Chapter One

Lady Morgana lay curled up amongst the silk sheets of her four poster bed. Resting her head on the pillow, her eyes glazed out of the open window, where the sky was midnight blue and twinkling with silver stars. Behind her she heard the latch of the door lift and a figure entered the room, closing the door silently behind them. Morgana did not stir from her position on the bed to acknowledge the figure.

Morgana closed her eyes as Merlin lay on the bed beside her. His rough hands caressed her face gently but she continued to ignore him, faking a blissful sleep.

"Morgana" he whispered, but still she did not reply. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye and landed on the pillow beneath her, unbeknownst to Merlin.

Softly, Merlin lifted his leg and curled it across Morgana's, reaching down the sheets and caressing her body. As his hand felt across her stomach, Morgana jolted suddenly and flinched away from his touch.

"Merlin, please!" whimpered Morgana. She rolled away from Merlin and swept the sheets back to get out of the bed. Her bare feet were cold against the stone floor as she hurried to the bathroom. Merlin lay staring after her, confusion etched across his face.

Morgana stood, hands resting on the sink, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was haunted and pale, and her eyes were glassy, brimming with tears that had not yet fallen. She wiped her mouth in an attempt to be clean of the taste of her sick. She looked in horror at the toilet where just moments ago she had thrown up.

Bending over to catch a loose thread of her nightdress, Morgana suddenly felt lightheaded and her vision blurred. Turning for the door, her legs gave way and she slipped to the floor.

As Merlin was heading for the bathroom he heard a crash and rushed to the door.

"Morgana! Morgana! Are you okay?" he cried through the door. Lifting the latch he pushed open the door. His eyes flickered round the room. As they finally fell on Morgana's weakened body collapsed on the floor he let out a yelp and rushed forwards.

Merlin fell to the ground beside her and lifted her head onto her lap. "Shit! Shit Morgana!" he gasped as he lifted his hand away and saw the scarlet pool of blood. Twisting her body from the crumpled mess so she was on her back, Merlin lifted her away from the cold hard floor and back on to her bed. Cupping his hands around the back of Morgana's head, he lifted it gently; making sure his hands covered her wound. With panic still engraved on to his face, Merlin's eyes glowed in a flash of liquid gold. He let Morganas head rest back gently on the pillow as a soft murmur escaped from her lips.

"Merlin," she whispered, her eyes squinting in pain at him, as if she was being blinded by a bright light, "I'm pregnant."