The little Shadows jumped down the stairs and several servants froze on the spot after seeing the Shadows appear out of what it seemed like nothing.

'Stay with us.' Ghrinst screamed at her children.

They turned around and waited for their mother, Merlin and Gwaine to catch up with them. 'Just stay with us, okay?' Merlin asked and they nodded.

They walked through the town and at lunchtime they reached the gates. The tour took longer then the knight and sorcerer had expected, because the whelps found everything interesting while the people only looked at them with big and scared eyes. Surprisingly the only people who reacted well at the Shadows were a group of children who wanted to play with them until their mothers screamed that they couldn't do that. Merlin pitied the mothers who almost got heart attacks seeing their babies playing with 'monsters'. After that the little Shadows were a bit down until Gwaine bought them a snack from a scared shop owner.

They decided to eat their lunch in the shadows of the trees which stood outside of the castle walls. Merlin had brought them all some lunch which he had prepared back at the castle.

'This food is nice.' Sgirn said while liking the last of the food out of the bowl. 'Thank you.' She said to Merlin and he smiled.

'So what do you think about Camelot?' Gwaine asked.

'It's nice, but I really don't understand why the people are so scared of us. I mean they looked like scared sheep.' Starg said and in her voice Merlin heard that she found it stupid.

Gwaine sighed. 'People are scared about things they don't understand. You are not something they know so they are terrified. It's the human nature.'

'That's stupid. Then they would never be able to play with others.' Starg looked confused at the two humans and her mother. 'What's wrong?'

'Nothing.' Gwaine said with a smile and he placed her on his lap. He started playing with her and after seeing that the two other Shadows became jealous and jumped on Gwaine. Gwaine who didn't expect that fell backwards on the ground. When he pushed himself up again an even bigger smile appeared on his face and he started wrestling with the whelps, making sure not to hurt any of the little Shadows.

Merlin couldn't help but think that he never had seen the knight so happy. He then looked at Ghrinst and he saw that she also smiled. 'They like him.'

'Yeah, you're right. I have never seen him so happy expect when he is drunk.'

'I hope that he won't get drunk when my babies are around.'

Merlin grinned. 'He won't and if he does then just hit him on the head.'

Ghrinst also started grinning and they looked at Gwaine and the whelps again. Gwaine lay down on the ground with the three little Shadows on top of him.

'Gwaine get up, it's time to get back.' Merlin said and Gwaine lifted his head and looked frustrated at him. 'Merlin, tell them that. I can't get up they are to heavy.'

Sigrn was not happy with the knight's words and jumped up and down the knight's chest which made Gwaine gasp for air.

'Get of him, you three.'

The little Shadows came of Gwaine's chest and they had a lot of fun while the knight was rubbing his chest.

They headed back to the castle and Merlin walked next to Gwaine. He looked curious at the knight and noticed that he had a sad expression on his face. 'What's wrong?'

The knight turned his head to his friend and sighed. 'They remind me of my little brother.'

'You have a little brother? I never knew that.'

Gwaine closed his eyes. 'He died of an illness when I was twelve.' He waited a while before talking again. 'After his dead I felt really guilty that I didn't play more with him.'

'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.'

The knight hit Merlin on the shoulder and smiled, but the sorcerer saw that the sadness never left the knight's eyes. 'It was a long time ago.'

xxx

'So what did they think about the tour?' Arthur asked his servant when he and Gwaine told the king that they were back from the tour.

'They found it fantastic, right Gwaine.'

The knight had a big smile on his face. 'He's right. So did something happen during the meeting?'

'No, it was quite boring.'

Then the warning bells sounded and everyone in the room froze. Gwen came into the room and looked at her husband. 'Do you know what is going on?' She was clearly scared and walked further into the room to stand beside her husband.

He shaked his head and looked at Gwaine and Merlin, but he saw that they also didn't know what was going on. Before anyone could asked something else Leon, Elyan and Percival ran into the room. 'What's happening?' The king stood up and looked at them.

'We're under attack by Morgana!'

'What! How did she get into Camelot?'

'We have no idea, my lord.'

'Merlin!' The king turned towards the sorcerer. 'Are you ready?'

The warlock took a deep breath. 'Yes, I am.'

All of them stood together when the door slammed open. It was Morgana who came through the doors and stared at them with an evil smile on her face.

'Hello dear brother.' She said and she took a few steps forward.

'Don't come any closer.' The king said and he took his sword in his hand. Soon after that the knights followed his example.

Morgana started laughing. 'Do you think I'm afraid of your little swords?'

Arthur looked silent at the witch and said nothing. 'Or do you think that Emrys is going to save you.' She lifted her hands and the doors closed. 'Nobody can come in or leave this room.'

'We're not afraid of you Morgana.' Merlin looked at the woman with anger in his eyes.

'You should be scared little boy, but don't worry I will not use you as bait this time. I will kill you together with your dear friends.'

'The only one that will die here today will be you.' Arthur stepped in front of his friends and stared at the witch making sure he was ready if she tried something. He wasn't planning on letting any of his friends getting hurt.

'Arthur.' Merlin whispered and he placed his hand on the king's shoulder. 'I can…'

'Not yet.' The king whispered back and Merlin nodded that he understood.

'I'm very curious about the things you're saying to each other. I hope for you that you're saying goodbye, because you don't have long to live anymore.' Her eyes were filled with darkness which made Merlin shiver. He knew that her heart was full of darkness and pain and he couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

She grinned evil at her enemies. 'It's time for you to die now.' She lifted her hand and a ball of fire was created. 'Goodbye.' She fired the ball towards the group.

'No!' Merlin screamed and he stepped in front of his king and created a barrier around them by putting his hands up and speaking the words of the old religion. The fire reached the barrier and he could hear Gwen screaming and the knights all took a step back. Only the king didn't move. Merlin was surprised by that action, but the king trusted his friend that he would protect them.

Morgana slowly let her arms go down and looked surprised at the group and especially at Merlin. 'You… you… are.'

'Emrys.' Merlin said with a powerful voice that showed no hesitation. He knew it was time for the people to know he had magic. Which also included Morgana.

'You, but… but.'

'Are you that surprised Morgana?'

She stared at him in shock and then she looked at her brother. 'And you knew about that and accepted it?'

'Why wouldn't I Morgana. I'm not my father!' The king said and he laid his hand on the warlock's shoulder.

She growled at them and at the same time Merlin could see a bit of sadness in her eyes. 'You despise magic.'

'I once did, but I now know the truth.'

'You would never change! I will create the kingdom that the people want. You will all die.'

'I won't let you harm anyone!' Merlin said.

'You… you're a weak little creature. Let's see how strong you really are.' She lifted her hands ones more and created a spell. Merlin easily deflected the ice she created and he let lightning hit her. She could barely create a barrier and stared breathless at the sorcerer. 'You're… quite good.'

He grinned. 'So what are you planning now?'

'Do you really think that I have given up?'

'Merlin is stronger then you! He will kick your ass' Gwaine shouted and everybody looked stunned at the knight.

It was Morgana who was the first one to act and another ball of fire was thrown at the others. It was Gwen who saw what happened and she shouted a warning. Merlin reacted in time to deflect the magic, but some of the fire burned his hands and he let out a little scream of pain.

'Are you okay.' A worried king asked.

'I'm fine, just a little burn.'

'Just don't let that happen again.'

Merlin smiled at his king and nodded. He then turned back towards the witch and his power pushed her into the wall. She wasn't able to deflect the magic and when she hit the wall the sound of breaking bones could be heard. The witch then hit the floor and she didn't move anymore.

'Is she dead?' Leon asked and he wanted to walk towards Morgana, but Merlin stopped him.

'No she isn't dead. She is still dangerous, so don't get close to her.' The warlock said and the knights heard in his voice that they couldn't oppose him.

He was right. Morgana groaned and she tried to lift herself up. She was able to sit and her eyes shot fire towards the sorcerer. Blood appeared on her stomach and tears of pain appeared in her eyes.

'I won't forgive you for this. You betrayed your own kind!' Despise was heard in her voice.

Merlin looked at her and sighed. 'It isn't me who betrayed our kind, but you. Because of you the people think that magic is evil. We should have shown them that it can be used for good.'

'That's only possible when your precious king is dead.'

It was Arthur who responded next. 'No I have seen what magic can do and I'm willingly to accept it.' Merlin felt happy when his king said this words and couldn't help, but smile a bit.

'Then you let me no choice.' She said and she grabbed a dagger from one of the folds in her dress. All of the knight grabbed their swords tighter in their hands and stared at her having an idea about the witch next action. She lifted her hand and threw the dagger with inhuman power at the group.

The warlock pulled the king behind him and created a barrier in front of him. The dagger hit the barrier with an incredible force and Merlin did a step back. 'No.' Arthur could hear his friend whisper and before he could ask what was wrong the barrier scattered into small pieces. The dagger came towards the group and pierced itself into Merlin's chest.

At first Arthur didn't understand what happened, but he realised it when the body of his friend became numb. 'No!' He screamed and he tried to prevent the body of the sorcerer to fall on the ground. Gwen screamed again and he could hear Leon cursing.

A loud evil laugh was heard from the witch and she disappeared in a fog of darkness, but before that she screamed at them. 'Emrys will never hinder me again.'

The king didn't care anymore for the witch and he only looked at Merlin who he held in his arms. 'Merlin, Merlin can you hear me?'

The rest of the group sat down around the king and their friend. 'Please say something.' Tears appeared in the king's eyes, but he didn't care. He didn't want to lose someone he cared for again.

'Arthur?' The sorcerer said with a faint voice.

Arthur tried to smile, but it didn't work. He placed his hands on the wound to tried to stop the bleeding. 'Just stay with us okay.' He then looked desperate at the others. 'Get Gaius.' Elyan and Gwaine quickly ran through the large doors the get their old friend.

'Can you hear me?'

'Yeah, I… can hear you...'

'Can you do something with magic?' Percival asked and he noticed that Gwen had started to cry.

It took too long in Arthur's opinion for the sorcerer to answer. 'Maybe.' Merlin then slowly lifted his right hand towards the wound and looked at Arthur. The king understood what he had to do and grabbed the dagger.

'Are you sure?'

Merlin nodded and the knights all hold Merlin down so that Arthur could pull out the dagger. 'This will hurt.' The boy moaned.

The king pulled out the dagger and blood starting coming out faster. Then Merlin placed his hand on the wound and he whispered some words. The sorcerer's chest started to light up with a bright blue light. Arthur sighed in relieve when he saw that the blood that was coming out decreased. The light stopped and Merlin closed his eyes.

'Merlin?' The king whispered, but he didn't get a response from his friend.

He then heard someone behind him come closer and Gwen made place so that Gaius could sit down on the ground in front of their friend.

Arthur looked to him and saw that tears started falling down from the physician eyes. 'Gaius?'

'I… I don't know sire.'

'But he can't die.'

'He's not dead yet, but I don't…' Gwen started to cry even harder and he saw that some of the knights also had tears in their eyes.

Gaius began treating the wound and they all sat down in silence for what seemed like hours in Arthur's mind before Gaius put the last string of bandage around the small body of his young friend.

'He has used magic on it?' It was not really a question, but more a statement and the king nodded.

The old man sighed. 'Then maybe there is still hope. If he hadn't done that he would already be dead, but now he has a change, even when this change is a small one. We should get him to my chambers.'

'No they are too far away. Mine are closer.' The king said and the physician nodded that it would be better.

The knights lifted the body carefully, because they saw that their king couldn't do it and carried him towards the king's room.

Arthur also stood up to follow them, but looked back at where his friend had fallen. He closed his eyes by the sight of all the blood and he knew that many men would have been dead by the amount he had lost.

They arrived at his room and the knights slowly laid the warlock on the bed. Merlin's skin had become white and blood leaked through the bandage. Arthur felt as if someone grabbed his heart in a strong hold. Tears still ran over the king's face and he turned away, not able to look at his friend like this. He felt responsible for what happened to the poor sorcerer and he hated himself for that.

Coldness spread through his body and mind. 'I… I don't want to lose my dearest friend.'

xxx

A/N: I'm so cruel… poor Merlin. Please don't hate me for it. I will try to not let all of you wait to long before the next chapter.