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Chapter three – Morgana

Arthur reluctantly pulled back from his kiss with Merlin when breathing became a problem and smiled when he was meet with an out of breath Merlin who seemed just as reluctant as he did. "Of all the ways I imagined kissing you Merlin none of them came close to real thing."

Merlin grinned "You're telling me if I was to die right now I would die a happy man."

Merlin saw something flick through Arthur's eyes before the blonde pulled him close to his chest resting his forehead against Merlin's. "No" he whispered "You're not allowed to die or leave me ever Merlin do you understand your mine and you are going to stay by side forever."

"I won't" Merlin whispered back "I'm yours, always have been always will be."

Arthur pulled back and smiled "and I'm yours, now that I have you no one else gets you."

"I can live with that."

Arthur just smiled before releasing his hold on Merlin "It's been a long day Merlin between reading people's minds and training all day I'm exhausted."

"Then go to bed Arthur, you need your rest."

"I'll only go to bed on one condition" he smirked.

"And what is that" Merlin smiled back.

"I have waited nearly three years for you Merlin and I would like you to stay tonight so I can hold you whilst I sleep."

"I think I can manage that" Merlin grinned as Arthur pulled him towards the bed and the two started to strip.

Arthur stripped first before climbing into the bed leaving the covers down waiting on Merlin who followed a moment later. Arthur pulled the covers up before lying on his back and pulling Merlin over so he was resting on his chest and let out a content happy sigh.

Merlin smiled as he felt Arthur's warmth run through him comforting him to his very soul before he lightly traced Arthur's chest with his finger. "I'm sorry I lied to you" he whispered.

Arthur just pulled his arm tighter around the boy and placed a kiss on his dark mop of hair "I know you are and I forgive you just promise me no more lies. Promise me we will face everything together the way should be, the way it should always have been."

Merlin nodded "I promise" they both lay in silence for a while before Merlin chuckled.

"What do you find so funny?"

"Oh it's just something the dragon said to me a long time ago that I never fully understood until now."

"And what did the overgrown lizard say?"

"He said 'you and Arthur are two sides of the same coin, one cannot exist without the other' I never completely understood him until now. But being here in your arms everything just seems right."

Arthur smiled "I know the feeling I have lived for twenty three years and never once have I felt this complete maybe the Dragon does know what he is talking about." Arthur leaned over and blew out the candle next to his bed before he realized something "Merlin how come I can't hear your thoughts anymore?"

"It could be two things one it could be because I have used my magic to block it so you can get some peace or the spell has broken because you have learned all you can from it."

Arthur nodded "Drop your magical barriers so I can find out please?"

Merlin nodded and closed his eyes before releasing his magic 'Arthur you are beautiful do you know that? Both inside and out.'

Arthur smiled "Thank you Merlin you're beautiful as well, you can put the barriers back up now it seems I still have more to learn."

Merlin raised his mental block before looking up at Arthur "Try and get some sleep and we can work on that tomorrow okay?"

"Okay" Arthur replied as he shuffled to get in a comfy position "Good night Merlin."

"Good night Arthur."

It didn't take long before the events of the day took its toll and the two fell asleep and for the first time since either could remember they fell asleep feeling safe, loved and complete.

The next morning Arthur woke before Merlin and let out a content sigh as a dopey grin worked its way onto his face. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so refreshed and well rested he pulled Merlin closer and placed a kiss on his head. "Mer" he whispered.

"Mmmm" was all Merlin gave him in reply.

"Mer it's time to wake up" he smiled "The sun is already up."

"Comfy" Merlin mumbled as he turned to look at Arthur "No wonder you're a nightmare to wake in the morning this bed is like a cloud."

Arthur laughed and gave Merlin a good morning kiss "If I had it my way you would never sleep anywhere else."

"Don't say stuff like that you'll never get rid of me" Merlin teased as he moved to sit up.

Arthur chuckled "I don't want to get rid of you" Arthur slowly got out of bed and moved over to his changing screen to change. "I have council with my father at noon but we need to work out a way to try and save Morgana I would rather bring my sister back than kill her."

Merlin nodded as he started dressing himself "I agree but we will need to try and get Morgause to slip up and confess her true plans where Morgana can hear them."

"What if we followed her and one of us detained Morgana just out of Morgause's view and the other aggravated her enough to slip up? You know like get Morgana to listen in without Morgause knowing that way she would see her true colors and maybe come back to us."

Merlin paused what he was doing as he looked over in Arthur's direction "That is surprisingly simple and just might work why did I never think of that before."

Arthur laughed as he approached Merlin "Because sometimes it takes a fresh set of eyes to think of something new."

Merlin shook his head with a coy smile "I know this is a bit out your comfort zone but do you think you could listen in on Morgana's thoughts and find out when and where she is next meeting Morgause?"

Arthur cringed a little he had forgotten about the spell the sorcerer placed on him but if he could use it to his advantage then he would. "Well I can try but I can't exactly pick and choose what Morgana thinks about."

Merlin gave him a quick kiss "If we can use it to our advantage today then we can work on getting rid of the spell tomorrow. We need all the help we can get on this if we are to successfully pull it off."

Arthur bit his lip before nodding "I agree, save Morgana then we worry about my mental state" he smiled "besides I'm Arthur Pendragon there is nothing I can't handle!"

Arthur was wrong sitting in the council chambers with his father and the old boring lords on his council was dyer. The thoughts the old bats had were just as mind numbing as the words that came from their mouths Arthur never understood how his father could be so interested in what they had to say. All he could here was them talking about this tax and that tax and in his head its was the same there was no escape until Morgana walked in and sat next to him with her deceptive smile.

Right this it Arthur thought to himself try and tune out the rest and focus only on Morgana it shouldn't be too hard. As it turns out it was trying to concentrate on her without frowning intently in her direction was surprisingly difficult but he eventually managed to focus on her.

'Oh c'mon you old bastards stop going on about taxes and start talking about magic I need to report back to Morgause on your latest moves.'

Arthur smirked he was getting there and Morgana should hopefully lead Merlin and himself straight to Morgause soon enough.

"Sire there have also been reports of a sorcerer's moving towards the city working their way towards the city from the neighboring kingdoms and outlying villages."

Uther frowned "That is unacceptable I want them found and killed on sight how many are there?"

Arthur tuned out the conversation around him as he focused solely on Morgana.

'Sorcerer's heading for Camelot this could be a good distraction for Morgause and I. I shall tell her tonight but I can't remember what meeting place we picked shit! Oh no what am I talking about she is coming to the cavern bellow the castle it should be easy enough to sneak past the idiot guards down there. God Uther you truly are oblivious to your own security problems.'

The Dragon's prison Arthur smirked he realized it was probably one of the better places for them to meet. It was in the castle right under everyone's noses that no one notices, after all the closer you are to danger the safer you are from harm. Arthur sat back in his chair as he let the conversation blow right over him he had done his job for the day and now he just had to tell Merlin.

Eventually the meeting finished and Arthur was about to run from the hall to his chambers to meet Merlin when his father called.

"Arthur."

Arthur froze before he sighed and turned to his father. "Father" he smiled trying to look his normal self and not get drawn into Morgana's deceptive smile.

"You were awfully quiet during the meeting did you not have anything to say? You had no input on how to rid the land of the sorcerers moving towards the city?"

Arthur looked at his father stone face before glancing at Morgana who had a slight smirk before he raised his eye brow. "Well to be honest father if they aren't hurting anyone I don't see why they should be problem."

Arthur had to hide his own grin as Morgana's smirk fell and Uther looked completely shocked.

"Arthur" Uther hissed "What are you talking about magic is evil and it will be punished!" 'Magic killed your mother I will not have walk freely in my kingdom!

Arthur bit down on his lip to stop himself from snapping at his father before taking a deep breath "Well Father I can't go against your wishes but if they are not hurting anyone I don't see the harm."

Uther eyed Arthur carefully along with Morgana before he spoke to her "And what do you think Morgana?"

Morgana raised an eye brow before speaking "Do you really want to go there sire after all I am notorious for disagreeing with you this." Morgana turned back to look at Arthur carefully 'What's going on with him? He has never spoken up like this before could it be he isn't like Uther after all? No don't be stupid Morgana he is problem just trying to work some angle to flush sorcerers out, well I fall for it.'

Arthur sighed at his sisters thoughts before Uther spoke again. "No sorcerers and their sympathizers will be killed on sight, as for you two continue to talk like this and it will be the dungeons."

Arthur rolled his eyes "Yes Father" before walking away towards his chambers his good mood suddenly gone. As he walked through the castle he barely noticed the thoughts around him as he was to wrapped up in his own, the more he thought about it the easier it would be kill to his own father. He knew what Merlin said how that would destroy him and he listened but that didn't mean it would be easy or that he would ever forgive him for what he has done.

Although on the plus side he now had Morgana doubted herself on whether or not she is making the right choice on killing him and with that seed planted maybe it would help tonight when they confront Morgause. Yes Arthur decided then and there he was getting his sister back one way or another he had already lost to many people because of Uther.

When he finally entered his chambers he smiled as he started at Merlin's backside as he scrubbed the floors, it was sight he had watched many times only this time he was allowed to. "Your too sexy for your own good when you're like that Merlin."

Merlin looked over his shoulder and smiled at Arthur "Are you staring at my arse your highness."

"Maybe" Arthur grinned "I got the information we need on Morgause."

Merlin turned serious all banter and play gone as he stood up "Good" he smiled "I found the spell to bind Morgana so she can't escape. I will need to cast it on some manacles before we place them on her the spell with temporarily cut off her magic so she can't escape whilst I confront Morgause."

"Why are you confronting her?"

Merlin almost laughed as he looked at appalled look on Arthur's face "Because I have magic and I can defend myself a lot better than you can. If Morgause knows that you know about Morgana she will kill you before we can carry out the plan, where are they meeting anyway?"

Arthur sighed he knew Merlin was right but that didn't mean he had to like it "They are meeting in the dragon's cavern tonight. I don't know much about down there but I imagine that you do?"

Merlin nodded "Yeah I know the best place to hide Morgana so she can hear everything. I just hope this plan works because once they both know and it doesn't change her mind they are going to come at us hard and fast."

Arthur nodded in agreement as he walked closer to Merlin pulling him into a tight hold "I hope so too" he whispered.

Merlin pulled back giving Arthur sad smile before a quick peck on the lips. "Morgana is a strong woman and right now she is just confused and scared we just need to show her that we are the best people to help her."

The day went by far too quickly but at the same time with an agonizing slowness for Arthur and Merlin they both wanted to carry out their plan but neither could shift the thought that it might not work. But they pushed through after all it was the only plan they had and they were quickly running out of time.

Finally the time came as nightfall arrived and now they had to sneak through the castle and wait.

"Are the manacles ready?" Arthur asked as they were getting ready to leave his chambers.

"Yes they should contain her magic for about twenty minutes which should give me enough time to provoke Morgause, are you clear on what you have to do?"

Arthur nodded "Detain Morgana and gag her explain to her what's happening and then leave the rest to you."

Merlin smiled "Good now when I cast the spell to freeze Morgana you will have about thirty seconds to chain and gag her before the spell wears off."

Arthur nodded "Ready?"

Merlin replied with a nervous smile before the two snuck out into the castle. As Arthur followed Merlin through the castle he was surprised at how stealthy he was as he crept through the shadows taking a twisted well-worn route. He couldn't help but smile at the idiot clearly he took this route in the past to avoid being followed to lose anyone who attempted it.

Then they reached the dungeons and Arthur sighed as he saw the two guards sitting playing dice blocking there way. He didn't even have time to speak before he saw Merlin's eyes flash gold and dice roll off the table towards the cells where the two men followed.

"C'mon quickly" Merlin whispered grabbing Arthur's arm and running though the now clear path before stopping at rusty gate like door that lead into complete darkness.

"We have to go down there?" Arthur asked slightly worried but no one but Merlin would notice that.

Merlin nodded "It's not as bad as it looks normally we could bring a torch but we don't want to be caught" Merlin smiled before disappearing into the darkness.

"You're going to be the death of me" Arthur muttered to himself before following inside and descending into the darkness.

Arthur held onto the wall as he walked down the never ending stairs, almost certain when he reached the bottom he would be in hell. But to his relief they stopped in a small hall way with a cave like door at the other end the moonlight from the cavern shining in giving them a small amount of light.

"Now what?" Arthur asked.

"We wait for Morgana to arrive."

Arthur nodded as he followed Merlin behind a large rock to wait, this was always something Arthur hated. Waiting Arthur was many things but patient wasn't one of them and within a few minutes he was already bored and fidgety.

"I'm bored Merlin" Arthur whispered.

Merlin lightly chuckled "You're a prat, and I can't entertain you in case we miss Morgana."

"I know" Arthur replied "I was just stating that I'm bored."

Merlin rolled his eyes before he caught the flickering of a torch descending the stairs. "Your wait is over here she is."

Arthur turned to the stairs and waited a few moments before Morgana showed standing at the bottom of the stairs. He turned to Merlin who nodded before his eyes flashed and Morgana froze. Arthur didn't waste any time as he was up sprinting across the short cap between them before looking Morgana in the chains and stuffing the gag in her mouth just as the spell broke.

Morgana drew Arthur a death glare and went to speak only to notice the gag and growled, then without a second thought she reached for her magic only for it to remain just out of reach. 'What have you done? What are you doing here?'

Arthur smiled glad he could still read minds but of course Morgana didn't know that she was shocked when he answered her questions. "I have detained your magic Morgana because you need to see reason! And we are here because you led us here" Arthur gestured behind him as Merlin emerged from his hiding place and approached them.

Morgana's glare would have been enough to kill a man on the spot but Merlin ignored it "I didn't tell him if that's what you're thinking."

"It is" Arthur spoke.

Merlin rolled his eyes "he found out himself and we are both here to help you see reason Morgana! Morgause is using you and as soon as she has got what she has wanted she will kill you without a second thought."

'LIAR, I'll kill you both for this!'

"She thinks we lying and she is going to kill us both for this" Arthur spoke dryly rolling his eyes before unfastening Morgana cape and handing it to Merlin. "Morgana just listen to what is about to happen please."

Morgana just kept giving them death glares as Merlin flipped the hood of the cape up and headed towards the cavern. Arthur just grabbed Morgana and lead her towards the watch point Merlin showed him.

Arthur watched as Merlin stood alone in the cavern hood up and torch flickering giving the cave a sinister feel before he noticed the cloaked figure walk up behind him and he felt his stomach tighten in worry.

"Sister" Morgause spoke as she dropped her hood.

"Nope" Merlin smiled turning to face her and dropping his own hood.

"Merlin" she growled "Where is Morgana?"

"The cells Morgause she'll be dead by Morning I finally found proof and Arthur arrested her not ten minutes ago."

"Lair you couldn't have found proof about anything."

"Really then how come I know all about you using Cenred to create an immortal army? Or the fact that Morgana is actually Arthur's sister?"

"How?"

"I have my ways" Merlin smiled "So it's just me and you down here so why don't we cut the crap and finally talk truth?"

"Truth?" Morgause laughed "Truth from the master of lies Merlin, you claim to care for the prince so much yet you lied to him about his birth."

Merlin took a step closer to her "watch your tongue witch! That is his mother you're talking about and the way you summoned her to manipulate Arthur into killing his father is disgusting. But then that's what you do isn't it? You have no real power you have twist everything like Arthur and Morgana."

"Morgana choose to join me in my fight."

"Before or after you manipulated her? Did you ever tell her that it was you that used her as an anchor for sleeping curse?" Merlin grinned at how she hesitated "Did you ever mention that once the knights had killed Arthur and Uther you would kill her and re-awaken the city under your rule of course you didn't."

Arthur turned to look at his sister as she looked both furious and devastated and felt some guilt build up inside him at the way this had to go down. "I'm sorry it has to be like this Morgana but it's the only way Morgause will kill you as soon as she has got all she can out of you" he whispered.

Morgana turned to Arthur and glared at him although it was as strong as the first glare she gave him as they both turned back to Merlin and Morgause.

"Your too smart for your own good Merlin" Morgause hissed "But tell me that all big talk from the person who poisoned her first."

"Ah yes I did poison her but unlike you I wouldn't have let her die, I would have saved her and protected her from the likes of you."

"You save her after poisoning her with hemlock" Morgause laughed "That's funny Merlin."

"People should really stop under estimating me" Merlin smiled "There is more to me than meets the eye. But tell once you took the city and Morgana took the throne what was your next part? Wait a year until it gave you legitimate claim after Morgana had an 'accident' that unfortunately killed her?"

"How do you know all this, what are you!" she screamed.

That was all Morgana need to hear to mark as a confession before she span on her heels and ran towards the entrance of cave showing herself to both Merlin and Morgause.

"Morgana" Morgause shrieked in surprise "He said Arthur arrested you."

Arthur appeared behind Morgana and took the gag out her mouth "I'm sorry Morgana."

Morgana ignored Arthur as she glared at Morgause "you used me? You were going to kill me as soon as I out lived my usefulness."

"No I knew he was lying about your imprisonment and I was just stalling until you arrived" Morgause quickly lied but judging by the look on Morgana's face she didn't believe her.

"Now why don't I believe you? What have you done to me and what did you to Arthur?"

Merlin sighed "Arthur was her first target before she moved to you, she told Arthur about his birth and way Uther kills those without magic in hopes that Arthur would kill Uther for her."

Morgana turned to Arthur "is it true? And why does he kill my kind without mercy?"

"Yes it's true she summoned my mother's spirit who then told me that Uther used magic to conceive me. My Mother was barren and he wanted an heir didn't care what the price was until he knew what it was and he has blamed magic ever since and allowed me to blame myself my entire life." Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose "We all know the price to create life a life must be taken and my father has spent the last twenty two years lying to both of us and grooming me into a magic killing machine."

"Enough I will not have my plans ruined by two spoiled royals and a servant!" Morgause screamed as her eyes turned gold and she sent a nasty looking curse at them.

Without thinking Merlin deflected the curse and glared murderously at the witch "You just tried to kill my friends."

"YOU HAVE MAGIC!" both Morgana and Morgause screamed.

"I don't just have magic" Merlin spoke "I am magic."

"Impossible" Morgause scoffed.

"Emrys" Morgana whispered.

Merlin nodded "Emrys protector of the once and future king."

Morgana turned and look at Arthur and then back to Merlin eyes wide "But Emrys is destined to kill me?"

"I never wanted to kill you that is why me and Arthur done this to try and help you see what Morgause was turning you into. We might have a lot of issues to work through Morgana but your my friend and your Arthur's sister neither of us want to hurt you or see you get hurt."

Morgana looked away from them she had no idea was she was thinking or feeling at that moment all she knew is Morgause had to die and she needed to think. "Merlin kill her" she whispered "She's to dangerous to be allowed to live."

"What" Morgause spoke dumbfounded at her sisters words "But I'm your family."

"No" Morgana replied "Family is more than just blood and it looks like things were never as black and white as I thought Morgause. Merlin please I don't want to look at her anymore."

Merlin turned to Morgause as his eyes turned gold and he started muttering and raised his hands to the celling of the cave. Like with Nimueh Morgause was a high priestess and without Excalibur he would need lightning to kill her. Morgause got ready to fight back but just as she summoned her power the blue bolt blasted down crashing into her.

Arthur and Morgana both watched eyes wide if they blinked they would have missed it before the lightening was gone and there was nothing left of Morgause. Merlin took a deep breath as he stumbled backwards only to be caught by Arthur.

"Merlin are you okay?"

"Yeah Arthur" Merlin smiled "I'm fine it's just the lightning takes a lot out of me."

Arthur nodded as both of them turned to a shocked Morgana before the enchanted manacles fell from her wrists. "Morgana" Merlin spoke but she just raised her hands to silence him.

"I just" she paused "I just need time to think, in the last twenty minutes everything I knew has changed."

Arthur nodded "Take as much time as you need and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask."

Morgana nodded "How did you find out about me and the immortal army?"

"That was me" Arthur smiled nervously "Merlin didn't tell me anything in fact you did."

"No" Morgana stated simply "I think I would remember letting something like slip."

Arthur smiled a little amused by Morgana's confusion "The sorcerer that attacked me yesterday he placed an enchantment that allows me to read everyone's mind. Both you and Merlin confessed to having magic without knowing about it of course I'm furious you both lied to me but it doesn't change how I see you. Well if you did attack the kingdom and try to kill me it might have changed my views."

Morgana nodded "that explains a lot, but why don't you hate us?"

Arthur sighed and moved to sit on a nearby rock "my father lied to me as well only he had a lot more time than Morgause had to try and mold me. But after listening to Merlin and knowing you my entire life and even Gaius used to practice magic I just couldn't see how it was evil I understand my fathers hatred even though it is uncalled for but I just I don't have it in me to hate so mercilessly ."

Morgana nodded "just leave me alone for a few days I need some time to think. I need answers to questions I don't even have yet so please just a few days?"

Arthur and Merlin both nodded "Of course" before she gave them a small smile and left the cave.

"Well that went surprisingly well."

Merlin nodded "Yeah but we are not out the clear yet she could still try and kill Uther and maybe even you."

Sorry it's later than planned things have been hectic the last few days