Reflection

Morgana sat on the cold stone that was the dungeon floor. The shackles around her wrists dug in painfully. Her mouth was dry and her stomach growled in protest from having no food or drink for a day and a half. But most of all she felt alone. More alone than she'd ever felt before.

Yesterday, she had achieved her goal. Uther was dead and she was on the throne of a magical kingdom. And then Morgause had betrayed her. The person she thought loved her for who she really was, not someone she was pretending to be. But all along it had been a ploy to get on the throne herself. As Uther had said, because Morgause wasn't related to him, it was unlawful, but Morgana was related by their mother and so it had now become perfectly lawful; as lawful as Morgana taking the throne from Uther.

She felt so alone, hurt, confused and most of all betrayed. She now knew how Uther felt as she had revealed that she was in league with Morgause; how he felt when she declared she hated him. How Arthur felt when he discovered what she'd done. How Gwen felt when she'd tried to have her executed because of a dream; when she promised no harm would come to her as long as she was loyal and then wanted to have her killed for betraying her. But she had betrayed them first and Gwen had had every right not to be loyal. She could only hope that she'd escaped her deceitful sister's clutches. And then Morgana thought of Merlin. Yes, he'd poisoned her but only because she'd left him no choice. She had done worse than anyone had ever done to her; even Uther. She'd been furious with Uther for murdering innocent but she had done just that when the knights had refused to swear allegiance to her and she'd given the order for the townsfolk to be shot. She was worse than Uther. He'd had a reason, albeit a stupid one that cost many, many lives but she had done it out of spite.

How could her beloved sister who'd saved her from Merlin's poison, taught her how to control her magic and her nightmares, and made her feel proud of who she was, not a monster do this? But that was exactly what she'd become; a monster.

If she could go back in time; Morgana would have never agreed to bring about Uther's downfall when Morgause summoned the Knight of Medhir. If she'd refused to help then Merlin wouldn't have had to poison her and she wouldn't have spent a year with her sister.

Morgause had wormed her way in. She'd struck when Morgana was vulnerable after one of her best friends had betrayed her. Morgause had moulded her mind, causing her to hate everyone. Not just Uther and Merlin; Arthur and her truest friend Gwen who'd done nothing to her. Morgause had taught her the art of dark magic, just to use her as a tool to get the throne. Who wouldn't? The King's Ward was the best ally she could have hoped for; even better that she was in fact the daughter of her enemy and had a claim to the throne. Morgause had made her desire revenge through bloodshed. She should have found a peaceful way to restore magic to the land; her opinion Uther had valued most.

She'd never wanted to be queen, only to stop having to live in fear of being discovered. Morgause had convinced her that it was the only way. If she'd just killed Uther then she could have revealed her magic to Arthur. He would never kill her. But this way, it would harden his heart against magic like Merlin had said.

Morgana fought back her tears. She refused to be overcome with emotion in case Morgause came back. That would be like admitting defeat. And while she had breath in her body, she would not submit to Morgause. She had never done so with Uther, she wouldn't with her sister.

Morgana had made several attempts on Arthur's life, all influenced by Morgause, and he'd always been oblivious. He'd truly cared for her but Morgause had tricked her into thinking she was the only one who did and ever would. But Morgana wasn't blameless. All her life she'd been strong and independent and although at a loss of what to do with her out-of-control powers, she should have said no.

And now she was more alone than ever before. The friendship she had shared with Gwen was gone, her sibling-like bond with Arthur was gone and she even missed Merlin and Uther, the ones who had wronged her. And it was all gone because of Morgause. She'd trusted her just because she was related by blood and because she had magic. She'd known nothing about her and she'd given up everything for her. And now she was paying the price.

FLASHBACK BEGINS

Morgana sat on her throne triumphantly. She'd just watched Uther being executed by fire. He'd screamed in pain as so many of her kind had. She'd organized a feast for that night and was thinking over what to wear.

Suddenly, Morgause burst in with over a dozed of her immortal guards.

"Seize her," her sister ordered.

Four of the guards obediently went forward and dragged Morgana off the throne.

"What are you doing?" questioned Morgana, angrily "Release me, immediately."

The guards did nothing. Even though Morgana was queen, Morgause controlled the army since she had been the one to make them immortal.

Morgause calmly stood in front of Morgana, who was gripped tightly by the guards. She stepped forward and lifted the intricate crown off Morgana's head like she had done with Uther.

"Morgause, what do you think you're doing?" asked Morgana, bewildered.

There was no reply. Morgana hit the ground on her knees as the guards pushed her down and Morgause smirked cruelly as she sat on the throne that Morgana had occupied only moments before.

Morgana was forced to watch Morgause's coronation as Uther had been forced to watch her own only a week ago. She was speechless. This was her sister who was doing this.

When the crown sat upon Morgause's head, the guards pushed her into a bow but she struggled as hard as she could against them and managed to stand up, the many hands forcing her back down. The point was clear enough though, she would not bow.

"Are you prepared to swear allegiance?" asked Morgause, as she had done with the Knights of Camelot.

She did not like being on this side of things; completely powerless.

"I will not," responded Morgana, furiously getting to her feet once more.

The guards had had enough and one of them kicked her in the back of the legs with his steel-capped boot. Morgana yelped in pain and fell, crashing onto the floor. This time she did not try to get back up. Her sister didn't even care that she was in pain. That hurt her more than where the guard had kicked her or where she had landed.

With a lot of determination, she didn't cry. There was no point asked what Morgause was doing, yet.

"Take her to the dungeons," ordered Morgause in a cold, hard voice.

At her instruction, the guards forced Morgana to her feet and dragged her forcefully to the depths of the castle. She barely struggled; she was still in shock at her sister's betrayal.

The door to a small cell was flung open and Morgana was dragged in. The guards secured chains around her wrists tighter than Uther had when she had argued with him over Gwen's father's murder.

Morgause said an incantation to stop Morgana using her magic to release herself. Morgana had forgotten about her magic when her sister had burst in.

"Morgause, I demand to know what's going on," said Morgana, finding her voice again.

"It's Your Majesty to you," replied Morgause with a sneer, still avoiding the question "And you are in no position to demand anything."

"Morgause," continued Morgana, spitting out her sister's name defiantly "I thought you were the one person I could trust. What are you doing?"

Morgause swiftly backhanded her, hard.

"You will remain here with nothing to eat or drink until you swear your allegiance to me," said Morgause, venomously.

She was even crueller than Uther. He had never stopped her food before, no matter how angry she had made him. Once when he was furious he only gave her bread and water for a week but that was as far as it went.

"Then I will die in this cell," replied Morgana, as defiant as ever.

"You will, then," threatened Morgause, to make sure she got her point across.

She whispered another spell to make sure the door couldn't be opened using magic as an extra precaution to stop her prisoner escaping.

"Don't go anywhere, now," said Morgause, laughing mockingly.

Morgana stared daggers at her. If looks could kill then Morgause would be lying dead on the dungeon floor. Unfortunately, they couldn't. Only when the door slammed shut did Morgana let a few tears escape before she composed herself. No-one got to her that easily. No-one.

FLASHBACK ENDS