Hey look! It's Monday! It's also really really late and I apologize for that. My muse was being a jerk. There is a lot of fluff going on this chapter so I hope you are looking forward to it. This one is a nice longish one because and get ready for it…I am going to take a week break from this story. I need a week to relax from it, but it will be up like normal on the 7th.
In absence of this story I will be catching up on Dreams of Fate, my adjunct story to this one so next week you can either read back up on this story or hop over to my other one, because I am going to catch it up to this story so I can refer to them. I was actually going to take a break this week, but I am a kind writer and didn't leave you guys hanging for another week.
Moon Fox: I can't wait to see what your theory is about the pregnancy thing and the cliffhanger will be solved this chapter so don't despair.
Shelle-ma-belle: Yeah….kinda.
Sofia Lawrence: I want everyone happy too.
Gnippi: Hello newbie! I am channeling my inner Morgana and being evil.
Shell22: Okay. I will tell you that I'm sure that anyone caught in that situation would act like Merlin. And besides that, what was he going to do? Argue with him naked? It wasn't a great way to handle it, but I didn't want them to duke it out there. Morgana wasn't worried about him saying goodbye, because she intended to follow them anyway. Fighting for her can mean different things. :) I hope you like this chapter!
icarusLSU: Thanks again! And Arthur and Merlin will come to an agreement this chapter. :)
EllieMJayx: Thank you! And you are awesome yourself. I love your French. I have a friend who is a French teacher. And I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as you did my last one.
Renaissancebooklover108: LOL. That was awesome. I loved that movie btw.
Funnygirl00: Thanks for the congrats! And I always love my super charged emotional chapters. They are fun to write.
Bri: As always I look forward to your wall of text and what you have to say about this one. You read my mind you know. And I hope that you got your homework done as well.
Freckled98: Teehee. I thought you might like that.
Sjritts: You know me and my cliffhangers! They are a necessary evil.
AfricanVintage: The answer is to come.
Rdemon: Oh yeah…I'm definitely going to be more graceful. The ending of the series was….irritating to say the least. The knights…I'm trying to make them more laid back…mostly because I don't channel them well, but I have to have them.
SunnySmile1324: That it would…that it would.
Helenmorgause: BAMF Merlin will be here soon…very soon.
Leather2Lace: Update inc.
Gemmaaaaa: Suspense will be alleviated. You will love this I think…or rather I hope.
Aithusalover: I love their banter and their relationship in the series. It was really balanced and I missed it when seasons 4 and 5 started up. I kind of love ArMor too…but it's a different sort of love.
Bagel-chan: We shall see if you are correct. I love to write cliffhangers but hate to read them…so meh.
Fieldsoffebruary: You will see soon enough, my dear.
4mergana: Now…I will tell you this. There is a difference between a tactical retreat and giving up. Morgana understand and they were a bit shocked over the whole situation. You have to understand that. And I am actually editing the love scene because a lot of people had an issue with it. It didn't read like how I wanted it to and so I edited it. And see above. I am actually going to update it this week.
Lilmiss: I miss you and your exuberance! I hope you are feeling well. Much love to you!
Foxlight-Riverclan: Nah…not merlin.
Also! Just so you guys know! I updated my last chapter. It was just a tweak on the love scene. I re-read it and I realized that it didn't communicate the message that I wanted it to. So you can re-read it if you want but you don't have to , just know that Morgana wasn't really complaining about it.
I also do not own Merlin and I want you to enjoy this next chapter!
XxOxX
Gwen picked up her daughter and swung her up onto her hip. The irate toddler was grumbling and struggling against her mother's grasp, "Dada!" Gwen looked up at the celling and prayed for patience with her eldest child. The girl, who was normally very sweet and gentle had turned into a brat in just the past few days. Gwen was sure that it was because Arthur had been gone for a few days, which was a few days longer than she had wanted him gone. Morgana's absence along with that of her father was hard on the child and Gwen understood, but she still hoped that Arthur would come back soon and in one piece.
Merlin was nearly decapitated as he caught sight of Morgana. What the hell was she doing here? He thought that she had been banished from the camp for the time being and there was no way that she could have known about the attack ahead of time. And if she had she didn't say anything to him about it. She was moving quickly and cutting a swath through the men, her eyes flashing between the sea green and the gold that heralded her magical talent. Men were flying left and right and he had to admire her bloodlust, even as it was a herald to something much darker within her soul. He turned his attention away from her and back to the men who were swinging weapons at him.
Arthur, Gwaine, and Lionell moved as a unit down the field, taking out men as they went along. Percival had gone to help get the women and children out of harm's way and protect them. He noticed the insignia's on their armor as he cut his way through them. It was familiar to him, but he couldn't place it immediately in his mind. He also had noticed Morgana in the fray and his irritation warred with his awe of her power. How could he possibly have thought that he could beat her in combat? She could throw men away from her with a thought and use the elements to her advantage in any situation. He was also afraid of her, but it wasn't fear inspired by ignorance, it was fear inspired by knowledge, the knowledge of what magic was capable of.
Mordred blocked an attack using the staff that he had picked up as a weapon. Steel weapons were forbidden by the druid order within the druid camps. Those were things only meant for violence. That didn't mean, however that he was unskilled with bladed weapons. The dark haired man picked up a discarded sword and went to join Arthur just as he spied a small glint up in a tree and the silhouette of a man. He connected the dots just as the arrow was released from the bowstring. Time seemed to slow down just as he pushed Arthur out of the way of the arrow and a sharp pain sliced through his upper chest. He cried out in pain and staggered back.
Arthur recovered quickly and pushed off of the ground to stand back up. He barely had time to look up before a bright flash of…something brightened the clearing and the hidden archer fell from the tree into a boneless heap on the ground. The King jerked around to see Merlin with his arm up and Arthur had to blink a few times, not believing his eyes. Then another flash caught his eyes and he turned his attention to Morgana looking murderous as she ran over to where he was. Of course it was Morgana…Merlin didn't have magic.
Arthur looked over at Mordred, who had pulled the arrow from his shoulder and threw it on the ground. "You saved me."
"Yeah. Now we're even." Mordred said with a grin and grimaced in pain.
"What?"
"You saved me as a child and now I did the same for you. You are a good man, Arthur. Now, don't worry about me. Save my people."
"Right. Lionell. Help him."
"What the hell happened?!" Morgana's voice carried over to him as she caught up to them, looking murderous and concerned. "Let me see."
"It's fine."
"Mordred…." Morgana started and she watched as her brother went back to the fray. She felt Merlin before she saw him and without looking over her shoulder directed her next comment at him, "That was stupid."
"I couldn't let him shoot at Arthur again."
"Your precious king almost saw you using the magic that you fear. And then what would have happened?" She chided him.
"I know how to be careful, Morgana." Merlin stalked off to rejoin the fight, although the enemy was nearly defeated and only a few stragglers remained.
"I'm sure you do." Morgana turned her full attention back to Mordred and exposed his arm. "What were you thinking getting hit with that?"
"I was thinking about being a good person. Was I supposed to let him get shot?"
"Yes. Rather him than you." Morgana placed her palm over the wound, "ágíeman." Her palm began to glow with a green light and the wound closed. Mordred sighed as his pain was relieved and he shook his shoulder.
"Thank you."
^%^%^&
"Damn! All dead." Arthur growled as he looked over the camp. After hauling all the bodies outside the camp he was no closer to finding out whom they were and who sent them. Their armor and weapons were too well crafted for simple brigands and they were too large of a force, even for some of the bandit leaders to merely be opportunistic. Brigands usually left the druids alone because if they needed help or food then they didn't want to alienate the druids who might end up helping them one day.
"Why does that matter?" Mordred asked them curiously.
"We could have taken one of them alive and questioned him."
"Aren't they just mercenaries or something?"
"No. Too well armed. And by the way, I have to thank you for saving me. Not all men would have done the same."
"I know. But like I said, I wanted to repay you."
"You could come back with us if you wish."
Mordred looked eager for a moment before his brow furrowed again, "As much as I would want to take up that offer, my place is here with my people."
"I understand, but if you ever change your mind, just come to Camelot. You would have a welcome place at our table."
"Thank you, your majesty." Mordred gave a short bow.
"What do you want us to do with the corpses?" Lionell asked the druid.
"Leave them here. We will construct a pyre ourselves to burn them."
Arthur bent down and used his knife to cut off the emblem on the sleeve of the nearest dead soldier. "I'm going to take this with me back to Camelot. Maybe my scribe can tell me if it is familiar or not."
"What will you do if you find out who it belongs to?"
"First I will get some answers, because I will not let this incursion into my territory go unpunished. Nor will I let the killing of innocents go unpunished either. By the way, was anyone seriously hurt?"
"Morgana is healing them now. Only one man died. She was unable to get to him in time."
"No one else?"
"No."
Arthur looked around and clapped Mordred on the shoulder, "Good. Now, I have to speak to your elders once more. Thank you for your help."
$#$#$#
Merlin finished bandaging the young man with a nod, "Thank you, Emrys." The man told him quietly and he worriedly looked over to Morgana, who was busy healing the more wounded of the druids.
"Don't call me that here, please. But you are welcome."
"As you wish."
Merlin went over to join Morgana. She was tired and her forehead was shiny with a light sheen of sweat. She was pale and her eyes were shadowed. Merlin placed his hand on her shoulder and fed some of his magic into her, filling her like a he would a cup. He could see her depleted power and he knew how taxing that healing was for anyone. She turned to him and kissed him quickly and gratefully. "Thank you."
"Any time." The potion was starting to resurface now that the adrenaline rush from the battle was wearing out of his system. A few kind of hunger was beginning to beat at his unconscious. And from the way Morgana was starting to look at him. "Don't look at me like that."
"Like what?" her voice was all innocence, but her smile was all lustful intention and his traitorous body responded to it readily.
"You know damn well what." He brought his fingers up to her cheek and stroked the soft skin there. She leaned into his touch like a kitten wanting to be stroked.
Someone cleared their throat behind them and Merlin turned around to find Arthur standing behind him looking at him like a parent who had caught his child sneaking sweets before dinner. Morgana shot him a glare and backed away from him, but Merlin didn't want to run from his friend. He wanted Arthur to know exactly what he was dealing with. The first time he had caught them was not ideal and Merlin did not suspect it. So he naturally ran and made the decision to regroup later. Now was the time.
Merlin pulled Morgana back to him and kissed her soundly before letting her go and when he released her she looked as if she wanted to jump him, but also looked surprised but in a good way. He turned back to his friend, "What did you need?" He asked like he hadn't just gotten done kissing Morgana like he wanted to lay her down and fuck her right in front of him.
Arthur looked at him, stunned, his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide, "What? Um…yes….we are ready to go. I just got done talking to the elders."
"And?" Morgana snapped at him.
"And what?" Some of the shock was beginning to wear off and he snapped at Morgana.
"What do you intend to do about this?"
"That is between the elders and me. And the last time I looked you were neither Queen of Camelot nor a druid elder, so be quiet."
Morgana just glared at Arthur and got up from her crouching position near Merlin and stalked away.
"What did you do that for?"
"Are you going to defend her? You are my servant and my friend, not hers."
"I'm not defending anyone. You don't need to be so hostile at her. I started everything between us." It wasn't necessarily a lie, but Arthur didn't need to know about the formorrah incident.
"Let's just go, Merlin." Arthur told him before walking away.
Merlin followed Arthur, several emotions were coursing through him…lust being the strongest, even after the argument with Arthur, followed by anger, sadness, worry for both Arthur and Morgana and confusion. He knew that it would end up this way…well he kind of knew, but it was always at the back of his mind. The way that they had been found was not ideal. He meant to introduce the idea slowly and carefully, not with a sudden shock. But it was easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.
He spied Morgana near Mordred, talking to him in short, clipped sentences and moving her arms in curt motions as the man tried to comfort her. Merlin quickly darted over to Morgana and earned a glare from Mordred. Morgana looked up at him, "Are you going to snap at me too?"
"No. But I am going to talk to him."
"What good is talking going to do?"
"Just trust me."
"I'm trying."
"I know. Neither of us has made it easy." He gave Morgana a quick kiss before turning back to follow Arthur. "I will see you soon."
"Yes…you will."
$%$%$%$
They rode hard for the entire day and made it back to Camelot after darkness had settled across the land. Gwen met them on the steps of the castle and Arthur dismounted mid-trot and ran over to Gwen. He picked her up and swung her around and Gwen laughed heartily and clung to his arms after he put her down. "Arthur! I thought you said it was only going to be two days? You've been gone for nearly four days. What happened?"
"I will tell you soon. Let's get inside." He turned and walked up the steps to the castle. Gwen turned to the rest of them.
"You look like you've been put through the ringer." She told the others, who dismounted from their mounts slowly. She appraised them all before nodding.
"We ran into a bit of trouble." Gwaine told her.
"Trouble?"
"Arthur will tell you all about it." Merlin responded and Gwen gave him a hug. "He knows." He whisperd to her quietly as she was pulling away from him.
Gwen turned a surprised look to her friend, "And?"
"It didn't go well."
"I'm sure everything will be fine. I'll talk to him."
"I don't know if that will work."
"There are certain things that only a wife can do." She gave him another hug before she moved on to Gwaine, Percival and Lionell, and then followed her husband back into the castle.
The knights helped him stable the horses and rub them down, "So, what do you think he's going to do to you?" Lionell asked Merlin after patting his horse down.
"I don't know."
"What can he do? Merlin's an adult and his choice of bedmates shouldn't be any of Arthur's concern." Percivial said to Lionell.
"Unless it's the wicked witch of Camelot. Then he has reason to concern."
"True…true."
Merlin rolled his eyes and tried to ignore the gnawing heat that was beginning to creep through his veins. He needed to get back to his room…and fast… "Hey. See you guys later."
"Yeah….I think I'm going to head to the tavern after I get changed. That potion still hasn't quite gotten out of my system." Gwaine announced and made his way for the castle.
Percival and Lionell both looked at each other before heading after him. Merlin smiled to himself and finished brushing his horse down. He made his way for Gaius's chambers and when he opened the door the physician tackled him with a hug. "Merlin! How are you? How was the trip? What happened?"
Merlin managed to keep the lower half of his body away from the hug and he extracted his body from Gaius and grinned at the man who was the closest thing he had to a father in the absence of his own, "Good and I'm fine and it's a long story."
"Well, sit down with me and tell it!" Gaius urged him into a chair.
Merlin half-faked a yawn, "We've been riding all day long and I had a busy morning. Could I tell you tomorrow morning. Please?"
Gaius looked disappointed for a moment, but quickly recovered, "Yes! Yes! Of course. Go and get some sleep and we can talk tomorrow."
Merlin quickly retreated into his room and locked the door. He practically ran over to the bed and after getting comfortable he took his problem in hand and began to tackle it quietly.
$%$%$%$
Arthur was sitting on the bed, shirtless, and with a toddler cuddled against his chest. Ellie was only too happy to see her daddy and had eagerly run to him before he could get much of anything done. Every time he tried to put her down she started to scream until he picked her back up to placate her. Arthur knew that it was bad parenting practice to give into her demands but he knew that she missed him and he had kept her in his arms despite wanting to take a bath and talk to his wife.
"You don't have to sit here and suffer, you know? I can have a bath drawn for you and you can just take Ellie in with you."
"No. No. It's fine. I can do it later. Does she look ready for her crib yet?"
"Not yet. Perhaps a little longer. She didn't take a nap today." Gwen had just finished changing Meighan's diaper and swaddled her month old daughter before setting her in the crib right next to the bed. To keep contention between the two sisters who were nearly the same age to a minimum they had kept Ellie's crib in the room after the baby was born and they were planning to move it to the nursery after a couple of months so that it didn't seem like the new baby was taking all of the attention. It was something that the head cook suggested to her and she had taken it to heart. She wanted her daughter's to get along as much as possible.
"How's the baby?"
"She's a sweet as always." She looked up from the crib and the infant to her husband, "How are you?"
"Tired, Stressed, and a little sick."
"Why is that?" Gwen sat on top of the bed and faced Arthur while she started to take her hair down from its somewhat elaborate twist.
"I got so much more than I bargained for when I left. I just thought it was going to be a quick in and out. I talk to the druids, they tell me what I want to know and I leave. Instead…I got a headache and more questions than answers."
"Merlin told me what happened."
"Don't even get me started on Merlin. Do you have any idea what he did?"
"He told me that you found out about him and Morgana. Are you really that upset?"
"Really that upset?" Arthur glared at his wife and sat up, "They were….you know," He looked down at his daughter, "In a lake. And I saw them!"
"That must have been scarring for you."
"Scarring? You have no idea. My Best Friend…my friend was sleeping with my sister. She murdered and is a traitor and is a sorceress and he was bedding her like she was some…."
"Woman?" Gwen offered, "Yes. I know she did those things. I also know that she was trying to change and if she wanted him dead she would have killed him already, don't you think?"
"That's not what I'm worried about."
"What is it then?"
"What if he leaves? What if he goes off with Morgana and becomes some puppet for her own ambition and leaves me here alone? And what if he gets hurt because of all of this?"
Gwen couldn't help the smile that spread across her face, "You are jealous? Oh, my love…you have nothing to be jealous about. Merlin loves you like a brother and he would never betray you, even for the love of a woman. Trust me on that. He's more loyal to you than you know. And he knows what he is doing…at least I hope he does."
"Quiet, you." Arthur grumbled and moved to the side of the bed to stand up. "And…"
"And nothing. Did you lose your temper with him like you always do?"
"No….well I might have yelled at him a little. But I was shocked! He was there all naked with Morgana equally naked and they were…and it was disturbing."
"Did you apologize?"
"Apologize? What do I have to apologize for? He's the one that…"
"That nothing, Arthur. You will go and apologize to him in the morning."
"Why?"
"Because not too long ago you were in love with someone who wasn't ideal for you either."
"Really? Who would that be?"
Gwen gave him a glare and he darted over to the crib and placed a now sleeping Ellie into it. "And now your friend has found someone too and you should be happy for him, not angry."
"But it's Morgana! He could have found anyone else in the entire world to fall for and it didn't have to be my sister."
"Fine, if you won't think of this in a romantic view, think of it in a diplomatic one. If Merlin and Morgana fall in love, real and true love, wouldn't it be better for you? He could influence her for our side."
"And she could influence him."
"She's changed. You saw that. You are just as hard headed as Uther sometimes. Now come to bed."
"I've been waiting all week for those words." Arthur crawled into bed and pulled his wife close, "You have no idea what happened in that camp. It was torture. And I couldn't do anything at all." He started kissing her neck while his hands started moving down her body; eager to begin with a most needed mating ritual.
$%$%$%$
Merlin groaned quietly in frustration. No matter how much he tried to relieve himself he never made a dent in the lust he was feeling. Each release only made his sex drive ramp up even higher…so now he was strung out and desperately needing the touch of a woman or else he might not even be able to function tomorrow, especially if it got worse.
"Merlin." A familiar voice echoed through his mind.
Merlin sat up and looked around. He quickly pulled up his pants and got up from the bed, "Morgana?"
"Come to my room. I need you."
Merlin could have pulled the door off of its hinges to get out to her, but he managed to open the door quietly and race across the floor stealthy before heading out of the room. He raced unseen and unheard through the castle and when he came to Morgana's door his hands were shaking and his vision was starting to blur. His cock was a rod of hot iron in his pants and it was desperate for her.
The door opened and he saw her. He was trembling and he needed her, but he wasn't going to take her like a barbarian. That wasn't who he was. She stood at the door, quiet and outwardly calm. Her hair cascaded in waves down her shoulders and it made her look younger, more innocent along with the sheer nightgown she was dressed in. "I hate this place." She spoke quietly. "But I need you. Like you need me."
He reached for her gently despite the need to possess her and they moved back into the room. Merlin shut the door with his magic and locked it before turning his attention to her. "I do need you. But why are you here?"
"Because this is where you are. I will be gone by the time morning comes. Do you really want to talk?"
"If you want." Merlin picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist bringing his groin against her center and he ground against her. She gasped and let out a whimper as quick fire shot from her core to the rest of her body. They moved onto the bed and he kissed her. It wasn't just a normal kiss. It was one that made her heart stop and then warm with feelings long forgotten. He kissed her like she meant the world to him. Morgana felt the quick prickle of tears at the corner of her eyes and flipped them over. She wanted to be on top this time. This was going to be done her way. She pinned his wrists over his head with her hands and he eyes caught sight of the runes that were barely visible on her wrists and noticed that he had none, but at the moment it wasn't important. What was important was what they were doing here and now. She used her magic to tie his wrists and to keep his hands away from her. If he started to touch her, then she would be lost. He was already lost…his eyes were dark with need and he growled and bucked softly underneath her. "Morgana…"
"Shh cópenere. We will get there."
"Avaleora. Let me take care of you." He told her gently.
"I don't need to be taken care of. Just relax. Let me do what I wish." She lifted her leg off of him and picked up the small knife on her bedside table. Merlin looked alarmed for a moment, but took a deep breath and his body slowly relaxed. "Good. We are going to have fun tonight." She smirked down at him. She didn't intend to use the knife on his flesh, but the fear of pain would keep him wound up tight until she decided to relieve him. And that would be a while from now. Hopefully her magic would be enough to keep him contained, although….her core clenched and she shivered at the thought of him pinning her and dominating her.
Merlin took a deep breath in, "Morgana…." His voice was deeper. During sex he lost some of his sweet innocence and gained something a little more mature, something more powerful, especially when she drove him to it.
With another small smile she started in on him, planning on giving them both a sweet release by the end of the night, but until then she would play and they would both enjoy it.
%$%$%$%
Morgana awoke first, sweaty and tangled in both her old sheets and in Merlin's tight embrace. Their…or at least his clothes were in a shredded heap beside the bed. Her clothes were barely in better shape. In the end after only a few hours of torment and torture, when his skin was slick with sweat and his eyes a deep amber with his loss of control and his body was as taut as a drawn bowstring they finally achieved release. Luckily this time she was able to channel the power skyward instead of downward and there were clouds in the sky and evidence of rain since they last slept.
Morgana tried to move out of Merlin's embrace but his arms tightened and he muttered something in his sleep before nuzzling her neck. This would not be as easy as she had hoped. She had wanted to leave before he awoke, to avoid the difficulty that would arise with her still being here when he woke up. He would want her to stay, probably entice her with seeing her niece, then with the promise of more sex and she might end up staying, merely because it was better than fighting with him. She did, however, enjoy fighting with him and that was probably a bad thing for their relationship…or whatever she wanted to call this thing that they were doing. She would have to stand strong because even as she looked over the stone walls and windows of this place she realized that she was never really happy here. This was her home for many years, but it never felt like it. She had always hated it here and now she was able to really realize it.
No, Morgana would not stay here, not with all the emotions locked onto this place. She had to get out of here before he awoke, before she had to speak the words that he didn't want to hear. Merlin would never leave Camelot, but she still didn't know quite why. Every time she had brought it up he would divert her and she allowed it, because this was still new territory for them, but after this need, this mating heat passed she wanted answers and she wasn't going to leave him be until he gave them to her.
She pulled out of his grasp as delicately as she could, use her magic to keep him asleep and moved over to the closet with soft steps on the cool stone floor. She opened the wardrobe door and was greeted by her beautiful dresses and for a moment pure longing washed through her. She wore peasant clothes in the druid camp, trousers and a shirt, sometimes a dress, but they all felt harsh against her skin. She wanted to take them with her, but they would not last long in the druid camp, the silks and satins and other soft materials along with the beading and pearls. Her hand caressed a red dress and the material was velvety smooth on her palm. This one would do for her travel back. Morgana had found a way to travel short distances in the blink of an eye, moving from place to place with an old spell. At first she had been worried about trying to use it, without anyone prior who had used it, but her first attempt worked and so in emergencies she used that spell, because it was draining and she needed to reserve all her strength, but sleeping with Merlin always seemed to reenergize her magic and her power like nothing else did.
She pulled the dress close to her naked body and turned around to find Merlin sitting up in bed and staring at her calmly. Morgana sucked in a quick breath and silently kicked herself. She thought she had been quiet enough, but obviously not. Now things would get ugly and it would spoil her good mood.
"Are you leaving?"
"Merlin…"
"I just asked if you were leaving. I'm not angry."
"What?"
Merlin smiled and pulled the sheet up past his waist, "You thought I was going to make a scene did you?"
"You always do."
"Is that why you were going to leave without telling me goodbye?"
"I'm confused. I thought that you were going to beg me to stay."
"What good would that do? You hate it here. I can feel it in my own mind like it was my thoughts instead of yours and I've seen in in my dreams…your memories. You always hated it here from the moment you were brought here to live. Why would I force you to stay here in a place you despise? That would be selfish of me."
Morgana tilted her head and looked at him curiously, "Is this some ploy to get me to stay without saying you want me to stay?"
"No." Merlin laughed, "I'm not that capable of deception."
"No?"
"No, not with your mind and mine so interlinked. I don't think I could hide that much from you." Merlin continued to look at her patiently, "Could you pass me some pants? They are on the bottom shelf."
Morgana was still suspicious but she turned back around and picked up a pair of breeches for Merlin, then tossed them to him. "Why do you have your clothes in here?"
"It was easier than having to go back to Gaius's every time I needed to change."
"This isn't your room."
"No, it's yours. I missed you, so I slept in here." He responded matter-of-factly.
"Oh." It was short and sounded silly, but it was the only word she could think of, then after a moment she started to get angry. "Why won't you beg me to stay? What's your game? I thought you were going to dangle Ellie and Gwen and the new child in front of my face and guilt me into staying. Why aren't you?"
"Why do that? Why have you see Ellie when all you will do is leave again? Gwen, Arthur and I couldn't take a second time. We don't even mention your name around her because all it does is get her worked up. It's better if you don't intend to stay for you not to see her. Ellie doesn't understand all of the politics and the feelings involved all she knows is that Gana isn't there anymore." His voice was even and gentle, which was exactly what Morgana hated about him.
"You could still try."
"That's not what you want."
"What about fighting for me?"
"I am. I won't fight you, because that isn't what we need. I'm not going to cage you or keep you next to me because that is what I want, because I do. I want to keep you here with me and never let you go again. You know how I feel about you and if you have any doubts about that then look, use that bond that you fear to see into my feelings. I'm going to let you decide what you want, because there has been a lot in your life that you have had no control over. I've seen it."
"What do you expect from me?"
"Nothing." Merlin responded as he got up from the bed and pulled up his breeches and tied them before he padded over to her. "Do you need help with your dress?"
Morgana realized that she had been hugging the dress to her body like it was a stuffed toy for comfort and loosened her arms around it. She nodded and put the dress over her head and let it fall down her body to rest against her skin. She adjusted the bodice and then turned her back to Merlin. "Lace me up, please."
"Gladly." She felt a tug at the strings of her bodice and in the silence of his lacing her dress up she had time to think. What was his game? She didn't want to use their bond. She didn't want to look into his soul…she didn't want to fall in love with him and he was making it difficult. He was being so damned understanding and she knew that he wouldn't argue with her. He was being kind and it was starting to chip away even more so at her icy walls she had barricaded her heart and soul with, ever since her poisoning, ever since she found out about her real father, ever since Morgause died and she was captured. Each of these events built them higher and stronger and in a matter of weeks they were being torn down ever so slowly and she was being exposed in a way she hadn't been since she was a child. It was disconcerting.
She felt the dress tighten as he tied the knot at the base of her spine and then his hands trailed back up her back and brushed through her hair. He gently moved the ebony locks to one side of her back and neck and she felt his lips linger on her exposed skin. It was a gentle touch and she shivered as goose bumps erupted on her arms. He pulled back and Morgana turned around. She heard him suck in a breath, "You are beautiful." He whispered and she smiled at him.
"I should go."
"I know. So should I."
"I have decided to give you a present."
"What kind of present?"
"Aithusa. I'm going to send her to you. She's lonely and I know she misses you."
Morgana couldn't help the smile that graced her features; it was wide and filled with joy, "Really?"
"Yes. I want you to be happy."
"Damn you." She hissed and spun away from him before crossing the room quickly, "Damn you for doing this."
"Doing what?"
"Making me forget that you ruined everything. Making me want to care about you again."
"I don't expect anything. I know I have a battle ahead of me. One that starts with your brother."
"He still isn't taking it well I gather?"
"No."
"I'm sorry for that. It wasn't my intention for you two to be at odds. I tried to talk to him."
"I know. It wasn't ideal for either of us. I will be fine."
Morgana took a deep breath inward and walked up to him bravely. She put a hand on his face and felt the stubble from two days' worth of a beard and stretched up to kiss him. Her lips met his and they kissed thoroughly. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss for a few moments more before he released her. "Thank you." She told him and dropped her hand from his face. "I will see you tonight."
"Really?"
"Or maybe not." Morgana teased and turned from him. "We still have one more night or something, do we not?"
"We do."
"Good." Morgana opened the door and fled the castle without another look back.
^%^%^%^
Merlin entered the royal chamber feeling good about the way the morning was going but that quickly dissolved when he spotted Arthur and Gwen. Gwen smiled at him and he looked down to see Ellie making a bee line for him. He picked her up just as she attached her arms to his leg and gave her a kiss, "Melin!" she cried happily and hugged him before he let her back down to roam around the room. Gwen had Meighan in her arms and she looked as if she were about to leave.
"Hello, Merlin. I was just leaving to drop them off at the nursery before we go to court. The people are eager to see their king and have answers to all of their questions." Gwen got up from the bed and shared a look with her husband before she took Ellie's hand and moved past Merlin through the door, leaving the two men alone.
Merlin saw that Arthur had most of his clothes on already but was having trouble with his vest and cloak with the seal on it. "Do you need my help, your majesty?"
"Don't start with that 'your majesty' business. You've never called me that seriously and I don't want you to start now because of what happened."
"As you wish." Merlin helped Arthur into the vest and started buttoning and fastening it together.
"I'm sorry." Arthur began.
"What?"
"I overreacted yesterday and I shouldn't have yelled at you like I did."
"But…it was my fault. You didn't overreact."
"I was shocked."
"I would be too."
Arthur shot him a look, "It was just…she's my sister and you are my best friend and you could have just about any woman you want. Why did you pick her?"
"It's a lot more complicated than you know."
"Why?"
"It just is. I don't know how to explain it to you."
"Well, whatever it is, it's done now."
"So you aren't mad?'
"No, I'm mad."
"Oh."
"Why my sister? She's….Morgana!"
"She's so much more than you think. So many things have happened to her that you don't know about."
"I know that…but I guess that after the initial shock wore off, I felt betrayed."
"Betrayed? Why?"
"It's difficult to explain… I just don't want this to end badly…for either of you."
"You're afraid I am going to hurt her?"
"No, I'm afraid that she's going to hurt you." Arthur told him solemnly. "Morgana isn't the same person she was years ago. I don't know what that means, but I don't want you to get hurt because of all of this."
"Thanks," Merlin finished the last buckle and Arthur turned around to him.
"This is going to take a lot for me to get used to, but I forgive you."
"Yeah? Let's see how long that lasts."
Arthur shoved his friend before making his way out the door with Merlin in tow and for a while at least, things were looking up for both of them.
XxOxX
And we are done! So I will see you on BBF in two weeks and I'm really sorry. Just know that I love you all and I hope that you come over to my other story soon as well.
Have a great week!