A/N: I'm sorry this is so short! It's just, with the season finale of Korra still fresh in my head . . . my hands are itching to write for Avatar! But I promise, the next chapter will be full of aangst (Oh, Avatar :D) and maybe some lovin' ;) BUT I still need FB likes people! I'm on my knees begging!
It was morning when they reached Camelot. Merlin turned around to tell Morgana they had arrived, but saw that she was slumped over her horse. Merlin assumed that she was asleep, but then he could hear her quiet whispers. "It'll be okay; we're almost there. A nice boy will put you in the stables and give you some hay."
Merlin smiled. Of all things, she was worried about her horse. "We're here, Morgana." He called back to her.
She looked up and smiled at him. She patted her horse's neck, and spurred it to catch up to Merlin's. "How do you think Arthur will react?"
Merlin shrugged. "He'll probably hate you." Morgana sighed. "But eventually he'll see reason."
" . . . And Uther?" Morgana asked at last, bitterly.
"I don't like the man any more than you do, but it is necessary for him to be King. Arthur isn't ready yet."
"Does he know of my magic?" Morgana added.
"Not that I know of," Merlin said. He looked toward Camelot. "Maybe you should put your hood up."
Morgana nodded and lifted the velvet over her head. Merlin told her to readjust it a couple of times, and then when he was pleased it hid her face, turned back towards the ever nearing Camelot.
It wasn't long before the guards were opening the gates for them. They rode through without being stopped or asked who they were. It was obviously the Prince's manservant with a Lady. Merlin didn't know why that didn't make them curious. But then again, rarely anything made those thick clots curious.
Morgana's horse edged closer to his. "Merlin, I think Arthur's in the courtyard."
Merlin looked around. Sure enough, Arthur and some of his men were in the courtyard. It looked like they were preparing to leave. "Wait here." Merlin whispered to Morgana. He dismounted and ran towards Arthur. "Where're you going?" He asked the Prince.
"Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed, partway between annoyance and relief. "Where have you been?"
Merlin shrugged. "Here and there. What did Gaius tell you?"
"That you were sick . . ." he frowned at Merlin. "You don't look sick. And how did you get down here anyways?"
Merlin sighed. "Arthur, I wasn't sick. I was going back to Fyrien."
It surprised Merlin that the first thing he asked was, "Was? What do you mean?"
Merlin frowned. "I found the person I was looking for before I got there."
Arthur looked confused, then even more when he looked behind Merlin. "Who's she?"
Merlin turned around and noticed Morgana had dismounted. Merlin's tone was desperate. "Arthur, I don't want you to overreact. I trust her."
Arthur tilted his head. "Why would I overreact?"
Merlin took a deep breath. "I brought Morgana back." Morgana herself stepped forward, pulling off her hood to reveal her ivory face.
Arthur's face was first a total mask of shock, and then slowly ebbed away into anger. "Morgana," he spat out bitterly.
Morgana's chin stuck up in defiance. "Arthur."
Merlin groaned. This was going to be a long day.