I do not own Merlin.

Chapter 8 - The Confession

"What do you mean you lost them!" Arthur sounded irritated. "They could be dangerous!"

Warning bells sounded through the castle as Merlin, along with Arthur and the guards, scrambled around the castle to find the intruders. A guard had witnessed the death of his partner who was thrown to the wall by an unknown sorcerer.

"Be careful. At the end of the corridor. Morgana's chamber is next."

Mordred? Merlin halted his running, holding a wall for support as he clutched his head. Arthur and the rest of the knights moved ahead of him. Instinctively, he ran to the front where the prince was and pitched in the idea that the infiltrators were in the room of the king's ward. "Arthur!" He called, and the king to be swiveled his head back. "Morgana's chamber."

The prince also stopped, letting the knights run around and search the castle. "Are you sure about this?" The two weren't together for long before the warning bells sounded. Merlin had recently regrouped with them as he had to run from Morgana's chamber to his own to retrieve his armor.

"Definitely," he answered. "I- I saw them with my own eyes."

Arthur narrowed his eyes at this, but nevertheless began to run over to Morgana's chambers. "Why are you telling me this now?" The warlock bit his lip, unable to think of a good lie on the spot as he worries of what he might see when he reaches her chambers. He fears to find it empty. "What were you even doing there?" Arthur pulled him out of his thoughts.

"The- the man was dressed as a knight of Camelot," he responded to his first question. He didn't know how to answer the next question, but it didn't matter as they had finally reached Morgana's door. A few of the guards caught up to them, swords in hand.

Arthur and Merlin unsheathed their swords. The pair ran upstairs to the Lady's room. The prince took a few steps back to allow his leg to kick the door wide open with a loud thump.

"What on earth do you think you're doing!?" Morgana held the covers to her chest, sitting up straight and looking as if her heart might burst out of her chest from the abrupt interruption. Merlin let out a sigh of relief to see she's still there. He knew it was Mordred, but he also knew that the boy wasn't alone.

The prince stuttered at the sight of a seemingly empty room. "I-" He was at a loss for words, his cheeks stained red from humiliation. "I've reason to believe that there was an intruder here." Morgana scoffed at this, which made Merlin raise an eyebrow of suspicion.

"Right now, Arthur, the only intruder is you." The warlock couldn't tell if this was their usual bantering, or if the lady had something to hide. He was so sure that someone would be here.

Now, it was the future king's turn to scoff. "Camelot has been infiltrated," he kindly informed her. "Did you not hear the warning bell?" He really didn't do good in these situations. Even though it was almost always Morgana who did that to him. She really is quite manipulative when she wants to be.

"Of course I did!" She's barely looked at Merlin since they've arrived. She knew if she did, he'd know she was lying straight through her teeth. She found it to be quite difficult as she felt his intense blue eyes piercing through her. "I was hoping I'd be safe in my chambers." She focused on Arthur, hoping to talk her way out of it like she did the last time.

"Well, if you'd just permit me to search your room." The prince scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, trying hard to keep from embarrassing himself any further. He could always blame Merlin later for the misunderstanding.

Except the lady really knew how to make him feel quite stupid. "You'll do no such thing!" She cried. "Arthur, do you really think that if there was someone in my room I wouldn't know about it?"

Arthur took a step back, and then under his breath said. "Please accept my apologies." He clenched his teeth long enough to reach the hall, watching as Merlin closed the door behind him.

The warlock seemed to be lost in his own world. "I don't understand," he mumbled. He was, without a doubt, coming back to investigate for himself. He looked up to see Arthur's angry scowl as he slowly let go of the door knob. He cowered in fear, awaiting his imminent doom.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Merlin." His voice was calm. The calm before the storm. "Which bit didn't you understand?" He huffed in indignation. "The making a fool out of me, or making a fool out of yourself?" He paused. "A word of advice. In the future, stick to what you do best." Merlin sucked in a breath when Arthur barked at him. "Nothing!"


"Mordred." Morgana breathed as she climbed out of her bed to embrace the young boy. "I thought I'd never see you again." She didn't understand what was so special about the boy. The instant they met, she felt a strange connection to him. She always felt the need to protect him.

An unfamiliar voice caused her to jump away from him out of fear. "I found the boy wandering in the woods, lost and alone, hunted by Uther's men." Morgana regained her composure once she realized that he is with Mordred.

"Who are you?"

The man stepped forward to fully introduce himself. "My name is Alvarr." He proceeded to tell her more about himself. "I, too, have been hunted by Uther since I was a child." The witch internally scowled at the mention of her guardian.

She related with the man. "I, too, have known Uther's cruelty." There was the time where she was chained up in the dungeons as punishment for challenging his authority. It happened when Gwen's father was arrested for treason, having consorted with a sorcerer.

"Magic is not a crime. It is a gift," he stated. "I wish to walk free and without fear." Don't they all? Morgana nods in understanding. "The boy said you would understand." She turned to Mordred at her side once more and smiled at him.

She placed a hand on his shoulder, and looked back to Alvarr. "What are you doing in Camelot?" She asked. "You take a great risk in coming here." It was strange, after all. Why come to the kingdom, where the man who persecutes his kind resides in?

"We came to see you." Warning bells began to ring outside. They must know he's here, and she clings to Mordred. "I will not stand by and watch innocent people die, and I am not alone. Many have already joined me." It still didn't make any sense to her. "Many more join everyday."

She remembers Merlin, and how he would most certainly disapprove of this. She also knew he would not allow this to happen. An army of renegade sorcerers. "Alvarr, this is a war you cannot win," she tried to reason with him. "Uther has an army at his disposal." He also had Merlin at his disposal, unknowingly of course. Although, Merlin is also part of the army.

What he said next made her fear for the kingdom. "It does not matter how many you are if you wield a weapon powerful enough." She gave him a confused look. He still didn't explain why he's here. At least not a good explanation. Hopefully, he's getting to his point because the guards might have the audacity to come to her chamber. "When I was a child, my parents told me of a crystal. It was taken from the sorcerers in the last days of the Great Purge."

"Taken?" She almost rolled her eyes. "By Uther." If he wanted to purge all magic, why keep such an important artifact of the practice.

"It is here in Camelot, locked within the vaults beneath us." Now she sees where he's going with this. "I could never get the item out of the vaults," he started off. "But you can."

Morgana let out a squeak. "Me?" There was no way she was getting past Merlin. She's never enjoyed lying to him.

"You are the king's ward," he reminded her. "No one will suspect you." She didn't look too convinced. She wanted to help him, she really did, but she knew Merlin wouldn't let her. Both he and Alvarr share similar goals, but Merlin's way took far too much patience, patience she didn't she had.

She could always convince to him to approve. If she isn't able to persuade him, then she can always sneak behind his back. Except if she gets caught, he might not forgive her and she didn't know if she can take that from him.

Mordred sensed the pattering of footsteps from down the hall. "Someone's coming," he whispered. Morgana stopped her thinking and had Mordred and Alvarr hide. She retreated back to her bed in time to hear her door slam open.

"What on earth do you think you're doing!?"


A knock sounded at her door, minutes after Arthur left. She didn't have time to tell them to come in because he had simply barged in hoping to catch her in the act. She didn't miss the disappointed look on his face when he found the room empty again. "I know there's someone in here," he told her.

Morgana sat up from her bed, in panic. Alvarr stood behind Merlin, aiming a sword against his back. She screamed when he swung his arm back, ready to strike against his enemy. "Stop!" Merlin jumped when he heard her shout, accidentally moving closer to her. He quickly noticed what she was looking at and turned around, unsheathing his sword in the process.

There was only a single clash of the swords, before Merlin took another step back. "Who are you?" He asked, gripping his weapon. His skills with a sword were quite adequate by now. He's learned a few things, but he didn't know if he would be able to take on the man in front of him. He probably couldn't, and he didn't want to embarrass himself in front of his lady. The lady, he corrected himself. Morgana was never his.

"Alvarr, he's a friend." The two men put away their blades. "Merlin," she called to him softly as Mordred stepped out from behind the drapes. He frowned slightly when he saw the boy, although he knew he would be here.

"Hello Emrys," he greeted telepathically. The knight didn't know what to make out of the situation. He figured the man behind him, Alvarr, was a sorcerer as well. He didn't believe he was a druid though.

He sighed. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm afraid that's none of your business," Alvarr seethed. He had no love for the knights of Camelot.

"Merlin, please," Morgana spoke again. "Don't turn them in." Luckily, it was against his morals to kill an innocent child.

He sucked in a breath. "Uther won't stop until you both are found," he reestablished. He looked into Morgana's pleading eyes, and how she clung to Mordred. "I won't utter a word to the king," he promised more quietly.

The boy looked to Merlin with adoration. "Thank you," he smiled. Alvarr didn't look to convinced.

"Why are you helping us?" He asked, plain and simple.

Merlin looked at him in annoyance. He didn't know why, but he wasn't too fond of this Alvarr person. "I'm not helping you," he answered simply. "I'm helping the boy." He felt he owed it to Mordred, he had done no harm to him after all. He cannot find it in him to sacrifice the boy when he's done nothing wrong. Even if Kilgharrah cautions him against the boy.


Warning bells were sounding again the day after. Arthur and Merlin were led down to the vaults where the Crystal of Neahtid had been stolen. They inspected the break in to find out what else had been missing when the prince noticed something peculiar. "Merlin?" He called out to his right hand knight. "Take a look at this." He pointed to the door. "The locks are not damaged."

The warlock stepped closer to get a better look. "What does that tell you?"

"It tells me that somebody stole my keys," he placed his hands on his hips. "Whoever it was knew exactly what they were looking for."

"Was it precious," Merlin asked. "This crystal."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Of course it was precious," he said as if it were obvious. "It wouldn't be down here otherwise, would it?"

"What does it do?" It was an innocent enough question.

The blonde haired man sighed. "According to my father, it is an instrument of magic," he explained. "In the days of the Purge, many sorcerers died trying to protect it." Is that the item Mordred and Alvarr risked their lives to retrieve? "Whatever it is, it's important to them."

"You're not going to sack Morris over this, are you?" He felt bad for Arthur's servant. Always lugging the prince's heavy stuff around, and always treated like a fool. He couldn't imagine what it was like to be the man's servant.

Arthur scoffed. "Merlin, it was his job to ensure that my chambers are locked at all times," he defended himself. "It had to be done," he shook his head. "I never should have rehired him." Morris had been sacked once last year, and was replaced with another manservant named George. He was quite effective and did everything correct. However, the man was completely and utterly dull.

With Morris around, Arthur had someone to yell at constantly. "You could always give him another chance," he suggested.

Arthur gave him a weird look. "Absolutely not." Before they left the vaults, he turned to Merlin. "Morris is almost always at the tavern. He's useless." He defended his decision some more so he didn't seem like such a bad person. Except at Merlin's pointed look, he exhaled. "Fine, just one more chance," he gave in. "You know, you're far too nice to your servant."

"Why shouldn't I be?" He asked. "Daegal doesn't do anything wrong. Not really."

The once and future king crossed his arms. "Really?" Merlin nodded. "Because I always catch him sleeping," Merlin scrunched his nose in embarrassment for Daegal. "Eating your food," he started to scratch the back of his neck. "And he's always flirting with Guinevere."

"He sleeps when I don't have anything for him to do, and we shouldn't let food go to waste. I don't really see what's wrong with that," he said on behalf of his manservant. "Besides, he doesn't flirt with Gwen." Arthur only rolled his eyes, walking out of the vaults.

"Well, you should eat more," he muttered. "You're far too skinny."

"Well, you should eat less," he mumbled back. "You're far too fat." The moment he said it, he instantly regretted it as his blue eyes widened after the slip up. Arthur instantly whirled around.

He wiggled his pointer finger in Merlin's face. "I am not fat!"


Merlin went upstairs to Morgana's chambers after finding out about the crystal. "What did he want?" He crossed his arms. He didn't want to speak with Alvarr that night, knowing the man didn't trust him well enough to reveal his plans. Besides, he wasn't too fond of him either. He's killed many knights. Merlin may not have known the victim's names, but Alvarr didn't have to resort to killing them.

Morgana feigned ignorance. "Who?"

"Alvarr."

She didn't look too innocent. She looked as if she had something to hide. "Nothing," she replied shortly.

Merlin raised his eyebrows, making a disbelieving noise. "You expect me to believe they risked their lives for," he quoted her. "nothing."

"A crystal," she sighed. "They wanted a crystal." He didn't pretend as if he didn't know what she was talking about. Many were willing to die for the thing, it was definitely valuable to them.

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "You didn't bring it to them, did you?" She barely knew the man. Surely, she wouldn't retrieve this crystal for him. She didn't know what the crystal could do. What if it had the potential to destroy Camelot? He still didn't get an answer from her as she only stared at him silently. "Did you?" He emphasized more clearly.

"I-" She didn't really know how to explain. "Maybe," she avoided his eyes. His piercing baby blue eyes.

"What do you mean 'maybe'?" He uncrossed his arms indignantly, hands at his hips. "What is he even going to do with it?"

Morgana faltered. "He- he said that the crystal is a weapon," she admitted.

"A weapon," he repeated. "And you actually handed it over to them? They'll destroy Camelot!" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. At least, he didn't want to believe it.

"We share the same goals," she argued. "We all want to be free. To live without the fear of being executed for something you were born with," she finished much more softly. "Isn't that what you want?"

Merlin shook his head in disbelief. "Of course I want that!" He exclaimed. "I want that more than anything, but-"

"But what?" She crossed her arms. "Apparently with that crystal, they could achieve that. We could be free."

"Not like this," he reasoned. "When Arthur becomes king-"

Morgana made an exasperated sound. "It'll be years before that actually happens," she scoffed. "If we side with Alvarr-"

"You don't even know him!" He shouted. "You literally met him two nights ago," he reminded her. "What he wants is war." He's never been this angry with her before. "What's going to happen to Arthur if they manage to attack Camelot? What about Gwen? Gaius?" He exhaled deeply. "Alvarr won't care for them, and if Camelot does manage to defeat him. Then what?" He's given this a lot of thought. "Do you really think people will start warming up to the idea of magic?"

She looked down, defeated. "I'm sorry," her voice broke. Hearing him when he's angry scared her.

"You're sorry?!" He roared. "You're willing to sacrifice innocent people for the death of one man! And you're sorry!?"

She looked like a child who'd been chastised by their parents. "Merlin, you're scaring me." Her lips quivered, and she couldn't speak.

He took deep breaths. He was tired. "I'm stuck on guard duty," he sighed. "You'd better hope we find that crystal."


After going down the long narrow staircase, Merlin brandished his torch until the Great Dragon appeared. "I need your help!" The giant beast didn't look all too amused. Almost as if he expected him to say that.

"I'm sure you do, young warlock." Kilgharrah's head rested on top of the rock. "But first you must honor your promise."

He had promised to free him many weeks ago when Cornelius Sigan first arrived in Camelot. He hasn't found any use for Kilgharrah after that. Up until now, now that he needed information. "I said I will set you free and I will."

Kilgharrah noticed his kin's distress and sighed in defeat. "What is it that you wish to know?"

"What is the Crystal of Neahtid?"

"To those who know how to use it, the Crystal holds great knowledge." He went on to explain. "The knowledge of what is, what has been, and what has yet to come."

So the Crystal can tell the past, present, and future? "The Crystal has been stolen."

"By who?" Merlin didn't want to say, still very disappointed in her actions. He understood why she did it, but he was angry she didn't even give it a second thought. She didn't think of the consequences, and that made her reckless.

The young warlock sighed, telling the truth. "The Lady Morgana."

The dragon let out a mocking laugh. "The witch does not have the power to wield the Crystal."

Merlin gripped the handle of his torch. "Don't call her that!" Despite how he felt about her at the moment, it didn't erase the fact that he still cares for her. He always will, regardless of her flaws.

Kilgharrah's snout moved closer to inspect the boy standing in front of him. "You care for her." The simple statement that hit Merlin like a rock. He'd protect her with his life, make sure nothing bad will happen to her. He didn't know what he'd do if someone hurt her.

Lately, he's often asking himself if he only cares for her as a friend, or if it was something more. "What about the Druid boy?" He refocused himself to the reason he's there.

"Mordred?" The dragon ignored the potential changes in prophecy should the young warlock fall in love with the witch. "It is possible. Why do you ask?"

Sadly, he answered. "I believe that they were involved in this together."

"Once before I warned you of the Druid boy," he grumbled softly. Merlin averted his gaze, sticking to his morality. And the humanity that the dragon didn't quite possess. "It is his destiny to bring about Arthur's doom! It may be that time is upon you."

"What do you mean?"

"The ancient prophecies speak of an alliance of Mordred and Morgana united in evil-"

Merlin interrupted. "Morgana's not evil!"

Kilgharrah exhaled and Merlin coughed as his fire hot breath hit his face. "Did you not say she was the one who stole the Crystal of Neahtid?"

"She only wanted to be free of Uther," he argued weakly. "It doesn't mean she doesn't have a good heart."

"So you do care for her," he said once more. Merlin looked up at him with sad eyes. "I'm afraid to tell you, but you and the Lady Morgana do not walk the same paths." He looked at him confusedly now. "For she walks the path of evil-"

"No!" He interrupted the second time that night. "She's a good person. She's not evil!" He didn't know when he began to pant.

"I fear for your answer when I ask this, but," he paused. "Do you love her, young warlock?"


When Merlin finished talking with the Great Dragon, he walked through the corridors quietly until he found Morgana's familiar green hood sneaking past a guard. He decided to follow her, in case she decided to visit Mordred and Alvarr again.

He felt torn after his talk with the dragon. He didn't want to challenge his beliefs, but he couldn't picture Morgana to be this evil person he speaks of. He'll help her the best he can. After all, nobody is simply born evil. It is their attitude towards the things that happen to them that shape who they become later in life.

He followed her all the way to a camp. Alvarr's camp, no doubt. He saw Mordred run up to hug her. "Morgana!" Merlin felt something swell in his chest and smiled. He was only a boy, after all. Seeing the two of them together both warmed and struck fear into his heart. While he believed they couldn't be as evil as Kilgharrah made them out to be, there was still a slight chance that this destiny might have come to pass already.

Alvarr walks over to her when Mordred leaves. "My lady," he smiles. "What brings you here?"

It was a risk, and probably useless, but it was worth a shot. "I need you to give me back the Crystal." Merlin furrowed his eyebrows, hoping to see where she was going with this.

"May I ask why?"

"You'll kill many innocent people in this war," she said. "We have lost so many already. Must we lose more in this war?"

Alvarr thought for a moment. "Sometimes sacrifices are necessary in order for peace to prevail."

"Perhaps, there is another way." She blurted out. "War is not always the answer."

"We did not choose this war," the bearded man reminded her. "Uther started this when he began the Great Purge all those years ago."

"Arthur," she said. "He's not like his father. He is a good man." Merlin smiled to himself. "He can undo the ban on magic, but not if this war happens." She explained. "If you attack Camelot, he'll only turn against magic."

Alvarr didn't look too persuaded. "When Mordred masters the crystal, we will strike Uther down. Uther and all those who serve him," he responded. "The people who join our army knows that there's a chance they might not survive. If we wait for Arthur to take the throne, many more will continue to die by Uther's hand." More people will die during the war.

"And if you lose?" She asked. "What will happen then?" More people would have died for nothing.

"It doesn't mean the war is over." He took a step closer to her. "My lady, we fight for our very survival, as do you." Morgana narrowed her eyes. "The boy told me you have magic. You need not be afraid." He tilted her chin so she leaned up at him. "You've been very brave."

Merlin felt his heart plummet to his stomach when Alvarr leaned into kiss her. He couldn't see her face. He gripped the bark on the tree, forcing himself to stay put. Is that why she was so quick to help them? He felt sick when she leaned up to return the gesture.

Morgana took a step back, shaking her head slightly. The kiss hadn't lasted long for she stood frozen in place for the past three seconds. She had felt nothing. Except, she did feel something bulge in his jacket pocket. She leaned in to kiss him once more, her hand running slyly down his chest. When she retrieved the item she was looking for, she hid it under her cloak.

A little breathless, she said. "I must be heading back."

Merlin felt it was a little hard to breathe at this point. He saw Morgana leaving, but he couldn't seem to move, rooted in his spot. What he had witnessed kept replaying in his mind, and he felt as if he could puke at any moment. When he looked up, he saw that Alvarr took a seat and a woman came up to sit on his lap.

He clenched his teeth at the words he heard next. "You played her well." Merlin was gripping the tree bark hard enough to draw blood on his palm.

"It was not hard. She is very beautiful, after all." When the two kissed, he almost lost it. He stood up abruptly and ran back to Camelot, knowing if he stayed any longer he would have ran him through.


On the same night, Merlin went back up to Morgana's chamber to tell her about Alvarr. He didn't even knock. He just walked straight into her unlocked room. The sun was beginning to set and Morgana was in the middle of changing out of her day clothes.

She gasped when she heard her door shut. "Merlin!" She grabbed the cloak she was wearing earlier to cover herself. The Lady was clad in her revealing under gown. He was seconds away from seeing her fully topless as she was in the middle of pulling the undergarment down. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Alvarr's playing you! I saw him kiss another girl right after you left." He went straight to the point. "He only used you for the crystal and-" He stopped speaking when she pulled out said crystal. He blinked twice. He rubbed his eyes, having been up all night. "You kissed him," he croaked.

"I had to," she insisted. "To get this." He felt completely and utterly relieved to hear that. She walked over to him, the cloak covering her completely. "You followed me?" She crossed her arms after handing him the crystal. "I thought you were stuck on guard duty?"

He scratched the back of his head. "I'm sorry?" He scrunched his nose, squinting his eyes a little. "I know I shouldn't have, but-"

"I understand," she uncrossed his arms. "It was stupid, and I shouldn't have done it. It's just- I'm tired, Merlin." She looked at him, sadly. "I'm tired of hiding, keeping secrets. Lying."

"I know," he sighed. He decided to change the subject. "Uther wants us to raid the camp today. Gaius found out where they were hidden from a rumor he heard."

"Alvarr kissed another woman right after I left?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, but nodded. "You'd make sure he gets captured, right?"

Merlin chuckled. "I want to, but we already have the crystal so we could put it back in the vaults as if nothing happened." He explained. "That way, nobody gets hurt."

Morgana sighed. "Yeah, you're right," she agreed. "Mordred's there. I wouldn't want him getting hurt for the capture of one man. Or anyone else at the camp." She smiled and he smiled back for there was a deeper meaning behind her words.

"I understand why you did what you did," he said. "But did you really have to kiss him?"

"I'm sorry, Merlin," she apologized. "The kiss was to distract him."

There was a much more comfortable silence between them. "Today, somebody asked me if I loved you." Morgana snapped her head up, surprised. Why was he bringing this up? He was all of a sudden walking closer to her. She felt her breathing quicken, and her heart skip a beat.

He took a hold of her hands. "And what did you say?" She asked softly.

"I said I do," he intertwined their fingers. "I love you." He kissed her knuckles. He wasn't sure before, but he knew it now.


Author's Note: Yay! He said I love you! No kiss, but there's still one chapter left! At least, one chapter left for now. I want to continue writing this, but with school I wouldn't be able to update as frequently. Is the 'I love you' too soon?

Anyways, thank you again for all the reviews, follows, and favorites. :) And I hope you guys like this chapter!