To early to be awake (open)

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

Morgana had gone to bed earlier in the evening praying dearly for a decent night sleep, but alas that was not to be. Her 'visions' were coming more frequently and getting stronger by the night. Although they were still uncontrolled, at least there wasn't the stigma of a sorcerer behind them anymore. The King had released the extreme punishments and allowed Magic to begin to flourish again in the Kingdom provided it was used to better society and not harm it. The night's sleep was interrupted by a vision- surprise surprise...and the potions Gaius gave her to induce sleep were only partially working. After waking up from the nightmare and noting that the sun was starting to rise, Morgana figured there was no point in attempting to go back to sleep as it wouldn't come easily and she would be instead tossing and turning in bed.

She rose from bed and since Guen had gone home, she chose one of her more simpler dresses that she she could simply pop over her head. It was a blue velvet made of a light velvet material- thick enough to keep her warm but not overheat her or wear her down. Morgana braided her hair and tied the end with a simple leather tie- it was too early in the morning to do a more elaborate style. Once she was satisfied that she wouldn't be walking around the palace in her nighgown, she slid her feet into some slippers. Morgana wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and then stepped out of her chambers.

While she was sure most of the court was asleep, it was not uncommon for her to be up at this hour due to the visions. Even if the hallways were only barely lit, she knew where she was going. Morgana headed through the hallways until she reached a doorway that opened out onto one of the castle walls. It was where she often came at this time of morning, if she was awake, as it was one of the best places to watch the sun rise and to think. She laid her arms on the top of the wall and stared off towards the sunrise.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur hobbled along the castle wall as quickly as his legs would allow. The wounds were still raw, but they had healed a little after he had spent the last day or so in Gaius' quarters resting. He had grown tired of it though, and he craved adventure, excitement or even just some company. It had only been the day before yesterday that he had visited the prisoner in the dungeons, and the event still weighed heavily on his mind.

As he wandered along the castle wall he began to make out a figure silhouetted against the red morning sky. He sighed, it was probably Gaius come to take him back to his hellish recovery room. As he drew closer though, he began to make out the more curvy figure of a woman-Morgana.

"Good morning" He smiled, going to stand beside her, and resting his arms on the wall too, "What brings you out so early?"

He knew the question would be better aimed at himself, but his reasons were ones that he did not want to discuss. The prisoner had escaped and Arthur blamed himself constantly, what if he took more of his mens lives, or his fathers? His own life mattered little compared to theirs.

Morgana looked tired, and he wondered if she was having troubled sleep, it was somethign he had never suffered from thankfully but he imagined it wouldnt be especially nice.

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

Morgana stared rather distractedly off into the sunset- as much as she really didn't want to me up at this hour, it truly was beautiful to see. Seeing the sunrise was probably something the peasants saw more of then the nobility, but Morgana knew them all to well. Some days were brighter than others, some were more cloudy and it usually set the tone for the day... Off in the distance she could barely make out the sound of footsteps approaching. As they got closer, she noted that they were a shuffle/hobble as opposed to a normal sound. Who on earth could it be hobbling around at this hour? Did she need to be concerned? Was it one of the guards patrolling?

She looked up and noted that it was Arthur approaching. Morgana had heard about the ambush and as much as she and Arthur did not always get along, she would never wish for him to be hurt. She was grateful for Gaius' skill as a physician and also Arthur's determination to live. What she was unaware of was that the prisoner had since escaped. Morgana smiled and momentarily bowed her head as he came to stand next to her with his arms resting on the wall.

"Good morning. ...What brings you out so early?"

"My sleep was interrupted and I was unable to go back to sleep. Rather than toss and turn I figured I might as well get up."

Morgana ran her gaze over Arthur and thought back to the hobbled sounds he had made as he approached. He did not sound as if he should be up moving around. Would Gaius approve of the Prince being up and about on his legs? Rumour had it that he had been attacked by a trained assassin. Although Morgana had not been told what fully happened, she did not have to be Seer to know that he was lucky to be alive. "I shall recover the lost sleep eventually. Speaking of recovery though, may I ask how are you doing?"

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur sighed heavily, "I'm fine!" He snapped, "Why do people keep assuming i'm not!" He frowned and stared crossly across the kingdom. In the distance he could see the first early risers in the fields, wanting to get their crops harvested while the day was new.

"Sorry," He said much softer than before, "Just, you know what I'm like and being in bed drives me crazy! But don't tell Gaius where i am if you see him!" He begged Morgana for her silence, as much as he teased her he knew that their bond was stronger than that and she was trustworthy.

"You should see Gaius about your sleep. It might be connected with the illness you had?" Arthur was genuinely concerned for his adopted sister, as was she for him. He never liked her to be in trouble and he was a protective "older brother" if he was one at all. Growing up without silings had left Arthur a spoilt and lonely little boy, but Morgana had arrived and forced him to share and play with her. He had soon changed, slightly.

"I like this time of day," Arthur smiled and turned to look at Morgana for the first time since he had arrived, "It's...magical?"

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

"I'm fine! ...Why do people keep assuming i'm not!"
Morgana took a half step back when Arthur snapped. While she knew he wasn't snapping directly at her, it still came out of thin air and caught her off guard. After a quick second she regained her composure and rested against the edge once again while her adopted brother stared rather crossly out towards the fields. Did he really wish to know why people kept assuming he wasn't? "Would you relax! I meant nothing by the comment other than I am glad you are still amongst the living!"

In a way, she was very glad he was still amongst the living- as much as they didn't always get along, she had been genuinely worried when she learned what had happened. Morgana, upon hearing that Arthur had been attacked by an assassin, had spent some time going back through what she could recall of her nightmares to look for anything that migh have suggested the attack and nothing could come to mind.

"Sorry... Just, you know what I'm like and being in bed drives me crazy! But don't tell Gaius where i am if you see him!"

Of course she knew what he was like- the only way to keep that boy in bed was to drug him, which she had known Gaius to do on occasion. She remembered the tournament where Uther had Gaius put Arthur into a deep sleep so he wouldn't risk death in the fight the following day. As for her not telling where he was- hadn't they had a similar conversation only a short time ago? Well at least this time she was keeping his location a secret from Gaius and not the King. "Arthur, of course we know what you are like...and that being in bed drives people crazy! Look at me I spent almost a week in bed back when I was ill. I certainly know where you are coming from, but at the same time you should not push your recovery. As for not telling Gaius- at least it isn't the King I'm keeping secrets from this time."With that she cast a smirk in his direction.

"You should see Gaius about your sleep. It might be connected with the illness you had?"

Morgana knew what it was- it had nothing to do with her illness! It was visions that came in the form of a nightmare. She also knew that Arthur still had no clue. Although the King had begun to allow magic back into the Kingdom, she certainly wasn't stupid enough to say 'I am a seer'-Uther's ward or not she really didn't want to test the King's reaction. At his prompting to see Gaius she shook her head. "It was a simple nightmare nothing more. Gaius is aware that it happens and is treating it with sleeping potions but some nights are worse then others.

"I like this time of day, ...It's...magical?"

As he turned to smile at her- the first time he had actually looked at her since joining her outside Morgana nodded in agreement. In a way the servants had the right idea. The sooner one got the day started, the more work could get done and she respected that ethic. Take Gwen for example- that girl often got up before sunrise and then went to bed late into the evening as she had to be available when Morgana awoke and around when Morgana went to bed. Sometimes Morgana wondered how the girl was even still alive with how hard she worked. As for it being magical, she honestly believed that all time was magical but the time around sunrise and sunset to her was the most magical of all. "I could not agree more! There is something to the sunrise that says -It's a brand new day...let's see where it goes. Speaking of new day, what are your plans for the day?"

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur smirked as Morgana mentioned his forcing her to lie to the king. He had been a little more forceful and harsh that time around if truth be told, but she knew it was all in jest. Or he hoped she did.

"Look at me I spent almost a week in bed back when I was ill. I certainly know where you are coming from, but at the same time you should not push your recovery. As for not telling Gaius- at least it isn't the King I'm keeping secrets from this time." Morgana said, not surprised that he was sneaking off out of bed.
"But you were genuinely ill!" Arthur exclaimed, "I just have these two silly cuts on his legs!" In truth Arthur knew perfectly well how serious his injuries were, and that without Gaius and rest he could have been unable to walk for weeks. But the prince was impatient and had quickly grown tired of being a good patient. Now he just wanted to be back in the saddle or in the training grounds!

When Morgana spoke of her sleepless nights, there was something in her voice that suggested she was either keeping the whole truth from him, or that what she did say was a complete lie. Arthur could tell that the matter was not one to be pressed, and kept quiet changing the subject to the time of morning.

"My plans for today?" Arthur repeated. The thought hadn't occurred to him really, so far this morning his head had been full of escaped prisoners and getting out of the court physicians rooms without Gaius (or Merlin) seeing him. Now what? He didn't know.
"I'm not sure Morgana, perhaps a walk or ride?" He grinned wildly. "No, I'm not entirely sure...but if you have any ideas do let me know. I can't spend any more time in bed!" He pleaded to her with his eyes and hoped she had an idea or two.

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

She listened as he continued to complain about staying in bed. Of course she had been genuinely ill but as for relating his injuries to two silly cuts well she wasn't so sure it was that simple. Although she did not know exactly what had happened, she did not have to be a Seer to know that Arthur was lucky to be alive. There were rumours going around that he had been attacked by a trained assassin and that the only reason Arthur lived was because the assassin made one mistake in his attack and Arthur was able to capitalize on it. In other words Arthur definately had the blessing of God above to thank for still being in the land of the living.

She was glad that he didn't press the sleepless night issue. Of course she wasn't telling him the truth at all but she didn't want to find out how he or the King would react. For many years Morgana had been plagued with the occasional nightmare however within the last couple of years the frequency and severity had increased dramtically. There wasn't a week that went by that she didn't have at least one restless night. Her saving grace was that she could easily say she was a little under the weather/blame it on womanly issues or feminine demeanour and recover through brief naps.

"My plans for today?...I'm not sure Morgana, perhaps a walk or ride? ...No, I'm not entirely sure...but if you have any ideas do let me know. I can't spend any more time in bed!"

Talk about in decision...Morganan found it funny to hear him practically debating with himself as to what he was going to do. Riding was most likely out of the question yet. "You could visit the library, practice archery, visit the training grounds even if you can't train as I'm sure the knights would like to see that you are almost recovered, engage in conversation with the many ladies of court...There are many things you can do that are not overly physical to the point where they will wear you out, but that won't have you sitting in bed anymore." She was still convinced that he should remain in bed for at least another day or so but wasn't going to fight the issue with him.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

"True, true" Arthur mused listening to Morgana's suggestions. "The trouble is that whatever I do end up doing, it has to be away from anyone who might cart me off to bed again. So that rules out the library (what with that nosey little man!) and the training grounds..." He trailed off, his face a picture of thought.

"Perhaps a walk or ride is out of the question though" He said as he painfully moved himself into a different position. "I just don't know. What are you doing today?" He asked finally giving up on what he might do himself.

Camelot was starting to wake now and down in the city square he could see the small figure of Gaius rushing around, probably looking for him. It was a good thing his eyesight wasn't what it used to be.

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

She listened with amusement as he ruled out two of her suggestions as he needed to be away from where people could cart him back to bed. Technically as the Prince of Camelot, if he refused to return to bed, there were only two people who had the 'authority' to order him back to bed- his father and Gaius as the Court physician but knowing how stubborn Arthur could be he would most likely manage to weasel his way out of it again. Although she had attempted when she was sick and failed miserably- in her defence though she truly was sick to the point where she had not the strength to fight Gaius demands that she stay in bed.

"I just don't know. What are you doing today?"

Morgana noted with a slight concern that when he shifted his position he winced in pain. If he truly was in that much pain perhaps he should still be taking it easy. "Arthur if the wounds are that uncomfortable still, forgive me, but perhaps you should still be in bed..." Knowing he would not like that suggestion, she quickly followed it up with another suggestion. "However, I also know that you are stubborn enough to not return to bed despite the pain. As for my plans today, I was considering a walk in the orchard or going for a ride as it seems to be a lovely day so far."

Down in the courtyard below she could easily make out the figure of Gaius amongst the members of court- he appeared to be rushing around. She was often amazed at how well that man seemed to rush around despite his age, although she suspected it really wasn't that easy for him and that he often suffered because of it. His body may be old but his mind was certainly as sharp as a tack still and she was greatful for all the care that he gave the people of Camelot.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur turned his head toward Morgana and grinned as she spoke. she knew him far too well, he was too stubborn to go back to bed, but as usual she tried to persuade him to do what they both knew was right anyway.

"A walk sounds nice, and a ride...even better! Sadly I am not up to either today, but i assure you as soon as i am able we will ride out together. You can choose our destination too." He smiled, knowing Morgana would probably choose to ride up to Old Cairn-on-the-hill, where her father was buried. She often rode there with Uther, but Arthur presumed that it was more Uther's choice that he ride with her than Morgana's.

"I do think that Gaius has seen me though," He added, peering over the wall at the tiny figure that seemed to be heading into the castle. "It looks like he is on his way up, so i should really get going. If I get caught, security will too tight to "escape" again!" He laughed and began to hobble along the walkway to his chambers. Perhaps Merlin would be there and might have a plan.

"Goodbye Morgana! Enjoy your day!" He called behind him.

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

Morgana nodded as he mentioned that he wasn't up to either a walk or a ride today. Of course he wasn't...the boy had severe injuries to both his leges and of course he should be in bed, but she wasn't stupid enough to suggest that again. "I look forward to it." And she could choose the destination? Wow he was being really generous- when Morgana went out for a ride there was usually only one place she went. Sometimes the King would come with her or she would be accompanied by either Arthur or some of his knights. Sitting at the top of one Camelot's many hills was the resting place of her father and often she would ride up there, spend some time in solitude and then go for a picnic or ride a little further. It wasn't that she wouldn't go other places, but that was the place that was closest to her. As the only child to survive past birth, Morgana truly had been her father's daughter.

"It looks like he is on his way up, so i should really get going. If I get caught, security will too tight to "escape" again! ...Goodbye Morgana! Enjoy your day!"

When Arthur commented that he thought Gaius had seen him she followed his gaze down over the wall and sure enough she could see the physician's figure headed back towards the castle as fast as he could considering his age. "Bye Arthur...Good luck getting away from him, for an older man he appeared to be moving pretty quickly." Morgana couldn't help but smirk as she called out to his retreating back. Not wanting to go inside yet, she turned her gaze back out to the courtyard down below.

(Gaius if you read this feel free to bring him in)