He holds her fate in his hands...

She holds his heart in hers.

Chapter 19

Fight for Control

Morgana watched Merlin sip at the mead she had provided. He stared out the window. The swollen moon hung high in the clear night sky with only a single lonely star to its lower left. He had stripped off his cloak and blood drenched shirt and stood bare chested in his new dry trousers, still barefooted. Merlin no longer felt the cold on his feet so it didn't bother him. His scars stood out against his pale skin in the stark moon's glow and added a unique beauty to his well sculpted body.

Morgana didn't quite know what to think of him really. He was an enigma. Something she wanted to take apart and find out what made him do the things he did. Merlin had admitted that he had killed Fredrick and his brother only after she had confronted him about the dagger and blood. It wasn't like he could deny it. The evidence was glaringly obvious. He was covered in blood. Morgana would have put the pieces together when she saw the brother's room. They were good fighters, but all they were wer pawns, so it wasn't any great loss. Especially now she had Emrys.

Mogana knew they should be at the party. She should have already made her appearance but she couldn't bring herself to leave. She wasn't sure what to do next. She knew what she wanted to do… but she wasn't sure what she wanted was what was best.

She knew what she wanted to do with Merlin. She wanted to punish him, to control him, she wanted to push him past his limits, to see how far she could take him before he detonated. She knew that unbridled passion. He carried it with him even in the bedroom and she desperately wanted to feel it now.

Merlin started to feel the effects of the mead. He felt lighter. His annoyance and anger started to subside. He heard Morgana move. He tensed. He looked into the clear amber liquid before he took a big gulp from his cup. It burned in the most delicious way. He looked back at the beautiful night sky. He listened to Morgana as she moved closer.

"I think it best, Morgana, if you stay out of arm's reach for the moment." Merlin advised.

She paused and watched as he drained the last of his drink. He thought it was better if Morgana stayed away from him in his current mood. The mead didn't help his already strained control. If she pushed him right now he couldn't be liable for his actions. He had warned her.

The mead raced through him. A rush of heat that spread through his whole body. He sighed as the last of his rage turned into a low simmer.

"Come sit down." Morgana said.

He looked back at her with a raised brow. Did she think that because they sat amiably together as allies that he wouldn't lash out at her?

Merlin set his silver cup on the table as he walked past it. Morgana sat down at her dressing table and crossed her legs and faced him. Merlin pulled up a chair and sat across from her. He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned towards her. He looked at her with dark eyes.

Morgana shifted under his stare. When he looked at her like that, like she was prey and he the predator, he resembled The Great Dragon's Dragon Lord, Balinor. That roguish nature that danced in Merlin's eyes was captured perfectly in the portrait of the once young Dragon Lord.

"You know, you look like him." Morgana suddenly blurted.

"Hmm?" Merlin hummed. He dragged his eyes away from her lips and looked into her green eyes.

"You look like him. Balinor." She repeated. She looked at Merlin intently as his eyes focused on her. She had obviously interrupted some deep thought. "The man you and Arthur went to get when the Great Dragon attacked."

Merlin didn't move. Didn't so much as twitch. She could not know he was a Dragon Lord, let alone the very last. If she ever managed to get control over him the devastation she could bring would be catastrophic.

"Must be a trick of the light." Merlin said assuredly. "I had no idea who the man was, really." He leaned back in his chair.

That was the truth. He didn't know what kind of a man this Balinor was. He only knew that he loved his father whether he knew him or not. They were the same in a lot of ways and in the end he had saved Merlin's life. It still pained him to remember those final moments with his father.

"Mm." Morgana hummed. She crossed her arms over her breasts drawing Merlin's gaze. "Indeed."

Merlin licked his dry lips restlessly. His anger only barely stanched. He wanted to take her and let his pent up anger and desire be let loose. To control her as she has tried to do to him.

Morgana watched him with a knowing smirk. "You know." She drew the words out. Merlin looked up at her slowly through hooded eyes. "When I first stumbled upon this place I didn't know what to think. That was until I ran into a High priest of the Old Religion." She smiled. Dimples flashing. She didn't smile often, but when she did, she glowed.

Even when, Merlin thought, disturbed, she was smiling sadistically.

With arms crossed she leaned towards him. "He protected this place." She said conspiratorially.

"From people like you, most likely." Merlin laughed rebukingly.

Her spine snapped straight and she leaned slightly away from him.

" Did you kill the poor man?" Merlin said cheekily. He winked at her tauntingly. She scowled murderously at him. Merlin gave one short laugh. at her scowl.

"No." She snorted. "He's in the catacombs. It's where all the important books, prophecies and spells are kept." She said, almost offended. "This place," Morgana motioned around her. "Was where the Dragon Lords gathered and sought shelter." She went on. "A safe haven. This used to be a place of beauty and promise. Now, it is only a tomb for those Uther destroyed."

"If you're trying to convince me of how horrible a ruler King Uther was, don't waste your breath." Merlin interrupted. "We all know Uther was a tyrant." Merlin was irritated that she was so stuck on Uther when he had been dead for years. "We've been down this path before."

She stood up, irritated and frustrated, and paced away from him. She reached for her shoes on the ground. She held onto her dresser to keep her balance and put them on. She reached for something in the dresser and tossed it at Merlin. He was unprepared. His magic jumped to his aid and caught the garments before they hit the ground.

"Get dressed." She stared a moment before she remembered herself. She shook out her hair, still not used to Merlin using magic so easily and walked to the door. "I'll be missed at the party if we don't go now." Morgana looked over her shoulder at him. "We should announce you as my second and commander of my army."

Merlin was so sick of her orders. He let the clothes fall to the floor.

Morgana turned on him. "What are you doing? Get dressed." Morgana fumed, arms on her hips.

Merlin was done listening. He stretched out his hand towards her and shoved her into the wall. With a twist of his hand he flipped her around so her back was to him. She glared at him over her shoulder but her heart started to race. Her eyes dilated and her breathing picked up.

Merlin ignored her and stood up. He walked towards her with long, even strides. Her nipples tightened and tingled. Craving attention. He pressed himself against her. He towered over her. He felt her backside caress his thighs enticingly.

"What are you doing?" Morgana repeated, breathless.

"We're partners now." Merlin declared softly. "I am not your slave. I am not your servant. What I am is your equal, if not your better. You do not get to order me around." He lifted a piece of her hair, twisted it around his finger before he let it bounce back into place. "If anything" He breathed her in and pressed himself more firmly against her. "You are beholden to me as your King."

Morgana panted hard and shoved against the wall, her back against his bare chest. He didn't budge. She was beholden to no one. She was supposed to be queen! She shoved again. He wouldn't move. In frustration, she shoved him with her magic.

"Aha." She cried out in frustration. Merlin stumbled back a step. She used this small victory to turn and face him.

"You may be King to the Druids, but you are not my king." She roared. "You are still a lowly servant to me, to the world, and to Arthur."

"Don't test me now, Morgana. I assure you." Merlin stared at her levelly. "You will fail. If I am to lead your army then I am your equal." Merlin pointed out.

Morgana quietly seethed. She didn't trust herself to speak. She turned on her heels and started to walk away.

Merlin grabbed his clothes and quickly put them on. He struggled with his dress pants by the time she had swung the door open and turned down the hall. Merlin scrambled to tie his trousers. Slowly, he followed after her. Merlin wasn't far behind her. She hadn't even reached the end of the hall but she continued on and walked angrily towards her destination.

Merlin was close enough that he could see the individual leaves embroidered into her emerald gown in delicate patterns of gold that wrapped around her waist to rest over her womb. The vines of leaves like the arms of mother nature. Her back was left bare. At each tempting sway of her hips the gown tightened over her hips and accented her plump bottom just right. The skirts fell in loose waves to her ankles and swayed with each step.

Merlin felt himself harden. As Merlin's frustration grew, so did his desire. He liked to provoker her. He liked to play with the fire inside her. Her demons played well with his.

Morgana felt his eyes on her. It was like the heat of a candle when she let her hand hover over its flame too long. The longer he looked, the more she burned.

Merlin's hand twitched. He saw Morgana falter just a step as his magic tugged at her dress. He flicked his fingers and suddenly, her skirts flew up into her face, baring her to him. She struggled to straighten her dress out. She wore nothing under her gown. Absolutely bare for him. Merlin swallowed thickly. His mouth watered for a taste.

Morgana's face heated in surprise. She glared mutely at him over her shoulder. He winked at her. She growled something unintelligible at him. She didn't feel like playing games right now. Merlin's laugh followed her as she stormed down a flight of stairs. Her heels clicked sharply on each step.

Merlin followed her at a slower pace. He thought he got his point across. He would be her army's commander as an equal, but at a price. Although the price was so much higher for him than Morgana. She had nothing to lose. Merlin had everything to lose.

He made his way sluggishly down the stairs. Morgana was nowhere to be seen. She was probably already in the snake's den soothing the savage beasts of civilization. Merlin's gut clenched. He didn't want to be at this party. It wasn't something he could or would enjoy. He wanted to go to sleep actually. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. He was beyond exhausted. The only reason he was probably still alert was the odd mixture of the adrenaline and desire Morgana produced in him and his magic.

Merlin rounded another corner. Another corridor. But this time it was lined with large open windows. He could see the sun peeking through the clouds that clung to the far mountains. He shivered as a particularly cold wind swept through the windows and assaulted him. It whipped his hair and clothes into an untidy mess. It was strange. How time seemed to slip through his fingers so easily. It was already twilight the next day. The party was close to an end.

He continued on. He straightened his clothes. He didn't bother with his hair. He couldn't see it anyhow. The closer he got to the main hall's doors the louder the silence became. Harsh voices and high squeals of laughter pierced his senses. He slipped through the door and maneuvered around the periphery of the gathering without interacting with another soul.

That was until he heard a familiar cry. He stopped in his tracks and his head snapped to the left. His eyes roamed over the men and women in attendance. He briefly spotted Morgana, she spoke with the people gathered near the 'throne'. She looked at him with an unreadable expression. He continued to search for what drew his attention.

Morgana explained to those gathered that Emrys would lead her army. That their donations will not be in vain.

"Take a look around you. At the many fine sorcerers on display." Morgana said. She indicated all the young men with shiny silver cuffs on their necks "Any who survive the culling will be up for auction. Only the best for you." She smiled stiffly.

Morgana felt a stirring in the air. She looked up. Her next words died on her lips. She felt it whenever Merlin was near her. She used to think it was only sexual awareness but now she recognized it for what it was. It was the very air shifting in the wake of such power. The very earth greeted him.