Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter Nine:

Merlin walked through the forest, which was growing darker and darker with every passing second. Under one arm he carried the fire wood he had collected, but while he'd been looking for fire wood, he'd also been searching for the dark presence he'd felt when Arthur had first come here to confront the Disir, he'd been unable to find a single trace of it.

Returning to their camp for the night, Merlin found Arthur sitting next to a small fire, seemingly lost in thought. Merlin gently set down the wood he jade gathered and sat down on the opposite side of the fire, adding an extra stick or two to it every now and again.

"How did you know this place was sacred?" Arthur asked suddenly, almost causing Merlin to jump.

"That's obvious," Merlin answered, looking round with a slight smile.

"Pretend it isn't," Arthur said.

"Everything here," Merlin began to try and explain. "Is so full of life. Every tree, every leaf... Every insect. It's as if the world is vibrating. As if everything is much more than itself."

Arthur have Merlin a strange look.

"You feel all that?" Arthur asked in disbelief.

"Don't you?" Merlin countered.

The two of them fell silent as Arthur looked at the darkening forest around them.

"What will you do?" Merlin asked, not looking up from the fire.

"I don't know," Arthur answered. "My heart says do anything I can to save Mordred… But I have seen what misery unfettered sorcery brings. Before my father outlawed magic, Camelot was almost destroyed by sorcery, or so I was taught… In my own time, Morgana has used it for nothing but evil."

Merlin looked up at Arthur, "What do you mean?"

"I spoke with Gaius," Arthur explained. "After what the Dolma told me, I had to know whether it was true… My father used magic when my mother couldn't fall pregnant and it cost her life… My father blamed magic, even when he had been warned a life had to be taken if I was to live. My mother died so I could live and my father could not live with that guilt, so he blamed magic… How many innocent people were killed? How many innocent people did he send me to kill?"

"Arthur…" Merlin began, but he didn't know what to say.

"How many of the 'evil sorcerers' that have attacked Camelot, have simply been acting out of desperation… Or simply seeking revenge or retribution? My father slaughtered thousands of their kind, hunted them like animals… And I have done the same, believing what my father taught me was right.

"How was what they did any different to what I have done? I left Camelot to find Osgar and to punish him, because he killed one of my Knight's, someone I considered a friend… Those sorcerers have watched their families die at the hand of my father and by his orders…

"And then there is Morgana. She won't rest until Camelot is hers and she has already shown how many she is willing to kill to achieve that. To free magic would give her an open invitation, for almost every sorcerer we have found in Camelot since I became king, has been working for Morgana. How, if I were to free magic, would I be able to tell who is loyal to me and who is working for my sister?"

Merlin stared at Arthur, unsure how to respond to such a speech. This was something Arthur needed to work out for himself… He had to make this choice and his heart had to be in it, for he was the Kong of Camelot and this decision would affect his people and his kingdom… But that didn't mean Merlin would remain quiet on the matter, if Arthur insisted he answer.

"Tell me, Merlin, what would you do?" Arthur asked. "In my place?"

"Me?" Merlin questioned. "I'm just a lackey, a maker of beds."

"Lackeys can be wise," Arthur answered.

Merlin glanced at Arthur before looking back at the fire.

"It is not like you to be silent," Arthur pointed out after a moment.

"A kingdom's future is at stake," Merlin answered.

"And a man's life," Arthur added.

Merlin shut his eyes as he thought of Mordred, slowly dying back in Camelot.

"You must protect Camelot. You must protect the world you have spent your life building," Merlin finally answered. "A just and fair kingdom for all."

"You would have me sacrifice a friend?" Arthur asked in disbelief.

"No," Merlin shook his head. "I would have you become the king you are destined to be."

"If I do save Mordred, all my father's work will be for nothing," Arthur said.

"But do you really believe your father was right?" Merlin asked. "You, yourself, admitted that you don't believe he was."

"Camelot was strong and withstood what many Kingdoms wouldn't, during my father's rule," Arthur pointed out. "He was a strong king?"

"But was he a good one?" Merlin questioned. "Was he fair? Was he just? Was he kind? Did he give those accused of magic a fair trial? Did he care about what happened to those he saw beneath him? And value their lives the same as any Lord or Knight? Did he let his hatred for what he didn't understand blind him? Did he-"

"That's enough, Merlin!" Arthur said sharply. "Sorcery will reign once more in Camelot… Is that what you'd want?"

Merlin simply stared at Arthur.

"Perhaps my father was wrong," Arthur finally admitted. "Perhaps the old ways aren't as evil as we thought… So what should we do? Accept magic? Or let Mordred die?"

"There can be a place for magic in Camelot," Merlin answered. "But those who practice magic must obey the same laws as everyone else."

Arthur looked up at Merlin.

"What about Morgana?" He asked.

Merlin shrugged one shoulder slightly, "If magic was freed, she'd lose many of those who support her."

"And leave Camelot open to attack," Arthur sighed again.

)o(

"You have returned," Niede stated as Arthur and Merlin entered the Disir's cave the following morning.

"Is your decision made?" Atorloppe questioned.

"It is," Arthur nodded. "I cannot do as you ask."

"Consider carefully," Atorloppe warned him. "Arthur Pendragon."

"This is your last chance to save all that is dear to you," Befelen said.

"It will not come again," Niede agreed.

"I have seen too much," Arthur answered. "To allow sorcery again within Camelot, whilst Morgana lives. I promise you once she is dead, magic will be free once more."

"You have made your decision," Befelen stated.

"Sealed your fate," Atorloppe added.

"And that of your kingdom," Niede said.

"Farewell," The Disir bowed their heads, as they melted away into the shadows. "Arthur Pendragon."

"You did the right thing," Merlin said as they left the cave.

"I condemned an innocent man to death," Arthur answered. "How was that the right thing to do?"

"You do not know that for certain," Merlin pointed out. "You promised the Disir magic would be freed upon Morgana's death."

"He saved my life, Merlin," Arthur sighed.

"I know," Merlin answered.

)o(

Hey! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Until next time,

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.