I didn't get back to sleep that night, instead I moved into Gaius's chambers and watched the sun rise through the small window on the side of the room, Camelot looked eerily quiet in the morning sun, and it seemed very vulnerable to me. Vulnerable to an attack from Morgana. Gaius's soft snores punctuated the air and i sighed, the dream had seemed so real, it was like I had been there.

'Merlin?' Gaius's sleepy voice called over to me

'Morning,' I murmured, my thoughts preoccupied with her. Always her.

'How long have you been up?' He asked as he began to ready himself for the day.

'Most of the night,' I replied vaguely.

'Did you not sleep well?' he asked concern filling his voice. I turned to look at him. Gaius was like a father to me. He had raised me and taught me the purpose for my magic, I couldn't help but think that Morgana should have been rewarded the same opportunity.

'That's an understatement,' I sighed, then proceeded to tell him about my dream or vision, whichever it was.

'But Merlin my boy, you're not a seer,' Gaius said. I felt frustration prick my mood.

'I know Gaius, but it didn't feel like any dream I've had before.'

Gaius paused and I could almost see his thoughts ticking over.

'Well, if it was a vision we best work out what happened,' he said. I watched as he ventured towards the table we used to dine on and set about making breakfast. I went to join him, watching him work.

'She was upset and lonely.'

'Well if Morgause is dead we should be prepared for a full scale battle,' Gaius said.

'No,' I replied 'It was just me she wanted to harm, I've never seen her so angry before.'

She was truly a fearsome thing to behold in her black outfit and wild hair. Wildly beautiful I thought. She had always been beautiful though, I remembered her three years ago when she wore long colourful silk dresses that clung to every inch of her body like a second skin. Her hair fell in black rivers of chaos which contrasted her perfect alabaster skin which was so like my own. There was a time when I considered her the most beautiful woman I had ever known. Before she changed, before magic corrupted her. What was worse, was deep down I knew I could have prevented it.

'What about this spell you were telling me about?' Gaius broke my train of thought and I turned my attention back to him.

'I don't know,' I paused 'our magic clashed and it rebounded hitting both of us, but there was no pain or injury just a curious sensation.'

'Hmm…' Gaius trailed off.

'Hmm?' I questioned 'that's it, that's all you've got to offer me is hmm?' I was frustrated, that spell had seemed so important, like something major had happened.

'I don't want to make any guesses Merlin,' Gaius said.

'Well guess work might be our best option right now,' I said, trying to persuade him to talk about his theories.

'Merlin we don't even know if what you saw is going to happen, this could all just be a strange dream.'

'Yes but it never works out like that does it?' I said 'Remember the crystal cave, you told me those visions wouldn't happen and look what occurred.'

'Merlin, remember, if these are real there's something more important you need to worry about', Gaius reminded me.

'What?' I asked confused.

'Arthur see's you doing magic.'

I Paused. I had completely overlooked that fact. I had been completely focussed on Morgana and not on the gravity of the consequences that could happen if he ever found out.

'Well,' I paused 'King Prat will just have to stay unconscious for the next week or so until I figure this out'

Gaius chuckled, 'And how are you going to do that Merlin?'

'I'm the most powerful warlock to ever live I'm sure I can figure it out,' I said cheekily.

'I see, I think all this power is making your head swell.'

I laughed in response 'Yeah because I have so many people to show off too, you know maybe if he found out it would be a good thing, he wouldn't think I was such an idiot anymore.'

'Yes but Merlin if he found out, do you really think he's going to drop down in awe of you?' Gaius asked.

'Well he might show me some respect for once.'

'What? After you tell him that it was you that let the dragon escape, it was you that poisoned Morgana, that your Dragoon the great, that you lied to him about his birth…' He trailed off

'Okay, Okay, Maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea then.'

But I so badly wanted that respect. I didn't want any title or reward but just a simple thank you, an acknowledgment. I could sympathise with Morgana on some level. But my frustration with Arthur's blindness didn't turn me evil, it just made me sad. I wondered if I'd ever fulfil my destiny by Arthur's side. It seemed so far away.

Gaius seemed to pick up on my thoughts. 'Your time will come Merlin, I'm sure of it.'

'I know, it's just getting there that's the problem.'

He smiled at me and offered no reply. I found my thoughts drifting again to Morgana, Was Morgause dead now, or was she dying a slow and painful death in the arms of her sister? I shuddered and forced myself not to think on it. Morgana made her own choices I reminded myself. Ah but what a bitter choice it was.

'Merlin, you're going to be late.'

I cursed; Arthur was never in a good mood in the mornings and my lateness would not help the situation even though I had a perfectly good excuse this time. I would have to blame it on my idiotic qualities he believed me to have. I grabbed the bacon sandwich Gaius had made for me, thanked him then rushed to wake the King Prat.

Far away Morgana was nursing her sister in the only shelter they had found given their situation. Morgause's power was weak and Morgana did not know enough of magic to be able to transport them very far. The best she had done was finding some cave like hut in the side of hill disguised by the earth that had grown over it.

Morgana had thrown together a bed of sorts and had a set a fire going. Morgause lay on the bed, her once beautiful golden hair a now dirty ash colour that clung to the sweat on her cheeks. She was dying, Morgana knew this but she did not allow herself to give up. Morgause was her sister, her own flesh and blood, the only person she had left. Arthur her estranged half-brother did not count.

Morgause coughed, such a weak sound like there was no energy behind it.

'Sister,' Morgana said stroking her frail cheek 'Hold on for me, you'll be okay, I promise.'

'We both know that's a lie my love,' Morgause whispered back her voice barely audible.

'No,' Morgana disagreed. 'I'm going to save you.'

'I know one day you will become a powerful healer Morgana, I feel that in you, even now as my life diminishes,' Morgause lifted a shaky hand to touch her sister's cheek, but it fell through lack of strength. Morgana picked it up and held it there for her instead. 'But you're not ready yet, your power is still developing.'

'It's not fair,' Morgana cried in anguish tears dripping down her beautiful face. 'I've only just found you, you can't leave me alone.'

'You will avenge me my sister I know it,' Morgause said her maimed face once beautiful now frowning in pain. 'One day you will be queen of Camelot, you will bring magic back to this land and the world will bow before you in awe and respect.'

Morgana had no reply and could only listen to her sister's words slowly become quieter.

'I will be there when it happens; I will watch from above and guide you to greatness. And I will be so proud knowing that I had some part in guiding you to your destiny.'

'I will do everything for you sister,' Morgana said now sobbing pitifully. She moved behind her frail sister and lifted her back to rest against her chest. She brought her arms around her and rocked her as she succumbed to inevitability.

'Live for me sister, be everything you can possibly be,' her voice was almost inaudible now, her eyes slowly closing.

'No, no, no' Morgana murmured her rocking increasing. 'I don't want to be alone in this world sister, it's so dreadfully quiet.'

'I love you my sister,' And Morgana felt the faint rise of Morgause's chest she had felt beneath her arms stop and her body became impossibly still.

'Morgause?' Morgana whispered. There was no reply, and the horror of the situation pressed fully onto the young priestess's shoulders. Sobs racked her body as she clung to her sister's lifeless frame. She hadn't been able to save her. The one person she had loved above anyone else in the world. The one person who understood her, accepted her, loved her, was now gone. Morgana had never felt lonelier.

Despair clutched at her heart as her thoughts circled. She would never be accepted. Arthur's rein would mean more blood spilt for her kind. There would be no peace whilst he was on the throne. But first things were first, her sister would be avenged if it was the last thing she did. She allowed her thoughts to turn even darker as she pictured the sharp cheek boned face, the big ears and coal black hair, the piercing blue eyes that seemed to see into the depths of her soul.

Merlin.