"The stairs creak as I sleep,
it's keeping me awake

It's the house telling you to close your eyes"

Morgana glanced over to Merlin who appeared not to be getting any sleep. It had been many months since he took her to her room after a horrific nightmare. It came to be that the plague was caused by Arthur's killing of a unicorn. Merlin and Arthur had resolved the issue but the result of the ordeal was Gwen's father's death. There seemed to be a tiny rift between the servants and their masters, but Arthur and Morgana never ceased to make Gwen feel comfortable. Merlin turned his head and found Morgana staring directly at him. He smiled curtly before jerking his head back down to the table. The servant was obviously exhausted.

"Arthur, Merlin needs to the night off. He looks miserable." Morgana whispered to the boy who was best described as her brother. He stopped stuffing his face only for a moment to check on his the boy. Merlin was holding his head in his hands and Gwen was reaching across the table rubbing his hands. Morgana's gut clenched for a moment. Gwen and Merlin were always together, she was curious if perhaps they were seeing each other when they didn't work. She had to convince herself that Arthur worked Merlin far too hard for such a thing to be possible.

"I'll dismiss him after dinner, Morgana." Arthur concluded. She hated that he wouldn't do it now while Merlin struggled to stay awake at the table. She looked down at her plate. She was not very hungry to begin with but had managed to nearly clear her plate. Arthur was on his seconds and Uther was reviewing some scrolls while he dined and hadn't even finished half of his plate. She threw back the chalice filled with lemon water. If Arthur would not dismiss him now she would do it for him.

She swayed to and fro as she approached the end of the table where Gwen and Merlin sat. Uther looked up to his ward but was undisturbed by his sudden movement. He wished her farewell and to sleep well. Morgana knew sleeping wasn't an option for her but she hoped it was for poor Merlin.

"Merlin, Gwen – you are both excused for the evening." Gwen curtsied to the lady. She offered to escort Morgana to her room but she insisted she could help herself. As for Merlin he didn't budge right away. Gwen nudged him as she left the dining hall and thanked Morgana once more.

"I'll escort you to you room, Merlin." Merlin registered her statement this time. He turned his chin up at to her and there were dark bags under his eyes. Arthur might not have noticed this as sleep deprivation and assumed he was simply looking more pale and thin than usual. He wouldn't put one and two together mostly because he didn't seem to care about Merlin as deeply as perhaps she did.

Morgana held open the door for Merlin, which she supposed Arthur was damning from his seat. He always thought that Morgana didn't understand the boundaries between the royal family and their servants. She was always kind, always helpful, to those who were supposed to be doing work for her. Arthur didn't hate it because it was noble of her to care so much for the people around her; he never ceased to tell her this. However, he said that sometimes she blurred the lines of what was acceptable and what was not.

Morgana didn't take Merlin's hand for fear that someone might see. She wasn't scared that she'd be judged for liking Merlin, just worried the reputation it would bring since it was not allowed. Their status separated their ability to really express any attraction. Although, Morgana couldn't really speak for Merlin since she didn't know if he was at all fond of her romantically. Morgana could admit that she found herself paying more and more attention to Merlin daily. She found herself attracted to him as a result of noticing the amazing little things.

Merlin and Morgana were far from the sight of others in the dark stairwell that would lead them to Merlin and Gaius' quarters. She stopped walking and put her hand on Merlin's shoulder. He paused and turned to her. His sweet and sincere smile decorated his lips and Morgana found herself leaning slightly forward. Her mind was drifting to the sweet dreams she experienced from time to time.

"Are you alright, Merlin? You look awful." She asked while maintaining uninterrupted eye contact. Merlin seemed to be leaning in as well. He did take a step up nearer to her. She could smell some of the herbs he worked with on his clothes. He must have helped Gaius prepare antidotes that afternoon. She tried to remain composed.

"It's difficult to sleep at night. I find myself distracted by the noises the castle makes. I hear stones tumble, stairs creak, it's as though I've lost my mind." Merlin sighed. His eyes fluttered closed for a second. He rest his head on the stone for a moment but was promptly pulling himself upright. "But these aren't your troubles, m'lady, I shouldn't burden you with them."

Morgana took Merlin's hand and kept him near as she walked him to the door that she would inevitably leave him standing at for the evening. She hated to part him in this state. She waited for him to let her hand free but they ended up watching each other in silence for several minutes. It was not awkward as it might have been with anyone else. Eventually Morgana used her free hand to cup Merlin's cheek and rub her thumb over his brow.

"It's not madness, Merlin. It's the castle telling you to go to sleep. Your imagination is best used in your dreams." His lips parted in silly sort of realization. Morgana stepped closer to him and had every intention of kissing him but sounds from behind the chamber's door startled her. She smiled at him and bowed slightly before heading back to her room. When the lady took a quick peek behind her Merlin was still standing there looking at the spot where she had just stood.