Mordred thrust forwards the blade forged in the breath of the dragonet Aithusa...
Into the abdomen of Merlin Emrys.
Stunned, he didn't even notice the fatal blow that he himself received seconds later until he took his last breath; the last image burned into his retinas was the grief-stricken face of the Once and Future King. With a final sigh, he passed into the void.
Arthur looked on in dawning horror as he watched Merlin - his manservant, Merlin – still dressed in the robe of the warlock Emrys – being run through. He reacted only when Merlin fell, gasping for breath and clutching his wound with the eyes of a man who has accepted his defeat.
Arthur cried out and killed Mordred where he stood, before clasping the sorcerer tightly to his chest.
"Come on Merlin, hang on."
He struggled to his feet; he knew already that they wouldn't make it in time, and from the look on his face Merlin doubted they would leave the battlefield at all unless they both succumbed to Death's cold embrace.
"A-Arthur – "he choked, "Arthur please – I-I-I wanted to –"
"Shut up, Merlin!"
"P-P-Prat."
"I know – listen, Merlin, you haven't got that far to go, it's only a few hundred yards and then Gaius will heal you –"
"N-No – Have to tell – "he grimaced as the gash bled profusely.
"I saw what you did today, old friend. I was hurt – still am – but everyone who fought for Camelot out there today is eternally in your debt, no-one more than me." The King himself seemed a little disturbed at his suddenly sombre outlook. "And besides, you can make up for the lies by telling us the whole story once you're well. From the looks of it, you have a lot of explaining to do."
"Arthur –"Merlin wheezed "- I think we both know there won't be time for my tale."
He couldn't respond to that.
Arthur hefted more of his best friend's weight onto his shoulders, and the pair continued in silence till they reached the tent containing Gaius and Gwen.
Mere minutes later, Merlin Emrys, son of the Dragonlord Balinor and Hunith of Ealdor, The Last Dragonlord and the most powerful Warlock to ever walk the Earth, the man made as much of magic as flesh and blood, rejoiced in his last stand at the Battle of Camlann, and then...
He died.