Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I.

CHAPTER ONE: TURN BACK, OR IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF HER END?

“Lena, I-”

“Please, spare me your sympathies and excuses. I can’t listen to you right now, not after everything you’ve done. I trusted you. With everything.” Lena pauses, “I– fuck! Kara, I don’t even know if I ever will be able to after this”

Kara nods dejectedly, the familiar feeling of loss and regret settling heavy on her. Taking a part glance at Lena’s face, her eyes that were so green, her jawline that could cut diamonds, and sighs sadly, knowing that this might be the last time she will probably be able to see Lena up this close and as Kara Danvers.

Turning around and dragging her feet along the floor towards the door, Kara whispers quietly and mostly to herself, having no way to know if Lena could hear her, “I’m sorry, Lena.” and walks out the door and possibly her best friend’s life.

Kara decides quickly that walking to her apartment like this, in such pain, probably wouldn’t be a great idea in case she lost control of herself and accidently put her foot down too hard and cracked the pavement, or the burning sensation of crying would camouflage the feeling of her heat vision and accidentally sets a building or person on fire.

Pulling off her glasses, Kara does what she does best, she throws herself through an open window and flies at top speeds out of National city. She wants to be alone, she needs to think this through and think of a way to get back to Lena and apologise.

Perhaps Alex could help? Her sister knows more about this than anyone, especially a kryptonian like her. Kara has never had any luck with friends in the past. No. The humans on Earth were either too cruel, too narcissistic or think that she’s lying or has some sort of ulterior motive because of how trusting or kind Kara always turns out to be. But, on the other hand, the way Kara landed her job and the friends she had now, not to say how intelligent and courageous she is, or well, at least that’s what everyone tells Supergirl.

Unable to tell if the burning of her face was the wind or her heartbreak, Kara slows her speed down, thinking that she was halfway to the Fortress of Solitude where she could scream out all her anguish, pent-up rage, frustration and sadness, before slowly coming to a stop above an ocean of green trees doused in golden sunlight.

‘Pretty’ is the first Kara thinks, glancing around her in delight, her upset momentarily forgotten as she descends towards the lush trees. Taking in a breath, Kara smiles, the air smells so clean, as if there wasn’t a single trace of pollution. No exhaust fumes, or dirty oil, or burning plastic. Just fresh clean air, a surprise shocking but not unwelcome.

Reaching the treeline, Kara picks a leaf from a tree and looks at it closely, inspecting it, the leaf looks extremely well nourished and completely untouched by humanity, technically she doesn’t count because she isn’t human, Kara snorts.

A scream snaps the hovering kryptonian, “Get back! Get back I say, you pigs!” It sounded oddly familiar. But what was even more peculiar was the fact that she was far away from any civilization, having flown for five minutes straight at top speed, and looking around, the sun was setting fast, and the forest below was getting cast into darkness.

Why would someone be out here at this time? Surely they knew it wasn’t safe?

Another scream sent chills down Kara’s spine, a blood-curdling one at that, shooting off towards the noise, Kara hones in her super hearing, searching for whoever was stupid enough to come out here, even she understood not to dawdle into the forest late at night.

Kara’s eye lock onto a hooded figure not to far in the distance, surrounded by circling… little green men? Whatever they were, they seem to be jumping and jabbing in the direction of the hooded figure, so clearly the person needs Kara’s help.

Flying fast, Kara lands, hard enough to make cracks appear by her feet, in her usual Supergirl pose, the same pose she does for the media in National City, to the side of the growing circle of short green men.

The green things were jumping at the hooded figure over and over, grabbing and groping whatever they could, arguing amongst themselves.

“Give it to me!”

“No, me!”

“I saw it first, so it’s mine!”

“Mine, mine, mine!”

“Back off Tododon!”

“No, you back off Mogglewog!” 

At that point, several of them had knives out and the hooded figure was bleeding through their clothes, it looks like the creatures had already got her arm, leg and stomach before Kara was able to get to her.

Using her heat vision, Kara burns and slices quickly though most of them without so much as a yelp before the rest seem to scurry off, fearing for their lives. The person on the other hand is groaning, wobbling on their feet before their hood falls down.

The shadows were concealing her face but Kara could tell that she had long black hair, it was slightly frizzy and Kara thinks it makes them cute, and skin as pale as porcelain. The woman groans again before falling forwards, face first at the ground. Kara catches her of course but not before gasping out loud. Lena? What was she doing here? Didn’t Kara just leave her behind in her office? Looking closer, Kara begins to notice very subtle differences. This woman looks almost exactly like Lena but instead looked younger and has eyes greener than the lush trees around them and hair darker than a raven. She is beautiful and Kara can’t turn her eyes away.

The woman grimaces, grunting as she tries to sit up before gaping like a fish out of water at Kara, “Are you alright? I–I mean, are you okay– wait, of course you’re not okay you were just attacked by… uhm, green little men?” Not Lena laughs and Kara forgot how warm it felt to hear Lena’s laugher, or well, something close to it.

When the last of her laughter dies down, “Little green men? I wish. No, those were goblins, nasty ones at that.” Kara can’t help but furrow her brows, goblins?

“Did you hit your head?” Kara uses her x-ray vision to see if not Lena was concussed or if something was broken, but everything was fine and if anything was wrong, it wasn’t obvious.

The Lena-look-a-like chuckles again, “Why mysterious knight, you seem so concerned for someone you just met, I feel honoured.” She jokes and Kara can’t help the bright blush that covers her whole face and neck.

Kara turns away, “I– no, no– I was just being concerned and uhm.. You were hurt and I– uh…” A hand settles on her cheek, gently pulling her eyes back to connect with vibrant emeralds, “It’s quite alright, Knight..?” Her eyes were so green and Kara couldn’t help but be mesmerised by how enchanting they are, and she was blushing again.

What happened to her natural confidence as Supergirl? Damn it, Supergirl doesn’t blush and act like a high school boy going through puberty, “i– uh.. Pardon?” Kara squeaks, blushing again, damn it.

The woman chuckles, “I was asking for your name, darling.” Kara made a noise in the back of her throat, when did it get so hot out here?

“My name is Kara– Kara Zor-El. May I ask what your name is?”

“My name is Morgana.” Morgana offers a small smile.

“Wow, that's a really pretty name.” Blurting out the first thing on her mind, Kara silently screams in her head about how stupid and dumb and ignorant and–

“Nobody has ever said that to me… thank you.” Is Morgana’s cheeks slightly pink or is that the lighting?

“Kara.. I feel sick and the world is spinning…” At that, Morgana promptly passes out in Kara’s arm and the blonde scoops her up in her arms, bridal style, and places her hand in her hair to hold her head up so she doesn’t wake up with a sore neck from the awkward angle it is in.

“Stop right there, kidnapper!” A booming voice says, well probably wasn’t booming but with her hearing, it sounded like someone took a microphone and screamed at the top of their lungs in her ear.

Turning, Kara spots a group of speeding horses in her direction, faces concealed under the shade their hoods bring. What the heck was up with everyone and hoods around here? Was it a fashion statement or something? Kara feels like she's missing something here.

“Surrender or face certain death!” The voice thunders again, Rao , what is it with everyone and screaming? They can just ask nicely, and why did she need to surrender– wait a second, kidnapper!

“Uhm.. who are you exactly?” She questions, suspicious to why he’s acting like an idiot.

“My name is Arthur Pendragon, Prince of the kingdom of Camelot!” He says as if that answers all the questions.

“I have no idea who that is.”

“Surrender now, kidnapper, or face my fury!” He bellows to absolutely no one.

“I don’t get it, why do I need to surrender? I haven’t done anything wrong?”

Arthur and his company of men come to life with laughter, “What lies you spew, kidnapper! But fear not, I shall not heed your spindled words and shall save my sister from your grubby lowlife hands!”

“Hey, for a matter of fact, I had a shower just this morning, and for the lowlife comment, that was just mean.”

The ring of swords being pulled from their scabbards fill the quiet trill of the night-time forest and their inhabitants, “I have warned you, Kidnapper, now you shall face death, charge!” Oh crap!

Kara spins around and super speeds into the trees behind her, a massive cloud of dust hiding her trail, weaving in and out of the way, she isn’t going to let any strange-looking men hurt Morgana. After some time just purely running, Kara comes to a stop and takes a deep breath, setting Morgana down gently on the forest floor. She seems so familiar to Lena, yet completely different. Kara has always had this easy connection with Lena, being able to see past the cold exterior she so often wears to protect herself, a mask of some sort, and connect with her at such a deep level. It often felt like Lena was the light to her dark, making her day brighter and colourful while reminding her of humanity.

With Morgana, Kara feels a strange pull towards her, like a moth to a flame, she has to make sure that she doesn’t get too close and burn, but deep down, she felt like a missing piece finally clicked into place. Weird.

“Wait!” A voice whispers somewhere off to the right.

A man with a hood emerges from the shade underneath the trees, his eyes an icy blue and ears that seem to stick out of his head rather than bend with the head. “Do not step any closer.” kara warns.

“Please, I need to clean her wounds.”

“What is your name?”

“I am Merlin, servant of Arthur Pendragon of Camelot.”

“Get away now.” The blonde growls, eyes growing hot with her anger. Why was everyone out for Morgana?

“Please! You can kill me after if you deem it fit, but I really must tend to her if you don’t want her to bleed out.” Begging me, his eyes turn moist.

Turning back to Morgana, I listen closely, the slow thump of her heart startles Kara, sending her into a panicked tailspin as she spins towards Merlin, “Help her, please, she is going to die!” It was all her fault, she failed again.

Merlin scrambles towards Morgana, falling to his knees and pulling out a bundled cloth of medicinal tools and herbs. Kara just backed away, she didn’t deserve to be in Morgana’s life and hurt her the same way she did with Lena.

“Merlin, I give you my gratitude but I have to go, like really bad.” Kara shouldn’t be here, she is supposed to be at the Fortress of Solitude, not Camelot, wherever that is.

“Wait, what should I call you? You have a code of arms embroidered on your… uhh– armour?”

“I’m not a knight, Merlin. What would give you the idea that I’m a knight?”

“Other than your code of arms, we are in Camelot.” Again, with the Camelot thing.

“What do you mean Camelot, aren’t we somewhere in National City?” This whole thing was getting really confusing and Kara just wanted to go home and sulk in her potstickers and binge a few seasons of Friends and maybe rewatch Rapunzel again.

“What is a ‘National City?’ We are in Camelot, in the forest of Ascetir.” Merlin said it was such certainty that Kara felt the air punched out of her stomach, where the hell was Camelot? She hoped it wasn’t far from National City.

“Well, Merlin, it’s been a pleasure to meet you and Morgana but I really really have to go now.” Kara does a little wave and sends him a fake smile before launching into the sky and setting off to find National City.

“You never told me your name!” He calls out after her.

Kara flew all over the place for two days, searching for the familiar bustle of the streets and tall building of L-corp and the comforting staccato of Lena’s heartbeat. She finds none and returns to where Morgana and Merlin were days before in hopes for her questions to be answered, trying to remain positive.

But instead of meeting familiar faces, she finds nothing, no traces of Morgana or Merlin. Yelling out of frustration, anger and sadness, Kara punches the ground before falling to her knees, crying. Maybe she deserved being in a place so strange, if she did, then she would suffer, but all she wishes is to be able to hug Alex one more time and say goodbye.

“Seize her!” Before Kara can look up, bodies are flying at her and holding her down, roping her hands together tightly and pulling her to her feet. Standing smug, Arthur looks at her with pity, “Did you really think that you could take her from me?” Kara isn’t going to give him the satisfaction of answering the question and instead just relaxes in the hold of the men holding her.

“Put her in the wagon.” Thrown into a wagon of wood and iron, kinda pathetic and she could easily bust out of this but why bother? There wasn’t anything here to fight for and she could catch a ride to wherever this Camelot place is and check it out.
The ride is long, probably around a day or two, which is both boring and uncomfortable as the wagon wouldn’t stop going over spontaneous bumps in the road and the wood digging into her back. Honestly no hospitality at all.

But before Kara can say ‘One star’ Camelot comes into view. It was huge, with a different type of bustling and smells that Kara didn’t know wafts past her nose, but what caught her eye was the castle. It was gargantuan, white with several layers and towers sticking out of it, it looked amazing, nothing like she has ever seen.

“Get the traitor, we shall take her before Uther and let him deem her punishment.” Punishment? What punishment? She hasn’t done anything wrong.

The door to the wagon is wrenched open as two guards wearing clanky armour that doesn’t really suit them grab my arms. Kara goes willingly, not bothered in escaping just yet, interested on where this is going.

Though getting dragged through halls is not on her bucket list, at least it gave her the chance to inspect the inside of the castle. There are many rooms that Kara is dragged past, doors all the same as they pass through.

Finally, two massive mahogany doors pull open in front of the blonde, opening to a grand room with a roof so high that Kara has to strain her head to look all the way up.

“What is this?” An old man demands, but that’s not what catches Kara’s eye. No, rather it was the fact that Morgana was standing next to him, they connect eyes and Rao , they are as green as she remembers. Oh Rao, those eyes were more deadly than any kryptonite.

“This is the assassin that kidnapped Morgana, Father.” Arthur sneered as the knights holding Kara threw her forward and onto her knees in front of what she assumed was the King.

Uther chuckles darkly, “Send her to the dungeons, her execution is due at first light.” Kara locks eyes again with the worried ones of Morgana, she can’t help but comfort her, sending her a small smile.

Kara is grabbed again by the guards, pulled harshly onto her feet and staggers backwards with them as they drag her away from Morgana, “Wait, Uther. Arthur is wrong, she saved me from my actual captor in the forest, a man who was to kill me.” Morgana lies.

Uther turns towards Arthur and then to Kara, “Is this true?”

“Yes–” Kara is interrupted by a seething Arthur, the vein in his forehead practically bursting with how much it was strained against his skin, “No, she lies! She kidnapped Morgana and tried to steal her!” Kara just looks at him, dumbfounded.

The king contemplates his decision, before speaking loudly, “Release her. At noon tomorrow, we shall feast in this Knight’s honour.”

The hands holding Kara dropped, leaving her standing by herself. She understood the lie Morgana had so blatantly offered to help her, so Kara's chest puffed, and she stood tall and proud. “Thank you, King Uther. I request to leave and return home as I am quite tired.”

“Request granted but knight, as a show of gratitude for saving my ward, I offer you a room in the castle on the terms that you become Morgana’s personal guard.” Kara can’t help but gape at the old man sitting high on his throne, beside him, Morgana is slightly smirking at Kara.

“T–Thank you, King Uther, I humbly accept your terms.” Kara squeaks, slightly flushed at the look Morgana gives her.

“You may leave, Knight–”

“Zor-El” Morgana finishes as Kara looks back at her, beginning to feel hot again.

“Well, you may take your leave, Knight Zor-El.”

Kara practically flies out the doors, trying to get far away from that room and Morgana. Kara started to pace. Zoning out.

Who knew someone could do that with just a look? She feels hot and bothered all over.

“Knight Zor-El,” A gentle voice to the blonde’s left makes her jump, “Rao! You scared me.” 

The girl chuckles quietly, mischief shining in her eyes “Sorry, Knight Zor-El, you seemed quite deep in thought and I was fearful to disturb you but alas I was asked to show you to your new room.”

“Oh, yeah, uhm… lead the way.” The girl giggles again and Kara smiles slightly.

“What’s your name?”

“Oh, my name is Sefa and I shall be your servant while you reside in Camelot.”

“Well, that’s very kind of you to dedicate your time to taking care of me, Sefa. I greatly appreciate it.” Kara crosses her arms over her chest and Sefa seems to turn as red as a tomato, quickly glancing down at them before clearing her throat, Kara smiles again.

“Are you going to show me the way or do I have to wander around this place like a weirdo?” Kara jokes and Sefa giggles again, beaming up at Kara, being significantly shorter than her.

“I won’t say anything.” Kara barks out a loud laugh and Sefa just smiles again, watching as the blonde gasps for breath.

“That one caught me off guard, wow!”

“Thanks, I try. Now, let me actually show you to your room, Knight Zor-El.” Kara nods and gestures for her to lead the way. Sefa snorts as she starts moving down the hall with Kara in tow, chatting about anything.

It takes a minute till Lefa stops at a door, “Here is your room. Is there anything else you need, Knight Zo-El?”

“No, I'm good. Thank you, Sefa, I had a wonderful time talking to you.” Kara smiles and pushes open the door.

“Oh, and, one more thing, Lady Morgana is down the hall by a few doors,” Lefa points to a door four doors down, “in that room.” Kara nods again.

“Thank you, Sefa. Good night.”

That night, Kara goes to sleep thinking of Morgana and wondering how this new personal guard role will work out.

Chapter Text

II.

CHAPTER TWO: THE THIRSTY BANQUET

Waking up is a rollercoaster of emotions. The first thing that hit her, of course, was shock. She was surprised that the whole ordeal wasn’t a dream and that she didn’t wake up on her coach covered in cookie crumbs and potsickers. Then came denial, pinching herself several times, Kara deemed her being there very real and not some sick joke her mind was playing on her. After fear came, what if she was stuck here forever? Would she never be able to make up with Lena after their fall out? How would she get back, she didn’t even know how she got here. And finally acceptance, Kara was stuck here. She might as well make the most of it, and thinking optimistically, she wouldn’t have to be Supergirl anymore and deal with everybody else’s problems.

Kara is free. Free of all her duties to National City and every ungrateful person there. Now, she could just be and live in peace.

“Knight Zor-El, are you awake? I have your breakfast.” Lefa knocks on Kara’s door before opening it and walking in to place down the tray of food, “I hope your bed is comfortable and you had a good night’s rest, Knight Zor-El.” Never mind peace then.

“I did have a good night's rest, Lefa, thank you for asking,” Lefa flushes again, “Would you know when I begin my role as Morgana’s personal guard?”

“Yes, you begin tomorrow, Knight Zor-El.”

“Please, call me Kara, Lefa.” Lefa smiles at her.

“Of course, Kara. I’ll leave you to get changed, eat breakfast and then I can show you around the castle if you’d like?” Kara couldn’t help but notice how hopeful she looks.

So of course she accepted, she liked Lefa and talking to her felt so easy, “I would love to, Lefa, thank you.” The smile Lefa sends her made Kara blush slightly.

Kara gets changed within ten seconds using super speed after that, putting on a blue tunic, dark pants, Kara couldn’t tell if it was dark brown or black, impatiently waiting to dig into her food that smells absolutely divine.

Picking up her fork, Kara basically inhales her food, it was equally divine in taste as it was in smell. Savouring the last bite for a second before proceeding, her door is knocked on, “Come in.” Kara calls out, wiping her hands on a cloth on her tray before turning to a smiling Lefa, “Wow, finished so soon? You were hungry.” She chuckled, “Kara, are you ready for your tour?”

“Yep!” Kara chuckles a little too before she jumps up, already ready.

“Okay, someone seems excited.”

“Well, yeah, it’s not everyday you get given a tour of a massive castle for royalty is it?” Kara jokes.

“That is true.” Lefa sighs.

After two hours, Lefa has shown Kara the drawing room, the dining room, the second dining room, the grand hall that hosts banquets and celebrations, the kitchens, the front room, the throne room, the library, and a bunch of extra rooms and the garden.

“Well, that was a lot more than I expected and I definitely will not remember any of them but hey, what can I say, it’s my first morning here.” Sefa just rolls her eyes.

Merlin comes running up the hallway, “Sefa, we need you to help prepare for the banquet in Knight Zor-El’s name. Come quick.” Before speeding away again with Sefa, who turns her head and sends Kara a beaming smile and a small wave.

The grand hall is a dazzling display of opulence and elegance, filled with the hum of conversation and the soft clinking of metal gobbets. The chandeliers above sparkle, lit with hundreds of candles like a thousand tiny stars, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. Long tables, draped in velvet and laden with the finest delicacies, stretched out across the polished stone floor. Red banners with the Camelot code of arms hug along the walls, waving slightly in the gentle breeze that the singular open window brought. It was a celebration fit for royalty, and all eyes were on the woman of the hour.

Kara stood at the entrance, feeling a little out of place in her rather basic yet classy tunic. She tugged at her collar, her usual confidence wavering in the face of the lavish event held in her honour. She had never been one for grand gestures or public attention, but tonight was different—tonight was a celebration of her bravery, not that really was any, she just lasered a bunch of little men that looked sick and saved Morgana.

When Kara heard the screams of Morgana, she hadn’t hesitated for a second and came shooting in with a burst of strength and speed and had swooped in and saved Morgana, taking down the little green men– or well, for their ruse, kidnapper, with a surprise and underestimated strength that left them no time to react. Rao, she was such a gentle woman. Kara snorted rather ungracefully and the people around her looked at her funny.

The doors opened, and a wave of guests swept into the hall, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked toward Kara. Some bowed their heads respectfully; others offered warm smiles. Kara did her best to smile back, nodding politely as she moved through the crowd. She spotted no familiar faces— only what looked like royalty, knights, and scholars—everyone dressed in their finest robes, gowns or in the case of knights, plain tunics, so maybe Kara wasn’t that out of place as she originally thought. 

At the back of the hall, steps lead up to a raised platform where a long table with the highest dignitaries and the guest of honour were to sit. Kara’s eyes landed on Morgana, who was standing at the table’s edge. Kara was unable to hold back her gasp. Her emerald gown flowed around her like water and a detailed embroidered band of gold around her slim waist. Her dark hair was intricately braided in the back with most of her hair framing around her face in silky waves, adorned with jewels that glittered in the candlelight. She met Kara’s gaze with a smile that was both grateful and amused, yet if Kara looked closer, she could see a hint of something else there, she was just unsure on what it was.

“Kara Zor-El,” Morgana calls out, her voice carrying across the room, halting the conversations around them. The crowd parted for Kara as she made her way forward, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. “Tonight, we honour you for your bravery, your strength, and your selflessness.”

Kara rubs the back of her neck, a bashful, shy grin tugging at her lips. “I was just doing what I could to help,” she replies honestly as she reaches the platform.

Morgana’s eyes sparkle. “You did more than that. You saved my life, and for that, I owe you a debt of gratitude.” She extends her hand outwards towards Kara, and as their fingers brush, a current of electricity seems to pass between them. “This banquet is only a small token of our appreciation.”

Kara felt a warmth spreading from the touch, but she masks it the best she can, resulting with a nervous chuckle. “Well, you didn’t have to go through all this trouble.”

Morgana’s smile deepens, a hint of something playful in her eyes. “Oh, but I insist. After all, it’s not every day someone saves a Queen.” Kara’s eyes had drifted to look down at her feet but after that comment, her head snapped up, eyes wide and lips parted slightly, “Q–queen?” She squeaks.

The whole hall is silent, looking between the charged moment between the two, Kara flushing a deep red and the latter quirking a small smirk on her lips as she watches Kara struggle to find the words.

That was until Arthur interrupts, an emotion all too familiar with Morgana flashing in his eyes, “Of course not! She will never be Queen while I still live and breathe, not unless she marries me.” Arthur sneers.

“Guess we’ll have to change that, won’t we?” Morgana mumbles under her breath, unaware that Kara could hear every word. Gaping like a fish really far out of water at the two, before realising she probably looked very rude at that moment and snaps her jaw laying on the floor shut, closing it with a quiet click.

“May the banquet begin!” Uther yells, growing tired of waiting for Morgana and Arthur to quit their childish games.

The night after that remains a tired blur of actively engaging with the people around her, random people she’s never met thanking her for returning ward of the King, eagerly trying to get into the good graces of the King, and hearing men and women alike in the hall whisper and gush about her, especially her body.

Eventually, everything was getting too much for Kara, she knew when she reached her limit, the sheer amount of noise and constant banging was making the blonde flinch and startle randomly and people were starting to notice.

“Kara, you seem skittish, are you alright?” Lefa asks because of course she does, she is very good at making observations, but so were others that were watching closely.

“Oh! Y–yeah, I’m fine. It’s just a little loud in here and I think I’m just going to take a break outside.” Kara chuckles nervously, wiping her sweaty palms on her pants in a futile attempt at drying them. Since when did Supergirl get sweaty palms, c’mon Kara get a grip.

“Do you want me to accompany you, Kara?”

“No! I–I mean, Lefa, don’t waste your fun tonight just because I'm a little overwhelmed. I’ll be fine, I know my way around, you even showed me around today, so there is absolutely nothing to worry about, so please, stay, I insist.” Kara rambles, Lefa giggling again, looking at her with dreamy eyes. Kara sends her a small smile and without another word, escapes the rest of Lefa’s questioning and other prying eyes through the door at the end of the banquet hall.

Turning decisively, and perhaps a little lost, at any random corner, Kara rushes all around the castle, trying anything to stop the migraine-inducing tempo of slamming goblets and cups, the crash of cutlery against ceramic plates and the overall boisterous booming laughter of drunk men.

Walking through a large archway, Kara takes a deep breath, finally far enough that everything seemed to quiet down, and for the first time that night, Kara could relax. Moving outside and towards the garden, Kara weaves her hand across the bark of trees and weaves her hand through the rose bushes she passes, smiling to herself.

The garden was quiet, the soft glow of moonlight casting long shadows over the vibrant flowers. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of blooming roses and fresh earth. Kara stops quietly at a wooden bench outlooking lands in front of the Castle, using her enhanced vision, Kara could see glistening in the distance, moonlight dancing, inviting her over, on a large lake.

Morgana’s voice breaks the peaceful quiet, low and teasing, “So, the illustrious and courageous Knight Zor-El can't handle a feast. And here I thought the person that saved me was brave?” Morgana teases, coming out from behind a nearby bush and stands next to Kara, leaning against the bench railing, looking out into the distance before turning her attention back to a gaping Kara.

“What? Surprised to see me?” Morgana chuckles, sending shivers down the blonde’s spine, tingling all the way from her toes to her ears.

“No–no, I was just surprised that I didn’t hear you come?”

Morgana smirks, “Wouldn’t you like to know, Kara. ” Kara gulps as her throat is suddenly dry, heart hammering in her throat, flush proudly adorning her cheeks. “I do have a way of being light on my feet, Knight Zor-El”

“i– i… uhm yes, you can see– I mean i can see tits– THAT!” Damn it, Kara.

Morgana laughs deep in her stomach. It was doing things to her, “What’s got you so tense, Kara? It’s just the two of us here.” Morgana rasps quietly, moving to stand in front of Kara, head tilted as she looks down at her.

Kara felt like a cornered animal, hot and bothered, she never knew that anyone, much less Morgana, could affect in such a way, Rao , she is trapped. Morgana steps closer, the scent of earth, vanilla and something entirely Morgana instills itself within Kara’s brain, a core pillar, a necessary need that she never knew she needed until now, “Or is this the problem?” She arches an eyebrow, still somehow perfectly manicured.

Oh Rao, oh rao, oh rao, oh raooooo, she’s going to do something she’s going to regret so much if Morgana doesn’t back away. “N-no, you’re, no, that’s not— I mean, it’s not a problem.” The blonde’s breath hitches when Morgana gets into her personal space, face looming metres from her, “It’s just... late. And, uh, quiet.” What a stupid reason! Kara reaches up with her hand to adjust her glasses, a nervous tick that she’s developed, but realises they aren’t there and runs it through her hair instead.

Morgana arches a perfect eyebrow again, smirk pulling the side of her ruby red lips up, Kara didn’t know if she could handle it anymore, the want, no, the need to press her lips against hers was so strong, like voices were chanting in her head to just do it, to give in, but Kara knows she couldn’t, she shouldn’t .

“And you think that the quiet is dangerous?” Morgana questions, eyes pure emerald impossibly closer, holding an intense gaze into her eyes, revealing a flash of something that Kara couldn’t describe nor figure out what could mean, “Or maybe it’s me you find dangerous.” Morgana tilts her head, holding a playful yet interested spark.

Kara’s cheeks flush a dark red, blood rushing to her face and neck, and she quickly looks away, suddenly fascinated by a patch of grass at her feet. “Morgana, that’s not— you know what I meant.”

Her face is brought back by a gentle but strong hand under her chin, pulling Kara’s sapphire blue eyes back to dark sage eyes, overlaid with a shimmer of enchanting gold, “Don’t turn away from me, Kara .” She whispers, breath tickling all the right things and making the skin of her neck tingle, “And I know what you meant,” Morgana rasps into her ear, “You just make it so easy to tease. They way you blush… it’s quite adorable.” Her fingers slowly traced Kara’s jaw, so, so very softly and her heart couldn’t cease its senseless pounding for the woman in front of her, it felt like it was trying to break out from her rib cage and nestle into Morgana’s warm hand.

Her breath is warm against Kara’s skin, and the words send a shiver down her spine as Kara’s eyes flutter shut for a moment, her resolve crumbling under Lena’s touch. “You know, you’re really unfair sometimes.” She almost whimpers. Almost . She opens her eyes, looking into the tangled web of beauty that is Morgana’s dark spruce hair, and– Oh Rao , her arched back as she bends down to whisper sultry into her ear. The feeling doubles tenfold, a speeding beat in her body.

Morgana chuckles softly, pulling back just enough to meet Kara’s eyes fully, who meets Morgana’s gaze with her own, a mix of nervousness and something else—something Morgana recognized.

“Oh, I know.” The woman was basically on Kara’s lap, smirking down at her as she surrounded the flustered blonde between her arms, wiping her thumb over the dry bottom lip of the blonde before the blonde’s tongue chased it, swiping across her lip. Morgana winks and gets off Kara’s lap, turning away with a swish of her dark hair. “But if I weren’t, where would the fun be?” She laughs, Kara lets out a shaky breath as she disappears down the garden path, leaving her alone with her racing heart and a feeling she couldn’t quite shake.

Chapter Text

III.

CHAPTER THREE: BOXES

It’s only been a week and already Lena was feeling the pull to pick up her phone and call Kara. The impulse to tell her about her day and how she is feeling, to gush about the same things they always did while maybe even inviting her over to eat potstickers and order Chinese take-out. It had grown over the months as she got closer to Kara, so much so that it had become something part of her daily schedule, and without it, she felt a slight click in her neck that just wouldn’t go away.

But she was Lena Luthor, CEO of L-Corp, successful businesswoman, billionaire and master manipulator. She can go on with her life without a messy blonde who brought so much baggage.

But, thinking about it, Lena misses the soft warm hugs that Kara gave her freely, the comfort and conversations that she offered without any requirements or conditions. She misses her only–

A knock on her office door interrupts her train of thought, “Come in.” Poking her head through the door, Jess, her loyal and trusty assistant, smiles warmly at her.

“Ms Luthor, you have a visitor. Ms Danvers is waiting for you in the lobby.” Lena couldn’t help the sudden spike of hope and something else, something jittery and excited that thrummed through her veins at the idea of seeing Kara again, her best friend– no, ex-best friend she had to remind herself. 

Kara was a traitor. A liar. Their friendship was never real.

Kara is here to see her.

No, Lena shouldn’t think that way about Kara anymore, not after everything that she’s done to her. Kara was probably here to beg for her forgiveness and apologise but Lena was done with her deceitful tricks and getting hurt.

And she couldn’t let that happen.

“Tell her that I’m busy.” Lena tries to come across as indifferent, waving a hand and attempting to focus back on the laptop in front of her, the same laptop she’s been staring at blankly all afternoon.

All she had to do was box it up in the back of her mind.

It was that simple.

She was fine.

“I’m sorry, Ms Luthor, but she was pretty insistent that she should come up and talk to you.” Of course Kara would, thinking just because she apologised about everything that had happened between them, the lies, the trickery, the betrayal, Lena would forgive her just like that. That she would roll out the red carpet of empathy and clemency for her actions but she is done .

She is fine.

“Tell her to leave the premises before getting security to escort her out.” Jess mumbles out a quick response before shuffling out of the room to follow her order. Not five minutes later, the doors to her office are being shoved roughly open by a furious Alex Danvers– Alex?

“Alex, what is it possible that you could–” She’s interrupted before can finish, the redhead starts yelling.

“Where is Kara , Lena? I know you’ve done something with her.” She snarls, pointing a finger harshly in her direction.

Lena glares blankly at her, “If you think this is some sort of joke, Alex, it isn’t very funny. As you should know by now, I no longer associate with your sister in any way, shape or form, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.” Lena’s voice is calm, but behind it was a cold, cruel malice that was pointed at both the Danver sisters. Kara for lying for so long, and refusing to trust her and Alex for barging into her office like she owned the building, among other things.

“As for Kara, I am not her keeper. I am not even a friend, not to you or your peers, and barging into my office within office hours is unacceptable, Alex. If you want to talk to your sister, go to CatCO or her apartment. That’s where she most commonly could be found if she’s upset as she has sounded on her texts, voicemails and voice notes she has been sending me.” Lena glares again, making a point.

“No, Lena, you don’t understand. Kara has been missing for the whole week. Nobody has been able to get a hold of her, not even her boss. It’s like she just disappeared, and I believe that you have something to do with it.” Alex growls, taking a step closer.

Missing?

Boxes, Lena. Boxes.

But even with her mental boxes, something akin to lead falls in her gut, creating a sharp gaping hole at the bottom of her stomach and suddenly she feels sick, “Are you telling me, Alex Danvers, that your sister, the bright, bubbly blonde of the century is missing? And has been for a week.” Lena says quietly, but Alex felt like she had just been slapped in the face.

The silence is an answer in itself when Alex blanches slightly.

Standing up immediately, Lena walks with purpose towards the immobile redhead at her door, “I’ll meet you at the DEO in ten minutes.” and promptly sets a swift pace towards Jess.

Clearly she would have to do everything herself.

“Jess, I need you to clear my schedule indefinitely, something important has come up and it requires my full attention.”

What is she doing! This is Kara.

“Of course, Ms Luthor. Have a good evening.” Jess smiles at her again before beginning dialling numbers on the desk phone.

And that’s exactly the problem. It is Kara .

“Hi, this is Jess, Lena’s Assistant at L-Corp, I’m calling about–”

The elevator door closes as Jess starts getting passionate on the phone. Lena reminds herself to give the girl a raise after this.

The DEO was completely useless in finding Kara, even with all their state of the art technology and extra terrestrial life form tracking devices, the blonde had yet to be located. 

It’s been two weeks by now and Lena was beginning to fear the worst. What happens if Kara went out as Supergirl and fought against an alien that overpowered her? Or another maniac with kryptonite like her brother Lex?

Lena would never forgive herself if Kara got hurt and she wasn’t there to help her. She just couldn’t, the idea too painful to even begin to process.

But then again, Kara had hurt her. Had lied to her for three years while everyone else knew about her being Supergirl. Even James knew, Her ex-boyfriend.

“Lena, don’t worry. We will find her, no matter what. I promise you.” A hand places itself on her shoulder.

Everything was a mess in her head, her feelings and thoughts conflicting as they fought with each other.

“Thanks Alex for the attempt, but this time it’s not just ‘Supergirl,’ the girl of steel. This time it’s Kara. It’s always been Kara and I never knew. Right under my nose, my supposed arch-enemy, the evil super that I had to save the world from.” Lena croaks, beginning to feel the burn of tears in the back of her eyes.

Boxes .

“It’s hard right now Lena, it will be for some time, but you have to understand that Kara did what she thought was right and you have to hear her out before jumping to conclusions or mislead assumptions.”

Lena could only nod to the hand grounding her on her shoulder and try not to let her thoughts get the better of her.

“We will find her, Lena. I promise you.” and myself  was left unsaid between the two of them.

She is going to be okay.

She would make it through this as she always has.

Boxes .

Chapter Text

IV.



CHAPTER FOUR: THE KNIGHT TURNED BODYGUARD TURNED SPAR PARTNER?

Snoring loudly, Kara dreamt about pretty pink lips and emerald green eyes lighting up with joy. She dreamt that she was sitting beside Lena in her apartment while watching reruns of friends and disney movies and eating enough Big Belly Burgers to feed an entire continent.

She was content. Happy. At peace.

Her maid so graciously knocks on the door to her room, interrupting Kara’s dream and rudely awakens her from her subconscious calling out for Lena, “Kara, it’s time to wake. I have your breakfast here.” Lefa pushes the door open with her back as she walks in backwards, holding a tray of food.

Groaning, Kara rolls over and hides under her covers. It was way too early for her to be up.

“Rise and shine, Kara. It’s time to start your day.” Lefa opens the curtains and lets the sunlight beam throughout the room, brighter than the sun itself as it reflects off the many reflective objects in the room.

Peeking her head over the covers, Kara yelps, “My eyes!” before hissing and hiding under the covers again.

Rolling her eyes again, starting to get used to the blonde’s morning antics, Lefa fondly smirks, “Kara, I know you don’t like early mornings, but it would be best to get up and dressed before your food gets cold and gluggy.” Knowing the way to get Kara up is through her stomach.

As she thought, Kara suddenly sat up, eyes focused, “Thank you Lefa, you’re so kind for bringing this in for me.” With Kara sweetly smiling at the young woman, Lefa can’t help but blush.

“It really was no problem, Kara. I’m just doing my job as your personal maid.” Kara frowns at that. Sure it’s only been a few days but she can’t think that, can she?

“You may be my personal maid, Lefa, but in the time I’ve been here, you have become so much more than that. You’re my friend, please don't ever forget that.” Lefa smiles at her, eyes sparkling, as she blushes a deeper red.

Kara groans again and has to hype herself to get up. “Okay, let’s do this. One…two…three!” Before she can regret it, Kara swings her legs over the side of the bed and her feet come into contact with the cold stone floor as she winces.

She can’t feel the cold but it’s more like the idea of the floor being so cold, especially for warm human feet to touch. Kara can’t help but shiver violently at the thought.

Waiting for a few seconds before she gets up and moves to get dressed, Kara puts on a simple light blue tunic, dark pants and sits down at her small table to dig into her breakfast.

“If that’s all, I’ll take my leave and return within ten minutes.”

“Wait, Lefa. Before you go, can you tell me what time I need to be at Morgana’s chambers to begin my guard duties?”

“Of course, Kara. You will need to be by Morgana’s chamber by mid-morning when the sun is past the tree line.”

“So around six in the morning?”

“Six in the morning?” Sefa questions.

“Yeah, that’s the time that the sun is above sea level or as you would call it because I don’t think you live near the sea or anything like that, or well, maybe except the lake around here, I don’t know about a few miles West from the garden, it’s really pretty and I’d like to go there sometime and, wait– sorry i’m getting off topic, but around six in the morning is the time that the sun rises above the treeline.” Kara rambles, chuckling nervously at the end at Sefa’s confused expression.

“Right…” Sefa looks at her quizzically before mumbling a breathless giggle under her breath, “You foreigners are so weird.” and leaving the room, shaking her head fondly.

Kara sighs. She is getting used to how strange Camelot is, and how different the people acted compared to National City. Strangely enough, Kara was beginning to like it here, it was a breath of fresh air compared to all the alarms and calls for help that Supergirl had to answer, no matter what time of day it was.

Nobody knew what she was or what she could do, and for the first time since coming out as Supergirl, Kara didn’t mind the solitude and peacefulness of a normal life.

On that note, standing up, Kara’s pants fall down because they’re a little too big for her and she really has to get going if she wants to be on time for Morgana and the beginning of a long day.

Rushing out the door, Kara snags a spare belt that Sefa had left for her along with some other small things that she would need and attempts to use the belt to buckle her pants. She fails, miserably. It was honestly sad how she couldn’t use a belt. Her fathers never taught her and Alex always assumed that she knew.

But there was no time to think about that now. She’s gotta get down the hall in less than a minute unless she wants to make it on time!

Arriving at Morgana’s door, the blonde scrambles to knock, wanting to make a good first impression.

Flinging a quick smile on her face, Kara’s hand raises in a fist to the door, pulling back to knock, but before she could hit wood, the door swings open and she knocks a tanned girl in the face and sends her flying back into the surprised arms of Morgana.

“Holy Rao, I am so sorry! I didn’t see you there and you kinda sprung up on me and that is no reason to punch you– but I swear I didn’t know you were going to open the door at that exact time– and oh rao , Morgana you look wonderful today in that dress, golly! Are you bruising already, oh my rao, I am going to be beheaded, I accept my fate–” Kara pauses, taking in the two women trying to stifle their laughter in front of her, “Why are you laughing?! I just assaulted you!” Kara cries.

Once the women could catch their breaths, Morgana smiled warmly at Kara, “Kara, it’s quite alright, we just didn’t know that you liked to hit on women.” The three of them look at each other before they all roar with laughter.

And to make it worse, the pathetic excuse of a belt decides at that moment to fail and the blonde’s pants fall down, revealing her boyish boxers underneath.

Dear Rao, could this morning get any worse?!

Kara stutters and fumbles to pull them up, apologising the whole time, “I–I’m so sorry, your Majesty, I was having trouble with my belt this morning and it seemingly decided to unbuckle at that moment. I– oh rao… ” Kara pauses and looks up at Morgana.

Morgana who is flushed a deep blood red, going all the way down to her neck, as she licks her lips, and eyes Kara’s now covered legs before flicking her eyes up to meet Kara’s wide eyes.

The blonde’s breath hitches in her throat, Morgana was looking at her strangely and it was doing things to her, not to mention, those eyes . Rao, those kryptonite green eyes were so huge, swallowed mostly by enlarged pupils as they looked at her.

“I– uhm… I’ll return in a few minutes.” Kara bows, “Your Majesty,” before hightailing it out of there to her room four doors down. Slamming the door shut and leaning her back against it, breathing heavily.

Her room is really hot, and Kara is sweating buckets. Supergirl doesn’t sweat. The strange feeling was back as it thrummed through her blood and around her body, mostly her legs as they shook slightly, “ Rao , what is she doing to me?” Kara whispers to nobody but herself.

Taking a few minutes to breathe, the blonde steps away from her door and boosts her courage, “You can do this, Kara! You can do this!” Pulling the door open, chin held high, and into an unsuspecting, yet not surprised, Morgana. 

The two topple over each other and land in a heap on the floor. Looking down, Kara stares into the emerald eyes, shining with mirth and sympathy, of Morgana and swears that if she died right there, she would die a happy death. 

“Hmm… it seems that you’ve changed from brave Knight to bumbling Bambi.” Morgana chuckles. 

Burning toe to ear, Kara squeaks, “Morgana! I don’t know how much more I can apologise, but golly, am I sorry. I truly was not expecting you to be at my door at that exact moment.” 

“It’s okay Kara, like before, you had no control over the situation.” The green eyed goddess expresses. 

Fumbling over herself to stand up and rectify her mistakes like the idiot she is, Kara offers the woman on the floor her hand, “Here, let me help you up. It’s the least I could do.” Especially after that stunt, what an idiot you are Kara!

Morgana smiles, resting her hand elegantly into Kara’s sweaty palms as the blonde tugs her up and onto her feet again.

Wait a tick! Kara doesn’t sweat , she’s Supergirl. She’s immune to sweating– why is she sweating?!

“I don’t mind.” Kara eyes her suspiciously, “Truly, Kara. It’s okay that you're a fumbling knight, not everyone is as perfect as me.” Morgana teases as Kara squawks indignantly, pretending to be offended as she smacks her hand to her chest, huffing.

“Me, not perfect? Perhaps you hit your head harder than I imagined.” Kara nonchalantly sasses.

“Ah, why of course, Knight Zor-El. Nothing is as perfect as you and I am clearly delusional from our tumble to the floor.” They both tried to keep straight faces but the spontaneous and hilarious turn of events this morning made it impossible.

Giggling like two school girls, Kara and Morgana start walking towards the first thing on their list of activities today.

But of course, life is never than easy.

Taking those first few steps before realising was worse than when she spilt coffee all over herself that one time at Catco in front of James because Cat screamed at her.

Her pants were still not buckled, and of course, the clumsy butter feet she is– Kara thinks that’s the saying? Isn’t it?– before her pants wrap around her legs and she stumbles over again.

“Holy potstickers and peanut butter!” Trying her best not to swear, Kara groans into the floor, listening silently to the stifled huffs of laughter coming from Morgana in front of her.

“Oh, Ser Zor-El, you really can’t seem to keep up. ”

Kara huffs, “You seriously did not make a pun right now.”

Morgana sighs exasperatedly, “What’s a pun?” She jokes and Kara snorts into the cold stone floor.

“Very punny , Morgana.” Morgana chuckles, smiling ear to ear, who knew a knight had a sense of humour? They normally were so dreary and dull, all about honour and proving themselves.

Pulling the blonde up from the floor, Morgana teases, “So the illustrious Knight Zor-El isn’t a morning person. Who would’ve thought.”

Kara makes an unhappy noise in the back of her throat, “I so am! I love waking up early in the morning, I get to meet Rao – I mean, I get to see the sun rise! And that’s beautiful, kinda like you– I mean, it's really beautiful when it rises over the trees and uhm–”

Morgana smiles amusedly at Kara’s rambling, a light blush tinting her cheeks, “Relax, Kara, I was just teasing.”

Standing closer to Kara, Morgana steps into her personal space while maintaining eye contact with her new favourite cerulean blues, smiling wickedly.

“Oh Kara,” She cooes, “Do you need help there?” Pulling Kara forward, almost nose to nose, Morgana smirks at the blood-rushing to the blonde’s face, painting her a lovely blood red.

“Here, let me help you.” Slowly letting her hands roam down from her shoulders and closer to Kara belt, Morgana feels Kara’s collarbones, running her fingers almost featherlike across them, liking the visage of goosebumps erupting over Kara’s skin before letting them wander further down over her waterboard like abs. 

Mouth watering at the thought, Morgana finally reaches her open belt and glances downwards. Black boyish undergarments were peeking over the top of Kara’s ill-fitting pants. Her pale fingers touch the belt softly, stroking the two separate sides before clicking them into place and tightening it till it fits snugly around Kara’s hips.

Glancing up to darkened sapphire eyes, Morgana took in the view of a heaving chest, lips parted slightly as a tongue rove over the bottom lip and the intense look Kara was giving her.

Why did it feel so exciting ? So raw ?

Like everything she was doing now was against the rules. She felt addicted to this new feeling. To Kara .

Lifting her hand up, Morgana strokes a thumb over Kara’s red cheek and smirks, “With that look you’re giving me, I’d almost expect you to turn into a wild animal in front of me.” Morgana’s smirk widened when Kara gulped audibly, her throat bobbling with exaggerated movement.

Moving even closer to Kara, Morgana leans up to the blonde’s ear, “Come along now, you wouldn’t want to keep me waiting from what I want.” Smiling devilishly, Morgana spins around and struts down the hallway, her hips slightly swaying as her dress moves like waves behind her.

Kara almost stumbles over her own feet, thinking back to last night when Morgana had cornered her on that bench in the garden.

Morgana sighs exasperatedly but airly in front of her, “Come on, Knight Zor-El, I want to beat Arthur and Merlin to the training grounds.” She moved faster than the blonde before suddenly shooting off down the hall in her long gown. How she ran in that, Kara would never know, but that was the least of her worries.

The blonde wanted to call out after her, but she didn’t trust her voice in that moment not to crack so bad the windows wouldn’t shatter.

So instead, Kara slightly used her super speed to try and catch up to the ward, but got lost in the many halls of Camelot.

Because of course she had! It has only been a few days since she arrived here and Morgana had distracted her from using her memory for anything other than herself in dresses so flattering Kara was sure that she would be flatten.

Potsticker butter fudge and cookies! She needs to catch up to Morgana.

Cursing out loud, Kara reverted to her basic instincts and used x-ray vision to search the many halls and rooms of the castle. Spotting Morgana almost on the other end of the castle, the blonde kryptonian lets out another indignant squawk and scrambled in that direction.

“You– You– You c-could give me a– warning next time, you know? That wouldn’t hurt anyone.” Kara is bent at the knees, heaving in deep breaths. She was sweating and now she was getting out of breath!

“Where would be the fun in that? I’d miss out on the perfect opportunity to laugh at you.” Morgana smirked as she tilted Kara’s face up with thumb and pointer finger before twirling away in flourish before her gown flew off.

Rao, help her!

Kara went to scream and cover Morgana but was pleasantly surprised to see her already in shining armour with a sword brandish pointing at her face.

“Cat got your tongue?” Morgana smirked at the gaping Kara, who was currently blushing furiously.

“No! No– I just was… erhm, watching out for you?” It sounded more like a question than a confident statement.

“Sure, whatever sharpens your sword.” Morgana smirks smugly at the flushed Knight kneeling before her. The visage of the tall, blonde Knight before her on her knees was making some rather impure ideas and thoughts jump around her head.

Her Knight, she thought.

Bouncing up onto her feet like a spring, Kara asks, “So… what do you want to do now?”

“Are you really that clueless?” Morgana scrunches her eyebrows and narrows her eyes and Kara swears that she’s never seen anything cuter.

“Kara?”

“Hmm… what? I wasn’t listening…?” The blonde smiles sheepishly.

“There seems to be a lot of ‘not listening’ and a lot of staring.” Morgana deadpans but inside she felt tingly and warm at someone being so distracted by just being in her presence.

“Sorry, I– uhhh… have a lot on my mind!” Like how beautiful you look with the sun peeking through the trees. Kara, no! Focus!

“Right.” Morgana snorts.

They both freeze, eyes locked on one another, Kara’s face slowly morphing into one of pure glee and mischief.

“Did… did you just snort?”

“No, clearly you must be imagining things.”

“No, no. Be honest.”

“Maybe you were the one who hit their head too hard on the floor.” The image of being body slammed by Morgana, Kara becomes a tomato.

Morgana smirks, successfully deflecting the conversation away from her laugh. Thoroughly enjoying how pretty red looks on her Knight.

“Okay, you mischief maker, the purpose of coming out here is to train, and now that I have you, I finally have a spar partner.” Kara smiles saccharinely at the woman.

Finally, a chance to knock this bold woman down a few pegs from her high pedestal. 

Revenge, Kara thought sweetly.

“Of course, I would love to spar with you, Morgana.” She husks, glad that Sara had taught her how to master the art of swordsmanship and how to fight wittingly with a sword.

Oh, she is going to enjoy this.

“Do you want to get some spare armour? I don’t want to break you the first day I get you.” Morgana smirks.

“Oh, I don’t need anything.” Kara smirks as Morgana quirks a perfect eyebrow.

“Really?” She drawls out, “I guess I’ll be the judge of that.” She smiles devilishly then.

Getting into position, both jumping or doing some other hype-up movement, the two women circled each other, eyes locked onto the others.

Focusing, Kara could see the grounds were covered in the early morning dew, coating the grass a moist almost silvery shine. Her nose picking up the sharp tang of petrichor and the pure air that swirled around her nostrils like a natural air freshener, resurrecting her dead olfactory cells in her nose from how used to she was to polluted, garbage smelling air.

The coolness of the morning only sharpened the feeling of anticipation as Kara and Morgana faced each other.

Kara, swiftly braiding the long strands of hair on either side of her face, whips her hair over head shoulder, grinning at Morgana before tapping her sword twice against her boot.

A habit she picked up when she was learning with Sara.

“You ready for this, Morgana?” She teases, a playful spark lighting up the blues of her eyes.

Returning the playfulness, Morgana smiles deviously, her chin held high in challenge.

“I was born ready, Kara. Please try to keep up, you wouldn’t want to let a measly silver-spoon fed girl beat the new renowned Knight of Camelot.” Kara scoffs.

Circling one another, each step is carefully placed and calculated between the two. Like two predators stalking the same prey.

A twig snapped somewhere in the distance and Kara momentarily distracted, turns to look that way for less than a second before Morgana surges forwards, not letting this perfect opportunity go to waste.

They clashed, the ring of metal-on-metal clanged through the early morning air.

Morgana was known for her speed and grace with the other knights she had convinced to spar with, her movements quick and light like a dancer’s. Compared to Kara, who on the other hand, was a powerhouse. The blonde’s every strike was swift and strong, sending shocks down Morgana’s arms whenever their blades met, and her steps were steady and grounded.

The clash went on for a few minutes like this, an endless dance between the two, ringing out into the misty morning of the training grounds. For a while, neither of the women gave or gained an inch of ground. 

Morgana, attempting to catch Kara off-guard again, tries to strike high and low, alternating between the two, her sword dancing like a blade of grass blowing in the wind as she tried to find an opening, but Kara’s defence was good, completely watertight, as she deflected each blow with ease, countering with her own quicker slashes that forced the tiring Morgana back.

Gaining the upper hand, Kara’s grin widened as the intensity of the fight increased as Morgana fought to get her ground back, resulting in her blade hitting home on the side of her ribs, making Kara backstep with a grunt, a grunt merely done out of instinct. The fight was clearly showing how they both enjoyed the challenge that they brought the other.

“Not bad,” Morgana pants, deflecting another incoming strike that reverberated down her arms, her eyes alight with excitement. Twirling her sword at Kara, feigning a left before swinging right, Kara smirked as she caught her, their blades crossing in a bright arc.

Kara laughed, her voice carrying across the training grounds, “Not bad? Don’t you worry, I’m just getting started.” She grinned evilly.

With that, Kara took on the offensive, her movement becoming quicker, unrelenting, but no less weak than before. She was a whirlwind, a storm that shot out each strike with precision and power, leaving Morgana barely enough time to block and dodge upcoming swipes. 

Morgana’s grin became even wider, fierce with determination, admiring the blonde in the sun as she fought to intercept Kara’s every move. But eventually, the fatigue of such a long and taxing spar was catching up to her as she faltered for just a fraction of a second.

Kara seized the opportunity and twisted her wrist, locking Morgana’s blade in a swift manoeuvre, and disarming her with a flick of her sword, sending it sprawling to the floor as it dropped with a thud a few meters away.

Before Morgana could make a move to grab her sword, Kara spun her around and brought her own blade up to her neck from behind, hovering so close that Morgana could hear her hot breathless pants in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

“Yield?” Kara husked into her ear, her warm breath tickling her neck, and Morgana almost whimpered. Almost . She refused to give Kara the satisfaction of seeing that.

“I yield.” Panting, Morgana swears she could taste the tension in the air.

Kara stood behind Morgana for a few seconds longer, basking in her scent before backing away.

Kara drops her sword, her face slightly red and sweaty, breathing heavily, as she watches her with eyes so dark that Morgana was sure there was no blue left.

“You’re good, Kara.” Morgana looked so beautiful in the morning sun Kara was left stunned, completely enchanted as the rays of rao dowse her pale flushed face, her greeny-blue eyes shining breathtakingly while strands of her raven hair escaped from her soft braid and frame her perfect strong jaw and high cheekbones.

Stepping closer, her sword by her side, “You’re not so bad yourself. You almost had me a few times.” Kara murmured, eyes flickering from her eyes to her lips, slightly parted and gasping, before flickering back up. They were close together now, noses almost touching.

Taking a good look at Kara, the light sheen of sweat coating her face and neck, her golden waves of hair cascading behind her shoulders and her two small braids at the front of her hair, eyes so sapphire blue that they rivalled the sky above them, Morgana felt a flush explode across her skin, sizzling and hot as it crawled down her back and lower, licking at her heels and tingling at her thighs.

An unspoken and unacknowledged string was pulling her closer, like a magnet to Kara as Morgana glanced down at her plump, pink lips as the blonde’s tongue ran along her bottom lip.

They both started leaning in.

“Morgana!” They both flinched away from each other, quickly taking in a breath to calm themselves down as the humidity of the area around them quickly cleared up.

“Morgana!” It seemed to bounce off the walls and echo around the training grounds, promptly bursting the little bubble that had enveloped the two women.

The ward sighs, irritated, “They think it’s okay to call me like some sort of lap dog.” She sighs again, focusing on the blonde knight who seemed to have zoned out looking in the direction of the castle.

“Kara?” Spooked, the blonde jerks away harshly.

“I– huh, what did you say?” Kara answers rather not very eloquently, her face marred by a beautiful ruby.

“Nevermind, let’s see what they want from me this time.” Morgana grumbles, resigned to slowly walk towards the exit, a clumsy blonde following behind.

The rest of the day after that was uneventful. The Knight and her ward had walked around the castle doing a variety of things but mostly spent the time enjoying each other's company.

Coming close to the end of the day, Kara walked Morgana back to her room. She didn’t want the day to end but she had nothing to say, so she just stood there looking a little out of depth.

Talking mercy on her, Morgana smiles sweetly, “Thank you for today, Kara. This is the most fun I’ve had in… quite some time.” She whispers rather uncharacteristically shy, like she was telling her a secret.

“It was my pleasure, Morgana. I also had fun today, and seeing as I'll be your guard for the foreseeable future, we have all the time in the world to do it again.” Kara smiles bashfully in return.

“I’ll get out of your hair now and let you sleep. I certainly am with that spar this morning, golly, who knew you were such a master swordsman?” Blushing from the complement, Morgana slightly fumbles her words.

“I– You’re too sweet, Kara.” A beat, “What do you mean ‘get out of my hair?’” Morgana muses.

Snorting at how ironic it was because Kara used to be the one who didn’t understand idioms like that, Kara adds, “It means that I’ll stop bothering you now.”

“You could never bother me.” Is the earnest answer that makes Kara shuffle on her feet adorably, in Morgana’s eyes, before Kara places her foot down awkwardly and her ankle gives out as she falls sideways, flailing as she slams into the floor with a grunt.

“Out of everything you could’ve done, of course, you manage to trip over absolutely nothing.” Morgana chuckles as she helps a groaning Kara off the floor.

“It’s not my fault, you were distracting me!” Raising an eyebrow, Kara just blabbers more excuses for her clumsiness until Morgana shushes her by holding her face in her hands and looking straight into her eyes, “Calm, Kara, calm.”

Nodding, Kara gives Morgana a sheepish smile, “Sorry, I get sidetracked easily. The moral of the story, I had fun today.” Backing out of the hold, Kara does a little bow, looking up through her eyebrows and smirks, smoothly transitioning from bubble butt to smooth sailor.

Not the best metaphor she’s thought of.

“Rest well, my Lady .”

Cheekbones tinted a slight red, Morgana smiles shyly as she replies, “Goodnight Kara.” before gently shutting the doors to her room.

Left alone standing in the hallway, Kara stares at Morgana’s door for a few minutes, mind blanking at the pure softness she saw in Morgana’s smile before bouncing over to her room.

She definitely needs to work her gangly skills in absolutely everything when Morgana’s around. It’s like her mind melts to mush in her head.

It’s not her fault that the woman was so mesmerising.

No, Kara! Stop with the excuses! 

Focusing on her hearing, Kara listens to the slow steady beat of Morgana’s heart four doors down and dopily smiles to herself before fitfully falling asleep, dreaming of pale flesh and kryptonite green eyes.

Chapter Text

I.



CHAPTER FIVE:

Morgana hates mornings.

Mornings always brought pain and great suffering. Innocents burned alive, news of faraway villages torched because of Uther’s mania, Uther’s almost daily speech about the evils of magic. The list went on.

The people of Camelot were agony, only they didn’t know it. Instead, they encouraged Uther by chanting for death, throwing rotten vegetables at those they believed corrupted by magic.

It makes Morgana’s mind swirl with ‘what-ifs’ and possibilities of where the world is different.

What would happen if Arthur had magic? Would he be treated the same?

Would he be thrown on a wooden pyre in front of the crowds for all those to bare their gnashing yellow-rotten teeth and spew words spindled from manipulated hate?

Would he have to endure the beatings from self-righteous Knights when they believed a person who could wield magic was destined to be the Devil’s advocate and sacrifice babies in the forest?

Morgana, herself, didn’t have magic but that did not stop her from being sympathetic and fighting for those who do. For the people who couldn’t use their own voice to speak up and defend themselves.

They were suffering only because they were different and it made her blood boil.

“Murderer!”

“Kill him!”

“Slash his throat!”

“Burn him!”

The crowds never seemed to stop the relentless spiel of hatred, a stereotype ingrained so deeply in the heads of the people, a senseless warning to tell them to stay away. To ostracise and maim.

To kill.

Morgana stood stoic beside a proud Uther, his smile gleaming from the firelight. The air was saturated with the putrid stench of burning flesh and the desperate screams for mercy.

Six are already dead.

Seven to go.

When the final screams ceased, Morgana felt another sharp edgy stone drop in her stomach, how long was this going to go on for? When was the end to this madness?

When was he going to stop?

It was all the same question– all led up to the same question.

Has the King truly gone mad? Believe that this was the way to a better future and not a repressed past?

She would–no, needed to talk to Uther.

Morgana would remind him that these are his people . Not pigs bred for slaughter.

They had thoughts and feelings. People with magic were surely no different from people without magic.

The walk back to the castle was filled with boisterous and obnoxious laughter from too-proud men, their gaits smug as they strutted behind Uther and herself. Joking about finding evil witches and having some fun with it . Morgana knew what they were insinuating.

Women weren’t an ‘it’ but she knew better than to go and open her mouth as Uther strode beside her, chuckling along with the rest of the beasts.

She wanted to rip their vocal cords out and string them to a bow. Probably the only way to make them useful.

Walking slightly behind the knights surrounding the two royals was Kara. Her face was rather pale, a green shade to her face. She was staring forward unfocused; entranced, placing one quiet footstep after the other.

Interesting.

It made Morgana stare at her curiously yet a little confused. Why wasn’t she laughing with the rest of the knights? Wasn’t she glad like the rest of them that a harmless bystander, a victim of biased vitriol, maimed again for the– uh…

Momentarily stunned, Morgana has no idea why Uther hated magic.

A daring thought sparked in her mind. What if he was doing this because he wanted to. That he enjoyed watching the commoners burn for nary but a reason.

Her blood is rushing in her ears, her heart beating almost painfully in her chest. Her jaw tightened.

This ill man dared do such a thing to his own people. She would rather die than do such a thing.

It almost made her think that Uther wasn’t fit for the throne. Damn being his ward and his ‘benevolence,’ he is a sick man.

But then Kara came into view, her face a little less pale and a little more colourful. She reached out softly and grasped onto Morgana’s hand, giving it a squeeze, as if sensing her inner turmoil raging like the angered sea gods of a thrashing ocean.

The touch grounded Morgana, made her see reason to her sudden onslaught of emotions, supposedly repressed and welled deep inside her aching to gain an inch of ground, to be released from their little glass jars in the back of her mind.

And she knew that one day, with enough pressure, those small glass bottles wouldn’t shatter and everything would come pouring out.

She prayed that Uther would be there for that day.

The familiar expanse of Camelot’s white walls were the same as they were before, as they always have been. But that’s not what had the cogs of Morgana’s mind cranking and moving, no, it was Kara.

The blonde Knight had come from nowhere and suddenly saved her from those goblins almost three weeks ago now. The night itself was murky for Morgana, spending most of it in a fever-induced delirium from her wounds slashed into her by the green gold-hoarding creatures.

Her most potent memory was a person of golden sunlight with eyes the colour of the sky before a thunderstorm, looking down at her with such reverence, then her world was exploding in a flashing light.

Had Kara been that strange person? And if so, what was that light? Everything surrounding the woman was a mystery, clouding the blonde like a thick fog on the forest floor in the damp dewy mornings.

Morgana wasn’t blind. She could see that bulge of Kara’s biceps when she crossed her arms on her chest. She had watched the blonde’s dexterous fingers spin her sword in her hand at incredible speeds without falter. She had seen the woman knight take down Arthur’s men with ease in training. 

Morgana licked her dry lips.

Kara was something different. Not necessarily magic but strange.

Unique in a way that was totally and completely her. Morgana had never met anyone like Kara and she doubted she would in the future.

Kara was a once in a lifetime thing. A one in a million. And strangely… She was glad to have had that chance.

“Kara?” The blonde in question perked up almost immediately and it reminded Morgana of a dog.

“Yes! I mean– Is there anything you want or need, or that I can possibly assist with?” She scrambled to put words together, not wanting to sound too enthusiastic.

“We’ve been over this. You need to stop being so formal around me.” Morgana sighs.

Kara hastily replies, “Oh my gosh, I keep forgetting! It’s like my brain blanks or something when you look at me.” Kara’s natural wide grin turned into mortification. Her smile turned tight and her eyes slightly widened.

Morgana chuckles, “I’m going to talk to Uther about Mag–” She interrupted herself. She couldn’t help but fall down the rabbit hole of overthinking.

What if Kara supported Uther’s deranged thinking? Loved the idea of magic users burning alive at the stake. Morgana couldn’t risk Kara reporting her to Uther.

She focused back on the blonde, Kara was looking at her with an unreadable stoicism on her face but had a strange look in her eyes.

The urge to squirm where she stood niggled at her mind. Her body felt itchy, like the fabrics of her clothing were cheap and scratchy.

Morgana never finished her sentence. She turned on her heel, knowing Kara would follow, and marched towards the throne room.

Kara fell into step with the quiet ward. Heading towards the throne room at the pace that she set, their feet falling in sync with each other.

She could feel Kara’s gaze tingling the side of her head but she was far too lost in the world that was tinted with overthinking, anger and Uther to do anything about it, despite knowing the blonde was probably bursting to talk to her.

To ask her questions and figure out why she went so quiet.

Morgana slightly jumped when she felt a fleeting flush of skin and warmth against her hand. Glancing down, she watched as Kara’s overly warm hands brushed hers imperceptibly.

Her stomach did a strange thing. It flipped and the sudden permeating scent of vanilla, citrus and warmth made her dizzy.

Morgana remembered the hot introduction when she met Kara almost a month ago. How peaceful she looked sitting on a random bench, staring up at the night sky. How despite not wearing silks and embroidered clothing, the blonde had been the most enchanting person she had ever seen.

It gave her a strange sense of confidence when she saw Kara sitting under the stars.

Walking next to the blonde after slowly getting to know her more and more, Morgana felt their roles swap. The confidence and swagger she had that night of the banquet had all but vanished to the abyss and she suddenly became the nervous sweaty-handed person.

Albeit, she managed to stutter less over her words than Kara did and compared to the rambles the blonde gave, Morgana revealed significantly less. She was definitely slicker about her new near-constant state of fluster near Kara.

But being the ward of Uther hadn’t helped her gain any friends and walking next to a quiet Kara was mildly intimidating. She didn’t know how to break the hush between them. They continued in silence. Which broke only when they arrived at the closed double doors when Kara turned to look at her.

“So this is you… I, uh, guess I’ll leave you here and come back when you call for me.” The feeling of awkwardness hung in the air around the two women.

Nevertheless, Morgana doubted she would be able to hear her call for her if she travelled far.

“Thank you Kara.” And instantly, she knew that the bubbly Kara she was getting to know was back.

Heat swarmed to Kara’s cheeks at the praise, “No probs! Just– If you need me just yell.” Kara sent her a warm smile before moving down the hall, obviously in search of the nearest piece of food.

But really, the blonde was silently screaming at herself.

She had already said to call for her when she was finished.

You moron!

Morgana had watched Kara try to subtly eat at least five times her size at feasts and she surely ate even more when alone. How she had the body of a chiselled goddess? Morgana would never know but god did she appreciate it.

Stunned by her own thoughts, Morgana decided not to dwell.

She had more pressing issues at hand.

The doors slammed against the stone walls they were connected to, resonating with a loud bang. Morgana strode into the room and took in Uther sitting ugly on his throne. His face screwed into a pinched expression before it changed to a self-proud face, his chin tilted up, looking down at her.

“Morgana, what do I owe the pleasure of seeing my ward at this time?” Uther smiled strangely and it sent ugly, cold shivers down her spine.

“Uther, strange as always.” Morgana replied.

“What is it you want, girl?” His smile tightened.

She didn’t have time to dalliance around the subject. She knew Knights of Camelot were out and actively searching for magic users.

“You dare call yourself a king. A protector of Camelot. When all I can see is the burning of innocent civilians by the dozen each week because you think they have magic.” Her lip curled, her hand straining to remain unclench beside her.

Uther's right eye twitches accompanied by the slight red washing across his face, “Watch your tongue, Morgana. You forget yourself.”

Morgana opened her mouth to speak but was swiftly cut off. Uther had always been quick to anger. He used it like it was some crutch to any other ‘weakening’ emotion such as empathy.

“You stand here because of my mercy. Because I chose to take you in when your father died and yet you repay me with insolence? How dare you question my rule!” He intones, his fists twitching on the armrests of his throne.

Morgana, unphased by his rising fury, merely huffed bitterly, “Mercy? Is that what you call it? Your so-called mercy has cost hundreds of lives. You burn villages by the dozen, persecute those born with gifts they never asked for, and call it justice. But it is nothing more than your hatred and paranoia running rampant!” Morgana rebutted, her fists clenched at her sides and jaw tight.

Her laughter mocked Uther, made him feel small and slashed at his pride, “You will not speak to me of this, Morgana! I forbid it. The magic you defend has brought nothing but death and destruction to this kingdom and I will not allow it to corrupt Camelot again. You, of all people, should understand this.” His glare is icy as he directs it at her.

His face pinches again, making him look like he was in physical pain.

Morgana wished he was.

Instead, she replied, her voice no louder than usual but intoned heavy with resentment, “Understand? Oh, I understand all too well. You’ve built this kingdom on blood and fear.”

She took a step forward, emphasising her point, “How many children have you torn from their mothers– How many more will you take from their mothers? How many innocent people have screamed, begged for mercy as the flames consumed them—all in the name of your crusade?”

Uther slammed his fist on the arm of the throne, shaking in rage, “Enough! Do not lecture me on what it means to protect this kingdom. Everything I’ve done has been for Camelot's survival. Magic is a poison, and I will not let it fester in my realm!” He screamed, spit flying everywhere. His mania was tangible in his wide and glazed eyes as he tried to hold his chin high.

She wasn’t one to beat around the bush, her voice rose with each word she spoke, “Survival? No, Uther, this is not survival—this is a slow, agonizing death!” The guilt she felt being someone with enough influence to change the fates of those imposed with magic was stifling.

She could feel it curl around her mind like a snake, constricting her every other thought.

“The people fear you, not love you. You’ve crushed the soul of this kingdom. Your legacy will be one of ash and ruin.” She spat.

Uther thrusted a harsh shaky finger at her, “And what would you have me do? Allow sorcerers to roam free, to plot against the crown? To risk another Great Purge? You think you understand leadership, but you know nothing of the weight of the crown!” He challenged, the corners of his mouth white as sticky froth gathered.

He looked like some rabid animal.

Morgana scoffed bitterly, “Leadership? You speak of leadership, yet you lead through fear, through fire and sword. A true king would seek to unite his people, not divide them. You call magic evil, but you are the true darkness in Camelot.”

Uther venomously squawked at her, “Do not presume to lecture me on darkness, Morgana. I have sacrificed more than you could ever comprehend for this kingdom. And if my methods seem harsh, it is because the world demands it.” The back of her neck was buzzing, the baby hairs of her neck sticking up.

Morgana, incredulous as her voice broke slightly, “You speak of sacrifice, yet you’ve never sacrificed anything that truly mattered! Not your pride, not your blind hatred. You’ve lost nothing compared to those who suffer under your rule.” She hissed.

He looked nonplussed, “And what would you know of loss, girl? Have you ever felt the weight of betrayal? The sting of watching those you trust turn against you?”

Morgana’s sneer soured, “You accuse me of betrayal while you sit atop a throne built on lies. You’ve betrayed this kingdom, Uther. You’ve betrayed your people by believing you were chasing justice when all you were doing was chasing your own tail.”

Sitting straighter on his shiny golden throne, Uther snarled, “You speak as if you care for Camelot, yet your words betray your true intentions. You’re blinded by your own arrogance, Morgana. If you continue down this path, you will find only ruin and death.” He spat.

She turned her back on Uther. Her eyes burned with brimming anger and her voice definitively glacial, “No, Uther. The ruin will be yours. The people will see you for what you truly are—a tyrant. And when that day comes, you’ll be powerless to stop the iron fist you wield so tight fall back upon you.”

The room tensed as Morgana marched out. She had gotten the last word. Her anger echoing in her retreating footsteps. Uther stared after her, his expression a storm of anger and paranoia as he glanced all around the room.

As she strutted down the hall, Morgana felt a humming in her blood, something singing out to her as her anger coiled. Trying to calm down, Morgana took a second to breath, but no matter, the rush of adrenaline had awoken something dormant, waiting idly inside her, a seed of something that seemed to branch out inside her.

Her fingers tingled and her body thrummed in a strange new frequency. The torches around her suddenly flickered before roaring with powerful flames, slightly charring the walls that they sat in despite not being lit.

Magic .

Terrified that a magic user had come to kill her, unable to rid herself of implanted fears, Morgana could only watch with wide eyes as the flames grew taller. Her mouth hanging open in a silent scream. 

She darted down the hall, fearing an evil creature with a revenge plot against Uther on her tail.

Just as she rounded the corner, she collided with a solid wall and fell back. She braced herself, preparing for inevitable pain that would obviously blossom as she hit the ground but it never came.

Instead, as she opened her eyes, Morgana was staring into the deepest blue she had ever seen in her life. Two pools of blue so deep they sucked her in and she feared they’d never let go. 

It made her forget why she was running in the first place.

The next thing that she noticed were curling strands of golden hair, smelling of vanilla, warmth and citrus. It was strangely… comforting as Morgana felt everything that had happened this whole morning tilt her axis off kilter.

She felt unbalanced and sick. Uther was a maniac killer who burned innocents by the hundred from his lunacy. The people of Camelot were suffering and magic users were in constant fear. Morgana had just experienced her first encounter with magic and Uther had yelled at her.

She was a strong woman. She would not cry, but in the arms of someone warm and comforting, she felt the silent prickle of tears roll, the salt staining her cheeks and lips.

“Morgana?” She knows that voice.

“Kara…” The overwhelming relief in the reverent whisper sent tingles down the blonde’s spine, her smile curling against Morgana’s head.

“What’s wrong?”

“I–”

“Has someone hurt you? Did Uther hurt you?” The sudden enraged tone from Kara sent small waves of warmth through her body.

“Nobody hurt me. I was– I just thought that I saw something and I got scared.” What is she saying!

Kara released a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She pulled Morgana slightly closer to her body. She felt strangely protective over her budding friendship with Morgana.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now, I won’t let anything hurt you.”

Morgana smiled slightly into Kara.

Muffled by the hug, she asks, “I— would you come with me on a ride?”

Kara didn’t miss a beat.

“YES!”

She quickly corrected herself.

“I mean— no– wait! Hah, it’s not that I don’t want to or anything– I would love too more than anything to go on a ride with you— not that means anything more than me just wanting to be friends! Obviously, but I would understand if you thought it would be too weird or something for me to come with you or anything—”

“Kara–”

“–I don’t really think that it might be seen as strange or something, but I guess it would be okay since I am your guard. Gah! What am I even saying? Oh rao , I’m rambling again aren’t I? I’m sorry–”

“Kara–”

“–I’ve been a little messed up this morning due to the burnings– Not that I disagree with the King’s rule or anything! It was just very confronting and I–”

“KARA!”

“YesIwouldlovetocomewithyouonaride!” It all came out in a big breath.

“What?” Morgana isn’t even going to try to decipher what Kara had just said, she knew she wouldn’t figure it out.

“I– uhm…” A beat, Kara took in a breath, “I said that yes I would love to go with you on a ride.”

“Oh” Morgana seemed slightly out of breath.

Kara smiled as she looked down and leaned her chin on top of Morgana’s head. The blonde was taller by a few metres than Morgana and the action makes her release the remaining tension in her shoulders, practically melting like soft butter into Kara’s arms.

They stay like that for a few minutes, comfortable just to be in silence with each other. That’s how Gwen and Sefa found them five minutes later, still silently embracing each other. It was oddly intimate and Sefa felt her hand twitch at her side.

“Lady Morgana?” The two women startled away from each other, their little bubble popped with the question.

Morgana cleared her throat.

“Erhm.. yes?” Kara ducked her head to hide her blush at being caught. She felt all hot and staticy.

“My Lady, you are due at your meeting with Albanius and Felic.” Gwen states.

Frustrated, Morgana glares silently at the two maids, “Tell them that they can figure it out themselves, I will not be attending any meetings for the rest of the week.”

Kara was on cloud nine. She felt warm and fuzzy all over, like Morgana’s touch refused to leave her body. It was refreshing for some reason. It made her blood rush to her cheeks and her brain malfunction.

“…now. Kara.”

Grabbing a stuttering Kara’s hand, the two of them rush down the hall and through several doors, Kara really needs to get to memorising this place, before Morgana pulls her into the stables outside.

Looking at all the horses, Kara felt like a massage gun, vibrating intensely where she was standing. All but bouncing towards the nearest horse, Kara started cooing and patting a black mare.

The black stallion immediately moved towards her and Morgana winced behind her.

“Kara, you might want to–”

She didn’t get to finish as the black stallion reared back and neighed loudly. Letting a hoarse shout of surprise Kara fell back in shock, flinching out of instinct at the sudden movement instead of actual fear.

The horse landed with a heavy thump before it moved towards her again.

‘Oh rao, this is how I'm going to die isn’t it?’ Kara couldn’t help but helpful supply herself as she squeezed her eyes shut, her hands out in front of her as if it were to shield her.

It would, obviously, but Morgana didn’t know that. So when she grabbed a broomstick to bat the horse away from the blonde on the floor, she didn’t expect the horse to be nuzzling into Kara’s face, licking her cheek as the blonde squealed on the floor.

“Oh god, oh god! I think I got it in my mouth!” Kara spluttered as the horse neighed happily and Morgana just stood there, staring and jaw lying uselessly on the floor.

The black stallion hated everyone. The stableboys had such horrible scarring from horse bites and the mare was an absolute nightmare to feed and wash, let alone try and ride. So watching as Kara rolled around on the floor and trying to wipe off horse spit as said horse watched with belated amusement was so baffling.

How–

“Kara–”

“Oh god, I can still taste it. What if he licks his– his… you know– behind!” Kara groans on the floor, licking the sleeve of her tunic.

“I don’t think that’s a good–”

Spluttering again, “That was so much worse! Gross, I think I just licked hay mixed with manure.” Kara groaned as grimaced at the taste, wishing she had a modern toothpaste. Instead, at Camelot, the only way to brush your teeth was to constantly clean them with green hazel shoots and then rubbing them with woollen cloths until they shine like ivory. The court physician, Gaius, says to protect our teeth we should never eat hot food, but only what is cold, tepid, or slightly warm.

It was complete and utter cheeseball fudge but Kara couldn’t call him out on that. He was the trusted doctor of King Uther and she was just a knight. 

Maybe she could try to create toothpaste? It was very far fetched and would be extremely difficult but perhaps in a few years she could taste that minty flavour once more.

The sudden realisation that she was already planning for the years ahead made a cold dagger shoot down her spine.

Sighing fondly, Morgana teases, “Maybe closing your mouth is a good idea, yes?”

“Perhaps…” Kara mumbles back and Morgana snorts.

“You are so unladylike it’s uncanny.” Kara huffs and finally gets up from the dirty floor.

“At least I have some semblance of manners, unlike some people who can’t seem to eat dinner without making a complete mess.” She retorts, satisfied with the undignified squawk.

“I do not make a mess when I eat!” Shooting a pointed stare that said ‘ really?’ at Kara, Morgana ignored her denial.

“Come on, we’re burning daylight and I have a place in mind.” With that, she gracefully swung herself over and onto her white mare, looking back to smirk smugly at the struggling blonde.

With a loud ‘hyah’ for the fun of it, Morgana kicked started her horse to a gallop, leaving Kara in her metaphorical and literal dust. The blonde finally managed to get up and onto the horse, elegant her antonym, and set off after the Lady.

The black mare was fast, catching up to Morgana swiftly with her thirty second headstart that Kara would vehemently try to argue with in the future. 

Kara weaved through the trees and dodged sporadically placed roots like a professional. The wind caressed her hair, snapping behind her like a cape of golden tresses as the blonde laughed.

Aside from flying, Kara had never felt more free than when she did riding. She was less than tasteful when riding seeing as she’s never touched a horse in her life let alone ridden one, but it didn’t stop her from on top her black stallion and inhaling a deep breath.

The life of the forest seeping into her lungs and pumping through her veins. For the first time in a long time, Kara felt completely free. Free from the restraints of society and her duties. Free from her sister’s constant overprotective worry. Free from oppressive and haunting memories of Krypton. Here, on her horse, riding free with Morgana, she was just Kara .

Nothing more, nothing less.

And it was perfect.

In front of her, Morgana looks back with a loud snort, “Can’t keep up Kara?” 

Kara smiles at the challenge, “Oh it’s on.”

Pushing the horse faster, Kara steadily catches up to Morgana, “Now who's falling behind?” Kara winks as she flies by Morgana.

The two race, hurling past trees like a possessed Uther was behind them. Kara had no idea really where they were going but she was heading in the somewhat odd direction that Morgana had been leading towards.

Sure that she had left Morgana far behind, Kara laughed. She felt oddly fond of Morgana in the few weeks that she had been here. The budding friendship between them was unique to Kara. She had never had a friend like Morgana.

True, they only spoke briefly and sometimes only in glances but that was more than enough for Kara to treasure it. Maybe, just maybe, this would be the turning point that would lead to their small friendship to grow into something more?

She missed her friend group from back home deeply. She missed Alex’s complaints early in the morning, meeting up with Winn and James at Catco, flying with J’ohnn and teaching Brainy idioms like break a leg.

Kara was still a little confused on that one herself, why on earth would someone kindfully yell at you to ‘break a leg?’

The whole thing was baffling, but it was humanity. It was Alex. It was her friends. It was National city.

Golly, it was even Lex Luthor. The xenophobic, sexist and racist dickhead that hounded her cousin Kal–El because he was kryptonian and Superman. A hardened, psychopathic criminal, yet still part of everything that was humanity, everything that it was made up of.

The idea of home made her feel melancholic and dull her mood, so she tried to strive past the looming despair that hung close by, waiting for her to burst.

She wouldn’t. Kara was strong and she didn’t have to because she would get back.

Right?

Nevertheless, Kara was full of hope. She will get out of here if it’s the last thing she does–

TREE

“Crud!”

Her brain computed too late. She was thinking too hard again.

And now she was on the floor, jaggard sharp stones stabbing into her back and dirty from the ground.

Morgana’s loud, carefree laughter rang out across the trees, lighting up something in Kara’s heart, slowly mending a gaping wound.

Coming to a stop beside her now grazing black stallion, Morgana hopped down from her horse and teased, “Not so proud now are we, Brave Knight Zor–El?”

Kara groaned on the floor.

“Stop gloating, I can feel the smug rolling off you in waves.”

Morgana snorted.

“Maybe, but you should’ve seen yourself. The mighty Zor–El smacked off her horse by a tree branch.” She mocks.

Kara grumbles on the floor, “Let me wallow in my self-pity for two seconds! I just got viciously attacked by mother nature.”

Morgana huffs a laugh, “Sure.”

She offers Kara a hand. The blonde accepts and allows herself to be pulled up by Morgana until she could whisper in Kara’s ear.

“But it’s still a race.” Morgana shoves Kara back into the dirt and dashes back to her horse.

“Bye darling!” She kicks off again, laughing.

“You dirty– that’s cheating, Morgana!” The blonde scrambles to get back onto her horse to chase after the cackling school girl far ahead of her.

She wasn’t going to let that cheater win.

Morgana won.

By quite a margin.

“You cheated!”

“No, I didn't, Kara. I just played smart.” Morgana snorts.

“Pushing the other person into the dirt counts as cheating, you cheater!” Kara vehemently argues.

“Very creative, Kara.” Morgana deadpans, “Plus you should’ve known that I had a hidden agenda.”

“What– why would I know that?!”

Morgana sighs warmly, “Why would you.” She whispers.

“Hey, I heard that! You’re not as sneaky as you think you are.”

“Maybe I wasn’t trying to be.” She retorts with a raised eyebrow.

Kara missteps and flails her arms around like a bird trying to regain her footing.

Morgana just laughs, loud and hard watching Kara struggle.

“Stop laughing, it’s not funny.” Kara groans, already wanting to hide her embarrassment in her hands.

“On the contrary, I think it’s very funny.” Morgana smiles, staring as Kara turns even more red.

Moving the blonde’s hands away from her face, Morgana smiles at Kara, “You’re still so easy to tease.” The blonde flinches when she looks at Morgana, expecting her to be a few steps away, but is startlingly shocked to find her barely a hair away from her face.

Morgana and Kara connect eyes

Kara feels the burn of her flush reach the tips of her ears as Morgana starts keeling over with laughter.

“God, your face!”

Grumbling to herself, Kara marches towards her horse to triple-check her knots on the reins to ensure the mare doesn’t run off during their spontaneous walk.

“She so cheated, didn't she?” Stroking the black soft fur, Kara smiled at the horse that turned to look at her.

The horse trilled its agreement and Kara shouted out loud, “HA! I knew it”

Morgana glanced over fondly, shaking her head and unconsciously curled the corner of her lip into a small smile.

Chapter Text

VI.

CHAPTER SIX:

“Close your eyes.” Morgana spins around, almost gleefully and Kara notes how pretty her eyes are surrounded by the trees.

Not now Kara!

Kara closes her eyes, gasping when cool hands gently glaze over her eyelids. She tamps down the urge to shiver and relax fully into the soft hold. Nobody has held her like this since Krypton.

Not even Alex.

Everyone has always had that small vestige of fear undulating under their actions.

Kara remembers when she was on red kryptonite. She couldn’t stop herself or give herself the second to feel guilty or bad about her actions. Her chains of humanity had fallen away like melted butter.

The power that she had felt coating her body, like warm water cascading down her back and heating her from the inside out.

She felt for the first time in her existence the god she was.

Kara couldn’t help the shiver that escaped her grasp when she felt Morgana’s warm front connect with her back.

Taking her silence as hesitation, Morgana tries to soothe her worries.

“I’m right here, I won’t let you fall. Trust me.” She breaths into Kara’s ear, her warm breath tickling the baby hairs of her neck. Kara strangles herself to conceal a whimper, instead nodding silently at the kernel of trust that has been growing between them for the past few weeks.

Together they take a step forward. Then another, and another after that until they are steadily walking forwards as one. In the distance, Kara can hear the ferocious rush of water, the tiny ticks of insect heartbeats and the swish of fish sliding through water.

The sounds make her smile. Life in Camelot was so different from National City and she still couldn’t get over how freeing it felt being here despite the fact that she felt like half of her heart had been snapped away from her.

The warmth of smiles that the citizens of National City cast her way as she thwarts a villain from an attempt on their lives.

The quiet moments where the rain masked the harsh shouting and the horns of impatient drivers, washing it all away with water and the sounds of peace and offering white noise for when the day gets too much for the blonde.

The little children that wore her family symbol El mayarah and pretended to be Supergirl or Superman and save the day.

How beautiful new love was when you saw two unlikely people holding hands, sharing glances and touches with each other when they thought others weren’t looking, encased in their own little world.

“We’re almost there.” Morgana’s hot breath caresses her ear and all rational thoughts drop out of Kara’s head, leaving her breathless.

“Okay.” Kara could hear her heartbeat begin to race and her blood rush around her body. Behind her, Morgana lets out a shaky breath and all the blonde can think about is Morgana’s rubbing against her back– NO!

THINK GOOD THOUGHTS.

Nevertheless, The unaware Morgana eventually tugs Kara softly to a stop and removes her hands, “Okay, now you can look.” She says giddy.

When she opened her eyes, Kara didn't expect anything like this.

In front of her, a massive cascading waterfall practically bursts from above a tall cliff into a large pond that could, probably, at least in her opinion, be counted as a lake.

“I– Wow…” 

Morgana passes the speechless blonde and smiles delightedly, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“I’ve never seen anything like this. How could I have not noticed this?” The last part is mostly spoken to herself but Morgana still answers.

“It’s far from Camelot and miles away from the nearest village.”

“That’s amazing. How did you find this place anyway?” She questions.

Grabbing Kara’s hand, heat spread up her arm, Morgana glances away, “I…used to run away from Uther when I was a young girl. Try to run home and find my father in some delusion that he wasn’t dead and Uther had kidnapped me.” A dry, bitter chuckle slips from her lips, her gaze never lifting to meet Kara’s.

“Maybe it was just denial but I had so much hope when I ran away the first time. I made it all the way back to our old cottage and searched for my father for two days, checking the area around and the village several hours away in hope that he was there.” Morgana fixes her gaze towards the waterfall, never meeting the blues one in front of her desperately searching to meet hers.

“Oh, Morgana–”

“He wasn’t at either place and I think that was the moment that it really settled in my head that he wasn’t coming back and I stole a horse, riding for almost a week till I stumbled upon this place and finally allowed myself to break down and sob.” Morgana didn’t realise she was crying until Kara cups her face and wipes away her tears with a warm thumb.

The roar of the waterfall filled the silence that followed, the mist clinging to their skin like breath held too long. Morgana’s chest hitches, a tremble daring to escape her lips, but Kara didn’t flinch. Her thumbs swept slow, deliberate paths beneath Morgana’s eyes, catching every falling tear.

Almost as if she were carving her reassurance into Morgana’s being. 

“You didn’t deserve that,” Kara murmured, her voice low and certain, like the current beneath still water.

Morgana finally looked at her—really looked at her—and something in her chest cracked open, aching and raw. “I thought if I kept moving, it wouldn’t catch up to me.”

Kara’s hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck, fingers threading through sweaty, damp hair. “But it always does, doesn’t it?” she said, a sad smile ghosting her lips. “Grief has a way of waiting.”

Morgana nodded, her eyes glistening, but there was something steadier in them now. “I didn’t expect for this to happen.”

“Me neither,” Kara said, voice soft. “But maybe… we were both meant to get lost.”

The water crashed behind them, wild and unrelenting, but in that small space between them, everything felt still— held.

Morgana leaned forward just slightly, unsure if she wanted comfort or if she just needed the warmth of someone who saw her. “Is it always going to hurt this much?”

Kara didn’t answer right away. Instead, she brushed a strand of hair from Morgana’s forehead, her touch feather-light. “Maybe. But you don’t have to carry it alone anymore.”

Morgana’s breath caught as Kara leaned in, their faces inches apart. The warmth of Kara’s hands still lingered on her skin, anchoring her in the moment. Her eyes flicked to Kara’s lips, just for a heartbeat, and that was all it took.

Morgana watched as Kara’s tongue traced her lower lip, making it wet and glistening in the sun. It matches how her eyes shine. Something hot was coiling around her.

The space between them grew thick with something unsaid, heavy and charged. Morgana’s heart pounded, and for a second, it felt like time bent toward them, like the universe held its breath and watched.

But then Kara’s expression shifted— just slightly. A spark lit in her eyes, something mischievous curling at the edge of her mouth.

Before Morgana could make sense of it, Kara stepped back and shoved her—gently, but with no room for escape— straight into the water.

Morgana let out a startled shriek before she splashed down with a dramatic flail. She surfaced sputtering, her hair plastered to her face, blinking at Kara in shock.

Kara was laughing now, bright and uninhibited, the sound echoing off the rocks. “You looked like you were about to combust,” she grinned. “Figured you needed cooling off.”

Morgana pushed her soaked hair back with a glare that didn’t quite land. “You’re evil .”

Kara knelt at the water’s edge, still smiling. “I prefer ‘chaotic good.’”

“You’re going to regret that,” Morgana warned, splashing a handful of water at her.

Kara just laughed again, ducking away. “Worth it.”

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Morgana laughed too— real, full, and just a little breathless.

Kara kneeled, locked in place.  She couldn’t lift her eyes away, couldn’t part with something so mesmerizing.

Every moment with Morgana felt like it had been dipped in a golden hue– Kara didn’t know how to explain it, it felt like she was floating.

Spotting the blonde unfocused, Morgana didn’t waste time. Still waist-deep in the water, she surged forward, catching Kara mid-thought. Before Kara could understand what was happening, Morgana grabbed her wrist and yanked.

Kara’s yelp was swallowed by a splash as she toppled into the cold water beside her.

She surfaced with a dramatic gasp. “ Rude! ”

“Oh, now it’s rude?” Morgana grinned, launching another splash at her. “Justice, Kara. Sweet, freezing justice.”

Kara narrowed her eyes. “You’ve declared war.”

She lunged, and suddenly they were both flinging water, shrieking, slipping over smooth rocks, laughter echoing louder than the falls. There were no rules—just splashes and taunts, both of them soaked through, hair wild, clothes clinging like second skin.

At some point, they collapsed in the shallow end, breathless and laughing too hard to keep going. Morgana’s shoulders shook as she wiped water, and maybe tears, from her eyes. Kara leaned back against a rock, her arms lazily resting behind her head, grinning like a kid who just broke every rule and got away with it.

“I can’t remember the last time I laughed like that,” Morgana said, her voice quieter now, still a little breathless.

Kara looked over at her, and her smile softened. “Me neither.”

They stayed there for a beat—just the rush of the waterfall and the hum of the forest filling in the quiet. Then Kara stood, water dripping from her clothes as she reached a hand out to Morgana.

“Come on. Let’s get out of these wet clothes before we freeze.”

Morgana took her hand, and they climbed out together, finding a sunny patch of grass nearby. They peeled off their soaked outer layers, laying them over nearby rocks to dry. Kara plopped down and stretched out on her back, arms behind her head again, watching the clouds drift lazily across the sky.

Morgana settled beside her, knees pulled to her chest, hair still damp and curling around her cheeks.

For a while, neither of them said anything. The energy had shifted again— no longer heavy, but not entirely light either. Just… real. Present.

Then, softly, Morgana spoke. “You ever think about what it would be like to just… stay out here? Forget everything else?”

Kara tilted her head toward her. “At times.”

Morgana smiled without looking at her. “Maybe we don’t have to go back. Not right away.”

And Kara didn’t answer, just hummed in response.

Morgana let herself lie down beside Kara, their shoulders barely touching, and closed her eyes.

For the first time in weeks, maybe longer, it didn’t feel like running. It felt like the finish line, and she’d already won.