video ♛ ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ sᴛᴏʟᴇ sᴜᴍᴍᴇʀ's ᴛʜʀɪʟʟ

[scinlae]

Gwen? [ A beat. ] Merlin? [ Another beat. ] Arthur?

[ There is something distinctly off when the feed switches on, where there was once coldness now is warmth and concern. She looks around and the camera shakes a little before panning up to a face that looks so familiar but different at the same time. ]

If you're trying to scare me this is in very poor taste.

[ Here is a face some will remember, brave, stubborn, fierce; so full of the fire and warmth she had once upon a time possessed completely. She looks as if she stepped right out of the castle instead of looking as she had stepped right out of a hovel in the middle of a forest.

Morgana's brow furrows, her patience clearly reaching it's limit. What vague memories she has tells her they are here with her, but nothing more ─ so really stop hiding you jerks, it is not cool.

She sits nearby something busy (market most likely) judging by the sounds, tablet in her lap with a look of displeasure plain on her face. She had plans you see, though she barely remembers what they were, only they have been ruined by something; yet another thing she cannot properly remember.

Today is simply not her day. ]

Comments

video;

[graciousness]

[ She looks clean. And warm. She looks like Morgana.

For Gwen, it is odd beyond odd. Morgana being replaced by something dark and sharp and angry and suddenly she is Morgana again, the same Morgana Gwen remembers. As if the woman who came before is no more than a dream.

Morgana frowns and Gwen frowns in return. She's asking for them, not pushing them away. why is the question who comes first but then it doesn't matter. Morgana calls her and Gwen, ever dutiful Gwen, answers. ]

My lady?

video;

[scinlae]

Gwen!

[ There is certainly a lot more cheer in her voice than there was before and she is genuinely pleased to see her friend. ]

Where have you been? I've been looking for hours.

video;

[graciousness]

[ Maybe she's on the cider.

But she doesn't look intoxicated and Gwen knows for fact Morgana handles her alcohol better than most men. She had never seen her intoxicated except for that one solitary time on her sixteen birthday when she was a bit too cheerful and Gwen had to tuck her in, gown on and everything -

Never mind.

She tries to fight the confusion but it's right there. Morgana is acting oddly like -- herself. ]

I've -

[ what does she even. ]

I've been here my Lady. Where are you?

video;

[scinlae]

Outside. [ She gives the camera a puzzled look, the way she sees it it is Gwen who is acting odd. For a moment she is concerned, is she tired? Has she been resting well? This place puts pressure on them all, especially Gwen who has never really been a fighter. ]

I had some things to do today, though it has slipped my mind. I had expected you and Arthur to join me.

video;

[graciousness]

[ Her and Arthur - expected her and Arthur.

Now Gwen feels really out of the loop, much like the first time Morgana arrived and she felt she had missed something.

Looks like she missed it, again. ]

I - forgive me. I must have forgotten. I.

[ erm. ]

Morgana.

[ perhaps Gwen herself sounds as if she's on the cider, with her looking at Morgana as if she had seen her for the first time after years and years. ]

I'm just happy to see you.

video;

[scinlae]

[ A feeling she understands, as valiant as your efforts are Gwen she can tell that there is something off... or at least Morgana feels as she had missed something herself. ]

It is no matter, you needn't apologize. I am just glad you are alright.

[ Gwen is easily forgiven, especially with Morgana having forgotten whatever it was her plans had been. ]

As I am to see you. [ She gives her a smile, wide and bright, genuinely pleased to hear those words, to see her face. ]

Are you well?

video;

[graciousness]

Very well, my lady. You mustn't worry.

[ she curtsies again, a smile forming on her lips. ]

I could escort you - once you remember what was it that you wished to do.

action; B)

[innominata]

[ Morgana draws little more than a glance. A noblewoman clearly, but not of the North. Arya doesn't think she is. Thus she's unlikely to help her. Probably return her to Harrenhal or King's Landing.

Arya's attention is focused instead on one of the sellers nearby. The man has a collection of pastries out and Arya's mouth waters. She cannot remember the last time she had something sweet to eat. She waits for the man to turn away for a second to snatch one. All she needs is one. Her father would be disappointed in her, she knew, but she was so hungry. Besides stealing a cake was far from the worst she had ever done. ]

action; aww yeah

[scinlae]

[ Her frustrations are quickly pushed aside when she sees the girl, waiting like a thief for the seller to turn his back so she may swipe some of his food.

It takes Morgana less than a second to get to her feet and walk over to the stall. ]

Excuse me, I will take two of those. [ She offers the man a smile and pays for the pastries. It is then that she turns and moves towards the young girl, holding out one of the pastries for her. ]

Here, take it.

action;

[innominata]

[ Side eyeing so hard… ]

I don't want it.

[scinlae]

[ She gives her a look. ]

It will not taste any different if it is stolen or bought, you are hungry and I personally do not wish to see a young girl punished simply for trying to feed herself.

Take it.

[innominata]

I'm not hungry.

[ But she'll take it. But not because she needs it. Nope. B( ]

[scinlae]

Of course you aren't.

[ Morgana sees through those lies missy. ]

What is your name?

video;

[incorrupt]

[ Half-naked man sitting on a bed. Carry on. ]

Are you lost, ma'am? [ He's trying to be helpful. Really. ]

video;

[scinlae]

[ Good gods man, put a shirt on. She clears her throat. ]

No, I know exactly where I am. It is my friends who must be lost.

video;

[incorrupt]

[ He doesn't actually own one. ]

You know where you are? That's some good news, that, 'cause I don't really know, and Imma hope you'd help me.

video;

[scinlae]

[ What... a terrible shame. ]

I will help in any way I can, good sir.

video;

[incorrupt]

[ He used to have one but it's kind of bloody and lost in the rain. If you found a bloodsoaked shirt in a gutter, please return it to the Transport Clinic. ]

A name, fer one. What city is this, and what country is it, fer another.

video;

[scinlae]

[ She'll just buy him a new one, because it is pointless to return a bloody, rain soaked shirt to him. ]

My name is Morgana, as for where we are it is called Exsilium ─ however I cannot be certain if the entire island is called such or just the city.

video

[futurarex]

[this is a trick, a cruel trick--and an obvious one, designed more to hurt than it is for success. she cannot possibly believe that they will believe her--she wears the old Morgana's face to add salt to the wound of her betrayal. this is how it was, and that note to her voice when she says Arthur's name stings just as badly.

there was a time when he would have done anything for Morgana, and if she'd said his name like that, he would have fought his way to her side. there is a Morgana he doesn't let himself think of, and here she is. (and he thinks, too, of Gwen, who will be hurt by this, who still hopes for Morgana when he knows she is gone.)

the device gives him the moment that he needs, the moment of the sting as he looks at her face. and then he can move on, and make his answer, his voice steady.]

Whatever trick you are trying, Morgana, it will not work.

[because it must be a trick. a dull trick meant only to hurt. in a moment, her face will break and twist and harden, and she will laugh.]

video

[scinlae]

Trick? [ Morgana has always been a good actor, she managed to fool them all for so long but this? This is different. Her expression is softer, colored by genuine confusion at his answer. ]

Come now Arthur, if I were to trick you it would be far more creative. [ Never too old for childish tricks, she likes to think. ]

Has something happened? Both you and Gwen are acting rather strangely.

[ It is quite frustrating. She feels as if she has missed something; something important and something very grave. It has slipped her mind much like her plans for the day, disappearing into a deep fog which has clouded her mind since she awoke this morning. ]

video

[futurarex]

We're acting strangely.

[he says it dryly, darkly. and there is more truth to that than she knows: if this is a trick, it's a terrible one. she could never hoped to be believed, not after what they know.

it's the simplicity that makes him pause, even if he would never admit it--and it would be better if it didn't; it would be better if he could forget any hope. this place is full of strange magic. Merlin knows more of Camelot's fate than he does--Gwen knows less--there are people here who know Arthur as king--

but Morgana is Morgana. it should not matter.]

You claim to know nothing?

video

[scinlae]

Yes you are.

[ Annoyance bubbles to the surface, mixing in with that lovely layer of confusion. At least Gwen was more amicable, she had said forgotten but Morgana knew it was simply a cover for her own confusion. But Arthur... well Arthur is and always will be Arthur; a frustrating and often annoying prat.

But she wouldn't change him for the world. ]

Obviously, I'm not all that sure what you are expecting me to know.

video

[futurarex]

[her irritation is familiar--not anger, not spitting seething rage, but plain simple irritation, as if he's teasing her, keeping away some bit of information just because he can-- could she fake this so convincingly? could she really blank her face of her hatred?

no. she must be pretending. she pretended before, while she was learning her magic, while she was betraying them, while she was undermining the rule of Camelot and seeking the throne for herself--and Arthur believed it then. he will not be so stupid now. Nothing else makes sense. why would she suddenly be herself again?]

I expect you to know all that you've done! Or are you looking for me to make you a list so you can gloat?

You may think me stupid, but you can at least acknowledge that I'm not stupid enough to fall for this. You betrayed us all, you turned to sorcery--but this is stupid, it's beneath even you.

[yet even as he says it, he wants to fall for it. it's weak, it's stupid, it's a traitorous instinct, but he wants to believe it, that she's forgotten everything, that she's hit her head and she no longer hates him, no longer practices magic or seeks the throne--that things can be the way they were, the way they should be--]

video

[scinlae]

[ She flinches as if he had struck her, all her irritation fading in one quick stroke. But the anger and hatred and mocking he expects is not what replaces it. Instead her eyes glisten with more fear than anger, and what little anger there is is only an attempt to keep herself up right.

She doesn't understand, he is speaking in riddles and she can't ─ ]

How? [ It is a whisper at first, in part because she hopes she had heard differently. He cannot know of her magic, can he? She clears her throat, trying to shake it off ─ pretending she did not hear it, but the terrified air clinging to her heavily betrays her. ] Fall for what? To my knowledge I have done nothing wrong, I know you are not stupid Arthur just as much as I know I would never betray you.

[ Never, never. She is just scared, scared he will hate her if he learns the truth, scared he will have to tell Uther and have her killed. Scared, scared, so very scared. ]