Ten months ago:
Merlin and Arthur stood side by side as they watched the royal forger make Merlin's sword.
"Are you sure the is a good idea?" Arthur asked.
"Every Court Sorcerer of Camelot I've read about had one," Merlin answered.
"You can't even use a sword properly," Arthur pointed out.
Merlin shrugged. "Don't need to. Once the sword is bound to me, it will guide me."
When Merlin learned that his predecessors all had swords of magic, he figured that it was time he had a sword of his own. He spent days looking through the royal library on how to make one. Once he figured it out, he went to Arthur and told him his plan. As soon as Arthur had agreed, they headed for the royal forge.
"How much longer, Timothy?" Arthur asked.
"Not much longer, Sire," Timothy answered. "Very soon Emrys can cast the spell."
An hour or so later the sword was ready. Arthur stood in front of Merlin, as the warlock held the sword up and began to cast the spell.
"Liga gladius ad voluntatem meam. Ipsam habeto, et deducet me in bellum gero burdrens*," Merlin recited boldly allowing his magic to fill him up.
The sword began to glow as it became balanced in the warlock's hand. As the glowing dimmed, the sword shrunk and transformed into a silver coin.
Five months ago:
Merlin stood at the mouth of a cave. A cave he's visited many times in his life. He looked into the darkness as he turned a silver coin in his hand.
He had to hide the item. He had to hide it now. Arthur and some of the knights were beginning to question his recent actions and behaviour. They were noticing the changes. Changes that weren't meant to happen.
The warlock looked down at the coin in his hand. He thumbed the engraved words that wrapped around it: thánato apó pyrkagiá.
"Death by fire," Merlin muttered as he easily translated the older langauge. He had no idea why the words were engraved on the coin or what they meant for him.
Merlin pushed the thought to the back of his mind as he through the coin into the depths of the cave. In midair the sword began to glow gold. As it glowed it grew and transformed into his sword.
The warlock watched as the sword fell behind a massive rock. As it hit the ground, Merlin turned and waked away from the cave.
Arthur sat with Mordred, Morgana, Gwaine, Gwen, Percival and Leon in one of the guest chambers. After making sure the room was clear of Merlin and his eavesdropping techniques, the seven of them got down to business.
"The only way to get rid of the sword is for Merlin to do it at his own free will," Mordred stated.
"He doesn't have any left. That sword has possessed him," Gwaine pointed out.
Arthur shook his head."I don't think so. At least not entirely. Merlin said that there is still a part his true self trapped away in his mind somewhere. We just have to reach him."
"How are we going to do that?" Leon asked.
"I would say for us to find out his biggest secret, but that was revealed after the ban was lifted," Gwaine said. "But we all know that he still has secrets. Things he'd never even tell Gaius."
"But his mother might," Morgana said.
"How do you know that?" Percival asked.
"When we went to Ealdor for a couple of weeks, Hunith mentioned that he told her just about everything," Morgana answered.
"Still there is the chance that he never told her," Leon pointed out.
"And there is every chance that he might have," Arthur said. "Morgana, I want you and Leon to head to Ealdor at first light. When you get there talk to his mother. If Merlin asks where you are going. We are all to say that you're going to visit a friend of your mothers. The rest of us are to keep an eye on Merlin."
After all seven of them agreed to the plan, they left the chambers. Once all of them were gone, Merlin removed his cloak. He just smirked. Not even his mother would know the secret.
Suddenly he frowned at the thought of the long kept secret. Then just as quickly as the frown appeared, it disappeared and was replaced by the an emotionless thin line.
A/N: The spell was written in Latin. Here's the translation: Bind this sword to my will. Have it guide me through battle and carry my burdens.