Obviously, when I said that there might not be a chapter last Thursday, I thought that I would write a chapter and post it on Friday. It has just been a busy couple of days. But hopefully back on it now. Got the next chapter written and hoping to start the next one tonight so I don't have so much to write on Friday.

Part of this chapter has been inspired by a conversation that I am currently having with fairy goatmother. Guys, please tell me if you feel like something is wrong with my story. I do read reviews and I do think about them. As I am still writing it, I can change my plans if something comes from something that you guys say. I have always welcomed constructive criticism.

Oh, you and all your vibrant youth
How could anything bad ever happen to you?

Chapter 18

There was a part of Morgana that regretted telling Morgause about what had happened when she remained silent. She didn't know what she was thinking and felt worse when she got out her phone and called someone, walking out of the room as so Morgana didn't hear her conversation. She knew that Morgause was on the phone to Cenred and she had now made this whole situation worse. Morgana knew that she had better people to confine in. Like Gwen. Gwen may have rambled her way through life but Morgana was certain that Gwen could always keep her secrets.

By the time Morgause returned to the room, Morgana had worked herself up into some state.

"Why did you tell him? That is going to make it worse."

Morgause sighed. "He isn't treating you right. You are my sister. I do care about you."

"There is more to it than him not just treating me right."

"I know."

"What?"

"I didn't miss it and I am certain that an airhead like Alvarr hasn't missed it either. You have started something with Merlin."

"I know what you are going to say," Morgana said, dropping her gaze to the floor.

There was a moment when Morgana thought that Morgause wasn't going to say anything. It wasn't until she placed her hands on Morgana's shoulders that she looked up and saw a look in Morgause's face that she had never seen before. She had seen her sister worried before but not like this. She almost questioned it.

"Are you safe?"

"What?"

"Morgana, do you think you are safe?"

"I wouldn't like to say."

"Do you think that Merlin is safe?"

"Probably not. I don't know. I don't know what is going on in Alvarr's head."

"Has Alvarr done something that you would consider rash?"

Morgana didn't understand what all the questions were for. "He beat Merlin up a couple of months ago."

"I think that you should spend a couple of days with me. I mean, I have never been to London before and I have my own personal tour guide right here."

She would have questioned her sister. There were questions on the end of her tongue but she didn't ask them. She didn't know why. Maybe she should have. Maybe she would have got some answers sooner.

Locking up the shop was something that Merlin enjoyed doing. It meant that it could be done in the way that he saw fit. He was glad that he had made Gaius go earlier when he turned around after locking the backdoor to see Alvarr and a number of his friends. It was hard not to feel slightly intimidated by them. Merlin knew that if Alvarr knew about them that this would be another beating to teach him that Morgana was his.

"I don't usually do this Merlin. But that job offer is still there."

"What job offer?" Merlin asked without really thinking about it.

It was obviously enough for Alvarr that Merlin showed just a little interest in what he was offering that he opened the door of the car he was leaning against. It wasn't a time for stupid questions and Merlin didn't know whether he should just find out more because he was slightly interested or because he could use it against Alvarr if anything was going to happen to Morgana. If he had some dirt on him that would get him arrested, then he might be able to get Morgana away from him. He felt like Alvarr would be cunning enough to be able to talk his way out of being arrested for domestic abuse or something like that.

Merlin didn't really get a choice in the end whether he went or not as he was pulled towards the car and pushed down into it. One of the guys sat next to him and the other one made his way around the car to sit on Merlin's right side. He heard, more than saw, two other people getting into the front. A hood had been placed over his head to try and disguise where they were going.

He tried to remember the turns that they took but it was hard for Merlin to actually think where they were going. There could have only been driving for fifteen minutes, so he could safely say that they were still in London, when the car stopped and the doors were opened. The hood remained on his head as he was pulled from the car. He knew that he had been lead into a building and was sat down on a chair before the hood was removed. His eyes quickly adjusted to the low light in the warehouse.

"Do you like being Uther's little plaything?"

"I'm not Uther's little plaything."

"I think you are. Being fired and rehired at the drop of a hat. You have no stable job other than helping to run a rundown old cafe. You don't strike me as the person who would just settle for that. You could just go and get another job. I… can't understand it."

"I am perfectly happy in the jobs that I have. You don't need to know my reasons as to why I do what I do."

"I suppose I don't. But I can offer you a job whereby, within a month, you could earn enough to pay Uther back." He paused for a moment. "It is amazing what you can find out if you want to. I know that Uther paid for your girlfriend's cancer treatment when the NHS gave up on her. I also know that he paid for her to be in a hospice so she was comfortable. I suppose that is another question, why would Uther pay for all that when he clearly dislikes you?"

"He obviously has his reasons."

"You know that when Uther dies you will become Arthur's plaything? The debt that you have with Uther will be the one you have with Arthur. Will he be so kind? Will he want more?"

"Things between Uther and I are totally different to things between myself and Arthur. Arthur would probably allow me to pay the debt back in bigger instalment and would also me to have a stable job so that I could actually pay back the debt."

"I have done my research. I know that the only reason that Uther keeps firing you is because of the interest put on the loan. Lower than he has put on other people's loan. I suppose that is why he wants yours to last longer. Do you want to be Pendragon property for the reason of your life?"

"Or be yours? I don't know which is better."

"I will be fairer. We can make a contract. As soon as I am done with what I need you to do, then you will be free from me."

"Do I have a choice?"

"Oh Merlin, we all have a choice in everything. For me, it would just be about who is the better of two evils. Me or Uther?"

It was one of the first things that Alvarr had said that Merlin agreed with. He wondered where he had got all his information from and hoped that Morgana hadn't told Alvarr what he had told her in confidence.

"What do you want me to do and when would I be free from your contract?"

It was the way that Alvarr smiled at him which made him regret his decision. It did seem like Uther's worse might be Alvarr's best. But Merlin felt like he couldn't really back out now.

"You will be free from me when we bring Uther Pendragon to his knees."