It was two weeks before the chance presented itself to the conspirators. Merlin continued to be nauseous and weak but then as he gained in strength he asked Gaius for permission to go outside "I have been stuck in these rooms for too long I am going stir crazy"

Gaius was surprised that Merlin hadn't already protested and relented "As long as you have someone to walk with you and once outside you sit and rest before going back upstairs once more. But for the next few days you are to stay inside and do more walking along the corridors to build up your strength"

Arthur smiled "I will go with you and I'm sure Gwaine will walk with you Merlin." He looked at Gaius "I will keep an eye on Merlin"

So for three days Merlin nagged his husband and Brother to walk with him along the corridors until at last on a sunny day Gaius relented. So the group, including Percival and Lancelot, went down to the gardens with a picnic for lunch. Merlin was thrilled to be out in the castle grounds and they all sat under some trees and had their lunch. George had already arranged for three chairs and a small table to be placed under some trees. After the picnic Arthur decided that Merlin had been out long enough.

"Come on back indoors. I promise I will ask Gaius if we can do this again" So they set off back into the castle and up the long staircase to their chambers. Lancelot went ahead to make sure no one bumped into them and Percival walked behind. While Gwaine and Arthur walked either side of Merlin.

"This is ridiculous" Merlin protested "I am pregnant not ill!"

"You have been ill Merlin don't be so silly, what would mother say to hear you?" Gwaine remonstrated

"She would say the same as me!" Merlin protested. But he secretly admitted that the walk back up stairs was wearing him out. "Now please let go of my arm!" he demanded.

As they were at the top the men did as asked not wanting to upset Merlin. The group hadn't seen a pair of eyes following their progress. Agravaine turned from balcony above and walked into his chambers to his wife "Your chance is here, be careful not to be seen"

"I am not fool, why else did I allow Mordred to go riding, no one will see me, and if they do I have every right to be in the corridor, as long as I am nowhere near them they have no reason to suspect me" Morgana strolled out the room and to a spot she had already selected as giving her a view but also cover so her eyes or held out arm were seen.

She knew as well as her husband the risk she was taking. She was sure if Uther suspected she could use magic she would go to the pyre. She wanted to see her son on the throne and her the power behind it. Once in position she waited for Merlin and the two Princes to reach the top of the stairs, which would give a longer fall for Merlin. That stretch of stairs was long and straight with nothing stopping a body falling until it hit the bottom. Thereby increasing the chances of it being fatal. Just as Merlin had his foot on the last step Morgana held out her hand. She had been practicing over the last week and was happy she could through a strong enough spell to make Merlin fall without flying backwards to fast or far. "Astrice!" she hissed.

At that moment when Merlin was about to raise his foot he felt the presence of magic but to late, the spell hit him and he felt himself being pushed backwards and down the stairs. Arthur and Gwaine reached out but it was too late. Both shouted and Percival threw himself in Merlin's downward path. He was a good half way down the staircase but managed to catch Merlin and halt his progress but fell over as Merlin hit him. Merlin landed on top of the knight but there was a crack as Merlin's head fell back and hit the edge of one of the steps.

Arthur and Gwaine were running down to Merlin as they hear the crack. Arthur shouted to Lancelot "Get Gaius!"

As they reached Percival and Merlin they could both see blood running from Merlin's head, Merlin was clearly unconscious "Don't move Percival" Gwaine commanded. "Merlin might have done more damage. Can you stay there until Gaius arrives?"

The big knight nodded, he was sprawled over several steps, Head up with Merlin lying across his body, and Arthur was checking Merlin. It seemed the knight had stopped Merlin hitting his abdomen but it was hard to be sure. Arthur kept speaking to his spouse hoping to get a reaction but there was nothing. All the men were clearly very shocked and upset. Arthur had torn of his jacket ready to place it under Merlin's head. But was waiting to Gaius "Where is he?!"

Gwaine was equally as shocked by what happened "Give him chance Arthur he is an old man after all"

Several people had started to gather including Agravaine and Morgana. Being careful to hide their glee Morgana knelt by her brother "What happened?" she asked

"Merlin fell, must have tripped on the step" Arthur told her.

Gaius arrived and got Lancelot to move everyone away. But told him "Get someone to collect the carrying boards from my chambers."

Kneeling down Gaius started to check over Merlin asking what had happened. Arthur explained adding "It was my fault I let go of his arm, I thought he was there"

Gaius looked at Arthur. "Watch your words Sire" he whispered, then louder said "It was an accident Sire, no one's fault. Emrys may have brought you down as well had you been in contact."

Gwaine demanded "How is Emrys?"

"A nasty knock to the head. I need to get her majesty to my quarters to check properly, I do believe the knight here saved the worse of the injuries and also from a longer fall that may will have been fatal"

"The baby?" Arthur asked

"I will check later, sorry Sire but here is not the place" Gaius pointed out. Carefully transferring Merlin onto the stretcher when it arrived and quickly checking Percival who appeared bruised but otherwise fine Gaius supervised the transfer of Merlin to his chambers. Once there he made Arthur and Gwaine move to one side. Both refused to leave the room. Then he spent time checking Merlin from top to toe. Once he was finished he turned to the two Princes his face serious. He took a deep breath and sat down before talking. "I'm sorry Sire's but Emrys had suffered a severe head injury, I believe there is bleeding to the brain within the scull. There is nothing I can do, we will just have to wait. But Merlin's chances are not good"

Arthur paled even more "Is there nothing you can do? Nothing at all? And what about the baby?"

"I'm so sorry Sire. There is nothing that can be done, if the bleeding stops there may be a chance, but the scull is difficult to treat. As for the baby, it wasn't hurt by the fall but without it's mother…"

Arthur looked at Gaius very seriously "I want you to do anything, use any means….."

Gaius looked at the Prince "There is nothing I know of that can help Sire. I will of course look but I really no nothing that I can do"

Arthur sat beside Merlin and Gwaine sat the other side. They each took a hand, both men not caring for the tears that ran down their faces.

"How long?" Gwaine forced out

"A few hours, no more" Gaius couldn't believe he was having to say such a thing. "I will inform the King" he went to the door to find Lancelot and Percival stood there. He looked at Percival "I need to check you come in" he turned to Lancelot "Allow no one in"

As the went in with Percival he told Arthur" I will check Sir Percival and then go to your father." Taking Percival up to the small room he quickly checked the knight over to conform accept for bruising he was fine.

"How is Emrys and the baby?" the knight asked

"I fear Emrys is dying and the baby can't survive without it's mother"

"I failed!" Percival said his voice full of hurt.

"You did what you could son" Gaius told him "It's a tragic accident no more. I could blame myself for allowing the trip outside, but we couldn't stop all risks"

As the men went out and past the Princes and Merlin the door opened and Uther stood looking in. Gaius went to the Kings side and drew him out into the corridor. "How is the baby"? Uther asked

"Emrys has sustained bleeding to the brain I fear she has only hours, therefore so does the baby" Gaius held his tongue about the callous way the King had spoken, it would help no one.

"You are sure?" Uther asked for the first time looking saddened.

"There is a very slim chance the bleed will stop but unlikely Sire" Gaius was still considering all options, there must be something he could do.

Uther went back inside and stood his hand on his sons shoulder. He was remembering the time he had lost his wife, he felt compassion and sorrow for his son, it was clear he loved his wife and to lose both wife and child would be hard. "I am sorry son"

Arthur looked up seeing his father for the first time "Are you? You hate Merlin admit it…." He sobbed "I love Merlin so much, I don't want to live without him by myside" he was sobbing and his father didn't hear the slip up. "Just leave us" he pleaded. Arthur couldn't cope with his father at the moment.

Uther walked out saying to the physician. as he left "Do whatever you can Gaius, I do mean whatever I won't have my son suffer as I did if there is anything at all you can do"

Gaius looked up in surprise he was in no doubt what Uther was suggesting. Not waiting for an answer the King left. As he left Gwaine looked up at Arthur and then to Gaius "I need to go and see Kilgarrah, he may be able to suggest something" Gwaine was breaking in two at the thought of his brother dying. "I have to try"

Gaius nodded "If anyone knows it will be the Great Dragon"

Arthur didn't even look up as Gwaine left and ran down to the clearing to see Kilgarrah. As he reached the clearing Kilgarrah looked up "I wondered when you would come, Emrys is fading" he growled in an impatient voice. "I thought I would have to call you"

Gwaine looked at the dragon in anger "Well why didn't you, you oversized lizard! I have been worried sick"

"I knew you would come once you thought properly" Kilgarrah said calmly

"Can you help, can you save my bother?" Gwaine demanded

"No, but you can, I can give you a spell, your magic may be weak but with my help you can do it" Kilgarrah. "step forward young dragonlord"

Gwaine did as he was asked and Kilgarrah breathed a golden mist over the Prince. "Go now and use the spell as quickly as you can or both the Warlock and the babe will die, tell him to come and see me soon"

Gwaine rushed back to the physicians chambers and sat by his brother, looking at Arthur he said "Arthur please move away, the Great Dragon has given me a spell to use, I must do it soon or he will die"

Arthur looked up hope in his eyes. He had been watching Merlin gradually slip way, he had no doubt that he would die soon, their baby with him. Kissing Merlin's forehead and moved back. Gwaine stepped neared and took both his brothers hands in his and allowed the dragon's spell to come out;

"Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare mid þam sundorcræftas þære ealdaþ æ!"

Merlin arched up them sank back down not moving. But Gaius moved closer and checked the young man "All we can do now is wait, if it works we will know by the morning"

All three men sat and waiting none of them sleeping. Gaius checked Merlin every few hours and was happy that Merlin seemed to be improving. By the early hours it was clear Merlin was sleeping normally. By morning he had opened his eyes for the first time. Arthur gave him a smile and kissed him gently "Hi, glad you are back"

Merlin looked puzzled "You fell and hit your head, Gwaine got a spell from Kilgarrah or we would have lost you"

Merlin thought for a moment, he tried to speak but his throat was to dry. Gwaine and Arthur carefully sat him up and Arthur put a cup of water to his lips. As Merlin sank down he said "I felt magic, something pushed me" he said weakly but he became agitated

"Rest for now my love, later when you are rested we will talk"

"Indeed young man, you need to rest for your baby". Gaius knew that would make Merlin rest if nothing else did.

As Merlin closed his eyes once more Gwaine and Arthur looked at each other. "Magic in Camelot is that possible" Gwaine demanded

"Merlin has it" Arthur said by way of explanation. "Once Merlin is stronger we will ask him. Whoever it is will pay for what they tried to do"

Gaius spoke up "Might I suggest that until he does we don't tell anyone of his improved condition, or they may try again."

Arthur nodded "Can I take Merlin back to our chambers where he will be more comfortable"

Gaius looked thoughtful "If you move him now before the castle wakes. We can say as he survived the night you wanted him moved and as his condition is so poor there seemed no reason not to. He is Royal after all and should pass on in his own chambers"

Arthur blanched once more "He won't will he…..he will be alright?"

"I have no reason to doubt a dragons magic Sire. But it will take a while for him to wake properly. But we must be very careful when we move him, the board again I think, to protect his head."

So before the first servants started to walk the corridors Gwaine and Arthur carefully moved Merlin to Arthur's rooms where he was made comfortable, the two men sat beside him unwilling to move away.