When Morgana awoke she was not alone, and in the state halfway between sleeping and waking this confused her, she always awoke alone, unless Agravaine had decided to visit.

But this wasn't Agravaine.

Purely from lack of use, her eyes refused to work as well as they should. She blinked and tried to make out the figure who sat a few metres from her. It was a man, that she much she could tell, thin and lanky, with dark hair. He was tall, she assumed from his long limbs, as he was curled up by the wall and she could not tell his height. As her eyes began to focus, she realised he was not facing her so she tried to move and get a better look. As she did something cold tightened around her wrist, she gasped, the action causing her lungs to scream in protest, she collapsed back down. He must have heard because he called out gently to her.

"I wouldn't move yet, you're not fully healed."

She recognised the voice. Merlin.

Everything came flooding back to her, and she realised where she was. Why she was there, her question was, why was he there? She swayed a little, the exhaustion athat had taken hold over the past few months catching up on her. She was weak. She could not allow the boy to see her weak. She would have to get rid of him. She pulled at the chains that seemed to crush her wrists and hissed bitterly "-I see my dear brother still has me tied down here like a dog"

When her statement provoked no reaction from the servant she supressed a sigh in disappointment, she had aimed to upset him, he was usually so defensive of his beloved Arthur.

"Not that it surprises me" She whispered callously "-Like Father, like son"

She watched as Merlin spun around, blue eyes flashing angrily "Just be thankful that's the only thing he's done, Gwaine was all for hanging you from roof of the throne room, we thought you'd make a nice candle holder."

Morgana was surprised at his unusual reaction and her smile faltered for a moment, she tilted her head to the side in mild confusion.

"Ahw" she cooed sardonically, her voice taking on a taunting edge "-Is something bothering you Merlin?" She smirked at him wickedly. The boy's eyes seemed to fill with pain, her eyes narrowed, surely she hadn't said anything that upsetting.

"It would do you good-" he murmured "- if just for once, you would think of someone other than yourself, and realise that you're the one in the wrong here."

She regarded the boy for a long moment, the contempt in his eyes shocked her. When had he come to hate her? She had hated him for a long time, but for some reason no matter how harsh she was to him he had always treated her as though they could be friends. The term almost made her laugh aloud, he had forfeited any chance of friendship the day he poisoned her. How dare he talk to her like that, as though she had been the one to betray him. Not that she cared of course, she didn't need the approval of a serving boy. So what if he hated her? Everyone else did, it didn't bother her.

"You believe I'm wrong to stand up for who I am?" She asked sharply.

"No I believe your wrong for trying to hurt people in the process."

"I've done what I had to! The only way those with magic can be free is to rid ourselves of the tyrant who sits on that throne along with anyone who get's in the way, You have no-"

"UTHER IS DEAD MORGANA!" He yelled, cutting her off. She jumped a little and he caught himself when he saw the startled look in her eye.

After a moment of angry staring he began to speak at a harsh whisper.

"Uther's gone. He died. I don't know what tyrant you speak of but it's not Arthur!" He held her gaze for a moment, his eyes becoming pleading. "-The battle is over, what are you still fighting?"

Morgana went quiet then. Wondering at what point on the long journey that had brought the two of them here, the bumbling fool she had one called her friend had grown up. She was suddenly angry, more angry than that this serving boy should provokke her to be, why couldn't he understand?

"You know NOTHING!" She shrieked, forgetting herself for a moment and lifting her hand as though to blow him through the wall. Infuriatingly, the boy smiled, although the gesture was more of sorrow than joy.

"You can't touch me without your magic Morgana, it's over."

"You'd be surprised." She whispered threateningly, although knowing herself the threat was an empty one

She whispered again, but it was almost to herself. "and it will never be over."