A/A: Please Review! It will make me happy and want to do nice things to the characters. 3

Chapter 45

The Sound of Death

Arthur threw himself into battle like the beast he used to hunt. He felt more than saw Gwain keeping time with him, sticking to his side as best he could in a battle as fierce as this. Percival had taken off on his own, Gods only knew where, and Arthur could hardly worry about the man. The gentile giant had a temper and a tendency to wonder.

There was a low ominous rumble that grew in volume until it was an avalanche of sound. The noise made the fight slow to a pause, each warrior searching for where it was coming from. Arthur looked up at the wall, and one by one the others followed his gaze. The king paled, as did the surrounding knights once they realized what that meant. Arthur's stomach dipped and fear like no other consumed him in momentary blinding panic.

Morganas army cheered and hollered. There shouts could be heard clearly above the the destruction of the wall. "Emrys! Emrys!Emrys!"

Arthur watched in horror as the walls of Camelot came crumbling down stone by beautiful stone. No, Arthur though in untold anguish. Once the dust settled he saw the true destruction, the wall had indeed fallen down. The sight was devastating. Knights were crushed under the large stone that scattered the already bloody battlefield. Some men weren't luck enough to have been killed on impact and screamed in fear and agony as they writhed beneath large stones desperate to be free but knowing they were dead men already. It oddly enough reminded Arthur of worms writhing on the end of a fisherman's hook.

The thought made him even more nauseous. No one seemed able to move. The knights froze as the reality of what this meant set in. They were losing. Soon the men crushed under the fallen stone quieted as death stole them away.

Merlin, no Emrys, did this, Arthurs tormented thoughts poisoned something within the king. He had trusted the wrong people and now his people, his kingdom, was suffering for it. First Morgana, then Aggravain. Now Merlin... was his judgment that bad? Arthurs chest heaved in large gasping breaths. He couldn't believe that Merlin would do this willing. Cedric and Omari said as much, but still the heart believes what the eyes sees and what he saw was his brother destroying all they had built together.

Oh, Gods. Merlin really was Morganas puppet.

The sights and sounds would forever be branded into his mind. This...this was the sound of everything ending. And the silence that came after... Arthur finally understood why people feared the absence of sound. It was worse than the cries of war. This was the sound of death.

Before the silence got to him Arthur lifted Excalibur over his head and raised his voice to the heavens, to his men, his people, to any and all who would hear his cry. "To me!"

There was an answering bellow as a wave of both Camelot knights and sorcerers flocked to him, cutting down any and all who stood between them and their king. Arthur smirked and turned back to face the battle. It was time to go to war.

"For the love of Camelot!" Arthur charged back into the fight along side knight and sorcerer.

~o0o~

Morgana reveled in the pandemonium around her. It fed something in hear she hadn't notice was hungry. A demoness desperate for the blood and carnage around her. It called to a beast with in her she had denied, had denied and rejected until the bond of beasts revealed it to her. What ever Emrys added to her magic made her see that the darkness in her soul was not a imperfection but a gift. It made her powerful, it made her immortal.

Come to me, Emrys. Morgana purred her commanded. She felt a slight pressure on her mind and knew Emrys had heeded her call.

Morgana cut down any one who got too close to her. She no longer differentiate between sides. She didn't care if she had once known them or if they were her kin, they were in her way and going to die. Her goal was Arthur and Arthur alone, but chaos was a close second. Morgana no longer cared about righting the wrongs of Uther Pendragon. That line had been move and crossed more times than she could count; to the point that there was no more line. She just wanted the kingdom, she wanted it all, and if she couldn't have Camelot she would burn it to the ground with her people in it.

"To me!" A familiar voice called. A malevolent spark lite up Morganas face. "For the love of Camelot!" She knew that voice. Her lips stretched into a manic smiled. Luck was finally on her side.

"Arthur!" Morgana called.. "Oh, Little brother," She sang. Come out, come out wherever you are. She finished in her mind. The masses parted for her, her magic now shoving people out of her way in her rush to get to Arthur. She felt more than saw Emrys appear behind her.

Morgana. Arthur's head shot up, eyes searching for his crazy sister. His grip on Excalibur tightened a fraction. She sounded close. Too close. Arthur could hear the insanity playing with her vocal cords. Arthur found her through the parting crowd and bolted. He ran for all he was worth. He didn't know where Gwain went and hopped he was alright but Arthur couldn't face her. Not yet. He shoved his way through a cluster of warring sorcerers.

Arthur ducked several spells and sprinted for the next opening. He didn't get far. A hard force knocked him to the side. He rolled with the impact. Groaning, he got to his hands and knees, sword still gripped tight in his right hand. He squint trying to clear his vision of the danced dots that obscured his sight. Once cleared he looked over to see Morgana stalking him. His eyes widened, and fear flooded his system. His blood went glacial.

Arthur scrambled back as fast and as far as he could. It wasn't so much Morgana that had him react so, but that Merlin followed right on her heel. It was Merlins magic that had attacked him. Arthur searched Merlins face for any sign of recognition. Anything that would let Arthur know that his friend, his brother, was still with him. But he found nothing, nothing but Morgana and darkness staring back at him.

Arthur tried to stand and run but Merlin waved his hand and Arthur went flying a few more feet. He landed hard on his back. It knocked the wind from his lungs and the sword form his grasp. He scrambled for the sword but another force pinned him down. He saw Morganas eyes flash gold, this time Merlin stood passively behind her.

"Don't think you are getting away that easily." Morgana hissed. "How does it feel, Arthur, to be at my mercy?" Morgana smiled. She wanted to know if he was in pain. Did his heart feel like it was breaking? Did he feel like he was dieing? Did the loose of his home anger him? Did it feel like poison in his veins?

Morgana started over to him, but suddenly someone was blocking her path distracting her from Arthur as she faced a new threat. The great weight weighing Arthur vanished and was finally able to take in an unimpeded breath of air. He stat up, grabbed Excalibur and got to his feet a bit unsteadily. Arthur held his breath as Omari attack his sister. Her fighting technique was unique and bold. She fought with a bow and arrow, using it at times like a sword, ax, or shield, when the need arose. She used the arrow as another weapon. Slashing and stabbing at Morgana, giving her no chance to advance. He watched on with his gut in knots as Omari pushed Morgana back a way from him, away from Merlin.

Omari put everything she had into fighting the hateful witch. If Cedric refused to get involved in this war and get his hands dirty to save the kingdom then Omari would have to. Even if they saved the dragon... if Albion was lost what's the point?

Morgana used her magic but each time Omari saw what she intended and countered. The harder Morgana tried to conceal her next move the easier it was to read her. Morgan dodged and blocked with her own sword as best she could with no room to maneuver. The war raging around her didn't care if she needed space to fight.

Don't just stand there, help me. Morgana growled at Emrys through their bond. Merlin didn't make a move to do so. Omari sliced Morganas cheek open with her arrow. Merlins head twisted to the side, a small cut appeared on his cheek and started to bleed, mirroring Morgana's wound. Morgana hissed a the strike. Merlin wiped his cheek with the back of his hand. It came way red.

Arthur was confused at why Merlin just stood there arms by his side, swords in their sheaths across his back. The only sign that he had even being in the middle off a blood bath was that he had blood splashed across hi s chest and his hands were scarlet. He kept staring at Arthur as if he was trying to figure out a vexing puzzle. Arthur found it hard to kept eye contact with Merlin. His dark lazuline eyes barley resembled the Merlin he knew. They lost their shine, the ever present smile in his eyes that always seemed to be laughing at Arthur, was nothing but ash and bone.

Merlin didn't look away from Arthur until Omari drew blood from Morgana. Arthur was stunned when Merlins head snapped to the side breaking the trance he seemed to be in. When he turned back Arthur was shocked to see that his cheek was covered in blood. So, whatever befell Morgana happened to Merlin as well. Terrific, like things weren't complicated enough. Arthur took advantage of Morganas distraction and ran for it. He disappeared into the chaos of battle leaving Merlin and Morgana, and gods help her, Omari.

Merlin ignored Morgana's voice in his head demanding he defend her as he brought his hand up to his face. He was shocked to find it already stained with dry crust blood. He wiped at his cheek and it came away wet. Merlin looked at the fresh blood wetting his fingers for a moment, stunned. He felt another slice, this time closer to his collar bone but dangerously close to his jugular. Without thinking he moved quick as lighting and got past Omari's defenses. His magic overwhelmed her seers' gift and fed her a smothering dose of darkness, and without a word with one swift and fluid move he pulled one of his swords free and stabbed Omari in the stomach.

Omari gasped. Nothing vital was hit, she knew that instinctively, but the surprise she felt when the blade pierced her was blinding. How had he gotten past her defenses? She froze. She felt Merlins magic inside her. It was darker than it once must have been but she new that somehow he had stopped himself from causing too much damage. His magic guided him and saved her. Not Emrys but Merlin. Omari looked down at the sword sticking out of her in morbid fascination. That was her blood. Interesting, she thought dizzily. She followed the hands that gripped them, up the arms to the face of the man who stabbed her. She wouldn't die, far from it. It took a hell of a lot more to end her kind. Still, it hurt like a mother fucker. Omari gazed up at Merlin, confused by what just happened and why she was still alive. He could have easily taken her head. She knew that Morgana would have approved.

Merlin fought with himself. He didn't want to harm her. He didn't want to kill her, but that is what he just did. He just killed this woman. He paused. Why had he killed this woman?

Merlin swallowed thickly. His stomach twisted as he watched the pain wash over her features and tightened the skin around her mouth and eyes. He felt Morganas disapproval, but he didn't care. He ignored her heated scowl.

Do not hesitate to finish it. When he made no move to do as she said she huffed as sent him a command to kill her and follow after Morgana before she stormed off to find Arthur leaving Merlin to his sympathies.

"Oh, Gods. I'm so, so sorry." Merlin voice cracked as he forced the whisper past his lips. He felt a rising heat engulf him for an agonizing moment before he was able to shove it aside. He wouldn't have been able to had Ranoue and James not fed him a small shield of magic to help fuel his own futile struggles. The pain of disobeying was worth it. Emery's could only be controlled so much, and contain a Dragon Lord so long.

Omari smiled and reached up to Merlin and stroked his cheek. Her eyes searched his warn face. "Its not your fault, young Emrys." Omari assured.

Merlin choked on a sob and with a hard tug Merlin removed his sword. Omari gasped. It didn't hurt. Not anymore. She smiled at him before she dropped to the ground. Merlin caught Omari as she fell. She didn't have as much pain now that the sword was removed, but as she fell, jarring the wound, lances of pain shot through her making her vision go blurry. Merlin knelt on the ground bracing himself on his knees as he cradled her.

Omari used their proximity to put her hand over Merlins heart, over his blood soaked armor, and sent a pulse of old magic into his system. She then started to feed him the stolen magic stored her armor, sending him strength and building a spell powerful enough to block the bond of beast putting a shield between Merlin and Morgana. There was no point in keeping it to free a dragon from its egg if there was no Dragon Lords left.

Omari hoped it would hold against Morgana's compulsion, at least until she managed to find a way to break the bond completely. She had an idea based off of books she read as a kid in the keeps libraries, but she was in too much pain to focus on anything other than freeing Merlin and herself in the present. It was the least she could do for Emrys.

Merlins face twisted as if he had just woke from slumber in unimaginable agony. He felt lighter, freer than he had in months. He still felt Morganas darkness but she seemed not to notice Omari's intervention so long as she focused fully on hunting for her brother. Merlin felt hot rolling tears fall from his eyes seconds after he felt the tail tale sting in his eyes. He took in a choking breath as if he hadn't had proper air in years.

Omari smiled when she finished. "Merlin. Merlin, look at me." She said gently.

Merlin looked down at her, shame and regret in his heartbroken eyes. "I'm sorry," Merlin shook his head. "I never meant this to happen. None of this was supposed to happen this way."

Omari shook her head sadly. "We never mean for thing to happen as they do. We can only try to fix them." She groaned when a particularly sharp pain lanced through her and up her spine. "I need you to do something for me. Find Arthur, Merlin. Play the game with Morgana if you must. But save him, at all costs, even Camelot, save Arthur."

Merlin nodded. "What ever the cost." He agreed. With a heavy heart and a soul on fire Merlin set Omari gently on the cold blood soaked ground. He grabbed his sword and stood up. Against his better judgment, he started his way back to Morgana leaving the woman to die alone on the battle field. Chivalrous, wasn't hem Merlin sneered at himself. Merlin waded through all the gore looking for Morgana, once again pretending to be the dutiful slave he hated to be. For Arthur, though, he would do and be anything.

o0o

Omari couldn't move. She was numb. She couldn't remember how to get up anyhow. She didn't think the wound was fatal, at least she hopped it wasn't, but at the moment she couldn't tell if she was dying, or just simply drowning. It sure felt like she was drowning. Omari struggled to breath, each one harder to take than the last. She felt like she was submerged in water and the surface seemed impossible to reach. The more she struggled the farther away the surface seemed. Black clouds obscured her vision. The pain in her gut began to lessen, her lungs quit burning. Her body was ice cold now, ice and stone. She was sinking...and it didn't even matter to her anymore. Can't move... she stretched for the surface, reaching for something she couldn't see as the night closed in on her.

Cedric, she tried to call out for him. Cedric, she cried. Seconds stretched into minutes when still no answer was given. Just as her eyes drifted closed she was shaken awake. The sound of someone calling her name brought her closer and closer to the surface. Her hearing was muffled but she heard them calling for her. Heard him calling for her. Slowly the sound of clashing swords and battle cries pierced her ears.

"Omari!" Percival came into view. "Open you eyes, damn it!"

Hoping it was her brother and not an enemy, she opened her eyes wearily. "Perc..." Omari swallowed hard, cutting herself off. "Percival?" She tried again. She smiled up at him, blood coating her teeth and dripped from her lips. The blood had a strange multicolored sheen to it, like a diamond. "What are you doing here?" She slurred.

"Looking for you," Percival said, his voice strained.

He looked down at her. She held her hands to the wound in her belly trying stanch the blood flow but it seeped past her fingers in slow and beautiful rivulets. It didn't seem like she lost too much blood, but she was pale. Her lips were purple and her eyes were a bit unfocused. Still, he had faith that she would survive. She had to. He had only just found her.

"Lil' ol' me?" Omari hummed. She watched Percival as he looked her over. His face twisted as if he were in pain, and maybe he was, she didn't know. They were, after all, in the middle of a battle.

"Yes." Percival said simply, as if it made all the sense in the world.

"Why?" She laughed, but ended up in a coughing fit. More blood trickled from her pale to lifted her into his arms

Instead of obeying her wishes, or wasting time telling her why he knelt down. "Come on," Percival sighed sadly. "Lets get you out of here." Percival picked her up and cradled her to his chest but she pushed against him. Percival barely even felt the pressure of there touch.

"I don't wanna move." Omari grumbled.

"Im sorry, love, but we need to get you somewhere safe."

Omari wanted to laugh. Safe, there was no where safe, only safer. Percival picked her up gently and started on his way, keeping her close and skirted the battle, keeping clear of the fighting. He took her to the nearest cluster of trees and gently set her down, helping her lay down. He wadded up his ripped and torn cloak for a pillow and gently place it under her head.

"Thanks." She wheezed. Omari rested and gazed up at Percival. Her lungs burned and itched. Her lungs seized and she started coughing again. She couldn't catch her breath and her skin felt tight and uncomfortably stretched over her bones. Her breath was now coming in quick rapped gasps.

"Hey, hey." Percival leaned down. He put his forehead to hers. "Just breath with me. Your going to be alright." He assured. He caressed her cheek and brushed her hair from her face. Her hazel green eyes dulled in color and took on a silvery-gold sheen as if there was something alive and moving behind them. Her strange red blood still shined with a diamond like shimmer.

"No. I wont." Omari looked at him with sadness. Resigned to her new fate. She now knew there was something very wrong. Merlin may have tried to save her, but...She had a bad feeling that she wasn't going to make it out of this one. She felt deaths cold finger tracing her spine, caressing her like an old lover, tempting her to open up to him. Death whispered through her mind, I am here. Come with me.

Omari grabbed on to Percival's arm, anchoring herself to the present. He lifted her up so he could cradle her in his arms. He held her like she was something precious. Something he didn't want to lose. A daft thought and she knew it, seeing as her lifestyle and lineage forbade life entanglements with anyone other than her own kind, and she never really gave thought into having her own family before but suddenly being so close to death and finally meeting a man that made her heart beat faster... it was bittersweet.

Omari was thankful for the short time she had with Percival. One last ride, she laughed to herself.

"It was good to know you," Omari slurred. Her tongue felt swollen and her lips uncoordinated. Her head rested against his shoulder and lulled to the side. Her eyes drifted closed and her breathing slowed.

Panic filled Percival before he finally managed to get his emotion under control enough to think rationally. He felt for a pulse at her neck. Her heart beat softly. She was still alive.