Uther looked up as both his sons, and Morgana entered the audience chamber, Merlin unable, or more than likely, unwilling to meet his father's gaze, his mind still in turmoil about what had been done to save him, beside him, Arthur was the opposite, watching his father expectantly, while Morgana simply waited, standing near to Merlin, as if to offer some small measure of support. The room itself was empty except for the four of them, an uneasy silence lingering.

"This, will not be easy for me to explain, but it is something you need to know, and I have put it off far too long already" Uther began. None of the others spoke, so Uther took that as a queue to continue.

"As you may have realised our feud with Balinor goes back many, many years, and once, long ago, he was the greatest ally I could ever have, but as often the case, things went sour between us" Uther continued. Then he stood and began to pace, before glancing at Merlin, who was at least looking at him now.

"Your mother told me you said that my battle with Balinor was different, that there was more between us than simple enemies, in that regard, you were indeed right" Uther told him. Merlin and Arthur looked at each other, then back at Uther.

"Balinor is not simply my enemy, he is also my brother" he stated.

"What?" demanded Arthur, Merlin and Morgana at the same time. Uther held up his hand for silence.

"Many years ago we were born to the greatest Dragonlord that ever lived. I was first born, and therefore, when I came of age, I was named Crown prince of Camelot. However, what neither of us, Balinor or I, knew, was that when a Dragonlord dies, the power passes to the son" Uther told them. "And when my father did finally die, the power passed to the son, it passed to Balinor" He said. "Balinor, who realising what an incredible power he held in his hands, came to the belief that he should become ruler of Camelot"

"Just because he was a Dragonlord?" asked Morgana. Uther nodded at her.

"Yes. Eventually, it became open warfare between us. Myself and the armies of Camelot, Balinor and his Dragons. We warred for nearly four years, until we managed to push him back far enough that he had no choice but to flee. Even then I was a fool, I had the chance to kill him, there and then, but a part of me still knew him as my brother, so instead I let him escape" Uther said.

"And now he want revenge on you" stated Arthur. Uther looked at him and nodded.

"Not just me, all of us. Balinor is of the mind only he is fit to rule, and anyone else is simply an impediment to be removed, by any means possible" Uther explained.

"Which, now brings me to my second reason for summoning you here" Uther said. the three of them frowning. "I know, you will all balk at what I am about to order, but you will do as I command. Until this situation with Balinor is resolved, one way or the other, you must, yourself and Merlin both, leave Camelot" Uther stated. The reaction was what he had expected, open ridicule, but Uther was having none of it.

"This is for the best, If Balinor calls down his full force upon Camelot, and there is a strong possibility he will eventually do so, then there is no way we can guarantee anyone's survival, and above all else, the Pendragons must not fall" Uther stated, calmly.

"you can't seriously expect us to just abandon you" said Merlin, finally speaking up.

"I do and I can. There will be no argument in this, the decision is made. And perhaps, one day you will be able to return, but until then you must work to keep away from Balinor, for he will surely be hunting you at every opportunity, waiting for his moment to strike you down. That cannot be allowed to happen" Uther informed them. "You will leave at sunrise tomorrow, I am however assigning Sir Leon and Sir Lancelot to you, Morgana, You will, of course have to go with them, for we cannot allow anything to happen to you either, so your knight, Sir Percival will also join you, as will your maid, Gwen" Uther said.

"And me" said a voice from the doorway, The group looked over to see Gwaine striding in.

"Gwaine?" asked Arthur.

"My lord, you will have Nimueh here to help defend the castle, and I would, actually like to stay myself, but when the princes and my lady do leave, then I would be remiss if I were not there to offer my own protection to them" Gwaine said. Uther looked at him and smiled, stepping forwards.

"Your loyalty and dedication to my sons is most welcome. I thank you and accept your offer" Uther said formally. Gwaine nodded, then left the room.

"Father…" Arthur began. Uther looked at him, but his expression said that his word was indeed final. Arthur sighed, then bowed and walked out. Merlin looked over at Morgana, who frowned, then nodded, bowed to Uther and left the room. Uther slowly turned to face his son. Waiting for him to speak.

"I know, things are… difficult between us" Merlin began. "But I also understand why you did what you did" he admitted. Uther nodded, but remained silent.

"That doesn't excuse what you've done, and I'm still dealing with that" Merlin admitted.

"I know" Uther replied gently. Merlin looked at him, then stepped forwards.

"But no matter what, I know you meant well, for me, but you must promise me this, if Arthur or I should fall in battle, or during whatever we're about to face, you must give me your word you will not use the Cup again" Merlin said. Uther blinked, then slowly nodded.

"I give you my word" he said. Merlin smiled then without warning, pulled Uther into an embrace. His father returning it just as forcefully.

"I love you father" Merlin said softly. Uther felt his eyes become damp and blinked it away, instead he pulled back, and clasped Merlin's shoulders.

"And I you" he replied with a smile. The two men looked at each other for a moment longer, then slowly Merlin turned and walked away, out of the room, Uther smiling like an idiot the entire time.


"Father is wrong, we shouldn't be running from Balinor" Arthur stated as Morgana walked around her chambers with Gwen, Arthur leaning on the wall. Morgana looked up at him, then moved over to him.

"For what its worth I agree with you, but he does what he believes is right, and you must admit, he does have a point" she told him. Arthur looked away, then nodded.

"That doesn't mean I have to like it" he stated. Morgana smiled and took his hand.

"No, we do not" she agreed. "But we will obey him just the same" she said.

"We will?" asked Arthur.

"We will, because you have said you will, and I will do as my liege commands, you must trust him Arthur" she said. Arthur sighed, then nodded, turning as the door opened and Merlin walked in.

"Well?" asked Arthur, looking at him. Merlin smiled and nodded.

"We've… made our peace" Merlin told him. Arthur sighed, then moved from the wall.

"Good. Gwen, would you mind helping me pack a few bits" he said. Gwen looked up, then at Morgana who nodded.

"Of course sire" she said, following Arthur out. Merlin and Morgana looked at each other for a moment, before Morgana moved to the small table, pouring them a drink each.

"I'm glad you spoke to him" she said as she handed Merlin the drink. Merlin took it and nodded.

"Same" he agreed. "I can't stay mad at him, no matter how I feel" he admitted. Morgana put her dink down, then slowly approached Merlin, stopping a few feet away from him, before running a finger down his tunic.

"I know" she said softly. Merlin watching as her finger slowly pulled a button open, he didn't stop her, but he did begin to gulp the water nervously as his shirt finally fell open. Morgana chuckled and took the cup from him, placing it on the table, Merlin moving up behind her, wrapping his arms around her gently, kissing the nape of her neck. Morgana slowly turned, pushing the open tunic from his shoulders.

"I have no idea why you were always so self-conscious" she whispered as she placed a hand on his chest. Merlin smiled, then leant in kissing her passionately, unfastening her gown, even as she did the same to his trousers and eventually, they fell onto the bed, wrapped in each other's bodies, kissing gently as finally the emotions of the past few days took them.


"YOU HAVE BETRAYED ME!" Balinor roared as Kilgharrah looked down at him.

"No Balinor, I am attempting to save you from yourself! This path you walk will lead only to your death!" he roared in return. "You have lost Hunith, would you risk losing your daughter as well?" Kilgharrah demanded. Balinor stepped forwards, Kilgharrah actually flinching at the darkness in Balinor's eyes.

"You dare invoke my beloved's name again and I will slaughter you" Balinor said.

"Listen to yourself! So blinded by hatred, by you lust for that which was never yours to begin with, remember Balinor it was you who set this entire process in motion when you waged war on your own brother!"

"It was my right!"

"IT WAS NEVER YOUR RIGHT! CAMELOT WAS NEVER TO BE YOURS!" Kilgharrah roared. A moment later he felt a sharpness pierce his thick hide and moved back, looking at the bloody wound on his leg.

"So you would strike me, I who have served you faithfully for over thirty years, it comes to this" Kilgharrah almost seemed sad as he took flight.

"You forget your place, Dragon, you were never an equal to me" Balinor whispered. "And if you will not do my bidding, then there are other Dragons that will" he stated.

"You cannot get them all Balinor!" Kilgharrah replied. "No matter how many dragons you call!"

"Oh this has gone far beyond petty vengeance now. I will raze Camelot to the ground, there will be nothing but ash and cinders left!" he cried, then he looked at Morgause.

"Call the Serkets!"

"Father?" she asked, shocked at his anger.

"do not question me!, you will call them, and send them upon Camelot as well! Those people who do survive the Dragons will not so easily survive the Serkets" he stated, then looked back at Kilgharrah.

"Do you understand now? I'm not merle content to have Uther and his brood. When I am finished there will not be a living soul left in that city" he stated.

"Then you have truly lost" Kilgharrah muttered sadly. Balinor grinned.

"No, I really haven't" he stated.


They were both flushed, breathing heavily from their love making, laying on the bed, just holding each other now.

"That.. was intense" said Merlin. Morgana smiled at him.

"I can be very intense, I'm sure you've had practice though" she teased. Merlin looked down at her, into her eyes.

"Actually, that was… to say, you're…"

"Your first?" she asked gently. He nodded and she smiled. "I'm surprised" She said.

"Why?" he asked.

"Well, you're the prince for one thing, damned good looking for the other, and I thought the ladies would be… tripping over at the chance to bed you" she admitted. Merlin smiled and shook his head.

"Just because I'm a prince, that doesn't mean I'm Arthur" he chuckled.

"so, what were you waiting for?" she asked gently. He smiled and cupped her head in his hand.

"Truthfully? I was waiting for someone I loved more than anything in this life" he said gently. "Turns out it was you" he told her. She smiled brightly at him then kissed him gently.

"My father was right" she said softly.

"About?"

"even the darkest times have moments of light" she told him.

"Your father is someone I miss a great deal" Merlin said softly. She smiled again, hugging him, then resting her head on his chest, just listening to his soft breathing.

"I had no idea sweaty chest hair was so comfortable" Merlin teased. She chuckled at him, but didn't move, Merlin watching as she slowly began to fall asleep. He smiled as he brought his hand up and stroked her back softly.


"You're sure you have everything?" asked Uther the next morning as he looked at his sons.

"Yes Father" said Arthur. Uther nodded, then pulled him into an embrace.

"Remember, you are the future of this family, don't ever let your guard down" he whispered.

"And you remember I expect to return to my father" Arthur replied. Uther patted him on the back, as he turned to Merlin.

"Father" Merlin said. Uther smiled at him, then pulled him into an embrace as well.

"Look after him, and yourself"

"I promise, we'll both come back to you" Merlin said. Uther smiled and nodded.

"I do not doubt it" he said. Merlin nodded and turned to his mother who was saying a tearful farewell to Arthur, before turning to Merlin.

"To lose you, to get you back, for you to leave again. Please come back to me" she said hugging him.

"We will mother" he replied. "And you, take care" he stated. Vivienne smiled then burst into tears.

"I love you so much" she whispered to him.

"And I you" he said as he kissed her cheek. Behind him, Morgana was embracing Uther.

"I know I have been here but a short while, but you have made me feel as loved as any person could wish for" she told him.

"And you, you shall always be the daughter I never had, but always dreamed of" he replied. Morgana smiled as he kissed her cheek. "Be safe" he told her. She nodded and then turned to Vivienne.

"My lady" she said approaching.

"Oh my dear" she said pulling her to her. "I wish I could make the nightmares of the past week vanish for you" Vivienne said.

"And you, I know I never knew my mother, but if she was half as kind, decent, caring as you have been to me, then she was blessed. But know this, you are and always have been the person I consider my mother" Morgana said, tears sliding down her cheek. Vivienne stroked her face, then kissed her forehead.

"And you, my child, you have always been my daughter" she replied. Morgana smiled as she mounted her unicorn. Arthur and Merlin already on there's. the rest of the group having been provided the best horses from the stables, even Gwen.

"Come on, we should get moving" said Arthur. Beside him Merlin nodded, as did Morgana. Arthur felt himself smile, then moved his unicorn forwards, the rest of them falling into line next to and behind him. They looked back once, to see Uther and Vivienne standing on the steps, Vivienne crying into Uther's shoulder.


It was near to dark when the warning bell sounded, their children having been gone for several hours now. They looked at each other, then moved to the window as people began to scream in the streets, the sky above Camelot was dotted with Dragons of various sizes. Breathing fire down into the city. Slowly Uther drew his sword and turned.

"Uther… please come back" said Vivienne.

"I will" he promised, then walked out of the room, Vivienne watching as Dragon's began to dive bomb the city.

Uther strode out into the courtyard, several knights and Nimueh with him, he could hear people screaming from the lower town, and twice he caught the shape of Serkets scuttling around, chasing people, striking them down. Men, women and children.

"KNIGHTS OF CAMELOT!" Uther roared as he raised his sword. They followed suit.

"TO ARMS!" he yelled rushing forwards.


Far away, atop a clearing on a hill in the forest the group stopped and looked back, all of them seeing the night sky lit up as Camelot burned.

"We must make haste" said Gwaine softly. The group looked at him.

"I'm going back" Arthur stated.

"Arthur" Merlin said. "You promised" he said.

"Don't you see the sky?" demanded Arthur.

"Yes, I do, and that's exactly why you can't go back" Merlin replied.

"Then where do we go?" Arthur demanded.

"We go east" Gwaine told them. "To the nearest border and then beyond" he added.

"This is wrong" Arthur said.

"I know it feels that way to you, but I promise we will return, and when we do we shall have an army of our own the likes of which Balinor has never encountered" Gwaine stated. Morgana looked at him.

"You sound very sure of that" she stated.

"I am" he agreed. "Because whatever happens this day, Balinor will pay"