The clouds are so dark that they block what little sun there is, creating an artificial twilight. The light is an odd, sickly green and as the wind suddenly dies down Morgana knows that the storm will be ferocious. She rises beside the cairn, staring down at what remains of her family. She has always come here to clear her head and to remind herself what she is fighting for. Her sister's remains do not lie here but she has a marker, one Morgana made herself. She walks down the hill and as she does the wind begins to howl, picking up her cloak and dragging her forward. As she lifts a hand to ease the wind she is roughly pushed from behind and sprawls forward onto the grass.

"You dare attack my mother?!"

Morgana turns on the ground, forcing her hood back, and sees Merlin standing over her, his teeth bared in rage.

"You're lucky she's not dead," she spits and before she can react he's hissing a spell, the words lost in the gale. A force picks her up and throws her ten feet, as if she is no more than rag and sticks. Ignoring the pain she staggers to her feet, deflects a spell and races at him. His eyes burn gold and the fury that she had felt earlier courses through her. He holds out a hand, opens his mouth to curse her but Morgana reaches him before he can speak.

Maybe he expects her to utter a curse or to use the elements against him but she does not and he is utterly unprepared when she lifts a hand and slaps him hard across the face. The impact makes a cracking noise and she lowers her stinging hand. The gold that had been blazing fades from his eyes and a red welt appears on his pale cheek.

"Liar!" she shouts, her voice carrying above the wind. He lifts a hand to his face as the rain begins to fall in earnest and within seconds they are drenched. Both breathe harshly, their blood up.

"Morgana, I — "

"Why didn't you tell me?!" After all the fights, all his attempts to thwart her plans, it is this that she finds the most despicable. Once he had been witness to her most vulnerable moments and she had given over her trust because she had no one else. The betrayal she feels is overwhelming.

"I couldn't," he says, voice almost lost in the raging storm.

"You're a coward and a deceiver! What a fool you must think of me? All those times you bested me, a simple servant, but all the while you were like me," she shouts and her razor sharp smirk falters into an angry snarl. "All those years!"

"I couldn't tell you, I couldn't tell anyone," he says, forcing himself to stare at her.

"But it was okay for me to tell you? To share my greatest secret and fear? I was so scared, so alone," she says and her voice catches. "I didn't understand what was happening to me and I came to you, I always came to you because I thought you would understand. I thought you were my friend."

"I was," he mutters miserably and blinks back tears. So often he appeared to be holding back tears, now she knows why. "You were frightened but you were the King's daughter. I was just a servant."

"You think I would have told him?" she stresses and her own eyes grow glossy with unshed tears, ones stemmed from despair. "I needed someone, someone who understood…you should have told me," she says weakly and grabs hold of his shirt, pulling at him.

"I wanted to; you have no idea how many times I wanted to confess. You said you were lonely? Well so was I...I wish, I wish everyday that things had been different."

"Different?" she mutters and lets herself imagine how her life would have panned out if Merlin had told her the truth. She would not be so alone, for one, and maybe together they could have worked to free those living in secrecy. She closes her eyes and shakes her head slowly. Too late for dreams of lost days.

Merlin suddenly grasps her hands in his, the rain making their skin slick. "Morgana? Do you remember what you told me once? That magic can be used for good. I still believe that."

Her eyes open and she looks at him with a hooded gaze. "Your words are meaningless to me. Ideas of good and evil are ridiculous. As if the world is that simple, that easy." She pulls her hands out of his and begins to walk back down the hill, pulling her hood back over her head. He follows and grips her arm and she shakes him off as they reach the tree line of the forest.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh I was thinking of paying my brother a visit. I have so much to tell him," she says with an innocent smile and Merlin clenches his jaw.

"Don't!" He yells sharply and grabs her wrist again.

Morgana smiles in triumph. "So you haven't told him? You deceive even your King?"

Merlin shakes his head, rain falling into his eyes. "It's not like that. I'm going to tell him but I have to be the one."

"But why deny me the pleasure? When he finds out the truth, that you've been lying to him for years, I think he will prove his father's son," she smiles and tries to walk into the forest but he jerks her back and her eyes flash in warning.

"Don't force my hand. For what you've done already I should stop you," he says in a low growling voice and his eyes shine gold, an effort he maintains. Morgana gazes at him deeply, carefully analysing the colour to see how different it is from her own. He blinks at her gaze and his irises fade back to blue.

"Stop me? Shall we have another game of throwing each other around the woods again?"

"I was an old man then Morgana but even so I beat you. Don't push me."

She smiles cruelly. "But I want to. You think you're going to get off light after the pain you've caused me?"

He exhales through his nose, clenches his jaw and his fingers flex around her wrist. He will leave a bruise. "I'm sorry for what I did, truly. I know you don't want to believe me but I don't enjoy living like this, lying to my friends and killing so many to protect them...but I have to," he explains and she stares at him thoughtfully.

"Why? Why you?"

"It's my destiny."

"To kill and torment?"

"You seem to do that fine all by yourself," he retorts harshly and the corner of her mouth curls. Merlin stares at her intently. "We both have a destiny."

"I know," she voices softly. "It took me years to finally see but I know what I must do now."

"Dethrone Arthur? Overrun some other kingdom?"

She sneers at him. "Something which you are clearly too craven to do yourself. I am going to champion for my people," she lifts her chin as he stares at her incredulously.

"Your people?"

"Those with magic. The days of hiding and intimidation are over. I want people with magic, from druids to servants, to have a voice again."

He blinks at her and then smirks. "That's very magnanimous of you, I'm impressed."

"Mock me all you want while you play lap dog to Arthur. I am the last High Priestess and I have a duty to perform. Once I have restored the Isle of the Blessed I will begin recruiting women who show potential and serve the triple goddess. That is my destiny."

He stares at her intensely, the jeer fading from his face, and the hand on her arm goes slack. "You're being serious?"

"Yes. I will dedicate my life to this."

He remains silent, never taking his eyes off her and she keeps her gaze steady, not wanting to break eye contact first. When he finally speaks his voice is soft but words weighted.

"I've been told since I was a boy that my destiny is to bring about Albion's golden age. To do that I must be at Arthur's side. I have become his adviser now and I've been waiting for the day to finally tell him the truth. Morgana…" he sighs her name, shaking his head. "I want our people to stop hiding as much as you but you must let me speak to him first."

"Must I? What makes you think that?"

"Because if you really mean what you're saying, that you want to do some good, then you must let me do this one thing alone. This is about more than getting revenge on me. Arthur can decree that magic is no longer outlawed or something to be feared. The people love and trust him, what he says has influence. I just have to convince him," he adds, glancing aside.

"And what if he decides to have your head instead? What then?"

"He won't," he answers curtly and Morgana shakes her head.

"Even if you tell him that has no bearing on my plans. I do not need you," she utters coldly and pulls herself away from him and begins walking through the forest. Merlin follows behind and the rain falls steadily through the canopy.

"As much as it pains me I think our plans are interwoven…like our destinies." At this proclamation Morgana stops as he comes up behind her and speaks to her back. "I was told that our fates would be entwined forever," he says and for the first time since he appeared a glimmer of fear shines in her eyes, thankfully hidden from him.

"Emrys…?"

"That's what the druids call me," he explains and she turns to him finally. The betrayal that she felt is dim but still present and likely always will be. Now she feels curious despite herself.

"Someone told me that you would walk in my shadow. You would be my destiny," she presses her lips together, wishing she could take those words back. Merlin stands close to her, regarding her thoughtfully.

"And you're the darkness to my light, the hatred to my love," he says in a soft mocking voice and she narrows her eyes.

"Love?"

"It's just a figure of speech. He has a penchant for the dramatic…"

"Who?"

Merlin stares at her in consideration, the rain pouring around them, and then looks up before speaking. "Maybe you should meet him, finally."

"Meet who?"

"The Great Dragon," he replies and takes a deep breath and bellows out the dragon's name. Morgana gasps and jerks next to him, feeling the extent of magic he summons with. He is incredibly powerful and it is at once terrifying and thrilling. Abruptly the rain peters off and Morgana feels as if the world is holdings its breath. Then, with an ear bursting clap, thunder booms overhead. Merlin grabs her hand again and pulls her back to the field where the dragon lands with a thud.

"Mother…" she breathes and stares open mouthed at the huge dragon before her. One gold eye regards her keenly and Morgana has the distinct impression that she has been found wanting.

"WHY ARE YOU WITH THE WITCH?"

"I thought it was about time you both talked," Merlin says and the dragon shakes his wings irritably. The motion causes her hood to fly back.

"DID YOU NOW? I THINK THAT IS FOR ME TO DECIDE."

"She wants to make amends," he says and glances at her. "We have the same aspirations."

"IT HAS BEGUN," the dragon says and unfolds its huge wings. Morgana moves back and then Merlin joins her, staring up with a frown as the dragon begins to flap his wings.

"What do you mean?"

"I TOLD YOU THAT SHE WILL BE YOUR DOWNFALL. DO NOT PUT YOUR FAITH IN HER. SHE IS SELFISH AND WICKED AND BY THE TIME SHE SEES THIS IT WILL BE TOO LATE. TAKE HEED MERLIN, SHE WILL ENSNARE YOU."

The dragon lifts off into the air and with a speed belying his bulk the dragon flies swiftly over the treetops and disappears. Morgana can hear his wing beats fading away and she focuses on that rather than his ominous words.

"Miserable old git," he mumbles and turns to her. Morgana stares at him silently, her eyes large and he comes towards her slowly.

"What did he mean?"

"He's been saying things about you for years."

"What things?"

"It doesn't matter. This was a mistake," he says flatly, his gaze hard. Whatever hopes he had are now gone and he stalks away. Pushing down her shock at what she has just witnessed she walks forward and pulls at his shoulder.

"I'm not finished with you yet."

"I'm not in the mood. He's right, I don't know what I was thinking," he glares at her and she grits her teeth.

"So all your talk about helping our people is pushed aside after the prattle from a decrepit old beast? You truly are pathetic," she says with a cruel smile and he suddenly pushes his face close to hers. For a stomach dropping moment she is vividly reminded of her dream and feels the phantom press of his mouth against hers. It is acute enough to make her step back and drop her gaze.

"When I've told Arthur and he's agreed I'll arrange a meeting with the druids."

She lifts her head up sharply. "No, you come to me. I want to show you the work I have on my hands and what I expect from Arthur."

"And what would that be?"

"Uther stole countless relics from the Isle of the Blessed. I want them back. If Arthur agrees I will meet with him but that's only if your head doesn't end up on a spike first," she flashes a smile and turns away, ready to vanish.

"Give you countless powerful artifacts? Do you take me for a fool?"

"Yes, I thought that was obvious?" she lets her smile drop and pins him with a hard gaze. "If you are as serious as you claim, if you want to stop living a lie and become an intermediary between those with magic and Arthur, do what I've asked. I hate you but I'm willing to do this if it achieves my desires."

She disappears in a swirl of wind and rags, leaving Merlin to blink at her oddly sincere words.

note:

So I planned for one more part, set five years later but I might expand the story if there's interest.