Chapter 19:

"You want to fight Uther Pendragon?" Merlin raised his voice above all else, "Then you shall have your fight. I hereby challenge you to a duel. No tricks, just you and me... that is, if you are not too afraid to fight a wizard." Merlin knew the proud man could not refuse this challenge. He also knew that he had hit a nerve and therefore the older male would act before thinking about consequences and details.

"I am not afraid of you, boy," Uther answered and he was already stepping forward too. "Stay behind," he said to his men, "This one, is mine."

"So sure of yourself?" the young warlock taunted and focused on his staff, which turned promptly into a sword. He knew he had no chance against Uther in a normal sword fight, but thankfully Merlin had inherited a valuable gift. "Because all I see, is an incapable coward."

Uther did not say anything else, but dashed forward madly. On instinct Merlin's magic reacted and Uther was stopped in the middle of striking. He had only one second to blink however, before the younger male's eyes shone golden again and the former king was flying into the group of knights that were still standing behind him. A few men went down when Uther Pendragon landed on them, the others had managed to dodge him just in time.

An enraged cry escaped the former king's throat and he violently pushed those away, who tried to help him up. Meanwhile Merlin had taken a few steps back and had spread his arms in a silent invitation. Provoking Uther was his main goal right now. Anger let to mistakes and he counted on it to happen sooner rather than later.

Again the humiliated man dashed forward, this time however, Merlin blocked the attack with his sword. Metal clashed together and the young warlock's arms shook with the strength that laid behind Uther's blow.

The furious male pushed against their joined blades, but Merlin easily stepped aside, causing Uther to stumble. This was mistake number one and the wizard stretched out his hand and levitated some of the rotten food that still rested in the stands. Not a moment later tomatoes and all kinds of other fruits and vegetables were flying toward the enthroned king.

Without really aiming, the man swung his sword around, desperately trying to shield himself from the flying food.

"I am not impressed, Uther Pendragon," Merlin said loud enough for the man to hear.

"You'll pay for this."

"You keep saying this, but I have not seen any proof of it yet."

"I show you 'proof'" and he did not attack like Merlin had expected. Instead he grabbed something from his pocked and pulled out a strange looking black stone. It distantly remembered Merlin of the stone in which Sigan's soul had been trapped. The young warlock barely kept himself from shivering at the memory of the other wizard.

"Do you know what this is?" Uther began and his voice sounded smug. Merlin did not answer. "This is the reason why so many magical creatures lost their lives. They had an unnatural advantage and I made sure we were equal."

Only now did the warlock notice how his magical aura was sucked into the stone. His eyes widened and he looked with a mixture of fear and shock at the object in Uther's hand.

"You sick bastard," somebody from the crowd said.

"You monster," another voice joined in.

"You are the monsters and there was no other way to stop you. Magic has attacked us time and time again. I had to make sure that Camelot possessed something with what I could defend it."

Merlin's teeth were clenched and his eyes shone golden with anger. This explained the great purge. Magical creatures without magic could not survive. Dragons could no longer fly or spit fire, fairies could no longer fly or connect with all that lives, centaurs were weakened and wizards could no longer cast spells.

"What will you do now?" Uther taunted and his voice was ice cold.

"Kill you," he answered simply and Arthur just barely kept himself from shuddering at his companion's cold and aloof tone. This was not the Merlin he had gotten to know during all this time. The Merlin he knew, would never have killed another living being on purpose, if at all.

The young warlock did not seem to let himself be bothered by the threat Uther has offered. In fact the young male stepped forward, arm lazily dangling at his side. His other hand was outstretched and Uther more or less copied this stance by raising up the stone in his hand.

"Proof it," the enthroned man said and reminded all the present of the earlier conversation.

"Oh, but I will," Merlin countered sure of himself and a nasty grin appeared on his face. He started mumbling a few words nobody could quite make out. Everybody knew what it was however.

"Magic won't help you," Uther repeated his statement from before and as if it wanted to support its wielder's words, the stone began to slightly shake. To the older male's confusion, Merlin's grin only grew bigger.

"Watch and learn," and his hand began to shake as well. The young wizard seemed to struggle against an invisible Force while he ever so slowly closed his hand into a wrist. Now the enthroned man's whole arm began to tremble because of the stone. "You know," Merlin began to explain, "you stone is just another vessel, just like Sigan's has been. I have no doubt that it had been white when you first touched and found it, maybe even slightly grey," he chuckled, "Just like every other vessel, they are full at some point and when it is then-" his little speech was interrupted by the bursting stone. Countless little parts where scattering everywhere. Uther Pendragon was only barely able to shield his face against the exploding stone. Blue eyes widened and gazed upon the brown haired male, who had tilted his head to regard the fallen man before him.

Without thinking the mad man dashed forward again. He saw attack as his only chance of survival, the consequences be damned. Merlin did not hesitate to raise his sword to block the attacks, if the wild swings could be called this. Uther was afraid for his life and this showed in how he wielded his sword.

Having recovered from the strenuous task of destroying the hated device and having enough of Uther's mindless swings, Merlin summoned his magic back towards him and not a moment later, the older male was flying backwards, into one of the wooden stands. With a loud thud the stand was broken and Uther Pendragon laid in middle of the whole rubble. His sword was pushed far out of the man's reach with a flick of Merlin's wrist. All those gestures were not necessary, but Merlin did them unconsciously anyway.

The furious warlock was slowly stalking forward, golden eyes locking with frightened blue ones when suddenly flames started to rose around the fallen man. The fire parted for the wizard, who had raised the sword in his hand. Uther Pendragon was unable to move. All his courage had fled the moment he realised that he had not even the slightest chance against this being of evil.

"For your crimes against all that is magic, I sentence you, Uther Pendragon, to death." Merlin's voice did not sound normal. It was too cold, too neutral. Arthur shuddered at the sight before him. He had to stop his friend from committing the worst mistake in his entire life.

"Merlin, no!" the King screamed and indeed, the brown haired male stopped in his movement.

"He deserves to be punished," Betos said and most of the beings behind him nodded in agreement.

"We want justice," a dwarf added.

"Yes, you want justice. But killing him would not be justice, it would be mindless revenge," Arthur explained, his voice a little quicker than usual, "Merlin, I know you have a duty to your kin, but so have I now. It would be a mistake killing my father, it would destroy you. Don't take a life when there is no need for it."

A moment of silence passed between them, but then, "What would you have me do, my King?"

The blonde allowed himself to sigh in relief. Merlin was still Merlin and therefore loyal to him as well as reasonable. "I would suggest a trial."

The warlock turned around halfway, his eyes resting on Arthur and then moving over the assembled crowd. The knights looked fearful, their gazes always hushing towards the magical creatures. The magical creatures however were murmuring with each other. Arthur couldn't make out what they were saying, but he guessed they were arguing about his proposal. In the end they nodded their agreement and Arthur saw some of the tension leave his companion's body. Merlin had not wanted to do that either.

"So it will be," Merlin threw the sword away as it were poisoned and the flames got shorter until they vanished completely. Arthur was released and he was stepping forward to greet his former manservant. Former manservant, because he had realised that Merlin was supposed to be much more than that. Merlin had also turned his back towards Uther and the mad man took the opportunity.

Before anybody could react, Merlin himself had barely time to turn around again, the fallen king had jumped back to his feet and drawn a dagger he had hidden in his leather boots.

A gasp escaped the brown haired male's lips when the metal embedded itself in his chest, missing his heart by inches.

An uproar ran through the gathered crowd. A few beings dashed forward and snatched Uther, who had looked triumphantly in Merlin's pained blue eyes, away from the warlock and prying eyes. Arthur also ran forward and caught his companion, when his legs gave out.

"Merlin," the King began, but then he pushed this thought aside, "Gaius!" he called instead. But the court physician was already running towards the wounded man.

Uther's agonizing scream sounded through the air, but everybody ignored it. Even the knights looked horrified at Merlin. The manservant had more or less befriended most of them after all. That and they all knew he had tried to keep them safe and alive by challenging Uther to fight him one on one.

"It's... too late," Merlin wheezed out when Gaius kneeled next to him. His blood had already covered his clothes in a deep red.

"Gaius," Arthur asked, but then he saw into the older male's sad face and he had his answer.

"Damn it, you are a wizard," the King yelled into the thinner male's face, "heal yourself or do something!"

Merlin closed his eyes and slightly shook his head, "No ordinary blade..."

"What?"

"Uther used a blade that was forged in a dragon's breath," Gaius answered the question. Gwen, Morgana and Freya had joined Gaius as well. The dark haired female looked as if she desperately wanted to hug the dying man, but a look from him told her to wait. Balinor came running towards the small group too and Kilgharrah was hovering above all of them.

"Arthur," the warlock's voice was shaking, "you are... our King. Do... what your father couldn't. Be... be a better... man and unite Albion. Bring magic back."

"I will, I won't let you down, I promise," tears were prickling in blue eyes, but they did not escape just yet.

"I know," and the wizard forced himself to smile.

"Merlin," Freya couldn't hold back any longer. Gaius had moved so that she and Balinor could rest at the dying male's side. "I have to tell you something, I'm-"

"I know," Merlin said again and he lifted his hand to lay it on her belly. It took the King a moment to realize what he was referring to, but then his eyes went wide. Merlin's hand rose to cup his fiancé's cheek and to wipe away the tears that were falling from her cheek.

"I'll watch out for her," Arthur provided without thinking, but it earned him an earnest smile.

"Father," Balinor leaned forward and took his son's hand, "watch out for yourself."

"As always," the man tried to joke, but it came out choked and the look in his eyes betrayed him.

"You can't just leave me, I need you and your help..." Arthur whispered so that only Merlin could hear him.

The warlock took a shaky breath, his eyes briefly turning to the quickly darkening sky. "You as the Once and Future King… will always return… when Albion needs you," he took a deep breath. It was painfully obvious that talking was strenuous for the young man. Balinor clutched his son's hand tighter and Freya laid her hand on their joined ones. "Just as you... I will return when..." he groaned in pain, "when the need arises."

The blonde shook his head in denial, "It is not supposed to be this way."

"Destiny... either you... or me." Merlin had closed his eyes again.

"No Merlin, open your eyes." When there was no sign of compliance, the King started a different approach, "Then I order you to open them."

This time, though slowly, the young warlock opened his eyes."Please... don't order the...the impossible of me."

Arthur snapped his mouth shut at those words. He had indeed wanted to order Merlin to stay alive, but the King realized that this would have been cruel. Merlin was loyal and it would have broken the man's heart to know he could not do as his King wished.

"Take care of... take care of..." Merlin's skin was getting paler and the strength was slowly fading from his body, "take care of that armour... it really means... a lot to me." And despite everything, the gathered people could not help but chuckle slightly. Gaius had moved towards the warlock's feet and his hands rested on the younger male's boots. Merlin shot him a glance too, but the two males did not need words to know what was in each other's hearts and minds. They understood what they didn't voice out loud.

The brave warlock took another deep breath and then his body went completely numb. Emrys, son, father, lover and friend, had died and the clouded sky wept while a dragon roared for the loss of one of his kin.

This chapter is definitely long... O.o

Longer than I planned, but well.

I hope you like it and I would be really happy about a few reviews!^^

Only the Epilogue is left...