Merlin was thankful the transportation spell had worked, a cave dully lit with a pulsing purple tinge appeared and soon Arthur and Leon came into his vision. The magic drained out of him, he wanted nothing more than to just go back to sleep but then he saw Arthur flung across the room and held there, a fire ball building up in her hand.

"Gescildan!" Merlin yelled sending a shield to disperse the fire easily.

Arthur looked shocked and relieved to see Merlin but also worried, Merlin didn't blame him he felt awful. The marks were beginning to burn even worse than his fever. He was thankful they hadn't spread onto his face.

"Well well" Morgause smiled "Little sick sorcerer has come to play, lets see how long you last"

"Where's Morgana?" Merlin asked Leon hurriedly not wanting to be taken by surprise by her, Morgana couldn't control her magic very well, but it was powerful.

"A small smile etched its way onto Leon's lips, "Dead".

"You killed my sister!" Morgause roared, Merlin instantly regretted asking Leon, Morgause would not only be dangerous now but her magic would be more powerful fueled by hate.

"You WILL pay" She growls flashes of magic shooting out of her hand with every word, Merlin ducked and rolled to get out for the way, making the pain in his head increase exponentially and making his vision swim.

Luckily Merlin noticed Arthur had been let down from the wall when he had distracted Morgause, Merlin was worried to see his amour was badly damaged at the front, he wouldn't survive another blast, especially not a rage filled one. Merlin didn't have much time to dwell on this however as he had to dodge another blast of magic. In his weak state he knew he wouldn't take much abuse ether.

He had begun feeling even worse since entering the cave, his vision blurred at the sides and he was desperate just to collapse and sleep, even if it was on the damp stone floor of the cave. He was getting slower too, this time his dodge didn't quite work as planned, the blast hitting the ground just a foot away from him, sending him flying through the air landing heavily at the top of the incline right next to the staff.

Black dots danced in front of his vision, he felt instantly worse, with ever strange pulse of light and miasma the staff produced he felt himself slipping further and further away. The staff! It wasn't Morgause they shouldn't be going after. it was the staff, it was the source of the illness, hopefully if it was destroyed they could stop the illness.

Picking himself up off the floor he gathered his strengths and ran down to wear Leon was helping Arthur up while Morgause advanced on them.

"Arthur!" Merlin yelled tiredly "The staff, get the staff! Destroy it! Morgause isn't the centre of the illness her weapon is"

"No!" The witch growled sending a strike of strange green lightning at the warlock, hitting him square in the chest and into a wall. Merlin willed himself to stay awake.

"Merlin!"

That was Arthur he was sure of it but he just couldn't bring himself to open his eyes.

"Arthur the staff! Merlin will be fine as long as you destroy it!" Leon protested, obviously trying to stop the prince from going to his friend "I'll take care of the witch!"

Merlin forced his eyes to flutter open to see Leon tacking the witch the ground, a dangerous move. Arthur was by the staff swinging his sword…it didn't break. Arthur gave it a few more swings but the staff appeared to be unbreakable.

Morgause laughed bitterly and sent the distraught prince and knight flying to the opposite side of the room, Arthur's sword flew from his hand leaving him defenseless. The staff was magic, you needed magic to destroy it obviously. Forcing himself into the sitting position Merlin reached out his hand, going for the first spell he figured would work, he hoped it would he didn't think he had it in him to cast any more.

"Bregdan anweald gafeluc…" He muttered, imagining a large griffin in the place of the staff. Thankful when Arthur's sword began to glow with an unnatural blue fire. Then with a weak flick of the hand Merlin sent the sword flying, straight through the purple sphere at the top of the staff, smashing it.

Faintly he heard Morgause yelling in rage and he felt wind fill the chamber, Merlin's vision was terribly now he could hardly tell where anything was, he fell backwards against the wall and finally he knew nothing.

-BREAK-

Arthur was amazed as he watched his sword, glowing a strange blue colour as it pierced the stone, sending a burst of energy through the chamber. Morgause yelled in rage and frustration, Arthur knew they had beaten her.

"It's over Morgause" Leon sighed leaning on his sword, grinning at the prince.

Morgause yelled some words in a language Arthur couldn't understand and disappeared in a tower of swirly black wind. Arthur breathed a sigh of relief, but once again it was cut short.

"Merlin!" HE bellowed as he saw Merlin fall back against the wall of the cave, unconscious. The boy had taken a shot to the chest, it was still badly burnt. Arthur just prayed that he was strong enough to pull through after being so weak from the illness.

"Is he alright?" Asked Leon helping Arthur sling the frail warlock over their shoulders.

"I don't know" Breathed Arthur, Merlin still had a fever he could feel it, he was happy to see the purple marks beginning to fade, Merlin would pull through. He had to.

As they made their way out of the cave a very worried Artemus came bounding through forest toward them met them. His face in a state of panic when he saw his son hanging limply between the two nobles.

"I was sleeping" He rushed "Merlin snuck out on me!, I've been following the scent of you to in the hopes I would find the right cave for hours!"

"Hours?" Arthur gasped, had it really been that long?

"How is he?" Asked Atremus "Have you stopped her?"

"Yes" Breathed Leon sadly, obviously not wanting to break it to Artemus or Merlin that Adiana would not be there to greet them when they returned.

Carefully they loaded Merlin onto his fathers back and began the trip home. Taking it slowly at first but soon picking up the speed. When night fell they were only a few hours away from the cave.

His knights would be waking some time in the late afternoon tomorrow and they would have to put up this charade once again of being asleep for so long.

The purple marks had almost faded completely as Merlin slept however he remained completely still, his fever still lingering but no longer life threatening. Artemus said the boy was simply exhausted, Arthur didn't blame him.

Ever since the energy and adrenaline of the battle had worn of Leon had barely said a word, he spent most of the time staring at the ground. Arthur felt guilty too, but he couldn't imagine what Leon was going through, what if something had happened to Gwen, he didn't know what he would do. Poor Leon hadn't even gotten the chance to tell Adiana how he felt.

Sighing, Arthur fell asleep.

I think this is going to be the second last chapter as everything I have left to tell will fit into one. Hopefully.

How are you all feeling so far, Just know no matter what people say the ending I have planned wont change ;)

The end chapter has been written since the beginning hehe