The next weeks passed quickly. Merlin didn't return to the castle and those who had seem him arrive claimed they didn't remember it. Thus occurred because Merlin wiped his return from them in a way similar to Morgana's. The spell would erase a certain memory but unlike Morgana's it would just be the chosen slice and not a period of time.  Merlin hadn't returned to servitude. Instead he watched over Morgana and unbeknownst to anyone he tutored her.

 He taught her magic in the arts of healing, defense, and other useful works. He refused to teach her offensive art. She only knew few attack magics, but those were instinctive. He hoped they would suffice if need be. Merlin couldn't cope with the idea of making her powerful again.If she happened to remember. Or if Morgause came searching... Would she revert back? If so he couldn't risk Morgana knowing how to use spells like that.  

Merlin also told Morgana of the progress made in Camelot. He told her of businesses that had opened and travelers that now flocked towards the citadel.  Morgana was transfixed by the stories. She  couldn't believe that a place once filled with hatred and mass execution could be doused in peace and full of acceptance. This very state of awe caused a problem. Morgana no longer wanted to wait. She figured that if magic was already accepted...she would be too. Oh, how very wrong she turned out to be. After being denied, by Merlin, to visit the citadel and marketplace, she took fate into her own hands. One night she drugged Merlin's water skin with a sleeping drought she concocted.  He was out in minutes. Morgana wrapped her Druidic cloak around herself and pulled the hood over her head. She then made her way through the darkness towards the castle walls. However she didn't realize that Camelot still had a curfew and anyone out after that was subjected to a check-in.  Thus forth, when she reached the main entrance, she was halted by three guards. 

"Being out after curfew subjects you to a check-in. Please remove your hood and state your presence." A guard in front of her said.

Morgana began to speak," I am merely visiting my friend within the castle."

Another guard said roughly," Remove your hood."

Abiding she pulled it back and the response was an audible gasp coming from two of the three men. The two of the guards stepped forward and seized her by the arms earning a protest from Morgana. They then led her silently to the dungeon.When they reached the destination, they brought her towards the far wall and cuffed her to chains attached to the wall. Morgana felt spikes of pain shoot up her arm and the guards left without a word. They left one man standing outside her cell. 

________________

Arthur looked up from a scroll he was writing on to knocking on his chamber door.  "Come in," He stated. One of the guards who normally watches over the gate now stood before him with a look of urgency plastered on his face.  The man began to speak," My lord, Morgana is back. She tried coming into the gates. She is in the dungeons as we speak." Arthur quickly dismissed the man and stalked towards the dungeons. He didn't find her in any of the forefront cells so he made his way towards the farthest one. It was meant for the worst of prisoners. When he arrived the first thing he saw was Morgana slumped on the ground with her hands above her head. He entered the cell and got cautiously closer. Despite his trust in Merlin... Arthur could never trust Morgana again. After a few steps he stood directly in front of her. She was unconscious and from this proximity he realized she was shaking. Arthur put the first down to tiredness and the second to the cold draft forever present this far down. He backed up until his back hit the opposite wall and he let himself slide down it into a sitting position. From there his mind took over and he sat there for over two hours merely pondering the situation. 

After his lengthy amount of thought and peripheral inspection of the girl he left the dungeons. He went back to his chambers and went back to work on the parchment. After completing the parchment and tried to get sleep but it wouldn't come. 

_____________________________skippity doodidly  2 1/2 daysies_____

With a resounding bang of doors hitting the wall, Merlin stormed into Arthur's chamber. Arthur looked up startled at Merlin. He couldn't tell what emotions were writtnen on Merlin's face but he knew none of them were good. 

"What did you do Arthur?! Where is she!" Merlin practically bellowed at him.

Arthur realized at that moment the problem and his face sunk.

"I didn't do anything . But I do know where she is."

_____Merlin's perspective___

Merlin followed Arthur all the way into the farthest reaches of the dungeons towards the furthest cell. His heart got heavier the farther they went. He shouldn't have brought her to Camelot. GOD he was such an idiot! When they reached the cell and he looked in at her he didn't know what to say. He merely entered with Arthur and started walking towards her. But when he was taking the last step towards her he keeled over as a sudden wave of energy hit him. He now knew why Morgana looked such a mess.

_____perspective keeps changing so just bear with  me_____

When Merlin started to  fall, Arthur caught him and helped him regain balance.  But when Arthur looked at the expression of pain on Merlin's face he couldn't help but be concerned. And then Merlin spoke," Why would you do this Arthur. Can't you see what is happening to her because of it. How long?"  Arthur's face contorted in confusion as he said," I don't know what your talking about, Merlin. She's only been here for two days. " Merlin looked Arthur right in the eyes and said," Uncuff her now. There is no reason." 

Arthur refused saying that he wouldn't release her until he could trust her. After Arthur had said that he could have sworn that Merlin tried to kill him with a glare before Merlin said," You won't be able to trust her unless you talk to her. And she is never going to wake up unless you take those godforsaken things off of her." 

Merlin saw how confused Arthur looked at that so he said," Arthur. I almost died because of cuffs like these. She might not die from them but if you keep them on then she won't wake up." Arthur's mouth formed an 'oh' as he finally figured out what Merlin meant and then his face scrunched up as he remembered what those things had done to his friend. Arthur instantly called to the guard outside the cell and told him to retrieve the key.

Merlin then moved forwards and sat in front of Morgana. He grabbed her hand in his and held onto it looking at her in concern. When the guard finally returned the same thing happened. The key broke. Just like it did with Merlin.  So Merlin attempted to use magic on the cuffs. His eyes glowed gold and so did the shackles. At first it looked like it might be working but then Morgana simply started shaking violently . Merlin instantly stopped trying to open the cuffs and instead broke the chains off the wall with merely a look. He turned to Arthur and said," Pick her up and follow me. I know someone who can help."

They left the reaches of the town, getting many looks on the way, and made their way through the forest to a large open clearing. They took Morgana to the center of the clearing and laid her down. Merlin than used his dragon lord abilities to summon Kilgahhara. The great dragon soon arrived and looked curiously at the trio. Without a word spoken out loud the dragon scraped a singular claw across the shackles and they fell into dust. Morgana stopped shaking and the great dragon blew a pale yellow fire at her. Arthur surprised at the sight almost let out a yell but Merlin knew that Kilgahhara was helping to heal her. After the fire stopped spouting, the great dragon made prolonged eye contact with the warlock and tilted his heads once towards Arthur before leaving them.

After a mere minute of silence, Arthur and Merlin heard Morgana inhale loudly.Merlin spun around and sat by her side. Her eyes opened and searched frantically for a moment before finding Merlin's. She then sat up and embraced him tightly.

 Arthur watched this happen as a confused feeling spread through him. He hadn't expected the two to share such a relationship.He hadn't expected to sense the trust they felt in each other.

Only after the two shared a few hushed words, did Morgana acknowledge the prince's presence. She looked towards him with a fearful and curious glint in her eyes and a long moment passed before Arthur took the initiative and spoke," I'm sorry for the treatment of you. Had I realized the sort of cuffs they were I would have tried to release you sooner." Morgana nodded and said," Don't feel guilt for it. The situation was mostly my fault for trying to see Camelot and the castle too soon." Merlin then addressed his fault as well," It was also mine as I should have taken you to the castle sooner so that we could address the issues we now face."

They forge a vague plan and start heading the way back to the citadel. When they reach the gates , the guards approach them. Arthur must tell them that Morgana is welcome again. The guards let them pass and the information is spread to more people as they continue.  Eventually they make it into the castle. 

Arthur wants to call a meeting with all of the knights, Gwen, Gaisus and the council to talk  about the situation but Merlin rejects the idea. Merlin tells Arthur that the meeting could wait till tomorrow as Morgana needed rest. Arthur begrudgingly listened. Merlin and Morgana bid farewell to Arthur for the time being and left for Morgana's old room. When they opened the door, the smell of dust drafted out. Morgana's room hadn't been changed or interacted with since her last betrayal. They stood in silence for a while as Morgana walked slowly around the room her finger tracing a trail through the dust. She picked up a few objects, one at a time, and studied them as if she was flipping through the pages of a history books or sorting through them like pieces of a time capsule. When Morgan finished her gazing she went to the window and pushed it open. The window emitted a high pitch whine as the hinges hadn't been moved in a long time. Morgana looked out the window towards the horizon. And soon her eyes drifted more downwards towards the courtyard and marketplace. As she stared outwards, she began to speak," Everything has changed here. Even the air is different. This room hasn't... it feels stale. As if the anger inside of me before had given it character..." There was a pause before Merlin gave a bit of insight," Well, maybe now all the room needs is love. It needs someone like you, Morgana. Someone who cares about others and believes strongly in what she thinks is right. You could even redecorate it. Make it match to who you have become." Morgana turned around and nodded before uttering a cleaning spell that removed the dust, swept the floors, changed the sheets and curtains, and made the room look as if someone had actually been there. Not as if the room had been abandoned.

In a sense it hadn't been.  Merlin had always taken responsibility for what Morgana had become. He still felt ill whenever he thought of how he poisoned her. Therefore, he had returned to Morgana's room a few times. Trying in vain to remember her as she was before. Trying to think of what the future might have held if he had told her of his magic. Now the room was occupied once more  by the loving Morgana that Merlin thought was lost. Merlin bid Morgana 'goodnight' and went to his chambers in the physicians room. For once his dreams were different. They weren't of him being renounced and burned. But Morgana. He dreamed of her being killed by Arthur's blade. He dreamed of Arthur holding Merlin back as she screamed for help. But worst of all he dreamed of her turning on him and telling him that she had never forgotten what he had done. That what she had become was his fault. That Camelot's fall would be by his hand. Needless to say his sleep was not a refreshing one.

_________________

The next day was crucial. Merlin and Arthur had to convince the people within the castle that Morgana wasn't evil this time. That she wasn't double crossing them.  They called the council an hour after midday. The knights, council, Gwen,Gaisus and the head servants were there.   Merlin stood by Arthur's side as Arthur explained the situation. Merlin offered his faith in Morgana whenever the people present refused to trust her. And soon they agreed. Well everyone besides the council. They agreed because even if they didn't trust Morgana. They trusted Merlin.  And Merlin's ultimate feelings about whether a person is to be trusted or not was usually right. The council had a different reason for agreeing. They agreed because they believed that powerful  magic had corrupted Morgana. And they also believed that she no longer was powerful, but a measly sorcerer. Merlin wasn't surprised at the uneasy energy that filled the council room after everyone dispersed. With a small smile aimed at Arthur, Merlin left the room in search of Morgana who he knew would be in her room.

When he arrived he knocked lightly on the door and heard her call from the inside that he could come in.