His apartment was too quiet.

Arthur was used to staying alone, and the silence that accompanies it. But having an extremely chatty person in your house, sitting on your couch and staring off in a distance made for a very different kind of silence.

It was also a little of depressing.

After yesterday, Arthur knew not to try to force Merlin into conversation. He wanted solitude, and Arthur thought he was a big enough person to give him that. Unlike yesterday though, Merlin had taken to staying out of the lamp to stare aimlessly at the walls. Every now and then he would jerk out from where his mind had taken him and look around hastily, calming down when his blue eyes found Arthur. All the while, Arthur noticed, that he kept tugging at the bracelets on his wrists. If he was human, Arthur was sure he would've chafed his skin enough to draw blood by now.

Finally Arthur couldn't take it anymore after seeing Merlin go through the process several times, and he sat down next to Merlin with a purpose.

"Talk to me." Arthur ordered, not leaving any doubt to Merlin that this was not a request.

Merlin just spared a glance at him and then looked away without a comment.

"Listen to me," Arthur grabbed his face to turn it towards him with both hands, and reiterated, "Talk to me. I am not asking, I am ordering. I will make it an order, my last wish, if you force me to."

Blue eyes met blue, and Merlin stared for a few moments. Visibly swallowing, he brought his hands up as well and put them on Arthur's. For a heart stopping moment Arthur thought he would just leave them there, but then he slowly pried Arthur's fingers away from his face, still looking directly into his eyes.

He nodded.

"Okay," Merlin's voice was rusty, and Arthur did not like that one bit.

Arthur folded his hands on his chest and leaned back, giving Merlin space to take a deep breath and start talking.

"I am angry." Merlin started and his voice quivered with restraint, the blue in his irises getting a couple of sparks of gold for a second, "Angry at myself, for not hearing those guys come in; angry at you for not listening to me when I was screaming; angry at those bastards for even daring to harm you. Outrageously, murderously furious at this magic, binding me! It's a good thing I can't do magic right now, because if I could, my rage could only be satisfied by destroying half the city." Merlin looked away half way through the rant, fisting his hands and shaking with barely held back violent outrage.

Before Arthur could comment, Merlin continued, "I am also sad. Frustrated would be a better word. I remember I am powerful, so very powerful; but what's the fucking point when I can't even use my power when I need to. I am all but impotent, and it hurts. The magic under my skin, unused, hurts. I am tired of it. I almost wish I did not have it, then I would've died like normal people, and be done with everything. I don't want to continue living like this." Merlin sounded heartbroken, and Arthur felt like he couldn't breathe. His chest ached too much. He opened his mouth to speak, but voice abandoned him. Merlin had taken to tugging on his bracelets again.

Arthur thought Merlin won't say anything anymore, but he suddenly turned to look at Arthur, his eyes expressive. "I am also scared," he confessed in a small voice.

"What of?" Arthur forced his throat to work, and a croaky query came out.

"You." He whispered. "Of you hating me, of you abandoning me. But more than anything, of losing you. It's stupid, I know, because one more wish and then you will be gone, just like all of my masters before you. But that does not scare me. It makes me a little melancholy yeah, but not scared. Someone killing you does. I had this extreme sense of déjà vu when those bastards put a knife on you. Like it has happened before. Like I have failed you before. And I couldn't, couldn't bear that it was happening again... and I could not do anything. That I failed at protecting you once more. I was so afraid." Merlin breathed out, like he had to say it, like the words were poisoning him the longer they stayed inside.

"You terrify me with how much you make me feel; more than I have since before I was bound to this lamp." Merlin said at last, and Arthur knew he won't say any more. Arthur wanted to speak, wanted to tell Merlin that he meant a lot to Arthur too, but he had no idea what to say after how much Merlin had revealed, and how much courage it took to say so. Anything he would say would pale in comparison. He knew he would never be able to make himself so vulnerable, so he just stared into Merlin's earnest eyes, trying to show everything on his face that he couldn't articulate.

At length, Merlin tore his gaze away, looking down at the floor, and gave one harsh tug to the bracelet on one of his hands.

"Well, you wanted to know..." Merlin chuckled, embarrassed.

Arthur reacted before he could stop himself. He reached out and grasped Merlin's hand. Merlin froze, gaping at Arthur with wide eyes. Arthur ignored the look, and used his other hand to play with the gold band, noting that it was completely bare, and the writing that seemed to shine when Merlin performed magic was invisible in this state. Arthur moved it around, sure that he would find raw skin under it despite Merlin being an immortal mage, but only found pale green, semi transparent wrists. He delicately traced his fingers on the darker lines that substituted as veins for the warlock-hearing Merlin's breath hitch at the feeling- then went back to gently running his fingers on the bracelet, and voiced a question that had been bothering him all day,

"What are these?" He asked quietly.

"What do you think?" The answer was just as quiet.

"I have no idea. They glow when you do magic, and you tug on them when you talk about bonds, so I am guessing they are related to the spell that binds you to the lamp?" Arthur looked up at Merlin at that, but his gaze was fixated on Arthur's fingers on his wrist. At the question, he gently tugged his hand back, and held both his hands in front of him.

"You are not wrong. They are shackles. Pretty shackles, but shackles nonetheless. And they itch! Every time my magic struggles to come out, they burn and itch and I want to cut off my hands just to get these damned things off, just to be rid of them... but I can't. They are as much a part of me, the lamp genie, as my hands are." Merlin told him, in a voice carefully devoid of emotion.

"Can't you... break free? I mean you said that you are the strongest warlock, and by what I have seen I believe you. So can't you break the spell binding you?" Arthur asked, genuinely puzzled.

"Of course I can. I can feel the cracks in the chains holding me back. It would be so easy," He laughed here, mirthlessly and a little bit crazy, "so very easy to just... push. And the bonds will break. The fact that it's so easy is what makes this an even bigger torture."

"Then why don't you?" Arthur asked, not understanding.

Merlin looked at him at that like he was stupid, his eyes sad and accusing, his smile bitter, "It requires me to do magic. I can't do magic unless my master commands me." He said in a matter of fact tone. Like he wasn't just shoving a knife in Arthur's chest when he said that; like he wasn't making sure Arthur never slept another night without guilt crushing him.

"And no one ever asked you to?" To say he was horrified, was putting it mildly.

"Why would they?" There was that laugh again, the one that sounded like someone who had never known what happiness is, had assumed what laughter must sound like and tried to recreate the noise, "Why would anyone do something like this when they could ask for anything in the world. I am not that important, and people are selfish deep down, when it comes to making a limited number of wishes."

"But... Aladdin? I thought he freed you, that's what all the stories say. So I just thought, the fact you are still here means that... I really don't know what I thought."

"Ali." Merlin smile was nostalgic, "he was good. He almost did free me. But he wanted to be a Prince and marry Yasmin a lot more. They always do. It's human nature."

"Merlin, I..." Arthur was going to say it. Was going to order Merlin to free himself. He couldn't bear the thought of Merlin being in distress any longer if Arthur could do something about that...

The moment was broken by the sound of Arthur's apartment phone ringing, harsh in the hushed silence that had permeated the room. Merlin jerked his gaze away, closing in on himself, and Arthur cursed loudly.

Knowing that the moment was lost, Arthur realized how close he had been to Merlin, and hastily got up to put some distance between them. The continued ringing made him move his feet towards the kitchen counter, where the phone was lying-barely every used- unspeakably annoyed at whoever had disturbed him when he was going to make an incredibly important decision.

"Hi, who is it?"

"Arthur?"

"Morgana?" Immediately concerned, he asked, "Why are you calling here? What's wrong?"

"Oh thank the Gods. You are alright." She breathed out in relief, and then continued, "Can you please tell Percy here to let me up?"

Percy was the receptionist at his building, which meant Morgana was here!

"What are you doing here?"

"I can explain when I get up now, can't I? I just want to see you, little brother." Morgana tried for a teasing tone, but it was really the hidden desperation in it that made Arthur hasten to act.

"Give him the phone."

"Thanks." She said, and passed the phone to the receptionist.

After telling Percy to give Morgana the key to his floor, because he was lazy and always left one with the counter in case someone needed to come up-he trusted Percy, and anyway nobody could come up without him giving them the code- he went and stood by the elevator doors, almost forgetting about Merlin at the moment.

The elevator door dinged after a few minutes, and Arthur found himself staring at his sister, her clothes wrinkled, like she had slept in them, her hair messy. She was chewing her lips in anxiety and wringing her hands

"Hi." Arthur smiled, and before he could say another word, his arms were full of Morgana, her arms around his waist, her face hidden in his chest. He slowly raised one of his hands to her back, the other to her head to awkwardly pet her hair.

"You are alright." She breathed into her chest.

"Very much so. Yeah." He didn't think this was an appropriate time to tell her that he very nearly hadn't been. That could wait.

"I was so scared Arthur. I saw them slice your neck open. You couldn't speak; you just stared at me, like you were accusing me. Asking me that why didn't I save you." She spoke, her face still hidden, her body trembling.

"Morgana. Shhhh... Morgana. Everything is okay. I am okay. Nothing bad happened."

"Everything is not okay Arthur." She confessed in a quiet voice. "I am not normal. There is something wrong with me."

Arthur brought both of his hands to hold her arms, and slowly pushed her away to look at her face. She avoided his gaze.

"Why would you say that Morgs? Why would you possibly think that?"

"Arthur." She gulped, "Arthur... I woke up today and everything on my bedside table: the lamp, my cell phone, the photo frame, the candy wrappers, everything- they were floating. I thought I was still dreaming Arthur, except when I blinked, the lamp crashed and broke on the floor, and everything else smashed down on the table. It wasn't a dream. I have a broken lamp to prove it." She fidgeted, and then she looked at Arthur, her eyes full of earnestness, begging Arthur to not laugh at her.

Arthur wouldn't dream of it. He believed her.

He slowly rubbed her arms, trying to calm her down, and then led her slowly to the couch, noticing that Merlin was still sitting on it on one side and looking at him calmly, so he took her to the other side and slowly lowered her, crouching on the floor in front of her.

He held her hands, and caught her eye before saying. "I believe you Morgana."

"How can you. None of this is normal. I am not normal." Her eyes filled with tears, and one of them broke free and trailed down her cheek. "Arthur! I think I need some help."

"Yes. Yes you do." Arthur assured her, making more tears spill, "But not the kind you think. Hospital won't help you. But I know someone who would."

Merlin looked at him questioningly at that, and Arthur met his gaze. Without looking at Morgana, he said, "Morgs. I would like you to meet Merlin." And he nodded at him.

Morgana looked at Arthur, puzzled, until he smiled at her, and then nodded in Merlin's direction. Slowly Morgana turned, and then she gasped. Leaning as far away as she could from Merlin while still sitting on the small couch, she stared at Merlin for a few minutes, who-bless him- smiled his idiotic wide grin at her. Then she turned her face and looked at Arthur, her eyes wide and confused. She alternated between staring at both of them half a dozen times, her mouth opening and closing but no words coming out.

"Hi." Merlin said helpfully when she started staring at him for the seventh time.

It was apparently an awful idea, because Morgana let out an ear splitting scream and stood up, trying to run away. Arthur quickly got to his feet and grabbed her, pulling her into a hug, while she struggled, eyes closed, lightly punching Arthur to get free.

"Hey. Hey, hey, hey." Arthur shushed, "It's alright."

She kept struggling for a few minutes, and then went limp in his arms, shaking her head against his chest. "This isn't real. This isn't real." She chanted.

"I am sorry love, but it is."

She pulled back enough to look at him, and her face was wet with tears.

"We are both crazy." She said quietly, but with conviction.

"No we aren't." He lowered her back down to the couch, Merlin being considerate for once and getting up and hovering at a distance. Arthur sat down next to her, and slowly raised one of her hands to his neck.

He pried the bandage there away, letting Morgana see the knife wound. She traced it with her fingers, and then clasped her hand against her mouth.

"Oh my God."

"Yeah." Arthur smiled self deprecatingly. "It wasn't just a dream."

"Oh my God Arthur." She repeated, lightly sobbing, tears falling down her face once more.

"I am okay though. Just a scratch. That's all that happened. Your warning helped, even if I made light of it. And honestly... Merlin helped." Arthur twisted his face to beam at Merlin, who hesitantly returned his smile.

"Who..." Morgana looked at Merlin for just a second, and then jerked her eyes away and looked at Arthur again, asking "Who is he?"

"You could ask him. He loves to talk." Arthur laughed, but Morgana just shook her head.

"Remember the lamp you told me to buy. He came out of it."

Morgana's face cleared a bit on that, and she raised her eyebrows at Arthur. "You are kidding me."

"He really wishes he was." Merlin quipped from Arthur's side.

"I can't believe this. This is all an elaborate hoax. You will laugh at me any second." Morgana muttered, more to herself than Arthur.

"Trust me Morgs. It's, magic is, really real."

"Really real is an awful way of describing reality." Merlin teased, which made Arthur look at him angrily and snap, "Can you give a brother and sister a moment. Jesus! Don't you have any tact."

"You are doing one horrible job of comforting her, just saying."

"You are the one that made her scream though." He accused

"And you made her cry when you told her you were attacked. Honestly, couldn't that have waited?"

"I had to make her believe she isn't just imagining it all."

"Oh and reminding her of her dreams is a great way of reassuring her that this isn't one?"

"I wouldn't expect you to understand, considering how dumb you are."

"Still better than you, clot pole."

"That's not even a word, idiot."

"Prat."

Morgana's peal of laughter broke them out of their pissing match, and they both turned around and gaped at her. Where she had seemed to be close to a nervous breakdown a few minutes ago, right now she was smiling and there was laughter in her eyes.

"Wha-" Arthur gaped.

Morgana raised her hand and patted Arthur's cheek, "Even if this is a hallucination, but really, I am not that creative so I don't believe it is, I have to say it's a really entertaining one." She turned her face towards Merlin then, "I like you. You are cute."

Merlin blushed, which made Arthur laugh and comment, "You are embarrassing him Morgana. Do continue."

"Shut up prat." Merlin mumbled.

"Oh and you Arthur, "Morgana turned towards him again, "don't think I have forgotten how big a boner you had for the Genie when you were young... "

Arthur hastily covered Morgana's face whispering, "Shut up! Shut up!" but not before Merlin had heard and had started laughing.

"This is turning out to be an awful day." Arthur groaned and sank back into the couch, closing his eyes.

"Don't mind him My Lady!" Merlin was all courteous now.

"Please call me Morgana."

"Morgana," Merlin smiled and inclined his head, "everything else aside, the thing is... you have magic."

Morgana stared at him in disbelief, and then shook her head, "This is a joke."

"It's really not." Merlin swooped in and sat in front of her, and slowly, waiting for Morgana to nod and give permission, he grasped both of her hands in his, mirroring the position Arthur had been in a few minutes ago. "You know it's not. You have felt it, this warm, alive thing inside of you. It feels like a pulsing beating heart, alongside your own. You believe me, because you have used it, like an extra limb, just invisible, and so much more powerful. You don't want to accept that, because you are scared, and I understand that- I really do. But denying the truth won't do you any good."

Morgana looked straight into Merlin's eyes, and Arthur watched with rapt attention as she seemed to absorb his every word. Hesitantly, slowly, she nodded.

"Yes." She breathed out.

"That's more like it." Merlin smiled at her, and it sounded extremely patronizing to Arthur, but Morgana's smiling face and tear filled eyes told him that it was the correct thing to say.

"It's... violent. "Morgana confessed, still looking at Merlin, as if waiting for him to judge her.

"No it's not. It's caged, and ignored. It's scared, because you are. And everything that is scared reacts violently. It only acts out when you are distressed right?"

She nodded, so Merlin continued, "And how is it when you are not distressed? When you are happy? I know you ignore it and pretend it's not there, but I know you understand what I am talking about."

"It's... pleased. Warm and reassuring, and happy. When I am happy, it dances." Morgana had a dazed smile on her face when she said that.

"Exactly. And reach for it right now. Close your eyes, feel it, and tell me what is it feeling at this moment, with me holding your hands and telling you it's going to be alright?"

Morgana closed her eyes haltingly, like she was afraid if she closed them Merlin would vanish, but he just smiled at her encouragingly giving her time to go at her own pace.

She took a deep breath, and then looked like she was meditating, searching for something. Suddenly a huge grin split her face.

"I can feel it." She said in awe, "It's- it's beautiful."

"I know." Merlin smiled brightly, but Arthur could tell it was also little sad. "Is it violent right now?"

"No."

"Then..." Merlin

"It's...excited." Morgana spoke as if someone is talking about a child, and then she let out a short laugh that was full of mirth, "and, it's a little bit in love."

She opened her eyes, and looked at Merlin fondly.

"It's my magic." Merlin explained, "It likes yours too."

"I could feel your magic as well." Morgana sounded stunned.

"As I can feel yours. I felt it the first time you touched the lamp in Arthur's office. And my own magic has been so starved for the feel of a kindred spirit, that it immediately developed a fondness for yours. They are both green." Again with the green comment, Arthur thought, amused. "I am glad the feeling is mutual."

"What am I going to do?" She didn't sound worried, just confused.

"You are going to use it, like magic is supposed to be used. If you keep it locked and caged, it's going to make you both miserable. "

"But I don't know how."

"And that's where I come in. Or more like, that's where your prat of a brother made sure I come in. I told him there are people better suited for this, but he was adamant." Merlin threw an annoyed glance his way, and then gave Morgana's hands a last reassuring squeeze before moving away." I am going to help you practice. It would be difficult, considering I can't do magic, but I will do my best."

"Wait wait, I felt your magic. I know you can. Why did you say you can't do magic?" Morgana inquired.

Arthur opened his mouth to explain, "Actually-"

"Actually, it's a long story. It can wait for some other time. Why don't you get some rest right now because honestly, you look like a wreck. We can talk about it later, and about what to do about your training." Merlin avoided her question and looked genuinely interested in the prospect of her training.

"That's a surprisingly good idea, considering it came from Merlin." Arthur agreed, letting Merlin avoid the topic of his imprisonment for now, knowing it was painful and raw, "You really do need some rest. I haven't seen you look so disheveled even when you are hung over after partying all night."

"Okay." Morgana nodded, too drained to argue or retort, "I guess I will get going." She got up and straightened her shirt.

"No, no no! No way am I letting you go home like this. You will wake up and think this was all an elaborate nightmare as well. You sleep in my room." Arthur decided.

"I can't. Where will you sleep then?" Morgana looked reluctant.

"It's the middle of the day Morgs. I am not going to sleep any time soon. Don't complain, just... go." Arthur shooed her towards his door, and after giving Arthur one long look to be certain he was sure, Morgana gave a sharp nod and moved towards his bedroom.

Too late, Arthur realized that even though he had tried to correct everything as much as he could, there was still a hole in his wall, scratches on every object, and every single electronic was fused and charred. Morgana stepped inside and gaped, turning around to look at Arthur with wide eyes.

"Don't blame me." Arthur shrugged, "this was all Merlin."

"Shut up." Merlin said sheepishly.

At that moment, Morgana yawned widely. She then gave them both a long assessing look and said, "I am too tired for this right now. But you will explain. Every single thing. Later." She warned threateningly, but the effect was ruined by another yawn that followed.

Frustrated at herself, she slammed the door shut, presumably getting into bed and sleeping. They both stood there for a while, staring at the closed door.

"That went well." Arthur proclaimed at last.

"No thanks to you." Merlin snorted.

"I would have you know, I was handling it very well. Until you interrupted."

"If you have had your way, she would still be crying. Admit it, I was awesome."

"You wish Merlin. You wish."

"I can hear both of you. Do you want me to sleep or not." Morgana called out from inside, and they both hastily shuffled away from there, and Arthur put as much distance between himself and Morgana, going into the kitchen and deciding to make himself a snack and then start making dinner for when his sister woke up. He suspected she hadn't eaten in quite some time.

After a while, Merlin said quietly, "You know, I could put protective charms around your place, and your office, and for that matter even on you. To protect you from similar attacks in the future." Arthur looked up at Merlin, who was staring resolutely at the ground. "You could make that your third wish."

Suddenly remembering what Arthur had been thinking before Morgana called and created the mayhem, his heart clenched. Merlin- the idiot, the lovable, incredibly loyal, and so very selfless idiot- was still thinking of Arthur. Even after telling him that the only way he could be free was if his master wished it so, he had not asked Arthur for it. He had assumed that Arthur would not want that.

What kind of assholes had he served till now?

Arthur felt extremely furious on his behalf. How could anyone look at Merlin, use him, exploit his misfortune, and never once care to know what he wanted. It had been centuries... how had nobody before him cared for Merlin? loved him?

"That's nice of you to offer," Arthur said as nonchalantly as he could, "but I have already thought of what I want."

"Oh!" Merlin looked up, and Arthur could swear he saw disappointment swimming in them, before he looked away.

"Yeah."

"Umm... Can it wait though?" Merlin asked, and then added hastily, "I just mean, I would be gone after it. And Morgana need help. So, it's not urgent is it?" He looked fondly at the closed door of Arthur's bedroom. For a moment, Arthur felt an insane jealousy towards his own sister. Merlin said his magic liked her, and she had said her magic was a little bit in love with Merlin. Merlin was his.

But then he remembered he had practically begged Merlin to help Morgana, and he was just doing what he had asked, expecting nothing in return. The thought suddenly warmed his heart.

"No, it's not urgent." He smiled at Merlin, reveling in the fact that Merlin suddenly looked up and met his gaze as well, smiling, "It can wait. Of course it can wait."

A/N: Let's have the longest chapter I have ever written. It just wouldn't stop going on! I hope you guys like it.