"You should be fighting." His arms come around her waist as he looks out the window over her shoulder.

"You say that as if the war is at our doorstep." His breath is warm on her ear.

She smirks in delight. She turns slowly in his arms, her hands coming up, slowly moving over his neck, her fingers lacing themselves in his black hair.

"It will be soon, I hear the Magi's army is pushing Camelot back."

His eyes darken as they fixate on her ruby red lips, so exquisite, so much passion always filtering through them.

"The Magi Kingdom will never make it into our gates. Uther will see to that."

He pulls her closer, his cheek rests next to hers, it is rough on her delicate skin. She pulls him closer, relishing in his contact.

"Morgana, when this is all over I am going to ask Uther for the Earldom in Lewin. The Earl there is weak and I will be able to take his castle. I have a few friends in the guard."

She pulls back from him, a light in her eyes. The feeling of warmth at the information is overwhelming.

"You mean…we can…"

"After I take the Earldom I can finally ask Uther for your hand in marriage."

She is overwhelmed with emotion, she pulls his face down to hers, and he groans at the contact. Those sinful red lips smudging all over his face and down to his chin. He grips her waist tighter, she knows he desires more, she does as well, but she is waiting, she cannot rush this. She knows how much he desires her, she feels him every time they kiss. She moves but a breath away.

"Patience, soon you will have me in all ways. My body, my mind, and my soul will all belong to you."

He moans but pulls only a breath away from her.

"I must go my lady. My absence was noticed and I must ride out this afternoon to get back to the battlefield."

He steps back from her, scared if he does not he will never be able to get back to his duties. He bows to her and she returns the gesture. He takes her hand and kisses her knuckles softly.

"Milady."

"My champion."

He grins as he starts to walk away from her.

"Oh Lancelot."

He turns and is met with the most seductive look from the Lady Morgana.

"I'll be waiting."

His head is in his hands. He sits on the throne and it suddenly feels a little too big for his taste. He hears the all knowing clicking of shoes but he cannot face her, he cannot face reality right now. The stains on his armor are but whispers of the lives he has taken today of the destruction. His magic is still pulsating on his finger tips. Sparks are flying out where they connect with his skin. A soft hand comes around his shoulders and he leans into the warmth, the soothing feeling of love washes over him, his magic cools to a smolder. The water comes through his hands and burns every cut, blister, and crevice it finds, his torment for his crime.

"It is ok Merlin."

He rocks back and forth, he is weak, a fool. He should not be here, he should be here.

"How is it ok mother?"

His eyes are gold with rage when they meet the soft blue of Hunith's eyes. She rubs his hair as the tears come out in spades. The trails distort her handsome sons face and make him look like the broken doll he has become. His irises are haunted, the events of today will define the war and possibly destroy her son.

"Merlin, you cannot blame yourself entirely for what happened on the battlefield today."

His teeth grind and he can feel the salt sting his cut lips. He hates all of this.

"How can I not Mother? And how are you so calm? Why are you not furious!"

He is standing now, towering over his mother his rage finding a way to filter through his cuts and come out to the surface. She looks up at him, not in fear, but in longing. She holds her head high, visions of peace reflect in her pupils. She cannot cry today, for she must be strong. She stands with elegance, and her hand comes to Merlin's face, her thumb wiping away the evidence of his weakness.

"You are furious enough for the both of us. Today…today you get to be sad. Tomorrow…tomorrow I will mourn for my husband, your father."

His rage has been like boiling lava since the death of his father that morning. The young sorcerer watched as his father fought valiantly, their dragons coming to push back their enemies of Camelot. They were winning. Victory was only a breath away. He made eye contact with his father, a moment of distraction, of admiration, it was all it took. The blade came out of nowhere and pierced his father's dragon armor. It was not a knight, or lord, or even the king that took down his great father, no it was a low unnamed foot soldier. Merlin watched in horror as the blood seeped out of his father's chest from across the field.

He remembers the clinking of his boots as he ran. The weight of his chainmail swishing on his chest, the clanging of his armor, he thinks he might have even cried out. It was too late, everything was too late. He stood there for a moment. The earth was silent as he stared down at his father. Blood had come up through his body and was tricking down the side of his father's chin, as if he was a very twisted court jester. It took only a second for Merlin to lose control, a flash of disregard for his men. The light came out of the great warlock, obliterating half the fighters in its wake. Magi men and Camelot men littered the field, their bodies looked twisted and mauled, their deaths were not quick, they were not painless. The fighting ended that day, when Merlin looked up he made eye contact with King Uther and Prince Arthur on the other side of the field, both men's faces were of awe, and fear.

"Mother I am sorry. I know…I know you miss father as much as I do."

His mother swallows and she feels as if her breathing is constricted for an instant. She closes her eyes, she will not think, will not feel, she is numb. She must put aside emotions today, she must help her son.

"I know you are sad my son, I know you let your magic loose today, but you must be strong as I am. A war is not for children, it is for men. Your father knew that every time he went out onto that field. He was fighting for his kingdom, for you my son. You are the heir to the Magi throne. You are the only son, child, of the House of Alwin. Your father fought for you, he died for you."

She grabs his face. "Do not let his death be in vain Merlin. You are to be King now. You must make the right decisions."

The young prince, king, closed his eyes in shame. He felt the weight of responsibility make a home on his shoulders. He is no longer the Prince of Alwin, he is to be king. That realization was the last thing he wanted to face. He looks to his mother, his eyes pleading.

"What do I do mother? You are High Queen. Please tell me what to do."

Hunith smiles as she grabs her sons face. His ears poking out, it reminds her of when he was young.

"King Balinor, your father and High Dragonlord, never wanted this war. King Uther started this mess when he started that unthinkable purge. You know they fled here for safety. Magic users are safe here under our rule. When Uther attacked your father fought back, and as you can see, if we so desired, we could take Camelot."

Merlin looks at his mother, understanding colors his eyes.

"But, your father never wanted that, he never wanted Camelot. Our kingdom and lands here are enough, our people are happy. I think you have shown Uther and Arthur how powerful you are, and exactly who they attacked. We are not scared children, we are powerful sorcerers. We are a more than formidable threat, but war is long my son. I think it's time to send everyone home."

Merlin looks on, he nods slowly.

"You mean for me to make peace."

"I do my son."

His chin rests on his neck in defeat, the last thing he ever wanted was peace with those scum that took his father. The look his mother sends him is pleading, she does not wish for any more bloodshed.

"If we are to make peace, I will have to do something drastic to make sure they do not attack again mother."

The High Queen closes her eyes, she is overwhelmed with sadness at what she is about to suggest, but grateful he is listening.

"I know my son. I do not wish to suggest this, for I hate the trading of cattle in the nobility, but you are of age Merlin, you should marry."

The floorboards suddenly become very interesting to the prince, king. His mother has grabbed his hand and is making soothing patterns on his palm. He cannot look at her for a moment, his parents came together out of love, and it was only luck that she was a noble. He courted her for a year before they married. Their marriage secured The House of Litwin's alliance to his father, but that was mere luck. His father truly loved his mother before marriage, a luxury they wanted Merlin to have, but with this new tension, he needed to secure Camelot's allegiance. He needed security if Uther was ever foolish enough to attack his peaceful kingdom again. He closes his eyes, the responsibility pressed even harder against his lower back.

"I should send word to Uther, I will begin negotiations immediately."

Fin.

So that was DISGUSTINGLY SHORT! Haha well, I think I'm gonna go back to my 10 page chapters after this XD. I want to make the format closer to that of my pirates stories. This will be a little different from my last piece, because I know where I want it to go but I don't have it all planned out like the last one, so updates...yea were gonna try to be quick haha! I know the story line is kind of, been there done that, with the Royal!Merlin, but I have a few twists that I think people enjoy. And seriously...WHAT DID I JUST DO WITH MORGANA/LANCELOT? God that was actually really hard to write, but eh I think it will add some spice and everything nice! :)

As always, I love your reviews guys! Seriously, makes me super happy! Thanks again for reading!