Chapter 11

Merlin had barely survived the day of chores. Every time he thought he'd finished, there was Arthur ready to give him another task. Merlin collapsed on his bed. It was well into the night already and he hadn't even had time for dinner. He couldn't blame Arthur for working him so hard; missing the first day of work for the royal pratness had really gotten him off on the wrong foot.

The irony was that he would have never done that four years ago. And now, he could miss a day or two with Arthur but because he'd earned Arthur's trust, it was excusable. But being back here in the past meant that he had to earn that trust all over again.

Merlin groaned loudly. Being in the past was getting very old, no pun intended. Could Morgana have really destroyed the present Camelot? Did she have that power? It was a question he'd been asking himself for a while, after all he knew he was more powerful than her and yet he didn't possess that power.

He burst out into the main room where Gaius was doing some late night reading over candlelight.

"Gaius, is it possible to destroy an entire present in order to travel to the past?" Merlin spat out in a huff.

Gaius looked him over with that scrutiny he was so well known for, "Why do you ask such a thing Merlin?"

Merlin clearly hadn't thought this through. Gaius didn't trust him yet and probably thought that he wanted to destroy this Camelot.

"Just…curious….I don't mean to do so myself of course! Just…is it possible? That's all."

Gaius thought for a moment. "I do not know. Honestly Merlin, you ask me for knowledge only dragons possess." And with that Gaius was reading his book again, a very clear way of dismissing the conversation.

"Dragons! Of course! Thank you, Gaius!" Merlin appreciatively patted Gaius on the back as he ran out the door.

"Thank me for what? Where are you going?" Gaius called after him, more confused than ever.

"Knowledge only dragons posses." Merlin repeated softly to himself and smiled, Gaius always knew what to say, even when he didn't. Merlin tried to not bring attention to himself as he walked down the hall, but he was anxious to get some answers.

He slipped through the door, which was surprisingly unguarded. Morgana turned sharply as he eased the door closed. She appraised him in silence, clearly trying to deduce how to respond to his presence.

She looked sinfully beautiful sitting in front of her vanity, probably combing her hair before bed. Her nightdress was thin silk and not even the translucent robe she was wearing could hide how well it fit her body.

Merlin shook his head trying to shake out the thoughts; he took a few steps so that he was standing squarely in front of her.

"You weren't at dinner," Morgana was the first to break the silence.

"Ah no, I think at that point I was knee deep in horse manure, or perhaps that was when Arthur volunteered me to step in for Uther's Groom of Stool, a job that he assured me was quite the honor. Do you know what agroom of stool does? I had to literally wipe Uther's ass!" Merlin said animatedly.

Morgana cold mask broke as she let out a muffled laugh. Merlin crossed his arms defiantly, "There is certainly nothing funny about having to watch the King do his business, wipe him, and then clean up the mess." Merlin muttered absently.

At this, Morgana lost control of her laughter. Merlin couldn't remember ever seeing her laugh like this before, and he found himself chuckling a long. "I'm…sorry…you had to wipe Uther's ass!" Morgana managed between the laughter.

Suddenly the gleeful Morgana was gone and the dark one had reappeared. "Why are you here?" She said in a subdued tone, choking away the last of the laughter.

Merlin straightened his shirt. Right, he was here for a reason, he reassured himself. "I came because I need you to know something." He fidgeted for a moment, he really hadn't thought through how he was going to say this. Morgana's face was a tight mask that looked as though it might break depending on his next words.

"I need you to know that I want to go back to our time. And your coming with me," He said softly. "We can't do this over again, Morgana. You know that. Plus we've already changed the timeline so much by…well um you know, our late night extracurriculars. We can't stay here. You know you could have had a second chance in our time, don't you? Arthur will always forgive you and shelter you." Merlin looked at her wide-eyed, trying to read her response.

She folded her hands together in her lap, staring at them for quite sometime. "I know he would. That's the problem," She said more to herself than to Merlin. "He's too good, He wouldn't give me the punishment I deserve. I want to earn that forgiveness."

"How? By living in the past?" Merlin asked, incredulously.

"Yes, Merlin. By living in the past. Can you think of a worse punishment for me than to live as Uther's dutiful ward once again?" Morgana gave him a hard look.

Merlin shook his head, of course she was trying to punish herself. But even when she was trying to be noble and earn forgiveness she was being selfish. She obviously hadn't stopped to think of the havoc this would wreak on everyone else's lives.

Merlin sighed, he couldn't produce the right words so he decided to change the subject. "I know someone helped you with the spell."

It was Morgana's turn to cross her arms defiantly. Merlin added knowingly, "Aithusa?"

Morgana was taken aback. "How…how do you know about him?"

"I found him and I named him. I watched him hatch. But what I want to know is how do you know about him? And how you got him to help you? Only dragons possess the knowledge of spells like the one you cast to destroy Camelot," Merlin looked at her expectantly.

"How do you know I did not receive aid from Kilgharrah?" Morgana jutted her chin out, clearly avoiding answering his questions.

"Because Kilgharrah hates you," Merlin answered tiredly. "Just tell me what happened Morgana, if we're going to be allies we need full disclosure." Merlin threw that excuse back at her.

Morgana narrowed her eyes angrily, but after a moment gave in. "I was dying on the forest floor, and Aithusa found me. He saved me…he breathed life into me. But he breathed more than life, he imparted onto me the knowledge of the dragons and made me see that I would never win in that present," Morgana said vengefully. "But he also made me see the error in my ways," she added quickly.

Merlin felt it in that moment, something he'd felt many times with Morgana. That pang of distrust, his mind screamed at him warnings not to trust her but his heart always wanted to believe there was good in her. She eyed him now carefully, trying to test if he bought it, he guessed angrily.

She got up slowly and waltzed over to him. He swallowed hard, her dress flowed behind her, pulling tightly against her front. She stopped in front of him with mere inches between their warm bodies.

He tensed. He knew her game now and it pained him. He didn't know for sure if she was lying about her remorse or not, but he did know that she wasn't being completely honest with him. And he knew that if he let her, she'd make him forget about his doubt with her kisses. He felt cheated and apprehensive, just when he thought the games had ceased, he found out that he was deeper into them as ever.

He looked down at her now with the fire of anger burning in him; she returned his look with innocent doe eyes that he knew better than to let himself get lost in. She put a tentative hand on his chest, searching his eyes. He slid his hand onto her cheek, caressing her. She smiled into his hand, with a sweetness that made him sick. She was such a good actress, but he was better and two can play this game.

He leaned in slowly until he could feel the warmth of her breath on his lips. "We are going back to the present. You cannot stop me. I am Emrys," He whispered into her with a wicked grin. Her eyes widened in fear and she pushed him away, covering her mouth. "Onerariis Domum," he chanted and with a flash of light he was back in his room. He angrily tore up the floorboards that housed his spell book. It was time for him to take control. If this was a another battle in their war, he was going to win.

A/N Funny note: I did a little research on horrible medieval jobs and "Groom of Stool" came up. It was actually a very honored position because you got to be with the King in his most *ahem* vulnerable time. Actually, Henry VIII got so close to his groom of stool that he began to share secrets with him and even delegate jobs to him. (Guess Henry was on the toilet a lot) But it actually became a legitimized job in Henry VIII's court. Anyway, thought I'd slip a little history in there!

Also-I think me making promises on my next updates only leads to disappointment for you all and extreme guilt on my part so I'm going to spare both of us that heartache and say that I will do my best! Thank you all!