Library

[King Uther Pendragon]

Old dusty books and parchment fill the shelves. The Library master is the only person who really knows where anything is. Feel free to peruse the books at your leisure- if you can find what you're looking for first that is!

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

After having spent a couple of days in her chambers feeling ill, it was finally nice to be allowed to venture out of her room. Both Gwen and the court physician Gaius had been determined to keep her in her bed and unfortunately she had not the strength to fight them. Today, however she was finally feeling better and had been given permission to visit the library. Morgana entered the library and perused the rows and rows of scrolls, documents and books until she found one that sounded interesting. She really didn't care what the book was about as long as it involved her earning some temporary freedom from her bedroom.

She took the book over to one of the padded benches that lined a far wall and sat down with her feet curled up underneath her and the book spread out on her lap. Morgana opened the book, which appeared to be a history book about Camelot and began to skim through the pages. As she finished a page and turned onto the next one, she would occasionally raise her eyes and scan the room wondering if anyone else had ventured in. So far she was the only one in there. Morgana did not mind- there were times when she enjoyed being alone. Although it seemed she wouldn't be alone for long...

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

"So Gaius has finally let you leave your bed?" Arthur had crept up on Morgana, hoping to make her jump."You don't look great, are you sure you should be let out?" He smiled sarcastically.
Lady Morgana had come to Camelot when she was merely a girl, and her father was killed in a battle King Uther had sent him into. On his death bed he had made Uther promise to protect Morgana and he had agreed to bring her up as his own. Doing so had made Arthur think of Morgana as a sister as well as a friend and he loved nothing more than teasing and arguing with her.

"History?" He sneered seeing the book she was reading, "Could you have found anything more boring?" Arthur wasn't a big book fan. He would much rather be outside throwing his weight around and showing someone who was boss. Although of course he did it with princely poise.

"Have you seen Merlin anywhere? I seem to have lost him and my armour is starting to dull..."

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

"So Gaius has finally let you leave your bed?"

As she had been alone upon entering the library, she was certainly surprised by the voice emerging from behind her. Out of surprise she almost dropped the book on the floor but managed to catch it before it hit the ground. With a very obvious scowl she looked up into the face of Arthur. It was no secret to the court that while the Prince and the King's Ward had grown up together as friends/adopted siblings, they certainly enjoyed bugging the hell out of each other.

"You don't look great, are you sure you should be let out?"

Although slightly unladylike, she rolled her eyes at his sarcastic tone. "I assure you that it is nothing a little freedom won't fix. Gaius is finally convinced that I'm mended so he is letting me out. She couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the sneer that crossed his face when he looked down at the book she was reading.

"History? ...Could you have found anything more boring?"

"Arthur, we all know it isn't because of the subject...you just despise reading. Besides one must have at least some intelligence to read and you don't have any!" She wondered what kind of a Prince Arthur would grow up to become. So far she had seen an arrogant adolescent brat who would rather solve problems with weight than use the brain that he was given.

"Have you seen Merlin anywhere? I seem to have lost him and my armour is starting to dull..."

He had lost Merlin again? Way to go Merlin! More often than not she felt sorry that Merlin had to serve the pompous brat that was currently standing in front of her. “Lost your servant again? What a great track record you have Arthur. How could I have seen him? I was just released from my room remember? Perhaps he is running errands for Gaius?”

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur sighed as Lady Morgana insulted his intelligence and replied, "Be careful Morgana or i ill have you thrown in gaol" He smiled again, the sarcastic sort of smile that he saved almost solely for her.

"Well I thought perhaps he had been hiding in here?" Arthur made a show of searching the aisles of books behind him for Merlin, before turning back and crossing his arms over his chest. It wouldn't have been surprising for Morgana to know where Merlin might be, he was almost an a servant to Gaius-who had been treating her- and she had a tendancy to hide things from Arthur just so she could annoy him.

He sat himself down beside her and looked out of the window nearby into the courtyard. His knights were down there, practicing stances and just generally patrolling the square. He was proud of them, under his command they protected Camelot and its people.
"Look Morgana, that is real knowledge! Better than your book rubbish!"

He looked over the guards to the market stall which lined the far end of the square. Many of his people crowded round, haggling for bargains just so they could feed their family. His father was a good king, but sometime Arthur thought he could do better. Would do better.

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

"Be careful Morgana or i'll have you thrown in gaol ... ...Well I thought perhaps he had been hiding in here?"

He would have her thrown in gaol? After all the teasing/insults they had hurled at each other he would throw her in gaol for a sly comment like that? Wow he must really have low self-esteem if he felt the need to make that threat. Would he go through with it was the next question- although she wanted to think he wouldn't she certainly wasn't stupid enough to test him.
"Where are my manners? Forgive me for that blow your highness..." The sarcasm in her voice was only slightly veiled.

"As for Merlin, you can see that I am the only one in here...in fact the court librarian is not even here at the moment." She shook her head amused as he made a show of searching the aisles before returning to the spot where she was. Truly in this moment she honestly did not know where Merlin was. Although she had been known to withhold information from Arthur just to annoy him, this was not one of those times. As he turned to sit next to her, she followed his gaze out the window which looked down into the courtyard. Down in the courtyard she could make out the clothing/armour of his knights who were down there practicing and just patrolling.

"Look Morgana, that is real knowledge! Better than your book rubbish!"

"I agree completely Arthur, however this rubbish as you so politely put it is the closest I will ever get to that."

Morgana set her slippered feet down on the ground and pushed herself gently away from the bench. She wandered back over to the shelf she had gotten the book from and set it down on the shelf then returned to the bench. Still standing she was able to see more outside the window. She was able to see the general populace down in the courtyard doing their shopping.
"Surely you have more important things to be doing than sitting about with me?"

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

"Well you would think so, wouldn't you?" He grinned and punched her playfully on the arm. Even though he teased, he had a sisterly love for Morgana and he wouldnt have ever thrown him in gaol for real.

"In truth I am trying to hide from father. He keeps sending me out on ridiculously boring trips. I figured if he can't find me, he cant make me go!" At the moment Uther himself ventured out into the town square yelling Arthurs name at the top of his lungs.

"Argh!" He yelled, trying to duck out of sight, and falling backwards off of the bench. He rolled into a sitting position and stood up. He looked at Morgana's face and said: "Your just jealous of my princely poise."

He smiled and turned as the door opened, it turned out to be the court librarian coming in with a selection of large, boring-looking books. He really wished Merlin was about, things could be interesting when he was. He especially liked it when he persuaded Merlin to set Lancelots hair on fire, or tie his boot laces together, although it wasnt easy persuading him...

"Morgana, how are you feeling now?" The prince asked his question sincerley, fearing he had been a little too harsh on her this morning.

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

"Well you would think so, wouldn't you? ... ...In truth I am trying to hide from father. He keeps sending me out on ridiculously boring trips. I figured if he can't find me, he cant make me go!”

She rubbed the spot where he punched her for a brief moment- it may have been a playful punch but it still stung a bit. He went on to explain that he was hiding out from Uther so he wouldn’t have to go out on boring escapades. A smirk to rival Arthur’s crossed Morgana’s face. “Ah, we get to the reason why you have ducked into the library. It is not because of a love of reading or because of the wonderful company; instead it is to avoid your royal duties.”

Still looking out the window she could see the imposing figure of King Uther- her guardian, emerge from inside the castle and it appeared he was yelling Arthur’s name at the top of his lungs. Next thing she knew Arthur had fallen backwards off of the bench which caused her to burst out laughing. After the few days in bed sick, she definitely needed a good laugh and if it was at Arthur’s expense so be it. She practically bit her tongue to stop laughing as he bounced back onto his feel.

"Your just jealous of my princely poise."

“Jealous, yes that is it exactly... So what would you do if I were to inform the King that you were skiving off your duties in the library?”

Just as she finished asking the question, the library door opened and her gaze flew to the door as she was curious if it would be the King or not. Unfortunately Arthur got off the hook as it was the Court Librarian returning with a huge pile of books. He, as carefully as he could with the pile of books in his arms, acknowledged their presence with an inclination of his head and then headed off to shelve the books. Arthur sure seemed to have luck on his side as Uther would be none too happy to discover that his son was skiving off his duties again.

"Morgana, how are you feeling now?"

She slid down onto the bench and gave a quick wave of her hand. “Other than being a little bit tired I am well.” It was true that she was a little tired, but there was NO way she was returning to her room as she had done nothing but sleep, eat and take Gauis’ cures for almost 4 days. One can only amuse themselves for so long in one room- even one as ‘spacious’ as Morgana’s before going stir crazy! If she had to spend any more time in bed she would be diagnosed as Mad not ill.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

"I am glad you are better," He smiled, giving her a quick squeeze round the shoulders before standing up and reverting to his more arrogant temperament. "I trust you won't be sitting around here reading all day?" He questioned, "We have a guest who could probably do with some company."

He was referring to Annabell Glenn, whom he had met just recently. He felt a kindness towards her and wanted her to feel at home in the castle, thus his lame attempt to force Morgana to befriend her. He would of course still spend as much time entertaining her as he could but his father would notice after a while that he hadn't practiced with the Knights or been out on a royal hunt for several days.

"I should really find my father, he is going to kill me before long," He sighed. "Any tips on what to do when he is in a rage?" Arthur grinned, referring of course to the times Morgana had purposely defied King Uther's orders. It had resulted in a tough night in the dungeons and also (unbeknown to Arthur and Uther) the Kings near downfall at the hands of a rogue sorceror in time where magic was less acceptable than now.

After Morgana had finished, Arthur stepped over to one of the nearby bookcases and picked out a book at random.
"Just in case, you know?" He grinned.

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

"I am glad you are better ...I trust you won't be sitting around here reading all day? We have a guest who could probably do with some company."

For all Arthur’s arrogance, he certainly could be quite the gentleman when he chose to be. The moment of the gentleman showed itself when he gave her a quick squeeze after stating that he was glad she was better, however it vanished as quickly as it arrived. Morgana had promised Gaius that if he were to let her out of her room she wouldn’t get herself over excited or he could order her back to bed.

“While I do not plan to read all day, I did promise Gaius that I would take it easy for the remainder of the day.”

They had a guest arrive at the palace? She thought for a moment and remembered Gwen mentioning that there was a new lady that had come to Camelot. Although his attempt at making the lady’s presence known and requested that Morgana visit him was slightly lame and off the cuff, she thought it only fair that she should visit the lady and attempt to make her stay here comfortable. “I do vaguely remember Gwen mentioning that there was a visitor at Court. Lady Annabelle I believe? I shall attempt to visit with her today and welcome her to court.”

"I should really find my father; he is going to kill me before long. ... Any tips on what to do when he is in a rage?"

Morgana looked out the window and down into the courtyard again with a rather amused look- ah to be a woman. As long as she did what she was told, her life was fairly simple compared to that of a man’s. Arthur on the other hand was currently tempting fate and staring death straight in the face. If he didn’t get his act in gear, he would be staring into the angry face of the King. As he asked for tips about what do when the King was in a rage she thought back to the few times she had ever had Uther angry at her. Most of the times she was able to absolve herself by apologizing, blaming it on being an emotional woman or doing some good deed to reverse his opinion of her, however there were a few times where she would openly defy the King and get rewarded with a rather uncomfortable night spent in the dungeon. The time she was currently thinking about had her defying Uther for what she believed to be a very good reason- Uther was so afraid of magic back then that he was willing to execute a Druidic child and for reasons she could not explain, Morgana was unable to abide by the King's decision. Hence the reason for ending up in the dungeons chained to a wall...only to be rescued by Arthur the following morning.

“Other than the few times where I openly defied the King, most of the other times I have been able to dissipate the King’s anger by apologizing, blaming it on being an emotional woman or doing a good deed to counteract his opinion. Since we both know you can’t pull off an emotional woman very well, I suggest you either apologize or do something good for Camelot without him asking.”

She watched as he then went over to the bookshelf and selected a random book off of the shelf. "Just in case, you know?"

What was he planning on doing? Was he going to make it seem like he was either studying- yeah right...or keeping her company after her four days confined to bed? She would love to see the King’s reaction to finding his son holding a book in the library as opposed to actually working. “Good luck Arthur, you are going to need the angels on your side if the King finds you in here holding some random book, rather than doing your duties.”

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

"I thought i pulled off an emotion woman quite well!" He shireked, feigning a high pitched womans voice and pretending to break down and cry. He laughed and flipped open the cover of the book he was holding.

"A History of Albion" He read aloud. Morgana had assumed he had picked this book at random, and he had, but now he was coming up with a plan. Camelot was the capital of Albion, so he expected the book to be full of mostly boring facts about it, but there would also no doubt be some information on the neighbouring cities and towns, and one of those would be Annabell Glenns kingdom. He would explain to his father that he had been reasearching the neighbouring kingdoms and trying to find out what had led Annabell's home to such a tragic end. Arthur would say he was trying to prevent the same thing from happening to Camelot, and Uther would fall for it, for nothing was more important to him than Camelot. It was a fool proof plan.

He explained it quickly, cutting out the part about it being Annabell's kingdom that had fallen, for he didn't want Morgana to start teasing him because he was befriending her.
"If Uther comes in, I want you to tell him I have been in here all day studying." He told her, rather than asked. "I will leave this book in my chambers, so it looks like i really was researching." He walked to the door, nodding to the librarian as he passed him, with a "dont-even-think-about-telling-Uther" kind of stare.
"Oh and Morgana," He added, "If you betray me, it will be more than a night you spend in the dungeons."

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

"I thought i pulled off an emotion woman quite well!"

If it wasn't for the fact that she had seen many a woman act that way, her included on a few occasions, she would have been more than offended at his lame attempts, but upon hearing him laugh she burst out in laughter as well. The Court Librarian cast an odd look in their direction, shook his head for a brief second and went back to his work. She was curious to know what he was currently thinking but didn't bother to ask.

'Your emotional woman act might not even save you from this one...'

Morgana watched as he then opened the book and went on to explain how he planned to subdue the King's anger upon discovering what he had been doing. Apparently Arthur planned on telling him that he had been researched situations that led to tragic ends for other kingdoms to avoid that happening in Camelot- of course go for the 'save the Kingdom' card...Although, the more she thought about it, the more it actually might work. Following the explanation, before she could get a comment in, he went on to rope her into the lie as well without even asking if she would cover for him.

"If Uther comes in, I want you to tell him I have been in here all day studying. I will leave this book in my chambers, so it looks like I really was researching."

As he walked to the door, she noted the look he gave the librarian- poor man! Arthur was dragging everyone into his little scheme. As if he hadn't concocted enough of a wild scheme, he went on to further threaten her if she told his secret.

“Oh and Morgana, if you betray me, it will be more than a night you spend in the dungeons."

He wouldn't dare! She hoped he realized the hard place he was putting her in. Don't get her wrong, she had kept secrets in the past when it was absolutely necessary, but this was one time she was unsure if she could keep the secret. If the King were to command that she tell him where his son was, Morgana knew that lying to Uther would be very difficult as he could make her life more miserable.

'You wouldn't dare!' Although after she thought about it for a moment his tone of voice was pretty matter of fact and after a sigh, she looked at him with a scowl. 'You truly know how to be a snake when you need to be, but provided the King does not threaten me with worse I will begrudgingly keep your secret. You owe me Arthur Pendragon...'

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

"Oh I would dare Morgana." Arthur Pendragon grinned. "You may be my fathers ward, but I am his son. He will believe me over you."

With that Arthur shot one last glare at the librarian, who quickly shuffled through a door into his private chambers. Arthur knew he wouldn't talk now. Who would upset a prince who threatened his adopted sister with gaol?

Arthur said goodbye to Morgana, and left the library. The hallway was cold and Arthur wished he brought a cloak with him. He would have to go outside if he wanted to get back to his chambers, and it was raining. As he hurried through the stony corridors he wondered if once again he had threatened Morgana a little too much. Sometimes he put being the Prince in front of what truly mattered: his friends. He made a mental note to spend some quality time with Lady Morgana later this week, it was only fair.

He huddled as close to the castle walls as he could when he crossed the courtyard. It gave him a little protection from the bitter wind, but the rain still fell strong and fast. He wished Merlin had power over the weather. That would be a truly useful gift.

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

"Oh I would dare Morgana. ...You may be my fathers ward, but I am his son. He will believe me over you."

Well that comment made it official- any love she had for her adopted brother quickly flew out the door as he reminded her that as the King’s son he had his ear. Arthur turned his attention from her back to the Court Librarian with another glare and the poor man quickly made a beeline for the door to his chambers. Anyone who ever said Arthur was a sweet man certainly had need of an examination from Gaius... If looks could kill the scowl that Morgana had across her face would have pierced him right there but as soon as he turned to say goodbye to her it softened- she knew when to push her luck and when not to and this seemed like one of those times not to as he had threatened her twice now with gaol in the same conversation.

Once he was out of the room, the scowl reappeared. “Why the insufferable prat!” She was glad for once to be entirely alone so that she could vent. Her mood at this point had rather changed and rather than spend the day in the peace and quiet of the library which felt like it was still ringing with Arthur’s threat, she also left the library. Morgana tugged her shawl up over her head and shoulders to keep the cold away and quickly ran through the corridors to a warmer part of the castle. While she headed through the castle she prayed that she did not run into Arthur again for at least the rest of the evening!

(out of library to other parts of castle)