It was the night before Merlin had to return to Camelot and he and Morgana were lying in a field, side by side, looking up at the stars. The full moon shimmered brightly down on them as they watched the world pass by. It was quiet, and the only thing to be heard was the crickets chirping in the grass and the soft lulls of their breathing. It was a serene feeling, being out there with no disturbances of everyday life, where they could just get away from it all (the pros of living on the country side).

"Are you still angry with me?" Merlin asked abruptly, breaking their peaceful silence.

Morgana sighed before answering. In all frankness, she was, very angry at him for a lot of things. For all the lies about magic, for the betrayal of her trust, for keeping in Ealdor against her will (even though she might have stayed anyway). And it's not like she didn't love him, even though she did spend the last two years in denial about it, but she was just so angry at him for everything he had done.

And if she was honest with herself, she was tired of it. Anger had controlled her life ever since she could remember. It drove her to her immense hatred of Uther. It drove her to all the attacks against Camelot. It drove her against her friends, and against Merlin.

But truthfully, it was kind of hard to be angry at him, even after everything. In the first few days of her recovery, she had tried so hard to be cold and unemotional towards him. And that was a challenge in itself with all the times he would laugh at her. But between the constantly being forced to spend with him, and his persistent immature nagging, she eventually gave in. And the only reason for that was because she loved him.

During their two years at war, she was so angry with him to the point where she believed she hated him with more than anyone else, even Uther. But she could never really hate him, and she often questioned if she ever did to begin with. He had been engraved onto her heart, and there would always be a place for him there.

But it's not like she could just forgive and forget. This wasn't just another trivial spat; he lied to her, AGAIN! And then he thought she was evil, treated her like she was evil, like she was another villain that needed to be put in prison. Granted he did have good reason to think like that, but still, he shouldn't have taken him this long to talk to her. She wanted him to come after her, to explain himself. She wanted him to save her.

But she was also tired of being angry with him. She had spent the last two years doing so. She wanted answers, and it was high time he gave her some.

"Yes I am, but in all fairness, I have every right to be."

Her reply was disappointing, but not unexpected. She was right. She should he angry with him. She should hate him. And the only reason she was still here was because he was making her. But tomorrow he would be gone, and she would be free to leave. And then the next time they saw each other would be on the battlefield once more.

"I know" he said quietly, still looking up at the stars.

"Why Merlin?" the hurt in her voice was clear as she spoke, making him wince at the sound, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Merlin had thought over and over for an answer to that question, but every single one that he came up with sounded wrong. Nevertheless, anything less than the truth would just be another lie. "There were a lot of reasons."

His reply was frustratingly cryptic, but she figured she would let him elaborate more before she started yelling at him for being so obnoxiously stupid.

"But I suppose the first reason was that I was...trying to protect you"

Her brow furrowed and she propped herself up on her elbows to look at him properly, "Protect me?"

He shifted slightly and turned his body so he could face her. "You were the king's ward, and if you had known about my magic it would have put you in even more danger, especially sense you had your own."

"But you could have helped me Merlin. I was alone. And instead of being there for me, you left me in the dark. Of course I would have been persuaded to join someone like Morgause, even more so because she was my sister." she urged looking into his eyes to see the regret that showed in them.

"I know, and I realize what drove you to her. But I truly thought I was doing what was best for you. And with everything that I was told about you, and about your destiny, I thought that-"

"That I was evil" her voice was cold and accusatory and she stared down at him.

He paused for a second before continuing, " Yes, but Gaius and I, we were honestly just trying to protect you, but the dragon-"

"Wait, Gaius? Gaius knew about me too?"

He winced again at her reaction and nodded apprehensively. He had forgotten that she didn't know the physician knew about her…condition even before he did. And the revelation that a person that she trusted her entire life knew better than anyone about her magic and refused to help her must have been painful. "Yes, and I wanted to tell you I swear, but then Kilgarrah said-"

"The dragon? You mean the one that had been rumored to live under the castle?" Morgana questioned, trying to piece everything together. This was a lot to handle.

Merlin nodded again, "He said that it was your destiny to unite with Mordred in great evil, and he was the one who told me, told me that I had to...kill you"

Morgana's eyes widened at what Merlin was saying. So in recap, the man she loved had actually listened to a big green lizard that had told him to poison her and that it was her destiny to be evil, although she had done nothing yet to provoke such a future. Did this thing have like a vendetta against her or something?

"Well why did you listen to him?" her voice cracked but she still tried to stay calm, but with the heightened emotions from the new information she was being given it was slightly difficult.

He propped himself on his elbows as well and she sat up to adjust to his new position. "B-because he had helped me before, a-and I thought that I couldn't trust you, and...I'm so sorry Morgana" he pleaded, trying to reach up and touch her but when she pulled away with an almost discussed look on her face, he hung his head in shame, not being able to look at her again.

For a moment, Morgana thought Arthur was right about Merlin being an idiot. Really, how could he be so completely thick that he would trust this thing just because it had helped him a couple of times (even though it was a bit hypocritical). Still, she attempted to speak in the most monotone voice possible. "You could have stopped me from becoming that. You could have killed Uther and stopped the persecution of our kind. You could have told me about your magic so didn't have to feel like I was going insane. You could have saved me Merlin, but you didn't"

After a moment he finally spoke, desperately searching for words to say "You have no idea how much I regret everything that I've done, but I do love you, with every fiber of my being. And I don't want to see you get hurt again, especially...if it was because of me. I've caused you enough pain"

She could see the sincerity in his words and in his eyes. He meant everything that he was saying, and she knew that he loved her; he made that abundantly clear several times over the past few days. But still, there was just so much...

"I don't expect you to forgive me," he said breaking her out of her revere, "But I can't let you go to her. And I can't let you go against Camelot"

"Against you, you mean"

He sighed and looked into her eyes when he answered flatly "Yes. I don't want to fight you anymore. I don't think I can, even if I tried. You're the only woman I have ever loved, and I...I can't lose you again." When she looked at him pensively, a spark of hope showed in his eyes, and he began to think maybe she was considering forgiving him.

"I'm not sure if I will ever be able to forgive you."

Merlin thought his heart was breaking all over again. If she couldn't ever forgive him, then she would probably never love him again, and he turned away, crestfallen before she continued. "But your right, I'm tired of fighting. Morgause is my sister, and I love her as such, but I can do this anymore. If we keep at this battle, it will never end. So...I will stay here"

His face visibly brightened a little as she said this.

"Your mother said I was welcome to stay here and I think she could use the help around the house. But I will not go back to Camelot, I can't..."

While still somewhat disappointed, he was happy she was staying, because that meant he would be able to see her. And even if they did have to be apart for a while, he still knew where to find her, giving him more chances to convince her to forgive him. Maybe it would only take two or three lifetimes instead of the previous six. Plus, it also gave him more of a reason to come home habitually. He did like the city well enough, and his knew station was quite desirable, but he sometimes missed the tranquility that came with country life. And his mother was here, and he really did miss her terribly.

"I understand, but that just means I'll be coming back more often"

"Really?" she gave him a suspicious look and raised an eyebrow, "and how often are we talking about"

"Like…every week" he said sheepishly, giving her a cheek grin which she shook her head at.

"I think Arthur will be a little suspicious if you come back to Ealdor every week. He may be oblivious but I don't think he's that dim."

They then gave each other knowing looks and Merlin's lips curled into a playful smirk, Well...

"Fine, but I'll be back at the end of the season, and you had better be here" he was joking of course which he emphasized by pointing his index finger at her, but he did mean it on some level.

"Oh, and what if I'm not?" she tried to reply harshly but it just came out as more of her attempting stifling a laugh (which she really was).

Merlin narrowed his eyes, and gave her a dark look, "then I'm just going to have to drag your arse back here. Like this!"

And the next this she knew his fingers were viscously tickling her sides and she let out a surprised shriek.

"Merlin, stop it!" she shouted making a half-hearted attempt to push him away.

"Not until you promise that you won't leave"

She gave out an exasperated grunt in between the fits of laughter before finally conceding, and mentally cursing herself for forgetting how childish he was "Alright, alright I promise now stop!"

After a contended sigh he reluctantly released her, which gave Morgana the opportunity punch in the arm and they laughed as he grabbed her waist and lifted her on top of him.

"I will always love you" he said gazing into her eyes and tucking some of her hair behind her ear "for a forever"

And she smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, knowing that it was true.

"Well good, because if you loved me any less I'd be a little cross"

"Aww but I like it when your cross"

"Shut up!"

Merlin reluctantly left Ealdor early the next morning and reached Camelot sometime around sunset. He was then greeted by the welcoming party of Arthur, Gwen, and Elaine, the two latter letting out relieved sighs when they finally saw him in the flesh. While Arthur had informed them that he had won the duel (more or less), it was still reassuring to see that their friend was alive and well, instead of just hearing about it.

After a very vague report on his activities in Ealdor, he had told the king that his presence was still needed back in his home town later on during the season and in the near future. While Arthur didn't particularly like the idea of his friend spending so much time away from Camelot, he respected Merlin's wishes and he did not want to keep the sorcerer away from his mother. So, he approved Merlin's requests for more frequent visits back to Ealdor.

Merlin had spent the next couple months in anxious anticipation. He wanted to see her again, he needed to see her again. And the aching pain that he felt to be in her presence was so bad it almost hurt. He had been forced apart from her for two years, and any longer felt like slow torture. It's been proven that time goes slower when you want it to move faster, and those few months felt like decades as he waited for the time to come when he could return to her.

As the first stirrings of autumn blew through the cool mourning breeze, Merlin mounted his horse once again, this time bringing a few dresses he had bought and some other supplies to help around the house with an extra person living there now. Having money really was a perk. As a servant, he scarcely made enough to feed himself let alone anyone else, but with his new income as a Duke, he had the funds to take care of his mother and Morgana and still have some to spare.

But the new enthusiasm to go back to Ealdor did not go unnoticed by his friends, and Arthur, Gwen, and Elaine stood a few feet away watching him frantically pack everything he needed for the trip.

"So Merlin" Arthur began, as the sorcerer kept going examining his horse, checking and rechecking the various packs he was bringing "What exactly did you say was your reason for going back to Ealdor?" the king inquired as the two women listened attentively.

Merlin sighed but didn't look up from what he was doing "I told you Arthur, this season had been a difficult harvest and my mother needs my help to compensate for the lack of resources."

"Right, and there aren't other people to help her with those sort of things?"

"It's a small farming village and there is barely enough men during a normal harvest. But because the crops have had trouble growing from the bizarre weather, it makes this time of the year more strenuous." he said now getting slightly annoyed at his friends' inquiry.

"So it isn't about a girl?" Gwen interjected glancing at the dresses that Merlin had packed.

Merlin let out an exasperated breath and finally turned to face his friends, "No. It is not about a girl"

If he was his younger self, less experienced and what not, he would have blushed and his ears would have turned pink. But thankfully with age comes experience and he was getting better at the whole lying to his friends bit, especially when it came to the topic of his wayward lover. Morgana had really been rubbing off on him.

"But those dresses seem a bit…young for a mother, don't you think?" Elaine chimed in coyly, giving his brother-like-figure a knowing look.

Merlin's slight twitch of the mouth was confirmation enough, even though their two other friends hadn't noticed it. Because Elaine spent more time with Merlin then the king and queen, she picked up on little things that he would do. That and she was quite observant. So she smirked at him, waiting the lame excuse that she knew would follow his obvious lie.

"I-I didn't know what kind of dresses to buy" and with an awkward caught he said as calmly as possible, "now if you'll please excuse me, I'd like to get there before the end of this year"

And before any of them could question him further, he kicked off into a steady gallop out of the city and on to the dirt path that led to his home town, with her awaiting smile being the only thing on his mind.

Merlin reached Ealdor shortly after sunset but was disappointed when he didn't see Morgana waiting for him. He had sent word that he would be returning home at this time, and because it was so close to the end of spring he would have expected the two women to try and get as much work done as possible. A strange feeling came over him as he neared the house, and when he entered, there were only a few candles lit to combat the growing darkness. Upon observation, he also noticed the sound of strained breathing coming from behind the bedroom curtain.

An icy cold fear took hold of him as he pulled back the curtain and saw Morgana lying in bed, shivering and much paler than normal. She looked even worse than when she had fallen and received that head injury, and the same feeling of dread crept over him just as it had then. That was when his mother entered the room with a wet towel in her hand and when she saw her son, threw her arms around him.

"Mum, what happened?" he questioned quickly, trying to hide the worry in his voice.

Hunith pulled back with tears welling up in her eyes as she answered, "I really don't understand what happened. Yesterday she was fine, going about work as normal. But then this mourning she collapsed and I haven't been able to do anything to bring down her symptoms. I've never seen anything this bad before Merlin, and I think…I think she might be dying."

The words echoed in his ears as his mother said them. She was dying. But she couldn't be, no! He had only just been able to see her again. She couldn't leave him now, not after they finally made up (well sort of).

"N-no, she can't be. How-"

"I don't know" Hunith shook her head "she did seen a bit tired so I don't t her to take it easy, and…well you know how stubborn she is. And when we got up she was going to prepare breakfast while I went to go fetch some water, but when I got back, she had fainted on the kitchen floor"

They both then turned to look at her again and Merlin let go of his mother to knelt down by Morgana and take her hand. He almost gasped at the touch because she was ice cold, but it seemed like she was sweating profusely. These were the points in time that Merlin hated the most, the points where he felt absolutely helpless to what was going on around him. He knew he couldn't heal her, and if he tired it might have only made things worse. There really was only one option, and he knew that she wasn't going to like it. But if it was to save her life, he had to.

So, the next day when he had finished readying everything for the travel, he hoisted her onto his horse and they made their way back to Camelot.

A/R (I have now upgraded to a rant): I get how short this chapter is but I promise I will make it up in the next update, which will hopefully be much sooner than this last one. A lot of my time had been taken up lately but I will try to get something by the weekend. I have a rough outline of the next chapter so it shouldn't take me too long to go through it. But anyway…

Merlin's bringing Morgana back to Camelot and she is just going to love that. Plus there's also the problem of sneaking her into the city not to mention Gwen and Arthur and other people that I'm not going to tell you because you will find out soon enough. Life is officially going to get more complicated for this lot. Oh and btw, if any of you are reading my other story 'Not Another Teen Story' really sorry about the massive delay on that but there will be something out hopefully before I die of old age, or stress, whichever comes first.