Rogues Gallery #14 - MORGAINE LE FAY

The morning dew on the trees was a reminder that all things were renewed. Morgaine took one of the flowers in her hand and let it crumple as she heard footsteps from behind. It was her lover, Jason Blood coming in from the cold. She wrapped her arms about herself as she appraised her young companion. “I see that you’re in fighting form, Milord.”

“No thanks to Arthur!” Jason threw down his gauntlets as he looked at Morgaine. “How can he deny me a seat at the table? I have served him with distinction!”

“Your time is coming Milord.” She nodded confidently.

“How can you say that?” Jason paused as he looked at her. “I have given all I have to this kingdom and Arthur treats me like a squire!”

“He treats you the way he treats my own son, Mordred, Jason.” Morgaine came over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. “Arthur's time will come when he has to make the decision... of who are his friends and who are his enemies.”

“Arthur will never turn his back on Camelot, Morgaine.” He looked into her eyes as Morgaine offered him a tender kiss but Jason did nothing in response.

“This kingdom will come to a fall and my son will be atop as its king, Jason.” She was miffed by his refusal of her advances.

“Yes, I know, Morgaine.” He walked away from her. “You keep telling me that over and over!” He yelled at her as he left the room. Morgaine's hands were clenched as she breathed in a moment and calmed herself. Her plan was working beautifully. She didn't need Jason Blood if he wasn't going to aid her to the end.



Arion had moved through time and space to see what the disturbance in the magick realms was. He appeared in the castle in the future. He looked around as his eyes glanced at the soldiers and knights conversing in the end of the hallway. He turned himself invisible with a spell and moved through the castle with little to no effort when he saw a face he hadn't seen in eons. “Merlin?”

Merlin looked around for a moment as a voice from the room spoke to him. Merlin raised his arms. “Appear!” Suddenly Arion's spell was broken as he appeared to Merlin. “Arion? What are you doing in this time?”

“I was searching the realms when I felt a magicks I hadn't felt before. Quite evil... quite malevolent.”

“Yes, I have felt this too, Arion.” Merlin looked at him as he stroked his graying beard. His blue eyes cast upon the young man as he openly pondered. “Is the evil that prevalent?”

“Yes, unfortunately it is Master.”
“Well, then we need to find the cause before even more powerful evil is awakened.”

“Is it too late?”

“No, but I fear we are running out of time.” Merlin looked at Arion's attire as it was ancient Atlantean from another world all together. He cast a spell that allowed Arion's clothes to be transformed into a visiting knight. Arthur would trust his judgment in allowing this knight to be among them in Camelot. “This world is much different than your's, Arion.”

“What can be done?” Arion wasn't used to being under someone's foot, but he knew that Merlin was more than a mere wizard.

“I suspect someone, but we'll need to formulate a plan to make sure it is she.”

“Who is it?”

“Her name is Morgaine Le Fey.”

“I've never heard of her.” Arion admitted.

“In time you will, Arion.” Merlin pointed to the mystical energies that he used to cast his spells of the future. In the future Arion was keenly interested in Atlantis' own fate, but Merlin refused to allow that information to be given. Arion knew that Merlin had his reasons, but fate was an unkind companion at times. “Those that would wield the energies I speak of would try and control destiny for all time.”

“That sounds like it could make her the master of eternity.”

“Yes, that's her goal.” Merlin paused. “Immortality.”

“There were time-masters in Atlantis, but they were defeated by the ancient kings in favour of unification of one government.”

“That is often times the call of the people. One government for one people.”

“How can I help?” Arion raised an eyebrow.

“We'll need to discover the secrets of her powers, but it could mean our deaths.” Merlin looked at Arion.

“So be it.” Arion nodded.

“Very well, let us go to my chambers to look at my books, for the evil that we must face is great.”





King Arthur had just concluded his Round Table as the knights were leaving the room. Arthur had deemed that the country was safe from invasions and trouble, but he still wanted the knights to be vigilant of troubles that could rear the heads when least expected.
Morgaine had loitered in the hall way as she wanted to speak to Arthur as he appeared from the meeting hall. “Have you considered my offer, Milord?” She did a slight bow to him.

“I have and as God's guardian here in Camelot, I cannot concede what you seek, Mistress Le Fay.”

“Might I ask why not?” Le Fay raised an eyebrow at his defiance.

“I don't believe I need to go into that with you.” Arthur shook his head. “My place is by wife's side and to the Kingdom to defend God's mercies.”

“That is a failed notion, my brother.” She came up to him and lifted his chin and kissed him deeply, but he pushed her away. “You should not reject what you know.”

“I was young and foolish and fell for your wiles, Morgaine. I will retain my vows to my Queen.” Arthur attempted to move past her.

“Is she true to you though, my brother?”

“I have no doubt she is.” Arthur sent back a curt response.

“Not from I've heard, milord.” She curled a smile and turned her back on him.

“You will not tempt me, Morgaine. I tolerate you here, because you are of my blood, but don't think for a moment that I will not banish you.”

“That will be your undoing when you do.” Morgaine's threat was easily discernible. Arthur started to walk away as he looked down and said a prayer. He passed by Jason Blood as he headed towards the throne room.

“Lord Blood.” He nodded and the King disappeared as he entered the throne room.

Jason Blood walked to where Morgaine was standing. He put is hand on her shoulder. “I suspect he rejected your pleas?”

“Yes, but that will not deter my plans from going forward.”

“I will stand with you, my liege.” Blood tried to reassure.

“I will count on it, Lord Blood.” Morgaine smiled at him and wrapped her robes around herself as she started to walk away.

“Must you do that?”

“You must prove your worth to me, Jason, for this day is only wrought by promises.” Morgaine walked away again. Blood frowned as he realized he may never have a chance for love with her, but he knew that her plans were much important to her than anything or anyone.... Even her own son.

“I will hope to fulfill those promises one day.”

“Blood is blood till you make it your own.” Morgaine said as she looked at him in earnest.

“What do you mean?”

“Someday you will know.” Morgaine walked passed him and Jason looked down in frustration.

“God, why has thou given me such bad tidings.” Blood lamented and then picked up his head to see Merlin from the corner of his eye, but before he could explain himself Merlin disappeared from sight. Blood lowered his head again and cursed his love for Morgaine, but he vowed to himself to keep to her virtue.



Arion had meditated until Merlin had returned. “What did you see?”

“Not enough, but I do know of a unholy alliance.”

“Oh?”

“Jason Blood one of the Knights of the Round Table and Morgaine.”

“Why is that important?”

“Because the King's trusted advisors are corruptible.”

“Aren't all man of that ilk?” Arion raised an eyebrow at Merlin.

“Yes, but Arthur selected men that he thought would be defenders of the crown.”

“That's easy to dispel.”

“Is it?” Merlin countered.

“Can man of this age really be that corruptible?”

“That's the age old question, Arion.” Merlin looked at him. “We need to act; I fear that Morgaine will escalate beyond our ability to respond.”

“We need to know her plans.”

“Why don't you ask me then?” Morgaine Le Fay looked at them both as she walked into Merlin's chambers.

“You're not welcome here, Witch!” Merlin cursed at her directly.

“Merlin, you're treading into territory where you're not welcome.” Morgaine looked Arion with oddity. “Who is he?”

“Arion, Lord of Atlantis.” He challenged her directly.

“Reaching across time and place isn't your place, Merlin.” Morgaine looked back at the elder sorcerer with a seething tone.

“You will be stopped.” Arion interrupted her.

“You may try, Lord Arion, and you will fail.” Morgaine turned away and looked at Arion for a moment and then left Merlin's chambers as Merlin looked at Arion.

“You see what I mean?”

“Aye, I do.” Arion merely nodded.




Morgaine Le Fay had called together her band of allies against Arthur and his Knights. “Our time is approaching my men.” She looked at Jason Blood as he waited for her to motion to him, but she didn't. “My son must assume his place as monarch of Camelot. The kingdom of man must start here with our solemn pledge that country and duty is more important than any notion of solidarity that these Knights of the Round Table display.” She finally motioned to Jason Blood. “Lord Blood wishes to address you all.”

“Here here!” One of Morgaine's men called out.

“We will smash them before they have a chance to act my fellows.” Blood looked at Morgaine and she merely nodded. He wondered in the back of his mind that if he was being manipulated beyond what they had discussed. “He raised his sword up into the air as he looked at all her men as they all joined Bloods sword into the air as well. “One for one! One for all!” They all repeated the statement.

“The fall of Camelot must commence.” Morgaine nodded. “Let there no mistake that we will take no challenges which are unmitigated, because this is our challenge!” Her knights cheered for her and they all assembled around the door and opened the doors from the room and they filed out as they cheered out into the main foyer of the castle. There was a call to arms as Jason Blood looked at Morgaine.

“Is this the right time?”

“I have no other choice.” Morgaine looked at him with a scowl. “Merlin has chosen to move against me, so I will destroy this by fire before he can stop me.”

“We cannot move that quickly!” Blood shook his head as he tried to dissuade her from her intentions.

“We will move. I will make sure of it.” Morgaine shook her head. “You either follow my orders or I will kill you, Milord.”

“I will honour your wishes, My Lady.” He recoiled. “What is your plan?”

“We will take this castle and make war.” Morgaine merely nodded. “Now go lead my men against Arthur and Camelot.” The soldiers gathered around Camelot and the archers readied their bounty and flung the fire arrows high into the night sky. The evening lit up like a Summer eve blanketed by the trumpets of the approaching chaos that Morgaine brought up on the people. Jason Blood sat on his horse as his horse rose on to its hind legs and neighed a war crime.

“Yeeeeiiiii Yeeeeeiiii” Blood called out and the advancing soldiers gathered by the attack. Instinctively they followed in formations that routed the castle guard that defended the grounds before the gates could be let down. Blood grabbed his sword and swung freely and truly and decapitated many heads on his way to the gates. “Break the down the gates and let Hell wrought upon the vanquished!” Blood called to his lover. Morgaine's eyes glowed gold as she rose into the air herself. Her body pulsated with bright mystical energy and she fired a gold strike at the gates of Camelot. Suddenly the gates were smashed open and she closed her eyes and sat herself upon the Earth again. The strain of her spell had weakened her a bit, but she was pleased when she saw the soldiers of her army crashing the gates into the castle. Blood grabbed her cheek and kissed her in a deep embrace for which she did not return.

“My woman, why do you not revel in our victory?” Blood shook his head.

“We are not at an end as of yet.” She pointed to Arion and Merlin with their energies garnered around their own forms as they stood before Morgaine.

“Your energy has brought dishonour to your name, Morgaine Le Fey.” Merlin's plain statement sent a spark of fear down Le Fay for the briefest of moments.

“Merlin, your time has come to honour me as Queen.” She raised her hands and fired a bolt of energy that Arion countered with his own defence of his old master. Merlin aimed his staff at Jason Blood and fired at the knight with a full blast of energy that knocked him off his feet. He breathed in and out and felt as though his body had been cast in the pits of Hades as nagging and searing pain grabbed at him relentlessly.

“OH GOD! OH GODS!” Blood was writhing around in pain on the ground as Merlin stepped over and he approached Morgaine whose power was more than he was prepared to meet.

“You have drawn upon the darkness.” Merlin said to her simply.

“Merlin you cannot know what I am capable of.” Her voice turned into a reptilian hiss as her form turned into a snake. She quickly wrapped herself around Merlin as she turned into a serpent. “My powers exceed even your own, old man.” A slight laugh came from her mouth as she went to bite him Merlin looked to Arion as he realised that the dark arts were at her complete control.

“We must retreat for now!” Arion called out to Merlin as his strength wavered her. He kept his spells on her to keep her from striking him but he called on his staff which flew to his hand and he struck the snake creature alongside its snout. The quick action brought his freedom as he dropped to the ground. “We must regroup.” Arion called out to Merlin again.

“Camelot must not be lost, Arion. This is the last light of man; if it falls the Dark Ages surely will come!” Merlin looked at the snake creature as it turned back into Morgaine Le Fay.

“I cannot be defeated, Merlin... My power is greater than yours and this young one's combined.” She pointed to Arion. Both sorcerers knew she was right and their defeat was imminent if they stood their ground any longer. Arion raised his arms and cast a spell that surrounded him and Merlin and the two of them disappeared from the grounds of the castle. Morgaine laughed out loud but then turned her attention to the fallen Jason Blood. She knelt down to him.

“My poor Jason.” She stroked his cheek. “Such a foolish pawn in this game you were.”

“I don't understand what you mean, Milady.” He gasped for air because his ribs had been broken possibly piercing his lung.

“I used you, Jason. Now that I have what I want, I will take it all.” She leaned down and teeth of a serpent appeared on her mouth and she kissed Jason Blood deeply for a moment but then she bit down on his tongue and his whole body went limp with pain of her bite. She had injected his body with venom and his skin was turning an ashen white. “Death for fools is no journey that this sorceress shall take, Jason. May your death be lamented on a hallowed day.” She laughed and turned to walk into Camelot. The spoils of her war making no man alive left to defend what was once mighty and pure. Jason poured the tears of a man defeated and dying on the grounds of the war he perpetrated for her.




Merlin heaved a breath of exhaustion as Arion had frozen time and space around the grounds of the castle. They both appeared in a plane that was without recognition for a mortal, because time and space meant nothing here. The grounds were as before but men were running in slow motion because both Merlin and he now could witness the fall of justice. “We can't remain here for long, Arion.” Merlin looked at him exasperated.

“I know Milord, but she would have killed you.” Arion shook his head as recounted the events as sorely as Merlin could with his own nod.

“Aye, but my life is given to the cause, my son.” Merlin stood up and pointed to Jason Blood. “Next to Lancelot, he was the one that I would have least expected to betray Camelot.”

“His wickedness is bourne by his own greed and lust then?” Arion looked at Merlin for confirmation.

“I sense no humanity left his withering soul, but he could be made to serve what purpose their maybe left.”

“I don't know what you mean, sire.” Arion shook his head trying to fathom what the old man meant.

“Follow me, I shall show you.” Merlin walked through the planar time and knelt down to Jason Blood as his body was giving way to the poison that Morgaine had injected into his body. Merlin placed a hand over the body of Jason Blood and instantly the effects of the poison were diminished and finally gone. His once handsome looks had returned but for only a brief moment. A silver streak appeared through his hair and Merlin's eyes glowed. “You've betrayed Camelot this day and the King's trust for you must walk the Earth of the accursed to right the wrongs you have placed on our people today.”

Arion watched in amazement as he watched his old master speak the spells. “Given your heart and your trembling nature! The Fire that burns inside of this demon awakened!” Merlin's touch now turned into a searing heat that sent Jason Blood into a scream of anguish and pain. His whole being trembled from Merlin's spell. “Yarva Demonicus Etrigan. Change, change the form of man. Free the prince forever damned. Free the might from fleshy mire. Boil the blood in heart of fire. Gone, gone the form of man, Rise the demon Etrigan!” Suddenly the man of Jason Blood disappeared as Etrigan the Demon was now appeared. He was a ghoulish sight as his skin was a bright yellow and fiery red eyes. His cloak of blue and tunic of red were markers of something hideous now bourne to walk amoung men. The Demon roared in tumult as he looked at Merlin and Arion in disdain.

“What have you done to me?!” Etrigan called out to them. Suddenly real time started again. Soldiers were running into and out of the castle Camelot.

“It's what you've done to yourself, Devil.” Merlin responded. “Your greed and hatred of your King has turned you into the hideous nature redemption you have become. You are now damned to walk this Earth to right the wrongs you have committed here this day. Camelot shall fall, but it will bring upon your eternal curse.”

“Why!? Why not let me die like a warrior!!”

“That fate was too good for you.” Arion shook his head as he finally understood why Merlin had taken the action he had. “I agree with my master this time.”

Etrigan shook his head. “Where is Morgaine?! She can change me back!” He looked at them and he left the scene and entered into the castle. The two sorcerers followed the sullen Demon as he looked for Morgaine Le Fay. Inside the castle they could see Le Fay seated in the throne that Arthur once sat upon.

“I am here, Jason.” She looked at Etrigan with a curled smile. “I can see that Merlin turned you into the beast you always were.” Etrigan came to her and bowed at her feet.

“Please my mistress turn me back into the man I was! Let me die a death honourable a knight in battle!”

“Be gone, Demon, I have no further need of you. Let your curse be your own!” Morgaine raised her eyebrow as Arion appeared with Merlin in the throne room. “Back so soon, boys?” She grinned as she stood up. Etrigan now incensed looked at her with the rage that built upon his natural impulses.

“I was your servant! I was the one that helped you bring about this end!” Etrigan called out to her. “You owe me!”

“I owe you nothing, Demon. Your fate has been sealed now go to the accursed or be destroyed by...” Arion fired a beam of energy at Morgaine that caught her completely off guard and leveled her to the ground. She was wounded by the blast and looked at Arion in hatred. “You cannot defeat me, Atlantean.” She gasped at Arion and then finally Merlin walked beside Arion. Morgaine rose to her feet. “I am eternal.” Her voice echoed around the throne room.

“No!” Etrigan leaped into the air and fire bolts came from his hands and lit Morgaine Le Fay into flames of unholy fire. She screamed in pain as the fire burned her skin. Merlin and Arion fired their mystical energies around Morgaine as she gasped for air. It was as thought she was suffocating from the combined attacks of all three.” Morgaine shrieked and lifted her scorched body above the three of them into the air.
“You will pay for this insolence!” Her voice was marred by the pain that was searing through her soul. Arion looked at Merlin.

“She can call on the energies again, My Father, we must render her to another time and place!”

“What place would you have?” Merlin looked at Arion as he pondered the question as quickly as he could.

“Trust me, Milord!” Arion looked at Morgaine as she started to regain her beauty and form from the dark energy she was calling upon the Earth to restore her recharging spirit. Arion raised both hands into the air and fired bolts of energy at Morgaine Le Fay with all due haste... and explosion of time and space erupted again as Merlin joined in the attack.

“No!! I want my revenge!!” Etrigan tried to stop Merlin and Arion but the spell was weakening Arion as he took one knee but kept his arms above his head. A portal appeared as Morgaine was not able to fend off the attack she screamed in shock and pain from their attack... and she disappeared into the portal. Suddenly the portal closed with a bright explosion that knocked Merlin and Etrigan off their feet. Arion had been enveloped by the portal as well and was gone. Merlin looked at Etrigan as he slowly transformed back into the human Jason Blood.

Blood coughed for air as he looked at Merlin who looked maimed and much worse for the wear than he had been. “Are you okay, Merlin?” His senses seemed to be cleared some, but recanting what had happened to him would take time to understand. He knew the beast existed within, but he didn't know how to call upon it or control it. Merlin slowly rose to his feet.

“She has disappeared into time and I do not know where Arion has gone as well...” He coughed as he tried to walk he waved his hand and his staff appeared in his hand. “Much to do, before I die.” He muttered his words in almost inaudible voice.

“Die? You can't die...” Blood looked at him. Merlin started to walk away from the fiery ruins of Camelot. “I must find Excalibur and return it to the Lady.” He looked back at Jason Blood. “You must find your own way now, Jason. This world must not grow dark, but I fear the light of the world has been extinguished... And we are forever controlled by it.”

“I don't understand.” Jason shook his head.

“You will. In time as immortality delivers its cruel fate to you. You will understand.” Merlin walked away from Jason and disappeared himself from the scene. Jason Blood fell to his knees as he knew he had been cursed for his decision to follow the wickedness that was his former lover... but he knew she could not be dead. Where was she? He must find her. His thoughts of how to find her started to roll into his mind. He went to Merlin's tower and saw the fire had not claimed Merlin's books and scrolls. He gathered all the books and scrolls he could and put them into a sack. He would teach himself the magic and try and free this curse that he was forced upon him. He knew that Etrigan would return someday and he knew he must free himself of it or he would be forced to walk among men for eternity... with no death... and no honour that befitted a Knight of Camelot...



The centuries had not been kind to Morgaine Le Fay. Her ancient body had been reached its zenith long since past, but her soul had not given up. She knew that magic of Merlin would aid her if she could only find the Philosopher's Stone. She looked into the mirror in her complex she had built through the centuries. Her body now was covered in Gold plating and a purple cape that also served as a sash for modesty sake. It wasn't something she was used to, but time had altered who she was... and what her goals were.

“Mirror mirror on the wall... Tell where to find Merlin's stone?” The mirror was quiet but she mused. “Child's play. The battle for magicks had been fought many times before, but she knew that there would be a time that she would rise again. More powerful than she had been. Merlin's power would be hers and she would be in control for all time...

It was a thought that pleased her as her metal face smiled. Fate would bend to her... this was her new cause.

Fates would bend and bow before her before she was through.