Hello all reviewers who have remained faithful to this story, I love you all! Seriously, 21 reviews, and over a thousand hits! I feel like I'm going to cry, this is my Second most popular story, and the good stuff is coming soon, I have a chapter plan for this entire story. As long as I stick to the plan, this story will have10 chapters and an epilouge. Next chapter will involve the start of Mergana's development, and an appearance from the Great Dragon himself! You guys are so special, you get a write so dedicated that she has chapter plans.

Like I said last chapter, review even if it's only to tell me that you hate it, but tell me what you think, what you liked, and what made you hate it. I see reviews as a way to make an author's writing better, and that is what I ask you to use it for. I am a humble writer, at the mercy of you and your computers. Tell me what is bad, and I promise to at least try to fix it.

Now, on with the story!

Chapter 3

Merlin took a deep breath, and knocked on the door to the Lady Morgana's chambers. He didn't know why he agreed to this, it was stupid and reckless, and he was bound to get caught, but he agreed anyway. If he was found by the patrol with a spell book, en route to Morgana's chambers, he would be executed immediately. Times like these made him wonder how he was even alive.

His thoughts were interrupted when Morgana opened the door, and gestured for him to come inside quickly. Merlin obliged happily, and closed the door behind him. Morgana turned to face him, concern on her face. "I was worried you wouldn't show."

Merlin laughed lightly. "I always keep a promise." He set the book down and opened it to the first page. "Why don't we start with something simple? What's the most common thing that happens when your magic lashes out?"

Morgana took a deep breath and answered. "Well, sometimes I set something on fire, or something explodes."

Merlin nodded, "let's work on controlling the fire. That way, if it happens again, you can at least get it to the fireplace or something. So Uther doesn't suspect sorcery."

She nodded, the gravity of what she was doing coming down. "Alright, let's get started."

Merlin said, "Alright, if you want to do a spell, you have to concentrate. You can't let your emotions get in the way, otherwise it either won't work, or it will get out of control. If you let your magic run you, it will consume you, and Uther will get suspicious if another "freak accident" occurs."

Morgana nodded. "What's the spell?" she whispered, eager yet nervous.

Merlin held out his hand in a loose fist and whispered quietly, just loud enough for her to hear, "forbearne." His eyes flashed gold, and he uncapped his hand, revealing a small flame, barely the size of those on candles. Morgana's eyes light up and Merlin understood that she too had felt the presence of magic that had rushed through the room, into his hand. He held the flame for a few seconds, and then released the magic that held it there, letting it vanish. "Now you try."

Morgana gulped, and whispered the spell carefully, but nothing happened. So she tried again. And again. And yet nothing ever happened.

"Why isn't it working?" her frustration overflowed and her eyes flashed gold. The wardrobe doors opened and closed quickly, flapping like wings. A quick muttering from Merlin, and a flash of gold, and the doors ceased to move. The two stood still, waiting for someone to investigate the noise, but no one did. A sigh of relief was released from them at the same time, and the tension was released as well.

Morgana looked up at Merlin. "Why can't I do this?"

Merlin smiled softly at her and explained. "You're not concentrating on the magic. You're concentrating on the words. There is a huge difference. You have to find the magic that is inside you, and call it up. Close your eyes, and think. Where do you feel your magic gather?"

Morgana di as he asked. "My chest."

"Good. Now follow the stream of magic to its core. Can you feel where it is strongest?"

"Yeah." By now Morgana's voice sounded faraway, as if she were in a dream, and if where her magic was placed was the reality.

Merlin stood behind her, and placed his hands on her shoulders, bringing his mouth down to by her ear. "Now try." He breathed the words barely there. His warm breath coated her shoulder, sending shivers down Morgana's spine, and giving her the strength to try.

"Forbearne" this time, the spell worked, and a little flame appeared in her hand, and stayed for a few short seconds before disappearing. Morgana felt a smile creep onto her face, and she turned her face around to face Merlin. A grin was present on his face too, as well as pride. Pride in his student for performing the spell. Pride in him for teaching her.

"That was good. Really good actually, I almost didn't think you were going to get it, that one took me hours to master."

Morgana felt her smile widen, and teased, "oh, so the student does it better than the master? That's how things work these days, because I'm sure it's not like that."

A deep blush was brought to Merlin's cheeks, and he retorted quickly, "hey, I taught myself. You have an advantage here. You actually have someone to tell you the tools of the trade. Now come on, try it again."

Morgana tried it again, and this time it lasted about ten seconds before flickering out into oblivion. Morgana grinned wider still, and Merlin's did the same. She practiced for hours, getting better each time. Eventually, after around three hours, she perfected the spell. She had a small flame hovering around her hand for an hour as she and Merlin talked about magic, the theory, some other simple spells for her to try, until he told her to let it go. She let it go, and Merlin suggested that they try a simple levitation spell. Merlin had to look it up, because he never had the need for such spells, seeing as that was the sort of thing he could do mentally.

"Hebban" with those words, the smooth, azure waves of Merlin's eyes flashed a bright gold, like the sun. A delicate flower that had been sitting on the side table slowly moved upwards, and was placed into Morgana's hands. She smiled softly, at the gift before casing her room, looking for objects that she could levitate. Her pale green eyes soon settled on a simple red ribbon that had been used to secure her hair that night at dinner. Morgana focused on it, and did as Merlin had said earlier, bringing her magic to the surface before whispering the spell calmly, grinning as the ribbon floated up into the air, and closing her eyes as she willed the ribbon over, smiling harder when it paused in front of her, and she turned to look at Merlin, who was smiling right along with her. He leaned forward, going closer and closer until he was only an inch from her face.

"It's getting late, I should go." Merlin spoke softly, sounding regretful. Morgana dipped her head, turned around fully, and smiled gracefully.

"Thank you Merlin. I owe you a lot. Knowing that I'm not alone here, that I've got a kindred spirit, well, it means a lot."

Merlin grinned playfully, and teased, "hey, not quite a kindred spirit." Morgana glanced up at him, puzzled, and showing it. "Uther will hesitate to execute you, me he'll just call for the executioner and behead me if I get discovered."

"Well, let's just pray that he doesn't find out."

"Yeah." Merlin looked around the room, and asked, "Hey, can I stash my book in here? I mean, with the guard, and if I'm seen carrying a book every night to your room, it's going to look suspicious."

"Sure. There's a secret passage that goes from my room to the north tower, we can hide it somewhere in there."

"Thanks. I just don't want to take chances. I mean, I can try to pick out the spells beforehand, but there's no guarantee that I will remember them perfectly. I mean, one syllable wrong, and you've got a broken stone dog instead of a live one."

Morgana laughed quietly, and said, "Maybe you better get going now."

"Yeah." Merlin started toward the door, and turned once there, and bowed his head slightly, and bid her goodnight. She bid him the same, and ensured that he would return the following night. Merlin left, and got back to his own chambers without trouble, thanking the gods of the Old Religion all the way.

When the two were both in their beds, deep beneath the castle, the Great Dragon smiled. The prophecy of Emrys and Morgaine was being fulfilled, and in the morning, he was going to ask the ward of the king to pay him a visit. It was time that she heard her own path for life, whether or not she liked it.