Emm... -Peeks nervously around a corner- Can we all just rewind two days and pretend it's Sunday?

I'm sorry folks, it's entirely my fault! I was at work all Friday and Saturday, and then out for lunch with my family on Sunday, and then wrapping toilet paper all around my friend's house, and riding ma horsie -who is far too fat for competitions in two weeks- And so haven't really had a chance to get this chapter out.

But it's here now! In all it's shining -not so glorious- glory.

Seriously, I apologise in advance about spelling. No one has checked this yet. I just wanted to get it out.

I offer you all a virtual strawberry in apology.

And oh, I decided to do some Merlin internet trolling today to update Ellie and Simona on Merlin news, and I didn't even realise they have officially announced it is back to 13 eps! Woo! And Arthur is going to have an Uncle? Exciting stuff. And Morgause is back - No suprise -. And Uther might not be in it that much this season? Now that, that one upset me the most. What will Merlin do without his Uthy-Kins? - And yes, Ellie, I'm talking to you ;) -

And Warwick Castle is having this kind of Merlin attraction thing opening in April. You meet the dragon! Through a mirror! (Yes, I'm reading this off the website) And there is a waxwork Colin there... and Colin says some stuff about birds being there in an interview.. Oh and Gaius's chambers, and "You can cast spells in there" - according to Colin.

I told my sister who had almost passed her driving test, and we simply looked at each other and said... "Roadtrip!"

Wait, I don't even know where it is... Oh man, it's near London. That will be one long road trip.

Totally worth it though.

Surely all that news -even if you already knew it - is enough for you to forgive me.

Disclaimer: I think the title of this chapter may be a Doctor Who episode... So, I don't own that. Sadly.

Allons-y! - As David Tennant would say. And me.

Author: Catherine

The Big Bang

The late morning sun streamed between the stone pillars lining the courtyard. Merlin walked awkwardly, constantly having to raise his arm to shield his eyes as the rays hit his face. The yard was silent, save for the soft twittering of birds on the rooftops. A perfect day.

Merlin's footsteps echoed loudly along the stone floor, and his heart was beating loudly in his ears. Taking deep breaths, he tried to quell his boiling anger and frustration. But he couldn't help it. He had never in his life felt so helpless. Not even when Arthur had been bitten by the Questing Beast. Because even then, though it had been extremely dangerous, there had always been some kind of solution, however drastic. Someone with the answers.

But now there was no one. No one knew the solution, no one had any advice, no one even believed him. He was completely and utterly alone, facing a threat that had played her part so well, the entire city was under her spell.

And magic held no answers. That was a first. No spell would stop her – He couldn't just walk into the throne room and blast her, he would be killed on the spot. And not only by Uther, Arthur and Lunette - but Andeline too.

As he turned the corner, something compelled him to raise his head. And there, as if waiting for him, was the woman herself. Andeline regarded Merlin coldly from the far end of the corridor. As if waiting for something. The pair stood twenty metres apart in complete silence, neither moving.

Suddenly, Andeline slightly; a sharp, clinical smile that chilled Merlin to the bone. He waited without moving as she turned, her eyes never leaving his, before disappearing down a passage to her left.

Merlin knew where that passage went. He knew Andeline wanted him to follow her. He knew that she knew he would follow. He knew she would try to kill him. All valid reasons not to follow her.

But he did, just like she knew he would, unable to resist the pulling urge to confront her, a need to justify himself that he couldn't fight.

He followed her up to the roof.

As he emerged on the battlements, the wind whipped his hair roughly to one side, the weather seemingly playing up with his nerves. Andeline stood still on the edge of the battlements, facing away from him, brown hair flying furiously across her back.

As she surveyed the city before her, behind her Merlin swept his eyes briefly around the rooftop.

"There is no one else here." Andeline called softly, her voice deadly quiet, yet carrying clearing across the wind. "All the guards are surrounding the ceremony. We're all alone."

Merlin looked at her, standing proudly away from him, and yet could only feel pity. "What do you want?" He spoke softly.

She said nothing in reply, and they continued to stand in silence for a moment longer.

"There is something I need to know," she murmured, finally turning to face him, though carefully avoiding his eyes. "Why…" She began, slowly circling Merlin like a bird of prey, who stood still, following her only with his eyes. "Why did you do it?"

"You know why I did it," Merlin replied immediately, knowing exactly what she was talking about, and in his defiance raised his voice louder. "First she tried to kill Arthur, then my mother, then Gaius –"

"Lies!" Andeline screeched, losing all control and snapping her head around to meet his.

"You ask for an explanation yet refuse to listen!"

"That's because it's lies!" She shouted, fury burning in her eye. "That's what you do, you lie!"

Merlin took a deep breath, and calmed himself. "I'm not going to fight you," he assured.

Andeline scoffed, and continued to walk around him. "Fight me…" she mocked.

Finally she was once more in front of him, regarding him with that same vicious expression as before. And for a moment, Merlin was stuck with just how much Andeline looked like her Nimueh.

"You killed my sister. Now I'll kill you."

Merlin bowed his head in regret. Andeline thrust a hand out, tensing her muscles as she chanted, "arodnes wiðinnan ácwellan hé beinnan mín gegnpæþ."

A golden burst of energy ripped from her hand, letting out a noise akin to a roar, and spiralled faster and faster towards Merlin like an arrow. She watched in anticipation, a blazing fire in her eyes. For a second, perhaps even less than that, her face crumpled, and a great despair crashed over her features. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to look away, but she forced her eyes to watch Merlin's bowed head. This was her doing, she realised. If she had come this far, she must muster the courage to carry it through.

The spiral of light corkscrewed its way towards the boy, aimed directly at his heart. What took just a moment seemed to last an hour, as the spell moved quicker and quicker, gaining brightness and volume as it tore its way through the short distance.

And then it stopped. Andeline's eyes widened in disbelief as the spell seemed to hit an invisible barrier, and simply exploded less than a foot away from Merlin, leaving a dull vibrating hum in its wake.

"What…" She breathed, lost for words. Some kind of fear pricked inside of her, and made her heart start to beat erratically. What had just happened?

Merlin slowly raised his head and looked at her.

With gold eyes.

Andeline stumbled backwards as if punched, and her breathing hitched in her throat. He had magic.

Merlin still said nothing, but regarded Andeline in much the same way as she did him – except there was definite pity in his eyes.

"You… stopped that spell." She mumbled pathetically, struggling to gather a coherent thought. "But…"

"It shouldn't have come down to this," Merlin said solemnly, looking intensely at the ground, because he knew if he continued to look at her then he may not have the courage to stay strong.

"How could you keep this from me?" Andeline breathed, her fiery temper winning over her fragile state of mind. "You lied, again!"

"No, I didn't, I just – áwerian!" He suddenly shouted, spinning an arm up to in the nick of time to block Andeline's furiously blasted spell. "Stop this, Andeline," he pleaded, stumbling backwards a step at the ferocity of her attack. "You are acting out of anger, nothing more! You don't want to do this!"

"Of course I am acting out of anger!" She called. "You – ábradwian – killed my sister! The only family I had!"

"Scield!" Once again Merlin staggered to one side, a shining gleam of sweat lying lightly on his forehead with the exertion. He really was out of practice, he noted drily. But Andeline couldn't keep this up either; clearly she hadn't anticipated the energy required for this amount of power. He had to stop her, for her sake as well as his own. He pushed his hand forward, a shimmering gold shield extended in front of him, and fought to keep it strong. "Nimueh wasn't how you remembered her."

Tears pricked the corner of Andeline's eyes as she fired every spell in her arsenal in Merlin's direction. Why was the boy still alive? "I will kill you!" She yelled.

"I can't let you do that," Merlin responded grimly, and with a wave of his hand he dissolved the shield. An act of surrender.

Andeline laughed madly and took a shuddering breath, preparing. "Ha, you and your pathetic magic." And with those words she put everything she had into a single spell; the most powerful spell she knew. Merlin's time was up. "You are a nobody. Hréoh!"

In an instant, it seemed as if the breeze that had been playfully shifting Merlin's hair retreated, and all the wind moved towards Andeline's high held hand. Merlin could only watch, too much in awe to even consider defending himself, as the air sucked into a condensed ball of withering power. And when Andeline couldn't hold on to it longer, and her legs began to buckle, she unleashed hell.

It sounded like an explosion, and the stone beneath their feet cracked in pressure as the tempest hurtled towards Merlin. His eyes widened and the bang made his ears ring loudly, all normal sound cut off to a hollow echoing. He pushed one leg forward to brace himself, squeezed his eyes shut and screamed, "Sessian médrengecynd!"

For a moment, Merlin was unsure if it had even worked. His eyes clamped tightly shut refused to open, and he could still hear nothing out his ears. Did it work?

He cracked his watering eyes open and caught sight of Andeline's astounded expression. Astounded, he thought numbly, that means I am still alive.

As the ringing in his head retreated, and his vision grew clear, Andeline could only stand dumbfounded. No one had ever quelled that spell. Not in all the legends, the old tales told around campfires when she was younger. Never.

"You said I was a nobody." Merlin said softly, running a hand through his hand shakily. "You're wrong."

Still recovering from the revelation, Andeline hastily adopted a look of indifference. "Am I?" She queried. "In fact, Merlin, does anyone believe your little tales? I hear you were banned from the wedding."

She had touched a nerve. "I don't need anyone else."

"And the lies continue!" Andeline scoffed, throwing her hands in the air. "Tell me, have you always been this needy or do you too know how it feels to lose someone you love?"

A white hot flash of rage flashed through Merlin, and in the spur of the moment spat out what came to mind. "fýrgnást fléoge!"

A sharp humming noise resounded as a small, brightly lit ball of orange lit zipped cheerfully towards Andeline. She backed up, surprisingly frightened, but then the sphere just stopped, hovering in front of her face. She smiled triumphantly.

Merlin narrowed his eyes. "Onælan."

Suddenly, the seemingly friendly spell exploded, expanding rapidly and wrapping itself around Andeline, growing and glowing brighter until it engulfed her entire body, raising it off the ground in a deadly, swirling, whirlpool of fire. His eyes were steeled, and for a short moment his fury won out, before his eyes caught her shrill scream, and all his compose vanished, as he gasped, "álynian," and released the spell.

As soon as it was over, the effects began to take its toll on the young warlock. He gasped and folded his hands over his stomach, feeling as if he were about to be sick. But his eyes followed Andeline, who crashed towards the ground, landing roughly on the floor, sobbing hysterically. At the sight of her red rimmed eyes and shaking composure, Merlin instantly felt the great wave of guilt crash over him once more.

"Please…. Just stop." Andeline begged, struggling to her hands and knees. "Just stop."

Merlin took a deep breath to recover and made his way over to her, kneeling down beside her. "You can't bring her back." He whispered.

She turned her shining eyes up towards him at his words, as if only realising the truth for the first time. "How could she do such things?" Andeline hiccupped.

So she believed him. Finally. Merlin wanted to laugh and cheer in celebration. All this pain, and fighting, finally resulted in something. She believed him.

"Andeline, you are a good person. I know you are."

"I tried to kill you. I am a monster!" She exclaimed.

Merlin felt his heart contract slightly and gently helped her to sit beside him. "No, you're not. You're stubborn as hell, but not a monster."

Andeline smiled slightly, trying to wipe her eyes with her sleeve. "Stop being nice. I don't deserve it, Merlin."

"Everyone deserves a second chance, Andeline." Merlin replied wearily, feeling his whole body sink even more and more in a sluggish state of exhaustion as the minutes went by. "I just wish that it wasn't too late to fix everything now," he admitted sadly.

Andeline suddenly froze beside him, an expression of wonder, apprehension and realisation crossing her face. "Where does this leave us?" Andeline asked hesitantly, carefully, as if her life depended on it.

Recognising the serious tone in her words, Merlin took a moment to ponder what she had said. "I never was your enemy, Andeline. All I ever wanted to be was your friend." He admitted honestly.

"And Arthur… Did he know about… about Nimueh?" Her words were painful, timorous.

"He had no idea. Still doesn't."

Andeline sat for a moment in silence, a pause of contemplation for both of them. Merlin wondered what was going to happen now. Whether this event changed things. Whereas Andeline, she was finally deducing that perhaps Merlin wasn't the enemy after all.

"All this time," Andeline breathed, "Lunette has fed me lies to keep me loyal to her. She tricked me just to use my magic to her gain. Why did I let her?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. You don't have to listen to her now." Merlin responded kindly.

Andeline turned to face him, a small defiant spark reappearing in her eyes. "Oh, but it does." She struggled to her feet, and proceeded to pull Merlin to his, which was just as well seeing how tired he was. "I have something that you may be interested in," she stated, and shook her left sleeve gently, reaching in with her other hand to pull out a small vile of thick, gold liquid. Merlin felt his heart stop.

"Is that…" Merlin breathed, hardly daring to believe it.

"You didn't think I would keep a spare, did you?" She explained wryly.

Merlin held out his hands hesitantly, and Andeline pressed the vial into his outstretched fingers. "Andeline…."

"I hope, in time, as preposterous as it sounds, that you might forgive me."

Merlin smiled, his first true smile for days, and looked from the bottle to Andeline with shining eyes, full of excitement. "You are already forgiven."

Andeline laughed softly, "then you are an even bigger idiot than I previously thought. Wasn't I trying to kill you less than five minutes ago?"

Suddenly, the clear tolling of bells chimed across the rooftop, sending a small scattering of birds squawking out into the sky. The urgency of the situation seemed to crash down on Merlin. For a while, it had seemed like the pair of them had been locked into a conflict so intense, there had been nothing else co-existing in their world. But it all was catching up with them now.

"Come with me." Merlin blurted, clutching the antidote tightly in his fist.

"Where?" Andeline asked.

Merlin impulsively grabbed her hand, and grinned, his fear and nervousness daring to burst from his body unless he kept it in check.

"We have a wedding to crash."

Their footsteps rang clearly through the castle as the two figures raced down the corridors. Andeline laughed noisily, caught in the moment, as they ran as fast as they could, hand in hand, towards the throne room.

Merlin was in overdrive. This was it. He finally could fix this. He would save Arthur, and by doing so, save Camelot. He - just a skinny, stupid serving boy who had cause so much trouble these past few days; he had been banned from his own master's wedding.

Lunette didn't stand a chance.

They skidded around the final corridor, and slammed to a halt. In front of the pair were the large, wooden doors that led to the wedding ceremony. All that was in their way were two burley Camelot guards, one of which had recognised Merlin and opened his mouth to protest.

The poor, unfortunate guards.

Andeline and Merlin simultaneously looked at each other and grinned, before raising their hands to each point at an individual target. While Andeline muttered a few well chosen words, Merlin didn't even need to. As their eyes flashed gold, the guards barely had time to register what was happening.

They hit the doors behind them, both limp yet alive. They would wake eventually, with nothing but a fuzzy memory and a large bruise. Nothing they wouldn't recover from.

And as for Andeline and Merlin, they stood in silence, staring at the daunting double doors in front of them. Andeline sneaked a glance at Merlin, and found his expression more determined than she had ever seen, even in Lunette.

Without another moment's pause, Merlin launched forward and slammed the doors open, striding confidently straight into the middle of the Royal wedding ceremony.

Oh, will you look at that, Merlin's all big and brave. As one of my poem's clarified, That's my boy!

Hope it's okay, and you overlook any and all rushed quailites it may have. Ohhh translations!

These may not be entirely accurate, but hey, they sounded good.

Okay, Andeline first spell - "arodnes wiðinnan ácwellan hé beinnan mín gegnpæþ" - Means pretty muchs -spirit within destroy he in my path.

Merlin's defence - "áwerian" - Means - To defend, or protect.

Andeline's spell - "ábradwian" - I believe is pretty much a - Kill or destroy spell.

Merlin yet again defence - "Scield" - Is a shield - Duh.

Okay Andeline's big kaboom spell of greatness - "hréoh" - Is a tempest.

Merlin's retaliation - "Sessian médrengecynd" - Means - Grow calm, mother nature.

Right and when Andeline pushes Merlin's buttons, and he goes raging, his spell... "fýrgnást fléoge" - Means fire fly.

And when it stops in front of her, Merlin simply says, "onælan" - Ignite.

Yep, and that's it. So... till next... Sunday. SUNDAY! I will try my hardest to make sure I stick to that.

Guys... next week is my last chapter! :( More from Ellie and Simona though!

WOW! Today... In 1998, the Spice Girls performed their first UK concert... In Glasgow. Ha nice. Scotland woooop! Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want...

Peace off. BOOP!