Both father and son went to Merlin's room in haste. The words of knight Alric went repeatedly through their minds. After all this, after everything, it couldn't end like this for Merlin. They neared Merlin's room and once they saw the door ajar, they didn't have to think long before barging in.

Both stopped when they saw an unexpected visitor sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Morgana?" Arthur asked, not knowing how and when his sister came to Merlin's room. He thought she would've been too weak to stand. Looking at her more closely he saw Morgana's entire body trembling.

Morgana looked up with fear in her eyes. Tears were on the brink of falling down. She had clasped both hands around Merlin's "Father! I can feel him slipping away, you'll have to do something!"

It didn't take more for Uther to move to bed. He placed a soft hand on Morgana's face, swiping away the tears she finally let fall. Uther then looked down to his son, hearing him struggling to breathe and his eyelids were fluttering, he saw Merlin trying to stay awake but it was a lost cause. It broke his heart.

Uther inhaled deeply, trying to keep his emotions at bay, and then looked over his shoulder to see Morgana's handmaiden there. "Can you please take her to her room, Gwen?"

Gwen inclined her head and moved to her mistress. "Morgana, let the King help him. You need to rest." Gwen moved Morgana's arm over her neck and moved her other arm around Morgana's waist in an effort of supporting her more. Morgana let her move her along, but couldn't help herself watching over het shoulder and seeing her father stroking a hand over Merlin's hair before picking him up behind shoulders and knees.

Knight Alric moved into the room again when Morgana had just left it. "The horses are ready Sire."

Uther nodded and walked after the knight. Arthur right at his side whispering reassurances to Merlin. Uther did not know if he did it for Merlin or more for himself. He walked as fast as he could and reached the courtyard with haste. A group of knights were already seated on their horses with three still without their riders. Uther moved his nearly conscious son into Arthur's arms and took him back once more when he was seated on his steed.

"Let's move out!" Uther yelled, gripping his son tightly and kicking his horse into a gallop. He gripped Merlin tightly around the chest. "Hold on, son. Hold on." He whispered into his son's ear, but soon enough his son's head moved down to his chest. "No, Merlin. Stay awake!"

The clearing was not too far from the castle and Uther already saw the mighty beast waiting in anticipation. He skidded his horse to a halt and the knight next to him jumped from his horse to take the Prince from Uther and waiting until the King had dismounted his horse who then took Merlin over.

"Lay the Prince down, my Lord." Kilgharrah's voice boomed in the clearing. Uther moved quickly to do so. He looked at his son with worry, the only indication that he was still alive were the short rises of his chest.

The entire group were holding a collective breath once Kilgharrah took a deep breath and blew a golden wind over the Prince's still body.

The wind died down and Kilgharrah's large head moved down to the Prince. Everyone around looked on in hope.

Uther looked up to the dragon.

Arthur couldn't help himself and ran from his spot and slid down on his knees next to his brother, feeling around on his face. "Merlin!"

But nothing happened.

The dragon looked in deep thought. "I need to take him, Sire. The lake of Avalon is his only chance now."

Uther shook his head.

"Father! You must let Kilgharrah take him." Arthur looked down to his brother once again. "Please, Merlin, wake up." He nearly begged, hoping his brother would hear his plea.

Alric put a comforting hand on Uther's shoulders, Uther looked down at the hand. "You know it's the only thing that could help him Uther."

Uther moved his head to the far too still body of his son. His other son holding him in a deep embrace. "Alright," he breathed out and then looked up to the dragon. "Alright." He said louder. "Do what you have to do." He walked towards his oldest son, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Arthur, come back. Let Kilgharrah take him."

"I can't lose him," Arthur sobbed.

"You won't." Uther said and squatting next to him. "But you have to let do now, we can't delay any longer."

It was the thing that Arthur needed to hear. He lied down his brother in the soft grass and taking a few steps back with his father, and watching how the great dragon's talons gripped his brother's body.

"I don't know when I will be back again, Sire." The dragon told them as he lifted off. "I will send word to the Druids when I will return." Kilgharrah flapped his wings and soon was out of the party's sight.

~oOoOo~

Uther walked towards his bedroom with his shoulders hanging low. He couldn't fight the feeling of not being able to do something, and putting his entire trust into the great dragon. In the back of his mind, he knew that this was Merlin's only chance, but he didn't like that he wouldn't be able to be with his son.

And now he must let his wife know what has happened.

In the front of the closed door, he took a deep breath in and pushed the door open. His eyes immediately fell on his wife who was sitting in front of the fireplace and seemingly in deep thought.

"Love?" Uther said, still not overcoming the thought she was really back with him again and he felt like his wife could disappear every second.

Hunith turned her head around and Uther saw the tear streaks. He hurried towards her. "What's wrong."

"I've heard about -" Hunith took a shuddering breath. "Heard about Merlin. Uther, he has to make it!"

Uther sat down next to hear, gripping her in an embrace. "We can only hope now, love. And we have to put trust in Kilgharrah."

"I-I can't lose him."

"We won't." Uther said determinedly, but he wasn't really sure he believed himself.