AN: This chapter is longer than usual and is quite angsty but I had to cut some of the story to keep things within reason. (

At Merlina Fever: I love to hear people wanting 'evil' characters so they're on Merlin's side. Also, Gwen will be in the next chapter.

Two Princesses and a Servant

She took hold of his forearms as she had done before and felt a tingling sensation all the way through her body. A searing pain caused her to close her eyes and dig her nails into his arms.

There was something on her face. It was cold and sticky though the latter was because it was wet. It took effort to open her eyes and take in her surroundings. She was in a forest and stuck on his face was a simple leaf. She rolled onto her back and sat up slowly. Mithian remembered escaping with Merlin, or at least until the moment he cast the spell. He warned her there might be pain involved but never that she might be flung across a forest which seemed to have happened. Mithian looked around for the sorcerer and found him laying several feet from her. She moved over to him on hands and knees and turned him over to shake him a bit. He groaned, much to her relief, and opened his eyes.
"I feared you were dead." She commented.
Merlin sat up as well and clutched his side. He wasn't in any physical pain but he felt something was wrong.
"We should get moving." He replied.
Mithian got to her feet and helped Merlin onto his. She noticed him swaying a bit.
"Merlin, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'll be-whoo-" He tried to walk but his mind was faster than his feet.
Mithian quickly stepped forward and caught him. She could see the confusion on his face and hear his ragged breath. She put his arm around her shoulder for support and asked which way to go since she didn't recognize their surroundings. He pointed in a direction without a second thought and she did so but not without a doubt.

Rain brought ripples to the water they approached. A rickety boat lay on the shore but its destination, presumably on the other side of the river, was shrouded by fog and bad weather. Merlin nudged towards it and Mithian followed. She helped him get in the boat and managed to push off. The sorcerer was a mess. He was shaking from the cold and rain dripped from his nose and chin. The Princess rowed for a little while until Merlin touched one of her hands. He then turned to the fog before them. Foreign words came from his mouth and the fog cleared to reveal the majesty of the white towers of the Isle of the Blessed. The warlock smiled at the big eyes of the Princess. He didn't want her to miss the magnificent view from the water.

Sitting in the library, Morgana heard someone call her name. The sensation sent a shiver down her spine and an ominous feeling followed. She discarded the book she was reading as she got up and went outside. The rain had not let up since she went to the library several hours ago. She spotted someone moving in the distance. It took a moment for her to realise that they were actually two people. Then shock washed over her as she saw that it were Mithian and Merlin and that she was supporting him.
"Merlin." Morgana cursed and hurried over to take over from Mithian.
They went to their chambers and left Mithian in the living room.

Morgana carefully laid Merlin on his bed and saw him doze off to sleep almost instantly. For a moment she wondered whether it was Arthur or him that used to get them into trouble. Merlin was reckless every now and then and selfless as well. The witch took it as a sign that he was becoming more like his former self, like the Merlin she used to know. So why did this frighten her? With all the wrong Arthur brought into this world, surely he would see that she was right, wouldn't he? Kind and caring Merlin had always been on her half-brother's side. Having him, kind and caring rather than dark and vengeful, on her side was an idea that still seemed out of place.

"You don't know half how much I worry about you." She thought as she let her hand rest against his cheek. "You and your cheekbones."
Morgana went back to Mithian who stood in their living room, browsing the books but mostly just reading their titles. Mithian turned to Morgana as soon as the door closed.
"How is he?" She asked.
It was a strange experience for Morgana that another person, let alone another woman, to be worried about him. Was this jealousy? No, this was a woman who had every right to be worried about her saviour. It was merely odd that, despite being against Arthur, Merlin couldn't stop saving lives.
"He'll be alright." Morgana tried to reassure her and an awkward silence followed.
Neither woman knew what to do next. Morgana made a mental note to scold Merlin and have him tell her about his plan.
"I'm lost." Mithian admitted all of a sudden.
Morgana smirked at her honesty and returned it in kind. "So am I."
"He wasn't supposed to bring me here?"
"He was supposed to take you home. I fear we won't know why he hasn't until he wakes."
"I see." Was Mitian's short and awkward answer but Morgana didn't let another silence follow
"I wonder if we've got still got a spare bed."

Morgana did manage to find a spare bed but the sheets were troublesome. Seeing as Mithian was their guest, Morgana gave hers to the princess' and used the rags for her own. When the future Queen of Nemeth laid in bed, her minds was not without worries. To tell herself she was free would have been a lie. She was Morgana's prisoner now but the accommodations were far more hospitable. She didn't think she'd meet Arthur's infamous half-sister and least of all that she would act the way she had; with decensy. The stories she heard of her being a mad witch might not have been as accurate as she first believed. It did not mean they could be discarded because as with every story, it probably held a grain of truth.

Merlin's chamber was still dark. It was obvious to her that he hadn't awoken since she'd put him to bed. Morgana put the tray on his desk and sat down on the bed. His brows knit together and slowly his eyes opened.
"Hey." Morgana smiled. "How are you feeling?"
Several answers came to mind and the first of them was 'warm'. It wouldn't be the bed he was referring to. It was sentimental for it described the warmth her smile just brought to his heart. It was so far from the smirk and so close to that one smile he yearned for. Reality robbed him of that warmth and caught up with him.
"Hollow." He said.
"You gave us quite a fright."
"Sorry." He said, "Would you mind if I go back to sleep?"
"I would." She said and received an odd look from him before continuing, "You should eat something, even if it's literally just a bite."
Merlin put his back against the headboard of the bed and took a bit of bread.
"How is Mithian?" Merlin asked.
"She's taking it well." She replied with a slight shrug.
"And you?"
Morgana pouted and playfully taunted him. "I can't live without you."
The warlock smiled as he shook his head.
"I'm glad to see you're awake." She ended on a more serious note.
Merlin almost forgot all about the bread in his hand. Despite their past problems, they were picking up the pieces. He had fought her for so long that he didn't notice how broken she was until their talk about Morgause. She had said how she had trouble seeing him as an ally but Merlin found this moment worth the wait.
"I'm going to check on Mithian. I think she might need me even more than you do." She jested.
The sorceress made for the door when something occured to the warlock.
"Morgana." He called so she would turn around. "Thank you."
She gave him a slight nod and closed the door on her way out.

Morgana was surprised to see Mithian sitting on her knees by the undying flames in the fireplace. At first she thought the Princess of Nemeth was crying but that didn't seem to be the case when she got closer. Mithian was examining the fire. As if noticing her presence, she turned around.
"How can it burn without wood?" She asked.
Morgana knew it was made with magic but took it for granted, not thinking much of it until Mithian asked. The witch didn't know how a spell could sustain itself but it was indeed peculiar.
"Purged Magic." Morgana coined the term. "I don't think anyone knows."
Mithian looked back at the fire and Morgana observed her for a moment longer. Mithian didn't seem to fear magic or she hid it very well. Morgana had made it goal to bring back the Old Religion and wondered what would happen if the Princess saw more magic. It would help her see if Mithian was a potential ally that would follow their ways or if their truce would remain a truce.
"Would you like a tour around the Isle?"

Morgana led Mithian through many of the ruined buildings of the Isle. Most of them had a story but most of them were short as Morgana could only relay what she had heard from Morgause who remembered the days of the Purge. Eventually wandered to a place Morgana had a history with. The white slab still seemed to be stained with red from her sister's blood. Morgana ran her fingers across it but Mithian didn't seem to notice her eyes lingering on it.
"This is where the Veil was torn." Morgana announced.
Word of the deed that brought the Dorocha into the realm of the living had stretched far beyond the borders of Camelot and Nemeth was no exception.
"Is it colder here?" Asked Mithian as she brought her hands to her shoulders.
"Magic still seeps through some of the cracks which makes it seem colder."
Cold wasn't how Morgana would describe it. The sorceress felt watched and the 'cold' chilled her bones. It was difficult for her to stay in this place for long. There was the memory of ending Morgause but also the fact that Morgana was far more in touch with magic than Mithian.
"The more magic one holds, the greater the chill." Morgana mumbled.
"You're telling me I have magic?" Mithian prompted and Morgana smirked.
It was extremely tempting to tell the Princess that she did and, technically, it wouldn't be a lie. If she were anyone else, Morgana would've said yes.
"Everyone has magic but not always enough to actually cast spells." She explained.
"Then what makes sorcerers different?"
"Parentage plays a role but magic itself may manifest at any time. Mine manifested itself as dreams of the future which makes me a seer. Before you ask, I don't how Merlin discovered his."
Mithian nodded absently and Morgana thought it was enough magical education for the day. She was proud of Mithian as a teacher was proud of a student. Mithian had asked the right, intelligent questions and far more open than most people of noble birth.

They went back 'home' and saw Merlin reading through a book by the table.
"Feeling better?" Morgana asked with a slight smile.
"Still a bit under the weather." He replied as he put the book aside.
"Can you tell us what happened?" She asked as both she and Mithian sat down.
The warlock's shoulders moved up a bit as if he were cold though the enchanted flames in the fireplace kept the room comfortably warm.
"Getting Mithian out of the cage wasn't a problem on its own." He began. "However, it was more difficult with her than it was with you."
Mithian followed Merlin's gaze and looked at Morgana. She wanted to the witch's response but there wasn't any and Merlin continued.
"Your magic lightened the weight but Mithian doesn't have magic. Knowing we would never make it to Nemeth I brought us east, here, instead."
"But I couldn't use my magic then. How could it have lightened the 'weight'?" Asked Morgana.
"The poppet merely restrained it but the spell could still leech off it."
Mithian felt lost once more and was still left with questions she didn't want to ask in front of Morgana.
"Morgana," Mithian spoke before either of them could continue. "may I please speak with Merlin in private?"
The witch turned to her partner in crime who spoke in her mind.
"I'll be alright."
Mithian saw nothing more than a stare between the two but was glad when Morgana nodded at her in agreement. She went back outside which left Mithian with Merlin.
"What happened between you and Arthur? I heard you were thick as thieves." It was awfully rude for a lady in her position but it was the question which had been burning to ask.
The real question was 'what makes a man 'betray' his friend?' and she could tell he knew this by his sudden demeanour.
"Too much sacrifice, too many lies and no legacy but to be remembered as a traitor." He said bitterly.
Not much of what happened in Camelot made it to Nemeth, not the truth. Most of them were exaggerated and elaborate beyond reason but they mostly entailed what happen within the castle walls rather than the personal conflicts.
"Could you tell me about your sacrifices?" Mithian asked almost shyly.
He pondered the idea but he didn't want to tap into those dark and dreadful memories.
"Because of him and his father, I lost both my parents." He sumarrized.
"You're doing this for them?"
"No." He said with an odd smirk. Hunith would never have approved though his father might have sympathised. "I'm doing this for me and I owe it to Morgana. It's everything or nothing at all."
"Vengeance." Mithian summarized.
"Almost. Arthur isn't as fair a King as he's made out to be. Morgana can be a better Queen if she's given a fair chance."
Mithian nodded but Merlin could tell she wanted to fight his claim only something had held her back. Being in the presence of two powerful sorcerers, it would be a mistake to insult either of them. They could always hold her hostage and force Nemeth to fight Camelot but it would be a sign of weakness to have to raise an army like that.
"If you would excuse me, there's something Morgana and I must discuss."
Mithian didn't have any more questions and Merlin went outside and after Morgana who was probably in the library. When he couldn't find her there, he went to the observatory.

"There you are." He said as he closed the door.
She was sitting on the bedroll he kept there. Morgana didn't show Mithian the observatory. It was something Merlin had shown her and she didn't think it would be right for her to share with others.
"How was your talk?" She asked.
"Dull." He replied.
Mithian didn't need to know their reasons as it wouldn't change the truce that had already been made. The only thing that might be affected would be her conscience.
"So what did you and Mithian do while I was 'out'?" Asked Merlin.
"I showed her some of the Isle but not this."
Morgana saw the corner of his mouth curl upwards slightly as he glanced at the stars.
"Would you like to do some practice tonight?"
"Are you sure you're up for it?"
Morgana wasn't sure he had fully recovered but the warlock smile and cheekily replied "It means I won't have to hold back."
She bit her lip and playfully glared at him. "You're on."

Merlin was already there when Morgana arrived in the dead of night. She felt like she did when she snuck out of Camelot and it was a strange sensation that she was doing it for a man. If she had done anything of the kind during Uther's reign, she would've kept doing it just for the thrill of it. Merlin - she refused to call him master or teacher - seemed his regular, lanky self despite his weakness. Morgana planned to bring Mithian home soon but only after Merlin was well as he knew they would. There was plenty of time to practice and it made her wonder why he wanted to practice with her at night when they had time to spare.
"Why did you want to do this at night? Is it because of Mithian?" She reasoned.
Merlin nodded. "I don't want to frighten her. Even those in Nemeth have been taught to fear magic. They don't understand what it's like."
Morgana didn't like the fact that Merlin was showing his soft side to a complete outsider and almost scoffed at it. He had known the woman for less than a day, they barely knew each other. The soft and gentle manservant was to stay in the background. She needed him to be tougher than that and less forgiving than he was in the past though not the recent past. Did it not occur to him that she might have taken him for a fool and betray him in the end? She would most certainly act differently towards them if she knew Merlin's powers were beyond that of a High Priestess. Morgana would not let that woman take him away from her without a fight, she didn't even have magic.
"You're looking out for her? How sweet." The words seemed kind until she dryly added "She'll have to come to terms with it eventually."
He frowned. From what he had seen, he thought they got along just fine. "I thought you liked her."
Morgana shrugged. "She's nice but nothing special. I mean, she doesn't have magic."
"That's shallow."
"It's true."
Merlin didn't understand why Morgana was being this way."Have you looked at her?" He asked. "She's asking questions in hopes of understanding our cause rather than fear us and hope for the best. Does it remind you of someone?"
She knew the answer by the way he said it. He was trying to make a point and she had no trouble seeing what it was.
"You mean me?"
"Who you used to be."
And that stung her more than she would ever admit. Not only did it hurt to hear he preferred her old self but also that Mithian was more like that. He was in love with the old Morgana and his words implied that he may have feelings for Mithian.
"I don't want to hear it." She said and began walking away.
Morgana bit down and held her head high to keep the tears at bay but Merlin didn't see her pain. He believed to see arrogance.
"Get off your high horse, Morgana." He taunted her.
The witch spun around and marched towards him though it became evident he didn't mean to hurt her by the look on his face. Still, she wasn't going to let him get away with it.
"You can't say things like that and expect me not to care." She shouted.
Merlin, knowing he was wrong, spoke in a soft, almost whispering voice. "You've spoken of your old self with so much disdain, I thought you didn't."
"But it's still me you're talking about."
That's when he realised how much he must have hurt her. There was a silent friendship between them and it was as fragile as glass. He broke it with a brick. He had told her that he liked the woman who she used to be and not the sorceress she was at the moment. Adding to that was the fact that he loved the Lady of Camelot and he compared her to Mithian.
"You don't even care about me, do you? You only want vengeance!" She raged.
"You..." Merlin raised his voice but stopped before he would say anything he might regret.
Morgana, on the other hand, wanted to hear what he had to say for himself, what made him think he could get away with it.
"Say it! Be honest and tell me what you're thinking!"
"You're telling me I don't care for you at all but you know I did. It's what always held me back."
She fell silent. She too was being unfair. He didn't see how his words had hurt her and she said he didn't care when he had done so for so long. "And for so long, so did I." She thought.
"Mithian is like you; intelligent, kind and open to magic. But she's not the same. She didn't help defend Ealdor or smuggle food in times of need. I didn't mean to upset you."
That calmed her quite a bit and she knew why. Contrary to what she thought before, she was jealous. Part of her still clung to him and she didn't want to let him go or even share him at all.
"This always happens, doesn't it?" Said Morgana. "Either we're friends or we're fighting."
"I don't want to fight. We've fought for so long already."
"We share a past but we've changed as well. Maybe things will get better as time goes by."

AN:
I know they argue a lot but it'll be different after this.
The planned story was longer but this is where I stranded. Originally, Merlin and Morgana have another talk but I thought it unnecessary and repetitive.