Hello my dears. I would like to thank OechsnerC and Meri Ley (Guest) for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Merlin was laying back in the grass on the edge of the woods that surrounded Camelot, staring up at the sky. He was supposed to be picking herbs for Gaius, but he had decided instead to take a break. After all he still ached all over from the morning training session with the prat. Merlin wasn't sure if it had been Arthur's way of taking out his frustration at the fact he had confessed to his love for Morgana, or if it was the prince's way of showing his support. But whichever it was, it had left him feeling like a walking bruise. If only he could tell that colt pole the truth, that he didn't need to know how to weld weapons, because he had one more powerful than any Arthur could train him to use. But he couldn't, so he would just have to suffer in silence, or well maybe not silence so much. Why should Arthur have the pleasure of not listening to him whining while he beat the crap out of him? Only seemed fair in Merlin's mind.
he was so far into enjoying the feel of the sun on his skin he almost missed the person exiting the gates, but when he did he found that even though she was hidden under a hood, he still knew exactly who it was. He had seen her sneaking around Camelot enough of late to be able to recognise the way she walked. He wondered want she was up to and tried to consider what he should do. He could hide and follow her… or he could keep her company. That was certainly a new idea, but considering he was supposedly under her love spell it made sense to him. Plus it would give him a chance to question her about her and Morgause's latest plans without having guards just a door away. Well it looked like his break was over then, back to saving the kingdom and all that.
"Morgana, to what do I owe this greatest of pleasures?" He asked stepping out from behind a tree and smirking to himself when he saw her jump. He rather liked that he could get the drop on her still.
"Merlin. I was just taking a walk." Morgana replied letting out a deep breath when she realised it was only he who had found her. She knew she shouldn't be out her alone in broad daylight, but she needed to get away. Needed to leave the stuffiness of the castle. She needed time and space to think without Gwen's concerned eyes asking if she was okay, or whether she wanted lunch, or maybe needed to see Gaius. No, what she needed was to be out of the suffocating wall of protectiveness that was Camelot.
"Without a guard to protect you, my lady? Is that wise? Or are you meeting up with Morgause?" Merlin asked in a casual tone, no hint of venom in his words. After all they both knew he knew she was seeing her sister still, and as he was supposedly under her spell, he felt no qualms in bringing it up.
"If I wish to see my sister, it is no concern of yours." Morgana snapped back, her tone slipping back to the one she usually had when she spoke to Merlin now-a-days, well before the enchantment at any rate.
"But I could not stand anything from happening to you. I love you too much for you to get hurt." Merlin responded making his eyes go wide and putting an innocent look upon his face. He wondered if he was laying it on to thick, if she would see through his charade, but from all the enchanted people, read Arthur, he had seen, well they did go rather over the top.
"I know that Merlin, but no harm will come to me. I can protect myself." Morgana replied her tone softening as she lay a gentle hand on his arm and smiled up at him to let him know she appreciated the thought, but that they both knew she had powers that no one else did. She would be fine.
"I know. But that does not stop me worrying." Merlin answered in the same tone as he moved unconsciously and lifted his hand to sweep a lock of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes away, tucking it safely behind her ear without a thought. It wasn't until Morgana leaned softly into his touch he realised what he was doing, how intimate such a simple gesture could be. They stood like that for more than a few breathes before Morgana straightened and Merlin lowered his hand and clasped them behind his back in the perfect servant pose as he asked "May I accompany you?"
"Do you not have duties?" Morgana asked. She had hoped to be alone, but the idea of having Merlin with her was not as abhorrent as she thought it would be. In fact she could even go as far to say it would be nice, if she didn't hate him that was.
"I'm picking herbs for Gaius. But that can wait, noting is more important than you." Merlin responded instantly, and well, it wasn't a lie. She was the key to Camelot's survival. If he could get her to their side then the future he dreamed of would be one step closer to happening. So if you look at it that way, there really was nothing more important than spending time with her.
"Very well." Morgana conceded, and as she did so she realised that she suddenly had a unique opportunity to pick Merlin's mind about Arthur. She thanked the goddess in silence for this chance. She needed to know if there was any chance that her dream could indeed one day become a reality.
The two of them continued on in silence, but it was a comfortable one, if not a little strange. They had never been together alone like this before. Before Morgana left they had only had hurried meetings, mainly so she could discuss her powers with the only one who knew of them. And since her return their times alone had been filled with hissed threats and on occasion physical fights. So this was new to the both of them. To be walking side by side in peace, to be strolling as courting couples did, even if they weren't, well they were, but not. So yes, strange was a very apt word to describe it.
As they walked they both thought, both wondered how to get the other to do as they wished, to achieve their own objective. Merlin wondering if he could quiz her about Morgause and any plans they had in the works, while at the same time trying to bring her round to his way of thinking. Wondering for the first time how he was going to go about changing Morgana's mind. It would not be easy that was for sure, and he couldn't be obvious, he needed to be subtle about it. After all she believed he was still enchanted.
Morgana for her part was wondering what Merlin knew. What he could tell her about her brother. Therefore after they had walked some way away from the castle walls she finally spoke.
"Merlin, what does Arthur think of magic?" She asked deciding to take it head on. No need to manipulate him to get him to answer. The joys of having him under her spell.
"Why are you asking me? You could ask him yourself." Merlin hedged. He had not been expecting that question and he had no idea how to answer it. Because in truth he really had no idea what Arthur thought about the subject. Oh he had heard him say many times that magic was evil, but he didn't know if that was his true believe or if he thought more things that he never said. It would be treason to voice them aloud after all, even for the crown prince of Camelot, especially for the crown prince of Camelot.
"I could, but you are closer to him than any other. He will tell you things he would never tell me. Please?" Morgana asked stopping walking and instead turned to face the man with her. What he said next would be pivotal to the decisions she needed to make. What Merlin said now could decide for her the path she choose to walk, whether she would continue to fight Arthur, or maybe think of ways to aid him instead. It all depended on what Merlin told her here and now, because she knew he wouldn't lie to her. What came out of his mouth would be nothing but the truth. And that was what she needed.
Merlin sighed when she stopped walking and looked at him intently, he knew he wasn't going to get out of answering her. But maybe that was a good thing, maybe he could help her see what he did in the prince, help her see his vision of the future rather than the warped one her sister had force fed her for the year she had been away. Therefore taking a deep breath and looking her right in the eyes he replied.
"He has been raised from his birth to believe it evil and all those who practise deserve death. But there have been occasions where he has questioned that belief. Questioned whether all those who use magic are evil. I like to think that if someone could show him the good it could do he would be able to change his mind. That one day he will accept those with magic, as he does those without."
"How can you think that? How can you possibly expect him to change his mind so completely? He is his father's son." Morgana hissed, instantly going on the offensive as her walls rose. She could already see he was thinking she could be the one to show her brother the good magic could do, but she would not, no could not do that. She could not risk her life that way, and surely Merlin would never ask her to.
"No he's not. Arthur will be a great king, and he will bring peace to all." Merlin insisted grabbing hold of her hands and holding them tight so she couldn't walk away from him. Looking deep into her eyes so she couldn't look away. He needed her to believe him. Needed her to see what he dreamed of. Needed her to share that dream with him.
"You truly believe that don't you?" Morgana asked in quite wonder. What had Arthur done to gain this man's loyalty to this degree? What was it about her brother that held him steadfast to what he was saying? What did he know, what had he seen, that made him such a strong a defender of Arthur Pendragon, even while under the strongest of enchantments?
"In my very soul. I have seen the man he will come, glimpses here and there. There is a chance to be free Morgana, without destroy the kingdom to achieve it." Merlin replied earnestly, willing her to believe him. Willing her to join him in creating the golden age of Albion.
"But how much time will we have to wait before my people and I know this freedom?" Morgana asked in exasperation. It was all very well talking about what Arthur would do when he became king, but he wasn't now. People with magic were dying, she could not stand back and let that happen when she could change their fate. And she forgot for a moment the dream she had and how Arthur was not that much older than now, how it had shown her that it would not be long before he took the throne from their father.
"Arthur is not yet ready to be king, and if Uther dies because of magic, he will turn away from it." Merlin replied sternly, already knowing what she was thinking. He needed to make sure she stopped trying to kill Uther. It would not help anyone's cause if she succeeded.
"Is that your way of telling me to not kill the king, Merlin? Because I think you need to work on your subtly." Morgana responded with a smirk, humour appearing in her eyes briefly as Merlin chuckled at her words.
"I have no need with you, my love." Merlin answered, the endearment slipping out without thought, he didn't even register he had used it as he continued talking. "I know what you want, and I want it to. I want you to live without fear, to be at peace, but it will take time. You need patience. Arthur will bring you all you wish for when he becomes king. But not until he is ready to take the crown."
"But what if you are wrong?" Morgana whispered, her fear rising inside her at what could happen if she did nothing. If she choose the path to support Arthur. What would happen if he didn't change anything? What would they do if he continued to fight and kill those with magic? How could she possibly stand by and let that happen?
"Then we will find another way, but give him a chance to prove himself first, please, for me. I do not want to have to fight either one of you. I love you both." Merlin replied without thought. Because he knew when the time came Arthur would support them, he would bring magic back. So there really was no need for a backup plan. Because Arthur was the prophesied once and future king, and he would live up to those words.
At that silence once more settled between them. But this was different. It was charged with something neither of them understood. It was almost as if destiny herself was holding her breath waiting for Morgana to make her decision. But she knew she could not do it now. There was too much in her mind to choose a path, choose who to follow, in that moment. Therefore squeezing Merlin's hands she released them as she spoke. "I will think about it. I need to return now, and I believe you have some herbs to collect?"
"Indeed I do, my lady." Merlin replied, but rather than step away from the lady in front of him, he pulled her into his arms, settling his lips once more upon hers. He wasn't sure why, but something inside him was driving him to do this. Driving him to show Morgana what she meant to him.
The kiss was reminiscent of the previous ones they shared, but this time the passion it contained surprised neither of them. Therefore they did not hesitate to wrap their arms around each other as their lips met and the magic they both had within them rose to rejoice at the joining. Called out to its counterpart, and gloried in the idea of working together rather than against each other.
Finally Merlin pulled back and stepped away from the lady in front of him. Letting his arms drop away so he could reach for her hand and bow over it, planting a kiss on her knuckles with a smoothness and pomp that many courtiers would be jealous of.
"Until next time." He said gently before releasing her to let her return to the castle, watching as she walked away, until he could no longer make out her form. At that point he turned to task he should have been doing before, collecting herbs for Gaius.
When Morgana returned she had planned to rest before dinner, and then request Merlin bring her another tonic so they could speak so more this evening. Talk more about the thoughts that were swirling in her mind. But upon her arrival she discovered a patrol had just returned with news of bandits in the Darkling Woods. She knew what that meant. Arthur would led the knights out to fight them, and Merlin would be at his side. But maybe that would be for the best. It would give her a chance to think over all he had said this afternoon, give her a chance to reflect on all she had learnt that day. Yes, time and space away from the man she was startled to discover, she was finding it very hard to continue to hate. What was happening to her? What was it about Merlin that affected her so? And why did she find her mind returning to the image from her dream of him smiling at her with love in his eyes as he bowed to his king, an image that was so very similar to the one she had just left in the forest, of him bowing over her hand.