A/N Episode 2x7 'The Witchfinder'. Possible missing scene from the episode, somewhere between Aredian interviewing Morgana the first time and the second time.
The only one who knows
A quiet rap at the door startled Morgana from her fear-filled trance. She could feel her heart beating far too quickly, her breath coming in short sharply taken measures. Fear rooted her to the spot at the window. The knock came again and this time she summoned up words from her too-dry throat.
"Who is it?" she winced internally at the pitiful sounding tremor that wavered through her words.
"Merlin," came the rapid whispered response, and within seconds Morgana was at her chamber door, tugging the servant quickly inside before snapping it shut again. Her frightened eyes met the troubled ones of the only person who knew about her magic.
"Merlin...why are you..."
"Here?" he finished for her. She gave a sharp nod and cast her eyes behind her at the door, almost expecting the Witch Finder to know and appear at it any second.
"I came to see how you are my Lady." Her eyes were drawn back to the manservant and she saw that although his face bore the distress over Gaius, his eyes were calm. "I know this must be frightening for you." She swallowed and nodded, eyes once again darting frantically to the door and back.
"It's dangerous for you to be here Merlin," the hitch in her voice betrayed her and almost without thinking Merlin reached out and grasped her hands. Her surprise was immediately swept away in the need to feel strength and comfort, and she tightened her grip on his hands, feeling the warmth and roughness from work. Just the small gesture brought a measure of calm, and she felt some of the panic seep away.
"You have no idea how afraid I am," she confided, almost at the point of tears, "and I can't show any of it because nobody would understand why. Nobody knows why." She felt her voice thicken with tears and dropped her eyes to the floor, fighting with the fear.
"Morgana, look at me." She lifted her head and Merlin arrested her gaze with his own. "I know. I understand. That's why I came." She nodded again and began to drop her eyes away. "My Lady, look at me." He waited till he had her full attention and she realised belatedly how very close they were standing, with only their entwined hands between them, hers desperately grasping his as an anchor. "Listen to me, Morgana. He may have Gaius but I will never let him get you. Do you understand? I - will not – let him - hurt you. " The ferocity on the usually peaceful countenance startled her, and she knew that what he said weren't just platitudes to calm her, but were wholly and completely true. She often thought that she knew this servant of Arthur's and then he would do something so much...more.
"I understand," she whispered in response and with a determined nod Merlin stepped away, releasing her hands.
"Morgana you are one of the strongest people I know," he added as reached the door and turned back to face her with a lopsided smile on his face, "remember I've seen you fight. You can do this." Before she could respond he had slipped out of the door and shut it behind him, leaving her in stunned silence, her hands still tingling from the warmth of his own.