Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter Nine:

Merlin paused for a moment as Camelot castle finally came into view. They still had a few moles to cover before they'd reach the castle walls and it was already nearing midday.

"Mordred," Merlin suddenly turns to the Druid Knight. "Go ahead and don't leave Arthur's side."

"What about you?" Mordred asked.

"I have Daegal," Merlin answered. "And I more than capable of taking care of myself."

"It would be foolish to use magic this close to Camelot," Mordred replied.

"You forget," Merlin grinned. "I use magic in Camelot all the time."

Mordred nodded, "Be careful, Emrys."

"You too, Mordred," Merlin answered.

Mordred quickly broke into a steady run, as he raced towards the castle. He would keep the Once and Future King safe, until Emrys could take care of the threat. But with the Queen so close to The King, how was Emrys going to keep him safe?

Upon reaching the castle walls, Mordred nodded to the guards on duty as he crossed the draw bridge. He raced through the lower town, causing many of the towns people to jumps out of his way or be knocked over. The midday bell began to ring as Mordred reached the courtyard. He raced up the castle steps and entered the castle with such haste, he nearly knocked over a guard.

"My apologises," Mordred called over his shoulder as he raced through the castle towards the throne room.

He reached the throne room doors just as Arthur and Gwen were walking down the spiral staircase across from the doors. Mordred quickly stood to attention and bowed his head in respect as they passed him.

"What a momentous day this is for Camelot," Arthur said as they paused outside the throne room doors.

"Indeed, my lord," Gwen answered. "It marks the beginning of a new era."

But unknown to Mordred, stood on the balcony overlooking the throne room, Albin was preparing his crossbow, ready to kill the King of Camelot when King Sarrum gave the signal. Mordred watched out the corner off his eye as King Sarrum approached from an adjacent corridor and joined Arthur and Gwen in front of the throne room doors. The throne room doors were pulled open and they entered.

)o(

Merlin stumbles on the stairs and uses the spear he had picked up as they passed through the castle as a crutch. In the throne room Arthur, Gwen and King Sarrum had taken their places at the round table, Mordred watching on nervously as he tries to work out where the potential threat to Arthur's life was going to come from. In the balcony above Albin takes his place.

Suddenly Merlin's attention was caught by a gust of wind blowing through an open door as they headed towards the throne room. He stopped and turned towards the door. Daegal frowned and gripped Merlin's arm, thinking he was more injured than he had previously let on.

"What's wrong?" Daegal asked.

"This should be locked," Merlin said, nodding towards the door.

"Where does it lead?" Daegal asked.

"To the balcony above the throne room," Merlin said and he suddenly knew where he needed to go.

The two of them quickly go through the door and began to climb the staircase leading to the balcony. Above them Albin took aims King Sarrum stalls his signing of the treaty. Gwen watched carefully as King Sarrum lent forward and looked up at where Albin was hiding and if it hadn't been for that, Mordred wouldn't have seen him.

"My Lord," Mordred exclaimed rushing forward and pushing Arthur out the way and not a second too soon, as a cross bolt imbedded itself in the chair Arthur had been standing before.

Up on the balcony Merlin and Daegal have finally reached the top of the steps. Albin caught sight of them and aimed his crossbow at them. Merlin's eyes flash and the bolt flies off course avoiding him narrowly. Daegal threw two knifes at Albin and the two of the, dive for cover. Albin took aim again and Merlin, with the aid of his magic, threw his spear at Albin, causing crossbow to fire at a slight angle. In the throne room below, the cross bolt strikes King Sarrum in the chest and he slumped forward over the table.

"Leon!" Arthur pointed up to the balcony.

Gaius quickly stepped forward and checked King Sarrum, but there was nothing he could do, he was dead. Arthur turned to Gwen, she quickly hid her disappointment but not before Mordred had seen it, and nodded to Arthur that she was well. A small group of Knights follow Leon out of the hall, while the others keep their swords trained on King Sarrum's guards.

Up on the balcony, Merlin checked Albin, but he two was dead.

"We did it," Merlin smiles, as he turned to face Daegal.

The smile quickly dropped from Merlin's face as he saw Daegal lying on the floor against the wall with a cross bow bolt in his stomach. Merlin rushed over to him and dropped to his knees beside him.

"Did we save Arthur?" Daegal asked.

"Yes," Merlin said as he pulled Daegal's hands away from the cross bolt. "Hold still I'm going to remove the bolt."

But the sound of the door below them and the sound of booted feet on the stairs distracted him and when he looked back at Daegal, it was too late to even attempt to heal him.

"No," Merlin whispered, as tears began to roll down his cheeks. "No! Daegal!"

Merlin didn't look up as the Knights rushed past him to Albin. It wasn't until Sir rested a hand on Merlin's shoulder that he even realised he was crying.

"Get the body out of here," Sir Leon ordered. "And give the King's Manservant some space, he's just lost his brother."

)o(

"I still can't believe how lucky I was," Arthur said, as he sat eating dinner with Gwen in the royal chambers as Merlin entered with a pitcher of wine. "I owe that boy my life and I don't know who he was or where he's from. You need to make sure you give him a decent burial."

"I'll do that," Merlin said, glad Leon hadn't told Arthur anything about Daegal. "If you'll allow me the time."

"Oh," Arthur said. "So you can go and visit that girl again."

Gwen looked at Arthur.

"What?" Merlin asked, confused.

"The girl," Arthur repeated.

"I don't know what you mean," Merlin said.

"Guinevere tells me you've been off to visit a girl," Arthur told him.

Merlin paused and looked at Gwen who smiled at him.

"So, why don't you tell us all about her?" Arthur said as Merlin poured him some wine.

Merlin looked at Gwen again and she held out her goblet with a raised eyebrow.

"Right," Merlin said, as he poured wine into her goblet.

"And why you're walking with a limp," Arthur added.

Gwen quirked an eyebrow at him and Merlin stared at her.

"Not that any of my personal life is any of your business, my lord," Merlin said, turning to Arthur once more. "But if you must know, I was visit my wife."

Arthur chocked on his wine.

"Wife," Arthur spluttered.

"Yes," Merlin answered.

"As for why I'm walking with a limp, sire," Merlin carried on. "I crossed paths with some bandits on the way back. If that's all, sire, I'll take my leave."

)o(

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

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.