The Golden Age

24. To Kill the King (Part II)

INT. KING'S PALACE – MORGANA'S CHAMBERS – DAY

Morgana entered her chambers, where Gwen and Anne were sitting. Gwen went to Morgana quickly.

"My Lady!" Gwen exclaimed.

"Gwen. I didn't expect to see you here," Morgana said.

"What happened to you?!"

"Nothing. Well, nothing a hot bath wouldn't fix." Gwen and Anne saw the sores on Morgana's arms where the manacles rubbed. "I spent the night in the dungeon."

"Uther."

"He doesn't like to be challenged."

"It wasn't about my father, was it?"

"You have enough to deal with without worrying about such things."

"You shouldn't have done that! Not on my behalf. If anything happened to you, I couldn't bear it."

"You need to go home, Gwen. Get some rest. Please."

"I'm fine, My Lady."

"Morgana and I insist," Anne said gently.

Gwen walked past Morgana and Anne with her head bowed, picking up a hair brush.

"Gwen?" Anne and Morgana called.

Gwen stopped, her back to Morgana and Anne, trying not to cry.

"Gwen?" the two called again.

"I can't go home!" Gwen shouted.

"It's understandable to feel so alone," Morgana said.

"Tauren..."

"Tauren?!"

"He attacked me. He threatened me. He was looking for some kind of stone."

"Stone?"

"He said if I didn't bring it to him, he'd kill me. He's waiting for me in the Darkling Woods. I have to do something. If I don't get this stone to him by dawn tomorrow..." Morgana began walking off purposefully. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to send the guards, of course. It won't be you that Tauren meets. It'll be the Knights of Camelot."

INT/EXT. KING'S PALACE – MERLIN AND COLETTE'S CHAMBER/MORGANA'S CHAMBERS/FOREST – NIGHT

Merlin and Colette woke when they sensed the Mage Stone's power as Morgana held it in her chambers. They got out of bed and saw her walking out of Camelot. They followed her through the Lower Town and into the woods, where she was surrounded by Tauren's men. They hid behind a tree and listened in on their conversation.

"Where's your maid?" Tauren asked.

"I've come in her place," Morgana said.

"Kill her."

"No! Wait! I brought the Stone!" She reached for the stone.

"What else have you brought, My Lady? The Knights of Camelot?"

"I came alone, I promise you."

"Give me the stone." Morgana handed it over. "You were foolish to come here. I had no quarrel with your maid. But you, My Lady Morgana, you are Uther's ward." He drew his sword and put it to her stomach.

"If you kill me, you'll regret it."

"Why is that?"

"Because I want Uther dead, too."

"You? An enemy of the King? And I'm to believe that?"

"Why else would I be here?"

"I can only guess at your motives, My Lady. You could be a spy, for all I know."