Merlin turned his head around, almost losing his composure when his gaze fell onto blond, curly long hair, fair skin and a face he had hoped to never see again in his life.

"Morgause."

Why? Why was Morgause here? Morgause was supposed to be dead.. Well, in his own world the woman was dead, but why wasn't she dead in this world? Was she still alive because Morgana was still in Camelot? He had never gotten an answer as to why Morgana hadn't turned bitter and hateful in this world either.. Had she never met Morgause? Was Morgause the reason for why this worlds Merlin had grown so bitter, cold and hateful instead? What was the connection between this worlds Merlin, and this woman? Had she come to the sanctuary after it was made, or did she have a hand in building it? What was her role in this place? Had he met her after he fled, or before? Did she ever show Arthur what had happened with his mother? Had she even challenged Arthur in this world? He had so many questions, and all these questions desperately needed an answer. He needed to know these things, he didn't know how to react to her. He didn't know what to say, or how to respond.

He still held resentment in his heart for this woman, because all that she had done to his own world, and for playing such a major role on darkening Morgana's heart. But it was evident that he was supposed to be close to this woman, in some form or way, and now this woman expected an answer as to why he had been in Camelot. Hell, the Merlin she knew had been gone for over thirteen days, and he didn't have a single clue what he had been doing prior to his disappearance. He hadn't even thought up a decent excuse for his absence either.

His thoughts continued to race through his mind as he found himself answering the question he had been posed. Before he managed to stop himself, a reply left his mouth. "I wanted to see Morgana, that's why I went there." His heart was pounding rapidly in his chest as he unknowingly held his breath. Judging from his dreams, he had been close to Morgana.. It's the only remotely believable thing he could say when put on the spot like that.

"And did you manage to see her?" Morgause responded, seeming to accept the excuse Merlin had provided. He offered up a nod in response. "I did."

"You should have told me before you left. You've had us worried sick ever since your sudden disappearance. We nearly marched our army upon Camelot after we heard of your capture, in order to try to rescue you. I know that you do not wish for that to happen, but you know what would happen to this place if you were executed. Camelot would destroy this place, and everyone would be slaughtered for who they are. We've talked about this before. You need to stop being so reckless, and you need to put this place before yourself. If only you would listen to my suggestion, then we would not have to worry about the Pendragons any further." Morgause lectured, yet she managed to project a hint of concern in her voice, as if she cared about him.

Her statements simply didn't sit right with him, though. It completely contradicted what Morgana had seen in her dreams. She had seen Camelot destroyed after his death, not the sanctuary meeting it's demise.

"Arthur will see reason, I am sure of it, and I made a promise to Morgana as well." Merlin spoke, drawing on knowledge he had learned through his visions.

"Pendragons will never see reason. Arthur is just like his father, and the sooner you realize this, the sooner we can ensure the safety of our kind. Stop being so naive, Merlin. I know he was once your friend, but he stopped being that the moment he took the life of your mother." Morgause half-way snapped in response, seeming rather keen to remind him of what had happened, perhaps to keep him in check.

He fell silent as thoughts were beginning to churn in his head.

Things were starting to make sense now. If he had met Morgause after he fled Camelot, and Morgause harbored the same hatred for Uther as she had in his own world? Morgause would have been able to catch him in a vulnerable state, and losing his mother would only have proved her right. He was a victim of circumstance, just as Morgana had been. He wasn't a monster, and he wasn't evil. He had been in need of guidance, he had been desperate for a place where he belonged and he had been desperate for acceptance. Morgause must've provided him with all these things when he was at his most vulnerable. She had used him, twisted his mind, and fed him lies, just as she was doing now. She had alienated him from Gaius, turning him against his mentor and planting feelings of resentment only to watch it grow within the young warlock. She must've fed him lies about Arthur, but it seemed like it hadn't gone exactly like she had planned. She had probably kept him from seeing them as well.

It could have been him. This could have been his reality had he made the wrong choices, whatever those were. He realized now that he wouldn't have to act like a different person. All of this had been Morgause all along, just like it had been with Morgana. She was driving him down the wrong path, making friend into foe, creating enemies where the previously had been none.

This could also explain Merlin's reaction to finding Morgana dead in the woods. It could explain why he had marched on Camelot, wanting to find Arthur, to kill him for what he had done. This worlds Merlin cared greatly for Morgana, and her death, even as Arthur's sister, would have proved Morgause right. It would have proved to him that Pendragons could never change or see reason, and that they would even kill their own family because they possessed Magic. It would have set him off, and sent him to 'do what he should have done a long time ago'. It made sense. It was twisted and wrong, but it made sense.

Morgause must've also known that Merlin was Emrys. He was the only thing that stood in the way of her marching an army of sorcerers upon Camelot in order to slay Arthur. Even in this world, where he was Arthur's supposed enemy, he had unknowingly kept Arthur safe from harm, and that was simply because of who he was and what he could do. Not to mention, the people that resided here seemed to follow him, and not Morgause. He doubted that she would have tried to rescue him at all, he rather suspected that the woman had been quite happy at the news of his capture. He was currently the only thing that stood in her way, and his death would have benefited her greatly. He couldn't know for sure, but these theories made sense to him, but if it turned out to be true? Then he had been used, and the mere thought of that angered him greatly.

"Merlin, have you been listening anything I've been saying?" The woman questioned, snapping him back to reality.

"Huh, what?" Merlin let out as a response, offering the woman a rather confused gaze. She let out a mildly irritated sigh, shaking her head lightly. "It does not matter, I'll handle it myself. You must be tired from your ordeal. You should head to your chambers and rest." She stated, making it sound like a suggestion, when it was more like an order. She stepped away from the doors, in order to allow him free passage into the building.

"That sounds like a good idea, I am tired after all" he awkwardly let out in response, finding himself subjected to a somewhat suspicious gaze from the woman.

"How did you escape, by the way?" Morgause questioned, keeping a keen eye on his facial expression.

"I had some help. I guess someone didn't wish to see me burned at the pyre." He spoke in a matter-of-fact manner. He didn't wish to tell her that it had been Morgana, in case she knew of her ability to see the future.

"All right.. Off you go, then."

He gave her a smile, although it wasn't an earnest one, before he disappeared inside the building.

The building's interior was just as plain as it's exterior. He found himself wandering, as he didn't have a single clue as to where his chambers were located. He carefully peeked inside a few doors, making sure that nobody spotted him. He eventually found a room that was somewhat messy, and had a few of his clothing items scattered around on the floor. He supposed that this world's Merlin wasn't one for keeping his own chambers neat or tidy either. Thinking about it, there really shouldn't be much of a difference between him and his counterpart. They had the same upbringing, as far as he knew, though their worlds were quite different from each other, so there should still be a few differences between them. He dumped the knapsack onto the floor, not bothering to change his ways, considering how he appeared to have been just as messy in this world, as he was in his own. It looked like he had objected to having a servant, which was rather lucky for him, or else he would never have found this room.

He dragged himself towards the bed, pulling off his shoes before he fell flat down onto his back with a soft thud. The bed was soft, almost like floating on clouds. He didn't bother to get himself changed, and he didn't bother to bathe himself either.

He was exhausted, and perhaps if he slept, he could make sense of everything once he was fully rested.

It did not take long before the young warlock fell asleep, sleeping more deeply than he had in a long while.

And then the visions returned.