Sorry it took so long to post this, guys. I wrote most of it a while back, but I don't have internet right now… I moved into my own place and can't afford internet at the moment… I'm working on it, though. I'm at my Grandmother's house, using her internet… Lol.

icarusLSU: I'm glad it's ok, I just felt like Hunith wouldn't just let that go. If you hadn't noticed, I LOVE to do cliffhangers. I have to keep people reading somehow, don't I?

JayJe: I think that about sums it up.

sjritts: Morgause is back. :) Yep. Lol. And Merlin is being SO stupid! He is literally driving me mad. Ugh. He seriously needs to get back into it.

Chapter One

Morgana lay alone on the bed Morgause had given her, eyes closed, her body wracked with sobs. This was never what she really wanted. She wanted a happy life full of love and belonging, and it seemed that she was never to have that, all because of the people she was born to. The way she was born. She fisted the skirt of her dress, a new dress Morgause had given her, the front was black with a gold trim forming a deep V at the waist and a squared neckline, red ribbons lacing up the front, crimson fabric forming the sides, back, hood, and wrist length sleeves, at the elbow of the sleeves was black lace which fell well past her hands. It was a beautiful dress, she supposed, but not what she wanted. She was so tired of being a noblewoman.

Merlin was so close, yet so far away. She had been dragged to a ruined castle that most would deem uninhabitable merely an hours ride from Ealdor. Just a step away. Her mind longed to connect with his again, if only he would allow it. His mind was just a breath away.

Morgana felt a sob escape her lips and fisted her skirts more tightly, everything that had happened, everything that Merlin had said… She was beginning to lose her faith in him, in their love. Maybe his words were a lie. Maybe the brands were a lie. Morgana was falling off the edge of her sanity and she knew it. She was only human and even her magic could not withstand the torture she knew Morgause would inflict on her in an effort to regain, and keep, her loyalty. She wanted so desperately for someone, Merlin, to save her from this. To save her from the hate.

All of this, this war, it was Uther's fault. His pointless hatred of magic was what had brought her here, what had made her so vulnerable to Morgause to begin with. To Uther this was just another war, and his family was just another family torn. Her faith had been shaken and torn because of Uther. Everything she had ever known thrown aside when Uther had learned she had magic. It was Uther's fault she was so close to the edge of madness. She couldn't have come so far in this direction without his pushing her that way. Every day she lived feeling this way was just another ordinary day in the world she lived in. She needed a hero, someone like Merlin, to save her. Now. He always seemed to save her just in time.

The door opened and Morgause walked in. Morgana knew that, starting now she would have to fight to live another day. Morgause's torture would make it hard to survive for even one day. Pain was all Morgana had known before she fell for Merlin, and now it seemed pain was all she would know again.

"I will never be loyal to you," Morgan spat venomously at her half-sister. She knew it was dangerous to speak her mind, but she felt she had no choice, Morgause must know that her loyalty would always be to Merlin, and if Merlin's loyalty was to Arthur, then hers was as well and there was nothing Morgause could do to change that.

"The boy is not deserving of your love, sister, nor of your loyalty. Why do you insist on giving him both? It is foolish of you."

"I love him, Morgause, as he loves me. You are nothing but a pretender. I will never be loyal to you or to your cause. I hate everything you stand for. I am loyal to Merlin, and because he is loyal to Arthur, and to the Camelot Arthur will create, so am I."

Morgause rolled her eyes, she knew her sister was stubborn, but to make a stand in this? To make certain her voice was heard, while not unexpected it was unwelcome.

"Uther would have killed you, Morgana. It is only through luck that you are still alive."

"No, Morgause. It is because of Merlin and his kindness. To Uther it would have been just another kill, just another sorceress taken down, but Merlin would never allow that." She closed her eyes, feeling the darkness trying to overtake her. The countdown begins, she thought. The countdown to destroy ourselves.

"If we do this, Morgause, if we go against Camelot, who will fight for what's right? Who will fight the death and destruction we will cause? We will be no better than Uther himself. Who will help us survive? Morgause, we will be fighting for our lives. This will be biggest fight of either of our lives and I fear it will not end well for those who oppose Arthur and all of Camelot. I am not ready to die for that cause. For the cause of bringing magic back to Camelot through my brother's death and destruction. Who will fight for those who are weak, Morgause? Those who cannot fight for themselves? Who will make them believe the truth of the goodness magic can be used for? If we use magic to destroy Camelot's King we will be showing them only the dark side of magic, not the good of it." Morgana felt a small smile grace her lips, she knew these were more Merlin's words than hers. She could feel his presence through their bond and brands. He was her hero and he was here with her, in a way. He was driving out the darkness.

"Sister, we will be fighting for what is right. The weak do not matter, they are useless to us."

Morgana shook her head. "No, Morgause. I will fight for what's right. I'm speaking my mind today, and if you kill me for it, if that kills me tonight, I will be ready to die. I will die gladly, knowing that I did not give into you. After all, a hero's not afraid to give their life."

Morgause laughed. "Hero? Dear sister, by siding with Arthur, do you truly see yourself as a hero to our people? You are a fool."

Morgana steeled herself as Morgause moved closer, her hand was in the pocket hidden in the folds of her skirt, gripping the dagger Arthur had given her for her birthday. Morgana drew the dagger as Morgause's menacing face moved into her personal space. "You will do exactly as I command, Morgana. You are nothing without me."

Morgana felt the magic start to twist around her body, trying to drain her of her will. She closed her eyes and drew the dagger, forcing it into her sisters chest. She could feel the tears running down her face. She was shocked, as Morgause's body fell to the ground, to see Merlin standing behind her.

"Merlin?" she gasped, reaching for him.

Merlin pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead. "Gana, my beautiful Gana, I love you. You resisted her. You did it. You didn't need me here, after all."

Morgana smiled. "It was only because of you that I did resist. I thought of you, of what you would tell them. Of what you told me. That was the only way I could do it, the only way I could resist the pull of darkness..."

Merlin kissed her softly, allowing her to feel his love and joy through their connection.