Chapter 23.

After a few months all was calm and peaceful but things soon started to go downhill. It turned out that Morgana wasn’t the only one who had stayed alive after the tear in the veil had been healed. But Mordred as well. He began to declare war again also because Morgana had been captured and arrested in Camelot. “We’ll have to ride out and meet him.” Arthur ordered after search parties had reported that they had found a Camelot patrol in the forest with each and every knight dead.

"But sire he will demand war again." Sir Leon declared.

"Never the less we must stop him. Maybe he can be persuaded." Arthur replied.

"I highly doubt that." Merlin muttered causing Gwaine to smirk. Arthur shot a dark look at him and Merlin stuck his tongue out at him.

"Prat." Arthur said.

"Dollophead."

"Imbecile."

"Clotpole."

"Startled stoat."

"Bone idle toad."

"Stop arguing and insulting each other. God you two are like an old married couple." Gwaine said loud enough to be heard over Arthur and Merlin's bickering.

"We are not!!!" Merlin and Arthur replied in unison.

"Stop arguing then." Gwaine replied with a smirk.

Arthur sighed before turning back to concentrate on their plans. "Okay here's what we do. We ride out to face Mordred and try to talk him round if he doesn't recompense. We fight. Dismissed." the other knights and councillors of war bowed to Arthur before leaving the room.

"Are you sure this will work sire?" Merlin asked.

"Quite certain. Besides I have you and Morgana on my side if she is true about recompensing." Arthur said.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure." Merlin said before leaving the room to head towards the cells.

Once he reached the cells he was stopped by two guards. "What do you want?!" one of the guards.

"Not a very polite way to talk to someone is it? Your mother never tell you to be nice to people?" Merlin asked casually.

"You leave my mother out of this. We already have one witch in those cells we aren't afraid to have another." the other guard said.

"But I'm not a witch. No dress or anything." Merlin said raising his arms in a see look. I told you so attitude.

"Yeah that may be so but you are a foul stinking lowlife sorcerer." the guards replied.

"So your telling me that you are going to disobey your king to do me harm just because of what I was born as. That's low even for a guard." Merlin replied.

"That's it." the guards said, before of them raising their fists.

"Cwningod!" Merlin yelled. His eyes flashed golden and the guards were gone all that was left were two white rabbits with pink eyes hopping around on the floor. He strode past the rabbits and up to the cell where Morgana was been held.

His eyes flashed golden again and the cell door shone brightly in the dark dingy dungeons. He strode into the cell and stood in front of Morgana his eyes flashed again and the door to the cell swung shut, locking magically again. “What is it Merlin?” Morgana asked when she saw the serious expression on his face.

“So you’re serious about recompense right?” he said not answering her question.

“Yes. I already told you.” Morgana said, “You don’t know how much I regret everything that I’ve done. I just hope that you can forgive me.” She repeated. Merlin nodded.

“I would do absolutely anything to make it up to you and my brother.” Morgana said. “So you have magic.” She added. It wasn’t a question it was a comment of the obvious.

“Yeah.” Merlin said, looking deep into her eyes. She blinked, and a smile spread across her face. Not an evil one, a real genuine nice one. ‘She looks kind of cute when she smiles.’ Merlin thought before shaking his head. ‘What am I doing?’

Morgana stepped closer to him and her cheeks went even pinker with embarrassment before she kissed him! She kissed him full on the lips, filled with passion and love. Merlin was so stunned that he stood there like a stone. Until he fell into the kiss, just before Morgana pulled away. “Does that prove it to you?” Morgana asked. Merlin grinned and nodded. Morgana kissed him again before letting him go.

“Come on. You’re getting out of this cell.” Merlin said, taking Morgana’s hand in his and leading her out of the cell. As they walked past the rabbits Morgana began to laugh. “What happened?” she asked through her laughter.

“Can’t you guess?” Merlin said with a smile. Morgana smiled back at him as they headed up the stairs and back to the main castle to see Arthur. As they climbed up the stairs Merlin’s eyes flashed golden and Morgana shimmered from the spell.