DISCLAIMER: I only own the computer I type this upon and my imagination. Trust me if I owned Merlin, Morgana wouldn't have turned completely bad and it wouldn't have ended the way it did. Perhaps I would have extended it into modern times but alas I do not own so I get no say.

My thanks to Patty 4577, bubzchoc, Shani (guest), godess bubbles, and Tamara Potter 123 for your reviews and a thank you to all of those who also favorite and followed this story; you all make my writing go round.

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Poll: Lot in Camelot- 1 Triple M's- 0

Chapter 2

Arthur was just staring at the pool of blood, where just minutes ago his best friend had laid, dying. Just a moment, just one more moment and he could have saved them both. He could have saved his best friend and the woman who was the closest thing he'd ever had to a sibling. His hands clenched as he swallowed down the cry rising in his throat. He then looked to his father who was just staring blankly at the last place his precious ward had been. Finally Arthur pulled himself together and began giving orders.

"Someone summon Gaius," he commanded. One of the younger knights took off instantly towards the physician's quarters. Arthur turned to Leon who straightened at his Prince's look. "Leon go to Morgana's chambers, Guinevere should be waking up bring her here as well." When Leon gave him a questioning look he pulled him aside. "Merlin was, is, a very good friend of hers and so is Morgana I don't want her to hear this from a different source." Leon nodded and went off in search of the young maid.

The first to arrive was Gaius, who for some reason was wet, but when he saw the pool of blood he demanded to know who was injured. None of the knights would look the old physician in the eye after his inquiry and that's when he started looking around for a black mop of hair that was his ward, the son he never had.

"Where's Merlin?" he questioned, and again no one could answer or even look him in the eye. At their reactions his heart sank and his eyes wondered to the pool of blood with an aching heart. Arthur didn't want to relive the last few moments twice so they waited until Gwen was present as well. When she entered the throne room almost all noise stopped because many of the knights knew this maid had been through so much, the last three years alone, being accused of witchcraft, her father being executed, kidnapped by bandits when she was protecting her mistress and not to mention her missing brother. When the noise had died down and so many had looked at her in pity Gwen had slowly starting shaking her head, as if that gesture could stop the information she knew was coming. She looked around frantically, looking for her friends but she couldn't find the black haired pair.

"Guinevere," Arthur started but was cut off when she questioned him in a frantic voice.

"Where's Morgana? Where's Merlin? Arthur, where are they?" No one could bring themselves to reprimand the maid for her slip because could they honestly blame her? Many knew that she and her Lady were more than just master and servant and they could see that she was close to tears. "Where are they?!" She was standing right in front of Arthur shaking his arms in her desperation for an answer. Arthur couldn't stand the look in her eyes and he hadn't meant to but his eyes quickly flittered over to the blood but it was just enough for Gwen's attention to be brought to the horrid scene. She gasped then looked up to Gaius who had silent tears sliding down his face and then to Uther who was just staring blankly at nothing. She started shaking her head again and slowly backed away from Arthur but he didn't let her get far. He grabbed her arms even as she started futilely fighting him.

"No!" she said as Arthur pulled her to him. She starting hitting his chainmail covered chest even as he enveloped her in his arms. "NO!" At her anguished cry she finally broke and clung to the Prince as she cried. At her cry both Gaius and Uther looked at the maid with sad eyes and that's when Uther noticed the trail of tears down Gaius' cheeks. Uther's heart hurt a little for his old friend. He knew that Gaius had never married, never had children, he knew what the boy meant to him. Uther looked over to his son who was trying to offer comfort to the distraught maid and knew the man had lost a great deal more than just his ward.

"Gaius." At his name he turned toward the king. "I'm sorry." Those that heard those words were taken aback because for many of them this was the first time he had ever said those words to someone who wasn't of noble or higher birth. Gaius just looked at the man, nodded his head and turned back to the young couple.

"It was his choice, Sire," was the only response that he could give. To some his response would seem cold but one only had to look at his face, body posture or even his hands to know how truly devastated he was. "But may I ask how… how it happened?" Gaius' voice broke.

"I, I don't know," Uther said. "I only started to wake because of Morgana's screams." Uther then looked to Arthur hoping he could explain better. "I know I fell asleep in my chambers so why did I awaken here?" Arthur pulled away from Gwen because he knew all eyes were on him now and what he'd been doing wasn't proper, understandable, but improper.

"As you ordered Merlin and I went to the fort to check for intruders but found nothing but as we rode back something felt strange. Once we reached Camelot we knew something was wrong. There were people passed out in the streets and the knights and others were unconscious throughout the castle. The only person we found awake was Morgana."

"Why was the Lady awake?" asked a knight.

"She said that Gaius was able to give her a potion that was able to counteract the effects of the sleeping sickness," Arthur supplied looking to Gaius, who had a confused look on his face. "Gaius?"

"My memory is clouded but it's quite possible I was able to brew a potion," he looked around trying to seem like he was thinking of what he could have done but when his eyes landed on the discarded book he was able to think up of a quick but believable lie. "Ah," he said as he picked up the book in question. "Here it is." He flipped through the pages as if he was looking for something and when he landed on the bookmarked page he knew what had happened. "I used an ancient recipe but because of the rare ingredients I was only able to make one, and Morgana was the last one awake besides myself which is why I gave it to her."

"Why didn't you use it to wake one of the knights?" asked Uther.

"Because, Sire, it can only be used to keep someone awake not waken them." The others nodded accepting his explanation. He closed the book, holding it to his chest, and looked back to Arthur to continue his explanation.

"Well, she was awake and explained everything to us so that we understood what was going on. I knew Camelot was open for attack and knew we needed to move you because leaving you in your chambers was too obvious." Uther nodded his head in understanding. "We continued looking for a way to end what was going on and that's when Merlin spotted the knights."

"What knights?" questioned Uther. Arthur looked to his father and knew he wouldn't like his answer.

"It wasn't one of our enemies but the legendary Knights of Medhir." At his words others gasped. The tales of the Seven Knights of Medhir was a story often told to children but that couldn't be possible, they couldn't actually exist.

"Impossible," the king voiced. "They're mere myth, not real."

"No, Father," Arthur, countered, standing tall. "They were real. If you doubt me go down the hall and you will find seven piles of black clothing and seven swords scattered in the same area." At a look one of the knights took off to check the Prince's story. They waited in silence for the knight's to return. When he did he was carrying an ancient sword in his hands, cushioned on a pile of black cloth. None said a word. Many knew the legend of the immortal knights and finally the weight of what could have happened came crashing down.

"How did you defeat them my lord?" asked Leon. Arthur looked to one of his most trusted knights then to his father and lastly the floor knowing once again his father wouldn't like his answer.

"I didn't."

"But," many sputtered looking between their Prince and the knight holding the remains of a legend.

"I was fighting two fronts, them and the sleeping sickness, and I was losing. Finally one of them knocked my sword from my hand. I knew I was going to die but I'd hoped I had given Morgana and Merlin enough time to get you out of the castle," he said this part looking at his father whose eyes were gleaming in unshed tears. "When suddenly they stopped and before my eyes they were enveloped in a blinding golden light, so bright that I had to shield my eyes. When I uncovered them the knights were gone and all that remained was what you see there," gesturing to the knight. "And for some reason I can't explain I suddenly felt rejuvenated and then I started making my way back here when I heard Morgana scream Merlin's name." Arthur had to stop for a second as his jaw clenched holding back his emotions for the next part of the story. "When I finally reached here, the door was destroyed and Morgause was standing with a bloody sword near Merlin and Morgana. Merlin," he held back a choke on saying his name. "Merlin was bleeding out from a wound on his side and Morgana was yelling at him to open his eyes. Next, Father, you had woken up and then rest of the knights came to help." The last part he only told for the benefit of Gaius and Guinevere. "Once we had her surrounded she muttered a spell, grabbing Morgana and Merlin, disappearing in a whirlwind."

Gaius' face had greyed at Arthur's retelling and Gwen's tears had started anew and it was everything she could do to keep her cries of anguish from escaping. No one would look either the physician or the maid in the eye because they knew that it was their fault that the pair was not there. They had been too focused on the sorceress to take note of how truly close to the undefended two she had been. Arthur finally turned to his father.

"Father, I'm sorry." When Uther looked to him in startled confusion he continued. "I shouldn't have left them here undefended. I should have found Morgana a sword even Merlin, though he's useless with the thing, he could have at least defended himself better. I should have…" Uther held up his hand to stop his son's tirade. The king could see that his son felt responsible for what happened but the fault did lie on his shoulders.

"It is not your guilt to bare, Arthur."

"But…"

"The guilt lies with me." Everyone was taken aback by the king's words. "I was closest to them and I know the dangers of a magic user I should have been able to get in between them." Uther looked down at his hands dejectedly when Gwen spoke up.

"Sire," she said getting everyone's attention. "It is neither your fault nor Prince Arthur's or even the knights. The only one I see at fault is that horrid sorceress who took them. While yes you have more experience, you said yourself that you had just woken up from the sleeping sickness that affected us all. So no Sire the only fault lies with Morgause." Gwen held her head high and it was in this instance Uther could see the appeal she had that drew Morgana to her and had earned her his ward's loyalty and friendship. Many of the knights looked upon her with new eyes but it was only Gaius, Arthur and Leon who looked on with pride. This was the Guinevere they always saw no matter her status. Uther just acknowledged her words with a nod and took over.

"Leon."

"Yes Sire," the loyal knight responded.

"Take some knights and go check the lower town. Gaius, you go with him," to which Gaius nodded. Uther then turned back to his knight. "After that task has been completed I want you to gather a small group of knights and start a search party and I want you to leave soon. Actually, Barclay."

"Yes Sire," a rather stocky older knight answered.

"You take a few knights and Gaius into the lower town and check on the people." With that said the knight nodded and inclined his head to some of the knights under his command and left quickly to do the king's bidding. "Leon gather your men now and leave within the hour."

"Yes Sire!" Leon said as he bowed and indicated to the rest of the knights to follow him.

"Father what shall I do?" asked Arthur as the knights left, leaving just him, his father and Gwen. Uther looked to his son and knew his son wouldn't like his orders, he was a man of action but even though Arthur had said he was better he needed rest.

"Go to your chambers and I'll send you a servant to help you with your armor and have them prepare you a bath."

"Father?"

"You need your rest Arthur."

"No I'm fine I want to be out there looking for Morgana." And Merlin."I need to be out there."

"I understand Arthur but you have done enough for Camelot for today. You need your rest."

"But…"

"Do not argue with me Arthur! You will do as you are told. You will rest and regain your strength and then you will lead your own search party. Am I understood?" He could see the betrayal on Arthur's face but he knew Arthur needed his rest.

"Yes Father," he said indignantly as he turned sharply and left. Gwen looked between Arthur's retreating back and Uther. Finally she just curtsied and left to follow Arthur, presumably to fetch other servants and inform the kitchen the Prince was in need of food.

Uther stood alone in the throne room and his eyes were drawn to the pool of blood and just shook his head. It's unfortunate, he thought thinking of his son's manservant. He had such an extraordinary loyalty to Arthur, one the likes I've never seen before. With one last shake of his head he was off to order some servants to come and clean the throne room of its crimson stain.

Arthur burst through his chamber doors in anger. He was fine. He didn't need to rest. He needed to be out there looking for Morgana, and if they happened to find Morgause there too, well he'd run her through with his sword and see how she liked it. Just thinking about what she did made his heart clench. He couldn't get that image out of his head.

Morgana cradling Merlin's head in her lap as she pleaded with him to open his eyes, his blood slowly seeping out around them, Morgause's blade covered in his blood and dripping on the floor. The images wouldn't go away and in his rage he picked up one of the cups from his bedside table and threw it into the wall where it shattered on impact. The little bit of destruction was slightly satisfying until he thought of never having Merlin clean up after him again and those thoughts made him sink down beside his bed as the feelings he had repressed finally surfaced. He had unshed tears in his eyes as he closed them and let the memories come crashing around him.

The first time he had ever met the Lady Morgana was when he was 9 almost 10 and she 6. He hadn't been happy that he had to entertain a girl; he wanted to be practicing his swordsmanship not walking around with guards in the market. Finally she had turned around and flat out asked him what he would rather be doing. When he told her, her eyes brightened and she had grabbed his hand and headed toward the training fields. Arthur hadn't started his squire training yet but he was a regular in the training field but what did turn heads was the pretty little girl who was dragging the prince behind her, as she picked up two training swords she handed him one and kept the other. When she dropped into a fighting stance Arthur had started shaking his head. At his refusal she had cocked her head to the side in the annoying way that she still did, and threw verbal taunts at him. Her taunts did the trick and they started sparing.

He was shocked at how good she was with a sword and was actually enjoying himself until he heard his father's bellow. They had both stopped immediately and while Arthur had bowed his head Morgana had raised her chin in defiance and had a mutinous look on her face. Uther had started lecturing both of them, Arthur more so than Morgana, when Lord Gorlois had stepping up with a look full of mirth and told the king that Morgana enjoyed swords and was most likely the one who wanted to play fight. Uther had looked at him incredulously and told his friend that it was improper for a young lady to fight. That had caused Gorlois to laugh and responded saying that because of her standing she needed to know how to defend herself should her guards ever fall leaving her undefended. As they had been talking Lord Gorlois had given the children a hand signal to shoo. Morgana had recognized it and had grabbed Prince Arthur and they had run off back to the castle. That stay had been fun but it hadn't lasted long.

The next time he had met her was two years later after her father had fallen in battle. The little girl he had remembered from two years earlier was now so hollow and subdued that he feared that her teasing manner, which he would never tell how much he enjoyed, would never return. For several weeks she rarely left her new chambers, finally after three weeks Arthur couldn't take it anymore and went to her chambers with two training swords, where he barged in and thrust the sword to her saying she needed to come practice with him. She had looked at him blankly so he finally decided to use her way. He taunted her. He had gone on and on about him getting the better of her in their last match which they had never finished. She had gotten that mutinous look on her face and had said, "Did not," in a quiet voice. He had responded with the age-old response of "Did so," and so their argument started back and forth until she finally took a swing at him. He'd been expecting it and had ducked sticking his tongue out at her when she missed then ran as she gave chase.

It was a scene that the castle had talked about for years after, little Lady Morgana chasing the young Prince Arthur, who for once was acting his age, around the castle waving a training sword. When Uther heard he had wanted to reprimand them for their unbecoming actions but when he saw Morgana's smile he couldn't because Arthur had done the one thing that no one else could, brought back her light. It was actually Arthur's actions that had made the king decide that Morgana might be happier with a maid closer to her age. He knew the blacksmith's daughter was about Morgana's age and that she was looking to work since her mother had died. She'd ended up being a wonderful choice as the girls had gotten on right from the start. Morgana had continued sparing with Arthur for a few years until Uther finally put his foot down saying she was coming of age and needed to attend to her duties as both the Lady Morgana and his ward.

More and more images passed before his eyes. His and Morgana's playful arguments, her usually prodding him to do the right thing, her fierce loyalty to the people above almost all else and then suddenly Merlin was there too. He was surprised by how much they were alike now that he thought about it. Both had their sarcastic way but it was the fact that they didn't try and keel toe to him and that they treated him as a human with faults and not as the perfect Prince Arthur. They humbled him, he knew, and they also made him think on his own. He knew he had been his father's 'yes man' before Merlin had come, he occasionally wasn't, but that was only ever due to Morgana, however it was the appearance of Merlin in his life that he finally started seeing the faults in his father, because finally there was someone who pointed out the faults in himself.

He remembered when Merlin's mother had come to Camelot to ask for help with their bandit problem because Essetir's own King wouldn't help. When his father had said no he had truly felt sorry for them both and inside he knew that his father should have helped regardless but he also knew his father could not be persuaded to change his mind. When he heard that Morgana and Gwen had both decided that Morgana's mantra of 'damn the consequences' applied to this situation and had left with mother and son, he knew in his heart he needed to be there as well. Thinking back on that adventure made him see how truly close all four of them had become on that trip but it also brought up another thought; Merlin's mother.

How am I going to tell her about this? Arthur thought. It's one thing to tell a knight's family or even a soldier's family but this was Merlin, my stupid clumsy servant. Not a knight, not a soldier, maybe one of the bravest men I've ever known but still not a warrior. He was supposed to be safe here, being a servant isn't usually a dangerous job, of course Merlin took it to another level, always going with me on dangerous quests after dangerous quest. As he thought of his and Merlin's adventures he still could not find a way to tell Merlin's mother about what happened. I feel like it should be me but I doubt Father would allow me to go to Ealdor just to tell a peasant woman her son was dead. Maybe Gwen can go?

He was still lost in his thoughts when the door quietly creaked open, he hadn't heard the knock, and Gwen popped her head in. She took in the shattered remains of a cup but she couldn't find Arthur. It wasn't until she went further into the room that she finally found him. He was slumped against his bed and bedside tables, still in his armor, sword laying at his side, with his eyes closed and unbeknownst to him tears were leaking out. Gwen didn't know what to do, she had never seen the prince like this, he was always so composed with his emotions that there were times that she thought him arrogant and above others but seeing him like this so thoroughly crushed made him appear human. She didn't want to disturb him but she knew other servants were on their way and Arthur would hate showing weakness to those people. So when she cleared her throat to indicate her presence his eyes had shot open and he immediately stood brushing himself off in the process. When he saw whom it was he faltered in his hastily made up excuse for being on the ground. They just looked at each other and in Gwen's eyes Arthur saw a beseeching plea for him to not pretend with her, to not lie to her, that no matter what she would not judge him.

"Guinevere, I'm so sorry," Arthur, said emotion filling his voice, but before she could retort that it wasn't his fault he cut her off with a look. "I should have stayed with them. I should have done something." The look in Arthur's eyes was pleading with Gwen to tell him what he could have done, but to her there was nothing he could have done, however she needed to tell him something.

"You are doing something Sire," when she received a look from Arthur at the use of his title, she bowed her head and blushed. "Arthur, you do need your rest even if you don't think you do. You fought for so long, and on your own. You need your rest and then you can go out and find them." As she talked she moved around to behind him and started undoing his armor. They heard a knock on the door and Arthur called out for them to enter. They had been expecting some servants but instead it was Gaius. Both Gwen and Arthur looked at the man who seemed to have aged several years.

"Sire," Gaius said with a bow. "I have some questions that I couldn't ask in front of your father."

"Of course Gaius," Arthur responded sitting down looking at the man curiously.

"Was Morgana truly unaffected by the sleeping sickness?" When he received a confused look he elaborated. "Did she show no signs of weakness, nothing during the entire ordeal?" Arthur face took on a thoughtful look as he thought back over the last day and he remembered how drawn Morgana had looked right before he left to fight the knights alone. She'd looked worse than both he and Merlin combined.

"Actually now that I think about it she was looking horrid towards the end almost as if the potion that you made was wearing off and the sickness had hit her all at once." As he talked he watched Gaius' face and with his every word his face fell. "What? What is it Gaius?"

"I did not give the Lady a potion."

"But… Merlin said… and you said…" Arthur stuttered.

"I know but when I read the book Merlin took from my rooms I knew what actually happened." He laid out the book open on the bookmarked page and at the top was the title, Using a Vessel for a Curse. "I believe that Lady Morgana was made to be the vessel for the sleeping sickness, that it was magical in essence. It is the only way for someone to be unaffected."

"But then why didn't you tell my father that?" Arthur demanded as he stood.

"You and I both know how your father reacts to any mention of magic and I highly doubt that Lady Morgana willingly became a vessel."

"What?"

"To use a living vessel is to use their very life to fuel the spell. Lady Morgana could have easily ended up dead before the sickness was over and in actual fact that is the only known way to end a spell using a vessel, you must destroy the vessel and in the case of a living one, kill them."

"Then how did it…" a look of understanding came over his face. That golden light, he thought.

"I see that you came to the same conclusion that I did," Gaius said as the prince sat back down. "I don't know what that light was but if I was to make a guess I believe that it was magic in its purist form."

"Magic isn't pure Gaius," Arthur retorted, but when he looked the old man in the eye he knew he was missing something. "Gaius I am so tired of everyone lying to me, of truths being withheld, so please, please tell me everything you know."

"Sire…"

"No Gaius!" Arthur yelled as he stood once again. "I want answers."

"I cannot by order of your father." Both Gaius and Gwen could see the anger that was twisting his face as it mixed with exhaustion.

"Fine then," he said as he sat in an angry huff. "Why would you believe that my father would think Morgana was conspiring with Morgause?" Gaius let out another sigh.

"Because they are half-sisters."

"What!" Both Arthur and Gwen yelled.

"Half-sisters?" Gwen whispered her hand coming up to her mouth.

"How?" Arthur demanded.

"Lady Vivienne was briefly forced into a marriage in which Morgause was conceived in but the man she had been forced to wed fell in battle and so Morgana's father Lord Gorlois took the pregnant Vivienne as his wife and helped raise Morgause until the Purge started. She had shown a little bit of magic and so they sent her to the Isle of the Blessed, one of the only safe havens during the Purge."

"What do you mean showed a 'little bit of magic'?" asked Arthur.

"I mean she showed that she had an affinity for magic at a young age and didn't seem likely to stop as she was a natural. They feared for her life so sent her away, to protect her, but I fear that even when she was a child she was power hungry, greedy and to be honest didn't like any form of order and this was before she showed her affinity for magic. She ran all of her maids ragged and was very demanding, shallow and now that I think about it very much in opposite to Morgana." The two young ones in the room nodded their heads. "While Morgana dislikes unfairness, Morgause from what I remember disliked not getting her way. Morgana would go out her way for a friend or an innocent but Morgause would only do so if there was something she could gain in return."

"So Morgause cares not for anyone but herself?" Gwen asked. Gaius nodded his head.

"I also believe that after the incident with you and your father that she is a master manipulator much like her sire."

"Who was her father, Gaius?" Arthur asked.

"Lord Vincent." Arthur was taken aback by his answer. Arthur had learned about Lord Vincent when he had studied under his father. He had been the Lord of Tintagel before Morgana's father but he had been a horrid lord and in the end he had decided he didn't want just a lordship but also the throne. Uther hadn't been king long so he thought he could unseat him from the throne but he underestimated the young Uther and his loyal followers. Lord Vincent had fallen in battle and as a thank you for his loyal service and friendship Uther had given the lordship to Gorlois.

"Truly?" Arthur asked after he had time to digest what Gaius had said.

"I'm afraid so and she also favors her sire in her looks if not only his personality. Lord Vincent also had light coloring, with the pale hair and eyes; she seems very little like Lady Vivienne. Morgana on the other hand is almost a copy of her mother save for the darker hair. Lady Vivienne's hair had been brown with reddish tints and of course Morgana received her black hair from Lord Gorlois."

Arthur's mind was reeling. Morgana had a half-sister and this sister had magic, well he knew that but still, and she also wanted the downfall of Camelot. To do so she used her own sister's life. He could not fathom how someone could do that to their kin. Then he thought that perhaps she was getting revenge for her father but when he voiced his thought to Gaius he gave a firm no.

"Morgause did not know about Vincent and I highly doubt she is doing any of this in his honor." They just sat there with their thoughts for a few minutes before Gaius rose. "Well Sire I believe it is time for me to go with the knights to check out the towns people and I also think you need your rest."

"Why does everyone think I need my rest?" Arthur said in a huff crossing his arms across his chest like a petulant child. Gaius just raised his eyebrow at him until Arthur relented with a sigh.

"I want to be out there. I need to be out there," Arthur said.

"And you will be. After you've gotten your rest," Gaius supplied. "The sooner the better."

"Why is that Gaius?" enquired Gwen.

"Because if Morgause takes after her father in one of his more ruthless virtues then I fear for both Morgana and Merlin." When Arthur and Gwen both looked him with mixed expressions of confused concern he went further. "Lord Vincent took great pleasure in breaking people. Emotionally, physically and mentally, by any means."

Gwen and Arthur looked to each other with worried filled expressions. Worry that even if they did find their friends would they find them whole.

(Unknown Location)

As the wind died down Morgana yanked her hair out of Morgause's grip. She still held onto Merlin's body but as she looked around she knew that she was in a dungeon of some sort. She saw different chains that lined the walls but also chains that hung from the ceiling. This isn't a dungeon, it's a torture chamber, she thought. She held onto Merlin tighter because she needed that bodily comfort of his weight. When she finally looked toward Morgause she no longer saw the kind older sister that she had portrayed the many times they had met previously instead Morgause's beautiful face was twisted into a mask of rage and disdain. As the sisters had their stare off Morgause had mentally called to her blood guards. As they came in they had caught Morgana's attention. They were all relatively large men dressed all in black and exuded an intimidating aura. Morgana tightened her grip more and slowly started scooting backward.

"Guards take my sister to her new chambers," Morgause ordered with a wave of her hand. As the men moved to obey Morgana cringed away from them when suddenly there was movement in her arms and Merlin half stood half kneeled in front of her.

"Over my dead body," he wheezed. He glared definitely. The guards stopped because they honestly didn't know what to do. Morgana was half hidden behind Merlin but was so happy to see that he was conscious that she didn't pay attention to what was going on.

"Merlin" she said as she curled her fingers into his coat however because she was half hidden she didn't see the look that over came Morgause's features.

"Ástryce!" she yelled, her eyes flashing gold for a split second, her spell sending Merlin flying into one of the walls. He landed hard making his wound worse yet still he tried to stand.

"Merlin!" Morgana screamed as she rose to go to him but before she could take a step one of Morgause's guards grabbed her arm.

"You," Morgause said indicating the guard that had a hold of Morgana. "Take her to her new chambers."

"No!" Morgana screamed and fought with the man who picked her up off the ground not giving her a choice. Morgause turned away from the struggling form of her pawn, no sister.

"The rest of you string him up," with a wave of her hand indicating Merlin's crumpled form the men went about their orders.

"No!" Morgana screeched. "Let him go! It's me you want! Leave him alone!" She knew her struggles were in vain but at least she was giving the guard a difficult time. Morgause had turned at Morgana's plea. The sweet smile that graced her lips was in direct contrast to the look of malice that Morgana could see in her eyes. Why didn't I see it before, she thought. It's that same look Uther gets some times when something didn't go his way, but in some way it's a thousand times worse.

"Don't worry sister," Morgana flinched at the title. "I'm not going to let him die so easily. No sister dear, I have far better plans than that." The maliciousness in her eyes and in her words sent a true shiver of fear down her spine. I thought Uther was bad but… but this, this is true cruelty.

"No!"

"Take her," Morgause ordered again. Morgana's last look of Merlin was of him being lifted up by his arms harshly and him letting out a strangled cry.

"No!" She kept up her struggles the entire time hoping that the guard would tire and release her so that she could go back to her friend, but luck did not seem on her side. The guard unceremoniously dumped her in a room and locked the door as he left. Once she regained her wits she went back to the door and started banging.

"Let me out! I demand to be released! Let me out!" She kept banging and yelling until she heard an agonizing scream that ripped through the hollow halls and knew that it was Merlin.

"No! Stop! Please! Please stop!" She kept screaming hoping someone would hear but fate seemed to truly hate her for nothing happened. She turned her back to the door and slid down. She pulled her knees to her chest not even paying attention to the bloodstains and buried her head. She cried and sobbed and prayed to every deity that she could think of to stop this. That she just wanted to wake back up in Camelot in her chambers and for this to be one of her nightmares.

When she thought of her nightmares she looked through hazed eyes at the bracelet that Morgause had given her. She ripped it off her wrist and threw it against the wall across the room. It's probably enchanted anyways, she thought bitterly. She had become more paranoid the longer she had worn it but she thought it had just been the weight of her secret, now though perhaps not. As she sat in the cold chamber and cried, suddenly she felt the same feeling that the golden light had given her envelop her again. This time even while it was calming it also had a tinge of fear, of pain, of a plea for help.

Unbeknownst to anyone within the ruined fortress, the magical pulse that Morgause's torture caused Merlin to emit could be felt through out Albion. Everyone of magic or not could feel it, whether it was just a tingling of foreboding that made the hair on their neck stand tall or they could feel exactly what was going on, everyone knew something was wrong.

Okay another chapter done. I hope you liked it. Review Please!

Fair warning- Merlin is kinda going to be checked out for the next couple of chapters but what did you expect he's being tortured! But fear not he won't be there for long here comes the cavalry!