There Is Another Way, Morgana

Chapter 4

Note- There should be a gap where Morgana contemplates killing Uther after her visit with Morgause, but for some reason, it's not saving properly. So, just be aware that there's a break in the chapter there. :)

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Being careful was not being careful enough. The last thing Morgana remembered was the torch flame growing bigger, her stumbling backwards, screaming when her feet found empty air. Then she’d hit her head on the first step and...nothing. 

    But now, Morgana could hear things. Muffled, but she could still hear. She made out Uther’s voice first. Great. Why do I have to hear him first? I’d rather hear Merlin! She soon realised that the King was talking to Gaius. He seemed upset. Her eyelids flicked slightly as she thought about this. Maybe it was because she was injured.

    “...I’ve told no one.” Uther was saying. A pause. “Morgana is my daughter.”

    “What?! No! That’s impossible!” Morgana said, but realised it was in her head. She couldn’t speak to them yet. Her eyelids flicked again and she felt her hand move. She needed to get their attention and let them know what she’d just heard. But...blackness slowly covered Morgana’s thoughts, though she tried to fight it. Soon, she was unconscious again.

It was a few hours later when Morgana could hear again. This time, however, she could see light in front of her closed eyes, as though she was waking up from a sleep. She slowly opened her eyes and blinked a few times. Her head didn’t hurt her anymore. But her heart did. Surely, it wasn’t true...No, she’d been in and out of consciousness. Her mind must have been playing tricks on her. It couldn’t be true!

    A movement out of the corner of her eye made her recognise her surroundings. She was laid in Gaius’ chambers. She turned her head to the person there and saw Merlin. She closed her eyes to ignore him. “Gaius! She’s awake!”

    Footsteps made her open her eyes once more. “Morgana?” That was Gaius. She attempted a smile, tried to sit up, and failed at both. “Thank goodness. You won’t be able to move yet, Morgana. You had a bad fall. Do you remember it?”

    “Not really.” She replied, her voice sounding weak to her ears.

    “Merlin, get Gwen and Arthur. They’ll need to see her.” Merlin moved to the door and Gaius called after him. “And tell the King too.”

An hour later, Morgana was hurting more than before, and it had nothing to do with her head or the fall. She was thankful to finally be alone. Arthur and Gwen had been so relieved to see her awake and ok again. She was glad they cared about her, even if they weren’t really her friends anymore.

    But Uther...it was true. She was his daughter. Tears smarted her eyes once more and Morgana blinked them away. She refused to cry again. If he didn’t want to tell her, that was that. Still, it hurt that Uther would just ignore her like that. She thought of the conversation they had had not ten minutes ago. Surely, he’d seen and heard the desperation in her eyes and voice. She hadn’t wanted it to be true, but now...well, the truth hurt. A lot.

    Morgana thought about the dagger Arthur had given her for her birthday. How she would love to take it and kill Uther. Then, he would know what his so-called precious daughter thought about him!

    Then she recalled what Isabel had told her about the accident. ‘You’re not going to like what you hear when you wake up.’

    Well, that was true!

    But it suddenly occurred to Morgana...if that was true, what else might be? Isabel had been almost clear about the visions she’d seen. Some of Morgana’s anger faded to fear. She needed to see Morgause, but also Isabel as well.