Happy New Year's Eve everyone! Looks like this will be my last story posted for 2013. :) That was one fast year. I hope you enjoy this chapter-I've been rewatching Merlin from season 1, and one thing that struck me was how clumsy/awkward (but ADORABLE) Merlin could be at times. So I tried to display that here as he fumbles through his apology to Morgana. Feedback is very much appreciated! :)

...and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!

~Sara

Morgana sat up, startled.

Who would be knocking at her door at this hour? Groaning, she threw off her covers, wincing as her feet made contact with the cold floor. She was hoping to put an end to this day already. When Merlin hadn't showed up last night, she had been angry. Angry and…disappointed. Merlin had seemed reluctant about meeting her. Maybe he knew he didn't have the answers to her questions. Still, it wasn't like him to not keep his promises unless he had a good reason.

And when she had seen him earlier today, her irritation had only increased. She had almost wished he had approached her, explaining himself. She probably would have snapped at him, but she was strangely disappointed when he held back, looking sheepish. So she continued being irritable for the rest of the day. Even Gwen had noticed.

Not bothering to put on her robe, she shuffled to the door and unlatched it. To her surprise, Merlin stood there with his hands behind his back.

"Merlin. What are you doing here?" Morgana kept the door cracked.

"I…uh…well…" Merlin stuttered as he brought out the flowers he had been hiding. "I wanted to say that I'm…"

The rest of his sentence was cut off as Morgana shut the door on him. She knew she was being unfair. He looked so miserable standing there, holding those flowers out to her. Not more than five seconds had passed before Merlin attempted to knock again.

"Morgana, I'm really sorry. Really. Just let me explain."

Morgana hesitated, her hand gripped on the door handle. Why was it so hard for her to forgive? It was just easier staying angry, she supposed. Angry at Uther…angry that she had been born with magic…angry that she still hadn't found peace…

"Er, Morgana…please open the door?"

Oh, it was useless. Who could stay mad at Merlin for very long? She grabbed her robe and slowly opened the door again.

"Well, do you have an explanation?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"Um, sort of. But would you mind if I came in? I know this sounds wrong, but I don't want anyone to see us…you know?"

"Fine."

Once Merlin was inside, he held out the flowers once again.

"Please, take them. I know flowers don't in any way make up for what I did…but I'd feel better if you took them."

"Would you?"

"They're lavender…you like the color purple!"

If she hadn't been so furious at the moment, Morgana would have laughed. Merlin looked like a little boy as he held out those flowers to her. Clearly he was baffled and not sure how to apologize to a girl.

"First, tell me why you didn't come last night."

"Well, there's this new apprentice Gaius is training, and he arrived unexpectedly…and um, he had to sleep in my room…so…I couldn't sneak out! It was too risky…and…"

"You forgot."

"What? No! I didn't..." Merlin trailed off, his cheeks reddening. "Okay, I forgot," he confessed, wincing. "There was just so much going on, and Rowan wanted to talk. But there's no excuse…I completely forgot, Morgana, and I'm sorry."

An awkward silence followed. Merlin cleared his throat. "How long did you wait?" he asked in a small voice.

"Two hours...and seventeen minutes exactly."

"Oh. Well, now I feel even more terrible."

"You should. It was cold."

"Morgana, I wouldn't blame you if you never spoke to me again...I-"

"Merlin, stop rambling. What's done is done. You clearly had more important responsibilities."

"I got distracted. Once Rowan started talking…"

"What was so riveting? I didn't know you were so interested in medicine."

"I…well…he knows a lot…and he was talking so much that I lost track of time…"

Morgana studied Merlin closely as he continued to fumble on. If she didn't know better, he was hiding something from her. Or maybe it was just her imagination.

"…he was explaining how to mix these certain elements together…and when he gets started on something he just keeps going. I mean, I thought I was bad…and...I'm rambling again." Merlin walked a few steps closer. Morgana instinctively backed away, her defenses up. She wouldn't make it that easy.

"He's a Druid," Merlin whispered.

"He's a…what?"

"A Druid. He's been sent here because of me. He's been having these nightmares…like the ones you have…and apparently I've been in them."

"He has the gift of prophecy too?"

"Yes, but you can't tell anyone. I promised him I wouldn't tell a soul."

"Then why are you telling me?"

"Because I trust you, Morgana."

"Oh." Morgana briefly looked down, not wanting to meet his gaze. Her defenses were breaking down, one by one. "So…why has he been sent here again? Because you've been in these dreams?"

Merlin nodded. "But he won't tell me what he's dreamed of…says he can't, so I have no idea. But it doesn't sound very promising."

Concern lined Morgana's brow. "What do you mean? Are you in danger?"

"I don't know…but I might be. He says he's been sent to protect me."

Morgana suddenly grasped his arm. "I'll stop sleeping with the bracelet on. Maybe then I'll have the same vision!"

Merlin looked wistful for a moment but then shook his head. "No, Morgana. He says if I know what will happen, that I'll try to change whatever is about to come."

"Isn't that good though? Don't you want to know what's about to come so you can avoid it?"

"See, that's the thing. If I try to change the future, something worse might happen. At least the Druids seem to think so."

"But they sent Rowan to look after you?"

"Rowan's involved somehow. He keeps saying his role is important, but I just don't know how yet."

"So that's why you didn't show up last night. You were too preoccupied. Merlin, I'm so sorry."

Merlin grinned. "You're sorry? Well, there's a twist. I'm the one who's supposed to be sorry."

"I'm afraid for you. If the Druids risked one of their own by sending him to Camelot of all places, there's something wrong."

Merlin's smile faded. "I know."

"I want to help you, Merlin, like you've been helping me. I don't see the harm in-"

"No," Merlin said firmly. "I shouldn't have even told you any of this, especially since you've been having trouble controlling your powers."

"Maybe this Druid can help me. We both have the same gift."

Morgana noticed the panicked expression that crossed Merlin's face. What was it...fear? Regret…that he had told her?

"I wish he could, but I don't think it would be wise. He's already risking his life for me…"

"Of course, I understand."

The sound of footsteps in the corridor put them on their guard. They relaxed slightly when the steps faded.

"Yeah, well…I guess I should go before we get caught."

"Are you going to let me take those?" Morgana asked as she held out her hand.

"Take what? Oh, the flowers! I forgot I was still holding them. Here."

"They're lovely, Merlin. Thank you. And you're right, I do love the color purple."

Merlin grinned. "Thanks for understanding. And you know I'm really sorry, right?"

"I know. Just don't let it happen again," Morgana nudged him playfully.

"Never."

Uh-oh. He had that look in his eyes. He hadn't kissed her since that time a few months back when he had unexpectedly pulled her behind a curtain. She knew he tended to be shy at times, but sometimes she wished he wasn't so reticent with her. Being the King's Ward probably didn't help matters. But now that he was looking at her like that…it made her feel self-conscious. She reached up and tucked back a stray piece of hair.

She laughed softly. "I must look quite the sight. I wasn't exactly prepared for visitors." Her chuckle sounded unnatural even to her own ears.

"You do look quite the sight, but not in the way you think."

Morgana felt herself blushing and wanted to kick herself. She hated blushing…it made her feel like a silly child. She needed to think of a witty comeback…something!

"Surely you can do better than that?" she said, regaining control quickly, although not completely satisfied with the words that came out of her mouth. What had she just said?

"I…what?" Merlin asked, tilting his head to the side. "You know what, I can."

Before she knew it, Merlin had leaned in and kissed her, making her forget how angry she had been with him just minutes before.

They could make it through this. They had to.