The Plan

Merlin paced down the corridor.

He knew that there wasn't a big chance that he could get caught. Cenred had given him the whole morning off because he was going to be in a meeting with Morgause. All he had to do was his daily chores, which Merlin could quickly do in an hour.

Merlin needed Morgana to know of his plan and she also needed to know that she wasn't seeing things. He would see her giving him a second look, trying to work out if it was her imagination or not.

He had to knock soon.

The halls wouldn't stay clear for long and he did not want to get into trouble for being in sight.

Merlin hated Essetir and the way they looked down on their servants. He had to remember which ones you had to keep concentrated on the floor for and which ones he could get away with saying more than yes milord or milady to. He missed how relaxed Camelot was.

Merlin took in a deep breath and faced the door.

It was now or never.

He raised his hand and gave three firm knocks.

"Sorry."

The guards swallowed heavily.

"We lost him when he crossed over the border."

Morgause started to walk towards them. "You had one task. One very simple task. All you had to do was follow him and you lost him."

"Milady he cannot be far. He crossed the border."

Morgause turned to the guard. "Or he might have seen that you were following him and walked over the border so you would follow and he has double back."

The guard gave her a confused look. "But milady, Morgana is here. He is looking for her. Why wouldn't he come here?"

She gave him a bewildered look.

"How would he know for definite that she is here?" Cenred interrupted. "He is going on impulses."

Morgause turned to him. "You had some problems in one of the villages on the border. Did Arthur cross it to save them?"

"Ealdor. Camelot might as well have it by the amount of trouble they caused there."

"The serving boy isn't from Camelot, that's for sure. Maybe he could have gone there first rather than gone straight to Essetir. Maybe that is how you lost him?"

"If that is true milady, why didn't he come to Essetir for work?" One of the guards asked.

"Gaius."

Cenred and the guard looked at her strangely.

"The old physician has seen many people over time and Nimueh had told me that he had used magic in the past. Maybe his mother thought that Gaius could help him with his gift."

"We seem to be saying maybe a lot." Cenred mentioned.

"Like you have all the hard facts." Morgause growled.

Cenred sank down in his chair.

Morgana liked the fact that Morgause had become more relaxed about her. She felt like she had finally recovered from her 'ordeal' as Morgause liked to put it. It seemed as though it was a lovely day and Morgana couldn't wait to just get out of the castle.

Morgause didn't like her leaving the walls, but she was in a meeting with Cenred all morning. She would easily be back for Morgause even realised that she had left.

Morgana wasn't stupid so wasn't going to go to the marketplace but just to see the knights training would distract her, hopefully.

She felt as though she was going mental. Was it her subconscious trying to tell her something? Was it her subconscious tell her to forgive him for what he did?

She shook her head to clear the thoughts. There was no way that Merlin was in Essetir so it had to be her subconscious.

Then there was a knock at the door.

Morgana looked around. The servant had come in earlier and taken the breakfast things away. She had a mountain of books, so it couldn't be anyone bring any more. Morgause was in the meeting. There was no one that it could have been.

She walked towards the door and opened it.

"What … wait what" Morgana stuttered out as Merlin pushed her into the room.

"Sorry I have been out there long enough." He said, shutting the door behind him.

She wanted to pinch herself because it couldn't be real. She reached out and touched his jacket, working her way up to his neckerchief and then she slapped him.

Merlin rubbed his cheek. "I deserved that."

"Oh goddess, you are really here." Morgana threw her arms around him.

He hugged her back. "I must admit that I am not use to being slapped then hugged."

She pulled back. "I thought you were my imagination. I thought that I was seeing you because I have no idea what happened that day, other than the fact that you poisoned me, which I am not over yet. But I just thought it was my subconscious telling me to forgive you."

Merlin dropped his arms to his side. "I will explain everything and tell you anything that you need to know but … I am going to get you out of here. We will return to Camelot. But before we do anything else, you need to know the truth and I need to tell you something that I should have told you a while ago."

Morgana watched him as he walked over to the bed and sat down, patting the space next to him.

"He is getting too close and I don't like it." Morgause said.

"What do you want me to do? Do you want me to ask every guard to look for him?" Cenred asked.

"No, I shouldn't have let your men try and look for him in the first place. I knew that they would let me down as they always have done. No I will not need you help this time."

"So what do you plan to do?"

She turned to him. "Well I am going to find him myself. I will also deal with him myself."