Chapter Three: Not A Date

Friday Afternoon

Once he'd made a few more adjustments to her Gauntlet, Gaius allowed Morgana to get on with her work, although he did regularly interrupt her to ask her how she felt.

This afternoon she was taking an inventory of all Camelot's Gauntlets in their various stages of manufacture. She counted how many bare bracelets, half-finished and complete models were currently here under lock and key and compared the figures to last month's.

"Well?" Gaius asked her later.

"We appear to be two short."

"Perhaps you should recount, just to be certain."

She rolled her eyes. "I have – twice. Perhaps the mistake was made last month?"

"Such a small number is indeed likely to be human error," Gaius said. "But you know Uther will not see it that way. Not after yesterday's incident."

She sighed. "I should count them again then?"

"No, that's fine. You get off. I'm sure a young lady like you has better things to do on a Friday evening."

"I wish," she mumbled as she collected up her belongings.

She was just about to leave the laboratory when Merlin walked in, rather out of breath, looking as if he'd just sprinted across the building.

"Gaius, I was just wondering... Oh, hello, Morgana, you're still here. Good."

"You were looking for me?" she asked.

"Well for both of you really. I thought you might like to go out for a drink."

She raised an eyebrow. "The three of us?"

"What?" He frowned at her, confused, before belatedly catching on. "Oh no, I see what you mean." He laughed nervously. "No, I'm here to see Gaius about... something else. It was you I wanted to go out with."

She raised an eyebrow. "Go out with?"

"Ah..." His cheeks turned a sudden bright pink. "Yes?"

"Are you sure that's wise, Morgana," Gaius interrupted, his gaze not leaving the screen in front of him. "You know... considering your... issues."

Having just decided to turn Merlin down, this comment inevitably had Morgana change her mind. "I refuse to lock myself up in my room simply because you can't figure my Gauntlet out, Gaius," she snapped. "I already feel enough of a prisoner as it is."

"That's not really what I-"

"I'd love to go out for a drink with you, Merlin," she answered brightly. "How about tonight?"

"Ah yes... that was what I'd hoped you'd say. I thought the Red Lion hotel? It's quite nice there but... casual, you know, and so..."

"Sounds great." She smiled at him. "I'll see you there at eight."

And, with barely a backwards glance, Morgana continued her journey out of the laboratory.

"Bother," she mumbled under her breath. She really hadn't meant to say yes and it was only now that she remembered the other reason why she'd promised herself not to get involved with Merlin. Gwen. With a big sigh, she sent her friend a quick text message and waited for her in the entrance hall.

"Hello, Morgana, what is it?" her friend asked.

"I think I may have made a mistake," she said.

"What? Do you need me to stay late and fix something."

"No, not that sort of mistake. You can get off home and enjoy your weekend."

"Well I've still got some work to do yet but... what was it then?"

"Merlin asked me out."

A very brief look of disappointment was just as quickly hidden by a bright smile. "Oh, he did? Well, I can't say I'm surprised. He could hardly take his eyes off you last night."

"I noticed. I also noticed that you were much the same with him."

She shrugged. "He's really sweet and... well, I've dropped enough hints these last few weeks, but I really don't think he likes me in that way."

"It's just... I said yes without really thinking. I'm not even sure why I did, to be honest. But, you see, Gaius was being a nuisance and-"

"-Morgana, it's fine," Gwen interrupted with a smile. "It was quite obvious how he feels about you. Go out and enjoy yourself. As you said last night, you need all the distractions you can get right now."

"That's true and, despite Gaius' concerns, I doubt I've really got anything to worry about."

She frowned. "Worry about?"

"Well, you see, so far, my Gauntlet has only malfunctioned when I've been especially emotional. At first the nightmares and more recently if I got really angry."

"Ah, I see?"

"And it's also over-reacted if I get... excited in other ways. So Gaius was concerned by the fact that Merlin and I might be going on a… romantic date."

"Ah, and you're not?"

She scoffed. "Hardly."

"Well, your loss," Gwen continued with a grin. "But he does make an excellent friend and he's a really good listener so I suppose that'll be good for you anyway."

"Maybe, but then I have you for that."

She smiled again. "Just have a nice evening, Morgana and don't worry about me."

"Thank you, Gwen. You really are a very good friend."

"Just remember that when you're deciding on my Christmas bonus," she quipped as she turned and headed back to her office.

Morgana laughed and headed out of the office to get ready for her... date? She shook her head and sighed.

'Honestly. What was I thinking?'

Friday Evening

A hotel bar was a good choice, she realised. Just a little more classy than a typical pub but not as formal as a cinema or restaurant might be. It meant she could simply wear her favourite black jeans with a loose-fitting, dark top and not concern herself too much with colours.

She sighed as the Gauntlet caught the light and flashed its obnoxious green.

"Yeah, why don't you just advertise my magic to everyone," she mumbled.

"Hello, Morgana. I'm not too late, am I?"

"Hi, Merlin. No, I only arrived five minutes ago myself. I got myself a drink, I hope you don't mind."

He simply grinned, in lieu of a reply, before heading to the bar to get his own and then returning to sit opposite her, still smiling. "You look lovely," he declared.

She shook her head. "Don't waste your breath, Merlin. I'm just out with you as a friend. No need to try to impress."

He looked confused and perhaps a little hurt. "I was only telling the truth. You do look lovely, but then you always do."

She shook her head and then winced as her Gauntlet buzzed again.

"Tell me about that," he said suddenly. "What's the deal?"

For some strange reason, she found herself answering his question with none of her usual reticence about the subject.

"I was assigned Red when I was five," she began. "As none of the tests could detect the slightest bit of magic in me. Then, around the age of thirteen, I started to have these really bad dreams. At first no-one thought it had anything to do with magic, but it wasn't long before I'd be woken up by a loud bang to find that none of the lights were working."

Merlin nodded. "You did have magic and it broke through your Gauntlet and short-circuited everything in the room?"

"Yes, that tends to be my 'thing'."

He nodded again. "That's not unusual. Although it is unusual for the magic not to have been picked up before."

"Yes. It was strong enough to push through the Red setting and then, a few years later, it did exactly the same thing with the Yellow." She looked up at him with a smile. "But you're Red, so you don't have to worry about such things."

"My tests showed no indication of magic either," he replied without looking at her. "None at all."

"Any history within your family?"

"Actually, yes."

"Really? That usually means you'll end up Yellow."

"Like Gwen, yes. But it doesn't appear to be showing in me."

"Well, count yourself lucky."

"Perhaps. Still, as you and Arthur know, the Gauntlets are not one hundred percent accurate. They miss a few people and misdiagnose a number of others."

"Yes," Morgana agreed. "That's the main thing I'm working on with Gaius, in fact. Trying to make them more reliable."

"Yes, he's called me in for tests too."

"He has? Why?"

Merlin shrugged. "To see why I'm not showing my father's magic."

"Oh. Was he strong?"

"Very strong. He registered as Blue – the same as Gaius."

"Really?"

Merlin grinned. "Interesting, isn't it?"

"But you seem so relaxed about it." She held up her right wrist. "What's your opinion on these?"

He frowned. "I believe better ways could be found. I think the Gauntlets can actually be dangerous for some people."

"Really?"

She had quickly forgotten any awkwardness about this supposed date and how she or Gwen felt about Merlin. Now she was totally engrossed in this conversation and was certain there was very much more going on than appeared on the surface. She replayed some of his comments again, wondering what it was she'd missed.

"So, where is your father now?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Missing."

"He didn't co-operate with the authorities?"

Merlin's mood had changed. He was masking it well but she could see some tension had appeared – could hear it in his voice. "I believe he didn't like the offer that was made to him."

"And?"

He shrugged and didn't reply, changing the subject instead. "So, you keep fiddling with that Gauntlet of yours. Why?"

"It itches."

"Not supposed to do that though, is it?"

"No."

"Can I take a look?"

"You? What would you know about it?"

He smiled slightly, holding out his hand and, without thinking about it, Morgana offered him her wrist.

"One theory is that some people have magic which is... different," Merlin said as he rolled the Gauntlet around her wrist and studied it intently. "So they register as having no magic when it's quite obvious that they have plenty."

"Yes," she replied. "That describes my situation very well. I definitely have used magic – albeit subconsciously."

"And has Gaius tried to teach you how to use it properly?"

"Yes, but I've not been able to do anything on demand."

Merlin nodded. "That doesn't surprise me."

"What are you saying?" she asked, leaning forwards even more. "What do you know?"

"A few things. I have some... friends who could perhaps help."

Her eyes widened. "Friends?"

"Another drink?" he replied, rather too quickly, letting go of her wrist as if it were hot.

"Yes please." She paused, her mind racing as she wondered how far she could push this. "I'll have vodka and apple juice please."

He stopped and stared at her, his expression wary. "Apple?"

"Yes, please," she replied, brightly.

He looked at her for a few more seconds before turning towards the bar and Morgana smirked. Yes, that had done it. He'd definitely reacted to that word.

"So, talking of apples..." she said a few minutes later as he put the drink in front of her.

"Y-yes?"

"I wondered if you'd heard anything about this Eden group? I mean, something more than the rumours Uther's putting about."

"And you're curious because... you've not had the best of experiences in that regard?"

"Yes, and because I'd hardly get a balance view from inside Camelot."

He nodded. "Although this is a dangerous conversation to be having at the moment."

"Perhaps, although I don't think there's any problem with talking about such things... hypothetically."

His lips twitched. "Hypothetically. I see."

"What other system do they have set up?" she asked enthusiastically, taking his pause as permission to continue.

"From what I've heard, it's more a matter of learning to control ones magic yourself, without the need for a Gauntlet."

"Really? Isn't that dangerous?"

He shook his head. "Not with the right training."

"And who gives this training?" she pushed. "It would have to be a powerful sorcerer, yes?"

"More than one... I understand."

"And Uther's theory about spies within Camelot?"

Merlin only reply was to scoff. Of course, if there were people like him around - spies with no magic - then they weren't in any real danger and could simply pass information back to the group. Morgana was now dying to ask exactly what his role was in all this, but knew it wasn't a good idea. Anyway, she was fairly certain she had her answer already. It seemed obvious to her that Merlin was part of this group in one way or another and she was determined to find out as much as she could. Perhaps Eden's sorcerers could help her in ways that Gaius had not been able to.

They lapsed into silence for a while and Morgana was convinced it was the end of the dangerous conversation, but apparently Merlin had simply been contemplating whether or not to continue.

"Do you know what happens to sorcerers who refuse to wear a Gauntlet?" He asked the question so quietly it was almost a whisper.

"They are immediately considered criminals," she answered promptly. "And, if caught, are made to wear a Purple setting."

"And do you know what that does to most sorcerers?"

"Nothing good. Dizzy if they're lucky, but sometimes it can make them really sleepy - almost comatose."

"And there is talk of magical prisoners being kept in Camelot itself, rather than the prison next door."

"Yes," she answered, with no hesitation or concern about confirming the rumour. "All of them powerful sorcerers who have been caught using magic deliberately and who couldn't be controlled conventionally."

"No, not all of them," he disagreed. "Some are simply Red or Yellow, or members of Eden who have refused to wear the Gauntlet for one reason or another, even if they have negligible magic."

She frowned at that. "I do know Gaius is also looking into the negative effects of the Purple setting. He's trying to improve that too."

"I'm sure he is. The death rate is quite unacceptable."

"Death rate?" She almost shouted the question.

"Shh... yes. Uther likes to keep that one quiet, of course."

She fingered her Gauntlet nervously. "What about the lower settings?"

He nodded. "A Green or Blue setting can be a problem if put on certain Red or Yellows. It's not always guaranteed, of course, but that's only because of the same reason they can't assess you. Not everyone's magic is the same and not everyone's magic is accurately measurable."

"But..." About three questions appeared in Morgana's head at the same time and she was struggling to decide which one to ask.

"Perhaps we should change the subject," Merlin said. "Date or not, we really should try to have more fun than this on a Friday night, don't you think?"

She nodded, thinking she had more than enough information for the time being. "Better make the next drink a double then."

~o~0~o~