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DISCLAIMER - I own none of these characters, I'm just borrowing them for a little bit.
Chapter Eight - A Last Call
Men collided with one another, swords slashed through the air as men fought for their lives and their kingdom. And amongst it all Morgana stood, draped in black and seemingly oblivious to the death that was all around her.
"Come on then, Merlin." Morgana shouted. "Let's see how powerful you really are."
Despite it all, he hesitated. He didn't want to be the one to throw the first blow, he didn't want to be the one to attack.
It was all Morgana needed.
She threw open her palms and a torrent of electricity hit him squarely in the chest. Merlin buckled over and did the first thing that he could think of, he slammed his fist onto the ground and the earth shook. Men fell and Morgana flew backwards.
Spell after spell was cast and it seemed that neither one of them was weakening.
"Come on Emrys!" Morgana crooned, "Are you even really trying?"
Merlin wasn't sure, maybe there was some small part of him holding back.
Morgana clapped her hands together and a hurricane formed from nothing, it spiralled furiously toward him, picking up soldiers as it went and throwing them high into the air. Merlin scrambled backwards, for a brief second he couldn't remember the counter-spell and suddenly everything around him seemed so much darker.
Finally, he put his hand to his mouth and blew. "Askian galsine dierr."
The hurricane shrunk from sight until it was no more and in it's place there was a path to Morgana - and it was littered with bodies.
A solider ran at Morgana, sword raised, with a flick of the wrist he crumpled to the ground - dead.
"Enough Morgana!" Merlin yelled. "Have you not had enough?"
Morgana's eyes flashed gold. "Never." She hissed and Merlin felt an invisible force throw him backwards.
Merlin hit the solid ground and a sharp pain shot up his back. Beside him there lay a corpse, it's open eyes staring blankly into space.
Eyes watering, Merlin sat up. This was it, this was the moment he had to end it.
Sobbing he stretched an open palm to the sky, he drew at the power within him and tugged at the sky, summoning a storm.
No - not a storm. Just lightening.
It blazed white as it seared through the black sky. Morgana gazed up at it and he could see the reflection of the white in her blue eyes.
The lightening burnt into the ground, killing Saxons where they stood. Morgana screamed in rage as Merlin curved the next strike toward her but she leapt out of the way.
Bolt after bolt of lightening coursed through the air, scorching the ground and causing death with every blow until most of Morgana's army was wiped out.
Yet Morgana still remained.
Their eyes met across the battlefield and then several things happened at once. Merlin watched as Morgana's facial expression changed from pure fear to...joy. Merlin's heart froze in his chest... where was Arthur? Suddenly it was as if everything in his vision slowed down to a stall, he turned around and watched as Mordred made his way toward his King.
It was all a blur, a twisted, messy blur. Merlin ran forward but found an invisible force holding him back and by the time he threw Morgana's spell off it was too late.
Mordred's blade ran Arthur through. Even from where Merlin stood he could clearly hear the sound of Arthur's knees hitting the ground.
Arthur looked up at Mordred, a mingled expression of betrayal and shock, his eyes drifting closed. But before they could shut completely, he lifted up Excalibur and rammed it through Mordred's chest.
Mordred and Arthur lay side by side, their blood mixing on the ground.
Both Morgana and Merlin ran over to the spot where the King of Camelot had fell. All across Camlann the fighting had ceased, every pair of eyes trained on where Morgana and Merlin stood.
Mordred's eyes were glazed over and it was clear that all life had left him. But Arthur...Arthur was still breathing.
"Merlin..." He whispered, his eyes fluttering.
Merlin knelt down beside his King, blocking out everything around him. "Shh. Arthur, it's okay. It's okay."
Morgana laughed from behind him. "Oh Merlin, so optimistic." She looked down at Arthur and grinned, it was a manic, hideous smile. "Look at you Arthur, not so tall and mighty now. You're going to die by Mordred's hand. But don't worry, my dear brother, I won't let you die alone. I will stay and watch over you."
Shaking Merlin pulled Excalibur from Mordred's body and stood to face Morgana.
The time for magic and tricks was over.
"No you won't." He said.
Morgana looked from Excalibur to Merlin and her smirk broadened. "I am a High Priestess. No mortal blade can kill me."
Merlin said nothing, instead he took one small step forward and plunged the sword into Morgana's heart. Her eyes widened as it sliced through her. Shock paralysing her...a small whimper escaped her lips.
"This is no mortal blade." Merlin whispered. "Like yours, it was forged in a dragon's breath."
When Morgana died, she died with understanding in her eyes.
Merlin bent over Arthur again, who was looking up at him but barely conscious.
"You've brought peace at last." He breathed.
Merlin took Arthur into his arms, he could see that Arthur was dying and he felt powerless.
"You're going to be okay." He said. "It's all going to be okay."
The Knights drew in around them.
"No Merlin, I won't." Arthur said, his eyes closing.
Merlin pulled Arthur's body closer to him, he could feel his body shaking. How was this possible? They had won and Arthur, Arthur was supposed to live.
"Arthur don't do this." Merlin said, "You have a destiny, Albion needs you!"
Merlin closed his eyes, he had been so focused on defeating Morgana that he had forgotten that it was Mordred who was the real threat.
"No, no, no, no..." He couldn't believe this, he couldn't accept what was happening in front of his very eyes.
From behind him he could hear footsteps.
"Merlin, it's over." Gwaine said quietly.
"No...no!" Merlin shook his head, he was still cradling Arthur close to his chest. He could still feel Arthur's shallow breaths. Tears streaked down his face; cold, wet tears. "No...It's not over until I say it is."
Then Merlin threw his head back and cried to the heavens, baring his soul to all.
"OOOOOOooooh Dragarn! E male, soi ftengometta tesd'hup anakess!"
A heavy silence fell over Camlann. But then, then there was the beating sound of wings.
Let me know what you think :) Only two chapters left guys!
Much love and happy weekend.
MsDeacs xx