Merlin was being pressed by his advisors and senior knights to use his magic to take Camelot. Merlin however was refusing.

"I will not use my magic to kill people, I stunned many in the battle and I can do that again if necessary but I will not kill with it. Magic is not a weapon it should be used for good. If I use magic in that way it will only prove that magic is bad and evil in many people's minds. We must win this fairly; the other side don't have magic." Merlin insisted. "We already have the Great Dragon on outside. Even that I find difficult."

"You would have us fight without him Sire" One of the knights asked.

"I would not order him to fight, this time I was convince by Kilgarrah himself as well as others that the Dragon would even the balance as we were so outnumbered. Now that is not the case, our numbers now are more even. If we use Kilgarrah on Camelot innocent people will be hurt I would rather give in now than have that happen." The King was determined to have a fair fight."We march in the morning for Camelot we will win, but we will win because we are right not because we use magic." With that Merlin walked out of the meeting.

Leon looked at the other first knights "He's right, but it makes it harder for us. But you can't damn him for his views."

"We had best get some sleep then tomorrow will be a big day for us." Arthur spoke out. "I will stay with him again, just make sure that Mordred keeps well away or he may meet with an accident"

"Arthur leave him be, the King forgives him and so should you." Leon said harshly. "He's no trained knight and this isn't his fight but he is still fighting with us."

"Well we can do without his help if all he does is try to kill the King!" Arthur protested.

"You look after Merlin and keep close, he is important and without him we have nothing and Sarrum knows it." Leon reminded Arthur "As today you and Gwaine watch the King good luck to you all."

….

The next morning they all met up before dawn to break their fast before setting off towards Camelot. Percival went up to Merlin "Sire, as you requested the field was checked last night Lord Agaravaine's body wasn't found. Sir Leon struck him down but whether he died is unsure."

"Thank you Sir Percival, I'm sure he was mortally injured, perhaps his body was recovered for my sister. Either way I'm sure he will be playing no more part in the battle." Merlin had wanted Agaravaine's body recovered rather than lie on the field of dead. He was after all a high ranking noble and he would have given the man a burial as fitted his rank as brother in law to the late King Uther.

As the army got closer to Camelot they found not a person or animal present. The crops had been burnt down to the ground in an attempt to leave nothing for them to eat or feed their horses with. All the livestock would have been taken to the citadel for the defending army. Some of the people had remained in nearby woods not wanting to be in the citadel, or Castle, for the fighting that was to start. Whoever won it would be a hard winter for the citizens with the crops destroyed.

Merlin had spoken to Kilgarrah and the Great Dragon had no choice but to obey his dragonlord and keep out of the battle ahead. But he was waiting in the area. Merlin was at the front of his army was they approached Camelot. He sent out a messenger under a white flag with a message for his sister offering safe passage to any women, children and old folk if they were to leave before the battle commenced. They were awaiting the reply.

The messenger came back with a written message from Queen Morgana Merlin took it and read it before handing it to Leon.

"Camelot will fight you to the end, every man woman and child, to defend the rightfully Crowned Sovereign Queen Morgana from the abomination that now seeks to claim the throne for himself. Anyone who wishes to leave the field and save themselves should do so now as any captives will be executed when right prevails."

"Read it out Sir Leon let every man choice his own path." Merlin told the knight. Only those who are committed to our cause need remain I hold no man to me by threat."

Leon read out the letter, and all the army without question cheered their leader a shout of 'LONG LIVE KING MERLIN OF CAMELOT AND ESSETIR' was heard to echo across the gathered Army.

Merlin waved the siege catapults forwards and the archers as battle commenced. He had already sent Percival, Lancelot and Elyan each with a large group to the siege tunnels. He had decided against using the two that had been used when Percival had been freed, but there were others he could use. Merlin's men had the harder battle to fight it was always easier to defend from behind the walls of a castle. Several ladders were against the castle walls as the army pushed forward. By lunchtime they had breached the outer walls and now controlled the lower town. The citadel itself still held. As the rams worked on the gates Merlin and his men waited for the final surge into the castle, he knew that soon the men would be out of the siege tunnels and into the castle. He would have loved to have been with them but his feet still didn't permit him to walk far enough. He did have a plan however that he hadn't told Leon and the others and if necessary he would implement it. As the gates began to give he prepared with the others to ride forward. The battle was still raging furiously but Merlin's men inside were dividing Sarrum's forces he was having to fight on two fronts the main battle with Merlin and three other smaller fights as the men come through the castle from the siege tunnels. They had been fighting for nearly a whole day and still couldn't stop. There would be no rest that night as neither side would give up the ground.

Merlin ordered half the men to pull back and rest for an hour or two and then change over. He himself used his magic to keep going. Arthur and Gwaine refused to leave their king so Merlin fed some of his magic to them to keep them alert and replenish their strength. They had just broken through the last gate and were through to the castle and now the battle was one of attrition, each side eating away at the other. Merlin had entered the castle on horseback so he could continue the fight and was making his way towards the throne room. He had given orders for the Queen to be taken alive. He would not be responsible for her death even now.

Sarrum came out of a side passage and seeing Merlin just in front of him attacked. Arthur and Gwaine sprang forward to defend their King. But in this instance Merlin needed no help he used Excalibur to good effect and Sarrum fell to the ground Merlin's sword sticking from his gut. Merlin received a wound to his leg in the exchange but dismounted and walked to the throne room doors. He was weary, and his feet hurt, but he was too close to give up now. As his knights opened the throne room doors Merlin walked in his two sentinel Knights at either side, he was greeted by his sister sitting proudly on the throne.

She was sitting as if she still had the right to do so her Crown on her head. She was not going to be cowed even in defeat. Merlin admired her for her courage.

"Sister my forces have taken the citadel and your ally is dead. Tell your men to stop fighting." Merlin looked at his sister with a degree of sympathy.

"Never, I do not surrender." Morgana spat at him "I would see you dead" She sprang towards him a dagger in her hand. Arthur sprang forward and disarmed her and held her still.

"I am sorry it has come to this sister." Merlin told her. "Take her to her rooms and make sure she does not escape. Search her rooms first for weapons."

Regardless of Morgana's wishes, with her captured the fighting gradually stopped. Sarrum's body put on display so his forces could see he was dead. Morgana was put under house arrest in her old state rooms and guarded by the knights.

As the clear up operations continued Merlin held a council meeting. He was asked what when he was going to execute Morgana his reply came as a surprise to everyone but his closest knights.

"I do not intend to execute my sister; she will remain under house arrest. I will have one of the towers fitted out in a fashion suitable for her station, and she will live there until she feels able to swear fealty to me." He told them all.

"But Sire she will be a focus for any who wish to question your rule. You will never have peace until she is dead." One of the counsellors protested.

"Nether less I will not have her killed, she is my blood and kin. I will hear no more talk of death. I agree I cannot offer her banishment for the reasons you state but nor will I have her killed." Merlin was determined.

"But Sire she has committed treason."

"No she has not. My father the late King named her as his Heir, all be it in an illegal fashion, in her mind I am the treasonous one. She did what she thought right and I dare say was advised, I will not have this bitterness continue there has been enough death."