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Obligatory disclaimer:Merlin and all associated creative properties belong to BBC. I don't claim any said property as my own, and I make no monetary profit from this fan-made story. All creative property not associated with said channel belong to me, and their use is limited to my express permission. Thank you.

Once AGAIN .THIS CHAPTER IS NOT EDITED. CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED.


Chapter 7 : We have changed. Part III


Once in the dining room, Merlin sat across from Morgana at the table. Gaius along with Mordred and of course the king and queen joined them shortly they arrived there.

The dinner started with greeting from the late comers. Morgana ignored everyone including Mordred.

She was in no mood to be cheerful or to act happy.

The tension between Merlin and Morgana was obvious since neither of them bothered to hide it.

Glares were exchanges between these two and the whole room was drawn in awkward silence because of them. The rest sent some worried glanced in their direction. Yet none of them wanted to voice their bewilderment toward the odd behavior and eventually end it.

The silence was only broken when the prince's governess came into the room asking for the queen. Gwen left with the woman and the quiet once again returned.

"Is everything right?" Of course Arthur was the first one who decided to put an end to the uncomfortable situation.

"No"

"Yes"

Both Merlin and Morgana replied respectively at the same time, causing Arthur to arch an eyebrow.

Morgana gritted her teeth, glowering at Merlin who responded by rolling his eyes and huffing.

Arthur appeared to be hesitant to whether he should be amused or worried by their different answers.

He nodded his head, taking a sip from his drink.

"What's happened?" He once again asked, casually, his ton calm.

"Nothing" they replied together.

The other eyebrow followed up. "I see." Another sip. Arthur placed his goblet back on the table. He looked at Mordred then at Gaius.

"What's matter with them?" Gaius simply shook his head and shrugged. However, Mordred looked between his parents, and then his eyes were back on Arthur.

"Freya came for her monthly supplies; the three of them crossed paths."

"Oh!" His lips formed an 'o', then his eyes traveled between the warlock and his wife. He looked back at Mordred when those two didn't appear to be willing to elaborate on that matter.

"Is she alright? No harm was done to her?" The king inquired, his eyes concerned, but were fixed on Morgana, as if he trying to get a reaction from her. The latter was deadpanned; her face was cleared of any emotion.

Mordred quickly shook his head. "Do not worry. She left before…"He paused. "She ran the opposite direction when she saw Mother."

The knight and the king chuckled at that, Gaius smiled. Morgana shot Merlin a confused look which he instantly returned.

"That's good…excellent." Arthur breathed in relief. He gestured to the servant behind him and his goblet was instantly refilled.

"Why would you say that?" Merlin asked, his brow frowned, reflecting his perplexity.

Arthur shrugged "At least she's alive." The king sighed, his lips still curved in a smile.

The warlock's frown deepened. "Why wouldn't she be alive?"

What could possibly happen that might do Freya any harm. What did Morgana have to do with that?

The same questions were running through the witch's mind.

Arthur swallowed his drink before he responded, nonchalantly.

"Because last time she was here, Morgana almost killed Freya…"

Merlin gasped, he quickly glanced at the woman in question.

But Morgana snorted "I almost killed her today." She whispered under her breath and luckily no one heard her.

Arthur didn't notice their reaction and he continued to speak.

"….You remember, when Morgana accused you of being unfaithful to her with Freya."

Arthur gestured toward the highest priestess. "…and I so foolishly believed her."

"Believed her?" The warlock echoed, astonished. He tightened his hold on the spoon in his grasp. His knuckles turned white.

Unfaithful? Him? With Freya?

"But it wasn't true. Dear sister was feeling a bit protective of you. It's quite normal; they say women with child often get self-conscious. Even Gwen had her own moments. She thought I was cheating on her with her maidservant. At least she didn't try to kill her like Morgana. "

"You believed her?" Merlin repeated again, his voice louder, accusing.

"What?" Arthur widened his eyes. "Can you blame me…everybody knew about your reputation, but I know how faithful you are to Morgana, you could never do something like that to her."

"What reputation?" Merlin wondered.

"As the ladies man." Mordred chimed in. Four pairs of eyes were on him. His cheeks reddened at his sudden outburst. He looked down.

"WHAT?" The warlock shouted, his lips parted in astonishment.

Morgana burst out laughing. "Merlin! You must be joking."

Merlin gritted his teeth, his cheeks reddened in anger.

"That cannot be true…"he protested, standing up abruptly causing his chair to fall backward.

"Gwaine must have had quite the impression on Merlin…"Morgana teased, wiggling her eyebrows at Merlin. The later glared at her. He glanced at Arthur who said.

"No…that started way before Gwaine came to Camelot. He was actually rather jealous of Merlin."

"No…"Merlin shook his head frantically. "I am not that kind of man."

"I am married to a ladies' man." Morgana simply couldn't resist saying that again and the look of pure anger and disbelieve on Merlin's face made want to say it again and again just to pester and torment him.

"Alright, stop saying that…" Merlin warned, the rest looked at him with worry.

Morgana rolled her eyes. "What do you rather I call you then philanderer, miscreant or fornicator?" she smiled sweetly at him, resting her head on her hand.

His jaw dropped.

"That was a bit harsh, don't you think Morgana."

She shook her head, her eyes still on Merlin. "No. I don't believe so. It is the truth after all, is it not?"

"It is. I remember the night you escaped from your cell, all the knights were searching for and what Merlin was…with a woman and poor Gaius here tried to cover for him." Arthur said, grinning.

Merlin, quickly, gazed at the old physician. "That's not true, right?"

Arthur scowled. "No need to deny it Merlin, I've seen you with my own eyes…"

"Well, it's not." Gaius interrupted the king, answering Merlin's question.

Merlin almost jumped in happiness. Morgana pouted.

"Gaius!" Arthur exclaimed. "You don't have to defend him, I was there, and you were there."

The old man leaned forward. "You didn't exactly see the face of the woman did you?"

Arthur scowled, "No, but I know what I heard…"

"Well that was the lady Morgana."

The woman almost started coughing hysterically; she reached for her napkin, covering her mouth.


Merlin was walking the corridor after dinner when Mordred appeared next to him.

"I forgot to tell you, on my way back, I went to see grandparents. They say that they might come to Camelot before the birth of the child."


Laying on his back, Merlin stared at the ceiling above him, even though he could see absolutely nothing but darkness…

He couldn't sleep…not that he didn't want to, because he did, badly. His body ached, it was tired. Yet his mind refused to grant him the rest he wished for.

Anyone would be in the same state, Merlin thought, if they'd been up half of the night so far, trying not to think about what had transpired that day.

But too much had occurred during the day and he wasn't really sure what exactly had him that way.

It was either the fact that Freya and Mordred were alive or that he'd been raising the druid boy as his child. Or perhaps it was due to the talk he'd had with Morgana after she'd returned to Camelot and her wish to return to their dreaded reality. yet perhaps it was the news that his father was alive that had chased sleep away.

However, there was the possibility that all of those things combined together were the reason, he wasn't able to sleep.

Once he realized he couldn't stop thinking about that. He panicked, coming to the conclusion that his life at the moment wasn't that easy. That it wasn't the way he'd imagined being once he realized what had happened, where he was. The second chance he'd been offered.

There were too many issues and problems to solve. Too many secrets to disclose and he wasn't even near to accomplish any of that.

How come his father was alive? That was the most important question and he had no idea how to answer it.

Subsequent to his little conversation with Mordred after dinner, he'd read…well reread some of the history books. He didn't know how he'd originally missed it but kilgharrah had never attacked Camelot.

So he and Arthur had no reason to go search for him. But if that was the case, then how did he find his father? Why did Mordred say that he'd gone to visit his grandparents, as in more than one? Did that mean that his father and mother were living together?

He then realized that this line of thinking was causing him to think about his father. Thinking about his father made him think about thinking about him. He was overanalyzing everything; he groaned and covered his face with his hands.

Sleep, that all he wanted at that moment….Perhaps he could go ask Gaius to make him one of those sleeping droughts...it seemed to be the only way for him to get what he needed.

But if he did that, there was a chance that he would have to wake the old physician. Yet Merlin was in desperate need to fall asleep.

He was contemplating that thought when his attention was disturbed abruptly as a sound of thrashing and whimpering reached his ears. The sound was coming from the direction of Morgana's bed.

Merlin had been laying on the floor since their sleeping arrangement had been established, his cot was behind the screen the same place he and Morgana had hidden Mordred while they'd treated his injuries.

He pushed the screen a bit, enough for him to get a look at her bed. He whispered a spell under his breath, adjusting his eyes to the dimness that enveloped the room.

He was right and it appeared that Morgana was having yet another one of her nightmares.

He sighed, considering whether he should go over to her and wake her up or he should just leave her alone.

Since the last time she'd had a nightmare and after he'd tried to comfort her, she had shoved him away, telling him to keep away from her, because after years of having them, she'd grew accustomed to her bad dreams. So, she definitely did not need him to soothe or calm her down, she certainly didn't want him to pity or commiserate with her.

With that in mind, he curled on his right side so he was facing the wall.

"Aithusa?" That came from Morgana. A cry out.

After that, they both sat up straight. Morgana jolted out of her reverie and Merlin was confused by what'd heard. Light filled the room; neither Merlin nor Morgana was sure who was responsible for it.

The warlock slowly stood up and made his way to her. She was yet to control her breathing. She was still panting.

Once he was closer to her bed, he stopped, his hands, behind his back.

"Are you alright?"

"I believe we have already agreed on this Merlin? Go back to sleep." She ordered a while after her breathing started to slow down, with a hand placed on her chest.

If he wasn't curious about why Morgana was calling out his dragon's name, or that he was a bit worried about her, the warlock wouldn't have bothered to drag his tired body there. He was trying to be nice; the least she could do was be appreciative.

But no, not Morgana.

He inhaled deeply and exhaling slowly, he was about to utter his question when Morgana sat on the edge of the bed, her feet already on the floor.

With a hand on her lower belly, the other on the mattress, Morgana tried to push herself up. Merlin could see how hard that was for her. He rushed to her side, his hand wrapped around her waist and the other reached out and grabbed hers.

"What are you doing?" Morgana yelled and glared at him. "Let go off me, Merlin." She yanked her arm out off his reach and slapped away the hand that was around her.

Merlin scowled. "Why did you do that?" His rubbed the place where she'd hit him.

Morgana huffed and shook her head. At last, she managed to stand up on her own, Merlin regarded her with hesitation.

"What were you trying to do, Merlin?" she adjusted her nightgown. She stood face to face with Merlin.

He let his eyes lock gaze with hers, "I just wanted to help you."

"I did not ask you to help me." She spoke with a hush yet cold tone.

"Yet you looked like you needed it." He countered, crossing his hands over his chest.

The two of them were staring at each other. His eyes on hers. Neither of them said a word, moved or even blinked.

Merlin was the first to look away from her piercing gaze.

"I just wanted to be nice." He explained, taking a step backward.

She snorted and replicated his move. "Nice? I doubt that of you, Merlin."

He arched an eyebrow. "Why?" He sounded genuinely hurt by her statement.

"Because you haven't been nice to me for the past four years."

She smirked, seeing that Merlin's expression fell. She turned around, resuming her way toward the door.

The warlock recovered fast and he followed her, standing between her and the door.

"Where are you going?" he asked. Morgana scoffed.

"I thought that since I'm awake and it is completely dark outside so most of the knights are most luckily have fallen asleep, why don't I make the best of that and just go and kill Arthur." She replied casually, the corner of her lips curved up.

His nostrils flaring, his eyes flashing and closing into slits. His hands closed into fists and he crouched forward, daring her to repeat once more what she'd just said. That only made her smile turn into a smirk.

"What?" Merlin hissed, doing his best not to shout at her.

Still she appeared unaffected by that which enraged him more.

"I have been trying to kill Arthur for how long?" She asked but she had no intention to let Merlin answer "Four…five years…do you really think it is clever of me to go and notify the only man that have been able to sabotage and interfere with my plans that I'm about to kill his precious king?" she said in one breath.

Merlin gulped. He studied her expression and then he breathed out in relief. It was hard to tell if she was being serious or just witty. But her statement cleared things for him.

"You're joshing." He let a smile grace his features, suppressing a laugh.

Morgana rolled her eyes, "Can you move now, Merlin?"

Realizing that he was still blocking Morgana's way, Merlin once again asked.

"Where are you going?"

"Do you really need to know?" Morgana always answered him with yet another question.

"Yes." Merlin said quickly, certain.

"Fine." Merlin's features relaxed a little as he waited for her speak.

"I thought that maybe you wanted the chamber for one of your midnight trysts." She moved closer to him, "you are man; after all…"their faces mere inches away. Merlin swallowed hard at their dangerous proximity. Morgana rested her hand on his chest.

Feeling the blood rush to his cheeks, Merlin tried to take her hand away but his hand was shaking and sweating.

"….you have needs to be fulfilled." Her eyes traveled downward, he knew where they were gazing at exactly. He tried to back away, but he was already pressed against the door.

"Anyway…" she took a step back. "…just stay away from my bed."

It was her eyes that gave her away, the glee in them that exposed her. He felt like he should be angry for what she just did, but surprisingly he wasn't.

"Ha Ha. Very funny, Morgana."

She shrugged. "Well I find it quite amusing. You should have seen the look on your face, Merlin. It was…"

He cut her off. "…I know it was funny."

"That's an understatement." she bit her bottom lip. "Can I go know?"

"You're still haven't told me where you are going?"

"It's the middle of the night, where do you think I'm going?"

"I don't know." He said.

"To the privy. "She finally gave him the correct answer and Merlin surprised her with what he said next.

"Why?"

She gapped at him. "For the same reason you go to there, Merlin."

Merlin Laughed sheepishly. "Oh! It's rather obvious, is it not?"

"I'm going to ask you for the last time, could you move so I can go?"

"You can go. I'm sorry." He moved out of her away.

Morgana opened the door a bit when Merlin grabbed her hand.

"What now, Merlin?" she growled, she opened the door further, however Merlin slammed it shut.

"Just stay here. I can prove I can still be nice to you." He said, grinning.

"Could it not wait? It's kind of an urgent matter." She crossed her hands over her chest, looking at him with annoyance written all over her face.

"No, it can't. Just wait I have it…"he looked down at his trousers.

"It's in my other trouser. Just wait here, don't go anywhere."

He ran back to his cot, locating his pants, his started to search its pockets, until he found what'd been looking for.

"Found it." He announced, emerging from behind the screen, the object in his hand.

But the room was empty, Morgana had already left it. He sighed, his shoulders slumped.


Morgana returned moments later, to find Merlin sitting on the edge of her bed.

He jumped to his feet the instant she entered the chamber.

"Why did you go? I told you to wait" he asked with a pout on his face. Morgana shut the door.

She licked her bottom lip, and then puffed in irritation. "Well I already informed you that it was urgent."

He took a deep breath. "I know." He held out his right hand, a piece of paper in it.

She didn't take it, she just eyed it carefully, that she just walked pass him.

"Is that your apology letter, Merlin? It's rather belated."

Merlin frowned. "I have nothing to apologize for."

The witch felt the air sucked out of her. As she gawped at him. She blinked couple of times, feeling the anger filling her.

Merlin seemed oblivious to the affect his utterance had on her. He continued to talk.

"It's a spell. It's for whenever you want to go the privy. To empty your bladder, so you don't have to get up …." She cut him off.

"It is late, and I'm quite tired." Her voice fluttered and Merlin's smile faded it away.

"Are you not going to take it? "Morgana snatched the paper from his hand and went to her bed.

She noticed that Merlin hadn't moved from his position. He was gawking at her.

"What?" she titled her head.

He shrugged. "'A thank you' would be nice." He told her, derisively. "This spell wasn't that easy to come across, I had to make sure it will do no harm to the child."

He was really getting on her nerves.

"A thank you? For this?" She waved the paper at him, exasperatingly.

"If this is your idea of being nice, then I'm afraid to tell you that it will not work." She almost tore that paper at threw the pieces at his face. Instead she took a deep breath in, trying to compose herself.

"Why is that?"

Morgana gave him a false smile. "I let you dwell on it. Perhaps you could discover the reason why."

She lay on her bed; Merlin made his way to his cot, but his stopped halfway and turned to her.

"I'm a dragon lord." He blurred out.

Form her position on the matters Morgana sat, her back pressed again the headboard.

"I know." She said, softly, feeling a little grateful for him to share that information.

"I…"he hesitated "…There are only two dragons left alive."

"Aithusa and kilgharrah." She whispered and Merlin didn't ask how she knew that.

He nodded his head. "I tried to summon them, but I couldn't."

Her heart skipped a bit, her eyes widening. "They are not dead, are they?" She asked urgently.

"No, they are not." He shook his head, reassuring her. "That's what I feared first."

Morgana breathed in relief. A smile formed.

"My father lives." Merlin added, his voice quivering. Morgana remain silent, letting him elaborate. He slowly walked to the side of her bed and sat next to her. Morgana didn't protest.

"After Morgause took you, I discovered that he was alive…but he died shortly after I found him…"he laughed bitterly "…he was killed the day after I found, actually. I never got a chance to know him." he confessed.

His eyes glistered with tears, if she was still mad at him for what'd said earlier, her anger melted away with pained look he was giving her at that moment.

"Why are you telling me this Merlin?" She asked gently.

He shrugged, his head down. "You know how it feels to lose a father."

"I did not mourn Uther's death" she told him sternly.

"I'm aware of that. I wasn't referring to Uther. I mean Goloris." He sniffed, wiping his tears.

There was a moment of heavy silence that followed.

"I'm glad you're telling me this Merlin, but"…she paused. "Gwen lost her father; Arthur suffered after Uther's death. Why did you not speak with them about your feelings of losing your father?"

He let out a forlorn sigh, and rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't say anything.

Morgana narrowed her eyes, his silence made her realize something.

"They don't know, you never told them."She reasoned, her voice laced with disbelieve.

"I couldn't. You and Gaius are the only one I told." He looked up to see Morgana watching him with sadness in her eyes.

"Then go to him…you have a chance to know him this time." She encouraged him. "It's an opportunity you may never get again. Trust me."She added. She placed her hand on top of his and gave it a little squeeze.

"You're still planning on going back are you?" He couldn't hide his disappointment when she nodded affirmatively.

"I just don't think I can spend another day in this castle."

"You were trying to rule Camelot Morgana; you were going have to live here." He argued.

"Everything happened so suddenly…All I need is some time to think…clearly."

"Then come with me…"he suggested, his eyes brightening up.

"Why, Merlin?" she attempted to pull her hand away but Merlin grabbed it fast.

"For many reasons…"

"Name them."

"Well…um, first, it'll be a change of scenery for you, so you could think clearly like you want. Second…"he grinned mischievously. "…It'll delay your search for the spell so our stay here extend."

She snorted "I could always take the books with me." He rolled his eyes.

"Finally…you can be my mortal support. Because frankly I don't think I could do it alone." He swallowed the lump in his throat.

She pressed her lips together; she inhaled and rubbed her temple.

"I'll think about it."

"Thank you." A tear slipped down his face, he didn't bother to wipe it.

"I didn't agree yet, Merlin." But he squeezed her hand. And repeated "thank you...For listening"

She pulled her hand away, as if his skin burned her. When he glanced up, he was surprised to see tears in her red eyes, she as trying to suppress her tears.

"Go back to sleep before I do something to harm you." She whispered her voice shaky. She didn't give him a chance to ask why she was crying.

"Why would you want to harm me?" He furrowed his brow, titling his head.

"You just told me that you have been granted a chance to reunite with your father and that makes you happy…." She paused. "I don't want you to be happy." She wiped away her tears, sniffing.


The darkness was back and once again Merlin found himself laying waiting for sleep to come. The last words Morgana had told him were harsh and it pained him to hear them.

But the small talk they shared prior to that confession was kind and it made him remember the old Morgana the one before he poisoned her. So perhaps deep down she was still there. Maybe there was still a chance for him to set her free.

That thought made him smile, even though he didn't get much sleep that day, thinking about that Morgana warmed his heart.


A/N: I hope you liked it. if you came across any mistakes please be kind and point them out for me to fix. i was kind of in a hurry to publish this chapter.

Thanks to all the readers that reviewed the previous chapters. Keep the reviews coming if you liked this one as well.