The Stables, Monday Morning

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin was starting the very serious task of setting up the new puppy in one of the stalls. It was... meeting with mixed success.

It certainly seemed happy to be able to sniff everything, but kept making sad noises each time he disappeared in order to find more hay to place down for a bed.

"It's alright, Brynmor. I didn't leave."

Yes, he was talking to a dog. But... look at it!

[[Merlin is here specifically for one, but the stable is open for your needs]]

Comments

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

Morgana had come to the stables to check on her horse, but as soon as she saw Merlin, her focus changed right over. "Who are you talking to?" she asked, hoping they could manage to be alone.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"The dog," Merlin said, motioning toward a rather clumsy looking puppy that was attempting to savage a bit of hay into submission.

Grrr. So fierce.

"Arthur decided he needed someone other than me along for hunts."

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

It was probably good for Merlin's sake that any residual anger Morgana was feeling melted at the sight of the puppy. "He's adorable," she said. "He'll make a fan companion. Not that you don't already," she added.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I wouldn't say that when I have to go hunting with him. Trust me, the dog will do better."

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I don't know about that," Morgana replied calmly. "There's all sorts of things you can do that a dog can't, don't you think?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin looked over at her from his spot, leaning against the stall door. "Lady Morgana?"

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

Morgana had run the possibilities of this conversation through her head, but it just wasn't the same as actually facing Merlin. "I attempted to attend your meeting for the magical reserve, but I was intercepted by Arthur, and he and I ended up speakinf to each other instead."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"He mentioned that," Merlin said carefully. "You wanted to come to it, I take it?"

Playing dumb was much easier than mentioning anything he already knew.

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

"I wanted to see what was going on," Morgana explained. "I didn't understand how you could be involved in something having to do with magic, especially considering how Arthur feels about all of it. And then Arthur explained everything to me. Is it true? Can you do magic?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It's true," Merlin replied quietly. "I told him not too terribly long ago."

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

"I won't question your intelligence by suggesting that you don't realize how dangerous that is," Morgana said. "Is this recent? Something that just happened since you've been here around other magic users?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I've been like this since I was born."

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

"And you never said anything to us?"

Yes, because that totally would have been safe.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

And he'd really gotten this sort of lecture already. "I--We all have secrets, Lady Morgana. And it wasn't entirely the safest subject to bring up in Camelot."

She of all people should know that.

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

She did know that, which was why she squirmed a little and stopped looking at him for a moment. "It isn't safe," she said. "These people might not be safe."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It was a risk I had to take in order to be honest with Arthur," Merlin replied with a sigh. Really, did people think he wasn't aware of the danger?

...okay, so sometimes he wasn't. A lot of the time.

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad you were honest with him," Morgana said. "Of course, I would have appreciated if you were honest with me too." She got quiet for a moment before looking to him again. "Do you think the people here are as dangerous as Arthur fears? I know I should trust his judgment, but it gets clouded when magic is involved."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"He does the best he can." All things considered. "There... are dangers. But not from the people I've met."

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

"Everyone's been so kind, I find it difficult to believe that any of them could pose a threat," she said.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin smiled faintly. "Sometimes you can never be sure with people. He only is like this because he cares for you, you know."

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

"You mean he feels that I'm his responsibility, and he has no choice to protect me," Morgana replied, even as she hoped Merlin's opinion was the right one.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It's Arthur," Merlin replied. Because. You know. Arthur and any sort of emotion save for annoyance did not seem to mix.

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

"I know, and I realize there's nothing I can do to change him," Morgana said, sighing a little. "Promise me you'll be careful? No matter how safe the others might be?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I'm always careful." Liar.