"Riiight." He drops onto the ground, still keeping a safe distance from her. "Well, that's comforting, I suppose?" He picks up a letter opener that lies on the windowsill, then does a double take as he looks back at her. "Oh, Morgana, you're crying."
They're enemies, Merlin tries to remind himself, it's a trick, a trap, that's if she's really there at all. But the tears dripping down her face render all his words into nothing. He drops the blade and steps towards her, reaching for her. She takes a step, and stops just short of him, wiping her eyes with the edge of her blanket.
"I came to say I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything I've done." Her voice cracks and wavers as she continues. "I just want to come home, Merlin. Please, I just want to come home."
"You're shaking," Merlin says, taking in her frail appearance. The twigs of her wrists are painful to look at.
"I'm so cold."
"Here, just..." Merlin puts a hand on her shoulder, guides her into the bed still warm from his body. She doesn't resist as he tucks the blankets up around her seated form. He sits on the edge of the bed, clothes rumpled and hair messed, rubbing sleep from the corners of his eyes. "What are you doing here?" he asks her.
"I'm sorry," her tear streaked eyes are so heartbreakingly familiar to him. "I know I've done...wrong. I've done horrible, evil things, but I want to make amends. Pay allegiance to my king. To Arthur."
"Then...why didn't you go to him? Why come to me?" Merlin questions.
She looks straight into his deep blue eyes - a mistake, as she immediately feels dizzy. "If I went to Arthur, he wouldn't listen to me. He'd have me locked up or killed before I could say a word. I came to you because I trust you. Because I thought you'd listen to me."
Merlin looks back to her, realising the truth of her words. She's right that there aren't many in the castle who'd listen to her any more: in fact, he might be the only one.
He needs to decide whether he can trust her, and now. Merlin takes a deep breath and looks down at her. It's ridiculous to trust someone who's tried to kill him and the people he loves multiple times, but he knows that he does trust her, implicitly. A spark of hope lights in his heart - this is what he's wanted for so long. Who is he to deny it now?
"I am listening to you," he says.
It seems to Merlin that Morgana sinks with relief, the visible tension she'd held in her body leaving her in an instant.
"So you'll help me?" she asks.
"Yes, but...it might take time. Arthur won't be keen to listen, not at first. If you gave me some time to work on him -"
Morgana nods, knowing the truth in his words. "Yes, of course. That makes sense. I want him to know...I just want him to know I'm sorry." She gives a faint smile. "I want to see Gwen again. She must make a magnificent queen."
Merlin smiles proudly. "She does."
They are silent. Merlin looks out of the window, realising that he's slept late despite Morgana's waking and he'd better hurry if he wants to get to Arthur on time, so as not to raise suspicion. He stands. Morgana's eyes follow him.
"Can I stay here? Until Arthur agrees to see me?"
Merlin hadn't considered this. "Here-in-this-room here?"
"Well, not if you don't want - it's just, if nobody can know I'm here, I've nowhere else to go."
He gives a nod. "Of course you can. Will you be alright her for today? I'll bring you some water to wash and then I'll have to go. Gaius will be around, it'd be best if you didn't leave the room, probably."
"That's fine." Morgana looks down and Merlin turns to go, hand on the door.
"Merlin?" she asks suddenly.
"Mm?"
Morgana looks awkward, doesn't meet his eyes. "If you didn't have to go, quite yet...I'm so cold, is all. Maybe you could help me get warm?"
Merlin hesitates, unsure what she's asking. "Um. I really do need to go, Morgana."
"Yes, of course you do. I'm sorry."
"Morgana?"
She looks up, meeting his eyes again. Merlin gives the door a push and can't stop a grin from spreading over his face. "It's good to have you back," he says.
She laughs, quietly. "Thank you, Merlin."
Merlin whistles as he leaves Gaius' chambers on his way to serve Arthur's breakfast. He feels happier than he has in a long time.