Chapter 12: Testing The Shields

Saturday Evening

"Well?" Morgana asked when Merlin arrived back at the house at around six.

"We're in the clear," he replied with a shrug, heading towards the kitchen to grab a drink. "As we suspected, the systems show nothing out of the ordinary."

"That's good then."

"Hmm."

"What?"

He switched on the kettle and jumped up onto the tall counter stool with a sigh. "Leon was suggesting an upgrade."

"An upgrade? To what?"

"The security locks. So we'd know who had accessed them and at what time."

She winced. "Oh. That could be a problem."

"Yeah. Uther seemed strangely reluctant though, as if not even thinking that someone high up in the system could be involved, which doesn't make any sense."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because he's the one who's been talking about spies within Camelot all this time."

Morgana laughed brightly. "Only the servants though."

"That what? Servants?"

"Yeah, the slobs, the lowly employees." She smirked. "People like you. Only people like me have those passes. People he knows: Family, friends of the family and his private school buddies."

"Seriously? Class elitism, in this day and age?"

"Of course. I thought you understood that. You were the one commenting on how no-one would suspect you. That's not just because you look... unremarkable..."

"Thanks," Merlin mumbled.

"... but because you're a PA. That's why Uther barely notices you, because of your class, nothing else."

Merlin looked offended. "I'd hardly describe myself as lower class."

"Really? Have you traced your family tree?"

"Well yes, I supposed, if you go way back they were all..."

"Farmers, servants, factory workers. I know it's wrong, Merlin. I know it doesn't seem to make any sense in this day and age, but Uther's like that – old fashioned – and so yes, that's why he's dismissing Leon's suggestion. He just can't believe that those he's given high level security passes to could possibly betray him."

Merlin shook his head as he poured the boiling water into two mugs and gave them a stir before handing one over to Morgana.

"Well, unfortunately, he's not completely dismissed the suggestion. Arthur and Gaius backed Leon up and so, yes, it is being considered."

"And, if it does happen?" she asked.

He shrugged. "We'd have to do what I did last week. Somehow work it together during office hours."

"That could be tricky."

"Yeah." He sighed and took a swig of coffee. "I'll worry about it if and when it happens. Right now though we need to prepare to get Gilly out of there."

Morgana smiled brightly. "She's definitely next on the list then?"

He nodded. "We usually focus on the most vulnerable. The younger ones, obviously, but those with the strongest magic too."

She nodded. "Because they'll be of more use to Eden?"

He frowned. "No, not really. Mostly because the Purple Gauntlets effect them more."

"Oh."

"As much as we might hate leaving those less powerful down there for a long time, they're not really suffering that much. In most cases they're just dozing and not really aware of their surroundings. However, those with strong magic are often in genuine pain, as you saw and heard for yourself. Those people are our priority along with the ones who aren't so strong physically; the very young and old, for example."

She sighed. "There has to be a better way, though. A way to get them all out?"

"You ask that now? Now, when you've seen how hard it was to free just one?"

"But if you had more people. One, big attack?"

He shook his head. "Not now. We're not ready."

"But..."

"We have to go slowly, Morgana. If we're exposed, if I'm found out especially, then we're back to square one. At least this way we can make some difference, no matter how small."

"But you are thinking about it, yes?" she pushed. "Eden is making plans?"

He frowned. "There's always talk, but it's not that easy to come to an agreement. You and I are proof enough of that. Come, the only chance of ever doing more is for you to gain more control of your magic so, let's get on with the lessons. We need to work on your subtlety so you can turn the power back on by yourself and save us some time."

"Merlin!" She was starting to understand what he was getting at, but it didn't make her any less frustrated.

He smiled slightly at her exasperation. "I'll make a deal with you, then. Work on my tasks for..." He looked at the clock. "One hour and then, after that, I'll teach you how to conjure a personal light."

She brightened at the comment. "Like the blue one on your hand?"

"Yes. Do we have a deal?"

"Yes, of course. One hour." She nodded furiously and stood up. "Lead me to those marbles."

Saturday Night

"Have you checked your phone?" Merlin said with a grin, coming out of the bathroom in his pyjama bottoms as Morgana was getting into bed.

"Yes." She laughed, holding it up. "Gwen and Arthur sent me loads of texts earlier asking why I wasn't at the pub."

"Me too. "I notice the messages stop abruptly after eight though."

Morgana smirked. "I wonder why?"

He nodded, looking around the now sparsely furnished room critically before getting into bed next to her.

"You think we're all right to sleep in here now?" she asked.

"Perhaps but, if you're not too tired, I could do with your help making it even more secure."

"How?"

"I just think that the shield around this room will work even better if it's been created by both of us. Double the power to contain double the power?"

"Double?" she asked brightly.

He winced. "I was being polite."

"Yeah. I'm quite aware of how far I have to go." She couldn't help but sound bitter.

Merlin smiled gently at her, placing a hand on his arm. "Morgana, I've been consciously using magic for over twenty years. You've been at it for eight days. Cut yourself some slack."

She shrugged. "I know you're right."

"Good," Merlin said with a broad grin. "Tell Arthur that the next time you see him."

"What, that you're a sorcerer?"

"That I'm right!" he said, pretending to hit her on the arm for her cheek.

She nodded, smirking. "Arthur, the other night, Merlin said to tell you that he's always right... just before he shagged me senseless in his bed."

"Is that what you're expecting?"

"What I'm hoping certainly. If you think you're up for it?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Well, we will need to test out the shield once we've strengthened it and I can't think of a better way to do it."

"Good, good." She grinned. "Let's get on with it then."

He gaped at her. "Ah, the shield first."

She smirked. "That's what I was talking about."

~o~0~o~

"Don't stop!" she begged as, for some unfathomable reason, Merlin abruptly stopped making love to her, just as she was beginning to get nicely worked up.

"I've no intention of stopping," he said. "But you did say you wanted to lose all your senses."

"W-what?"

"We're changing position." He sat up on the bed and pulled her forwards, encouraging her towards him. "Sit up on my lap and we'll continue like that for a while."

"You're giving me orders now?"

"No, suggestions. Five minutes like this and we'll go for another position."

She arched an eyebrow. "You reckon you'll last that long?"

"Seeing how much spare magic I'm using right now, yes."

She smirked. "Oh... right... another challenge." She moved closer as he'd asked, curling her long legs around his hips. "Like this?"

"Yeah," he mumbled, capturing her lips with his, whilst wriggling into position. "Oh, yes..." That comment was a gasp of pleasure.

It was certainly interesting, allowing them get in some serious kissing and caressing in the process but, for some reason, it didn't feel quite right and it wasn't long before Morgana had pushed Merlin flat on his back, at right angles to the bed and begun quite aggressively riding him. Again, he allowed her to get seriously worked up before sitting back up and flipping her onto her back. Then he scrambled off the bed and pulled her ankles towards him.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Position four," he said, his voice now annoyingly steady.

"You're too tall," she decided as he stood up next to the bed and pulled her towards the edge.

"We'll see. I'll just use some more magic to support you necessary."

"Merlin!"

"Let's give it a try," he replied. "Your choice next, I promise."

~o~0~o~

"God, Merlin, what books have you been reading?" Morgana gasped, five positions later, now on her hands and knees on the bathroom floor.

"Just say the word and we can just go back to good old missionary position next door," he teased.

"Ah... no... that's fine," she gasped. "Best not to push the bedroom shield too much, as you said."

It had survived the first three positions perfectly well but, seeing how much both were pushing things, Merlin had decided it wasn't worth the risk and they'd moved in here to continue their fun and games with all the taps turned on.

"Are you getting sore yet?" he asked her as, all around them, the water swirled and splashed.

"No more than you. I can use magic too, you know?"

"Good, good."

"And there's no way you'd last this long without it."

He laughed. "I don't deny it."

"Let's really put that to the test, shall we?"

This time she was the one to pull away from him, turning and pushing him roughly onto his back, before straddling him the wrong way, whilst facing his feet. Then she leant down abruptly, took him into her mouth in one go and sucked hard.

"God, Morgana! A little warning next time?"

She didn't reply, simply repeating the move, this time adding her tongue to the attack. She wiggled herself backwards a bit, making sure she was in the optimal position; her head at his hips, and his at hers.

"Ying and yang," Merlin mumbled between gasps. "Good position choice, Morgana. Most interesting view."

"Stop talking, Merlin and find some other use for that tongue of yours."

She smirked at the slightly strangled sound he uttered as she went back on the attack and felt triumphant. It looked like she would be the one to bring this game to its conclusion, as it was obvious he was starting to lose his magical control and would definitely come before her. She used his distraction to deploy her own magic in her favour, giving him even more stimulation.

And it might just have worked, if Merlin hadn't chosen that moment to do exactly what she'd asked of him, using his tongue in much the same way as she was.

Morgana had no idea which of them finished first and therefore lost the game but, by that point, she was long past caring.

~o~0~o~

"Wake up, sleepyhead." Merlin was shaking her gently but also placing gentle kisses and the small bits of bare skin he could read. Morgana had somehow managed to bury herself well beneath the covers.

Actually, she was surprised to find herself in bed. She couldn't remember much after that last sixty-nine position on the bathroom floor. Served her right for mentioning 'shag' and 'senseless' in the same sentence to Merlin. She might have known he would have attempted to take her literally.

She went to sit up and groaned. "All right, now I am sore."

He laughed gently, kissing her shoulder. "I admit that I am too. Not complaining though. Last night was fun."

"Hmm. We do still need to actually test this bedroom properly though. As in a normal, non-magic session in here to see if the shield holds right to the end."

"Oh, all right." Merlin's expression suddenly turned innocent as he clambered over her and made to kneel in-between her legs. He smirked at her. "Ready?"

"What?" She pushed at him. "No, get off, Merlin. I know you couldn't handle it right now either." She saw his expression and shook his head. "Yes, I know we keep giving each other challenges but this time I'm serious." Then it was her turn to smirk. "Let's at least wait until this afternoon."

He grinned looking at the clock. "You know it's ten o'clock already?"

She shook his head. "Up you! Haven't we got planning to do?"

He turned suddenly more serious. "Yes. Yes we have."

"What about the extra security Leon was asking for?"

"It looks like Uther's considering the idea but, as far as I know, it should be just the same as before."

"What if they've added something without letting us know?"

"I'm certain they haven't. I've been able to get into most of the security meetings and Arthur tells me everything, anyway. I'm not sure how long that will last but I'm keen to take full advantage of it in the meantime."

"But what if they have added something new?"

"Then we'll just have to improvise," he replied, before holding a hand up to stop her next question. "Breakfast first, then we'll talk about the rescue in detail."

"But..."

"There's honestly no point in speculating about these things. We'll just have to take it all one step at a time and hope for the best."

~o~0~o~