"The Crystal Cave!" Merlin said to his father and broke the suspending silence in his parents' bed chambers, where he had marched in at that morning with his serving boy.

Balinor frowned, wondering how come there wasn't a secret he couldn't keep from the boy. He knew exactly what Merlin was after, and he had thought that they had been done with that talk back in Theo's funeral a few days ago. "The crystal cave is a fairy tale, son. Nothing more," Balinor reassured and through on his best white tunic. He was dressing to his ceremonial clothes for the day's special occasion; the initiation ceremony of the new druid counsellor. Hunith handed him a leather belt. "Thank you, darling," Balinor said softly to his wife.

"I do remember the bed time stories you used to tell us, father." Merlin glanced over his shoulder at Mordred who looked like he would have not wanted to be there. "But Mordred told me that the place truly exists... somewhere in the White Mountains..."

The king turned at the young serving boy. "And what do you really know about the Crystal Cave, boy?"

Mordred swallowed. He had survived throughout the king's questioning, and he never wanted to do that again. "My lord... When I was a child, the elders spoke of a place where the magic said to been begun. It lies hidden in the valley of the Fallen Kings. It is filled with powerful crystals..."

Balinor nodded annoyed, tying his belt. "Did you also know that all through the three past centuries men have gone searching for that place and returned empty handed, some have not returned at all?" he said with a meaningful glare.

There was a determined gleam in Merlin's eyes. "I have gone through the valley of the Falling kings twice, and on both times I have had this... feeling. I simply thought that the place was cursed or something but..."

Hunith heaved a sigh to her son, shaking her head, as she helped the blue coat on Balinor. She didn't like these obsessions and whims of her son, even she understood his reasons.

Merlin had his serious face as the stared at his father. "I know I can find it."

"No, Merlin. It is too dangerous. Even if it isn't a myth, I don't want you to go looking for it."

"I'll take the knights with me. And once we'll find it, we'll come back to fetch Mirela and Morgana..."

Balinor frowned, and not that nice fatherly way, but he really knitted his thick dark brows as he stepped closer to his boy. "Do you not hear me, son? As your father and as your king, I forbid you to go searching for that place," Balinor grunted and got his boy silence for a moment. He had pulled out the "king" card. He had never done that before, and he already regretted it.

Merlin looked surprised. It was not their usual battle of the wills, it seemed. There was no point to continue this fruitless conversation. "As you say..." he bowed officially, "Your Majesty," he whispered and left the room, his serving boy following him on his tail.

Hunith gave a sour glance at her husband as the door closed behind Merlin. "Now was that really necessarily, Balinor? He just wants to help the girls... especially Morgana."

"Ever since she arrived here, a catastrophe has followed after another." Balinor picked up his crown from the table and felt its weight heavier than ever. He couldn't help but think what if Theo had been right after all.

Hunith stepped by his side and touched his hand. "You can't blame Morgana of everything what have happened here."

"And the boy keeps questioning my every decision now days," Balinor continued, staring at the closed door.

Hunith took the crown and placed it on her husband's head and stroked his face gently. "That's because he has not been a boy in a long time. He's a grown man. And I see you in him. You stood up for me and all of us with that same passion back in the old days. You remember, love? You can't expect any less from him."

The king hid his concern behind a small smile. "That's what I am worried about."

On the corridor, Mordred followed his master in silence. "So, we're going to forget about the Crystal Cave then?" he assumed quietly.

Merlin stopped and gave the boy a cunning glance. "Who said we are going to give up?"

On the very same time the new druid counsellor-to-be rode to the palace's courtyard with two of his companions. Lancelot and Gwaine walked down the palace's stairs to meet the king's guests and to show them in.

"Do we really need another druid here?" Gwaine muttered suspiciously to his fellow knight, watching the riders dismounting.

Lancelot pursed up his lips, having no good answer to that. "Well, they can't all go crazy like Theo," he whispered before stepping in front to their guests. "Welcome to Camelot, my lord. You must be our new counsellor," Lancelot greeted the older man.

It was no mistaken by the man's origins as he took down his hood and revealed his druid tattoo on the right side of his neck, behind his ear. "Thank you. And please just call me Ruadan. I am not a counsellor yet, not until our good king's gives his blessing," Ruadan said firmly but friendly. He turned at the young and shy girl by his side. "This is my daughter, Sefa," he introduced the girl, "And this is Alvarr. He assured our safely journey. He'll be leaving after we have settled in."

Gwaine gave the girl a smile, and then looked at the man called Alvarr from top to bottom. He wouldn't trust this Alvarr, not even a bit. "Alright then. We'll show you your quarters if you wishes to refresh before seeing the king. Please, come this way," Gwaine said leading the guests inside. But if you should cause any problem you'll be asking for mayhem, Gwaine thought but left unsaid.

As Sefa followed the knights and her father in, she was certain about only one thing; Mordred was about to freak out soon.

Two painfully long weeks later:

Morgana felt another yank on her hair and tried not to grimace. With another pull like that and she was starting to lose her hair. Her scalp was getting sore already. Had she not suffered enough yet? What on earth had she ever done to deserve all this? she thought and gazed at her new hand maid from the mirror, who stood behind her with a brush.

"Sorry... my lady," Sefa said with apologisely expression after yet another stroke of the brush that ended with a small tug.

Mordred sat further away at the long table, polishing Merlin's armour. He had followed a while at that hopeless hairstyling, still pondering why Sefa had come into the palace. Ruadan, her father, was now the new druid counselor in the court. And Mordred had a bad hunch that Ruadan was going to continue where Theo had left off. That's why he didn't want to leave by Morgana's side.

"You want me to give a hand?" Mordred asked from the girl and cleansed his hands to a cloth.

Sefa gave an upset glare at him. "I'm a girl, Mordred! I can brush hair!" she bridled with a quiet voice. She was getting tired of being patronized by him. It was like Mordred had been monitoring her every move. He believed that she was spying for her father, but she had no ill intentions towards Morgana.

Morgana forced the corners of her mouth upwards and turned at the girl. "It's alright, Sefa. I can continue it from here," she said and took the brush from the girl's hands.

"I'm sorry," Sefa sighed and crossed her fingers nervously. It had not been her day or her week actually. That long she had been working as Morgana's hand maid. It had been the warlock prince's idea and surprisingly her father had approved it. "I'm not very good at this... am I?" Sefa asked with an awkward expression. She had thought that working with Mordred would have been more fun, and serving the princess would have been more glamorous. On so far she had nearly burned one lock of the princess Morgana's hair while curling them with hot iron, startled Merlin twice by turning up in the room without a sound, and served a breakfast in their bed, literally in the bed by a clumsy accident. And Mordred had been acting strange near her like he would have not wanted her to be there.

"Well... You'll get the hang of it soon, I'm sure," Morgana said. Both of the young servants stood around her like waiting eagerly for a new task, and it was really starting to bother Morgana. She just wished one moment of peace and quiet.

"Is there anything else I can do, my lady?"

Morgana glanced across the room as the door opened and Arthur stepped in like godsend. "Oh... Could you please leave us?" Morgana asked, and Sefa and Mordred nodded and left.

Before Arthur even opened his mouth, Morgana greeted him with a furious glare. "Would you tell me once again, why I have to stand this little nuisance instead of having Kia here? You did tell Kia that I invited her to Camelot?" she hissed, pointing him with her hair brush. She found it hard to believe that her old friend would have rather stayed back in Dordona than come in Camelot starting a new, free life. Morgana wouldn't have expected Kia becoming her maid, but she would have loved having Kia close because she knew that she could have trusted her old serving girl. And maybe get her hair done with less effort every now and then.

Arthur shrugged, trying to look casual. "Yes, and she said that she missed you too. I... can't really say why she chose to stay there."

"Maybe it was my magic that bothered her," Morgana pondered and brushed her long hair free from tangles that Sefa had somehow managed to put in there.

"I don't think that had nothing to do with it..." Arthur said and sat on a chair close to his sister. He would have rather forget about the whole trip back home, especially that Kia-part of it. If Arthur would have known what happened in Camelot during his trip in Dordona, he wouldn't have ever left. "So... how are you doing today?" he asked, a bit of concern in his voice and willing to change the subject.

"The same. It is like anger, sadness and powerlessness had been rolled into one and made me to swallow it." Morgana gazed at her brother, her head tilted on the other side and hair flowing free over her shoulder. "That might have been a bit... um... exaggerated. But I never thought it would feel like this."

"What?"

"You know; to be normal," Morgana sighed and gave him a faint grin like being without magic was now something undesirable.

Arthur felt bad for her loss. He knew how much magic had meant for Morgana, and for Mirela too. "Did it feel different when you still had your magic?"

"Not really," Morgana admitted amused. "Expect knowing that I could have brought the whole world down on my feet."

Arthur smiled. "You're taking this all awfully well," he noted confused.

"How about Mirela?" Morgana asked after noticing that Arthur seemed troubled.

"You tell me," Arthur sighed with a frown and leaned closer to his sister like he would have been revealing a secret. "Ever since I returned, Mirela has been so... distant. She keeps telling me that everything's fine, but I know it's not true. Perhaps it is because she lost her magic, I don't know..."

Morgana looked worried. She had not forgotten that Mirela's strange sleepwalking case, and she had no wish to find her brother charred from his bed one morning. "Has she done something...?"

"I have found her several times at nights sitting by the window and staring out into the darkness like she would have been waiting for something."

"And...?"

Arthur frowned. "She could just sit there for hours, sometimes even till the dawn. Like she is avoiding me. We haven't really shared the bed lately..." A wave of blush went over his face. It was a matter you didn't usually discuss with your siblings, and he changed the subject. "At least she hasn't seen any nightmares lately."

"Do you want me to talk with her?"

"If you could figure out what's wrong with her that would be nice." Arthur gazed at his sister, a guilty look in his eyes. He wished that he could have confessed his error to her and got it off from his chest. He feared the Mirela somehow knew what happened with Kia.

A bag of gold changed its owner in a small inn on the outskirts of Camelot. From under his dark hood Myror casted a curious glance at his new employer, before checking the contents of the money pouch. Usually he didn't care the reasons why someone paid him for his services but this time he was at least a bit curious. "The princess of Camelot?" he asked with a low voice, his eyes following every move of the two mysterious druid men who had summoned him there. They were upstairs in a small room doing business away from others eyes and ears.

Ruadan stayed calm, gazing to the assassin's dark eyes. "I thought it shouldn't be a problem to a man as skilled as you, Myror. After all your reputation is known across the whole known world," Ruadan said.

Myror held the small money bag in his palm, weighing its value. "I am just curious. My assignments are rarely women."

"Does it really matter? When have the assassins grown conscience?" Alvarr asked.

The assassin's eyes smiled but he did not. "It does not matter. They are all the same to me. But when have the druids became bloodthirsty?"

Ruadan frowned for that remark. They had tried their best to hide their identity but it was apparently useless in a company of such a reputable assassin. If that was the word you could use, when speaking of hired killers. "Camelot is feasting the anniversary of the king Balinor's coronation today. The palace will be bristling with people and I assume it should be easy to sneak in. Will you accept the assignment?"

"You have placed a bounty on Morgana Ambrose's head." Myror tucked his gold pouch inside his coat and walked at the door. "She is as good as dead."

After the door closed, Ruadan and Alvarr stood there in silence for a short moment. Then Alvarr turned at the elder druid. He rarely had second thoughts, but Myror had left him with cold chills. "Are you sure this was a good idea?"

Ruadan wasn't so easily intimidated. "It is our obligation to see that Theo didn't die in vain. As long as Morgana lives we cannot be certain."

Alvarr squinted. "I know. But we could have taken care of Morgana by ourselves." he agreed, not really trusting the hired killer.

"Her death cannot be led to us at any way. I cannot risk Sefa's safety. She must not been get involved with this matter."

"I thought she already was involved," Alvarr pointed out.

"Sefa is in the palace watching over Mordred and reporting Morgana's every move to me."

"Smart move to take Safe with you in the palace. Mordred cares for her. He won't dare to put her in peril."

Ruadan hoped that he wasn't putting his own daughter in peril. He glanced out through a tiny window and saw Myror mounting a horse and heading toward Camelot. "I should be getting back. I wouldn't want to miss the feasts, which Camelot won't ever forget."

Alvarr coughed uneasy. "What about Myror? What if he finds out that the gold we gave him isn't real?"

"He won't live long enough to realize it."

The whole royal family was gathered in the dining hall for lunch. The atmosphere was a bit awkward, even Balinor and Hunith tried their best to keep up the conversation. They had discussed how the new camelothians from Dordona had settled in to the town, and the event of the coming evening.

Suddenly Gwaine stormed in to the room with red cheeks looking like he had been running miles out in the winter air. "Sire..." he puffed and panted as he marched in front of his king and caught his breath.

"Sir Gwaine, something wrong?" Balinor asked. Usually his knights didn't come disturb his lunch with their reports.

"I've received reports that a strange beast had been roaming near the Westerns borders, my lord," Gwaine told and took a sip from a water goblet that Merlin handed to him. "People said that they have seen this... creature attacking their livestock... They believe that it had been conjured with sorcery."

"What makes them believe that?"

Gwaine heaved a breath. "It is said to have a face of a bat, a tail of a serpent and...aah... kind of furry the rest..." the rascal knight stammered and glanced at Merlin.

Merlin bit his lips for not to laugh. It sounded more like someone had spent too much time in the local taverns. "It sounds... terrible," he managed to put down in words.

Arthur frowned. "Sounds like a nightmare. Does that kind of creature even exist?"

"Hmm..." Mirela chewed her mouth empty and glanced at her brother like asking was that thing real. "That description does not match anything that I have ever read. Perhaps... a lamia?"

"I don't know but we should go and investigate." Merlin tried to keep his face straight. "I'll gather up men and we'll go to stop the beast..."

Morgana stared at her husband over the dining table upset. "Oh, no you don't! You can't go and leave me alone here again, Merlin. Can't you send someone else?"

Hunith lost her appetite. She gazed at her son worried. "Morgana is right. And the anniversary party is today," she sighed and turned at Balinor. Not mentioned, encountering with a beast like that sounded very dangerous. The anniversary of the king Balinor's crowning had been one of the greatest feast in the kingdom. Even if the king wouldn't have wanted to celebrate it, the people of Camelot did.

"I'm sorry, Morgana. Mother. But my duty to Camelot comes first."

Mirela placed her hand on Morgana's arm. "Don't worry, Morgana. You would love the feast. We could do a little fun for a change."

"I don't feel like celebrating if Merlin is gone."

Balinor rose up from his seat. "Perhaps I should come with you, Merlin. I cannot run feasts here if our people are in danger."

"No! You stay here, father. I can handle this. Besides you can't miss your party," Merlin reassured and gave a small smile to his parents. "And I'll be careful, I promise", he continued and shared a gaze with his wife before heading towards the door. "Arthur, you can stay and enjoy the feast!"

Morgana pattered after him, throwing her napkin on the table. "You really expect me to wait you here like some lapdog after everything I have gone through?" she grunted on her way out.

"You knew what you got yourself into when you married me, love," Merlin's voice noted after they had left the room. "Gwaine, inform the others that we'll be leaving in two hours."

Morgana walked with Merlin to their chambers, grousing about the matter the whole way. "And you cannot treat me this way! I don't care if you were the last king of the whole known land!"

Merlin closed the door and snatched Morgana into his gentle grip. "Morgana," he said her name with perfect calmness.

"You will not leave me here!"

"Morgana," Merlin said again and gave her a smile.

"What are you smiling? This is not funny."

"I'm not going to leave you here," Merlin whispered and stroke Morgana's arms, trying to calm her down.

Morgana gazed at him confused. "You are not? But that beast?"

"There is no beast. Gwaine made that up so that my father wouldn't get too suspicious. We are not going to the Western borders," Merlin told and got Morgana even more puzzled. "Today is the day, Morgana. You and I will be heading to the White Mountains, searching for the Crystal Cave. I'm sorry I didn't have time to warn you, but I needed your authentic reaction."

Morgana squinted. "Oh... you got one!" she grunted but couldn't be angry with him in front of his smile. "Today?"

"This is our chance. If you still are willing to?" Merlin asked and Morgana nodded.

The door opened and Mirela sneaked in. "A face of a bat and tail of a serpent?" she grunted and closed the door behind her. "After all these years, Gwaine has not become any magic-wise, has he?"

"Apparently not." Merlin shook his head amused. "So, are we ready to go?"

"Well, yes. Arthur too is getting prepared. I... might have forgotten to tell him about the purpose of this trip. Mordred is fetching the supplies you asked. And I sent Sefa with Gwen, and gave the girl a whole bunch of chores, keeping her out of the way."

"Why? Sefa could help us," Merlin suggested.

"I don't think so. I don't trust her," Mirela said.

"Neither do I," Morgana snorted. "She burned my hair!"

"Give her a chance. She is trying very hard. And I think she's cute," Merlin blurted, and got Morgana's and Mirela's glare.

"Cute?" Morgana grunted with questioning eyes.

Merlin fought back an innocent blush that was about to colour his cheeks. "I didn't mean it like that!"

"Cuteness and trustworthy are two completely different things, Merlin," Mirela noted, and couldn't help but enjoy a little bit of tease.

Morgana frowned at him. "How cute?"

Merlin grimaced. "What I meant to say was that Sefa and Mordred are cute together."

Mirela sighed, rolling her eyes. "I don't trust Mordred either."

Morgana glanced at her sister in law and joined in being funny. "Oh, why not? He's so cute and all."

"Ah..." Merlin sighed and got the joke. He knew that the local druids were suffering currently a lack of confidence among the people, but he trusted his young servant. Maybe not that much of the new druid counselor Ruadan, but Sefa had seemed nice.

Mordred came in soon, carrying a sack which he handed to Merlin. "Here... my lord," he caught his breath. "All you asked... in there..."

Merlin opened the sack, and with a grin he handed it to Morgana. "Here you are. Time to get changed."

"More surprises? Is it something... cute?" Morgana grinned as she took the bag and went behind the dressing screen, getting out from her purple dress and into her new disguise.

"I'll give you a hand," Mirela said and went helping Morgana.

Meanwhile Merlin put his chainmail on with help of his serving boy even he would have rather left it behind. It was uncomfortable and heavy and he wouldn't probably need it at all, but this operation was supposed to look like they were hunting down a monster. And all the trouble because there stood one ultimate force between him, Morgana and the Crystal Cave; his father.

"You've got to be kidding me, Merlin?" Morgana sighed as she stepped out behind the screen, all dressed up in Mordred's clothes.

Merlin was tying the ropes of his cloak as he turned at Morgana. He was surprised that even in boy's clothes, she looked sweet and pretty. "Not bad."

Morgana gave him a playfully mischievous smile. "Does this turns you on?" she asked and pulled a wool hat on her head.

"I reckoned that this would be the easiest way to get you out from the palace, disguised as "Mordred".

Morgana glanced herself from the mirror, her forehead furrowed. Then she turned at Mirela. "So, what's your disguise?"

"Um..." Mirela gazed at her brother with a concerned look. "I thought that Merlin told you... I am not coming."

"Why not? I thought that we are doing this together," Morgana said, sounding a bit disappointed as she glanced at Merlin too.

Merlin heaved a sigh. "Mirela and I had a talk and we believe it is wiser to wait and figure out what's wrong with her before she should regain her magic. Besides, we need someone here to let our father think that you," he pointed at Morgana, "are sick and staying in this chamber, not wanted to be bothered by anyone. Are you alright with that?"

Morgana frowned. "Alright," she nodded, feeling uncertain. She didn't like doing these things behind Balinor's back, but it seemed to be the only way. Either she couldn't understand why the king was so disapprovingly about her and Mirela regaining their magic. It wasn't like they were doing something wrong, or was it? she pondered. Actually she had given it a lot of thought, because she didn't want to be the reason for Merlin to lie to his father. She had have a long history of lying to her own father and it had only caused her pain and thrown her deeper into that circle of lies.

"Sorry..." Mirela squirmed with an apologisely expression. She knew exactly what was wrong with her but hadn't been able to tell it to anyone. As long as she was under the great dragon's enchantment, she didn't dare to strengthen her powers. She feared enough of that uncontrollable magic Kilgharrah had given to her, because it seemed only to serve the will of the dragon. And she hadn't yet completely figured out what was it.

Merlin gazed at his sister with a concerned look. He wished that he could have only known what was going on inside her head. She had been distant with him, more than ever lately. "Do you think you manage on your own here?" he asked, being afraid to think what else could go wrong with her while he was away this time.

Mirela composed herself. "Sure, I will be fine. And don't worry, I can handle father. He will believe anything I say."

"Yeah, and that's what I am afraid of," Merlin smiled. Then he turned to talk to his serving boy. "So, you told me that you have something that could help us, Mordred? What is it?"

Mordred gazed at the black haired princess who was wearing his usual outfit. He had washed them especially for her, even adding some lavender in the rinse water, hoping her appreciating the thought. He was squeezing the blood crystal in his palm. At first he had thought that it was a good idea but he wasn't so sure about it anymore. He had done everything and more to make up the harm he did to Morgana. And helping to restore her magic was a good add to his list.

"Er, I thought this could come in handy," he said and opened his palm revealing the crystal necklace he had stolen from Cináed.

"Is that what I think it is?" Mirela gasped staring at the bright stone. Much of what she had learned about the magical items had came from the books or from the late priestess of the old religion Morgause.

"A blood crystal..." Mordred swallowed, knowing that possessing item like that would cause a lot of questions.

Mirela gave a suspicious glance to the serving boy. "Where have you gotten that? Those are extremely rare. It is easier to come across a unicorn than find one of those."

"It's... been handed down in the family," Mordred rationalized, it was the best lie he could think of.

Morgana raised her gazed from the impressive crystal at Mordred with curious eyes. "It's pretty. But, what does it do?"

"With it you can take the appearance of anyone you want... just one drop of my blood on it and... the others would see you looking just like me."

Even Merlin was impressed. "I must say, you are full of wonders, Mordred," he admitted. "Is it safe?"

Mordred shrugged. "Well, I have actually never used it... but I have seen it in use. The enchantment wares off when you remove the necklace."

Morgana was ready to give it a go. "Alright, let's do it!" she said, reaching out her hand for the necklace.

"Hmm... I think I have a better idea, "Merlin informed and took the crystal from the boy with a grin. "How do feel about purple, Mordred?"

The serving boy frowned, unhappy, having a bad hunch that he was not going to like the idea of his master.

An hour later down on the courtyard Morgana hopped on a horse, inconspicuously, playing the part of the serving boy. Her head hidden under a dark woollen hat and a hood of a thick cloak. Several layers of warm clothes around her hid well her feminine forms. So far everything was going smoothly. And she stayed further away with the rest of the knights as Merlin exchanged a few words with his parents, standing in front of the great stairs. He waved his hand with big gesture gazing at their bedchamber's window. Morgana took a look at the window too and noticed another "Morgana" in a purple dress waving back at her husband not so very happy. Morgana had to bit her lips together for not snickering. That sulky expression on the woman in the window was genuine, since it was really Mordred's as he was forced to play "Morgana" wearing the blood crystal around his neck. Morgana actually felt a bit sorry for the boy.

"Everything alright, Mordred? You're being awfully quiet?" Percival asked as he stepped next to Morgana's horse and glanced at her. Puzzlement filled his eyes as he saw Morgana's face under Mordred's hood. He took a glance at the window up in the third floor and then turned back at the real Morgana.

Morgana pressed a finger on her lips telling him to keep it to himself what he just discovered.

Gwaine walked to Percival and the assumed serving boy, taking a lean on against side of the horse under Morgana. "It's not yet too late to place you bets," he said quietly, smirking on his own usual rascal style and gazing at the royal family.

Percival glanced at Morgana up on the saddle and swallowed awkwardly. "Gwaine!" he tried to get attention of his fellow knight, knowing all too well about that bet he was talking about.

Gwaine stroked gently on the horse's mane. "I'll put my money on Morgana that she's got a bun in the oven already. Is it just me, or does that dress starting to look a bit tight on her?"

"Sir Knight, are you calling me fat?"

Ears blushing Gwaine turned at Morgana's accusing voice and noticed her on where he had believed Mordred to be. "O-of course not, my lady," he stammered, trying to figure out how she was in two places at the same time. It definitely had something to do with that Merlin's plan.

"Oh, stop bowing and scraping or you'll blow my cover!" Morgana hissed at the knights. She felt a bit offented by Gwaine's remark, especially when it wasn't true anymore. She leaned down, closer to Gwaine. "Your presumptions... That was very rude of you."

"Please, accept my apologies, my lady. I meant no dishonor. Isn't it only natural that we'll expect to hear little feet running in the halls of the palace some day in the future?"

Percival thought it would be best to change the subject after seeing Morgana's face. "Does Merlin know you're coming with us, my lady?"

Morgana gazed at her husband. "Of course he does. And we will talk about that betting later? If I were you I would save up my money."

It was interesting seeing things from the bystander's point of view, not being in the centre of the attention. Morgana was amused by that tiny irk on Balinor's face as Arthur gave an awkward goodbye kiss to Mirela under the king's eyes. They had been married for months and Morgana found it silly that Balinor still was so protective about his daughter. Maybe that was the way fathers were, she pondered, and then thought about her own father for a moment. Right now she would have been the way Uther would have accepted her; normal without any magical gift. It made her a bit sad. Luckily she had Merlin who brought loving light into her darkest moments. And just seeing him returning towards her and giving her a wink, made her feeling better.

The knights and Arthur were ready and Merlin climbed on the back of his horse. "Are you ready?" he asked whispering from Morgana who was travelling incognito at this time. Morgana nodded in silence and took one more look a Mirela who waved at them for good luck. Their journey to the Crystal cave begun as they rode out through the courtyard's gates one by one.

Mordred would have done anything for Morgana. Well, almost anything. At the moment, he dearly regretted it that he had volunteered to help out Merlin and Morgana without asking first what it was that they wanted him to do. He shook his head, dumbfound by shame and annoyance, in front of the mirror, staring at his own reflection. He was wearing Morgana's long purple dress that had looked very lovely on her but made him looking like some medieval drag queen. In the other's eyes he had the appearance of Morgana thanks to the blood crystal, but the mirror showed his true form, and it showed a boy in a dress that didn't quite fit him. Mordred snarled annoyed and turned the mirror away so that not him or anyone else would see his reflection again. Even so Mirela had sworn him that no-one was going to come into that chamber because she had told others, that Morgana was feeling ill and didn't want to see anyone. All Mordred was supposed to do was lying in the bed and pretend to be sleeping if anyone should peek in. He had enough food to make it to the evening. A foolproof plan. How could anything go wrong with it?

There was barely any snow left on the ground. The air was a bit cold and damp. Even so the weather was perfect for travelling. Merlin was leading his group of eight towards the White Mountains instead of the Western border as the half of the group had originally believed they were going.

"You must be the only prince on earth who would get lost in his own kingdom, Merlin?" Arthur stated as they past the last good route leading to west. "The Western borders lies naturally on west. That way!"

Merlin grinned with a way that was too confident for a man who would have leaded his group astray. "I know. We'll not be going there, Arthur," he said and winked an eye at Morgana.

"And why not?" Arthur yelped, confused, as Merlin and his knights rode past the blond prince. "What about the people who plead for our help? The... the bat-faced monster-what-ever-it-was?"

"Oh, come on mate! Don't tell me you really fell for it?" Gwaine smirked at Arthur.

Leon gave a puzzled glance at Arthur. "What is the purpose of this quest then?"

Arthur frowned, hating to been left in the dark of matters this important. "Hey, what am I missing here?" he shouted and rode on Merlin's side. As he happened to glanced behind him at Merlin's servant, he noticed his sister smiling at his silly expression. "Morgana? What are you doing here?"

Morgana finally revealed her head with a big smile. "Don't get mad now, Arthur. We'll explain everything on the way to the Valley of the Fallen Kings."

"Why on earth would we be going in there?"

It was a few hours before the beginning of the celebrations. Balinor had just returned to the palace from the citadel where he had been visiting the common people with his queen like it had been his tradition from the very beginning. They had brought special food from the palace, enough for everyone to share their celebrations. Balinor had not wanted to be the kind of sovereign who sat behind the walls away from his own subjects. But more than of his people he cared of his family. Merlin was away, on a trip which true purpose Balinor wasn't aware of. If he would have known, he would have probably ridden after the boy. Hunith and Mirela were preparing for the feasts, and to Balinor it seemed his wife and daughter were finally spending more time together since Mirela wasn't practising magic anymore like she had used to. So, there was his daughter in law left, who according to Merlin was feeling ill and wasn't taking part of the celebrations of that evening. Even though Balinor was proud that Merlin was finally taking the prince's duties seriously, he didn't approve the boy neglecting his own wife. Morgana should have not been left alone like that, and Balinor decided to go and see how she was doing.

The king stood a moment on the hallway in front of Merlin's and Morgana's chambers, reconsidering should he go seeing Morgana or not. Would his concern of her wellbeing be enough to give him a reason interrupt her resting? Balinor knocked on the door and waited a moment before entering the chambers. He thought that maybe she was sleeping, but as he walked in he noticed that the bed was empty. Then he heard the next chamber's door opening and he had a right reason expect to see Morgana, but instead of her, he saw the serving boy entering the room in a purple woman's dress. The first observation he made was the colour didn't quite suit the boy.

On the moment when Mordred's eyes met with the king's confused gaze, he froze and wished that the earth would've swallowed him right there. He had taken the blood crystal off just for a minute, for answering the call of the nature because he hadn't dared to take a pee having the Morgana's appearance.

"S-sire?" Mordred stammered, his face turning red, trying to figure out a reasonable explanation for this slightly pervertish occurrence. The harm was already done.

Usually it wasn't easy to puzzle Balinor but that sight made him embarrassed for both of them. It was not what he had expected to find. "Um... Mordred," he stated, lifting his eyes away from the dress. "I hope I'm not disturbing...?"

"No... I'm not... I wasn't... This is not what it looks like... whatever it might look like..."

Balinor turned around. "It's not my business to judge," he said, recalling Hunith telling him once that Mordred was a bit odd boy. Dressing in women's clothes explained a lot, he thought. It wasn't easy to pick up a natural conversation after that. "I was told that Morgana is feeling ill. I came to see her. Where's she?"

"Morgana?" Mordred repeated, sweating in shame, reaching out the back laces of his dress. Morgana was somewhere on her way to the White Mountains. "She's... She is seeing Alice."

"Really? What is wrong with her?" The king sounded concerned.

"Aah..." Mordred grimaced. "Women's problems, I guess."

"I see," Balinor muttered awkwardly. That was too much information for a one day. He was going to leave when he heard a sound of something ripping behind him and glanced at the boy over his shoulder. "You're alright?"

"Oh no," Mordred gasped. He had just torn off a half of a sleeve. He was trying to untie the laces of his dress to getting out from it, but attained only a knot that won't slip. "Um." Mordred pursed up his mouth. "I think I'm stuck. Oh, Morgana is going to kill me!"

Balinor wished that he could have taken back that last few minutes of his life, and especially the next one. "Turn around. I'll give you a hand," he grunted as he moved back to the boy and begun untying the knot. He had never turned his back to anyone in distress. "And not a word of this to anyone."

"Yes Sire. I mean, no Sire," Mordred squirmed.

Right after Balinor got the knot loose, they heard an upset gasp behind them. "Oh Balinor! What? How could you?" Of all the people in the palace, it had to be Hunith, who stood in the threshold, staring that her husband and the serving boy whom were in very questionable circumstances.

Balinor dropped his hands from the laces. First the blood left his face and then it returned with a burst as he realized how the situations might have looked like. "Hunith, it's not what you think!" he hurried to reassuring, glancing at the boy in a dress. "It's a bit hard to explain though."

Hunith had been coming to see Morgana, but suddenly everyone had forgotten about Morgana. Hunith casted an angry glare at both of them, turned and rushed through the hallway like a wind. The king hurried after her. "Hunith, please! Honestly, it was nothing what it seemed!"

"Twenty-three years, Balinor. Twenty-tree years and I would've never even in my wildest dreams guess this of you!"

"Sweetheart! You are not being rational!"

The ancient valley of the Fallen Kings opened before them as Merlin's group had made it all the way to the foot of the White Mountains. The mythic stony pathway had always been known as the quickest way through the great mountain, but this time Merlin was more interested to discover the hidden secrets of that place. The bandits who used to inhabit the passage had been brought in front of justice and wasn't there anymore causing trouble. But even so Merlin knew that they had to be careful.

Merlin, Morgana and the men entered the pathway by foot, leaving their horses behind in Elyan's and Percival's care. The Crystal Cave, as his father had told, had stayed hidden from many generations ever since the times of the old kings had come to an end. And Merlin could understand the reason why. The passage wasn't the most welcoming place he had been, and the legends told it was cursed. The nature had seemed to been taking the valley back to herself, growing slowly over the ancient statues, stony images, and maybe even covering the way to the Crystal Cave.

"Here we are. Keep your eyes open. We'll have two hours before the nightfall," Merlin told to the others as he was passing the opening that had two mighty statues of the old kings on both sides. Father and son probably, Merlin thought, and felt a little guilty by doing this against his father's will. Even the young warlock had past the valley a few times before, the pressing silence and that strange sensation of ancient magic made cold shivers going through his spine.

One uninvited guest sneaked in to the palace from the servants' entrance, which wasn't very hard when everybody was busy with the celebration's arrangements. Disguised as a servant and his weapons hidden in a pile of cloths and banners, Myror made his way through the servant's quarters with ease. He knew that people didn't have too much time asking about his business in there. And to those who asked, he told that he was covering up for Sean, the unfortunate man servant who's clothes and life Myror had taken to get in there.

Myror knew that he had to be very careful, even more that usually, because he had entered in the realm of magic. And sorcery was out of his range of expertise. His target was a wife of one of the most powerful sorcerers in the kingdom. He had no afford for mistakes. What he didn't know was that his target was already miles away from the palace.

The assassin blended into the servant staff and followed the others to the halls downstairs. It looked like he was carrying on his chores, but he actually monitored everyone carefully, searching for the weakest link who could assist him. When he spotted a young serving girl, he put on a deceivingly friendly smile and stopped her. "Excuse me. Could you please help me, I seem to be a bit lost here."

Sefa gave him a shy smile. "I know the feeling. The palace is huge. I'm new here, but I help you if I can."

"Great," Myror said pleased. "I've just started here as well. I was wondering if you would know where I can find the princess Morgana."

"Um, she's ill, and I was told that she won't be seeing anyone today."

"How unfortunate." That would give him a perfect opportunity, Myror thought. The whole palace was going to be celebrating at that night and his target was left alone in her chambers. He only needed to find a way there. "I was asked to deliver a message to her, but I wouldn't want to disturb her rest. Would you be so kind and give her this then?" Myror asked giving a small scroll with red ribbon to the serving girl.

"Sure." Sefa took the scroll and dropped a curtsy. She was already leaving but turned back at Myror. "Whom should I say it's from?"

Myror smiled again. "From the prince, of course."

Sefa revealed a small grin. "How romantic," she sighed and went on her way,

Myror's fake smile wore off as soon as the serving girl had disappeared from his sight. He waited for a moment and followed her, keeping a distant between them so that she wouldn't see him. The girl was going to lead him straight to his target.

"But why were you not wearing the blood crystal in the first place?" Mirela asked, gazing the serving boy, the corner of her mouth twitching uncontrollably by amusement after hearing Mordred's explanation what had happened a moment ago with Balinor and Hunith.

Mordred was mortified enough that it had happened, and even more by telling it to the princess. He had pealed himself off from Morgana's dress and was back in his own clothes. "I had to go... you know,"

"Go where?"

"I had to..." Mordred grimaced, "pee."

"Oh!" Mirela sighed awkwardly. "Well, my parents won't ask about Morgana for a while. But we have to think of something. They might come looking for her sooner or later." She walked a small circle around the table. There wasn't much of time till the beginning of the celebrations. And Merlin's and Morgana's secret trip to White Mountains must remain as a secret. "Morgana must make an appearance in the feasts."

Mordred shook his head. "No way. I'm not going to do that! Er, my lady, I can't..."

"I have to agree. Forgive me for saying but you have a grace of a sack of parsnips, Mordred. You won't do as a fine lady. Perhaps I should try on the crystal?"

"You? Are you sure?"

"You have a better idea?"

Mirela and Mordred both glanced at the door as Sefa entered the chambers silently. The serving girl gazed back at them confused, the small scroll in her hand. "My lady? Where's Morgana?"

Mordred shook his head disapproving as Mirela gave him a wicked smile and took the blood crystal from him. "Oh, she is closer than you think. It seems that Morgana will be well enough to take part in the feasts after all."

The search party of the Crystal Cave had spread into two groups to cover up larger area. Merlin took Morgana and Gwaine, and Arthur took Leon and Lancelot with him. The warlock prince tried to follow that sense of magic but it was like the there were no real source where it was coming from. The beginning of it was everywhere and nowhere, just like it would have echoed around him from a wall to wall. After two unsuccessful hours the groups gathered in the middle of the valley and made a camp. All they had found had been two little caves but no signs of any crystals what so ever. They were going to have to continue their search at the next morning.

It was a cold night and everybody was sleeping close to the fire, tucked deep in their blankets. Morgana and Merlin lied side by side under same blankets. The day had been weary, hours of horseback riding and roaming through the small pathways of the valley. The others sounded like they were sleeping but Morgana and Merlin both lied awake, hand in hand, gazing at the black sky that opened above and between the walls of the stony valley.

Morgana could hear from Merlin's breathing that he wasn't sleeping either. "How do you think that Mirela and Mordred are doing back home?" she asked whispering. Balinor's anniversary party should have been well in progress by that time.

Merlin grinned remembering Mordred in Morgana's gown. "I hope they are fine. Father had not yet sent anyone after us. I think that's a good sign."

Morgana turned to face Merlin. "Tell me it's not wrong what we are doing. I don't mind if we won't find it..."

Merlin took Morgana's hand on both of his. "We'll find the cave, Morgana. And it's my father who's wrong about it." He gazed at her for a moment in silence. "Are you scared?"

"Not when I'm with you," Morgana smiled a little and looked up at the sky again. "It's beautiful here. Peaceful. Stars seem to shine brighter here than Camelot."

"What's your favourite star?"

"I don't know. I don't have one."

Merlin glanced at the sky with a playful smile. "Choose one."

"What?"

"Choose a star of your own."

Morgana let out an amused sigh and took a moment to choose a star she would have like the most. There were so many of them, it was hard to decide. Then she raised her hand and pointed up towards a small constellation she couldn't remember the name of. "That one. Next to those three, the one that twinkles brighter than the others."

"Ah, good choice," Merlin whispered and reached his arm up towards the star.

"What are you doing, silly?"

Merlin looked like he was really concentrating. He hid the star behind his palm whispering a spell. The golden glint in his eyes matched the twinkle of the distant stars as he closed his palm gently and moved his hand down.

Morgana eyes rounded with disbelieve staring at the sky which seemed to miss one star, the one she had chosen. "No way," she whispered and gazed at her warlock. "What had you done to my star?"

Merlin leaned to his other elbow and gave his hand to her. As he opened his palm, he revealed a golden ring with a beautifully sparkling diamond that looked just like the star Morgana had gazed at. The gem stone wasn't huge but it had that same light blue shade as the twinkling stars did. Morgana gasped with delight and wonder. "No you didn't!" she stammered. "You couldn't have...? It was a trick! You didn't actually steal a star from the sky, did you?"

"I promised you the moon and stars once. I'm afraid this is the best I can do for now." Merlin took Morgana's hand on his and slipped the ring onto her finger. It fitted perfectly and the stone sparkled beautifully. "This is the way I should have proposed you. I hope we could forget all the bad things what had happened and start everything from the beginning. Do you like it?"

Morgana was speechless, admiring the ring in her finger. "It's lovely. Amazing. Thank you." A tear fell down on her cheek. She as well wished to have a fresh start, to wipe away all the painful memories. "You have always been so good to me. But you know, you don't have to try to impress me anymore. We are married."

Merlin wiped Morgana's tear away gently, pulled her closer and kissed her. "I love you." Those three little words alone felt like magic, like a spell, that bound them together every time a little bit more. They snuggled under the blankets, keeping each other warm and waiting for sleep. Merlin lied on his back, his arm wrapped around her, staring up at the sky. His eyes flashed again with a smile and the sky got one missing star back.

Morgana glanced at him and then peeked up. "I knew it. It was a trick," she murmured, her head resting on his chest.

Merlin was on the verge of sleep when he thought he heard a quiet sound from nearby, like a twig snapping. His eyes flashed open, his magic slowing the time around him, as he looked out for possible assailants. The embers of the campfire had nearly died down and there wasn't much light, but Merlin caught a glimpse of a figure of a man who vanished back into the shadows. Arthur, Leon, Lancelot and Gwaine were all in there sleep. It could have been Elyan or Percival, but Merlin doubted that they would have followed them there in the middle of the night.

Morgana awoke too as she felt Merlin moving and getting up from the ground. "Um, what's wrong?" she whispered sleepy.

"I thought I saw something," the warlock prince said with a silent voice. "Stay here," he told to Morgana. And woke up Lancelot to keep watch as he went after that unknown figure. He conjured a glowing orb of light and let it flow in the air in front of him, guiding his way through the dark pathways. "Hello!" Merlin shouted, with not very strong voice, as he thought he saw another flash ahead.

"Merlin!" Morgana sighed, catching up with him.

"Morgana! I asked you to wait back there."

"You know I never listen."

Their only source of light, the magically shining ball, started floating forward like it would have had a will of its own. Merlin and Morgana glanced at each other bemused. They didn't stay thinking about it in the dark but followed the orb a long as it kept soaring ahead, leading them along the ancient paths to a way they had not yet been, turning right and left and up a moss covered steps. Finally it slowed down as they approached what seemed to be a dead end but in the glowing light of the orb, they noticed an opening of a cave in the rock wall. Merlin stopped, feeling powerful magic radiating from the depths of the mountain. It was stinging inside his head, giving him a headache. It was the same sensation he felt when he stepped into the valley but ten times stronger.

"Do you think this is it?" Morgana asked and glanced at him "Are you alright?"

Merlin rubbed his forehead, which didn't help much. "Yeah, fine. This definitely must be the place," he said and stood in the opening. He knew they must have been close, but didn't want to go in. He felt Morgana taking his hand on hers, and he found the strength to carry on. After all he was doing this for her.

The cavern was like a long tunnel leading deeply inside the mountain, it branched out in several tunnels and Merlin and Morgana couldn't help but follow the light. And then in the very heart of the mountain, they finally entered into the cave filled with sparkling crystals. The gleam of the white stones was so bright that it illuminated the whole cavern.

Merlin and Morgana gazed at their finding in amazement, stepping into the cavern hand in hand. The crystals were vibrating with magical energy and Merlin could almost felt that power throbbing inside his head. It was far from a pleasant feeling, a bit too much for him to handle. It was like the each and every stone would have been calling for him. Merlin begun to understand, why his father had not wanted him to find that place. The crystals harboured a power he was not ready for. And he had no wish to stay there any longer.

"Beautiful," Morgana sighed, enchanted by the dazzling sight. "Now what? How does this work?"

Merlin shook his head. "I don't know," he gasped. "Perhaps we should..." As he gazed at one of the crystals near him, he saw images on its smooth surface. Reflections and flashes filled his mind:

He saw feasts in the great throne room, lots of people, his family and Morgana sitting at the banquet. Morgana wearing a lovely pearl white dress. Smiles and laughter. Another flash showed him an arrow flying in the air, hitting its target. Morgana's white dress coloured with red. Her lifeless body had been laid on a table.

"No!" Merlin gasped in dread and turned away from the crystal, terrified of what he had seen. His knees felt weak and he found himself sitting on the ground, tears filling his eyes. "What was that?" he cried out, his voice trembling.

Morgana kneeled next to him concerned. "What's wrong, Merlin? What happened?"

Merlin picked her in his arms and held close, afraid to let go, like trying to protect from those terrifying visions. "I saw images, flashed... I'll never let it happen. I promise. I swear to you."

Morgana had never seen him so vulnerable. Whatever he had seen it must have been awful. Morgana sat with him on the ground, holding him and stroking his hair gently. "It's alright. It's alright," she whispered. "We should leave. Balinor was right. We should have never come here."

"No. I promised you'll get your magic back." Through tearing eyes, Merlin glanced unintentionally at another crystal. He couldn't resist its calling. It showed him another flash: He saw the great dragon above Camelot. A white fire flashing in his sister's eyes. And a man he had never seen before dying in front of Mirela. Merlin let out an anguished groan trying to block away those images that flooded to his mind painfully like needles would have been thrust through his brains.

At the same time in Camelot, music, laughter and joyful hum of talk filled the great throne room which was turned into a festive dining hall. Friends, knights and the court sat at the abundant banquet tables, celebrating the 23th anniversary of their beloved king's crowning. The musicians played merry melodies and everyone was having good time. Almost everyone. Myror watched at the celebrating people from his hiding place, squatting down behind a width column up on the front loft of the throne room. From there he had a perfect angle to shoot at his target who sat on the opposite side of the hall at the king's table. He had not have any luck earlier when his targe had been with the other princess and the serving boy. He reminded himself again of the fastest escape route that he had found, as he assembled his most trusted weapon; a self-made small crossbow. It was light to handle but had incredible accuracy. Once he would release his arrow, a chaos would fill the palace. He had only a few minutes to get out without been caught by the palaces guards.

Myror took two short arrows, placed one on the bow and the other between his teeth, close enough if the first one would miss. He drew the string back and locked in into a latch, and looked at the royals for a moment through his weapon's sight. There were two princesses, the blond and the black-haired one. "The princess Morgana Ambrose," he whispered the name of the target and took a steady aim, watching the beautiful black-haired princess in a lovely pearl white gown. Such beauty soon lost for forever. A second later the arrow was in the air, hit its target and pierced her heart.

The fake-Morgana gasped by the force of the hit and sudden pain in her chest. She couldn't breathe and her heart felt so heavy. She stared at the celebrating people in front of her not even realizing what had happened to her, her frightened gaze searching only one person who she hoped could safe her.

"Morgana, are you alright?" Mirela asked from the fake-princess next to her, knowing that it was actually Sefa with the blood crystal. "Wha...? No!" the blond princess sighed, noticing the arrow sticking up from the girl's chest. The fake-Morgana clung on Mirela's hand as she was collapsing on the table, fright in her eyes. "No! No! Someone help me!" Mirela screamed.

"What it is?" Balinor asked concerned taking a look at the girls. He rose up to his feet as he saw his daughter-in-law's dress's bodice turning red around the arrow. She was bleeding badly. "By the goddess!" he whispered and hurried to her.

Some of the lady guests screamed, seeing Morgana bleeding, an arrow in her chest. A chaos was building up in the throne room, guards rushed around in Balinor's command finding the one who had shot at the princess.

Mirela gave Balinor a way, stepping aside, but holding on the poor girl's hand. "Please help her, father, please" she begged in shock, staring at the dying girl who had Morgana's face. She glanced around her, trying to figure out where the arrow had came from. That's when she noticed someone moving up on the loft.

Balinor cleared the table with one big swing and lifted the girl lying on the table. The arrow had gone straight into her heart, and there wasn't really any time left to safe her. Balinor called out for Alice who ran at them with Gaius. Ruadan had witnessed the assassin's successful work from the counsellors' table. He too moved towards the sorcerers who tried their best to help the wounded one with magic.

The assumed princess gasped with difficulty once more, her gaze focused at the druid counsellor begging, before the light in her green eyes slowly faded away.

Mordred, who had been sitting among the servants at the long side table, rushed at his friend, not really knowing what to do or how to help her. It would have been as horrible to see the real Morgana hurt as it was to see Sefa this way. As Mordred got to her, he knew she was gone. He burst into tears, and turned his accusing eyes at Ruadan.

Alice, Gaius and Balinor had been chanting a spell together to buy the girl more time, trying to heal the wound. But Alice could tell when it was too late. She stopped the chanting and let out a sad sigh. "She's gone, my lord. I am sorry."

Gaius couldn't believe it that he had lost Morgana. He had to sit down.

"No, no, no, my darling girl, no," Hunith wept bitterly and stroke the girl's black hair. Morgana had been like another daughter to her. Merlin was away, what were they going to tell the boy once he would return home?

Balinor's hands were stained with the girl's blood. He wanted to break his oath and call for the great dragon but it was simply too late. The life had left the girl, even Kilgharrah couldn't have brought her back. The king closed her eyes and took off his cloak to cover her face and wounded body. He wanted his hands on the killer. All the guards and knights from the throne room were after the assassin, and soon also would every man in the palace.

Sadly Balinor glanced at the people around him. "The feast's over!" He told to the guards that no-one shouldn't been let out before they were checked first. He moved on Hunith side and noticed that his own daughter was nowhere to be seen. "Where's Mirela?"

His task was done. One perfect shot had finished his beautiful target. Myror hurried thought the corridors following his escape route. The sound of the alarm bells carried inside, and he speeded up his pace. He needed to get out from the palace before it would be swarming with guards. As he heard hasty footsteps approaching towards, he hid himself in a small nook, waiting there a pair of guards passing by. After they were gone, he rushed down a staircase. He was heading towards the servants' quarters, just in the middle of a short hallway, when suddenly a door shut close behind him like it would have been slammed hard. The burning torches on the walls flared up fiercely, and Myror noticed the blond princess stepping in the doorway blocking his way out. He stopped his run but only for a few seconds. He didn't bother to think how she had gotten ahead of him so fast.

"Please excuse me, your highness. I am in a bit of a rush," Myror said coolly. He moved slowly closer to her with confident steps.

Mirela had no intentions to move out of his way. "Why?" she asked in shivering voice.

Always the same question, Myror thought. "It was nothing personal," he said casually and took a step closer.

"Who sent you?"

Myror gave her a pitying, small smile, ignoring her question. "You know, you wouldn't be standing on my way here if someone would have placed a bounty on your head, my lady."

All he saw was a strange, white flash in her eyes and he was thrown on the floor on his back. Myror shook his head, jumped up on his feet with ease and draw out a dagger. The other door slammed shut behind Mirela as she entered the room, trapping them both inside that hall. "Wrong answer!"

Before Myror had a chance to throw the dagger at her a violent gust of a wind, that had came out of nowhere, tossed him against the stony wall. It burned like a dragon's breath and when it ended, Mirela stood six feet away from him, her glare nailed on him. He was going to attack at her when he realized that he couldn't move his arms. He found himself being between a rock and a hard place. His hands, all the way up to elbows, were stuck inside the stony wall like they had been buried under the rock surface. His fingers and arms were tingling and soon started aching. The assassin lifted his vicious gaze at the princess in disbelieve of his unusual imprisonment. "I hate magic tricks," he murmured, his dark eyes locked with hers. "Do you not know who I am? Release me! Now! Or you'll be sorry for it."

"You will not leave this chamber until you have told me who sent you!" Mirela announced in firm voice. She raised her hand towards him, her eyes flashing again, and Myror felt the rest of his arms and back sinking deeper into the wall like the hard surface had been turned into sticky liquid for a moment. "I have always wondered what might happen if a teleportation spell would go wrong. They say that you could get stuck inside a wall and die without anyone noticing it at all. "

Myror felt his body turning to stone. It hurt like hell and he couldn't breathe as he kept sinking into the wall. The identity of his employers wasn't worth dying for. "Alright! Alright, I tell you!" he gasped, unwillingly to show fear. "Get me out of this!" His body stopped sinking, and the princess stared at him waiting. Myror grimaced. "It was a druid... Two druid men... hired me to kill Morgana Ambrose... the daughter of Uther Pendragon. Now release me!"

"Druids?" Mirela whispered, suddenly remembering what Kilgharrah had told her about the druids' prophecies. She pulled the assassin a little bit off from the wall, keeping his whole arms still trapped. "I want names!"

Myror took a deep breath. "I don't know their names. The other one was older, greyish. He was here in your feasts tonight. The other about thirty. Get me out, damned!"

"Here? Counsellor Ruadan?"

Mirela didn't have much time to question the killer as the guards were rattling and pounding on behind both of the doors she had sealed closed with magic. She turned at the assassin with as wicked glare as she could. "I could let the guards have you. On your current condition, they might have to cut you off from the wall. Or then we could make a deal. I let you live and I will double, no triple, the sum the druids paid you, if you would kill them who ordered you to kill Morgana."

Myror frowned, considering the proposition. It sounded more tempting than been buried inside a stone wall. He hated the princess already, but he had nothing against the gold. He glanced at the doors both sides of the hall, which had no other way out. There were probably all the guards in the palace behind those doors. He could kill many but not all of them. "How am I supposed to get out?"

"Leave that to me. Do we have a deal, or not? I am a princess. You know I have the money." Mirela saw a flicker of interest in the assassin's dark eyes.

"Usually I am paid in advanced."

"Like you life is not enough?" Mirela took off her golden dragon necklace. "You will have this until I deliver your bounty. This is very dear to me. I want it back," she said and placed the necklace around his neck.

"Deal." Myror accepted it as security. "Eastern Darkling Woods. Tomorrow night. Three hundred in gold," he stated shortly. Maybe he could finish her off as well after he had received his gold.

"Deal!" the princess said as coldly as he had. "You may go now!"

Myror saw another white flash in her eyes and she pushed him inside the wall and thought it on the other side. Before he even noticed he was falling down fast a very short drop. And then he hit the ground on cobblestones in the courtyard, right outside the palace in front of the right wing of the mighty building. To the assassin who thought that he had seen it all, that was surely something new. He checked that he was still in one piece and beat a hasty retreat. He would definitely kill her once he would have the chance.

On the other side of the wall, Mirela slumped on the floor on her knees, shaking and feeling sick. She shook her head in disbelieve, not sure what had just happened. It was like she had been a completely different person for a moment. She had used that magic Kilgharrah had given to her. Or maybe it had been the dragon's enchantment that had used her. "Did I just hire an assassin?" she gasped in a shock.

The doors broke open and the guards rushed in. She told them that she had tried to stop the assassin but without her magic she had been useless and the killer had gotten away after she locked herself in that small chamber. The guards left searching the assassin and two of them escorted her back to the throne room. The guests were already gone, and Mirela met her father on the threshold of the great hall.

Balinor was there settling Mordred' and Ruadan's argue. Since Mordred had let out his suspicious thoughts about the new druid counsellor's part of the tragedy of the evening. After Sefa was gone, Mordred had no reason holding his tongue. It was Ruadan who didn't yet know the truth. As Balinor saw his daughter, he strode to her with a fatherly concerned look. "Where were you? You got us worried sick!"

A lonely tear fell down on Mirela's cheek. "I tried to stop him," she wept. "But I forgot... I don't have my powers anymore."

"Darling, come here," Balinor whispered and gave her a hug, but a serious lecture was about to follow. "That was foolish of you. He could have hurt you. I thought you had learned by now to think before rush in action on your own"

Mordred glared at Mirela with a blaming look, seeing it was a partly her fault Sefa had died. He barely controlled his furious emotions.

"Please, let me express my condolences, my lady," Ruadan came apologizing to the princess. "I know you were close with the lady Morgana. I am so sorry."

Mirela gave him a cold stare. This could be the man who had ordered Morgana's killing. The assassin had told her that the one who hired him had been in the throne room. There had not been any other druids than Ruadan, Mordred and Sefa in the palace on that moment. "No. I am sorry, counsellor Ruadan."

Two guards came from the throne room carrying the covered body on a stretcher, Hunith, Gaius and Alice following. At first Mirela thought it would be wiser to let everyone believe that Morgana had died, but she knew that the truth would come out as soon as Alice would start preparing the body for burial. "Wait!" Mirela told to the guards and stepped next to the stretcher. She glanced at the others. "There is something all of you should know," she said with trembling voice, removing the cloak away from the cadaver's face. It was Morgana's lifeless face. It truly could have been Morgana if she wouldn't have left the palace with Merlin.

"Mirela it can wait. Please, we should go," Hunith said quietly.

Mirela removed the crystal necklace gently, and Sefa got back her own innocent appearance. She looked like a princess in Morgana's beautiful dress. Mirela swallowed down a bitter tear. She had promised the girl a day as a princess. She couldn't have ever thought it would end like this.

The others froze around the body, staring at the dead serving girl more than puzzled. Hunith let out a small sigh, her palms over her mouth. Gaius couldn't quite understand, but a little relief filled his heart until he felt guilty for it. Ruadan couldn't believe his eyes as he moved closer to his dear young daughter. "Sefa? But... No. Not my Sefa," he muttered, horrid, touching her and stroking her face like hoping to bring life back to her. It felt like a sick joke. "No, this can't be!" Then he noticed the blood crystal Mirela was holding, and recognized it.

"What is this, Mirela?" Balinor grunted, not so very happy after another unwelcomed surprise. He wanted someone telling him what was real and what was not.

"I am truly sorry, counsellor. This is entirely my fault. I asked Sefa to wear the crystal and pretend to be Morgana for this evening. If I only would have known..." the princess said gloomily. She casted a sorrowful glance at the others, turned and left the mess behind her. She heard her father calling after her, but she couldn't stay there. Mordred watched Mirela leave. He could have not guessed she would take all the blame.

Besides the sparkling huge crystals, there was another peculiar thing in the cavern, there was warm in the heart of the mountain.

"Please, let's go back to the others," Morgana insisted, worried for Merlin's sake. He had seen something terrible in the crystals, and she didn't want to see him suffering because of it.

Merlin's held his eyes closed, unwilling to see anything else. "They say that these crystals could show you the future." He swallowed and rubbed his forehead like trying to clean those images away from his mind. "I can't let that future happen..."

Morgana sat next to him on the ground and placed her arms around him. "There is one thing I learned about those dreams I used to see. The future is ahead of us. It has not yet come to pass. My foreseen dreams and maybe those visions in these crystals too, are only one possible outcome. We can shape the future, Merlin. Our actions, our decisions... We have all the power to change whatever it was you saw," Morgana said softly and touched Merlin's cheek, turning his face towards her. "Look at me, Merlin. We are authors of our own future, you and I."

Merlin opened his eyes and his gaze met with Morgana's. She was all he wanted to see, and she was all he saw as he took a moment to take in her words. Just feeling her touch seemed to drive away his distressing anxiousness. "When have you become so wise?"

Morgana shrugged with a small smile, her palm on his face. "Have I not always been?" Merlin nodded with a flicker of ease in his eyes. "Let's go home," Morgana said.

The glow of the crystals around them got brighter as if the stones would have came alive. Morgana felt a strange warm filling her inside and she noticed the surface of the stones sparkling, compelling her to look at one. It showed her images just like Merlin had told her and she squeezed Merlin's hand tighter. She saw a vision. The same she had seen some many times before when she still got her magic:

Their chambers were floating with warm daylight. And there was a white cradle with blue ribbons in one corner of the bedroom. Above it hung a baby's mobile with three small colourful dragons. Tiny hands stretched out for the toy creatures of the mobile, which begun to whirl above the cradle, and the little dragons begun flying in circle. Never had Morgana seen it before, but inside the cradle lied a perfect baby boy with black hair. His eyes, the other one blue and other one green, sparkled, excited about the flying toys high above his face like it would have been himself who had made them moving. His visibly different colored eyes could have charmed anyone.

Morgana felt a tear rolling down on her cheek and she gasped as the vision ended. She had never even held a baby, but she would have wanted that tiny one in her arms on that very moment. "He's ours... Our baby..." Her voice came out trembling with a whisper. "He is perfect..."

Merlin turned at her with an amazed gaze. "You saw it too?"

Morgana nodded, at first puzzled, but then with a smile. "I saw it. It was my vision, the dream I had seen."

"Our baby?" Merlin stammered. After sharing the same vision they were left overwhelmed with all sort of emotion, mostly happy and astonished. If that child was going to be their future, then the future suddenly felt a lot brighter. "We'll make our own future," Merlin said quietly, hoping that this vision would come true and not the other one he had seen.

Then Morgana realized that she had actually seen a vision. "I saw it too?" Another hand on Merlin's hand, she casted a spell and a weak little flame emerged on her palm. The flash of golden fire in her eyes made Merlin smiling. They gazed at each other, bewildered and laughing a little. Her magic was returning, and Merlin didn't even notice it anymore that the anguished feeling had left him. He was just happy for her. Morgana kissed her warlock. Her kiss of gratitude and love turned to kisses of passion. In his arms she felt like she was become whole again and didn't want to let go of him. Merlin held her tight, stroking her hair, fondling her gently. They had not been that close in weeks, not since their loss. The warmth and golden glow surrounded them as they gave in to each other and made love in that cavern filled with crystals.

She had been so young, in the beginning of her life, when she had been taken from this world unfairly. Ruadan gazed at his dead daughter whom he had laid in his bed, waiting to been taken back home. He couldn't have let her been kept in that dark, cold chamber on the bottom of the palace where they usually kept cadavers. Ruadan couldn't believe how it had happened. It was his fault. He had hired the assassin to kill Morgana but instead he had lost his own flesh and blood, the only thing that had any value to him in this world. Ruadan kissed her forehead, swearing to bring down her murderer. Grief-stricken and blinded by anger he left Camelot and rode into the night, seeking out Myror. Morgana's death had been as much fake as the gold the assassin had received. Myror couldn't have been far yet, and Ruadan had a way to find him.

Oh, no reviews in a long time. I'm afraid you have gotten bored with this one. Please review and tell me if you're still following. What do you think that would happen next? Oh, and tell me if you would prefre shorter chapters. Thanks! Till the next time.