Thank you so much for the lovely reviews! I am so glad you like my story! So I was writing all day to give you this:
Chapter 1: The Coming of Arthur
Merlin tried to suppress the strange feeling of unreality. He couldn't believe to see all of them alive again: Lancelot, Elyan and first and foremost, Arthur. But he also marvelled at why the Triple Goddess had sent him so far back. He figured that there was something about to happen at this time that he was supposed to prevent or change. He was deep in thought, but Arthur's voice brought him back.
"I want to thank you all for staying loyal to me in Camelot's hour of need. I'll do something that my father won't approve of."
The goose bumps were back. He felt the same great sense of momentousness of the moment as Arthur told Lancelot, Gwaine, Elyan, and Percival to kneel before him.
"Arise, Sir Lancelot, Knight of Camelot" Arthur said while touching Lancelot's right shoulder with his sword. Then he moved on to the others, repeating the ceremony. "Arise, Sir Gwaine, Knight of Camelot. Arise, Sir Percival, Knight of Camelot. Arise, Sir Elyan, Knight of Camelot." Merlin exchanged a look with Gwen who had been proudly watching her brother. Then his attention was on Arthur again.
"Tomorrow, when you fight, you can stand proud knowing you are members of the noblest army the world has ever known."
While the others started planning their next moves, Lancelot took Merlin aside. Merlin had a huge lump in his throat, so he could hardly speak at first. But he had not forgotten the Goddess's warning. So he pulled himself together.
"Congratulations my friend! You're a knight finally."
"Yes, but for how long?" Lancelot replied and mustered his face carefully, "What is it, Merlin? I can tell you're planning something. And don't even think about lying; I know you too well."
Merlin hesitated only for a little bit. "Morgana has the Cup of Life. If I can find it and empty it of the blood within, then the army will be destroyed, and Morgana will be powerless."
Lancelot threw him a sceptical look. Oh how he had missed Lancelot! He hadn't admitted it, not even to himself, but having a friend apart from Gaius to confide in, who knew about his magic, was just wonderful. He marvelled if he could save him? Had it been his destiny to… But before he could finish that thought Lancelot spoke again: "Aren't you forgetting something? It's guarded by an immortal army. How do you get past them?"
Merlin smiled: "Aren't you forgetting something? I have magic."
"It doesn't make you immortal."
"No."
Lancelot shook his head and grabbed Merlin at his shoulder: "You know, Merlin, you're the one Arthur should knight. You're the bravest of us all and he doesn't even know it."
He will one day. But that was not what he said: "He can't. Not just now. That's why I need to find a way to get to the Cup without Arthur knowing."
Blinking at him encouragingly, Lancelot said: "Leave that to me."
Together they joined Arthur and the rest who were bent over a quickly drawn floor plan of Camelot in the dust.
"There is a tunnel under the northern ramparts that brings us only a few paces from the entrance to the dungeons. It will be well guarded. So, if we're going to break everyone out, we must remain unobserved. We cannot let them raise the alarm" Arthur said pointing around his drawing with his sword.
"We need to take out the warning bell. That way the warriors have no mean of communication" Lancelot remarked and with a brief side glance at Merlin, he added: "I'll need someone with me who knows the castle."
Merlin nodded and said: "I'll go."
"Alright, then that's that settled. Everyone try to get some rest, we'll start at sunrise. I'll take the first watch" Arthur said.
While the others sat down and tried to get some sleep, Merlin was wide awake watching Arthur as if he still couldn't believe that all this wasn't a dream. Gwen softly walked over to him and placed her hand gently on his shoulder.
"Stay here with Gaius. I want you to be safe, no matter what happens tomorrow."
Gwen just nodded, too unsure of her voice. Arthur pulled her closer to him and tenderly caressed her chin and neck.
"They'll see" Gwen interjected half-heartedly.
"I don't care. I want you to know...if I never see you again..."
"You will. You will see me. I watched you last night. You gave us hope, something to believe in. I saw the king you will become. I'm so proud of you Arthur" Gwen said and then they kissed.
Merlin's attention was soon distracted from the happy couple by Gaius.
"You need to be careful" the physician said in a low voice.
"I've got the easy bit. The warning bell is nothing compared to the cells."
Gaius gave him the raised eyebrow which he always did when he knew that Merlin was bent on something dangerous: "I overheard you, Merlin. If Morgause catches you, she'll kill you."
"I have no choice."
"I suppose so, but do be careful Merlin. Promise me."
"I will do my best, Gaius."
Gaius looked at him warmly: "I remember the bumbling idiot that came charging into my chamber all those years ago. Who would believe..." He gave him a brief hug.
Yes who would believe how far I've come... How far I had still to go... And how much pain and suffering were lying ahead... Merlin checked himself. He knew he couldn't allow himself to muse about the past – or the future, whatever way you looked at it. He remembered how difficult the retaking of Camelot had been. How closely they had avoided failure! He still shivered when he thought about it. If Gaius had not disobeyed Arthur's order and followed him to the throne room, then Morgause would have... And then it fell like scales from his eyes. He knew exactly why the Goddess had sent him here to this very time.
Being back felt so weird. Knowing that he had done all this once before was still something Merlin had to get his head around properly. He was deep in thoughts when Arthur stepped to him, fully prepared for battle.
"It is time. For the love of Camelot!" he said.
"For the love of Camelot!" everybody responded.
Almost silently and very carefully, they made their way towards Camelot's northern ramparts. The castle lied quietly before them; nobody was yet stirring. The knights and Merlin entered through the secret tunnel without being seen. At the end of it, Arthur grabbed both Merlin and Lancelot by their shoulders and nodded at them encouragingly: "Good luck."
Both of them nodded in reply and hurried off towards the Great Hall where Merlin remembered the Cup to be.
To Lancelot, he said: "I can sense the Cup's power. This way."
Just as they turned around one corner, they faced one of Morgana's guards. Before Lancelot had even tried to attack him, Merlin swung Excalibur at him. As soon as the sword went through the guard's body, he exploded.
He caught Lancelot's amazed look and smiled: "It was forged in a dragon's breath."
Not stopping, they continued without any other encounter. At the corner to the Great Hall, Merlin halted and peeked carefully around the corner. Of course, it was guarded. Eight guards were positioned before the door. And behind that door, there was the Cup and Merlin's chance to change the future.
"What do we do now?" Lancelot whispered.
In response, Merlin shot him a look as if to say: 'What do you think? We do what we always do!" Then they both charged.
It was a lot easier than Merlin remembered it to be but maybe that was because he knew he had already done it. With Excalibur, he was able to kill of the guards one by one while Lancelot was saving his back until he could finish them off. Finally, all the guards were destroyed and they entered the Great Hall. Lancelot barricaded the door whereas Merlin already charged the couple of guards inside the Hall. Then it was down to the final two guards. Just before Merlin could finish off the first one, he saw from the corner of his eye that Lancelot was injured though when Merlin had killed the last one, as well, Lancelot motioned to him that it was not that bad.
Meanwhile, the warning bells were sounded. So there was no time to be wasted. Merlin made his way for the Cup which was standing on a small pedestal near the throne. He knew Morgause would enter any minute now. This time he was prepared. Before her spell could throw him on his back, he turned and parried her magic.
Morgause was of course taken aback to encounter a magical resistance. But her shock lasted only briefly. With her so typical smirk, she said to him: "Who'd have guessed? Arthur's useless servant a sorcerer? But that will do you no good! You have crossed me and my sister once too often. I will not allow a mangy sorcerer to thwart our plan this time, boy! I am a High Priestess of the Old Religion! I have a feeling I won't be seeing you again." Just as she was about to direct another spell at Merlin, Gaius stepped out behind one of the pillar.
"No, you won't" he said and then pointing his hand towards her, he shouted: "Oferswing!"causing Morgause to fly back. She was up again in no time and tried to cast spell on Gaius. That was what Merlin had been waiting for. With his eyes flashing golden, he shouted; "Þurhdrif hie ecg!" and therebysent Excalibur straight through her stomach.
Morgause looked rather perplexed at him and started: "You fool! I am a High Priestess, I cannot..." but stopped as she felt her life force draining out. Feebly she sank to the floor.
"You're right" Merlin said while he went across to her and pulled the sword out of her, "but this isn't an ordinary blade. It was forged in a dragon's breath. And I am not a mangy sorcerer. I am Emrys."
At the mention of the name, Morgause's eyes widened in horror.
"This can't be... You can't..." she muttered weakly. And with a final, painful breath Morgause collapsed and was dead.
That's it! I have done it! Merlin thought. But he was interrupted in his celebration by Gaius who brought him back to more urgent matters he had almost forgotten.
"Merlin! The Cup! Hurry!"
With Excalibur in his right hand, he sprinted over to the Cup and knocked it over thereby spilling the contained blood. Merlin turned back just in time to see Morgana hurrying into the Great Hall. As she beheld her sister's corpse, she ran to her and embraced her now cold, lifeless body.
"No! No! Sister!" she whispered softly patting her cheek trying to wake her up.
Merlin deliberately closed his heart against any surge of pity for her by calling her evil deeds to his mind.
"It's over, Morgana" he said coldly.
Morgana looked up at him. That look was pure hatred and fury. Her eyes narrowed as she laughed evilly: "No, you're wrong. This has just begun!"
With a loud outburst, a dark whirl of wind was engulfing the two sisters and then they had vanished into thin air. Morgana's scream sent the windows to explode and the council room to crumble. Just in time, Merlin, Gaius, and Lancelot were able to get out.
Outside in the courtyard, they met the rest of the knights and Arthur. Everybody seemed to be fine except for minor scratches and small wounds that would heal in good time.
"Thank the spirits, this is over!" Gwaine said.
"Not quite, yet" Arthur replied with a smile, "Someone still has to bring Guinevere here."
Arthur had in fact sent all of his Knights of the Round Table to bring her home. Eagerly awaiting their return, Arthur was sitting on top of the stairs that lead to the Castle. Merlin had been standing thoroughly concealed by a pillar watching his friend for some time. Then he went over and sat down next to him. Arthur briefly smiled at him, but what he said was: "Have you seen the state of these boots?"
Typical! Merlin thought. But he was not upset. He was utterly happy and content.
"Yeah" was his short answer.
"Well, go and get something to clean them."
"Why? They're your boots." Oh, how he loved their playful banter! And how good it was to still have the chance to enjoy it!
"Have you lost your mind?"
Hardly trying to cover the grin that began spreading all over his face, Merlin replied: "I thought you believed in equality."
"I'm sorry?"
"At the Round Table, you said..."
"Oh, shut up, Merlin!" Arthur said and gave him a friendly shove.
Merlin laughed wholeheartedly before moving on to a more serious matter: "How's your father?"
"I don't know. All this. Morgana. It's hit him hard - harder than I'd imagined."
"Perhaps we're heading for a new time. You may need to take charge, become...become King."
"Who knows what the future will bring."
Yes, who knows? But they were both roused from their gloomy thoughts by the arrival of Guinevere and the Knights.
"And they searched through the remains of the rubble, and still no Morgana?" Gaius asked Merlin as they were sitting in Gaius's chamber.
Merlin shook his head.
"They won't have gone far. Merlin, no one else is going to say this to you, but I will. Well done."
"We both have. I told you Camelot needed both of us" he said and he truly meant it. He didn't know – and honestly, he didn't even want to – how he would have ended up without his guardian.
"We're going to have to tidy this place up."
Of course, Merlin knew what he still had to he replied while getting to his feet: "Hmm. But not now."
"Where are you going?"
"There's something I have to do."
Unseen, Merlin sneaked out of the castle into the woods. At a clearing in a safe distance from Camelot, he found what he was looking for. An enormous rock was lying in the middle of it and a ray of warm red evening sunshine illuminated the rock. Again Merlin felt the surge of an air of destiny as he walked up to the stone and raised Excalibur in his two hands up above his head. With a flicker of gold in his eyes, Merlin thrust the sword deeply into it. Smiling contently, he took one last look at it and then made his way home. There was still a long way before him in order to save Arthur, but he truly believed that he had made the first step.
So that's it for season 3. Morgause is dead and so there is nobody to tear the veil which means... I think you all know what that means ;-)
