Yeah - yeah I'm back.

[Hearing her voice makes his heart clench tightly, painfully. He wants nothing more than to rush to her side, to hold her. Why does everything have to be so complicated?]

When - Where? I -

[ it comes off muffled, as if her hand covers her mouth, and perhaps it is. Everything she has done wrong flows back from the place she had shoved it too and she tries not to panic, tries to remain calm. ]

Yesterday - look. Morgana. I - need you to listen to me for a minute ok?

[ Yesterday is enough to make her cover her face with both her hands, not that he could see. She's too late, of course she is. ]

Go on.

[ Because if Dean got their first, then he knows; of broken promises and lies and God, they become her second nature, didn't they? ]

Look Dean he - I don't know how he found out about you but he did and -

[He takes a moment to regain control of his voice. He can't break down in front of her.]

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I should never have - this is all my fault. If I don't - if I don't stay away from you he'll never stop trying to hurt you and I can't cover you 24/7. I'm so sorry, Morgana...

He found out through me.

[ it's blunt and well composed but only because she's working hard enough to control her tone and her voice and not cry. She hadn't in a month, it's not the time to start. ]

I had a vision. This place was filled with monsters, all looking like other Scorched people. They stole their identity and used it to lure people and try and devour their hearts. Nine tailed foxes.

People were going to lose their lives, and I didn't know what to do. And he - knows monsters. I had to talk to someone and I couldn't talk to Merlin since he was taken by these beasts and Arthur has been distant since his return.

[ she trails off, though, finally understanding what he's trying to tell her. ]

I know that. We talked.

[ if you can call that a talk but. ]

If he wishes so much to kill me, he may confront me and be valiant enough to look me in the eye while he tries. I have magic. I have seen too many people losing their heads, burned to death, losing their mothers and fathers, brothers and sister and daughters and sons to Uther Pendragon's hared. I've seen it and I hid away my powers and I was ashamed for far too long. They died for what they are, I'm not ashamed to die as one of them. And if the condition he gave me was death or losing someone I care for, I'd choose death any day than living as a coward. And he knows that. If he wishes to kill me, he knows where to find me. I am done being ashamed of what I am. Magic can be a power used for good.

[ she makes a scoffing sound that could be perhaps, the sound of crying. If she's doomed to lose everything for who she is, she might as well lose it all and die while being proud of what she is. She's a witch and a Pendragon, and for once, she knows no fear or shame. ]

I will not use magic against your brother, against any Scorched. But I am not willing to run. I'll die today for what and who I believe in than live a hundred years in shame for not standing up for what is right.

You won't die. I won't let him lay a hand on you. As long as I stay away - he'll stand back too, he won't want to risk opening this can of worms again.

You should be proud - you have every reason to be. [He pauses] I'm proud of you. Try to be happy, ok? I really - I really want you to be.

[It's all he can do not to burst into tears before her, so he hangs up the call.]