Something about Mergana always makes me a little angsty. I'm sure you can see that reflected in this chapter. It's a little sexy, but I thought our young lovers needed a little taste of destiny and reality. Enjoy!

Chapter 10

He found a way.

Or rather, he found a way to elude Gaius and to walk to Morgana's room unseen. Easier said than done after Uther's beefed up security.

He softly tapped on the door and within moments, the door opened to reveal her lovely face. It was like déjà vu-her face on the other side of the door. It hadn't been that long since he was here, only his purpose had been different last time. He'd been desperate then. Anxious to know how she was doing after such an ordeal with the druids.

And he had needed to be near her. That hadn't changed.

This time when she opened the door, she wasn't frightened. Her eyes were hazy with lust and a soft and sensual smile curved her lips.

He opened his mouth to say something but before he could utter a syllable, Morgana grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him inside. She pressed him up against door-every womanly inch of her pressed right up against him.

Still shocked at the quick movements and swift kick of lust, his mouth was still open as if to speak. She took full advantage and immediately covered his mouth with hers, thrusting her tongue possessively in. He moaned as the taste of her filled his senses and fired his blood once again. His hands slid to her neck, brushing his thumbs against her silky skin and bringing her mouth closer. She moaned, his fingers playing over the vibrations.

She tore her lips away to press delicious kisses against his cheeks, his jaw and she whispered, "I missed you."

"You saw me at dinner," he whispered back, his hands skimming down her tiny waist to rest on her hips.

"It's not quite the same. Besides, it's not as if I could do this," she said huskily as she tugged his tender earlobe with her teeth. He gasped.

"Indeed. I believe that ravishing Camelot's servants during dinner would be most unladylike," he said, chuckling. Feeling bold, he cupped her bottom in his hands, pressing her pelvis into his until she moaned.

"Definitely," she said and he pulled her back to his lips, eager for more of her sweet mouth.

They didn't speak for several more minutes. Moans and groans of pleasure the only sounds that escaped their occupied lips. For Merlin, it was heavenly. He was kissing the woman he loved, giving her pleasure…and it was perfect.

He thought about ripping off her lovely and very thin nightgown and flinging her on the bed. And from the way her hands grasped his chest and her hips sought his, he didn't think she'd mind. But when her cool fingers touched his taut stomach, he knew they needed to stop. Everything was happening fast. Too fast.

He pushed her shoulders away gently and said, "Morgana, we need to talk."

"Not now," she said, already trying to pull his head down for a kiss.

"Yes, now. There's much to be said and even the temptation of your lips won't make me forget," he said, trying to sound stern.

Running her hand down the center of his chest to the middle of his stomach, she said, "What about the temptation of my hands?"

He was stunned. When had she become such a temptress? And why the hell hadn't he noticed before?

Grabbing her hand before it could go down any further and make a mockery of his words, he said, "Yes, sweetheart, even your hands. There's much to discuss."

He led her to the bed and she sat herself down. Temptingly, of course, leaning back on her arms and thrusting her half exposed breasts upwards. She never did play fair, but they needed to talk.

He tore his eyes away from the creamy skin and turned to pace…this needed to be done. It wasn't just society between them. It wasn't the mere rules of propriety and Camelot's blasted hierarchy which would keep them apart. There was much more.

Much, much more. And she deserved to know.

He stopped pacing and turned to look her right in the eye, "I've lied to you. Well, I've lied a number of different times. Every day even, every night when I brought you a tonic for sleep. And that night in Gauis's chambers and every moment since." Agitated, he began to pace again. This was difficult. More difficult than he imagined it would be.

A puzzled frown came on her face. "Merlin, you're not making sense. You've lied about my tonic?"

He stopped and fixed he with a sad gaze, "You're not the only one with magic." He paused and sighed, "I do too."

"What do you mean you have magic?" she said, dumbfounded, disbelieving.

Instead of answering, he showed her. Concentrating on the lone candle in the corner, he whispered an easy spell and the fire sparked up, flaring to two feet high before it went out completely.

She didn't speak for several long moments and when he finally dared to look at her face she looked wounded. Hollow.

Then she said angrily, "That night when I came to you? When I needed you, you lied to me?"

"Yes," he said tonelessly.

"Why? Why wouldn't you tell me? Why would you keep my power a secret? Why would you keep yours a secret from me?"

"It's complicated."

"I'm a smart girl, I think I can keep up."

"I know, I know. It's just…I'm not supposed to tell anyone."

"So no one else knows about you?"

"Well….Gaius knows. And my mother. And…well, Lancelot."

"Lancelot? So some random knight comes into town and you decide to tell him, but not me? Not even me, knowing how alone I've been? Knowing how difficult this has been for me, as Uther's ward?"

"It wasn't like that, I swear."

"Then why? Why couldn't you tell me? What prevented you?"

He gave a long sigh and said almost pitifully, "Your destiny and mine, they're intertwined."

"Intertwined how?"

"I'm supposed to help Arthur unite Albion and bring magic back to Camelot. You….you…well, you're supposed…"

"I'm what? Tell me, Merlin. I deserve to know."

"You're supposed to betray Arthur and Camelot. You're to be my enemy."

She didn't speak for a full minute. "Who told you this? Who has such knowledge?"

"The Great Dragon. He sees the future or at least snippets of it."

"So you think I'm evil?" she said, wounded.

"What? No, of course not. I've told him many times that he's wrong. That you have a good heart, that you're loyal and kind."

"Yet you still heeded his advice. He told you not to help me with my magic or to tell me about yours, right?"

"No…yes…maybe. Ok, yes, he said that. But….my magic is an enormous secret. I have to keep it safe. I barely trust anyone with it." He knelt in front of her, taking her hands,

"Do you know how hard it was for me to keep it from you that night? How many times I've cursed myself for not running after you? For not telling you right then that you weren't alone. Don't you understand? I love you. I'm sorry I've lied. It was necessary at the time but…I don't want to lie anymore. Not to you."

"So you love me, but you don't trust me?"

"Of course I trust you."

"So you're not the least bit worried that I'll betray Arthur and Camelot?"

He hesitated for a moment too long and she tore her hands away. She rolled to her side with her back facing him. "I think you should leave."

"Morgana, please, you have to listen to me-"

"Leave, Merlin. Don't make me get the guards."

That sufficiently silenced him.

He walked to the door with heavy steps. This wasn't how he wanted it to go. He hadn't meant to make her question his faith in her. She was good and pure, but impulsive. That was something he loved about her, something that made her so unique. But it did worry him from time to time. Maybe she wouldn't betray Camelot all at one, but one act of defiance might follow another and down the rabbit hole she went, destiny fulfilled.

But in his heart he knew that wouldn't happen. That the two of them could always find a way to make things work. That with him she would never be alone, never need to rely on others to make Camelot the place they dreamed.

He should've said that.

He cracked open the door and turned to leave, "I love you, Morgana. I've always had faith in you and I always will. Always."

And then he left.

FINIS

Please review! Aww, their first fight.

Me thinks a "make up" moment might be in the works for next chapter….

what say you, readers?