I am sooooooooo sorry for how long this chapter has taken! I've had a small case of writer's block-plus very little time to write-and the words just did not want to come out. But when I finally was able to write this, it took a mind of it's own and came out completly different from what I had planned. But it works and I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out, though it could be way better. I hope you like it regardless. :)

Disclaimer: In no way do I own anything remotely Merlin. If I did, season 5 would be coming out October 6 in the US as well as in the UK and not in January.

Chapter 21: Crashing Down

Let us cleanse this force with fire, strike the fool
who leads the liar, let it all come crumbling
down! Like the firebird from the ashes,
we will rise to lead the masses! The
strongest will emerge to wear
the crown!

-Crashing Down by Heather Dale

Merlin couldn't tear his eyes from his friend's body. Gwaine's eyes were open wide, staring lifelessly into the slowly darkening sky. His sword lay in his hand, fist clenched around it as it had been in the last moment of his life. Merlin took a deep breath, trying to keep back the tears, and fell to his knees. Despite his best attempts, a tear slipped from his eye. The one tear was soon followed by another and another until they flowed down his cheeks.

No man is worth your tears. The words came unbidden, a distant memory, but the pain at hearing them was just as fresh as the day Arthur had said them. You're certainly not. Merlin bit his lip, wishing the words weren't true. But they were. Arthur had been wrong. There were men worth his tears. Loyal, friendly, carefree Gwaine was one of them. Arthur wasn't. Not any more.

Merlin wiped at his eyes furiously, taking several deep breaths to calm himself. He looked down at Gwaine, scaresly believing that the still, quiet body could be that of his forever moving, forever talking friend. Gwaine's eyes stared lifelessly into the sky and Merlin felt a chill rush down his spine. You could have prevented this. The thought raced through his mind and Merlin bit his lip, knowing it was true. He looked down into Gwaine's unseeing eyes and it seemed that they were accusing him of murdering his friend. No! Merlin reached out with shaking hand and gently closed Gwaine's eyes, shutting the thoughts out as well.

Merlin lowered his head, eyes closed, and gripped his friend's shoulder in a final farewell. Sighing, he opened his eyes and raised his head and slowly got to his feet. He looked once more at his friend's body and, on impulse, reached down and took the sword from the lifeless hands. He felt the balance and weighed it gently, the phrase It's very swordy running through his head. A small, sad smile broke across his face for a moment before fading away.

He turned, holding the sword close to his side and walked across the courtyard. He didn't look back, not able to bear the thought of seeing Gwaine's body lying lifeless amid the piles of body. He passed by Leon's body, and glanced down sadly, but didn't stop. He had never been close to the knight, though he had liked the man and respected him and felt sorrow at his death.

A sorcerer stood off to the side, nursing the stub that use to be his hand with his cloak. He watched every move Merlin made with calculating eyes. Merlin noticed the man staring at him and turned toward him.

"Who killed them?" he asked, motioning with the sword back toward Leon and Gwaine's bodies.

The man's eyes flickered down to the bodies and a cocky grin broke across his face.

"The boy, Mordred." the man rasped. "Ah, what a spell he cast! The one you were bent over foolishly charged and Mordred waited until the last second before killing him. The other one charged at the same time, but Mordred was to smart for the likes of him. Such reflexes and power to cast two killing spells within moments of each other!"

Merlin's eyes narrowed as the man talked. He barely heard as the man rambled on, praising Mordred for his power. So the boy had killed his friend, despite the fact that Gwaine was on his side. Merlin knew he should have expected no less from that devil.

"Where did he go?" Merlin asked coldly.

"Who?" the man asked, surprised to be inturrupted.

"Mordred!" Merlin snapped, his grip on the sword tightening. "Where did Mordred go?"

"I...I believe he and the Lady Morgana met to press the attack into the castle." The man stammered, stumbling backwards at the pure ice in Merlin's voice.

Merlin nodded his thanks and spun on his heel, hurrying through the courtyard and into the castle. Once he reached the first corridor, he took off at a sprint. He knew the castle better then the back of his hand and he knew that Arthur would retreat to the innermost room of the castle.

He wasn't sure how long he had been running. His feet seemed to have a mind of their own as he zig-zagged through the corridors, narrowly avoiding crashing into Morgana's men. He was so focused on reaching Mordred that he didn't see the bodies in his path until he had tripped over them and crashed to the floor.

Merlin muttered curses as he hit the stone floor hard, Gwaine's sword slipping from his hand and sliding several feet away. He turned over to stand, but he froze when he saw what he had tripped over. Elyan and Percival lay beside each other, hands stretched for something that was not there. They were deathly still and Merlin knew instantly that they were dead.

Merlin got to his knees and crawled over to them, noting that their eyes were closed, and there seemed to be no marks on their bodies save for Elyan's obviously broken arm. Despite knowing they were gone, Merlin couldn't help but check their pulses. It only confirmed what he already knew to be true. The last of his friends were gone.

"Nice handiwork, hmm?" a voice asked from behind him.

Merlin spun around, losing his balance and falling. A knight-if you could call him that-leaned against the wall. Merlin knew him to be one of Morgana's hired bandits, though he dressed as a knight. Reaching for Gwaine's sword, Merlin drew it to him and got to his feet.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked wairly, not trusting the man any farther then he could throw him.

"Them." The ruffian motioned to Elyan and Percival. "The Lady Morgana did nicely on them, wouldn't you agree? Not a mark on them, save for a few broken bones, but she does seem to enjoy playing with her food." The man gave a low growl that Merlin supposed was his laugh.

Merlin's grip on the sword tightened. Now Mordred wasn't the only one who would face his anger. Though he wasn't as close to Elyan and Percival, they had been good men, never giving Merlin any cause to think of them as anything but friends.

"Where is she?" Merlin asked, breathing deeply to calm his anger.

The ruffian shrugged.

"Last I saw her and that boy," he spat the word hatefully, "They were headed for the roof. They were saying something about the coward of a king running to draw them away from the people in the room." He broke off and grinned, revealing a row of yellowed teeth. "As if the whole army would follow after him when there is a room full of women completly unguarded. The men and children have already been removed to be seperated and sold...hey! Where are you going?"

Merlin didn't spare the man an answer. Instead, his eyes flashed gold and the disgusting man fell to the ground, instantly dead. Unlike with other men he had killed, Merlin felt no regret. The ruffian had been an evil man, that he could tell with just that one meeting, and the world was better off without him. Merlin didn't spare him a glance as he ran through the corridors, wondering how on earth he would find Morgana and Mordred if Arthur was running.

He lost track of how many stairs he had climbed, of how far he had run. All he knew was that he must have been running for awhile because he was out of breath when he stopped to ask a man in a cloak if he had seen Morgana and Mordred. It took Merlin a moment before he recognized the man as Iseldir.

"They and the Pendragon rushed by not long ago," Iseldir told him., "If you keep going straight you should reach them." He paused before adding, "It is strange that the Pendragon would run and leave behind his people."

"If Arthur thought running and leading Morgana and Mordred away from his people," Merlin answered without thinking, "He would run. It would be the only way he would ever run from his enemies."

"But surely he would realize that that would leave his people open to the army." Iseldir questioned.

"He is quite thick." Merlin replied, fondness seeping into his voice.

"I will try to free the people," Iseldir announced. "Do not worry about them."

"Thank you, Iseldir." Merlin smiled, a true genuine smile.

"Go. You must find Morgana and Mordred." Iseldir ordered.

Merlin nodded and took off at a sprint. He hadn't run far, however, until he reached a turn in the corridor and stairs. He skidded to a stop and looked between the two, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

"Lættewestre mín fét æt þá ic cépe." Merlin chanted.

His eyes glowed gold and his feet suddenly took off without having to wait for him. He took the turn, running up several flights of stairs until he ran out onto a flat open space. He recognized the place instantly as the place Arthur often went to think when he had had a fight with Uther or was questioning himself. Merlin himself had always enjoyed come up here simply for the openess of it.

Now he wished he were anyplace but. Morgana and Mordred were just yards in front of him, slowly advancing on Arthur who was retreating slowly, Excalibur held in front of him.

"Come now, brother dear." Morgana taunted, unnerving joy in her voice. "You don't really expect to escape from us, now do you?"

"I wouldn't cut me short just yet, Morgana." Arthur replied. "You have yet to kill me."

"That was when you had your precious Merlin," she drawed the name out with a bitter laugh, "to save your royal backside. Even if he was here do you think he would protect you after all you did to him?"

"I know he wouldn't." Arthur said softly and his eyes dropped to the ground momentarly before cutting back up to meet Morgana's. "But it doesn't matter. What's done is done, no matter how much I regret it."

"Oh, so now you've grown a heart." Morgana taunted. "To little to late."

"I know." Arthur's voice was just barely a whisper and Merlin could see his shoulder's drooping.

Merlin stood behind the three, as yet unnoticed. He stood there, staring at Morgana and Mordred's backs, barely able to see Arthur. The King was partly hidden between the two villan's, but from what Merlin could see, Arthur looked more dejected then Merlin had ever seen. He looked like he had all but given up.

No matter how much I regret it. The words echoed through Merlin's head and he tightened his grip on Gwaine's sword. He closed his eyes, letting the words sink in. Did Arthur truly regret his actions? What actions did he regret? Killing Gaius? His mother? Driving Merlin himself from Camelot? What did Arthur regret?

"This is the end, dear brother." Morgana said, breaking into Merlin's questioning. "Say good-bye to your throne."

She raised her arm, ready to cast a spell, but Mordred reached out and smacked her hand down.

"He's mine, Morgana!" the boy hissed, drawing his hand back.

"I'm the one he's wronged!" Morgana hissed back, glaring down at Mordred.

"What did he ever do to you?" Mordred laughed, a cold, heartless laugh. "Take the throne that is rightfully his? Oh don't even go there, Morgana. Even if Uther had acknowleged you, the first male son would still have taken the throne."

Morgana's eyes widened, and she opened and closed her mouth ridiculously. She didn't want to admit it, but she knew Mordred was right. Merlin saw her shoulder's droop slightly, before she straightened up to her full height, nearly towering over the short boy.

"You think you know everything, Mordred," she said, glaring down at him. "But you don't know the half of it. Arthur has wronged me in ways you cannot imagine."

"Did he steal your daddy's love from you?" Mordred taunted, cruel smirk on his face as he easily met Morgana's angry eyes.

"I care nothing for Uther! Let alone for his nonexsistant love!" Morgana snapped, stepping backwards in anger.

Mordred just grinned at her, before letting the smile fade and his face became a completly blank mask.

"He's mine." The boy repeated.

"No." Morgana said simply.

"You don't want to do this Morgana." Mordred threatened, voice low and dangerous.

For a moment, it looked as if Morgana would do just that. But then a shadow fell across her face and the stubborness Merlin had always associated with her revealed itself and she shook her head, stepping away from Mordred.

"I think I do." she said, resignation steeled in her voice.

"Shame," Mordred shrugged, not even a hint of regret in his voice. "We could have been great together."

"ábra..." Morgana began, but she never had the chance to finish her spell.

"Cwile." Mordred said calmly, quickly as if he had been expecting it.

Morgana's eyes widened as her voice was choked off in mid-word. She reached weakly for her throat, before she fell to her knees and fell over to her side, eyes wide. She struggled once more to breath, but all that escaped her throat was a pained, raspy gasp. She looked up to meet Mordred's cold, uncaring eyes, then her body fell limp, her eyes still open and staring at her killer.

Mordred looked down at her for a moment. His face was a completly blank mask until he blinked once and looked away. He turned, not noticing Merlin still standing frozen behind him, and looked toward Arthur. The king had yet to move, so enwrapped in the brief fight. HE stood where he had before, still holding Excalibur in front of him, no fruther away then he had been before.

"It seems as if you are mine after all, Arthur Pendragon." Mordred commented, the icy cold smile drawing across his face once more.

Arthur didn't reply. His hands tightened on Excalibur, and he took a deep breath, resigning himself for what was to come. He lowered his eyes to look at Morgana's still body, and when he raised them once more he looked beyond Mordred. Merlin saw the King's eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat.

Mordred didn't seem to notice Arthur's sudden wide-eyed look, or if he did he mistook it for fear of death. The cold smile grew large across his face, and he nodded in satisfaction. His destiny was almost complete. The vile persecuter of his kind, the murderer of his father, would soon be gone. His hand raised, ready to send the killing spell.

Merlin's breathing quickened and he felt the palms of his hand suddenly grow sweaty as he met Arthur's eyes. He felt a cold chill run down his spine as he remembered the past few days. This was the man who had killed his mentor, his mother. The man who had driven him from his home, leading his friends to their deaths. He had turned his home village against him, burning it to the ground.

But he was also his friend. Merlin's breath caught in his throat as he remembered all the things he and Arthur had been through. Arthur messing his hair after Freya's death. Arthur throwing goblets at him when he knew he had lost an argument. Arthur listening to his advice and acting on it. His and Arthur's playful bantering. Arthur admitting that he wasn't a coward and was like a friend.

Merlin saw Mordred raise his hand to send the killing spell. He looked quickly between Mordred and Arthur before reacting instantly.

"Mordred!"

Ahh! I hate this chapter so much! I can't believe I killed off Morgana! I love her! She is so awesome and kick butt! Uhg! Stupid plot idea that leaves me no way out of killing off my favorite character! haha sorry, had to get that out of my system. haha :P

Spell Translation:

Lættewestre mín fét æt þá ic cépe-Guide my feet to those I seek.

ábra- Full spell is "ábradwe" which means to overthrow/slay/kill.

Cwile- To die.