JAIMOL- Thanks and I hope you enjoy the conversation.

Mike3204- Thanks for the great ideas as usual. I've tried to include a few of them.

Junior Woofles- Yes although the 'sisterly' conversation isn't all that friendly...

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy as always!

"It is me sister!" Morgause gasped. "I have missed you."

The scar on Morgause's face was bigger than Morgana remembered. Her mahogany eyes looked dull, drained and were beginning to lose their colour. Morgause's blond hair was dirty and bristly but still cascaded down her back.

Morgana tightly embraced Morgause as a few tears trickled down her porcelain cheek. They broke apart and Morgause gently wiped Morgana's tears away.

"I thought I'd never see you again," Morgana laughed still crying. Morgana should have been ashamed to be shedding tears but she wasn't. The tears were also tears of joy as well as grief and sadness.

"There is a difference between impossible and highly improbable, Morgana. Remember that."

Morgause brushed her hand against Morgana's cheek wiping away the tears. Morgana didn't meet Morgause's eyes. Morgana couldn't meet Morgause's eyes. Guilt was killing her.

"I am truly sorry for everything, Morgause," Morgana apologised.

Morgana sighed. She felt extremely guilty for failing the mission that Morgause had died for. An apology didn't seem enough to make amends. Morgana wanted to do something more to show how remorseful and sincere she felt about the matter.

"I have watched you day and night since I joined the deceased. You have crumbled and become very vocal. Fear has got to you. Those Saxons crushed you and so did Emrys. You were on the brink of death more times than I could count. You put your life on the line for Mordred, Aithusa and Morrigan. But you have been neglecting our kind. You have not tried very hard to thwart Arthur and conquer Camelot."

Morgana frowned. Hadn't she been doing well enough fighting the Saxons? The Saxons had been as bad, if not worse than Arthur. They had ruthlessly murdered everyone in their path whereas Arthur only persecuted people associated with magic.

Morgause had no right to say that Morgana had been neglecting their kind, Morgana had been slightly busy and preoccupied in the past eight months. Being humiliated, flogged, tortured, imprisoned, taunted, sentenced to death, assaulted, burnt at the stake had been the least of her worries in the past eight months. Morgana was more concerned about Emrys and the persecution of her kin. Thinking about Emrys, made Morgana realise a significant factor to loathing Emrys.

"It was Emrys," Morgana said. Morgause frowned at the out of the blue statement. "Emrys scarred you. Emrys blasted you against that wall. Gaius wouldn't be powerful enough. Emrys as good as killed as good as killed you."

Morgana exchanged an unsure glance with Morgause. Her face was close to shedding more tears but Morgana managed to hold them back. No, she, Morgana, would not cry more. She would not cry for Emrys. Emrys was just a pathetic traitor and sorcerer. He was not worth her tears or anybody else's tears. He was barbaric and deluded.

"Yes," Morgause softly spoke agreeing to Morgana's worst fear. "It was the servant boy."

Morgana could feel the anger building up inside her. He had lied to her. He had deceived her. He had manipulated her. He had betrayed her. Worst of all he had revealed a vulnerable side to her; a loving side to her. Love had cost Morgana everything. Everything had gone wrong because of love. She had loved Arthur, Gwen, Mordred, Alvarr, Uther and even Merlin in a mutual, aquatinted sort of way. One by one she had been betrayed by all of them.

Uther had always murdered and killed magical people but when he sentenced Alvarr to death, Morgana had realised how cruel he actually was.

Arthur followed his father's ways instead of thinking for himself and making up his own laws. He had led raids on Druid camps and had done nothing to help people with magic (with exception of saving Mordred). Morgana would never ever forgive Arthur after he had sentenced her to death.

Gwen had sworn loyalty to Arthur and not Morgana. She had then stolen Morgana's 'rightful' place as queen of Camelot. Although Morgana had just been the king's ward, she had been treated like a princess. Most citizens of Camelot had expected her to betroth Arthur and become queen. Morgana had never thought of marrying Arthur. On the seldom occasion that Morgana did end up talking or thinking about Arthur, Morgana had thought about teasing him, avoiding him or tricking him. Morgana had never thought about being queen either. Being noble born, Morgana had basically got whatever she wanted and she had had no ambition to rule over anywhere.

Mordred had left her to die a slow and shameful death with the Saxons. Morgana had half-heartedly accepted Mordred's apology when he told her that he had known that Aithusa would save her. Although Morgana pretended to trust Mordred, she could never obliviously trust Mordred like she had done before.

Alvarr had unintentionally and indirectly tortured Morgana. Morgana still hadn't forgiven him and acted frostily towards him when Mordred wasn't around.

Morgana didn't know where to start with Merlin; the list amounted to much more than anybody else. Yet, Morgana found that she trusted him. More than Arthur. More than Alvarr. Even more than Mordred. More than any other living person. She still trusted Aithusa and Morgause more. Merlin understood her yet didn't understand her. He knew what she was going through but couldn't understand what was happening. He couldn't understand her actions; no human could. Only Aithusa could. Everybody hated her. Perhaps if they understood her things would be different. Perhaps her life wouldn't be a terrible mess.

In all her life Morgana had learnt one thing: love was a peril and sheerly abominable. Love was wasteful; a weakness. Morgana had loved people and they had betrayed her. Love had not made her gain anything. All love had done was hurt her. Every minute of everyday she was hurt by something. Love was the fundamental cause of it all. At least now Morgana knew not to fall in love. It was too expensive. Love cost pain. Pain that Morgana could not bear.

"Why does it happen to me?" Morgana tearily asked. She proudly held back the tears. Emotions were another thing she had learnt to detest. "Love is torturous."

"I hope that you are not in love with that ridiculous knight," Morgause gasped in horror. Morgause had watched that knight with his ludicrous manner and preposterous ways. He was definitely an unsuitable suitor for her sister.

Morgana let out a small haunting laugh. If she was in love with Gwaine she would never hear the end of Applesia. He'd be asking when she had last consumed an apple every second.

"No, it's not Gwaine," Morgana paused wondering whether to carry on. Morgause narrowed her eyes daring Morgana on. "It's Mer- I don't know. I don't know what's happening. I want it to stop. I can't stop it. He makes me happy. Happiness feels really wrong. I want to be miserable. It's all here inside my brain I wish... I wish that I had no feelings. If I did everything would be alright. Why him? It could have been anyone."

Morgana tearfully glanced at Morgause, horrified. She had just poured her soul, her thoughts and troubles to Morgause. Though she regretted it Morgana felt considerably lighter like a weight had been lifted of her shoulders.

"I say Morgana," Morgause sweetly laughed. "The temptation of a servant boy who has beguiled you. It must be hard not being able to love him. You are a traitor to our kind sister." Morgana collapsed to her knees. She was sure she was crying.

"I do not love him Morgause," Morgana sobbed. "I thought you would understand." Morgause silkily laughed at this making Morgana feel more and more frustrated. She didn't like being conflicted.

"Then kill him," Morgause hissed.

"I care for him," Morgana wept. "I will never want to kill him after what he did for me the other day."

Morgause was about make a smart retort but she shut her mouth. Morgana was still young and childlike in some psychological aspects. For instance she couldn't handle emotional distress or love

"It is up to you sister," Morgause sighed. "If you think Emrys's way is the best way forward for our kin then go for. Don't let your irrational love for him cloud the best way forward for our kind. Just remember that I love you. You don't have to love me in return. Think of me when you are distressed as I will be watching you from above."

Morgause kissed Morgana's cheek and embraced her sister for one last time. It was highly improbable that they would see each other again.

The tears still trickled down Morgana's cheeks as she turned around. Her eyes were puffy and a nautical green shade due to all the crying. It was all because of love and Morgana was determined not to let it happen again. She wouldn't love anyone or anything from now on. It would be for the best.

...

He was flying on Aithusa with Morgana. They were soaring past mountains and pine forests until they landed in a quiet glade. He and Morgana dismounted the hound dragon. Aithusa reluctantly flew away. He began to kiss her. She had her hands upon his hips. He wanted to be lost in this moment.

"Merlin. Merlin, wake up."

He and Morgana broke apart. Morgana was crying. She had apparently warned him about what would happen. He hadn't listened to her. He had been too busy thinking about little Morganas running around with their eyes glowing gold.

"Mer-LIN! NOW!" This distant voice wasn't enough to distract Merlin from the dream.

Little cute Morganas. The real Morgana sighed. She had warned him. He watched Morgana collapse. He watched her lungs stop. He watched her die.

"MORGANA!" The voice was still vague but was vivider from before. He was waking up

"No!" Merlin groaned. Merlin bolted up sweating violently. "What does it mean?"

Arthur leant over Merlin with a worried expression upon his face.

"Morgana has vanished," Arthur exclaimed. "Her-" Merlin wasn't listening. That was the second time he had dreamt that dream. It had to mean something. Every normal dream meant something. Merlin was sure it was just a normal dream that his brain was telling him who he was in love with. Dreams were just fantasies of everyday life. Merlin wasn't surprised that he had dreamt of Morgana dying as she had been in thousands of close to death situations.

"MERLIN ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME!" Arthur thundered roughly shaking Merlin's shoulder. He finally managed to attract the young warlock's attention.

"Wha- A-Arthur?" Merlin stammered. Arthur flung his hand over indicating to the empty bed across the room.

"Where is Morgana?" Arthur inquired. Merlin stressfully shrugged. "You were meant to be keeping both eyes AND both ears on her."

"Don't worry, I'll find her," Merlin assured. "I shouldn't be too long." Arthur didn't have time to get a word in edgeways before Merlin darted off.

Merlin was going at a furiously fast pace. He almost knocked Gwaine over but dodged out the way.

"Where's the fire?" Gwaine joked. Merlin ignored him and kept on sprinting. He ran out of the house, through Ealdor and into the forest. Merlin didn't stop running until he arrived at a desolate clearing in the forest

For a while Merlin stood immobile breathing heavily. He needed to make sure he was isolated from everyone in a deserted area of the forest before he could resume what he had planned to do. Bird song floated around the clearing interrupting Merlin's train of thought.

Merlin couldn't understand where Morgana had mysteriously vanished to or how she had vanished. Last night Morgana had behaved so enervated and feeble that it seemed like she was unable to perform basic magic spells or walk a short distance. Illness had taken its toll. Yet somehow Morgana had miraculously managed to escape his grasp and elude him.

Since Merlin was sure that the clearing was not occupied by anyone else, he muttered the ancient words to summon a dragon.

Swooping into the clearing, Aithusa roared making fire shoot out her nostrils at Merlin who dodged out the way. She landed loudly and thumped her tail against the ground in fury.

"Emrys. What is it you want?" Aithusa snarled, small flames erupting out her nostrils in warning.

Merlin stated at the young dragon in pity. Poor Aithusa had been spending far too much time with Morgana and was now loathed him too. Perhaps if Aithusa saw Morgana with him just now the young dragon would act friendlier.

"Aithusa I am worried," Merlin explained. Aithusa abruptly set the nearest tree alight in anger. Emrys summoned her to tell her his worries. Merlin hastily murmured a spell to extinguish the tree. "Morgana may be in trouble and I want you to take me too her."

...

The previous night after she had seen Morgause, Morgana had stumbled back into the forest, collapsed and fell into a slumber. She had no time to worry about the consequences of what she had automatically done. Morgana's slumber concluded of a few mix matched dreams. She heard the wind howling and the scuffling of some nocturnal beast as she wove in and out of sleep. Her dreams were weird but did not seem to be prophetic.

Morgana. Emrys is looking for you.

The telepathy did not not disturb Morgana as she was now in a deep and dreamless sleep.

The lack of response to her telepathic message worried Aithusa so the dragon submissively allowed Merlin to clamber upon her back. She stretched her scaly wings and then took off into the crimson sky. The day was dawning.

Aithusa could could cover long distances in minutes while carefully observing the landscape for Morgana. It didn't even take the young dragon half an hour to spot the priestess. As soon as Aithusa landed she blew onto Morgana to heal her physical afflictions. This woke Morgana and made her bolt up to see the young dragon. Not realising Merlin was at Aithusa's side Morgana wrapped her arms around the dragon's scaly neck. It was warmer and whiter than Morgana remembered it. Aithusa had grown slightly too in the past week.

"The stones of Nemeton," Merlin remarked. "What are you doing here?" Morgana released Aithusa from her clutches and turned around to gaze the loathsome person right in front of her. He had almost killed her sister yet he was acting as he normally did. Shouldn't that be playing on his conscience?

"I don't know," Morgana lied. She didn't want Merlin to find out about her visit to Morgause so she decided to half-lie. "I woke up my eyes were continously glowing gold and then I ended up here. It was like I was possessed. I don't know where all of the energy came from.

"Here of all places though," Merlin suspiciously stated.

Fortunately, Aithusa sensed the danger that Morgana was heading into so she decided to break the tension.

"You look exhausted Morgana," Aithusa announced. "Let me take you back to the village to rest."

"Will you be able to carry both of us?" Morgana yawned her eyelids drooping.

"I still may be quite small but my magic builds my strength so I will manage."

Aithusa gracefully dropped to her knees to let a drowsy Morgana clamber onto her back. Merlin easily managed pull his body behind the sleepy priestess just before Aithusa took off.

...

It took them ten minutes to travel back to Ealdor on Aithusa's back. Although Arthur was less than happy with his sister, he was in a strange jokey mood. As Merlin supported Morgana in limping to the house, Arthur approached them with Gwaine at his side. Arthur was merrily whistling whilst swinging hand cuffs in his hand. He pushed one cuff onto Merlin's right wrist

"So you don't get lost," Arthur laughed sliding the other cuff onto Morgana's wrist. Morgana smirked as she submissively let Arthur lock the shackles.

"You think that will stop me," Morgana quietly murmured. Her voice was soft but yet hate was somehow etched into every syllable. Arthur had no right to chain her up. True he was the king and could do whatever he wanted but he was a tyrant just like his father.

Merlin bit his lip. There was an aurora around the cuffs which he knew and did not like at this precise moment. This stirred a memory and made Merlin feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I will break these chains." Morgana didn't need to say an incantation to get her eyes to flash gold and cast the spell. When she did cast the spell nothing happened.

"What did you to the cuffs?" Morgana fiercely inquired. Arthur just stared at Merlin. "You didn't enchant these shackles did you Emrys?"

"Morgana I-" Merlin began.

"You idiot!" Morgana exclaimed. Arthur was meanwhile muttering something to Gwaine. Neither Morgana nor Merlin was able to make it out.

"I will have to amputate your hand so we can get free," Merlin teased. "Don't worry you will only lose twenty-seven bones. You will still have a hundred and seventy-nine bones left in your body."

"If it's not something to worry about why aren't you offering to lose your hand?" Merlin flattened his hair (with his left hand) and thought carefully. He needed to be quick though as Morgana's eyes were burning into his.

"Because my umm... my right hand is my main hand. Without it my hands are useless... and I can't do anything.. and I am hopel-"

"Liar!" Morgana injected.

Whilst Merlin and Morgana had been bickering, Arthur had slyly slipped out the door. Merlin after a few minutes noticed the absence of his master and frowned. Morgana was still issuing threats and taunts to Merlin but he managed to lock eyes with Gwaine who was smiling away to himself. Merlin was extremely displeased at how his friend was amused at the position he had been put in.

"Arthur has gone back to Camelot you lovebirds. Carry on bickering though, there was a lot of sexual tension in it," Gwaine laughed.

Morgana opened her mouth, mortified. The priestess couldn't help thinking of all the awkward and horrible things she would have to endure if she was chained to Merlin for a week or so.

"I have the key," Gwaine simply said taking the key out of his pocket and waving it in front of the pair's noses.

"Pass that over!" Morgana viciously ordered.

If it had been any other person, Morgana would have knocked them unconscious without a seconds thought but she had developed a soft spot for Gwaine. He was beyond annoying: annoyingly jokey, annoyingly stupid, annoying manipulative and annoyingly ate apples all day long. These were only a few of his annoying traits and habits. Morgana also found him annoying charismatic and annoying charming. He could charm anyone into to liking him in a split second.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you Gwaine," Morgana assured. "Just pass me the key so things will not get nasty."

"I will kill you if you don't pass us the key," Merlin threatened.

Gwaine chuckled at Merlin's remark and smiled. His eyes were alight with a childish fever which no one could extinguish.

"I might pass you the key," Gwaine teased. He paused and pondered over his next words.

"Please the almighty Sir Gwaine," Morgana pleaded

"Please, old friend," Merlin begged. "Even Morgana is pleading which is a first."

"If you kiss each other on the lips," Gwaine finished.

Morgana was looking at Gwaine like she was looking at a troll. The look of disgust on her face couldn't be rivalled by anyone. She couldn't begin to comprehend how horrible it would be to kiss Merlin. It was only yesterday that Morgana had stated that she would rather 'kiss a swine' than kiss Merlin.

Merlin glanced hopefully at Morgana. A feeling was arousing in Merlin. This feeling was kicking in and pushing him to kiss Morgana. He was falling for someone who wasn't his type. Merlin was completely sure that they weren't compatible yet he felt strange. He wasn't too sure what the strangeness meant but had a vague idea in his mind.

"I think we should just kiss. You don't want to have to watch me emptying my bladder," Merlin uncomfortably whispered.

Morgana felt sickened by all the thoughts he had stirred in her mind and nodded in agreement. One small kiss was a lot easier than spending a whole week chained to the person who you 'hated the most in the whole world'.

Merlin took a deep breathe and counted to three. Then he gave Morgana a hasty kiss on her lips. Morgana had closed her eyes so that she could try and forget who was giving her the kiss. The brief kiss had been so brief and light that it wasn't a kiss just more a touching of the lips.

"You call that a kiss," Gwaine scoffed folding his arms. "Your lips didn't even make contact."

Morgana felt like slapping the knight. He was behaving more annoyingly than usual. He helping make her horrible dream of Merlin being a face eater come true. Yet it couldn't come true. Merlin and her had a neutral opinion about each other. They had even agreed an unspoken ceasefire for now.

"I suppose your idea of kissing is when two people eat each other's faces," Morgana hissed keeping as refined and calm as she could.

"Yes," Gwaine happily agreed.

"Get on with it then Emrys," Morgana snarled. "Or are too scared of me?"

Morgana was frozen to the spot as Merlin kissed her harshly. It was bitter yet it caused a certain wave of excitement to surge through her body. She wanted to kiss him passionately back but she couldn't. It wouldn't be right. Long ago they had denied the chance to become closer. He was a liar and deceiver-he couldn't be trusted. When they broke apart all Morgana felt was bitter remorse. It was too late for any relationship to begin. She had truly turned her back on love.

"Are you happy now?" Morgana snapped her eyes's teary. She was just able to hold back her tears. How Morgana hated tears and emotions. They made her feel vulnerable.

Merlin glared at Gwaine making his grin falter. The warlock felt as if the knight had purposely upset Morgana even though Gwaine was trying to help in his own twisted way.

"I only said MIGHT..." Gwaine teased. He was enjoying observing the sexual tension between Merlin and Morgana. For instance Merlin was over protective when anyone hurt or said something that upset Morgana. Morgana also snapped at Merlin for sometimes no apparent reason. She did snap at most people but not in the same way as she snapped at Merlin. They also spent the who time glaring at each other or giving each other death stares. Gwaine thought this was rather sweet and a way of showing each other how they really felt.

Merlin and Morgana didn't even realise the chemistry or feelings they had for each other. Anyone could notice it but either they acted oblivious to it or they really were oblivious. This was Gwaine's opinion, anyway.

The next chapter features Merlin and Morgana discovering something small, cute and noisy. Merlin will also go to Camelot so he can ask Gaius for advice.