'These Are Thoughts'

"Arthur, no! You have to come back! If you step through the veil, you'll die!" Merlin reached out to Arthur and stepped cautiously, slowly, across the fragile bridge between.

They were on another hunt to capture the witch responsible for creating chaos in Camelot. The witch had ripped open the veil and the Dorcha were flying about, terrorizing villages and plunging Camelot back into darkness.

They were close. So close, but the chase had been a trap. For once they had stepped through the cave, their fate was sealed as the rocks crumbled and closed off the entrance so due to lack of choices, Arthur and Merlin traveled further into the cave and have come across the veil. Past experience have told them exactly how a veil is closed. It demands a sacrifice. The ground shook causing both Prince and Servant to stumble. Arthur closer to his demise. Merlin away from the bridge and onto his rump. The servant got up and tried once again to reach Arthur.

"Please Arthur. Please, get back over here." He pleaded.

'Why can't Merlin understand?' Arthur thought as he watched his friends useless attempts to cross the bridge and avoiding certain death if he was to fall off it. 'I can not let someone else die for me when I can fix this on my own.'

"Merlin, stop it. Go back, it's too dangerous." He pleaded to him.

"That's exactly why I'm trying to save you, you massive prat!" Tears were now pouring from the young boys eyes. Arthur was going to die. Arthur wanted to die. All because he's too proud and stubborn and a self sacrificing idiot who just. won't. stop!

"It has to be this way Merlin. I have to sacrifice myself so that we may close the veil." Masking his emotions, he nodded his head with a finality. Finally, truly accepting what he must do. The tears didn't stop spilling from Merlin's eyes.

"Good-bye, Merlin." Arthur turned his back to his sobbing friend and walked closer to the veil. Soon, Arthur Pendragon will be no more.

xXxXx

"My lady, you got that all wrong." Gwen's voice came from over Morgana's shoulder causing the raven haired beauty to jump in her seat from surprise. She didn't know Gwen was their.

"Guinevere!" She held a hand to her chest, just over her heart. "Don't scare me like that."

Morgana had been too focused on the parchment she'd been writing on for the last few hours. She hadn't noticed when the door had been opened, neither when Gwen had entered. How long has she been standing there?

"I-I'm sorry mi'lady!" Gwen stuttered, her hands held out in front of her defensively. Then the hands were hovering over her mouth with a guilty and apologetic kicked puppy expression showing on the serving girl's face. It's hard to stay mad at that face.

"No, it's alright. Just next time, warn me if you decide to sneak up on me again." A smile curved on Morgana's lips and Gwen visibly relaxed, giving her mistress a sheepish smile in return.

"I'm really sorry mi'lady. I promise I won't do it again and...if I may. Your story...you've got it all wrong." At this, Morgana lifted a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"How so?"

Guinevere tucked a lock of curly hair behind her ear, focusing her concentration on her words so that she won't offend her mistress.

"Well, for one thing, it's Merlin you've got wrong. There is no way he would just let Arthur die. At least, not let him die alone."

She's right. Morgana thought. Merlin seems to be extremely loyal to her half-brother.

"Would you care to show me, Gwen? How would think this ends?" Gwen took the offered parchment and quill from Morgana.

xXxXx

"No Arthur!" Merlin finally had success in crossing the dreaded bridge. He grabbed Arthur's shoulder and gave him a firm squeeze.

"If you won't listen to me then...we'll go together."

Arthur had been startled and he stared at Merlin, eyes searching for any deception or hints of guilty maybe. There was none.

"You'd do that, follow me to our certain death, all for me?" Merlin nodded, his grip tightening on Arthur's shoulder.

"Yes. I promise, I'll protect you. Or die by your side." Their eyes met and Arthur could see the fierce determination and resolute in the others eyes. He nodded and took Merlin's hand from his shoulder, intertwining his fingers with his own.

"Together." He smiled. Merlin gave his own cheeky grin and the pair walked into the veil not as Servant and Master, but as equals.

xXxXx

"That was brilliant Gwen! So much better than Arthur dyeing on his own and you're right. Merlin would stick to Arthur's side no matter what."

"Thank you mi'lady." Gwen giggled. Morgana smiled and began rolling up the parchment, tying it secure. "I better go, I have to get the laundry cleaned for tomorrow." With that, Gwen curtsied and excused herself, leaving Morgana's room.

Morgana smirked. "My plans for Arthur's demise is well hidden." She placed the rolled up parchment in her dresser along with the many other rolled up parchments. "Not even dear, sweet, innocent Gwen suspected. No, in fact, she helped. I do hope she'll help more in the future.

-The End-

A/N: And that's the end of the second chapter. I promise you, this all ties in. You'll just have to bear with me and see.
Thank you to those of you who have reviewed and those who liked and followed! Cookies for the lot of you. And to who ever else does so in the future! :D

Taa!