Merlin had a bad feeling about this. And whenever he had a bad feeling Arthur would completely ignore it. Later, something would happen to prove that Merlin was right. He just hoped it wouldn't be one of those days. He packed his stuff, Gaius was watching him as if he was waiting to say something.

"I don't know how Aithusa ended up with Morgana" said Merlin guessing what Gaius was going to ask.

"I thought you left him under the protection of Kilgharrah."

"I should have checked on her."

"It is not your fault Merlin. But I am afraid you might be walking into a trap. After what Sarrum did to her, Morgana's rage must be increased tenfold."

"Arthur won't listen to me. He thinks he should stop Morgana before she becomes a bigger threat."

"Merlin?"

"Hım?"

"Look after yourself."

"Right."

Not having any choice, Gaius thoughtfully watched his ward go. He liked to think Merlin as his son, he was also the most powerful warlock in all creation. That didn't stop Gaius' worry.

"Oh, stop pouting Merlin" said Arthur with a mischievous grin while riding his horse along with his knights. "I have almost missed your ridiculous comments."

"Sorry for not entertaining you. But I am concerned about what kind of a bad thing will happen while we are in the Valley of Fallen Kings."

"Arthur said you went to face a dragon," said Percival curiously. "Without armor, I might add."

"Yeah, and I would rather face another than coming to Valley of Fallen Kings again," said Merlin still pouting. "Aren't you worried about Morgana? Not even a little bit?" He turned his face to Arthur. Arthur looked solemn. He was probably feeling sorry for his sister. After Arthur had learned Morgana's first betrayal when she first took the crown, he had little hope for getting her sister back. Even after he knew how she fooled him, fed Cendred information about his feelings for Gwen, allied with Morgause, he hoped that her rage might dissipate but even Uther's death didn't cool it. Her second coup in Camelot was the last straw. She had used the trust he gave to his uncle just like she had used the trust he had given to her once, tormented his knights, and nearly starved his people. Arthur swore that he will never let her hurt his people ever again.

"Oh, I am, Merlin. But there will be a time when I will face Morgana. I will make it now while she is weak. This might be our only chance to stop her once and for all."

The knights looked determined and silently agreed with him. Most of them had suffered in Morgana's hands. Elyan had been tortured. Gwaine had been forced to fight to the death; Leon had witnessed how Morgana killed innocent people just to get alliance. They weren't going to stop now. Merlin nodded and smiled at Arthur confirming that he will be at his side on whatever decision he made.

They came to a small alley. Then Merlin remembered where it was. The last time he was here, he had a mortal wound at his chest and had been brought to Morgana. Arthur didn't know about the second part but he was stiffened as well.

"Let's go," Arthur stressfully urged them to continue. The alley was so narrow. Arthur and Merlin moved forward and after them, Gwaine came. The other part of the patrol was slowly coming behind them.

Then they heard the tumbling. Huge rocks fell from above and Arthur screamed "Retreat!"

Arthur, Merlin, and Gwaine got separated from the rest of the Knights. The others would be lucky if no one was injured.

"It is a trap" Arthur hissed.

"They probably surrounded the alley," Gwaine checked his surroundings. There was no one at first. But when Merlin looked above he saw a man pointing his arrow to Arthur. His eyes turned gold and he easily diverted the arrow with magic.

"They are above!"

"GO" shouted Arthur. They began to ride their horses as fast as they can. Then Gwaine's horse fell as one of the arrows hit it. Arthur and Merlin stopped in their tracks and looked back.

"Gwaine" Merlin called out to his friend who has fallen from his horse. Gwaine moaned. Before Merlin could check whether he was injured, an invisible force pulled him from his horse, he found himself rolling on the floor. As he struggled to get up a well-built old man grabbed him and pulled him towards his side, while holding his blade to his neck.

"Arthur, how very predictable."

Merlin couldn't turn back but he didn't need to. He knew the owner of the gloating voice too well.

As the man who has held him tightly stepped back, he found himself standing near Morgana and opposite to Arthur.

Gwaine got up and went on attack mode. "Let him go!"

"Perhaps another time, Sir Knight," said Morgana, her eyes glowed gold and Gwaine leaped to his back and knocked him unconscious.

"You thought you could destroy me while I was weak, Arthur Pendragon but even the times I was on my weakest point, I was ten times more powerful than you." There was a predatorily smile on Morgana's face that made Merlin shiver. She was going to kill him. He was ready to use magic even at the price of exposing himself but Arthur did something unexpected.

"Then prove it, let him go and fight me, one on one, on fair terms" Arthur gestured at his sword then threw his glove to the ground.

Morgana looked at the glove with a surprised face and gave a dark chuckle.

"Your silly duel challenges don't interest me, dear brother. I am not a knight. I am a High Priestess of the Old Religion and I shall destroy you in a way they do. As for him," she continued making eye contact with Merlin. "I think I'll take him as a souvenir."

Sparks of lightning came from Morgana's hand and even though it wasn't as powerful as Merlin's when he had killed Nimueh, it was enough to kill a man. It happened so fast. Before Merlin could do a protection spell for Arthur, the lightning struck. Arthur instinctively put Excalibur to defense mode.

He was unharmed.

More shockingly, Excalibur had absorbed Morgana's attack. Blue sparkles were coming from it. Arthur looked at it with a shocked face then pointed it to Morgana as if the sword had told him to do so. The High Priestess screamed as her attack reflected to her, leaving her unconscious.

But some parts of lightning went to the trees above. Burned trees fell and separated Arthur from Merlin and Morgana completely.

"ARTHUR" Merlin shouted trying to reach out to him. Ruadan rewarded his resistance by hitting him on the back of his head with the handle of his sword then Merlin's entire world turned to black.

Excalibur was so underrated in the show. I mean, after s3 it was just an ordinary sword.

Next:

Merlin meets Ruadan and faces Morgana.