His Majesty and His Knights

Complications

"Sister!"

"Morgause!" Morgana froze as she turned the corner to see Morgause out of her room and completely healed. "You are finally out of bed! How wonderful!" Morgana exclaimed while silently praying that her friends had enough sense to hide or retreat to some place safe. 

"Wonderful indeed, sister. I am beyond glad to finally leave that blasted bed. Would you like to accompany me on  walk around the castle?" Morgause asked, offering her arm.

"I'd be delighted." The two sisters hooked arms and began walking in the direction that Morgana had come from, paying no attention to the servant arranging the flowers in the vase that was placed on a table on the side of the hallway in front of a painting, or Morgana's handmaiden who was dusting one of the pillars.

It did not take long for Morgause to tire. After all, this was the first time in over a month that she had been out of bed. Luckily, they were in the gardens and there was  nice, stone bench for them to rest on. Once Morgause had caught her breath, she said to Morgana, "once I am at full strength, we will take over Camelot."

"As soon as you are back to full health. As eager as I am to take what's rightfully mine," Morgana put her hand on her sister's knee, "I care more about you."

-

(Earlier)

"Sister!"

Merlin, Gwaine, Lancelot and Elizabeth froze at the sound of Morgause's voice. They immediately looked around for places to hide. Lancelot stood behind a pillar, unsheathing his sword just in case. Merlin crouched behind another pillar, getting ready to run or charge. Elizabeth pulled out a white cloth and began dusting a pillar on the opposite side of the hallway and Gwaine started arranging the flowers in a vase that was on a table nearby. None of them really breathed until Morgana and Morgause had passed them, and still did not come out of their hiding spots until the two sisters were out of sight. 

"That could have been really bad," Gwaine said.

"Yeah, no kidding," Merlin replied. 

"We better move, just in case they come back soon," Lancelot pointed out.

"Yes," Elizabeth agreed. "Let's head to Morgana's chambers."

Once they got there, they all took a seat at Morgana's dining table and waited for her to return, chatting idly.  A few minutes had passed before they heard footsteps coming towards the doors. Quickly, the four ran into hiding spots yet again, just in case, and Elizabeth got to work arranging things on Morgana's shelves. 

Lucky for them, it was Morgana, and only Morgana, who stepped through the doors. She looked around in confusion. "Where are the boys?"

Gwaine rolled out from under the bed. "Here!"

Lancelot stepped out from behind a curtain. "Here."

"Up here." Everyone looked up to see Merlin floating with his back pressed against the ceiling. Suddenly, his eyes turned from gold to blue and he fell onto the ground. "Oof- ow," Merlin groaned. 

"How'd you get up there, mate?"Gwaine asked, running over to his friend.

Merlin, who was lying face first on the ground, just shrugged. "I pmerfebreged."

"What was that?"

Merlin rolled over so that he was still lying down, but on his back. "I panicked. It's a good thing that there's carpet here."

"Yeah, no kidding."

Nonetheless, Merlin still rubbed his sore nose, hoping that it wouldn't swell. Morgana shook her head fondly. 

"So... Morgause," Lancelot said, interrupting the moment.

"I didn't expect her to be up so soon,"Morgana said, biting her lip.

"Well, this definitely causes some complications," Merlin frowned.

"Yes, but she's still very weak. I told her that I don't want to do anything until she's back at full health, which gives us some time."

"How much time do you think we have then?" Gwaine asked.

"A month, perhaps," Elizabeth said. 

"And then we'll head straight to Camelot to take it over."

"Of course, because Morgana is on our side, even if it is taken over, we won't be truly losing the kingdom," said Lancelot.

"The way I see it," Merlin interjected, still lying on the floor, "we have two options. One, we allow Morgause and Morgana to 'take over' Camelot, but get all the people out of the kingdom beforehand so that no one is harmed. Morgana, you would act as a spy so that we know exactly when Morgause would strike." Morgana nodded. "The second is that we take back the kingdom in the next few weeks, before Morgause is healed, so that she'll never get the chance to even get to Camelot."

All the occupants in the room thought for a moment. Merlin was right. Those were their two best options.

"I say, we do the second and use the first as a back up," Lancelot said. "But we make sure that Morgana does not appear to be involved so that she can still act as a spy."

"I agree. I think that will work," Morgana said. 

"So it's settled then," Merlin said as he finally stood up. "Lance, Gwaine and I will leave at first light tomorrow for Camelot and start making plans with Arthur."

"Morgana and I will prepare the people and speak to the knights who are loyal to you," Elizabeth added, having been silent during most of the exchange.

"That would be great. Then one of us three," Merlin motioned to himself, Gwaine and Lancelot, "will ride ahead to tell you all when we come."

"That'll be perfect."

Lancelot glanced at the open window. The sun had just set. "We better head back to the inn. We have a long journey back."

"Yes, should all get some rest," Elizabeth said. "We'll see you soon, then?"

"Yeah," Merlin nodded. "very soon."

The group exchanged their goodbyes and wished each other luck.  Then the three men went back to the inn to prepare for the journey back to Camelot. Things were starting to look up.