The door to Arthur's chambers suddenly opened and in walked Merlin. Arthur was frozen, staring at him, not sure what to do. Merlin looked at him confused. It was probably odd to walk into Arthur's room and find him in an embrace with Morgana. Arthur let out a shaky breath then, not sure what to do. Not after what she had just told him...

"It's alright, Arthur." she smiled up at him, with what Arthur didn't want to say love, because the idea of that was gross. Morgana didn't look at him with love. They couldn't stand each other… Right? Wrong. Arthur actually loved her very much. "It's alright." she continued. "He knows."

Oh. Arthur relaxed. "Of course he does."

Merlin walked into the room deeper, confused still. "What is this?" he asked.

Morgana glanced over to him with a pleased smile and Arthur, still very shocked, did not know how to answer that. "I told him Merlin..."

Merlin's mouth fell open and he quickly shut it and locked the door behind him. "Told him what!?"

"About my magic." the sound of her voice and the words she spoke still rung in Arthur's ears, conflicting inside him to the very bone. But then again, not at all.

Honestly, it only made a lot of sense after so much confusion. These dreams she had. The fires in her chambers. It was not some faceless Sorcerer! Everything was her. Merlin stared now, eyes fixed on Morgana in shock and something else… Something Arthur didn't want to think about… maybe fear. Was Merlin still fearful of Arthur with his friends? Really... After all this time? This was Morgana! Not some foolish little prat in a small village who thought he was something special, that being Will. This was Morgana and at no point in time would Arthur ever jeopardize her life. No matter what. He was almost angry with Merlin for the way he stared at her now. He wanted to shout at him, but then again, Arthur also understood. He had a duty to his Father. He loved his Father and Merlin knew it.

Even so, Merlin must understand there was a line between one's duty and being an idiot that Arthur would not dare cross. He hardly planned on going anywhere near Uther with this information. Arthur would just as soon lay down his life than spill it to any other soul. It wasn't just Arthur that seemed to notice Merlin's intense look, but Morgana had as well and laughed, finally letting go of Arthur and turned toward Merlin with happiness on her face. Had she thought Arthur would react differently too? She had hugged him so the answer was probably yes.

"It's alright Merlin. He isn't angry."

"Why would I be angry?" he countered, and Morgana eyed him as if he were stupid. That was more like it. They were back to normal. "I wouldn't be angry, I would be... confused, which I am. I would be scared... which I'm not. The way you both act you would think I would be off telling my Father by now!"

"I had worried Arthur." said Morgana looking rather serious, losing some of her previous happiness. "I will not lie to you, but I had to trust in you... to believe you were better than that… Than the foolish boy who wanted to prove himself to his Father so badly."

"I am not my Father Morgana!" Arthur shot back. "I never plan to be."

"Good." she smiled again and beamed over at Merlin, as if she knew something he didn't. Maybe she did. She was a sorceress after all. Well, she was kind of a sorceress. She didn't know how to do any spells which Arthur found rather dumb. What was the point of having magic if she didn't know how to use it?

She left then leaving Arthur with a kiss on the cheek, which was a little unsettling, and then floated out of the room. She looked more and more like the old Morgana than Arthur had seen in a very, very long time. It was just him and Merlin now, in the room. Merlin was still just standing there, face done up in both confusion and lines, the likes of which Arthur couldn't understand.

"Stop standing there, looking like a startled stoat!" Arthur shouted at him, irritation filling him as he watched. He really wished Merlin thought better of him. After everything that happened with Arthur's dead Mother and the things she had told him, Arthur thought Merlin understood he had no quarrel with magic. It was Uther who did, and Arthur did not share his views. And yes, alright... knowing Morgana had magic changed a lot of things, but that changed him toward magic, not against it.

Arthur frowned. "If you are not going to say anything you can leave."

Merlin seemed to come back from what thoughts he had and stepped closer, as Arthur threw himself into one of his red armchairs. Merlin stared at Arthur now as if lost. "What are you going to do?" he asked, like he was still concerned that Arthur might still go to Uther. Arthur let out a breath and shook his head.

"I'm going to take her to the Druids." he announced and he had already had the thought while they were speaking of her fears of Uther finding out. She had every reason to be afraid. Arthur was afraid for her. Not that Arthur thought Uther would have Morgana killed... but it was still too much of a risk to take. "I know where they are. I brought the Druid boy to them once if you remember. She will be safe there."

"You're going to leave her there?!" asked Merlin, eyes no longer confused but instead narrowing in anger. "This is her home, Arthur."

"And it is too dangerous for her here Merlin!" yelled Arthur. Merlin took a step back, eyes still narrowed, but they seemed to understand something now. "I couldn't be able to live with myself knowing something happened to her. If my Father dare find out..."

"He won't let her go. He can't know and… He will think something happened to her if she just disappears!" said Merlin and Arthur knew he was right, but he was lost as to a solution. How does one go about something like this.

Arthur had thought of this of problem as well, but he didn't know what else to do. "Do you suppose she should just continue living in hiding? Pushing her powers away? I have no idea how magic works, Merlin, but even I don't think that sounds like a good idea."

"No..." Merlin shook his head. "The Druids can show her how to use her gifts… for good, and then we can bring her back here."

"And where do you suppose we tell my Father we are going for days at a time?"

Hunting. It was a very bad excuse. In no way should Uther have ever believed this lie knowing Morgana at all. But both Arthur and Morgana had pled the case well. After all the things that had happened to Morgana and her chambers, Morgana wanted to spend a few days in fresh air so Arthur invited her to a hunt. Uther had believed this so easily, but anytime Morgana said she wanted something Uther normally always agreed, no matter what. It almost seemed as if Uther wanted to make it up to Morgana for something. With how poorly they both got along, something often arose that they had different views on. Arthur could see that happening even more now with her magic. Morgana was not afraid to speak her mind. She did not hold her tongue. These thoughts made Arthur worried for the future.

It took half a day to reach the Druid camp and when they arrived not a single person seemed surprised to see them there. Arthur had even mentioned that they came with no ill intent but was only met with smiling faces and nods. Arthur could remember how the Druids seemed to know he was coming last time with the boy too. Perhaps it was a magic thing, or... akin to Morgana, maybe they could see the future. Two cloaked men gave Morgana a shawl to wrap her bare arms in, as it was nearing Fall outside and the weather turned a bit colder, and whisked her away. They took her into a tent and didn't come back for hours. Someone else, a short woman, made them follow her to a different tent on the other side of the camp, as if to keep Arthur far away from them… or it felt that way at least. It was furthest away from the main fire in the middle of the settlement, which meant it was a little chilly.

Merlin had disappeared after this as well. Leaving Arthur all alone with these magic people. Not that Arthur had a problem with it. He had come here so Morgana could learn from them. He camefor the magic. It was very obvious that they were timid around him though, and he knew it was not because he was being rude. He had attempted to be nothing but amicable since arriving, but the thought of Uther in their minds loomed and drove them to sit a little further away during dinner as they all gathered on logs and ate their stew. Arthur understood why and did his best not to feel offended. He told himself he had little over which to be offended. It was these people who feared for and lost their lives... some of which Arthur had taken himself.

The first full day at the Druid camp had gone wonderfully for Morgana, who had learned to control a flame in her hand and Arthur managed to be only slightly alarmed when she had shown him that evening. It was going to take time. Arthur had lived his whole life being told to hate magic and now someone he saw as his sister had it and openly practiced it in his presence. He would get used to it. He would. Morgana's powers will be a great asset to Camelot, he kept telling himself, as he lay in his bedroll that night. Once Uther was gone and it was legalized of course.

That was a whole other matter. If Morgana was to become a powerful sorceress she needed to practice. How was she to do that in Camelot under Uther's nose? These thoughts plagued Arthur on the second night as he lay on his bedroll. The air was cold and Arthur found himself wrapping up in the extra blankets he had forced Merlin to bring along. Arthur only had to deal with the cold tonight and in the morning they would make the journey back to Camelot so Uther would not start to worry, but when would Morgana be able to come back to learn more? It was not fair to her that she had to fear being caught or run away.

Merlin entered the tent from who knows where. Arthur had no idea where he had been earlier. He seemed to really like to disappear since arriving at the settlement. Arthur didn't want to ask why or where he was going. He didn't say anything to Arthur, as he shivered and yanked his brown jacket around his neck tighter, kicking off his boots and falling into his own bedroll. Arthur hadn't said anything and honestly, they had not talked much since coming here... or the before. Arthur hoped Merlin had just been giving him space, for Arthur to get used to the idea of Morgana having magic, but then again, Merlin made no sense to Arthur half the time so there was no real way to tell what he was doing.

Arthur rolled over and looked at him. He hadn't been smart enough to bring extra blankets for himself. Arthur wanted to make fun of this but help himself back. He only watched him shiver and rub his hands together in an attempt to get warmer and Arthur, being the lovesick fool he was, could not allow this. "Come here." he said without really thinking about it. Merlin's eyes snapped over to him at once, looking confused. "Shut up... Come here!" said Arthur, the shut up preempted. He knew all the nonsense Merlin would start saying now to avoid coming closer. Arthur did not want to think about all the reasons why they shouldn't. "Unless you want to freeze to death..."

Merlin moved closer then. He didn't get up, just sort of shuffled his body along the floor of the tent and was suddenly at Arthur's side, eying him still. Arthur didn't meet his gaze as he pulled him closer. His head rested on Arthur's extended arm. Arthur draped some of the blankets over him. He did indeed feel very cold. Almost to the bone cold and idly, Arthur didn't realize he was doing it at first, ran his other hand up and down Merlin's arm to try to warm him. He understood they were only ever really close like this once before in the woods, after Arthur had seen his Mother. They had fallen asleep entangled in each other. It had not happened before then and had not happened since and neither had mentioned it ... Arthur had a feeling they wouldn't mention it now either.

In fact, he didn't want to mention it at all, he was going to pretend that this was normal. Because honestly, most of the time he wished it were, it felt like it should be. Arthur lay there, trying to sort himself out, struggling to think of thoughts that weren't about Merlin. His brain settled on Morgana again, his worry trumping much else.

"I feel badly for Morgana." he said then, out loud, and he thought his voice sounded a bit off. If Merlin noticed this, he didn't say anything. Instead, Merlin only looked up at him again. "She's forced to hide who she truly is and to pretend to be something she is not."

Merlin let out a huff and suddenly, to Arthur's surprise, wrapped one of his arms around Arthur's middle. "It might not be so bad... At least she'll get to live."

"Do you really think my Father would have her killed because of her magic?"

Merlin didn't answer right away, but Arthur could feel his breath on his neck. "I don't know..." Merlin finally muttered. "Your Father loves Morgana, but he hates magic just as much... I don't think he could let it go or look past it. No matter what Morgana means to him. If he didn't kill her, he would banish her at the very least."

Arthur didn't like the thought of that at all. "You were right before, about what you said. Camelot is Morgana's home, why should she have to leave it because of what she is?" Merlin only shrugged at this and inched himself closer to Arthur. "Morgana didn't choose this Merlin. Magic chose her... for whatever reason, it did. I cannot abandon her for it. She's my friend. We grew up together. She's like family to me. I know my Father's thoughts on magic and I know why... but I will not allow him to get his way. Not when it comes to her. I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe from whoever may harm her. I don't care if it means I have to go against my own Father."

Merlin sat up then, leaning on his hands, rolling slightly, so he was on his stomach. He looked at Arthur and tilted his head to the side staring. "You really mean that?" Arthur nodded. Of course he meant it. He wasn't sure if he had ever meant anything more than he meant this. He would not leave Morgana to suffer even if that meant she had to live in silence and in fear for now. Arthur would be there for her even if it all confused him.

"I have no idea what is to come, but how can I forsake her now?" said Arthur and a smile formed on Merlin's lips. He didn't say anything and continued to look at Arthur. "She is scared. She has come to have these powers she can barely control... and even if I don't understand how she feels, I can't leave her alone." Merlin bit his lip but his eyes didn't leave Arthur's. Well, they did for a moment to sweep over the rest of his face before meeting his eyes again. It was just the way he looked at him now. Arthur couldn't describe it, but it made him take a pause to stare back. It was as if Merlin was stuck between being in awe and wanting to jump on top of him. Arthur gulped a little, at the latter thought. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?" offered Merlin, but he didn't look away. It felt as if he was almost looking through Arthur, but he wasn't. His eyes followed Arthur's as they moved side to side, just to see.

"Like the way my Father says you look at me..."

Arthur had said it, and even if he had been thinking it, he probably shouldn't have been thinking it out loud. He tensed for a second, as if worried Merlin might think he was calling him out on something. But Merlin only let out another huff of a laugh, this one a little more breathy than the last, and looked away. Arthur felt like he had lost something then. "If that's the case, I better stop it before he gets more ideas..."

Merlin's head landed on Arthur's shoulder, and Arthur felt like whatever he had lost, had just come back to him. Merlin inched his face closer to Arthur's neck, fit to steal all of the heat from Arthur's body. Arthur was willing to give it to him, all of it, maybe all of himself, too. "I didn't say I didn't like it..." he said, boldly, and probably much too late. He could feel the smirk on Merlin's lips though, rather than see it. Because Arthur couldn't see Merlin's face at all, but he could see him in his mind, clear as day.

"You shouldn't have told me to stop then..."

"I didn't." retorted Arthur, but there was no heat there. Well, there was heat, but not in his words. Heat was just round, surrounding them and warming them. Merlin hummed, against the skin of Arthur's neck, and Arthur's breath hitched in his throat. As the ghost of Merlin's lips graced his skin, and for a second Arthur had thought it was a mistake, that he hadn't meant to do it at all, Merlin had just moved or something. But then, it happened again, and this time a little firmer than the last. Arthur gasped like a damn fool and Merlin froze.

He pushed himself away suddenly as if Arthur had just burned him, and although he didn't go back to his own bedroll, he turned the other way, facing away from Arthur now. They didn't say anything else and Arthur knew what this meant and what he was supposed to do now, but the feeling of Merlin's lips was still ever so present on Arthur's neck. As if burnt there, branded even... and Arthur didn't think he could let this one go unspoken between them.

(A/N: Once again, I know it's been a bit since I updated last. Let us just assume for a little bit that I am only going to update once a week for awhile. I'm really busy. Once I get back into the swing of working again and am done with school, that won't be a problem anymore, I just need to relearn how to juggle things. Ether way, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, we're nearing the end, (of this part of the story,) my friends. As always, thank you to my editor, who truly makes my life so much easier with this story. Now, I'm off to make a new Tumblr...don't know why, but I just feel like it. Byee!)