Story background: Set in the Sarrum's pit with modifications due to the fact that the living conditions in the show should have killed her.


To say each day was agonizing would be to call an angry dragon "slightly dangerous." Morgana's cell had been designed to not allow any light whatsoever. Her shackles bound not only her body but her magic. Her only reprieve being the fact that they blocked even her powers as a seer. On a normal day the only thing that hinted at life outside was the delivery of her one meal and cup of water. Even as the guards delivered it she could not see or hear them. If it had not been for the low grumble coming from her stomach, begging to be fed, she would have thought herself blind and deaf. She moved to grab the plate but could only make it half cross the cell before being restrained by the chains. Aithusa jumped from his position at her side and pushed it toward her.

"Eat." She said to him, her voice hoarse from lack of water. She bent down and gently traced the platter looking for the bowl of water, careful not to spill any. "It's your turn today."

She and Aithusa had been swapping between eating and drinking in the dark pit for three months. At first Morgana had foolishly gobbled every meal presented, until she realized there would be no extra food for the baby dragon who had saved her life. When he had been captured she was beside herself. He was her last ally, her last true friend. She had been fully prepared to die for such a pure soul. Sarrum had a twisted sense of humor. Killing her had been his plan to begin with. A plan he threw away the moment he realized the witch had a heart and could in fact be broken. That's why she was at the bottom of a pit, breaking and slowly becoming more and more insane.

Both the water and food were gone within seconds, leaving only the empty promise of food the next day. She carefully replaced the bowl on the tray and Aithusa slid it toward the door. She walked somewhat dizzily to the wall furthest away, trying not to trip on the single upturned brick that occasionally tripped her. Usually she would have assumed that position to be far from her captors when they visited, Sarrum never visits, but in this cell it was the warmest part. More specifically, it was the only part that was not like laying on fresh ice. She curled against the wall telling herself food would be there tomorrow and cursing under her breath for so willingly waiting for it.

"Come here Merlin." She told Aithusa.

When she first met the young beast she had tried to name him Mordred, after the innocent boy she had saved. She thought it fitting considering the blue eyes and pale skin. The dragon had not taken to it even after two weeks. So she tried Alvar, telling him it was after a brave man who opposed the tyrant king. It didn't work. Then Aglain. Then Agravaine, though she was glad when that did not stick. After a while she started cycling through random names. It was quite by chance that the name Merlin came to be. She had been reading her diary and cursed Merlin's name aloud, only to find that the dragon came immediately to her side, as if called. She brushed it off at first. Eventually testing it again on the way home one day. Aithusa ran up as soon as the name had left her lips, leaving the squirrel he was hunting completely forgotten.

When called Aithusa jumped into the witch's lap and cuddled, trying to give her as much warmth as he could spare. He was unable to conjure flames for her in such an environment. He did his best just to make sure she survived. She was grateful for every little thing. Grateful and full of guilt. Every week or so she commanded him to leave her, to save himself. He did not comply. Neither would leave the other for anything. One day, when Aithusa was still too young, too weak, he had gone mad trying to claw at the door. He banged into it with his tiny frame. It didn't move. She had tried to calm him, screamed his name over and over, but she couldn't physically reach him and her words fell on deaf ears. It wasn't until midnight that he finally stopped, returning to her side and cooing at her. She vowed she would make Sarrum pay for that day. "And yet I'm still here" she thought to herself "alone in the dark with Merlin."

That is, until the door opened a few hours later and she heard the sound of chains rattling. Footsteps of two people and a soft dragging sound as well. The new prisoner must have been unconscious. Whoever it was, she was sorry for them. But she was overjoyed at the thought of company.

AN: I'm terrible, but I couldn't stop myself.