Chapter Four.
Morgana had changed for the better. Now it was sweet, as its new fragrance. He went to look at training the men, and from the stands smiled. The tournament had left him speechless when spontaneously offered him a sign of his favor, and fortunately the applause had helped him to gain time and composure to be able to adequately respond to the gesture. When Lord had wrought
Ainsworth had applauded enthusiastically, wiping his pleasure with the hopes of Devon, and when he came close to winning to declare his hand saying "victorious Morgana" being fought in her honor, she looked at him with a confused look, as if that short Latin formula - which was well known because they had the same teacher of Latin and Uther had always demanded perfection in order to demonstrate the excellence of his race and his connections with the meritevolezza ' Roman Emperor - had been the unknown, creating hardships.
Nothing I said seemed to annoy her father, a maximum was obviously bored from time to time, Uther and seemed touched by the bizarre behavior. He spent much time with Gwen to try new hairstyles and new clothes, and had stopped needing the concoctions of Gaius to sleep.
Now he was more open with his feelings, and the irony sarcasm were forgotten. Was pleased - though not verbally - the attention and the looks of the knights and noblemen in their silence during the conversation that touched political issues, and doing the same when it came to fighting techniques, weapons or armor.
Uther was happy with his change. Gaius was happy with his change. Gwen was happy with his change. The Taylor court was extremely happy with his change. And he was happy. Although sometimes this happiness - that was because he had spent his life trying to complain of such insolence, impertinence and stubbornness by Morgana - sometimes frighteningly resembled the sadness and frustration, so that for a moment had come to believe that that behavior was not so unusual that a more sophisticated technique of torture concocted against him, but every time trying to provoke his combativeness she looked confused and unaware of what he was saying, until at times seem a little pensive and sad.
When after three days of smiles and complacency had asked "What are you trying to prove?" She had once more set with big eyes to ask in turn "Something's wrong, Arthur?"
He took a breath and smiled before replying "I'm just a bit 'tired'
" Sure, "he replied "You're always so busy with so many things. I admire you "confessed" you're so strong "and to be able to take pleasure in the words he had to remind himself that this was Morgana, and that he was watching and now it appears that as long no absurd wanted more to life.
"You've never been so," he said, and she seemed troubled by that statement, "But I like your change," he added, nodding in approval, to be more convincing & ndash and if her eyes or your could not tell.
"I was hoping like" she confessed, in a tone that did not recognize him, as if we were behind those few words implied that he was not able to grasp - even if they grew up together and had always considered to be able to insult you in public without arousing suspicion or scandal on its well-chosen words, as had always been able to do, too.
had been a week now and had not yet been able to really talk with Gwen. They exchanged a few words a couple of times, and even if he had done his best to be kind she had seen clearly painted on his face the discomfort due to the appearance he had.
The girl he had taken the place should not have had an easy life. No one looked at or approached spontaneously, had nothing else apart from his work - because since he had taken the place did not have any friends or family - and although it was impossible, it seemed that he had not even a name. Everyone called her only girlfriend or slacker, or even if wasters worked all day, as others, and the evening was so tired from not sleeping just lay on his bed uncomfortable. She had tried to cover the disfigured face of tying the hair into a soft tail over her shoulder, but one - albeit smaller - part of the damaged skin was still visible and a simple hairstyle did not change the fact that he had any kind of consideration part of anyone.
Gwen arrived that day in the kitchen with his dinner tray Lady complaining that the roast had a burnt flavor. The day before had been the breakfast to be bad, and Bertha still had to prepare twice. In the afternoon he returned to say that the stairs of the palace were filthy. In the evening he came to know that the dinner was not cooked properly.
The Lady of the castle there began to be hated by the whole little servants of the castle, which was forced to work twice as hard to redo work that would have had no need di essere ripetuti.
“Lady Morgana non si sta guadagnando le simpatie della gente” disse Morgana, parlando a Gwen che stava uscendo dalla cucina dopo aver preso il vassoio della colazione per la sua signora.
“La mia Lady vuole solo accertarsi che il Re ed il principe ricevano il trattamento che meritano” la scusò, evitando di incontrare il suo sguardo.
“Ci sono cose assai più urgenti di una rampa di scale pulita…” obiettò.
"I know perfectly well, and he is always worried. It was always worried about many things and if finally begins to take life more lightly I have not intention to challenge its actions "
Morgan acknowledged the good intentions of her friend but that did not stop her ; to feel angry about his blindness.
"I do not like her to behave in this way, is not it?" Pressed the "There is something wrong-"
" You do not know at all, "interrupted the other guard in horror, not only due to its features, but to his words. There were people - loved ones, good - that they were not able to cope with the responsibilities of the positions, nor were they able to say a negative word against anyone, even if that someone was wrong, and Gwen was one of them.
If he further insisted - he knew - she would only refused to talk about it, and probably would have avoided even speak to her in the future, so dropped the subject and goals remain down her face as she hurried away to avoid hearing things that still was not able to accept.
"The celebrations will be held in your honor in three days" Uther told him only getting a nod in response, "Ainsworth Lord himself will take part, showing great sportsmanship and honor, & rdquo ;
"Me I am delighted, "said Arthur politely, without being able to put the least enthusiasm in the sentence.
"Perhaps he hopes that his attitude smuova something Morgana" he added, and Arthur was surprised to see that the usual feeling of apprehension - not jealousy, because he could never be jealous of Morgana - which is usually the oppressed was the pit of my stomach, this time, absent and attributed the absence to the fact that Morgan had recently been far more direct and open with his feelings.
"Maybe" he said only, not to be rude.
"Morgana has changed a lot, is not it?" Asked his father, without waiting for a real answer "It 's so sweet and quiet. After so long I think he understood that my accusations were only for his own good, and that a true lady should learn to be discreet "
Arthur turned his eyes, pressing her lips to stop responding. His father was right, and Morgan had changed for the better. He knew it, yet something kept him from being sincerely happy.
He always told himself that the attraction of Morgan - which, to his chagrin, most of the time could hardly refuse - was due to its beauty, the fact that he was a young and vigorous man and an attraction to a woman was unlikely to cause great confusion, but now that attraction that had suddenly fallen it was impossible to explain himself. He suspected that what he could not understand, and accept, was the fickleness of his mind, but at times when he and Morgan were Only it was not just the strange magnetism that had always characterized their squabbles or even the most trivial conversations fail, it was the same feeling he had always identified with her . The feeling of being discovered, as if she could see under the armor and under the skin and into the bones. As if she were an extension of his body that hurt when she was sick, which could ignore but never part with it without bleeding.
the evening, when he retired to his rooms and could not sleep, felt a strange nostalgia for her, as if not seeing her for days, even if in reality they had spent more time together in the last week than they did in recent months. After being on the verge of dying, even though she had begged and begged not to go, she had moved away, perhaps out of anger because he had not listened, or perhaps out of revenge, and he had not apologized or said his reasons - because he had to know how and why he alone could decide on his life - and had been waiting for something to change, a bit 'at a time. But the change that had waited for had arrived and sudden happiness that he was convinced to try the idea had not been that frustration.
"I dare say," continued Uther interrupting the flow of his thoughts "would be a good wife," he said, looking at him without going into details innecessarie.
Arthur smiled, and then asked leave. In another time would have been proud of himself for being opposed to the idea of marrying Morgan, but now the idea seemed a torture because Morgan was now open as inaccessible and this seemed absurd. It was obvious - because it was other explanations - that hid what she really felt and thought behind a mask of courtesy that he wanted to pieces with his own hands to ensure that his spirit had not died of suffocation in the ridiculous attempt to conform to the ideas of his class.
"Something wrong?" Merlin asked hesitantly, following him out of the room.
"It 's absolutely perfect, Merlin," he said, trying not to keep teeth and replied. The sun shines, birds sing and Morgana is so that the jury is smart blonde - she wanted to say, by the irony in the way she would have done if the roles were reversed.
At that moment - when the world seemed to be pleased - he seemed to be bursting.
"I do not think" the servant said, accelerating the pace to match that sent the prince.
"Merlin you-" he vented his anger on him if his foot slamming against a wooden bucket on the floor had not distracted him, but not from his wrath.
The bucket tipped over on the floor flooding it with soapy water and a part ended up on his boot.
"Damn!" He exclaimed, at the limit "What? A conspiracy against me? "He said in the empty corridor, trying to vent his discontent, without waiting really answer.
"If your idea of a conspiracy consists of a bucket of water nice view on the floor I think you need a review of war strategy "came the mumble from his shoulders.
He turned, astonished and outraged by such impertinence, to see a girl kneeling on the floor, intent on rubbing the surface with a cloth held with both hands.
"I heard you," she raised her face to meet the eyes of Arthur. For a moment he forgot who she was now, and obviously he had thought it was a comment that she did not intend to reach his ears.
Arthur seems to search for some time - recognizing her as the girl who days before the meeting had run screaming - and she found herself wanting to be beautiful, and this made her angry with herself because she was reduced as a servant in the only home he'd ever had for years, because it was considered less of a wild animal which was offered a bowl of food out of pity, and she wanted to be nice: for Arthur.
Morgan stayed where he was - was not eager to be kneeling at her feet but she was tired and rise would have required an effort that could not afford - but his back took a standing position, and chin pointed upward. He should not have to take a similar posture, but to be submissive had never been his specialty, not when it came to be in front of crazy things like social positions or hypocritical expectations, and was too annoyed by their desires to worry about conveniences.
"Prince" greeted his eyes moving quickly between Arthur and Merlin, without being able to decide which one was more surprised at his words.
"I guess there bent on the floor you do not have recognized me, then you apologize for your impertinence," he said, magnanimously. Morgan opened her mouth to thank, as it should, but contrary to his best intentions he found himself answering "It's not my fault if you do not watch your step"
"Are you suggesting that this disaster is my fault? "he said pointing to the floor baffled covered by water.
"Of course not," said politely, looking briefly relax the reply "Do not ever insinuate something I'm absolutely certain"
"You realize that I could have you arrested?" Arthur raised his voice in outrage, I forget anything except the fact that the girl seemed to go on the hunt for a punishment with all the fury he could muster.
"At least I could rest a bit cell, 'and I would not be forced to do the same job more than once because you can not pay a bit' of attention to know what is between his feet, "said proud to scowl, while fearing the possibility of ending up in the prisons of the palace. It reminded her too well to be able to miss. Fortunately before he could finish the sentence Merlin had already come between them, giving away, and trying to calm Arthur.
"Sire, please, the girl is obviously proven by fatigue" attempted to draw with their hands high with palms pour at the prince as to physically block her nervousness.
Arthur looked at him with surprise, for a moment he had forgotten his presence. That impudent maid had catalysed his full attention to the point of finding him disoriented when Merlin was hindered by breaking eye contact.
"Move" ordered an urgent tone, as if suddenly gasping for air.
"Sire," the young servant tried to object but the other insisted, "Move"
She was still standing on her knees, with your back straight and face half covered by the falling hair tied over one shoulder. His appearance was very common and her dress was worn, had seen her only once but there was something familiar about her, the way it looked.
"You are ..." narrowed his eyes staring and Morgan stopped breathing for a moment, the illusion of being stupid to pronounce his name "You're lucky," he said, trying to dispose of the discussion, without being able to get rid of that weird feeling. Something in that look alive and inflamed forced him to dig among the names and faces delle persone che aveva incrociato nella sua vita, pur sapendo che un volto del genere non sarebbe stato dimenticato. Eppure si sentiva come se ci fosse una parola – forse un insulto, considerando l’irriverenza a cui aveva appena assistito - proprio sulla punta della sua lingua, che rifiutava di venir fuori.
Era inutilmente frustrante pensarci, perché aveva cose assai più importanti di cui preoccuparsi piuttosto che di una serva insolente “Non ho tempo di badare a te adesso” disse girando le spalle e andando via, seguito da Merlino.
Morgana rimase immobile a guardare la his back away, listening to the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor and every step seemed to lose herself, considering the ridiculous way he had lived the last days. But for a few minutes she was herself again, pledged to keep up with Arthur and his ego to fight with him verbally after days in which he had seen only briefly and from afar. And now he turned his back out of his life again with a nonchalance that hurt, or maybe making it out herself, could not understand where he was the difference and was too tired to try.
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