Steal Away Home

[mpend]

A whispered prayer was mumbled beneath trembling hands as one Morgana Pendragon moved toward Arthur's chambers. It was not oft that she resorted to such things as prayer, but in this instance, she feared it might be all that would save the Prince of Camelot. His own foolhardyness had caused the Prince to take up this ridiculous challange, and now Arthur would pay the prince. The dream still haunted the dark haired Ward, and it seemed as though the more she attempted to push it aside, the less she was able to. She tried to comfort herself in the knowledge that she had tried all she could to stop Arthur, but knowing and believing were two different things.

But Arthur was home now, and fairly safe. From all accounts, at least. Though she would rather see him for her own eyes, which was way the Ward of Uther Pendragon was currently making her way in rather a hurry to the quarters of the blonde she thought of as a brother. The idea that Arthur might have died had haunted her, but now he was home. Perhaps he would now realise that she had been serious, perhaps... despite her panic, Morgana gave a sigh. No, Arthur would never realise his own mortality. He was stubborn, proud, pigheaded and aristocratic - there was no way that the blonde would ever acknowledge how close to death he had truly been. No matter - Morgana would simply have to keep a closer eye on him.

As she reached his doorway, the brunette hesitated for a mere second, before knocking gently, biting slightly on her lower lip. She could tell Arthur the truth - tell him about her visions. Perhaps he would not see it the way Uther would, perhaps he would not mistake her for being mad, and perhaps.... the Seer shook her head. No. He was still Uther's son. And if he turned against her, she wasn't sure she could bear the betrayal. Uther and Arthur were all that Morgana had, and she was not so willing to let them go - even if the secret of her powers was slowly choking her.

Setting: Arthur's Chambers
Time of Day Late evening
Timeline A few hours after Arthur has been saved in 'Le Morte d'Arthur'
Tag:: Arthur

[Arthur Pendragon]

It had only been a short while since Arthur had awoken from his deathbed. A true miracle on its own. Though he'd been unconscious, he had heard the voices of others surrounding him. Gaius telling Uther that there was nothing more that could be done; his father saying that he wouldn't give up; Guinevère encouraging him to live on. He had already teased her about her words, for there had been something strongly sentimental and touching about them. Of course, he did not express such sentiment; he wasn't about to go soft. So had chosen teasing in its stead, clearly embarrassing the handmaiden. But he could finally understand why it was that Morgana was so close to her. For there were many endearing qualities about the young woman. He wasn't sure if it was Guinevère's words that had pulled him out of the darkness . . . or what it was that made him fight for survival.

He did believe his earlier words he spoke to his father, that he felt like someone was looking out for him. Whether it be due to Gaius' remedy or perhaps his mother who was taking care of him from above. Whatever or whoever it was . . . he was grateful, for this was not the first time he had escaped such a strong danger, even death itself. Hearing a knock at the door, pulled him out of these distracted thoughts as he looked toward it. "Come in," he called to whoever the visitor was. When he saw who was on the other end a smile found their way on his lips. "Morgana," he greeted. He tried to sit more upright, though was still lying down in the bed. His arm was in a sling for stability, and his bed rest against the headboard of the bed with his legs spread out in front of him, under the covers. He was sick of resting, but he also knew that he was too weak to actually get up.

Seeing Morgana caused previous thoughts to resurface in his mind . . . for he had not forgotten the way she had run out into her courtyard; as if she knew for certain that something was going to happen to him. Strong intuition perhaps? He didn't know. What he did know was that he felt a strong honor for her attempt to protect him. For he loved her dearly, as a brother would love their sister. They did not have to share blood for him to regard her as one, for she was the closest woman to him in this world. One of the closest people he held dear to his heart. "I was wondering when you were going to come visit me. You certainly know how to keep a man waiting," he said teasingly. He wasn't about to dampen the mood, focusing on how he nearly died. Why not try to make up for lost time in his teasing toward her. For he saw the sombre look on her face and never wished to be the reason that she didn't smile.

[mpend]

As she entered, and was greeted, Morgana was immediately grateful that she had come to visit the man she thought of as a brother. There would have been no other words or thought that might ease the fear that was still clawing at her heart, but was being slowly silenced by the smile on Arthur's face. He was alive, he was well, and he would recover. Her shoulders dropped a little in relief, though not noticibly, and she moved forward as Arthur tried to sit up, pressing a hand gently to his uninjured shoulder. "No, no. I know you will hate to do so, but you must rest," she gave him a small smile, then sat in the chair next to him.

As he spoke, the woman's eyes began to fill with tears, and, horrified, Morgana managed a shaky laugh, not wanting Arthur to be too concerned about her, not even sure why the tears had chosen to spring - perhaps because he was teasing her once more? She gave him a shaky smile, biting her lip. "Uther wouldn't let me come sooner, he said that you needed rest." she shook her head. "Perhaps the next time I ask something of you you will listen to me?" suggested the Ward, not very hopefully. "I knew nothing good could come out of this trip, and when I heard how you had fallen," she shuddered, swallowing. "But you are well, and all will be well," she gave him a smile. "And you are to rest, and the King has asked to make sure that I stay by your side to make sure you do so,"

Morgana swallowed, reaching forward to clasp Arthur's hand, gently in her own. "I should have done more, more to stop you, more to make sure you did not go." she shook her head. "Gaius tried to make me drink some sleeping potion, but it did nothing but bring more dreams," she bit her lip. "Please, please promise me that from now on you will at least listen to me, even if you do not always agree, when I tell you something is not worth doing? Her eyes met his, the green orbs shining with concern.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur felt her hand come on his shouter and he immediately stopped moving. She was one of the few people who knew him extremely well -- perhaps his father being the only other. And so now, she knew that he was restless and wished to move, but . . . there was no reason to right now. Especially with her being here. He gave a small nod, not about to debate with her about something that would prolong her presence here, and just lay back against the headboard. When he turned to look at her though, that was when he saw the tears in her eyes. Morgana was the strongest woman he knew and to see her cry . . . never failed to break his heart. He hated seeing her so upset, even more so because he was the reason for her tears. "I don't know how much more rest I can get," he said in a low voice with a faint smile, an attempt to lighten the mood some so that she would not be upset. "He seems to think I haven't slept enough," he added, again as a joke. Specially using the term 'sleep' rather than . . . well, whatever it was that had left him on his death bed.

It was her next words that were ones he had well thought about; how she had warned him about not going. He was truly curious as to how she knew . . . for she had felt so strongly about it. Never before had she been so adamant that he not go on a journey, even with the dangers involved. It was as if, she predicted his injury -- that should have cost him his life. He was distracted from his own questions however when she took his hand and then said that she should have stopped him. That immediately grasped his attention, and was something he had to comment on right away. "No," he said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Do not blame yourself Morgana." He couldn't bare the thought of her feeling guilty. "You did all that you could to try and stop me. But my mind was made up. We both know how stubborn the other can be," he said, with further light teasing. He brought her hand up to his lips and gently kissed the back of it in a soft embrace before resuming to just hold to.
"Please don't blame yourself," he added, this time as more of a plea.

He paused in silence for a couple seconds, before continuing for he could not withhold his question any longer. "How did you know?" He knew about her dreams and wished with all his heart that he could spare her from having to experience them. He knew it left her tired for she had such great trouble sleeping, even with Gaius' sleeping drafts. "What did you dream of that made you so sure that something would happen?" It wasn't just a coincidence . . . it couldn't be. There had to be something more to it. Because, it was the way she had run out to him in the courtyard. An image that had not so quickly left his mind. "If it makes you feel better, I promise not to dismiss your concerns should you ever warn me like that again," he said with a bit of a smile, though he meant his words with the utmost sincerity. "Besides, I didn't like the fact that other men saw you in your nightgown," he added. And though it was a tease, it was also a bit of the overprotective brother coming out in him.

[mpend]

Morgana sighed softly as the Prince confessed to his restlessness. "I would hardly call it sleep, Arthur," she stated in a quiet voice. "But I do insist that you rest - I will watch over you myself if I have to," her words now held a slight teasing quality, though it was laced with seriousness.

As he tried to console her, and to ease her mind, the ward bit her lip, swallowing. "I did not do all I could," she argued quietly. "I should have ... I don't know, pulled you back to the castle. Maybe I don't have the strength but I should have found some way. Some... path to stop you. Or else followed you, to watch over you," she shook her head. "I cannot but help blame myself, Arthur, for there is no one else who should be blamed. "I allowed others to console me when you were being slaughtered by that beast." that was not strictly true - she had fought tooth and nail to get back to Arthur, even after Gaius had, on Uther's orders, locked her in her rooms, but she would not tell Arthur so. He would likely hear it from someone else anyhow.

The question he asked was the one she both dreaded and longed for at the same time. The brunette swallowed, hesitating against the words that threatened to spill, not knowing how he would react. But then he acknowledged that he knew her actions must be connected to her dreams, and her head rose a little. "I saw you slain by the beast. I saw the King carrying you into the Castle, with the knights about him," she swallowed, her voice breaking a little. "I know it doesn't make sense. I know it... isn't possible. But I knew it would happen. I... it was not just a dream, Arthur. I knew it would come to pass."

She smiled a little as he promised to at least listen to her concerns, her heart feeling a little lighter, though not by much. "I will hold you to that promise," she warned softly. "Arthur, I have never been so afraid for you in my life. Tease me later about it all you wish, but know for now that I truly knew that this quest had every chance of taking your life," she shook her head. "You are the closest to family I have," stated Morgana. "Even the King is not as close to me as you. We have shared times that he would not know of or understand. I could not bear to lose someone who means so much to me." She managed a soft sigh as he confessed he did not like the sight of her in her nightgown being presented to his Knights, and nodded. "I know, but I did not know how else to get your attention, to make you understand," she confessed.

[Arthur Pendragon]

He wasn't surprised to hear her say such words. For she often did take care of him, and he appreciated it . . . even if he may do a poor job of showing it at times. As he often recognized, he was not the best at telling people how much he cared about them. But rather, let his actions speak for themselves. "That sounds more like a threat," he said teasingly in response to her words of her watching over him herself if she had to. He didn't doubt she would . . . and he could think of no one better for the task. No one else that he wanted more to be in here than her. Although, Guinevère's presence had been strangely comforting. In ways that he could not describe, nor was ready to admit. He was distracted from thinking about such things, when she continued to blame herself. Arthur hated hearing her doing so, knowing that it was not the slightest bit her fault. And would not stop until he convinced her of that. "How?" He asked in a soft voice, in reference to her having found a way to pull him back to the castle. He had been dressed and ready to go.

"I am so very glad that you didn't follow me. And never think to do so when we are hunting a beast." For . . . what if the creature had gotten to her too? No. Arthur couldn't imagine such a thing. "I cannot bare the thought of anything happening to you Morgana," he said, not afraid to admit how much he cared about her now. Especially having been so close to death. There was no need to suppress such words. "Whatever happened, or could have happened, taking the blame would have been misplaced guilt. I should be thanking you, for trying to warn me. I only regret that I did not heed to your warning." Regret, for putting everyone through whatever emotional turmoil he had. He didn't like seeing people worry or mourn for him. His father and Morgana especially. He never wished to see them so upset . . . knowing that he was the cause. "So please, do not carry guilt for what happened. What matters it that Gaius' remedy worked, and all is well." He was alive, and no one need mourn the loss of their prince.

Arthur listened attentively as she described her dreams. Which were sounding more like visions. Though, he knew the impossibility of it. Visions. No. How could that be?! Yet, she described things to exact clarity. "You're dreams are getting more and more vivid," he said in a low voice. He wished she did not have to have such frightening dreams, and then wake up only to have the fears come true. If he could, he would take upon such distress from her in a heartbeat. She seemed to be just as confused about it as he was. "How is that possible?" He asked, knowing that from the sounds of it, she didn't have the answer either. "How can they be more than dreams?" Was there something in the draft that Gaius was giving her that made her dreams like that? "Yet, how can we deny that they are anything less," he added as an afterthought. He purposely used the word 'we' so that she knew that she wasn't alone in this. That he would help comfort her as best as he could when it came to her night terrors.

Her next words came as both a surprise, and yet didn't. It was only a surprise for now he truly understood the extent to how afraid she had been. As if the tears had not shown it enough. At times, they could tease and mock each other to no end, but when the situation grew serious . . . he knew that they became sentimental in expressing their care for one another. Just like now. The word she spoke touched him and made his heart swell with affection for her. Feeling honored to hear her say such things about him, even though he did know that she cared about him. Hearing it never hurt though, and her words caused him to just look at her softly, with an equally soft smile on his lips. "You are nothing less than a sister to me," he said, returning the sentiment for it was true. "It will take more than a questing beast to make me leave you in this world," he told her with confidence, even though he knew that the situation had been well out of his hands.

"Don't worry Morgana. I fear you are stuck with me for some time yet." He didn't want to focus on whatever dangers may cause similar circumstances again . . . but rather, focus on the positive. "I worry for you. For the dreams you suffer every night," he said, not to shy to admit his concern for her about such things. "I hate seeing you so upset," he added, this time with no smile on his face, but only worry, for her pain was his. She would never suffer alone even if he could not understand the full extent of her dreams as he did not experience anything like them. All he could do was be here to support her through it. "I'm sorry then, for not taking your warning more seriously. Especially if it caused you to run out in such a state." Emotionally and physically. He knew that now was not the time to let his pride prevent him from apologizing. He was not too proud to do so, even if in other cases he was. Not now. Not when he knew she had been right all along.

[mpend]

She barely managed a smile, her eyes serious upon the young Pendragon's. "It was," she assured, completely honestly. "Arthur, you are more important than you will ever know. Not just to the Kingdom, or your father, but to me." she bit her lip, sighing softly at his question. "I should have ridden out after you, mindless of the response I might get from any others. I don't know. I should have done... something." Morgana managed a slight smile as the Prince revealed just how much she meant to him, though the smile faltered as he asked of her not to carry guilt for what had happened. "All is well," she agreed quietly. "And I thank the Gods that it is so."

Morgana sighed as Arthur voiced his thoughts, nodding her head. "Sometimes it seems..." she hesitated. "As though they are more than just dreams. Sometimes they are so real, Arthur, that when I wake, I cannot distinguish between dream and reality," she shuddered. "Sometimes I am afraid I will become caught between the two somehow." She sighed quietly. "I know it does not seem possible... and I don't know how it is that they are what they are," she bit her lip. "But it frightens me," Such a confession, she knew, would let Arthur know the gravitiy of the dreams and her feelings about them.

The brunette took Arthur's hand when he mentioned that she was like a sister to him, and promised that it would take more than a questing beast to strike him from the world. "Do not promise such things, Arthur," she requested softly. "We both know that there are many things in this world outside our control. I will always fear that one of those might take you from us, and we would be left without you." Later he might tease her for her words, but for now it didn't seem to matter, for they were nothing short of truth. "you are my brother, in every sense of the word but blood," she said honestly.

She sighed at the mention of the dreams, managing a sad smile. "I would long but for one night without dreams and without having to take Gaius' potions," she confessed. "But I fear that day will never come," the ward paused. "Do not apologise, only promise to listen next time," she requested. "For I could not bear to see you suffer in this manner again, Arthur."

[Arthur Pendragon]

He gave a bit of a smile when she said that he was more important to her than he would ever know. Not only to the kingdom or his father, but it her. The words gave him comfort, and she was just as important to him too. While he wasn't the best at expressing as much it was extenuating circumstances such as now that gave him the ability to speak a bit more freely about what was truly in his heart. "Morgana, the second I noticed you riding after me, I would have made sure you returned to the castle." There was a light tease in his words, but they were spoken with truth. "Hunting a beast is no place for you." It wasn't that he thought her incapable; he knew she could handle a sword. It was just not her duty nor responsibility to hunt creatures that threatened Camelot. Though he was honored by her determined desire to protect him.

"I wouldn't have let you done anything more than what you did," he concluded, this time his voice more teasing for he knew he couldn't force her to do anything either way . . . nor did he want to sound like he was over controlling in her actions. When it came to her safety and well being though . . . that was when he became more authoritative. More as a brother protecting a sister, as oppose to a prince to their subject. Arthur listened attentively when she spoke of her dreams and how they sometimes felt to be . . . more than dreams. He gave her hand a gentle reassuring squeeze, desperately wishing he could do more to help her. To ease her of the burden of having such troubling images that haunted her at night. The thought of magic did not even cross the prince's mind. All he could think about was how strong her intuition was . . . and how they were were so traumatizing to her.

It had been something she suffered for ever since he knew her. And it only seemed that they were getting worse. Gaius was the best physician that the world has ever known. If he could find no cure for it . . . then was there even a cure? Or at least a draft that would give her a single night's peace? He didn't even know what to say for he knew his words would not help. They would not fix the problem. He wanted to do more for her but wasn't sure what to do. "I wish we knew of a way to rid such dreams from you nights," he said in a low voice, speaking aloud his thoughts. "You are not alone in your suffering for them. We'll find a way to help ease your dreams. Somehow." Arthur really didn't know how. He just wanted to remind her that she never had to feel frightened and alone, for he was only a few chambers away from her should she need company. Although, that was what Guinevère was for.

And he was certain that Guinevère provided better comfort than him. Arthur was learning of the natural gift that the handmaiden possessed . . . more recently in attempt to comfort him and offer him words of hope. When she told him not to promise such things, and that there were factors outside their control that could claim lives . . . he knew she was right. Which was why he would never swear or vow to never leave her. He knew the risks involved in his duty as prince and general of the army . . . but that did not mean he would dwell on them. It did not mean he was going to sit here and remind her that he could die. He knew some knights who did that; tell loved ones that they could die, every single time they went out for battle. Or even a reminder every day, as if wanting to add worry to their loved ones. Arthur could not do this. He wanted to reassure them, not constantly bring attention to the dangers of a knight's duties.

"Let us find solace in the fact that this was not one of those instances." That the bite from the questing beast was not something that had taken him from this world. "And that you are stuck with a brother who will continue to tease you mercilessly," he said teasingly with a slight smirk. He wanted to focus on the present, not the dramatic past nor uncertain future . . . but the now. Where he and her were sitting here together, very much alive. Every time she told him he was a brother to her, he felt pride and honor and he would do nothing to taint this privileged titled earned from having grown up together. When she said that she longed for a day that she would not have to take Gaius' potions, Arthur agreed whole heartedly. "Did you speak to Gaius about your most recent dreams? Had he anything to say about them?" Arthur questioned, wondering if she had gone to him when she realized that her recent dreams had come true.

Now that he was conscious again, he could try and find out if Gaius had anything to add to her condition. "Do not apologies, only promise to listen next time." Something he could not quite promise, for should his duties place him in a dangerous situation once more . . . he would do whatever it took to protect the kingdom and all its civilians. "For I could not bear to see you suffer in this manner again, Arthur." He gave her another reassuring smile. "I promise I will not take your warnings so lightly next time." He would take it more seriously, though that did not mean he would necessarily comply with them. "And I will not be reckless in my actions," he added, for further reassurance. "Not that I have ever been," he added in a more joking manner, not wanting her to dwell in her concern for him. Though he was greatly flattered by it . . . she had enough to worry about with her dreams. He didn't want to provide her with further stress and fear.

[mpend]

"And the second you had turned to leave again, I would join you," Morgana countered with a teasing note, though her words were honest. "It is hardly a place for you, either," She shook her head, sighing softly. "I still should have done more." she stated firmly. She nudged him gently, careful not to hurt him. "Perhaps next time I shall run into the courtyard naked. That should get your attention," she would never do anything of the sort, but it would be fun to see what Arthur's reaction to the threat would be.

The ward sighed as Arthur expressed his wish to see her dreams eradicated. "It is at such times like this when I am glad they are not," she replied honestly. "But generally I agree with you." She shivered a little in remembrance, biting her lip. As he spoke of consistantly teasing her, the shadow over her features passed, and Morgana gave a slight smile. "I would rather have you as a teasing brother, than none at all," she promised softly. "And you are the best brother I could have ever asked for." Sentimental words that the Prince might later tease her for, but for now Morgana was grateful she had said them out loud, for they were true; completely. She felt honoured to know Arthur, to be respected by him and to have the privalage of being called his sister-of-heart. He was the person she was most closest to in all of Camelot, and she could not imagine life without him in her world.

When he asked whether Gaius had been able to say anything about her dreams, the brunette sighed. "He simply gave me another potion," she shook her head, bitterly. "I think to him and Uther I am a lost cause. Perhaps they are right." She swallowed. "One of these days I fear he will give me a potion that will mean I never wake again," to speak such words to anyone but Arthur was dangerous - but she knew to Arthur she could say almost anything, and he would listen, though he might not agree. The thoughts made her feel slightly ill, and when he stated that he would listen and not be reckless, she barely responded, her mind still with her dreams.