She is brushing her horse when he happens upon her, the lining of her body making an alluring silhouette. He does not speak as her arm moves up and down the long mane of the beast, her tireless movements brushing out all the knots and snags. He observes the arch of her back as she shines the stallion's coat, the loose white tunic she wears and the tight black riding trousers with high boots. It is odd that even in men's clothing she looks so alluring…so sensual. His eyes sadden slightly.

"You can stop staring, you know."

He blushes terribly as she turns around, that dark scowl painted on her lovely features…a look reserved only for him. He shuffles a bit, he still feels dreadfully uncomfortable around her.

"I'm sorry, milady."

She turns back to her horse.

"You should be."

He doesn't say anything in response…the words hold more meaning than simply interrupting her chore. It has been two years since their return from the High Plane, the place the guardian's occupy. Since then, his interactions with Morgana have become increasingly complicated. Before it was simple black and white, he was good, she was bad, good and bad fight. Now everything was in shades of gray. Suddenly, his detest for her had morphed into an alluring tension, and the feelings he had suppressed exploded in a bright hot emotion of sensuality and love. Which one would never know for Morgana has avoided him like the plague since their return.

"Have you heard from Morgan, Morgana?"

Her brushing slows slightly as she lets his question sink in. She almost becomes still before her body takes on a life of it's own and she brushes her steed harder than normal.

"No, the last contact I have gotten with her was about a year ago…she said Arthur had come back and her time for sleep was upon her. I couldn't feel her presence after that, I believe she finally died."

He gulps and nods, he knows that Morgana saw Morgan as the older, wiser version of herself. She believed that was her fate, which was why she had changed.

"What about Queen Morgana? Have you heard anything from her?"

He watches as she slams the brush into the bin, the vibrations echoing through the stables. He tenses at sound and he watches her shake.

"She is living a decent life, how could she not be?"

He does not say anything more. He is too nervous of her attacking him again…he sighs loud enough for her to turn around and look at him incredulously.

"What is this Merlin? What do you want?"

He shuffles his feet again.

"To chat is all."

She wants to scream suddenly.

"Chat? You want to chat? Why, the bloody hell, do you want to chat?"

He throws his hands up in the air like a child.

"Oh I don't know Morgana, maybe it has something to do with the constant avoidance you have shown me since our return. That the moment we came back from the Higher Plane you just scurried out, and ran from everyone, including me! Then, out of the blue, six months later you just bloody show up again like nothing is wrong, and Arthur just welcomes you back like it's no big deal. I dunno, that's what this conversation is for, because you don't talk to me, because you have decided to create relationships with everyone else but me."

She widens her eyes, her look deadly.

"You must be joking…"

"I'm NOT, Morgana! Think about it! When you finally came back you spent the majority of the time connecting with Gwen and Arthur-"

"Because he's my brother!"

He gets close to her, their bodies almost molding together, he is in her space, destroying the boundaries established between them.

"That is besides the point!"

She pushes him then, and he stumbles back a few paces.

"Get away from me."

She moves to march away from him as she does every other day…for that is their newest and most entertaining game, well, he has the feeling she likes it for it just drives him up a wall. He cannot take the game today, he needs clarity. He grabs her arm and spins her around, her hair flying everywhere.

"Will you just stop that?"

She rips her arm from him, her breath coming out in huffs.

"Stop what?"

He slumps a little, his demeanor defeated and bloodied.

"Will you stop working against me…I'm trying here Morgana, I'm really trying, but you keep blocking me out…"

"Why shouldn't I? Why should I let you in?"

She's fuming at him and he fumes right back.

"I've apologized more than a milliontimes. It is as if you don't want to forgive me!"

"Maybe I don't!"

Her voice hits him like a bolder. He searches her face, desperate for her to retract her words.

"Morgana-"

"No, Merlin, no…I can't, I won't…"

His limbs hang to the side and his hands clench in fists next to his body.

"Morgana please…I'm trying here. I've tried for these last two years to get you to just talk to me, to speak to me in intimacy. This is the first time we've been alone together since the return…I meant what I said back there Morgana, how I felt…"

He moves close to her and his heart breaks when she backs up, her body colliding softly with one of the stables. He watches as Arthur's horse's head comes out and nuzzles her, the scene surreal. As if the animal knows that his master has a deep connection with this woman and he must protect her, a feat he is unable to overcome.

"I hate this Morgana."

He watches as her hand comes up and rubs at the underside of the horses jaw, her eyes soften slightly.

"What do you hate?"

Her eyes dart over to him, and he sees her size up the situation. He knows that she feels safer next to Arthur's steed. Somehow the animal will protect her from this conversation.

"I hate how we've gotten here. I was hoping after we came back from the Higher Plane we would reconnect…become more than what we are."

Her eyes dart back to the great beast next to her, her fingers running over his long mane.

"What are we, Merlin?"

He takes a cautious step towards her and thanks God when she doesn't move.

"We are nothing, Morgana…and that kills me."

She finally turns to him, her arm dropping and giving him a full view of her entire body, the loose tunic, and her tight trousers. My God…she is breathtaking.

"What do you want from me, Merlin?"

He looks her in the eye, his gaze strong.

"Everything."

She gulps audibly. He cannot help himself as he sees her shake from his honesty. He swiftly moves close to her and boxes her into the stable, his arms on either side of her body, her back pressed against the hard wood. Her fingers scratch at the oak and her palms are irritated by the sharp pieces sticking out of the wall. She looks up at him and his eyes plead with her.

"Please Morgana…please…just let me in…"

She shakes her head.

"How can I Merlin? How can we go back to that…after everything that has happened? I saw what I am capable of…Morgan was so driven by vengeance-"

"But you aren't her. You came back, after six months," his voice is but a whisper, "you came back and have been an asset to the crown. You are the High Priestess for God's sakes…Morgana please-"

He can see a tear slip from her eye. He fights the urge to brush it away, her body is already too close to him, but he will not move. He needs this intimacy.

"How can we go back? I have been repenting my sins for two years now. I've been paying for my crimes. I'm trying to change Merlin…but being with you? Feeling your magic?"

Her lip trembles as she finally looks up at him, her voice hitching.

"You hurt me so much…I can feel your power and how it could have helped me. I keep thinking of what we could have had, how things could have been different…I can't find it in myself to forgive you."

His eyes widen. He takes a deep breath, his lips coming together in a thin line.

"You can't…"

She shakes her head.

"I want to…I've tried everything to look past it but I feel like I've wasted so much time…so many moments being lost…" she takes a breath, "then I think of you, and how you could have helped me, savedme."

He feels a tear slip from his own eye.

"I wanted too-"

"But you didn't."

Her voice is a whisper, almost seductive as he leans down close to her. This conversation feels so real, so raw. It is not how he pictured today going, these words spilling, every fear coming to a boil and being solidified by her words. He wants to move...but this might be his last chance to be this close to her.

"You are right, I should have saved you, but I cannot change my decisions, I can only make new ones in the future."

His arm comes down, his body moving away from hers and his hand rests on her shoulder.

"I cannot express to you the remorse I feel, I can never show you how horrible this has all been. When he took you Morgana…Christ… it was like he took a part of my body. To find out seer was the key to all of this because it was the seer who predicted the destruction that would come from Persephone." He resists moving his fingers up to her jaw and caressing her skin. "You and the other Morgana's were the seers that were chosen, and I felt so helpless to save you…like I always have. I always wanted to save you, but I just never made the correct decisions to do so."

His tears start to flow freely, his vision blurring.

"I know you can never forgive me…and I guess, since I know…I'll just leave you alone then."

He starts to move away from her but she catches his hand and keeps it on her shoulder.

"You don't get it do you?"

He takes deep breaths, happy she is finally touching him…even if it is his hand.

"I don't get what, Morgana?"

She pulls at his hand and he is suddenly bracing himself over her again, the intimacy cooling is feared limbs.

"You don't get that even though I can't…doesn't mean I won't."

Her fingers ghost over the jacket on his arm, his head dips down. He hopes, prays, this is the thing he has been desperate for these last two years.

"What can I do, Morgana…name it and it's yours."

She looks up at him, and knows his words to be true. Once they had returned Morgana had seen a shift in her brother, his fear of magic dimming and almost dissipating over night. It was as if he became a whole new man, one who is an advocate for those with magic instead of working against them. She saw that in his appointing Merlin as Court Sorcerer, the man sitting next to him at the Round Table. Arthur was the one who sought her out, came to her hovel every week and persuaded her to come back. Albion was united a week before her return, and she saw Arthur almost cry as she walked into the great hall on that random Tuesday afternoon. All breaths caught in their throats as she walked towards him and he rushed towards her. It was a surreal moment…and suddenly it hits Merlin. He looks down at her and his eyes widen.

"You wanted me to come to you."

Her irises soften as he leans closer to her.

"Once again Merlin…when I wanted your help, when I needed you to come to me you didn't."

He wants to kick himself, his second chance squandered…and for what? Those first months back had been hard. Her leaving had crushed him in more ways than he could comprehend. The reason he did not go to her was…once again…his destiny. Arthur had immediately started changing everythingthe second they returned to Camelot. The destiny he had been working for unfolded so quickly he did not have a moment to blink, but honestly what excuse is that? Arthur had found time to see her…he should have.

"God Morgana…am I really such a fool?"

The tears start again.

"You asked me what I wanted Merlin."

Her hands come up to cup his cheeks, her fingers brushing at his temples.

"I want you to call Eros. I want you to go back in time and change our pasts…I want you to get it right."

He shakes his head at her, a gross sob escaping his lips as she holds onto his face…he suddenly desires what she was doing. Hiding behind Arthur's beast of a horse.

"Morgana, you know I cannot, it was one of Pluto's rules. Do you remember what she said after we came back and she visited?"

She nods her head. When they had disappeared into the abyss and arrived back in Camelot Pluto had appeared before them, telling them the rules now that they were back. They were relatively simple, basics of staying away from time altering magics and the movement of time itself. Her big one was to never contact them again, I know it is harsh to say but it is for the protection for you and your world. She knows what she asks is foolish…but it does not make her wish for it any less.

"Morgana, I cannot change our past…but I can fix our future. Please…I will do anything to rectify this."

She looks up at him, her eyes sad. His irises roam over the delicate features of her face, her soft gaze and deep inviting lips. He runs his fingers down her arm and fisting at the flowing cloth. She does not say anything, her eyes wide as if she is expecting something extraordinary to happen. His breath hitches.

"I love you, Morgana."

It is a statement, a fact, a knowledge that they both have but never spoke of. It is powerful. His words bleed into her. He watches her lip tremble, and her fingers finally touch his neck then move up and into his hair. He holds her back, bringing her to him in this soul defying moment.

"Morgana…"

He looks down into those sharp jade irises and he knows this was it, his third and final chance. The last time he was able to do something right. His face moves towards hers and his breath is hot on her lips.

"Do you love me as well?"

She trembles under him and he shakes. She is a pure spirit in this moment, devoid of the anguish and hatred he knows would have consumed her if not for that trip to the Higher Plane. He watches her suck in a breath.

"I love you, Merlin."

His lips capture hers so quickly she almost doesn't have time to finish her sentence. His mouth moves over hers in a needy fashion, his body wishing, wanting, the primal desires he has denied himself all of these years…the connection he has always desired with this woman. Her hands move into his hair as he pushes her into the stable walls. He wants allof her. He knows he has her heart, but he wishes to consume her soul. He lets go of her mouth, and desperately kisses down her neck, nipping at her flesh, sucking at her skin. He is reminded of the brand the queen Morgana had…and he wishes for his Morgana to be branded in such a way, for everyone to know that she is his. His fingers fist at her bottom and lift her up, pressing her into the hard wood of the stables as her legs fasten themselves high on his waist bringing him into her. It is suddenly so primal between them, the tight trousers creating a delicious barrier between them.

She pushes at his jacket, the garment being forgotten on the stable floor. Her hands run down his stomach and her fingers make quick work of his small belt. She has never understood why he still wore his manservant clothing, but she is suddenly grateful. It will be easier to devastate him of these garments than it would be of a noble's attire. He kisses down her neck and she moans, the feeling of his lips on her skin like hot embers burning in the middle of a fire. She can feel his hands move under her tunic his lips sucking harshly on her shoulder-

"Merlin?!"

They freeze. His voice booms through the stables and Merlin wishes to hide in the closest hole. He helps Morgana down but brings her close in a feeble attempt to hide her from this embarrassment.

"Arthur-"

"What are you doing!? And with my sister!?"

She turns ten shades of red, his arms clinging to her tightly. The King advances them but Merlin puts an arm out.

"Arthur, later."

Arthur's eyes widen as Merlin's eyes go gold, his lips kissing Morgana's crown.

"Iompar go dtí mo sheomra."

They disappear in a shimmer and the king stands there wide-eyed.

He pulls her up and puts her on the table the second they get to his chambers. Her legs still wrapped around him while he moans into her mouth. He remembers her throwing a few pieces of his clothing on the floor of the stables and makes a mental note to pick them up later. He has more pressing matter to attend to at the moment.

He pushes at the tunic on her body, her back meets the table as his mouth comes down to her tight stomach to kiss and nip at her navel. She moans in appreciation as his head moves up between the bindings on her body to keep her breasts in place, the tunic riding high as he licks and sucks on her sensitive skin. She runs her hands over his back, scrunching up the purple fabric of his own top, her fingers desperate to connect with his hard back. She finally makes contact with his delectable skin as she devastates him of his shirt. He moves next to remove the blasted tunic from her body, and takes a moment to admire her.

She lies there, her fingers running over the small amounts of hair on his stomach, her nails scratching at his lean chest. His lip trembles at the beauty of her body, her sharp legs constricted by the manly pants she wears. He wonders what it would be like to do this while she is in her skirts…his eyes soften. His shoulders slump as he realizes how improper they are acting, how they should be married before engaging in such activates.

He gulps as he steps back and she sits up in confusion. He leans next to her on the table, facing the wall as she sits up fully, her chin resting on his shoulder, the soft digits of her fingers running over his bare arm and roaming up to play with his neckerchief.

"Merlin…what is it?"

Her lips make contact with his ear and he shakes. She knows he wants this…the evidence is clearly shown through his trousers. He looks to the side, his eyes pleading.

"We shouldn't do this Morgana. You are a lady and I a lord. We should be married before we engage in such activities."

Her eyes soften as her lips roam the inch of skin exposed at the top of his neckerchief. Her fingers move over his chest again, playing with the swirls around his nipples. He closes his eyes in sensation as her nails scratch at him softly and her lips move up to nip and suck on his large ear.

"Morgana…"

Her hand comes up to his face to turn him to her.

"Do you really wish to wait?"

He nods his eyes desperate and pleading. He is working against all of his primitive desires to be a man, to marry her, to do the right thing.

"I want to marry you Morgana…I don't want to just bed you."

He takes her left hand and lifts it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. His mouth moves over her ring finger, the spell is hot and seductive against her skin.

"An fáinne an ghrá a cheanglaíonn orainn."

She watches as a shimmering breath releases from his mouth and moves over her ring finger, fastening itself around the digit. Her eyes soften as the shimmer bursts to life and a small light explodes. In its place is an ornate ring, in the center is a precious diamond, and on either side are lines of smaller diamonds woven into the silver of the band creating the most spectacular piece of jewelry she has ever seen. She smiles at him as he kisses the rich present.

"With this ring, comes my promise. My word, Morgana, that soon we will wed and I will make you my wife."

She smiles at him, her fingers running over his jaw and into his hair, the declaration long overdue.

"So you wish to stop what we are doing now?"

He smiles cheekily at her, and she returns the gesture.

"I wouldn't say wish…"

His hand moves over her back and to her hip, pulling her so her legs fall over his lap. His hand comes down to rub at the lather of her trousers.

"I have to sounds more accurate…"

She looks up at him and removes herself from his body. She watches his shoulder slump a little, her eyebrow quirks.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Milord." His pupils dilate, "You should do what you think is right and damn the consequences."

His brow scrunches at her and then his eyes widen. She has moved to the side and placed a boot on the table, the visibility of her flexibility maddening. He gulps as she works the buckles open of her boot and then repeats the action on the other, leaving her in only her bindings and trousers. He smiles as her toes wiggle against the hard floor. She moves to face him, and he watches her play with the top of her trousers. She smirks at him from under her long alluring eyelashes.

"You can try to do what you think is right, Merlin…does not mean I will not try to change your mind."

He gulps audibly as she pulls as the string of her pants. His breath hitches as her thumbs hook inside of her garment. It is an eternity as she moves the pants over her thighs, and down her long seductive legs, his lip trembles as he gazes upon her. She is covered only by her bindings and drawers. He licks his lips subconsciously, remembering the taste of her skin. He stands as he watches her pull at the binding. He slowly walks towards her as the cloth spirals down to the floor, around and around and around until it has relinquished hold on her luscious breasts. He stands right in front of her, the image of her deep red nipples surprising him when they are soft and pink. His hands come up and cup at the mounds and she rolls into him, her back arching, her breath hitching.

His arm comes around her to run up and down her naked back, his mouth descending onto her cleavage and licking between her scrumptious breasts, his tongue lathering her skin, licking and bruising her flesh, branding her as his. His fingers come up and his nails tweak her sharp nipples. She quakes under him, her leg coming around his thigh to push him into her. His mouth replaces his fingers and he licks and nips and sucks and every other erotic thing he can think of to ravish her chest. She is in awe of him, of his talent…but it only last a moment before he rips from her and puts a few good feet between them, turning away from her. She looks at him in shock, her cheeks burning as she suddenly feels very naked.

"Morgana we can't…"

His eyes widen as he feels her distress from behind him. He whips around and runs to her as he sees her shake from embarrassment.

"Morgana-"

"I'm sorry, I just-"

She is interrupted by her own hysterics her arms coming around him as he holds her close. Her face buries itself in his neck, running from her humiliation…she feels so rejected in this moment. He shakes his head.

"God Morgana…do you know what you're doing to me?"

She looks up at him with those sharp jade eyes.

"Why do you deny this then? You will marry me…I don't care about ceremonies, I just want you Merlin…"

His teeth grind, every fantasy in his life flashing before his irises…all centered around her…

"I want to make you an honorable woman."

Her hands run over his cheeks.

"I want you to make me a woman."

He cannot help himself at her words. Before he can think the remaining garments are flying, and he finds himself naked, and her delectable flesh pressed into his. He has her lying on her back, the linens feeling soft against her body as his fingers find their way to her center. She groans as he invades her core, the sensation incredible and frustrating and elemental. As he works her his breath hitches as her hand simultaneously comes to his own prick, hard and wanting to be buried inside of her. It is surreal, having her touch him as his fingers move inside of her. It is amazing, him giving her pleasure and her returning the favor. He has touched himself enough in his time…but the feeling of her hand will make his own obsolete for the rest of his days.

"Ah! Merlin!"

He does not know what is happening so he keeps going, confused at her sudden outburst at the tightening of her walls and the rush of extra fluid. He does not know if it is good or not so he moves his wrist in a different rhythm, desperate to give her that feeling he gets with his own hand…though hers will trump his any day. She shakes more, his lips sucking at her neck as he tries to work past the pleasure her palm is giving him and focus on his fingers inside of her. Her hand stops suddenly and his movements slow as he looks up at her. His eyes a mask of confusion. She pulls him over her and grabs for him again.

"Morgana…what-"

"I want that again."

He tries to focus as he braces himself over her as her delicious hand continues to pump him.

"Want what exactly?"

He literally cannot think straight…and has no bloody idea what she is talking about.

"That release-"

"That what?"

She grabs for his face and brings his lips to hers in a harsh kiss, though he finds himself moaning.

"That release, that climax your talented fingers just brought me too. I want you to do it again…but this time with your cock."

His eyes widen, and then a goofy grin settles on his features.

"You released…"

Her hand frees him as her arms run up and over his stomach, settling themselves in his hair.

"It was like an explosion within my body."

He gulps at her words. Happy he achieved what he wanted…even if he didn't realize it. He dips down and kisses her soft lips and pushes into her without hesitation, his mouth swallowing the pain of the invasion. She grinds her teeth and he fists the pillows, the white heat of her body feeling like hot oil smeared over his shaft…the tight space creating the most amazing friction. She pants softly as he pushes her hair away, peppering kisses over her neck, jaw, ears, anywhere he can reach.

"It's okay Morgana…I'm here…"

His voice is raspy and low as he speaks, her body trembles.

"I won't move until you tell me to…"

Her nails dig into his back, and he watches her take deep breaths.

"It's okay…just go slow."

He nods and moves through her tight, wet, heat. It is incredible, the slickness of her juices creating the most fluid motions, as if his shaft was made to settle inside of her body and her body alone. Her nails loosen their grip on his body and he watches as her sweat pebbles and settles on her flesh like a fresh new blanket. He licks at her shoulder, the salty taste of her desire covering her skin. She runs her fingers over his chest as he moves, trying to find pleasure in this union. He kisses her suddenly, then lazily moves his lips over her neck, sucking at her flesh. It is powerful then, and she finally feels it. Her body reacting, her hips moving, the enjoyment of lovemaking suddenly spurring her desires on as they burst to life under her body.

It does not take long after that, his shaft is swift as it pulls her climax from her body and spreads it all over his waiting member. His eyes widen as she screams his name in ecstasy and it takes her howls of pleasure to allow him to release. Her name comes out as a growl from between his spent lips. His lazily kisses over her body, suddenly happy that they did this.

He brings her to him as he falls to the side, his arms bringing her close.

"Soon…this will be your bed and your chambers. Soon, our union will be more than just our physical acts."

She rolls onto her stomach as his arm comes up to grab at her elbow.

"Soon, I will yours and we will dedicate ourselves in front of all of Camelot."

He smiles.

"And God."

It is a mere two weeks later that their vows are said, their union formal and everlasting. He is surprised when he removes her dress that night and sees his name etched into her right hip. He smiled at her that night and made the deepest love to her as the brand glowed. Their marriage was the beginning of an eternal love story that books will be written about in the future, that children will gather around and listen to. They will hear the first story of love, betrayal, and the power of magic bringing together two very powerful individuals.

Her union causes Morgana to spend many nights thinking of the Queen of Magi, and hoping the woman is living as wonderful a life as she has found. She turns as she hears the babe cry in the background and smiles as she watches Merlin rock their infant son.

Balinor will be quite a handful indeed.

Fin.

...this is literally the second to last chapter *looks left to right*. AHH, seriously. I don't have the second epilogue written yet but its gonna come, it will be a little bit but it will be there...honestly I was going to write this before everyone was like 'OMG MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN CANNON VERSE!'...yea lol. I hope it was satisfying.

Leave a review and tell me if I got this done right? I have a problem with cannon cuz I'm scared I don't get their personalities correct and I'm a stickler for being in character when I write stories so yea...hehe.

Thanks again for reading!