The silence was deafening. He could not move, only stare at the at the sight of the still form lying at the foot of the stairs. His breath quickened, his heart beat faster. He took a step forwards but collapsed onto his knees instead as the full weight of his actions finally caught up with him.
"No," Merlin's voice cracked as he spoke and slowly shook his head in denial.
He should have listened to his Gwen. She was right. He should never have gotten involved and let the police, the professionals, handle it. Let Arthur and his team the 'knights' do their jobs. He wasn't a masked hero, he was an idiot. How could he have thought running around in mask and cape, taking the law into his own hands was a good idea? It wasn't a good idea, it was a stupid idea because now the villain had added another victim to his list. The one at the bottom of the stairs, left bloodied and beaten as a gift to him. Merlin knew it was for him, the conquering hero because that too still form lying there at the foot of the stairs was his mother. His mother was dead and it was all his fault.
