No More Songs App
Basics
Name: Lady Morgana
Age: Mid-20s
Gender: Female
Species: Human
Fandom: Merlin (BBC)
Appearance
PB: Katie McGrath
Description: Morgana is a study in contrasts: thin with curves, dark hair, with pale skin and green eyes, and she can look delicate though she's very strong.
Skills
Powers: Magic, premonitions, telepathy (limited)
Abilities: She can be personable, and somewhat manipulative with people. She's also good at (mostly) hiding her true feelings about others. With Morgana, what one sees, is not what one often gets.
Other Skills: Fencing, Equestrian skills, Hunting, Survival skills.
Personality
General personality:
To begin, it is important to understand that the very basis of Morgana's personality is contradiction. She has the capacity for not only great kindness, bravery, and self sacrifice, but also cruelty, fear, and violence. Whether it is her morality, her disposition, her fears, or her relationships with others, all elements of her personality are defined by her their contradictory nature.
In regards to morality, Morgana's own morals are absolute. For instance, she does not support Uther's approach to magic, as it always involves such harsh measures like the conviction for treason, violence, and death. She is willing to rail against the authority deemed absolute in her time, and she disagrees with inequity, very publicly. This is shown on several occasions, like when she heads off to assist Merlin's home village from a warlord, despite Uther's refusal of formal assistance from Camelot, or when she disowns him for sentencing a prisoner to die (she also subsequently helps the prisoner escape). Morgana is the antithesis to the king's opinions. She will argue that all in the kingdom deserve equal treatment, regardless of rank, but then employ methods eerily similar to her guardian -- violence, deceit, and the commission of treason to right what she sees as an inherent wrong. This is evidenced by her helping the Druid child, Mordred, very early on in the series, only to later not only make one, but two attempts at deposing, or assassinating Uther. Several times, she effectively lies to Uther (convincing him she learned a lesson, all the while still plotting against him), Arthur (a twisted equivocation about the location of Mordred, and her knowledge about the sleeping sickness), and even her closest friend, Gwen (the kindest deceits, as it is often convincing her friend she is fine). All in all, she works for what she perceives as the greater good, even if her concept of the greater good isn’t compatible with anyone else’s. Thus, her morality may not be to everyone's taste, as she is a classic case of the ends justify the means.
Secondly, Morgana's disposition, as inferred above, is contradictory. She is capable of great kindness. For instance, the respect she shows those whose situation in life is not as fortunate as her, like when she gave up her personal comforts in the time of famine, or cared for a sick child despite the laws, shows this. Her manners, to most, are impeccable, despite class. She is calm in a crisis. Her mind is clear, calculating, and quick, and she does not lack bravery (and loathes being seen as weak in any form). In the battle at Ealdor, she is as involved with the planning and training of the peasants as Arthur, and is quick to create an escape plan when she is kidnapped. The exception to this is after a nightmare, where her mind is jumbled, but this has been rectified by another quick decision: befriending Morgause. Though she was told to stay away, she meets the woman who she is unaware is her half sister. Finally, for a woman of her time, she is admirable in the way she is neither intimidated to, nor does she submit to the role expected of her by men.
In contrast, there is a darker side to Morgana as she is also capable of rashness and vengeance. Often, Morgana can have ill thought out outbursts, including confronting Uther publicly over the death of Gwen's father, resulting in her imprisonment, and confronting Sophia, with only vague threats, instead of a clear plan. To prove a competitive point to Arthur, she steps ahead of him, without thinking of the dangers, nearly getting herself killed during what was supposed to be an excursion to find evidence that Gwen is not a witch. Morgana has difficulty finding peace or forgiveness for wrongs, either perceived or real, such as the death of her father, though it is never absolutely proven that Uther failed Gorlois, or if the reinforcements were simply too late. Instead of dealing with her anger, it is only fueled by the death of Gwen's father; thus Morgana is willing to commit the ultimate act of vengeance "To Kill the King." The hurt to her is as fresh as it was the day her father was killed.
When it comes to her personal fears, opposing elements are also evident. The most important is the wariness of any abilities she may possess and how any acceptance of that would mean a rejection from everything she's ever known. It is a sharp contrast to how vehemently she argues magic is not evil when debating with Uther. It is not just fear of the consequences. After a dream, Morgana behaves both fearfully, and irrationally -- once running out into the courtyard in her nightdress to try and convince Arthur he was in danger. This appears almost as madness, thus there is a certain level of embarrassment about her dreams. Even Arthur's treatment of her during that incident is far more careful than any interaction they'd had previously. She feels herself a burden to Gwen, who is often the one who deals with Morgana immediately following an episode -- particularly in the aftermath of setting her chambers on fire. There is also a desire to repress them, as she rarely refers to them as what they are, prophetic, but instead refers to them as nightmares. She unquestioningly takes the elixirs Gaius prepares to suppress them. Therefore, the rejection of her warning by Arthur and her fear she's putting too much pressure on Gwen, is important because it makes the dreaming an even worse experience for her, Next, because she is so rarely alone -- she has to sneak off in canon to do so, and then again, she is always going to someone, Morgana does not do alone very well. Again, an incongruity, because Morgana is such an independent thinker by nature.
When it comes to her relationships, Morgana is trusting and secretive, affectionate and manipulative, and a grown woman who craves a father figure. This can be proven by examining the three most important relationships in her life. First of all, Gwen is her own, and constant companion. Despite the set relationship of servant to mistress, Morgana will defer to Gwen's needs, out of kindness, and does so when she defends Gwen and later, Gwen's father, against charges of either performing or consorting with magic. She is even willing to risk a long term stay in the dungeons to help her friend. Despite this, Morgana never tells Gwen that Morgana gave Gwen's father the key he used in the escape attempt. It's an interesting issue, as Morgana will even keep secrets from those she is closest to, even if they involve the person in question. Also, in the case of Gwen, she is willing to forgo credit for helping Gwen escape a conviction of witchcraft. Therefore, Morgana is willing to show kindness, and go to great lengths to help those she cares for, regardless of acknowledgement.
Her relationship with Arthur shows some more complexities of her character. In the first series (particularly evident in the cases of Valiant, the accusation of witchcraft towards Gwen, and the prophetic nightmares involving Sophia) there is a certain unresolved tension between them, but their relationship is beyond he standard trope of arguing to hide such feelings. She feels no compunction when it comes to manipulating Arthur on several occasions (Gwen's arrest, helping Mordred, it can even be argued her leaving first for Ealdor was as much a challenge to Arthur to follow, as it was Arthur's own morality that made him help the village). Also, she encourages Arthur to be better, which to her means go against his father. When Arthur needs a push to do the right thing, Morgana is often the one to provide the shove. Though she cares enough for him to be willing to sacrifice herself, either in battle or by confessing the nature of her nightmares, Morgana is incapable of expressing any real affection for him. This is a theme that will follow through with many of Morgana's relationships, whether platonic or not.
Finally, in regards to Morgana's relationships, she has always been parented by a father figure. Her own father and Uther are diametrically opposite in her mind when it comes to being effective fathers. She has not recovered from the loss of her own father, and blames Uther, either fairly or unfairly, and has, in Uther's word "fought" him all along. Morgana despises his views of magic, is afraid what would happen to her should he find out about her own abilities, and is full of rage when his guards kill Tom, Gwen's father. This causes a distinct break in their relationship, yet she cannot allow him to be killed. It is his recognition of her own importance, of her worth, that causes her to stop the assassination, It has already been argued that Morgana is an independent person, yet she still seeks the approval of a man who, though not her biological parent, is what fate has given her as a father figure for the second half of her life.
History
Lady Morgana lost her father at the age of 10. This is important not only to her development as a character, but also her status. She became the ward of the king, but she would've lost everything else she'd known as women and property weren't things that went together in her time. Essentially, the only thing she has that's hers is her title. She never took the title (or was offered -- it is unstated in canon) of princess, or the last name Pendragon.
As a child, it is clear she's been educated well beyond what a proper lady would have been given at the time. While it is never stated in canon, it is likely that her skill at swordmanship would've started with her training at a young age. It would be practical, given that she was her father's only heir, that she knows of. It would also be perfectly practical for her to also have gone on hunts, and probably be proficient with other weapons -- like a bow and arrow, should that tiny amount of head-canon be permissible.
She has been treated by Gaius for most of her life. This means, that there is some awareness amongst those closest to her about the importance of her nightmares, though only Gaius, Merlin, and Gwen actually understand what it might be. It is also important to note that both Uther and Arthur know of them, but, particularly in Arthur's case, he treats them "gently" more like a mental illness than anything else . This would also be a serious issue of her time, and thus it's a closely guarded secret.
At court, she is the highest ranking woman, given her status as the king's ward. It is stated in early canon that there are intentions of her for Arthur, though this is never realized. Considering the truth of her parentage: Uther being her birth father, that an objection was never raised, shows how closely guarded a secret it was.
Though it is clarified that Morgana's had prophetic dreams all along, there was an increase of them when Merlin arrived in Camelot. On three separate occasions, Morgana's dreams dealt with Arthur's potential death. From this, it can be easily derived that her dreams, from her canon point, are limited somewhat to those people and places that she cares most about.
What they have on arrival
Forest-wear: Brown trousers, grey tunic, grey cloak, sword, sheath, belt, small pouch with coins, a few herbs, a small straw doll, and leather ties.
Sample
It is not her mission, or her abilities that is worrying Morgana about returning to the Citadel. The longer she stays away, the longer those like her continue to be persecuted. No, it is vital, it is right that she return. Morgause’s plan is infallible, but when it comes to Morgana’s elder sister, she sees little beyond her own admiration for her powers. Then again, Morgause is the only family she has, and if Morgana had been capable of seeing the flaws, she still would do everything possible to make her sister successful. That level of faith is how one should feel for her family. It would be impossible for her to fathom otherwise.
She has lived in the Citadel for more than half her life, so that even the building, as grand and majestic as it can seem to outsiders, no longer holds any mystery for her. Morgana knows every nook, every scratch in the wall, and, most importantly, every way in and out of the palace. So yet again, it is not the setting that is concerning her, though Morgana has enjoyed the informality, the freedom of the past year. Without the courtly rules and duties, she could release a breath, a tension, she was unaware she was holding.
Uther is no longer the concern he once was. Swinging between fear of discovery and hatred during her last few months, Morgana’s lost all fear of the King. He is a petty tyrant, incapable of understanding the wound he’s inflicted on those he is supposed to rule. It is easy to defeat a man blind to his own faults, though the irony of Morgana’s belief escapes her.
What most frightens her is the small group she could once have called her friends (though she would never admit such a thing to Arthur). There was never an intention to allow Arthur, or Gwen, or even Merlin to be a part of things. It’s a point of mental dissonance she tries not to think about often. Everything was meant to be about Uther, and yet Morgana watched as everyone fell ill at her feet, sometimes even literally. Yet, her intentions did not matter. From all reports, Arthur’s spent the last year slaughtering those with magic, unquestioningly following his father’s orders. Morgause had brought her almost daily reports of the atrocities, building Morgana’s desire for vengeance.
Would Arthur do the same to her? Is this all an elaborate ruse to pull her out of hiding? What has Merlin told him about her final minutes in Camelot? Did he tell his master about her magic? How miniscule is that in betrayal after he tried to kill her, to blackmail her sister into giving up on quest against Uther? Though she understands now what happened – at least, her sister’s story – Morgana can’t help but marvel at how quickly Merlin could turn on her. How quickly he would sacrifice his friend for a tyrant. How easily he wrapped up his attempt to poison her in the kindly gesture of offering her a simple drink of water.
No, what worries Morgana the most is how she can possibly be safe in a place where she can’t have faith in two things necessary for life: friends and water?
She can’t even trust the water. Morgana has to remember that.
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