'Why did you do that?' Arthur choked, his throat tightening with fear as he stared down, horrified, at the crimson stain that was rapidly spreading across her breast.

The sharp ring of sword striking sword and the roar of the battle dimmed behind him as he knelt at her side, clutching her shoulder's as he resisted the urge to shake her.

Merlin lifted her head, her raven hair shining around the mud that had stiffened it and her large blues eyes glazed as she gave a small, sad smile.

'It's okay, Arthur,' she whispered, her voice raspy.

'No its not,' Arthur gave a soft fob, lifting her head and brushing her lips with his, horrified when he found them ice cold. 'And you're not going anywhere. Your hear me.'

Merlin's laugh ended as a gurgle as blood ran down the side of her mouth.

'Still a bossy prat.' Merlin lifted a hand to his cheek, blinking as she tried to stay awake, fighting the comfort and peace the darkness offered. 'Even you can't change destiny, Arthur. It's always been my destiny to die for you. Your needed here.'

Arthur swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat, and held her cold, trembling hand to his face.

'I need you.'

Merlin's lips trembled as she blinked back tears, her eyes falling shut. She struggled to open them, and swallowed back the sudden pain and panic in her chest as her breath rushed from her body and the darkness pulled her away.

Arthur froze as Merlin's hand went limp against his cheek, his eyes popping open to stare down at her. His closed up as he saw her chest unmoving and her face peaceful.

'Merlin? NO!' Arthur roared, hot tears dripping down his cheeks as he pulled her towards him, and placed his mouth to hers, breathing into her.

'Come on, Merlin, come on. Heal yourself. I've seen you do it, you can do it again. Please!' he begged, sobbed shaking him as he held her body to his chest.

'Arthur…'

Arthur fought as a pair of hands tried to pull Merlin away from him. Another pair pulled him roughly away from the site and into their arms. He struggled feebly, trembling as the arms tightened around him. He held them back, sobbing into their shoulder.

'She's gone, she's gone…'

'I know,' Gwaine said, his voice thick with unshed tears.

Arthur watched, expression blank and eyes wet and gritty with tears as Merlin's body floated away in the make-shift boat, the clean white gown they had found for her glowing in the pre-dawn darkness.

A large hand grasped Arthur's shoulder. Arthur reluctantly looked back and nodded at Gwaine, the knight who was almost as close to Merlin as him, and who was watching her float away, eyes dark.

'I'm sorry, Arthur,' he muttered, and stood for a moment beside him in silence, staring unseeingly at the lake.

'I never told her,' Arthur whispered, his eyes closed and expression painful.

Gwaine frowned. 'Never told her what?'

'What she meant.'

'She knew, Arthur. You meant the exact same to her.'

'Arthur?'

Arthur turned and nodded at Percival, who face as pale and grave.

'I'm going to take the remaining men and set up a camp for tonight. We won't make it back to Camelot if we don't. And…' he trailed off, his eyes sad as he glanced at the boat almost out of sight.

The And went unsaid. None of them wanted to say goodbye to Merlin just yet.

Arthur struggled to find the words so he just nodded. Percival nodded back and headed back to the other men to deliver the news.

'I think I'll go help him.' Gwaine said, before slowly following, leaving behind only silence.

Arthur stood there for what seemed like days before the familiar flap of wings drew his eyes away from the lake and to the sky where he watched in shock as the Great Dragon settled by the shore, it's large, too human eyes looking sadly out at the little boat on the water.

'Goodbye, young Sorceress, it's been an honour knowing you.'

Arthur blinked as he heard the words, before his fists clenched and he glared at the creature.

'Why?' he said, coldly, his eyes narrowed as the creature turned its head and seemed to raise its brows at him.

'I'm sorry, Arthur Pendragon?'

'You know exactly what I am speaking of. Why did she have to die like that? Why not me?'

The dragon seemed to consider him for a moment before inclining its head.

'It was both her choice and her destiny, young King. Merlin knew for a very long time. She knew if she continued to fulfil her destiny and protect you it was very likely she would die.

'Merlin and your destinies were always interwined. She was to protect you to allow you to become the Great King the world will ever know, and to unite all of Albion. She served her destiny.'

'Was that all she was to you? A chess piece to play with?' Arthur shouted.

The dragon growled at him. 'I too wish for a different end, Arthur Pendragon. However, there will be a time when Albion needs Merlin again and she will return. It will be many long years, and lonely lifetimes but she will return.'

Arthur stared, eyes wide at the dragon as it took off, only pausing to set the floating boat to light with a burst of flame that was blinding. Arthur watched the flames glint off the water and felt a rightness settle deep in his stomach. Merlin would return. And he would be waiting. A hundred years if he had to.