'Oi!' Gwaine yelled. 'GUARDS GET HELP, GET GAIUS!'

After my conversation with Gwaine things had started getting worse, the pain in my chest was getting worse and I was struggling to breathe. Sweat rolled down my face giving my kin a sickly tone and my whole body rocked with tremors, wherever Morgana was I wondered if she was feeling this too. I hoped not, my new found feelings for her made me want to protect her, to hide her from pain, although as I recalled the way the spell had hit both of us I thought it unlikely that she wasn't going through this too.

What must she think of me? She probably thought I had cast some love spell on her, and had taken away her free will and control, how she must hate me. The thought caused the pain in my body to swell, Morgana couldn't hate me she was all I had, she couldn't reject me, I wouldn't survive her hatred and rejection.

'Merlin mate, hold on I'll get Gaius,' Gwaine was back by my side running a cool hand over my face he was using the meagre supply of water we had been given for lunch to run over my skin.

'He won't…be able to… do anything Gwaine,' I stuttered back at him 'There's only one…thing that can…help.'

'Morgana,' Gwaine said, it wasn't a question he knew without a doubt from my explanations earlier that she was my only cure, my own personal antidote.

'Can't your magic help, put off the side effects for a while? He asked. I looked at him in annoyance and raised my magic binding shackles in reply.

'That bastard,' he said.

'It's not his…fault Gwaine,' I replied. The truth was I didn't know if my magic was able to help, I was pretty sure that nothing but Morgana would help but maybe my magic could help. I wouldn't know unless they came off. Gwaine chose not to reply to this and returned to yelling at the guards.

'Are you deaf? He needs help now!' Gwaine yelled. One of the guards finally turned to answer.

'We have been instructed by the King, to leave the prisoner where he is until the King has decided what to do with him.'

'Look, Arthur still cares about Merlin, even if right now all he can think about is killing him, just tell him he's sick really sick, and bring Gaius down here,' The knight paused in reply and looked hesitantly at me like I would attack him.

'He's not going to harm Arthur, those shackles of his saw to that,' again the knight paused in indecision. 'I know this screams against everything you've been taught, to go against the King is treason, but if Merlin dies, he will never forgive himself, trust me.'

'Very well,' the Knight said after a long pause.

'Thank you, Sir….' Gwaine trailed off expectantly.

'Hallis' the knight said in reply.

'Thank you Sir Hallis' and with that the knight turned around and went to deliver the message to Arthur. Gwaine returned to my side.

'I don't think…I'm in any…fit state…to talk to Arthur, Gwaine,' I said, pain was blossoming inside my head now; it was making me sleepy and slowing my processing thoughts.

'Then I'll talk to him, until Gaius helps you or he takes those shackles off.'

'There's still no…guarantee that my…magic can help,' I stuttered my teeth now chattering.

'Yes but short of kidnapping Morgana and bringing her here there's not much more we can do is there?' He asked. The question was rhetorical and I shook my head in agreement.

While we waited I turned my thoughts back to Morgana. Thinking of her beautiful face seemed to help, she was so beautiful, when she was ward of Uther her beauty was famous throughout all the kingdoms, I'd heard her name even when I was in Ealdor. I heard about her before I had even met or heard of Arthur. The farmers used to tell tales of the seductress Morgana Le Fay, and I used to listen in awe as they described her beauty and giving nature. I was overwhelmed and slightly humbled at the fact that she could be bound to me, plain ordinary me.

It was rather unfair, neither of us had chosen each other, yes I had always been attracted to her, any sane man with a pulse would have been, but when she had betrayed us that attraction had vanished along with any lingering friendship I had for her. Now those feelings were back tenfold, I couldn't breathe without her, my every thought was spent mulling over how her skin would feel against my hand what her red lips would taste like beneath my own.

'Are you okay Merlin you look slightly better?' Gwaine interrupted my thoughts and the pain erupted again.

'Thinking…about her helps,' I said.

'She is a beautiful woman,' Gwaine said. I nodded in reply. 'I can see the similarities between you.'

'What…do you mean?'

'Arthur told me that before she went crazy, you were quite close, you both had a thing for one another, and it hit you hard that she betrayed us didn't it?'

I ignored the question and focused on what he had said before that. 'Arthur said there… was something going… on between us?'

'Yeah, you were like magnets drawn to each other, you look pretty similar too, there's something ethereal about the two of you, magical I should say, and you're both powerful users of magic it's no wonder you're drawn to her.'

I paused to consider this, I had never noticed Morgana being attracted to me, I guess I kind of thought she wouldn't see anything in me, a peasant from Ealdor. I told Gwaine as much.

'She…didn't see anything…in me, nothing other…than mild friendship,' I said.

'You don't see yourself very clearly do you?' Gwaine asked. I shrugged in reply.

We were both drawn out of our conversation by the sound off the dungeon doors flinging open to crash against the wall. Gwaine was up and looking to see who it was.

'It's Arthur and Gaius,' he told me, where I stayed curled up on the floor. I wanted to get up and look at Arthur dead in the eye, but the pain in my body wouldn't let me.

'Merlin my boy what's wrong?' Gaius asked concerned. Arthur interrupted before I could reply.

'He's finally understanding what a pitiful creature he is,' there was a long silence after this in which Gwaine, Gaius and myself stared at him hatefully. Gwaine rushed the bars and made to grab him.

'You know nothing of him!' spit flying from his mouth in force of his anger.

'Yes, that's because he has lied to me for years,' Arthur said. He didn't move his eyes from my shaking form.

'Yes because he knew you'd react like this, locking him up like the coward you are,' Gwaine said. And it was Arthurs turn to reach of Gwaine, grabbing his neck through the bars.

'I am no coward.'

'Could have fooled me,' Gwaine replied not batting an eyelid over the fact that Arthur had his neck clasped in his hands.

'Arthur let him go, this is not helping,' Gaius said. Arthur stared at Gwaine for a long moment before shoving him backwards. He fell near me, then turned and ran a hand over my sweating forehead.

'What's wrong with him?' Arthur asked.

'I'll explain, he's in no fit state,' Gwaine said. I nodded from where I was curled up. 'He's fallen in love with Morgana,' Gwaine said simply, I sighed perhaps that was too simple.

There was a long pause from behind the other side of the bars.

'What!' Both Gaius and Arthur said at the same time.

'It's not a normal love,' Gwaine said to try and defuse the situation, Arthur paid no attention to that.

'I knew he was a traitor,' Arthur said then turned to me 'Aw is the poor sorcerer missing his partner in crime,' we all ignored him and Gaius turned to Gwaine.

'What do you mean it's not normal?'

'Something happened in the council room, it was that spell; it's drawn them together both physically mentally and magically.'

'Magically?' Arthur asked now joining the conversation confused. I took this as the moment to attempt to join in.

'My magic…its drawn to hers…its feeds off hers…without her…it hurts,' I finished lamely.

'I've heard of this,' Gaius said and all eyes turned to him. 'When two enemies, so interwoven in destiny fight in combat, both their magic can , it is said, seek to bring them together to stop a future of intense pain and violence.'

'So you're saying, Morgana and Merlin's future would have been a violent one so their magic prevented it?' Gwaine asked.

'Yes, let's not forget Merlin and Morgana are similar creatures, both have powerful magic, they both carry secrets, and they were once very close, destiny drove them apart to violence and a future of war, and there magic being so similar sought to prevent it.'

'So…it's like my magic and hers…sought to bring about peace?' I asked confused.

'Yes, the phenomena is rare, and exceedingly dangerous.'

'Why?' Arthur asked.

'Because it binds the two people together, they become each other's soul mates, one cannot live without the other and separation is unbearable, they become each other's greatest strength and weakness, Gwaine is right it is not a normal relationship.'

'Is there a name for it?' Gwaine asked.

'Magic Mates it was often referred to, one step further than soul mates' Gaius said.

'It hurts...Gaius…I need her,' I said pitifully.

Gaius turned to Arthur then.

'Take the shackles off him,' Gaius said.

'I think not, we still haven't discussed the fact that he's a dangerous sorcerer who wants to go running off with another dangerous sorcerer, who's down right evil,' Arthur said.

'I can… change her…I can bring her back…I know I can,' I said confidently.

The whole situation was mind boggling. Magic mates, it did have a certain ring to it I supposed. But there was still the underlying fact that we didn't choose this. Gaius seemed to agree.

'I doubt Morgana will look too kindly to having her free will taken away,' Gaius said.

'Maybe they did choose it' Gwaine said and we all stared at him stupidly. 'Both of your magic is a part of you and you both wanted peace, you both want magic to come back to this land, plus Arthur said you were once attracted to each other, maybe you both did, deep down want this.'

I blushed at the mention of our previous attraction but considered his words. My magic was a part of me, I had always said that. It was logical to think that it had acted in our best interest. I sighed I was so confused.

'Whether they chose this or not doesn't matter, it cannot be undone, and you will die Merlin if you do not see her,' Gaius said.

'Die?' Arthur asked, now sounding a lot less confident.

'Yes and with him so will Morgana,' Gaius said.

'And I don't think that's a good way with dealing with her' Gwaine said. 'Arthur you need to take those shackles off, Merlin is not at his full strength; with his magic he might be able to halt the process.'

'If you think I'm going to let him run free, with that kind of power you are very much mistaken,' Arthur said.

'Please Arthur,' I said. 'If it works I'll explain… everything to you, I promise… I won't seek her… out until I've told… you everything.'

'You promise?' Arthur asked.

'I Promise, I live to… serve you Arthur my magic is yours… to command, I would never… hurt you or Camelot intentionally.'

'You won't lie?'

'I'll tell you anything… you want to know,' I said 'It's not fair Arthur, I am magic… magic is me, how would you… like it If I could off your hands… and you could never use a sword again?'

'Are you threatening me?' Arthur asked.

'Of course not… I'm just trying… to get you to understand,' I said.

He stared at my shaking form and then slowly nodded he brought the keys out from his belt and undid the door to mine and Gwaine cell and slowly approached me.

'Wow Merlin, you're ice cold,' I smiled he sounded like the Arthur I loved and followed again.

'I'm not…feeling too grea,t' I agreed. He smiled sadly in reply then reached for my wrists and undid the magical shackles.

A rush of feeling came swirling back to me, it was like a water pipe exploding, my magic rushed through my veins searching for a way to relieve my pain, eager to do its masters will. It didn't completely eradicate the pain but it reduced it to a manageable amount like before. I knew it would not be long before it swelled up again. I breathed a sigh of relief. Gaius was by my side too, checking my reactions and pulse.

'Better?' he asked.

'Yes, but it won't be long till it gets worse again, and then my magic won't help.'

'Let's get you cleaned up and take this somewhere else shall we my boy,' he replied.

'I don't want him out of my sight,' Arthur said.

'Very well, but I'm going to get him changed into some fresh clothes and cool him down and then you can talk,' Gaius said.

'I'm coming with you,' Arthur said.

'Me too,' Gwaine joined in.

About twenty minutes later we were back in the council room, it was an open space I didn't think Arthur wanted to be in an enclosed room with me. Gwaine and Gaius were there and Gwen too, I think Arthur didn't want to have to repeat this conversation again when she came asking. He was staring at me again, eyeing me from across the table. I forced Morgana from my mind and turned my full attention on him.

'What do you want to know?' I asked.

'Why magic, why now?' he asked all traces of emotion gone.

'I was born like this,' I said recalling with a sense of Deja Vu the very first conversation I had had with Gaius after I had saved his life. 'I could do magic before I could talk,' I heard Gwen gasp in reply, and stare at me with startled eyes.

'What does that make you then? Arthur asked.

'Abnormal,' I joked. 'No, I'm a warlock.'

'Never heard of one,' Arthur said his eyes narrowing suspiciously

'That's because I'm the only one left, your father burned all of my kind,' I watched in satisfaction as his eyes lowered in shame.

'So you've done nothing bad with your magic then?' Arthur asked turning it back on me.

'Nothing I've ever done unless I've had to,' I said.

We stared at each other from across the table eyes on each other. I had never felt so powerful before, for once in my life me and Arthur were on equal footing, it was like we were playing a battle of wits and I wouldn't break first.

'Like what?' Arthur asked.

'Ah but I'm not stupid enough to give you something to hate me for,' I said.

'So there are some things I could hate you for?' Arthur asked triumphantly guessing there was things I was hiding.

'I knew about Morgana,' I said and my bluntness stopped him dead, everyone turned to look at me even Gaius looked surprised at my admittance.

'Me and Gaius knew long ago she was turning, changing, I tried to help her I tried to turn her good, I failed,' I said.

'You knew she had magic and you didn't tell me?' Arthur screamed at me.

'You wouldn't have believed me Arthur, me a lowly servant over someone you loved like a sister, the kings ward no less, don't be thick,' I said. 'In the end it all comes down to rank and mine was lower than hers and lower than yours.'

'Don't be ridiculous,' but I could tell my point had cut him deep, he changed the subject. 'Anything else?'

'I poisoned her,' I said and Gwen gasped.

'You tried to kill her?' she asked.

'Of course, I was reliably informed that she was the source of the magic when Morgause attacked with the knights of Medhir, it was her or all of us,' I said coldly keeping from all of them the anguish I felt over that situation, I would tell no one my grief of that decision except Morgana, I could have no secrets from my Magic Mate.

'That was ages ago,' Arthur said bewildered.

'Yes, Morgana has been your enemy far longer than you think Arthur,' I said

'Who was your informer?' Arthur asked

'Someone wiser than you,' I said.

'Well that's not difficult,' Gwaine butted in, and I laughed, it was fun ganging up on Arthur and his lack of knowledge even if it was a lowly thing to do. Arthur ignored both of us.

'Who Merlin?' When I didn't reply he got mad and asked again 'you promised me you'd tell me everything'

'His name is Kilgharrah,' I said.

'Who's that?' he asked.

'That's the wrong question to ask,' I laughed.

'Merlin,' Gaius warned.

'You should ask what he is,' I said again loving the torment he was getting, I had to wonder if this bond with Morgana was doing more to my attitude, I found myself being more spiteful than before. I sighed, it wasn't me, If I was truthful I was damn right scared, I valued my friendship with Arthur and I didn't want to lose it.

'He's the great dragon,' I said.

'You set that thing free?' Arthur thundered standing.

'Of course,' I said calmly staring him straight in the eye

'How can you be calm about this, you killed innocent people by letting him free, he's a monster!' He screamed at me and I instantly lost my cool and suddenly I was standing too, at my full height my eyes glowing gold faintly as my magic rushed to cure my anger.

'DON'T YOU DARE CALL HIM THAT!' I thundered at him, I was shocked when Arthur actually shrank back into his chair and looked at me with fear; it was like he had no idea who I was, it was something I'd never wanted. I didn't want to be feared just accepted.

I stormed away from the table and began to pace.

'How would you feel, if you were alone Arthur, no humans left in the world? To have to walk this earth with no companions, no people to share yourself with, no one to save your race from extinction with. If you had to watch the entire human race be murdered before your eyes, and find you didn't even get the comfort of going with them, but instead you were imprisoned and set to stew in your own misery for years, your anger growing daily. Wouldn't you turn just a little bit, not even slightly?' I was crying now freely, Kilgharrah was my brother the only creature like me, born of magic; he was my link to the old religion and my closest friend, closer than Arthur, and Gwaine even Gaius.

'I'm sorry,' Arthur said.

'He is my dragon, I am his dragon Lord, and we are connected through our bond and our respect for each other, he is my closest friend and my family and my kin, the only creature in this world that is like me,' I said.

'You're a dragon Lord?' Arthur asked.

'Yes Balinor was my father, he died and you told me to not waste any of my tears on him,' I said my tears running freely now and without shame.

'Arthur!' Gwen said shocked.

'I didn't know!' Arthur said in defence.

'No because if you did, Uther would have had me executed.'

'I wouldn't have told him Merlin,' Arthur said and I stared at him trying to see if what he said was true.

'Maybe not, but how could I ask my friend to choose between me and his duty to his father?' I asked.

'Then I thank you for not putting me in that position,' Arthur said.

'I've saved your life many times Arthur but for most of those times you don't have to thank me, its Kilgharrah you need to thank without his knowledge you wouldn't be standing, and yet you drove a spear through his shoulder in thanks.'

'Merlin, I don't know this dragon, and all I can think of is that he murdered a lot of people, maybe he was blinded by despair and vengeance but does that really make it okay?' Arthur asked.

'I forgave him, in a world were magic is outlawed, his quest for vengeance and a need for understanding was easy to understand, I guess I'm one of the few who does understand him and him me.'

'I can see he means a lot to you and I'm gathering I didn't kill him?' I shook my head in reply.

'Then we'll just have to agree to disagree on him,' he said.

'Fair enough.'

'Anything else I should know?' he asked, I debated then, should I tell him about the prophecy or not? But I had promised I would tell him everything.

'You are destined to become the greatest king the world will ever know, you will unite the lands of Albion and bring magic back to this kingdom, you are the Once And Future King'

'That's sounds very grand,' Arthur said after a long pause 'How do you know this?'

'Kilgharrah told me, it's an ancient prophecy by the druids.'

'What's this got to do with you?' Arthur asked now confused.

'You will need help along the way, without the warlock Emrys you will fail, and Albion will fall and the world will be thrown to chaos,' I said.

'Who's Emrys?' he asked stupidly.

'He is Princess,' Gwaine said.

'That is what the druids call me,' I said.

'What does it mean?' Gwen asked and I considered her question, I had no idea what Emrys meant nor what the significance of the title stood for, my destiny had changed with this new connection to Morgana, I wondered if it would still apply.

'I don't know,' I said honestly 'But I am destined to become the most powerful wielder of magic Albion will ever know.'

I paused, why they took this in. Gaius looked proud, Gwen confused and Gwaine beamed in reply but Arthur looked afraid again, and I hated it.

'Don't fear me Arthur I live to serve you, my magic is your magic,' I said.

'You're destined to become some powerful warlock yet you've lowered yourself to work as my servant?' Arthur asked confused.

'A job is a job, servants, most of them are good people, why do you people assume that all magic wielders want power and titles, riches and jewels…we want peace, and freedom that your father took away from us,' I said.

'Then there are none who would use their magic for bad then?' He asked raising his eyebrows at me expectantly.

'Of course there is, look at Morgause, look at Morgana, but there are people, normal people who use their power to gain dominion over others, your father was one and there are plenty others, why should us magic wielders be any different?' Merlin asked.

'I understand where you're coming from Merlin, but this will take time, I can't just overturn the law of magic in a night and expect everything to be okay.'

'I'm not asking you to, for now I just want your acceptance,' I said.

'You have it, I'm sorry for putting those shackles on you,' Arthur said.

'I forgive you,' I said. I wasn't the only one crying now, Gwen was sniffing and wiping her eyes on a handkerchief and I smiled at her.

'And all is right with the world again,' Gwaine said.

'Not quite,' I said my thoughts once again turning back to Morgana.

'What are you going to do?' Arthur asked.

'What I have to do, I'm going to do some research and then I'm going to bring her here to sort this out, unless she already turns up.'

'You think she will?' Gwaine asked.

'She's feeling what I'm feeling and her magic isn't as strong as mine to hold it back, one of us will have to give eventually,' I said.

'Well we had best get cracking then,' Arthur said and I looked at him confused.

'Were going to help, I may not be an expert in magic but this is effecting you badly and your relationship with Morgana could help change the situation and bring about peace, plus if I'm going to bring back magic someday I might as well start learning about what it is I'll eventually be bringing back.'

I beamed at him in reply. There was my king, the man I would die for, the Once and Future King.

'I'll go bring up some books, here is as good a place as any,' Gaius said.

'I'll help' I said.

'No, Merlin sit, we don't want you exerting yourself you'll soon start feeling bad again,' Gwaine reminded me.

That was true the pain in my chest was steadily getting worse. I wondered how Morgana was faring, thoughts of her made my brain ache, I wanted her, yet I was dreading our inevitable meeting, there would be some big conversations ahead, but hopefully everything would sort itself out. Besides being bonded with the most beautiful girl in the world couldn't be such a bad thing, could it?

Hurrah for exposition chapters!