Chapter one
"Here, have some before I finish it." Merlin handed the water skin over to Morgana, not meeting her eyes.
"Thank you." Morgana took it gratefully.
Merlin looked away. He couldn't watch. A single tear coursed down his cheek as he thought of all the good times they had shared. You're such a good friend, Merlin. Her words echoed in his head. He knew, there and then, that he couldn't kill her. Merlin spun on the spot to see her raising the skin to her lips.
"NO!" he cried and ran forwards. With one swoop of his hand he knocked it out of Morgana's hand. It fell to the floor, the water splashing out.
"What was that for?" Morgana cried.
"It was poisoned," Merlin admitted quietly.
Disbelief covered Morgana's face. "Poisoned?" She exclaimed. "Merlin...how could you?"
"I didn't want to!" Merlin whispered.
"Why? Why did you try to poison me?" Morgana asked, her eyes filling with tears.
"You're the source!"
"The what?"
"Morgause has summoned the knights by magic. But this kind of magic requires a source, a living vessel."
"Morgause chose me?"
"For the knights to be stopped the source must be destroyed," Merlin explained.
"That's why the knights wouldn't kill me- oh Merlin!" Morgana broke down into sobs, burying her face in her hands. Merlin put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I'm truly sorry," he whispered.
After a few moments, Morgana lifted her head.
"You should have done!" She said fiercely. "You should have let me die!"
Merlin shook his head, equally fiercely. "No! There has to be another way!"
"There can't be!"Sobbed Morgana. "I've got to die or Arthur will! He's my friend!"
Merlin stood up and held out his hand. "Do you trust me?" he asked. Morgana bit her lip and nodded. Merlin lifted the bolt on the door.
"We can't go out there!" Morgana squeaked. Merlin said nothing and pulled open the door. Instantly two knights barged in, swords in hand. One of them hit Merlin and knocked him to the ground.
"NO!" screamed Morgana. The knight stopped.
"I am the Lady Morgana and as your source of power I command you to leave him!" The knight did nothing.
"Get away!" Morgana commanded. The knight stepped away. Merlin got to his feet, grinning.
"Can you help Arthur?" he asked.
Morgana shook her head. "Morgause will have commanded the knights to kill Uther and Arthur. It won't work; they'll follow Morgause over me."
"We have to go!" The pair ran out of the hall and into the corridor. A little way off they could hear Arthur fighting for his life.
"I can sense Morgause nearby!" Morgana cried.
"Follow me!" Merlin pulled Morgana away, down to a staircase, past the sleeping guards.
"Where are we?" Morgana asked.
"No time to explain!" Merlin hurried down a dark flight of stairs after picking up a flaming torch. Morgana followed suit.
Morgana gasped. The stairs led into a huge cave. "What is this place?"
Suddenly a huge creature flew down onto the rock in front of them. Morgana screamed and hid behind Merlin. Merlin, however, did not seem scared in the least.
The creature spoke. "So Merlin, what is it this time?"
Morgana peered out from behind Merlin.
"Ah, you have brought the witch I see. Why, do you expect me to kill her?" Morgana shuddered.
"I won't kill her!" cried Merlin. "There has to be another way!"
"I told you! The witch must die!"
Morgana stepped out boldly. "Don't speak of me like that!" She snapped. "I am the Lady Morgana!"
The creature, a dragon, laughed. Morgana trembled but held her glare.
"I know who you are," said the dragon seriously. "You will bring about Arthur's doom and the fall of Camelot! Why should I help you?"
"I would never do that!" Morgana cried. "Arthur is my friend."
"Wait," said Merlin. "You can help her?"
The dragon looked at him. "Perhaps."
Merlin stared the dragon straight in the eye. "If you help me now, then, when Camelot is safe, the first thing I will do is free you," he promised.
The dragon sighed. "Very well. I see that you cannot be otherwise persuaded. You must take Morgana to the Lake of Avalon. It is there that she may be cleansed of the enchantment."
"Thank you!" Merlin nodded.
The dragon lifted its head and looked as though it were about to fly off.
"Wait!" The dragon turned to look at Morgana.
"May I ask you something?" Morgana asked.
The dragon said nothing so she ploughed on.
"Is it truly my destiny to bring down Camelot? Can I change that?"
"Your destiny," replied the dragon solemnly, "is of your making." And with these words it lifted its wings and flew up and away, disappearing from view.