Progressions // Arthur & Morgana
It was a Friday afternoon, lectures were over, classes were done with, assignments could wait until 11pm Sunday night. There was a cold pint with Arthur's name on it, perhaps he'd even squeeze in a quick walk or job before he hit the bars tonight - Arthur walked briskly through the dorm's common room. Student's were milling about, some slouched on the leather couches, laughing in groups, others seemed to be heading out or about to hit the library.
As Arthur walked past, he decided on a whim to complete his obligatory fort-nightly emptying of his mail box, swinging into the small office that would have been nothing more than a stonewalled store cupboard originally. A desk sat in the middle, piles of paper strewn across an old computer keyboard, an old yellowed lamp illuminating shelves of ring binders and filing cabinets topped with coffee mugs and wilted pot-plants. A large wooden shelf donned the back wall with close to a hundred smaller cubby-holes, only the odd few had actual mail in them.
Arthur smiled at the older lady as she passed him his stack of envelopes. He made his way back to his room flicking through the mail as he walked. Chairty, charity, charity dinner, bank statement, charity, oh. The letter was smaller than the others, professionally sealed with a law firm's address printed neatly on the back. He stuck the others in his mouth and fingered the envelope open.
Dear Master Pendragon
Our law firm will be representing Miss Morgana Le Fay in her legal claim for her father's inheritance on the ground of unjust trauma caused by her father's actions, and the revelation she is now his eldest heir. No action is required on your part, but we are obligated to inform you of Miss Le Fay's intent given you are sole beneficiary at this point in time.
We strongly suggest you use an attorney in your future contact with Miss. Le Fay. You will be contacted soon in regards to scheduled meetings, hearings and court dates.
Best wishes-
Arthur felt himself involuntarily begin to crush the piece of paper slowly in his fist. He felt sick, light-headed as he pushed the door open to his room, ignored the light switch and felt his way to his desk in the darkness.
How could he have been so stupid? To actually think things were improving ever since that bloody scavenger hunt. And all this time she'd been having secret meetings with her lawyer behind his back. A lawyer paid with his father's money to strip him of all he had worked for. The reality of the letter he was gripping started to sink in. This was real.
Arthur wondered if Uther knew. Of course he did, Morgana had probably sent this last week and Arthur hadn't checked his mail. She didn't even have the nerve to tell him face to face- oh that's right, they weren't supposed to talk face-to-face anymore. We'll see about that.
Arthur was up from his chair again, a flash of anger that he didn't even bother to suppress. He knew he should have a cool head but frankly he didn't care. He was gripping the paper so tight now that his nails dug through into his palm. He took the stairs two at a time, navigating the winding second-year corridors until he found Morgana's row. He could see the light on in her room, it leaked out from under the door. He tried to stop himself but he was way too far gone for any reasoning.
Arthur hit the door five times in quick procession with the first still curled around the letter. He bit his lip, took a step back, shifted his weight with impatience as the door was unlatched. The door swung open slowly, warm light from Morgana's room spilling into the corridor. His sister looked confused, a little dazed at the sudden intrusion and for some reason Arthur couldn't get any words out, he just stood there, on the darkened threshold to his sister's room, the crumpled curling edges of the letter in his right fist that was still raised. Morgana's eyes turned to it, and realized rather quickly why Arthur was there. His foot was in her door before she could even move to shut it, pushing his way into her space.
"Why?"
