Title: The Mad Prince

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Summary: After years of war between Camelot and Drogomir, an alliance is finally formed. As a token of his loyalty to the alliance, King Uther of Camelot sends the Lady Morgana, his Ward, to wed the Drogomirian King's son, Merlin... the mad Prince.

A/N: Hello, everyone! I'm back! For those of you who await an update on He is Mine, worry not, for I'm still working on that. I've just been hitting a bit of a writers block, but I have not abandoned it. As for the other two incomplete Mergana stories I wrote a few months ago, I'm still working out the kinks in them, as I feel that the stories need a little more oomph than what I've come up with so far (I've been doing a lot of rewriting). Anyways, I've been looking at my stories and realized that I've mostly written humor and fluff, so I decided to write something a little less predictable. I'm trying my hand at a multi chapter angst/romance (heavy on the angst), so if this is not your forte, I do apologize. But if angst is something you enjoy, then you should definitely read on. Thank you so much for reading this, and please review!

-McDiggin'It

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Chapter One: Her New Home

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There are but a few things in this world that angers the Lady Morgana. Being disturbed when she's reading or studying, being told what to do, the foul opinions of people who would see her fall, and recently added to the list, being sold off to a distant Kingdom to marry a man she had never met or even seen, in exchange for peace in Camelot.

Lady Morgana, is just a little more than angry though. Of all the outrageous things that Uther had subjected her to, this, was by far, the worst.

She had absolutely no say whatsoever. She'd begged, cried, sobbed, and begged some more, but Uther was adamant and unwavering. The King of Drogomir was firm in his pick of who would marry his son.

Morgana had met the King once. He was tall, thin, with long luscious locks of midnight, infused with subtle strands of grey. His eyes were a dark blue, and his beard came just below his neck. Despite being thin, his stance and expression held confidence and power. When he spoke, the room went silent. When he moved, all eyes followed him. He was a force to be reckoned with, and Uther clearly knew that. For why else would he so readily agree to let (make) her marry the Drogomirian King's son?

For those who have never heard of the Drogomirian Prince, it is baffling why the Lady Morgana is so opposed to marrying him. Is it not the dream of every woman to marry a Prince? To become of High Royalty? To become a future Queen? But to those who have heard of the Prince, they do not question why the Lady Morgana fought so hard to change King Uther's mind.

The Drogomirian Prince, is insane. Stories have fallen over the five Kingdoms, spreading like wildfire of how the Prince had taken his mother's life. Stories of his cruelty when in public. Stories of the men he has tortured in their dungeons, just for the fun of it. It is also rumored that he had once snapped the neck of one of his lovers when she did not please him.

Such a man is detestable and disgusting. The thought that she is going to marry this man makes her sick to her stomach. Lady Morgana stares longingly out of her carriage, enjoying the light breeze in her face, the different greens that paint the mountains, the dark and light browns of the earth, and the beautiful blues of the sky. She has no idea what to expect. She has never been to Drogomir. All she knows is what she'd heard from the servants in Camelot, who heard from some others. This, could very well be the last time she has the freedom to enjoy peace. She tightens her hand around the dagger that Prince Arthur had given her before she left Camelot.

"In case that monster tries to hurt you." He'd whispered as he slipped the dagger into her hand.

She had smiled sorrowfully at him and hugged him. Despite finding most of his antics annoying, she had always loved the Prince as if he were her own flesh and blood. He was like a brother to her, and she knew she was going to miss him and all their secret sword trainings. Besides him, the only other person she would miss, is Gwen, her best friend. Uther would've been on that list as well, if he hadn't just agreed to give her to another Kingdom as a bloody gift.

A loud horn blares from somewhere up front, and Morgana peaks out the window in curiosity. Her heart lurches in her chest as the gates of Drogomir come into view. The gates are tall and dark, made of what she thinks must be Dragon iron, an indestructible metal, infused with ancient magic and dragons breath. She's heard of the magnificence of these very gates, listened to stories of them withstanding numerous wars and countless invasions, and yet... seeing them now, knowing what lays just beyond them, banishes any awe she would have felt, had this been under different circumstances.

Fear begins to settle in her bones as they come closer and closer to the gate. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the chariot comes to a slow halt, and a knock on the side door is heard.

"Lady Morgana, we have arrived." One of the guards calls to her.

Morgana momentarily wonders why Uther and Arthur had not accompanied her on this journey, but then remembered the answer Uther gave her when she asked him exactly that.

"My child, we mustn't give off the impression that we are reluctant to let you marry Prince Merlin."

"And are you not?" She had demanded angrily. "Do I not mean anything to you?"

Uther had shaken his head immediately. "Of course you mean everything to me! You have been raised in my house since you were but a child! I loved you as though you were my own!"

"Then why are you sending me away?!" She shrieked at him. "Why condemn me to a fate no worse than death?"

Uther sighed and casted his eyes away. "Because this alliance is important." He looked back at her and reached for her hand. "You must know that."

She wrenched her hand from his and glared angrily at him. She had truly hated him then. Of all the reasons he could have for giving her away without explanation, the best he could come up with was that this alliance was important? She shook her head in disappointment and turned from him. "I hope this alliance is all you hope for." She told him bitterly before she hurried to her chambers.

The gates of Drogomir swing open, revealing the Kingdom within. It is not what she expected, although she's not entirely sure of what she had expected. Aside from the numerous golden flags that hang from poles along the wide streets, Drogomir was almost an exact replica of Camelot. People stood to the side, watching, whispering, and pointing at her carriage. She tries not to think of the fact that these strangers are to be her people once she marries into the royal family.

Despite the similarities between Drogomir and Camelot, Morgana did not feel at home here. She's in a Kingdom that was, until a few months ago, an enemy of her own Kingdom. It feels like she's only visiting, and yet, she's not. She's here to stay... forever. Nothing has ever made her felt more alone than being here in a strange land, with strange faces, and strange looks.

The chariot moves slowly and smoothly through the city, passing hundreds of people, all curious to know who sits in the luxurious carriage that parades through their streets. Morgana does her best to breathe slowly in hopes of calming her nerves. In just a few minutes, she will be arriving in front of the royal castle, and then she will be forced to leave the familiar carriage from Camelot. Tears begin to well up in her eyes, and she quickly wipes them away.

When she gets out of the carriage, she will not look the way she feels. She will not cry for the home she left behind. She will not let these strangers know that she misses her friends. She will not show any signs of the fear she feels, running though her veins like blood. And she will not show weakness.

What she will show, is confidence. She will make sure that everyone who sees her, sees someone who is fearless and fierce. She will show to these people that she is here of her own accord, in spite of the fact that she was practically forced onto her carriage. She will fool everyone into believing that she knows what she's doing, when in reality, she has no idea what to do. And when she is in the presence of the strangers who will become her family, she will hold her head up high, speak with dignity and respect, and solidify her character as someone who is more than worthy to be here.

Because whether she likes it or not, Drogomir is now her new home.

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A/N: Thoughts? I'm curious as to how this first chapter was received. Let me know what you guys think! It's been a pleasure writing this first chapter, and I'll see you all in the next update!

-McDiggin'It