Ok here is the first chapter on what I hope will be a good story. It will involve a lot of twists and turns, and for those of you who have read my other story "Written In Stone" will know I mean that. Ok so this is going to be a Merlin and Morgana story involving a little Arthur/Gwen as well.

It starts during the poisoning of Morgana (The Fires of Idirsholas) and things happen a tad different, which will lead to the story being unfolded. I like to start off in a dark place to allow the story and characters time to progress...and yes - there will be someone visiting from the future in the next chapter which will reveal the secondary plot (First being Merlin/Morgana...or Mergana as I like to call them...yes I just thought of that)

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. Let's see how well this story fairs first ay?

Ok! Let's begin!

Chapter 1 - Sacrifice

He held the poison in his hand. Ready and waiting. Merlin used his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his shiny forehead. He could hear Arthur's sword crashing against the undead knights just outside the big double doors.

He hazily turned his head to stare at the Lady Morgana. His friend, the woman who trusted him, the woman who was the source of the spell, the traitor.

The victim.

Yet she seemed genuinely worried. She craned Uther's head in her shaking hands as she stared down at the sleeping King.

No he thought as he turned his head back around to gaze at the lethal liquid in his hands. He had no choice. If he didn't destroy the source, then Camelot would be forever lost. All his friends, his destiny with Arthur. They would cease to be and that was an option that was not acceptable.

It had to be done.

He heard the sound of ripping cloth as Morgana began preparing Uther's sheet made stretcher to lower him out the window. Just like Arthur had said. What is she doing? No! He had made up his mind. It had to be done, now.

He crouched down on one knee, his back still to the King and his ward. Popping off the top to his water sack he immediately poured the poison in, not prepared to allow himself time to consider his actions.

He swiftly turned back to Morgana. The deadly liquid in his hand. He watched her silently for a few short moments, now seeing guilt written all over her face. He was unsurprised when her eyes drew upwards to his own baby blues. Seconds felt like days as their eyes met. She looked at him like she knew what he was doing...like she knew he was going to kill her.

"Have some water." He said quickly, pushing the water towards her. He watched her eyes look down at the ordinary looking sack before returning to his.

She shook her head. "I'm not thirsty." She stated and instantly went back to ripping Uther's sheets.

His mind feverishly thought a reason as to why she should drink it, but why exactly would you have a drink of water at a time like this if you weren't thirsty.

His mouth spoke faster then his brain could think. "If we get out of here you may not get another chance to drink."

She looked up at him as if he was crazy. "If we get out of here." Her tone was full of doubt, frustration and...anger?

Arthur's scream echoed up the hall, causing the pair to turn their heads towards the big double doors. Merlin stood and walked towards the door whilst handing her the poisoned sack, and watched her as he walked past as she instantly put it down. Did she know?

Realising there was nothing else he could do. He walked back and picked up the water casually and proceeded to put the deadly drink to his mouth. With his back to her he pretended to swallow it with an audible gulp, silently wondering if she was even watching. He spun around and crouched to hold out the beverage to her.

"Here" He whispered, though unsure as to why.

"I'm fine." She repeated annoyingly.

"N-No you have some before I finish it." He stammered. She stopped what she was doing and stared up at him with those big blue innocent eyes. His heart skipped as his guilt stabbed at every corner of him.

She suddenly smiled charmingly and reached out for the flask. Her hand tightened round it and he found himself having to force himself to release it.

"Thank you." She whispered. She looked touched by his apparent generosity as she grasped the poisoned water now in her hand. She popped the lid, he finding himself unable to tear his eyes from the scene.

And just like that she drunk. He felt a fierce stab in his gut in those few seconds she swallowed, having to blink a couple more times in an effort to stop himself lashing forwards and stealing the water from her. She finished and wiped her mouth.

It was done.

She gave the sack back to him with a smile and he immediately snatched it from her, once again not prepared to allow himself time to ponder what he had done. He turned his back to her and waited. Waited for his friend to die.

She coughed, and he took in a large gulp of air. It was beginning.

The sudden intakes of air came next. He could hear her. Gasping. Afraid. He had done that to her. He had betrayed her, and now he could feel her eyes penetrating into the back of his head. Those hot suspicious vibrant blues burning into his very soul. The gasps grew more frequent and he knew it was only going to get worse for her.

She deserved more than this. She deserved more than to be gutlessly killed by someone who she thought she could trust. He felt the stinging sensation of tears and hastily wiped them away, almost slapping himself in the process. She at least deserved his attention.

He turned to her suddenly at first, ready to show her a cold exterior, but was brought to a stand still. She stared up at him with confused, terrified eyes. He almost felt himself collapse when a squeak escaped her frozen lips.

What had he done? He dropped to his knees to try and bring her into his arms but she batted his arms away in a frenzy, her eyes screaming betrayal. He tried again to be met with the same results, but persisted in the knowledge that shortly she would be too weak to resist his guilt ridden comfort.

He was proven right as she fell into his arms. He caught her and immediately allowed her to put her weight on him. She gasped for air whilst grasping her throat. He stared down at her with his lips trembling, he stared at her as he watched her draw her last few terrified breaths before he could take no more.

He wrapped his arms around her and stared up at the ceiling, his eyes glazing over with unshed tears. He couldn't watch her die at his own hands in his arms. He bit his bottom lip as he heard her choke out desperately when suddenly...nothing.

Silence rung out through the throne room, and a single silent tear escaped the young Warlocks eye. He had done it. He had killed one of his good friends. He looked down at the unmoving woman in his arms and broke down, shaking with guilt as tears rapidly burst forward from his glistening blue eyes.

He pulled her head up to his and rested his own forehead on her pale one. Subdued yet violent sobs shook him as he rocked them both back and forth. He had done this without proof, but instead on the word of a vindictive dragon that had always had a sore spot for the 'witch' as he called her.

Abruptly the locked double entrance doors to the throne room blasted open. Merlin snapped his head to glance at the doors to find Morgause stepping through the smoke. Merlin studied her through blurry wet eyes. She seemed genuinely concerned, in fact afraid of the sight she saw before her.

He didn't have time to make a plan as the blonde sorceress came bounding forward, dropped to her knees and took the lifeless Morgana from him. He stumbled backwards mouth agape. Eyes red raw from hot tears. He was a monster, and he silently prayed to the Gods that they would forgive him for what he was about to do next.

"What has he done to you?" Morgause asked her half-sister.

Merlin slowly rose to his feet with a still trembling bottom lip. Uther began to stir behind him. There wasn't much time.

"I can save her." He stated weakly, yet with an underlying tone of assurance. Morgause looked up at him confused.

"What? What could you possibly do? You're just a servant -"

"I'm the last chance she's got!" Merlin rather more boldly replied. Morgause continued to stare up at him now even more confused.

"I don't understand." She said dazed.

He could hear Uther groaning behind him, as well as Arthur's boot clad footsteps charging back up towards them.

"There's no time!" He yelled suddenly. "I'll save her on one condition. You leave Camelot, and never come back. Not ever."

Morgause looked at him scandalized. Who did this servant think he was?

"We don't have much time!" He yelled once more, turning around to check on Uther. "It's now or never Morgause!"

She would have to make her mind later. For now it was time to save Morgana. She nodded her approval.

Merlin held out his hand. "Restituo suus!" Morgause watched as his eyes glazed over with an unnatural fire red right before Morgana sat up with a huge gasp. That's when everything seemed to happen at once.

Uther sat bolt upright to find Merlin standing up, Morgause on the floor with a heavily breathing Morgana. Arthur arrived at the big double doors panting. Morgana turned and looked at Merlin with a look of complete revulsion and Morgause, having seen Morgana was Ok looked up at Merlin.

He held her stare with hard resilience. She looked behind her to see Arthur making his way towards her with his sword out. Turning back around she saw Uther rising behind Merlin, a firm frown on his face. She shifted her eyes once more to the raw eyes of Merlin before disappearing in a cloud of black smoke with one final snarl. Morgana jumped back in surprise. Instantly Arthur and Uther were by her side, Arthur offering her his hand.

She took it and flung herself into her brother in Law's arms, shocking the crowned prince. Eventually he wrapped his arms around her as she began to sob into his shoulder. Concerned though he may have been, Uther could do nothing but stand by and watch.

"What happened Morgana?" The King asked anxiously.

Morgana slowly pulled away to look at her Guardian. Merlin's heart caught in his throat. This was it. She was going to tell the King that he had just tried to kill her and then he would be dead by morning. Arthur watched his adoptive sister stare at his father with knitted eyebrows. He too was wondering what had happened whilst he was away.

"Morgause blew the doors open and tried to kill me." She stated, calm as if she had been asked what the weather was like outside.

Merlin's eyes widened in disbelief. She was lying on his behalf? To protect him? Why would she after what he had just done?

"How did you survive?" Arthur asked inquisitively.

Morgana turned to Merlin. Their eyes met. Blue on blue. Merlin stared at her in such astonishment that it made her own icy cold glare seem that much more dangerous.

"Merlin convinced her that it would be in her best interest to leave Camelot for good."

All eyes were now on him, but he found himself unable to tear his eyes of Morgana's beautiful yet void like eyes. He didn't understand. She was not only lying to protect him, but she was making him out to be some kind of hero. He was so shocked that he didn't even notice the King arrive next to him until he spoke.

"How?" Uther asked astounded. Merlin turned to face him. Good question he thought to himself and turned to look at Morgana for answers. As if she hadn't done enough for him.

"I-I...Err..." Merlin began briefly before being cut off by Morgana.

"He made her see that it would be wrong to destroy the whole of Camelot just because of her grievances with you my Lord" Morgana continued for him, bowing slightly at the king. "It stalled her long enough for you and Arthur to arrive, which I assume scared her off."

Arthur's face was a picture. It seemed he was having almost as hard a time believing it as Merlin himself. Whereas Merlin all the while seemed unable to remove his wide eyes from Morgana's ice cold blues.

"Incredible." Arthur murmured out loud before moving towards his man servant. "Just when I think I have you all figured out Merlin, you go and save the kingdom." He punched him in the shoulder, which helped release him from the death grip Morgana's eyes had on him. He gave his prince a weak smile. "This is becoming quite a habit for you Merlin. You ought to be careful." Arthur finished with a smile.

"Indeed." Uther agreed, shocking everyone when he placed a hand on Merlin's shoulder. "You really have proven yourself to be quite a trusted ally. Wouldn't you say so Morgana?"

Now all eyes were back on Morgana, though the King and Prince seemed to miss the coldness within her eyes. However Merlin did not. His fake smile dropped upon gazing into them.

"Yes my Lord." She answered robotically. "Quite trustworthy."

Morgana stood at her window, gazing out at the city of Camelot. Today it had almost been destroyed, and yet it's people knew not. They knew nothing of how the King's ward had almost destroyed their homes. Of how she had betrayed her own just because of her longing for answers, for her desire to be with someone like herself...to be loved for what she was, not for what she pretended to be.

She had thought Merlin was one of those people who could care for her no matter what she was. He had kept her secret no matter what and had always proven himself loyal. Until tonight. She heard Gwen enter behind her, obviously there to assist her in her nightly duties.

"I'm not ready for bed yet Gwen." She said distracted in her thoughts. "Could you come back later?"

"I wouldn't expect you to after a day like today." Morgana's eyes widened. That was a man's voice. Spinning on her heel she turned to face the man who had tried to take her life not hours before. "After all, you were the only one who wasn't tired today."

The two stared at each other un-falteringly. Each with their own thoughts of mistrust running wild through their heads. Morgana was the first to break the unpleasant connection.

"What do you think you're doing here?" She asked, her tone devoid of all emotion and her stare cold. Merlin briefly broke eye contact to stare at the ground.

"I came to check that you were alright."

Morgana scoffed. She couldn't help herself. "What? You mean to finish the job you started? The knifes right over there."

"You left me no choice Morgana." He whispered heatedly. "You were willing to let Camelot die. To let Arthur fight to his death thinking that he was saving you, unaware you were the source of the problem."

Morgana bit her lip. "So that gives you the right to poison one of your friends? On assumptions? I did not cause Camelot to sleep. That was Morgause."

"Don't lie to me Morgana." Merlin boldly demanded, walking up to her so he was face to face with her frosty glare. "I have let things slide one too many times."

She moved back slightly, trying to regain her personal space. "What are you talking about?"

"I watched you when you tried to kill Uther before. I've helped you save Mordred. I've kept the fact that you're a sorceress from everyone close to you a secret. I found the druids for you so you could gain some clarity, to try and help you. I sacrificed myself on the same day so the druids could help you escape and Arthur would not discover the true reason why you were there. I watched as you met with those sorcerers in the woods just outside Camelot, and then steal keys from Arthur's chambers so you could free him from the prison. And today I helped you avoid suspicion from Arthur when I believed it was your magic that was keeping you from falling under the spell."

Morgana had no idea what to say. She had no idea he had done so much for her. "I thought you were just confused." He continued. "I believed so much that you were a good person, but now I realise I was just fooling myself."

"I..." Morgana began vulnerably before forcing herself to remember he had just tried to kill her. "How does any of this give you the right to kill me? And how did you know I was even the source of the Magic? What makes you such an expert-"

"I am not as ignorant as you might think." He interrupted fiercly, surprising the King's ward. "Where I come from, Magic is not as evil as Uther makes out. That's how I knew where the druids were. That's how knew you were a sorceress. I am NOT some idiot servant." The two stared at each other desperately for a while, unaware of how close they were to each other. "What would you have had me do Morgana? Let you live and let the hundreds of other people in Camelot die?"

He was now beginning to sound frantic, and it scared her a little. This was not the Merlin she knew. She knew the bubbly loyal adorable friend that would do anything for those he cared about, but she guessed she was no longer within that circle.

"I have never felt so ashamed and as broken as I did today when you were dying in my arms. I have never felt as revolted at anything in my life as I did today at myself. I HATED everything about what I became, and I blame YOU for putting me in that position. I blame YOU for forcing me to choose between one of my best friends and a whole kingdom! How could I have justified my actions when you were willing to sell out everything and everyone you're supposed love to someone YOU'VE ONLY JUST MET!!"

"I didn't want anyone else hurt!" She screamed out. "I only wanted Uther gone so this kingdom and it's people could get on with their lives! I was never told what would happen, only that he would be removed!"

"And you trusted her? Have you learnt nothing during all our adventures? All our experiences with people willing to go to extremes to get what they want!"

His eyes were wild with anger at her, and she felt her heart break. She had done this. She had pushed a quite humble self sacrificing man to the point where he loathed himself. A single tear escaped her moist eyes as she stared at him.

"I'm sorry" She said quickly. "You're right. About everything. I'm so so sorry."

"TOO LATE!!" He yelled intensely. Instantly a vase on her table shattered into a thousand fragments, causing Morgana to jump back with a small gasp of shock. She stared down questioningly at the shattered fragments of the once beautiful vase before apprehensively turning back to Merlin. He seemed a little put off. His breathing eratic as he obviously tried to calm himself down.

She continued to stare at him. Had she done that? Or was it perhaps...perhaps Merlin in his anger loosing control. Her mouth opened slightly. It would make sense. His knowledge, his understanding and his support all lead to a possibility of Merlin himself having magic. Just as she was about to say something, a concerned voice came from the door.

"Is everything alright?" Both occupants turned to face Gwen at the door briefly before turning back to each other.

Merlin slowly stepped back into her personal space, his face mere hairs from her own. She felt his warm breath on her face, creating a much more personal atmosphere.

"This friendship is over." He whispered ruthlessly. Her eyes widened at the malice in his voice. He meant every word of what he just said. He swiftly jolted away from her and bounded past Gwen in what the maid could only describe as a purposeful walk.

"Merlin?" Morgana spoke weakly as the man stepped out of her door for what would be the last time. No, she needed him. "Merlin!" She screamed this time but to no avail. She suddenly broke down into harsh sobs, falling to her knees. She felt Gwen's worried hands attempt to comfort her but she pushed them away. She didn't deserve them. Not after what she had done. She looked up at the door, praying that he would walk back in...but he didn't.

He was gone, and it was all her fault.

So what did you think? Please Review as I need to know if it's worth continuing and no, I don't know if I spelt that right. Please Review.