A/N: Thank you all for you're continued support ^^ I won't keep you from this chapter with a length AN, this chapter is shorter then others and the reason is in the bottom AN Enjoy! As always you're comments and reviews are highly appreciated.

Disclaimer: Merlin belongs to the BBC and the writers of the show, sadly.

Chapter 9: Fatalem Libido

Morgana

The sound of drums being struck at a slow pace filled the air, a rhythm grimly named 'The Condemned's Last March'. The rhythm itself was almost enough to make Morgana sick as she heaved and struggled to keep the contents of her stomach down as she looked out of her chamber's window and down upon the courtyard. The drummers formed a line both sides that led from the dungeons to the headmen's block, while the citizens of Camelot crowded behind the line, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was about to take place.

She listened to the murmurs of the crowd below as they gossiped over the reason why they were all there until they all fell silent and every single head turned towards the sound of a mix between heavy footsteps and someone being dragged. Morgana followed their gaze's and saw him, Merlin being held up by two guards and flanked by several more as they dragged him slowly towards the centre of the courtyard. Morgana had to grab a hold of the nearby wall to stop her leg's collapsing as she watched her lover forced onto his knees before the block, she felt her heart break over and over, shattering time after time again as each second passed. She had been forbidden from attending Merlin's fate and her door had been locked, she had been torn between either hiding under her covers and crying or standing strong for Merlin, watching and giving him her support and comfort for what little it was worth.

As she peered out, she watched as across from her, a large pair of wooden double doors opened up on the King's balcony and out stepped Uther with several guards. Hate, disgust and fury swirled around deep within in her as she watched her guardian step forth and place his hands on the banister as he looked down at the condemned man and the audience.

"People of Camelot." Uther's voice began to fill the silence that had come over the courtyard. "This man, who sits on his knees before you. Committed one of the gravest crimes one can commit, not only has he broken one of our oldest and most important laws, he also broke and forever ruined a piece of my heart, of our hearts, of Camelot's heart. The Lady Morgana."

Morgana felt the crowd below her shift as numerous eyes had turned from the King and up towards her window, but she refused to meet any of their gazes and instead kept her eyes fixed on Merlin, who had briefly and slyly looked up to quickly catch her eyes, giving Morgana a small yet sad smile which she tried to respond to… But couldn't, she couldn't smile knowing what was about to happen and doubted she'd ever smile again.

"There can be only one sentence for this violation." Uther's voice drew the eyes back to him, even Morgana's eyes turned to his, her eyes pleading, hoping to change his mind at the last minute, but he didn't look at her and instead his gaze fell to the executioner. "Death."

The drum's started to pick up pace as Uther lifted his hand, the axe in the executioners hands raised in sync with the King's. Time stood still for Morgana, her heart ceased to beat, her lips refused to draw breath, her blood ran still as her eyes widened, her orbs capturing the image of the axe held high above Merlin, forever storing that moment in her mind… And then… It all came crashing down, as Uther signalled death.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" Morgana shirked out, ripping her lungs apart as her lover's life was ended.

"MERLIN!" Morgana bolted up in her bed; her eyes flashed gold and shattered one of her smaller mirrors. Her orbs streamed with fresh tears as she sobbed, gasping for air as she struggled to breath, she brought her knees up to her chest, cradling them as she tried to comfort herself and calm down. 'It was just a dream…' She wiped her eyes and looked at the healing bracelet on her wrist; she hadn't had any more nightmares since receiving it from the blonde warrior, Morgause. 'Just a bad dream… Not like the others… It can't be…'

Her morning weariness quickly faded as her mind woke up and spurred into action. Morgana's widened in horror having just noticed the morning light shining through her window. 'No no no!' She threw the sheets off her; Morgana jumped out of bed still fully dressed from last night and ran to the window, praying to god that she hadn't slept too long.

She gasped as she saw a figure clad in black in the centre of the courtyard, sharping the axe from her nightmare by the headsmen block. 'If he's preparing already then… Merlin must already be before Uther!' Morgana turned from the window and dashed across to her bedside, quickly slipping on some footwear before heading to the door. She paused just before opening it; guards would have been posted on the other side and most likely have been ordered not to let her leave. She looked around for something heavy, moving over to her dresser with haste, she picked up a thick sturdy wooden jewellery box before heading back over to the door and slowly creaking it open.

Two guards both had their back to her and still looked half a sleep as they slumped at their posts. Stepping out of her room slowly, Morgana took a deep breath and swung the box, hitting the first guard around the back of the head, sending him collapsing against the wall with a heavy thud. The second guard spun around in to see what the hell just happened, only to have the wind knocked out of him when the box collided with his stomach. He dropped to the floor coughing and wheezing, Morgana hoped that would be enough as she ran down the corridor, discarding the jewellery box as she got to the staircase.

She ran as fast as her clothing would allow her too without tripping over herself, pushing servants and maids out of her way, sending fresh food and clean laundry crashing to the floor on more than a couple occasions. She skidded to a halt when the large door's leading to the throne room came into sight, panting hard, she clutched at her stomach and put on her distraught face as the two guards standing by the doors approached her cautiously.

"My lady? What you doing here? We were told-" The first guard began to ask.

"H… Help me!" Morgana cut him off as she forced out a sob, both guard's looked at each other uneasily.

"What's wrong my Lady?" The second guard asked with a concerned tone of voice.

"An Intru… Intruder attacked the guards at my door and came at me! He tried to kill me!" Morgana whimpered in reply, hoping that her soft tearful eyes and her quivering lips was enough to sway the guards.

The guards didn't ask any questions or give her any odd looks, instead they ran past her and proceeded in the direction of her quarters. Morgana casted a look over her shoulder and gave a devious smirk as she watched their backs disappear from view. Turning back to the matter at hand, she burst through the throne room doors, her eyes quickly soaked up the scene as the guards standing inside moved towards her. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she spotted Merlin still alive, on his knees before the king. 'I'm not too late!' Her heart lifted slightly before being restrained by the two nearest guards. "Get off me!" Morgana shirked as she struggled in the clutches the guards.

"What is the meaning of this! I gave explicit orders that she was not to leave her chambers!" The King bellowed at the guard, his eyes lifted up from Merlin as he glared daggers at the guards then at her. "Take her away!"

'No! I will have my say!' Morgana kicked out at the nearest guard as they tried to forcefully remove her from the room, one of her flaying foots connected with one of the guards privates which bought her a few seconds, enough to compose herself and direct her voice at Uther and those present. "It was magic!" Morgana shouted at the top of her voice.

The room stilled. The stern hateful look on Uther's face dropped for a few seconds as Morgana's words begun to have the desired effect. 'Well that's the easy part done…' "I was… I was enchanted…" A single tear slid down her cheek as Morgana kept her voice low, just loud enough for Uther to hear.

"Release her." The King's command was firm yet lacked the hate and disgust he had used earlier, a look of horror spread across his face. The guards obeyed without question and Morgana allowed herself to take a few steps forward, closer to Uther who had taken back his seat and Merlin. "Are you saying… That this… Boy…" Uther gestured down at Merlin, a fresh look of anger and hatred flooded his features. "Enchanted you? Forced you to lay with him?"

"No my Lord… Mer… He was enchanted too." Morgana said after shaking her head.

A frown formed across his brow as his eyes narrowed on her. "Are you lying to me girl?" The King asked with a low rumble.

Morgana liked to believe she was a good liar if she needed to be, that she could convince others to see her side of things and believe her words, be they true or false. But she didn't need to lie. "No my Lord… I believe we drank something at the festivities last night, an enchanted drink, a potion."

"Not possible, the servants tested all drinks themselves." Uther stated with his usual arrogant conviction, to most people Uther would have seemed to be completely unconvinced by the tale Morgana had started to spin. But Morgana had grown up for almost 10 years with Uther has her guardian and father-like figure, she had learnt to read the subtlest of changes in his expression and could tell she was on the right path.

"Father if I may, Merlin was one of the servants that tested the wine merchant's drinks." Arthur threw in his voice, stating that small fact rationally.

Morgana nodded in agreement with the Prince and refrained from giving him a smile to show her appreciation. "I believe Merlin tested the enchanted drink, but the full effect didn't start right away."

"If, and I mean if. If what you say is true, then why are you two the only ones who were… Enchanted?" Morgana bit down hard on the inside of her cheek as Uther's conviction wavered slightly, gesturing less hostilely towards Merlin and herself as he questioned her.

"Because we were the only ones to be served that particular brew." Morgana replied calmly, her eyes never averting from the King's hard gaze.

Before the King could ask for Morgana to elaborate, Arthur inhaled loudly as what Morgana was getting at finally dawned on him. "Wait, yes, that drink! The one that caused Merlin to pass out and thus lose my bet with Morgana!" The blonde Prince blurted out with an amused look on his face as he looked from Morgana and down at Merlin, unable to hide a small patronising grin. "Only Morgana and Merlin drank that and come to think of it… That wine merchant was rather insistent that I drank it…" Arthur's nose wrinkled up, pulling a disgusted look over his face as he realised what could have happened last night instead. "Ugh! He meant for me and Morgana too…" Morgana wasn't sure if she should feel offended at Arthur's reaction at that thought, but then again… Her insides were reacting in the same way, feeling as sick at the mental image as Arthur looked.

Uther shifted uncomfortably on his throne, the same image flicked must have flicked through his mind and he too looked equally disturbed by the 'what if.' "How can we be sure that you two just weren't drunk? That you two had in fact wanted to… do…" Morgana cheered silently deep within herself, she could tell by the look on his eyes and the way he was now stroking his chin that he was contemplating her words and this new scenario. 'Just a little more and I think… He'll believe what I'm saying…'

"If I might add Sire. I took Merlin back to his room after he passed out. He was in no condition to even sit up… Let alone…" Gaius trailed of, not wanting to speak the words but everyone knew what he was referring too. "Only potent magic could have countered his bodies' condition."

"It does make sense father… I mean, Morgana would never stoop so low to go with a servant, nor would she ever in her right mind use your chambers to…" Morgana discreetly dug her nails into the palm of her hand, fighting back the urge to defend Merlin and her actions as Arthur demeaned them. She understood why he was saying it, but it still hurt her that what had transpired last night, and who it transpired with, was being talked about with such contempt.

Uther fell silent for a few moments and everyone gave him a chance to ponder on the latest development, Morgana had edged closer during her speech and by the end of it she was almost standing by Merlin's side. The second Uther broke eye contact with Morgana, she chanced a quick look down at Merlin to see how he was faring but his eyes were firmly fixated on the cold stone floor 'I hope he's ok…' Hurried footsteps approached the hall and Morgana turned to see the other four guards enter; the two she assaulted and the two she deceived, all looking equally angered but didn't approach when they say her in the King's company.

"I think… You best start from the beginning Morgana." Uther sighed as he conceded to Morgana's tale. She didn't need to ask from where and began recalling what she saw and felt during the festivities and the moments after leading the Great Hall and up to meeting up with Merlin, while missing out the finer and more lustful details. She told of how she saw the wine merchant, Jowan's eyes flash gold when he poured out the drinks, she mentioned rather embarrassedly how her body, mainly her lower body reacted moments later after drinking the liquor. Morgana expressed how uncontrollable feelings and urges grew stronger with every passing second, how she tried to retire to her room and sleep it off. But with every step she took in the direction of her chambers she felt unbearable pain and struggled to breath, she told of how her body was being pulled in the opposite direction and it was the only way she could go that allowed her to breath, that it eventually led her to Merlin who had also been drawn to her. Morgana didn't feel she needed to go into events after that and ended her summary there, letting those present fill in the blanks.

"Fatalem Libido…" Gaius muttered quietly behind the King, breaking the silence that had filled the hall.

"Gaius? You know of this… This potion?" Uther turned his head slightly to regard the old physician.

"Unfortunately I do Sire, Fatalem Libido translates from the Old Religion as Fatal Lust. It's the most potent of love potions and perhaps one of the most deadly of potions to ever be created. Although it's more a poison then a potion, as the name suggests it's meant to be lethal, killing the consumers when they…" Gaius paused and even although he was an experienced physician, he looked very uncomfortable bringing up the topic. 'Maybe because he's known me since I was a little girl, he still thinks of me as such at times... He forgets I'm a woman grown now and not that little girl that used to make... Ugh flower necklaces in his room.' "If you'll excuse me sire… Reach the peak of sexual pleasure… I had thought that this knowledge was lost during the great purge… But obviously its existence survived."

"If it's fatal then how did they survive?" Arthur looked both disgusted and intrigued. Morgana on the other hand felt only intrigued by this short burst of insight on the old ways. 'Last night felt so good... I wonder if this... Drink heightened that? If so...' The idea of maybe getting a hold of another dose crept into the deepest corner of her mind. 'No... No no no, it's caused enough trouble... No matter how good it was...'

"My guess would be that whoever brewed it was inexperience with the making of such a potion… They are lucky to be alive… Sire, this sorcerer will be exceptionally powerful and dangerous, he must have considerable knowledge of the old ways to have even attempted such an enchantment." Morgana hid a smirk as Gaius spoke of the 'danger' with his usually exaggeration. When ever Gaius spoke of such things, he'd herald how dangerous such and such was, only for the trouble or danger to be defeated usually by a very accident prone and lucky Arthur. She did worry although when ever Arthur went to face such dangers, but it wasn't him she worried for, Arthur was too stubborn to go down for long, but Merlin... He was no fighter and Arthur always dragged him along, or Merlin insisted on going. But her fears were put at ease every time Merlin returned seemingly unharmed and she thanked the gods that Merlin was at times a bit of a coward, hiding behind a tree or laying low on the floor. 'Better a coward at times, then dead.'

"Arthur, I want this sorcerer found and brought before me immediately." The King said forcefully to his son and again Morgana silently cheered inside, Uther's mind was now firmly on the person who enchanted her and hopefully away from Merlin.

"Of course father…" Arthur nodded to his father then turned to look at Merlin. "And what of Merlin? If he's indeed a victim of an enchantment…"

Uther turned to look back at Merlin, and for a split second Morgana feared that perhaps Uther's hatred for magic wasn't as blinding as she had hoped. "You have till nightfall, bring me the sorcerer by the end of the day and I'll take into account the boy's innocence. But…" Morgana had almost started to relax before Uther uttered his last word so venomously and she instantly stiffened at that impending condition. "Fail to do so and he will die in the sorcerer's place, and this time his fate will not be delayed a third time… In the mean time he's to be taken back to his cell." The guards began to reach down and grab Merlin, only to be stopped by Gaius's voice.

"Sire I'll need to examine both the Lady Morgana and Merlin for any lingering effects, to ensure they still don't fall victim to the fatal elements. If I may I'd like to take them both to my chambers." 'Yes please... Would be nice to speak to Merlin, see how he is... And Gaius can be trusted.'

"No, you can see to him in the cells." Morgana felt her heart plummet as Uther declined Gaius point blank. 'Figures...'

"Sire-"

"I said no Gaius, do not push me. I will not have them in the same room, enchantment or no enchantment."

"Very well Sire."

There was a moment silence; Morgana thought it was over for now and that for the time being, Merlin was safe... That was until Uther met her gaze. "Tell me Morgana. How do you feel about this servant?"

Morgana felt herself tense up, now the hardest part had come; she had to convince Uther without leaving a single doubt, that she had absolutely no feelings of love or even friendship for Merlin. "Feel? I feel nothing for him sire. He's just a servant, a nuisance at the best of times, rude, immature and scrawny. He neither appeals to me physical nor emotionally and under no other circumstances would I be remotely interested… Yet despite that, I couldn't allow an innocent man to die for something he had no control over, I wouldn't have his death on my conscious." Morgana felt physically sick with herself, at how easy and cold she had gotten those words to roll of her tongue. Each word spoken had been like a dagger to her heart, her nails had dug deeply into the palms of her hands which were obscured from view behind the flurry of red material.

"Very well. Guard's take Morgana to Gaius's chambers, when he's done, escort her back to her room. You're all dismissed." Uther gave a short nod then flicked his hand, indicating for everyone to leave the room, as Merlin was forced up by the guards... Morgana swore she the glistening of tears in his eyes and Morgana felt her heart break for whole other reasons. 'I did that... I'm so sorry Merlin, please believe I don't mean I word of that…'

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter ^^ This chapter is shorter then some of the previous, but the reason for that is Merlin's half will of dragged this chapter on to much and felt it was better to split it here. That and this half was already complete sooo no need to keep you waiting for the next update :P Untill next time!