Chapter 11: Accepting Stalemate

(Set during and after 3x02)

She was free of him. Finally.

No, she didn't regret his death, of course she didn't. He had been willing to sacrifice her life for his cause and so she too was happy to sacrifice his for hers.

Happy. Yes. Of course she was.

And, if she had cried into her pillow that night it was only due to a sense of relief. The fact that that one annoying chapter of her life was over. Perhaps she felt a little sad when she thought back to the love they'd once shared. A love she could never truly have had but, that was all … nothing more.

No regrets.

And then, the following morning, Morgana looked out of her window onto the courtyard and… there he was, striding alongside Arthur just as if nothing had changed.

'It didn't make any sense. What had happened? How was he still alive?' Then another far more worrying question.

"What has he done now?"

As soon as she was dressed, Morgana hurried down to Uther's chambers only to find the room tidy, the king peacefully asleep and the mandrake root gone. And there was Gaius being oh-so-polite and civil but, exactly what had that meddling boy told the old man?

~o~0~o~

She collared him at their alcove, grabbing him by the wrist and dragging him towards her, but this encounter was very different from most of their previous ones.

"I don't know how you managed to escape," she snarled at him, "but I do know one thing: If you breathe a word of what you saw, I will make your life a very short and painful one." His eyes were wide, his expression understandably fearful. "Just think how Uther would react if he learned that a serving boy had tried to poison his beloved ward."

There was a beat then, a pause, as if Merlin was confused by her choice of threat. Well, yes, that wasn't the only thing that would hang him, as he had been so keen to point out two years ago, but she simply smirked at him as if acknowledging that fact. As if daring him to bring up his other crimes. Then she strode away, quite certain that he would not be telling Arthur a thing.

When she told Morgause of Merlin's survival, her sister didn't seem especially concerned. The mandrake's job was done, she said and the army was ready to march. Morgana now had different orders and she was only too happy to oblige her sister. Happy to distract herself from images of a tall, dark, far-too-skinny servant and all the troubles he had caused her.

The problem was that he didn't look all that frightened. Seeing what she knew, seeing what he'd done, Merlin should be terrified. He should be keeping his eyes down, avoiding her gaze but, here he was in the council chambers, glaring daggers at her across the room and she, of course, was staring right back - not willing to break eye contact. Not intending to show any sort of weakness in front of him.

He was obviously suspicious of her now, as well he might be, but she could cope with a few glares. In fact, she decided she rather liked those looks – rather enjoyed the illusion of power Merlin was managing to exude and Morgana found herself wondering if there might be time to pay him a visit before she cast the planned spell and use the very real power she now held over him to her advantage.

Have a little more fun with him before he died along with everyone else.

Or perhaps she should find a way to ensure that he was captured alive when Cenred's army took Camelot. The thought of what she could do to Merlin once she had him as her own private prisoner suddenly felt very, very exciting to Morgana.

Unfortunately there was no opportunity for such games at this point in time. The battle had started and Morgana had very many things she needed to do: Fetching supplies, helping to tend to wounded, playing her part so that no-one would be suspicious of her until she had a chance to slip away to her chambers.

Shortly after she'd arrived there, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching and quickly ducked behind the door, cursing herself for having forgotten that Merlin would have told Gaius that she was not to be trusted, even though she was quite certain he wouldn't have told him everything. She smirked at the thought. That might be a fun thing to let slip at some point, if the old man became too nosy. Let him know exactly what his apparently sweet, innocent apprentice had done to the king's ward.

She stood perfectly still behind the door whilst she waited for the old man to leave her chambers and then quickly left, the magical staff now tucked safely under her arm.

~o~0~o~

Morgause had been correct. The staff had done it's work with very little effort on her part and yet, just as she was celebrating her success, just as she was waiting for their skeleton army to do its work, there he was again. Trying to persuade her to stop.

"You don't have magic, Merlin. How could you hope to understand?" she complained.

"I do understand, believe me," he tried to assure her, his eyes wide and his expression almost sympathetic. "If I had your gifts, I would harness them for good. That's what magic should be for. That's why you were born with these powers."

"You don't know what it's like to be an outsider," she scoffed. "To be ashamed of how you were born, to have to hide who you are." She paused, wondering genuinely whether she could still bring him over to their side. "Do you think I deserve to be executed because of who I am?"

"No." He paused. Looking at her. Pleading. "It doesn't have to be like this. We can find another way."

'We.' He was suggesting they worked together? And it was briefly tempting, she couldn't deny that. Merlin's obvious wit and uncanny ability to get out of numerous tricky situations would be of great use to their cause and, considering their relationship, considering his feelings for her, it would be possible, wouldn't it? To get him to change sides?

But no. His loyalty was to Arthur – she'd known that for a very long time now. Ever since he'd handed her that water skin in the council chambers. Ever since he had sacrificed her for his precious prince.

"There is no other way," she replied firmly. Closing another door.

~o~0~o~

It was almost laughable; clumsy, common-born Merlin attempting to best her with a sword when she'd been known to give Arthur a run for his money when they were younger. And killing him should have been easy, but she knew she was holding back. Not because she didn't want Merlin dead, of course. Not because she was too emotional or too attached to him, but because she still had that earlier idea in her head – to capture him and keep him as her plaything once all of this was over.

So, she toyed with him a bit – giving him time to defend her blows whilst she worked to find a way to overpower him. It would be so easy – his sword skills were pathetic. He was pathetic. Fancy this mere servant believing that he could stop her all by himself.

Then Morgana heard the sound of crumbling of masonry above her head and then … there was nothing but darkness.

~o~0~o~

Despite the latest setback, it had been easy enough to convince Uther that she had been the one to save them all. The king would believe anything she said – fool that he was. Arthur too, of course.

And yet still Merlin taunted her. Still he glared at her across the crowded Hall, apparently trying to injure her with his stare. And now, at this moment, it seemed to excite her even more than before. Was he really not afraid of her? Did he truly not believe that she would follow up on her threat to expose him?

~o~0~o~

"I won't let you get away with this, I promise you."

She jumped up from her dressing table in shock. "Merlin! How dare you enter my bedchambers without permission," she complained. Gwen had literally only just left. How had he timed that so well?

He laughed but there was little humour in it. "Hardly the worst of my crimes is it, my lady?"

"It certainly isn't but, don't worry, your luck will run out, sooner or later."

"Luck, was it?" He was glaring at her again, his blue eyes piercing, but there was a spark of humour in that gaze too as he moved closer to her – a hint of a threat. Morgana's heart was now pounding in her chest but, not from fear – from excitement. She had to admit she rather liked him like this. Confident, powerful … wild.

"I'll tell Uther about the poisoning," she threatened, although her voice had softened slightly. "Or about... this."

"Then I'll tell him what you've been up to," he countered.

"He won't believe you."

"Are you willing to take that chance?" he asked coming closer still, and she decided to allow her excitement to show, licking her lips deliberately.

"Are you?" She took a slow, seductive step forward, so close to him that he had to look down at her, and she saw him notice the curves her nightdress was exposing and the obvious desire that suddenly appeared on his face as a result.

"T-that won't work on me any more," he stated, whilst his whole body language said otherwise.

She laughed brightly. "Who are you trying to convince, Merlin?" She quickly untied her light dressing gown, revealing very much more of her body underneath it.

He frowned. "I don't understand. You hate me now."

"Oh, I'm not sure it's as simple as love or hate between us any more," she purred taking hold of one strap and very, very slowly lowering it. His eyes widened but he did not move nor attempt to leave.

"I wont..." He shook his head, although his gaze didn't leave her as she slowly exposed one of her breasts to him. "You won't seduce me as you did before," he declared. "I know that's what you were doing. I know you were only trying to distract me – right back as far as Idirsholas."

She snarled at him suddenly, lifting her strap back onto her shoulder and pushing him hard on the chest with both hands. "Don't you dare, Merlin. Don't you dare put the blame for your poisoning onto me."

"I know you were in league with Morgause then, Morgana. I know you still are."

"And I know you won't tell Arthur any of this because I've got far more on you than you have on me," she declared. "You can make up grand tales of magic and alliances to your heart's content, but you know that it won't take much to convince them of this..." She started to lower the straps again. "Arthur thought it was true before anyway and he'll find it easy to believe that his servant was tempted into my bed." She didn't stop this time, allowing the nightdress to settle around her waist and leaving herself topless.

"Morgana." This time Merlin's voice was a growl and he started forward until she halted his progress, pushing him hard on the chest. With a snarl he grabbed her wrists and pulled, and she pushed back. It was anger and fire but also desire - she could see it in his eyes and, for a very brief moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. Hoped he would. Imagined how good it would feel to get involved with him now that they were both so fired up and so angry.

But then Merlin seemed to come to his senses, letting go of her wrists as if she'd burnt him, before backing slowly towards the door, still glaring at her.

"Stalemate then, Morgana but, I meant what I said before. Believe it to be luck on my part if it makes you feel better but, I'll be watching you and I shall stop you if you ever go against Camelot again."

"And I'll be ready for you too, Merlin," she responded. "Have no doubt about that."

~o~0~o~

Next Time: Merlin's confused by his conflicted feelings regarding Morgana, especially now it seems that they have a very different type of battle going on. Should he ignore these strange emotions or try to use them to his own advantage?

A/N: And, with those two glares across crowded rooms, Jaq instantly became a Mergana shipper and a serious 'Merlin' fan :D - That last one in the Great Hall was the final nail in the coffin. Phew, is it getting hot in here?

I admit that I'm still having a few problems with motivation here but promise you I'll try my very best not to leave you hanging. Perhaps I'm just getting distracted because I'm going to see The Tempest on the 11th? Getting very, very excited about that :D Don't worry yet though, chapter 12 will definitely be ready for next week.

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