Title: Ungodly Hour

Authors: Cassy27
Words: 1257
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Merlin.
Spoilers: Spoilers from both season 1 and 2

Summary: Morgana returns to Camelot and Merlin seems to be the only one who understands why she is back. Why does no one listen to him and what consequences will it all have? Emotions run high, but Merlin must decide where his loyalty lies.

AN: Any and all mistakes are completely my own.

I have only one word for you all: enjoy!

Chapter 2 – A few days earlier

It was a remarkable warm morning. Merlin glanced at the horizon through an open windows to see a blood red sun rising. It was still very early and the halls of the castle were nearly abandoned. Merlin didn't mind, though. He liked it when his day started nice and calm. That and he would be on time for work for a change.

He had a busy day ahead. Arthur had warned him that they might make a hunting trip as a beast had been seen not far from the edges of the woods. Merlin hated hunting. For some reason, he always ended up saving Arthur's life or he was being knocked over in some mud and why would today be any different?

Reaching Arthur's chambers, Merlin found the young Prince already awake and fully clothed as well. It seemed Arthur was ready for the day and for the hunt. Why Arthur loved hunting so much was a riddle to Merlin. Killing living animals shouldn't be considered fun.

"Good morning, Merlin," Arthur greeted him as soon as the young servant entered his bedchambers.

Loving the hunt was something; to be overly exited about it was a whole other matter. Arthur just shouldn't be this cheerful, certainly not this early in the day.

"Good morning," Merlin greeted him back.

Arthur was busy walking around in his chambers and Merlin didn't even know why. The Prince didn't seem to be doing anything in particular. Maybe that was how royal people filled their days; walking around, doing nothing.

"Have you prepared the horses?" Arthur asked. He didn't wait on Merlin to answer him, he simply kept on walking around.

No. "Yes," Merlin lied. It shouldn't take him too long to take care of that, certainly not if he cheated a little. He suddenly wondered how his life would have been if he wouldn't have magic. He truly would be the worst servant ever then. "I'll just go check."

With those words, he left Arthur alone. He needed to hurry, though. Getting two horses ready for a hunt wasn't an easy job, not even when using magic. The halls of the castle were getting more crowded and Merlin could only hope the stables would still be deserted.

Arriving there, Merlin was lucky. Not one person could be spotted. He didn't hesitate and got to work. He focused on Arthur's horse first, followed by his own. Not ten minuted later, the two magnificent animals seemed prepared to even enter into a war. If that didn't please Arthur, Merlin didn't know what would.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, Arthur appeared next to him.

"Wow, Merlin," he honestly seemed astonished, "great job."

Merlin smiled broadly, maybe even a little too broad as his cheeks immediately started hurting. "I am good at something, you know," he said jokingly. Following Arthur outside the stables, he climbed his horse and checked for the final time if everything was good. It was.

"Let's just say you keep surprising me," Arthur laughed.

"That's not funny," Merlin said, shaking his head. It only made Arthur laugh even louder. "Is it just us?" It was only now that Merlin thought of this. They were going on a hunt, they were planning on chasing some unknown beast and they were alone.

"According to the witnesses," Arthur explained, "the beast isn't that big."

"Define big," Merlin said. He didn't like walking into situations where he had no real control over. Arthur might be a good fighter, animals were known to have a survival instinct in them.

The Prince stretched out his arms full length while maintaining his balance as he rode his horse. Merlin's eyes widened with distress. When Arthur saw him, his moved his arms a little closer to each other.

"It's really not that big," Arthur tried to comfort him. He couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Again," Merlin said, "not funny."

"It's nothing we can't handle," Arthur said, "well, it's nothing I can't handle."

They had reached the outskirts of the city now, a large forest stretching out at their feet and in there, they were supposed to find a beast that could really be anywhere. Merlin couldn't help but think that Arthur had not thought this through.

"Where do we begin searching?" Merlin asked, having his horse stand next to Arthur's.

Arthur nodded slowly. "Good question."

Merlin rolled his eyes. This was not a good start to begin a hunt.

"Let's just see where we end up," Arthur said, smiling as he made his horse walk forward again. Merlin could only follow. Riding on horseback through an ancient forest was actually quiet soothing. The birds, the soft wind, the rustling of the leaves and yet, there was always silence; no humans. It was safe to say that Merlin loved this part of the hunt. It at least gave him something to look forward to.

They wandered through the forest for a good hour when suddenly, Arthur raised his hand, ordering Merlin to come to a stop as well. Jumping down his horse, the Prince drew out his sword. Merlin jumped down as well, though not as elegantly. Producing a loud thud when landing, Arthur shot him a dark gaze, his finger pressed against his lips.

Merlin nodded. He understood what was expected of him. A bush rustled wildly behind Arthur suddenly. The young Prince didn't hesitate. Turning towards it, he held out his sword, ready for whatever would come next.

A beast, about the size of a sheep, appeared. It stormed forward, heading for Merlin who didn't know what to do. He couldn't use magic, not with Arthur standing so close. His eyes focused on the sheep-like creature, Merlin was suddenly knocked over. Arthur's sword pierced through the beast's shoulder. A high cry sounded.

Rolling over the ground, Arthur regained his balance and stabbed the beast again, this time hitting him full in the side. The creature's legs became limb and it fell down, breathing heavily.

"That is big," Merlin snapped, pointing towards the beast. He couldn't believe Arthur had told him it wasn't too huge. It wasn't funny as well that for a change, Arthur had saved his life and not the other way around.

"It's dying," Arthur simply said. He carefully approached it, his sword still pointed forward. With one last cry, the beast stopped breathing.

"What is that for animal?" Merlin asked, approaching the beast as well now. He made sure he stayed behind his master however. He did not want to take any risks around the beast whether it was alive or dead.

Arthur shrugged. "It doesn't matter," he said, "it's dead now."

The young Prince walked back to his horse just as another bush started moving like something was trying to get through.

"You think there is another one?" Merlin asked, stepping back towards his own horse. His gaze didn't leave the moving bush, though. There was not a chance in hell he would let himself be attacked again and he certainly didn't want Arthur saving him again. It would become embarrassing in the end.

"Shh," Arthur snarled.

Merlin immediately pressed his lips together. He couldn't take this. Why would the second beast wait so long to attack them? If it didn't turn out to be another creature, what could it be? Merlin held his breathe as suddenly the bush stopped moving.

There she stood in a long red dress, her hair loosely around her shoulders and a few scratches covering her arms and neck.

Morgana.

AN: The second chapter is done. I hope I did a good job. I love writing Merlin and Arthur together. So Morgana has returned, but what does that really mean? How does everything progress into what we know will happen already? Will it truly happen? Many, many questions and I will answer them as soon as possible!

Make me happy and let me know what you think :)