Sorry for taking me so long. I hope you were still waiting.

Maricate, I'm happy that I've convinced you to read my story. (I'm working on my style. I promise.) Thanks for the suggestions. They are very useful.

The dungeons were cold. The air was freezing or was she so afraid that her own blood had turned into ice?

The salamander watched her from distance. It didn't scold her, neither tried to calm her. It just watched her. The witch didn't care that they wouldn't believe her. They were only strangers. They knew nothing about her. She didn't care that she was supposed to die, but it hurt her know that she'd lost them all. Mordred's accusations, Aithusa's coldness. They all cut deep into her heart.

Under any circumstances, the news would have brought her joy. She had wished for his death more than anyone else. Yet, it wasn't supposed to be like that. The witch remembered all the times when she'd tried to hurt him. He had always survived.

"He will live, won't he? He has always found a way out of everything." No one answer. She was afraid. She couldn't figure out if it was because she was going to die or she was afraid that once he would be gone all her hopes for a better life would be gone as well. Even if she were to escape, she would never be truly free. She would continue to be an outcast. A creature chased away by everyone. She wouldn't be a teacher. She wouldn't a healer. She wouldn't have Merlin's chambers to hide whenever she wanted.

Time had never passed much slowly. It was late when she finally got a guest. It was Aithusa. Her Aithusa.

"It wasn't me….." Morgana started as her old friend come closer.

"I know…." Morgana was glad to hear that. So her friend believed her. "You have no reason to lie. In fact, had you done it, you would have never lost the chance to boast with your success." It made her feel sad. True at it was, it wasn't easy to hear it aloud. "Don't worry. He won't die. He lost a lot of blood, but he is stronger than that. "

"Do you know who did it? Why the guards didn't notice when that person entered his chambers? Do you think that he knows who did that? What if he didn't see the attacker and he will think it was me? What if…?"

"The guards?! Why didn't they notice? I wouldn't put my trust into those soldiers. The one who did it must have been someone he trusted, otherwise he wouldn't have succeeded. I have my suspicions regarding that person. He probably was already wounded when you entered his room. What was he doing when went there?"

"He was sleeping. I only wanted to…he was the only person I knew here and …I don't know why I went there. It was stupid. ….I didn't know he was the king. She told me." And she pointed to the salamander. I was furious and then I said those words, but ….I didn't do anything stupid. …I…"

"Did he look sick or something?" The dragon insisted.

"What? ….Well, if I think it better, I found it strange that he was sleeping. It wasn't so late and I don't remember him going so early to bed. Yet he wasn't in the mood to speak with me. In fact, he was very grumpy."

"Do you want to see him?" Aithusa asked after a while. "But promised you will act well."

"Isn't it dangerous?" If she thought it better, she really wanted to see him. After all, he had been her friend once. "Is it true that he had fought those men to have me pardoned?" Morgana couldn't help asking.

"He has never forgotten that you were his friend. I think he felt that he owns a lot to you. However, it wasn't only that…He had never let go of you…. And no, it isn't dangerous. The king himself had sent me after you."

"He's awake…but…" Morgana was shocked. He couldn't understand why that dragon had to torture her like that when Aithusa knew from the start that she was saved. "So you knew it wasn't me."

"I knew from the moment you entered that room. However, if you really want to kill him now, you will need to wait. If I found out that he was as stupid as I suspect he was, I'll be the first in line." Aithusa laughed.

"He didn't tell you what had happened?"

"No. He just ordered for you to be brought to him. You should have seen Kilgharrah's face. Merlin cares a lot for that dragon, but he couldn't help disagreeing with him about you. They've done it since you were still in Camelot. After all, Kilgharrah was the one who advised Merlin to kill you that day. Merlin, however, found a way to save both you and Camelot. I don't know if he'd chosen poison on purpose hoping that Morgause would accept his conditions and she would save you or it was a lucky coincidence. However, he has never wanted you dead. Do you want to hear a secret? Were you to have tried to kill him, I doubt he would have said a word about it. So, no. I didn't know from him. I just know you are better than that."

Merlin was lying on the bed. The pain was still there, but at least the dizziness wasn't as intense as before. However, there were other types of pain than the physical one.

He'd dreamt about his days in Camelot. He was with Arthur. They were laughing. Arthur was joking about him being a clumsy idiot. Merlin was mocking him. They were both young. None of them had been king then. And there was Morgana, teasing Arthur. She was so carefree. So beautiful. She had loved them. She had loved Camelot.

Much as he cared for Arthur, his own kingdom was his responsibility now. He wished Arthur had understood. Yet, it wouldn't change the respect he felt for Arthur. It wouldn't make him stop thinking about him or about Camelot.

Merlin didn't regret a thing. He had so many lovely memories in Camelot. He'd helped a country to thrive. He turned a spoilt boy into a king. He helped him find love. He gave him an army and the best knights the entire Albion had ever had. Had this friendship been real? Had it been happening in his head? Little did it matter. He was going to miss his friend, but at least he could preserve all the memories.

He wrote a letter to his mother. She had repeatedly denied his invitation to come and live with him. She loved her little village and the people. She didn't want to change that for anything. Yet he was afraid for her life. He didn't want to think that Arthur would dare to do something against her, but right now he wasn't sure what Arthur could do when furious. Merlin considered the possibility of Arthur thinking she was a witch. He scolded himself for doubting Arthur, but he wasn't willing to risk his mother's life.

No, sending a letter was too little.

When Morgana entered the room, Merlin was nowhere to be found.

"Where has he gone?" The witch asked Aithusa.

"He said he would be here. I'm going to ask his servant. He must know where Merlin is."

Morgana was tired, both physically and mentally. The stress was too much even for her. She collapsed on the bed, caring little that she wasn't supposed to be there.

Merlin has a servant. Morgana thought before falling asleep. It had been so long since she'd felt so comfortable. The fabric of the bed sheets was so fine. She almost felt like a princess.

I make no promises for the next chapter. The good part is that I have inspiration for at least a chapter.