Chapter 6: Reflecting

Apparently, it was even possible for Merlin to make scrambled eggs taste special. The pair were back around the small table in Morgana's main room, taking a late breakfast together and simply enjoying each other's quiet company.

"So, your father?" Merlin asked eventually and she sighed, still determined not to admit to that relationship for all sorts of reasons.

"... is old fashioned and stubborn, even for Oxford," Morgana replied. "He seems to think we're living in the Victorian age where I won't be able to find myself an eligible husband unless I'm totally innocent on my wedding night." Merlin gave an amused sound in response. "Yes, well, as that display proves, he doesn't believe that for a minute, but is concerned about exactly who I might be giving my attentions too."

"So, best to keep a Cambridge boy well hidden then?" he said quietly, a touch of regret in his voice.

"Hang on, you're telling me that you are actually Cambridge educated?"

"Of course, I said that, didn't I? You know ... about the Cambridge ideals of art and ..."

"Yes, but I just thought you were talking philosophically?"

"No, I'm a graduate in maths and history, and have taken all the required business study courses. Apart from being a Light Blue, there's no real reason he'd consider you were slumming it."

"Although, knowing ... Father, he probably would. Sorry, are you offended by me hiding you away like that?"

"No, especially as, well ..." He frowned, studying his empty plate as if he found it particularly fascinating, "… to all intents and purposes I suppose I really was a one night stand." He looked up at her again; that look, just like the photo and her insides jolted in much the same way. "Am I?" Both the question and the expression were rather pathetic and Morgana blinked, surprised at the unfamiliar emotions the question caused within her. She couldn't remember when she'd last chosen to go out on a second date with someone.

"No," she answered eventually. "I really want to see you again." His relief was quite obvious.

"Good, because I sort of made myself a promise, that I wouldn't do that on a first date - that I would really get to know someone properly before ...?"

"Hence your hesitance last night," she said, suddenly understanding and he nodded a confirmation. "However, you did say earlier that you didn't regret it, even before you knew I wanted this to continue."

"I could never regret that," he smiled. "Whatever the outcome."

"I'm very glad to hear it. So, when can I see you again?" she continued.

"Gwen's having a party on Thursday night? Would you like to come along ... as my date?" he asked shyly.

"That sounds good," she replied automatically, whilst part of her worried at the idea of such a social occasion in the present delicate climate.

"You should invite your brother too, of course, although I think Gwen's planning to anyway," Merlin continued.

"I wonder if she'll invite Lancelot?"

"I think I'll suggest it actually, give me a chance to meet them both properly," he said with a slight frown. The subtle emphasis wasn't lost on her.

"You seem very protective of Gwen?"

"We grew up together and, well, I saw more of her and her brother than any other children my age, seeing how much we travelled around. Our fathers were close friends and business partners, of course, so we met up at parties, family gatherings, that sort of thing."

"Just good friends?" she asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

"Oh," he said with a casual grin. "Well, perhaps I should admit that she was my first girlfriend and I did propose to her once."

"Really?" she asked, trying to respond calmly.

"When I was about seven," he finished and she grinned in reply.

"What happened?"

"We grew up," he replied with a shrug. "Found there were other fish in the sea. Decided we loved each other like siblings rather than anything else."

"From that statement I'm going to assume you're an only child."

"Yes, why do you say that?"

"Otherwise you wouldn't ever use the word 'love' and 'sibling' in the same sentence," she replied haughtily.

"Everyone says that about their brothers and sisters," said Merlin with a knowing look, "and they're almost always kidding themselves."

"If you say so," said Morgana pulling a face and turning back to her breakfast.

"So, how serious are you about your photography?" Merlin asked a few minutes later as they started to clear the table.

"Very. I'd really love to take it further, actually. Arthur has been trying to persuade me to display some of it somewhere - in an exhibition or perhaps at one of the annual social events?"

"You should, yes. They're really very good, and you know there are loads of high class gatherings where such things can be displayed - the Oxbridge Ball for example."

"You're joking? I'm not good enough for that."

"Of course you are. What do most of the Blues know about art, anyway? I'm not suggesting a top art gallery but ... I'm sure you can get an offer from somewhere?"

"The problem is, I just don't know how to go about enquiring without people knowing who I am."

"In case your father finds out?"

"Yes. Using Morgan le Fey, will help but, I'm torn between taking a risk or playing it safe."

"No choice. Take the risk - you don't get anywhere in this day and age unless you do." For someone who seemed rather shy for much of the time, this statement was delivered with a surprising amount of confidence.

"I suppose but, as you've probably guessed, where my father is concerned, I'm a total coward."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that, I thought you held your own very well this morning," he replied, confirming that he had heard most of her conversation with Uther earlier.

"Will you look at the time!" she suddenly exclaimed, I'm going to be late for work. You too?" He nodded and came over to her slowly and shyly and, within seconds they were back in each other's arms and sharing a delightfully long and delicious kiss which left Morgana seriously tempted to persuade Merlin to let them both call in sick for the rest of the day.

With a shorter kiss and a promise to pick her up at seven on Thursday, Merlin hurried off to work and Morgana locked up before doing the same.

xoxOxox

After getting so little sleep the night before, Morgana was exhausted when she got home – despite her half day - and fell asleep straight away, not even bothering to eat.

So, when Arthur phoned a couple of hours later and asked if he could drop by, she asked him to bring over a take-away, smiling at the thought of a very different main meal to the ones she'd enjoyed during the last few days.

"Hi, Sis, what's up? You look terrible," he said breezily as he walked in, wearing casual pale jeans and scruffy tee-shirt and juggling a number of boxes.

"I'm alright – a little tired," she replied.

"Are you sure, because Father was saying something about you taking the morning off work because you were sick?"

She raised her eyes to the ceiling. "I used that as an excuse for work in order to make enquiries about an exhibition," she quickly lied. "Someone must have blabbed about it and he came over in a panic."

"Any luck?" Arthur asked, giving her a sympathetic smile as he put the different sized boxes on the table and grabbed a couple of glasses.

"No, still all too public for my liking," she replied, opening the largest box and grabbing a slice of pizza, tucking in greedily.

"Not quite Kilgharrah's is it?" Arthur said with a grin and Morgana gave him a weak smile in return, too tired to even think of a witty answer. They munched away in amiable silence for a few minutes but, despite her hunger and tiredness, it did not escape her attention how unsettled Arthur seemed. How he kept fidgeting in his seat and kept sending small, nervous glances her way.

"Well?" she asked as she grabbed the last slice. He attempted to look confused at the question but finally sighed as he took a small bite.

"I've got an invitation to a party on Thursday night," he mumbled with his mouth full and she looked at him, amused by the obvious embarrassment within that garbled comment.

"Oh?"

"I've been told to invite you too. Are you free?" She really, really wanted to tease him about his nerves but, he had that 'little boy lost' look on his face and she wasn't sure if even she could be that mean to him. Then again ...

"I take it this is Gwen's party?" she replied, watching her brother's expression carefully as she said the name.

"Guinevere? Ah, y-yes."

"Apparently Lancelot's been invited too – that'll make things extra interesting I expect, don't you?"

"Morgana, why do I get the feeling that you know more about this party than I do? Who invited you?"

"A mutual friend," she replied far too quickly, if the supicious look on Arthur's face was anything to go by. "Anyway, I get the impression that Gwen wants to meet both of you on Saturday before making a decision." He looked at her curiously, still obviously wondering where she was getting her information from.

"I ... I got a text from her the other day, as I think you realised but, I'm worried that she'll say no. She said something about not dating customers?"

"Well, if you're very lucky she might make an exception, but you'd better be on your best behaviour if you expect her to break her rules for you." Morgana knew she was grinning smugly and loved the look on annoyance on her brother's face. The pizza was finished and so she went to the cupboard to find something for desert – her mind instantly flicking to Merlin and that wonderful chocolate concoction he'd made her the day before. Thank goodness he hadn't refused to date her because she'd been a customer.

"Morgana – what do I do about this Kilgharrah's issue?" Her brother had resorted to his pathetic expression again and she also turned more serious at the question, again feeling the guilt of not telling Merlin exactly who she was.

"Uther's suggesting you try go on another fact finding mission?"

"Yes, it still really bugs him that none of his contacts can find any juicy gossip about the employees and, even Aredian couldn't find out the name of the new director or the chef so we could make some sort of offer to him."

"Well, it's all a bit strange, I admit but, personally, I just wish he'd leave them all alone and let them get on with making that wonderful food."

"I tend to agree but Father's not letting it go. He's making another play for Leodegrance's support – trying to get his allies to buy up more shares."

"So, why does he need you to spy again?"

"Because he keeps getting metaphorical doors slammed in his face and has also just called an emergency meeting for tomorrow morning – something about highly suspicious stock results."

"For Kilgharrah's?"

"I assume so." He sighed again. "I just don't know what to say to him about all of this."

"You need to make a decision before you go, Arthur. Decide whether Gwen is more important than your father's business and, if she is, promise yourself that you won't pass anything you learn about the company from her to him."

"What about you?"

"Me?" she asked, suddenly worried about what he was implying.

"Well, if you're going there too? You'll be mixing with her friends, other Kilgharrah's employees?"

"Oh, I see," she said, relieved. "Well, I don't exactly have the same loyalty to Uther as you do. I've already decided that I gave him more than enough information on Sunday. He doesn't need to know who we're mixing with on Thursday and you know the information won't get back to him via Lancelot either."

"I suppose."

"This is all very sweet, Arthur," she said, enjoying the glare he gave at her sudden change of tone, "but you barely know this girl yet – why all the moral stress?" She ignored the tiny voice in the back of her mind that called herself a hypocrite for asking the question.

"I don't know – there was just something that night between us ... a spark?"

"Hmm ... probably the food and wine," she muttered, almost to herself. "If I didn't know better I'd say they're putting something illegal in that food – some sort of love potion ..." Arthur gave her a curious look, "... ah, I mean the way you and Lancelot were drooling," she continued quickly and then inwardly groaned as she saw his expression turn suddenly sly.

"Ah yes, and you were too, I seem to remember," he said with a small feral grin. "Although what it was about that skinny idiot with the big ears and the bad manners than appealed to you, I have no idea."

"The food ... as I said ... drugged probably," she muttered as he laughed loudly at her embarrassment.

xoxOxox

Chapter 7: Partying. Arthur discovers who invited Morgana to the party, and both siblings realise that their dates have another unexpected talent.

A/N Really sorry about the delay. My husband came out of hospital last Tuesday but, not only have I not had my mind on fanfic very much due to all that stress, but also had a large Beta backlog which I thought I ought to deal with first. I'm still a little unfocused so please check my profile page if you want to know when the next chapters are likely to be published. Saying that, I did do a little bit of work on the next few chapters today so ... fingers crossed.

Sorry, Sensing Magic, is definitely on hold until I get myself properly organised but, again, I promise to get back to it as soon as I can.