Dear Brother

If there was one thing that Arthur Pendragon wasn't going to admit, it was that Merlin looked well and happy. He must say that he had his concerns. Morgana wasn't the person that he had grown up with. She wasn't that kind person that he knew. He had hoped that the … well whatever she had done to him, was the only thing that meant that she was good to him.

"Oh look, my dear brother has decided to turn up after all. And on his own. Do you think he is trying to look brave in front of us?" Morgana taunted.

"Either that or he thinks that we are here to give him back his kingdom."

"He came on his own."

"I am here you know." Arthur said. "And I am not on my own. They are just checking the area to make sure that you weren't lying."

"Why would we lie to you?" Merlin asked. "Well, why would we lie to you now?"

Arthur kept Merlin's eye. He wanted to remind him that he was the one to lie all the way through their friendship, he was the one that kept the secret.

"We just thought that you would like to know that you have no chance in winning this war. We have something that you don't." She mentioned in a matter of fact way.

The fallen king moved his eyes from his former servant to his sister. "Oh I wouldn't be so certain about that."

At that moment they heard a horse canter up the hill that they were on and revealed it's rider.

"Emrys, Morgana, how we met again?"

"I should have known. You seem to be on the wrong side Mordred. But then again, I only have myself to blame for that." Merlin said.

"We could have been so powerful together, Merlin. It is really a shame."

Morgana snorted at Arthur's face. It was obvious that it hadn't been the first time that Mordred had mentioned what side he should have been on. Maybe he had even swapped how he was going to kill him.

"The people are as happy under us as they were you. Actually I would go as far as saying that they are happier. We have allowed them to be free. Tell me Arthur, even if you could see the good side of magic, would you have made it legal? If destiny had been able to go the way you wanted it, would you have accepted Merlin?"

She wanted to move along from Merlin and Mordred's 'I belong by her side' fight that was going on between them. She loved a good fight but when there was already a winner, did the fight need to go on?

"It has been made clear to me that magic isn't evil as it isn't good. Maybe if someone had shown me there was a good side to magic then yes, I would have made it legal. But all I see is bad people using it and it comes across as evil. Sorry that I cannot change my mind on that." He turned to Merlin. "And as for you, I would have eventually, probably." He didn't want to add to the end that he would because he was his friend.

"Then try and think of it from a sorcerer's point of view. How you ever been afraid of yourself? Have you ever had to walk around and try and act normal when you don't know whether you can keep it from bursting from you? Have you ever felt so free but had to hide it from the world? Have you ever felt like a monster because of something you cannot help?"

Merlin watched Arthur as he thought over her questions. They were good questions. He remembered what it felt like when the neighbours had found out about his magic when he was young. He couldn't have been older than 8 but they called him the devil's child. His mother had quickly calmed them down and told them not to tell anyone. After they had left, his mother quickly packed most of their belongs up, expecting them to be chased out of Ealdor. The neighbours had kept quiet about it.

He remember when he told Gaius that he felt like a monster. And it was something that he still felt today. When there were still too many people that couldn't see magic for what it is, it isn't a wonder why he couldn't shake the feeling off.

"I can see what you have done and why you have done it. I will admit that I don't know what it is like to live with magic but I do know that your reign cannot go on. I am the rightful king of Camelot."

"I thought you were overthrown. I thought we won it fair and square."

Each party glared at one another before they both turned their horses to go back to their respective sides.

"Who is she to ask all those questions? She knew that I don't know what it is like. Why can they not see that the only reason the people look happy to them is because they have made them be happy? I have heard the rumours. I bet they all act happy because they don't want to risk their lives."

"I agree with you. Their reign was one of fire and destruction. I doubt there is very little of Camelot left."

Mordred smirked as Arthur became more and more rifled. This was what he needed. He needed this war. He needed to complete his destiny. It was just something he knew needed to be. He knew also that he was adding wood to the fire but it was good to see Arthur angry about it all. The battle would go ahead and it would be the end of Merlin.

"That did not go to plan." Merlin growled.

"He had the cheek to say that he was the rightful King. We won Camelot fair and square. We are the rulers of Camelot."

"To war we go then."

Morgana turned to look at her husband. "Just stay safe. I want you back, by my side, as you should be."

"I am always careful." He said smiling as widely as he could while trying not to let on that he knew that it was going to be the last time he saw her.