Thank you for reading.

Liliana. Thank you. Glad you liked it. It is a very good song. I thought little lion man was a good one for Merlin and maybe Arthur to. In regards to their relationships with Morgana. I may have to work that in at some point.

The market was crowed. She found herself unable to take more than a step forward before being knocked into from some direction. Her hood was pulled low over her head, which was cast down to the ground. Every now and then she was forced to look up a little to see which way she was going. It was not an overly warm day, but the combination of her hood pulled low down and the close proximity of the people around her, made her feel a little uncomfortable. When she caught sight of her destination she let out a small sigh.

The door to the inn was opening in-front of her. Stepping aside the man that opened it let her pass. As she passed him, without nodding in acknowledgement of his action, he lowered his head to try and see her face. While he never say her eyes he saw her mouth change from a neutral expression to a slight frown as she felt his eyes searching her face. Quickly he lifted his gaze and carried on his way.

The strong smell of mead and body odour hit her once the door of the inn closed behind her. Her first instinct was to turn and leave but she had come all this way, she wasn't going to turn back now. Moving purposefully towards the bar she forced the men around her to make room for her to pass. Resting her hands on the bar she waited for the man behind it to walk over to her. As the only women in the pub, she had his attention the second she walked in.

"What can I do for such a beau-" As he spoke he tilted his head to see under her hood. Once his eyes met hers he stopped mid-sentence.

"Where is he."

He was about to tell her that he didn't know what she was talking about, but something in her eyes yet him know exactly who she was looking for. Though he still couldn't find his voice. He gestured to his left, a doorway covered with a thick red curtain. Without acknowledging him again she turned and walked towards the curtain. Once she passed she faced a long corridor. The door at the very end seemed to be the one she was wanted.

The door was locked when she reached it. Holding an open hand over it for a second the click of the door unlocking echoed throughout the corridor. He was clever, and maybe a little paranoid. Not that he had no reason to be. That was no normal lock, it was a magic one. Only those with magic, magical knowledge of the old religion could open it. He was good. Opening the door she stepped inside, pulling her hood down as she did.

"I was wondering when you would cross my path prestress."

Lifting up the chest plate of the armour, Merlin squinted a little as he saw a deformed version of himself looking back at him. Which he hoped would be the case, after all the time he had taken to polish it. With a sigh of relief that another of his many tasks for the day was done and pride at a job well done, he placed the chest plate back in the pile with the other pieces of armour he had already polished. Taking a minute before getting up from his seat to move on to his next task, he heard a low clattering sound coming from the other end of the armoury.

Many racks of swords and other weapons blocked his view of where he was sure the noise had come from. Most people would simply put the noise down to having come from a knight going about their work. Merlin was not most people. He had learned over the years not to take things at face value or take things to lightly. So his first instinct was to pick up one of the many swords or other weapons that hung from the ranks on either side of him. Though he was not as jaded as to bring himself to do that. It was one thing to think it, another all together to carry it out. Slowly and as quietly as he could be he made his way forward. Tilting his head forward he looked round the rack of weapons to see the source of the noise. Letting out a sigh he smiled as he took a step forward round the corner of the weapon rack.

"Hey." HE greeted warmly.

Lancelot turned from the sword he had just returned to the rack to face the voice that was addressing him. Smiling back at his friend he replied. "Merlin."

"Training over then. I must be running late." There was a note of nervousness in his voice. He had been sure that he had enough time to get this task done before it was time to bring Arthur his lunch. That could only mean that there was a very hungry, new king waiting in his chambers to be feed. Arthur was always in a bad mood when he was hungry or kept waiting. The two together was not pleasant.

Seeing the slightly worried look on his friends face, Lancelot placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I just left early."

Merlin now began to be worried for his friend. It was not like Lancelot to miss or leave training early. He was second only to Leon in his dedication and loyalty to his duty as a knight of Camelot. If it was possible he also admired and believed in Arthur more than the longest serving knight of the knights of the round table. That was it he realised. He had to believe in Arthur like he did. While his freedom and the freedom of others like him did not depend on Arthur. The happiness and safety of the person he loved did.

"Is anything wrong." He gently pressed his friend.

It was a risk he knew, just asking him like that. Lancelot however was not one to keep secrets. He only had one and everyone already knew it. It was simply never brought up. He was trusted not to act on it. As long as Gwen was happy then that is what he would continue to do. Even then, now after two years, he wasn't so sure he would act on it whatever happened. He had come to respect Arthur, what Merlin told him he could bring about to much to act on it. If he could bring himself to he would laugh at the irony of that. He stayed here to be close to her, however he could. Doing that had ended up making them seem further apart.

"No. Nothing is wrong, everything is as it should be."

"Lancelot-"

"They will be married soon. Camelot will have a new king and queen. The future we came together to bring about is about to happen." He smiled again, this time it didn't seem as forced. "This is a time to celebrate."

Merlin smiled again too. "Yes it is."

In the back of his mind he had already known all that Lancelot had just said. There was just no time for him to let those facts sink in fully. Being the man servant for the king surprisingly meant he had more work to do than he had before. Gaius had told him the night of the coronation that he should be proud of himself. It was partly due to him that this change and the ones to come had the chance to come about. That he should enjoy what he had helped to set in motion. While he liked the sound of that, and felt pride. Not for what he had done, but for the fact that Gaius was proud of him. He just never had the time to take a moment to take it all in. It had all happened to so fast. Leaving him with an uneasy feeling about it all.

"Here Here! Here's to more celebrating." A loud voice cheered.

Two pairs of eyes turned to the voice that had just echoed throughout the armoury. They landed on a smiling knight as he walked towards them. To almost anyone else that smile would be seen as genuine. The two seeing it now knew the knight to well to completely believe it. Gwaine always seemed to smile. Never seemed to take anything seriously. Only those that knew him well, like his fellow knights of the round table. Merlin and possibly three others could see when his smile was real and not. Not it was deep down an act. Though they doubted he even knew that.

"What are we celebrating."

"If you have to ask that, then you have done enough celebrating for the time being." Lancelot laughed a little as he patted his friend on the shoulder.

"There is no such thing."

Merlin laughed a little before he was remembered what had worried him when he saw Lancelot. "Is training done for the day."

"For me it is. Arthur is still training the new recruits." Merlin nodded relieved that he didn't have to rush to kitchen right away. "I feel a little sorry for them."

Both other men nodded in agreement. Arthur had always expect a lot of the knights he trained. He never expected them to do anything that he himself was not prepared to do. He expected more of himself than he did anyone else. This had only gotten worse after he was made king. It was starting to affect not just himself but those close to him. Merlin was working harder than he had before as were the knights Arthur trusted the most. Gwen was also feeling the weight of expectation on her. The Knights of the Round Table, Merlin and Gaius knew of her engagement, thus looked to her to step in and help lessen Arthur's burdens, as the future queen. He however kept her at arm's length.

"Do you really think things are going to change as much as you seem to believe they will."

Gwaine's question came out of nowhere. True it had been on both of the other men's minds for a time now. They just didn't expect anyone to voice it or admit to thinking it themselves. There was just one answer to that question. So that was the one Merlin gave. "It has to be."

Before anymore could be said the armoury started to fill with the new recruits filing in after training. With a sympathetic look from his friend's Merlin took off towards the kitchen, cursing in his head as he did, while trying to avoiding running into the young knights passing him in the opposite direction. Why were they so many of them. Yet when he need to find one of them they where no were to be seen.

With her hood now pulled down she moved further into the room with her head held high. A tall man in a tan robe with a bald head sat crossed legged in the centre of the room. His back was to her so slowly she circled him as she walked to stand in-front of him.

"It was only a matter of time." Having reached the spot in-front of him she stopped. "There is an ancient bound between the high priest and priestess."

His eyes left the floor in-front of him to finally meet his visitor's eyes. "That was in the old days. Those days are long gone."

"They may come again."

"As Camelot has a new king."

"Not only due to that." A slight grin spread across her face. "Alator of the catha."

"Morgana pendragon last high priestess of the triple goddess or should I call you Morgan le fay."

For a second she seemed surprised and a little stung by his address of her, but recovered quickly. "Whichever you wish. It means little to me."

"I don't believe that. A name holds a great significance." Though he seemed to be trying to smile a little, there was a look of pain in his eyes that took all life from the smile.

"I will keep that in mind." Her words dripping with sarcasm.

"Morgana." His low deep voice seemed to echo around the small room. "You are the one that sought me out. What do you want from me." More than irritated, he sounded tired.

She made her voice as gentle as she could. "I want nothing from you. We are the last of our-"

"I am well aware of that. The last high priest and priestess in Albion. Also the last true seer and warrior of the catha." He now surprisingly quickly pulled himself to his feet. "I know you. You wish something of me. Something I cannot give you. Ask and be gone."

"I said I want nothing from you." All control she had over her voice keeping it calm was lost.

Alator sighed as he took his eyes off her. "I have seen much in my life. Seen the life leave those I care deeply for. There is nothing I can or will do for you and your quest. I want to live the rest of my life in peace."

"As do I." The witch admitted in a quiet voice.

Her voice was so quiet he wasn't sure at first if he had heard her. "Then why do you still fight."

Her mouth opened to responded, but nothing came out. She wasn't sure anymore. After a few seconds she answered the only way she could. "I cannot rest in peace till I know for certain that things have changed for out kind. I too have lost those I love. I can't let that have been in vain." As the old priest let out a sigh he felt a wave of sympathy for the women in-front of him wash over him. "I don't see how you can let it be in vain. When there is still much you can do."

Just as suddenly as it had washed over him, it was washed away again. He felt no sympathy for her when she was willing putting herself in a position to be hurt and hurt others. "You have no idea what war truly means."

"No, maybe I don't. I do know what it means to lose someone for a case that is failing."

Again a feeling of sympathy, connection towards the women in-front of him pulled at him. "What do you want Morgana."

She had been asked that question so many times. This time through it didn't bother her. As he wasn't asking it in such a way that made her have to think so clearly about herself. "I told you. I don't want anything from you." He let himself carefully fall back to his original position on the floor. Clearly no longer willing to talk to her. Until she said something else. "I just need you to answer questions that I have."

With measured care he lifted his gaze to her. "That is all. I find that hard to believe from you."

She let out a faint laugh. "It is nice to know my reputation is no better with my own kind, than it is with those that hate us."

"It does precede you my lady." His voice now had the slight hint of a laugh to it. He seemed to be more willing to talk to her now. "What so you need to know."

She was silent for a second. "You called me the last high priestess. So you know about my sister." He nodded. "Then you must know anyone that is presenting themselves as a high priestess."

A bitterness had worked its way into her voice that he did not trust in the least. "What are you asking."

"There is a women with magic, working with the Sarrum. She claims to be a high priestess, but there is no-"

"Until you and your sister revealed yourselves and took the oath no one knew of your powers."

"But she could not have taken the oath or you would know of her." Morgana reasoned.

"Times are different. It is possible she is a true high priestess-"

"No. Even if she has the knowledge or power. A high priestess would not turn on her own kind."

"Because you have never done such a thing." He watched her tense up for a second.

Her hand twitched by her side. She wanted so badly to incant a stunning spell and send his smug face flying against the wall. "He lied to me, kept the truth from me. A truth I had the right to know. He kill me. He would rather have done that, and I was meant to be his friend than tell me the truth."

"Such bitterness."

"Do you know who she could be." Morgana pressed harder, choosing to ignore is condescension.

"No. I also don't think that she is a true high priestess." He didn't look at her, but he felt her relax a little. "I would proceed with caution however if you intend to track her down if she is in league with the Sarrum."

A bitter laugh echoed throughout the room. "You don't need to tell me that. I know that already. I spent six months drugged in a cell at the top of a tower in Essetir because of them."

Their eyes now met and she saw a hint of humour in them. "That was you." She nodded, remembering the joy she felt bring the tower down to the ground. "I see your reputation was not exaggerated." A smile now crossed her face. "What else to you need me to answer for you."

Again she was silent. This time she took longer to ask. Her left hand took hold of her right wrist. "You knew my mother."

"By reputation. I only meet her once." It was clear even form those two things that Morgana took after her mother.

"Is she still alive." He looked at her with confusion. "No one seems to know what truly happened to her."

It was now Alator's turn to be silent for a while. "She died in childbirth-"

"Then where is she buried."

"I don't know."

It was clear he knew more, there was something he was not telling her. If there was one thing that she had grown to hate and have no patience for, it was being lied to or kept in the dark about something that affected her. Something she had a right to know. "Tell me what you know. Don't lie to me" She warned.

Her voice broke though as she tried to remain calm. Emery's actions had clearly had a great impact on the witch. "Being Uther's daughter gives you a clam to the throne."

"That is the only good thing that is gives me. Gorlois is my true father."

"He is, in more ways than you know."

"What are you saying."

He was unsure how Morgana was going to react. She could be happy or it could ruin whatever plan she had in mind. He was sure there was more to her presence here than she was telling him. "Your mother was unsure who your father truly was. She let Uther think it was him so that you would be safe. She had already been forced to give away your sister to keep her safe. She didn't want to lose you to."

Uther may not be her father. She should be happy and she was. There was still a feeling of emptiness that slowly grew inside her. They were all gone, dead or gone. Her family gone, she had no one. At least if Uther was her father he was still alive and she had a brother. She hated that she cared about that, that that mattered to her at all. There was also the frustration that the one thing that made being a pendragon bearable, having a brother would be taken away from her.

"You have been very helpful." Pulling her hood back over her head she quickly moved to leave. Knowing she would get no more information from him.

Feeling the weight of his armour weighing him down Arthur stopped at the top of the stairs. Turning to his left he looked out of the window that gave him a half view of the main road leading to the city. It was at the same spot he stood now that Morgana stood waiting for him and Merlin to bring Gwen back. That felt so long ago. They were different people back then. Some more so than others. He wondered what Morgana was doing now. A part of him wanted to talk to her. It was stupid he knew, but he thought she might be the only person that would understand what he was feeling. The other part of him was glad she wasn't here. It would just be someone else expecting things of him. Expecting him to be something. She would be worse than the rest. She was more persistent. Had to lose. He also knew back when they were friends he could never really deny her anything, not really. Now she was his sister, he found it easier.

His eyes closed for a second as he took in a deep breath. He didn't hear them, he just felt their hands covering his eyes. "My lady."

Her laugh tickled the back of his neck. Turning round he was faced with the smiling face of his fiancé. Looking into his eyes, the smile quickly left Gwen's face. "I wish you would talk to me."

He took a step back. Wanting to get away from the conversation. He had heard it all before from her and others. "There is nothing-"

"Of course there is." Gwen interrupted.

"My father-"

"Was king before you yes. He did not do it all on his own. He had you, Gaius, the knights and the court. You also have Gaius and the knight, the court." Reaching out she took hold of his hand. "You also have me." She saw him smile a little, though he kept his head lowered to the ground. He ran his thump over the knuckles of her hand. "You have Merlin as well."

"Merlin."

She tried not to laugh out loud at his shocked outburst. "You don't have to do it all on your own."

"Everything I do, everything has to be what is best for Camelot. That has to be my first priority."

As he spoke he stopped running his thump over her hand and let her hand slip from his. She hadn't expected this and her hand once released from his hold swung back to her side. While she didn't fully understand what he was saying. She understood enough. He had to make sure any action he took, like marrying her was in the best interest of Camelot. He was also unsure if it was for the best anymore. So many words wanted to fly from her mouth. She even wanted to slap him. She did none of these things. She held it all back, all of her racing emotions. There would be time for all of that. She knew him, knew he had to work through all of this on his own.

"My lord." She bowed her head and waked away. Leaving him alone to think.

He now felt a number of words wanting to leave his mouth. He also choice to say none of them. He would only end up saying the wrong thing any way. Best leave it still be knew for sure what he wanted, what was best.

Thank you for reading. In order to work out a few things in the story I would like to ask a few question. I would be very grateful if you could answer them. As I have asked these questions before and got no answer I do not expect anything. It would still be helpful to know the answers so I will ask again anyway.

Firstly, there are a few things that I have set up in the story that will be paid off later on. So I would like to know what things like that, things that I have set up but not paid off, things that don't make sense yet have you noticed. I want to make sure I haven't missed anything by accident.

Secondly, is there anything from seasons 4 or 5 that you would like to see a version of in this story. There are still a few places where I have gaps and can add things to the story. So is there anything from the show you would like to see a version of in that way.