Based on an unfinished fic by Moozy426 and a wish that Morgana had gotten character development beyond Season 2.

Special thanks to wryter501 for her beta help with this story and to Doberler for re-editing this chapter.

"We must do something." Morgause's voice echoed back from the dark shadows of trees around them and something small scurried away through the underbrush.

Morgana watched as her usually calm and coolly determined sister paced, moonlight flashing off her blonde tresses and chain mail. Her two guards – the blood guard of a high priestess – stood unmoving and silent just far enough away that Morgana almost forgot they were there. They never spoke, they never reacted other than to give her a slight bow when she passed them, and she had never seen their eyes because of the long cowls which shadowed their faces. At times she wondered if they had faces.

Morgause spun on her booted heel to scowl at Morgana. "Arthur cannot have lost the Eye of the Phoenix from around his own wrist. He must have removed it."

Her sister stared at her as though Morgana could explain, but she was at a loss. She spread her hands.

"Did he seem suspicious of you at all?"

"No, Sister. He could not stop apologizing to me about losing my gift." Morgana drew in a deep breath. "Is it possible something went wrong with the bracelet, the way your pillar of fire exploded in the Castle of Fyrien?"

The explosion had sent all of them – Morgause, Cenred, Morgana, Arthur – flying and brought the ceiling down on top of them quite spectacularly. Morgana had been concerned for her sister, but between Merlin and Arthur she had been dragged away from the scene without opportunity to check on Morgause who was barely stirring among the rubble.

Her sister's forehead creased in anger, tempting Morgana to pull up the hood of her purple cloak to hide her face from her sister's penetrating glare. The topic of how their plan to capture and eliminate Arthur had failed at the moment of victory always raised her sister's ire.

"There was nothing wrong with my spell," Morgause said. "It was conjured perfectly, a work of power such as only a high priestess could attempt. Somehow it was interfered with."

The stunning blonde reached out a hand and laid it on Morgana's arm, her deep brown eyes fixed on her sister's green ones. "It was the same force which prevented you from stabbing Uther in his bed, although in that case it is a good thing you were stopped from carrying out such a rash and foolish action. If you are caught committing treason, you cannot assume the throne; you will no longer be able to help us."

Morgana dropped her eyes. "I know, Sister."

Morgause patted her arm and Morgana looked up again.

"There is something I must share with you," Morgause said, her habitual calm determination returned. "We know it was magic, powerful magic, that blew out Uther's bedroom window and threw you against the wall that night."

"No one else was in the room, I promise, Sister."

"Someone must have been nearby, unseen, the way someone interfered with my incantation in the Castle of Fyrien and removed the Eye of the Phoenix."

Morgana's dark brows drew together. "Who?"

"I have given this much thought, Sister," Morgause said. "Merlin is hiding something. He could not have escaped the chains I bound him with when we caught him spying on our meeting in the woods shortly after your return to Camelot, nor could he have fled the Serkets unaided, and whoever stopped you from killing Uther also saved Merlin from that fire in your chambers." Morgause's eyes searched her sister's face. "Can you guess who it was?"

Morgana shook her head, brow furrowed. "No."

"It was Gaius."

Green eyes wide, Morgana stared at her sister, her mouth open. "He cannot … he does not … Uther trusts him absolutely." Except for that incident with the Witchfinder, but Uther had been especially gracious to the Court Physician since then.

"Gaius dabbled in magic in the past; in fact, before the Purge many of his closest friends and associates were sorcerers. It may seem Gaius has completely forsaken magic but has he really?"

Morgana struggled to gather her whirling thoughts. The physician had assisted in the capture of numerous sorcerers, he had stood by his king's side at executions, he had denied her magic when she came to him. It was impossible that he had continued to practice magic himself. "Uther would not trust him if he had not proved his loyalty time and again."

Morgause sighed. "There is something else I have not yet told you, Sister. Two years ago the High Priestess, Nimueh, told me she was going to the Isle of the Blessed and there she would meet someone who held the future of the kingdom in his hands. She said he was a creature of the Old Religion but he did not follow our ways. She was going to win him to our cause or remove him and bring about the promised future herself."

"What happened?"

The blonde's brows drew together. "I do not know. I was not on the Isle myself, but from the woods I saw a storm gather over the old temple, with thunder and lightning, although no drop of rain touched the forest around me. I thought Nimueh had taken matters into her own hands, but she never returned from the Isle. I have not seen her from that day to this."

A shiver crawled up Morgana's spine.

Morgause held her eyes. "Early that same morning I had seen a lone rider heading in the direction of the Isle, an old man."

Morgana gasped.

"It was Gaius. In the past he never had much power himself, but it seems he has used these last twenty years to increase his skills under the guise of studying medicine."

"But then, why would he protect Uther?"

"He's waiting."

Morgana frowned. "Waiting for what?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but he has watched over Arthur from babyhood; maybe he hopes to influence the prince once he inherits Uther's crown. Merlin expressed a belief that Arthur would bring about a fair and just land. It must have been Gaius who fed him such a tale."

Morgana knew Arthur was a better man than his father, more open to heeding the advice of others. If not for her magic, she would have endured Uther's rule knowing the day would come when Arthur assumed the throne. Despite the lack of romance in their mutual affection, she had expected to be content ruling beside him as his queen. It was possible Gaius had also pinned his hopes on the prince and was only waiting for the young man to be old enough and capable enough to assume Camelot's throne. "Arthur is more tolerant than his father. Perhaps Gaius would help us eliminate Uther if we promised Arthur would rule with me."

"Tolerant?" The venom that laced Morgause's voice was more frightening than a shout. "Why should tolerance be all we ask? Why is a lessening of persecution enough?"

"Arthur has shown compassion; he helped me with the Druid boy." Morgana faltered at her sister's furious frown.

"Has he ever expressed a desire to change the laws that make us criminals?"

"No," Morgana said.

"Has he ever shown respect, admiration, friendship even to one like us?"

"No."

Morgause grasped her wrist again, nails cutting into Morgana's arm with the strength of her grip. "With your claim to the throne we can take the kingdom without being forced to execute everyone who is loyal to the crown, without having to destroy the city and subjugate the people forcefully."

A twinge of remorse flashed through Morgana and she determinedly stamped it down. When she had first agreed to help overthrow Uther, before they had known her true parentage, she had not considered killing everyone else, all her friends and innocent citizens. When Morgause had used her as the vessel for the sleeping spell that left the city vulnerable, Morgana had felt betrayed by her sister. It was only later, after Morgause explained how all those loyal to the crown had to be eliminated as well or there would be civil war after Uther was deposed, that Morgana understood the necessity.

"We deserve more than fleeting compassion and moments of tolerance," Morgause said. "You are in a position to make real change. As Camelot's queen you could end this persecution by your decree alone. We would truly be free."

She was right of course; Morgause was always right, so strong and sure. Morgana straightened her shoulders. "What do we do, Sister?"

The blonde smiled. "I have made preparations. We must watch Gaius closely in case my deduction is incorrect, but we also want to be in a position to kill him if I'm right."

Morgana's breath caught. She could take down bandits in a fight and had stabbed the guard who caught her sneaking into the citadel, but to kill the old man who had taken care of her since childhood, she wondered if she could do it despite the way he had lied to her.

"I do not want you directly involved if it comes to that," Morgause said. "You must be above blame. Besides, we have the perfect person to tell us every move Gaius makes and kill him if need be; one he would never suspect, one he has already risked exposure to rescue: Merlin."

A surprised laugh escaped Morgana. "That troublesome serving boy is a thorn in my side. He would never aid us." Quite the opposite. Morgana's hand went to her throat in remembered anguish. Merlin had proven where his loyalties lay.

Morgause patted her sister's arm gently. "He might, if he was infatuated with you to the point of obsession where he would do anything you asked."

Morgana's stomach rolled. It had been a long time since Merlin had gazed at her with that innocent longing that had been more endearing than offensive. Their last several encounters had been less than friendly.

She shook her head. "He will never –"

"I told you I made preparations." Morgause withdrew a vial from the pouch at her waist.

A tingle of magic emanated from the red liquid in the vial.

"What is that?" Even as she asked, a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach told Morgana what her sister intended.

"A powerful love potion. You must obtain a lock of his hair and say the spell I will teach you, then get him to drink the potion. It tastes sweet, so add it to mead or mulled wine."

Morgana made no effort to take the vial. Her sister's plan meant close interaction with Merlin, intimate interaction possibly. The last time they had physically touched had been when he held her as she choked to death. If he touched her again she would vomit. "People will notice if Merlin is suddenly infatuated with me. A year ago, maybe not, but we are no longer friends." Her hand curled into a tight fist. "Arthur has asked me more than once in his bumbling way what is wrong between Merlin and I."

"The potion can be administered in multiple doses so the effects are more gradual, but that poses its own challenges," Morgause said. "Still, we want to avoid suspicion so I leave it to you to determine what is best. The effects are cumulative; the more of the poison he consumes the stronger its potency. It will have no effect on anyone else."

It was the word 'poison' that stilled the sickness in Morgana's stomach. It would be sweet justice to serve that dark-haired peasant a taste of his own medicine, to see those blue eyes widen when he realized this time she had won.

Morgana held out her hand for the vial. "I will see it done, Sister."

Once she was in the citadel's familiar corridors in the wing reserved for the royal family, Morgana tossed back her concealing hood, shook out her long, dark hair, and slowed her steps. The sun's earliest rays touched the windows. Her soft boots made almost no noise on the worn stone. Since her return from her year of training with Morgause, she had grown accustomed to slipping in and out unremarked and she no longer walked the familiar corridors afraid each moment that someone would scream "sorceress" and point at her.

She turned a corner and ran into someone moving quickly in the opposite direction. Morgana opened her mouth to mutter an apology only to find herself staring into Merlin's startled blue eyes.

Her mouth thinned. "Watch where you're going."

His eyebrows snapped down. "Me?"

As quickly as the idea popped into her mind, her hand shot out and grabbed hold of his hair. She yanked. "Yes, you, you clumsy boy." She released him with an angry jerk.

Merlin winced and put a hand to his head where she had pulled his hair, his momentary surprise giving way to anger. Before he could snap out his usual impertinent, surly remark, Sir Ranulf turned the hallway corner behind her.

The knight hesitated and glanced at Morgana. "My lady?"

Merlin dropped his head submissively.

Morgana's lip curled. "This clumsy boy ran into me."

"I am sorry, my lady," Merlin mumbled.

"Get on your way, boy," Sir Ranulf said.

Merlin nodded and hurried away and Morgana smiled triumphantly, several dark hairs clutched in her fist.

"How was training?" Morgana trailed her left hand along the table, her right hand lost in the folds of her skirt, watching as Arthur finished his last bite of supper in his chambers.

He waved her to take a seat but she shook her head, pausing beside one of the empty chairs.

"Fine," he said.

She raised one eyebrow. "Didn't need my assistance, then, to show you what you're doing wrong?"

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Somehow we managed to get by without your guidance."

She glanced in the pitcher on the table beside the remains of his meal; it was nearly full. "Didn't work hard enough to make yourself thirsty?"

"Merlin will need it more than me." Arthur smirked. "He had to do a lot of running this afternoon. Really, I don't know why I bother using him as the target when he's rubbish at bobbing and weaving. Next time we go back to the lance and hoops."

"Generous of you to leave him refreshment.." Morgana pretended to look down at the table while she watched Arthur carefully through her lashes. "Gwen would certainly think it kind-hearted."

A blush coloured Arthur's cheeks. So there was something between the prince and her maid. He ducked his head to hide his expression and Morgana quickly poured a quarter of the contents from the open vial concealed in her right hand into the jug on the table.

"Gwen was saying earlier how much she admired generosity and kindness in a ruler," Morgana continued, her hand now back within the folds of her trailing green skirt. Not that she and Gwen spoke at all anymore, beyond instructions and terse, polite acknowledgements. Morgana squashed the ache in her heart at the loss of their friendship.

Arthur hid a smile as his fingers idly plucked at his shirt. He was nearly as easy to manipulate as their father. She wondered, if she told him the truth about her magic in just the right way at just the right time, if she could convince him magic was not an evil to be hated and feared. Then together they would end the king's campaign of vengeance against sorcery. There had been other times when Arthur had taken her side, even in defiance of Uther.

But nothing had ever come of it. Uther had not listened to his son any more than he had taken her criticisms seriously. If Arthur defended her to their father, the king's most likely reaction would be to accuse her of enchanting the prince and execute her. Morgause was right: the only way was to depose Uther and have Morgana take the throne.

The door to the prince's chamber flew open and a set of high cheekbones and big ears under an untidy mop of dark hair blundered into the room. Whatever Merlin was about to say died on his lips at the sight of her standing beside Arthur's chair. Morgana gave him a sly smile.

"Merlin," Arthur said. "You can clear these away." He waved a hand towards the dishes and the jug of mead.

"Yes, my lord." Merlin was uncharacteristically respectful in her presence. He gave her a long, suspicious look but dutifully gathered everything up on a tray, including the pitcher, then paused, looking between Arthur and her. "Is there anything else you need?"

"No, thank you, Merlin. You may go."

He hesitated, watching Morgana, but Arthur gave him an impatient look and he backed out of the room, his eyes on her until he closed the door behind him.

Morgana smiled again.

Merlin paused outside Arthur's room, the tray clutched in his hands, and stared at the closed door. Morgana was up to something, but surely she did not intend to murder Arthur there in the prince's chamber with guards outside the door and witnesses who had seen her enter. She was reckless but not that reckless.

Eyes fixed on the door, Merlin wished again it had not come to this, that they had found another way. If only she had not chosen to aid her sister in attacking Camelot, if only he had not been driven to poison her in order to stop them. When Morgause attacked with the Knights of Medhir it had seemed Morgana's alliance with her sister was tenuous, that she had not considered the consequences of agreeing to aid in the overthrow and was still concerned for Arthur and Gwen and … him. But since she had returned from her year in Morgause's care there was no doubting her allegiance: she would do anything her sister said no matter who was hurt.

Today she seemed calm enough, so whatever was afoot it was not Arthur's immediate assassination. Merlin backed away from the door and then spun around only to bump into a maid, her arms piled high with laundry.

She let out an exclamation when her load slipped and he gulped an apology as the dishes on his tray rattled and the jug of mead teetered. No, not that! Between the row with Gaius about Alice, training with Arthur, and Morgana's smirk he was in need of a treat.

He sighed when the jug settled without spilling. He carefully set the tray down and helped the maid collect her fallen sheets as he apologized profusely, barely noticing the coy smile she threw over her shoulder as she sauntered away. Then he sat on the floor and tipped back the jug. The mead tasted sweeter than usual and when he had finished the entire contents he felt as if nothing had tasted so good ever before.

Two days later, Merlin threw open the door to the prince's chamber without knocking, prepared to duck if anything came sailing at his head, and then froze on the threshold. Morgana sat with Arthur apparently having joined him for supper. There was a pitcher of mulled wine between them in addition to the water Merlin had delivered with Arthur's meal. The corners of her mouth turned up at his entrance and his eyes fixed on her lips. She really did have the most perfectly shaped mouth, even when it smirked that plotting smile.

"Merlin, late as usual," Arthur said. He waved a hand at the remains of their meal. "You can clear this away and then bring us a fresh pitcher of wine; this one is nearly cold."

"Yes, Sire." Merlin kept his eyes on Morgana as he came forward to collect the dishes.

She met his wary look with a calm stare. It was too bad her green eyes had such an evil glint in them now because they were lovely eyes. A goblet bounced off the side of his head and he winced.

"Now, Merlin," Arthur said.

Morgana laughed.

Raising one hand to rub the side of his head, Merlin gave Arthur a sour look and collected the remains of supper including the barely-touched pitcher of mulled wine. Ungrateful, condescending, supercilious, idiot; if he only knew how many times Merlin had saved him from one of Morgana's schemes. If only Merlin knew what she and her sister were plotting right now. He clenched his jaw and kept his gaze on his task.

When he was at the door, tray in hand, he raised his eyes to look at Morgana. She met his gaze and his breath abruptly left him. He gulped in air to douse the warm feeling that uncurled in his stomach and tore his eyes away to back hurriedly out of the room.

As soon as he turned the first corner into another corridor Merlin paused, set down the tray with shaking fingers, and grabbed the pitcher of wine to take a deep swallow. The warm sweetness slid over his tongue and down his throat. It tasted like the best mulled wine he had ever had and he momentarily closed his eyes, letting it calm his nerves. Then the sweetness landed heavily in his stomach and his eyes flew open to erase the picture burned on the inside of his lids: a picture of Morgana. His heart beat rapidly and his palms were sweaty; he had not been this nervous fighting off an angry Manticore. Surely Morgana did not frighten him that much?

The hairs on the back of his neck prickled with unease.

Merlin stood in his customary position near Arthur's throne in the great hall when Morgana entered to join the court. She made her way slowly toward her seat to Uther's left, her hips swaying in a white gown which hugged her chest before flaring around her legs to show an occasional glimpse of ankle. Light from the high windows haloed her dark hair as she passed through each square of sunshine and silver thread sparkled in the neckline of her dress where it outlined her breasts.

Merlin shook his head and dragged his eyes away, forcing them back to the floor in front of his feet. The hum of dozens of conversations lay heavy in the Great Hall. The press of people was greater than usual as everyone shared stories of the king's recent poisoning, his recovery, and the escape of the accused woman who had tainted Uther's medicine.

The temperature in the room had increased with the number of onlookers and Merlin felt warmth pool under his arms and trickle down between his shoulder blades. His palms were sweaty and his breathing had quickened.

He wondered if he was ill. Maybe Morgana had cast a curse on him; he would ask Gaius to examine him, just in case, because his symptoms were worsening. Twice yesterday he had felt his heartbeat quicken and it was getting harder to concentrate on anything. He had not slept well the past three days.

Merlin's eyes were drawn back to Morgana, seated in her chair on the raised dais behind Uther as he listened to those petitioners who had been granted an audience with the king. How could he be so completely oblivious to her desire to see him dead? Clearly absence did make the heart grow fonder because since her sudden return after a year of fruitless searching, Uther had treated Morgana more tenderly, acceding to her wishes with barely a protest, and that tenderness had grown since her near-fatal accident on the stairs. Merlin tamped down a pang of guilt at that memory.

She played the part of the loving ward with consummate skill, never challenging Uther's authority, never arguing with him. It was sickening, really. And the excuses Arthur kept making for Morgana's changed personality, blaming it on her terrifying ordeal as a prisoner after Morgause's kidnapping, were maddening. How could they be so blind?

Outwardly, Morgana looked the same as she always had: her beautiful hair artfully dressed with tiny, glittering beads framing her lovely face; her long neck graced with the silver links of her necklace from which a green jewel was suspended in the hollow between her breasts.

Merlin tore his gaze away again to stare at the smooth stone floor, trying to steady his breathing. He definitely needed to have Gaius examine him because these attacks were getting worse.

From her seat at her dressing table, her hair unbound and brushed, Morgana watched as her maid finished readying the bed. "Thank you, Gwen. That will be all."

"Yes, my lady." Gwen gave a small curtsey before she left, keeping her eyes on the floor and her expression blank.

Morgana stared at the closed door for a moment. She wished it had been possible to rely on her maidservant when she felt the initial stirrings of magic. Gwen had served her faithfully for many years, and in return Morgana had treated her well, even considered her a friend. There was a time when Morgana thought Gwen, at least, would accept her if the truth were known, and stand by her regardless of her magic. But it had been too dangerous a secret to confide and now it was too late.

Her servant's loyalties had shifted. Although the maid refused to admit her feelings, she was clearly smitten by the Crown Prince. If he did not accept Morgana's magic, Gwen would not, either. Morgana would have to watch her closely when the time came to reveal herself.

Sighing, Morgana turned back to her dresser and her eyes fell on the vial Morgause had given her. It was half empty now, but she would not be able to use the same ploy a third time. She would have to think of another way to get the next dose to Merlin. Perhaps she could pretend someone sent a jug of wine as thanks to the Court Physician. She could not be certain what Merlin had told his guardian but she suspected the old man knew everything; he would be as suspicious as his ward of anything she provided to them.

Morgana toyed with the half-empty vial as she sat at her dressing table, eyes fixed on the square of cloudy sky to be seen through her window, a smile playing over her lips. She had kept an eye on Merlin throughout the long hours of Uther's court and had seen the poison's effects: the boy's eyes continually came back to her, often with a glazed look, and he had rubbed his palms against his tunic so often the sides were dampened. The corners of her lips turned up at the way his gaze had been drawn to her. She had expected to be revolted by those traitorous blue eyes fixed on her, the eyes of the man who had poisoned her while pretending to be her friend, but instead a warm feeling had coursed through her.

She would have to test the waters soon, see how far his desire would lead him. One more dose and she would find out how much control she wielded.

She looked down at the tiny vial, frowning as she tried to think of ways to get the next two doses to her victim. He and Gaius would be alert now; they must have an inkling the boy was suffering from a malady and their first thought of any foul play would be to blame her. They would be suspicious of anything she brought. Maybe she could use that to her advantage.

"I'm only saying that –" Merlin stopped in mid-sentence, one foot on the threshold of the physician's chambers as he entered, frozen at the sight of Morgana standing in the cluttered workroom.

Gaius bumped into him from behind. Much as he loved the boy, his ward's reckless actions and natural clumsiness were a constant trial. "Merlin! What are you doing?" The old man's eyes fell on their visitor and he straightened, schooling his features. "My lady, what can I do for you?"

Morgana gave the physician a wide smile as he elbowed his motionless ward aside and came into the room. Merlin remained stock-still, his mouth open, eyes fixed on Morgana. Gaius frowned at his glazed expression before turning back to the king's ward, wondering at her presence.

"I came to offer you a gift, as thanks for all you have done for me." Morgana held up a basket which smelled of fresh baking.

Gaius looked from her to the basket and tried not to show the slightest trace of mistrust. "Thank you, my lady. I appreciate your kind thoughtfulness." He came forward to take the basket from her and set it on the nearest table.

Merlin remained standing near the threshold, speechless, his gaze fixed on Morgana. Gaius surreptitiously examined her,. She wore a red velvet gown with necklaces of red gemstones and her hair was dressed in a simple plait. It did not appear that she carried anything other than the basket. Merlin was now staring intently at his feet, his colour high.

"Well, I'll let you get back to your work." Morgana gave Gaius a smile and walked toward the doorway.

She brushed by Merlin, her skirts swishing against his legs, and he stiffened. Then she was gone.

"Merlin? Are you all right?"

The boy let out a long breath and put one hand on his heart. Sweat stood out along his brow. "I told you the symptoms were getting worse."

Gaius frowned. His ward was flushed and shaking. "Have you figured out what triggers these spells?"

Merlin shook his head. "They happen at different times, different places." His eyes widened. "Whenever Morgana is around."

Both Gaius and Merlin stared in the direction Morgana had vanished.

"I told you she was up to something," Merlin said. His sharp gaze fixed on the basket. "Burn those."

Gaius looked at the sweet-smelling basket which had been warm as he took it and sighed. "Sadly, I'm afraid you are right."

Ignoring the fresh baking Morgana had given them, Gaius gathered up cold meat and a loaf of day-old bread while Merlin fetched plates and set them on the table next to a jug of wine.

They continued to discuss what Morgana had done to cause the symptoms Merlin was experiencing and what the ultimate effect was meant to be. Gaius hoped it was not fatal. If he was unable to find the cause, Merlin may get sicker until fever took him or his heart failed.

Gaius shook his head worriedly and took a bite of cold roast. "Pour me a cup of wine, please, Merlin."

Merlin reached for the jug but instead knocked it over. Red liquid spilled across the table.

"Sorry, Gaius, sorry." Merlin took the cloth from around his neck and quickly sopped at the mess.

"It's all right." Gaius sighed inwardly; that had been the last jug of wine. Then his eyes fell on the pitcher still sitting on the sideboard where he had left it earler. His gaze darted back to the spilled jug on the table; he must have forgotten there was one more flagon. Well, that came of getting old.

Morgana set the nearly-empty vial on her dressing table amongst casks of jewellery and bottles of water scented with violets and sage. Merlin should have consumed at least some of the wine from the jug she left on their table, which would be the third dose of Morgause's potion. It was time to check the results. She had sent specific instructions that Merlin was to deliver one of Gaius's sleeping potions to her that evening.

Morgana fingered the healing bracelet her sister had gifted her on their first meeting, thinking about the dream she had had last night; a vivid dream, one of the prophetic dreams she had not experienced since Morgause gave her the bracelet. She had not slept well and Gwen knew it, so the nosy maid had not asked any questions when Morgana requested a sleeping aid. Not that the lying old physician's worthless remedy could help her any more than it ever had, but she had also sent a message to her sister to meet her in the citadel and Morgause would be able to help with the vision if anyone could.

Meantime, Morgana would assess the results of her sister's plan to control Merlin, then she would be able to report on that along with any information the boy revealed to her about Gaius. The poison's effects had already taken hold, and Morgana had not been able to resist brushing her skirts against Merlin's legs to see his reaction as she left the physician's chamber. He had nearly fainted.

There was a knock at the door. Morgana glanced in her mirror; her hair had been brushed and left loose around her shoulders and she was dressed in her sleeping gown. Perfect.

"Come in," she called since Gwen had been dismissed for the night.

The door cracked open and Morgana glimpsed a blue sleeve inside a brown jacket holding one of Gaius's potion bottles.

"My lady?"

His voice was unusually nervous and Morgana could not restrain her satisfied smile. "Yes, Merlin, come in."

He sidled in, his eyes fixed on the floor.

Merlin avoided looking in Morgana's direction as he entered her chamber, Gaius's bottle of potion held in front of himself like a shield. He had been tempted to find someone else to deliver the sleeping remedy, but he was determined to take the opportunity to search her room. If she was using a charm or poppet or something to induce his sickness, it was almost certainly in her chamber. His eyes roamed around the room, looking everywhere but at Morgana herself, trying to sense any magical objects.

"You can set that on the table by the bed," Morgana said.

His eyes fastened on her bed and his heartbeat quickened. He imagined her lying there, her dark hair spread around her. Merlin shook his head and gulped.

He walked slowly toward the small table which held a single candle. His hand was trembling as he set the bottle down. At the sound of a light footfall behind him, he straightened and spun to face Morgana.

She tipped her head to the side, the ends of her dark hair brushing the tops of her breasts where her gown was tied with green ribbons. "We've been fighting each other for months now, but there was a time when we were … friends."

He tried to calm his racing heart.

"Would it help," Morgana said slowly as she reached up one hand to lay it on his cheek, "if I told you your feelings are reciprocated?"

His breath caught. Feelings? Had she known after all? Or was she referring to something recent? What was she doing to him?

Her palm slid across the faint stubble on his cheek before her fingers buried in his hair. He could feel warmth rush up his neck into his face, his hands were damp, and his heart pounded. He was transfixed by the green eyes staring into his.

Then his heart almost stopped beating entirely at the realization that she had enchanted him with a love spell. Not love, exactly, because no spell could produce such a powerful emotion, but something that could be mistaken for love: infatuation, lust, desire.

Her other hand brushed across his face before tangling in his hair and she drew his head down. His gaze dropped from her eyes to her lips, then her mouth was pressed to his and all thought entirely left him; he was conscious of nothing but her hands and her lips.

His body felt like it was on fire. His hands reached out, one to stroke the loose strands of her hair, the other to wrap around her waist and press her closer, his lips moving against hers. Abruptly, she released him to step back and he nearly stumbled. He stared at her, wide-eyed, not daring to make a move, either to run or to grasp her again.

She reached out and he tensed but she only laid her left hand on his arm. The touch of her fingers burned through his jacket and tunic sleeve as though her hand had seared his bare skin.

"Merlin, I know you have kept my secret despite everything. You must still care for me. I think you have kept another secret as well."

The room spun dizzily. If she had guessed about his magic and her power over him right now made him confess, he would be in grave danger, Arthur would be in danger, Camelot would be in danger.

"Tell me, has Gaius been using magic?"

Yes, he almost blurted before he comprehended what she had asked. Gaius? "He … he gave up magic when Uther outlawed it." That was true, mostly.

"But he studied it once"

"Yes." This time it slipped out before he could stop it. Hopefully, it was common enough knowledge that the admission could not be used to hurt his guardian. He clamped his teeth on his lower lip.

"Gaius has been studying and practising magic for many years, hasn't he?"

"No." Merlin shook his head adamantly. Morgana might hold his poisoning her over his head, a death threat hanging over him if he dared to openly accuse her of treason, but he would not give her the same power over Gaius.

"Come now." Morgana tilted her head and looked up at him through her lashes. "He has been using his power to thwart me, hasn't he?"

"No."

His adamant tone must have swayed her because she lifted her chin, her eyes searching his face. "Is there someone else, a powerful sorcerer working with Gaius?"

His stomach knotted with fear. He bit his lip and shook his head slowly.

She watched him intently for a long moment. "You will tell me, won't you, if Gaius plans to use his power against me."

"Yes." Merlin nodded vigorously to reinforce the lie. He drew a deep breath and put on his most earnest expression. "You know I would do anything for you, my lady."

A sinister smile curled her lips yet he could not help but admire her beautiful mouth and the green of her eyes. Those eyes slid to her dresser and away again and he finally saw it: a tiny vial of red liquid emanating tendrils of magic.

He needed to get that vial from her. Experience had taught him that unless they knew exactly which potion it was, any attempt to reverse the spell could backfire horribly, if the antidote had any effect at all. Besides which, if there was more of the brew and if she increased whatever amount she had already dosed him with, it might have its intended effect despite his efforts to resist.

Thoughts of the bed he knew was two steps behind him intruded into his mind. It was not the risk of Morgana realizing the direction of his gaze and hiding the vial elsewhere that pulled his eyes back to her. Her nightdress revealed a disturbing amount of smooth skin above its neckline.

She removed her hand from his arm and stepped back. "Thank you, Merlin. I've made many mistakes recently, but I know we can put the past behind us if we try."

He nodded while he kept his mouth clamped shut.

"Good night, then."

"Good night, my lady," Merlin choked out as he stumbled backward before turning and bolting for the door. He did not look back as he let himself out of her chamber.

Once in the corridor, he broke into a run, not slowing his steps until he was outside the citadel and felt the coolness of the evening air against his flushed face. There he sank down to sit on the palace steps and dropped his head into his hands. At least he knew what was being done to him and why. Now he only had to secretly get into Morgana's chambers and get that potion, reverse its effects, thwart their suspicions about Gaius, and find and stop whatever evil scheme they hatched next.

Morgana laughed aloud when Merlin sprinted from her chamber. The look in his eyes when she reached for him had told her exactly how successful Morgause's potion was. It had probably not been necessary to kiss the boy but the longing in his blue eyes had been irresistible.

She had expected to be repulsed by the feel of his arms around her again, the way they had been when she gasped what could have been her last breath when the hemlock cut off air to her lungs, her vision blurred, and a roaring sound filled her ears. Instead, a warm feeling had spread from the pit of her stomach at his groan and the passion in his embrace. Somewhere, the boy had learned how to kiss.

Although Merlin had not given her much information on Gaius. Either he was ignorant of his guardian's power, or he remained able to hold back from her the identity of the true sorcerer. Morgana eyed the vial. One more dose and he would have consumed the entire bottle Then there would be no withholding from her anything she asked of him. Morgause would be pleased. Hopefully the good news would temper her sister's reaction to what Morgana had Seen.

Morgana fingered her healing bracelet again, spinning it idly on her wrist as she crossed to her bed and sat down. The dream she had last night was strong: Arthur on the throne, Gwen his queen. Rarely had Morgana's dreams not come true. If this one showed the future, then Arthur would be king soon and he would marry Gwen, a servant.

If Arthur as king defied a long-standing tradition which separated nobles from commoners, if he changed the law so drastically, might he also be willing to overturn Uther's decrees with regard to magic? Might he accept Morgana despite her magic the way he loved Gwen despite her low birth? Or was he too corrupted by his father's hatred and fear to overcome that prejudice?

Morgana sighed and lay back on the bed, sliding her legs between the smooth sheets. She would ask Morgause what her interpretation of the dream was; her sister was powerful and wise and the one person in the entire world who put Morgana first. Her sister loved her like no one else, had given up a kingdom for her at the very moment of her long-dreamed-of victory. Her sister accepted her absolutely, taught her to love herself and the power within her and how to use it. Morgause would know what the dream meant and what to do about it.