Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any characters from the series.

This is my first fanfiction for some time! So I may be a little rusty, but the spark is back and I hope you enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing again.

Merlin and Morgana. Two very different hearts, two very similar people. They are two sides of the same coin. Their destinies are written to tear them apart, however their hearts are pulling to keep them together. Which will prevail?

Rated T: Nothing too extreme, but just enough to keep things interesting!


Chapter One- Merlin's love

He sat in his room pondering her beauty, as he did on many occasions. The last time that he had seen her she had not recognised him. She knew him only as Emrys, and had look upon his elderly body with a mixture of fear and contempt. He knew that she must hate him now, and he knew that she definitely hated the old man Emrys with all her heart. It did not seem enough to still the swell in his chest whenever he thought of her.

Her long hair, always perfectly fashioned and cleaned when she was living within the castle walls, had grown as wild as the forest she lived in. This saddened him, as it was her hair that had first struck him. Before she knew of her magic, he knew she was special. Somehow important; significant. And it had all started with her hair. He recalled seeing her for the first time, back toward him, deep in conversation with Uther. Her hair had been braided around her head, and had been left to fall loosely down her back. It was as if somehow the depth of black in her hair was symbolic somehow of the depth of her character, the twists of her curls mirroring the twists of her mind. He would never forget that moment.

Her smile was another sight to behold. He had not seen her smile for a while, not the one that made her face light up, like the sun itself was radiating through her. Morgana had many smiles. There was the appropriate court smile, full of grace and courtesy. This was the smile she wore when a smile was required. Then there was the smile that was more common across her features now. The one that had the sinister gleam, the one that turned her eyes as black as her hair. He knew what she had become, he knew of the evil in her heart, and he resented it. He resented it more than he resented washing Arthur's dirty socks. The satisfied smile that was full of hatred sent a shiver down his spine, and filled him with sadness.

The smile that Merlin loved was her true smile. Morgana's true smile brought out the dimples in her cheeks and lit her eyes up with joy and laughter instead of evil. Morgana was simply the most beautiful women that he had ever encountered, but when she smiled this way, there were simply no words other than perfection.

And although she had turned against Camelot, he couldn't help but admire her power and determination. She followed what she believed was right, even if it was completely wrong. She followed her heart, and fought for those who were like her, who had magic. Merlin understood her desires, he even agreed! A fair and safe kingdom for all it's people, including those with magic, and for the crimes of Uther's reign to be over. Merlin also knew that, given time, it was Arthur who would bring such peace to the kingdom. Morgana had no such faith.

Merlin looked up towards his bedroom door and sighed. It was such a horrible shame the way the past had consumed her so completely with hate and the need for bloodshed. This violent witch was not the lady of Camelot he fell in love with, with who he continued to love. If only there was something he could do, something he could say to show her that this was not the way to go. He had a destiny, and boy did he know it. He knew that no matter what his feelings were, it was his life's duty to protect Arthur, and to ensure the future of Camelot was a just and prosperous one. This destiny came before anything else, and as Morgana was so strongly against this notion, he knew that he would have to fight against her. He may even be forced to kill her. He knew that. But he would also do anything to change this.

"MERLIN!"

The familiar call to work came through his door. Merlin stood from his bed and walked into the living area. Arthur was standing there, his hands on his hips.

"I don't understand when I have ever given you the impression that you were free to sleep in" he said, smirking.

"Sorry sire, I am on my way."

"Good, and be quick to the stables, I need you to muck out the stalls and brush down the horses. We are going hunting later this afternoon and it is your responsibility to make sure that everything is ready."

And with that, Arthur turned and strode from the room. Merlin turned to Gaius, who was standing in the corner, scanning the shelves for a healing book of sorts.

"I guess I'm off then." said Merlin, following Arthur's lead out the door.

"Be safe!" Gaius called after.

Merlin popped his head back around the doorway,

"Always am" he replied, and flashed Gaius a wide grin.

As he walked towards the stables, Merlin took a deep breath, knowing that there was no guarantee that he would be safe after all, not when he was planning to lose the knights in the woods and make his way to Morgana's hut. The hunting trip could not have been planned at a more convenient time, and he was ready to make his move.