The vial of hemlock felt cold in Merlin's hand. He slipped it back inside Gaius' medicine bag.
Morgana was feverishly ripping up the blanket. Merlin started tying the pieces together, into a braided rope.
"Morgana? Can I tell you something?" Her jade green eyes met his sapphire ones.
"Of course Merlin"
Merlin looked only at the rope he was making.
"I was once asked by a bandit what my friends meant to me. He had hurt Arthur, so I attacked him. I managed to tie him up. When he asked me, I told him that my life is nothing without my friends. I can go anywhere, but as long as I have my friends and family, I'll be happy. Arthur is the closest friend I've ever had" Merlin took a deep breath, "and if it was a choice between him and someone else, no matter how hard it was, I would choose him"
He looked up. Morgana had stopped ripping the blanket. Her eyes were unusually bright.
"I understand Merlin" she whispered, "but why did you tell me?"
Merlin stared sadly at Morgana, "I have read before about a curse like this. The curse needs a living host to keep the curse going. It needs a vessel. A body, a person"
Morgana made a strangled gasping sound. In that moment Merlin knew. She had no idea she was the vessel. Morgana did not want this curse.
Merlin squeezed his eyes closed but a single tear escaped.
"And unless the curse is removed by the one who placed it, the vessel has to die to break the curse"
Morgana made a choking noise.
Merlin opened his eyes. Morgana also had a tear running down her face.
Merlin gently wiped the tear from her face with a trembling hand. She placed her hand over his so he was cupping her cheek with his palm.
"You think I'm the vessel"
Merlin didn't nod but instead let his tears fall freely.
"For Camelot, and for you Merlin, I will end this"
She grabbed Gaius's bag. She dug through it and pulled out the vile of hemlock. Before Merlin could react she pulled out the stopper and downed the contents.
She leant forwards and crashed her lips against Merlin's.
He pulled her closer and kissed her back, trying to covey everything he felt into the kiss. She broke the kiss and Merlin held her in his arms.
She started gasping for air.
Merlin started crying. He hugged Morgana and whispered, "I love you".
She smiled at him before her eyes fluttered closed.
She went limp in his arms.
Merlin sobbed as crashes outside told him the curse had been broken the Knights had finally stopped.
With a loud bang the doors were thrown open. A livid looking Morgause strode in.
She screamed, "Sister!" and Merlin was flung backwards.
The last thing he saw before he blacked out was Arthur running in and a hurricane with Morgause holding Morgana at the centre.
When Merlin came to, he was alone. He was in his bed, in his room.
Everything came rushing back to him.
Arthur was safe.
Morgana was dead.
He put his head in his hands, and sobbed.