Thank you for reading. Hope your all doing well.

Doenja. Thank you so much for reading. I hope you will enjoy the rest of it. I plan on finally getting it finished. Also thank you for being the first person to review since I started working on the story again on here.

Morgana's eyes widened a little at seeing her visitor. She had not expected him, but then again maybe she should have.

"Merlin." She questioned.

"I wanted to check you were okay."

He answered as he moved into the center of the hovel. Taking off the pack he wore over his back, filled with food as he did. Handing it over to Morgana once he was close enough, he finally noticed what she was holding in her hands. The bright red of Camelot was a distinctive color, even for someone that had not seen it everyday for the last few years. He didn't have to think long to know what it was. The real question was who's it was. Quickly shortening the list in his mind there were only two people who the cloak could belong to. Lancelot had left for Nemeth a few days ago as the snow eased off a little. He would have passed near here. He was the most likely choice, but Merlin couldn't quit make the connection that it was him. Gwaine had also left a few days before Lancelot. Searching the outlying villages for any sign of Nimueh. He had been heading in almost exactly the opposite direction, but Merin wouldn't but it past the knight to have come here.

Knowing what Merlin must be thinking she held the cloak out to him as she took the pack in her own hands. "You just missed Lancelot."

"Lancelot." He questioned.

Her back to him as she put away what he had brought her, she turned her head to face him. "He waited out the snow. Thank you for this."

There was more to it than she was telling him, but he didn't push it further. There was a more pressing reason he had lied to Arthur and managed to sneak out of the city to come and see her. He didn't want to antagonize her before he had brought that up. He was also sure that Lancelot had not been as held back by the snow as Morgana seemed to think. The snow had tapered off as he got closer to the hovel. He was sure that the snow hadn't blocked the knights path. Looking around at the small, cold room and Morgana standing in the center of it he could understand why his noble friend would feel the need to stay and make sure that Morgana did not freeze or starve. while he knew well not to judge a persons strength by their psychical stature, he had to admit that the person in-front of him did not look well. If he didn't know what she was cable of, he would not believe she could survive the harsh cold in this place.

"He just left, you could still catch up to him, if you tried."

"No." He replied quickly earning an strange look form Morgana. "I need to talk to you about something." She turned round to fully face him, leaning back on the table. "I've been reading the grimoire." Ignoring the mocking shocked look Morgana gave him he went on. " We can't use scrying, because she could notice." Morgana nodded. "I think I know of another way to find out where Nimueh is, what she maybe planning." Seeming to have her interest now not just her curiosity. "As a seer, you can see the present."

He didn't have to say anymore, she understood what he was saying. What his plan was. It was a good plan. It could work, except for one thing.

she shocker her head. "I can't."

"Yes you can-"

"No-"

"Morgana-"

"Yes, maybe I might be able to see her, what she's doing. As a seer. I can, could see the past, present and future." He nodded. "Seeing all that, you would lose all sense of time, of reality."

"That's why seers don't normally have magic-"

"I know. That imbalance, mixed with power. The damage it could do." Her head lowered, looking at the floor.

"Morgana. You can do it." Merlin took a large step closer towered her.

Shacking her head more forcefully, she slipped past him and moved toward the door. "I cant." She stated firmly and forcefully.

Merlin turned to follow her about to call out to her when she turned from her path towards the door. Moving instead to pick up a metal tankard form a side table and fill it with water form a half full bucket. He let her take a drink before he pressed on again. This was to important to give up on.

After taking a large gulp of cold water, Morgana kept the tankard held up for a few seconds. With a sigh she lowered the tankard and met Merlin's eyes. "But you can."

The utterly shocked look on Merlin's face brought a smile to her face. "What." Her finally got out.

"I've been doing some research too." Her head gestured towards a bookcase made of wood and stones, pilled high with books and scrolls. "You can trace her magic back to her." He looked as confused as he had when he found out who her guest had been. "Magic leaves a trace. A unique trace of the person that cast it."

"I know that. It too might work, except for one thing." He mocked her, earning a a slight sneer. "We don't have anything of Nimueh to trace."

He was sure he saw a smug look cross her face. Pleased to show him up, be one step ahead. It only lasted for a brief second. Quickly replaced by a hesitant nervousness. Taking in a deep breath, her head lowered she moved back to the center of the hovel, closer to him. Slowly she pulled back the large sleeve of her coat, then the thin fabric of her dress. Her eyes lifted to the roof. Not wanting to look down or at Merlin. His eyes widened at the sight of Morgana wrists. Multiple deep red groves wound around her wrists. His hand instinctively went to reach out to her. He knew what she had been through at the hands of Nimueh and her allies. This was the least of it.

"The chains I was held with had a enchantment on them." Her eyes now lowered to meet his. "Guess who by."

He returned her small smile. It was a good plan. It wouldn't give them as much information as his, but Morgana was right. It was a risk for however, one that may not be worth it. There was just one thing that he didn't understand. "Why haven't you do it before. You don't need me-"

"I'm not strong enough." She snapped, as she violently took of her coat and throw it over the closest chair. Then rolled up her sleeves.

"Morgana-"

"Are you doing to do it or not." He didn't answer, he just kept eye contact. Urging her to tell him more. With a frustrated sigh she did. "I'm not strong enough to do that kind of spell. You are. She kept me prisoner for years, we are sisters. High priestess's of the triple goddess. She would sense I was searching for her. I'm not strong enough to mask myself as well as search for her."

He understood now, but he didn't agree with her. Moving quickly so Morgana didn't have the chance to move away, he took her hands in his. "You are the strongest person I know." She scoffed and tried to get out of her hold, but he held tight. "I mean it. You're the most stubbornly determined person I have ever know." She wasn't sure if this was a compliment or a insult. A little of both she thought.

"Are we going to try this or not." She finished with a laugh trying to brush off the moment of vulnerability and sincerity.

Merlin nodded and they instinctively moved to sit down. Morgana on the edge of the bed and Merlin pulling a chair behind him to sit in-front of her. With some hesitation Morgana held out her arms towards Merlin. Who hesitated a little too as he reached out to take hold of the scared wrists held out to him. She flinched a little at his touch. In part because of the psychical contact and partly because his hands were so cold.

"Sorry." Merlin noticed her flinch and let her go before rubbing his hands together to warm them up a little. He then took hold of her wrists again.

Closing his eyes he tried to focus only on the scared, cold skin he was touching. It didn't take him long to feel the flowing energy of Morgana's magic. It was like placing your hand just on top of a river or a stream and feeling the running water rushing under your hand. The real power just a little under the surface. Pushing past this, he forced his hand down into the flowing water. Losing focus for a minute as Morgana's magic seemed to knock him off course he felt himself being guided towards something. Something simmering under the surface. Nimueh's mark. Her magic seemed different. If Morgana was like water, then Nimueh was like fire. It was not as all encompassing as Morgana's. He was only feeling a small part of it. Despite this it bubble with force. It was like a flame boiling water. Readying himself he focused all his attention onto it.

Just as Morgana's had done before the other high priestess's magic engulfed him as soon as he came in contact with it. It took him a few seconds to ground himself again. Once he did he focused on, what seemed like the smoke rising away wafting up into the air. He followed this faint trace away from the fire. After a few seconds he felt a heat begin to grow. He was reaching the source of the trace of burning power he felt under the surface of Morgana's gentle steady power. Pulling back a little, so as not to be noticed and to get a idea of where this smoke had lead him.

Not being able to feel anything that told him where Nimueh was. Merlin let himself drift back to where he really was. taking his time, to figure out what direction he was going in. In the back of his mind was the nagging feeling that he could have pushed himself a little further. Tried to get a better idea of the force that they were facing, but something had stopped him, pulled him back. Maybe it was his own worry about Nimueh feeling she was being watched and drawing her attention to here. To Morgana, all on her own, Maybe it was the witches own worry about this. Most likely it was both mixed together.

When he felt he had gotten all the information he could, Merlin began to become aware of his surroundings again. He felt the cold chill blowing in from the small crack in the door and the gap at the bottom. He smelt the burning embers in the fire pit and the the slightest hint of mint. That he was sure was coming from Morgana, Her hands. She must have picked some recently. Slowly he opened his eyes. Blinking a few times as he adjusted to the light. Letting out a deep breath he had been holding, he felt his body relax. Letting out tension that he didn't know he had been holding.

Morgana sitting across form him, searching his face for any sign that probable only she could see of what he had found out. Finding none she spoke first breaking the uneasy silence. "Well."

Taking in another breath as he tried to order things in his head, so that it made sense. While he did this he leaned back in his chair. His hands still holding Morgana's scared wrists, slid forward till he was holding her hands. Which he gave a reassuring squeeze before letting them go.

"She didn't feel me." Trying to act like she hadn't been worried about this, she gave him an irritated look. "She's in the north, near Amata I think." He saw Morgana wanting to say something. Most likely, if that was all. They could have guessed that. If Nimueh was working with the Sarrum then of course she would be there. What they need was where exactly and how powerful she was. She had been gathering back her strength all this time toying with them. He understood Morgana's frustration. So he was a a little impressed she held it back and let him go on.

"It didn't feel to far north, it couldn't be Amata."

She nodded. "She would have to be close if she was planning her move."

Merlin nodded in agreement. "When I felt the source, her magic...it was strange. It felt like flames that branched out-"

"Flames."

"Her magic, it felt like a fire. The traces I followed were like smoke." As he spoke he noticed Morgana moving forward a little, closer to him. Drawn in by this new view of magic he was telling her about. "Yours was the opposite, like water. Constantly moving, adapting. Strong, but gentle. Enduring" He didn't know why he had said all of this. It just seemed to slip out like water.

Morgana taken by surprise at such a seemingly innocuous thing, that turned out to be deeply personal, strengthened up a bit. Pulling back from Merlin.

Clearing his throat Merlin got back on track. "I think she's siphoning off some of her magic into an army."

"Not the blood guard." Morgana stated. "I would know. It would also take a lot of magic to rebuild them. I don't think she's going to waist her magic on anything she doesn't have to."

"She's be building her strength for years now. I don't think she would waist it either, not if she has an alternative." Merlin added.

Morgana followed on from his thought. "The Sarrum's men. She would not have to use much to make them loyal if she is working with their leader."

Merlin let out a frustrated sigh. They were on the same page, but were getting nowhere. They had not found out anything that they didn't know already or could have guessed. Groaning a little he leaned his head back running his hand through his hair.

After a few minutes of silence Morgana spoke. "What of Gilli."

Merlin closed his eyes for a second before tilting his head back to face Morgana again. As she waited for an answer she wasn't sure she would get, Morgana reached out to shack Merlin. He caught her sharply pulling his hand back as he tilted his head forward again.

"I don't know for sure, but I don't think he was there." Accepting this she chewed on her lips a little. Thinking it over. "He's been able to get away before, I don't think he is always by her side." He went on. To confirm what he wanted to, for himself and her.

Again silence feel over the hovel as the two allies tried to work out any further information they could come up with from the small scraps of new information they had gained. Coming up with nothing, they both seemed to relax a little. As the tension of what they had just done washed off of them. Merlin leaned back further in his chair. His hand laying a little defeated on his lap. Morgana's shoulders slumped forward as the weight of uncertainty crept down on her. Her hand too lay on her lap. Glancing down she saw her still exposed writs. Instinctively she moved to pull her sleeves down again, but hesitated for a second. The scars looked healed. Only a little but they still looked less red, less angry. Before Merlin noticed her noticing this, she pulled her sleeves down. She was not going to have to thank him twice in one day. Once was quit enough.

"Who is the closest."

Merlin's eyes had been lowered to the ground, but lifted as Morgana broke the silence. "Who what."

"Which knight has been sent the closest to Amata." He looked like he was having trouble understanding her simple question. Either that or he was keeping something from her. "You weren't surprised to see a knights cloak. You did seem surprised by who's it was. So, who is the closest to Amata." Panic began to creep into her voice till she couldn't hide it anymore.

In a instant Merlin understood what was worrying her, what she was really asking. Was Gwaine in any danger. Also in a instant he reached out and put a hand over hers, that she was clenching in her lap.

"No one-"

"Merlin." She warning in a low but threating tone. Pulling her hand from his.

"Really. They have all been sent out over the last few months Leon has been the closest to Amata." Knowing this was not all she needed to know, he went on. "Gwaine is away form Camelot, but he goes east. To Essetir." Merlin saw refile wash over Morgana, but was quickly replaced by panic. "I don't think either would say anything about you." He tried to reassure her. Gwaine would brush it off if he found out about Morgana's brief engagement to Lot. It would hurt him though. "He and king Lot get on well." He added.

Morgana looking a little less panicked nodded. "I can believe that. Their quit alike."

A smile slowly spread across Merlin's face. "He said he would check in on my Mother on his way back. He did the first trip he made. I think my Mother has sort of adopted him as a second son." Morgana finally seemed to fully relax and smiled. "He said she tried to cut his hair before he left."

"I can imagine it." Morgana said holding back a light laugh.

Merlin laughed a little at the image of a brave knight of Camelot be scarred by a middle aged women and a pair of scissors trying to cut his hair. He wished he could have seen it.

"Your Mother is a truly compassionate and generous women. You are luck to have her." The witch said a little wishfully.

"I know." The warlock agreed.

With a sigh Morgana added. "I'm sorry." Merlin looked a little shocked. "I put her in danger, to hurt you. That was...truly cruel and I am sorry for that."

"I know." He replied after a few seconds. "To be fair, I hurt your sister and I did kill you." He added to ease the tension after Morgana show of vulnerability.

Taken by surprise Morgana let out a laugh. "That is true."

"And as you pointed out before, I've not been very successful in actually killing a high priestess. So I'm going to need your help."

"That is also true." Morgana retorted. Glad to have been able to apologize and to not have Merlin make a big deal of it.

There was nothing else they could do, nothing else to go over. They were still almost exactly at the same place they had always been. Waiting for Nimueh to make her next move. Thinking this was a good time to leave. While they were on good terms, Merlin stood up and moved towards the door. Morgana followed. When he was about to reach out to open the door Merlin turned round to face Morgana.

"Do you think there could be a time when aren't...Keeping count. Retaliating against each other all the time." He sounded sincere and nervous.

Not wanting to meet that sincerity in kind again. Having already done that far to much already today. Morgana retorted. "Isn't that what we're doing now."

Not wanting to press any further. Risk the calm truce that they had. Merlin let it go. This maybe as good as it got between them. It was already miles better than he believed they would ever be again. That had to be enough. He wouldn't say it, he had said to much already. They both had, but he was glad that he had an ally. That he had someone he could be completely honest with about everything that was going on. No half truths. Someone that understood, could relate to what he felt. Someone to help him face what was to come. Something told him that he was going to need all the help he could get, they all were.

Before he left he did make a half hearted attempt to try and get Morgana to return with him. She of course said no. Like he knew that she would. That it was best she stayed here. Having everyone that she was targeting in one place would only draw out Nimueh and they were not ready for that. Morgana had a point Merlin had to agree, but there was more to it than that. In the back of his mind he knew that she was planning something. Something she didn't need or want his help with. It made him uneasy, for many reasons, but he trusted her. Surprisingly he trusted her in this. She more than anyone wanted Nimueh and the Sarrum dead. She seemed calmer, he didn't think she would do anything reckless. At least hoped she wouldn't.

Once she was alone again Morgana picked up her less heavy black coat and put it on. She wouldn't need the heavy one where she was going. It was a long shot, but she had tried to something. All this waiting was getting to her. She was sure it was getting to everyone. She could imagine how frustrated Arthur would be with all of this. This she knew was What Nimueh wanted. Was part of her plan. Psychological warfare. Make her enemy lose their hope before you even make your first move. This hand to end and she was going to be the one to end it.

Thank you for reading. I hope the chapter was okay. I really didn't know how to write the whole magic part. I just wanted to have Merlin and Morgana work together as equals. I Think that has to be the first part of moving their relationship forward. I know that it may be boring and frustrating, but I want to build up to their relationship as realistically as I can. Any feedback or input you may have is very welcome.