Back to the hovel.
Hope you have a good valentines day. I had hope to hunt down Colin and Bradley so that I could have a valentines but that did happen.
:)
Enjoy
Tests
Merlin woke up and shock his head. For a moment he forgot where he was.
He sat up and looked around the hovel.
It was small and only a little of the morning sun was filtering into the room.
Merlin had slept in what he would call the dining area while Morgana had taken herself off to her bedroom.
Morgana had instructed Agravaine to tell Arthur that he had sent me on a task for him and wouldn't be back for a number of days. Merlin didn't know how Arthur would take it but that wasn't really his problem for the moment.
However Merlin thought that Arthur would be stupid to believe his Uncle.
Merlin heard shuffling in Morgana's room and hoped that it was her coming out.
When the shuffling noise was still happening after a few minutes he went over to see what was the matter was.
Morgana was tossing and turning as she dreamt.
Merlin stood there for a while and just watched her, not knowing whether to wake her or not.
"Mistress." Merlin said shaking her slightly. "Morgana."
At that point, Morgana sat up, wide away and breathing heavily.
Merlin knelt down beside her. "Morgana are you alright?"
Morgana turned to Merlin and threw her arms around his shoulders.
Merlin returned the embrace and started to stroke her back as she started to calm down.
"I have to find Emrys, Merlin. Please remember soon." She whispered to him.
Merlin carried on holding her until she pulled away herself.
"Would you like some breakfast?" Merlin said to her, standing up.
Morgana looked up at the man. He hadn't changed much and Morgana didn't mind that. Until it reminded her that this was what he was like before he poisoned her. She wished to send him away or even give him a taste of his own medicine but Morgana just found herself craving his friendly touches and attitude.
"I am sure there is some bread on the table that we can share." Morgana said getting up.
Merlin fell in step with her as she left her bed chamber.
They ate in silence.
Morgana was thinking of ways in which she could test Merlin. She mainly had to test his loyalty to her, not his strength or capabilities with a sword or weapon as she knew that had had little of both.
Merlin was thinking of how Morgana was going to test him. He knew that he would have to come up with the right answers.
"Who is the enemy?" Morgana said after a while.
"Arthur and anyone that condemns your kind." Merlin said. He had felt his soul just get darker and wanted to change that but he couldn't.
"Who is your enemy?" Morgana said.
"My enemies are your enemies." Merlin replied but he felt some familiarity with the words he said.
"Why are you serving me Merlin? You have always been loyal to Arthur." Morgana said getting up. She couldn't believe his answers. Even if she would have loved him on her side, she thought that he would give up more of a fight.
"Because that is where my calling is. You are my mistress and I will server you for eternity. Arthur has done so many things to you, why would I want to be loyal to a man like him?"
"You're asking me." Morgana muttered in defeat. The book had told her what he had said.
She dropped back into her seat. She had no idea why she was feeling like this. She should be happy that she has got the clumsy manservant's loyalty but it just felt wrong. After everything that had happened to her, she would have thought that she would have loved having one of her old friends at her side.
Arthur took Gwen off me, why can't I have Merlin? I deserve to have some on and to be happy.
Yet it just didn't seem right. Everything that had happened to her was a result of Merlin pushing me away.
Why should I trust someone who betrayed me with poison?
Merlin's soul started to feel darker and darker.
He had to please Morgana but when he did, she didn't seem to like the answers.
Its wasn't want she wanted but it's what I have felt since I came to here. This growing hatred for Arthur is me but it was hard not to have. After all that him and his father did to her kind, they deserve some justice.
Merlin shook his head. Where were these thoughts coming from?
"Why were you so loyal to Arthur then?" Morgana sneered at him. "Why did you do everything you have done to me if you felt the same as me? You betrayed me badly when you slid the poison down my throat."
Merlin went wide eyed. "I poisoned you? Mistress why would I do such a thing to you?"
Merlin's head spun round so fast that he fell of the chair that he was sitting on.
Morgana picked him up by the collar of his jacket. "You have the courage to ask me that. If I knew why would I ask you."
Merlin wanted to nurse the cheek that she had slapped, but thought better of it. It was stinging so hard that Merlin knew it was red.
"I am sorry if I have upset you. I still don't have all my memories but I know that I wouldn't have done it without reason. Why would I betray you Morgana? I was glad that you treated me as an equal rather than just another servant."
Morgana let go of his jacket so that Merlin fell to his knees. "And I was glad that you didn't just see me as a piece of furniture. You treated me like I was your equal."
Morgana pulled Merlin's head so that it rested on her stomach.
"I am sorry Merlin. I acted rashly."
Merlin wrapped his arms around her hips.
"I probably deserved it anyway."
Morgana didn't reply. She knew that he did but he seemed as though he was a shell of his former self. Morgana loved the Merlin that he was, not this one.
However here in the hovel, they had come in agreement with not only each other but themselves.
Morgana walked around the forest.
She had to get away from Merlin for a while.
They both needed to think over what happened.
She would forgive him but she could never forget that he had betrayed her. Yet he was the only one to understand her when she needed it most.
She couldn't go to Arthur or Uther with her suspicions of magic. They would have called her crazy as Gaius did.
She enjoyed Merlin's company and she had forgot what it was to have someone else's presence there. Someone there with her for more than a few hours.
Morgana had a feeling that Emrys was getting closer and her dream didn't help her suspicions either.
She was tried of tiptoeing everywhere, not know whether there would be a knight or a bandit around the corner.
Once she was Queen, it would be Arthur that would have to tiptoe everywhere. Because if he escapes this time, he would always have to be watching his back because Morgana wouldn't rest until he was found.
Agravaine walked back in that evening to see Merlin and Morgana looking over the map.
Morgana head was leaning slightly on Merlin's shoulder.
Agravaine cleared his throat, making the two young adults jump.
"You're back." Morgana said, moving away from Merlin slightly.
"Of course." Agravaine looked over at Merlin, who had made himself look like he was too deep in thought to be listening.
"How was he?"
Morgana tried not to look at the man next to her but failed. "Merlin was fine. We sorted a few things out but I think he can help with our little plan."
Merlin looked up from the map. "I will help you make sure no one suspects that Gaius has been kidnapped. Obviously I will try and say otherwise but I will be on your side all the time. After a while I will just disappear, more than likely saying that I am going to search for him, and will join Morgana with the Catha."
Agravaine looked shocked. "Well you have planned a lot in the short amount of time."
Morgana looked back at the older man. "Of course we have had all day together. Did my brother believe your lies?"
"Of course he did." Agravaine boasted. "He did ask why Merlin would do an errand for me but I said that I needed some of his skills."
"Well luckily you won't have to lie to him any more. Merlin will be trying to get himself out of Camelot from now on." Morgana said turning to Merlin, looking at him affectionately.
Agravaine felt a twinge of jealously. You have betrayed her and got more from her than I have. You wait and see. I will get her in the end.
"The only problem we have is that the Catha will want something from their troubles, especially if it means coming into Camelot." Merlin said.
Morgana placed her head on his shoulder. "Don't worry Merlin, I have that sorted."
