Chapter 217: A Rumor Broke Out This Morning

Finally, when she was as ready as she could be, Agnes walked her to the door with Rowan following close behind.

"Thank you, Agnes," Morgana said softly.

"You’re welcome, my lady," Agnes replied, and as Morgana turned to leave, the old woman added quietly, "The king cares for you. That much is clear. Just... be careful, child. The palace is a dangerous place for those with soft hearts."

Before Morgana could respond to that cryptic warning, Agnes closed the door behind them, and she and Rowan were alone in the corridor.

***

The walk from Kaelen’s chambers to Morgana’s own chambers felt impossibly long.

With every step, Morgana became acutely aware of the eyes following them. Servants paused in their work to stare. Guards exchanged meaningful glances. A chambermaid whispered something to her companion as they passed, and both women broke into suppressed giggles.

Morgana kept her eyes forward, her chin up, trying to project an air of unconcerned dignity that she absolutely did not feel.

Rowan walked beside her, close enough that their shoulders almost touched, and Morgana could feel the protective tension in her friend’s body, as if Rowan was ready to defend her against any whispered comment, any curious stare.

By the time they reached Morgana’s chambers, her face was burning and her heart was racing with a combination of embarrassment and something she couldn’t quite name.

Rowan pushed open the door and quickly ushered her inside, closing it firmly behind them.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then Rowan turned to face her, and Morgana could see the desperate need to understand warring with concern in her friend’s eyes.

"Now spill," Rowan said, her voice tight with emotion. "Tell me how you ended up spending the night with the King. You were supposed to just have a meeting."

Morgana moved toward the window, unable to meet Rowan’s eyes, and settled herself on the cushioned seat there. She patted the space beside her, silently inviting Rowan to sit.

Rowan shook her head firmly.

"No," she said. "Morgana, explain to me first. I need to know what is happening. Please. I need to know how you went from being their ward to their..."

She trailed off, unable to find the words to describe what Morgana had become.

Morgana looked at her friend...really looked at her. Saw the worry etched into every line of her face, the fear in her eyes, the desperate need to understand and protect.

She stood and walked toward Rowan, taking both of her hands in her own. She looked directly into her friend’s eyes, searching for the courage to explain something she didn’t fully understand herself.

"Do you trust me?" Morgana asked quietly.

Rowan’s eyes searched hers, and for a moment she was silent.

"Morgana," Rowan finally said, her voice breaking slightly, "this is not a matter of me trusting you. More than anything, I trust you. But I need to know what you are putting yourself into. I don’t want anything to happen to you. This palace is dangerous. These kings are dangerous. You entering into their... their game... it’s not something I think we can handle."

Morgana pulled Rowan toward the bed and they both settled onto it, sitting close enough that their shoulders touched.

"Yes," Morgana said softly, "something is going on between the kings and me. I don’t know if I’m explaining it right, but... yes. Something is happening."

"What?" Rowan demanded. "What is happening? Are they....are they...."

She couldn’t finish the question, but they both understood what she was asking.

"I don’t know," Morgana said, and the admission cost her something. "Not really. I mean, yes, Kaelen and I... but the others... I don’t understand what’s happening yet. I need time to figure it out before I can tell you who or what is going on. Do you understand?"

Rowan was quiet for a long moment.

"Promise me," Rowan finally said, her voice tight, "that you are going to be careful. Promise me, Morgana."

"I promise," Morgana said, squeezing her friend’s hands. "I promise, Rowan. Trust me."

Rowan took a deep breath, visibly attempting to calm herself, to accept what she couldn’t change.

Then she stood and walked to the window, looking out at the palace grounds below. Her shoulders were tense, her entire body radiating anxiety.

"A rumor broke out this morning," Rowan said quietly, still not turning to face Morgana. "It started last night, apparently. While you were... occupied."

Morgana’s stomach clenched.

"What rumor?" she asked, though something in her already knew she wouldn’t like the answer.

"The servants are talking about it all over the palace," Rowan continued, her voice hollow. "Apparently, a girl was brought to the palace last night. A girl with white-blonde hair and eyes like ice. A girl who was presented to the kings."

She finally turned to face Morgana, and her expression was devastated.

"The rumor says that the kings have found the Mother of Dragons," Rowan said. "Everyone is talking about it. Everyone knows that the purpose of the Selection was to find the woman destined for them. And now that woman is supposedly here."

Morgana felt the blood drain from her face as she understood the implications of what Rowan was saying.

"What does that mean for you, Morgana?" Rowan asked, and her voice was aching with worry. "Tell me. What does it mean?"

Morgana looked out the window, her hands clenching in her lap.

"I met her yesterday," she said quietly.

Rowan made a sound....something between a gasp and a whimper.

"What?" she demanded.

"I met her yesterday," Morgana repeated, drawing a deep breath and releasing it slowly. "In the throne room."

Rowan moved to where Morgana was sitting, and the color had completely drained from her face.

"You met her," Rowan said slowly, as if confirming something she couldn’t quite believe. "You met their said destined mate... and you still spent the night with him."

She cupped her own face in her hands, a gesture of utter despair.

"What have you done?" she whispered. "Morgana, what have you done? What have you DONE?"