*Groan**

Gawaine lifted his neck and squinted his eyes to get a better look of his surroundings, and felt an energetic presence around him. To his surprise, his wrists were tied behind on some sort of pole and the energy around him awoke. He sensed a black cloaked gliding on the dirt rubble beneath, and then realized it belonged to a beautiful lady. He instantly recognized Morgana.

"Morgana..." He breathed as his vision became clearer.

Morgana smirked. "Very good…" she spoke. "A round of applause everyone?" she said clapping, then turning to him with her turquoise eyes.

A few claps sounded, enough to support her twisted humor. Gawaine stared at her furiously after looking around at the eager crowd.

"What have you done to Merlin?" Gawaine demanded angrily. "Where is he...?"

"Oh, " Morgana said nonplussed. "Are you concerned about him?"

"If you did anything to him, I swear I will fight!"

"Ha haa!" Morgana smiled. "Look at this!" she said looking around amused. "Could it be he is this slow?"

A few chuckles sounded. Gawaine looked at them suspiciously.

"You see… " Morgana began. "There are two points you are missing. One is the obvious, that is- you cannot fight us because you will die today. And two, your friend Merlin is not hurt. In fact, he is the reason you are here in this vulnerable position."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Gawaine said in a lower voice.

"Well you see…" Morgana began. "Well wait. How about Merlin explains it himself?"

Morgana moved to the side when behind her, emerged Merlin. It was obvious there was guilt and shame painted across his face, but he tried his best to look confident. His eyes glazed over Gawaine and looked down slowly.

"What are you doing Merlin! HELP ME!" Gawaine said in such urgency. "SHE'S GOING TO KILL ME!"

Morgana noticed Merlin's silence, and walked over.

"Don't you get it.. Merlin's not your friend anymore. He's turned you in on purpose."

Gawaine was trembling in his position.

"MERLIN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! I'M YOUR FRIEND."

Merlin looked down feeling more disturbed than ever. He closed his eyes and began to panic, and then looked up.

"I'm sorry Gawaine.." Merlin said, choking a little.

"What the hell is going on! What did she do to you? What spell did you put him under!" Gawaine said tugging at his wrists aggressively.

"Oh I wish I could take the credit for this… but this is all Merlin. He was more than willing to turn in a friend, weren't you." Morgana asked. "I should know in fact. He won't be merciful." Morgana said.

Merlin turned to Morgana and knew she was referring to the time he poisoned her, only for her to eventually be cured by Morgause.

"I have to do this.." Merlin told Gawaine, his voice choking a bit.

Gawaine watched him with stunned look, and then dropped his gaze in stunned silence.

"Well go on now, Merlin. That is if you are to fulfill your promise." Morgana said, walking away to allow Merlin to kill Gawaine.

"Wait." Merlin called out seriously, causing the crowd to whisper. Morgana turned to him critically, and straightened herself.

"What?"

"How do I know you will let me be a part of your group. Once I kill him that is."

It was obvious Morgana didn't like being questioned, for it killed the anticipation and mood.

"What are you talking about?" she asked slowly.

"How do I know you aren't just having me kill Gawaine for good fun, and then never allow me to join."

Morgana looked at him critically.

"Because I said so…" Morgana explained. "I, unlike you, have no reason to be doubted."

"You are asking for me to prove my trust, so I ask you to prove you can be trusted."

Morgana frowned, and began to look insulted.

"You can trust me, because if I realllly wanted to, I could kill your little friend right now. But I am giving you the honor!"

"You don't know if you can kill him." Merlin said gaining confidence, slightly high on puzzling Morgana. "How do you know I can't stop you? I can use my magic to stop you from killing Gawaine. And if you try to kill him and not allow me, " Merlin said looking at Morgana's eyes. Her pupils shrunk amongst the turquoise. "How do you know I won't kill you?"

"YOU!" Morgana yelled. "You're a simple little boy who knows a few magic tricks."

"Is it really that simple?" Merlin challenged. "How many people do you know who can travel from one spot to another." Merlin asked, transporting himself from Morgana's left side to right. Morgana had no answer.

"SO Merlin.." Smiled Morgana madly. "You think you can kill me, and I know I can kill you. Like to battle it out?" She said leaning forward with a maddening look in her eyes.

"No." Merlin said confidently, causing her to pause. "I told you I want to help you."

"What is it that you want!" she \ seethed between her teeth.

"I want to know I can trust you. I want you to tell me what your plan is in killing Uther.."

"I will never tell you that!"

"Listen, once you tell me, I will support you and know you are one to trust." Merlin explained. "And you have to tell me the truth. If you change your plan, and when I find out, you will see what I'm really capable of." Merlin said darkly.

A twitch in Morgana's eyes released, showing a hint of fear.

"I have no reason for you to be here. I don't need to tell you anything"

"Don't you?" Merlin said extending his arm out to a tree, and causing it to levitate. "You've haven't seen what I can do for you." Morgana couldn't hide her shock, but tried very hard. She looked down.

She rose her head stared at everyone, who had their eyes all on Merlin. Gawaine was watching too, stunned as to what was going on.

"Everyone go! Not you Mordred.." Morgana yelled. "I need to speak to Merlin in private."

The crowd left quietly, leaving Morgana, Merlin, Mordred and Gawaine in the area.

Morgana looked around and stared at Merlin.

"How dare you try to make me look like a fool! You are beginning to undermine me!"

"You will be the bigger fool if you don't listen to me. You must tell me your plans, or you will never succeed."

"How do I know you won't tell Arthur!"

"Then you can change your plan."

"What if I don't know you're telling Arthur?"

"If I wanted you defeated, I would have done it by now.."

Morgana began to look more puzzled than frustrated and shook her head.

"You are a very confusing Merlin, but I can't put my finger on it. A part of me wonders what you are truly capable of. And a part of believes you are telling me the truth." Morgana said in deep thought. "I will tell you." Morgana said pulling herself together. "But once I do, He," she said pointing to Gawaine. "DIES."

"I promised you that already." Merlin said, waiting for her to tell him the plan.

"We plan on to attack at second week of winter. There's a path on the east side of the kingdom that Uther doesn't know about. "

"Show me."

Morgana took a deep breath, and casted an image against the outside of the cave wall. It showed a stream of water next to field of yellow flowers. Behind it was a stone path that, if you lifted the branches, dove into a tunnel beneath. Merlin recognized the area at once and was surprised to see it even there.

"Tell me more.." Merlin demanded.

"I told you enough."

"Where does the tunnel lead to?"

Morgana became silent and thought hard. She walked over to a patch near the cave, and lifted the stone to reveal the entrance.

"Is that enough information for you?" she asked annoyed.

Merlin nodded.

"Now kill him." Morgana said simply, turning to a defeated Gawaine.

"Please… Merlin." Gawaine said shaking his head. "Don't let her attack them. They are good people, even though they are unreasonable."

Merlin looked at Gawaine strenuously, and became weak with guilt. Merlin extended his arm up, and aimed at Gawaine.

"Merlin, no… please… don-!" At that moment, with tears in Merlin's eyes, Gawaine head dropped low, and the force of the deadweight caused Gawaine to fall right to the floor.

Merlin stood still in shock, hyperventilating, and staring profusely at Gawaine as Morgana dashed in front.

Morgana came to a pause, but easily composed herself.

"Wait…Mordred. See that he is dead."

Mordred walked over to Gawaine, and inspected him.

"He has no pulse, nor is he breathing." Mordred said getting up.

Morgana turned to Merlin slowly.

"I cannot believe it…" Morgana said to a tense Merlin. "Well. Welcome to our cause. May we succeed together."

Merlin looked at Gawaine frantically.

"Can I at least bury him properly?" Merlin asked with worry in his eyes, referring to the limp body.

"Go ahead… if that makes you feel any better." Morgana said walking away. "Meet me during dinner. We have much to talk about."

As Morgana walked off, Merlin went over to Gawaine and kneeled below. He then used his powers to lift him and take him away.

A bird dove, tweeting to its fellow friends, while a squirrel scurried around carrying an acorn.

*Groan…*

The figure pulled himself up, only to fall straight down on the dry leaves. He squinted in pain as his heart jolted his body, shaking his very insides. His head throbbed and his throat felt tight, making it hard to swallow. A bad taste in his mouth made him spit on the floor. As the blood flooded back into his arms and legs, he winced at the feeling of numbness. Groaning some more, the figure realized he was alive.

He looked around and saw no one, got to his feet, and stumbled away in desperate search for Prince Arthur.