Hello once again to the two people that have reviewed I am very sorry that it has taken so long for me to up-date again. I have explained all of the reasons for this many times before so I don't want to bore anyone with it again. The simple thing is that it is up to all of you how long the gap between chapters is. My work is all done, and so are my exams, that means that I am able to up-date more often, that is if you want that. I am on break, work won't pile up again till about the end of January. So I can up-date possibly once or twice a week from now till then, BUT as I said before that is up to you. I would also like to know why so many people have stopped reading, reviewing the story. That way I can try and fix it if I can. Is it to long, has it dragged on for to long, is it the content of the story, the title, summary.

LightningBolt21. Thank you for giving me the idea. I thought he should stand up to him a little more. Also I never really thought of it as Arthur lying. He does mean to change things when he is king. He just doesn't want to be tied to doing something before he knows more about it. So he says enough to keep the peace without making any real promises, so he has room to do what he thinks is right when he knows more. I thought it was a little smart. Thank you, and sorry it took so long.

Dawn Ruthless. I like that too. I never liked that in the show he kind of needed Morgana first then Merlin and Gwen to guild him to do the right thing, be smart. When he clearly can make those choices for himself. I wanted to try and make Arthur and Merlin stronger on their own. Yes you did, thank you very much. You are the only person that has entered. If no one else entries, as I think will happen, then you can choose what prize you would like.

As their journey went on, Merlin started to fidget in his saddle, a million thoughts racing through his head. While he knew they found not be seeing Morgana at the end of their journey, there was a good chance that they might come face to face with someone that too was destined to play a very large part in their shared destiny, In a very negative way.

"Would you like a cushion."

Merlin was pulled from his own thoughts. "Huh."

"I asked if you would like a cushion to sit on. You are fidgeting."

"No I wasn't."

"Yes you were."

"No….."

"Are we really going to have this argument…..again."

Merlin was about to respond when he saw a cloud of smoke crawling up into the sky form the top of the trees ahead of them. Lowering his gaze, he could just make out what had to be the druid camp. The bright coloured material that was used to make their tents grew clearer and brighter in the late summer sun as they road closer.

Arthur having now seen the signs of the camp too led his horse to a nearby tree, which he tired its rains around, after he dismounted. Merlin followed and did the same. As carefully as they could, as not to make any real noise and alert the camp of their presence they moved towards the tents of bright colours. Arthur made a point of not drawing his sword. This both frightened and delighted Merlin in equal measure.

When they were only a few metes form the camp, Arthur bent his knees and moved forward at a very close level to the ground. Merlin stopped his traces and watched the Prince croching his way forward. His was trying very hard not to laugh out loud.

After a while Arthur noticed that Merlin was not following him. Looking back he saw his man servant standing up tall, fighting back a smile. With his right hand he gestured towards Merlin than down to the ground. Merlin in response with a goofy grin still on his face, lifted his arms and shrugged his shoulders. His face now turning red, Arthur mouthed the words "Get down and crawl." Merlin shook his head and gestured with his hand to his ears that he hadn't heard him.

"I find it very hard to believe you could fail to hear anything with those ears." Arthur now spoke at a normal volume.

"I thought we were trying not to be noticed. You shouldn't talk so loud." Merlin spoke in a low voice just above a whisper.

"Get down." Arthur spoke through gritted teeth.

Merlin finally did as he was told. On bent knees they moved closer to the camp. To his right Arthur heard a noise. Turning to look at it he met the eyes to two young boys, about thirteen or so. He froze as they watched him with curious exprstions on their faces. He felt Merlin moving past him on his leaf side, having not noticed the two boys. Turning away from them, he reached out to grab hold of Merlin's jacked to stop him going forward. Merlin was taken of guard and feel back onto his backside.

When he turned to look at Arthur he finally saw the two boys. Who were now laughing out loudly. Arthur moved to stand up, as he did he lifted his arms into the arm. Merlin knew the words "We mean you no harm" Or something similar were not far from leaving his mouth.

Before he could say anything, the slightly older looking boy spoke. "You look like a pair of idiots."

Merlin had to cover his mouth with his hand, so as not to laugh out loud. Arthur looked like he was fighting back the urge to retaliate with a similar insult. It was only a few people that he would let get away with talking to him like that.

The slightly younger looking boy was the next to spoke. "Come on, Morgan will want to see you."

The prince and warlock followed the two druid boys into the camp. The camp seemed rather empty, if they looked closely into the tents they could see the people keeping out of their way. Surprisingly those that didn't keep to their tents and walked about the camp paid little attention to the two new comers. If they paid them any attention it was give then harsh stares.

In the centre of the camp was the large remains of a fire that had burnt out. Just behind that was a large layout of wooden shelves that were arranged in a square shape. The shelves were filled with many different bottles and containers of varying sizes. Each had a different item inside it. Some were plant based, others Arthur was sure he didn't what to know anything about. In the far corner of this make shift room was a large caldron. A young women with her light brown hair pulled back in to plate was in the middle of this web of wood. Her back was towards them, moving things about on the shelf in-front of her.

When they reached the burnt out fire, the girl turned her head. They thought she was going to turn all the way round but she stopped half way, looking to her right. Following her gaze they watched as a slightly hunched figure entered the makeshift kitchen. The figure wore a black cloak, with the hood pulled tightly over their head, covering their face fully. From under the cloak they pulled out a worn wooden basket, which was then placed on the shelf nearest to them. The girl gave the figure a light hug, before the figure pulled down the hood of their cloak. Straightening up their body as they did.

As the figure stood at its full height, their face was seen for the first time. The first thing they noticed was the shock of grey hair that was revealed. As they looked then to their face their attenstion was drawn back to the hair. As the hood feel to hang around their neck, the hair darkened form bright grey to deepest black. When their eyes returned to the face gone were the wrinkles of age. In their place smooth pale skin returned.

She turned her head and caught a glimpse of them in the corner of her eye. Her breath caught in her throat. A second later she undid the butten of her cloak, letting it fall to the ground. Revealing a bright simple green dress with gold trimmings. Leaving the fence of wooden shelves she walked slowly towards them.

"Morgana."

Arthur sounded just as he had when he had first seen her walking through the mist after being gone for a year. Just like that day Merlin was silent, standing behind Arthur. With a million different emotions showing on his face. The only different was Morgana. She looked as shocked as she had back then, but that had only been an act.

"Arthur."

When she reached him she stood just in-front of him. The stood still for a second, not knowing what to do or say next. Arthur was the first to move, opening his arms out to her. She quickly responded, lifting her arms, and wrapping them lightly around his shoulders. His hands rested on her back. A second later they relaxed a little and held each other a little tighter.

From where he was standing Merlin could see Morgana's face as she rested it on Arthur's shoulder. When she first hugged him, she closed her eyes. For a brief second before they pulled apart, her eyes opened. Her eyes despite the mask of ice her face fell naturally into showed how glad she really was to see Arthur again. Their eyes met for a split second. Neither her's nor his showed any sign of Anger for the other, though that feeling was still there under the surface.

"You look well." Arthur said, lowering his gaze to look her over.

It was true she did look well. However Merlin could see the dark circles under her eyes, and while her pale completion had gotten better since he last saw her, she still looked drained. He also noticed her trying to subtly pull up the shoulder line of her dress at the back, as to hide the scar he knew was on her right shoulder blade. Which most likely like her collar bone would be sticking out prominently.

"So do you." Suddenly her lose hair, and handmade dress seemed very shabby to her. "What are you doing here."

"We had report of a druid camp here. I was sent to confirm if it was true or not." He saw her pale eyes widen. "I will tell him that we found nothing but the remains of a camp that had moved on."

She nodded. "We are scheduled to move in two days. We can leave tomorrow instead to be safe." Her eyes left Arthur and looked to her left. "While we inform Aglain of the change. Merlin can get your horses, they will need to be feed." Both men looked at her with a look of confusion. "I trust you didn't walk all the way here from Camelot. " Her lips curled into a slight smile. "What, did you think I had a vision."

Arthur moved to follow Morgana as she walked ahead. Merlin watched them go, an unassay feeling washing over him. Knowing it was pointless he glanced around him, looking for the person he thought he would met here.

"He's not here. Don't fear, your secret and Arthur's life are safe….for now."

His eyes shout up to watch Morgana her back turned to him, as she and Arthur entered a red tent.

Despite the thin material that made up the tent, a wave of warmth hit Arthur as he followed Morgana inside. A large figure in a long robe that matched the tent turned to greet them. A warm smile on his face.

"Aglain, we have a visitor."

"Prince Arthur Welcome."

Aglain walked over to them, holding out his hand to shack Arthur's. Arthur took it as he studied his face. "Have we met before."

A look of sadness fell across Aglain's face. Despite how warm he was as a person, it was clear that this look of sadness was not a unfamiliar one for his face to fall into.

Morgana quickly moved forward. "He helped me, when I first found out about my magic."

"You were at the same camp…." Arthur spoke, piecing together the story. "I am truly sorry….."

"You were searching for someone you cared about."

Arthur explained why he was there, and Morgana and Aglain made plans to be ready to leave the next day. He then suggested that Morgana showed Arthur around the camp while dinner was being made. As it was getting late, and there was no way Arthur and Merlin would make it back before nightfall. So they were going to have to spend the night. As they left the tent, the two boys that had found Arthur and Merlin ran across their path.

This reminded Arthur of what they had said. "Who is Morgan."

Morgana was now at his side. "I am."

Arthur nodded. A thought then came to him. "Can they…..not say your name…."

"Of course they can. It's just Morgan attracts less attention than Morgana." She turned to look at him. "Your one to talk."

"What do you mean."

"Gana."

"That was a nickname. A term of endearment."

"No it wasn't."

"What else was it then."

"A way to torment me."

They were silent for a while till she asked him a question. "How are things in Camelot."

He maintained his silence as he tried to think of the best way to answer that, were to start. "Fine." She stopped, giving a look that let him know she did not believe him. He was very used to that look form her. "I asked Guinevere to marry me."

It was now her turn to be silent and think of the best response. Thou she already news about this piece of news, it was different hearing it from Arthur himself. Finally she forced a smile onto her face. "I am pleased for you both."

"Morgana…"

"I am pleased that my brother and the person I thought of as my closest friend are going to be happy."

He didn't fully believe her, but couldn't say anything. Thou he knew they were peaceful people, it did not change the fact that he, prince of Camelot was surrounded by people with magic. He had to be carfully what he said. Especially to her. He did not want to antagonise her again.

They now walked past the web of wooden shelves. Giving him a way to change the conversation. "What were you doing. When we arrived."

"Uninvited…..I was retuning form a delivery."

"Delivery."

"To support ourselves we sell drafts and ointments in the villages we pass."

"Magic."

She looked away from him. "Yes Arthur magic." She never gave him a chance to say more. "We have to get money somehow. Magic is our greatest asset." She would have said more, but she didn't want to get herself wound up. If she said what she really wanted to, she would end up ranting and raving at him like a mad women and that would do no good.

"It's a business."

She smiled a little. "Yes it's business."

"So how is business. "

"None of yours."

He let out a faint laugh. "Why where you…."

"It's called an aging spell." From the corner of her eye she saw him look even more confused. "Who would you rather have treat any illness of injure you may have, Gaius or Merlin." She same the look of understanding in his eyes. "People associate age with wisdom."

He nodded. "Sometimes I wonder why I even trust Merlin to bring me my meals."

Morgana had to try very hard to fight back the smirk that so badly wanted to cross his face. It truly amazed her how Merlin was able to continuously fool everyone into believing that he was a total fool. It was also a source of great frustration that he was still getting away with it, and she had fallen for it like everyone else

As if on cue Merlin appeared walking towards them having feed and watered the horses. "The meal is about to be served. They wanted your help." He addressed Morgana. She nodded and walked ahead to were the meal was being made.

Merlin and Arthur followed. Once the arrived they were made to sit round the now lit fire. Logs had been position around the fire to sit on, which would later by added to the fire as people returned to their tents to sleep. To the left Morgana and others were making the meal. Both Merlin and Arthur watched her cutting up what the guessed was a carrot, as it look to small and not orange enough. It was very odd to see her doing such domestic duties. Before it was finished Morgana left and joined the others round the fire. She sat on the space on the log next to Merlin, as it was the closet empty space to Arthur. The other druids around the fire looked over at Arthur every now and then.

After what felt like an eternity to Arthur, who felt contently like he was being judged, the food was brought over. He was served first. Which did not help with the dirty looks he was getting. He picked up a piece of food from his bowl with his hands, looking it over before he put it in his mouth. A loud crash from the other side of the fire, just before he put the meat in his mouth caused him to drop it onto the ground.

"I will not eat with him!" A man about the same age as Arthur pulled himself to his feet and walked away from the fire, stepping on the bowl he had through onto the ground as he did. Two others got up to join him. Form the looks of it, his mother and younger brother.

"You must forgive him. He lost his father during a raid by Camelot's knight." Aglain said, trying to keep the peace.

"It's quiet alright." Arthur said as he once again focused all of his attention onto the bowl of food in his hands.

"Arthur." Morgana hissed. "Do you remember how Gwen told you, you were being an ass turning up your nose at the food in Eldor." His eyes lifted to meet hers. "Well you are being an ass now. As hard as it was for them to get food, it is ten times harder for us. We are outlaws after all." Arthur nodded and started to eat his meal. "After you were given the best cut too." She muttered under her breath.

Morgana now too was getting a few unpleasant looks. She was clearly being blamed for Arthur presence here. Feeling guilty he made an effort to eat more. Picking up another piece of meat, he noticed something odd about it as he lifted it to his mouth. A small grey feather rested on the top of the cooked meat. Picking the feather off with one hand he looked more closely at it.

Laughter started to grow around the fire, to it was to hard to hold it back any longer. He looked around him, at the bright smiling faces, the warm glow of the fire shinning in their eyes. The fires glow even warmed up Morgana's pale complexion. She was smiling the most, a real smile, like neither Arthur or Merlin had seen form her in a long time. It reminded them of the old Morgana, and how beautiful she truly was.

"You made me eat rat."

Merlin now joined the laughter. "What…."

"I think you got off easy. Pigeon isn't that bad." Arthur looked form the smiling Morgana to the Laughing Merlin. "He never told me…..just like he never told me about the extra holes in your belt."

Arthur did a surprisingly good job of not showing how annoyed he really was. Despite her warm smile it was clear to Merlin that Morgana was truly enjoying being able to humiliate Arthur, and get him in trouble, and not in a friendly way. Once the meal was eaten people started to disburse. Morgana was carried away not very long after finishing eating by a group of three young girls. Who wanted her to tell them one of the stories she had read in a book.

Merlin watched her go, still amazed by how much like her old self she was. Mainly because he knew it was an act. An act done for the benefit of the people she wanted to help, and for herself. So she could fit in here. Feel like she belonged. For a second he felt sorry for her. She always had to put on an act to fit in. He played the fool, but he never played a part as she did, never all the time, never fully. A little later he left to feed and check on the horses. Who were now tied to a tree closer to the camp.

When he returned her saw Arthur and Aglain sitting in-front of the fading fire, their backs to him. The only people left at the fire. He stopped moving towards them, wanting to let them talk. He too remembered Aglain. He was a good, wise man. How different things would have been if Morgana had been able to stay with him and the druids all those years ago. He had already come to know all that he had heard him saw to Morgana, but coming from him it gave him hop once again.

"Maybe he can succeed where we both failed." He turned to face Morgana, how dress in a black coat covering her green dress. "Though you have to try to fail….Don't you think Emrys."

"You are never going to let any of it go…..that is why you will never be happy. Even if you get everything you think you want."

His words were very like ones she had heard from another. Pushing back any feeling they may have brought up in her, she responded. "That is why I'm talking to you." He looked at her, telling her to go on. "You said that I should keep all of my anger and hate, hit you with it." He nodded. "You are not the only one that wants to move on….I don't want to be like this."

"And I'm meant to help you."

"WE were friends once." She said in a fake sweet tone. "You also want this as much as I do." Her voice was now like he was used to it. "Tell me you don't hate me, want to kill me….this would put an end to it once and for all."

With a smirk she turned and walked away. He watched her, then turned back to look at Arthur and Aglain. He seemed live he would be safe, and she was right. He did want this as much as she did. He did hate her, in part. Hated what she had done, what he had had to do because of her. Letting go of that anger, working it out. While not in this way could be a healthy thing. With a deep breath he followed her into the darkness.

Thanks of reading, hope you liked it. I don't really like the Merlin Arthur part at the start, when they were riding the horses, I don't think it works. At least it was a small part. I know that Aglain dies in the show, I just couldn't think of any other druid characters that could be used, plus I liked him. The way I see it the knights think he is died, leave him but he is healed by the druids. Mordred scared runs away and lived from then on with another group of druids, where he met Alvarr. As before I would love to hear what you have to say, and that will lead to the next chapter being up-dated sooner.

One last thing about the chapter. There is a link to the dress that Morgana wears on my profile. It is under green gold dress. There is also a link to the coat she wears at the end of the chapter too. It is just below the first one, under green black dress. It is like the cloak she wears now in season 5. I found it about a year ago before this season. When I was looking to make sure the links till work I noticed how similar there were. I thought that was a little cool. I would love to know what you think of the clothes.

Also there is still only one entry for the competition. All the details are on the notes for chapter 6 and 7. If you have any more questions or an entry you can PM.

I am looking forward to the last two episodes, but I am also worried. I'm not going to go into a rant about it, but I just feel like I will be annoyed and disappointed by it. Not sure if I will or can watch them. I may have to read what happens before I watch it. So I can go in prepared. I hope that those of you that watch it will be happy with it. As I hope you will be happy with the ending of this story.