Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. Or Katie Mcgrath. Sad day.

Author's note: Spoilers through season 3 (especially "Queen of Hearts" and "The Coming of Arthur Part 1"). This is part two of my three-shot. Again, I am trying to stick to story as much as possible, but it is a little bit AU. Enjoy!

***Special thanks to dannic38 for reviewing Part 1. You made my day!***

Choice

Morgana knew that if it really came down to it, Guen would choose Arthur.

There had been a time not long ago when Guen would have chosen her, hands down. But then something had begun to change, something Morgana could not control. Guen and Arthur had begun to fall for each other. It had been slow at first, but even before she left, Morgana could see the signs. At the time she had been happy for them and had even hoped that they would find a way to be together. Now it just made her jealous. And somewhere deep down it even made her sad.

Guen had been her best friend for years now. They had shared secrets and tears and laughter and everything in between. It had never bothered them that Morgana was the king's ward and Guen was the servant. They had quickly become each other's best friend, and it had stayed that way. They had dragged each other in and out of trouble more times than either of them could count (although usually it was Morgana doing the dragging). They had always sworn that they would stay friends no matter what, but Morgana had always known in the back of her mind that they would grow apart eventually. She had just never expected it to be quite like this.

Arthur really was a handsome catch, despite his prideful and obnoxious nature. Morgana knew that. And Guen really was a beautiful girl, even if she was just a maid. It was only a matter of time before Arthur noticed her. And there was a time when Morgana would have felt nothing but happiness for them. But things had changed. Arthur was the enemy now, whether she liked it or not. And if Guen sided with him, that meant she was too. And Morgana wasn't sure she could handle that.

She watched Guen and Arthur's relationship with growing sadness. She loved Guen so much. And if she was really honest with herself, she still cared about Arthur deep down. But she also knew she was going to have to destroy him. And she knew now that doing so would destroy Guen as well.

Things had changed in her absence. Guen and Arthur had grown closer, although they were forced to keep it a secret. There was a new friendship between them. If it had not been for the secrecy, Morgana suspected that Guen might have grown as close to Arthur as she had once been to Morgana. Guen, Arthur, and Merlin had all grown closer in that year. It was a whole year of memories that they shared that Morgana had no part of. Suddenly she felt like an outsider. And while she could convince herself that she didn't mind that on Arthur and Merlin's part, it did bother her to find that someone else might be closer to Guen than she was.

For a time Guen became her maid again, and things seemed to go back to the way they had been. For a time they were able to laugh together and talk together. Guen was the only one around whom Morgana hardly ever acted. With Guen she could be real. Guen was the one she had missed, the one she desperately hoped would support her when the time came to take Camelot away from Uther. The one she was desperate not to lose.

And then she began to notice the way Guen and Arthur looked at each other, the way they acted when they thought no one was watching. Part of her knew it then, but it was not until she saw them together in the field that she knew for certain that Guen was lost to her. Arthur had stolen her only remaining friend. With the exception of Morgause, she was now completely alone. And for some reason, that scared her.

She was standing near her window the day after Guen's release, looking out into the courtyard. Guen was talking about something, but Morgana was only half listening. Suddenly she could take it no longer. She had to know.

"If you had to choose between me and Arthur," she blurted, "who would you choose?"

"Milady?" Guen asked, completely taken aback.

"It would be Arthur, wouldn't it?" Morgana asked, turning around, her face carefully blank. Guen stared at her, then suddenly realized it was a serious question and tried to think.

"I..." She shook her head, staring at the floor as if she had no idea what to say.

"I thought so," Morgana said softly. She turned back to the window, trying to hide the fact that her heart was breaking.

"Morgana..."

"That will be all," Morgana said stiffly. Guen was silent for a long moment, and then she turned and left without a word.

Morgana cried that night. She cried because she had lost her best friend. She cried because Guen had become the enemy, and yet she couldn't stand the thought of hurting her. Guen held her and tried to comfort her, but that only made it worse. That was the last time she allowed herself to freely think of Guen as a friend. From that day on she tried to put up as many walls between them as she could. She simply could not afford to let her emotions get in the way.

And then she had seen Guen by the window and had offered her another chance: a chance to live, a chance to rethink her choice. And Guen had promised to support her. Morgana's heart had leaped at that, and she had hugged Guen as if there were no tomorrow. Maybe...

But deep down she knew it would not last. She knew Guen was only saying it to protect herself. When Arthur finally returned (when, not if), Morgana knew Guen would be quick to join him, to turn against her. It would be Merlin all over again. In her heart, Guen had already made her choice. And Morgana knew it would not be her.

She knew that if it really came down to it, Guen would choose Arthur. She had known for some time. But that didn't make it hurt any less.

As always, reviews are much appreciated! :) Feedback = me posting Part 3.