I sincerely apologize for having to edit the story once again! But I keep finding mistakes in here that I have to change...this should be my final version! :)

The inspiration for this story hit me a couple nights ago as I was listening to "Forget and Not Slow Down" by Relient K. This is actually my second attempt at publishing this story. I published it once before, only to realize that it still needed some editing work. And here is the final! Enjoy!

~Ithilwen Erubadhriel


One Last Shot At Redemption

"Be certain the steps of left and right don't fight the direction of upright."

"My people have done nothing!" Arthur's stomach twisted in knots as he watched the starving people of Camelot line up for their daily rations of food. They were all going to die. This was his punishment, the death of his kingdom. Not my people! He groaned inwardly, watching a skinny little boy cling to his mother's skirt as the two waited in line for their meager share of grain. Punish me, but not my people!

Arthur had appeased his prideful honor. He had acted impulsively, failing all the while to realize that the price of his royal honor would cost the entire kingdom of Camelot. But now it was too late to make up for it. He had thrown away his last chance. In the midst of the starvation, Arthur did his best to help. He distributed food and gave away what extra he could. But this small sacrifice wasn't enough. It wasn't enough.

As a young boy, Arthur had always taken punishments and beatings well. But now his shoulders sagged with shame and all he wanted to do was go into his room and cry. He had failed. Again.

To live you must give your life away

"No, Merlin, you're not coming with me!" Arthur said. His servant boy had done enough by getting him one final last chance. But Arthur was determined now to complete this test himself. Whatever lay ahead of him, he didn't care. Whatever it was, he was willing to face it.

But the last thing Arthur expected to face was Merlin. And yet there he was, sitting across the table from him and there were the two goblets in the center of the table, one of them poisoned.

A faint light awoke within Arthur and he suddenly knew what he needed to do. This is my one last shot at redemption! He snatched the two goblets and poured all the liquid into one as Merlin, like the idiot he was, looked the other way. You gave your life for me once, now it's my turn! He raised the goblet to his lips and downed the liquid in several gulps.

"What have you done?" Merlin cried.

An unexpected calm settled over Arthur. He knew he was going to die, but he had finally paid the price, the only price, that could ever save him. It was the same chance that Merlin had taken when he had laid his life down for Arthur. It was the same price that Morgana had been so willing to pay when Arthur had caught her with the Druid boy. "Take me, but please spare him, he's just a boy!"

Arthur had always thought that Merlin and Morgana were crazy, throwing away their lives, instead of acting in their own self interest. And now he knew that they were crazy. They were all idiots. But they were right.

"Oh, Merlin, you are an idiot!" He laughed and then everything faded to black.