A/N Hey everyone, this is the first fanfiction I've written by myself, so I hope you like it! Hopefully I'll update every week…but if not…sorry in advance. I'm planning a fairly long story involving as many characters as possible. Here's chapter 1!

Chapter 1 - A Shimmer of Sapphires

Morgana was shaking. Beads of sweat were forming on her forehead, her throat was dry, and her eyelids were fluttering madly. Emerald eyes occasionally flashed under her pale skin, tinted with amber. She was gasping in her sleep, gulping down air as if it would be the last she would ever have. Without warning, her eyes snapped open, orange faded to green, and she screamed.

Her door was flung open, and a young woman, pretty with short, dark curls ran to Morgana.

"Are you alright?" she asked feebly, sitting on the edge of the bed. Morgana sighed shakily.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry Gwen, I didn't mean to wake you again," Morgana said wearily. Gwen shook her head.

"Don't worry about that, I just wanted to make sure you were ok," Gwen smiled. Morgana nodded, unsticking herself from the sheets as she sat up.

"Another nightmare?" Gwen said tentatively. Morgana locked eyes with Gwen, biting her lip.

"It was different, this time…" Morgana began, and she was thrown vividly back into the start of her enigmatic dreams…

The sun is hot, soaking up in my skin, and I close my eyes for a second as I absorb the heat. I turn, and gaze at the waterfall which is cascading down in exquisite colours, foamy white, metallic silver, a stunning deep blue which shimmers like sapphires in the sunlight. The rush of water pounds through my ears, but it's a softening, relaxing sound. Suddenly, the corners of the world seem to fade away, changing to black as they float of the edge off the planet, and before long, everything dissolves in a fizzing mist…

I can't hear anything except my own panting breaths. I can't smell anything, or feel anything, or taste anything. My eyes are open, because they're aching, because I don't want to blink, because if I blink, I might forget when my eyes are open and when they are closed. And, suddenly, the world is turned on its side, I tumble through solid darkness, my mind is powered by something murderous, I manage to scream as I twist in nothingness, and…

"Morgana?" Gwen said anxiously. Morgana looked up, blinking as she remembered her surroundings.

"You don't think it's a little strange, that I can remember all my dreams?" Morgana whispered. Gwen hesitated.

"I don't know...not really. I remember my dreams," Gwen said. Morgana shook her head, almost desperately.

"No, Gwen, I can remember every exact detail of every exact dream I've ever had. It's all so…real." Morgana swallowed.

"I…I don't know. What was different this time?" Gwen encouraged. Morgana shifted uncomfortably; she was being patronised. But underneath all the encouragement, Morgana could see that Gwen was just as scared as she was.

"Usually it's just the darkness, the sensation of being thrown about. It sounds pathetic, I know, but in the dream I feel like I'm dying," Morgana said, taking a deep breath, "But this time, there was something at the start…a waterfall, it was an amazing blue colour, and the sun…but then it went back to the darkness, and I woke up screaming." Gwen sighed.

"Listen, maybe there's some medicine you could –" Gwen tried.

"No, Gwen, no, just…don't." Morgana interrupted, "I just don't want anyone to tell me it's too close to…" Morgana paused, bit her lip, and whispered, "Magic." Gwen winced at the word. She knew, as Morgana did, that even saying the word could get you into serious trouble with C.A.M.E.L.O.T, let alone being able to perform it.

"You want a cup of tea?" Gwen said brightly, jumping up from the bed. Morgana laughed.

"I'll get it," she offered, climbed out of bed, and followed her best friend to the kitchen.

They lived in a large, modern apartment in the centre of London, conveniently close to the university they both attended. The apartment was owned my Morgana's father, Gorlois. It was elaborately furnished, with stunning leather coaches and a huge plasma TV.

Gwen switched it on, flicking lazily through the channels, and finding nothing particularly interesting on, she turned to the news. A huge title flashed up, "Vivienne's confirmed execution tomorrow morning under order of Uther Pendragon, Head of C.A.M.E.L.O.T, for crimes of performing magic." Gwen bit her lip anxiously, and immediately searched for the remote to change channels, but Morgana had already entered the room carrying the drinks. She placed them down on the coffee table, picked up the remote from the spotless white carpet, and turned up the volume.

"It is unknown who Vivienne's family and friends were, any documents she may have owned have mysteriously disappeared, but a girl claiming to be her step daughter agreed to speak to us," a business -like news reporter said. The screen switched to the interview room. A girl of around their age was sitting on a long sofa, sipping water. She looked exhausted and drained, but there was still something pretty about her eyes, and the way her blond curls fell round her face.

"So, Morgause," the news reporter began gently, "Can you tell us any last exchanges you remember with your stepmother?"

"I've never spoken to her in my life," Morgause said bluntly, setting her water down on the table. The news reporter frowned.

"So…she was your stepmother?" he clarified.

"No. She had a child with my father," Morgause said. The news reporter blinked. Cheeks flaming, he unzipped his briefcase and dived into the documents, scanning his notes and ruffling papers.

"It says just here, right here, that you are Vivienne's stepdaughter," he said desperately, jabbing the paper with his stubby finger.

"Well of course it does, I needed to make it sound official," Morgause snapped. The news reporter stared. Gwen glanced at Morgana; she was gazing blankly at the television. Clearly, this made no sense to her, either.

"So you don't even know her?" the news reporter said incredulously.

"No, I don't know her. I don't give a damn about her. But when she's killed, that will break my fathers' heart, and only one person is to blame for that. Uther Pendragon." Morgause spat out his name.

"You could hardly blame him for doing his job," the news reporter reasoned quietly, shifting uncomfortably in the seat opposite Morgause.

"His job? What kind of a job is murdering people? And that's not what I meant." The news reporter waited awkwardly.

"Uther enchanted my mother. He tricked her into believing she was in love with him, and not her own husband. She had his child, and then Uther made her his fucking wife."

His mouth dropped open.

"You're talking about Igraine?" he exclaimed, "But you can't possibly know who her first husband was, no one knows that…"

"Well, I do," Morgause said smoothly, "He's my father."

"Who is your father?" the news reporter pressed.

"It doesn't matter who he is," Morgause said, and to the news reporter's surprise, her voice began to tremble, "It matters what he will become when his second love isn't around anymore. I've watched him go through it the first time; I don't want to see it again. You see a man so strong become so weak and fragile…" Tears were overflowing in her eyes, "Vivienne was killed because she had magic. She didn't do anything wrong. She lit a fire with her eyes. Uther is blind with his hatred for magic because it reminds him of what he did to his wife."

"It doesn't matter, anyway," she continued in a whisper, "My father…he's already gone." The interview ended rather abruptly, and Gwen quickly grabbed the remote and pressed the off button. She turned to Morgana and gasped quietly – Morgana had tears trickling down her cheeks.

Arthur stabbed the remote, and the interview snapped to black. He stared at the blank screen for a few moments, attempting to understand what the hell had been going on. Taking a deep breath, he turned to face Uther Pendragon, his father, who was standing behind him. Uther's face was white.

"Why the fuck were they allowed to show that interview?" he shouted.

"It was live; they didn't know what she was going to say…" Arthur said hesitantly. Uther paced round the room.

"No one's going to believe her," Arthur reassured him, "She already lied about who she was, and that whole story could have been made up, to put us out of business."

"But if she knows what she says she does…" Uther persisted.

"How can she?" Arthur said quickly, "Clearly, the whole thing is just at attempt to threaten our company. People will know that. They're not stupid." He knew better than to ask who his mother's first husband was, Uther would never tell him that. He watched his father leave the room, and couldn't help but feel slightly intrigued about the interview. If it was true, which he strongly believed it wasn't, then that girl would be his half-sister.

He grabbed his jacket and shrugged into it as he closed the door. He took the stairs rather than the lift downstairs, increasing his pace slightly as he jogged down the steps. Arthur reached the foyer, and a little impatient, joined the short queue of people waiting to exit the building through the metal detectors and security. The foyer was impressively grand, with a selection of comfortable chairs and tables complete with elegant foods and drinks offered for free. On the huge, white walls was the letters C.A.M.E.L.O.T in a deep red, and underneath Conservation Of Magic Enchantment Learning Or Teaching inscribed in a yellow scrawl. Arthur surveyed in surroundings as he neared the front of the queue, everyone seemed calm and relaxed – obviously nobody had seen the interview yet. Sighing, Arthur passed through the metal detectors, collected his keys and watch from the small tray that had been shoved through the baggage detectors, and he stepped outside, heading for the sleek, silver Jaguar parked at the front of the building. He made for his car quickly, aware that he had little of his lunch break left, when someone rammed into his shoulder hard.

"Hey!" Arthur snapped, turning around indignantly. A dark haired stranger frowned at him. He had blue-grey eyes, high cheekbones, and was wearing a similar expression to Arthur.

"You bumped into me," Merlin said, irritated.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Arthur said dangerously.

"Why is it so hard to say sorry?" Merlin said, shaking his head incredulously. Arthur laughed suddenly, understanding this person had no idea who he was.

"Do I know you?" Arthur said, his tone tinged with threat.

"I'm Merlin," he said, frowning slightly.

"So I don't know you. Yet you seem to be telling me to apologize…you don't think that's a little arrogant, Merlin?" Arthur's lips tilted upwards as he emphasised Merlin's name.

"Well you'd know all about arrogance," Merlin muttered cuttingly.

"Do you know anything about right-hooks, Merlin? I can show you, if you'd like." Merlin laughed under his breath.

"I'd like to see you try," Merlin murmured, snorting.

"I should warn you," Arthur threatened, drawing himself up to his full height, "I've been training to kill since birth."

"Oh yeah? And how long have you been training to be a prat?" Merlin smiled pleasantly. Arthur drew his fists, and punched Merlin in the jaw. Grimacing, Merlin attempted to hit Arthur, but Arthur caught his arm and twisted it behind his back.

"I could get you arrested for that," Arthur snapped in his ear.

"Who do you think you are, Uther Pendragon?" Merlin spat.

"No," Arthur replied, gripping Merlin's arm tightly, "I'm his son, Arthur." With that he let Merlin go, who resisted from rubbing his arm and glared at Arthur. Arthur shook his head, sighing, and opened the door to his car as Merlin approached the doors of C.A.M.E.L.O.T.

Morgana picked up a carton of milk, examined it, and placed it in her basket. She moved to the sandwiches section, searching for her favourite ham salad. A man moved to stand beside her; she caught a glimpse of his strong arms and hot blond hair. She spotted the ham salad and reached for it, the same moment the man beside her did. She glanced up at him, and forced back a gasp - he was beautifully, insanely handsome.

"Here," he grinned, and handed her the sandwich. Morgana smiled, taking it from his hand.

"Thanks," she murmured, her eyes flickering to his.

Morgana stumbled backwards. His eyes, shimmering like sapphires in the sun, consisted of the exact foamy white, metallic silver and the stunning blue she remembered from her dream.