Hello, dear readers, I apologize for my slow update. The first quarter of my school is drawing to a close, so things have been pretty hectic, but I finally made time because I care about you all and I really wanted to write more of this story.

"Morgana, where are we going," Merlin asked, hurrying behind. Her rushed footsteps shuffled rapidly forward until Merlin was barely able to keep up.

"Didn't you hear me earlier?" She asked honestly, turning to pause for him to catch up. "We're going to get Arthur." That being said, she turned again, headed to her unknown location.

"Yeah, but, umm..., where?" Merlin asked again, sheepishly. It was like last night had never happened between them, she was so focused now, so determined. Her face that had glowed with warmth last night was all business in the light of day, reminiscent of the Morgana that Merlin had known in Camelot, charismatic and beautiful and unattainable.

"Right, that. I don't know exactly. Not the lake of Avalon, not yet. My dream told me there's another step. So I'm just following my gut at this point." She turned to glance at him, and for a second her cool exterior melted before she quickly turned away, unwilling to stray from her mission. This was life or death, she told herself. She couldn't give into feelings now or it would all go wrong.

"Okay, but I thought you weren't listening to your dreams. What about changing destiny?" With each step, he fell more and more behind, hopelessly tripping over his too big feet. Her stride never faltered, with each step, she sped up, seemingly floating over the ground.

"There's a difference between what's destiny and what just is. We won't be able to get Arthur if we don't go here first. That just is." As she spoke, she flung her arm out to hail a taxi. As if summoned by fate, one pulled right to the side as they both climbed in. "Can you just take us to the end of the city?" She asked, smiling.

Merlin sighed inwardly. Why did some taxi driver get Morgana's attention when he didn't? Had he done something wrong? He tried to meet her eyes, but she stared forward intently as if carefully studying the seat in front of her. Following her example, he began to trace patterns in the seams, running through the soft fabric of the cab.

When the taxi stopped Morgana got out, handing the driver a few bills. Merlin didn't move, contemplating whether Morgana had somehow gone insane overnight. They were in the middle of nowhere.

"I'm gonna need you to get out," The cab driver grumbled. Merlin stepped into the forest they had arrived at. The taxi quickly sped away.

"Where the hell are we, Morgana? You've been leading me around all day, and you haven't told me anything. I want to find Arthur as much as you do, but can you at least tell me what the hell is going on!" All the frustration of the day came out in the one rant, but Morgana seemed unperturbed.

"Trust me Merlin. We're exactly where we need to be, but I can't tell you anything else. It's in everyone's best interest." She started walking again, this time straight into the middle of the woods. It was a testament to his feelings for her that he followed.

A branch cracked under Merlin's foot, sending reverberations throughout the silent forest. As leaves rustled overhead, he felt thorns poking into his legs, and his feet were growing sore. They'd been walking for over an hour, and the sun had risen high in the sky. Sweat dripped down his face, and it felt uncharacteristically warm for this time of year.

Suddenly, Morgana stopped. "We're here." She said, looking around the clearing they had just entered. It ran about 15 feet by 20 feet and sunlight broke through the leaves overhead, dappling the ground in a pattern that neither recognized.

"So what happens now?" Merlin asked, staring at her expectantly.

"I guess we wait," She whispered, voice faltering. She didn't like not knowing what to do. It broke her away from her mission, made it harder to keep focused.

"So, we should, talk. To pass time." Merlin stammered, suddenly the boy he'd been in Camelot again.

"Yeah, I guess." Morgana said, cooly. She desperately wanted to talk. More than anything. She wanted to listen to him speak, take in his voice. She wanted to watch him and observe his flawless face and dangerously sharp cheekbones. She wanted to sink into his warm comfort. But she couldn't. She couldn't let herself. She sat on the dry ground and Merlin followed.

"So, ummm," Merlin continued. "What should we tell Arthur, like, about us." His ears flushed bright red, and Morgana couldn't help but smirk.

"Maybe not anything." She smiled. "I kind of like you best alive, and I don't think he'd take it very well. So we should just wait." She couldn't help herself. She had wanted to talk to him all day. And talking couldn't do any harm. She scooted closer, until she could feel his warmth radiating off of him, until it became her warmth, until she was curled up in his arms exactly where she belonged. She was tired. When had it gotten so late?

While they sat, the sky had turned a bright orange color, a child carelessly scrawling highlighter across the sunset. It was so beautiful, so perfect, Morgana forgot her mission and she forgot Arthur and she forgot her dream, knowing only Merlin's arms and the beautiful sunset.

A rustling overhead brought her back to reality as a large shape blocked the sun. As it came to land, Morgana recognized it immediately. "Aithusa!" she cried, smiling. Jumping from the ground, she ran to embrace the friend whom she'd lost in all the chaos. Merlin looked just as happy.

"Hello Morgana," the dragon whispered.

"You can speak!" she said in amazement.

"It's been years, I thought I may have forgotten how."

"Are you going to help us?" Morgana asked, again formal and businesslike.

"You understand the consequences?"

Morgana nodded solemnly. "I do"

"Does he?" Aithusa whispered, pointing at Merlin.

"I wish to spare him from that knowledge as long as possible." Her face was set in grim determination.

"If that is what you please. I will help."

I was told that I should warn you about intended character death, so this is my warning. As this story is going now, a character is going to die, but I change my mind pretty quickly, so I may not end up actually doing it. If that bothers you, I apologize, but if it doesn't, please make sure to review and follow.