Merlin stood frowning in the middle of Morgana's chambers. She was sobbing into Gwen's shoulder while King Uther glared around the room.

"I don't understand." said the King, turning back to Morgana. "What happened?"

"The candle! It... erupted." said Morgana, shoving her face into Gwen's neck, who hushed her and pet her hair. Merlin said nothing and neither did Arthur, who only looked around the burnt room in confusion. Morgana's curtains had caught fire many times before, but only this time did it seem so much worse. Not only had the flames burnt her curtains, but some of her clothes and the canapé of her four-poster bed had been singed as well. Along with all that, her window had been blown out too. Of course, Merlin understood why, yet no one else did and he was forced to keep quiet about it.

Well, that wasn't quite true. Gaius also understood but it was he who was refusing to let Merlin tell her... Just tell her! She had the right to know. She was scared and alone and she was Merlin's friend, but Gaius did not care. It was happening more lately, the fires. Though this one was the only one bad enough to alert the King. It had been Arthur who brought the matter to the King. That Prat, but he did not understand what it was and it was driving Merlin insane that he couldn't just tell her. He and Gaius had fought about it too many times to count. So much so, that Gaius had warned Merlin that he would take serious action if he told Morgana anything. It wasn't right that he did not at least comfort her... Even if that meant keeping his own magic a secret from her. As long as he could help. He was already keeping it from Arthur and everyone else in Camelot… Though it only felt wrong not telling the prince... for stupid reasons Merlin refused to think about anywhere, let alone in the middle of Morgana's burnt chambers. Needless to say, Merlin found no hardship in keeping his secret from Gwen, if that meant anything at all.

"It was sorcery." whispered Uther and Merlin thought it was funny just how right he was and yet so wrong. "We must alert the Knights. Arthur, I want Morgana's room heavily guarded."

The Royals left after that, leaving Merlin to stand there and watch as Gwen comforted Morgana. He wished he could help soothe her, but it didn't feel right as the only way to truly help her, Merlin was barred from taking. It was only so long until she figured it out for herself. Magic didn't just go away if you ignored it. It built up inside. This is what Gaius didn't seem to understand or care to. It will inevitably all come rushing out and Merlin feared for what would happen when it will. If it was not controlled… If Morgana didn't learn how to use it and control it, who was to know what was to happen? Surely Gaius had to know this. He had to understand. It was from Gaius whom Merlin had learned so much about magic. Why was he denying the king's ward the same assistance that he had provided him?

The door to Morgana's chambers opened and Merlin glanced over to see Gaius walk in. He did not meet Merlin's eyes as he entered and Merlin had a pretty good idea why. Gaius knew exactly what Merlin was thinking and he didn't want to deal with it. He didn't want to have that argument again. Well, too bad.

"My Lady, I brought you a potion to help calm your nerves." said Gaius as he approached her. Morgana lifted her head off of Gwen's shoulder and stared at Gaius. "It will help you get some rest... after your long night."

"I don't want any more potions Gaius. They don't help!" said Morgana, her troubled eyes running with tears. Gaius frowned.

"I assure you, this one will." he told her. He smiled then and offered her the vial. When she did not extend her hand to take it, Gwen received it for her.

"Thank you, Gaius." she smiled kindly. "I will make sure she takes it."

"We will leave you to rest." said Gaius and then he finally turned to look at Merlin. He gestured with his eyebrows towards the door and a wordless and irritated Merlin, accompanied him out of the room. They didn't speak at all until back in Gaius' chambers where, as soon as the door was shut behind them, Merlin went off.

"Uther thinks it's sorcery." said Merlin and Gaius pretending he had something important to do fled to his worktable and did not turn back. "And he is right!... For once, he is right. It is magic...hers!"

"You hardly know for certain it was magic. Arthur might be right about it being lightning." Gaius proceeded to thumb through the first book he could find.

"Gaius!" argued Merlin, shaking his head at a loss. He and Gaius disagreed sometimes, but never like this. Never over something so important. "You know what it is as well!"

"I do not..." retorted Gaius, slamming the book onto the table. "We can only assume for now. Morgana has no idea what magic might feel like. Right now she can only guess."

"BECAUSE IT IS!" Merlin shouted. He was done, done being nice. "She knows it's magic and she's scared... more scared than she is letting on. She cannot trust herself. She doesn't know when it will happen again or what triggers it and fear... fear of it happening only makes it worse."

"You don't know that for certain."

"I do!" Merlin slumped into the nearest chair.

Gaius turned back and glared at him then. "And what do you think I should do Merlin? Tell her she has magic? Train her to use it?" retorted Gaius. "So that Uther can find out and have us both executed for high treason?"

"Uther doesn't have to know!" said Merlin. Gaius' eyes grew darker as Merlin spoke. "He doesn't know about me..."

"You are not his ward, Merlin. He doesn't spend time with you as he does with Morgana."

"She has the right to know what she is, Gaius."

"Perhaps... but it is not our right to tell her."

Gaius picked up his medicine bag and flung it over his arm, eyeing Merlin warily, and then marched out of the physician's chambers. Merlin watched him go, more annoyed with Gaius than he ever wished to be. Merlin left too. He needed to bring lunch to Arthur before he forgot again, like he often did, but it was not Merlin's fault. He always had so many things on his mind. Half of them were about Arthur anyway. So really, it was Arthur's fault.

Merlin stopped by the kitchen, picked up some food, and then headed toward Arthur's chambers. He wondered if Arthur would even be there after today's events. Merlin thought he might still be with the Knights or with Uther going over their plans for finding this sorcerer that didn't really exist. Merlin walked into Arthur's chambers to find the man sitting at his desk, leaning against it with both arms, face hidden in his hands. Merlin walked in silently and placed the food down in front of him.

He didn't move but Merlin knew Arthur knew he was there. He had shifted a little, as if to look up but decided against it in the end. Arthur let out a long sigh. "My Father wants Knights posted outside of Morgana's windows each night." said Arthur without looking up. "He seems to think the Sorcerer broke the window and cast a spell from the ground since there was no one seen anywhere near Morgana's chambers and Morgana says her room was empty."

"I suppose that makes sense..." Merlin trailed off and Arthur looked up then, shaking his head.

"It does not make sense." he retorted. "How would a Sorcerer know that that window was to Morgana's chambers? What could they have wanted with her, and if they were powerful enough to break the window and start a fire inside, why not just enter?"

"I don't know, Arthur." Merlin said, but he knew Arthur was right. It didn't make sense… because there was no sorcerer.

"Do you think it's possible?"asked Arthur..

Merlin frowned and struggled to answer, because yes, it was probably possible, but it was still not the truth. "The window was blown outwards because the glass was found on the ground below. If it were broken from the outside the glass would have gone into the room, not out."

Arthur stare at him then, eyes traveling over Merlin's face for a second. "So, you think someone was inside of her room?"

Merlin shrugged. "I have no idea..."

Arthur frowned and stood up, not even bothering to look at his food. He walked around his desk and came to stand rather close to Merlin. "It might not have been magic at all. You thought it was lightning at first. It was your Father who thought it was magic... He might be wrong." Merlin stammered out in discomfort.

"My Father smells something off in the wind and thinks it's magic, I know that," he admitted. "but I am worried about Morgana. I worry something might happen to her if he is right. Even if I think he is wrong, who am I to know?"

Merlin smiled then, trying to cheer him up just a little bit. He didn't take pleasure seeing him worried. Merlin could be worried for the both of them. "A Prat who thinks he knows everything."

Arthur paused and glared at Merlin, but it looked as if some of the stress left his face and a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes. "Shut up."

Merlin grinned mischievously. "No, I don't think I will."

Arthur rolled his eyes and turned back toward his desk, picking up his lunch platter. "I was thinking..." he said and Merlin watched and waited for him to continue speaking. Arthur made it through half a leg of chicken before finally continuing. "You should bring Morgana some flowers... She likes that. It might cheer her up."

Merlin tried to hide his laugh at that. Instead of laughing out loud, he smirked at Arthur. "Why don't you bring her flowers?"

"Because I never pick flowers and she knows it!" said Arthur then. "Besides... It is more of your thing… or Gwen's. At least once a week I see either or both of you with flowers. I have no idea what you do with them."

"We look at them." retorted Merlin, glaring at Arthur. Though Merlin was hardly mad. He never found himself angry at Arthur, not really. Unless it was over something important.

"Who the hell wants to look at a dying plant all day?" Arthur's genuine confusion is obvious beneath the false distain.

"The same person who looks at you all day!"

"I'm not sure that makes sense Merlin."

On the pretense that Merlin was going to pick flowers for Morgana, he left Arthur's chambers. However instead of going flower picking, Merlin returned to Gaius' chambers to see if he had finished blowing off some steam on his pretend rounds yet. He had not. Merlin walked in anyway. He had no real reason to be there, but if anyone asked he did live here. He was also waiting around to see if Gaius would come back, because Merlin wanted to talk again... not about telling Morgana the truth, but about possibly creating a distraction to take Uther off Arthur's back about the Sorcerer, who didn't exist, in Morgana's chambers. Merlin knew how Uther got. He would go crazy and make Arthur do stupid things like chase shadows in the woods. Merlin was not looking to spend three days in the woods again.

Perhaps, if Merlin dressed up in different clothing, or used magic to change his appearance and stirred up a fuss, maybe that would get Uther off of both Arthur and Morgana's backs.

The door to Gaius' chambers opened then and Merlin looked up, but it was not Gaius who entered. It was Morgana. Merlin's eyes widened, because he didn't think he should be left alone with her right now. The feelings were too raw within for him to hold his tongue. He had never been surer about anything before. He should help her, but he couldn't go against Gaius' wishes. Gaius was older. Gaius had to know best… Right? Merlin was not sure anymore.

"Where is Gaius?" she asked when she saw Merlin standing there. Merlin shook his head because he really didn't know where he was. "When will he be back...?"

"Um..." Merlin mumbled, shrugging again. "I don't know." She frowned then, looking very troubled and Merlin saw tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "Soon! He should be back in a few minutes." he lied. She didn't perk up any. This was a very dangerous situation for him because he hated seeing her upset, but he couldn't do anything about it. "Is... Is there something I can help you with?"

She shook her head. "I don't think so." she whispered. "I just need to speak to him."

"About what happened in your chambers last night?" he asked. He wanted to kick himself after. She looked up at him with green eyes so bright with sadness. She nodded. "Gaius doesn't know what it was either."

"It was-" but then she stopped herself, pulling herself together a little bit. She put on her usual not-to-be-trifled-with look. The one she normally gave to Arthur when she glared at him. "I wouldn't want to bore you. You have other things to do than listen to me go on about my problems."

"You're my friend, Morgana." said Merlin, and he really meant it. "I care about you."

Her face dropped then, eyes lowering down, no longer meeting his and she released a long breath. "It was me, Merlin... You know it was."

He did know that, but he couldn't say. "What do you mean?"

She looked back up at him, her eyes meeting his once again, but now they were large and completely full of tears. "The dreams, the fires... They are all connected, Merlin. They are me. I'm doing it."

"How is that possible?"

She gasped at his question, tears finally rolling down her cheeks and he had to stop himself from reaching out. "It's magic, Merlin! You know it is!"

He felt a cold shiver run up his spine at her words, to her admitting it. He knew she had known and Gaius thought differently. This angered Merlin. He wanted to tell her the truth... To tell her of his magic and to make her feel less alone. He shook his head and Morgana let out a sob. He hated himself for this. "I... I don't know what to say..."

She took a large step back then and he knew he had made a mistake. Her sobs became uncontrollable and she rushed out of the room. He wanted to call after her to tell her he understood, even if he didn't tell her of his own magic, but he didn't say anything and then she was gone. It was too late. Merlin never went to go pick those flowers as he had told Arthur he would. Instead, he only lay in his bed until he heard the door again and this time it was Gaius. Merlin was furious with Gaius and with himself for listening to him. He leaped from the bed and stormed down the stairs.

"She knows!" he announced loudly in the doorway. Gaius dropped the raw chicken he was holding and stared up at Merlin. "She was here! She told me she thinks it's magic and if you seriously think I am not going to help her... That I am just going to sit on my hands and watch as she struggles-"

"That is exactly what you are going to do, Merlin!" retorted Gaius. He picked up the dead bird from the floor and flopped it onto the counter. He approached Merlin slowly now. "It is too dangerous for you and for her. You could get caught. Someone could see the two of you. Overhear you. It is one thing when you are in the safety of my chambers, but she is not so lucky. You will not say anything! Do you understand?"

"Who will help her if I don't?"

"I will."

"BY ALLOWING HER TO FEEL THIS WAY?!"

"I cannot help how she may feel, but I will save her life from Uther." retorted Gaius coldly. Merlin shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You don't get it." he reeled. "Everything good I know about magic I learned from you. If you let her figure it out on her own… If you let her suffer like this she will feel alone. She will feel the way I did before coming here. Like I was worthless and dirty for what I was. The people in Ealdor would treat me differently just because they knew something was off."

"I understand how this must make you feel," said Gaius, his voice softer and less angry. This was how Gaius normally spoke to his patients, but with an edge to it. "but you do not compare yourself to Morgana. You are nothing alike. It is different for you than it is for her."

"I don't think so." Merlin retorted. "If either of us are found out for magic, Uther will kill us. It doesn't matter. If you let her go on untrained, he will find out."

Merlin left then, knowing he needed to go get Arthur's dinner. He should have returned a long time ago to give Arthur an update on the flower situation but Merlin had been too emotional. Even now, Merlin took a wrong turn and now found himself in front of Morgana's chambers. He knew it hadn't been a wrong turn though. He had been drawn here by his magic… or maybe his heart. He didn't know. Whatever it was, he knew it wasn't obeying Gaius' words as Merlin had planned to do. He really did plan to.

It was quiet outside of Morgana's chambers, but as soon as Merlin pushed the door open, crying filled the air. Merlin gulped and walked inside. There was the smell of burning once more and he rushed around her curtain to see her bed on fire. Morgana was on the floor in a ball, sobbing as her mattress burned. Walking deeper into the room, he noted that not only was her bed on fire, but so were the new curtains around the smashed window and her mirror was cracked. Clearly something was happening. Merlin dropped down to his knees next to her.

"Morgana." he whispered and she looked up, shaking her head. "Morgana!" he said again and she stopped shaking to look up at him. "I'm so sorry." he said to her in a whisper as his mouth did the work for his heart, his brain no longer mattered. Gaius' voice in Merlin's mind was muted. "You're right."

She gulped and leaned forward, grasping his forearms with her trembling hands. "You think it is... it is magic?"

"I know it is." he told her, and she gazed at him, fat tears falling over her pink cheeks. It was as if somewhere, someone else was making choices for Merlin, because he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Instead, he lifted his hand and held it out, palm facing the burning mattress and, with a flash of gold, it died. Morgana gasped and pushed away from him… but then froze and just stared.

"You!?"

He nodded.

"Why...?" she asked, her voice gone completely, and her words coming out in long breaths. "Why would you come here? Uther will have you killed…"

"It is my destiny."

Morgana spent two hours sobbing into Merlin's shoulder after that and Merlin had to swear her to secrecy three different times before he left to retrieve Arthur's extremely late dinner. Arthur wasn't terribly mad once Merlin made up a story about finding the perfect flowers for Morgana that took awhile to gather. For the next two weeks after this, Merlin would go to Morgana's chambers either after he had given Arthur his breakfast or late after dinner and sometimes both times a day to show Morgana things. In these times, Morgana would find ways to get rid of Gwen who looked offended for being left out as she was sent away. Merlin knew one day she would understand.

"I'm going to tell Gwen." said Morgana, a few different times, but she seemed more serious about it today. She had become more confident in the last few weeks. She was no longer scared of what she was. They were however still rather scared of being caught. "She has been with me throughout all of this. She has a right to know."

"Just don't tell her about me." said Merlin as he once again felt his magic within him grow the bud of a flower in the palm of his hand. It was nice to be able to show these tricks to someone, though Gaius would probably lose it if he knew the truth. Merlin still hadn't told him and had no plan to do so. Morgana watched as the flower blossomed in his hands in awe. She was still rather new. The only thing she could do successfully now was not catch her room on fire, which was good enough for now, Merlin thought. Merlin honestly had no idea how to be a tutor. Luckily, Morgana was just happy to watch.

"I wouldn't dare tell her about you." said Morgana, as she took the flower Merlin had just grown and placed it behind one of his ears. "I know she would never let it slip, but every day I fear Uther will figure me out." Morgana sighed then, her happy smile at the flower turning sour and she shook her head. "You have no idea how hard it is to look at Uther every day and pretend to be his adoring ward... All the while knowing he would see you killed just for being yourself."

"It won't always be this way." said Merlin, as he got off her bed and looked around. He hated when she brought up Uther. "Arthur will be King and he will not be like him."

"How do you know?" she questioned. He didn't turn back to look at her, but he wanted to tell her the truth… but he couldn't. It wasn't his truth to tell. The truth that Arthur was born of magic. That it ran through his very being. Merlin could feel it and he knew... If Arthur saw the good in magic he would allow it's presence in Camelot. "You hope… because you love him."

"No!" said Merlin and turned back to look at her. "Arthur does not share the same values as Uther. He doesn't see the evil in it. I know it."

Morgana tutted then and tilted her head, glaring at Merlin. "If you are so sure, then tell him your secret."

"I can't!"

"If he loves you like you do him... and I know he does," commented Morgana with an eye roll. "he will love you regardless. He needs to see the good in magic Merlin, and you are the best person to show him."

"I can't!"

"Why not?" she retorted then, standing up from her bed and placed her hands on her hips to judge him. "If you're not afraid of his views on magic then what else is it?

"I don't want to hurt him." Merlin admitted. "It's not that I am afraid of him hating me... Alright, I am a little afraid of that, but I don't think he would hate me... Not for forever at least. I am afraid he will be angry. I'm afraid he will never want to speak to me again… for lying to him, for keeping such a secret from him when I-" Merlin stopped and shook his head. Morgana's backed down a bit and frowned sadly. "I will tell him... one day. When the time is right I will... but not now."

(A/N: OKAY! I know it's been a bit since I updated last, but my internet has sucked for the last two days and I am also extremely busy with school. Not to mention, next week some time (I don't know what day exactly,) I will be starting a job, so updates are going to get all over the place. I hope that doesn't bother you too much, they will still come, just be slower. Enjoy the chapter anyway, this was a big one! And as always all the thanks to my editor.)