JayJe: Oh believe me, I know. :P You want the next chapter. I can't wait to have them move to Ealdor.

MICKEY.G.B: Good to see you back. :P Thought we'd lost you for a bit. Lol. Nah, we all know Morgana would rather be executed for something she believed in than banished and never allowed to return to the place she called home. Most of us would think banishment better than death, but Morgana… I don't know.

Timelord-In-Camelot: So glad you could rejoin us. XD I'm glad you've liked the last few chapters so far. It's funny, JayJe and I were talking about it being a trilogy, this one would end here, and the next would be their life in Ealdor, and the third would be when Uther dies and Arthur becomes King and he goes to bring his sister and his friend back to Camelot where they belong. Not sure how people would feel about that, but, *shrugs* it's an idea.

Renaissancebooklover108: Obviously Merlin would come up with something. He's an amazing guy who really cares about people and he won't let her just die without doing something.

Chapter Eleven

Merlin ran through the halls to the dungeon, knowing Arthur would have sent word already for Morgana's release, hopefully into Merlin's custody. He raced to the cell she was in, grasping the bars as he looked at her, the beautiful Lady Morgana of Camelot, curled up in a corner of her cell, her hair unkempt and wild, eyes blazing with fury while the rest of her features shone with vulnerability. He had never seen her look so wild, so vulnerable, so afraid. His Morgana should never be afraid.

"Morgana?" he murmured softly.

Morgana's head snapped up, fear in her eyes. "Did they send you to fetch me, Merlin? Am I to die now?"

Merlin shook his head. "Morgana, Uther agreed to only banish you. You are not to be executed."

Pain flashed in Morgana's eyes. "Banished from yet another home, Merlin?" she asked sadly. "I was dragged here as a child because of Gorlois's death. Now I must leave here? Where will I go? I've no one else. I would rather execution."

Merlin frowned at the bitterness in her voice. "Morgana, I'm taking you to Ealdor. I am to escort you and remain with you. You and I are going to Ealdor together. If we ever return to Camelot, either of us, it will be on pain of death."

Morgana's eyes flashed. "Merlin, you are sacrificing yourself, your comfortable place in Camelot, for me? How foolish can you be?"

"More so than even what he has told you," Arthur said from behind Merlin. "He stood up to my father for you. He yelled at him, defended everything about you. He's lucky he walked away with his life."

Morgana glared at Arthur, her anger having been refocused from the servant. "Get out of my sight," she snapped. "You stood by and did nothing as I was condemned before your very eyes. You stood by once before, when your father struck me. You are nothing but a coward, Arthur Pendragon!"

Arthur raised an eyebrow at his adopted sister. "A coward with the keys to free you."

Morgana blushed and looked away, moving toward the bars, stopping when the shackles around her wrists jerked her arms back, causing her to make a slight face of pain. "Then release me," she ordered dangerously. "I will gather my things and leave at once."

"Morgana," Merlin spoke quietly. "Uther said you can take only what you brought with you and two gowns."

Morgana nodded." Very well. I require nothing more. And I certainly shall not ask it."

Arthur stepped forward and unlocked the door to the cell, before unlocking the shackles which held her chained to the wall.

"Thank you, Arthur," Morgana said scathingly, turning to Merlin. "Let us go."

Merlin nodded and obediently followed Morgana out of the room.

"How could you be so stupid?" she demanded angrily as they walked to her chambers.

Merlin shrugged. "You won't be alone," he answered.

Morgana's step faltered as the anger dissipated. "No, I won't be… Thank you, Merlin."

Merlin looked at her, surprised by her thanks. He shrugged. "I couldn't let you die and I couldn't let you be alone."

Morgana felt tears well up in her eyes, surprised by the affection she suddenly felt swelling her heart for this man. He had risked his own life to save hers, he was giving up a trusted position as Arthur's manservant to take care of her. She couldn't help turning and hugging him tightly as soon as they were in her chambers. Her arms went around his waist and pulled him tightly against her as she lay her head on his chest, feeling the tears start to pour down her face. "Merlin…" she cried. "Merlin, I'm so afraid…"

Merlin held her tightly against him. He wanted nothing more than to wipe out the fear and anguish he knew she was feeling. "Everything will be alright," he murmured. "We'll start a new life. You won't have to be so afraid."

Morgana nodded, slowly pulling away from Merlin and wiping the tears from her face before starting to gather her things. Once she had gathered her few belongings she looked at Merlin. "Shall we gather your things, Merlin?"

Merlin shrugged. "Gaius has gathered them, we need only pick them up."

Morgana nodded. "I wish to say goodbye to Gaius before we go."

Merlin nodded and entwined their fingers as he led her to the physician's quarters.

Gaius looked up when the door opened and he smiled sadly when he saw his ward with the Lady Morgana. "Arthur has informed me of what happened."

Morgana nodded, tears pricking her eyes again. "Gaius, thank you, for everything. You have treated me since I was a child, you have done so much for me, trying to stop my nightmares. Gaius you have been a father figure to me for so many years, even Uther was never as much a father to me as you. I can never thank you enough for everything you have done, and I… I wanted to say goodbye… I'm sorry to be a disappointment."

"Nonsense, child. You have magic, you are not a disappointment. You are a wonderful and strong woman, Morgana. You chose to ask for help, to learn to use magic for good. That is not disappointing, it makes me even more proud of you."

Morgana couldn't stop the tears that started to flow from her eyes. "Truly, Gaius?"

"Of course, Morgana," he answered honestly. "Make the most of this opportunity. Allow Merlin to help you learn. He will be a good teacher and he is more than willing to help you learn."

Merlin nodded quickly. "Of course I am."

Morgana smiled at them both. "Thank you, both of you."

The door flung open to reveal Gwen and Arthur, both of whom looked angry as they stared at the sorceress before them.

"Arthur, Gwen…" Morgana said, watching them nervously, unconsciously taking a step closer to Merlin.

"You thought you could leave without saying goodbye, Morgana?" Gwen demanded.

Morgana frowned when she looked at her friend. Former friend? She thought. Would Gwen even still be her friend anymore because of her magic. "Gwen… I… I didn't know… I thought…"

"She was afraid you would hate her because of her magic," Merlin interrupted, voicing the thoughts Morgana could not put words to.

"Morgana, I could not hate you for that. You have done nothing to harm anyone," Gwen said, confusion in her eyes.

Morgana snorted, looking away in her shame. "You are wrong, Gwen, I have attempted to kill the King. I was sent back to Camelot to destroy it."

Gwen smiled a little. "But you did nothing to us, Morgana. You were angry with Uther, yes, but you had a change of heart and saved him. You turned to someone for help with your magic. Morgana, you are a good person and a good friend. Be careful and be safe." Gwen hugged her friend and mistress before stepping back beside Arthur.

Morgana looked at them, tears running down her face. "Thank you, Gwen, for being such a loyal servant and friend, more of a sister, really. I will miss you. And I will miss you as well, Arthur, for you have been a friend and brother to me since we were children. Though I have not always got on well with you, you have always done what you felt right, even if it had to be in the shadows of the night. Thank you."

Arthur shifted his weight, uncertain what to say to her, how to express his feelings, so he settled for hugging her. "Be careful, Morgana, and be safe. Merlin, you better take care of her, or it will be your neck."

Merlin grinned. "I promise, Sire, no harm will come to her on my watch."

"You'd better get going. My father wants the two of you gone."

Morgana nodded and picked up her small bag, entwining hers and Merlin's fingers, desperately seeking the comfort and reassurance of his touch. Merlin smiled and squeezed her fingers lightly, grabbing his own things.

Once outside Merlin helped Morgana strap her pack to her horse before assisting her in mounting the horse, he kissed her hand and went to his own mount, strapping his belongings on as well before climbing on the large animal.

Merlin and Morgana rode off into the sunset, casting wistful glances and waves back at their long time friends and home.

I'w Parhad

Well, guys, that's the end of this one. *cries* it's tragic… I loved this fic so much.

If you wanna know what I'w Parhad means, look it up on google translate, you might find out something you like, or you might find something you hate… We'll see! Either way, please review and tell me what you think! I love to hear your thoughts on this fic.