Merlin only wanted to rest, but it seemed everyone else was against that idea. Dumbledore had swept Merlin up to his office along with Ron, Hermione and Harry who would not be left behind and from there they traveled by flu to the Orders headquarters.
Merlin could not meet the Trio's eyes as they waited for the others to arrive. He had lied to them, sometimes it seemed lying was the only thing he could do.
"You're really Merlin" Hermione asked finally unable to stand the silence.
"Yes" He looked down "I'm sorry I lied to you. I haven't talked about my past or thought about it in a really long time."
"Why did you come to Hogwarts?"
"That's what we all want to know" A voice sounded behind him
Merlin turned around to see a group of very odd individuals Dumbledore at the head the man who had spoken was old and graying with a false eye and a false leg.
They all settled into chairs Merlin stayed standing. He looked at all of them. And then turned to Harry
"To answer your question Harry. I came back because of Morgana"
"You knew she was alive"
"Yes, I could feel it. Her magic is connected to the old religion and I am a part of it. It's difficult to explain."
"If you knew she was alive why not tell someone?" This was Mrs. Weasley "Someone could have been killed"
"I knew she was alive, but finding her was a different matter altogether and even if I had told you would you have believed me? I'm immortal and Morgana was supposed to be dead."
"I thought magic couldn't raise the dead"
"There is an ancient spell, but it is dark magic and the person who is brought back is not the same as they were in life. Those who are brought back are cursed; they can do nothing but lust after their greatest desires when they were alive. In Morgana's case it would be becoming queen. She will not give up on Camelot"
"Everyone in Hogwarts is in danger"
"I'm afraid so."
"But we have you; you can stop her can't you"
"Hermione" Merlin smiled at her kindly "Thank you for your faith, but Morgana and I are well matched, and she cannot be killed by magic. Only a sword forged in dragon's breath can kill her."
"Where do we get one of those?"
"There is only one in all existence"
"You can't mean…?!" Hermione gaped almost twitching in excitement.
"Excalibur."
"No way!" Ron breathed.
Merlin nodded. He rubbed his eyes. "That comes with another problem. I trapped the sword in a stone after Arthur's death so no one else could ever wield it. Even I cannot pull it from its sheath."
"Only Arthur can pull it from the stone" Minerva remembered
"He's not alive too by any chance is he?" Tonks asked
Merlin felt an intense pain in his heart "No he is not" His voice wavered.
"I think that's enough for now" Dumbledore said "This is a lot to take in and it's late"
He put a hand on Merlin's shoulder and Merlin felt grateful for it. Dumbledore reminded him a bit of Gaius.
He could tell the others wanted to argue but none did and they made their way to their rooms.
Dumbledore had a tough decision to make about the school. Did he send the students home? Morgana's threat was very real and right now they had no sure way to beat her.
Dumbledore began to pace.
Morgana threw a vase at the wall shattering it into pieces. Narcissa did not look pleased that her house was being destroyed by the sorceress but she said nothing.
"He's alive. That rotten…" She trailed off cursing Merlin to high heaven. She hated him! "I'm going to kill you Merlin, I'm going to kill you if it's the last thing I do."