Thanks to SherlockHolmes4884, whose PM motivated me to finally write the next chapter, even if I ended up doing it at 2am, and thank you to everyone who has read and left comments. Sorry it's been so long guys.

Merlin allowed himself a smile at the snoring physician as he made his way silently to the door through the deep shadows of the darkened chambers. Over the years he had become well-practised at picking out his route past the cluttered worktables and lifting the door's weight just enough that the hinges swung open without their usual squealing creak. And despite his fears, Morgana, who still slept in the spare cot at the other side of the room, didn't stir, any quiet noises that might have alerted her to his departure drowned out by Gaius's snores.
It had been a little over a week since Arthur and Merlin had returned to Camelot with her, but this was the first time he'd had a chance to sneak out of the Citadel. It was second nature by now to slip past the guards and disappear into the woods. He barely paid attention to the short walk to the clearing beneath the long shadows cast by beams of moonlight through thick foliage, already thinking of what lay ahead.
And when at last he emerged onto the open grass, the powerful words flowed freely from his tongue, without a thought.
"O drakon, ē male, soi ftengometta tesd'hup anakess."
He stared up at the sky, and the stars stared back, until finally the air shuddered and the trees seemed to shake as the Great Dragon swooped down on golden-brown wings that looked like they were forged of age-crusted stone and landed before him with an impact that made the ground quake.
"Young Warlock, why have you summoned me?" The creature asked in a rumbling voice like peals of thunder.
"Aithusa, the young dragon, I found them trapped a little over a week ago. I set them free, but I need you to try to find them, and protect them if you can."
"That much I can agree to. However there is something else that you are not telling me, is there not?"
Merlin sighed. He knew how Kilgarrah would react to this one and would really prefer not to have to say it.
"Aithusa was not the only one trapped there. We found Morgana there too."
"Merlin, you cannot allow her to live."
"I won't kill her. I've tried that before and it only ever made things worse. We have a chance here-"
"Yes, you have a chance. And it may be your only chance, so you must take it. The witch must die. You must kill her."
"But we also have a chance to save her. To bring her back. And I won't abandon it so soon."
"Need I remind you that it is her destiny to bring about your fall and that of everything you care about?"
"That is but one path the future may take. We can change it. But trying to kill her to prevent that future has never worked before. Maybe it's time to try something else."
"No man, no matter how great, can escape his destiny, Merlin."
"No. But I'm not trying to escape it. I'm trying to change it."
"You have failed to heed my advice in the past, young warlock, and it has lead to terrible things."
"And following that advice has not always ended much better."
The dragon let out a sigh that shook the leaves on the trees and sent some spiralling to the ground. "Very well. Do as you wish. Follow the path that you have created. But I warn you, Merlin, no good shall come of this."
And with that, he spread his wings and leapt into the sky.
Merlin watched as he flew up into the night and then turned determinedly back towards Camelot.
He had betrayed his friends in the past. He would not make the same mistake again.
This time, he would make things work.
This time, everything would be okay.
It had to be. Arthur was King now, and he wasn't like his father. He would listen to reason. They could fix this. Make a better world for themselves and for everyone around them. And Morgana was important in making this happen, but maybe, just maybe, it didn't have to be in a bad way. Maybe this time, he could find a way that they didn't have to lose anyone.

Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment if you liked it :)