A/N - Thanks for the reviews!.. So there are only 7 chapters (including this) left and a epilogue left of this story so there's not much left to go.. But don't worry, I will begin writing the next story over my winter break to begin posting early in the New Year :)..

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Chapter 20 – Between Two Worlds

Her eyes opened. Blinking to regain her vision, she sat up. Looking around, she saw she was in a room that looked similar to Arthur's in Camelot, but all washed in white.

Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, she stood up and walked around. She was dressed in the simple white dress once again, barefooted. 'Where am I?' She wondered out loud as she walked to the large window in the room. Looking out, all she could see was water.

"You are awake." A voice startled her as she spun around to face the intruder.

She eyes widened in surprise. "Father?" She asked, taking a step towards him.

"It is me, Little Bird." He smiled and opened his arms as she rushed into them.

She held him tightly, taking in his distinctive scent that she had never forgotten. She all her worries always faded when she was embraced by him, he always made everything all right.

After a few minutes, he pulled away, before taking her hand and leading her back to the bed, sitting her down before sitting down beside her. He smiled at her, brushing strands of hair behind her ear. "My beautiful little bird." He cooed. She blushed, before tucking her feet underneath her, just as she did as a child.

"What is this place?" She asked him, looking around the room once more.

"This is a place in between." He explained.

"In between?" She questioned. "You mean like life and death?" He nodded. "But I don't remember dying."

"That's because you were cursed." He told her. "Another sorceress put a dark spell on you called 'The Demon Curse'. It is a painful way to die, making you relive all your worst nightmares and making you face your demons. You are tested and very few have recovered."

"Who would do that?" She questioned. "Who did this to me?"

"Her name is Morgause, she is a priestess of the Old Religion. Her plan was to get you out of the way because you keep on stopping their plans to take over Camelot."

"Their plans? Her's and Agravaine's?" She asked, remembering the woman from the temple.

"There is more going on than you know." He told her. "I had hoped to keep you away from this world, but others had different plans." He sighed. "They are searching for you. All the groups of bandits, all the attacks of villages, it's all for you."

"Why me? Why would they want me?"

"Because you are special. You have the power of Emrys."

"The Goddess of Dragons. Freya explained the legend to me."

"Back then, she was hunted, wanted for her power. She only ever embraced her true power when she spread it between her followers before ascending to a higher power. History is beginning to repeat itself." He told her.

"They want my power." She concluded. "Agravaine, is he behind all of this?" She asked.

"Agravaine is a selfish man. He was jealous of his siblings. They both had magic and he didn't. So when Ygraine died and Uther declared war on magic, he took his Uther's side. He hunted down everyone with magic. He wants what he felt was his birthright, but that's not how it works."

"How did they find us? They believed you were dead."

"I slipped up. Somehow, word got to Agravaine that I was still alive. He learnt that I had a child, but he couldn't get me to talk. He questioned me on whether Tristan was still alive and where you were. I didn't tell him anything. Since then, he's been searching for you, but only recently has he had resources to search everywhere. He doesn't know you actual age, or even your gender, but he knows you are out there somewhere and you have the sole power of Emrys."

"So he's had me killed, without knowing I'm the one he's looking for?" She asked. He nodded. "What happens when I die? What happens to the power?"

"It will be lost forever. The dragons will die out." He replied sadly. "Only a Dragonlord can hatch the remaining dragon eggs. Only then can the dragon's fly free once more."

They stayed quiet for a moment as Merlyn looked out of the window. She didn't know what she was meant to do. She was in between worlds, but had no idea how to go either way.

"What do I have to do now?" She asked.

"Well, daughter, that is up to you." He smiled. "You have been tested, and you have passed. You lived through your worst demons, and you didn't give up, no matter how many times you saw your friends look at you in anger or hatred. Your heart stayed pure even when Arthur sentenced you to death. You faced your biggest fear, but you didn't give in."

"Everything in me tells me to let go. To finally be at peace and forget about the past. I don't even think I have the strength to get revenge for what happened that night."

"You should not forget about the past and vengeance isn't everything. Think about what you are giving up, your future."

"What future?" She muttered.

"The future that you are fighting for, your friends, happiness… Arthur." He smiled. "The two of you are so stubborn that it's almost funny. You both deny your feelings for each other, but only in the mist of anger, your true feelings come out." She blushed, remembering their kiss on his birthday.

"How can he have feelings for me? All I've ever done is lie to him. I tried to kill him in the beginning, and even after I saved him I wanted to. We always fight, argue and end up nearly killing each other when neither of us will back down. Even after he learnt of me being an assassin, I still lie to him about my magic." She sighed.

"And yet he still does." He smiled. "What the two of you have is something that is beyond even magic. You are destined, you always have been."

"How long do I have to decide?" She asked.

"Not long." He smiled sadly. "If you don't, you could be trapped in between, never truly able to pass on."

She sighed, leaning back against the pillows on the bed. "How's mum?" She asked.

Balinor smiled. "She is well. She doesn't like seeing the pain you've been through, but she is proud of everything you've accomplished."

"What happens if I don't go back?" She asked.

"It is unknown. Despite your destiny, we can never fully know what will happen."

"I don't know what I should do. Tell me what to do." She sighed.

Balinor smiled at his daughter. "You know what you must do, you always have. You are a fighter."

She nodded. "Will I ever see you again?" She asked.

"When the time is right, we will be waiting at the gates of Avalon." He smiled at her. Leaning over, he kissed her forehead softly. "I love you, little bird."

"I love you too, dad." She smiled.

The room began to fade into white.

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Opening her eyes, darkness surrounded her. Moonlight filtered in through the window as the curtains hadn't been drawn. It took her a moment to realize where she was. Arthur's chambers. She felt pressure on her hand, and she stiffly moved her head to look at where the outstretched arm finished.

She smiled softly seeing Arthur's hand clasped around her own as his head lay on the bed beside it. He was sat in the chair, and had fallen asleep at some point. Taking pity on him, knowing that he would be sore in the morning she gently squeezed his hand.

The movement made him stir a little, so she did it again. This time he stilled, as if he didn't believe what happened. His eyes shot open, and his head rose from the bed. His tired eyes couldn't believe what they were seeing when they gazed into her usually stormy blue eyes. She looked exhausted, but her eyes were clear of their clouds.

"Hey." She croaked, her throat dry.

"Merlyn." He let out a sigh of relief. "How..?" He stared at her in disbelief.

"Can't get rid of me that easily." She smiled.

He brought her hand to his lips, and sent a little thank you to whoever was looking out for them above.

"Here." He helped her to sit up against the pillows before he picked up a goblet of water from beside him, and sat beside her on the bed, helping her to drink it. When she tried to down it, he pulled it away a little. "No so fast. Don't want you drowning after all that." She smiled a little before doing as she was told. When he put the goblet down, he stayed sat on the bed. He picked up her hand, and noticed that the black mark was no longer there. "I should get Gaius."

"Leave him." She sighed. "He's probably been rushed off his feet." She smiled. "How long have I been out?" She asked.

"Nearly two days." He answered quietly. "No one thought you would make it through the night."

She heard the sadness in his voice as he spoke. With her other hand, she raised it to the side of his face. "I'm okay." She reassured him. "I'm not going anywhere."

Leaning over, he kissed her forehead, before resting his against her own. "I promise to find whoever did this." Her hand stroked the side of his face.

"We will." She corrected him, looking him in the eyes before leaning in a little and placing a soft kiss on his lips; the only way she could truly reassure him.

"Don't ever do that to me again." He pulled her towards him, hugging her tightly. "I don't know what I'd do without you." She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tight.

"I'll try not to." She smiled.

They stayed like that for a while, just happy that she was alive. He silently thanked that she had magic. He believed that it was the one thing that helped her come back to him. If he had any doubts before about magic, after learning the truth about his mother and sister, which he still hadn't gotten his head around, he didn't believe that all magic was evil. Magic had kept her alive.

"What was it like?" He asked.

"Worse than you can imagine." She admitted. "The last thing I remember was standing on the shore of the Lake of Avalon with you. You told me I didn't have to keep fighting, that I could let go. But I couldn't. I had to keep fighting." He nodded, listening to her. "I'm sure I went somewhere else afterwards, but I don't remember. I just felt at peace, like everything that happened before was alright and I was finally able to get passed it."

"I'm glad you did." He kissed her forehead again.

"Me too." She smiled. "Who knows what trouble you would get into with me gone." She grinned.

He chucked. "You need to rest." He told her, helping her to lie down again, letting her leave his arms.

"So do you." She yawned as she lay back in the bed. She held out her hand to him as she shuffled across, making space for him.

He wanted to protest, but he wouldn't be able to sleep unless he knew she was in his arms. Smiling, he kicked off his boots that were still on, he slid into the bed beside her. He wrapped his arms around her, and she rested her head on his chest.

"Goodnight." She whispered.

"Night." He kissed her head before taking in her scent. The two of them fell into a peaceful sleep.

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"Where do you think you are going?" Arthur asked as he felt Merlyn trying to move out of his arms. The sun had begun to rise, and soon everyone in the castle would begin to rise.

"I really need the toilet." She laughed. He reluctantly relaxed his grip on her, before hopping out of bed himself. "What are you doing?" She asked as her feet rested on the floor.

"You might be weak." He told her. "Don't want you falling and ruining my lovely rug over there." He shrugged.

She just shook her head before attempting to stand. He was right, she was weak. He helped her to walk across to the small bathroom. "You need help?" He asked awkwardly.

"I'm good from here, thanks."

"Call when you need me." He said before quickly leaving the room. He stood patiently outside, ready for when she needed him. She called him when she was finished and he began to help her back to the bed.

Halfway there a knock came on the door. "Come in." He called moments before Gaius stepped into the room.

His eyes landed on the bed, and they nearly came out of his head. He looked in shock as he saw Arthur helping Merlin walk across the room. It would have been funny if it hadn't have been so serious. "Hi." She smiled at him.

Arthur got her back onto the bed before Gaius insisted on checked her over, despite her grumbles. "Merlyn, you nearly died. Let him check you." Arthur insisted.

"When did this happen?" Gaius asked, checking her eyes and her temperature.

"Some time in the middle of the night. I fell asleep in the chair and she woke me up. I was just as surprised as you are." He admitted. "The black marks are gone as well." He pointed out as Gaius went to check them.

"This really is something." He concluded.

"Why?" She questioned.

"No one has survived it before." He explained. "Your magic seems to have kept you alive long enough to face your demons."

As soon as the words came out of Gaius' mouth, she looked at Arthur in panic, but he didn't look shocked or appalled. "I know." He simply told her. "You eyes turned gold yesterday."

"You're okay with that?" She asked surprised.

He shrugged. "It brought you back to me, so it can't be all that bad." He smiled. "Morgana told me as well." She let out a sigh of relief before she smiled.

"I'm sorry I lied to you." She apologized.

"I understand why you did." He assured her. "Thank you for helping Morgana out. You could have just left her, but you didn't."

"She's my friend." She shrugged. "So you won't tell the King?"

"No. As far as I am concerned, you haven't done anything wrong. It might take some time to fully get my head around it and understand it, but I will keep your secret."

"Thank you." She smiled.

"It's good to have you back." Gaius kissed her forehead and smiled at her, brushing away a stray tear that he had managed to keep in.

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A couple of hours passed, and Arthur and Merlyn were sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard just talking. She was explaining all about her magic, and as much as she thought it would be weird talking to him about it, it wasn't. He didn't react the way that she had expected him to. She thought he would fly off the handle, but instead he seemed genuinely interested and wanted to know more.

He found it fascinating. He had always been told that magic was bad and wrong. Even though there were times he had perhaps questioned it, he didn't really know anything about it. When Merlyn spoke about it, she looked relaxed and happy which is something he hasn't seen in her very often.

She assured him that she only told Morgana because she was afraid that she would hurt someone or worse if she didn't learn to control it. She also said that Gwen knew, but that was only because she had seen her use her magic when she was fighting the Questing Beast to save his life. She told him of the few times that she has had to use magic, saying she mostly kept it hidden because that is what her father taught her.

"What happened with the Dragon?" He asked. It was one thing that didn't make sense.

"He's still out there." She smiled. "Don't worry, he won't ever attack Camelot again."

"How did you do that? I thought Gaius said only a Dragonlord could control a dragon." She smiled, glad that he listened to some things.

"My father was a Dragonlord. When he was killed, the power was given to me." She explained. "There's a whole legend behind it, but I am the last remaining Dragonlord. So I ordered him to never attack again."

"So where is it?"

"He's somewhere, keeping an eye on things for me." She smiled. "You know he is the reason why I didn't kill you when I first came to Camelot."

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah, he told me of our destiny and that I was your protector and with my help you would become the greatest King and unite the lands and it's people." She smiled. "I thought he's just been down in that cave too long and got delusional." She laughed. He shook his head smiling. "But after a while, I saw what he meant." She smiled at him.

"So glad you didn't kill me then?" He asked.

"We'll see." She rested her head against his shoulder as they sat there in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's company.

The door swung open without warning and in rushed a tired looking Morgana. She nearly fell when she saw Merlyn sat up in bed leaning against Arthur. Gwen just about stopped herself from walking into the back of her, before looking to see what stunned her mistress.

"Merlyn!" Morgana exclaimed.

"Hey Morg, Gwen." She smiled at them both.

Morgana rushed her, hugging her tight. Arthur just groaned before getting off the bed and standing. "I'd better go and let the guys know that you are alright." He informed her. He kissed her hair before making his exit.

"How is this possible?" Morgana asked, looking her over. "You were a breath away from death when we left last night."

"Guess I'm stronger than I look." She smiled. "So Arthur knows."

Morgana looked awkward for a moment. "Yeah, you kind of put us in it there. It's fine, he won't tell anyone." The three of them sat around talking, both Morgana and Gwen happy that she had recovered.

The lads had come to see her as well, Percy pulling her into a bone-crushing hug, telling her that he will kill her if she scares him like that again. She smiles before asking them if they have any idea who cursed her. Leon said that they had a few leads, but come up with nothing yet.

He assured her that they would find whoever did it. She smiled, thanking them. Arthur told her that it wouldn't happen again. They would all be more cautious now. If someone wanted her dead, they would probably try again. She nodded before telling him that they'd have to try harder than that.

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"You failed." Agravaine hissed as he entered the cave. "She's alive." He threw something at the cave wall in anger.

"That's not possible." Morgause argued. "No one has ever survived that curse."

"Well she did. Arthur and his Knights are keeping a close eye out and looking for whoever cursed her. He thinks they will try again to kill her and he's barely letting her leave his sight."

"Emrys." Morgause hissed. "It's the only way she could have survived that, if Emrys healed her."

"So he's in Camelot." Agravaine concluded. "That makes it more difficult to find him without making a scene."

"Who visited Merlyn before she nearly died?" She asked.

"I don't know. Arthur was there for most of it, as was the physician." He answered. "I will try and find out."

"We nearly have what we have been waiting for." She smiled. "So close."

Agravaine smiled before turning and disappearing from the cave.

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