Chapter Three.
When she came she found herself once more in the dark and cold room when she woke up that morning, but this time the confusion was added a fear that he knew well and was only able to become stronger, crushing it with his weight until they are hard to get back on their feet and walk. In which direction? To do what? He did not know what to do or where to turn and suddenly felt cut off from the world. In the space of one night he had lost everything. A place to live, his identity, Arthur and his friends.
He forced himself to leave the room when his empty stomach began to hurt. The servants had already had lunch and she managed to find to itself only a piece of bread and a piece of cheese. Although he was hungry he could not think seriously that he needed to eat because his only thought was for hours only to return to their rooms, in our lives. In his own body.
now understood the fleeting glances cast in his direction, the ease with which she could be ignored. He saw the way the rest of the servants stared normally the girl who had her face to perform its tasks while remaining invisible in the evening, when fatigue became unbearable and the thoughts they had only brought an unnecessary headache, she found herself to be desired - more than anything else - know how to do the same.
never did breakfast together, as did the normal families - so he had heard, at least - but when there was a tournament or similar occasion that should have taken up the Pendragon name of his father became anxious to spend time with him, His involvement in this anxiety even Morgana, which in turn proved more eager to ruin his father's encouragement with comments on the barbarities perpetrated in several clashes and honorable men who were forced to live a crippled existence, or even simply stressing the need for male to demonstrate their superiority by brute force. Being able to do so would gladly have avoided the task because he wanted to stay calm and focused for the clash to be held in the afternoon and certainly save Morgan from the wrath of his father was not included among the activities that would allow him, but he knew that it was impossible to refuse anything to the King, especially in these times.
Arthur did not bother to look up from his fried bacon when Uther, in his speech, powered only by a few nods and smiles by means of its guests, expressed his expectations for the tournament, "Lord Ainsworth is a worthy opponent, but I trust that your skill is the top, Arthur, "he said, smiling, turning to the girl" What do you think, Morgana? "
Arthur took a breath and grabbed the cup to take a sip of water and do not be tempted exacerbate the situation once Morgan had spoken.
"If it is a contest of stupidity, is not to fear defeat" is expected, but instead he felt only "Arthur is the best, no doubt," and was forced to raise his head to make sure that she had just spoken. Yet that was Morgana, and smiled sweet and full of enthusiasm and he stared at her warily, expecting a sarcastic explanation that never came, because she began to eat, listening to what that Uther said, nodding here and there without adding anything.
"I decided that we will give a party in honor of the winner"
"Arthur, you mean," said Morgan excited by throwing a glance at the point where she was sitting.
"Unfortunately, some urgent matters require my attention and we will have to postpone the celebrations for a couple of days, but I hope this will be appreciated, however, my son, and you will be encouraged to give their best"
"Certainly, father, "he said Uther looking at the other end of the table, to quickly move your eyes on Morgan, waiting for him to say something nasty, or ironic, or dedicate one of its faces charges of derision, but she even turned in his direction.
She turned to Uther calling his attention to "If you can, I wish that made me a concession," he said gently.
Arthur bent his lips and took a sip of water waiting to hear what that day would have sent his father into a rage, and when King told her to speak freely she asked, "Could I have a new dress? In honor of the victory of Arthur I want to be beautiful "
The water seemed to take the wrong direction and Arthur threatened to choke, attracting the attention of his guests with coughing.
"Are you okay?" Morgana asked, raising his eyebrows and looking at him with a vague confusion on his face.
"Well," replied Short fixing it to make her to shed the mask and finally say what he had to - because he was sure that Morgan could not sit quietly discussing a tournament for which she had never understood the rationale and openly praises him and then ask a new suit in his honor.
Yet she gave another smile and began to eat. He had never seen her smile like that, or had never seen her be so submissive or uninterested in what happened at court, and unlike his own - at least that he was shocked by that behavior - his father seemed to have accepted this change much more quickly and smiled smugly looking at her with joy.
After breakfast, he rose to meet these knights, but Morgan called him, stopping him. Joined him at the door asking for "Go on the field?"
"As always, Morgana. I have to take care of training, "he informed, expecting a sarcastic comment.
"Maybe you should rest, you know ..." he stopped speaking almost in a tone of caring "... To arrive in force in the tournament this afternoon"
"beat your Lord Ainsworth even after a full day of battle" was too optimistic, he realized, but she hated throw into doubt his abilities.
"Oh, I am convinced. No one is better than you "and even if he tried irony in the voice or facial expression, did not find any. Believe much good will towards him seemed impossible, but she was behaving very gently and tried to arrest her for that instinct, ready to seek ways to respond to his words mocking and biting but that day seemed to be no longer part of their trade.
"Thank you" he said, feeling embarrassed and exposed to a lot of unexpected honesty.
Infuse had spent years looking for his approval, and to desire that she admit her superiority as a fighter and attraction towards him, and now it looked full of smiles and bright eyes adoring certainly had no intention of complaining.
"Do you know Morgana" he said using his arrogance "It's about time you admit your feelings towards me. Besides, I'm not sure annoyed, in fact, I find it flattering. "
She opened her lips looked surprised, and he was sorry for a moment of that false step, because now she would be angry and the armistice - which he did not know exactly when it was signed - would end. But she dropped her eyes first embarrassed to ask "And what are your feelings instead, Arthur?" and then watch it full of anxious expectation.
"What?" Arthur said as a consequence, astonished at the direction the conversation had suddenly taken.
"Forgive me, it is noble for me," she sketched embarrassed "But there's something between us, I know ..." he paused again and shook his head "Everyone thinks we love "
"Everyone?"
"The servants, the people ..." he said, then added nervously, "They think that we love, and I could be your queen one day"
He watched warily cautious tone to ask "Would you be?"
The fervor with which he replied "Oh, yes!" left him dumbfounded and speechless, and he found himself nodding, before Merlin arrived to tell him that he was expected in the field. The morning seemed to pass very quickly, and without any effort. The thought of Morgana so docile and sweet made him suddenly able to every thing, even if part of him could not absorb the sudden change and tried not to have expectations to avoid disappointment. Beautiful things, infuse, never lasted long.
The aching muscles due to a lot of work the previous day, but tried not to complain because even if he had lost his identity - and perhaps hoping to get it back - pride had survived against all logic and convenience. Though it never be hungry, because his stomach was rebelling against the way things are making them hurts every second, however, tried to eat, and when you could put it - not having - a couple of pieces of bread in pocket of her dress, knowing that the amount of work that would have to bear would have exhausted all day.
that morning had failed to wash with cold water and somehow forces had returned, if not all, at least those necessary to accomplish his work. When Breakfast was placed on the trays had recognized what it was for her and was almost moved a retching.
"Breakfast of your Lady Morgana" Bertha had said in a mocking tone, not listening when she asked "Mia?" Knock.
He tried to learn the names of those servants who crossed more often, although he probably would not have served because no one spoke to her nor approached. It was like an animal that no one wanted to touch, and she was afraid to look face well-remembered what he had seen the day before, but above all because its reflection would have only reminded the eyes of Arthur, the manner in which he had set looking for - for pity - not to let leaking its horror.
In the afternoon she was ordered, along with others, to bring buckets of water and metal brushes to clean the seats to be occupied by the nobility to attend the tournament and one of the girls - Corinna - was the first addition to Mrs Bertha to talk to her in almost two whole days, like the other just to encourage it to work.
"Hurry if you want to take care of the place of Lady Morgan, and try to do your job well otherwise assign it to someone else," she protested, but did as she was told. For the first time after the initial confusion was beginning to think clearly what was happening. Everyone assumed that she wanted care of matters concerning Lady Morgana, and therefore the person who had now taken his place knew his habits enough to not be discovered by an untrained eye. E what could be the expert eye of a king too busy to condemn to death suspected to enact laws against witchcraft and magic to achieve that offered hospitality to an impostor? Hoped that Uther could not notice the difference, because she would not have had the time, but maybe Gwen, who was her friend and spent hours with her, he would have noticed. Maybe then he could approach her and ask for his help. With that hope was left blank next to the bleachers for the commoners, waiting to see the young girl come to accompany the false Lady, but when he saw something to giggle with each other and seemed happy and oblivious. While not wishing widened the moistening eyes and heard them, but forbade herself to cry.
"Hey, you" one of the servants who took care of the area reserved to the knights because they were helped in making clothing called the turn.
"What did you bring?" He asked, and she was silent, not knowing what he was referring to "Next ..." he insisted, "... you can have the usual spot under the stands. There, "he said, indicating the point" So you will see the Prince fighting and Lady Morgan. But you know I gotta give me something "
He - like others - not looked into her face, but he had an open hand waiting for her to fill. Morgan put his hands in his pocket and all I found were two pieces of bread that had managed to take over lunch. Were white and soft but he was still disappointed that she had not brought more.
'It is too little "
" It' s all what I have, "he said.
"By this time one eye shut," he declared, "Next I want Ham" the information points his finger and looking at only a few moments, before leaving to return to work.
From his corner below the bleachers looked at the knights on the field seeking approval from the King before the tournament and when he was Arthur's turn to face Lord Ainsworth, saw the woman who had taken his place to get up from your seat with a broad smile and then, like remembering something, moderated their movements and attitude, in a clear imitation of the manner in which he had seen her do on other occasions. Only this time he did something she never would have done - remove a ribbon from her hair and went down two steps that separated her from Arthur, to tie the ribbon around his place as a sign of preference, demonstrating to the public - hours cheering - on whom fell the opponent's favor.
Only when there was enough silence Arthur spoke, "I declare that I will win this tournament in your honor, my Lady, "and Morgan felt angry and hurt, because the woman took his place and thrown away his pride, and because Arthur managed to be gallant and pleased as she had hoped - and secretly foolishly - that he would have noticed the difference and it would be suspicious, they probably had not been more than happy to see you change and become docile and adoration, to make her another forgotten name among his conquests.
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