A/N: I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update. Life...it has been hectic. filled with both tragedy and celebration. I was Pregnant, and my father passed away six days before I had my baby. and other unforeseen complications...But now I'm back and writing again when my little one is sleeping. I am also currently working on a sequel to this story. So please bear with me as I go. Besides, with all the corona virus stuff iI willhave more time to stay home and Write, as will my readers. Hopefully the craziness slows down and we can find some diapers and wipes and T.P. Oh, MY! LOL.

Alright. Enjoy.

Chapter 49

Fallen Angel

Merlin fell back after the queen dispatched the threat to Arthur. When another foreboding feeling fell over him like a shroud. He scanned his surroundings. His eyes traveled over the chaos and gore until he found what set his nerves on end. Guinevere. She trailed after Gawain and Gilli who no doubt were going to find Leon but little did they know they had a bitter dark shadow following them.

Merlin looked back in the general direction of Arthur a moment and then back at Guinevere. Just as she disappeared into the darkness of the coming twilight that dark form detached from the shadows and followed after her. Morgana. Merlin's gut twisted. He felt a seething rage from Morgana. A rage that was usually directed at Arthur, or himself, but it was for a a certain former handmaiden. She was going after the queen. His mind made up he followed after Guinevere.

He let his instincts guide him on his way. He hoped it was enough to not alert Morgana to his pursuit. He blended into battle and charged his way through anyone who tried to step in his path. Men and sorcerer blended together and they all died together. He didn't discern between friend or foe, Knight, Sorcerer, or Mercenary. He had only one goal: reach Guinevere before Morgana.

Merlin ran the last few yards out of rang of the battle and past the inner city walls. He followed her into the citadel. He rounded the hall and took the stairs two at a time and raced into the great hall. There was no sign of them. Only the crumbling remains of the stone antechamber. He really did some damage. Merlin cursed himself. If only the poison had killed Morgana those few years ago. It would have broken his and Arthur's heart but she had already darkened her heart with her fear and bitterness. It would have saved the kingdom a lot a turmoil in the end.

Merlin followed the pull of the bond to where Morgana was. He spotted a flash of black and brown and then nothing. He rounded the corner and froze. His blood ran cold. Guinevere lie on the ground held down by Morgana's magic. Guinevere struggled against it , pulling at her sword, but she couldn't move. Morgana smiled. Her beauty marred only by the hatred in her emerald eyes. Merlin slowly circled around them. He hid behind the pillars that supported the citadel and spotted Leon, Gawain, and Gilli. They watched Morgana too, but Gilli had a hand on Gawain's arm. Gawain strained against him. Gilli and Leon shared a worried glance just before the ring on Gilli's hand glowed and he was able to keep hold of Gawain. Good, Merlin didn't want Gawain getting the the cross hairs between Merlin and Morgana.

Morgana laughed. "It's about time you got here, Emrys." She looked back over her shoulder.

Merlin let his magic reach out to Guinevere. He enveloped her with his magic. He felt for wounds or spells. He had to fight his way through Morgana's magic but it wasn't as difficult as it would have been if they weren't bonded or her magic didn't recognize his. He found only minor wounds on Guinevere for now but there was... something... else...something alive. Merlin felt the blood drain from his face. He looked to where Guinevere had her hand resting protectively on her belly. A baby. She was with child. Merlin retracted his magic and stepped out from behind the pillar but kept his eyes on Guinevere.

Why was she in battle when she was with child? He didn't have to ponder that long. If Arthur was here, so would she be. There was no Camelot, no family, no home without Arthur. He felt the same way.

"Morgana." Merlin acknowledged.

Morgana smirked. "You know," She knelt down and pried the sword from Guinevere's grip. "There was a time I would have been happy for you and my brother." Morgana admired the blade as she stood up. "Now, all I can say is," Morgana glared down at her. "Your in my throne." Morgana thrust down.

"Morgana, No!" Merlin shouted.

Morgana rounded on Merlin. "I thought we established you don't give the orders." Morgana bent down and gripped Guinevere's hair. With the aid of her magic, Morgana lifted Guinevere to her feet. She released her hair as soon as she caught her footing as if it caused her personnel offense to touch the Queen of Camelot.

Guinevere stumbled a step before she caught her footing. She headed towards Merlin. He stopped her with one look. He shook his head. She looked at him with those watery doe eyes. Searching him for the gentile clumsy manservant. But he wasn't sure any part of him remained the same as he was. Merlin looked at Morgana to be sure she stayed in place.

"Gawain." Merlin called tensely. "Leon," His back still he didn't turn to as Gawain, Leon, and Gilli stepped out from their hiding place. "Take Guinevere and get her someplace safe away from the battle."

"Come, Gwen." Leon's low voice pleaded. He didn't sound all that convinced that she would listen.

"No." Guinevere stayed put.

"Guinevere, Go." Merlin used his harsh voice this time, also opted not to use the nickname as he usually did. He hoped it would spur her to want to get away form him but she stayed rooted to the ground. Deliberately, Merlin turned away from Morgana as if she wasn't a threat but he kept his magic up and his connection to Morgana partially open so he could know when and if she attacked.

"Guinevere, go. This is not a place you kneed to be." He gave her belly a significant look.

Guinevere's cheeks heated and she wrapped an arm around her belly. She looked surprised. How could he know when she only just found out when they left the for that dreadful reconnaissance mission. A part of her knew he was correct, that for the sake of her, and her unborn child, she should seek safety. However, she didn't want to listen to him. Everything in her wanted to rebel. But the look Merlin gave her. It scared her. His cobalt eyes were hidden by his raven hair. It was shaggy and choppy, as if he cut it with a dull knife without a mirror. His face was pinched, his eyes were hollow and he had light bruises under his eyes. He was so pale and yet he didn't seem like he had lost any weight. If anything he looked like he had filled out more. He looked older, stronger, more dangerous and a little feral. The light that she saw in his azure eyes was almost maniacal. It was so bright in its darkness that she felt her gaze being swallowed.

Merlin looked away releasing her. Guinevere blinked. What happened to him? She felt Leon place a hand on her arm and pulled her away. She didn't resist this time. She just needed to get out of this room. She turned and hurried from the room with them.

Morgana growled low in her throat. Morgana took a step forward intending to go after them. "Don't." Merlin snapped at her.

"I'm no dog you can order about. You can't tell me what to do." Morgana frothed. "I am in control. You obey me." A Dark chuckle came from Merlin's lips, yet it sent butterflies crazy in her stomach.

"I may be trapped in this bond with you, Morgana, but how many times do I need to remind you that you are not my owner, nor are you in control. In fact you are the definition of out of control."

"Possible." Morgana hummed. "But I know that you are under my control. You let me into your heart. You let me violate your justice. You let me desecrate what you love."

Morgana threw each word at him. Each sentence stirred a memory. With each word she spoke it was like a punch to the gut, a kick to the head, a stab to his heart. His love for Morgana that became rotten. Merlin turned against his destiny and murdered his own mother. His breath left him as that last one played through his mind.

"You let me penetrate your soul. You let me complicate who you are. You think you can still be free? Think again. I own your soul. You cant fight that."

"I can try." Merlin grit.

"Yes. You can." Morgana pursed her lips. Her eyes narrowed. Suddenly a smile broke out across her face. Bright, beautiful and wicked. Slowly she looked over her shoulder. "Arthur," She said slyly. Morgana felt Merlin tense. "Why not come out of the shadows, brother."

Merlin watched with dread as Arthur came forward, Excalibur in hand. The very sword Merlin forged and revered and now feared. If Arthur was stabbed with it there was no way to heal him. And Morgana knew that.

Arthur stopped a or so yard away from them. He didn't look at Merlin but he was acutely aware of him. He looked at Morgana. He gave himself a moment to take in her dark unkempt hair, pale skin and the dark circles under her eyes. He dark cloths were dusty, bloody and torn. She looked malnourished but dangerous and powerful. Look at what hate and fear does to a person, Arthur thought. She reminded him so much of their father, the late tyrant Uther Pendragon. Arthur continued to stare at her. This could have been me, Arthur thought. If Merlin hadn't have come into his life when he did he would have ended up every bit the tyrant his father was.

"Morgana." Arthur greeted past tight lips. Sadness swept over him.

"There is no better time for you to have made an entrance. Now, Merlin," Morgana turned to Merlin with a wide smile. "Time for that lesson in who is really in control here."

Merlin's stomach did a somersault and then dropped to his heels. Nothing pleasant hid behind that smile.

There was a long pause. So still and silent. "Give Merlin your sword, Arthur."

The silence grew louder, longer and deadlier.

Morgana snapped her attention to Arthur sharply and glared at him. "Give Merlin your sword, Arthur, or I will have him take it. I will not tell you again."

"Keep your sword Arthur." Merlin snapped. "Leave. Now," Merlin grit past his clenched teeth. He took a step towards Morgana with the intent to strangle her. He had an obscene urge to throttle the woman. But it was so difficult to fight the compulsion to stay still, he found his feet were rooted to the ground. He tried to move again, straining against the bond. He manage to take one step towards her, a growl rose in Merlin's chest.

"No," Morgana scowled. "You'll both stay here. If you will not give it over, Arthur." She warned. She looked at Merlin.

Merlin tried to move again. Nothing. Something deep rose up in him, unfurling like the wings of a dragon. But it fizzled out. Something overpowered him.

"Merlin." Morgana snapped his attention back to her. "Take Arthur's sword."

With a jerk, Merlin was free from what bound his feet to the ground but instead of going for Arthur like Morgana demanded he came at her with blinding speed. With unnatural strength Merlin grabbed the witch by her throat and lifted her. Her feet dangled. She could have kicked him, or tried to get free but she just let herself hang there. She smiled. A choked laugh escaped her lips.

"How does it feel to be free of restriction? Off Arthur's leash? Only now," She coughed. " Only now, you're on my leash." She laughed again. "No matter what was asked of you, even before the bond, you did with little complaint. And you." She took a wheezing breath. "You like it. So, show your precious Arthur who you really are, Emrys, and see if he loves you still." Merlin slowly realized she wasn't fighting his hold. She wanted to ruin the last of the bond between Merlin and Arthur before the final kill. A sort of sickness welled up in him. He put her feet back on the ground but didn't release his hold on her throat right away, he gave it a tight squeeze before he did. He felt his own neck throb from the hold he had on Morgana, another reminder of the bonds presents.

"You are an awful influence on me, Morgana." Merlin said pained. "All I wanted to do was save you, but instead..." He reached out a hand to caress her cheek. But she jerked away. "Instead I helped you destroy me by fighting for you. You forced me into your service and convinced me to bring an entire army to its knees. And, now..."

"And now, I want you to take Arthur's sword." Morgana hissed. She did not need another sappy poor me speech from him. She needed that damn sword and she needed Arthur dead. Fucking dead! Morgana put everything she had into her need for Merlin to take the sword from Arthur.

Merlin barred his teeth at Morgana in defiance but he turned on his heal with purpose towards Arthur. Before Merlin knew it he had disarmed Arthur and tossed him to the ground. Merlin knelt and picked up Excalibur and returned to the spot he previously occupied. Damn it! Damn it all to hell. This could not get any worse. Merlin cringed internally. He really did not want to test that theory.

Morgana beamed. Merlin felt like his blood was molasses, and his joints stiff but fluid. Merlin's heart pounded in his chest like a galloping horse. A sudden sharp, frigid and Stygian dread took over. She had made him do that way too easily. Merlin looked from Excalibur, to Morgana, and then finally Arthur.

Merlin watched silently, trapped in his mind for the moment, as Arthur got to his feet. Merlin knew what Morgana wanted. He could feel it, a frothing rage that swelled and grew inside like a parasite. That is what Morgana was. He felt Morgana's anger. An intense urge to kill. To conquer. To destroy. He heard her thoughts, at least the loud ones. And they were loud, and near demoniac. I want Arthur dead. Kill Arthur. Kill Him. KILL HIM! He felt disgust for the thoughts in his mind. He knew they were not his own but it made him nauseated anyway. Blood and death and always Arthur's face in the center of it. Still. Cold. Vacant. Dead.

Merlin's mouth went dry and his throat seized up. He tried to speak but nothing came out except a light hiss. He fought against it and forced words to form. It took him a moment but he finally managed simple and short words. "Run. Arthur. Run, now."

Morgana just smiled wider. "Kill him, Merlin. Kill, Arthur Pendragon."

Both Merlin and Arthur paled. Arthur looked back and forth between them before he settled his eyes back on Merlin unsure of what to do. Merlin begged Arthur with his eyes. Run, Merlin cried out. For the love of Magic, Run!

It was as if Arthur heard Merlin's plea because he suddenly took off out of the citadel. Thank you, Merlin praised internally.