Ch. 1- Perfect Strangers

Merlin ran into the vaults, hoping that Morgana wasn't down here, that she wasn't evil. But she was. And nothing Merlin did or said would ever change that; but he had to try. He couldn't stand to see the anger in her eyes. He would get through to her even if it killed him.

She was there in front of him. Her black hair was in a ponytail and she was looking away from him. As soon as he came in the room her head snapped back to look at him and a smirk rose to her lips.

"Leave now while you still can." She chimed in her musical voice of hers, but lately her voice was dark and cold and seemed more horror than happy.

"Morgana, please. I beg you." He pleaded and walked around her until he was facing her. She kept him in her line of sight, her eyes never leaving him.

God, she was so beautiful. "Women and children are dying. The city will fall!" Maybe these words will get past her cold demeanor, but she only shook her head.

"Good." She summoned all of her anger in that one tiny word.

"No, you don't mean that." He shouldn't have said those words for instantly Morgana's eyes flashed with anger.

"I have magic, Merlin. Uther hates me and everyone like me; why should I feel any differently for him?!" She shouted, her words echoing off the stone walls and pounding their way back into his ears. I have magic, Merlin.

"You of all people could change Uther's mind; but using magic like this will only harden his heart!" He shot back, and Morgana shook her head in sympathy for him.

"You don't have magic, Merlin! How could you hope to understand?"

You don't have magic, Merlin. "I do understand, believe me." He took a step toward her and she raised her sword. "If I had your powers, I would use them for good. That's why you born with these powers."

He walked towards her until their lips were an inch apart. Merlin's heart beat faster and Morgana breathed hoarsely. Merlin leaned down and parted his lips and met empty air for Morgana had taken a step back.

"It doesn't have to be like this. We can find another way." He reached out to touch her but she yanked her arm from his grasp and raised the sword higher.

"There is no other way." She shook her head and Merlin nodded, taking a step back. He gripped the sword he was holding tightly in his hands and then ran past Morgana heading for the magical object she was protecting.

She lunged and he deflected it awkwardly with his sword. She had years of sword training while Merlin barely even held a sword in his life. She smirked and aimed for his knees and he jumped back, barely missing getting his legs cut off.

She was toying with him, he knew. She could have already killed him by now. "What are you gonna do, kill me?" He panted, his back was aching him. He didn't know how the knights could do this all the time.

"What, you don't think I can?" She sneered and raised the sword over her head and plunged it down towards him. He jumped back, and fell to the ground, his sword slipping from his grasp.

Morgana stood over him, wiping the sweat off her face. "So almost kissing me was a lie, right? You don't love me! How could anyone love me?" Her face twisted in bitterness and hate, and as she was fixing to stab him in the heart, a crack sounded in the ceiling.

Morgana turned around and Merlin's eyes changed color as he used his magic. Heavy rocks rained down from the ceiling, falling near Morgana, and she crashed to the ground. Merlin grabbed his sword, and ran to the object in the center of the room. He shouted words in the ancient language and cut the object in half.

He took one last look at Morgana, then he slowly dragged her over to the entrace of the vaults, where she'd be safe. He kissed her forehead and she groaned, never opening her eyes. His lips lifted into a smile of regret, then he raced out of the room, never looking back.