Morgana had hardly a free moment in the months since Uther's death. With the added responsibilities for both her and Arthur, she hadn't a single moment of leisure since their picnic weeks ago. Even meals had been consumed along with work.

Arthur's coronation would be an elaborate affair, hopefully well worth her efforts. Now finally, the time had come, and she hoped she could regain some sense of normalcy once the event had passed and Arthur was officially crowned.

She had already sent Gwen home and was about to turn in for the night to try to get some rest before the coronation began the next day, when she heard a soft knock on the door. She opened it to find Merlin standing there. She had scarcely spoken to him in the past few weeks since their picnic, beyond giving him rapid-fire instructions on things to do for Arthur. Seeing him at her door reminded her how much she missed their routine from before. Their studies of medicine and magic. Their time spent together and their long conversations well into the night. That seemed certain to end with all of her new responsibilities, not to mention the unresolved distrust between them, she thought tiredly.

"Can I come in?" Merlin asked, as she looked at him vacantly.

She returned her concentration back to him with a strained smile. "Yes, of course. I apologize; I haven't had a lot of sleep."

"More nightmares?" he asked, worried, as he closed the door behind him.

"No, just overwhelmed by work to do," she frowned. "I've not had any prophetic dreams in months, not since before Uther's death."

"I've wondered about that, why you didn't dream of Uther's death. Isn't it strange you wouldn't have dreamed about something so significant?" he mused.

"I… I don't know," she said, not having considered it before.

"Why do you think that is?" he asked.

The realization pierced her chest like a sword. "You think I did dream it, but I just let him die?" Her eyes suddenly flashed with anger. "You really do think me a monster, don't you? Get out."

He looked at her surprised. "Morgana, I didn't mean…"

Her eyes welled up with tears, her expression indignant. "No matter what, you'll only view me with suspicion, won't you? Your fated enemy trying to steal Arthur's crown!" she shouted.

Her eyes lit up gold, as tears spilled down her cheeks, and the windows began to shake. "It's your destiny to kill me, isn't it? Isn't it, Emrys? Just like the dragon foretold."

He looked at her, horrified. "No, Morgana, never." He placed both his hands on the sides of her face and looked into her gold-rimmed eyes. "I never meant that you intended Uther harm. I was just curious about your dreams. That is all, I promise. I will never hurt you. That is a promise too."

Her eyes turned back to normal and she exhaled. "I'm sorry. I haven't been sleeping much. I'm just so tired, and overwhelmed by it all."

"And still grieving, I know. I'm sorry, it was really insensitive of me. I don't think you're a monster, not at all. I think you're an extraordinary person, particularly because of how you forgave Uther, and showed him love and compassion. You are the most extraordinary person I've ever known."

She looked at him skeptically.

He sighed. "Please forgive me. I promise I have complete faith in you. That's what I came to tell you tonight, what I wanted you to know before Arthur takes the throne tomorrow. I know you think I doubt you, but I don't. I trust you completely, and I know you'll always do what's best for Arthur and for Camelot. I will support you whatever happens next."

She looked up at him, stunned. "Thank you. You don't know how much it means to hear that from you, above all. I'm sorry I've been..."

He brushed the tears off her cheeks gently. "You have nothing to apologize for; it's me who is sorry. All I've done is upset you when I just wanted to be sure you were okay. I shouldn't have come; it was a mistake," he said, stroking her hair. She leaned into his touch.

"No, I want you here," she said, looking up at him, realizing how close they were, she put her hands on his chest. "I've missed you, Merlin. So much. Please don't go."

He looked down into her green eyes, surprised by what he saw. Before he could object, she leaned up and pressed her lips to his.

He groaned at the contact, and deepened the kiss, his hands woven into her hair. His whole body was suddenly on fire; her kiss was intoxicating like nothing he'd ever experienced before. Was this her magic? Or just her feminine appeal? Or the suppressed feelings he's had for her for years?

He reluctantly pulled away. "Forgive me, Milady," he said, smoothing down her hair that he had mussed. "It's not my place to…"

"There's nothing to forgive, Merlin. I want you. I have for so long," she finally admitted, her expression vulnerable.

"Morgana," he breathed, before they began kissing again heatedly.

He knew he shouldn't be kissing her; he had no right to. He was just a servant, and she was a princess. They were equals only when it came to their magical heritage, and their place as undesirables in Uther's kingdom. But it wasn't Uther's kingdom anymore, it was to be Arthur's. And while apparently Arthur had discovered Morgana's magic and accepted it, he hadn't yet decided what to do about the sorcerers who are not his sister.

While in inner turmoil over his actions, he felt Morgana's hands move under the back of his shirt. Her hands were beautiful torture against his bare skin. He pulled away from her mouth, to plant kisses along her neck, and down her collarbone, until he reached her chest. She arched her back, pushing into his lips, softly moaning as he kissed a wet trail between her breasts, down her nightgown. She scraped her nails gently across his back.

This is madness, he thought. He could never really have her, only take pleasure from her body, and it would only serve to remind him how he could never have more than that. And then he certainly wouldn't deserve her, being such a scoundrel as to take advantage of a lady in mourning.

He pulled away, intending to stop this from going any further.

"Merlin," she said, firmly. "You're worrying too much."

He stepped away from her so he could think clearly and rubbed at his face in frustration. "I've good reason to worry. We started the evening arguing, and now we're having a snog. Hardly appropriate for a servant to do either with a princess."

"You aren't just a servant, Merlin, we both know that," she said. "You're the most powerful sorcerer to ever live. That's your destiny. Perhaps it is I who am unworthy of you."

He laughed bitterly. "You can tell all that to Arthur after he has me beheaded."

"Arthur wouldn't dare," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, he would. He definitely would. I wouldn't even blame him," he groaned, turning away from her, his head in his hands.

"I'd never let him hurt you," she said, coming up behind him to hold him and lean her head against his back. He relaxed and sighed under her touch. He was in trouble.

He turned around and held her against his chest and placed a kiss atop her head.

"I should go. You need your rest, and I've caused enough discord for one evening," he said.

She looked up at him. "Will you return tomorrow? After the coronation celebration has ended. We can talk more."

He was in so much trouble. He kissed her again softly. "Okay."

"Goodnight," she said, with a soft smile.

"Goodnight, Milady," he said, then closed the door behind him.