This is an expansion of what was going to be one of my Inktober Prompts but just didn't seem to fit. Set at the beginning of S3 E2 but goes in a different direction. Title comes from the saying "A scar simply means you're stronger than whatever tried to hurt you" (Original source I do not know) which I think has a couple of meanings in this story. I don't own the quote or the Merlin series. Hope you enjoy.

"Don't give me that nonsense Merlin, I looked everywhere for you. You were nowhere to be found and Gaius insisted you never came home. Now I've tolerated you disappearing off to wherever in the past, but with things in their present state I cannot and will not allow anyone to gallivant off without requiring them to account for it. Now where were you last night?"

"Dying," Merlin muttered, an aching head and exasperation with the state of the Arthur's chambers prompting him to forgo any excuses.

"What?"

"I said I was dying."

Arthur sighed."I don't have time for this."

"Would you have had time to retrieve my corpse?" Merlin thought, then nearly smacked himself when Arthur's expression made him realize he'd spoken out loud.

The prince took a few steps his direction, looking torn between laughing and throwing something at him. "Alright, I'm going to give you exactly five minutes to explain what it is you are talking about."

"There's... there's noth-" A hand slashing through the air cut off Merlin stammering.

"Five minutes Merlin," Arthur repeated, "Now start talking. And if I find out your "dying" was drowning in the bottom of a barrel of mead, I promise I will make your life so miserable you'll wish you had never stepped foot in Camelot."

Merlin stared at him emotions whirling around wildly inside his head. A part of him wanted to do what he always did - make up some story that made him look like a clumsy idiot and hope Arthur would be too distracted by his father and the kingdom to do more than yell at him. The other part of him was sick of lying, sick of fighting, and at that moment just plain sick to his stomach from being poisoned, healed, and dealing with the long flight back to the castle.

"You're down to three minutes now," Arthur informed him casually.

Three minutes was not nearly enough time for Merlin's sluggish brain to concoct any sort of reasonable explanation, so in the end he just blurted out the first thing that came to his mind - which just so happened to be the truth.

"Serkets," he said.

Arthur blinked at him."Serkets?"

"Giant scorpion things that live in the Darkling Woods. Their venom can be fatal." Was always fatal actually, but he hoped that fact would slip by the prince. It would raise questions he really didn't need raised.

"I know what they are Merlin. Now explain to me just what on earth were you doing messing around in that part of the woods? And don't say you were picking herbs."

"I didn't-" Merlin sighed and pinched his nose, the urge to tell the truth weighing even heavier on his heart. He turned his head and eyed the prince through his fingers. "Do you really want to know what happened?"

"I'm all a tremble." Despite the sarcasm, Arthur expression did hold some sincerity. That was enough for Merlin.

"When I was tending to your father last night I found something beneath his bed. A root of some sort and it was dripping with a sort of... black goo.. stuff." Merlin paused, running a hand through his hair. If the prince noticed the way that hand quivered, he didn't comment. "Anyway before I could figure out what the root was someone snatched it away and hurried out of the castle. It was late and they were in such a hurry I didn't have time to get anyone else's attention.

"I followed them out through the lower town, into the woods and saw them meet up with someone. It wasn't until I got closer that I realized it was Morgause. She took the root, and the two of them started discussing the fact that the king's mind was...compromised. The other person asked something about the next step in the plan and they were told Cenred's army was ready to march on Camelot just as soon as she gave the word."

Arthur, who had been looking confused and slightly doubtful up until this point, was now fully alert. "Morgause said this?"

"The part about Cenred yes. Arthur his castle's not far from the border. Even with a full army he can make it here in less than three days. We don't have a lot of time to prepare."

"Why would Morgause want to use Cenred to invade Camelot?"

"Easy, she hates your father. She'd do anything to see him destroyed. And since her scheme to get you to kill him for her failed, she's had to find some other way. I've no doubt whatever the battle going on in your father's mind is, it was put there by her. And Cenred is an easy ally for this sort of thing. He's greedy, opportunistic, and none too bright when it comes to people manipulating him. He'd be all too eager to invade a kingdom whose ruler was.. well.. not in the best of health."

Time limit on their conversation forgotten Arthur started pacing, his mind now fully attuned to what Merlin was telling him.

"You're certain they mean to have my father dead before the army arrives?"

"Either dead or broken. Morgause accomplice said that by the time Cenred's army reaches Camelot, the kingdom will be without a leader."

Arthur turned and considered him. "You overheard all this without getting caught?"

"Ah, well no." Merlin shifted a bit pulling at his sleeve awkwardly. "Apparently I'm not as good at tailing people as I thought."

Arthur snorted.

"When they got through talking M- the person that came from Camelot pointed me out. I tried to run but Morgause's men came out of nowhere and caught me. Morgause tried to question me but when I refused to talk she knocked me out. When I woke up she had bound me in chains and left me to the Sekrets. I managed to get free but not before one of them stung me. The venom I… I collapsed halfway back and only just managed to make it back here this morning."

Arthur was back to looking skeptical, but Merlin couldn't go into any more detail without magic being too obviously indicated. So, fed up and exhausted, he did the one thing he could think of. Dropping his jacket and belt over a chair he turned his back to his master.

"Merlin what do you think you're doing?"

"If you don't believe me, look." Pulling off his dirty shirt he shifted to give Arthur a clear view of his shoulder.

The prince's eyes widened at the sight of the vivid black puncture wound marring the otherwise intact flesh. It was small, no wider than the tip of his little finger but Arthur could see it bore deep into the muscle. The pain of the stinger's impact must have been tremendous, never mind whatever the venom did. That his servant had even survived such an attack was impressive.

He reached out slowly, intending to brush his thumb over the scar, then thought better of it and grabbed Merlin's good shoulder instead, turning him back around. Merlin followed his lead, allowing his tunic to fall back into place.

"Who was it you followed out of the city Merlin?" Arthur asked, sounding far gentler than he usually would under such circumstances. When Merlin glanced up the prince's blue eyes were full of worry, and not just for his kingdom.

That didn't stop the younger man from hesitating however. Telling the truth so far had been a calculated risk. Anything more might be suicide.

"Come on," Arthur insisted, "you must have seen him."

"Her," Merlin corrected without thinking.

"Her," Arthur repeated. "It's a woman committing treason right under my father's nose?"

"Almost literally," Merlin muttered.

"What?" Arthur frowned then looked distressed. "You're not saying it was Guinevere who…"

"NO!" Merlin gasped. "Gwen no, of course not! What would she want with Morgause? Or Morgause with her for that matter?"

"Then who?"

"Arthur you won't bel-"

"Merlin!" the prince ground out between clenched teeth. "I'm not going to ask you again. The safety of my kingdom is at stake as well as my father's sanity. You know who is endangering them, it is your duty to tell me regardless of whatever you assume I will or will not believe. Now. Who. Did. You. Follow?"

Merlin closed his eyes tight then let out a sad, resigned sigh, met his master's eyes and whispered, "Morgana."

Arthur reeled back faster than if Merlin had punched him. For a minute he looked bewildered and devastated. Then disbelief, that which the mind uses to protect itself from painful truths, creeped in and his shock turned to anger.

"Merlin," He said, grinding the name out syllable by syllable, "you're exhausted and weak and have clearly just been through a trauma, however much you may have brought it on yourself. So I'm going to give you a chance to change what you just said. Now who, exactly, did you see committing treason by conspiring with a vengeful sorceress to kill my father and destroy Camelot? Think very carefully about your answer."

Merlin shook his head, trying to will away the tears that were burning behind his eyes. "Arthur.. I don't..I wish more than anything to be wrong...but it was her. There's no way for me to deny it, she was collaborating with Morgause. She made no move to help me escape, in fact she was laughing when Morgause's men were dragging me back to her."

For a moment the prince faltered, then he turned away burying his face in his hands. "No. I can't believe it. Why would Morgana turn on us? We've been her family, Camelot is her home. She wouldn't betray everyone who loves her!"

The agony in his friend's voice tore at Merlin's heart. Long helpless minutes passed before an idea flitted through his brain, one he seized gratefully. "Look maybe..maybe it's not all her choice," he said.

"What do you mean?" The prince asked, his voice dull.

Merlin licked his lips, thinking fast. "We know Morgause held captive her for a year. Maybe...maybe her escape wasn't an accident. Maybe she was somehow convinced Camelot is her enemy and came back to exact vengeance. It's even possible her actions are being influenced somehow."

"You're saying that witch is controlling her," Arthur growled fiercely although his voice now carried a spark of hope.

'Not a chance', Merlin thought, but at that moment he'd say anything to save Arthur's faith in someone he loved. He nodded slowly, stepping carefully to Arthur's side. "Morgana might not even be aware of what she's doing," he said gently. "And if she is, than it's not arbitrary maliciousness. She might genuinely think she's doing the right thing."

The disbelieving look Arthur gave him would have been funny if it weren't for the sword that got pointed directly at Merlin's throat. He hadn't even seen the prince pick it up.

"In what universe is treason the right course of action?" Arthur asked, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Raising his hands in a placating gesture Merlin attempted to keep his voice calm. "I didn't say it was right, only that Morgana might think so. Which means we have more to worry about than just Cenred's army. Even if we can break Morgause' influence over her she might not react in the way we hope she will. Magic is a tricky thing, and you know better than anyone how stubborn she can be. Right or wrong, once she's made her mind up she'll be determined to see her actions through."

Arthur shook his head, lowering his sword. "It won't come that," he said with the confident attitude Merlin knew he put on when he couldn't accept whatever the alternative outcome of a situation might be. "Once we destroy Morgause, her influence will gone too. Morgana will be herself again. In the meantime not a word of this to anyone."

"But shouldn't we warn-" Merlin stopped when the sword flicked back to him.

"I won't have her maligned as a traitor for actions beyond her control. No, we deal with her between ourselves." Arthur dropped the sword on his desk then moved to a basket on the far side of the room, grabbing clothes out of it that he'd had another servant bring up from the laundry.

Pulling on a clean shirt he began to formulate a plan. "If she's acting on Morgause' behalf then there's a chance Cenred's army might try to gain access to the citadel through any of the tunnels Morgana is aware of. Which is most of them. We'll need to have defences in place there and prepare the army for a frontal assault. Get my armor then check with Gaius about my father's condition and also about setting up the infirmary."

"Go!" He half shouted when Merlin hesitated again.

"Sire," Merlin acknowledged. Grabbing his own clothes he turned to leave, vowing to prepare some magical defences as well. There was no way the two sisters would rely solely on a conventional attack, not with the power at their disposal.

"Merlin," Arthur stopped him at the door.

"Yes, my lord?"

"If you're right then I owe you an apology. And my gratitude," the prince added looking like he was having difficulty swallowing. "The sooner a battle is prepared for, the more lives can be saved. You're bringing this to my attention…"

"Camelot is my home too," Merlin spoke up, sparing him from anymore floundering. As amusing as it would be to see Arthur have to squirm for once, there simply wasn't time. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect it."

Arthur looked surprised at the conviction in his tone and Merlin realized this was the first time he'd ever said anything like that to anyone but an enemy. The first time he'd ever hinted that he was capable of being more than the way he appeared to be day to day. It was another risk, he'd played the fool too long to suddenly become some wise old warrior. But seeing the half smile and nod of respect his future king gave him he couldn't bring himself to regret it.

They'd get through this, Merlin thought to himself as he hurried from the room, he had to believe that. And maybe, just maybe, they'd come out stronger on the other side.