Home Sweet Home

[Arthur Pendragon]

Six months. It had been six months of non stop searching. Of constant groups being sent out to look for her. Of . . . destruction. His father had been on a rampage against all druids and any pracitioners of magic -- more of a rampage than usual. And it was so that they could find his ward. Morgana. Ever since her kidnapping, everything had been tense in the kingdom. The castle felt emptier than usual and . . . Arthur had missed her terribly. Granted, he found it was no excuse of the persecution against the people, but they needed to find her. And after six long and grueling months . . . they finally had. By a search party that was not his own. He had sent a team to one end while he had led the other. Arthur had not spent much time in the city since her disappearance. Sleep would come with great difficulty -- and after what few moments he could get, he set out against to find her.

Regardless of the hour. But a messenger a come to him and informed him that she had been found. Hearing this news immediately uplifted his spirit and he raced back toward the city to see her, filled with eagerness to see if she was well and . . . to see that she had come home. Without stopping once on his return, Arthur rushed into the courtyard and quickly dismounted. One of the knights was already there updating him on the situation. But even before he had the chance to speak, Arthur questioned him. "How is she?" He asked worriedly and yet, his tone was filled with relief. "Better than to be expected." Arthur wasn't sure what he had been expecting. The druid people were not exactly known for their cruelty . . . they were a peaceful people. But also very secretive. Which was why it had been so difficult to find her.

"The druid camp?" Arthur asked as he walked up the stairs. "Destroyed. Everyone killed . . . as ordered by the king." Arthur didn't have the time to lament in the loss. For all he could think of was that she was home! Home and safe! Without words, he dismissed the knight and went straight into her chambers. He didn't bother changing out of his armor or going to freshen up. He just needed to see her, right away. Every moment she was gone he had been in fear. Now to have her home, everyone could relax once again. For she was safe and sound! Arthur knocked on the door before just granting himself entrance, unable to restrain his relief. "Morgana?" He asked, walking into her room. A room that had been vacant for far too long. Now reoccupied by its true owner.

_{Setting: Morgana's chambers
Time of Day: Evening
Timeline: Well after The Nightmare Begins
What If: Morgana had been with the druid for six months rather than only a few days
Tag: Morgana}

[mpend]

The Lady's heart was filled with sorrow and bitterness as she sat upon the windowsill, looking out into the courtyard. Her mind was filled with the screams of the people she had grown to call her own as they had been slaughtered by the King of Camelot. Though she desperately tried to rid herself of these memories, Morgana le Fay knew that she would never be able to. She had been forced back here, into this hell, this place where she would be surpressed and warped into becoming something she was not, and all for the pleasure of a Prince and a King. If they had really cared for her, they would have let her be.

But Morgana would not allow tears to fall. Not for her capture, not for the druid people. For it was from them that she had learned that in death came peace - and she could only pray that they were now peaceful. They would join their ancestors, and be happy in a world that knew little fear. Still, she could not help but lament them, and her heart grew cold toward the Pendragon family, blaming them entirely for the death of those she'd come to love and respect.

The knock upon her door pulled the brunette from her thoughts, and though she did not move, nor indicate admittance, the door creaked open, and Arthur's voice sounded, his name upon her lips in a tumble of relief. Morgana did not look at him, but simply continued to stare out of the window, wondering what now would happen to her. As the person she had come to once know as a brother called her name, Morgana's eyes turned to face the Prince, managing a slight smile upon her lips. "It is good to see you again, Arthur," she stated honestly. "But I wish by all the Gods that your men had not found me thus."

[Arthur Pendragon]

As Arthur walked closer to her, he noticed that there was something . . . drastically different about her. About her entire demeanor in fact. He didn't know what it was, but the most logical guess he could make was that it had been the traumatic experience of getting kidnapped and having been missing for so long, that caused her to be so . . . withdrawn. Was that the right word for it? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that she was alive and he would help her through whatever emotional trauma she was now dealing with. Her words however caused him to pause thoughts along these lines as curiosity built up in him. "It is good to see you again, Arthur." Mere words could not express how good it was to see her too. Her words sounded sincere, but her next ones were what had caused him pause and created confusion in his mind. "But I wish by all the Gods that your men had not found me thus." She had been kidnapped.

She had been taken from the very walls of the castle. What had they done to her? Now standing close to her, Arthur gently placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort. "I am glad they did find you Morgana," he said in soft voice, not bothering to mask the relief and happiness he felt in having her here again. "You were missing for six months." Six torturous months, not knowing where she was; not knowing if she was alive or dead; fearing any harm that could come to her. Physically, she looked alright. Emotionally and mentally . . . well, that was another story. That was something he would only be able to tell in time. And so far, her words and demeanor were giving him reason enough to worry. She was a strong woman though, and he knew that they would get through this. "It was time for you to come home," he added.

Making it sound so casual, when he knew it was anything but. Arthur then did something slightly uncharacteristic of him, for he was not the hugging kind of person. But . . . he just missed her so much. He had been so worried for her. So without thinking twice, he wrapped his arms around her and gently pulled her into a hug. With his armor on, he knew that it may not be most comfortable for her so ensured not to press her too tightly against the metal he wore. But he still had his arms around her, just hugging her, and closing his eyes in relief. "I've missed you," he added, not often saying these words to her for there had been no need in the past really. But now, there was every need. For he wanted her to know how much he missed having her here, and how happy he was that she was with them once more.

[mpend]

The brunette almost flinched away from Arthur's touch, but forced her body against doing so, grateful that she hadn't when he spoke, saying that he was glad she had been 'found', and stating how long she had been missing. The ward sighed, biting her lip. Was it worth correcting him? was it worth telling him the truth - that she had wanted to go? That she had made her way there, rather than be kidnapped? She suspected it would not matter. Arthur was many things Uther was not, but the one tendancy both Pendragons had was to distort the truth for their own minds. Morgana managed a slight smile as he said it was time for her to come home, though the smile dropped quickly. "Home," she mused, not realising the word had been spoken aloud. "what is home?"

Her mind was adrift, and therefore the young woman was a little startled when she suddenly felt herself being enveloped in the arms of the man she had once seen as a brother. Who, she realised now, as she buried into his protective embrace, she had deeply missed, and still saw as a brother. She rested her head gently against his shoulder in a moment of rare tenderness, sighing quietly. Here, at last, was something familiar and welcomed in Camelot. With Arthur ... could she be herself? She hoped so, and she would pray so. "I have missed you more than you will ever know," murmured Morgana, for the words were the truth.

Despite all she had learned, and all she had accomplished with the druids, she had missed her brother of heart. Missed having someone to laugh and joke with, to tease and to be teased by. The druids were wonderful people, but so serious and so .... peaceful. Sometimes Morgana had longed for the madness that Arthur sometimes drew out of her, she longed for the days when they would bet against each other, or simply take horses and ride as far away from Camelot as they could before dark, simply for the joy of it. "How have you been?" she asked softly.

[Arthur Pendragon]

"Home, what is home?" Arthur would have thought the question was an odd one had he not been leaning more and more toward the possibility that she was dealing with the trauma of her abduction. "It is where you are now; where you are safe." Because he wasn't going to let anything else happen to her. He would a far better job of protecting her. The druids had used magic to break into the castle and steal her right from under their noses. He would not let that happen again. He would make sure there were guards stationed outside her door. Make sure that she was well protected, escorted wherever she went. "I have missed you more than you will ever know." In their embrace, Arthur closed his eyes, just absorbing her words. While the pair were not always so sentimental with each other, certain circumstances called for it. And this, was one of them. He was not going to make any attempt to mask his relief or how he had feared for her.

She could tease him later for it if she wished, but right now . . . he just wanted her to know how glad he was for her to be with him once more. "How have you been?" Arthur slowly pulled away, though only enough to look at her face and keep his arms casually around her. "You should not worry about how I have been. I should be asking you if you are alright." If she wanted to talk about her traumatic experience, he was here to listen. If she wanted to push it aside for now, he could help her do that. Whatever she needed, he would be here to provide for her. So to make sure that she knew he was prepared for either option, he went on. "But to answer your question, I have not been well. For we have missed you far too much." We, meaning him, his father, Guinevère, the kingdom. "We feared for you. Every second of every day." For the past six months. Him especially.

[mpend]

Morgana sighed softly as the Prince answered her, wanting so much to state that she had been safe before, before they had found her, before they had murdered the people she had come to think of as her own. But loyalty and love toward Arthur himself stopped her. It was not Arthur's fault. It was Uther's. It was not Arthur who was responsible for her unhappiness, but Uther. She took the moment the Prince offered her though as they held onto one another, reassuring herself in her thoughts that the younger Pendragon was not his father, he would not hate her like Uther would, once he found out the truth.

"Of course I am worried about how you have been," she argued softly. "For you are my brother in all but blood, and always will be," the brunette sighed quietly as he went on to explain how he had missed her, pulling back to meet her eyes as he spoke. "You need not have feared so for me," she stated. "The druids are quiet people, respectful and kind. They would have never done me harm, Arthur."

Snuggling back into the blonde's arms, quite uncharacteristically, the brunette swallowed. "There is much to tell you, Arthur, if you would listen," she admitted. "Much you should know. But firstly, I must have your solomn word that none of my words will be repeated to the King, for I fear he would hate me forever more," pulling back, Morgana met the eyes she knew so well, staring seriously into Arthur's face as she spoke. "You must promise me, Arthur. I trust you more than anyone in Camelot, perhaps almost more than anyone in the world, and I know there is goodness in your heart, for it is what drives you."

[Arthur Pendragon]

He was not surprised to hear her state her worry for him . . . though he knew that she had been the victim in all this. And it was her that everyone was concerned for. Or had been. Before she was brought home. When she pulled back, he looked into her worn eyes. She spoke of how she needn't fear for her and how the druids had been respectful and kind. How could they be when they kidnapped her? Abducted her from the very walls of the castle. That was not quiet, nor respectful, nor kind. But something in Arthur prevented him from arguing right away. Perhaps it was the way she hugged him once more, a gesture that Arthur was all too eager to return by firmly wrapping his arms around her, though confusion raced through his mind. He didn't understand. Had thy brainwashed her in some way? No. She was too strong for that. She was one of the strongest women that he knew.

"I did fear for you Morgana," he told her, not wanting her to think for an instant that they didn't worry about her. "And I assure you that something like this will never happen again." He would not let her go so easily. It would not take him six months to find her. He would be more vigilant in his duties as a prince. . . more vigilant in his duties as her brother. When she pulled away again to look into his eyes, he returned the gaze, unable to mask all his concern. She was asking him to swear to keep something from his father. It would not be the first time he had lied to the king. He had blatantly defied him when he had helped the druid boy escape . . . and he knew that he would do the same over. For there were some things he believed in.

And if she was asking for him to swear silence because it would protect her, or spare the king of whatever details she was about to provide . . . then he would. He only grew more concerned when she told him that he had goodness in his heart, and it was what drove him to do what he did. He kept his arms around her though they now made eye contact. "You have my word Morgana. I will not tell my father what you are about to tell me." He prayed that it was not a promise he would regret making. Though his worry only grew and grew when she spoke of it in such a way. "Come, sit down so that we can talk," he said, lowering his arms from around her and taking her hand in his so that he could lead her over to the bed. So that she could be in more comfort while they discussed the matters she vaguely introduced.

[mpend]

Morgana smiled, reaching forward to taken Arthur's hand. "And I missed you, more than I can say," the words were true, for she had. The guilt she had felt in leaving was only guilt because she had left Arthur. Uther did not matter as much to her, but it was Arthur's companionship she cared for and missed whilst she had been with the druid people.

To hear Arthur promise such a thing was a relief beyond all measures. More than any man or being, she knew she could trust Arthur when he swore such a thing. He did not take promises lightly, and he would always keep his word as much as he could. The brunette allowed him to lead her to the bed, sitting down adn tugging him down next to her. A nervous glance to the door, and then her eyes were upon him once more. "... the druids did not take me," she stated quietly. "I went to them willingly, but there is good enough reason for my going there." The ward of Uther Pendragon sighed softly, shifting a little. "You know as well as any other, adn perhaps more, how troubling my dreams are to me, Arthur. How... real they sometimes are," she could list a thousand times where the things had actually almost occured.

A pause, a breath, and Morgana steeled her resolve. "The druid people were helping me to understand, Arthur. I... now know what my dreams are, I now know why they occur," she bit her lip, lowering her voice to just above a whisper. "It is connected to magic, Arthur," her voice trembled a little, as she worried how he would respond.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur waited to hear what she would reveal to him . . . and the words were of the most unexpected nature. "The druids did not take me. I went to them willingly . . . " Her words cut off there, though he knew she kept speaking. It was all his mind could focus on. And even then, it took a few additional moments for his brain to actually process her words, and the implication of them . . . the weight of them. She had gone willingly. She had not been taken? Where Arthur had been seated next to her, her hand in his . . . he pulled away from her touch and rose to his feet, unable to find the comfort of sitting. She had not been taken. She had left willingly. He did not doubt her words, for there was an undeniable sincerity about them. Which was why Arthur felt the full impact of them. And to say he was disturbed by it . . . was an understatement.

She kept talking, and he could feel his head spinning. First she revealed that she had left willingly . . . so calmly, so rationally. As if her going made sense. As if she had justified reasons for going. She made another grand revelation that her dreams were connected to magic . . . yet he could not yet comment on them. Not when he wasn't finished acknowledging her first words. He remained in a pensive silence, his back to her, positioned a few steps away from her. She had not been taken. She had left willingly. All those days and nights he had searched for her. All the lost sleep his father, himself, Guinevère had . . . because they thought she was harmed. Living every second in fear for her life. "You left willingly," he repeated, his words not as soft as they once were. He turned his head, though could not look at her in this moment. "Do you have any idea how long we searched for you? How we tore apart the kingdom looking for you? How everyone feared for your life?" Every moment of every day.

"How . . . people died and were imprisoned so that my father could find clues as to where you were?" It had been chaos, and Arthur had done all that he could to rationalize it . . . but his father had not rested for a moment since Morgana's disappearance. Neither did he. "Six months we looked for you Morgana, fearing the worst. And now . . . now you tell me that you left of your own will?!" Not a note left behind. Not even a letter sent to them. Nothing. No. She had fled and left everyone worried sick and fearful. And . . . all the armies that were gathered to look for her, day and night. Never resting for a moment. And clearly, she had not cared. Otherwise, she would have sent word. This was all he could focus on. Unable to comment on her connection to magic. Not yet. Not while he was growing increasingly upset by her words.

[mpend]

The Prince's anger was something she had expected, but his increduality was not. Morgana swallowed, closing her eyes briefly as he spoke of the carnage that Uther had wrought upon his own people whilst she had been gone, and though she opened her mouth several times to interrupt, she did not, for her brother-of-hearts words were rightfully heated.

The ward of Uther Pendragon stood, biting her lip, and gently reached forward, to place a hand upon the blonde's shoulder. If he withdrew, she would not try again, bu she needed to make him understand. "Arthur," she spoke quietly. "I did not know the terror Uther would cause by my leaving, or I would have never gone. I swear to you," she swallowed. "ButI was desperate for answers, I was so frightened, and I...." Morgana took a breath, biting her lip. "I meant... to return after a week. But... I... felt safe there. Content. But then I heard of what was happening here, and I made my way home, as soon as I could." She tried to meet his eyes, to get him to see the sincerity in her words.

"Arthur, please.... please believe me."

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur felt her place a hand on his shoulder, and stepped away from her. Just moments ago, he would have offered all the comfort he could possibly give, having feared what she'd endured. Now . . . to know that it was all a farce, that she could have come back months ago . . . shifted the entire dynamic of everything. "I did not know the terror Uther would cause by my leaving, or I would have never gone. I swear to you." She swore to him? She was swearing that to him?! Arthur did not believe her. Not in the slightest. "How could you have not known what my father would have done? You know him as well as I do Morgana. You know he would have done whatever he could to find you. Do not stand there and swear to me that you didn't know that." Because apart from him and Gaius, Morgana knew Uther best.

And even then, his love and affection for his ward was no secret. Everyone knew how fiercely protective he was over her. Yet, it never seemed to cross Morgana's mind. Never, before this day, would have ever thought to call her selfish. "You were frightened?" He questioned. "What about us? We feared for you every single day! Did you not think about that? Did you not even consider how afraid we all were for you?!" He knew his voice was getting slightly raised, and did all he could to slowly lower it. So that no others lurking in the hall way would hear him. As upset as he was . . . he had made her a promise, not to tell Uther of this. And it was for the best. For if his father knew that she had willingly left, then he would be just as upset as Arthur, if not more. Arthur paused, focusing on taking calming breathes as he felt each sting of her words.

She had meant to return after a week. She had felt safe there; content. Did she not feel safe here? Had they not done all they could to protect her? Was she not happy? Clearly not. She made her way home as soon as she could? "Six months later," he acknowledged, slight bitterness in his voice. "You deceived everyone for those six months. You put people's lives in danger. I never thought you were capable of doing such a thing Morgana." He had devoted the past six months looking for her . . . and it was all a waste. But that was not what he was primarily upset about. He was upset for what she put his father and Guinevère through. He was upset at what she put the people of Camelot through, having to feel the wrath of the king until his daughter was found. That, upset Arthur more than his own wasted efforts and tears.

[mpend]

The Prince's words were rightfully put and yet Morgana trembled before the man she thought she knew so well as he turned away from her, desperate for him to understand, though little by little she was beginning to see herself more and more through his eyes, like a snake in the grass. "I did not think," she confessed, "I..." but what use was it telling him this? Would he not just turn her aside and scoff once more at her words? No, Arthur wasn't dismissing them, he was simply putting it into persepctive.

People had died for her absence. Arthur himself had probably been searching continuously and relentlessly for her. People had been... worried for her. Honestly, Morgana had not believed so many would care for her. Not that she would say so out loud - she did not have a death wish, though Arthur's words were making her consider the thought. The ward swallowed, trembling as Arthur continued his words, tears appearing in her green eyes as she lowered her head, unsure what she could do.

"I have nothing to say for myself, no words to change the past," she whispered quietly, for she was not going to insult him with lies or the truth, which might be even worse. "But to satisfy the people, to repay them, and you, if you wish, I will tell your father the truth... and face the consequences." She swallowed, raising her eyes to meet Arthur's, hoping he would look at her. " I hope one day... if you cannot forgive me, you will at least learn to understand."