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CHAPTER TWENTY, episode three, the nightmare begins.
MIDNIGHT. ISABELLA dreaded this hour. it was the hour she always was awakened by morgana's screams. her cries for help after a nightmare. the way she would rush in almost every night—morgana's face filled with terror as she clutched onto the princess's arms, hiding herself behind isabella, as if isabella was a shield and they were on the battlefield.
morgana would usually calm down within minutes after isabella being with her, gwen and estella would often wake up and join them. the four girls staying with morgana until she fell asleep, then the handmaidens would go back to their rooms. isabella always stayed.
this night was very different. for the first time in a while, isabella was scared. like most nights, she rushed into morgana's room and comforted her. but this night...as she rushed in hearing the ward's screams, she found herself screaming along with her as a blazing fire took place by the curtains, the window smashing into a thousand tiny people.
she screamed for help, dragging morgana out of her bedroom as guards surrounded them. the warning bell even sounded as people thought it was an act of violence towards morgana. the king and arthur entered within minutes as they all worked to put the fire out.
the princess and the ward held each other closely as they were rushed to gaius's chambers to be checked over. they thankfully hadn't been harmed, but morgana was still shaking.
the next morning, isabella dressed and headed into morgan as chambers where the king, arthur, merlin and gwen were. her eyes widened as she looked over her room...it was destroyed.
"i came in with some extra blankets. there was a candle, but i put it out." gwen explained to the king and prince who turned to her.
"are you sure?" the king asked in concern.
"i blew it out, i'm certain." gwen replied confidently.
"she's telling the truth. i know this because estella came into mine at the same time and blew my candles out. then herself and gwen left together to their own rooms." isabella spoke up, recalling estella and gwen wishing her goodnight.
"gwen's been morgana's servant for years. we can trust she blew it out." arthur defended with a nod as gwen sent him a grateful smile.
"she could have been burnt alive. and you as well seeing as you came in." uther turned to isabella who looked up at him.
"it isn't unordinary for me to come in during the night. morgana suffers from nightmares as you know, so i usually wake up from her screams. this time i came in to see the fire up in flames. i had to drag her out, she was almost frozen in spot." isabella told them as the king sighed, looking around the room.
