What had happened? For a moment both of them were confused about his violent outburst. His abrupt reaction shocked Merlin. His mind flashed back many many years ago, when he had felt the same anger. He saw himself again as a young man of twenty years age.

He just had come home to find Ambrosia dying. He remembered how hard he had tried to beat Mab then. He remembered his clutched fist that was held up in the middle of the air; the strength he had needed to uphold it there, the effort with which he had tried and the easiness with which Mab had just pushed him away. He also remembered the pride in her eyes and the firm conviction in her face; and the arrogance with which she had said:"You haven't the power to strike me." He felt again how hard he had wished to tear her apart in that moment just to pay her back what she had done. Back then he had been desperate to batter that scornful smile off of her face.

But it seemed the Mab that was sitting in front of him now had nothing in common with the icy Queen from his memories. Tears were rolling down her cheeks and mingled with some blood dropping from the corner of her split lip. Oppressed sobs were leaving her mouth.

A pathetic crying and shivering picture of misery she was.

Merlin noticed the slight feeling of pity for her rising inside him. No stop – this wasn't right.

He could not betray the ones he had lost. How could he feel pity for her now? Anger rose again in him. "How dare you?" he hissed.

"Merlin, please!" She shook her head attempting to say something.

"How dare you to lay your evil hands on me?!" he interrupted her.

"Merlin please, don't cast me away, please don't..!" she whined.

"You are a monster! Why should I listen to you?!" Merlin was furious again.

He repressed the remorse about beating her. Why shouldn't he pay her back? But Mab being even more desperate didn't stop. She needed to gain a second chance by him. Of course she wanted to survive, but more important was, that after all these years she still yearned for him. Maybe she hadn't been aware of that fact or maybe she just had been ignoring it for many years, but now, as there was nothing else left, she saw it clearly. And like she had always known, she realized Merlin was her only hope left.

But he seemed to be far from giving in.

Though she would not let him go so easily. As long as she had a wee bit of power left to follow him, she would. Let him kill her. It wouldn't matter to her anymore, she thought. Maybe she would be pleased if he did so, as long as he didn't leave her for good.

"Merlin please I beg you! Do not turn your back on me! You can't just leave me here like this."

"Why not?! Why after all should I take pity on you?", he spat.

But what reason could she give him? What could she tell him, to make him change his mind?

Before Mab could think about it, Merlin was wrinkling his nose. He was smelling smoke. Real smoke and it was strong. He realized where there's smoke there's fire and seconds later he had found the source of it. The ceiling atop of them was burning alight. None of them had noticed so far.

They had been so caught up in their fight and his scheme that they had been oblivious they had set the castle on fire. It even took him some moments to realize why it was burning around them after all. One of the fireballs Mab had been tossing at him in their fight several minutes ago had ignited the wooden trusses. Now the fire was spreading over from the hall to the rest of the castle. And since the fire was deriving from a magical source the flames took over from ceiling to ceiling with immense speed.

More and more smoke was filling the corridors and the halls. Distracted and paralyzed Merlin was watching the disaster. His damned plan! In the end he had been the downfall of Camelot and his people. Yes his damned pride had doomed them all. He let his gaze wander from one corridor to the next crossing corridor, where shrieking people fled the castle. He could only imagine their horror after finding themselves waking up from a weird state of trance not remembering what they had done last only to see their home was burning.

The smoke bit into his eyes.

He tried to blink the tears away, cause now he could barely see. And what he didn't saw was the cracking and breaking truss above him.

But Mab saw it with horror. Before the truss could fall onto him, she shot forward pushing Merlin aside –

With heavy impact they collided and Merlin was smashed some feet away.

When he fought his way back onto his feet and took in his surroundings, the truss lay burning next to him.

But underneath it there lay Mab wreathing in pain. It was hot. The fire now seemed to be everywhere. With horror he watched for a moment the crushed form that was still moving under the heavy weight. Was it that what he had wanted?

She gave a wheeze that turned into a whimper.

Now Merlin simply reacted. There was no time for him to think over his actions. If he didn't hurry the rest of the ceiling would collapse on both of them.

So he made a raising gesture with his hand and the burning truss was moved up and thrown away. He bent down and cradled her up into his arms. The heat of the flames was unbearable now. It seemed the whole castle was burning. Merlin was searching for the right direction, where they could escape the fire, but the smoke seemed to be everywhere.

Coughing he stumbled on, down the corridor and away from the centre of fire. Away from the room where once the round table had stood. He could hear the fleeing people and so he was following their screams.

Mab lay in his arms but he barely noticed her weight. He was stumbling down another corridor followed by stairs and further corridors.

Finally he reached the yard. There some people were trying to gather water but he could see, there was no use of it. Others were already fleeing the castle. Sadness filled him with realization. Camelot was lost like its former heroes. Not far in the future it would be nothing than a mere legend.

For a moment he contemplated calling for rain, but even that seemed futile. There was not much left to be extinguished. Instead he went on and left the castle keep.

He found Sir Rupert, his horse, where he had left him in the courtyard.

"Gods! Merlin what has happened?"

The magical animal was visibly shocked by sight of a motionless fairy queen in the arms of his master.

"No time, come on!" Merlin gasped.

He pulled Mab over the saddle and took his place behind her. Fast they made their way out of the city through the burning gates. The magical horse knew a danger most deadly to all living beings – fire. Therefore Sir Rupert didn't waste any time to pass the several gates until they where outside the castle.

Some foot on Merlin stopped him for a look back. With horror he saw the black trails of smoke rising against the sky. People where still fleeing the castle and walls began to collapse.

"Merlin you can't help them anymore." the horse was pointing out.

"But you can help her, if you act quickly."

Merlin lowered his gaze on Mab and inspected her motionless form. She was unconscious. That was probably a blessing for her, for he could see the injuries the fire had caused her.

What now?

Some moments ago they still had fought each other. And all he had wanted had been getting rid of her for good. But instead of a simple fight with one winner and one defeated, she had pled for his mercy. A mercy he had not been willing to give her at this time. Even now he felt his anger again, but there was this other thing again, this little nagging feeling of remorse creeping back into his mind.

The mix of opposite feelings was driving him mad. He should end it here and now, he thought. His fingers were moving tentatively to his belt, where his dagger was fixed. Slowly they closed around the leathern hilt.

But what was he doing now? Another sin?

Killing a defenseless person was something he had never stood for, had he?

Even though he did hate her- could he slay her just like that now he had the chance for it?

Could he really burden his soul with more guilt?

The dagger was lying coldly in his hand. His other arm was fixating her corpse. He held the blade closer to her throat. She was evil to the core, wasn't she? And this is how one should deal with evil creatures, even if they may have saved your life from being crushed by falling burning trusses.

Guilt. Endlessly.

No – he couldn`t. Of course he had to end it, but not this way. Outrages after outrages and the endless chain of sins would move on. There had been enough victims in this ancient fight. Maybe now it was the time for something else. He placed the dagger back onto his belt.

She couldn't harm him anymore. And even if he couldn't forgive her, nevertheless he couldn't kill her or let her die like this.

"Finally." Sir Rupert said and started to move turning southwards.

"What?" Merlin was snatched from his thoughts.

But the horse had already fallen into a swift trot. Merlin wondered how his old friend always knew, how it was the right time to act.

'But you forget – I am a magical being too.' He heard in his mind.

Of course he should have known. But where was Sir Rupert heading to?

Then it came to his mind too.

Avalon.

They had to find a place to treat Mabs wounds, where else could they go?...