It had been a week since Morgana took the throne. It was something Merlin had come to expect, her betrayal was something he was used to. What he wasn't used to was the consequences now that Arthur knew. Merlin had never seen him so defeated. The loss of Camelot and the betrayal of Morgana had all but crushed the man Merlin had come to admire. Merlin couldn't do anything about the former, he had already failed in saving her. But he could do this one thing.

Last night he had claimed the sword from the lake. It was strapped to his back, where it wouldn't get in the way. It also made hiding it under his cloak easier. No one could take weapons with them to the courtyard, should they be tempted to save the knights held captive in the centre. Morgana wasn't taking any chances.

The others were probably worrying about him, wondering if he'd got away from the immortal soldiers that patrolled the area. With most of them out searching the meadows and woodland, there were hardly any on the main road. In the end, Merlin had simply walked in through the main gates. He had a job to do, after all.

"I will give you one more chance to pledge your allegiance to me," at an unseen signal, Morgana's knights raised their crossbows to Leon and the knights. The black and red lines of knights faced each other stoically. Leon looked up at the balcony and smiled.

"Long live the king!" he shouted, followed closely by a chorus from his fellow knights and the quiet whispers of the crowd around them, repeating his words.

"Perhaps this will help you change your mind," Morgana replied coldly. Merlin narrowed his eyes. She raised her hand above her head and swept it down in an action that made no one doubt who her father was. As one the line of black knights turned and faced the crowd.

Merlin's eyes darkened in anger behind the hood. People ran as soon as they could, screaming in terror. Morgana watched the crowd run and hardened her heart to their terror. One figure stepped forwards slowly, challenging the black knights. His hood fell back and she saw Merlin glaring at her, his face carved in fury.

"Stop!" she called before her knights could fire.

"Merlin!" exclaimed Leon. Merlin met Leon's gaze and the knight flinched at his expression. He could hardly believe it was the same man he knew looking back at him. He held himself with a pride he hadn't seen before, making him look taller and older. The rage in his eyes held something else that Leon couldn't identify, something terrifying and ancient. He nodded to him, only moving his head a fraction before directing his attention once more to the false queen.

The immortal knights surrounded him, but Merlin ignored them. Faced with his piercing eyes, Morgana felt unease at the back of her mind, some subconscious instinct was warning her, urging her to run. Morgana never ran.

"Well, well. Arthur's pet servant. Where is my brother, Merlin?" she asked sweetly. A flicker of disgust crossed his face. Morgana didn't need to see anymore to know he wouldn't betray Arthur. He was insufferably loyal…and his look was becoming unnerving.

"Kill him," she ordered. A harsh, mocking laugh sounded, halting the execution.

"Your father's daughter, aren't you? Using your power to terrorise others, killing innocents –"

"Shoot him down!" she shouted, furious at their inaction.

"Trying so hard to make the world bend to your will you've lost sight of who you truly are –"

"Kill him, now!" she shrieked in anger. Still, the knights didn't move an inch.

"They can't," replied Merlin, patronisingly. He glanced at the knight in front of him, seeing every muscle tensed as it strained against the magic that held him in place. His eyes were empty, no emotion. They truly didn't have souls anymore, unknowingly sacrificing their soul to gain unlimited life. With a flash of his eyes, Merlin slowed time around him and drew his sword. He turned in an arc, cutting the side of each knight that surrounded him and crouched to the floor at the following explosion.

The knights of Camelot shouted in alarm as the servant disappeared in a flash of gold light. They watched in awe as the warlock rose from the ground, a brilliant sword in his grasp and eyes glowing golden. The chains that had held them shattered at their feet.

"This cannot be," muttered Morgana, staring in shock.

"I am Emrys!" announced the warlock. Beside her, Morgause paled in recognition. "This kingdom belongs to Arthur Pendragon and I'm claiming it back in his name." Above the city, dark clouds gathered to his will. His voice became quiet and dangerous yet everyone still heard him, his words reverberating through their being.

"Get out of my way."