Merlin knew that Arthur would not stay behind, so Merlin had invited him along. Merlin had no intention of allowing Arthur to actually speak or be anywhere near Mordred. Mordred was too dangerous now.

Arthur walked out of the Chamber room, and saw his Knights. "You are not to harm Sir Mordred. But find him and bring him straight to me."

The Knights nodded; no man smiled. Being a part of the Knights of Camelot was like having an extended family. The idea that one of their own betrayed them was something that was very hard to deal with. The fact that the King still referred to Mordred as Sir was even more confusing.

"Split up, Gwaine, Leon and Percival with me." Arthur stated; everyone moved out.

Merlin followed Arthur and the Knights out. The horses were still ready, Merlin and the Knights mounted the horses and watched the other search parties leave. The Knights couldn't find a trail. Mordred was most likely hiding his trail with magic.

Merlin went to the front and tried to pick up the last traces of magic. Merlin could barely feel a presence, but it was there.

"Come on, follow me." Merlin said and the Knights nodded.

"Merlin you don't like Mordred do you?" Gwaine asked. He was not blind. Merlin could not hide the contempt he showed towards Mordred, from the moment Mordred was knighted; Merlin acted coldly towards him. It was strange for Merlin, he was normally very kind to everyone. Now it made more sense, Merlin suspected something. The question was why didn't he mention it.

Merlin sighed "I don't hate him."

"Merlin..." Leon stated; he too was not blind. Merlin clearly treated...Leon was unsure of how to address Mordred, he was thinking Sir or Knight, but Mordred betrayed the honor of the Knights of Camelot. Merlin should have told them, Leon thought. They were putting their lives in the hands of Mordred.

"Mordred has known my secret since he was a child, he has known about my destiny. I didn't know what to do." Merlin thought that was an acceptable answer. If he could change Mordred's mind, perhaps destiny would change.

Leon was thinking; a long time ago a Druid boy escaped in Camelot. Someone hid him, it was Morgana, but someone else broke the boy out. Merlin would have helped. It was a child, they must have shared similarities. But why did that make Merlin mistrust him. Shouldn't it have brought them closer?

"Mordred was the Druid boy who escaped." Leon asked; though he was aware of the answer.

"Yes, I was in the square and a voice called out to me. It wasn't asking for Merlin, but Emrys. He was just a child. I took him to Morgana. Then when she was caught me and Arthur smuggled him out of Camelot."

Leon was surprised to say the least. Arthur defied his father. Gwaine was even more surprised at the betrayal by Mordred, this new information made it worse. Percival was just focused on the task at hand. He couldn't afford to think of the reasons or consequences. He was struggling enough with the task of retrieving one of their own.

"Arthur check that way" Merlin pointed out. Arthur nodded and rode off.

Everyone was aware that Merlin nor Arthur had anything left to say on the matter.

Merlin waited until Arthur was out of earshot and turned to the Knights; "Under no circumstance is Mordred to be anywhere near Arthur. Don't ask why just do it. I am the only one who is allowed to confront Mordred; Understood."

The Knights nodded; it was strange to hear Merlin speak with such authority. One thing was clear, this was Merlin's show.

"I didn't see anything." Arthur said as he rode back.

Merlin nodded and pointed forward. Arthur was unaware that the Knights now were even more suspicious of Mordred. Merlin was clearly hiding something.

Merlin could sense Mordred's presence. He was only a mile ahead of them.

"Arthur you should head in that direction. Leon in that direction." Merlin said pointing east and west. "I am not sure which way Mordred has gone. The trail is too faint. Perhaps Percival and Gwaine should go with you, so that when you find Mordred, one of you can get me."

If the Knights didn't know better they would think that Merlin had just thought of that. Arthur nodded though, he didn't think anything strange was happening.

Leon was the most uncomfortable with lying to his King. He did trust that Merlin had the best of intentions, but his loyalty to his King should come first. He had a sinking suspicion that Merlin was keeping something very important secret. If he didn't tell Arthur, the King would be very angry.

It was too late now. He had to have faith in Merlin.

Merlin was alone, he rode ahead. Merlin saw Mordred in about 15 minutes.

"Mordred!" Merlin yelled, he turned around, there was a pretty girl with him.

He turned around and immediately pulled out his sword. Once a Knight always a Knight Merlin thought.

Merlin raised his hands in surrender. "Put away the sword it will do you no good."

"Kill him and let's move" the girl said.

Mordred shook his head "What do you want?"

"I want to know why you are doing this, Arthur knows everything. Magic will be freed." Merlin said with the utmost sincerity in his voice.

"Don't listen to the lies Mordred." The girl hissed "all these years we have waited for the mighty Emrys and all these years we have felt nothing but bitter disappointment."

This girl was not helping. Merlin was not sure what Mordred was thinking. "You saw Arthur, and you know that he knows."

Mordred sighed "I saw that, but that does not mean anything."

What? Merlin though. Mordred knew the prophecies. "Mordred...Arthur accepted me."

Mordred knew that he should believe Merlin, but he trusted the visions. Kara could not fake the visions. In the visions he saw Arthur killing the love of his life. He could not let that happen. He also saw Arthur betraying all magical beings, and Merlin walking the earth alone. This was not a future he would fight for. The crystal came straight from the cave where magic was born. They only showed the truth. Right? Mordred remembered the feeling when he saw the visions. He dropped the crystal and watched it shatter just as his heart shattered. Nothing would ever heal his heart. Mordred no longer had any loyalty towards Arthur, Merlin or Camelot. At least that's what he told himself. Morgana was right, magic was never going to be accepted by Arthur Pendragon. He would never be free.

"LIES, I have seen the future, the crystal does not lie!" Mordred shouted; his anger was building. Why was this happening? Merlin never trusted him in the first place.

Merlin didn't know what was going on, but one thing he was sure of was that the girl was happy with the exchange. She wanted this to happen. Merlin didn't know what to do? Should he attack, Mordred would not stand a chance.

The two men were watching each other closely. Unaware of the fact that Arthur had figured out Merlin's rouse and was now riding towards them. Gwaine was told to find Percival and Leon. Then they would all find out the truth. Arthur was sick and tired of the lies.

Merlin looked Mordred in the eye and said "You have my word that Arthur has indeed changed and that magic is free. You and..."

"Kara"

"Kara will be free."

Mordred's eyes turned hard. He trusted Kara with his life, but Merlin... no he did not trust Merlin one bit.

"Your word is meaningless. You would have killed me as a child, you tried. The Knights had surrounded me, and you did not help, instead you tripped me! I WAS A CHILD!" Mordred yelled.

"I..." Merlin knew that it looked bad.

"I told you that I would never forget and I haven't!" Mordred shouted the anger was clear in his voice. He had felt betrayal then, and he felt betrayal now.

Merlin remembered Mordred as a young boy, vowing that he would never forget, even then Merlin had known that the mistake would haunt him for the rest of his life. He was too much of a coward to kill a child but yet he would not let him go. Merlin had wanted someone else to do his dirty work. It was something Merlin hated about himself. At the time he could not make the hard choices. He was afraid of Mordred's destiny, but he would not kill him, and yet he mistrusted him.

Merlin was not aware that Arthur was in hearing distance and had heard most of the exchange. "Mordred I know that I have been suspicious of you, I had no right to be. I can not take it back. But Arthur does trust you. He is a good man. He saved your life even when he knew you were a Druid. You are a Knight of Camelot. Remember your oath!"

Arthur came out of the woods. He was still shocked at the idea that Merlin would let a boy get captured, but he had more important things to worry about. "Mordred I know now that magic is good. Please..."

"Enough!" Kara shouted. "Mordred you have seen the future, but if you truly trust this lying King and this traitor then I am done."

Mordred was torn in that instance, he had always loved Kara, but he wanted to believe that Arthur was on his side. This visions of Kara lying dead with every Druid that came to Camelot flashed before his eyes. His decision was made.

Mordred's eyes flashed gold. Merlin reacted with instinct, defending Arthur from attack; instead of both the King and Merlin being knocked back, Merlin absorbed the full blow. Mordred and Kara vanished. Mordred two spells combined had enough power to kill an ordinary man.

Merlin felt blood. He was injured, but he didn't feel hurt. Somehow he started to feel light and airy. Merlin could barely hear the clatter of hooves, and the shouts of Arthur. Merlin thought he said "Stay awake!"

Everything went dark.

Hey Everyone i want to thank everyone who reviewed and fav, or followed this story

I intend to make Mordred evil; sorry for everyone who is disappointed. It's just that in every legend he is evil. The differences from the series final are going to be how the battle shapes up, how magic is revealed in Camelot, the people who die. Things like that.

I hope you like this, and I want to apologize for any spelling or grammar errors. I tried to edit it, but I am human.

happy reading :)