Morgause continued her visits every day, and every day Morgana would come down to Merlin's cell and heal him.

One night was particularly bad. Morgause had been stressed because of King Cenred being a coward, she decided to take it all out on Merlin.

Morgana walked towards the cell and started to magically bring Merlin back to health. He looked up at her once she was finished and gave her a small smile, "thank you, Morgana."

She replied as she always did, she turned on her heel and headed for the exit, "just doing my job."

This night though, was different. Morgana stopped before she left the room and answered him softly, "but, you're welcome."

....

Weeks passed by as the three of them went through the same cycle: Morgause beating up Merlin, Morgana healing Merlin.

For the first time, one night, Morgana slowly turned the key in the cell's lock and she stepped inside of the cell with Merlin. She muttered a spell that momentarily let her use magic to heal him. She moved his head so that it rested in her lap. She muttered the healing spell as her hands rested above his head.

Merlin's eyes fluttered open and he tiredly asked, "Morgause's orders again?"

Morgana, honestly, tried not to answer but found herself answering automatically, "not this time. She doesn't know I'm down here."

"Why are you doing this?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"You're in pain."

"You don't have to do this."

"Yes I do." She moved the wet rag up to his forehead and started to get rid of the dirt on his face. She gasped suddenly, "you're aging."

Merlin smirked tiredly, "I'm pretty sure that there are nicer ways to tell a guy he's getting old."

Morgana smirked, "that's not what I meant and you know it. You're not old."

He smiled, "I've got bigger problems than trying to find out who my soulmate is."

"That's what I've been saying," Morgana laughed a little bit.

"Having trouble?" Merlin asked as she started stitching up the wound on his leg with magic.

"Well I thought I got rid of him a while ago but apparently not, as I'm still aging." She noticed the look he was giving her and she rolled her eyes, "don't look at me like that, I didn't kill him."

Merlin held up his hands weakly in surrender, "I didn't say anything."

"You thought it."

Merlin didn't answer and Morgana stood up, "I can't use magic in here anymore, it was only temporary." She walked towards the cell door and opened it, letting herself out. Merlin followed her, leaning up against the bars as he always did when she left. He smiled at her, "thank you."

Morgana smiled, a real smile, for the first time in what felt like ages. She blushed slightly and looked down at the floor for a moment, hoping Merlin wouldn't notice. He did. "You're welcome, Merlin."

....

Merlin watched, a week later, as Morgana ran down the stairs crying angrily. In a sudden outburst, Merlin went flying backwards and hit his head on the stone wall.

Morgana gasped, "Merlin! Are you okay?"

He groaned and rubbed his head, "what's got you so upset?"

"Morgause is dead." She glared out the window, "Arthur killed her," she said as though the name made her sick.

"Arthur's here?"

"Not anymore," Morgana said, holding her head high, "but I didn't kill him if that's what you're asking. He's wounded but his precious Knights are taking him to safety. He came for you, you know."

"Well I figured he didn't come for a tea party," Merlin said wryly.

Morgana glared at him venomously and he got the message, "not the time to joke, sorry."

"I only came here to inform you that I'm now in charge of this whole operation. And believe me when I say," she said as her tone got dangerously quiet, "I will strike war on Camelot. We will strike so hard and so fast they will never know what's hit them. I'm here to ask you one last time, Emrys, are you with us or against us?"

Merlin hung his head. He truly was sorry for Morgana that her sister was dead, but he wasn't going to go against the king and the prince. True, he and Morgana had formed an odd sort of friendship over the past weeks, but Camelot still meant a great deal to him. Merlin sighed, "Morgana, I care for you, I truly do. But I can't go against Camelot."

Her gaze became cold and she stiffened, "I see. It truly is a shame, Merlin, I was hoping I meant more to you than that, seeing as you're my soulmate." Merlin's eyebrows shot up and Morgana rolled her eyes, "oh please, it wasn't hard to put two and two together, but if that's the way it is then fine."

She whispered an incantation and her eyes flashed gold. The bracelet around Merlin's wrist sparked for a good fifteen seconds before snapping off of his wrist. She glared at him, "I hope that hurt." She turned on her heel and stormed up the stairs.

Merlin rubbed the sore skin on his wrist. He gasped in pain as the skin burned and felt raw. His gaze followed her retreating figure, watching as her hips swayed from side to side. What the hell had just happened?