Chapter 22

My sword continuously hits the dummy target which is becoming barely visible in the moonlight but I'm not tired enough to stop. I'm not good enough to stop. My arms burn with adrenaline and I know I'm going to feel it in the morning and I'm looking forward to it. I want the pain in recognition of growth. I want to feel stronger. I want to hold my own and lift up others.

I want to bond with Merlin.

It's what I've been thinking about the entire time I've been out here.

There's no reason we shouldn't do it. It helps Merlin and it would help me out if I could speak to him whenever I need to. Not to mention finding him. There's the risk of Merlin's death bringing about my own, but I've come to the conclusion that I don't belong in this world without him. He's the reason I'm here. I'm here right now because of the way I was born, and I'll be damned if I go out any other way.

"You weren't at the feast."

My sword raises as I spin on my feet, slicing through the air. Whoever spoke ducks just out of the way. I didn't even hear anybody come up behind me. My blade drops to the ground as the Prince stands back up.

"Arthur," I cry out I frustration. "I could have taken your head off!" I bend over, picking my sword back up, holstering it. I look back at Arthur, expecting some remark about his quick instincts but his own eyes are pointed at my feet. "Arthur?" I take a step forward and his eyes move back up. "What's wrong?"

"Morgana," he says quietly. I strain my ears to hear him, stepping forward again. "She…fell down a flight of stairs. Gaius isn't confident that she is going to make it."

For the first few moments, I'm not sure what to feel. Relief? Relief that the traitor in Camelot is o her deathbed. It would end so many struggles Merlin and Arthur (even if he doesn't know it) have faced and the ones that have yet to come.

But as I look at his face, instant regret fills me for thinking about the good her death will bring. Arthur has no idea of her true alliances. Morgana is someone he's grown up with, a sister. And his sister is dying. To everybody in the castle beside Merlin, Gaius, and myself, she is one of them and a beloved member.

My hands slowly rise to his cheeks. "I am so, so sorry Arthur." My hands move away from his face, circling around his neck. His head drops, resting on my shoulder and his arms tightly wrap around my waist. I rest of the tips of my toes, gazing out into the night as I figure out what I to do.

"I would do anything to save her."

I can almost feel the individual tears in my heart, ripping apart as easily as my dress did only a few hours ago. What could I do to help? I drop back down.

"Come on," I begin. "Let's get out of the cold."

I barely feel it, my muscles keeping me warm, but Arthur is only in his short and vest, barely enough to keep the night air off of him. I grip his hand, leading him back to the castle and he silently follows. His fingers thread through mine. My stomach flutters but I make a conscious effort not to react, knowing this is not the time to be thinking about myself.

Once we enter his chambers, I reluctantly pull my hand from his, letting him do want he wants as I go over to his hearth, getting a fire started. I pour my concentration into it, my knees digging into the grit on the stony ground.

I stay seated as the fire burns on. I can hear Arthur moving about behind me, but my own mind is reeling. I should probably go down to speak with Gaius and Merlin tonight.

Arthur appears next to me, seating himself in front of the fire, hooking his arms around one of his knees. His eyes graze the fire before turning to me, filled with every emotion he must be feeling, swirling around and fighting for dominance. I can physically feel the pity covering my face.

"I should go see if Gaius needs anything," I say, breaking the thickening silence. All I want to do is move closer to him. "Let me know if you need anything else, alright?"

"Thank you," he says, looking back at the fire. I bite my lip, not wanting to leave but something is telling me I need to.

Xx

I enter Gaius' quietly. The physician is sitting near Morgana who is laying on a bed, and as cliché as it sounds, looks as though she is sleeping.

"How is she?" I ask, still not sure what answer I want to hear more.

"She has internal bleeding. There's nothing I can do now but wait," Gaius replies. "I think you should go talk to Merlin, he's in his room."

"I will."

I place a hand on his shoulder as I pass, walking up to Merlin's room. I tap softly on the wood, cracking the door open. Merlin is sitting in his bed; head hanging low in his hands and takes no notice of my presence. I shut the door behind me, moving around to sit next to him.

"I did it," he says. "Arthur, he…gave her the dagger I saw in the visions and I had to stop her. I didn't want this to happen, but I didn't have a choice."

I have to hold down the bile. Not because of the state of Morgana, nor because Merlin was the cause, but because I wasn't there. I made a promise to him and to myself and I wasn't there. I've left him to deal with her alone when I should have been there to bear the consequences with him. I told him that he was not alone, yet I couldn't even stand with him.

"I'm so sorry, Merlin," I croak. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."

I don't know what I would have done, maybe help. Maybe I would have stopped it. I feel even more guilt that a tiny part of me is glad I wasn't, that I don't bear the responsibility. I don't think I would be able to even look at Arthur. But all that guilt is now piled on Merlin.

"I don't want her to die. I just…" he trails of helplessly, his hands running down his face as he leans back.

"I understand. You did what you had to do. It was either Morgana or Uther. The question is, do we do anything now?"

Merlin sits back up straight, staring me in the eye and I can see him running through the options, the visions, the possibilities.

"I don't know," he finally answers, swallowing thickly. "I don't know."

I think we should let her die. As horrible as it sounds, all I can see is her, standing in front of the skeleton army we had to face. The reason for my bad side. If we let her die, then that is one more enemy of Camelot taken down and nobody could put the blame on Merlin. But it doesn't come without consequences. The grief of the two Pendragon men who yet to know the truth. Poor Gwen. Merlin's own burden of guilt.

Merlin is still looking at me, waiting for me to say anything more.

"I don't have an answer, Merlin but I will stand by you. And don't bury yourself in blame, alright. Her actions are not your fault."

I stay with Merlin for a while, talking about random things to take his mind off of everything. I fail miserably but I know that he's glad for the company. Eventually, it late enough that I could fall asleep there and then, so I force myself to leave him, making him promise to find me if he needs anything.

"Anything, ok?"

"I will, thank you."

Xx

The next day rises and there is no improvement in Morgana's condition. I run into Gwen in the early morning and she is barely holding herself together. I spend some time with her in Morgana's chambers where she still cleans, rubbing over spots with stains. When she's not working, she goes down to Gaius' staying with Morgana.

The weather is playing at some pathetic fallacy as it pours heavily on the entire kingdom, drowning anybody who dares step outside. I haven't crossed paths with Arthur yet, but I do intend on speaking to him.

Leon expresses his regret at the situation, but he has no relationship with Morgana besides affiliation with the Pendragon family. Castor, who knows about her betrayal acted as though he couldn't care less but I could see the discomfort as he spoke. He doesn't want her to die either.

I end up accompanying Merlin around for a while as he does some chores for Arthur, but we end up back in his room, listening in on Gaius and Uther.

My mouth hangs agape as I listen intently, barely believing that these words are coming from the King's mouth. Morgana is his bastard child. We should have known; it makes so much more sense.

We step back as Gaius enters, knowing that we were listening in.

"We should have guessed," I say, my eyes still wide.

"It explains everything," Merlin adds. "No wonder he spent a year looking for her."

"Now we know why she can do no wrong," Gaius muses.

"I feel terrible for Arthur. He's already had his father lie to him about his mother, but now his sister too? He's going to be in ruins if he ever finds out," I worry, biting my thumb.

Xx

I stand outside in the rain with Merlin, holding towels as we stand under a covered area, watching Arthur slash the training dummy just as I had done the night before. Every grunt and cry hit my ears like a bat, my teeth clenching to stop them biting down on my tongue at the particularly vicious hits.

"I can't let her die," Merlin confesses. Our conversation is drowned out from any other ears by the heavy pelting of water of the ground.

"Ok," I state, affirming my support. "Then we better figure out how to do it."

"I'm going to see Kilgharrah tonight."

I wrinkle my nose, not having any sort of like for the dragon but I've left Merlin alone too much recently to say no to coming. I owe it to him to come, if for nothing else than for the company.

"Count me in."

Our conversation drops as Arthur finally stops. He just stands there, letting the rain hit his skin. I hand the towels over to Merlin, stepping out into the rain. I feel like I'm walking into a shower, blinking hard to stop the water hitting my eyes.

I place a hand on the Prince's arm, his attention shifting to me. I don't say anything, just letting my hand drop to his own. Once again, Arthur lets me pull him away, out of the rain and back under the shelter of a roof.

Merlin offers out a towel, but he just shoves the arm out of the way, marching back into the castle. I can't bring myself to even mutter sarcastic remark to Merlin.

Xx

Merlin and I ride out of Camelot under the cloak of the night. To say I'm nervous about this meeting would be an understatement, considering it had been set on killing some of the most important people to me.

Merlin notices my worry as we ride and assures me that the dragon is forced to obey the command of a dragon lord. As we ride into the clearing, dismounting, Merlin stands out in the field.

A deep, powerful voice that I can only describe as the epitome of a volcano ready to erupt comes from Merlin. A string of words from a language unknown to me but it's almost breathtaking to hear.

The dragon soon arrives, flying down into the clearing. I adjust my stance, my feet pulling themselves, so they are ready to run at a moments notice.

"You summoned me, young warlock? You've brought your Vessel as well. It's been a while since I've seen you, Elena. What do I owe the pleasure this time?"

"I've been to the Crystal Cave. I saw Morgana make an attempt on Uther's life."

"It does not surprise me."

"Well, I stopped her."

"To change the future is no simple matter, Merlin," the dragon warns. "To do so is fraught with danger."

"I know," Merlin gulps. "And as a result of my actions, Morgana is dying."

"Then you should rejoice!" The dragon cheers. A part of me still agrees with the dragon.

"I want you to help me to saver her."

"Merlin, have you learnt nothing?"

"I did not mean to kill her. All I wanted was to avoid the future that would've unfolded, to prevent Uther's death, to prevent Camelot being torn apart," Merlin cries out in protest.

"I will not cure her!"

"She is Uther's daughter."

"Yes," the dragon answers.

"Then why didn't you tell us!" I demand, stepping forward for the first time.

"It makes no difference," the dragon dismisses.

"Well, whatever she was about to do, I stopped her. There's no need for people to suffer."

The dragon leans in closer, the heat of its breath warm against my skin in the cool of the night.

"The witch must die, as she should have done long ago. I will not save her."

"I am a dragon lord!" Merlin cries out. "You cannot refuse me!"

"How dare you treat me as such!" The roar sends chills down my spine. I stumble back behind Merlin gripping his wrist. He pulls from the hold, reattaching it with his own hand, squeezing it in reassurance. "How dare you abuse your power!"

Merlin breathes slowly. "I command you," he says, his voice low and drunk on authority. Even though the words are not directed at me, I can't help feeling as though I should be bowing down to him, serving him at his every need.

"Very well. But I warn you, the evil that will follow is of your doing, and yours alone."

Kilgharrah extends his neck forward, opening his mouth. Instead of fire, he breathes heavily. The air is thick, and I can feel the magic running through it. I can almost see it seeping into Merlin. It is intoxicating, just having the feel of it brush over me like I have all the power in the world.

In ends, Kilgharrah pushing off the ground harshly, his wings flapping, sending my hair into the wind as he flies away.

"Let's ride back," I say. "I'm guessing you know what to do."

"Yes. But I don't think it's going to be easy."

"I'd be worried if it was," I counter.

Merlin and I ride back to Camelot with haste, not slowly our horses as we pass the gate. We came to a stop, the horses almost sliding along the ground. We hand them off to a lone guard, not pausing as we run back to Gaius' chamber.

I open the door, welcomed by the sight of Gwen tending to Morgana. I stride over to her, seeing the tiredness encompassing her eyes.

"Gwen," I whisper, bending down. "Why don't you get a few hours' sleep."

"I... I can't" she protests, barely dragging her gaze from Morgana. I stand, pulling her with me. I don't know is she's too tired to argue or is following my advice, but she stands.

"We will call you if she wakes," Merlin says, standing beside me. Gwen looks between us.

"Thank you."

Gwen leaves to go get the much-needed rest, letting Merlin do what he needs to do. I kneel down beside him.

"You can do this," I assure, putting confidence back into my words. Merlin places his hands over her head, taking a moment to collect himself.

"Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare mid," His eyes glow golden but as he says it, his other hand reaches out, holding the other down. He's fighting something."þam sundorcræftas þære ealdaþ æ!"

He finishes, his hand dropping. We wait, watching the King's daughter but nothing changes. Her breathing is still uneven, her face still pale and blotchy.

"Why...why didn't it work?" Merlin cries. "Kilgharrah, he fought me, but I got past it."

I frown, staring at Merlin's hands. "Try again," I instruct.

Merlin holds both hands out this time, prepared for the resistance.

"Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare mid þam sundorcræftas þære ealdaþ æ!"

Still, nothing changes with Morgana's appearance. Merlin becomes frustrated, rocking on his feet.

"I don't understand! I'm doing everything right." His breathing quickens from the feeling of hopelessness and lost.

"But I'm not," I mutter.

My words don't reach Merlin's ears as he stays in the same spot, fussing over Morgana. The world seems a haze, nothing clear except the one thing in my mind. I stand up, staring at Merlin. I can't hear what he's saying but I can feel the tug. The magic drawing me to him.

My faded mark under my right elbow, which is always covered that sometimes I forget it exists, now itches so much that I wonder how I ever did. It makes so much sense in this moment, what I'm doing.

I reach down into my boot, the skin on the tips of my fingers, grazing across the hilt. The metal's coolness is a shock against the warm skin of my palm as I pull it up. I twist it around, as though examining the blade for the first time. It's so sharp, that it is a wonder that I haven't cut my foot with it yet.

I blink once, washing away the dryness of my eyes as they trace along its edge. With my other hand, I pull the sleeve of my shirt up until it holds naturally just above my elbow letting the mark be shown to the world.

In my left hand, I hold the knife steady, putting the tip of the corner of my palm. I wish I could move quicker – or maybe I am but everything seems so slow – as the sharp edge drags along my palm, filling it with red.

I drop to my knees, holding the blade out to Merlin.

For the first time, the warlock looks back at me, dragged from his own hysterics into my hazy word.

"Elena? What are you doing?" he asks, not yet taking the knife. He stares at my bloody palm.

"What we need to do," I reply, pushing the knife closer to him.

"No, Elena," he shakes his head feverishly. "I'm…"

"Merlin, this is what I was born to do. Let me help you."

I force the blade into his own hand, wrapping his fingers around it. He doesn't move initially, just watching me as though waiting for any sign of hesitation, but I am void of doubts. He flickers his gaze back to Morgana who remains in her deathly state.

Merlin finally lifts the knife, flicking it quickly across the top of his palm. He drops the knife and I hold out my hand, taking his before he can back out.

I'm knocked out of my hazy world, forced back into reality. It's like waking from a dream that you remember everything from. The moments before feeling unreal but I'm assured they are as the surge of power washes over me.

The golden glow, what I like to imagine as magic if it were visible swirls around our joined hands, extending up to my elbow again, seeping into the skin. It burns but I'm expecting it to and the only reaction I give is a slight twinge of my lips.

Merlin watches everything apprehension but once we go in, there's no backing out and we are already much beyond that point. The three swirls rise again from my skin like a raised scar.

The tug to Merlin strengths and I almost forgot what it felt like to be bonded to him.

The golden paths of magic retract back into our palms before disappearing altogether and our hands drop. Only now, broken from my trance do I feel the sting of the wound.

"Try again," I say, forcing our minds back to Morgana. Merlin holds a hand out – just the one.

"Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare mid þam sundorcræftas þære ealdaþ æ!"

The magic flows through me and it's like the bond never ended, just as strong as the last day we were. Concentrate and amplify. Merlin's hand barely shakes.

Morgana takes in a small breath of air, resetting her breathing pattern back to normal and her face already gains back it's rosiness.

"You did it," I beam, placing my clean hand on his shoulder.

"No," he denies, shaking his head. "We did it."

I smile softly, kissing his cheek in appreciation.

"At least we can talk like this again," I say mentally. Merlin laughs, assuring me that it worked.

"Are you ready to hear me complain about Arthur all day?"

"It's worth it."

Xx

The next morning, I wake, still in Gaius' chambers, lent against the wall. My hand is wrapped in a cloth and I silently thank Merlin who likely did it once I fell asleep. I push off the ground, wincing as my bones creak.

Morgana is still sleeping but it is actually just sleeping and not on her deathbed. She should wake soon.

Still dressed, there's no reason to go back to my room so I head straight over to Arthur's, eager to deliver the news. I knock rapidly on his door. There's a grunt that I assume means come in, so I do.

My head turns, looking around the room but there's nobody here, not even Merlin who I think is still in bed. I frown, thinking I've just hallucinated the voice, reaching back for the door to leave but at the last second, my eyes latch onto the lump completely covered by white sheets on his bed.

My hand leaves the door handle as I stride over. Standing, looming over his bed, the Prince is still hiding under everything. And idea crosses my mind and I contemplate it, not sure if it would get me thrown in the dungeons. On a normal day, it probably would but I think the news I'm about to deliver will make him forget. It's the perfect opportunity.

"Rise and shine!" I yell, jumping forward onto the bed.

Arthur shrieks, tangling himself further in the blankets as he tries to pull them over his head. I land on his stomach but push myself off relatively fast, slipping onto the edge of the mattress instead.

Arthur finally pushes the sheets from his head, sitting up.

"Elena," he hisses. "What the f-"

"Morgana," I chirp, cutting him off. "She's getting better."

"Morgana?" he breathes, though not believing that is the name I just said. I nod, widening my smile. "How? I thought Gaius…"

"She improved overnight. Breathing is fine, looks better. I'd say she will wake in a few hours at most."

Arthur's face finally morphs into relief, his hands flying up to his head as he falls back onto his pillows, a laugh escaping through his lips and he bounces. I'm not excited about Morgana surviving but seeing Arthur this happy is worth it all.

"I should go see her," he says, beginning to get out of bed but I put my hands on his shoulders to hold him steady.

"She's still sleeping. Let her rest but as soon as she wakes, I'll make sure word is sent to you."

"Alright," he submits. "But I should get up."

I nod, sliding off the side of his bed to let him out.

"I'll go let Merlin know you're up and waiting for breakfast," I joke. "He was with Morgana most of the night, making sure she was well so don't be to hard on him that he's running late."

"I'll let it slide this once," he agrees. "I'll also let that wake-up slide."

I suck my lips, not bothering to hide the blush.

"That's probably why I'm not a servant," I laugh. "Jumping on princes, probably have thrown Lady Vivian out of a window…"

"Yet somehow you still do a better job than Merlin," he retorts.

"Camelot must have low standards," I tease. "I don't think Gwen belongs here."

"Gwen is a terrific worker," Arthur agrees. I push my own feelings aside for a moment.

"She'd make a great Queen someday as well," I say, softer and less teasingly. Arthur cocks his head to the side.

"Gwen?"

"Yes," I nod slowly. "You have feelings for her, don't you?"

"I thought I told you over a year ago that I didn't," he counters, walking forward.

"But that other night, you said you did," I recall, clearly remembering the training session. If not Gwen, then who else has caught his affections? Maybe it is Esme.

"I never said it was Gwen," Arthur points out. I pout my bottom lip. I had been so sure.

"Oh, sorry. I just assumed that it would be her. I haven't said anything to anybody. You said she had feelings for another man, and I assumed it would be Lancelot you were referring to," I babble on, glancing around the room as my mind races to find a reasonable answer. "Is it Lady Esmerelda? Because she is very nice, as well as pretty-"

My words are cut off by something being placed on them. At first, I think they're hands and I'm a little offended that he thought I needed to shut up, but I realise that two hands are already on my waist.

Before I can react, they leave once more. That's the second time this has happened, and I haven't had the chance to do anything in return. I want nothing more than to feel it again. My hands are raised, ready to pull him closer again but he steps out of my reach.

He rubs his jaw, looking away.

"I'm sorry, I know of your feelings for Gwaine-"

"Gwaine?" I cut him off. My mind spins. "I don't have feelings for Gwaine. At least, not romantic ones." My head is pulling back defensively, hands resting on my hips.

"…You don't," Arthur asks incredulously. "But I could have sworn…"

"When did I ever say I have feelings for Gwaine?" I press, reiterating his earlier words. Arthur opens his mouth, his jaw moving around as though speaking silent words.

"You didn't," he finally says. "But I just assumed from the way you talk about him."

Silence fills the air as the reality of the situation sinks in. Was he talking about…me? I hadn't noticed any change in behaviour from him to even indicate it. I just feel like we've grown closer over the past few years, especially since Merlin arrived but I never thought of his actions as romantic.

"Am I oblivious?" I ask allowed.

Arthur risks a small laugh, scratching the back of his neck as we both recall that particular conversation. Licking his lips, he nods. "If you had no idea, then yes."

"I didn't," I whisper. "I feel so stupid."

"Don't," Arthur states. "If anybody should, it should be me that feels that way."

"Why?"

He shrugs his shoulder oddly, turning around, kicking at the floor. "Because now this is all you're going to think about whenever you see me."

"Is that such a bad thing," I muse, walking up behind him. "Because you were right on one part, I do have feelings for someone."

"Is it Leon?"

I roll my eyes, moving in front of him. "You are an absolute dollophead sometimes, Arthur."

"Alright, I'm already humiliated, you don't have to call me names," he grumbles, not meeting my eyes. I reach up, flicking the top of his head lightly. His mouth rounds in a silently cry of pain.

Taking this moment, I reach up, wrapping my hands around his neck, finally having the chance to return the gesture. It's like all I ever wanted for Christmas, the present you think you'll never get but have been asking for all year.

Although he wasn't expecting it, Arthur reacts quicker than I do, deepening the kiss. Nothing else seems to matter at this moment, the world disappearing, dissolving away. Images of our possible future form in my mind. It's a dream-like state until I morph an image with Arthur in his crown on.

Arthur's a Prince.

I pull back, a little harshly but I can't stop myself. My hands drop and I hold my gaze to the floor near the table.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"What's wrong?"

Arthur takes my hands, but I pull them back, closing them tightly as I hold them to my chest. I feel his eyes on my face, urging my own to meet his but I refuse to.

"I will not let myself be caught in a fantasy," I snap, dropping my hands. "You and I both know that this could never happen, your father would never allow it."

"It is not my father's choice to make," he protests. His shoulders are set back, his jaw clenched forward.

"But it is!" I cry, throwing my hands up. A small headache on my left temple forms, pounding slightly against my skin. "He is both the King and your father. You are the future King. I'm a serving girl who is not even from Camelot! Why should we do this when there is nothing for it to lead to?" My head tilts forward, waiting for a response – any response, to come from Arthur's lips but they barely open before closing again. "I'm sorry for…acting this way in front of you. It will not happen again, and all conversation will be forgotten."

I brush past him, making an effort to adjust my shoulder to not hit his own.

"Elena! Wait!" Arthur calls.

I can hear his footsteps behind me, but I bite my lip, blinking away the new wet surface on my eyes. I shut the door as I leave his chambers, not stopping to think where I'm going, just letting my feet take me.

I'm not angry at Arthur per-say, more so at the situation. I will not play in the world of forbidden love; I've read Romeo and Juliet. If Arthur were a commoner, I would harbour no such restraint now knowing what I know now, but it is an unfortunate situation. I don't see a way for this to end well.

But yet I had been so sure years ago that it would be he and Gwen to marry. Why is it so much harder to imagine me in the same situation?

"Elena? Are you alright?"

I almost turn to look for the owner of the voice but palm my forehead in a 'duh' moment.

"I'm fine. Why?"

"I can feel when your emotions are strong, remember?"

"As I said, I'm fine. I'll be with Gaius if you need me."

The stronger the bond, the stronger the link. We aren't learning from the bottom again, only from where we left off. There's so much potential to uncover from this thing. Kilgharrah has said that powerful Vessels were able to let their Meistr use their bodies as…well, Vessels. At least we wouldn't have to deal with learning to cope at a distance again.

I do as I told Merlin I would, helping Gaius down in his chambers. Morgana had awoken before I got there, and I made sure word was sent to Arthur but apparently Uther already knew. She is moved back to her own chambers, put on strict bed rest.

Today has been a whirlwind of emotions but at least there is some relief that the castle seems to be going back to normal today and Merlin has stopped Morgana from killing Uther. I push any thoughts of Arthur from my mind as soon as they make an appearance. It is an exhausting job as they seem to want entrance every few minutes.

I'm so desperate for the rest of the day to pass by smoothly so I could sleep and forgot everything for even just a few hours, that when the warning bells ring out, I almost start weeping. What on earth could it be now?

"We should go and see what it is," Gaius says, closing his book. I silently agree, putting the paste I've been making for him aside.

"If this isn't just someone committing petty theft or something else ridiculous, I swear someone has cursed this past week."

"Seems like it," Gaius grunts in agreement, grabbing his healing bag just in case. "I'm praying it's anything but Morgana at this stage."

We walk out of his chambers, walking back up to the main centre of the castle where guards can point us in the right direction.

"Oh the good old days when it was just some knight wanting revenge," I muse mournfully. "Or trying to forge a seal of nobility."

Gaius doesn't answer verbally but half of his mouth twerks up in amusement. As predicted, guards are able to direct us and eventually, Merlin and Arthur merge paths with us, a few guards in tow. Apparently, a dead body has been found in the castle. Just a regular serving boy, no doubt in the way of somebody. Arthur avoids my gaze, but I don't try and find it.

My hopes that this is nothing flies away like water running down a hill.

We arrive at the scene and like described to us beforehand. A servant lies on the ground, a silver tray and jug lying near him.

"We need to seal the drawbridge, search the grounds. I'll inform the King," Arthur states to the guard who quickly runs off the have the orders delivered. Arthur also leaves, leaving Merlin, Gaius, and myself at the scene. Gaius crouches down, inspecting the body for the cause of death but something catches Merlin's eye.

I can tell from the way his gaze traps on the wine jug. I follow him around but there's nothing out of the ordinary. The wine is split on the ground, dripping from the jug still.

"Merlin?" I call to him, placing a hand on his back. Gaius looks up, seeing Merlin's concentration too.

"What's the matter?"

Merlin finally breaks from his trance, panic settling in the lines of his face. "That was the next image I saw in the crystal. I haven't stopped anything."

Morgana is awake. And alone. Everything we've done…it has just made this future. We haven't prevented it, we created it.

Without needing to speak to one another, Merlin and I start sprinting away from the scene, one destination and one goal racing through our minds. Would she even act tonight? Debating the odds is not a risk I want to take, however, and my feet keep slapping the floor, our steps echoing through the empty corridors.

Merlin runs into her room first, me behind him, barely missing the heels of his boots. Morgana jumps, startled. Her eyes flash in anger and I know just by the look in them that we've interrupted her in something.

"What are you two doing here?" she demands, her hands dropping from her waist. I eye the blade in her waist, barely visible with her cloak and soon it disappears from sight altogether.

"Arthur sent us to look after you," Merlin answers but the lie fools nobody in the room.

"There is an intruder, after all," I add, a tight and explicitly sarcastic smile gracing my lips.

"I don't need you," she sneers.

"He was quite insistent."

Morgana's arms raise, reaching out to push Merlin out of the way but I stand behind him, holding him in place to stop him from stumbling. Merlin catches her arm, and this only infuriates the witch even further.

"Get out of my way!"

She pulls from his grasps, stepping back. Her eyes glow golden, no words even needing to leave her mouth and Merlin starts to fly back through the air. Although I am not directly affected by the spell, standing behind Merlin leaves me directly in his path. His whole body knocks against mine, pushing my back against the wall. My head smacks against the stone from the momentum. Instantly I crumble to the ground, Merlin's weight holding me down.

Nothing around me seems real but I'm still conscious, my fingertips clasping at reality as it tries to pull away from me. There's an orange light next to me and my head tips to the side. Fire. And it's growing every second. Merlin's head rests against the wall near my shoulder but his body lies almost horizontally along mine.

I have to wake him.

Blinking, I try to coordinate my hands in relation to my sight, grabbing his jacket. I shake his.

"Merlin!"

The boy gives no answer, so I shake harder. Not even a twinge in his face. I look back up at the fire, which is growing around the room, lighting the curtains which provide easy fuel for the hungry flames.

Knowing what I have to do I place my hands on Merlin's temples. There's no way I can go against Morgana. Not without magic. The natural instinct is embedded in my DNA, letting me heal Merlin, putting his suffering on myself. The Vessel, the servant. The chain of life.

Instantly, my head becomes heavier as though my spine is pulling it down through my neck, but Merlin begins to move. The tongue of a flame burns against my back briefly, a short hiss escaping my clenched teeth.

Merlin's eyes open as mine close.

Xx

Fingers tap against my cheek, earning a groan from me. My hand lifts, shoving the annoyance away. The tapping continues so I peel my eyes open to glare at the person. Merlin is crouching down in front of me, my back propped up against a wall. We are just outside Morgana's chambers.

"Did you do it?" I ask croakily.

"In the nick of time," he answers, grim but a small smile on his face.

"That's good."

Merlin bends down further, pulling one of my arms over his shoulder. I push off the floor to help him as we rise to our feet.

"It was hard, you know, casting a spell when you aren't conscious," he notes. "Like, it just takes a bit more effort."

"I'll try not to be," I snort lazily. "Good news is, is that the King is still alive. The bad news is that he's still alive to dote over Morgana. We just can't win, can we?"

Guards run past us with buckets of water, headed back to the fire. I probably look at little dodged up. Frizzy hair from the heat of the fire, my hand tied up from the cut last night, Merlin half carrying me.

"Maybe it's our destiny," Merlin preaches, his lips pulled back in a sarcastic grin. I giggle, squeezing his shoulder with the arm wrapped around it. I close my eyes, imagining the smell of sweetness.

"I think my destiny should be to eat chocolate," I hum.

"What's chocolate?"

"What heaven tastes like. And I haven't had any in four years, the cravings are unreal."