I couldn't help but feel sorry for Morgana, we hadn't even reached the court yard yet and everyone was stopping to stare, even the servants who were supposed to be discreet were staring, I could hear Morgana breathing next to me, her hand sweaty in mine, she was panicking, fighting the urge to run, I couldn't blame her I was fighting the same urge.

We were just going past the council room when Arthur called out to me from within.

'Merlin!' He looked angry, furious even, 'could I speak to you please?'

I looked down at Morgana and I could see she looked confused, we turned back to Arthur, but he had already gone into the council room. I wondered what he wanted; he probably wanted to kill me for using magic to fling him from Morgana's chambers.

'What do you think he wants?' Morgana asked sounding worried.

'Probably wants to kill me in a variety of ways as possible,' I said.

'Well we had best not keep the king waiting,' Morgana said and made to go into the room I hastily reached out to stop her.

'Maybe it would be best if you waited out here,' I said.

'Alone?' Morgana asked looking around at all the people in fear, courtiers and servants were staring at her with unabashed hatred.

'On second thoughts, yeah you had best come with me,' I said.

We entered the council room that doubled as Arthur's throne room and I was surprised to see that no one else was in there, it was just Arthur, pacing at a frantic speed; he turned to look at us and glared at Morgana.

'I wanted to speak to you alone Merlin,' Arthur said.

'I promised Morgana we would have no secrets between each other, plus I don't think it's safe for her out there,' I said.

'That's precisely my point,' Arthur said 'You can't be seen to be walking around all lovey dovey when the whole of Camelot hate her, and suspect you of treason.'

'We were going out, to see someone,' I said.

'Oh, without telling me? You and the evil sorceress just decided to go for a pleasant walk? For god's sake Merlin don't you think it would look a bit suspicious?' Arthur said.

'I'm sorry; maybe it would have been better if…' Morgana started to say in a small voice not meeting Arthur's eyes..

'No Morgana,' I said interrupting her, 'I won't have you locked away like some common criminal.'

'She is a criminal Merlin, she killed my father, her own father!' Arthur stormed.

I had never seen him so mad, even when he had locked me in the dungeons I could still see my friend, but now all I was left with, was a raging young king who was having his entire world thrown upside down.

'He was no father of mine,' Morgana started hatefully green eyes flashing in venom and started stepping forwards.

Arthur screamed at her in anger and drew his sword and started towards her, she raised her hands in defence and my protective instinct flared.

'HEY!' I yelled 'STOP, YOU CAN'T HURT EACH OTHER WITHOUT HURTING ME!' I yelled at them both putting myself between them.

'She has no right to talk about him!' Arthur yelled, looking as if he was about to burst a blood vessel.

'Arthur we need to talk about this calmly and rationally,' I said calmly.

'Too right we do, I want her to stay in her chambers until you've got control of her.' He flung and I saw Morgana flinch out the corner of my eye.

'She's not an animal you can train Arthur,' I said my own temper flaring.

'She was the animal that murdered my father!'

'He was going to die, one day Arthur, he killed so many people it was only a matter of time before one of the magical community sought vengeance,' I said.

'AND THAT MAKES IT OKAY?' Arthur screamed tears now starting to fill in his eyes. Morgana had backed into a corner and was not saying anything.

'Of course not Arthur, but you have to understand, imagine mourning all your life someone you thought was your father, only to find out he's not actually your biological father…the person who is, has lied to you all your life…hasn't come forward and claimed you as his own…then imagine that that same person hates the very thing you are…magic.'

I watched Arthur's breathing slowly got steadier and steadier as he looked back at me.

'It would be like the very world is against you… nobody loves you or can understand who you are, because if you tell anyone, your very father would have you burned to death…then you realise that the same man has killed, murdered countless of your kind…you have no one left…no one to turn to…wouldn't that make you slightly mad?' I said.

'So you condone what she did?' Arthur asked staring at me hard with blue eye now.

'Of course not, murder is wrong in any situation, and I tried everything I could to save your father Arthur but I don't regret his death…and I don't wish him back,' I said bluntly honest.

I considered my words… they were true; I knew Arthur must be feeling lonely; he had been thrust upon the throne too early with no father no guide him.

'You wished him dead?' Arthur asked his voice quieter now.

'I wouldn't wish anyone dead, but you have to understand Arthur, I grew up never knowing my father…he was chased away from my mother by Uther, depriving her of love, of marriage, then she gave birth to an abnormal son who gave her a heart attack every time he did uncontrollable magic not knowing that what he was doing was punishable by death.'

I paused and let my words sink in.

'So no, I don't wish Uther back and part of me is glad that he paid for his crimes,' I said.

I was shocked when Arthur fell to the floor in a heap, tears freely coursing down his face. Morgana made to move towards him worry on her face, I was surprised and happy that her compassion was beginning to show, but I shook my head at her, I didn't think she was who Arthur wanted to talk to right now.

I walked towards him and sat down with him, and put my arm around his shoulders, Arthur usually hated contact and anything sentimental but this was different, he leaned his head onto my shoulder and sobbed.

'What's really going on Arthur, why are you so upset?' I asked, I knew something else was hurting him.

'I feel like I'm losing you,' Arthur said his voice unbearably quiet.

'What on earth do you mean?' I asked I could see Morgana staring at us from the corner unsure what to do.

'You have Morgana now, and she needs you, it's only been a day but I feel like I've lost my best friend,' Arthur said.

'You're right Arthur…it has only been a day, but you read what this bond does to me.'

'I know, I just can't help but feel jealous,' I said.

'Arthur don't make me chose between the two of you…that would be like me asking you to choose between me and Gwen.'

'Ah, but Merlin I'd chose you…you're my closest friend, the only one who's been there for me, my loyal servant, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you,' Arthur said sniffing.

I was gobsmacked, Arthur was clearly upset and frightened he was spilling his heart out to me, like he never had done before. He looked so very young right now and vulnerable, he was obviously telling the truth when he thought I would leave him.

'Arthur, I told you before, my magic is yours, my destiny is yours, I will do everything I can to protect you, I love Morgana but right now you are the most important person in my life,' I told him sincerely.

'So I'm not going to lose my best friend?' Arthur asked sounding pitiful.

'Never,' I told him patting him on the shoulder.

He seemed to come back to himself and nodded standing up pulling me with him, he wiped his eyes and looked suitably embarrassed.

'You won't tell anyone?' Arthur asked.

'Of course not.'

He turned to look at Morgana now, and stared for a long time into her eyes trying to assess her. I beckoned to her and she walked towards us.

'I would never try to come between the pair of you Arthur, I know how much you mean to each other,' she said.

'I know,' Arthur said 'but it's going to take a long time to forgive you for killing my father and turning against us Morgana.'

'I know that too, but I'm not sorry for that…I'll never be sorry,' Morgana said tears of her own trickling down her cheeks.

'Well,' Arthur said then changed the subject 'so where are you going?'

'To see Kilgharrah, we're hoping he can provide some answers,' I said.

'The dragon?' he asked.

'Yes, I miss him too.'

'Well, be careful and I'll see you later,' he made to turn out of the room but I grabbed his arm.

'When I come back, we'll have a long talk about everything,' I told him.

He nodded and smiled in reply 'I'd like that.'

We made it out of the city and into the forest without too much hassle, we hadn't spoken since our encounter with Arthur and I was dying to know what she was thinking but I was unwilling to break the silence.

'Thank you Merlin,' Morgana said breaking the silence.

'For what?' I asked confused.

'For not hating me for killing Uther,' she said. She wasn't looking at me and she hadn't stopped walking.

'Murder is wrong Morgana, all murder, but you're right, I can't hate you for killing him when a part of me wants to thank you,' I said honestly.

She didn't reply to that and instead choose to follow my footsteps as I walked towards the clearing.

'I'm sorry for coming between you and Arthur,' she said.

'Don't be,' I told her 'he's just feeling a little threatened and confused,' I said.

'You love him,' it wasn't a question.

'He's like the brother I never had,' I told her simply.

'I felt that with Morgause,' she said, she didn't say it spitefully and she didn't accuse me of killing her but I chose not to respond to that statement.

I couldn't imagine what it must have been like to lose a sister; I knew that if anything ever happened to Arthur I would never be the same ever again. I realised that she wasn't the same now that Morgause was gone; she was slowly losing her evil nature and was beginning to accept me, if this morning's interaction was anything to go by. Death I noticed affected all of us in different ways, I didn't say it out loud but Morgause's death was obviously having a positive effect on Morgana.

We travelled in silence for a little longer until I reached the destination I was heading towards and walked with Morgana into the centre of the huge clearing and watched her as she looked around in interest.

'Where is he?' she asked and I laughed.

'He doesn't just appear he has to be called,' I told her

'Ah, I see.'

I drew in a deep breath and then looked inside myself to the place where my connection with Kilgharrah stood strong.

'O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes!' I yelled to the sky.

I turned to find Morgana looking at me bewildered.

'I don't know whether to laugh, or be in awe of you, I felt the magic you just let loose yet nothing has happened and I've never heard your voice go that deep before,' Morgana said staring at me appraisingly.

'Well he's got to fly here… he's not just going to appear out of thin air, and it takes a lot to command dragons… what were you expecting?' I said laughing.

She stepped towards me and punched my arm lightly; I couldn't help it I kept laughing until she was joining in.

'Do you think he'll hate me?' she asked breaking off from our laughing spell.

'To be honest I'm not so sure, he has no love for you,' I said.

She sighed and looked down at her feet.

'Hey, he won't hurt you,' I said lifting her cheek with my hand until she was staring in to my eyes. She smiled the most inviting smile and I felt my pulse speed up, her lips curled so seductively and I longed to know what they tasted like, I lowered my head towards her but a sharp cry broke into my head and I stumble backwards.

'MERLIN!'

Kilgharrah's huge wingspan crashed down onto the clearing, he was clearly angry his golden scales glittered brightly and his eyes were slanted in a ferocious glare towards Morgana. She gasped in fear and backed away. Kilgharrah was awe inspiring to behold, and intimidatingly ferocious when upset. My kin was beautiful in his rage.

'You will not harm her Kilgharrah,' I said command in my voice.

He turned his eyes towards me and his shoulders slumped in defeat.

'Of all the things young warlock… falling in love with the witch?' I hated the way he said witch; it was with such venom and hate.

'I couldn't help it Kilgharrah we're magic mates' I said.

'Yes' he drew the syllable out 'I know.'

I stared at him and he stared back at me.

'You knew we were?' starting to get angry.

'I suspected that it could happen, however was unsure whether it would,' Kilgharrah replied.

'But you didn't think I deserved to know of the possibility?' I thundered.

'The future has many possibilities Merlin, this was merely one of them,' Kilgharrah explained.

I sighed and quashed down my anger.

'Then you know if we are magic mates, what she means to me, and you will treat her with respect.' I said commandingly.

'I have missed you young warlock,' the dragon laughed and I couldn't help but beam in response.

'And I you,' I walked forwards until he bent his head towards mine… I lowered my forehead to his huge snout and stroked gently down the rough scales.

I felt Morgana's gaze on us and I saw her staring at us in shock, I suppose it must look crazy a human hugging such a huge beast, but I didn't care Kilgharrah was my kin, a bond that nobody would understand. I stepped backwards and beckoned to Morgana until she tiptoed forwards an outstretched a shaking hand to hold mine.

'We're confused Kilgharrah, we were destined to become bitter enemies, we're lost and we don't know what the future entails, destiny has changed.'

'Indeed it has young warlock, and I can assure you that it is a rare thing.'

'Then what is our new destiny?' I asked.

'Your destiny is exactly what the bond is, you are and will be everything to each other, and you cannot live without the other,' Kilgharrah said.

'You don't understand,' Morgana said stepping forwards. 'me and Morgause wanted nothing but Camelot's downfall, for months we plotted revenge for all of our kind, and now because of my bond with Merlin, I find myself unable to go down that path, I've never felt so alone, or confused as to who I am and who to turn to.'

I stared at her in shock, she had seemed to have been coping well, however I knew how strong she was, how she refused to show weakness. I should have suspected that she would have doubts.

'Your destiny, witch, much as it was before, is joined with Merlin's, you are his support and partner… together you will protect Albion in the final battle.'

'Battle, what battle?' I said stepping forward to join Morgana.

'The one your witch has seen,' he said.

'My vision, the dream I had the other night?' Morgana asked.

'Indeed,' Kilgharrah said 'together you must protect Camelot, and only together will you succeed.'

'But who is the fight against?' I asked both him and Morgana.

'I don't know, he wore a hood I didn't see his face it could be a she,' Morgana said.

'You know who it is young warlock,' Kilgharrah said.

'I do?' I asked 'Oh I see this is the bit were you go all cryptic on me,' he just chuckled that deep laugh of his.

'Are we happy in the future?' Morgana asked and I turned to stare at her, that was such a weird question, was she worried I wouldn't make her happy?

'I can't tell you everything witch, you must live the future to know it,' he replied. Morgana didn't reply just looked down at her feet.

'I'm happy for you Merlin, even if this bond is such a restricting one, I'm glad you have her by your side, and not on the other one,' he said and I smiled in response this was the closest he would get to approving of Morgana.

She seemed to realise this 'thank you,' she said.

I made to bid farewell to Kilgharrah and return to Camelot but he stopped me.

'Not so fast young warlock I would talk to you first,' he said.

'Go ahead,' I replied.

'Without your magic mate present,' he said vaguely.

I turned to look at Morgana and saw her frown, we had agreed to have no secrets from each other and I knew that in this relationship nothing was more important than being honest with each other.

'Why can't Morgana be here?' I asked.

'Because this is intensely personal and not something you will want to share straight away,' Kilgharrah said.

'That's okay Merlin,' Morgana said but I could tell she was suspicious.

'Kilgharrah I want you to swear to me that this has nothing to do with Morgana,' I said.

'I swear it on my honour as a dragon,' he said and I nodded in reply.

'He's telling the truth Morgana, he can't lie to a dragon lord,' I said.

She nodded and I saw the suspicion leave her eyes only to be replaced with curiosity.

'I'll just meet you back in Camelot,' she said. I kissed her gently on the cheek in farewell and a thrill went through me as her eyes darkened, I was so happy that she could be affected just by a simple kiss. I winked at her and she glared.

'I'll get you for that'.

'I look forward to it,' I said, she winked and turned to make her way back to Camelot I waited until she was past the trees and out of sight before turning to my kin.

'It is time Merlin, time to know who you really are,' Kilgharrah said his tail twitching.

'What do mean?' I asked 'I know who I am, I'm Merlin Emrys, high warlock and protector of Arthur the once and future king,' I said brightly throwing my arms out in an impressive stance.

'No Merlin…it is so much more than that.'

I sobered. I could tell that Kilgharrah was in a serious mood, he was about to drop something, something big, he was building up to something in a dramatic finale, it was so his style. My heart was thumping in my chest and I looked him in the eye.

'Just tell me Kilgharrah,' I said.

'Did you ever find out what Emrys actually means Merlin?' Kilgharrah asked.

This was about my name? I had just assumed that it was my name in the druid tongue apparently it was something much more substantial.

'No,' I replied, he sighed in reply his breath whipping my hair back from my forehead.

'I've put this off for so long, I didn't want to burden you with the truth young warlock,' Kilgharrah said and I was starting to get annoyed.

'What truth Kilgharrah?' I asked.

'Merlin, Emrys translated from the druid tongue means Immortal.'

Dum dum dum