A/N- I only just noticed that I said there was a tap in Chapter 1. What I meant was pump, so we'll just imagine that's what I said. *waves hands* You didn't seeeeee anythiiing.

I forgot to say earlier, none of the characters are mine except Ignitrus and Tarrian – they are mine, all mine MUAH HA HA HA HAAA sorry.

I'm really enjoying writing this story, but I go back to school on Monday and you know what that means – JANUARY EXAMS D: I'll try to keep updating regularly though. Anyway, let the story commence!

"Though much is taken, much abides; and though

We are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." – "Ulysses", Lord Alfred Tennyson

Merlin could see his breath form clouds on the freezing night air. He was leaning against the cold, hard wall of Morgana's chambers, awaiting her call. Merlin had assumed she would take over Arthur's chambers like she did the castle, but instead she chose to return to her old chambers. He wondered if it was because they reminded her of her childhood. If he was right, it was the only act of humanity Morgana had shown in a long time.

She had told him to stand outside her door at least an hour ago. Brushing her hair, she had turned to him with what he almost thought was a smile before it mutated into a smirk.

"Leave me. Stand outside the door until I need you again."

"What, all night?"

"Well, if you insist, then feel free!" Merlin knew that it wasn't an offer. He would have to be careful not to slip up again. Looking at the floor, he dipped his head and turned to leave.

A cough sounded behind him. He spun around with gritted teeth. "Yes?"

"When addressing me, I would prefer if you referred to me as my lady." She looked at him disdainfully, like a cat staring at a mouse that dared fight against its imminent death.

Merlin knew it wasn't worth it to rebel. Trying not to appear annoyed, he muttered, "Yes, my lady."

Shutting the heavy door behind him, the warlock kicked the wall resulting in a sore toe and a loud jangle from the chains. He didn't feel better in the slightest. The cuffs were starting to break the soft skin of his wrists, so he had ripped some strips of cloth from his tunic and tied them underneath. Small victories were the key to staying sane. His stomach rumbled loudly in complaint. Oh yes, that was another thing he was angry about, although at least he wasn't the only one. The whole castle was starving under Morgana's regime.

The only thing he could smile about was the knowledge that his note had made it to the cells, although he had a paper cut on his thumb from rolling the paper so tight it would not be damaged by the water. Sometimes, Merlin felt like the whole world hated him.

Walking over to the window, Merlin sighed and looked out over the dark fields as he had done when he was fetching the water. That had been hours ago; it had been years. A lone, silent owl swooped low over the field and grabbed something in its claws. Wings beating hard to pull it through the air, it flew away into the sky. Merlin leaned out and spread his arms, imagining what it would be like to see the castle disappear beneath him, to feel the wind in his hair once more, to fly closer and closer to the moon-

"Emrys! I need you! Come here now!"

Merlin snapped out of his fantasy and pushed open the door.

"What is it, my lady?"

Morgana gave him another sickening half smile. "Well now, let me think... Oh dear, Merlin - I have completely forgotten!"

Merlin forced a smile to his lips. "Very funny, my lady. If that will be all?" The last time Arthur did that to him he had spat in his morning drink. He looked up at Morgana who had turned back to her desk, thinking he was leaving.

A glint of light caught his eye. It was a letter opener, hidden from sight underneath a pile of letters and notes. Morgana had removed all the sharp objects from her room in case of a murder attempt. Without his magic, to Morgana, Merlin was not a threat so she must not have searched her room very thoroughly. He stepped towards it and moved the first layer of paper. Imagining the barn owl in flight, he tried to make his movements silent. He had nearly grasped the handle when he heard a creak from outside and he slipped out of the door in the blink of an eye.

How could he have been so stupid? To risk so much, in a moment of blind anger. The blade wouldn't have killed her even if he had managed to extract it from the pile of paper – she was not vulnerable to mortal blades. Stupid, stupid boy...

Morgana was not clever, in any sense of the word. The only plans of hers that had worked were influenced or even entirely created by someone else. It was not her that killed Arthur – it was Mordred. She did manage to kill Uther, but only because he had been driven mad with grief at her betrayal. That was definitely not part of her plan. The plan to take Camelot had been masterminded by her newest second-in-command, Ignitrus.

Ignitrus was, however, incredibly clever. He had worked out long ago that the one thing he most desired – apart from knowledge – was power. He had also worked out that people in power were often very stupid. Tapping the desk rhythmically with his slender fingers – if he were in another age they would be called pianist's fingers – he sighed and set fire to the piece of paper he had been writing upon. If he had a flaw, it would be that his mind travelled in too many directions at once. He needed to write his thoughts down on a piece of paper or they would unravel, hence the paper. And the burning of the paper.

When pretending to be the servant of a powerful sorceress, it probably wasn't a good idea to let them find parchment with a plot to ensure their downfall written upon it.

A/N- Reviews are really, really appreciated! I love knowing what people think about my work. Hope you enjoyed it, and I will settle into a weekly updating pattern eventually.