. But he also knew the emotional trauma must be great. "How both of you were doing," he added, his line of sight altering between Morgana and now Guinevère. Wanting them to know that his concern was for them both. Not solely for the one. How lucky he had been to have them both in the same room now, without another present so that he did not have to raise his guard.

[ladymorgana]

Morgana realised that she had fixed Arthur with a hard look, trying to figure out if he was here for her, or for Gwen; then quickly replaced it with a smile. Of course he was here for Gwen, above all things, and she, Morgana, was merely the added bonus. If that. She didn't know why she found this so upsetting, as she knew full well she would plunge a knife in his back at the first given opportunity.

She turned her beaming countenance onto Gwen. "Well, isn't this a treat, Guineveré?" She asked, and reached out to give the Maid's arm a reassuring squeeze. Really, she wanted to draw Gwen into the conversation, merely to take the pressure from off herself. She wanted to loathe these people in peace quiet, without masking it twenty four-seven.

"Wasn't Arthur brave, coming to rescue you, Gwen?" Morgana asked, enjoying the sensation of making the Maid feel discomfitted. "I think I'd be head over heels in love with any man who did that for me." She sighed deeply.

Any fool could see what was developing between these two. You didn't need "the sight" or any other magic. It was written on their foolish, lovestruck, faces. It caused the tremour in their hands whenever they were near each other. It was behind the sidelong, furtive glances that they exchanged, when they thought that no one was looking. Grief, even Uther must have noticed something odd by now!