Somebody that you used to love

Apples, chickens, and jigs

"I'm sorry."
Merlin whipped his head round, and stared at the pale figure across from him.
"What?"
"I'm sorry. For everything I've done.
I know I've caused many people a lot of pain. Mainly those closest to me, and for that... I'm sorry."
"It's... Ok. Errm, well I guess the potion worked..." He trailed off after seeing a small dish with a red liquid in it. She'd spat out the calming potion. She wasn't really too nervous to talk.
"So, what happened to you?"
"I'm not ready to talk about that." She replied hastily.
"Ok, what do you want to talk about?" He asked, not wanting there to be any awkward silences.
"How's Gwen?" She asked.
Merlin could see genuine concern in her eyes. She really did care about Gwen. But all that was destroyed by Morgous. Merlin was desperate to know what had happened to her, what had caused her to fall into this reframed state.
"She's well. I'm sure you heard that she married Arthur." He said, with a small amount of venom in his voice, as Gwen had stolen the crown from her, and he wanted her to know this. Although it never really belonged to Morgana. He almost wanted Morgana to feel bad.
"Yes. I knew. I'm happy for them. So Gwen is now my sister in law?"
"Well, yes." He said slowly, having never really giving it much thought.
"And Arthur? How is he?"
"He's a great King, married life is treating him well, and he's a lot less grumpy."
A weak smile spread across her lips.
"Camelot finally got the King they deserve. And what of you?" She asked after a small pause.
"Me?" He asked, realising it was a stupid question, as there was nobody else there.
"Yes. What's it like to be a servant to the king?"
"Oh, I'm not Arthur's servant anymore."
For a moment she feared he'd been fired.
"I'm Arthur's advisor now."
"Well, that appears to be what you've been doing all along." She said, feeling rather relived.
He turned to look at her. He knew the subject of his magic was coming to the surface. She had known for a while that He had magic, and that he never told her in her hour of need.
He gave her an apologetic glance. She blinked slowly, before flashing a knowing smile. He sat up slowly, keeping eye contact with him at all time. She wasn't angry anymore that he didn't tell her. He couldn't. Now she looked back over the situation, she could tell he wanted to tell her, but she was so blinded by fear she could t see it at the time.
"It's alright. I don't blame you." She said, then reached for his hand almost unconsciously.
As soon as their skin made contact, they both flinched. They glanced at each other momentarily, but they were interrupted. The door swang open, revealing Gauis behind it. Merlin moved his chair backwards slightly, and Morgana laid back down.
"Well, has she said anything?"
Merlin released a breath he didn't know he was holding. Gauis hadn't heard them talking. For some reason, he just didn't want anyone else to know quite yet. Morgana clearly didn't want anyone to know either, when she subtly shook her head.
"No, she hasn't said anything."
Merlin noticed that the calming potion was still there, and if Gauis saw it, he would know Morgana hadn't drunk it, and was mute by choice. Merlin grabbed it, and threw it into a plant pot.
"Well, let's give her some more time. Don't you have Arthur to attended to?" Gaius asked, raising an eyebrow."
"Arthur's not stupid, he can work out how to put on his own trousers. On second thoughts, he's a complete dollop head. I don't know how he survived before me." Merlin said gleefully, walking backwards towards the door.
"Merlin!" Gaius called after him.
"Mmh?" He asked, poking his head back round the door.
"Your trousers are undone."
Merlin looked down, and saw that the buttons at the front of his trousers were indeed, undone. He did look rather foolish, but he was just great full he hadn't gone anywhere yet. He wandered down the corridor, and bumped into Gwen.
"Merlin! How's Morgana?"
"She's fine. A little in shock. Gaius said its best if nobody visits her quite yet. Maybe tomorrow."
Gwen's face dropped. She was probably the most affected by morgana's change in character. The queen sighed, then gave Merlin a head bob, a turned on her heal. Merlin watched her a moment, feeling her loss. He headed back to his share quarters, hanging his head in shame. When he opened the door, he was met with a sight thy confused him. Morgana was sitting with a bundle of herbs tied to her head, an apple in her mouth, and a chicken under arm, and Gaius was was standing in the middle of the room, doing some form of jig. Morgana had a worried look on her face, and she looked positively befuddled. She glanced at Merlin, pleading with her eyes.
"Gauis?" Merlin questioned.
"Oh, Merlin, you can take over dancing."
"Why...?"
"I'm trying to distract her from her worries. It's a proven method."
Merlin stared at his mentor, before turning back to Morgana.
"How about, no." He said definitely, removing the confused bird from morgana's grasp, and also carefully  untied the herbs from her head. He gently took the apple out of her mouth, brushing his hand against her red lips, causing them both to blush. He moved away, and tossed the apple yet again, into a plant pot. She was secretly wishing that it had been his lips rather than his hand.