So Far From Home

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur was ripping the bottom of his coat so that he could use the material to tie it around Morgana's wound to stop the bleeding. To say that he was worried, would be an understatement. He had once again failed in his attempt to protect her. What had started out as a casual journey to her father's grave, turned into an ambush. Men had been practically waiting for them for they had recognized who they were. Arthur had tried to fight them off, but there had been too many. That was not what had caused him to stop fighting though. What had ceased his defensive actions . . . was seeing a blade strike Morgana. It had caused to freeze with panic and rush toward her, only to be hit on the head with the hilt of a sword and left unconscious. When he awoke, he was cart, being dragged along with a large group of men on either side. They were being treated as if they were animals. Had Arthur been conscious after the attack, he would have realized that these men were planning on holding them for ransom.

For now, he could only assume that they were slave traders. He could not see outside for they were in an enclosed cart. Just enough light was peeking in front the sides to see Morgana. And her wound was only growing more severe. She was losing a great deal of blood and Arthur wasn't sure how to further aid her. She needed medical assistance! And all he could do was rip the ends of his jacket in attempt to tie something around the injury as a makeshift bandage. The pressure being applied would slow the blood flow. But it would not stop it. Not until she was properly treated. And he didn't even know where the hell they were going! He had his arm around Morgana, holding her close to him. "It's alright," he said in a low voice, an attempt to comfort her. He was trying to stay calm even though his heart and mind were consumed with fear. "Everything will be alright." Perhaps he was trying to assure himself more than her.

_{Setting: Starts in the woods, will move around
Time of Day: Evening
Timeline: Sometime in Season 2
Tag: Morgana}

[mpend]

The ward was turned on her side, her breathing stuttering in her chest as her heart thumped painfully as she felt the life force drain from her. It had been a simple trip to her father's grave, aided by Arthur's company, but the attack had been unforseen and unwarrented! She wasn't sure what these men had wanted from her, she had been too intent on trying to rouse Arthur after he had fallen unconscious. And now, her mind was fuzzy and unclear, and all she truly wanted was to be back home, in Camelot, with Arthur, having dinner and laughing over something completely inane.

As the Prince attempted to comfort her, Morgana's left hand raised up shakily, resting atop his, as her eyes opened a little, barely enough to see him. "Ar... Arthur," she whispered, her body trembling with the pain. "You ... if you... get the ... if you..." She was trying to tell him that if he should have the oppertunity, he should leave without her. Of course, she was fairly certain he would never do that; Arthur's loyalties, let alone his sense of goodness, would not let him, but she at least wanted him to know he had her blessing for doing so. There was no use in both of them dying, and he was far more important than she would ever be. "I'm... so sorry," the words slipped out instead of what she wanted to say, though she felt justified in saying them. If it hadn't been for her, this would not have even occured. If it had not been for them journeying to her father's grave... they would not be here. It was all her fault.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur knew what she was trying to say. He knew her well enough to know the words she was trying to utter, and he would not hear of it. He didn't want her to waste her strength on trivial remarks, because he had no intention of leaving her. He would stay with her long enough to find a way to escape, and then she would stay with him long enough for them to get back to the city. Where his father would be waiting, and Gaius would tend to her. And then everything would be better. Arthur wasn't even going to respond to her words. He was going to give as little attention to them as possible because he would never dare leave her. They would find a way out of this, just like they found a way out of every outrageous situation they landed themselves in. "I'm... so sorry." Arthur kept himself completely composed even though the words practically broke his heart.

Because she had absolutely nothing to apologize for. "The only thing you should be apologizing for, is for making me ruin a perfectly good coat," he said with a tone of teasing, though he knew there was an underlying tone of concern in his tone. As it was impossible to mask all of it. He was trying to keep her spirits up . . . and in doing so, perhaps it would prevent him from panicking as well. "And once we're back in the castle, and you're sitting in front of your mirror brushing your hair, which is really the only thing you do all day long, then I will be demanding my apology then." He was teasing her, to keep her conscious, to keep her spirits up, to ease the fear in the air . . . though nothing would fully alleviate the fear until they were actually back home, doing all those things that Arthur had just ridiculed her for doing.

[mpend]

"A...arrogant... p..." The words would not leave her mouth, and perhaps it was a good thing. For Morgana did not want to insult Arthur right now, even though she knew that his words were only meant to keep her in good spirits - and perhaps himself as well. They were in one of the worst situations they had ever been in, and she was starting to doubt they would get out of it. If she could, she would make sure Arthur did, but the ward was fairly certain that she herself would never escape.

"You... always been... amazing," she whispered, her body shuddering as she struggled to speak. "Even when... we... we fought-" which in truth, wasn't all that often, and it was rarely serious. "- we... you.... are a brother to me." Her words were less than eloquent, but as she might not get another chance to say them, Morgana was hoping her intentions were clear to the young Pendragon. "You must... if there is... chance.... you must... must try, Arthur..." She knew he would probably not, but she had to try to convince him, nontheless.

"Best... brother I... could ask for," She whispered, burying into Arthur's warmth as much as she possibly could, letting out a soft cry of pain mingled with fear as the cart jolted over a bump. Her eyes closed and she let out a quiet, unwelcomed sob, hating herself for being so weak, wishing she could be as strong as Arthur was, as he always seemed to be.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Even with her unfinished words, he knew what she was trying to say. Arrogant prat no doubt. Never had he wished more for her to complete her words. Usually with such insults, he would grow annoyed and try to rebuttal with another insult. This time, his ears longed for the words. When she said he was amazing, he knew that she was fading . . . that she believed to be dying. And he would not allow it to happen. "Yes, I know I am amazing," he said with joking arrogance. The full humor of what his words should have entailed was missing due to his fear and concern . . . but he was trying to keep the mood light. He was trying to continue to lift her spirits. "What else am I? Dashing? Charming? Funny? Handsome?" He was just trying to keep her conscious. Trying to keep the mood humorous. To reassure her that these words would not be her last. That these moments together, would not be the last ones they spent together.

He would not let tears leave his eyes though he was starting to feel the sting of them when she said that he was the best brother she could ask for, thankful that she had nestled closer to him so that she could not see tears brimming in his eyes. They did not make it further than that. For he swallowed them back and regained his composure. "You are the greatest sister I could have ever hoped for. And will continue to be so." Because she was not dying. No. He would do everything within his power to prevent that from happening. Even silently praying for a way to let him take her place. Only so that she could see another sunrise. He lowered his head to gently kissed the top of her head in a nurturing manner as he continued to hold her close to him. "I am not leaving you." So her words pertaining to him fleeing if the chance presented itself was futile. "So you better return the favor and not leave me either," he added. Just so they were of the same understanding.

[mpend]

A small smile flittered to Morgana's lips as Arthur tried to lighten the humour - not so much at the words he was saying, but the fact that he was saying them for her sake. She wanted to say something in return, but the pain was unbearable. As the cart ran over a bump, a sharp pain rippled through her, and Morgana cried out, body arching a little "Arthur!" she cried out, giving a soft sob as she spoke his name, trying desperately to hold on to some sense of consciousness.

Hearing him return her words - even if he were only saying them to humour her - made the brunette feel as though she had accomplished at least something in this word. She was no great warrior, she was not a Prince, and she was not particularly of any importance; apparently except to Arthur. Even though Merlin and Guinevère cared for her as friends, she doubted they would mourn her for long. She could not say how Uther would react, but selfishly it was more Arthur's reaction that she cared for. For it was he that made her feel worthy of being in this life.

As he practically ordered her not to leave him, the brunette managed a tiny smile, and snuggled a little further into his embrace. "I will always be... with you," she stated quietly, though she knew that was not what he had meant. "You.... will be... a great King," Did she have any wisdom to impart? No, for she did not know the ways of Kings and Princes, despite having lived with both for practically her entire life. "Please... Arthur..." She whispered, not quite sure what she was even asking for.

[Arthur Pendragon]

"I will always be... with you" She was not dying. Not right now, not today. Not for many years. "Yes, you will," he agreed, though not in the way she was suggesting. "Because you are still with me now, and it is not yet time for you to leave this world," he told her. And he would do everything within his power to make sure she didn't. Regardless of what methods it took, or what sacrifice it may cost. "You.... will be... a great King." Words that he often heard from others, apart from his father. He did not know what kind of king he would be, nor was this the time to reflect and contemplate on such things.

"And you will be there to tell me such, every day," he teased. Further attempt to lighten the mood and ease her mind that she would live to see such a day. Arthur knew that him becoming king, involved another death: the death of his father. But his father was still healthy and strong, and Arthur knew that he had many, many years before Uther passed on from this world. And he would have both his father and his sister of heart by his side for as long as possible. "Besides, I will need someone to keep me in check when the time comes," he said, encouraging the tease for focusing on death -- be it hers or his father's -- was not the direction he wished to take this conversation.

[mpend]

The brunette managed a thin smile at Arthur's words. He was trying so hard to make her believe she was going to pull through, that, like countless other times they had been in trouble, they would return to Camelot together, eventually alright... but she knew how hopeless her situation was. Arthur might still return, but she.... no. The Ward's time was coming to a close, for she could feel it in her very soul. Each part of her was beginning to shut down, slowly, like a clock run out of wheel, or like a horse pulled too far that decides it cannot pull any longer. "No one can predecide their fates," she whispered in response to the blonde's words.

The brunette paused, to take a breath, gathering her words in her mind before opening her eyes, to focus on the young Prince. "You must... promise me something," she whispered. There was no time to wonder what he might think of what she was about to ask him, or any assumptions he might make... for too much had already been assumed, and it was time for the facades to end. "You.... be happy. Be with... with Gwen. She... loves you, and ...." she cut off as the cart moved over another bump, her body shaking a little with the pain of the action.

After a few sharply inhaled breaths, Morgana let her head rest back into Arthur's embrace, her body still shaking weakly. "No mortal's time... lasts forever," she whispered quietly, as a remindrance to both of them. "Arthur... you must..." she swallowed, closing her eyes, her voice beginning to fade a little. "Promise me..."