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Morgause pulled her horse to a stop signalling with her hand for the knights to do the same. "Where are they?" she wondered out loud. She spun to look at her companions. "Did any of you see which way they went?" As usual the gormless lot remained impassive. "Why do I have to do everything myself?" snapped Morgause. It was then she saw the hoof prints on the ground. They led east. "Cenred's land?" questioned Morgause. "They cannot possibly be going there!" She knew, however, that tracks never lied. She spurred her horse on and the eight of them galloped away.
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"Merlin?" shouted Arthur. "Where are you?" The prince trudged through the forest. He had never felt so bad. Merlin was right, he should have protected Morgana. Yes, he was in the right and needed to help his father but Morgana needed his help too. He shouldn't have made Merlin practically responsible for her when he was such an appalling fighter. Whilst Merlin and Morgana had been busy trying to find a way to defeat the knights and getting them all safely out of Camelot, what had he been doing? Oh yes- sleeping. However sorry he felt, Arthur was sure Merlin would take a long time to forgive him. What if his friend decided to leave his service? As bad a servant as Merlin was, Arthur did not want to lose the companionship of the one person who liked him for him, not because he was a prince and a future king.
A twig snapped behind him, making him jump. Arthur unsheathed his sword. "Who's there?" he said.
A branch rustled. "Merlin? Morgana?"
Whoever or whatever was lurking in the bushes edged closer.
"Show yourself, you coward!" Arthur yelled, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
A figure emerged and Arthur's eyes widened in disbelief. "Father?!"
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Merlin stopped and rested against a tree. Finding Morgana had proved a practically impossible task. He sighed. Why hadn't he gotten Morgana off the horse? True, he had been desperate to save the prince but Morgana was in his care too. He shouldn't have expected Arthur to take full responsibility. What Arthur had said was bad. What Merlin has said was unforgiveable. Not only that but he had very nearly revealed the truth about himself! That would have been the most stupid thing to do, espescially when Arthur was so angry. Merlin wondered if he should go back and seek his forgiveness. A branch rustled behind him.
Merlin spun quickly around. "Hello?" his voice quavered.
The branches continued to move.
"Show yourself!" he called. A woman stepped out, her hair tousled and her face dirty. But Merlin knew who it was. "Morgana?!"
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Morgana heard Merlin and Arthur drop to the floor. She didn't think she could jump. Instead, she spurred her horse on faster and faster. When she thought she had gained a 'safe' enough distance, she changed direction slightly and headed east. After a few minutes she stopped and climbed down gracefully from her horse. She needed to get back to the boys. Morgana began to lead her horse away. She soon reached a small clearing and began to recognise where she vaguely recognised where she was. The wind whistled through the trees and she shivered slightly. Suddenly a strong hand grabbed her waist with an iron grip and another hand clamped her mouth, stifling her scream.
"Who are you?" snarled a gruff voice behind her. Lots of other men emerged from the bushes. Bandits.
Her captor took his hand away from her mouth. "I asked you a question, girlie!" he hissed."Who are you?"

"Gwen," choked Morgana. "I'm a maid servant in Camelot."

"You!" the man laughed. "A maid servant? Why the dress you are wearing is far too fine! I may be a poor man but I'm no fool!"

"I stole it!" Morgana lied. "I ran away. I was the servant to the Lady Morgana! I took the horse too!"

"Why did you run away then?" the questions continued.

"I was accused of stealing. They were going to arrest me but I escaped. My village is just near the border of Cenred's land. I was going home!"

There was a short silence. Then "Search the saddle bags for money!"

"No!" Morgana struggled. "That's my wages! I need them!"

"So do we, girlie! So do we!"
The men continued to search through her stuff.

"Hey, pa!" A young man with straw coloured hair seized Morgana's wrist. "Look at this ring!" He pulled it from Morgana's finger and studied it. "This is a royal ring from Camelot!" he exclaimed. "She's no servant she's-"

"The lady Morgana herself!" The man swung Morgana around to face him. "A pretty price you'll fetch!"
Morgana seized her chance and stamped down hard on her captor's foot. The man yelled and loosened his grip. Morgana twisted free and ran, lifting the edges of her skirt up.

"Get her!" the man shouted as Morgana sprinted towards the woods. The boy who had found her ring ran after her and was too quick for her. He grabbed her and lifted her over his shoulder, ignoring her kicking and screaming. The man dropped her and her wrists were tied together. The rope was tied to a horse and she was led away.

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"Father, is that really you?" Arthur asked. "But...how? I mean did...you...did Merlin..."

"Stop blabbering, Arthur!" snapped Uther. "Where is Morgana? Oh, I see! You left her. And where is that servant of yours?"

"Well they went..." Arthur gestured.

"And, on top of all that, I woke up in a dress cupboard!"

"But father-"

"You have failed me, Arthur. I was wrong. You aren't ready to be crown prince, let alone a king. Instead of caring for me and my ward, you left me behind and let a servant of all people wake me! How degrading!"
Arthur's eyes widened as Uther drew out his sword and told him "I'd rather murder my own son than see him destroy my kingdom!" Uther let out a yell and sprinted towards Arthur and swung his sword straight down towards his son.
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Morgana gasped in relief and stumbled into Merlin's arms.
"Thank God!" she whispered. "I couldn't find you and.." A tear tricked down her cheek. Merlin soothed her gently.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Morgause! She found me! She said..." Another sob wracked her body.
"She said she knew what had happened! And that I was a traitor to the cause. She couldn't kill me because I am the source but she hurt me..." Merlin noticed a bruise on her cheek. "Arthur's in danger!" She cried. "We have to find him!"

"Do you know where he is?" Merlin asked her. Morgana nodded and tugged at his hand.

"Come on!" And with that, the two ran away.
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The horse slowed to a halt and Morgana stumbled behind. She blinked and looked around and saw a little make shift camp. This must be where the bandits were temporarily living. She shuddered and prayed that Merlin found her soon. What if Morgause got to her first?

"Here we are, my Lady," the fair headed man, who Morgana had found out was called John, gave her a mocking bow. Morgana spat at him and the other men laughed.

"Ah, she's a fiesty one," one of them grinned.

"Shall I lead you to your chambers, my Lady," One of the others untied the rope and pulled Morgana into his chest. "I'm sure you'll find them comfortable." Morgana slapped him hard around the face, and there was another bout of laughter.

"I don't think she likes you," someone said.

"Why you little..." The man flung her to the floor and raised his hand.

"Stop!" John grasped the man's arm. The laughter died. "We need her well if we want the ransom!"
The man shrugged his arm from John's grip and walked away, grumbling. The others followed.
John held out his hand to Morgana.

"I don't want your help!" spat Morgana. John grabbed her and hauled her up.

"Just because i saved your scrawny little neck once doesn't mean I'm a friend to you!" he hissed. Morgana flinched. John grasped her arms and dragged her to a little tent. "Sorry it isn't more luxurious, my Lady. But hopefully, with your ransome money, we will soon be able to afford better accomodation!"
Morgana turned away.

"If you think the king will pay money for my return, you are mistaken!" she said coldly.

John laughed. "But you are his precious ward, are you not? I'm sure he would do anything to see you again."

"And what if you recieve no reply?" Morgana asked.

"We will come to that later. You will stay with us until the ransom has been payed!" John said menacingly.
And that was when the screams began.
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Morgause followed the tracks until it reached a little clearing. So many footprints suddenly appeared and she was confused. However the tracks all merged and continued on. Morgause signalled for the knights to follow on. Presently Morgause saw smoke rising. "A camp!" she called. Suddenly about five men jumped out of the bushes. Two of them grabbed her and pulled her off her horse. The knights instantly sheathed their swords but Morgause cried. "Stop! Sheath your swords!" The knights obeyed. One of the men pressed a sword against her neck.

"Who are you?" He snarled. "What are you doing here?" Morgause's eyes flashed gold and the man screamed as the sword in his hand got hotter and hotter. He dropped it and Morgause flung him against a tree using her magic. Another man rushed towards her but he was lifted into the air and slowly strangled before the other men's eyes. The remaining three ran for their lives but Morgause, again using her powers, pulled another man towards her and left him dangling in the air before her.

"You are lucky!" Morgause hissed angrily. "I have a good mind to kill you. But if you answer my questions I might let you live! If you do not, I will have you murdered in the most painful way imaginable. Do you understand me?" The bandit nodded, shaking with fear. "Where is Morgana and the prince?"

"I'm sorry...er...my Lady. I have not seen the prince. But-" he added hastily on seeing the flash of anger in the witch's eyes. "- I have seen the Lady Morgana!"

"Where is she?"

"In the camp! We found her wandering the trees alone and we...er...gave her a place to stay!"

"Liar!" Morgause snarled.

"All right! All right! We captured her. We were going to hold her to ransome. Now will you put me down!"

"Oh yes, I will drop you down!" Morgause raised her hand and the man was lifted higher and higher into the air, kicking and yelling, till he was high above the tree line. Then Morgause released him and he began his long fall back to earth. By the time he had hit the ground, Morgause and the knights had already ridden away.

The eight reached the camp in no time. The guard at the entrance began to ask "What do you-" before he was flung back.

"Find the Lady Morgana and bring her to me! Leave only a few survivors!" commanded Morgause. The knights nodded impassively and surged into the camp, cutting down men as they passed. Morgause set fire to the little tents as she rode through, laughing. She was certain she would find her sister soon.
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John poked his head out of the tent and gasped. Knights like he had never seen before rode through his camp. He had to get out.
Morgana shivered as she heard the screams. "What is happening?" she asked.

"We are getting out of here!" John said. He grabbed Morgana's hand but she snatched it back. "We have to leave!" He snapped. Morgana did nothing so he grabbed her waist and dragged her out. She saw a dark figure ride past- a knight of Meider. She wasn't sure who she'd rather stay with- John, who was set on holding her to ransome, or Morgause who would at least treat her well until she found out where her real loyalties lay, then would most likely kill her.
John hoisted her up onto her own horse and was about to climb up too when a knight attacked him. John spun to face him and Morgana seized her chance. Witha kick of her heels she rode off into the distance, leaving the smouldering camp behind her.
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Morgause surveyed the flattened camp. Most were dead but a few had escaped. Six knights returned and bowed before her.

"Did you find her?" demanded Morgause. The knights looked at each other. Morgause had her answer.

"IDIOTS!" screamed Morgause."HOW HARD COULD IT BE!"

Tha last knight came forwards dragging a fair haired man with it. It threw him onto the ground before Morgause.

"Who are you?" snarled Morgause.
The man looked up. His face was bruised and a trickle of blood ran down his face from his lip.

"I could ask you the same question!" He said boldly.
Usually Morgause would have killed the man for speaking to her with such impertinence. But she restrained herself.

"I am Morgause, one of the last remaining high priestesses of the old religion!" She held her head high as she said that. "Now answer my question."

"I am John. A bandit." John replied simply.

"Where is the Lady Morgana?"

"Don't ask me!"

Morgause kicked his face, hearing a satisfying crunch as his nose broke. John yelled and clutched his bleeding nose. Morgause bent down and whispered "I could kill you in the most painful way possible. Right now, I am tired, hungry and getting more irritated by the second. Now, I suggest you answer me!"

"All right!" whinged John. "I was trying to get her out safely. We found her wandering in the woods and-"

"Don't lie to me! I know all about the ransome!"

"I was trying to get her out, then I got her on the horse then one of these...creatures attacked me and she escaped! I don't know any more I promise!" His head drooped. Morgause stepped forwards and pulled at his hair so he would look at her.

"You have five days to find my sister-" John gaped as she described Morgana as her sister. "- and ask her to return to me or I swear I will hunt you down and kill you. Do you hear me?"
John nodded, shaking in fear.

"Then go!" Morgause pushed him back. John got up hastily and sprinted away.

"And don't think you can ever hide from a priestess of the old religion!" She called after him. "I will find you if you fail!"
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Arthur swung his sword up, blocking his father's blow.
"What are you doing?" he yelled.
His father made no reply and merely sliced his sword towards Arthur's head, which Arthur narrowly avoided by ducking. His father had a mad look in his eye which seriously scared Arthur. Why would Uther attack him just because a 'simple servant' had freed him from the enchantment?
Then it dawned on Arthur. His father was under the control of Morgause. He threw away his sword.

"Fight me, coward!" demanded Uther.

"No, father." Uther raised his sword but Arthur cried "Sire, you must listen to me! You are under an enchantment! I am not your enemy, I am your son! It is Morgause who will destroy your kingdom!"
Uther did nothing and, for a few heartbeats, Arthur thought his words had had some effect. Then his father raised his sword and drove it into Arthur's shoulder. With his free hand he smashed his son around the head, and stood back as the prince fell to the floor.

AN: Confused? Don't worry, all will make sense in the next chapter! Tell me your thoughts, I love hearing from my readers!