Hello everybody! Thanks for all the lovely reviews! I'm glad you liked the last chapter. Here's the next one. But I have to warn you: there are some main-ish characters (not Arthur or Merlin) who won't survive this chapter. I'm sorry :-( And there's a surprise for you at the end including a cliffy. Sorry again :-) Hope you still like it and stay tune for the very last chapter of the fic (save for an epilogue).

Here we go!

Chapter 20: The Battle of Aneirin

Once again Merlin stood at Arthur's side facing Morgana's army at Aneirin. The sight was intimidating. Between their slightly uphill location and a nearby lake, Merlin could make out the enemy against the setting sun. And they were many.

"20000 men at arms at least, Sire" Leon observed and confirmed Merlin's worst apprehensions. Morgana's army outnumbered them two to one. Even if he succeeded in his plan, this battle would prove to be their biggest challenge yet. Except for Camlann, Merlin couldn't prevent himself from thinking. But he pushed that thought away. It wouldn't do any good if he kept thinking about that battle. He took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on what was before them. He knew his task would be difficult enough without him getting sidetracked.

"At least, they don't seem to be prepared for us. I don't think they'd planned for us to discover them so soon" Gwaine shrugged his shoulders. And he was right. Thanks to Lancelot's warning, they had the element of surprise on their side. They had secured a vantage ground on top of a sloping mesa east to the camp of Morgana's men which meant that their enemy would not only have to fight uphill but also be blinded by the sun when the battle would commence tomorrow morning.

"All right, let's get back and make plans" Arthur nodded and turned his horse around.

The day of the battle had dawned. They were as prepared as they could be. Leon would lead the vanguard of their army, Gwaine and Elyan the wings while Arthur would lead their main attack. Just as the sun peered over the hills behind them, they had taken their positions at the entrance of the slope. Morgana's men had followed suit and both armies were ready.

Merlin shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. Mordred, who was right next to him, caught his movements and looked at him anxiously.

"Merlin, you're all right?" he asked lowly.

"I'm fine" Merlin dismissed the question with a wave of his hand. He wasn't nervous, he realised. Instead, he was grimly determined. Today would be the day to stop Morgana once and for all. He gritted his teeth as he thought about her.

They fell silent as Arthur approached on his horse.

"Morgana's men may be superior in numbers, but we will not falter! The fate of the kingdom will be decided here. Today, we fight for Camelot, for our families and friends, for everything that we hold dear. Today, when we fight, remember why we are fighting. For peace, for justice, for the love of Camelot!"

Arthur shouted the last words and raised his arm with his sword over his head as he was riding in front of his men. They picked his shout up and Merlin shivered as he joined in with all the others: "For the love of Camelot!"

Breathlessly Merlin watched as Leon led his three thousand men, Percival among them, to confront their enemy.

It was to be an epic battle. Nothing Merlin had experienced so far had prepared him for this moment. The various guerrilla attacks they had led before were nothing compared with this open battle. Both sides wanted to force a decision and had called up all their strength.

Leon and his men engaged the first of Morgana's men. Their opponents fought fiercely but before they could entrap the vanguard, Arthur gave the attack command and their main army charged as well.

Merlin kept close to Arthur's side guarding his back as always while constantly being on the look-out for Morgana. The air was full of the sound of clashing swords, cries of the wounded and dying and the shouting of orders.

The battle protracted as the sun mounted to his zenith and still Merlin had seen no sign of Morgana. Blood and sweat turned the ground into boggy mire, yet the fighting continued. The main force of attack was directed at Arthur. So Merlin concentrated on saving Arthur's life with a discreet flash of magic here and there or a blow of his sword, Mordred always by his side.

So he didn't see that King Marc led a division of his men to attack Camelot's right wing where he had made out his runaway wife and nephew. He fought with deadly determination to reach them, killing everyone that came before his sword.

"So we meet again, my dear wife!" he spit out as he stood before her.

"Marc..." Isolde broke off, not knowing what to say. She held her sword protectively before her and drew back slowly.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you" Marc smiled and raised his own sword to charge.

"Please, you don't have to do this. You can end this. I don't know what Morgana..."

"You really think I care about this feud between Morgana and her brother?! You have betrayed me! You and my wayward nephew! The two people I have loved and trusted with all my heart! You have robbed me of my honour and today I will take my revenge!" And with that he charged. He directed his blow to her head, but Isolde deflected it with her own, pushing him back. Yet, she didn't attack. She just put her defence back in place.

"Please, listen to me. It doesn't have to end like this. I don't want to fight you. You were kind to me, but I love Tristan. I always have. We tried to deny it, ignore our feelings but we couldn't. I have hurt you, I know, and I'm truly sorry for it, but you and me... we were not meant to be, we were never able to make the other happy."

"So, you apologise and expect me to be reconciled?" Marc attacked again but this time, his sword clashed upon Tristan's who had rushed between them.

"It's enough! You're not going to hurt her!" Tristan shouted as he charged his uncle.

Marc parried and pushed their crossed swords up, so that he came to stand face to face with his nephew.

"You are not going to stop me, nephew! Not even for the love I bear to your late mother, my dear sister. Thank the spirits she didn't live long enough to witness her son become a deceitful coward."

"I'm not a coward!" Tristan pushed him away and struck at him again. He was driving him back, until Marc stumbled and fell to his back. Immediately, Tristan was towering above him, his blade against Marc's throat.

"What are you waiting for?" Marc asked. His voice was pressed and he was breathing hard.

"I'm not going to kill you. You're family after all" Tristan spat out. "You are going to withdraw your men and leave us and Camelot in peace. Swear!"

Marc nodded meekly. Tristan lowered his sword and reached out his hand to help him to his feet. Marc grabbed his hand and pulled himself up. Just as he was standing on his own feet again, he pulled out his dagger from his sleeve and buried it in Tristan's chest.

"You are pathetic, Tristan" Marc whispered in his ear as he freed his weapon again.

Tristan groaned and crumbled down.

"No!" Isolde rushed towards him and kneeled by his side. "Tristan!" her voice was trembling with fear.

"I'm sorry" Tristan's voice was growing weak. The wound was fatal.

"Shh" Isolde cradled him in his arm, bravely holding back the tears that were building behind her eyes.

"You're next" Marc said with scornfully. He held her at the point of his sword. "Move away from him."

"No, please, spare her" Tristan stretched his arm in an attempt to block Marc's sword.

"I fear I have to refuse your request, dear nephew." He raised his hand to strike when Isolde drew her dagger.

"Do you think I fear death? After you have taken the reason I live for from me? Your words, your sword, they are no threat to me!" She spat at his feet and then stabbed herself with her dagger. She fell to her knees and dropped next to Tristan. "We will be together, my love" she whispered softly as she kissed him. She died upon his chest and he followed her shortly after.

Marc turned and fought his way to the centre of the battle. There was only one man he was interested in. The man that had harboured his fugitive wife and nephew. He wanted to make him pay as well.

Meanwhile, Merlin had finally caught sight of Morgana. She was standing at the fringe of the battle field. Signalling Mordred, he left Arthur's side and made his way towards her. At first, she didn't see him, her gaze fixed on Arthur. This was it. Determined he stepped up to her and addressed her firmly: "This ends now, Morgana! Too many people have suffered because of you."

Morgana turned with a huge smile on her face. "And who is going to stop me? You?" She laughed. Then her face hardened as she let the smile drop off her face. "I don't think so! Ablinn ðu; forlæte ðu nu!" Her eyes glowed golden. But Merlin just raised his hand and her spell blew out harmlessly.

Morgana's eyes widened in shock, but she composed herself quickly. "So you have magic? I don't care! This will not save you nor your beloved king. I'm a High Priestess of Avalon and you are no match for me! Folge min bebod!" Again, Merlin deflected her spell with a simple wave of his hand.

"You're right. I am no match for you, Morgana. You still can't see it, can you? Your hatred and your anger are blinding you" he replied unnervingly calmly. "I am going to stop you, Morgana. I'm sorry." With these words, he took a box with runic symbols out of his bag and opened its lid. "Aweax thu metethearfenda! Thicge thu thone drycraeft the thinan deorcan mode gefylth!" A snake like creature slithered up the side of the box and then leapt onto Morgana's face who screamed in agony as she struggled with it. After some moments, it slithered away again and Morgana dropped to her knees.

"Who are you?" she pressed out without looking up.

"I'm still Merlin, but the druids call me Emrys" he said. Morgana's face shot up. Shock and fear were clearly written all over it. But she hadn't lost her will to fight. "Hleap on bæc!" This time however Merlin didn't even have to block her spell. She realised it, too. Panic was gripping her and her voice came out shrill and thin. "What have you done?"

"The gean canach is a fearsome creature formed by the tears of the earth mother Nenamed. It devours the magic of others and drains them of their magic. You are powerless now, Morgana. I've finally stopped you."

Morgana got to her feet and looked past Merlin. To his great surprise, she broke into a grin. "You might have stopped me, but you've failed anyway. You've failed to save your precious king." She then turned and ran away.

Fear was running down his spine in cold shivers as he turned around to where he had left Arthur. His heart stopped as he saw that his friend had dropped to his knees. A tall blonde man whose crown denoted him as King Marc was standing above him, his sword ready to strike. This was the moment Merlin started running.

"You're going to pay, Arthur Pendragon!" Marc cried and was about to bring down his sword on Arthur's head when his blow was blocked by another man. Arthur recognised him instantly. "Lancelot" he murmured.

Grimly without a word, Lancelot attacked and drove Marc back. Their fight lasted several moments before Lancelot finally stabbed him. As Marc fell down dying, he lashed out with his sword and sliced Lancelot.

"Lancelot!" Arthur ran over and caught his saviour before he hit the ground.

"I made it" Lancelot smiled weakly.

"Oh Lancelot. Hold on. I'll get help."

"No, don't. It won't be necessary anymore. The blow was fatal. Please, stay with me. There's just so much I need to... I want to... I'm sorry, Arthur" Lancelot said falteringly. His voice was pressed, his breathing slow and painful.

"Hush. Save your strength. You'll be all right, I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep. I want you to know that I truly regret what I did back then. I didn't want to. I wanted to be loyal, but... I loved her so much. I just couldn't..." he broke off, hit by another wave of pain. He inhaled sharply and then fell back into Arthur's arms. Arthur looked down at his former friend's face. It was growing pale.

"I've forgiven you, Lancelot" he said mainly to ease Lancelot's conscience, but he realised that it was true. He had actually forgiven Lancelot a while ago already. He had realised how hard it must have been for him to have to back down. If their places had been reversed, he knew he wouldn't have been able to.

Lancelot smiled relieved: "Thank you, Arthur. I'm glad you forgave me before I..."

"Hush. I know."

"There's one more thing... I need to... your help."

"Whatever it is, I'll do anything in my powers to do it."

Lancelot looked him in the eyes and took another painful breath before he said: "I have a son, Arthur. His name is Galahad, Merlin took him in. Please..."

"I'll take care of your son. Don't worry."

"Thank you, Arthur"

"Lancelot!" Merlin came running towards them and kneeled to his friend's side.

"Merlin" Lancelot's voice was nothing more than a weak mumble. "My friend... It's been an honour to... know you."

And lying in King Arthur's arms died Sir Lancelot, one of the bravest and most loyal knights of Camelot. Merlin had to fight back his tears as he crouched beside his friend.

"Let's get him to the camp." Arthur said with a hoarse voice which betrayed his composed appearance.

The battle around them was over. The men of Camelot had achieved another victory but nobody was in the mood for celebrations. Their loss was too dear. Together with the knights, Arthur and Merlin prepared two boats. They placed Tristan and Isolde in one, Lancelot in the other and fitted them out with dry branches and fire wood. They were all gathered at the shore of the lake.

"Today, we stand once more in victory over the forces that want to destroy us. We've come here to honour these who died securing this victory. May they rest in peace" Arthur said as the boats were pushed into the lake. Gwaine and Percival each shot a flaming arrow at the boats which immediately caught fire.

"Their bravery will not be forgotten. We will remember them."

So the King of Camelot's train returned home victorious but disheartened. However, fate was not yet done with them. As they approached the castle through the forest, a hooded figure jumped at Arthur with a drawn sword – and would have killed him, if Merlin hadn't pushed the attacker back with a flash of his magic. The attacker 's hood was thrown back and a flood of black curls was revealed. Though powerless, Morgana's hatred for Arthur had driven her onwards, determined to kill him. She was thrust against a tree and fell dead to the ground. Merlin flinched as he realised what had just happened. He hadn't even thought about what he was doing, his instincts had taken over the rule of his actions. But the consequences became all too clear when he turned to look at Arthur's face. Hurt, shock, fear, distrust – all these emotions were showing in his friend's eyes.

"Arrest him" Arthur said to no one in particular. The knights looked at him in utter confusion but as he didn't seem to be kidding or to take it back, Leon, all the loyal knight, unsheathed his sword. Hesitantly, the other knights followed his example, except for Gwaine.

"Put your swords away. If I wanted to resist, you wouldn't stand a chance anyway" Merlin said submissively.

So Merlin was once again in Camelot's dungeons. This time, however, it was different. This time, he wouldn't be able to simply wriggle off the hook. This time, Arthur himself had had him thrown in here and judging from his hurt look when he had discovered Merlin's secret, it was hard to guess what would happen next. For now, all he could do was wait.

Merlin's secret is finally out and Arthur didn't take it very well... I'll try and update as quickly as possible as to not leave you hanging in there too long :-) The spells and other magical resources are taken from the series, the name of the place is actually the name of the Anglo-Saxon poet who wrote the Y Gododdin where Arthur's name is mentioned. Hope you liked it and keep on favouriting and reviewing! Always makes my day!