-23-

Morgana waited until she could no longer hear Merlin's footsteps. She had kept her eyes closed, wanting him to think that she had fallen asleep. But as silence covered her, she quickly got out of bed and made her way down the stairs. She had perfected silently slipping away over the past few weeks, the skill necessary to keep Merlin in the dark about her meetings with Elyan.

She hated having to lie to Merlin, especially after everything he had done for her, but the meetings with Elyan were necessary.

'Well, not entirely,' Morgana thought to herself. It had started with her trying to get more information about Gwen, but against her better judgment, she began to like Elyan.

He wasn't the unsure man she had known throughout the ages. This Elyan was a force of nature. He was solid and strong, with the barest hint of the wildness that had made him so unpredictable in the past.

Their first few meetings were awkward. She was defensive and he was unyielding, but Elyan was a protector, and the moment he sensed Morgana's vulnerability, there was a palpable change in his behavior.

Morgana worked that to her advantage. At first there was no guilt—she was determined to save herself and Merlin—but Elyan's goodness and his love for Tom and Guinevere gnawed at Morgana's selfishness and she found herself genuinely interested in him.

Morgana had never entertained the thought of romance; at one point she may have been attracted to Merlin or one of the knights, but those feelings were always overshadowed by her deisre for power.

But this time, with Elyan—the brother of the woman whom she had tried, and succeeded, to destory in various ways throughout the ages—Morgana felt the stirrings of something more. Something beautiful; something that she had been orphaned of.

He made her feel needed, wanted, treasured.

And it was precisely these feelings that spurred her on in her mission to redeem the Queen of the accusations of the past. She would rid Guinevere of the stains on her person at the cost of her own power.

She made her way to the garage and took out the small car she used for personal errands. It was reliable and quiet, perfect for this little mission she was about to embark on.

She quickly made her way out the gates and sped down the roads that would take her to Elyan's home. He made it clear that she was welcome to visit anytime, and her heart nearly erupted in happiness when he spoke those words.

Soon enough, she was in front of Elyan's home. She parked the car, climbed out of the driver's seat, made her way up the steps, and began to knock on his door.

A short while later, the door opened and Elyan's smile greeted Morgana.

"Hello," he began but his brow furrowed when he saw how much she was trembling. He took her hand and led her inside his home. Morgana wrapped her arms around his neck as soon as Elyan closed the door behind them.

It was a while before she let go and even as she freed him from her embrace, she was glad that his arms were around her waist.

'How different things have become,' she thought. 'I would never have considered Elyan before, but now I know of no better man.'

Elyan murmured comfortingly to her, and the rumble of his voice soothed Morgana's nerves. When he finally looked into her eyes, she knew that hers mirrored the sort of peace she always felt when she was with him.

"Are you all right?" Elyan asked as he cupped her cheek. "Are you feeling better?"

Morgana drew a shaky breath, smiled, and then nodded her head.

"I am now."

"Come on," he took her hand and led her further into his flat. "I'll fix you some tea," his eyes assessed her slim frame. "And maybe something to eat. You're looking far too frail, Morgana."

She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder.

They walked to the kitchen and Morgana was glad that here, with Elyan, she could find a little peace. She was glad that with this Elyan, she had haven where she could pretend—even for a little while—that she was normal and whole. Not some aberration whose soul was stained with spilt blood.

He made her sit at the counter, took her hands, and planted a soft kiss on each palm.

"You're safe here," he told her. His eyes searching hers as if he was willing her to believe him.

She nodded.

"I'm safe with you."

He smiled that brilliant smile of his and turned to put the kettle to boil. Just as he was reaching for the mugs, someone knocked on the door.

Elyan sighed.

"Stay here, okay?" He told her as he turned off the burner. "I'll be right back."

"I won't be going anywhere."

He cupped her cheek again and with a dip of his head, gave her a soft kiss. It was all the assurance Morgana needed and he left her with a smile.

She heard his muted conversation with whomever it was at the door. A short while later, she heard footsteps and knew that Elyan was on his way back to the kitchen.

She turned and flashed him her brightest smile, only to have it falter and vanish completely when he saw who was with him.

"Morgana, I believe you know my sister, Guinevere?"

Guinevere gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"We've met before," the Queen said.