The Secret Kingdom

Confrontations

A few days later, Bridget was gathering firewood alone just after they had made camp for the night. With the large number of knights - some of whom were injured and all of whom were tired - and not enough horses for everyone, the journey back was proving to be much slower than the elves were used to.

Granted she was not all that eager to return to The Willows. If Rhys, Cameron, Baela, and Trevor's cold treatment of her were a sign of what was to come, it would most definitely be less than pleasant. She tried not to let her mind wander towards her punishment, but could not help as a constant worry and fear set in. However, a part of her would gladly take it just to be among her kind again.

And at least Fianna and the queen had been more forgiving.

"There you are. I've been trying to speak to you since we set off," a voice said.

Bridget froze as she turned and saw Mordred walking up to her, smiling slightly.

"What do you want?" she asked brusquely.

The young man stopped, a confused look coming over his face.

"I only thought that I would help," he said. Bridget nodded and returned to her work, hoping to ignore him. "I had thought perhaps we might be friends..."

"I barely know you," Bridget said.

And it was true. While she had learned his story when Morgana had invited him into the tower, she had made a point to avoid him, still worried by her vision. And their somewhat friendship while on the road was only out of necessity.

Though truthfully, Bridget wasn't sure just how she felt or was supposed to react in this situation. He had been kind. And she had trusted him. She struggled to imagine what could push Mordred to someday kill the king.

Attempt to kill the king. For now that the queen and Merlin were aware, surely they would stop it from coming to pass.

"The way I see it, you could use a friend," he replied. Bridget frowned at him. "The others didn't seem so keen to let you back into the fold... and I thought you were against them."

"I thought you were at Morgana's side as well," she said curtly.

"I... well... I realized that perhaps her way was not the best way," he said. Bridget stopped and looked over at him. He gave her a hopeful smile. "And I believe that you have also seen this much..."

Bridget shook her head, going over her time with Morgana. While she had treated the elf tolerably, more and more Bridget came to believe that the sorceress was full of too much darkness. If this was the type of magic she brought into the world, Bridget was not so sure she wanted any part in it.

The magic that helped the elves survive was good. Pure. Morgana had been consumed by death and destruction. And revenge. Part of Bridget's heart broke for her, seeing the deep pain within Morgana. But she had come to realize there was no way for the woman to be healed, and that this was no way to bring magic back into the land. It would infect everything it touched.

Queen Elia had been right all along.

"Perhaps I have," Bridget said, continuing on with her work.

"The queen seems to have accepted you... I never imagined I would ever see an elf... and now I'm in the company of seven - one a queen, at that," he continued, the awe apparent in his voice. Bridget didn't answer, continuing to gather wood. "Have I done something to offend you, Bridget?"

She stopped and looked over at him. She was torn - he had shown her nothing but kindness. And if King Arthur and the other knights had accepted him, then perhaps there was true goodness there and he had come to the other side. But she could not just unsee her vision.