Apologies for another slightly delayed update, but it's a particularly long chapter this time to make up for it, and my exams are almost over so hopefully updates will be coming quicker! :)

This chapter flicks between Morgana and Merlin's point of view. Please review! :)


Chapter 7

The Sleepless Night

Morgana's heart was in her mouth. She couldn't believe she was back here again, she couldn't believe what she was about to do. She felt the cold blade of the dagger pressing against her leg, tucked into her belt and hidden beneath her black cloak. She looked up at the looming castle, her eyes immediately drawn to the tallest tower. Memories and fear flooded back to her of that place made tears sting her eyes.

Morgause placed a comforting hand on Morgana's shoulder, she turned round to look at her sister, face half concealed by the black hood of her black cloak. Her eyes asked Morgana if she was ready for this, if she could do this. It was a lot for Morgana to take in, but she gave a small nod, she could do this.

It didn't help that they were here again so suddenly and unexpectedly, she hardly had time to prepare. As soon as they heard from Mordred that his cover was soon to be blown (although Morgause had not mentioned it was Merlin who had found the Druid boy) Morgana found herself preparing for the journey to Camelot.

Morgause had been preparing a special spell in case Mordred found himself in danger. The spell made the two connected to each other, so if Mordred needed help Morgause could transport herself and Morgana to the Druid boy as close as possible. It was a spell not even Merlin used, and teleporting was dangerous at the best of times, but Morgause was willing to take the risk, the two of them were powerful witches, they could make the journey.

The teleportation only brought the two sisters to the edge of Camelot, and they travelled silently through the night to reach the castle. After what felt like several hours Morgana was finally there, standing before the castle, and she could hardly believe it.

Nothing could go wrong tonight. And even if it did, Camelot would face the wrath of Cenred's army, waiting at his castle for Morgause's command if the slightest thing went wrong.

Morgana could tell whatever happened this night, nothing would be the same again.

But she had her training, she had thought over these moments a thousand times. Whatever did happen that night, she was ready.

As they edged towards the castle, Morgana felt her heart sigh with relief as she heard the telepathic voice of Mordred guiding them towards the castle.

There's a door to your left in the courtyard that will get you in the castle without being seen.

Mordred was safe, and it seemed he had done his job well.

Taking a deep breath, Morgana followed her sister into the courtyard of Camelot's castle.


Keep going straight ahead. Be careful, there's a guard on the end of this corridor.

Merlin's eyes snapped open. He had only just started to drift off to sleep when he heard Mordred's voice in his ear, gradually growing louder. With a jolt of his heart Merlin realised he was guiding someone through the castle.

Gaius was right, Morgause and Morgana must have somehow been told about Mordred's encounter with him, and now they had brought their plans forward.

That could mean Morgana was in the castle.

But that also meant that someone was going to try and kill the King.

Merlin leapt out of bed, suddenly wide awake, trying to stop panic from taking over his mind. At first he didn't know what to do, he just knew he had to do something. His heart was pounding, his hands were shaking and he felt like his lungs were about to explode. All that was going through his head was that he had to stop them before it was too late.

You're almost there. Mordred whispered again.

Wherever Morgana or her sister, or perhaps both, were going, they were reaching their destination.

If they were truly planning to kill the King this very night, where would Uther be at this time of day?

Asleep and defenceless in his chamber, no one would know that he was in any danger. Mordred could guide Morgause and Morgana around the castle, making sure they avoided all the guards, they could kill Uther and no one would even realise until the morning. He had to stop them.

Before he thought of anything else, not even thinking of waking up Gaius, Merlin ran out of his chamber, and rushed to the King.


Morgana felt like a ghost, re-walking the steps of a past life, of an old memory. The corridor was dark and silent as she and her sister crept quietly down it. Thankfully Mordred had helped them avoid any guards that may be patrolling the many corridors at night, and continue leading them to Uther's chambers. By this time he would be in bed and sleeping, totally unaware of who was approaching his room, and what fate would await him.

Morgana could feel herself shaking, but she wasn't sure if she was trembling from the cold or fear. She hid it from Morgause though, whose eyes were narrowed as she concentrated hard on the short yet deadly journey ahead of them, preparing herself for any guards who might bump into them on the way, but so far they were safe.

You're almost there, Mordred whispered comfortingly in Morgana and Morgause's ears.

Morgana tried to remember a time when she was young, and would bound up and down these old stone corridors of the castle, light pouring in from the window on a summer's day, without a care in the world.

But she couldn't tell if this was a fading memory, or a story she made up in her head to protect herself from the fear and loneliness she had when she was a child.

The man who made her live in fear, who made her lonely, and let hundreds of other people just like her suffer through their lives, was about to receive her vengeance.

Turn right, be careful, there's a guard at the end of this corridor, be very quiet. The first door on the left is the King's chambers.

Morgana steadied her trembling hands, and turned into the next corridor.


Turn right, be careful, there's a guard at the end of this corridor, be very quiet. The first door on the left is the King's chambers.

Merlin sprinted through the castle, desperate to reach Uther before Morgana did. But he was running out of time, she was almost there.

A figure suddenly stepped out in front of Merlin, and he almost ran into him.

"What is the meaning of this?" Demanded the rough voice of an angry guard, looking down at the manservant with suspicion in his eyes.

"The King, the King's in danger!" Merlin panted, "get help!" He commanded.

The guard would not usually listen to the babblings of a servant, but he could see the desperation in Merlin's face and didn't need much more persuasion. He didn't even allow himself time to question how the boy would know if the King was in danger, he could not afford take the risk.

He rushed off to raise the alarm, while Merlin continued to run to Uther's chambers.


Morgana looked down at the sleeping King. She couldn't believe she was standing there, staring down at him. Uther, her father, suddenly looked very old and fragile. He wasn't how she remembered him, it was as if he had aged ten years while she had gone away, the pain and stress of his life was etched onto his face, but as he slept he looked at peace.

She froze. How could she do this? He was just a human being, in fact he was more than that, Uther was her father, did he really deserve death?

"You must do it now sister, before our time runs out," Morgause whispered beside her, Morgana had almost forgotten she was there, in the darkness, with her.

Did Uther really deserve to die?

She had spent the last year of her life preparing for one thing - to kill the King of Camelot, after all, it was her destiny. But was it possible for destinies to be wrong? She didn't want to commit murder.

But Morgause had told her, this wasn't murder, this was justice.

Justice for the people Uther had murdered, justice for all the people he had done wrong, including his own daughter.

Looking old and frail does not take away the crimes of your past, and as Morgana continued to stare down at his face she remembered the cold eyes of her father gazing down at her as she begged again and again to have freedom, to leave her tower, to go outside, just for a day!

But he said no, every time he denied her freedom, and looked at her as if she was a monster. She believed she was the monster, she lived in fear of him and herself, she hated herself as much as she hated him. All because of him.

She was not the monster, the monster was Uther, and he deserved to die.

How many more people would he kill if she let him continue to live? Who would speak out for those people who he had already killed in cold blood? If she decided not to kill him now, then she and Morgause would be captured, and they would be the next to die.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life.

Uther never gave anyone mercy, not even his own daughter, he imprisoned her and then hunted her like an animal. He deserved no mercy.

How many people had he made live in fear of themselves, just as she did? She knew the pain of that reality, no one deserved it. The only person who did, was Uther, and he did not, he believed what he was doing was right, and he would never change.

It was her destiny for a reason, hundreds of people deserved to have justice. She deserved to have justice.

This was not murder, this was justice, this was destiny.

Morgana no longer saw the face of her father, she saw the face of a monster.

A year ago there would have been a Morgana who was willing to forgive, who would have thrown down the knife and walked away.

But that Morgana was long gone.

With a deep breath, Morgana pulled out her dagger, and raised the blade above her head, directly over Uther's chest.


Merlin reached Uther's chamber, and his heart stopped to see the door standing open, and deadly silence had set over the place. He had arrived too late, and the guard had not yet been able to get help. Merlin froze as through the darkness he saw two figures standing before Uther's bed, one raising a dagger above her head. The dagger he had given to her as a gift, to try and protect herself, to make her feel safe.

Merlin only had time to cry out as the figure plunged the dagger into Uther's chest.


Without thinking, Morgana made the final, deadly blow. She struck her dagger down with as much force as she could muster, stabbing the King of Camelot through the chest, killing him with a single blow.

But the King didn't die straight away. He woke up with a jolt, gasping for air, a look of horror on his face. He knew what was happening to him, he knew he was dying.

Uther turned his head slightly and looked up at Morgana. His eyes were filled with a mixture of surprise, sadness, and perhaps a little understanding and forgiveness, before he slipped away.

Someone behind Morgana let out a cry of horror.