This idea has been plaguing me for days and I thought I should finally get it out. While this story is currently T, the rating will likely go up for successive chapter.

Enjoy and please review! I absolutely treasure every one.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. If I did they probably wouldn't be able to show it so early.

Resistance is Futile

Chapter 1

He was searching for something. He just didn't know what. Merlin tore apart his chambers in search of something he couldn't quite name. It was strong, powerful. But all he knew was that it was his.

He rummaged under the bed, flipped the mattress, yanked open drawers, and nothing. Nothing at all.

He was in the process of sliding the wardrobe over when an annoyed Gaius entered the room.

"Merlin, what in the blazes is going on in here?" he said, his trademark eyebrow cocked disapprovingly.

He stopped his frantic attempts to move the wardrobe, but his eyes kept skimming the contents of the floor. It had to be here somewhere. "Yeah….I've lost something. Something important," he replied, breathlessly.

"Tell me Arthur didn't let you take home his sword or something else equally as important" Gaius asked.

"No, it's not Arthur's. It's mine." Merlin replied as he pushed his bed away from the wall.

"Well then what is it? Maybe I've seen it."

"I don't know, alright? I don't know what I'm looking for."

He quickly brushed past Gaius and began the search in the main chamber. He moved books and mysterious vials aside. Gaius spoke, "Merlin, what day is it?"

"You know one of these days you'll use a calendar. Honestly, you've never been able to keep the days straight. I'm surprised they let you be a physician here with all the-" he said cheekily.

"Merlin! The date?" Gaius interrupted.

"March 18th or something."

"Oh no."

"Oh no what? Seriously, you should keep a calendar by your bedside table. It would be useful, particularly so you wouldn't have to pepper me with questions when I am trying to find something," the last few words were said with extreme frustration and followed by a growl.

Gauis grabbed his shoulders and said evenly, "Merlin, you're not looking for something. You're looking for someone."

"Someone? What do you mean?"

"Here, sit down. This might get awkward," he warned.

"Perfect," he said sarcastically as he took his seat across from Gaius at the table.

"Merlin, you and I are part of the old religion. It's the religion of the Earth, of nature, of the seasons themselves. Well, as we are magical, we too are tied to those elements."

"I still don't understand. How does this have anything to do with this frantic search for something…which is apparently someone," Merlin said.

"In three days the seasons change. March 21st is the first day spring, a season of fertility and growth. We plant in the spring so that we may harvest in autumn. We feel the changes more astutely than non magical people because our powers are so closely aligned with it. But the bond with nature also creates a bond between us. You know how you've been able to speak to others of our kind without speaking aloud? It's like that, only the bond in this situation is stronger and much more one on one,"he explained.

"I'm still confused. Whom am I bonded with?"

"Lady Morgana."

"Morgana?" he said and it was if something seemed to click in his mind. Images of her flooded his mind-her soft ivory skin, her ruby red lips, and her fragrant black hair. It was her, she was exactly what he was searching for, "Why her? And for what purpose?"

"She too is magical. As for the purpose, well, it's a ritual of fertility and let's just say, you're to … plant your seed" he said, a blush rushing to his face.

"What? I'm to have sex with Morgana?" his voice practically squeaked. More images came to mind, the soft press of her body against his, her hand stroking his wrist, those long legs wrapped around…

Gaius spoke quickly, "No, no, definitely not. But your body, the magic in you wants that. And so will hers. However, for obvious reasons, you can't, you must resist. Not only would it put both of you in a difficult and compromising position, but it would alert others to your magic.

"How?"

"If the two of you touch, you will literally emit sparks. And if anyone saw, well, we know how that story ends. It would dangerous. Extremely dangerous."

"Well, that's reassuring. What am I to do for the next three days? Avoid her?" Merlin asked.

"Exactly. But it will get harder. Right now you're just experiencing the search stage, these feelings of restlessness, of temptation, and…sexuality will intensify over the next couple of days. You will want to see her. To talk to her. To touch her. You will want to seduce her. And she will feel the same way about you, only she won't know why. Just stay as far away from her as possible for the next three days and you'll be fine. I will try to persuade her to leave the castle until this is done, but that won't be easy."

Overwhelming with knowledge, Merlin just nodded. Avoid Morgana for three days? Surely the castle was large enough but they were bound to run into each other at some point…well, he would just have to make sure that didn't happen. Hide in a broom closet or in Arthur's wardrobe again…

Gaius pulled him from his plans with a question, "Merlin, can I ask you something?"

"I suppose, we've already gone way past candid."

"Do you have feelings for Morgana?" Gaius asked soberly.

"I…uhh…yes…no…maybe," he responded, strangely uncomfortable with this segment of the conversation. Of course he did. He wasn't sure how to name them per se, but they were intense, strong, undeniable, and downright confusing. Merlin had liked girls before, hell, he'd even liked Gwen at one point, but with Morgana things were…different. He felt like they were kindred. Yes, they were both magical but even her attitude towards magic before she knew was…enticing.

"I thought as much. That will only intensify everything more. Your feelings for her will make it that much more difficult for you to remain aloof and guarded but you have to try. Both of your lives depend on it."

Merlin said, "I will. I've been resisting her for months now, I'm sure I can manage for three days."

"Let's hope. Now get off to Arthur's chambers before a guard comes to call you. And remember, avoid her at any cost. The closer you two are the more the…magic will push you together."

Merlin grabbed a piece of bread from the table and was halfway out the door before he turned back and asked, "Gaius? How is it that you know so much about this fertility holiday thing?"

His mentor broke out into a rare grin and replied, "You forget, lad, I wasn't always so old and the magic wasn't always so unpopular."

"Oh, gross!" Merlin said, heading off in the direction of Arthur's chambers with Gaius' laugh echoing in his ears.

FINIS

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