Morgana couldn't sleep despite trying. Talking to Henry reminded her so strongly of Merlin that she couldn't help but go into the past. She was reminded of Merlin- of the Merlin who was her best friend. She remembered how alone she used feel in the castle until she had become friends with Merlin. Merlin was patient and listened to her without the slightest indication of being bored. He was Morgana's brother, Arthur's servant but there was something very different about him. He treated Arthur not like a master but as his equal. This is what brought her close to Merlin at first; their ability to annoy Arthur. Arthur- the brother she once cared about. But Uther had ruined it. Ruined everything. She didn't hate anyone as much as Uther she thought but a name popped up.
Merlin. She hated this Merlin. Despised him. Loathed him. MERLIN had ruined everything. He had betrayed her trust. Broken her down. He had known about Morgana's magic all along but didn't bother to offer any explanation when he himself was a warlock. She recalled all the times she had crumbled before him and he was there to rebuild her with his lies. Later these lies were what destroyed her. The only one question that she would've loved to ask Merlin was why? She had loved him, protected him and always pictured him by her side and Merlin was planning to kill her all the time? Why? She still got nightmares about the day Merlin poisoned her. How foolish she was to think what a sincere friend Merlin was. She remembered that it was the first time that she couldn't help but picture a future with him. He was like no man she had ever met. He was kind, caring, selfless and had been there for Morgana through think and thin. He had become even closer than Gwen, who was her friend since childhood. Oh how wrong she was, Morgana thought. Merlin had offered her water and while she was drinking it she was silently thanking God for bringing such a caring person in her life and then suddenly she felt an agony she had never experienced before. Her throat was on fire. Her windpipe was closing. She couldn't breathe. There were flames making way from her mouth to her abdomen. Flames everywhere. And then finally her mind came to believe the impossibility. Merlin, her Merlin, she recalled thinking, had poisoned her. The burning in her throat was nothing compared to the pain she felt when her heart shattered. She was in Merlin's arms dying. She could feel Merlin's tears on her forehead and it confused her even more. She wanted to jolt him, ask him, "why?" But she couldn't speak. She moved her lips but no sound came out.
Morgana turned restlessly to the other side and saw Henry sleeping peacefully. He looked so young. So innocent and so charming though not as charming as Merlin did when she had once found him sleeping. She mentally shook herself and reminded herself again that he was the one who had destroyed her whole life, nearly killed her, frozen her heart from any feelings it was capable of harbouring. This helped. She went to sleep feeling the satisfaction she imagined she would feel when she drove a sword through Merlin's heart.
...
Merlin woke up with screams echoing in his ears. He at once recognised the voice. Morgana. He instinctively got up and moved towards her bed but momentarily stopped when he reached her bedside. Her face which usually held a smirk and challenge was full of terror. Her forehead had drops of sweat covering it and she was muttering uncontrollably. Merlin tried to listen to what she was saying. "Merlin. No! Why? No! Emrys!"
Merlin couldn't take it anymore. She looked in so much pain. Merlin shook her. "Wake up Morgana. Wake up!"
After being shook more than thrice,Morgana finally opened her eyes but it still looked like she was in her nightmare.
"It wasn't real. You were just dreaming. It wasn't real."
"No Henry, you don't get it. Emrys. He was going to kill me. I had trusted me once and oh..."
"Shh. Shhh."
"Look at me, Morgana. I'm real. Not Emrys." Merlin guiltily said it.
Morgana finally looked up at Henry in the eye and after a few moments composed herself. "Henry. Oh, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up".
Henry put up his hand to stop her "You have nothing to apologize for. Go to sleep. No one is going to hurt you. Please sleep. "
Morgana had pulled her mask on by now and spoke in a steady tone. "Yes, thank you. Good night Henry."
Merlin retired to his sleeping area feeling lost. He didn't know what to feel . He had never seen Morgana in such a vulnerable state. She looked so small. Not the powerful sorceress. Not at all. He always knew that she was afraid of him (Emrys) but never had he thought that he haunted her dreams too. But that really wasn't bothering him a lot. She deserved it. She was the murderer of hundreds of innocents. What he couldn't get out of his head was her saying, "MERLIN? No". He had an idea of what she must've been dreaming about and it made him feel sick when he was reminded about the night. He had his reasons. Arthur would always...Arthur! Merlin suddenly had the whole scene of Arthur being stabbed by Mordred play in his head. He felt moisture forming in his eyes . He had to save him. He had to make Morgana come back to them. He had to fix Morgana, after all he blamed himself for what Morgana had become. He also knew he only had 2 months to save Arthur. He had to win Morgana's heart not as Henry but as Merlin...Merlin wanted to stay up and plan something but his eyelids were too heavy for keeping them open and hence they shut.
...
Morgana woke up when the sunrays hit her eyes. She had long given up on her appearance and didn't bother brushing her hair. She went out to the lake near her cottage and washed her face. The cool water fleshing her up. She turned around to walk back and saw Henry standing before her.
"Where you following me?" Morgana snarled.
"Wha? No. No. I just woke up and didn't find you there so I just walked outside and saw the water body an..."
"Okay, stop. I'm sorry. I'm just being paranoid. "
Merlin smiled. "I understand. Living here mustn't be easy." Saying that he moved towards the water to wash his face.
Morgana couldn't help but notice how his blue eyes shined in the sunshine.
"I'll go have the breakfast ready."
Morgana came in her hovel and within minutes conjured up delicious breakfast out of thin air. After a few minutes Merlin appeared, giving her a smile. Eyes. Oh his eyes. Morgana gave herself another mental slap.
"Wow. How did you make all of this so quic...oh. You cheated. "
Morgana smirked. "How can you say that? What if I say I made it all?"
"Then I'd say you are lying."
"Hmm?"
"Yes. How could you have made these loafs of bread in this...umm...little kitchen?"
"Smart mouth. But let's not forget your mouth won't help you as much it is now with a sword. "
Merlin had totally forgotten about the spar. He had thought that Morgana would want to discuss her dream with him but apparently that wasn't the case. He, however, couldn't help but ask, "How are you feeling Morgana?"
"Oh. I'm fine, thank you." And she continued chewing her breakfast and pretended like she had no idea what Merlin was REALLY asking. The truth was that she would've loved to share her burden with someone else but she had long stopped trusting anyone. No matter how friendly they were.
"How's your leg?"
"It's quite well. I think it will take another day and then it will be as good as new."
Morgana nodded in approval.
"But don't worry Morgana, this little injury won't stop me from defeating you. "
"Hmm, sure. Whatever you say. Now that you've also finished your breakfast, grab two swords hanging behind the door and lets be off."
"Off to where?"
"Outside obviously. You can't imagine us fighting here, can you?"
"Right." Merlin grabbed the two swords . And was surprised to see how well polished they were.
Merlin came outside to find Morgana with two sticks of wood. "Wow. You really want to fight with swords? Need some more injuries? Not VERY clever, are you ?" Morgana teased.
Morgana wanted to make him feel foolish but Merlin was as sharp as the blades in his hand when it came to retorts,"Very funny. I thought after all your bragging you might have shields and armours required to practice. Maybe you don't REALLY practice and were just trying to show off?"
Morgana smirked and replied , "Lets see who practices, master of words."
With that she threw a stick towards Merlin and attacked with her own. Merlin wasn't ready but he managed to dodge the blow just in time. Morgana grinned, "Running already, Henry?"
"You wish", with that Merlin made contact with Morgana's stick and on the began. One attacked, the other dodged. They circled each other like ferocious animals. Neither of them ready to give it up. Once Morgana succeeded in making contact with Merlin's right shoulder while pretending to attack from the left. "Ha! A point!" The next moment Merlin evened it by hitting HER left shoulder. The game continued forever until Merlin finally found out her weakness. She was slow defending her legs. Merlin aimed for her head which, as he expected, she blocked. She was recovering from the blow when he struck her legs and she fell on the ground . Merlin pointed his stick to her chest and grinned. Then he bent down offered his hand and whispered, "Remind again who is the best at sword fighting, Morgana?"
The next thing Merlin knew was that he was on the ground without his stick and Morgana standing over him victorious. She had taken advantage of Merlin's speech and thrown sand on his face before knocking him on the ground with a kick. In this process Merlin had lost grip on his stick and when he tried to regain hold of it, he found it pressed under her foot. He had lost.
Morgana smirked her trademark smirk, bent down and offered her hand to Merlin mimicking him and whispered , "I think I just reminded you who is the best."