Kay

That night they held a welcoming feast in honor of Morgana's return to Camelot. Arthur was nothing if not forgiving. The prodigal had returned at his call, and he planned to make certain that everyone knew of his mercy and forgiveness. That forgiveness was genuine, Kay had no doubt. He knew Arthur to have such a heart, but he also had his suspicions that it might serve to woo others to the Pendragon banner with tales of Arthur's magnanimity.

As Kay limped into the great hall, favoring the wounded leg which had been paining him again lately, he saw that the massive room had been decorated for the occasion. Normally lined with long wooden tables, they had been laden with a variety of foods for feasting. The smells of roast duck, stewed plums, charred onions and more wafted through the air. Kay's stomach growled painfully.

Banners hung from the rafters of the high hall, here the crowned oak of Warwood, there the blue lake of Lockland, and many others besides. Even his own banner, the brown hound of Robbetts was present. All strong supporters of Arthur.

But the true honor was given to Morgana. Tall and proud, the silver and purple crowned serpent of le Fay flanked one side of the round high table that Arthur, Guinevere, and their inner circle sat around. Nearly equal in honor and placement to the gold and scarlet dragon banner of Pendragon on other.

The table was round, but Arthur and Guinever obviously still held the greatest seats of honor among them at the head of the hall. Their tall wooden chairs were engraved with intricately detailed flowering motifs that swirled up the sides and behind their heads. Seated to Arthur's other side was his half sister, Morgana. Others of note in attendance this evening were dotted around the circle; Syr Lancelot Lockland, Lady Evaine Redfield, Syr Percival Warwood, Lady Blanch Pyper, and others. Even Syr Gawain Lothain held a place at the round table, though tensions with his father Lot were high. The attendees and their placement at the round table tended to vary, but it seemed that his usual seat beside Guinevere was open.

Kay limped forward and took his seat. He didn't bother to be guided to it. He wasn't someone that people needed to walk for, and he wasn't used to it. As he sat down and got comfortable, his eyes fell on Morgana. He turned to see her sitting beside Arthur, her grey eyes sparkling, lit by a hundred torches. The light also gleamed on her tightly braided black hair. She wore a striking gown of silken blue, embroidered with golden oak leaves. She smiled guardedly.

There was a solemn air in the room, a sense of awe that permeated the hall; respectful but watchful. The people of Camelot were still wary of Morgana's return. They knew that Morgana was no ordinary woman, but they had never seen her truly at her worst, and they were not certain if they could trust her.

Morgana herself seemed to be pouring out her heart to Guinevere, though she was not particularly known for her devotion to the Queen. But Guinevere seemed to be taking to her well enough, and it was clear she was making every effort to make Morgana's return a welcome one. Kay wasn't at all surprised by her performance. Morgana was incredibly good at charming people, and she was especially good at charming royalty. 

"My friends," Arthur said, spreading his arms wide as he gazed around the hall, "it is good to see you all. I have called you here for a meeting of the round table, but first I wish to celebrate with a feast. We have been apart for too long but I am pleased to welcome back my dear sister, Morgana. Let the past be the past and let us forge a new tomorrow for Camelot together."

"Hear, hear!" Guinevere said, and there was a swell of applause, and a few cheers, though Kay noticed that they were all a bit half-hearted, almost forced. He saw a few of the knights glancing at each other as if they were whispering in each other's ears.

Morgana stood and gave Arthur a curtsy. "My brother Arthur. I have missed you so much. I've missed many of you. I know some of you have missed my company, but trust me when I say that you have all been on my mind."

Kay saw her eyes slide to him. He smirked and turned his head away.

"Arthur's forgiveness means more to me than I can say," Morgana knelt. "I swear to serve the King and the kingdom always, in good times and in bad, and to be ever loyal." She then took Arthur's hand and kissed it.

Arthur placed his hand on Morgana's arm and raised her to her feet. "And so I accept your oath and fealty and name you to your new position, Mistress of Tidings. I charge you to use your skills in the service of Camelot. We have need of your aide."

Kay watched as Morgana stood and tried to look pleased with the title of Mistress. He suspected that she was not as thrilled as she tried to appear.

"Hear, hear," a few people called out, but Kay thought that he could also hear a few snickers and snide comments. He didn't blame them. He didn't understand why she had agreed to come back. He realized now how strange it was that she had consented to their demands. Perhaps she had thought that it would be easy to win allies when she returned, but she surely that was wrong. She had no allies here.

As the feast commenced, Kay watched as Morgana and Guinevere spoke to each other in hushed voices. He glanced to Arthur, who sat smiling and laughing. His eyes were bright and his face was shining. He looked so happy to have Morgana back. He was an open book. He wore the mantle of a ruler with effortless grace, and he was beloved by the people of Camelot, but underneath it all he was still just a man, and his love for his half-sister was deeply rooted and powerful.

The feast that followed was long, and Kay ate and drank to his heart's content. Morgana also ate and drank, though she seemed to only taste most things to be polite. She spoke to Syr Lancelot, his aunt, Lady Redfield, and Syr Gawain. Kay saw her smile, laugh, and even flirt with Syr Percival. He tried to ignore the fact that his best friend, Syr Percival, was flirting with Morgana, but it was difficult. Especially when the look on his face was one of such rapture. He shuddered to think what would happen if Morgana ever got Percival alone.

It seemed he was not the only one to note Morgana's affections directed at Percival. Kay noted a knight in green that he couldn't quite place stand from the end of one of the long tables and exit the hall with a look of envy on his face. The way his eyes stayed fixed on Morgana as he left made it clear his reasons for leaving.

Kay had to admit that Morgana was better at handling the round table than he expected. She was charming and subtle, even deferential at times, not as proud and imperious as he recalled her being in the past. 

Or perhaps she had been playing them all along.