*What Dreams May Come....* [Action Sequence] - 3rd June 1007

[not_a_clotpole]

[Arthur is fast asleep on his book...which could well be the reason such odd dreams will come to him this night.

But dreams are always strange, aren't they...?]

Comments

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"Why do you make that a question? Is anyone else going to tell the crown prince he is being so lazy?"

She settles on a divan nearby, propping her head on her hand.

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur blinks a few times. "I was just...not expecting you...here."

He scratches his head. "What are you doing here?"

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

Just as Arthur doesn't realize he's dreaming, Morgana doesn't realize she's a part of that dream.

Then again, she may not be a part of the dream after all. Dreams can be tricky like that and Morgana would know that better than anyone.

"I am not going to let you deflect this, Arthur. You were sleeping! In public! Where everyone could see!"

A servant walks by, and doesn't even acknowledge Morgana.

[not_a_clotpole]

"I was tired," Arthur objects. "I've been trying to run the kingdom after all, Monmouth isn't any help at all."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

That Morgana says nothing about running the kingdom should be rather noticeable, given her attitude.

"When is Monmouth any help at all? But as you are so worn out, perhaps I should step in and help where Monmouth cannot."

[not_a_clotpole]

"Has he ever proven to be the least bit helpful?"

He's not sure what to say about her offer...after everything... It's not as if he could trust her.

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"I cannot recall a single time." She looks at the palace room, as another servant ignores her.

"Something's not right yet Arthur. Can you feel it?"

[not_a_clotpole]

This time Arthur does notice the servant, but then again he thinks it's more strange that the servants aren't running away screaming.

"I can..." He looks around rather uncertain. "I...what were you doing before you came here?"

Because if it was overthrowing the King, it's rather strange to see her now.

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"I was out for a ride. It is a lovely day." If she sounds like she's gloating that she's been outside while he's been stuck inside, it's because she is.

[not_a_clotpole]

That doesn't really pinpoint time at all...

He pokes his tongue out at her.

"Hey, some of us have things to do, reading treaties and sitting in endless Council meetings."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

Being out for a ride might nit pinpoint the time, but her next comment would. "I can see Uther is still making you do penance for being so insistent about marrying Sophia." She looks very superior to him, given how right she was, and imagine, she doesn't even know how right she truly was.

[not_a_clotpole]

"Sophia..." It takes Arthur a moment to even remember who that is. "Oh...er...her."

He scratches the back of his neck, uncertainly. What's he supposed to do now. Is this real? Is he dreaming or is the multiverse playing tricks on him.

"I guess so. You sure you want to help me then?"

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

Morgana looks at him like he's hit his head. "Yes, her. I cannot imagine some girl actually wanting to marry you."

Actually she can and shes quite sure he'll be a complete sap for her, but she's certainly never going to tell him that.

"Do I get to tell people I helped you, or would that injure your pride too greatly?"

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur rolls his eyes. "If I said you couldn't would you bother to help me? We both know how much you love to gloat."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"May I continue to gloat at you? Perhaps when that manservant of yours is in the room?"

She's far too amused, and easy going right now to be real. Then again, perhaps she's getting some proper sleep of her own.

[not_a_clotpole]

They are both in surprisingly good moods, if this continues there might be hugging!

Arthur chuckles and holds of a sheaf of papers. "If you can make heads or tails of this, you can gloat at me all you want."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

Hugging between them at this time is rare, particularly because of the pesky rumours, but she's going to take the papers.

"And these are in relation to?" She's expecting there's got to be more information than what's here.

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur resigns himself to the fact this can't be real, and fittingly as soon as he does, the entire world seems to shift.

He's no longer at his table, and Morgana isn't next to him.

Instead he's in the Main Hall, but it looks extremely different...more... light, happier...

"Morgana?"

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

Morgana's standing off to the side, watching the events in fury. Beside her stands Morgause, whispering in her ear.

She turns her head to see Gwen in a dress she long ago found with Arthur.

[not_a_clotpole]

Spotting Morgause makes the blood rush to Arthur's face in fury, but he hesitates, distracted by Guinevere.

She looks like a queen...

In fact she is a Queen. His Queen.

Morgause or not, he's going to grin like an idiot.

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"That is the problem." Morgana is now beside him, a little more angry than before but overall, the main tone is hurt.

"I am always ignored for someone else. Then again, my dear brother, is the problem that you do not pay attention, and are easily distracted?"

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur frowns. "No you're not..are you?"

People always pay attention to Morgana! At feasts, when she's out and about...At least as far as Arthur's concerned. But maybe he was wrong?

"I'm not easily distracted! I can focus my attention completely when necessary. You've seen me at tournaments."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

Morgana nods toward Gwen, to prove her point, "Beautiful, is she not? That dress looks lovely on her."

There is a big difference between the attention she gets at feasts, and having those around her notice the changes that went on. Particularly in the past couple of years. Morgana's always been Arthur's other side, the one to give him other opinions, and even that's been mostly replaced by Merlin.

If Arthur pays too much attention to the resplendent Gwen, he may turn back to see Morgana's disappeared back to Morgause's side. Morgause isn't paying the least bit of attention to the proceedings.

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur chances another peek at Guinevere - he can't help it! - and sees himself waiting for her.

Other him is definitely smug and why not? He has the wife of his dreams!

Arthur might be a little jealous of himself.

But! He's not going to let Morgana be proven right, and he focuses right back on her. "You're not been fair, how was I supposed to ever guess you'd betray all of us. Even Guinevere."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"Your betrayal was first. Siding with your father." If anything, she's more resigned than anything, as the dream Morgause wants to lead Morgana away from things.

"You would have let him kill me, if you had known I had magic."

[not_a_clotpole]

"You're... I.... That's not even fair! I didn't even know!"

Arthur does look guilty, the fact is even now, he has trouble believing Morgana could have magic. But Leon, the knights and Guinevere had seen proof. To say nothing of the collasped tower still being repaired.

He shakes his head. "Father would never have killed you. He loves you too much."

But even he doesn't sound too sure.

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

Perhaps Arthur needs to know this for the future. Perhaps this is a chance for him to ask what he wants, or a chance to learn what was missed.

"You would think that. Yet, tell me one person with magic who has been spared."

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur is silent - there's Gaius, but Arthur doesn't know that.

"You...you could have told me, I'd have protected you." He hopes...he feels like he would, but then...

"You claimed that magic was nothing to be feared, that Father was a murderous blood-thirsty tryant. But you fired on innocent people in the town square, explain that." Arthur can also ask hard questions.

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

This apparition, or whatever she may be of Morgana, looks at him, full of assessment. "You cannot defy your father, not openly."

She turns the question back on him. "How many people with magic were slaughtered looking for me? I never asked to come back, Arthur but if I was to be forced back, to avoid more slaughter, what else did you expect me to do?"

And there is an answer to her question. "Those who live within the city are not innocent. They are the ones who most supported the King. They cheered at executions of children. They stood by while an entire culture was destroyed. Do not tell me they are innocent."

[not_a_clotpole]

"Oh? You gave them a fair and just trial? The type you wanted Father to give? Or are you just able to read minds now?" Arthur is scornful, but he's more disappointed than angry. "Or perhaps Morgause told you of their guilt. God forbid she'd lie."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"And what trial was ever fair in Camelot? Tell me one person accused of performing, or consorting with magic that had any chance of going free, without something drastic, usually done by one of us."

Morgana does not take kindly to the slander against Morgause, the same way she would have for Arthur, years ago. "Not to me. She is the only person in my life who does not."

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur looks even more appalled.

"Were you not always telling me how I should rule Camelot differently? Change the injustices? Be more understanding? The people fear magic more than ever now and can you blame them? You unleashed an unkillable army on them, what else are they to think than magic is evil?"

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"I am not the one to convince them of that. It was our father. The one who would present himself as the devastated widower, only to unleash a war on those not looking for it. They already thought magic was evil. I no longer know how to change that than to eliminate those who enforce the policies of mass slaughter against them, by whatever means I can."

She looks at him, and the tone comes back, the one that is more hurt. "I did not ask you to come look for me. There was nothing sent for ransom, nor any reports of my death. Why could you not let me disappear?"