wicked workings

[morgy]

It had been a few months since she'd rescued her sister from Camelot, having realized too late that she had been wrong about leaving her there. She'd thought Morgana would be safe, as long as her magic was kept secret, she'd thought it would be better for her to remain with those she considered her friends. And she wouldn't deny that it had also been because it was useful having her sister so close to her enemies, but had she known how quickly her so-called friends would turn on her, she would have insisted Morgana leave with her sooner.

She would do whatever it took to end Uther's life...anything except sacrifice Morgana. Even she hadn't known which way that choice would go until it was upon her, but apparently, her affection for her sister outweighed her hatred for Uther. She wasn't sure whether that was good or not, but at least now she knew her limits. She would not risk putting Morgana's life in such danger again, which was why she had no intention of sending her back to her father until she was confident enough in her abilities that if something should go wrong, she'd be able to look after herself. No matter what the consequences were in the meantime.

She knew about the massacres and bloodshed going on thanks to Uther's desperate hunt for his ward, although she'd been careful to keep her sister well out of harm's way. It was regrettable, of course, but if it couldn't be helped, Morgause would not weep for the lives lost. Once Morgana was ready, she could help them all so much, it would be worth the loss of life.

She was walking outside their camp when one of the Blood Guards appeared, silently as ever, to announce the arrival of a visitor. A druid, but not one of the peaceful folk you would usually expect. She nodded, letting the guard follow her back to camp to meet with their unexpected guest.

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tag; [color=Alistair

[Alistair]

Alistair stood where he was; staring at the blood guard that was staring at him. It was a silent exchange of warnings from Druid to Guard. They had many things in common; magic and fighting skills among them; but there was a defined difference between them that he'd not thought about until the last months. Until the princess. These men would fighting and die for a woman; and before he'd thought them fools. Now he thought them idiotic fools. They were so willing to die for a woman who cared not for them. Understanding the difference now; only made him pity them rather then fear them. Expendable.

Turning at the sounds of movement he took in the first sight of the witch. She wasn't what eh expected from a warrior woman; softer and more feminine looking but older as well. He knew without having to ask that she'd been alive in the purge. That she knew damn well if they did not return the ward; then they'd be looking at round two. Yet here she was as if none of it mattered.

He said nothing until she approached and then he spoke a Druid greeting followed by the words in the English language rather then the ones Druids used; he cared not if she knew the greeting for it would be easy to tell what he meant. "Sastimos, I am Alistair;" He told her; unable to claim any clan or group; for be belonged no where. His family and that village long since dead; and there was no use claiming that name. "I have come seeking a word with you."

[morgy]

Morguase approached the newcomer with her back straight and her chin held high, no trace of hesitation in her movements. She was wearing a blood red dress rather than her armor, as she had no intention of charging into battle any time soon, and she was reasonably certain their camp wouldn't be found. Even if it was...she could deal with a few knights without the need to pick up a sword. A few uttered words and a wave of her hand, and the fools would be dead. Not that the blood guards would ever let them get close enough to threaten her.

"Alistair the Druid, yes, I have heard of you." The man who had kidnapped Uther...and for some reason unfathomable to her, had let him go. Such a perfect opportunity to end the tyrant's life, wasted, and for what? Perhaps she'd have the chance to find out. "I am Morgause, High Priestess of the Triple Goddess." Since he came to speak to her, she expected he should know who she was, but she would not let their be any question about it.

"Speak your words, then." He was a man of magic, a druid willing to stand up and fight rather than hide in caves and cower from the knights who hunted them, and that had earned her respect. She only hoped his words would not cause her to lose that respect. She would hear him out, either way, and see what it was he had sought her out for. She didn't imagine it had been an easy task, so whatever he wanted to say must be important.

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[Alistair]

It had not been easy to find this place; but he had something working for him that others did not. Years and years of living in the woods; and hunting and tracking. He had his gift of foresight that could aid him as well. Between the two; and how the druids seemed to be able to deliver messages to each other he had been able to narrow down and seek out the camp of the witch and ward.

Not easy; but not imposable. "People are dying." He told her; knowing she damn well knew. "Because you have the ward the bastard of a king loves so much. Mothers. Children. Give her back; before this goes further." He didn't expect her to suddenly change her mind and agree; but he was not going to stall and pretend he was here for another reason. He knew that this would either end with a fight--one he doubted he would win--or with her the ward leaving with him. He ha to at least try to get her back so the king would withdrawal his men.

[morgy]

At least he got to the point quickly enough. Morgause was unmoved by his plea, however, and her expression remained impassive at the idea of so many deaths. Yes, she knew that people were dying, but she wasn't about to let Morgana return to a place where she would not be safe. And it was not just her sentimentality towards her sister that led her to this choice. Once she was fully trained, she would be an asset to ending Uther's reign, rather than a liability that could be used against her.

"I will not." Her response was brief, and left no room for negotiation. She had hoped that this Alistair could be an ally, that he might be able to bring the Druids into the fight, but if he would not budge, she wouldn't hesitate to end him. "She is not here against her will; if she wished to leave, she could. But you will not remove her against her will." She stated simply, again keeping her face impassive and her tone clear. Morgause didn't want to reveal the truth about Morgana, that she possessed magic, to a stranger, regardless of his reputation. She had plans for her sister, and if he proved to be untrustworthy, he could derail all that, and put Morgana at risk.

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[Alistair]

Not against her will? The Pendragon ward wanted to be here? Somehow he doubted her words; and yet she was hard to read. Most people's faces gave away things. A tilt here; an eye brow raised; or even how they looked at you. Things people didn't think to hide. He didn't trust the witch; but he didn't think she'd lie when he could do easily find out the truth.

"I care not of the whims of some child." He told her; his own face never anything but impassive and blank. He'd learned years ago to hide any emotion he might feel. The only one that made it to the surface at times was anger; something he had trouble hiding. "People are dying. Let her play her games on someone's life."

Alistair hated talking; hated the uncertain feeling he often had when he needed stronger words. Yet there was one topic that always loosen his tongue. Families dying; his people; and his hate of anything Pendragon. "You look of age to know what happen the last time the Pendragon king decided to rid the world of magic. He's on the edge of doing it again and she'd the key to stopping it."

[morgy]

"I wish there were a way to avoid such bloodshed," she did not relish the thought of all the innocent lives that would be lost because of Uther's tenacity, but she knew that in the end, this would prove to save even more lives. She had known that Uther's temper would cause him to react rashly to Morgana's disappearance, but she never would have predicted this. Not that she would have predicted his wrath the first time, either. It was a regrettable loss of life, but even if she had known this would be the outcome, she still would have taken Morgana from Camelot. She would have died otherwise, and she doubted very much that Uther's reaction to that would be any less violent.

"I have my reasons for keeping her safe," she explained, perhaps one day, once she and Morgana had made the land safe again for their kind, he would understand why this was necessary. "And no reason to trust you enough to reveal them. Even if you are who you claim." He had appeared at her camp to question her motives, but she had no reason to believe that he was the druid he claimed to be, let alone that he was truly on their side. His kidnappings had been for ransom as much as to hurt the crown, and she didn't know that the coin wasn't the more valuable part to him. For all she knew, a few coins and he would reveal their plans to anyone willing to pay.

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[Alistair]

Alistair didn't care if she believed him; and didn't care if she did. He was not here to make friends; and join her little group of mindless minions who didn't do anything but follow orders. He swore to himself then that he was never going to become such an mindless idiot who's only goal in live was to protect the woman who did nothing but told them what to do. She could call him a lair; and pretend he was anyone she wanted him to be. It would not change the message he brought; the demand he was making.

"The loss of so many lives is not worth whatever game you two seek to play. Families are dying. Mothers clutching their children; sons who are too young to pick up a blade. Fathers who have done nothing wrong but protect their families!" He was thinking of his own; and the anger in his tone apparent. "If you seek to harm the king then just kill him; this game you are playing with others lives will stop." Or he'd take whatever actions he needed to stop her. It would not be hard. The world of magic was filled with powerful people; and some people were stronger then others. While she was strong; the druids had stories of others stronger. Surely one of these idiots could be tracked down. If not; then he would see just how strong the blood guard was.

[morgy]

He spoke the truth; people were dying. Morgause was not insensitive to his plea, but as she knew too well, sacrifices had to be made for the greater good. "You speak the truth, but you place your blame on the wrong party." She did not wish for this bloodshed, no matter what he may think of her. She sought to end all this, once and for all! "It is Uther who is responsible for their deaths, as it has always been. You know this." All people of magic knew it.

"If I do return the ward, what then? We cower in fear until the next time the mad king loses his temper and decides to take it out on the innocent? I seek to end his reign, once and for all." Because it was inevitable. Returning Morgana would only prove a salve on Uther's irrational fear and anger towards magic, and the next time something got under his skin, it could be worse. Maybe he would even succeed in wiping them all out. "I regret the loss of life...but if what I plan succeeds, it will be the last time we ever need fear Uther Pendragon. Mothers and their children will need not live in hiding. Our children may finally know peace."

She frowned when he suggested she ought to simply kill Uther. "Do you think I have not tried? It would surely be simpler, to end merely his own life, but there are those who would protect him." Someone had been thwarting all her plans; she simply had yet to figure out who was behind it all. "And now Morgana tells me that his son is likely to follow in his father's footsteps. I cannot take the risk of another mad Pendragon on the throne of Camelot."

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[Alistair]

Alistair heard the witch talking; and making her points; but all he heard were her willing to sacrifice the innocent to further her cause. She might have a good plan; hell it might be the perfect plan; but he wasn't letting his mother's people take the hit and pay the cost so she could reap the benefits! At least he did his own dirty work; and when he involved innocents he damn well made sure they were not harmed nor killed!

"You're a coward; woman." She told her in a heated and thick tone. Let her grow angry and use her magic to silence him. He cared not in this moment. She was hiding behind the skirts of innocents while she plotted with the spoiled little princess; in the mist of her bodyguards! "You would let innocent farmers and peaceful people take the brute force in the wake of your plan because it inconvenienced you to to send the ward back to servants and castle?" He hated talking; and he was growing tired of the effort. She was killing people; and no better then the king she hated.

[morgy]

She bristled at his words, her eyes narrowing. She was a coward because she made a plan that would save lives in the future? Better to let people keep dying forever, because it was better if children had a chance to grow up before they were mercilessly slaughtered? Her plan would work. "And you are a fool." She wished that it did not have to be the innocent who made those sacrifices, but for now, that was the way it had to be.

"You abhor the idea of sacrificing a few for the sake of the many, and yet you would have me turn an innocent woman over to those who would do her harm?" Morgause no longer believed that Morgana was safe in Camelot, which was why she was keeping her here. It was also a good chance to teach her how to fight, because even if she was her sister, they all had to do their part to end Uther's tyranny. "I will not risk destroying the best chance we've had to end this war because you have not the stomach for it. Morgana will return to Camelot when she is ready, and I will not endanger her life any sooner than that." She would be the salvation of them all.

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[Alistair]

Oh bloody hell! Alistair sent a quick thought up to the stars and asked them to save him from stupid women and their plans! While the girl before him might be smart enough to play the game; she was making herself to be worse then the foe she would seek to destroy! The ends didn't justify the means; and she was laughing at the blood on her hands!

"They do not seek to harm their ward; but to bring her back to their home. One I might add; she lived in for years before you decided to 'save' her from the life of luxury." The king loved his pretty little ward; and everyone knew it. It was why Alistair almost targeted her for his escapades; not even almost Vaughn had been supposed to bring the girl; but got her maid by mistake!

[morgy]

Morgause was growing tired of this circular conversation. She had no need to explain herself to this man, and if he thought he was competent enough to defeat her and all her guards, then he truly was a fool and would soon see the error of his ways. "Do not speak of that which you know not." She replied sharply when he said she had taken Morgana from a life of luxury. How little he knew seemed to contrast with how much he spoke. "They tried to kill her once already. I'll not give them a second chance...not until she is able to defend herself."

She still was not ready to tell him why the ward was so important, nor divulge Morgana's secret powers. Morgause still had no reason to trust him, and especially here, where she had the upper hand, she did not need to trust him. "As I said, I do not wish to make an enemy of you, but if you would think to continue your string of kidnappings now, I advise you against it. Your death would not help your people's cause anymore than it would mine." Morguase wouldn't hesitate to kill him, or anyone else who threatened her sister's wellbeing, or her own. The warning was given for his benefit; if he tried anything, he would not leave this camp alive.

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[Alistair]

Kill her? "Explain." He told her; not asking. Not caring enough for the manners that this might call for to ask her for anything. He would tell her and made demands; for he was not going to look like her mindless body guards. The Pendragons were known to be only loyal to themselves; why would they kill their own? It made no sense; and he half expected her to not be able to explain it. Did the ward lie to escape her guardian in a pampered excuse to get attention? If so he just might kill her his own damn self.

"Do not mistake my coming here as a death wish." Alistair corrected her; knowing that wasn't what she was implying but he had not come with out knowing that this was dangerous. "I am not the only one who knows you have her; nor the only one who knows where you are." Should he die; he was rather hoping Vaughn would sell the information to Camelot in order to end the war on the druids. If he wasn't inclined; the Druids knew where she was; they were too peaceful to charge in here at a battle cry though.

[morgy]

Morgause rose a skeptical brow at his demand; did he really just expect her to simply tell him everything he wished to know, because he asked it? He certainly was a arrogant one. "I've no need to defend my actions to you." She stated simply, Morgause was not a woman who was easily coerced into anything, and she certainly wasn't going to endanger her plans for one cocky man to rest better at night.

She frowned, eyes narrowing, when he went on to threaten her. She fought the urge to simply end him then and there. Not out of fear of whoever else he had told about their location, she was sure they could be dealt with just as easily as he would be, but because she did not wish to kill someone who could be an ally. Especially when it could result in losing support from those who were still neutral, such as the druids. She doubted they'd be pleased to hear one of their own had been slaughtered by somene who was supposed to be on their side.

But it seemed they were quickly coming to the point where neither of them would budge. He would not leave without an explanation Morgause was not willing to give, not to someone unproven. So she'd just have to test him. "I cannot trust you with the information you desire. If you prove yourself to be a friend, then I will tell you anything you wish to know." She offered; if he wasn't willing to prove he could be trusted, then she could not answer his questions. Simple.

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