I was originally going to have this chapter from Morgana's POV again, but weird purple bookworm requested if we could have a chapter from Merlin's POV instead and to get a bit more of his history, which I think is a good idea, so this chapter shall mainly be from Merlin's POV for a change. I hope you enjoy it!

Please review :)

Chapter 14

Under Cover of Darkness

"Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that someone's always near"

- Fightstar, Fear of the Dark (original: Iron Maiden)

Merlin watched Morgana in the firelight, who felt his gaze and looked up at him, making his face burn with a heat that had nothing to do with the fire and quickly turn away. He couldn't help but feel a little foolish. He had known Morgana for a week now, why was he still acting like a bumbling idiot? But sometimes, just sometimes, those bright emerald eyes caught him off guard and he felt something stir inside him that he had only ever felt once before. It filled him with happiness but also a great sadness, because he knew he couldn't let his feelings get in the way, there would be too much to lose, no matter how beautiful her laugh was, no matter how she was so kind and friendly towards strangers, no matter how bright her eyes were.

The only time Merlin had ever felt something like this was when he was still living in Camelot and had met a girl called Freya. She was scared and alone, just like Morgana was when they had first found her. He had felt the strange connection with her as he did with Morgana. And he had longed to help her find her freedom and happiness, just like he wanted for Morgana now. That was the first time Merlin had ever thought about running away. Two lost souls escaping into the wilderness together and not once look behind at everything which had been holding them back sounded like a dream come true. But Freya was killed before they could find their freedom and in that moment Merlin had never felt so alone. He found comfort in those who had become his friends and family and realised that although sometimes he would long to, he would never run away from Camelot.

That was such a long time ago now. It had been three years since he had seen Freya's face, since they had dreamed of a safe place with mountains and lakes where they could run away to and live in peace. Three years and it still hurt. Especially when he looked into Morgana's eyes.

He tried to tell himself Morgana was different. Morgana was a noble woman who had run away from her abusive husband and uncaring King. She was just trying to find her freedom, she had no interest in a peasant boy who hadn't stepped in a castle for two years. They would find her a Kingdom where a much nicer, more handsome Knight would swoop her up into his arms and give her back the grand castle and riches she had left behind. She deserved a good life anyway. So why, after only knowing this woman for a week, did the thought of that made Merlin's heart burn, and why did he somehow feel sad when Morgana walked and laughed with Gwaine sometimes?

Because it was her that he wanted to laugh and walk with.

Yet Morgana was quite similar to Freya, he could see it sometimes, when the talking ceased or darkness had fallen on another day, Morgana would become so fearful. She was scared of the thought that her husband could be chasing her, that he could be out in the darkness looking for her. But for some reason Merlin felt there was more to it than that, it was almost as if she was afraid of herself. He remembered last night she had looked so downcast he had gently touched her shoulder and asked her what was wrong. She looked up at him and said,

"Do you feel cursed sometimes? I think I'm cursed."

If she was cursed, that made her even more like Freya, it should be a warning to not let his heart get involved. But at the same time Merlin desperately wanted to help the woman who believed she was cursed. He didn't think she was a curse.

Merlin looked across the fire at the others, who were sitting around in a circle, some of them poking the burning embers with sticks, others almost nodding off in front of it. It had been another tiring day, and none of them looked particularly happy about the amount of walking they had been doing, but Merlin insisted they kept on travelling. He didn't say it out loud but they all knew it was for Morgana's sake. The further away she was from her husband, the better.

"Do we even know where we're going Merlin, or will we just wander forever more?" Gwaine had asked him that day after walking through more endless trees. He spoke light-heartedly but there was a serious question behind his grin.

"Somewhere safe," was all Merlin said. It was the only thing he said when someone asked him that question. He wasn't sure what to say, but for some reason he had been thinking more and more of the mountains and lakes and peace he had once promised another lost soul. There had to be somewhere safe out there for them. Somewhere. That was all he had wanted since he had become an outlaw, a place he could call home again. He couldn't go back to his mother's village, it was too risky in case he was found, and there was no way he could go back to Camelot. He had to start his life again.

Sometimes Merlin felt totally lost, as if he was walking an endless path, all he wanted to do was to stop somewhere and call it home, but he felt that there was nowhere else he could call home. The future seemed as dim and his past. Because home was behind him, with the friends and family he had left behind too. But there was no point looking back, there was no need to be reminded once more of the look on his best friend's face when he had revealed his magic. The look of horror and betrayal.

"Are you all right?" Said a soft voice beside him, making Merlin jump. He turned to look at Morgana again and noticed how the firelight danced in her eyes. When he looked at them the future didn't seem to dark, but he crushed his feelings before they could take a hold. He couldn't lose someone else so dear to him.

"I'm fine," he smiled. "Just tired. We should all be getting some sleep now."

There were some mumbled agreements from around the fire and people started organising who should start the first watch. It was only when Merlin said it that he realised how tired he was. But with Morgana beside him and the thoughts that made his head buzz and heart thump, he wasn't sure how he was going to get to sleep. Somehow though, when he rested his head on the ground next to Morgana, he fell asleep quite quickly.

But if he had known what was about to happen under cover of darkness, he would have kept himself awake.

The outlaw stepped silently away from the sleeping figures around the steadily dying fire. None of them stirred. He glanced at Merlin and Morgana, sleeping side by side, so close their hands were almost touching. The woman looked so peaceful in the firelight, so innocent. That was what everyone else could see, they couldn't perceive the danger she was putting them all in. But he would change that.

As the figure moved silently away from the camp site, now used to having to sneak away as he had been doing this every other night for the past week, a twig snapped beneath his foot. It made such a noise to the figure it sounded more like a tree being snapped in two than a twig. He nervously looked round, but the five figures were still sleeping soundly. He was meant to be awake as it was his turn to keep watch, but people would grow very suspicious if they woke up and saw him sneaking away into the darkness. The figure picked up his pace after that, knowing his time was already running short.

The outlaw didn't have long to go however before he reached his destination. He whispered words under his breath, allowing his magic to guide him towards the person he was supposed to meet. The light of the fire had been completely lost amongst the darkness, but he found the soldier easily enough.

"Well?" Said a gruff voice of the soldier, whose face was concealed in shadow. He probably wasn't very pleased about being ordered out of bed wander the woods to talk to a stranger who probably had the same news as he always did.

And this night was no different. "I still don't know where we're going," the outlaw admitted to the soldier. "People still keep asking Merlin, but he doesn't say, he just tells us we're going somewhere safe."

"But we cannot have you reaching this safe place, if safety means we cannot take her." The soldier pointed out.

The outlaw nodded, "I know, just give me a little more time, I could-"

"Lord Kasim and King Odin are already running out of patience," the soldier interrupted sternly.

"You've hardly been following a week, you need to give me more time!"

The soldier seemed to know what the outlaw was thinking. "Don't worry, I'm sure the King will still reward you richly for the information you have given us. You have taken us this far, but our time is running out. They do not enjoy going on wild goose chases, and neither do I."

"Then strike at your will," snapped the outlaw, who was also losing his patience. "They still have no idea that you are following, not even Merlin, they won't know what's happening until you attack."

The faceless soldier nodded, "We have been able to keep our distance but I shall inform King Odin and Lord Kasim that the time to attack is now. Your work is done."

The figure nodded and was about to turn away, when he hesitated. "Odin will keep his promise won't he? None of the others will be harmed, they have nothing to do with this. It is the witch you want, no one else."

"You have the word of the King, his concern is not with the other outlaws, just his ward," the soldier said.

"Thank you," the figure replied, hoping his relief didn't show.

"No, thank you." Said the soldier in a rather darker tone than the outlaw liked, he could imagine the man grinning beneath his shadow, but he ignored it as he turned away.

When the outlaw reached the small campsite again the fire had almost completely died and it had grown a lot colder. He glanced around nervously but the others were still sleeping soundly. They had no idea where he had gone, or who was following just behind them. Not until it was too late.

The figure sat back down on the cold ground, his breath forming as a mist in front of his face, and silently used magic to re-light the fire. He savoured its warmth and grateful that it banished the darkness around him, as he tried not think about what fate he might have given the others who were sleeping around him.