CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

"Step aside, Merlin," Morgana drawled, "The important people have a fight to finish."

"Morgana," Merlin said, ignoring Morgana's offensive comment, "I'm giving you one last chance."

"For what?"

"To stop this. You could be great. You could learn good magic, and be renowned for it. You are powerful, but if you decide to keep using your powers for evil, I will have no choice but to stop you."

"And how could you do that?" Morgana asked, snidely.

"He's going to get himself killed," Arthur muttered and moved forward to pull Merlin back, but Blair stopped him. Merlin shot Blair a thankful look before turning back to Morgana.

"You're magic, Morgana," he continued, "Could save millions of lives. But instead, you use it to kill. And that is something that cannot continue. It is a misuse of your power. It upsets the balance of nature. It tips things in strange ways. You call upon magic that should not be used for one person's own gain. You do not deserve the title of Priestess of the Old Religion."

"And what would you, Merlin, know of powerful magic, let alone any magic at all?" Morgana snarled, starting to loose her temper, "You're just a lowly servant who Arthur barely gives the time of day."

Arthur flinched.

Merlin still kept a calm expression, "I know more than you have ever guessed."

"I doubt that," Morgana snorted.

All of a sudden there was a blinding flash of light. When all had recovered their sight, they saw Merlin holding up his hand and Morgana suspended in the air.

Arthur and the knights just barely glimpsed the gold before it faded out of his eyes. Arthur started and shook his head. Merlin couldn't have magic.

Then Morgana dropped to the ground.

She looked up at the man standing above her.

"You have magic," she whispered.

"I always have," he said.

How could he have hid it from me all these years? Arthur thought to himself, but he decided not to say anything aloud.

"But your just Merlin!" she cried, shaking her head in denial, as she started to stand, "A worthless serving boy!"

"Merlin, yes. Serving boy, yes. But worthless?" Merlin grinned, "Oh, no, never that."

Morgana screeched and through a ball of blue fire. Merlin caught it in his hand and it disappeared.

"But there is still hope for you Morgana. I don't want to hurt you," Merlin said, "but I will if I have to."

"I will never bow to the likes of you," Morgana screamed at him.

"Then you will die, here, upon this field, today, by my hand."

All of a sudden, Arthur's sword flew out of its sheath at his waist. Arthur tried to grab at it but it flew right into Merlin's outstretched hand.

He held it out for all to see, the sun glinting off its decorated blade.

"This is Excalibur," he told Morgana, "The sword that Arthur pulled from the rock. But it isn't just any sword. I told Arthur that it belonged to the first king of Camelot, who thrust it into the rock as he was dying. But that was a lie."

Merlin glanced at Arthur who was looking on at the proceedings with a dumbfounded expression.

Merlin continued, "It didn't belong to the first king of Camelot. I had it forged for Arthur, and it is very special."

"Enough of this banter," Morgana screeched and lunged at Merlin, knife in hand.

But she found herself impaled on the sword.

She looked down.

Merlin pulled it out and Morgana collapsed into his arms. He gently lowered the both of them to the ground.

"How?" she said, softly. Brokenly, looking up at him.

"Excalibur was formed in a dragon's breath. And I," Merlin said, "I am Emrys."

Morgana's last breath was a gasp as she died in Merlin's arm.

Merlin gently laid her down on the grass and then whispered something under his breath.

Morgana's body burst into flames and then, was gone.

"You have killed our queen," a sorcerer who was a general in Morgana's army stated quite simply.

Merlin glanced at him and then rose from his position on the ground.

"I am Emrys," his voice boomed across the field, and all could hear it, "I am the most powerful warlock to ever walk the earth and I am the last Dragonlord!"

Both armies started at him in shock.

And then, much to the knights' surprise, Morgana's army laid down their swords and fell to their knees.

"All hail Lord Emrys!" the general shouted.

"ALL HAIL LORD EMRYS!" the cry was echoed by all of Morgana's army.

"You may rise," Merlin's voice resounded, "You need not bow to me. I am not of noble blood."

The soldiers rose.

"But you have saved us all from Morgana's spell. You are the most powerful of us all. You are our king."

"I am not your king. We are all equal," Merlin said, "In any event, go home to your families to your tribes. Live in peace."

"Thank you, Lord Emrys," the general said, "My name is Imardir. If you ever need my help, just call my name to the wind and I will be there."

"Thank you for your service," Merlin responded. "Now go home."

And with that, all of the druid sorcerers whispered words and their eyes glowed gold and they were gone.

Merlin turned to Arthur.

Arthur just stared at him, his face showing awe, admiration, and betrayal.

"Please say something," Merlin said to him and then turned to the knights, "Anyone say something please."

"You kept this a secret from e all this time," Arthur stated.

"It was necessary."

"You have magic!" Arthur cried, and then looked at a few of the soldiers, "Arrest him."