A/N: Hey, guys! It's been awhile, I know. Sorry! University life is hectic and filled with assignments, plus I'm the vice-president of both financial and social affairs for my department's members' association and now also a volunteer for protection services; however, I intend on finishing this story because I need closure (I rewatched Merlin over the summer and I'm still not over it). Expect updates to be far and few between, but rest assured that I will eventually finish this story.

Morgana smooths her gown and tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She is wearing the most resplendent of the gowns Obsidius has provided for her. It is deep purple in hue, the kind of fabric that is hard to come by. It accentuates her curves and displays almost an immodest amount of skin. She is paler than normal, but paleness is becoming for a lady.

It is late.

It is late and Morgana Pendragon has a plan.

She pushes open the doors to the throne room. Obsidius, seated upon his throne, looks up, his eyes feasting hungrily on her exposed skin.

"Morgana..."

"My liege." She approaches him, sashaying. "I missed you after you left last night."

"You did?" The King is surprised, but gladly so. Morgana can see the delight in his small, piggish eyes.

"I did." Morgana says, "I missed you greatly. I desire you more than you could possibly understand."

"Shall we continue where we left off?"

"No, my liege. That would be sinful."

"Sinful?"

"Unlawful, even. For a lady to give herself completely to a man to whom she isn't married... What would people think of such a lady? I must save myself for marriage, Sire."

"Then you shall be my queen." Obsidius decides immediately. Morgana feigns joy.

"You mean it? Oh, I'm so happy! How quickly can we be wed?"

"Tomorrow. First thing in the morning!"

Morgana smiles demurely.

"First thing in the morning, then. And tomorrow night, I shall be yours."

Morgana navigates herself easily through the woods. She has, after all, lived a very long time in this area and knows it well. The sun has set now, but only just. The sky is not yet completely black and only the brightest stars are now visible in the darkening sky. She walks for a while, deep into the thicket of trees. In the forest, it is dark. The trees are large and many, blocking out the sky almost completely. Morgana does not mind the dark. She finds it welcoming, knowing that it will embrace her and conceal her misdeeds. She is safe here. There is no fear of bandits or murderers; Morgana is the one to be feared. This is her domain.

She stops under a particularly aged oak tree and waits.

She does not wait for very long.

Morgana hears him long before she sees him, the thud of his heavy boots on the forest floor, the crunching of dead leaves, the snapping of small branches under his weight.

"You've received my letter, then." She says in way of greeting. The man stands before her. He is very tall and thickset. There is a menacing air to him. His face is heavily scarred and his eyes are mismatched, one a brilliant blue and the other as black as can be.

"You require my services."

"Yes."

"Let me see the money first."

Morgana tosses him a a burlap pouch filled halfway with gold coins.

"You'll get the other half if you are successful."

"That's not how it works." The man replies, crossing his arms and looking down at her threateningly. Morgana's eyes flash gold and the man is sent flying back. Sprawled on the ground, he looks up at her. Morgana smiles at the look of fear in his eyes.

"You understand your situation. Up."

The man stands, but maintains a distance.

"I am not your typical client," Morgana tells him. "I'm far more powerful than you could ever dare to dream. It is not because of weakness that I require your services; it's purely due to my current social position."

"Social position...?"

"Tomorrow morning I will marry King Obsidius and I will be crowned his queen. Tomorrow night, when we retire to the King's chambers, you will be waiting. We cannot risk the King crying out for his guards, so I will subdue him. When his guard is down, you will kill him. You may take whatever you like off his corpse. Then you will go to the window to escape and I will call for the guards, screaming about how my poor husband has been killed by a rogue bandit. You will already be gone by the time the guards arrive and I will be the heir apparent. I will take over as ruler of the kingdom. Understood?"

The man nods.

"Good. You may go."

He stares at her for a long moment and then turns away from her, walking quickly.

Morgana smiles.

"How is he?" Leon asks Gaius, approaching Merlin who is either asleep or unconscious. Leon has just returned Gaius's quarters, having gone to tell Guinevere of the situation.

"He is very weak. It is as I had feared; the wound is infected. He has a very high fever and he has lost a lot of blood."

"Will he live?"

"He is, it seems, desperately clinging to life."

"Is there no hope?"

"I wonder whether this Prysthinium flower might have multiple uses. If it can heal a disease that we've not yet diagnosed, surely its healing properties must be great. Once imbued with the dragon's magic, it's possible that the flower may save both the Druids and Merlin. We must hope that Arthur and the other knights return soon. We must hope that Merlin can last until then. If he makes it through the night, it will be a good sign."

"I wonder if..."

"What?"

"Merlin said he was ready to die, but then Arthur ordered him to stay alive. I wonder if that's why he's still fighting."

"Then I should say it's more than likely."

The door to Gaius's quarters opens and Guinevere enters. She hurries over to Merlin's side.

"Merlin..." She breathes. She turns to Gaius. "Will he live?"

"It's hard to say. For now, we must hope that he makes it until Arthur returns with the flower."