Disclaimer: I do not own King Arthur or Merlin, I wish though.
Merlin and Arthur sat on the palace stairs watching the villagers move about the courtyard. The past few days had taken a toll on the citizens of Camelot. Morgana's reign had claimed many innocent lives and the sanity of the King, for although Morgana had left him untouched, her betrayal and treatment of his people had poisoned his mind and made him paranoid. At last however, things were turning around. The dead had been buried, the streets had been cleared and repairs begun. And the knights had left yesterday to bring Gwen back to Camelot, attired in their new uniforms. Arthur was increasingly grateful for the support and friendship of his new knights. Despite his father's beliefs, Arthur knew that regardless of Elyan, Lancelot and Gwaine's backgrounds, they were true knights of Camelot and would stand by his side. As would Merlin. The quirky, often frustrating manservant, had wormed his way in Arthur's life and though he would be hesitant to admit it, Arthur knew that Merlin was his truest friend and would always have his back.
Feeling Merlin's bony shoulder bump him, Arthur let go of his musings and shoved Merlin back. They both grinned, before turning at the sound of horses entering the courtyard. Merlin laughed quietly at the look of relief and joy on Arthur's face as Gwen and the knights entered the courtyard. Arthur punched him lightly and stood, walking over to the horses, helping Gwen down. He kissed her gently, mindless of the knights and peasants in the courtyard. Throwing her arms around him, Gwen melted into his embrace, happy that all of her loved ones had survived Morgana's attack. Burying her face in his neck, Gwen breathed in his scent trying to block out the destruction around them.
Pulling back, they looked into each other's eyes, when the winds started swirling in the courtyard. Everyone looked in confusion as the winds began to take a form and Arthur noticed Merlin stand up and head in his direction. Before he made it across the courtyard, Morgana appeared before them, her face dark with anger and pain. She let loose a scream, like her screams in the throne room, and all those near her collapsed to their knees holding their ears in pain. Arthur struggled to his feet as she continued to scream, placing himself in front of Gwen and trying to find Merlin in the confusion. The useless boy would get himself killed if he got in Morgana's way, but Arthur could not see him. Morgana let out one more scream before stalking up to Arthur, who drew his sword, as did his knights behind him.
"What do you want Morgana?" Arthur growled as she stopped a few feet in front of him. "You have lost. You betrayed us all, your friends and your family. What more damage can you do here?"
"My so called family is made up of liars and murderers. You would have killed me the moment you knew of my magic, like you and your father kill all magic in Camelot."
"That's not true Morgana," Arthur interjected. "We have only ever known magic to hurt us. If you had told us, perhaps my father would have changed his mind about magic and sorcerers. I believe I would have."
"I don't believe you," Morgana spat at him. "Besides that is not why I am here. I am here for your useless servant."
"Merlin?" Arthur drew back in surprise. "What do you want with him?"
"He killed my sister." Arthur and the knights looked at each other in surprise, except Lancelot, who Arthur noticed looked a little guilty. "He will pay for what he did or I will kill everyone that he cares for. That cur has interfered one too many times."
"Now wait a moment Morgana. Merlin has nothing to do with this…," Arthur tried to diffuse Morgana's anger and protect his friend.
"It's alright Arthur." Merlin appeared behind Morgana. "I am here Morgana."
Morgana grinned blackly as she slowly turned towards Merlin who was standing unafraid alone before her. "Well well, here you are. The great hero of Camelot."
"I am no hero Morgana," Merlin responded quietly.
"Now I can agree with that. You are a murderer. You tried to kill me many times, but you finally succeeded in killing my only family, and you will pay for it."
"I am sorry for your loss Morgana. I never wanted to hurt you. I always tried to help you, but I had to protect Camelot and you decided that we were your enemy." Merlin tried to placate her, but he feared that all his secrets were destined to come out in that courtyard with all his friends around.
"Camelot IS MY ENEMY," Morgana yelled at him, and he could see her magic bubbling to the surface, eager to inflict pain and destruction, "and you are going to die today."
Merlin made to respond when a voice rose from the crowd. "Merlin didn't kill Morgause Morgana. I did." Morgana spun towards the new voice, her surprise evident as Gaius pushed his way to the front. "I haven't used magic in so long that I didn't realize the power of my spell. I am sorry for your loss Morgana, but Morgause has corrupted you. Remember who you were."
"Morgause is the only one who accepted me for what I am," her anger directed towards a new person, Morgana striding towards him, leaving Merlin alone. "You tried to keep it from me. Hiding it from me with sleeping potions…"
"It was to protect you," Gaius interrupted. "You weren't ready to know the truth."
"And my parentage?" she scowled. "Was that to protect me or Uther?"
"That was not my secret to tell. I begged him to tell you, but he never wanted you to hate him. He loved you Morgana."
"Too late. I already hate him." Morgana's anger melted from her face, as a far more sinister expression appeared. "Now back to the issue at hand." She began to chant in a language that sent shivers down the spines of Arthur and the knights, who rushed towards Gaius, trying to stop Morgana. Unfortunately, their distance was too far and Morgana had conjured an enormous fireball before they made it halfway across the courtyard. Stopping, they gazed in horror as Morgana released the fireball towards Gaius, who closed his eyes awaiting inevitable.