WARNING: This story contains spoilers for anyone who hasn't seen season 2. :) (That's right. In fact, it's so spoilererific, I couldn't even give you the real description before!

...So no saying I didn't warn you! :D )

What would have happened if, instead of sending Morgana to the druids, Merlin had offered to help him herself? If his choices had never put the druids in danger, and Mordred had never been cast away from the people he could call family?

How much would the story change, if Morgana never had to feel like she was all alone?

One choice, as the name implies, explores a different route the story could have taken, if - as the name implies - he had simply made one choice differently. (Complete, of course, with a reason why he would have made that choice to begin with. :) )

Merlin bit his lip as he glanced out the window, wondering if he'd made the right choice by sending Morgana to the druids. It could lead to disaster if she was caught; it would destroy her if she stayed. He could have just chosen to reveal himself to her, of course. He'd have just had to face Gaius's ferocity, the possibility of Uther ordering his execution, Arthur's betrayed looks even as the prince worked to get him out of Camelot, no doubt alienating himself from his father and potentially destroying the kingdom in the process, at the very least destroying their joint destiny of protecting the kingdom…

No. He'd made the right choice. He'd done whatever he could for her without unnecessary risk to himself. Even if unnecessary risk to himself had ever stopped him in the past. It had never seemed unnecessary in the past. She could get her help elsewhere. From the druids, who would teach her. Not from him. If she stayed with him, there'd just be two targets for Uther's magic-hating rage if they were found out. It was safer, the way he had done it. Sending her away. He had done the right thing.

He'd been repeating that in his mind for the last three hours, however, and it still hadn't driven the bad taste from his mouth. Never mind risking Gaius's anger with the little bit he'd done – just a few directions, really, nothing special at all… not that Gaius would see it that way. He would deal with that when it came, though it was an unpleasant thought.

What put a bad taste in his mouth was knowing that, yet again, he was keeping secrets from someone he cared about. Not that he had had as much contact with her as Arthur, or Guinevere, or even Uther, indirectly; but he hated lying to any of them. Except Uther, who seemed like a prick most of the time; and he mostly wanted to tell Arthur because he was tired of working day and night just be beaten about as an idiot in the vague hope that they might one day accomplish something great together.

And he was distracting himself. It seemed that was all he was really good for, after all; distracting himself from the worry that something was going to go brilliantly wrong, and he wouldn't be able to stop it. But he'd done what he'd had to do. He'd helped Morgana to a path where she would learn her magic. It would work out all right. It had to. It wouldn't be fair otherwise. He'd done the right thing.

Merlin returned to the window with a sigh, wishing, just once, that he could rely upon the world to be "fair."

He could see Morgana from his window, darting out under heavy cloak; he'd never considered how supicious looked, before. Darting out under heavy cloak to cover one's features, on a warm summer night; he mused idly that he was going to have to change his own tactics of slipping out. She seemed to be making good progress, at least.

Merlin's eyes trailed over the courtyard, mostly quiet. She had chosen break in the guard patrol, so there shouldn't be trouble." His eyes locked on a passing shadow, his breath catching and slowly loosening when a cat slinked from the shadows. She would be fine. It wasn't as if the guards ever walked fast or slow. They would stick to their times, to the letter. They were trained for that; or something.

…He was going to die of a heart attack, worrying. He was certain of it.

Allowing his head to smack against the glass, he took another breath, his eyes losing focus as the smooth surface drained some of his frantic energy from him with its cool touch. Another shadow flickered at the corner of his eyes; another cat, no doubt. He didn't let it concern him, until he saw a flicker of flames reflecting off steel.

His head lifted, his eyesight narrowing upon a guard. Walking quicker than he otherwise should have. Directly toward where Morgana was making her escape.

Letting out a soft curse made up on the spot, he took for the stairs, the hard stone sending shockwaves through his shoes and up his legs. He ignored the slowly growing ache, pushing off the wall when he reached the corner and half stumbling down the remaining flight of steps until he reached the last one. Barely keeping his balance, he made a turn for the door and dove out into the light, ignoring the possibility that he could be seen as he ran toward where Morgana was.

"Who's there!"shouted the guard.. He could see Morgan just ahead, still wrapped under her cloak, just under an overhang from the stalls. It was dark. The guard had a sword out. Things were about to get ugly.

Flinging himself at Morgana, he whispered a spell, feeling the satisfying surge of power rush through his body. His eyes heated with a familiar light as the overhang crumbled where they'd been, the dust obscuring them. Not waiting for a chance to explain, he grabbed the confused Morgana's hand and dragged her away, catching sight of the woman with a sigh of relief; he didn't know what he'd have done if it was the wrong woman underneath the cloak.

It was only after he had her huddled in the stable, the guards call still ringing in his ear, that he realized she could have explained her presence in the castle courtyard with far less trouble.

(I hope you enjoy the chapter, and that you'll tune in for a new one next week. :) If you're one of those who keep asking me for a new Strawberry and Eggs chapter, you'll get that in two days! :D

Oh, and the obligitory disclaimer of course - I own none of Merlin.

Otherwise I'd have dang well written this story line to begin with. :D )