One quick note before I begin: If anybody is wondering how the spell works (I'm not sure I explain it very good) it is almost exactly like the spell used on Tommy in Power Rangers when he becomes the Green Ranger. (Who would have thought Power Rangers could give someone an idea for a Merlin story? haha) So Merlin's mind belongs to and is completly controlled by Morgana. There is just one slight difference between the Tommy spell and the Merlin spell, but I'll save that for a few chapters after this. :P

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the little girl Amaya.

Chapter 3: My Queen

When his eyes opened, they flashed an electric red before fading back to blue.

A smile grew on Morgana's face as she drew her arms away from Merlin. She had seen the flash of red and from the vacant look on his face knew her spell had worked. She looked up at the sky and silently thanked her late sister for teaching her that spell. She looked back down at Merlin and took a step back.

"Merlin?" She said, not quite sure how to begin.

"Yes, my queen." Merlin's voice was slightly monotone. "How may I serve you?"

The smirk grew on her face. Never had she thought she would hear Merlin of all people calling her queen and asking how he could serve her. For the first time in a long time, a smile lit up her face as a new plan began to form in her mind. She waited a few moments to straighten her thoughts before answering Merlin's question.

"I want you to collect your herbs for Gaius and go back to Camelot." Merlin's face remained blank. "You will wait there for today and go about your business as always." Merlin nodded, his eyes flashing red as the orders filled his mind. "Tomorrow at midnight you will go to the front gate and dispatch the guards. Open the gate and set fire to the lower town. Don't let anybody see you, though. I don't want anybody to know that you have magic and are on my side until later. When I and my army arrive, I want you to make your way to me, while using your magic against the knights of Camelot. Is that understood?"

"Yes, my Queen." Merlin nodded, his eyes flashing again. "I will do as you command."

"Very good, Merlin." Morgana smirked. "Ei ryddhau."

Her eyes glowed gold and the ropes fell to the ground, but the enchanted warlock didn't make a move to escape or even to move forward. Morgana's smirk grew bigger at the knowledge that Merlin was completely under her control. She took a few steps backwards and waited a few moments.

"You are free to go." She announced.

Merlin nodded and stepped forward, before looking around, confusion breaking the blank look. He looked over at Morgana nervously before daring to speak to his queen.

"Excuse me, my Queen," He said slowly, "But where am I supposed to go?"

Morgana couldn't keep the smirk off her face as Merlin called her queen. She loved the sound of that title, especially when it was used for her. Yes, she could defiantly get use to this.

"I will send you back." She replied. "Remember, Merlin, tomorrow at midnight. Don't be late."

"I won't be, my Queen." Merlin replied, the blank look on his face disappearing and being replaced with one of determination. "I will not fail you."

"You better not." Morgana said coldly, remembering when Aggravaine had said something very similar. "Anfonwch Merlin yn ôl at ei geffyl."

Her eyes glowed gold and Merlin disappeared in a flash of golden light. The smirk grew as the light faded away and she felt her eyes fade back to normal. When she had woke that morning, she hadn't expected for such a good day. All she had been planning for the day was to spy on Camelot and instead she had stumbled upon Merlin in the woods, all alone and defenseless. The second she had spotted him a plan had formed in her mind. She planned on kidnapping him, torturing him, then leaving his dying body on Arthur's doorsteps.

But then those bandits had appeared and Merlin had used magic to defeat them. She still couldn't believe it, even though she had seen it with her own eyes. Clumsy, stupid, bumbling Merlin was a sorcerer. There was no doubt in her mind that he was a weak sorcerer, there was no way someone like Merlin could have much magic, but he had magic none-the-less. She certainly hadn't been expecting that.

Morgana felt her hatred for the boy grow as she realized that Merlin had known she had magic, and yet had said nothing of his own. He could have helped her, but he chose to leave her alone, stranded. He had tried to kill her. A cruel smile spread across her face as she turned to where she had hidden her horse. She was going to enjoy this, her sudden unplanned revenge. She was going to enjoy it very much.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The flash of golden light faded away as Merlin stumbled forward and fell to the ground in the small clearing where Anwen was still tied. The bandits' bodies were gone, but Merlin didn't give them a second thought. He got to his feet slowly, shaking his head to clear the spots. He stood there a moment, looking around curiously. The basket he had been filling lay where it had fallen, the ivy spilled over and already wilting. Merlin frowned as he bent down and started picking ground ivy until he had the basket nearly full. Turning to his horse, he covered the basket with a cloth and tied it carefully onto the back of the horse were it wouldn't spill out before he mounted.

Roughly pulling on the reigns, he turned his horse around before kicking her into a fast trot back toward Camelot. Anwen neighed once in protest at the fast pace, but Merlin just ignored her, not even bothering to pat her. All he cared about was doing as his queen wished him to do. All he regretted was that it would a whole day before he could obey her.

The ride back to Camelot didn't take near as long as the ride to the woods as Merlin spurred his horse on faster. Anwen shook her mane and neighed several times, but Merlin wasn't paying any attention to her. All he could think about was his orders. The only thoughts running through his mind were of pleasing his queen, of obeying her and doing as she wanted. He wanted nothing more than to do as his queen commanded.

The streets of Camelot were busy now, with even the latest sleepers up. Children dashed back and forth across the street, forcing Merlin to slow Anwen down to a walk. His fingers absent-mindedly fiddled with the reigns as he rode along, ignoring the townspeople who waved and greeted him. More than one person looked at the young man in confusion, none understanding why the usually friendly man was ignoring them.

"Mewin!" Amaya shouted excitedly, running next to Merlin. "Did you get your herbs?"

"I did." Merlin replied, barely glancing down at the girl.

"Are you coming down this evening to tell more stowies?" She asked eagerly, mispronouncing 'stories.'

"Not today." Merlin said sharply, urging his horse to a slightly faster pace.

"Mewin?" Amaya said, not sure why her friend was leaving her so soon. He never did that.

Merlin ignored her and rode on as fast as the busy streets would let him. Amaya stared at his retreating form before turning around sadly and walking back to her aunt's store. Merlin didn't even look back at his little friend, instead his mind wondered to his orders. That was all he could think about it seemed. All he wanted was to be with his queen, to be doing as she commanded, to obey her.

Go about your business as always she had said. A smile spread across his face as he realized he could start obeying her soon. He hurried to the stable and unsaddled Anwen, barely taking the time to brush her and cool her down, before he was off to obey his queen's orders. He was going to go about his business as always and that meant doing chores for King Arthur.

Spell Translations

So, I learned today that the spells used in Merlin are actually Old English (and Old German for the Dragonlord parts.) and not Welsh. But because I don't know Old English (and can't find a translating website) I'm just going to stick with Google Translates' Welsh. Some spells I plan on using in later chapters will also come from the actual show because I have found a site with different spells and their translations. I'll make a note of those when it gets to that.

Ei ryddhau.—Release him.

Anfonwch Merlin yn ôl at ei geffyl.—Send Merlin back to his horse.