A Farewell

Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Gaius, Morgana

Note: Excuse my Arwen excess again in this chapter. Yes Arthur says something to Gaius that he should have said in the episode. Sometimes it is good to be able to put some things right!

Leaving Arthur to rest, Gaius went over to Merlin, who was busy stroking Gaius's white horse. He could still read by the strained look on Merlin's face, that he was still going through an emotional trauma. Sadness was etched on every part of him, as if he was totally lost and alone. Gaius decided setting him on the next step of the journey, would give his ward something else to think about.

"Gaius?" Merlin asked concerned, as he left the horse and came over to him.

"He has a fragment of sword embedded in his chest." Gaius explained, keeping his voice low.

"Then we'll use magic to draw it out." Merlin suggested ready to prepare straight away.

"No." Gaius said, "The blade that struck Arthur is no ordinary blade. I fear it was forged in a dragon's breath. It's fatal power will not be easily denied."

Merlin took a second to digest the news. "Aithusa." he said finally, bowing his head.

"The blade's point is travelling inexorably towards his heart." Gaius explained. "Not even you can hope to thwart such magic. It would take a power as ancient as the dragons themselves."

"No. There must be something we can do Gaius." Merlin urged his voice suddenly desperate and determined.

"Only the Sidhe possess such magic. In the midst of the Lake of Avalon there is an ancient isle. That is the source of their power. You must take him there." Gaius said solemnly.

Looking over at Arthur Merlin whispered. "He won't let me do that."

"Yes he will." Gaius replied determined to give him some hope. "I've spoken to him."

Merlin nodded still feeling as if in a dream. The news from Gaius was not exactly what he wanted to hear. But at least there was a bit of hope, for him to cling to. Now the only thing that mattered to Merlin was a chance to save his friend. Even if in doing that it cost them their special friendship.

The wind blew so wildly that Morganna could scaresly see in front of her, her hair blew wildly about her face, but not even that could distract her from her task. As she put the last stone on top of Mordred's resting place upon a high hill, she took a step back. Flinging Mordred's sword in front of the grave she proclaimed in a voice masked in tears. "The battle is not over Mordred. We shall have our revenge."

After a few minutes reflecting she slowly made her way back to her fortress. Even now she could not wipe out the memory of when she discovered his body. He had lain on the hard ground, his face a mask of peace, but she could only roar her despair as she held him in her arms. He was the last person in her life who meant anything at all to her.

She now had nothing left, and for a time she'd had struggled to even move. She had sat there holding him crying tears that seemed to come from depths of her soul. No one had understood the feelings she'd had for Mordred. She suspected not even Mordred himself. He alone had given her life some meaning, the past year. Given a lonely and lost person, a bit of warmth and companionship. He had reminded her of the reason she had chosen the paths she had. But now he was gone, and suddenly her life seemed both hollow and empty, she barely knew which way to go. She had sat down briefly attempting to stop her tears, so that she could think. The weather around her matched her sombre mood, cold with the first signs of darkness beginning to show. It was as though she could not see.

But eventually the mist cleared and a thought became clearer and clearer, this was all Arthur's fault. She would track him down and make him pay for what he'd done to her. It was now the only thing she had left to do. Life had taken everything away from her, stripped every person away who meant anything at all. The only thing she had left, was to take her revenge on her hateful enemies, and she would make them pay for what they'd brought on her all these years.

She stood up, purpose in her step again, and began the plan to finish off Arthur and Camelot once and for all.

Merlin had walked over to Arthur, not really knowing what to expect. While he was grateful that Gaius had spoken to him, he already suspected the damage to their relationship was beyond repair. He found every step towards him a test of his resolve, now that the barrier of trust had been broken. Having had time to think about it, he knew that Arthur would be hurt, it was unavoidable. But what else could he have done in the circumstances, he wondered to himself desperately.

He paused by Arthur, who was dozing, though he could have been pretending Merlin wasn't sure.

"Arthur." he began his voice quiet and unsure. "We need to leave at first light."

Arthur had briefly looked his way before turning away again. "I'll decide when we leave."

Merlin could sense Arthur putting back up the barrier between them, but all of a sudden it hardly mattered to him. All Merlin saw in that moment was his friend, badly injured, dying, and he would of done anything to make him better, even if it cost Merlin everything.

"I can't let you die." he said his voice unsteady but Merlin needed Arthur to know that, he didn't care anymore.

"It doesn't change anything." Arthur said sharply.

Merlin looked at him, suddenly lost for words again, he heard Gaius come up behind him.

"Let him sleep, it's late." Gaius said.

Merlin walked over to his mentor his mind was still in a daze and all of a sudden he felt as if he could sleep forever.

"You cannot travel tonight." Gaius said.

Merlin walked passed him and starred at the forest up ahead, his mind totally lost, and suddenly too tired to sleep.

"You were right to tell him." Gaius said softly, trying to think of something to keep his spirits up.

Merlin tried to take in Gaius's words, but everything around him just felt like a abyss, and he sat on the ground, and within a few minutes was fast asleep.

Arthur tried to sleep, but the pain in his wound was now starting to bother him more. His mind was still no further clear, his heart felt torn. For the first time since Merlin's confession he thought of Guinevere. He wondered if he'd ever see her again, he closed his eyes and tried to shut out such negative thoughts. He agonised over what she would of said, she was a good friend of Merlin, knew him even before Arthur did, he wondered if she'd had any idea. She was always so good at sorting out issues, how he could of done with her input now.

In the meantime though he would have to rely on Merlin. Before such a thought would not of even bothered him. He would risk his own life for Merlin at the drop of a hat. It didn't matter to him that he was a servant. In the years they spent together Merlin had become a lot more, their relationship was so close, he'd of done anything for him. Now though, the confession had changed everything. Where before, Arthur would of unquestioningly risked anything, now he wondered if he even knew him.

What sort of relationship was built on a lie he wondered? There was no other way of looking at it. Everything that Arthur had thought was true about Merlin was now, in ashes, a trick of the light. When he had to speak with him before, Arthur couldn't help but pity the sadness of his face, but what did the boy expect? That one confession had altered everything between them, everything that was true was now in pieces. Arthur felt almost cheated by it, no matter what Gaius had said, he sadly felt as if he didn't know the boy anymore.

Now he would have to put his trust in him, and that was something that bothered Arthur. As he surveyed the forest around him, he attempted to close his mind, and find some sleep. Maybe in the morning he would be thinking clearer. Maybe then he could try and at least come to terms with his present situation, and the broken trust between them would not still feel so acute.

The fortress of Morgana Pendragon was dripping with tension. The guards barely had the courage to breathe, she was so unpredictable now. She would scream at anyone who said anything with a manic look in her eye, as if she was about to go out of her mind. Few men doubted she was about to fall into madness. But few had the courage to escape, for fear of what she would do to them. They felt trapped like a mouse caught in a trap.

She had sent Beroun her commander out with a group of men to track down Arthur, and as she sat on her throne, her whole body was writhed in tension, as she awaited their return. She had not eaten anything in two days, her hair was matted, she barely looked up from where she was sitting. She just sat, and waited, waited for the moment that she could make her move.

Suddenly the doors of the fortress swung open, and Beroun and his two men walked carefully over to her, keeping a respectful distance. She said nothing waiting for their report, but everyone in the room held their breathe, as Beroun prepared to speak.

The three men bowed, though Morgana did not lift her head to see it.

"My lady, we've searched every valley, every gorge, every gully. The King is nowhere to be found." Beroun announced taking a nervous gulp as he said it.

Suddenly her voice screamed out taking everyone by surprise and making everyone jump.

"I want him dead!" her face looked manic as she faced the three men, devoid of any emotion. Suddenly her eyes turned glowed and one of the men, fell to the ground dead.

"We've looked." Beroun tried to say.

"Find him." Morgana commanded.

The last two remaining Saxons bowed again, and departed. The tension stayed in the room for a long time after they left, as Morgana continued to wait for the time that she could strike back at her brother and end his reign.

It was early in the morning and Merlin helped Arthur onto his horse. The King by now looked totally exhausted as he struggled to get his feet into the stirrups of the stationery horse. As Arthur got comfortable he took a necklace off his neck. Merlin walked away from Arthur.

"Gaius." he called.

Gaius arrived by his side, looking up at him.

"Give this to Guinevere." Arthur said handing him the necklace to him.

Gaius looked up at him in surprise, as he saw what it was. "It's the Royal Seal sire."

"If I am to die, I can think of no one whom I'd rather succeed me." Arthur said, before pausing. "Tell her I love her, and will always do so."

Gaius closed his hand round the seal and nodded.

Merlin came over to Gaius. "You know I was betrayed. The girl Eira cannot be trusted." he said, before saying quietly. "How long as he got?"

"Two days at the most." Gaius whispered back.

Merlin walked back over to Arthur. Suddenly Gaius realised he hadn't said goodbye. All of a sudden he felt a need to do so, as if he was a parent losing his child for the last time.

"Merlin." he called.

Merlin turned back and absentmindedly hugged Gaius, although in truth Merlin's mind was already on the journey ahead.

"I'll have your favourite meal awaiting you." Gaius promised him as he let him go. "Now go, look after him."

Gaius stood back and watched them leave, getting an uncomfortable feeling he wouldn't see either of them again. Arthur looked up from his horse, and looked Gaius in the face, for once no words were necessary, the look said it all. As Gaius continued to watch their figures become more distant Merlin turned around and gave him one more look. Gaius stayed watching the retreating figures until they had disappeared from view. Now he had to return to Camelot, he realised that a new reign could be about to start.