Hey! I decided to try something different with this. It's going to be a psychological thriller of sorts, because of the ways Morgana and Merlin will try to outwit each other. I kind of wanted to see it in the series, but Morgana was always hotheaded and never really thought things through. I figured this is what would happen if she actually did. This is going to be my first attempt at a Batman Gambit. Actually, it's going to have some Xanatos gambits too. Actually, it's going to- you know what just read it and tell me what you think.

Btw, takes place right after S5-Ep8. That's where it seems to make the most sense.

Morgana stood as the guards dragged a ragged-looking prisoner into her throne room, one that had been captured only a month ago. He'd been traveling with a Camelot border patrol, and by some misfortune had wound up in her clutches.

He'd been locked in one of the coldest parts of the dungeon, one buried mostly beneath the frozen ground, allowing only for a slit of sunlight and bitter wind. He'd been given nothing but stale bread and icy water that cracked his lips.

So why was he still smiling?

"What is it you want from me, then?" Merlin tried to sound annoyingly cheerful, the same way he used to with Arthur every morning. Morgana knew it meant he was still unwilling to side with her, and was silently infuriated by his unflagging impudence. She remained composed, however, and smiled sweetly at him.

"I only ask for your loyalty. That is all I ask of you… and it is all I have ever asked." She made her most innocent face, calling it from the depths of her memories. It slid on like a silken mask that hid the shadows in her eyes.

Merlin chuckled. "The Morgana I once knew is gone. The one before me craves only for the destruction of Camelot."

"What makes you say that? You know I am your friend."

"Not so long ago, you were happy to let me die."

"Things have changed. I have taken into consideration what you have done for me in the past. And I realized all of this…" She spread her arms in admiration. "My powers, my new home, my claim to the throne of Camelot… none of it would have ever happened without you."

His smile dimmed. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"The Druids. Remember? You told me where to find them. You placed your faith in my magic… when it seemed all was lost." She could see something changing inside of him: things he had tried to forget, things he blamed himself for. It was there on his face, which no longer bore a radiant smile, but was starting to crease in hesitation.

She began speaking again. "You've helped me in ways I never realized. You showed me the path to the Druids."

Merlin looked downward, eyes burning. She smiled again. "Before that, there was a Druid boy. You protected him."

"I trusted you back then." His voice shook.

"But why would you even save him in the first place? Why care if he died, if you knew he had magic? Unless of course… you knew what it felt like to be in his place."

She met his eyes, and they blazed with a dark fury. "You have magic. You've had it all along, haven't you?"

Silence. His blue stare said everything.

"Well isn't this interesting? I'm going to venture a guess and say that stupid old codger Gaius knows about your secret as well."

"Do not speak of him that way. He only did what he thought best for you."

"Best? He knew about my powers and he left me to flounder in the darkness. As soon as I reclaim Camelot, he will be among the first to suffer. You, on the other hand, are a different story…"

"I will never help you."

"You don't need to. You already have." His resolve cracked, and for the first time in a month she felt pure joy. "I've told you, I understand. Everything you've done has been for me."

"That's where you're wrong." He looked beyond her mask, and her irritation spasmed across her face. "Everything I have done has been for Arthur. You do not know the great lengths I have gone to protect his life… and you never will."

She did not get angry. She wouldn't; not this time. Although it was still infuriating, she could see she had gotten under his skin as well, and it wouldn't be long now.

Not long at all.

"See to it that he is fed, and make sure you give him a little extra this time. I think he deserves a reward for his loyalty to the king. Not that it will last much longer."

The guards dragged him away again, leaving Morgana by herself. Of course, once she'd stopped thinking with her heart and started with her mind, Merlin had been pathetically easy to figure out. Morgause had taught her the importance of logic, but she'd never been able to truly appreciate it until recently.

Morgana tilted her head downward, wishing her sister were alive to see how close Arthur's demise was.

…

"Sire."

Arthur faced Leon, his hope falling. "Any news?"

"We found the druid camps, but they were all but abandoned. There were some rebellious groups to the east but they were quickly taken care of."

"But still no sign of him."

"I'm afraid not."

The king sighed. "I thought the Darkling Woods were a dead end, but I wasn't sure. Thank you, Leon."

"Sire… we have searched the surrounding lands and beyond, and there is still no trace of him. Perhaps this means…"

"Morgana has taken him. I am aware of this now."

Leon looked a little uncomfortable, but he spoke his thoughts anyway. "Why go to so much trouble, sire? I know Merlin is your friend, but it may be too risky to save him."

He braced himself for the speech that was surely about to come; about friendship and honor and defending the weak.

But Arthur did the unexpected, and instead bowed his head in thought. "I know. We cannot face Morgana without preparing for her, and we don't have nearly enough strength to match hers. There are other matters to attend to as well, and I cannot risk your lives for his alone."

"Sire…" Leon had never seen him so despondent.

"We have no choice. We can only hope that he is alive, and that he will stay that way. He is stronger than he looks…"

Leon stood. "I shall call off the search."

"Good. We must focus on our struggles here, and wait until the moment is right to strike." Leon left, and Arthur sent a silent apology to his far-off friend.

…

Merlin was at a loss.

At first he'd stayed put, knowing that if he used magic to escape, Morgana might piece together what had happened. The only thing to do was try to make Morgana as unstable as possible and wait for Arthur to show up.

But Arthur hadn't shown up yet, and she'd discovered his magic anyway. There was no point in staying any longer; he had to leave before she discovered anything worse, such as his true identity.

Though there was a nagging feeling somewhere in his mind. Why has she acted this way? he wondered. Why not kill him on sight, why interrogate and imprison him for such a long time?

She must have figured it out before I got here, he decided. She knew I had magic for a long time before she revealed it to me.

She was waiting to see the look on his face.

Merlin cursed himself. It was one of her tactics; break them by talking. And for the moment, it had worked. The tables had turned, and the advantage he thought he'd had was only an illusion. Morgana was controlling everything.

No. I will not be an empty puppet. He was not going to fall prey to her antics like Gwen had. He needed a different strategy, one Morgana would fail to see coming.

Until he could find a way to escape, Merlin was going to continue doing what he did best:

Gumming up the works.

I'm pretty happy with how this is coming together. I'm hoping to make it EPIC- but I don't have too much of a plan as of right now. I am completely open to suggestions, but for now I hope this thing will sort of write itself.

Review! Thanks!