~He was her dark fairy tale and she his twisted fantasy,

and together they would burn the world to the ground.

Chapter 18

The Devil in the Details

Merlin climbed a flight of stairs and rounded a corner when he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. Ambrosia and jasmine. He looked around but saw no one. He crept forward and noticed that the door to his left was open. A soft light glowed through, a welcoming fire light. He peered through the crack and saw Morgana. She sat at her dressing table.

Merlin was propelled forward by some morbid compulsion to be near her, and with one bloody hand he pushed her door open wide. He left a red print on the white surface. He stepped inside. He watched her pin her hair in sullen silence. He had never seen someone look so lost in their own home. He ached for her, and burned for her but a vicious rage simmered within him directed at her. He felt too close to the fire that was Morgana.

But before he could go any further and make another monumental mistake, something more urgent tugged at him. He wasn't supposed to be here. He was needed with James and Darrin at the healing waters. However, he feared he could do nothing with this collar on. He would still try, of course. If he succeeded he knew he would give himself away. Morgana would know he was Emrys, the man she searched for with such obsession.

Choices made when there is nothing at risk mean very little. Mind made up, Merlin turned on his heel and fled her room. He ran to where he remembered the baths were. He intended to try to use the blessed water to help Darrin. If it didn't and he had to expose himself, he would just have to sell himself to Morgana just to stay alive and ultimately help Arthur. No doubt when she finds out she will want to kill him for making her look a fool.

Morgana used to adore parties, now they just served as a bitter reminder of her past. She angrily pinned her hair back out of her face as she gave the final touches to her appearance. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her green eyes looked lost and angry.

A movement in the mirror caught her attention. She turned around, but nothing was there. Slowly, she got up and approached the now open door. It was nearly closed a minute ago. On closer inspection she saw a bloody hand print on it. The fingers smeared as if they left in a rush. She looked down and saw small droplets of blood.

Curious she peered down the hall and saw a flash of raven locks, silver collar and blue shirt. Merlin? He was supposed to be at the party not up here. What was he up to?

She quickly followed him. She was secretly glad she hadn't yet put on her heels as she padded barefoot down the corridor after him. She was surprised at the grace and stealth in which he glided down hallways and up stairwells. He made no sound as he moved. The cold marble floor was like winter ice on her feet as she crept along and followed the young man who unwillingly held her heart. A love so toxic it killed any hope to flourish.

Morgana realized with some confusion where he was headed. She paused and looked around the corner of the hall Merlin had just rounded. He slipped through the door that led to the healing baths. She followed, catching the door before it closed completely. She peeked through and watched the scene unfold.

Merlin looked around the room. He saw Cedric who stood over a large tub, arms crossed. He gazed down at something in the water with a look of contemplation and resignation. An odd combo. Merlin glanced down to what held his attention. James stood chest deep in the pool with his brother Darrin. James supported Darrin against his chest to keep his head above the water.

Merlin jogged over and nearly slipped in a puddle. He skidded to sloppy halt before the tub, his dagger clanged against the wet floor before Cedric's feet. He looked at Merlin on the ground and silently raised a single eyebrow. They looked at each other briefly. Comrades in a secret uprising. Merlin nodded imperceptibly. Cedric grunted, satisfied. The bargain was complete.

James looked up as Merlin came near. He noticed the strange exchange between them, and the bloodied dagger but chose to leave it alone, it no longer concerned him. He could easily guess what Merlin had done. He would have done so himself had he been able. He shivered. Jerrod and Fredrick. They are, or rather were, formidable players in Morgana's game. Twisted, perverted, and cruel pawns for Morgana to do with as she pleased. James was grateful that Merlin had done what he hoped he did.

James looked back down at his brother. "He's not breathing." James panicked and looked at Merlin desperately.

Tears left strips of clean skin to shine through the blood on James face, making his sky blue eyes stand out all the more. Merlin tore off his cloak, unveiling his blood-soaked clothes and red hands. Merlin ignored James's gasp and jumped into the water. The water turned from the already tinted rose from James and Darrin to scarlet from Merlin. The water resembled freshly spilled blood. Quite fitting if you asked him.

"Give him to me." Merlin said as he wade towards them.

James handed his younger brother over to him without a word. Merlin took Darrin gently and cradled him in one arm as his other hand hovered over his heart. Merlin took a deep breath. He grit his teeth and tore his gaze away from James hysterical eyes. He knew James didn't know if Darrin would die or if William was still alive. He may just have lost his entire family tonight.

Merlin released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He took pity on him. "William is alive and in the dungeons." Merlin mumbled as he looked at Darrin. He was pale, too pale. He had breath left in him yet. Merlin could feel the slight rise and fall of his lungs and the slight barely there heartbeat.

Without expecting James to answer Merlin started to call for his magic. It was there, he could feel it. He reached for it and it responded, but couldn't break through the collar's restraint. He focused harder and called louder using the voice of the very earth that gave magic life.a moment passed, then another as it gathered and built. Finally, It broke free and flooded his body. It overwhelmed the restrictions of his collar.

Merlin reached deep inside himself and drew all the power he possessed over life and death and started to chant in the Old religion. The moment he began to speak, the collar started to heat up. First it was a strange warmth that grew into an uncomfortable heat. The longer he chanted, the more power he drew in, the hotter it got. It seared his skin. Still, he didn't stop. He dimly wondered if it was glowing red like a hot iron poker pulled from the flames.

That moment the spell died, Fredrick's name on his lips, the collar's heat stepped up. A flash of lighting struck Merlin's collar. An aura of bright gold surrounded him. The collar broke as easily as a twig snapped between his fingers. The steel shattered into fragments that disintegrated as they flowed through that gold light that surrounded him.

Merlin's hand hovered over Darrin's chest. It jerked down and channeled a cascade of magic through Merlin's arm and out his palm. The energy of the lighting shot directly from him into Darrin's heart.

As the light died down the room went dim and a loud silence descended.

Merlin passed Darrin over to James looked at Merlin in wonder. He pulled his brother out of the water alongside him. He felt his heartbeat and breath come in even pulls. He was alive. He was healed. James just sat there at the edge of the pool and held his brother.

Merlin walked slowly to the edge of the tub. He didn't feel well. He climbed the stairs slowly. He started to feel light headed. Merlin lost his balance as he reached the top step and would have cracked his head against the marble floor if Cedric hadn't caught him by the arm in a bruising grip. He hauled Merlin from the water and helped him sit down. Cedric didn't seem all that surprised that Merlin could do that sort of magic. Merlin landed heavily on his backside. He lay back against the cool wet floor. He needed a moment. The rush of his magic was overwhelming, exhilarating and exhausting. It had been suppressed for far too long, longer than was healthy. His very life was his magic. One could not survive without the other.

With a jolt, the air stirred and Darrin gasped loudly. James' ecstatic exclamation was Merlin's reassurance that it had worked. A life for a life. Fredrick's life for Darrin's. Now both Jerrod and Fredrick could rot in hell together.

"Cedric. Take the boys to William, please." Merlin asked, winded. His chest heaved.

"And you?" Cedric asked, his face came into view.

"Leave me." Merlin waved them off. He needed to clean up and show himself at the party.

Cedric nodded. He went to leave, but paused. "Your secret is safe with me, Emrys." He said softly. He bowed his head. He then turned on his heel and left, Merlin assumed, to help James with Darrin as he requested. He listened as they left. The door shut softly behind them. Merlin closed his eyes for a moment to gather himself as the world spun.

Morgana stiffened when she saw Cedric lead the boys her way. She rushed to hide behind a large pillar. She held her breath as they passed. As soon as they were gone she opened the door and peeked through once more. Merlin laid on his back in a blood tinted puddle of water, arms splayed at his sides.

Morgana observed him silently. She burst with questions, but didn't dare draw attention to herself. She shook her head. The power she sensed from him was unimaginable, uncontainable even. It was a level even a high priestess like her couldn't reach. The moment the collar broke it was like the Merlin she knew changed right in front of her eyes.

She had considered herself powerful before but now she knew the true meaning of power. She had only met one other person who challenged her magically, she reluctantly admitted, and was superior in abilities to her's. Emrys. Something clicked in her head and she gasped out loud. How had she missed this? She felt like a fool, an utter fool.

Merlin sat up and looked around. His eyes zeroed in on Morgana who stood just beyond the first healing tubs as you entered the room.

Morgana was too lost in the earth-shattering realization that just dawned on her. Emrys. Merlin. Emrys. Merlin. She didn't know how it was possible considering Emrys was a doddery old man, but she was convinced that Merlin was Emrys or possibly related to him.

She remembers Alator's reaction to her question whether he knew who Emrys was, with Merlin in that very cave. Emrys had been so close to her. She groaned out loud, still lost in her world of anger, hatred, and hot embarrassment. He hadn't just fooled her once, but over and over again.

"Emrys." She whispered, and then louder. "EMRYS!"

Merlin flinched. He didn't know why he was surprised that she was suddenly there, and knew who he was, for that matter. A part of him always hoped she never would. She watched his reaction closely. Merlin scrambled to his feet as she stormed towards him. The door slammed behind her.

She could see he was tired and worn and covered in blood but she didn't care. She still threw herself at him. Eyes wild with anger. She kicked and scratched and punched to the best of her abilities. She attacked any part of his body, fingers clawed at his eyes.

Merlin grabbed her arms and his eyes glowed bright gold. "ENOUGH!" He shouted.

Morgana suddenly felt restrained by an invisible force. Her petite wrists still held tight in his grasp. Morgana struggled, pulled against his hold to no avail. Her wild green eyes burned with hatred. He shoved her back and she tumbled to the ground. She growled in raw anger and looked up at him.

She smirked as Merlin brought up his hand to wipe the blood flowing down his cheek from where she clawed at him. Merlin glared at her.

"You're chained up, I'm standing here free." Merlin pointed out. Morgana's smirk disappeared.

"How did you do it?" She asked. He knew what she was asking. How had he hidden his identity?

"An aging spell." He replied simply.

Morgana let out a frustrated groan at the simplicity of Merlin's disguise. There was a long silence. Only Morgana's loud pants could be heard as she fought a losing battle with the magical restraints, disturbing the uneasy peace.

Once her breathing slowed Merlin released her. He sighed and then sat down beside her, shoulder to shoulder. "Morgana," Merlin hesitated. What could he say to her?

"Merlin, stop." Morgana said coolly.

She looked at him scathingly. It made sense now, why their love was so pernicious. He was her destiny and her doom, together they were toxic to the world. Why hadn't she seen it? It had been right there in her face for years. She simply didn't want to see it. She was blinded by her emotions, her love for him.

Still, she needed his help to conquer Camelot. Disgusted that she still needed him, both for the war and for herself she stood up and brushed herself off. She turned her back to him as he too stood up.

"I'll do it,"Merlin said suddenly. Morgana turned to look at him calculatingly.

"Do what." She sneered.

"I'll lead your army." Merlin agreed with conviction. Morgana opened her mouth, but Merlin cut her off. "On one condition."

Morgana assessed him for a moment as she contemplated what conditions he could possibly have.

"That you spare as many people as you are able. No harm must come to the Elderly, women or children of Camelot. Any who do not fight are exempted from your tyranny." Merlin walked up to her. "And the King and Queen of Camelot stay safe and unharmed."

Morgana didn't know if she could keep such a bargain, but she also knew that if she didn't agree she would not have Emrys to lead her army. She nodded agreement. Maybe she could conquer him and still get her prize. Kill Arthur Pendragon. She just needed to bid her time and figure out a way to bond Merlin to her whims. Agree for now, but plan for later.

"Deal." Morgana cocked her head to the side. "Shall we seal it with a kiss?" She smiled coyly. She ran her wet tongue slowly over her sparkling white teeth.

Merlin grunted. He scowled at her from under the fringe of his black eyelashes. Merlin was not scared of her, but he was terrified of the hold she had over him. What wouldn't he do to keep her, and she keep him? Merlin looked at her for a long silent moment. He felt an awful lot like he just signed his soul away to the devil. But he knew Morgana wasn't the devil. The devil was terrified of Morgana.

He grabbed her around the waist and leaned into her. "Seal it with a kiss?" Merlin licked his lips. "But Morgana, do not betray me." Merlin warned. He squeezed her tightly and crushed her to him, purposely wringing the very air from her lungs. "Betrayal has a way of betraying the betrayer. You will not like the consequences."

Merlin locked their lips together in a bruising kiss. Her lips smashed into her teeth and she tasted blood. Merlin licked the seam of her lips and shoved his tongue into her mouth, dominating her as he would in bed. They moaned in ecstasy and agony.

They shouldn't be doing this. Shouldn't be allowed to let their passion overwhelm. But Merlin couldn't care less. He had just killed two men, revealed himself to be Emrys, and agreed to lead Morgana's army of sorcerers and swordsmen.

What harm was just a kiss? He needed this moment, this distraction... even if it was more destructive than helpful.