Yey! Finally got another chapter of this story out! Sorry for the delay. I am trying to do this wil all my other stories as well.

Do I get to watch the execution?" Morgana demanded as Arthur walked into the room.

"Whose?" he asked, as he frowned in confusion.

"The Druids in the cage. I saw them come in."

"You clearly didn't see what happened after that. Leon and Merlin went down to release them. Merlin took them to Gaius and now they are spending time in some of the guest quarters. They have asked for an audience with me, which I have scheduled for this afternoon. Perhaps you might like to join us."

Morgana huffed.

"You don't believe me? Like I said, you are welcome to join us. Although it hasn't been made known that we have released you."

"You've released me," Morgana snarled.

"You're not stuck in that crystal anymore are you?" Arthur said. "I thought it was time."

"Of course for the rest of you, you have no idea what I think."

"You never told us. You nearly destroyed Camelot!"

"Oh and Merlin didn't. He unleashed the dragon."

"Yes, he knows that, he is sorry for that. He made a mistake, he admits that. What do you do? Blame everyone else!"

"Merlin poisoned me!"

"I told you about that," Arthur said in a more controlled voice. "And I do believe that Morgause used you to send everyone in the citadel to sleep. It happened, and it never affected you. You thought it was because of your magic, Merlin knew that wasn't true. She used you! Morgause used you to make that spell, she would have killed us all. How would that have made you feel?"

Morgana raised her chin and glared at Arthur.

"Glad."

"Really, why?"

"You would have killed me, knowing what I had within me, Morgause accepted me."

"Oh, yeah, because I never accepted someone that has magic," Arthur drawled sarcastically. "You're my family. Even before I knew that as a fact, I loved you, you were always there for me. Did you think I wouldn't have accepted, or helped you! You are just as blinkered as our father!"

"Don't you dare say that!"

"I do! I can! You look at magic and you see evil, just like he does. I can understand that, but then look at what you did. Morgana do you have any idea what you have done. You could have helped. Merlin tried, I know that, and he got it wrong. There were times he could have told you, about himself, but I don't know…"

Arthur slowly sat down, hunching a little as he looked up at her.

"I think Merlin screwed up, a lot of the time, and I can hardly blame him. He lived under it worse than you did. At least you had status and Uther's love to hide behind. What did Merlin have? Only me, and he risked even that. I nearly got him killed, I almost thought I might be able to drive it out of him."

He looked up at her, she stood by the window, her chin raised in defiance. It was hard to look at her and know what she did, know that she was his sister, half-sister.

"When I found out, when I saw him do it, I was angry, I was furious," Arthur said. "But I didn't think it was right to turn him in. I almost knew anyway. How could anyone that idiotic survive without help?"

"You just let him go."

"I just let Merlin go?" Arthur asked incredulously. "What? I put him through hell, and I don't apologise for it. Everyone saw what I did to him, just assuming that I had got fed up of his incompetence!"

Arthur shrugged dramatically.

"I don't blame him for hiding it, I never did but I made his life hell and do you know what Merlin did, when I did that to him."

Morgana shrugged, looking out of the window. Arthur glowered.

"Merlin took everything I could throw at him, you even told me off, while you were plotting against us, you told me off for being unfair to him. You saw what I did to him. He was never as two faced as that, but it started to make me think that you might be."

"That's your answer," Morgana snapped.

"No, it's not. I have better things to do, like go to the lower town and see to the people that need me."

Morgana glared at him, Arthur shrugged, turned and walked away.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Gwen was not happy about Uther's plan, but he was determined to do it. He wanted to see Morgana, and talk to her. He had done so for months, placing his hand on the crystal that housed her, soothing himself by gently reassuring her. On those occasions she couldn't hear him. It wasn't really for her anyway. It was so Uther could feel better. Gwen didn't feel quite as convinced about this conversation. Despite his recovery, Gwen guessed he was still a little emotionally fragile. Everyone in the castle had been careful around him, many of them taking their lead from her.

Morgana would not. She had made that abundantly clear. Given a chance she would more than likely smash through everything that Uther had carefully rebuilt. Gwen couldn't help feeling that Morgana would enjoy that. Still, there was no way she could seem to change Uther's mind, he wanted to talk to Morgana, so he would. The only thing Gwen could hope to do was protect him from the worst of what Morgana could throw at him.

Uther made very careful preparations, so the servants went into Morgana's chambers first. She had had been slumped on the window seat, with nothing to do but sit and think, and watch the people walk to and fro in the courtyard. She hadn't seen the Druids again, but there was no sign of the block, or a pyre set out in preparation for an execution. Thoughts were slowly starting to stir in her that Arthur had been speaking the truth.

She stared in angry confusion as the servants came in, laying out food and drink. None of them looked at her, at least not openly. A few of them glanced up, and the swiftly looked away. Morgana didn't move. None of them had laid eyes on her for over a year. So when they saw her, her actions became very fresh in their minds. It was not in their nature to openly question Arthur's actions. He had done a good job of putting Camelot back together after Morgana's reign. And they were not frightened of her because of her magic, as she assumed, they were scared because she had been so cruel.

Morgana stood up abruptly as Uther came into the room, looking at the small meal that had been laid out in approval.

"Thank you," he said to the servants. They all curtseyed and shuffled out. Gwen smiled at them as they left. Elyan and Gareth were on guard duty. They came into the room, both of them in agreement. Two people were in the room with Morgana, so they protected one each. Actually all they did was stand by the door, but the theory was there.

"You haven't eaten," Uther said pulling a chair out for Morgana. She stared at him in shock. "I asked, the servants said you hadn't eaten anything.

"I'm not hungry!" Morgana snapped at him.

Uther looked a little confused. Gwen rearranged the table a little before pulling out another chair.

"You sit down," she said to Uther gently. Morgana watched as he obeyed Gwen without hesitation. Gwen started to set up, pouring wine and laying food out on plates, she put one down in the place that had been set for Morgana.

"Morgana you have to eat," she said.

"Why do I? I haven't for a year."

"But you were in the crystal. Did you feel anything, hear anything?" Uther asked. Morgana glared at him blankly.

"No, there was nothing. I am the same person that Merlin froze. I haven't changed."

Uther looked disappointed. "I came to see you, every day. Gwen looked after you."

Morgana turned her attention to Gwen, who carried on shifting plates and food about. She set some up for Elyan and Gareth, if nothing else it gave her something to do. Just dealing with Morgana was too hard, she needed something to occupy her at the same time. It felt similar to those early days with Uther, when he just sat there, the lack of response unnerving her. Morgana looked more active, more assertive, but she didn't respond.

"How could you have looked after me?"

"I changed the flowers, cleaned the room, set the candles and made sure they were lit of an evening."

"And what difference would that had made to me," Morgana snapped.

"I didn't want you left in the dark," Uther said. Morgana snorted, rolling her eyes.

"So, it was all for you, rather than me."

"If you like," Gwen said sharply before Uther could answer. He was deflating as she watched. All he needed was one little snippet from Morgana, a sense that there were still some positive feelings in her, however small. Gwen wondered if Morgana knew that was what Uther was looking for, and she deliberately refused to give him anything.

"Just sit down, Morgana, please," Gwen said, her voice taking on that level of command she had developed over the last year, dealing with Uther. She wasn't quite sure how the commanding tone had come about. Perhaps when she had been first dealing with Arthur, and when their feelings for each other were developing. Arthur and Uther were very similar to each other, once she had mastered handling one, the other was easy. Morgana's back straightened, and her eyes flashed.

"Already acting like queen!"

Gwen paused, she had been handing a plate to Elyan, who also stared in shock. Uther stared at Morgana, and then looked at Gwen. What threw Morgana, utterly shocked her into submission, so she did sink into the chair that had been left for her, was Uther's utter acceptance of what she had just said.

It occurred to Morgana, she didn't just use the visions. The visions in some ways used her.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Arthur nearly held a closed audience to see the Druids, and then changed his mind at the last moment. Merlin didn't know if he was coming or going, running around after him. In the end, he saw the logic of Arthur's actions. People could see the Druids as harmless, thoughtful, people, and also Morgana took up her invitation to the meeting, so whoever was there, could get used to the idea that she was back.

It also meant, for her first public appearance, she had more than just Merlin as someone capable of magic, to listen to. Deep down Arthur had never considered the Druids to be much of a threat, they were peaceful, kept to themselves and they had never acted in anger, despite what Uther had done to them.

Arthur watched the four Druids enter. They didn't seem intimidated by the cluster of people, the group just calmly walked to the foot of the dais and looked up at Arthur. The leader, Iseldir, gave a brief bow.

"Sire."

Arthur nodded, feeling very aware of Morgana sat where she had used to sit when Uther had been in council. She had said nothing to him, since her arrival. Uther and Gwen were nowhere to be seen, but Arthur guessed that Gwen had decided to keep Uther away, while Morgana was there. It seemed a sensible enough plan, Arthur had heard Uther's attempt to talk to Morgana had not come off too well. He didn't want his father regressing, he had come so far in Gwen's care.

"What did you wish to see me about?" Arthur asked.

"The Cup of Life, Sire."

"What about it?"

"We desire it's return. It is an artefact of the old religion, it is ours to care for and use."

Arthur raised his eyebrows. He sat up a little on his father's throne – he always carefully remembered that fact - staring at Iseldir, and answered him with mild irritation.

"Because, you looked after it so well last time. So well, in fact, it landed in Cenred's hands, and nearly destroyed this kingdom. The answer is no, it stays under lock and key in Camelot. If I could destroy the damn thing, I would."

That was Arthur's only word on the subject. Merlin blinked. Everyone stared at the Druids, to wait to see what they would say next.

"Such things can never be destroyed, Emrys knows that."

Arthur turned to look at Merlin, who shrugged.

"I thought it had been, when I killed Nimueh."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Next time perhaps you ought to check Merlin."

"Are you saying it will not be returned?" Iseldir asked.

"That's what I said, artefacts like that are dangerous, at least if it's here then I know it can't be misused."

"And what about using it for good. For the purpose of life."

Arthur's jaw clenched, feeling very aware of everyone's eyes on him. He suddenly wished he had gone with his first thought and kept this a closed audience. Merlin was occasionally right, Arthur could be an idiot. Still, they were here now, he had to make sure the situation came off amicably, but with him getting his own way.

"I know how it works, to use the cup to save a life, another life must be taken. No one has the right to make that decision."

"You make that decision every day," Iseldir said.

"If you are going to use that argument then the cup does need to stay in Camelot."

He watched as Iseldir gave something of a knowing smile. "But you will never use it."

"Certainly not, I've been a victim of that kind of magic, it will not be repeated under any circumstances."

"Can you be certain others will not use it for their convenience?" Iseldir's gaze moved to Merlin. So did Arthur, and in consequence so did everyone else's. Merlin blinked. Arthur turned back, looking more than a little irritated.

"Contrary to this widely held belief!" Arthur snapped loudly. "Merlin does, in actual fact, do as he is told!"

Everyone again looked at Merlin. Merlin attempted to duck his head and look submissive and innocuous. Although it occurred to him, it was essentially true. There wasn't anything he did that Arthur now didn't know about and advocate. It had its advantages and disadvantages, but Merlin found it more tolerable than having to lie to Arthur.

Iseldir looked from Merlin to Arthur and then bowed. "As you wish Sire."

Again the Druid looked at Merlin, who straightened up and blinked. The group of Druids turned and Leon escorted them out of the hall. Arthur sat back his expression thoughtful. The courtiers and knights in the room murmured among themselves. Arthur leant over in Merlin's direction.

"What did he add?"

Merlin leant down. "That the cup was now my responsibility."

"Did he sound like that was exactly what he expected?"

Merlin nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Those locks are really secure aren't they?"

"Yes," Merlin said. He straightened up again, eyes drifting further just for a brief second, so he caught Morgana staring at the pair of them, an unreadable expression on her face.