I know that this chapter is long overdue, and I'm very sorry that it is so small. I actually wrote this a while back, but then I began to wonder if this was the right direction to go. However, I have finally got it figured out, and I promise very sincerely that I will have the next one up very soon. I'd better stop now. Don't want the Author's Note to be longer than the actual story.

OW

The Wizards Duel

Chapter 13: Two Battles of the Mind

Morgana sat on her bed after Merlin left, pondering the unusual exchange. She had not been expecting for their conversation to have taken such a strange turn. She still hated Merlin profusely, for forgiveness was not something that came easily to her, but she felt a strange longing to be in his company again. Merlin had been like a brother to her before he had tried to kill her, and now that she had been reminded of those feelings, it would be difficult to forget them again. Part of her cursed herself for not killing him when she had the chance. He had been just inches away from her! She could have taken his life and been rid of him once and for all. But another part of her rejoiced in having said what she said and hoped that she could go back to the life she had once led.

The truth was, she really did want peace. Even when she had been plotting with Morgause, there was many times when she had hesitated to pull through with their plans. After all, she had only wanted vengeance on Uther, not all of Camelot. But Morgause was so good at turning Morgana's mind toward dark thoughts, telling her that all of her friends would kill her the moment they found out about her gifts. And after Merlin's shattering betrayal, she had truly begun to believe her. She thought that he really did despise her, and that he thought she was a monster. But he said he did it for Camelot, that everyone would have died if he hadn't stopped her. And wasn't he right? Wouldn't Camelot have fallen? She truly had needed stopping. Perhaps Merlin had been right to poison her.

No! the voice in her head hissed. He betrayed you! He deserves to die!

He was only protecting his friends, though.

You thought you were his friend.

She was! She is! He cared about her, he said so!

Do you really think you can trust him? After all, he betrayed you once. Who's to say that he wouldn't do it again?

Morgana shook her head. No. He wouldn't. He was trying to fix things. He was sorry for poisoning her.

He's only saying that to get close to you. Then, once he's done with you, he'll throw you away, just like he did before! You can't trust him!

Morgana covered her face with her hands and cried.

-/~\-

Arthur tapped his thumb on the hilt of his sword, bored out of his mind. He had just gotten out of a meeting with the dressers, who were busy making a hassle about his coronation robes. Apparently, the last time they had made clothes for a coronation was for when Arthur's mother was to be crowned queen, and they had not done the dress in the proper style to please Uther. And since Arthur was Uther's son, they were terrified that if he was not pleased he would have them whipped. Honestly, Arthur couldn't care less about what his coronation robes looked like so long as they were suitable for the occasion, which was why he had let Gwen volunteer to make them. She knew what he would like and what was suitable so there wouldn't have to be any trouble, but since she was still ill from her chest infection (She wasn't that ill. Arthur and Elyan both just went crazy at every little cough and wouldn't allow her to work for several weeks after Gaius had given the all-clear), Arthur would not put the pressure of making his robes on her shoulders. Thus he had spent, no, wasted, two hours trying to make it clear to the tailors that the robes were suitable and that he was not going to punish them if he did not absolutely adore them.

Four days had passed since Uther's funeral and Morgana's sudden appearance in Camelot. Arthur's knights were hesitant about agreeing to all of Morgana's terms, especially the ones concerning the sorcerer outlaws, but they did not argue with Arthur's decision, and as for Merlin, he shared the knights' concerns but was more enthusiastic about the plan than anyone else. Merlin also began to show a stronger sense of trust towards Morgana after his conversation with her, though he did not share exactly what had happened that had caused such a change in demeanor. All he said was that she was coming back to them, and he sounded so hopeful and sincere, like he really believed it, that Arthur was beginning to be convinced himself. He only hoped that Morgana was truly hoping for peace and that she would not turn on them the moment she knew that her future in Camelot was secure.

Review? Pretty please! It'll make me more motivated to update faster! I'll give you little chocolate hearts filled with the substance of your choosing if you do :D