Ok so the chapter title is probably a dead giveaway for this one.

I'm embarrassed to say that despite the huge gap between updates, I've only got two chapters for you for the next few weeks. Since we are now approaching the end of this story I've been doing a lot of planning out exactly what happens in each chapter, so I haven't done a lot of actual chapter writing. Hopefully I'll have a few more chapters for you after New Year.

Chapter 37: The Once and Future King

Merlin saw his three friends disappear into the lake as he spun to knock out the Death Eater who had escaped him.

Before he could take more than a step towards the lake to help them a cutting curse sliced through his left arm. Grasping his injured arm to try and stop the blood flow Merlin whirled on the attacking Death Eaters. He and Snape were badly outnumbered, Merlin didn't have his staff and Harry, Ron and Hermione had just vanished beneath the waters which had stolen Arthur from him years before.

Magic bubbled up in almost uncontrollable waves from the very core of Merlin's power.

Waves of magic crackled from Merlin's hands, burning his fingertips as he sent Death Eaters flying. He would not let Harry go the same waY as Arthur. He would not fail another friend.

Harry's head burst through the lake surface and he coughed, choked, and sucked in the wonderfully clean and fresh air. Something had him by the collar and was dragging him bodily through the water. As Harry was tossed onto the soaked grass bank, Hermione's unconscious form beside him, he twisted to look at his rescuer. It was a young man about Merlin's age. He had broad shoulders and was dressed in chain mail, armour and a sopping wet red cloak which he was currently struggling to untangle himself from. Finally tearing the tangling fabric from his shoulders the newcomer burst into a jog towards the battle that Harry could still hear raging behind his head.

Spluttering distracted Harry for a moment as Ron dragged himself from the lake. Flopping down beside Hermione and assuring himself that she was breathing Ron looked over at Harry. "Who the hell is that?"

Still trying to catch his breath, and cough the rest of the lake out of his lungs, Harry could only shake his head and turn to watch their rescuer lunge into the magical duel up the bank armed with nothing but a sword.

Moments later Harry realised that he obviously didn't need anything but a sword. The Death Eaters were prepared to fight a battle against two well-armed magical opponents; they were not prepared to get attacked on another front by a man wielding a sword who was apparently quite happy to hack limbs off. The blonde man cut through five Death Eaters like they were hot butter and within moments the Death Eaters were laid about on the ground and the blonde man was staring at Merlin like he'd gone insane.

Ron was leaning over Hermione, who was started to regain consciousness. Tearing his eyes away from the three figures up the bank, Harry bent to help Hermione to her feet.

Supporting their woozy friend betwe

en them Harry and Ron started up the hill just in time to catch the start of the newcomers tirade. "What the hell is going on Merlin? I thought this was supposed to be a safe place or was that just another lie?"

Merlin was white and staring at the newcomer with utter shock all over his face. This didn't seem to please the man with the sword who shook the point of the weapon under Merlin's nose and snapped, "Merlin."

"Arthur." Merlin replied quickly the sharp tone managing to kick something in his brain into coherence. "Where did you come from?" He demanded suddenly, looking between the man and the very dead Death Eaters on the ground around them.

Harry could only stare, this was the legendary King Arthur? Harry was expecting someone older, and taller.

Arthur rolled his eyes and sheathed his sword firmly. "What do you mean where did I come from? I thought the whole point of this painful little walk through the woods was to get to the Isle of the Blessed?" He cast his eyes around the rain soaked roadside and seemed unimpressed

"It was... but..." Merlin trailed off still looking very shell shocked.

Arthur looked over at the four of them and his hand drifted back to the hilt of the sword at his hip. "Who are you?" He demanded with a definite note of warning in his voice. They were saved from answering however by the sudden passing of a large truck on the nearby road. The sound of it startled Harry, but Arthur nearly threw himself on the ground dragging his sword free. He looked up at Merlin in surprise and warning. The sorcerer had gone from stunned silence to near laughter in a moment. "What was that?" The young king demanded swinging around in an attempt to keep the speeding vehicle in sight.

"A truck." Merlin's self-control slipped just enough to allow a slightly hysterical giggle into his voice. He carefully clipped it back again and cleared his throat. "Arthur we need to get out of here. I'll explain later come on." Merlin held out his hand to help Arthur to his feet.

Snape looked between the two young looking men. "The sword?" He demanded.

Arthur was on his feet, clenching his teeth and shaking mud from his gloved hands. "Sword?" He demanded.

Merlin jumped in quickly. "I'll explain later, we need to leave before any more Death Eaters arrive." He held out his hands ready to apparate back to Hogwarts. Harry grabbed onto Merlin's right wrist with Snape while Ron helped Hermione take his left. Arthur looked at them like they had gone mad. "What are you doing Merlin?"

In the two minutes since Arthur had arrived a lot of the easy confidence which Harry had come to expect from Merlin was gone. It was as though the reappearance of his king had taken away the magical confidence that Merlin had gained in the last few thousand years. Merlin's outstretched hand shook slightly, "I can't explain here Arthur, we aren't safe."

Arthur's expression darkened as his eyes fixed on Merlin's hand. "Morgana." There was a great deal of sadness in the King's voice.

Merlin shook his head. "Much worse. Now please just take my hand."

Arthur stretched out his fingers, but stopped an inch from taking Merlin's hand. "More magic?"

Merlin winced. "Please Arthur, you just have to trust me."

Arthur's eyes fixed on Harry with a look of such deep distrust that Harry almost let go of Merlin's wrist. However without another word the King took his friend's hand and Merlin twisted on the spot.

They landed back in Dumbledore's office and Arthur stumbled away from them, his hand moving automatically back to the hilt of the sword at his hip.

Merlin motioned them all back, while he stepped forward, his eyes on Arthur.

The King glanced around slightly. "Where are we and what was that?"

Merlin grimaced. "This is a school called Hogwarts and that was apparition." However it didn't look like Arthur was paying attention, his gaze had shifted to the window and the colour had drained out of his face.

He moved slowly to the window in the office and pushed aside the curtain. "Merlin…you said this was a school…"

"I know Arthur." Merlin said quietly.

"But this is…"

"Yes." Merlin cut him off swiftly. "This isn't easy Arthur…"

This time it was Arthur's turn to cut Merlin off. "You said worse than Morgana."

Harry winced as the sounds of fighting drifted through the open window. "He's a wizard called Voldemort, he's trying to kill everyone here and control the world."

Arthur looked at Harry and that distrust flickered across his face again. "Is he working with Morgana?"

"Arthur, Morgana died a very, very long time ago." Merlin explained. "You've been…dead for years."

Arthur's hand dropped from the sword hilt. "Dead." However the look of utter anguish on Merlin's face seemed to be enough to stop him from questioning further. He gritted his teeth. "So this Voldemort, you seem to have joined up with a lot of sorcerers so why haven't you killed him?"

"He drunk from the Cup of Life." Merlin said. "Somehow he broke into Camelot's vaults and stole it."

"So find the Cup." Arthur snapped.

"We tried." Hermione said softly. "It's too well hidden. We have to kill him another way."

Arthur shook his head. "There isn't another way. Don't you remember what Gaius said?"

"Actually there is." Merlin explained. "Your sword, it can kill Voldemort."

Arthur looked down at his sword. "This sword?"

"Yes."

Harry stepped forward slightly. "Please, we need your help."

Arthur's eyes darkened again and Merlin looked over at his King. "Arthur these are still your people. You know that not all sorcerers are bad people, and these people are like me. They're good and they need you."

Arthur's response was caught up in the loud explosion from the walls.

They all ran for the window to find that the main gate was on fire.

Snape's hand plunged into his robe for his wand, but Harry was frozen. He was standing elbow to elbow with Merlin and the sorcerer was pulsing with electricity.

Merlin's fingers coiled on the stone window sill, under his hands the stone melted and twisted. "I've had enough of this." He whispered, the words sounded like explosions in Harry's ears.

Harry pulled away and looked up. Merlin's lips were moving, but the words sounded like nonsense. The sorcerer's eyes pulsed with golden light, his hand lifted up, directed towards the exploding gate.

The electric feeling coming from their dark haired friend intensified for a moment and then exploded outwards, knocking each of their group on their backsides.

When the stars cleared from Harry's eyes he looked over at Merlin. The sorcerer turned from the window. "That will buy us a few days." He offered his hand to Arthur and helped the King to his feet. "We need to get planning."

With his Death Eaters surrounding him Voldemort paced. The spell that had gone up around Hogwarts was far more powerful than anything he had encountered in a long time. The spell would prevent any of his Death Eaters from entering the school. For now. Voldemort knew better than many that spells that powerful did not last forever.

He stroked Nagini's head as he seated himself once again. It didn't matter anyway, nothing Potter and his little band of followers could do would help them. He was untouchable. Immortal and undefeatable.

The Death Eaters were silent, awaiting further orders.

"Tell me about the boy." Voldemort demanded.

Lucius bowed deeply as he stepped forward. "My Lord, Draco informs me the boy calls himself Emrys. He worked at the school with the groundskeeper."

Voldemort carefully curbed his interest. "Very good Lucius." He said. Emrys, oh how clever. He was sure that Dumbledore didn't know just how much Voldemort knew of the old magics, the magic of the great sorcerer Emrys…Merlin. The old fool. Voldemort had defeated Merlin's magic before.

Voldemort stroked Nagini's head gently in memory of her work retrieving the Cup from behind those great spells.

So the ancient one had decided to join the battle. It did not matter because Voldemort knew his secret.

He knew the one secret that the great Merlin had tried to hide for so long. And now he was going to break him.

Ooooh, Voldie's got a plan.