Found out the other day that fanfiction now has spell-check for uploaded stories, just thought I'd say in case any of you didn't know, it's really useful :)

And if anyone's interested I have recently posted a humorous Sherlock one-shot called 'Beside the Sea' feel free to check it out! :) In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 10

The Doubt

He couldn't stop thinking about her, not from the moment he sneaked out of the tallest tower. It turned out it was a guard who was walking past the corridor, and fortunately not Uther. Merlin managed to easily slip past him, after all, it was a Camelot guard, and head back down to his chamber, but of course sleep didn't come. There were so many emotions going around his head.

One of them was anger, Merlin couldn't believe Uther had done something like this. Killing people just because they had magic was bad enough, but locking away an innocent girl, his own ward? Arthur said Morgana had been cursed, but she wasn't cursed, there was nothing wrong with her. What was Uther thinking?

Merlin wondered if he should tell Arthur, someone had to know, and Arthur might be able to do something about it. He certainly wouldn't stand for something like this, he had a good heart, and he was one of the few people his tyrant of a father would listen to. Of course he knew he couldn't burst into Arthur's chamber right now and confess everything that he knew and had seen, the Prince would be far from happy, but he had to say something, he had to do something for Morgana.

She seemed like a nice girl, and very beautiful. At first she was scared, but then when she realised Merlin didn't mean any harm, she began to relax a little more, and then she said she wanted to see him again. For some reason Merlin felt a great elation at this, and promised he would see her again and he was determined he would, but at the same time he felt like he needed to do something more, he just wasn't sure what exactly.

The same thoughts went round and round Merlin's head as he finally drifted off to sleep.

Gaius raised his infamous eyebrow when he saw Merlin yawn for the third time in fifteen minutes. The Young Warlock was taking a lot of interest in his porridge, poking his breakfast with his spoon, a sign that there was something on his mind.

"Had a bad night's sleep Merlin?" Gaius asked.

Merlin's head jerked up, as if he didn't even know the physician was there. For a moment his sleepy mind wondered if Gaius knew where he had been last night, his tone of voice sounded a little suspicious. But then he realised Gaius was probably asking out of curiosity and concern, his exhaustion must be clear on his face, Merlin certainly felt it.

He nodded, yawning again. "Just lots of things on my mind," he explained, hoping that that would be the end of the conversation. If there was one person he found almost impossible to lie to, it was Gaius.

Besides, Gaius wouldn't know about Morgana in the tower...would he?

"Anything in particular on your mind?" Gaius asked.

Merlin hesitated, because there most certainly was, he just didn't know how to say it and he still felt so frustrated at Uther. In the end he sighed and said; "Gaius, why do you support Uther?"

The physician looked at Merlin carefully, who looked back down and continued to take a lot of interest in his breakfast, "What do you mean?"

"Why do you still stand by the King?" Merlin questioned, "So many people with magic have turned away from him because of what he has done to us, yet you still support him. Why?"

"It's my duty, I am the court physician." But the look on Merlin's face told Gaius this wasn't enough. "It will change nothing if I turn against the King," Gaius explained with a small sigh. "And I have you to look after now, I cannot afford to put my life in danger. The King trusts me and I must trust him, even though he has done some terrible things. If I am not on the same side as Uther, I will be turning against Arthur as well, and I can see him becoming a good King, he'll be able to change things and you know that too. I see no good in becoming enemies with Uther."

"But what if he had done something terrible, worse than he normally did, what would you think, would you do anything?"

Gaius raised his eyebrow again, "What are you implying Merlin?" He asked.

The Young Warlock wasn't sure what to say, should he tell Gaius about Morgana? "It's just that he has done so many terrible things, he's had so many people killed just because of who they are." He said, "And some are imprisoned for no reason." He added after a pause.

"I'm sure there's a reason Merlin," Gaius assured him.

But Merlin couldn't quite see a reason why Uther would lock up his own ward, and she was only a child when it happened. Who would do that to a child? He could feel himself getting angry again, but he tried to keep calm. "Yes, but there probably isn't a good enough reason to do it, so why do you still stand by him? If you found out Uther had done something really bad to an innocent person, wouldn't you say something?"

Gaius sighed, "I know it can be very hard for you sometimes Merlin. Your job to protect Arthur, whatever the cost, means that Uther has to be protected too, and sometimes he doesn't deserve that. Our people have suffered a lot because of him, but one day Camelot will welcome those with magic with open arms, and no one will have to live in fear any more. We can't turn against Camelot just because of Uther, we must think of the future, not the past. It's difficult for me as well, I have seen a lot of friends die over the years, but I will stand by my King."

Merlin paused, Gaius had just said some very brave words, and he knew they were the right words. He had never heard Gaius speak so honestly about his thoughts on the King before. Unfortunately Merlin also knew that if he now told Gaius about Morgana, the physician wouldn't try to change things, it would be unlikely that he would do anything about it. He may talk to the King to try and help Morgana, but the King doesn't listen to servants, and Gaius could well also say that there was nothing they could do apart from hope that one day Morgana would be released from the tower.

Arthur might think the same, and Merlin had already thought about the consequences if the Prince turned against his father after finding out about Morgana. Was it true that Camelot had to come first?

"Is there anything in particular that's made you question the King all of a sudden?" Gaius interrupted his thoughts.

Merlin hesitated again, but in the end, he shook his head. This wasn't the day to tell Gaius about Morgana, and he had only known about her for less than twenty-four hours, maybe it would be easier after more time. There was always another day. "No, nothing, it was just something on my mind last night."

Throughout the day Merlin said nothing more in connection to Morgana, even though it was constantly on his mind. He longed to tell Arthur, but for some reason felt he shouldn't, and never really found the right opportunity to tell him the truth, not even when they were preparing to go hunting and Arthur said:

"Merlin, why did my father tell me to be careful of any swamps today?"

"Don't know Sire, maybe there's a...swamp infestation."

Arthur raised his eyebrow and muttered something about Merlin being an idiot, but nothing more was said on the matter.

Nonetheless that night Merlin found himself buzzing with excitement. As soon as he was sure Gaius was asleep he crept out his chamber, taking a torch with him this time so as not to startle Morgana. He was lucky not to get caught as he rushed down corridors and up stairs, so excited he didn't think about whether anyone might be waiting round the next corner. He finally reached the entrance to the tallest tower, the corridor was once more deserted, and the door locked, but without hesitating he unlocked the door with his magic and stepped inside.

Moving up the stairs more cautiously now, Merlin it was just ask dark as before and Merlin was grateful for his torch, he felt a pang of sympathy for Morgana, having to live in this darkness. When Merlin reached the top of the steps he thought once more the tower was empty, he couldn't see Morgana anywhere. But when he called out her name she suddenly appeared from one of the side chambers, a smile on her face.

"Hello Merlin," she said, "I was wondering when I might see you again."