WiltingDaisies94: And we're back! I know it's been a while since my last update, and I apologize for that. Summer's been a busy time for me.

But now that the Season 5 Merlin trailer is circulating round the net, my willpower has reemerged. This chapter we're taking a break from the Lance/Gwen romance to spend some time with Morgana. Italics indicates flashback. As usual, please read and review!

Chapter 25

Morgana stretched contentedly across the ground, reveling in the prickling sensation produced by the waving, twitching grass beneath her, writhing as it tickled her exposed skin.

"The more you squirm, the worse it will become," Lily scolded her, with the precise I-know-better tone of an elder sister.

"Oh come now, do not be cross, Lily." Morgana giggled and sat up, nudging her friend in the shoulder. "Who is the one in a mood now, hm?"

Lily crinkled her nose and bumped Morgana right back. "Oh spare me your patronizing, would you?"

Morgana raised her eyebrows. "Indeed," she teased, "because that seems a very likely outcome."

But the scullery maid wore such a look on her face, that Morgana felt almost contrite for her banter. She reached out a hand and touched her friend's arm. "Tell me what occupies your thoughts so forcefully. You look downright melancholy."

Lily flicked an imaginary blade of grass off her skirt, relaxing under Morgana's touch. "It is nothing," she replied, looking vaguely past Morgana.

Morgana was less than convinced. "Do not say you are regretting your actions towards Sir Gwaine?" she guessed.

Lily chuckled against her will. "Certainly not. It was the most brilliant action I have taken all week long." Her eyes brightened at the memory. "His expression was utterly stupefied; I shall never forget it."

Morgana laughed along with Lily, in an infinitely joyful mood. The day was unseasonably warm, and the sun sent its rays downwards in simple, elegant waves of heat and bright light.

She'd been in this uplifted state since her last meeting with her masked gentleman. And though she might have been despondent at his departure, worried for his safety, Leon had left her with such charming recollections that nothing seemed to dampen her spirit. Every thought of the nobleman brought with it memories of their adventure with the swing, and Morgana could not help that same weightless feeling from overtaking her being.

Even when her poor mistress had caught ill and had her voice stolen from her, Morgana had difficulty allowing that to cloud her happiness. Besides, Her Majesty was spending increasing amounts of time with Sir Lancelot, whom the King had left behind to act as her guardian. With the Queen's attention taken, Morgana was free to contemplate as she liked, once her chores were completed.

"Well if not that, then I beg you not to shut me out." Morgana stretched out her body and rested her head across Lily's lap, looking up at her appealingly. "What troubles your heart, my friend?"

Lily sighed and some of the laughter in her eyes faded away. "It is not much to speak of, I am afraid. All I might say is that I am worried."

"Worried?" Morgana picked absentmindedly at a long piece of grass. "For who? Sir Gwaine?"

Lily gave an almighty snort of contempt. "Oh please, let us humor my intelligence a bit more than that, shall we?" She shook her head in quick, short motions. "Go on and let the fool injure himself; it would serve in saving me from further harassment."

Morgana, who still suspected that Lily actually liked the roguish knight a good deal more than she would ever have admitted, did not push the topic. "Then who is it, dear? Who has your mind twisted with concern?"

Lily brushed a hand lazily through Morgana's long hair, which for once she was wearing loose. "Merlin," Lily eventually murmured, her eyes glazed over in thought.

Morgana squinted up at her. Was it a trick of light, or did she see a faint color in Lily's cheeks? "Merlin?" she asked in confused curiosity. "The King's manservant? Why should he cause you unease?"

Lily shrugged thoughtlessly. "I always worry for him when he rides out with the knights. He is not a warrior, you know, and yet he puts himself at such risk for the King's sake." She began untangling a knot in Morgana's wavy hair. "Not that Merlin would ever confess it, but I think he is a much greater friend than His Majesty has ever deserved."

"You seem oddly protective," Morgana commented, wiping her hand on her apron. "I know I have only been in Camelot a short while, but I have not seen many of your interactions." She paused. "Does he really mean so much to you?"

Lily smiled a sweet and misty expression. "Of course."

Morgana rolled onto her side, her cheek resting on Lily's leg. "Why?"

Lily's fingers worked smoothly, the practiced motions falling into a calming rhythm. "Call it habit, I suppose. I have known Merlin for a long time."

"Tell me," Morgana requested breathily, closing her eyes.

"Very well," Lily agreed, gently working through a tricky tangle. "But only if you behave yourself."

"Yes, I will," Morgana promised, feeling oddly like her mistress asking to have her hair braided. "Go on."

"Merlin," Lily began, "was the first person I met when I came to work in the castle. I am not originally from Camelot, and I admit, I was rather hopelessly lost; the only person who took pause enough to give me directions was Merlin, and that," she said with a grin, "was only because he was locked in the stocks."

Morgana giggled.

"He looked so helpless and ridiculous, with bits of rotten tomato dripping off his face." Lily shook her head, laughing. "Poor dear, I felt so badly for him, I simply had to go over and offer some aid…"

"Pardon me," Lily said, walking over to the wooden beams, "might I help you?"

The young man shook his head cheerfully. "I doubt it," he replied congenially, "unless you happen to be a locksmith's apprentice, in which case help would be much appreciated."

Lily tossed her head and sighed, smiling. "I am afraid I cannot claim such skill. But perhaps," she said, fishing in her apron, "I could relieve you a bit?" She produced a clean linen kerchief and held it out questioningly. "May I? ... er...?"

"Merlin." The young man shrugged as best he could with his confined movements. "And yes, I would be obliged, miss...?"

"Lily." She reached out and began gently wiping away the chunks and juice of rotten vegetables. "Well," she said, trying to keep the conversation light, "I will say this much for the people of Camelot – they have very good aim."

"And a never ending supply of ammunition," Merlin added ruefully. "One might think that at a certain point they would simply run out of things to throw, but one would apparently be wrong."

Lily laughed, moving to clear his forehead. "Close your eyes for a moment, please." She swiped something that looked rather like a squashed blackberry out of Merlin's hair. "How did you end up in the stocks, anyway?"

"Ah." Merlin gritted his teeth. "I, uh, I displeased my master; I did not have his armor polished and ready for use when he called for it."

"And for only that offense he would punish you thus?" Lily shook her head disapprovingly. "How impatient! Your master must imagine himself some sort of king to treat his servant so poorly."

Merlin opened his eyes and smiled, amused by Lily's ignorance. "Unfortunately he has the right to do so."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Because," Merlin explained simply, "my master is the King."

"Ouch!"

"Hm?" Lily looked down as Morgana winced; she had pulled too hard on her hair. "Oh! My apologies."

Morgana mumbled her discontent, but settled back down quickly, too peaceful to be disturbed. "And then what?" she asked drowsily.

"I felt a fool, that is what," Lily said. "But Merlin was quite good about it; he thanked me for my aid and pointed me in the proper direction." She looked up, trying to recall the rest of their conversation. "We have been friends ever since."

"Mm," Morgana murmured. "Sweet."

"Yes," Lily agreed, stroking her sleepy companion's hair, "he was."