Brushing a wisp of hair out of Wren's face as she slept, I felt a pang of guilt. Wren had been taking it hard. the less time Arthur spent with her. But it wasn't his fault. The king consumed Arthur's time with a war that had yet to reach Camelot's borders.
Arthur and I exchanged weary glances in the hallways. The toll of the ongoing conflict weighed heavily on him. Each knight who didn't return from battle seemed to add another stone to the burden on his shoulders.
I pulled the blanket under Wren's chin, tucking her securely. She stirred slightly but remained in a deep sleep. Quietly, I slipped out of my quarters and went down the silent, dimly lit hallway toward Morgana's room.
For the past few nights, Morgana had been plagued by nightmares, waking up screaming in fear. Usually, either Gwen or I would be there to calm her down. Tonight, it was my turn. I softly opened the door and slipped inside.
A lit candle by the window caught my attention. The flickering flame cast eerie shadows on the walls. As I approached, the flame suddenly flared up, catching the curtains on fire.
Morgana's piercing scream made me whirl around. She was sitting up in bed, eyes wide with terror. I fell to the ground as the window shattered, glass shards flying everywhere. A sharp pain in my arm told me one had found its mark.
"Carena," Morgana gasped, stumbling out of bed.
I let her help me up, cradling my injured arm. "I'm okay."
"It's all my fault," Morgana sobbed, collapsing into my shoulder.
Wrapping my arms around her, I soothed her by running my hand down her back. "It's going to be alright." I watched as guards burst into the room, quickly containing the fire.
Magic?
Arthur and his father soon appeared in Morgana's chambers, surveying the damage. My eyes lingered on the burnt curtains.
"I came in to check on her," I explained. "Gwen's shift was over. There was a candle on fire."
"Are you sure Gwen put it out?" Uther asked, suspicion evident in his tone.
The knights worked until dawn to extinguish the fire completely.
"I know Gwen. She blew it out, sire," I insisted.
"Gwen's been Morgana's servant for years," Arthur added. "If Carena says she blew it out, I believe her."
I offered Arthur a grateful smile, though I kept my attention on Uther. Arthur made me forget my place, no matter how hard I tried to remember it.
