Hi! I've decided to rewrite and continue this story. I'll keep adding a chapter every two Saturdays.

The story takes place during the season 5 episode THE KINDNESS OF STRANGER. It's a bit different from the series, though. And from there on, there's going to be a very little resemblance with the series.

The kindness of strangers

Merlin was wounded. It was funny considering he was supposed to be the mighty warlock, but in fact, it was Finna who saved him and helped him go to the tower. To hide. To hide from Arthur's men. And Morgana's, but he'd already got used to the idea Morgana hated him and everybody who opposed her. However, he couldn't bear the thought that Arthur might hunt him like an animal if he were to know who he was.

It hadn't been an easy fight. Morgana had been looking for them and one of her men had succeeded to hurt him. Merlin hated when he was so weak and useless, but life sucked sometimes and his wasn't an exception.

"How do you know this tower?" He enquired as they got to the tower. The tower was empty and cold. Dust had settled everywhere, but it was better than no place at all. He was grateful Finna had taken him there. It really saved them. He didn't want to meet Morgana. Especially on his condition. Meeting Arthur and his knights wasn't either a very charming outcome. Not when Gaius must have told them a sorceress was around... or whatever he'd told them..and Merlin was together with that sorceress.

"When you've spent a lifetime running, you know all the places to hide," Finna answered. The answer made him feel guilty, but he spoke up his fears.

"Running from... Arthur?"

"And from his father before him.''

The pain was horrible and Merlin couldn't hold back a groan. He tried to summon his magic. He'd always sucked at healing spells. If magic was going to be free one day, he would have to find someone to teach him. Even if his body healed quickly, had he known healing spells would have saved him from a lot of trouble.

"It won't always be like this." He promised. "Things will be better.'' He really hoped he was right, but day by day it seemed harder to believe it. Camelot wasn't ready for magic and Merlin doubted it would be soon.

"That's why I was sent. To help you make it so." The answer, though surprising, brought him some ease. He'd spent so much time alone. Having someone else to talk about magic, except Kilgarrah and Gaius, felt so good.

They heard dogs barking in the distance. Morgana was close. Merlin tried not to worry. He would find a way. He always had. As they acknowledged the danger, they decided to look for a better place. Finna helped him to a room and bolted the door. They were safe there, at least for the moment. So Merlin decided it was time to find more about his savior.

"Why are you doing this for me?'' Merlin asked surprised.

"Without you, Emrys, Arthur cannot build the new world we all long for."

''I don't understand.'' During the time, he'd started to hate destiny and its twisted sense of forcing him to take roles he'd never asked for.

"For hundreds of years, the Catha have guarded their ancient knowledge. But now the time has come to pass it on to you, Emrys. For only you can carry their hopes into the great battle itself."

''How can I do that?''

" Here." Finna passes Merlin a small wooden box. "Guard it carefully. It will help you in the dark days to come."

Meanwhile, Morgana and her men approach the watchtower. They could hear her voice.

"I want her taken alive. Do you understand? Alive!" she shouted.

"There's something else. Something Alator himself wanted me to tell you. Do not make the same mistake as Arthur. Do not trust the Druid boy.'' Finna went on.

They heard crashing outside the room they were hiding in. Finna helped Merlin up the stairs to the room at the top of the tower. The pain was really bad and he knew there was no place he could hide.

''You must go on.'' She demanded.

"There is nowhere else to go.'' Saying it aloud helped him deal with the fact he would have to get ready for the fight. He knew that one day he would have to face Morgana. He wished it wasn't that day, though.

''There is a roof. You will be safe there.''

''How?''

''They think I am alone. Once they have me they will go.''

''I won't leave you Finna. We'll fight them together.'' He didn't want to leave like a coward and let Finna sacrifice for him.

''No. If Morgana sees us together she will know who you are. That must never happen.''

''Finna please...'' he begged. He knew she was right, but it didn't make it any better. Merlin was so sick of hiding. He'd never realized until that moment. Yet he'd never had to face such a difficult decision until then.

''It is my destiny, Emrys to serve you until the end. I could wish for nothing more. Grant me one favour.''

''Anything.''

''Leave me your sword.'' As he went away she bowed to Merlin and told him ''It has been a privilege to know you, Emrys." He went away, crawling to the top. He felt cold and empty inside. The pain was gone, replaced by frustration and bitterness. He hated he couldn't do what his heart told him to do. He hated to wait. He'd been waiting since the first day he'd come to that world.

Morgana entered the room followed by Beroun and his men.

"Finna, at last. I'm impressed. At your age, it's very spirited." She was so confident and so mighty. Merlin could hear her voice from behind the door.

''Stay away!'' Finna demanded, but the High Priestess didn't seem intimidated. She was too proud and too confident to be scared by such an ordinary woman. No one in the world could frighten her. No one except Emrys. But that was going to end. She would finally find him.

'But with age comes wisdom. It's over. Tell me who Emrys is.''

"Never.'' Finna answered confidently. She was ready to stab herself when she saw the guard falling to the ground." Emrys" she muttered as she realized he'd come back.

"Emrys'' Morgana shouted "Show yourself.'' She cried trying to conceal her fear. It hadn't be supposed to happen like that. She had never foreseen that he would wait for her. Every nerve cried "he is your doom″, but the witch ignored that bad feeling. She was the High Priestess, after all, she was afraid of none. Morgana raised her hand in order to attack him, but her hand fell down like a petty rag. It was like she needed a strength she did not possess and the witch could do nothing to help herself. She couldn't say or do anything. There was no more air in her lungs and Morgana struggled to breathe. Finally, her sight went blurry and she passed out.

"Not yet, Morgana." He stepped forward. His voice rang out, strong and alarming, his eyes widened and hardened till they turned into two burning globes. It was like his fury had surpassed the pain his former wound had caused and gave him the strength he had not known he possessed. But she could not distinguish the form that stood in front of her. She gasped desperately, struggling to get some air and then she fell down at his feet.

Once again, she had threatened someone he cared about. Well he didn't know Fina well enough, but her motherly figure had conquered his heart from the start. Fina had helped him, she trusted him, she was willing to die for him. He couldn't have left her to sacrifice herself. Too many had had to sacrifice their lives. It had to stop. Merlin felt responsible for the confidence all those people had shown him, he felt that it was his duty to protect them. He regretted that it was too late for Alator.

"Do you think he is still alive?" he asked. Finna looked at him confused, but she did not need to ask as he went on "Alator. Do you think he is still alive?" She could distinguish pain in his voice.

"It was his duty to save you, My Lord" she said solemnly. He threw her a faint smile and then his face darkened.

"I wished" he stated "I wish he had seen the world he dreamt about. The world Arthur will build one day. I wish he had known what peace means."

"He had seen it." Merlin couldn't understand. The sadness did not disappear completely, but his features lit at the thought of it. "Now it's time to make it real"

"I will" he swore and his words fell like a solemn oath. Then he turned his eyes towards the form that lay at his feet. The fury burst out more powerfully now and the warlock felt it was his duty to avenge Alator's death.

He raised his hand, decided to put an end to all that bloodshed, but his lips refused to utter the words. He felt paralyzed. Deep down he knew she was fighting for the same ideal as him, they wanted the same thing, just they had chosen different paths and it seemed like none of them had made the right choice so far. Long before he had sworn he would never be like her, but in that instant, he was just like her: revengeful, full of hatred and bitterness.

He dropped his hand while his eyes studied the room. Finally, he found what he had been looking for and his eyes stopped on a rope hanging on the wall. In less than a second, it was at his feet, but as his fury diminished the pain grew and he felt that his strength would leave him soon.

"Will you help me?" he asked Finna. "This wound is horrible'' He added. ''She will awake pretty soon and I can't let her escape, not this time.'' They fastened Morgana's arms and legs with that rope which he enchanted not to break.

"I thought you were gone."

"I never listen. I'm sorry, Finna, but I don't do that." She watched him proudly. He was more than she expected to find. "Too many people have died. I'm sorry for your master.''

"What you're going to do with her?'' she inquired while securing her fastening.

"I don't know. " He could hardly move now as pain returned. "I know someone that could help me. Will you handle her?" She nodded. '' The others are dead, don't worry about them. I will come as fast as I can, but I need to recover my strength. I can take off her powers for a while, but I can't do it in my state. Just keep her asleep until I come back."

"Don't worry, Emrys. I knew a spell that might work. Be careful.''

He summoned the dragon as he had used to do before. He was happy that he hadn't let Finna alone. Morgana was dangerous, he knew that, but his magic was strong too. He had to take off her power. As he was thinking of that, he noticed the Great Dragon approaching, but he was too weak and ...eventually, he knew nothing else.

When he awoke, the pain was gone.

"Thank you.'' He said to his old friend. He noticed that they were far from the tower. ''Can you carry me back? Morgana is…" As soon the dragon heard the name of the High Priestess his face darkened, but he let Merlin finish what he had to say. "She's my prisoner. If I take off her powers she would be vulnerable.''

"And then what, young warlock. What you're going to do?''

"Well… What should I?'' The dragon smirked "Don't look at me like that. I'm not going to kill her.''

"I've warned you before about her and you're still so stubborn, Merlin. Stop protecting her.'' Kilgarrah ordered.

"I'm not protecting her… It's just…I don't think she deserved to die. Fine'' he said as he noticed the way the Dragon looked at him "I can't kill her. Every time I try I remember the old one. I can't believe she's gone. And I knew what made her like that. You have no right to accuse her. I showed you mercy when you had killed hundreds of innocent people, why wouldn't she deserve the same clemency?''

"I guess it's not worth trying to change your mind, but be careful, you can't control her.''

"That's why I want to make her vulnerable.''

''Merlin, prison is worse than death. If you really care, you shouldn't force her to such a life.''

"I'm going to find a way. There must be a better way. I just need time. Please, Kilgharrah."

"You're wiser than that, Merlin. Don't let your feelings speak for you.''

"I've learned my lesson. I've really had. But I can't give up my humanity. What will I be without it?''

"I trust you, young warlock. I trust you more than you think. If you need me all you need is to ask.''

"Thank you, Kilgarrah.''

Without her power, she wasn't a problem anymore, but he knew he had to find a better plan and he had to do it fast. He couldn't ask Finna to watch her forever. Even without her powers, Morgana was still dangerous, and as it wasn't bad enough, Finna had to hide from Arthur's men, too. That thought pained him.

Would it be better to kill her?

He wished life were much easier. He wished someone else would decide for him. Yet he'd adventured on a road without return. He couldn't just stay there and wait for someone else to do the job for him.