A/N: Look at me, I'm alive! I know, it's been far too long, and I really do apologize! misspink3000 reminded me that people still read this, and are, in fact, still interested, so you've all got her to thank for it. I can't promise an update anytime soon, but please know that I haven't abandoned this, and I don't plan to. I've just had a really bad bout of writer's block, and when I got my muse back for a few minutes, I used her all up on my Doctor Who fanfics, so again, I'm sorry.

Warning: not beta-ed, so any mistakes are mine, feel free to point them out.

Please enjoy this chapter, and don't forget to review!

Chapter 10: The Nightmare Begins – part 2

I took a deep breath, and knocked on Morgana's door. Either I was about to save a life, and keep her from turning evil, or I was dooming all of Camelot. Yes, fantastic choices, weren't they?

"Good morning, Merlynn," Gwen greeted with a smile and let me in. I flitted inside quickly, and couldn't help but look over my shoulder, even thought the other maid had closed the door already. Carrying a magic book all the way to the other side of the castle was nerve-wrecking, to say the least.

"Merlynn? What are you doing here?" Morgana asked from where she was sitting at her vanity. She looked awful. There were bags under her bloodshot eyes, and her hair looked frazzled. She was still in her nightgown.

"Taking over from Gwen for a while, if you don't mind. Arthur let me switch with one of the other servants for the day," I excused. Gwen and I had – after much protest from Gwen – decided the chocolate-skinned maid needn't be involved, in case they were found out, so Merlynn had bribed one of the servants who normally worked in the stables to fill in for her.

Morgana seemed a little confused, but nodded anyway. She seemed so frightened. With one last concerned look, Gwen left, and I walked over to the Lady. I took her brush from the vanity and started on her hair.

"I know you're scared, but I promise you, everything will be alright," I murmured, gently getting the knots out of her hair.

Morgana held her head high, and looked at me in the mirror, but the fear was still painfully obvious in her eyes. "I know. Uther assures me the culprits will be caught." Her voice caught on that last word, and the fear I could see intensified.

"But do you really think it's people who did this?" I pushed. I needed her to admit it to me freely, otherwise she wouldn't trust me enough for me to teach her.

Morgana looked at me like I'd betrayed her, but quickly smoothened her features. "What else could it be?" she asked as nonchalantly as she could.

I put the brush down and kneeled by the Lady's feet. "Magic."

Morgana recoiled as if I'd slapped her. She got up and walked to the bed, turning her back to me. "Don't be so preposterous, Merlynn."

I climbed to my feet, but stayed where I was, feeling like Morgana would just run if I tried to step closer. "Do you remember my friend Will back in Ealdor?" I asked quietly.

Morgana turned back around, looking at me with uncertainty shining in her eyes.

"I remember him going through rough times. Sometimes he couldn't control his magic, or he'd be so tempted to just try something, just to see if magic could make it better," I told her, walking closer slowly. Morgana looked a bit panicky, but stayed where she was. "But the worst times were when he was having nightmares… He'd be screaming and shouting, and things around the room would move by themselves, or shatter when he looked at them. He was so scared…" I reached Morgana then, and pushed her back to sit on the bed. "But he got through it. I helped him, and so did my mum. I can help you too, Morgana."

The Lady had tears in her eyes now, and looked so vulnerable, I was feeling guilty for making her face her fears like this. "You can?" she asked in a small voice.

I smiled gently. "Absolutely."

/*/

"Concentrate, take a deep breath," I instructed. Morgana and I were seated on the ground in the middle of her chambers, a book on some simple spells open on the ground before us. I'd written it, but had altered the handwriting a little by magic.

"It's no use, Merlynn, I can't make that stupid marble move!" Morgana yelled, picking up the offending object and hurled it across the room.

I sighed. Morgana had been trying for two hours to make it move now, but her thoughts were all scattered. I got up and retrieved the marble with as much patience as I could muster. "I know it seems impossible, but you just have to focus your thoughts, and really want it to move, picture it in your mind's eye… Maybe if we tried fire first? You seem to have more of an affinity for it," I suggested.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Morgana asked, but I could see the eager glint in her eyes.

I nodded. "Yes, and that's why you're going to wait for me to get a bucket of water. But magic is based on emotions. Considering that you've already subconsciously used fire magic, it might be easier for you."

Morgana nodded, her excitement clear in her eyes. "What do I do?" she asked.

I chuckled. "For now, nothing, I need to get water in case you decide to 'redecorate' again," I joked, getting up and heading to the door. "But you might want to stare at that candle for a bit, just to have a clear image in your mind's eye." I left quickly and hurried all the way to the well in the courtyard, and then nearly ran back. I didn't want to leave Morgana alone for too long.

When I got back, the Lady was just sitting at her vanity, staring at the candle, like I'd suggested.

"You know, I've always thought fire was pretty," she said quietly when she heard me enter. "I suppose it's a bit silly, but I like the playfulness of it. It's never the same shape, always changing… Do you think that's why I have an affinity for it?" she asked, finally turning around to face me.

"I don't know," I replied honestly, setting the bucket down. "But for whatever reason, you do have an affinity, and you have to control it so that even when you're sleeping it won't get out of hand."

Morgana nodded, a steely determination written all over her face. "I'm ready."

I chuckled. "Not too fast, milady, we'll start by lighting a candle," I said and doused the one in front of her. "Close your eyes, can you picture it?"

Morgana did as I asked, and nodded again. Her hands were outstretched on her knees and her posture relaxed. 'So far, so good,' I thought. "Now, keep that image in your mind's eye and slowly open your eyes. Picture the candle lighting up, a little spark in the darkness," I said, trying to keep my voice as even and soothing as I could make it. "and then say forbearne."

Achingly slowly, Morgana executed my instructions, as I picked up the bucket as quietly as I could. The Lady lifted a hand towards the candle, her face the picture of serenity, and murmured the word. I could tell the minute the first syllable left her mouth, that she'd be successful. A tiny flame sprang to life on the candle's wick and burned there cheerfully. Morgana's face lit up let out a breathy chuckle. "I can't believe I did it!"

I could also tell the minute it started to go wrong. The magic in the room surged and the flame leapt higher, as Morgana's face morphed into one of fear.

"Morgana, don't be frightened, you made this, you can control it!" I told her urgently, keeping my voice low. The frightened noble screwed her eyes shut, clenched her hands into fists and made herself take a few deep breaths. Slowly, but surely, the flame lessened and returned back to normal.

"It's okay, you can look now. Just let go of the magic. Imagine yourself cutting a bright gold string somewhere deep inside you," I said calmly, still holding the bucket up.

Morgana opened her eyes, and, though the fear was still obviously present, it didn't seem all consuming anymore. I knew the moment she had cut off her magic, and set the bucket down. I sighed and offered her a relieved smile. "See, that wasn't so bad, was it?"

The Lady looked at me incredulously, her breathing still a little fast. I could imagine how fast her heart was racing.

"Oh, come on, you didn't set the room on fire, and managed to get yourself back under control without my interference. I think that counts as great, especially for a first lesson," I reassured her.

Morgana slumped. "Goodness… I think that was the hardest thing I've ever done."

I smiled and took up the brush again to comb the Lady's hair. "Nothing's ever easy the first few times, Morgana. And besides, magic isn't like anything else in the world. You should picture it as… little streams, running all through you. And somewhere at your centre, you've got a lake. Yours is just bigger than most people's, so it's harder to control the little creeks. If you focus a little bit too hard, they might converge into a great big river and be too much for you to control," I tried to explain as I set the brush down and started braiding. "But as long as you don't get too emotional, and don't pour too much energy into what you're trying to do, you should be fine. A little creek only needs a few stones to stop it from moving."

"Won't the creeks overflow, though?" she asked me, going along with the metaphor.

I grinned at her in the mirror. "No, it'll just flow back to the lake inside. Not a perfect comparison, I know."

Morgana gave me a smile in return, a genuine one, and it warmed my heart that she was still capable of that. She looked even more tired now, though, so I put a tie in her hair and guided her to the bed. "You should get some sleep. I'll be here if you wake up, and I'll help you get yourself under control again, I promise."

Morgana looked at me with such gratitude that I felt guilty for a moment, for not telling her about my own gift, but I brushed it swiftly aside. "Thank you, Merlynn, you're a true friend."

And with that, I tucked the older woman in, almost like a child, and sat with her for as long as she needed me.

A/N: Tell me what you think (and I'm sorry it's so short, feel free to shout at me in a review! ^^)