Chapter Six

Emrys' Manor 2059

Merlin answered his door to a soft knock.

"Morgan?"

"Hello, Martin. Can I come in?"

"Ah, well..."

Morgana walked in anyway, heading straight for his bed and perching on the edge. Then she placed a pad on her lap and paused for a moment, biting her lip. Merlin waited her out.

"You heard I had another episode?" she asked eventually.

"Yes, Guy said. What do you remember about it?"

"Not much, but I did start trying to draw it earlier."

His gaze drifted over to the pad. "Oh, may I see?"

She nodded and he came to sit next to her on the bed. There in front of him was a clear and beautifully accurate picture of the Round Table and the people who had been in that room earlier, dressed in the clothes they had originally worn. Merlin pointed to the young man to Arthur's right.

"That's me."

"And still wearing that strange scarf," she replied with a nod towards his current outfit.

"Hey, I like it."

She grinned at him. "I preferred what you were wearing this morning in the stables, to be honest. Or rather, what you weren't wearing."

"Cheeky."

She looked more closely at her drawing. "I don't know what it is, but I'd have expected Queen Guinevere to have been wearing something more... glamorous."

"We were on the run at the time."

"What?"

Merlin shook his head. "Ah... nothing. I just mean..."

"Did you know I'd start having these visions again after you purged me of the drugs?"

"I suspected it. Why, have you not always complained about that?"

"Yes and although it is a little scary, it's also... interesting. I think perhaps, with Guy and Emrys' help I might discover more."

"Yes, you should definitely be part of this project."

She frowned. "That's what Guy says but I don't know why. I have no engineering or computing skills whatsoever."

"But you are still vital to our success. I know you are."

"What? Now you're having visions?"

He grinned. "I'm like you, remember? You said so yourself."

She nodded. "It is nice to have my episodes taken seriously. To have them described as a gift rather than an illness."

"Well, I can understand that."

There was a pause. "Show me something," she said suddenly. "Show me something you can do."

He stared at her. "Really? Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Please."

With only a few more seconds pause, Merlin held out his hand and allowed a small flame to dance on his palm.

"Is it magic?" she asked.

"Yes."

To his very great surprise, Morgana didn't look at all shocked, simply smiling happily when he confirmed it and nodding. Merlin beamed back at her, feeling suddenly very light hearted.

'For destiny has set you free and doom can no longer find you,' she had said during her trance. Did that mean what he hoped it did? Was Morgana no longer any sort of threat? Could she really help him to save the Crystal Cave?

"I can teach you if you want?" he said then. "Teach you how to use and control your magic?"

"Would you?" She smiled again. "I'd like that." There was another long, but comfortable pause. "Can I stay with you tonight?"

"What?"

"Just to sleep, I promise."

"Ah... I suppose..."

She nodded. "Thank you. Somehow I feel so much calmer when I'm around you."

~o~0~o~

Merlin came back from the stables the following morning to find Morgana sitting up in bed and sketching something.

"You slept well?" he asked.

"Yes." She seemed surprised. "My sleep since I've been in this house has been really good."

"Only waking dreams then. Which is interesting."

"It feels... as if I've come home, somehow," she said. "It feels like I've been searching for this place for a very long time."

Merlin nodded. "I think perhaps you have."

"And we have to go home today?"

"Well, the others are already getting to leave, but you can stay if you like."

She looked up. "Could I?"

"Of course. I'm remaining here for a while too and it would be great if I could help you to harness that magic properly."

"Really? I'd like that, but why are you staying here?"

He shrugged as he hunted for a good explanation. "Emrys and Guy are the only family I have now. They've offered to help me too. Why? Was there somewhere else you need to be?"

She shook her head. "No, and I'd be glad of the break. Glad of the chance to see if I can really live with these gifts and perhaps even discover what they mean."

"That would be good."

There was a pause. "Thank you," she said.

"For what?"

"For helping me."

He shrugged. "It's long overdue."

She got out of bed, only in her underwear and walked slowly and seductively towards him. Merlin instinctively took a step back, even as his eyes wandered unashamedly.

"As I said yesterday, I do like to reward those who help me," she said.

"Ah... perhaps, if we're working together, then this is not such a good idea," he suggested. "It could... complicate things."

"Why?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Does sex mess up our magic too?"

He felt his throat go dry at her casual mention of the word. "Ah... not as a rule. I just meant that not everyone can remain civil after a relationship like Jen and Landon have."

"That assumes there is an afterwards," she retorted. "I think you might be worth keeping."

"Seriously? We only met a couple of days ago."

"Did we, Martin?" she asked, arching an elegant eyebrow. "Did we really?"

He smiled slightly. "Good point."

She kissed him soundly then, her hands quickly sliding under his T-shirt, whilst his also started to explore her bare skin. As enjoyable as this was though, he really did need to make an appearance as Emrys soon and say goodbye to his guests.

A loud knock on the door made the decision for him.

"Are you in there, Martin?" Arthur called out.

"Ah yes. I'll be right out."

"Only I can't find my sister anywhere."

Merlin winced, trying to think of an excuse. Next to him, Morgana smirked at his discomfort. "I'm in here, Archie."

"What!" That from both Merlin and Arthur.

The latter barged in to note her state of undress and Merlin's rather rumpled appearance.

"This is where you've been? You've been sleeping with him?"

"Yes!" she replied firmly.

"Morgan, we have not."

"We did sleep together," she disagreed, pointing to the bed.

"Yes but we didn't...ah..." Merlin looked up at Arthur, his cheeks pink.

The blond man shook his head. "I really don't think you know what you're letting yourself in for with this one, Martin."

"Hey, who I do or do not go out with is none of your concern," Morgan said.

"Go out with?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, Martin's my boyfriend now, aren't you?"

"I-I am?"

"Yes, and so I'm staying here with him for a while and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

Arthur looked pleadingly at Merlin who shrugged.

"Emrys said we could both stay here until the project starts in September," he explained. "The old man wants a chance to talk to Morgan about her visions and try to help her."

"By encouraging her Arthurian fantasies and keeping her off her medication?"

"Hey!" Morgana complained. "In case you've forgotten, Archie, I am twenty-five years old and do not have to do what you or Dad tells me too. Lord Emrys offered and I've accepted. End of story."

"Martin?"

"She does have a point, and I think it's for the best, anyway."

"And you're now her boyfriend?" he asked, sceptically.

Merlin shrugged. "Ah, yes..?"

Morgana beamed at him whilst Arthur shook his head and turned to walk out of the door. "It'll all end in tears," he mumbled as he left.

"I really should go and say goodbye to everyone," Merlin said to her as she made to kiss him again. "But why don't you get dressed and come with me. You'll be working with them all in September, after all, and Jen in particular was very worried about you after yesterday."

Morgana shrugged. "All right. I rather liked her." She smiled at him as she moved to retrieve her clothes. "I'm glad we're together now. Somehow, that feels right too. Just like being here in this house."

~o~0~o~

London 2040

"It was true what I said about the Severn Barrier, wasn't it?" Gaius asked Merlin when he returned to London after fully checking out the Valley and the surrounding area.

"Yes," Merlin replied abruptly. "Where's Moira?"

"I'm not really certain. With her parents, I expect. One or the other?"

"What do you mean?"

"They're separated and both travel a lot. Her father has not reacted well to her... illness and has taken her to every specialist possible in an attempt to cure her."

"What?" Merlin said. "She doesn't need doctors, she just needs to be listened to."

"I know, but Euan's a very stubborn man."

Merlin frowned. "Who is he? What does he do?"

"He's a minister. Tipped to go far."

Merlin mind was now racing. "Guy, I really need to meet this family. I think they're important somehow."

"Well, I can talk to my sister and see if she'll allow it. She's not entirely happy with Euan's ideas for their daughter, but she's a busy minister herself and ended up taking the path of least resistance."

"Your sister?" Merlin asked, trying to remember the connections. "You come from a fairly large family, if I recall."

"Yes, and Natalie's the youngest – she was just a baby when I graduated."

Merlin nodded. "Could you try and arrange it then? I believe it's vitally important I meet the child for myself."

~o~0~o~

When Merlin turned up at the address Gaius had given him, it was to be greeted instantly by two souls he knew very well. The pretty, dark haired lady and slightly older man were in the front room when he entered, both looking at him very suspiciously.

"Exactly who are you?" Uther said. "And why did you want to see Moira?"

"I am Guy's college lecturer and a specialist in ancient languages," Merlin replied. "And I thought perhaps I could help. Discover what it is you daughter's actually saying?"

"Then I'm afraid you've had a wasted journey," Uther said abruptly. "We have found a much better solution for our daughter's condition."

"We should at least hear him out," Nimueh said. "You know she's not happy since starting her treatment."

"And she was happy before? No, this is the best course of action and I'd rather have strangers keep out of our business."

"Please, Euan, let him at least meet the girl," Gaius said. "I assure you he has my total trust."

"That assumes that you have my total trust, Guy."

"Euan! Do not speak to my brother so."

"I speak as I find."

Merlin suddenly sensed a magical pull from behind him and turned to see the little girl, Moira, standing at the doorway and staring at him intently. He gasped as he instantly recognised the soul behind those green eyes. It was Morgana.

"I thought we told you to stay in your room," Uther said to this daughter.

"But I wanted to see the scary sorcerer," she complained with a pout.

"What?" Nimueh asked.

"Him!" She pointed at Merlin with a glare. "She doesn't like him."

Merlin couldn't help but chuckle at the comment. The original Morgana of course had always been terrified of Emrys and he was now close enough in age and looks to that old man for the little girl to see a resemblance.

"What have we and your therapists told you, Moira?" Uther said "You are to forget your strange dreams and focus on the real world."

"I'm very sorry, Lord Emrys," Nimueh said. "She is usually far more polite to strangers."

"It's fine." He smiled at the little girl. "The beard does make me look a bit like Gandalf, doesn't it?"

Morgana shook her head with a glare. "More like Saruman," she declared.

"Ooh, you know that story, do you?" Merlin asked her.

"You've been letting her watch films about magic, Natalie?" Uther complained. "How is that going to help her get over this obsession with sorcerers and King Arthur?"

"That assumes I agree with you on her treatment." Nimueh retorted.

"Is this really the time?" Gaius complained.

"Good point. There, Lord Emrys, you've now seen the girl, but more than that I cannot allow."

Merlin nodded his head. "I understand, but if you ever change your mind...?"

Uther just gave a grunt as a reply and Merlin turned towards the door to leave. Morgana took one look at him and scurried back towards the stairs with a little squeak.

Making quite sure the other adults couldn't see, Merlin held out his empty hand towards the girl and, looking straight at her, cast a spell. She squeaked again but didn't run away, staring at his hand wide-eyed as a purple flower appeared there. Seeing the others were now following, he simply winked at the child and left the gift on the hall table.

As he turned to say a final farewell, he saw Morgana running back up the stairs, the flower now clutched firmly in her grasp.

~o~0~o~