Chapter Text
Uther: Come on, Morgana. Please tell us about your ordeal in the vault again, I still can't quite believe it.
Uther, Arthur and Morgana were sat in the dining hall eating dinner. The previous night, Cenred's army and Morgause's army of the dead had sieged Camelot. Morgana, after a year spent training her magic with Morgause and planning their attack, had been tasked with raising the skeleton army from within the vaults. Their plan had almost worked, only thwarted by bad luck — the ceiling had caved in and knocked Morgana to the floor, allowing Merlin to destroy the necromantic staff. Thankfully, she had managed to take credit herself, but she was unhappy with the prospect of spending even longer hiding her true self.
Morgana: Oh, it was nothing really.
Arthur: Morgana, please.
Morgana: Alright then.
She hoped that no-one was paying close attention — she didn't have much time to come up with an airtight alibi and she was worried that the story had changed since she originally told it.
Morgana: I was passing the stairwell to the vault when a figure darted past me — I couldn't see who it was, but I had a feeling that something was wrong. When I got down to the vaults, there was a crowd of skeletons I had to fight my way past. I saw a staff embedded in the ground emanating a weird glowing light.
Arthur: A staff? What kind of staff was it? Merlin, could you fill my glass?
Morgana could see that Merlin wasn't paying attention to him. The grimace on his face suggested that he wasn't happy about her taking the credit for his achievements and was considering if it was worth risking his life to tell them she was lying.
Morgana: It was made of wood, certainly, but I wouldn't be able to name what tree it came from. The thing was clearly magical in origin.
Uther: Necromancy really is the most evil and degenerate form of sorcery. I dread to think that the traitor in our midst would stoop to such depravity. In the heart of the citadel no less.
Arthur: Merlin? My wine?
Merlin finally snapped out of his vision and started pouring wine into his glass as Morgana continued.
Morgana: Once I reached the staff, I pulled it from the ground and used it to drive back the next line of skeletons in a wide arc, before breaking the staff over my leg.
Merlin chuckled in what seemed like disbelief, spilling wine on Arthur in the process.
Arthur: Merlin!
Uther: Is something funny, boy?
Merlin: No, not at all, sire. I just... hiccupped.
Arthur stood up and cuffed him around the head.
Arthur: Can't you do anything right? Fetch me some dry clothes, unless you'll screw that up too.
Morgana sat in silence as Merlin bowed, whispered the word "prat" and left the room. Arthur turned back to the table, indignant.
Arthur: I heard that! He really is the worst.
Uther: Then he shall be replaced. Has the boy always been this insolent?
Arthur: He's not insolent, he's just an idiot with no instinct for self-preservation. I don't need a new servant.
Uther: Nonsense. I see no reason why you should be forced to put up with him any longer.
Morgana: I think he likes it, my lord.
Uther: What do you mean?
Morgana: I think Arthur likes Merlin bossing him around. Makes him feel normal.
She knew that would wind up Uther to no end. The king had always resisted Arthur's many attempts to empathise with their subjects over the years.
Arthur: I do not, I just—
Uther: How do you expect to rule over the people of Camelot if you let your servant treat you like one of his "mates"?
Arthur: We're not ma— I'm going to change into dry clothes. Merlin stays. End of story.
Arthur turned and left the dining hall, with half of his food still on his plate. She was secretly pleased to see the current and future king rowing like this, especially over Merlin.
Morgana: You know, maybe it's good for him to have a friend like Merlin.
Uther: A prince should be friends with his knights, not his servants.
She did not know how to respond, so she continued eating her dinner, ushering Gwen over to refill her goblet.
Gwen: My lady, did you finish telling your story?
In her favourite dark green cape, Morgana snuck out of the castle that night. She rode out into the darkling woods until she reached the pre-arranged clearing by foot.
Morgause: Sister. You wished to see me.
She turned around to see Morgause for the first time since their grand plan, a year in the making, had been thwarted.
Morgana: It is good to see you, sister.
Morgause: What troubles you?
Morgana: The serving boy, Merlin. I have convinced the court that I was responsible for destroying the staff but the boy still enjoys a close relationship with Arthur.
Morgause: You think he would tell the prince of your loyalties?
Morgana: He knows Uther would have him killed for poisoning me but I fear that he might risk his life to tell the court.
Morgause: Surely Arthur would not believe the word of a servant over yours?
Morgana: He is quite taken with the boy. I wouldn't be so quick to assume.
Morgause: When I questioned him in the woods, Merlin showed great devotion to his prince, without hope of reward. It's almost touching. I think our servant might be hiding something.
Morgana: Merlin could barely hide a needle in a haystack. But his friendship with Arthur still concerns me.
Morgause: Then I think it's time we found a way to remove him from his post, don't you think?
Morgana: Uther already wants the boy gone — it shouldn't be hard to get him dismissed for good.
Morgause: Excellent. Observe the servant and find out what he's willing to do for his precious prince.