Hey everyone. I'm back with a new chapter. Thanks to everyone who is reading this story and following and reviewing. I truly appreciate it! I want to thank Lady Cougar-Trombone, Nath8, Meri Ley, freshly caught Cornish pixies and sjritts for reviewing my last chapter. As always, you motivate me to keep going. Special thanks for sjritts who has been so kind to read this chapter and give me some advice. I hope you like this chapter and I'd like to know what you think. Enjoy!

Merlin woke up to a clattering sound. He immediately shot up out of bed trying to see where the danger came from. When he looked to the right, he looked straight into the eyes of a shocked Gwen. A broken vase was lying on the floor in front of her.

'Gwen?' He managed to utter. 'What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here!'

'Neither are you!' She hissed back, her voice betraying the shock she felt. 'Merlin, are you insane? The king will have your head if he finds out!'

Merlin opened his mouth to answer but closed it again, which made him look like a fish on land. Gwen shot a worried glance at Morgana, but she was still asleep. Finally Merlin found his voice again. 'It's not what you think.'

Gwen raised her eyebrows. 'Really?' She stretched out the last syllable, trying to show her disbelief. What other reasonable explanation could there possibly be for a servant to be in bed with the king's ward?

'Gwen, please. You can't tell anyone. It's not what it seems, but I can't explain right now. Just promise you won't tell the king. Please?' He spoke so quickly that he stumbled over his own words.

'Of course, Merlin. But you owe me an explanation.'

Before she could say anymore, Morgana woke up.

'Gwen?' She asked sleepily. 'What are you doing here? I thought I gave you the week off?'

The voice of her mistress forced Gwen to look away from Merlin and she quickly made a curtsy. 'I'm sorry my lady, but prince Arthur asked me to bring you flowers to wish you luck with your bet.'

'How kind of him.' Morgana muttered while she rolled her eyes. It was only then that she realized Merlin was still in the room and that Gwen looked like she had seen a flying pig.

'Merlin was just here to make sure that I was doing all right without you.' She offered as an explanation. Merlin groaned. He was bad at excuses, but Morgana was even worse.

Gwen gave her mistress a knowing smirk. 'Of course my lady. I don't know why I haven't thought of that explanation myself. It is very kind of Merlin to be so concerned about you.' Her eyes twinkled with a mischievous humour.

Morgana must have seen that her friend didn't believe her, because she gave Gwen a quick hug before sending her away. 'Thank you for the flowers, Gwen. Now go and enjoy your time off.'

'Yes, my lady.' Gwen responded with a last smile and left the room after giving Merlin another questioning glance. When the door closed behind her, Morgana let herself fall on the bed again.

'Checking up on you? That's the worst excuse I've ever heard!' Merlin said while he sat on the edge of the bed.

Morgana glared at him. 'If my excuse was so bad, why didn't you come up with something better yourself?'

Merlin ignored her remark. 'We're in deep trouble.'

'Gwen won't tell anyone.'

'No, but she'll be asking me questions until she has answers.'

Morgana shrugged. 'So think of something, apparently you know more about it than I.' She got up again and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. 'Don't worry so much. Just go and get some breakfast with Gaius, he must miss you.'

Merlin quickly got up, trying not to show his surprise that Morgana had kissed him again. 'Yeah, I will. Goodbye.' He mumbled before leaving the room and hurrying to his own room. Before he reached his destination, he bumped into Arthur.

'Merlin! Are you blind as well as stupid? Watch where you're walking!'

'Sorry sire.' Merlin answered, making a mock-bow.

Arthur looked at him warily. 'What has gotten you into such a good mood?'

'I'm just enjoying my week off.'

'Well, don't get too happy. We're leaving in an hour.' Arthur clapped him on the back before walking away.

'Wait! Where are we going?' Merlin asked curiously.

'We're going horse riding.'

'Why should I come with you? I'm not your servant, remember?' He asked smugly.

Arthur turned around again with a smile that couldn't mean anything good. 'Yes, Merlin. I do remember. But you will be my servant again next week, and the week after that, and the week after that. So unless you want me to make your life a living hell, you go with me on this trip and pretend to do it for your own pleasure. Do I make myself clear?'

Merlin sighed; he should have known that Arthur would find a way around the bet. 'Yes, Sire. I will be there.'

'Great. Enjoy your time off.' Arthur smiled one last time before leaving again. Merlin continued his way to Gaius when he was stopped yet again, but this time by Gwen. She quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.

'Gwen?' Merlin asked surprised.

'Merlin.' She responded with a small smile. 'So, are you going to tell me about this morning?'

He returned the smile, but in the mean time his mind was working very hard to come up with an explanation. He had expected her to question him, but not so soon.

'You don't believe Morgana, I take it?' He asked sheepishly.

'Merlin, I'm not an idiot. Something is going on between the two of you and if you like each other, then I'm really happy for you!'

'What? No! No, I don't like her that way at all.' He blurted out, trying to make it sound convincing. 'We're just friends. That's all.'

Gwen raised an eyebrow. 'Then what were you doing in her bed?'

Merlin scratched the back of his head before answering. 'It's not what you think, but I can't tell you right now.'

Gwen put a hand on his shoulder. 'Merlin, I'm your friend! You can tell me.'

He sighed. If only he could tell her the truth, how much easier things would be then. But he supposed it wouldn't hurt to tell part of the truth. 'I know she's having trouble sleeping properly, so I came to see how she was doing last night. We talked and I must have fallen asleep there.'

Gwen looked at him for a minute. 'That's it? You're sure?'

'Yeah, why wouldn't I be?' He saw that she still looked like she wasn't sure what to believe yet.

'Look, I have to go. Arthur has found a way to get me to ride out with him, even though he has promised not to use me as a servant.'

'Tell me about it. He has asked me to come as well. I don't know what to make of it.' Gwen said with a small laugh.

'Well, if you're coming it will be fun at least.' Merlin said with a smile, before finally making his way to Gaius again. When he opened the door, the physician looked up from a green leather volume he had been reading. 'Merlin! Where have you been? Lately I haven't seen you for more than a few seconds a day.'

'I'm sorry, I was just very busy doing chores for Arthur. Is there any breakfast left?'

Gaius folded his arms across his chest. 'I've heard about the bet between Arthur and the Lady Morgana. You're not supposed to be doing chores for Arthur.'

Merlin shrugged while he was chewing away on some bread. 'Even with the bet, he knows how to keep me busy.' He said between bites. 'I have to go.'

He almost made it to the door again when Gaius stopped him. 'Merlin.'

'Yes?'

'Are you sure you're okay?'

Merlin smiled. 'Never better' He responded, realizing that it was actually true. Despite Gwen finding him in Morgana's bed, he didn't feel like he was in trouble. Morgana seemed to get a grip on her magic and if the kisses were any indication, they were growing towards each other.

'I'm glad.' Gaius said, before focussing on his book again.

An hour later, Merlin found himself standing next to two horses. Gwen and Arthur were holding their own horses and were apparently waiting for someone. 'Arthur? What are we waiting for?'

Merlin asked a little bit annoyed that he had hurried for no reason.

'I'm sorry I kept you waiting.' He heard Morgana's voice behind him. She descended the stairs of the castle with a radiant smile.

'What are you doing here?' He blurted out, before realizing that they were in public. He quickly made a bow and added a shy 'My Lady.'

'I'm joining you on your little ride, Merlin. Arthur invited me to come with you.'

'Yes and now it's time to go.' Arthur said before helping Morgana into the saddle.

Merlin rolled his eyes at Gwen before following Arthur and Morgana into the woods.

They had been riding for half an hour, easily chatting and bantering, when suddenly a group of riders approached them. They were all dressed in black. Merlin saw Arthur's hand go to his sword but it was too late. An arrow barely missed Gwen's arm and fell on the ground in front of his horse. Arthur had already jumped of his horse and was fighting of the first couple of men, but there were more to come. Merlin saw Morgana drag Gwen with her to safety from the corner of his eyes but he focused more on the men in front of him. He took the sword from one of the bodies that Arthur had left in his wake and followed the prince into battle. He knew he was awful at sword-fighting, but he was good bait. Indeed, soon enough he was surrounded by four men, which gave Arthur the time to deal with the other five. When the men got close enough, Merlin softly whispered a spell, which knocked all of them out at once. When he looked to see how Arthur was doing, the prince was already making his way over to him. He actually looked surprised when he saw the men at Merlin's feet.

'I'm surprised, Merlin. Didn't think you had it in you.'

Merlin smiled but the smile faded when he looked at Morgana. She was looking at him with eyes full of hatred. Had she seen him use magic? Surely, she had been too busy with Gwen to notice him?

They rode back to the castle again, but the mood had darkened. Arthur was mad and worried because the bandits had come so close to Camelot. Gwen was just a little bit shaken and Morgana kept throwing murderous glances at Merlin. He tried to ignore them as well as he could, but every now and then he would see her look at him and he would quickly look away again.

When they arrived at the castle, Morgana immediately got off her horse and walked briskly up the stairs to disappear into the castle.

'What has gotten into her?' Arthur asked surprised.

'I'll see what's wrong.' Gwen offered before quickly following her mistress.

Arthur handed Merlin the reins of the horses and left for the castle as well, leaving Merlin to deal with the four horses. For once, he didn't mind. While he unsaddled the horses and brushed them, he kept repeating the moment in the woods. Was it possible that she had seen him? And if not, why else would she behave like this?

During supper, Gaius spoke up. 'Merlin, what has happened?'

Merlin tore his eyes away from his plate to meet his mentor's gaze. 'Nothing.'

'You're a really bad liar, Merlin.'

Merlin sighed and threw away his spoon on the table. 'I think Morgana knows. She knows I have magic. And she's furious.'

Gaius remained silent for a while. 'Are you absolutely certain?'

'I think so.' He answered miserably. 'Gaius, I don't know what to do.'

The physician looked at him with a sad smile. 'You don't have much of a choice, I'm afraid. You have to go and talk to her.'

'I don't think she wants to talk to me.' Merlin muttered.

'You have to try, Merlin. It is very dangerous to have a mad Morgana who knows about your magic.'

Merlin sighed and stood up. 'I know.'

He walked towards the door. 'If I'm not back in an hour, you have to come and get me out.'

Gaius just gave him a small smile. 'Good luck, Merlin.'

Merlin nodded and left the room. When he arrived at Morgana's door, he hesitated for a moment. If she was truly angry, his presence might make matters worse. Especially with her newfound magic. Still, he needed to know what she knew. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. He heard a muffled voice. 'Who is it?'

'It's Merlin.'

'Go away. I don't need you, just leave me alone.' Was the immediate response.

Merlin rested his head on the door. 'Morgana, please. Just let me in. We need to talk.'

'I don't have anything to say to you.'

'Then just listen. I'm not sure why you're so mad, but –'

Before he could finish his sentence, Morgana opened the door with such force that he almost fell inside the room. Her hair fell loosely down her shoulders and she was dressed in her sleeping attire. Yet, her eyes were blazing with fire and it was obvious that she hadn't been sleeping.

He quickly entered the room and she closed the door behind him with a loud crash. 'How can you say that?' She immediately demanded.

'Say what?' Merlin asked. This was not the way he had hoped things would go.

'That you don't know why I'm mad. I saw you Merlin. Today, with those bandits. I helped Gwen get to safety and then I looked at you to see whether you thought I should use magic. But I saw you. Your eyes turned gold and those men suddenly dropped down.'

'Morgana, I-' He tried to explain, but Morgana wouldn't hear of it.

'Don't tell me it's not what I think. I know what I saw. It was magic. You have magic! That's why you could teach me how to use my own magic. That's why you knew so much about it.' She paused to take a breath.

'You're right.' He said softly. 'I do have magic.'

Morgana took a step back as if he had slapped her. Tears started to form in her eyes. 'I knew it. How could you do that? All this time, I thought that I was alone. Why didn't you just tell me? It would have been so much easier if I knew that I wasn't the only one in Camelot with magic.' Her voice broke in the end.

'I wanted to tell you, I really did. I just couldn't. It was too dangerous for both of us.' Merlin responded, but he knew it sounded weak.

'What is that supposed to mean? You don't trust me?'

'No, that's not what I meant.' He started, but Morgana held her hands up.

'You know, I don't care what you meant. I thought you were there when no one else was. I trusted you. I guess I was wrong. You could have made it better, Merlin. You could have helped me, but instead you've only made it worse.'

Suddenly, his anger flared up. She was being incredibly unfair.

'You think that I wanted to keep this from you? You think you're the only one who feels alone. Do you have any idea what it's like to have to deal with the loneliness your entire life? I was born like this, Morgana! I've always felt alone and then I realized you had magic. I was so happy. Finally I could share my secret with someone. I've wanted to tell you so many times. But I couldn't take the risk. But don't you tell me about loneliness. Don't you dare. Don't tell me what it's like to feel scared and alone. I know what it's like. Probably better than you.'

He took a deep breath and watched Morgana for a reaction. Maybe he shouldn't have said those things, but he felt a lot better now that she finally knew what he had been going through.

He saw how her eyes hardened as she walked to the door. She opened it and looked at the ground. 'We're done here.'

He could feel his shoulders slump down. 'Morgana, please.'

'Get out, now!' She said sharply.

Merlin could feel the tears in his eyes well up and he quickly rubbed them away with his hands before walking out of the room. 'I'm sorry.' He whispered, but she just slammed the door close without replying.

He sighed and slowly made his way down the stairs.

'This has to stop.'

Merlin turned around to see Arthur leaning against the wall, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He pushed himself of the wall and walked towards Merlin.

'The king would have your head if he found out. There's no point denying it.'

Merlin eyed him warily. Had Morgana already told Arthur about his magic? Did the prince know his secret?

'Denying what?' He asked carefully.

'Your affections for the lady Morgana.' Arthur said quietly.

Despite his fall out with Morgana, he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. His secret was still safe for now. 'Right.' He said before walking away again.

Arhur quickly stopped him by putting a hand on his arm.

'She can't be your friend. Alone anything else.' Arthur said with more compassion than he usually showed.

Merlin swallowed away the lump that had formed in his throat.

'I know. You don't have to worry. I don't think I'll ever see her again. Not as a friend, not as anything. I don't think we'll ever speak again.' He said honestly.

Arthur's eyes softened. 'I take it things did not go well?' He asked carefully.

Merlin let out a bitter laugh. 'You could say that.'

'I'm sorry, Merlin. I truly am.'

'Thank you.' He said with a little bit of wonder, surprised to see Arthur showing his caring side.

Arthur clapped him on the back. 'No problem. That's what friends are for.' He pulled on Merlins arm and started to walk.

'Friends?' Merlin asked with a smile.

'Don't look so happy. I need to have an excuse to have you around this week. Next week you can polish my armour, clean my chamber, mend my clothes.'

He continued his list, but Merlin did not listen anymore. Things might have gone wrong with Morgana, but at least he still had Arthur and his endless chores. Some things would never change.