A/N: Warnings for minor sexual adult scenes in line with the T rating for this story.

Chapter 10: The Wedding

Merlin saw little of Morgana during the next few days, although the negotiations continued with even more urgency, as the subtle details of the marriage alliance and everything it entailed in regards to land were agreed upon.

After a week of long and drawn-out talks the social events recommenced and, at long last, Merlin was able to spend more time with his betrothed, although always in company and always with a chaperone in tow; a middle aged lady who glared fiercely at the pair if ever they got within touching distance. Morgana's raised eyebrows spoke volumes and Merlin admitted that he was baffled – assuming this was all some type of English etiquette that he was unaware of.

"It's one thing to come over here and marry someone I've only just met," Merlin complained to Arthur, "but you'd think that, now we are betrothed, we'd get some chance to talk alone – some chance to find out about each other before the actual day."

"Not without a chaperone, I'm afraid," Arthur replied with a small smile. "There are strict rules about your interactions before marriage and on the day itself, to be honest. Morgana's honour is at stake after all."

"But, that doesn't make any sense," Merlin complained. "I'm the one who's going to be her husband, after all."

"Things are not so strict in Wales then?" Arthur asked.

"No," Merlin replied. "There is far more freedom there as a wedding approaches, especially for the girls. In fact, with our particular ceremony, it's vital to know as much about the person as possible beforehand."

Arthur started to respond then, perhaps asking for more details of the Welsh wedding ceremony but, at that moment, the girls came over to them and that meant, in this public situation, that they had an excuse to talk together, even if talking was all they could do.

Merlin also managed to exchange a few words with Gwen in Welsh – despite their earlier promise – and gathered that Morgana was feeling just as frustrated by the lack of time they were able to spend together as he was. Merlin started to wonder if there was any way to get around the system – perhaps use magic despite his promise to Uther? What sort of power did Morgana possess, anyway? Would she be able to hear him if he tried to communicate with her silently?

In the end, none of that was necessary as, a couple of days later, he answered a knock on his door to find Morgana outside, wearing a dark green, hooded cloak and a conspiratorial smile.

"What are you doing here?" Merlin hissed, looking outside into the corridor nervously.

"Coming to talk to my betrothed, despite these ridiculous English customs," she replied.

"How did you escape your jailer?" he asked and she giggled at his turn of phrase.

"Gwen helped there. She asked Arthur to take her out for a walk this afternoon which meant that her need for Alice's presence was greater than mine."

Merlin grinned. "I thought she would have just arranged for someone else to stay with you?"

"I had a sleepless night and a terrible headache," Morgana replied, putting one hand to her head over-dramatically. "So, I was fast asleep when they left and in no fit state to socialise."

"Of course you weren't," he said with a laugh, sitting down on the settee and patting the material, inviting her to join him. She did so with a gentle smile and he quickly took her hands as he had before. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Talk? Who said I wanted to talk?" she replied with an especially wicked grin.

"But I'm hearing that all English ladies are sweet and innocent and their virtue should be protected at all cost," Merlin continued, also smiling.

"But I'm not English, am I?"

"Apparently not," he teased. "Apparently you really are Welsh – despite your upbringing."

"So, girls are not so innocent over there then?"

"Perhaps not, although I'm not sure I have enough knowledge to answer that question. One for Gwen, perhaps." He paused, looking at her closely. "What is it, really, Morgana?"

"I don't know. I'm just confused, I suppose. I'm being told about how to act, what to expect, how to behave. Ever since I came here Uther has told me to forget my old life, family and country and to think of myself as English. I never agreed with that – fought him so much but, in the end, I had little choice in the matter. Now I've been talking to Gwen and learning more about Wales and especially how different the marriage customs are there and … I suppose." She sighed deeply. "I suppose I just find it annoying that I've learnt more about my old home in the last week than I have from Uther in all the years I've been here. Now I'm to enter this marriage with practically no preparation at all and I'm finding it even more daunting than a bride typically would."

"So, how can I help? Are there any questions you want to ask me? Anything at all?"

"Yes but, in a little while. First..." She smiled shyly. "First I would like you to kiss me."

He grinned "Now, I'm quite certain that isn't allowed."

"Not for a courting English couple perhaps but then, we're not, are we?"

He smiled in response and leaned forward slowly, touching his lips to hers very, very gently. He pulled away after almost immediately but Morgana was having none of it, leaning in and searching for more. He kissed her a little deeper then, pushing his thoughts towards her in order to see if he could communicate with her in a magical way. He didn't receive any obvious response from her, but she did start to kiss him back a bit harder, perhaps subconsciously aware of the connection he had just initiated.

Before Merlin knew what had happened, things were getting passionate and when Arthur casually strode into Merlin's chambers after his walk with Gwen, it was to find the pair lying down on the settee and kissing furiously, hands wandering everywhere.

"Merlin!"

The young Welshman attempted to jump up quickly but was hampered by the fact that Morgana's hands were up his shirt and her skirts tangled around his legs. The Prince started to head towards his friend, anger flashing in his eyes, but then saw Morgana smirking and quickly re-evaluated the situation.

"You're both as bad as each other!" he exclaimed. "Go back to your chambers, Morgana, before Father discovers what you were doing."

"I don't see what the problem is?" she replied with a laugh as strode towards the door, stroking the creases out of her dress as she walked. "I only wanted to test out the merchandise before the sale was finalised."

"Morgana!"

~o~0~o~

Merlin had never been so nervous as he was walking into Morgana's chambers on the night of their wedding. He had deliberately only drunk enough to calm his nerves and the couple had left as early as was polite but, after the banquet, formal English custom dictated they went their own way so that servants could 'prepare' them for their wedding night. What preparation could possible be needed? Merlin wondered as he sent away the young servant he'd been assigned, informing him brusquely that he was quite able to change clothes himself. He also ignored the garments that had been laid out for him on the bed, instead choosing the loose fitting white wedding outfit he would have worn during a Welsh ceremony. Honestly, all he wanted to do was to spend some time with his new wife alone, was that really too much to ask?

Merlin walked into Morgana's chambers to find his new wife sitting up in bed, her hair still styled as it had been at the wedding, but now dressed in an attractive lace nightdress which was still far more modest than the Welsh wedding attire.

"What are you wearing?" she asked him with a frown.

"I was going to ask the same of you," he retorted. "I was also going to ask why you're over there?"

"In bed?" She arched an elegant eyebrow. "I thought that much would have been obvious."

"Perhaps but, haven't we got some catching up to do first?" Merlin walked over to a small table and poured two mead into the two goblets that were sitting on the silver tray near to the fire. "Come and have a drink, Morgana, and let's do this our way."

"The Welsh way?"

He laughed. "Well, this fire is a bit smaller than the one we typically use but, yes, why not. Let's drink and dance around the fire as we do in Wales."

She smiled brightly and jumped out of bed quickly, almost skipping over and Merlin's heart started to pound as she came closer. Yes, the nightdress was rather more modest than the Welsh wedding attire, but it was still considerably less clothing that he'd seen her in to date. She seemed just as interested in what he was wearing; her eyes looking him up and down as she took the goblet off him, a small smile on her lips as she obviously appreciated how thin and revealing his clothes were.

"Seems odd to see you without that neckerchief on," she commented.

"I can put it back on if you want, my lady," he replied cheekily, "but I assumed you'd rather I started taking things off."

Her eyes went wide at this and she smiled slightly, but did not comment on it. "So, we dance around the fire?" she asked quietly instead.

"Yes, although that does tend to make one very warm," he replied, putting his drink down and taking into her arms.

"I imagine so," she answered quietly.

He leant down to kiss her but, although she responded wholeheartedly, and despite the temptation to move things forwards, Merlin pulled gently away from her after a fairly short time, not wanting to rush things.

"So then, we usually feel the need to remove some layers..." he continued, quickly removing his shirt before starting to move back towards her.

Morgana halted his progress briefly – placing both of her palms on his bare chest and then gently moving them upwards, caressing him. "I think I like the sound of this Welsh wedding," she said, as her hands slid up to his shoulders.

She tipped her head up towards him then, looking for another kiss, and Merlin obliged, pressing himself closely against her and deciding that he was definitely looking forward to the night ahead.

"And are you beginning to feel a little too hot yet?" he asked her some time later.

"You know, Merlin. I do believe I am," she replied with a sly grin.

~o~0~o~

Merlin woke several times that night and each time was surprised and delighted to find Morgana in his embrace; legs, arms and hair entwined around him. When one of them awoke the other quickly followed and that would inevitably lead to other things.

Then, for a while after their love making, they'd just hold each other close and talk a little about their lives until one or the other fell asleep again.

"Tell me more about how you came to be Uther's ward," Merlin asked her as they lay on their sides facing each other, and he gazed at her beautiful face as it glowed by the faint light of the flickering candles. He knew the history of the Powys takeover, of course, but it was a very different thing to hear the account from someone who'd actually been there.

"Uther and my father were involved in alliance negotiations when Cenred's father attacked," Morgana began, "In fact the English party, including Gaius and Arthur's uncle, were there when it happened."

"Is that how you were able to escape?"

"Yes. Caradog's ruthlessness was well known and it was obvious that he would be looking for his enemy's three daughters. It probably wasn't his intention to kill us – we'd be far more use to him alive but, you know how it is? Soldiers in wartime … sometimes 'accidents' happen." She blinked briefly and bit her lip. "My father knew that Caradog was unlikely to spare his life though and so begged Gaius and Agravaine to find his daughters and take them back to England – out of harm's way. However, the battle had arrived inside the castle far quicker than anyone had expected and, as they searched, they found my middle sister dead and couldn't find my eldest anywhere. With no time left, they decided to cut their losses and leave with just me."

"That's terrible but … Morgause survived?"

"I didn't know that for some time, of course. We all assumed she'd been killed just as Elaine had, but it wasn't long before the good news reached England. With Morgause being older, practically a woman, she had soon realised the danger she was in and had left for her own safety, deciding to run to the man she was betrothed too, hoping that she'd be well received and kept safe there."

"Prince Lot?"

"Yes. Before the attack I can often remember her complaining about not wanting to marry 'some fat, old prince' and generally being upset about not having a say in such things but, in the end, I suppose she must have realised that it was the only way she could keep herself safe."

"Were you able to get back in touch then?" Merlin asked.

"No, that's what I was starting to tell you before. Uther wouldn't let me." The flicker of the candles appeared to made her eyes suddenly burn like fire and Merlin could see the anger behind her quiet words. "He said I should forget my old family and concentrate on the new."

"But that's not right," Merlin complained. "She's of your blood. You should be able to keep in touch with her, at least."

"That's what I said but, of course, Uther never paid any attention to my opinion. Eventually, news of my survival got back to Wales too but there was nothing Caradog could do about it by then. I suppose in that, at least, I have something to be grateful to Uther for." She gave him a weak smile, but Merlin could see it was an act. The hurt she felt still very much in evidence.

"Well, all that changes now that you're my wife," he declared. "I'm to stay here for a while yet but, when I do go home, you can come with me."

"And you'd let me contract my sister?" she asked hopefully.

"What? But, of course." He was shocked that she even felt the need to ask.

"Thank you, Merlin," her voice was quiet now – on the edge of sleep and it wasn't long before he joined her.

~o~0~o~

"I was suppose to attend Uther's petition session this morning," Merlin complained as they awoke some hours later to find the sun well risen.

"You're not missing much, believe me," Morgana mumbled, wrapping her arms around his waist as he started to get up, pulling him back towards her and snuggling closer.

"I know but..."

"You're newly married," she continued, her hands starting to caress him in a way that was already becoming pleasantly familiar. "You're quite entitled to spend the morning after with your wife … in bed."

"Yes, I know, it's just..."

"Yes, Merlin?" she asked with a small giggle, nibbling at his ear and then gently blowing in it; something she had already discovered was guaranteed to ensure she would get her own way.

It looked like he was going to be very late.

~o~0~o~

Merlin missed much of that meeting, including the most interesting bit; the appearance of the strange old man who had lectured Uther in front of his whole court and spoke of magic and dragons. Merlin was fairly confident he knew what sort of conversation had taken place but wanted to be certain, and it didn't take much to persuade Arthur that his Welsh knowledge could be of use to him in this situation. So, shortly after the meeting had finished, Merlin was walking down several flights of stairs towards the cells in order to talk to the old man.

"Ah … the Red dragon," he intoned as Merlin approached.

"Apparently." The young man looked at him suspiciously. "Am I supposed to know you?"

"There is no reason for you to. My name is Kilgharrah and I simply came here to deliver a message to King Uther."

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "You couldn't have just written him a letter?" The old man gave a short bark of laughter but didn't reply. "He plans to have you executed, you know?" the young man continued.

"And with my death he will quickly bring about his own."

"Is that a threat?" Merlin asked suspiciously.

"No, young warlock, it is but the truth."

"Right..." Why did these type of people always have to be so cryptic?

"But I am glad to have seen the Gold and the Red before the end. I also hope to see the White?"

"Morgana?"

"You do not seem certain," the old man noted.

Merlin shrugged. "All of that Tricoloured Dragon stuff is my father's obsession, not mine."

"And yet it is your destiny."

"What if I don't accept that?"

"None of us can choose our destiny, Merlin and none of us can escape it."

He raised his eyes to the ceiling. "So, what happens now?" he asked.

"Your arrival in Camelot has set the wheels of destiny in motion. Events are now happening whether you will them to or not. My death will be the first but not the last in the months to come."

"I can get you out of here, you know," Merlin pushed. "It will be easy enough. I can set you free."

"No, my time is at an end now – this is fated."

"But..." Merlin heard the sound of a door closing and jumped away from the bars guiltily.

"I ask but one favour before you leave," Kilgharrah said then.

"Of course."

"Send your wife to me. I wish to meet her." Merlin looked at the old man suspiciously. "I mean her no harm but there are things she needs to know and I too have to be certain that everything is made ready."

"You're sure she'll know the answers? She's even less aware of any of this than I am."

"She has some answers – that is all that matters."

Merlin looked over his shoulder nervously before turning back to the old man. "Please let me help you escape," he pushed.

"No, you need to go now. It was a true honour to meet you, Red Dragon."

~o~0~o~