The Emerald Thief - Merlin BBC [1]

Chapter 29: Morgana Pendragon

I'm dragged into the great hall, passing the piles of unfortunate souls murdered by the Southrons. More red cloaks cover the ground than dark, only making the gloominess of the hall seem haunting. The takeover of Camelot and intrusion is barbaric and beyond anything that I've ever seen before. Anger boils at the sight of the innocent knights and bystanders slaughtered. Their bodies have been discarded on the ground as if waste.

I don't even react as I'm thrown to the ground like a pile of rags. My knees painfully scrape the ground, shock jolting through my limbs, but I feel nothing. An icy abyss has taken over my soul, shutting out any fear or pain. The world that I have fought so hard to be a part of has been shattered. I care not for these people or what they plan to do to me. All I care about are my friends and family, the people of Camelot. I glare back at the men as they stand guard, pulling myself up into a seated position. Part of my dress falls over my left shoulder, the right arm of the dress completely ripped and soaked in my blood.

My shoulder throbs, a pulsing pain is bubbling under my skin.

I look ahead of me, eye immediately falling on Agravaine, who stands off to the side of the throne. Intense boiling hatred fills the pit of my stomach, my fingers itching to grasp his neck. I want to feel like this is a betrayal I hadn't seen coming, but unfortunately, I feel more relief. Now I know what it was Agravaine was up to.

Although I would never have seen him scoop this low, working for Morgana, I hadn't expected that. Once again, my judgement was correct. A part of me had hoped I was wrong about Agravaine for Arthur's sake. And because I wanted to believe I could have more than one living relative, I can stand...my hope was false.

My glare darkens toward him, rage flaring at the sight of him standing so proud as if there were honour in what he has done.

I'd have to be stupid not to know that the citadel has been taken, along with it, Camelot. No doubt Arthur has escaped. The knights and Merlin especially would have gotten him to safety. I can rest assured that Arthur will return claim what is rightfully his. I know that he and the knights of Camelot will not rest until Morgana is no longer in control of Camelot.

I know it is Morgana because no one else would have the power to take Camelot so easily or have the smarts. I couldn't think of anyone other than her who would be able to bend the Southrons to their will. 

I know she will want me to give up Arthur's whereabouts, that being something I wouldn't tell even if I did know. Strangely enough, I have no fear because I know how to deal with people like Morgana and Helios. I have found myself crossing paths with many people like them, and it can be pretty easy at times to trick said people.  

Agravaine smirks as if he has won the world, living the best life he can. His behaviour has been off for weeks, now all making sense. No doubt he was up to something that night I found him in the corridors. That poor map maker's apprentice turning up only a day or so later...at least we now know the answer to that mystery. I imagine many other secrets were constructed by Agravaine and blamed on someone else.

In my fury, I didn't see the dark figure upon the throne. My gaze falls on the unfamiliar woman seated on Arthur's throne, hair long and black, tangled around her head. Her green eyes bare down on me, lost in thought, curious. I don't need anyone to tell me that the woman is my half-sister. Morgana.

She's stunning...a fair and beautiful woman, fit to be a princess, far more than myself. I can't help but gap at her, having expected my half-sister to look more like Arthur and me. Yet, she bears no resemblance to either of us.  

"This is Edythe?" she questions, head tilted toward Agravaine, eyes still fixed on me.

"Yes."

Morgana stands from the throne elegantly, as if her natural form to be on a throne. I watch her closely, still shocked by how different she looks to Arthur. I haven't laid eyes on Morgana ever, which only amazes me more that she is standing before me. She finally has what she has always wanted. I never thought about how I'd feel meeting her, having never planned to do so.