At first Merlin couldn't move at all. He felt trapped in his own body. He wasn't sure how long that went on but when it finally let up, he could sense magic. Merlin opened his eyes to see the last person on earth he'd expected to help him.

"Mordred?" Merlin asked. He still felt sick but at least now he wasn't trapped.

"I'm sorry but that's all I can do," Mordred replied. "The rest is up to you, Emrys."

Merlin turned his head to see Gaius on the other side of his bed. "Gwen poisoned me," Merlin said.

"I figured as much," Gaius replied. "I have told Arthur but he doesn't want to believe it."

"I'm going with him tonight to find out the truth," Mordred explained.

Merlin couldn't help but be wary. Whenever he looked at Mordred all he could see was the vision that dying man had given him of Mordred killing Arthur. But then again it seemed like Mordred had just saved his life.

"No need to look so worried," Mordred replied. "I shall not let the king come to harm. You need to focus on healing yourself. Your magic is alot stronger than mine."

So Merlin tried. He summoned what little energy he had left and tried a healing spell, but he didn't have the strength to complete it.

"It's no use," Merlin said, gasping for air. He still felt so weak.

"I'm sorry but I have to go," Mordred said. "It's dark and I should be helping the King follow Gwen." And with a slight bow of the head, Mordred left.

"There has to be something we can do," Gaius continued once Mordred was gone.

"I do have another idea," Merlin answered. "Kilgharrah. He's helped me before when I was poisoned by a giant scorpion."

"You can't summon a dragon here!" Gaius exclaimed.

"He wouldn't fit through the doors I know," Merlin said. "You have to get me to the courtyard."

"I can not lift you Merlin," Gaius reminded him.

"Get some help then," Merlin grumbled and then Gaius left his side as well only to return a quarter hour later with Percival, Gwaine and Elyan.

"Merlin's going to do what?" Percival said after Gaius explained his plan. Merlin couldn't see their faces from his position laying on the bed staring at the ceiling, but he could distinguish their voices.

"Summon a dragon to heal him," Gaius replied. "So we need to get him somewhere the dragon can land."

"And you are sure the Dragon will want to help us?" Percival asked.

"What's to stop this Dragon from attacking Camelot?" Gwaine asked.

"Merlin is a dragonlord," Gaius explained. "No living dragon can disobey him. Now come on, we must hurry."

The knights didn't ask any more questions after that and Merlin found himself being lifted out of bed. Even though he was able to move more now he still could barely lift his arms and legs. They were just so heavy. He hadn't any strength in his body at all. Merlin felt very much like a rag doll, his limbs flailing about as he was carried out of his chambers and into the courtyard.

Once they set him down in the middle of the empty courtyard, Merlin told them all to go for cover.

"I thought you said the dragon wouldn't hurt us?" Elyan asked.

"He won't," Merlin said. "But his wings are powerful. His landing could knock you over."

The knights seemed to take his word on this and backed away with Gaius.

It was strange but healing spells actually took far more energy than summoning Kilgharrah. Like he always did, Merlin pictured the dragon in his mind and spoke with the voice they shared. It seemed to take longer than usual, but maybe that was just because of the pain coursing through his body. Then Merlin heard that tell tale flapping and saw Kilgharrah's great wings come into view.

"The last dragonlord to summon me here imprisoned me for twenty years," Kilgharrah said with great intensity, almost anger. "You told me once that to return to Camelot would cost me my life and yet now you have summoned me right into the heart of the castle. Why?"

Merlin hardly had the energy to reply. He just looked up at his friend and smiled. Then he heard footsteps coming from behind him and Gaius's voice.

"Merlin is dying," Gaius said. "Magic is once more accepted in Camelot but as a consequence of this Morgana has learned of his identity. Please help him."

Merlin's eyes closed. The little energy Mordred had managed to return to him was fading. He heard something move through the air and imagined Kilgharrah looking around for threats. Then he felt the dragon's great claws wrap around his body and lift him from the ground. As Merlin's head fell back the world went dark.

He awoke on the hard ground, but despite that he felt better. The pain was duller and his senses sharper. Opening his eyes, Merlin could see that he was high up on the side of a cliff. He could move his limbs again but his body still felt weak and his head hurt.

"How long have I been asleep?" Merlin asked. He knew Kilgharrah must be nearby.

"Not nearly long enough," Kilgharrah's voice replied. "Even with my magic you still need time to heal from such a powerful poison."

Merlin could feel that he was right. Closing his eyes, he fell asleep again almost at once.

When he woke the second time, Merlin could feel how much better he was. The pain in his head was barely a dull ache and his body felt strong again. Getting up Merlin was able to see Kilgharrah watching over him.

"Thank you old friend," Merlin smiled up at the Dragon. "Once again I owe you my life."

"You have fulfilled your destiny of returning magic to Camelot," Kilgharrah said. "Or was Gaius lying and there was some other reason you risked summoning me into the heart of the castle?"

"Well I was dying," Merlin chuckled, but then he sobered and said. "But Gaius wasn't lying. Arthur knows about magic and has accepted mine. He even appointed me the court warlock, whatever that means."

Kilgharrah's laughter echoed against the cliff walls. "The lands of Albion almost united as well." Merlin could almost hear pride in the dragon's voice and it warmed his heart but he didn't have time to dwell on it.

"All is not won yet," Merlin explained. "Morgana still has Gwen's will at her command. I need to return and help Arthur."

"Some things never change," the dragon said softly. "And I suppose you'll be wanting a lift as well?"

"If you don't mind," Merlin replied. "After all, we are halfway up a cliff."

With another chuckle, Kilgharrah leaned down so Merlin could climb onto his back. "This time though young warlock I won't be landing in the middle of the castle."

"The usual clearing then?" Merlin asked and Kilgharrah agreed.

Merlin couldn't help but enjoy the ride back to Camelot. There was nothing on this earth quite like flying on the back of a dragon.

Once Kilgharrah set down and Merlin was climbing off he looked up at his friend and thanked him once more. Kilgharrah was about to fly away when both of them heard a sound and turned.

Standing staring at the great dragon were Arthur and Mordred. Merlin suspected they were just on their way back from tailing Gwen.

"We meet at last young Pendragon," Kilgharrah said with a slight bow of his head. "The other side of the coin." And with that Kilgharrah lifted both his wings and flew away.

Not wasting a moment, Merlin ran towards Arthur. "I take it this means Gwen left the castle tonight?" he inquired.

Rather than answer, Arthur just stared. "You're okay?" he said.

"Kilgharrah was able to complete the healing you started," Merlin replied. "Thank you Mordred." The Druid's only reply was a slight nod of the head.

"By Kilgharrah you mean that talking Dragon?" Arthur said slowly.

"Yes," Merlin said, with a smile. "From all the stories I've told you I thought you'd know he could talk."

"Right, yes," Arthur said, almost like he was embarrassed to have mentioned it. He was still just standing staring.

"So do you believe now about Gwen?" Merlin asked, trying to snap Arthur out of his shock and get them back on task.

"We followed her to a clearing where she met Morgana," Arthur said, the shock in his voice being replaced with pain as he spoke.

"We should get back and see if Gaius has any ideas what can be done to save her," Merlin replied.

Rather than argue the two of them complied and it wasn't long before they were all back within the castle walls. There they found Gaius. The look on the old man's face at seeing Merlin so recovered made him smile. Before anything else was discussed Merlin hugged him.

"What do you know about what Morgana has done to Gwen?" Arthur asked, his tone very much trying to remind them of the serious nature of the matter at hand.

"Well excuse me for being glad I'm not dead," Merlin grumbled.

"I'm glad you aren't dead too Merlin," Arthur began. "But there is a spy in Camelot and this is going to get much worse very quickly if we don't do something. Who knows what Morgana will ask her to do. You said something about a mandrake root bringing terror but how could that change her so completely?"

"You have experienced the power of the mandrake root before, Arthur," Gaius explained. "It was what Morgana used to try and break your father's mind when she first returned to Camelot after her year learning magic with Morgause." The look on Arthur's face showed he remembered only too well how his father had been affected. "And that was just the use of one mandrake. The ritual Gwen was subjected to would involve dozens of them with far more powerful magic used on them."

"There must be something we can do to save her!" Arthur exclaimed with great emotion even if he didn't raise his voice.

"I can think of only two people who truly know the old ways," Gaius explained. "One is Morgana Pendragon and the other is the Dochraid."

"Then I will go to this Dochraid and ask for help," Merlin said.

"The Dochraid can't be trusted," Gaius replied. "As a creature of the old ways the Dochraid will be loyal to Morgana. She can't be bribed. She can't be overpowered with magic alone. Excalibur is probably your best hope."

"My sword?" Arthur asked. "Why would that help?"

"As I've said before, Kilgharrah made that blade for you," Merlin explained. "A sword forced in a dragon's breath has power unlike any other mortal blade."

"Right yeah you said something about it being able to kill that which is already dead," Arthur said. Given how much new information had been thrown at him these past few days, Merlin was actually rather impressed that the King had remembered as many details about magic as he did. "So does that mean this Dochraid is dead like those knights were?"

"No, the Dochraid is a very powerful, very old being of the earth," Gaius explained. "Any normal weapon would have no effect on her which could very likely be the reason she survived the great purge."

"So that means you should know where she is?" Merlin asked. Gaius nodded, and Merlin went at once to pack his things.

Yay I'm almost through all the extra chapters I had waiting around. What do you guess think about Merlin's poisoning? I thought it was the most logical reaction from Morgana once she learned who Emrys was. In the show she changed her target from Arthur to Merlin once she knew so I figured if she found out sooner she'd still change her target but keep the methods. ^_^ Do you all agree?

Sneak Peek Chapter 08

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Merlin replied.

"We don't have time to get into why you are so distrusting of Mordred right now," Arthur said. "Him coming makes the most sense and we will need help."

"But sire-"

"He's never done anything to warrant your dislike unless there is something you aren't telling me?" Arthur inquired, giving Merlin a pointed look. Arthur felt sure there were still things Merlin hadn't revealed about the magical side of his life, even if just for the simple reason of forgetting to mention them. Ten year was a long time to accumulate secrets.

"It's nothing he's done so far," Merlin began. He was about to say something else when Arthur cut him off.

"Right then," Arthur said. "We need to prepare. When everything is ready we will sneak the Queen out of here and be on our way."