Okay, so this is my first attempt at a Merlin fic. I'm a HUGE fan of the Merlin/Morgana pairing, so I figured I'd give them a(nother) story...

PLOT:

Set post Ssn 2, ep 3. AU – What if Merlin had helped Morgana when she'd found her magic and she had fallen in love with him? Then what if she had asked Uther to marry Merlin? Rated T for some violent scenes.

Please review if you read; it would be much appreciated. And no flames, I don't need them. Constructive criticism, yes, but nothing nasty.

CHAPTER 1: BANISHED

"Why can I not be with him?" Morgana asked furiously, glaring at Uther, who sat coolly in his throne as though nothing was going on. His face was turned away, his chin resting on his fist. "I am in love with him, and he with me. Do you not want me to be happy?"

Uther turned his head sharply toward her, his cool façade slipping. "Because you do not truly love him! You only think you do!"

"I will not be told how to feel! I know the truth, and I know that I love him!"

Uther stood up furiously, his robe swirling around him. "You cannot love him; you barely know him!"

Morgana drew herself up, her black curls tumbling around her face, her blue eyes flashing. "I have known him for three years. Surely that is enough! He is a good man, a kind man. Surely that is what you want for me!"

"He is a servant! You deserve a lord or a prince, not some footman!" Uther stepped forward, and Morgana stepped back. "Let this go, Morgana. He is below your station."

"He is below nobody's station. I would rather marry a lowly good man than a lord with not a shred of kindness."

"This is ridiculous, Morgana. You will never be allowed to marry him. I will not let you."

"You cannot stop me," she said threateningly, clenching her fists.

"I am your king!" he shouted, taking another step towards her. She flinched, then inwardly cursed herself for it. "You will not backtalk or second guess me! Your father, rest his soul, put me in charge of you when he died, and I will not break the promise I made by letting you marry where you do not belong!"

"He is so much more than a servant. Wherever he is, that is where I belong!" Morgana was shouting too, almost pleading.

Uther threw up his hand, cutting his ward off. "This discussion is over, Morgana. Leave."

Morgana shook with rage. "I love him more than I love you, more than I love Camelot, more than I love myself. You cannot take that away from me!"

Uther froze in the act of turning around. "You think that I cannot?" he said, back to her, his voice dangerously calm. "You think I will not?" She was silent. "He is banished. Exiled forever."

"No," she breathed, horror filling her eyes and her voice. "Please, my lord. Don't."

"You leave me no choice. Take him away."

"Merlin!" Morgana whirled around as the guards began to drag the gagged and struggling figure back towards the door. "No, Uther, please!"

Arthur spoke up for the first time, moving out of the shadows. "Be thankful it isn't worse, Morgana."

She turned to him. "What would you know about it? How could you understand? He is your friend, as am I. Don't let your father do this to us."

"That is enough. You will be silent or leave," Uther turned to face her again, pulling himself up to his full height. "I have reached my limit. Do not push me any farther."

"Banish me too. Banish me for loving him."

Uther seemed to vibrate with repressed fury, but he didn't directly respond to Morgana'as challenge. "Guards. Lock them both in the cells for the night."

"Father, is that really necessary?" Arthur asked, stepping forward.

"I have had too much questioning of my decisions today. You will not speak again unless you wish to join your friends in the dungeons." Arthur shut his mouth.

"You're just scared!" Morgana jeered as red-tuniced guards seized her upper arms. "You're frightened of love. Love is nothing to be feared. But what would you know about it? You lost the ability to love years ago. You do not even love your own son!"

The guards froze in horror. Uther moved so close that he was barely two inches away from her, and bent down, putting his face right beside hers. "You will never speak like that to me again."

"Stop me," the girl challanged, fierce pride shining in her eyes.

The king scrutinized her. "What has he done to you?"

"He has done nothing. I love him of my own volition."

"I hope that time apart will cure you of this false feeling." For a moment the room was completely still.

"I will love him forever."

"Take them away."

The guards dragged the two of them to the dungeons and threw them into adjacent cells. Morgana landed heavily on her shoulder in the dirty hay that sparcely covered the floor of the cubicle. The door clanged shut behind her and the key clattered in the lock. The guards stomped away, their armor grating against the flagstones.

"Morgana?" Merlin was at the bars of the cell, reaching between them towards her. She scrabbled over to him and clutched at his hands.

"Oh Merlin, what are we going to do?" She sagged against the wooden slats, resting her head on them. The boy disentangled one of his hands and put it against her face, stroking her skin.

"It will be okay. You can find a way out of the city, or I can find a way in. We'll be together someday."

She leaned up and put her lips on his. "I hope so," she breathed, pulling away.

"I know so," he whispered in her ear.