"Thirsty?"

Morgana pours water into a tin cup and sashays up to him with a smirk. She lifts the drink towards his face but Merlin turns away sharply.

"No," he presses his mouth against his forearm but watches her out of the corner of his eye. He is deathly thirsty but he would have to be a fool to take anything from her.

Morgana pulls back with a small pout. "Oh come on. Like I would poison you? That's the cowards weapon, isn't it?" She stares with a smile but her eyes sear with anger. "If I wanted to kill you I wouldn't do it like that."

Merlin doesn't move and she shrugs. She drinks the water in front of him and he watches her throat muscles convulsing. A trickle of water runs down her chin and she wipes it away with the back of her hand. Merlin watches her in torment and his patience snaps.

"Whatever you're planning on doing just do it!" He couldn't stand the uncertainty anymore, the awful scenarios that play on his mind, the next more awful than the one that preceded it. "I don't understand why you're keeping me like this?"

Her brows rise and she steps closer. "Because I like seeing you in pain, Merlin. Can you blame me for that?"

He keeps silent but that part of him that he usually tried to ignore knew that her anger is justified. He's not proud of what happened and no matter how much he wanted to explain he never could. So he watches her impassively which only makes her more annoyed.

She digs her fingers into his solar plexus and Merlin doubles over, his already strained arms crying out in pain. "I have never met someone so devious!" she hisses next to his head and blinks in surprise when he laughs wheezily.

"B - bit rich coming f - from you," he looks up at her and she glares at him, her eyes still wide. Her eyebrows lower and she speaks through gritted teeth.

"Don't presume to judge me! Whatever I've done it's all been to take back what's rightfully mine."

"No matter who you hurt?"

She straightens, her mouth tight, and lifts her chin. "When you've got no other options, yes," she exhales through her nose and then sneers at Merlin. "Why am I even justifying myself to you? You're nothing."

"We were friends once Morgana," his voice is croaky and he swallows with a grimace. She grows still, her gaze sombre.

"You saw the end to that, not me," she turns from him, averting her conflicted stare and Merlin watches her stand still by the table, her head bent. He closes his eyes and breathes out.

"Can I have some water please?" It's likely a reckless decision but if there is even a small part of her that feels remorse for the past then he had to take a chance. Morgana turns back to him, her face unreadable before she fills up the cup and moves to him again. Merlin stares up at his shackled hands and then at her plaintively. "My hands?"

She smirks softly. "Do I look stupid? You take what I give you or nothing at all." She presses the rim of the cup to his lips and tips it. His mouth parts and cold water spills over his tongue. He drinks gratefully. Once drained she takes the cup away and seeing water running down his throat glides the cuff of her sleeve along his skin. He blinks at her in confusion and a line forms between her eyebrows. She spins around and stalks away.

Hours pass and still she keeps him bound. Merlin swivels his hands around as much as he can but they are very numb. Shooting pains run down his arms and his back muscles are seized up. He needs to lower his arms.

"Can I sit?"

"You wouldn't reach a chair from there," she says it plainly with an innocent stare. Merlin grits his teeth and groans in frustration. Morgana gets to her feet and comes to him, her head cocked. "Feeling a bit stiff?"

"Yes! How long do you plan on keeping me here?"

"Till morning."

Merlin blinks at her, mouth open. "Why that long?"

Morgana shrugs. "Because that's how long I need." She moves around him and he twists, trying to keep her in his sights. He feels her hovering behind him and jerks a little when her hands land on his shoulders. She flexes her fingers into the knots that had formed there and he has to stop himself from moaning.

Suddenly she moves back into sight and hurries towards a shelf. She pulls a book down and turns around to stare at him in consideration. Merlin feels his stomach writhing as she lowers her head to flick through the book, stopping at a page. She reads quickly, her head nodding. Finally she puts the book back and moves slowly towards him.

"What are you doing?" Merlin asks and then holds his breath when she presses a finger to his lips.

"Shh, no talking. I need to concentrate," she moves behind him again and this time he doesn't want to see what she might be doing. He hears her muttering under her breath, a spell but one he doesn't know. He closes his eyes, preparing for the worst and yelps when he feels her hands gliding up under his shirt. His eyes fly open and he stares ahead in shock as her fingers firmly grip his shoulders.

Morgana chuckles darkly behind him. "You scream and yelp like a child. I told you to be quiet," her palms are incredibly warm against his skin and as she begins to utter a spell he feels that warmth intensify. He inhales, steeling himself for pain but the searing heat he had been expecting doesn't come. Instead the warmth from her hands sinks into his skin and deeper, delving into his sore muscles and healing them.

For the second time that day Merlin's head falls back and an almost orgasmic moan escapes his lips. He slumps back against her and feels her hands rubbing down his back and then away. Her healing touch gone Merlin gradually comes back to himself and he opens his eyes to see her staring at him.

"You healed me? Again?"

Her mouth purses and she stares at him incredulously. "Don't think it means anything. My sister told me that I have a natural gift for healing but I never have the opportunity to practise. You're just...convenient."

Merlin couldn't help smirking. "Can't really see you tending to the sick and wounded."

Her brows rise. "Once I've reclaimed my throne and stopped the oppression against my people things will change. Why should I deny my gifts to my followers?"

"You're under the assumption that you'll even have any. No one will support you."

Her face grows pinched with anger and she moves closer to him. "You're wrong. There are so many people like me out there, forced to live like animals through no fault of their own. I'm the only Priestess of the old ways left, it's my duty to set things right again."

Merlin shakes his head, frowning. "You're going about it all wrong Morgana."

"Really? And you know better? What do you even care Merlin?"

"I do. If you're serious about this then why not approach the druids? You wanted to stay with them once."

Morgana straightens, jaw clenching. "I can't find them."

"They're a peaceful people, maybe they find your current actions against their ways?" Merlin stares at her hard, his gaze unflinching and Morgana sneers at him.

"They're cowards. With all their numbers they could have rose up against tyrants like Uther but instead they hide. "

"Can you blame them?"

"The king is dead, the tide has turned. They don't have to live in fear anymore."

Merlin leans closer to her, as much as his restraints let him. "Arthur is now king! I know he is more sympathetic than Uther. He would listen."

Morgana rolls her eyes. "I don't want him to listen, I don't need him to. Once the crown is mine Uther and Arthur will be a thing of the past," she stares intensely into his defiant eyes and shakes her head. "As you will be, once you've served your purpose."

"What purpose?"

Morgana smiles coyly and taps his nose. "It's a surprise." She walks away again and sits by the fire. Merlin watches her prepare food, cutting meat and vegetables into chunks and dropping them into a pot of simmering broth. After awhile the smell fills the hovel and Merlin's stomach rumbles. He hasn't eaten in hours. She ladles the stew into a bowl and begins to eat. She tries to ignore him but his stare irritates her. "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to stare?"

"Sorry. I'm just amazed that you even know how to boil water, let alone cook."

Her eyes flash in outrage and she turns to him. "Would you like me to give you a demonstration of the things I can do with boiling water Merlin? It's quite impressive," she smiles in pleasure at his wide eyed stare which he quickly averts. He never says a word as she finishes eating. There is a small amount left in the pot and she looks at him, eyes narrowed. Merlin flicks her a quick look but he doesn't dare to hope. Finally she sets a lid down on the pot and Merlin can't help slumping in disappointment. Morgana makes a mewing noise and comes to him. "Hungry?"

"No."

"Liar," she shrugs, bottom lip pouting a little. "Seeing as you don't think highly of my culinary skills I won't trouble you with them."

Merlin knows she won't give him any food, she just wants him to beg. He licks his lips and stares down, concentrating on his breathing and not the ravenous pit in his stomach. Morgana moves behind him and he can hear the rustle of her dress as she lies down on the bed. He strains to hear. Is she sleeping? About to pounce on him and inflict something awful? Merlin twists round and can just see her resting back against the headboard.

"Tired?" The silence was too heavy, too tense and he needed to break it. Morgana shifts in his peripheral vision.

"No, I'm just sick of looking at your face."

"That makes two of us."

"Ha!" He hears her dress rustling behind him and then stiffens when he feels her breath against the back of his neck. "I did notice, you know."

"Notice what?"

"The way you used to look at me."

Merlin's eyes grow big and he laughs. "I never looked at you." The lie is easily said but something squirms within him. He had been transfixed by her beauty at first. Coming straight from Ealdor she was the most stunning woman he'd ever seen at the time. She still is but he would never tell her that in a thousand years. Merlin turns his head around with a smile. "You're delusional."

"Am I?" Her lips are inches from his ear and she breathes against his neck. Merlin feels his own breathing grow faster and he tries to control it. Her hands press against his back and he leans forward, trying to escape her touch.

"Yes. You've been stuck in here on your own for too long. It's playing with your mind."

"I don't think so..." she trails around to face him, her fingers snagging at his shirt. She stares up at him, like a cat with a bowl of cream she is about to devour. Merlin frowns and decides to play along, to trip her up. She wants to make him feel uncomfortable? Well so can he.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" As he hoped she steps back from him with something like embarrassment and he feels victory flow through him. He looks up at the chains and ropes. "Because if you are this is a very...odd way of doing it. No wonder you're alone if this is your idea of courtship."

Morgana flushes red and comes at him suddenly. Merlin tries to escape her but with a shocked gasp she grabs him between the legs and he freezes. She moves to speak against his cheek, her teeth bared.

"Don't. Get. Impertinent," she punctuates each word with slight twist of her wrist and Merlin hisses. "I have a jar over there. Don't tempt me," she gives his balls a final squeeze and lets go, moving back. Her face is red and she pants, as does he. She moves back to her bed and he sees no more of her flushed face for the next three hours.

The affects of her healing wore off hours ago and Merlin hangs in pain but that is a mild discomfort compared to the gnawing animal in his stomach. He is lightheaded with hunger and he begs for his mind to finally give in and grow blissfully blank.

Morgana clucks her tongue behind him. "Gods. The noise you're making! It sounds like there's a bear in here."

He is too weak to even lift his head let alone speak so he makes no movements when he sees her swish past him and then back again. She wrenches his head up by his hair and he winces.

"Eat! You're keeping me awake."

Merlin feels a dull spoon at his lips and he opens his mouth. Stone cold stew fills his mouth but at that moment its better then anything his mother had ever cooked. She feeds him, grumbling curses under her breath until he finishes. It isn't nearly enough but the pit in his stomach is now smaller.

Morgana bangs the bowl and spoon down and walks back to him, stopping when she is just inches away. "If you wake me again I really will cut your balls off. Gods know you don't need them," she smiles. "Night."

Hunger somewhat sated Merlin hangs by his chains and listen to Morgana fall asleep. Once he is sure that she's deeply under he stares up at his shackles and whispers a spell. The ropes and chains remain secure around his wrists. Confused he tries again but the spell only seems to make the iron cuffs tighter.

He drops his head with a sigh. There is no way on earth she is more powerful than I am, he thinks bitterly but then another voice speaks up. She's a better healer. Even as it rankles to consider he knows it's the truth. The acknowledgement makes him feel depressed because she would never truly be able to use that gift, no matter what she believes. Merlin opens his eyes and stares around. But for the moonlight shining through the thatch over Morgana's bed the small house is pitch dark.

"I can save him...I'll take him..."

Merlin stiffens and turns at the sound of Morgana's voice. She moans in her sleep and mutters. He can hear the bed clothes rustling as she thrashes until finally she clearly awakes with a gasp behind him. He tilts his head at the sound of her panting breath and speaks up.

"Nightmare?"

"V - vision," she gets up from bed and reaches for a sheet of paper and a quill. Merlin blinks when candles suddenly splutter to life and she moves to the table. He watches her write hurriedly and he's curious despite himself.

"What did you see?"

"None of your business," she keeps her head down as she writes, her forehead furrowed in concentration. Finally she sits back and lowers the quill. She stares into space, her gaze unfocused until she blinks and seems to realise where she is. Her eyes flick to Merlin who has been been watching her carefully and gets to her feet. She stares up into his face with a smirk. "Comfortable?"

"Perfectly," his shoulders ache and his legs are horribly stiff. His whole body is a live nerve. He watches her head tilt and realises with bewilderment that he wants her to heal him again. Merlin clears his throat and averts his gaze. Morgana smirks even more and brushes her fingertips down his cheek.

"That won't do...you know I really should take full advantage of you."

"W - what?" He stares at her with surprise and a feeling of dread builds deep inside. Deeper still a lick of arousal flames into life. He can't decide which one is worse. Morgana smiles and trails her hands down his chest. She stops at his heart.

"It's not everyday I have a guinea pig all bound up and waiting."

"What are you talking about?" he stares at her fiercely, trying to keep control of his fear. Morgana lowers her face close to his and the hardness that she has been concealing behind her smiles shines through.

"I'm a healer. I need to practise."

"I'm not sick."

A smile flickers over her mouth. "I can fix that."

Merlin inhales and stares at her beseechingly. "I know you hate me Morgana but torturing me won't change anything. You'll still be here, alone and without friends. Don't do it."

She frowns hard. "Why shouldn't I? After everything you've done to me. I trusted you. I never told anyone about my magic, not even Gwen, but I told you. You stabbed me in the back! If I'm alone it's because of you!" Her control over her emotions is slipping and she shouts in torment.

Merlin listens to her and guilt threatens to drown him. It's a feeling he can't afford to succumb to. She is a grave threat and he must never forget the atrocities she has and will commit. "That's right, blame everyone but yourself. I didn't make you into a traitor, turning on your own family and friends. That was all you. You're alone because you're a monster Morgana."

She gives a shriek of rage and grabs a bowl off the table and smacks him hard in the face with it. Merlin feels his nose break and he yells, swinging wildly on his chains. Morgana pants, her eyes filling with tears and watches as blood drips down his face. She flings the makeshift weapon away and grips his face between her hands roughly. He backs away until his legs hit her bed.

"Don't!"

"Shh," she focuses her eyes on his and he stares through a pained gaze as her irises glow gold and the hands cupping his face radiate with warmth. Merlin groans loudly and he topples back against the bed, bringing Morgana with him. He slumps against the wooden beams and manages to sit, his limbs sapping of strength. Her healing sates his body and mind until he finally falls unconscious.

Shaking, Morgana lowers her hands and stares at his limp body. She debates with herself furiously whether to wake him and inflict more pain but instead she steps back. She is out of control, something that should never have happened. He is at her complete mercy and yet he has found a way yet again to make her feel terribly vulnerable.

She prays to the Mother aspect of the Goddess for strength and backs away. She still has a task to complete and he will not get the best of her again. Pulling the silver medallion into her hands she traces her fingers over the snakes and manages to smile again. She is not finished yet.