Merlin didn't trust Morgana. He was sure she and Morgause were plotting something. He was certain she had planted the mandrake root. He was sure the Saxon invasion 'prophecy' was a lie to get Arthur out of the way so Morgause could kill Uther and take over.

The thing he couldn't decide on, was Morgana's fate. She was now in the same position he had been in, or nearly been in. Merlin was unsure of what Uther would do, but he was certain that Arthur wouldn't let her burn. But if Morgana really had joined the dark side, perhaps it was safer for Arthur if she did die.

It was out of Merlin's hands. But he thought if he could prove Morgana was behind the mandrake root, at least Arthur wouldn't be so quick to trust her. Merlin had been hovering around Uther all day in the hopes of finding evidence of some kind. Uther had been screaming like a madman until Gaius had given him something that made him sleep the afternoon away. He awoke hungry for supper though. The king ate dinner alone in his chambers. Merlin came in to take away the empty dinner plates. Once completed he came back to see if the king needed anything else.

Uther looked at Merlin as if he'd seen a ghost, "No, no, you can't be, you're dead!"

Merlin wasn't sure what Uther meant, but he was very curious, Uther's revelations were showing his true colors to Arthur in a way that was beneficial.

"Gorlois, you know don't you!" Uther was terrified, as if Merlin were here to kill him.

The opportunity to learn more of Uther's deep dark secrets could not be passed up.

Merlin stood tall with authority, "I know everything, Uther. I know what you did!"

Uther began to own up, "With Vivienne it just happened, she was lonely, you were away."

That sounded like a confession to an affair with Morgana's mother.

"How could you!" Merlin demanded, angrily.

"I was weak, she's very beautiful," Uther pleaded in his own defense.

"She's my wife!" Merlin reminded the king sternly.

"I should have stayed away," Uther admitted, "But Igraine and I had been trying many years, I was sure the problem lay with me, I didn't want to acknowledge…" Uther let his voice trail off.

"Acknowledge what?" Merlin probed.

Uther looked so ashamed, before looking away, "That I was… inadequate."

"And?" Merlin continued to prod. Who knows what he'll say next.

"You were my best friend, I should never have…" Uther was now struggling to speak, "I should have gone elsewhere… but… Vivienne was just so…" His chest began to heave, and his words were no longer intelligible.

Wait a minute

Merlin made a realization, "Are you saying you are Morgana's father?"

"I'm so sorry!" Uther pleaded, trying to clutch Merlin's hand to his chest.

Merlin summoned his most stern persona, "Uther, do you know for sure you are Morgana's father?"

"I was weak," Uther admitted, "I knew I shouldn't have."

"You were my best friend," Merlin tried to sound dismayed.

"I'm so sorry!" Uther cried, "I know Vivienne confessed to you she had an affair, but she never told you it was with me!"

"Tell me the truth!" Merlin demanded, "Is Morgana your daughter?"

Uther was crying inconsolably now and was therefore unable to give a straight answer.

"When did the affair occur? What year?" Merlin grabbed the king's arm and almost shook him, "Tell me!" He demanded.

"I'm so sorry!" Uther managed to say, "I knew, I knew, and I did it anyway. I loved her, and I just wanted her with me."

Merlin knew there had to be another mandrake root, but he couldn't hear the screams now. Gaius had told him later that only those with magic could hear its cries.

No wonder Arthur reacted as if I was crazy.

Merlin looked everywhere he could think of, he was making a mess of the room, but he didn't care. The room was already a mess, the mirror and windows were cracked. He soon realized, that he hadn't searched in the bed, because the king was in it. He slowly rolled the crying man over. Uther barely noticed he was so caught up in his personal torment. Merlin lifted the bottom sheet to look for holes in the mattress. No luck. He rolled Uther the other side and did the same. Where else? Pillows? One was heavier than the others.

Merlin called Gaius who cut a hole and pulled out a second mandrake root.

"Why can't we hear anything?"

"I don't know, Merlin," Gaius responded, shrugging.

Arthur was summoned.

"So, the sorcerer has not been caught?" The prince concluded.

Merlin still believed Morgana was responsible, "Maybe two mandrakes were always planted, and Uther seemed better once one was destroyed?"

Arthur disagreed, "No, he was getting better, completely better, and now he's suddenly worse, someone crept in and hid this second one, it must have been yesterday or this morning."

Arthur turned to Sir Leon, "Find out everyone who has access to my father's chambers."

Merlin insisted, "Morgana still could…"

"Enough Merlin! I didn't know you despised her so much," Arthur raised a hand to end further argument.

Arthur picked up the pillow. He examined it closely.

"Ha!" Arthur had a sudden outburst, "Definitely not Morgana!"

He held up the seam of the pillow triumphantly. A hole had been made and resewn with slightly different colored thread.

Merlin didn't understand, "What am I looking at?"

"Proof Morgana had nothing to do with it," Arthur couldn't contain his gleefulness.

He trusts her and doesn't want to believe anything bad about her.

"Have you ever seen Morgana sew?" Arthur grinned, "She's the worst woman at needlepoint in all Albion!"

He handed the pillow to Merlin, who did have to admit, somewhat begrudgingly, that the stitching was very neat.

Merlin wondered if he should tell Arthur about the latest development.

If Arthur learns Morgana might be his sister, he will love and trust her more implicitly than he already does. And if Morgana finds out? She will probably kill Uther with her bare hands.

Merlin decided to say nothing for now.


Of the whole castle, Morgana hated the abandoned tower the most. A family was said to have perished in here a hundred years ago, and she could feel them still. It was dusty and smelled like mold everywhere. The chambers were very sparse, Morgana was sitting on the window sill, since there was no chair, peering out at the night sky at the moon three quarters full.

There were two guards at the staircase at the bottom, and two more at the top, where Morgana's new prison was located. She heard Arthur having a loud argument with the guards on the empty tower's door, as they insisted he needed permission from the king to enter and Arthur was having none of it.

She heard him say, "Well, the king's not feeling well again, so I'm in charge."

Arthur ignored them, and neither dared strike the prince, so Arthur came bursting into her new cell.

"I believe you!" He exclaimed, "We leave first thing tomorrow for the Cornish Coast."

Morgana knew how impatient Arthur got when stressed. She was surprised and very grateful to be getting away from Uther and Camelot.

She wanted him feeling confident, "You're doing the right thing."

Arthur informed her of his plans, "I've sent envoys to the other kingdoms to request they send as many knights and men of fighting age as they can to help."

"What convinced you?" She asked in earnest.

"Nothing," Arthur said honestly, "But the consequences of not listening go you, far outweigh my embarrassment if you are wrong."

Morgana nodded her head slowly.

Arthur did at least look exceedingly guilty and ashamed of himself, "I shouldn't have left you here, I really didn't think Father was going to…"

"Have me executed?" She supplied.

Arthur was forlorn, "I heard he was going to and then couldn't."

"How lucky am I?" Morgana spat, unable to control her anger at him.

Arthur announced, "I'm taking you to the battle."

She smiled her relief, Away from Uther. Away from this castle. I'm going home.

Morgana wanted to know whether the king was mandrake affected again, or if Arthur was simply defying him, "What about your father?"

"He took a little turn for the worst, but he should be getting better now," Arthur paused before adding, "I'm sorry I accused you of planting the mandrake root, I don't believe it was you."

Morgana was curious, "What changed your mind?"

Arthur considered for a moment before he smirked, "Honestly, your inability to sew."

That meant nothing to her. He didn't bother to explain better. Morgana didn't care enough to pursue it.

She changed tact, "Uther supports you in this?"

"He can stay here, or he can help, we don't know that only Cornwall will be attacked," Arthur frustration was noticeable, "I'll leave him sufficient men. I don't care what he does."

She liked Arthur when he got like this.

"Arthur," Morgana called to him, "I must return to my chambers, I hate it in here."

Arthur hadn't even considered her discomfort, "Yes, of course, I don't know why he moved you in here," Arthur was straightforward.

So, he can keep raping me in private.

Morgana picked up what she could carry, she didn't want to spend another moment in this room.

Arthur added regretfully, "I'm sorry he threw you in a dungeon, I've been out making preparations I didn't hear until it was already done, Father shouldn't have done that."

He shouldn't have done a lot of things.

At least now she could warn Morgause what was happening in the morning. Between this tower and the dungeon Morgana's communication lines had been cut.