Would you dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?
Morgana.
She shifted in her saddle and ignored him. She was hunting far from Camelot's gates, It wasn't as though she could run to the cavern at his command.
Morgana!
His voice, more insistent this time, distracted her as she had been drawing her bow to shoot. Merlin would be relieved the animal had been spared but she was getting frustrated at her lack of success. Arthur had already killed a deer and there was no way he was winning their unofficial and unspoken competition... again.
Morgana!
No, she thought at him, I'm hunting and I can't come.
Come soon, witch. I wish to speak with you. You will not regret it.
I violently dislike you, she thought back at him.
The feeling, as you know, is entirely mutual. But feelings are irrelevant. We are kindred spirits, you and I.
I do not trust you.
Trust is as irrelevant as emotions. I did you a favour and now I need one in return.
Helping me cure Merlin benefited you as much as me. I owe you no favour.
Perhaps not. But this too will be as much to your advantage as it is to mine.
What do you mean?
We both dream of a Camelot ruled by Arthur rather than Uther, do we not? I can make this come to pass.
Since my kidnap, Uther has been kind and attentive. He has given me charge of his household and he has allowed Merlin and I to be together. Why would I act against him now?
Because he will revert. Even now he puts caveats on your relationship with Merlin. Magic is still banned and you still live in fear of discovery. Help me and he will be gone. You will be free.
Why haven't you asked Merlin to help you?
I have, many times. He has refused. He does not trust me. And he believes that Arthur needs his father. I disagree.
I don't, she thought back at him, Merlin would never forgive me if I went back down this path. The answer is no.
Very well. Maybe you will change your mind after a few more executions or when Uther tells you that your relationship with Merlin must end. Until then, happy hunting, witch.
Distraction gone, she aimed her bow at the deer but missed again. She paused, then reached out her hand and killed it with a single deathly word. Just a few weeks of Merlin's tutelage had improved her skills immensely.
She thought of a world where she and the man she loved could marry and be together forever. A world where she could practice magic like this without fear. She smiled at the idea and shot an arrow into the animal to make it appear it had died by normal means.
One day, she thought, I will not have to hide like this anymore. One day I will be free.
She would never act on it of course but she had to admit. The Dragon's offer was tempting.