This is a sequel to my fic Behind the Shadows, so I would highly recommend reading that one first. This one could probably be read on its own as well. All you really need to know is that it is set near the end of season 4 and Arthur is aware that there is a sorcerer named Emrys protecting Camelot.

Once again, the story is all Arthur's POV, except for the prologue, which is Morgana's this time.

Prologue

Morgana waded into the Pool of Nemhain, clutching the magical item that her sister had given to her tightly in her hands. The words of the Dochraid echoed in her mind, telling her how to spend the coin that was valued at the price of a soul.

"…cast the coin into its depth and your wish will be granted."

The coin held the power to bring a single soul from the land of the dead to this world and bind it to her will. She could only do this once and hated to use up her single most powerful weapon, but she also knew from the moment that Agravaine had told her the latest news from Camelot that drastic measures were needed.

Emrys had shown himself in the citadel and Arthur and anyone who mattered in Camelot knew about him. According to Agravaine, Arthur had been unaware of Emrys until now, but if Emrys was on the move, he may not be intending to work independently from the king for long. Morgana couldn't risk Emrys and Arthur forming an alliance. But more than that, she saw an opportunity. She could use this new situation to make Arthur turn on Emrys. Why fight your enemies yourself, she figured, when you can make them destroy each other. And in the moment when Emrys was killed or turned against Arthur, none of the other fools who opposed her would have the power to thwart the magic she would unleash that would allow her to finally take her rightful place on the throne.

Unfortunately for Arthur, she knew him as well as he knew himself. She knew exactly how to make him hate Emrys more than he had ever hated anyone in his life.

She concentrated on what she wanted more than anything and threw the coin into the waters.

For a moment nothing happened, before the surface stirred and bubbled and a figure rose up out of the water before her.