A tear slid down her face as she held Merlin's cold hand. The life was draining from him, she could feel it. Morgause stood behind her, sneering and whispering, poisoning her mind with evil thoughts. This hadn't been her idea but it was her choice to carry it out. She felt she had no option. It was safe to say she was seduced by Morgause's thirst for power and hunger for death.

Merlin's eyelids fluttered; the last conscious thoughts passed his mind. She bit back her tears, afraid that if she let her emotions through the water would come gushing out, cascading down her cheeks until she was dry and empty.

Morgause was right behind her now. Do it, she whispered, kill him before he comes back. A force grabbed her hand and placed it on Merlin's chest.

She was about to do it. She was about to kill the only man she had ever loved. For the good of Camelot, Morgause had said. He was the only one who understood her, felt her pain, loved her. He had been her life and soul, the one she could count on. And he was about to die under her hand.

A great block was in her throat, not letting her speak, not letting her feel. The tears were fighting to get out but she wouldn't let them. Not until this was over. It needed to be done. He was the only one who came between a fair world and a world of anguish and hate of those with magic. He was the only one who came between her and Arthur. He would protect Arthur to the ends of the earth. No matter what, Merlin would be there, by his side, making sure no harm came to him. She felt that Merlin loved Arthur more than he loved her.

She didn't want to close her eyes. Closing her eyes meant seeing Merlin for the last time. She savoured every tiny detail on his face. The intricate lines of his cheekbones, every long eyelash, the fullness of his lips. She breathed in deeply. She couldn't do it. She couldn't not see him again. Alive. Breathing. Happy.

Morgause leant over her, whispering right into her ear. Kill the sorcerer, kill him. She repeated again and again. Before she knew it she had clamped down her eyes, sealing off the world from light, sealing off Merlin. The tears poured down her face. She felt them drop, one by one, onto her hand and Merlin's chest. Morgause's hand touched hers and the trickle of magic flowed. It flowed steadily until she could not hold it back anymore. The world let rip and the magic soared through into Merlin delivering the fatal blow.

Merlin's eyes opened wide in terror as she snapped hers open. The fear that emanated from him tore her in two and shattered her soul. She was sobbing uncontrollably now, unable to hold in the last pieces of dignity she had. She reached down and kissed him hard on the mouth, savouring that sweet, musky taste of him, knowing it would be the last time she would feel him like this. Their tears mingled as they held each other, rocking to the motion of their now empty heartbeats.

A gasp finally escaped Merlin. She shut her eyes, not wanting to witness his last moment. The tears still cascaded down her face, crashing onto the floor, sounding infinitely louder than usual.

All fell silent but she still daren't open her eyes.

"I forgive you my love."

Merlin's body trembled against hers for the last time.