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.
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."
"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."
"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."
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.
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."
"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."
"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."
"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?"
"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?"
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She turns her head to see Gwen in a dress she long ago found with Arthur.
She looks like a queen...
In fact she is a Queen. His Queen.
Morgause or not, he's going to grin like an idiot.
"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?"
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."
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.
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."
"You would have let him kill me, if you had known I had magic."
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.
"You would think that. Yet, tell me one person with magic who has been spared."
"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.
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."
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."
"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?"
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?"