Author's Note:

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!

This chapter is really short and badly written so I do apologise, but I have already written the next one so you won't have long to wait!

Chapter 27: People Change

"Why am I here?"

"You're here to see."

"I think I see everything quite clearly, you're blinded by your hate for what I did so long ago and you won't see the truth even if it could save our people!"

"No, you are the one who doesn't see the truth!"

"We could live in peace."

"We could? And at what expense? You want to waste billions of lives on the chance that we could spare just a fraction of them?"

"The muggles made their choice."

"No they did not!"

Merlin slammed a hand against the table, making a glass wobble and a pen roll off the edge.

"What happened to you? When I first met you, you were the sweetest, most kind person I knew… Now look at you!"

Morgana only smiled at the ground. Her arms were tied to a chair and Mordred, Arthur and Hermione stood next to her; watching her like a hawk.

"Fine" Merlin grunted "We need your help, please, you can still stop this."

"And we destroy everyone, even the ones loyal to the old religion? That would achieve nothing."

"You don't know that for sure, and even if you did you'd be sentencing so many to death, because of what? They weren't born the same way you were?"

Merlin spat at the ground and turned away; he could no longer look at her, not knowing what she wanted to do.

"I still say no." Her voice was venomous as she said the words, sitting back in her seat like she was proud to be a murderer.

"Fine" Merlin snarled "but I wasn't asking you"

"Who exactly were you asking then?"

"The girl in the window the first time I came to Camelot, the girl that turned away instead of seeing someone die."

Suddenly, he grasped her hand and concentrating hard, whispered words of magic, hoping with all the hope he had left that this it would work.

What was he hoping would work again? Merlin searched his memory, but he couldn't find the answer… in fact he couldn't find any answer. In a rush of panic he realised he had no idea where he was, what he was doing, or even what his name was.

Something felt like it was being wrenched from his head; something special, something important. He wanted to scream but he couldn't control his mouth. He just wanted it to stop.

And all at once, it did.

He opened his eyes, he was in a courtyard; Camelot's courtyard. He realised he was surrounded by people and in the centre was a clearing and in that clearing was a man. This man was about to be executed, Merlin knew it, Merlin knew this.

He seen this be for, all those years ago, the first time he had come to Camelot. He looked up and sure enough a lady stood in one of the window, dressed in a beautiful shade of blue, she long dark hair in waves reaching down to her chest. Merlin knew her. Her name was Morgana Pendragon.

Quickly, ignoring the crowds, he ran into the castle, making his way down the corridors he had walked along so many times in his past, he skipped up a flight of stairs and came to a stop just at the top of them. There she was. Not a sign of evil on her.

Merlin lingered, unseen for a moment, unsure of what to do; it was like he was in a daze, everything was so familiar and yet so strange. He almost lost Morgana as she shook her head silently and began to walk away from the window. Merlin snapped himself awake and, moving quickly toward her he called "Morgana!"

The woman looked around, confusion clear on her face.

"Yes?" She smiled at him uncertainly; there was no trace of menace, no trace of deception.

"My lady, I need you to come with me" Merlin ordered.

"Why, what's going on?"

"Morgana you won't understand now, but there was a time when you knew me, when you trusted me. I know that you are good, my lady and I want you to help me save an unimaginable number of lives!"

Morgana looked shocked, "What am I to do with this?"

"My lady, you are everything to do with this." Merlin said, reaching out his hand "Please, all you need to do is take my hand"

"This is insane, who are you?"

"I am your friend, Morgana, you sense it don't you? We both have a destiny and I know it's partly my fault you ended up like you did, but I promise you, we can stop this!" Merlin shook his head; he could feel a lump forming in his throat. "Please." He begged.

Morgana's gaze softened and her eyes went glassy, almost like she was remembering a dream. She reached out her hand to Merlin's and as soon as they touched Merlin felt a nauseating feeling in his stomach. All of a sudden the world disintegrated around them and became a whirlwind of flashing images: Morgana's past.

Merlin felt like his hand that was holding the witch's was pulling a great weight. He heaved one last time, so hard he fell backwards.

He was back in reality when merlin picked himself off of the floor, he looked at Morgana. The woman looked like she was asleep; head drooping, leaning against the chair in which she was tied. Merlin stood; eyes fixed on the witch, and suddenly Morgana gasped for air, head flying upwards to fix her eyes on him.

"Merlin?" She whispered; her voice weak and afraid. She looked around, taking in everything. "What have I done?" She whimpered. "I killed so many" Looking up at the figures surrounding her she murmured "Mordred… Arthur. I'm so sorry. Oh god what did I do?" She burst into tears: the memory of the pain she had cause too much to bare.

Merlin nodded and the chains binding her hands disappeared, Morgana clasped her arms to her chest, but otherwise she did not notice.

"Was that wise?" Mordred murmured.

Merlin shrugged "If the spell didn't work and she has not changed her mind, then we are all dead anyway."

"Then let's hope she has." Arthur sighed. He looked at his half-sister who was now taking in deep breaths. She had a look on her face that told Merlin she was calming herself down. In that moment he was struck by how strong she was, but of course, Merlin had always known that.

It was in that moment that the others arrived back and almost instantaneously, Merlin knew something was wrong. A figure: George – was slumped in Ginny's arms and tears were rolling down the younger sibling's face.

He saw Ron catch sight of Morgana, saw him charge towards her fury in his eyes. Mordred caught him before he could reach her and held him back.

"GET OFF OF ME!" Ron yelled.

Mordred struggled, looking at Merlin for help.

"Ron, stop! What happened?" Hermione shouted.

"SHE HAPPENED! You need to kill her, now!"

Ron barged against Mordred's arm and the druid nearly let go, but being a knight of the round table, he was stronger than the other man and managed to pull him back before Ron swiped at the now standing Morgana.

"RON!" Hermione shouted "You are not helping, if you don't calm down George is going to die!"

Ron stopped struggling and looked at her, his eyes pleading. Hermione rapped her arms around him and pressed herself against his still heaving chest.

"Just before Hermione disapperated" Ginny sniffed "Morgana sent a curse at him… and then he collapsed."

"What did you use?" Merlin asked, wasting no more time and turning to Morgana. There was a tear rolling down her cheek, but otherwise there was no sign of her previous break down.

She nodded "It was one I made myself" She croaked, she seemed faraway, not quite part of reality as she moved towards the still figure.

"No!" Ginny cried, moving to push her back, but Hermione stopped her:

"Let her Ginny, we can trust her now" Hermione paused as if thinking over her previous statement "We have to trust her." She sighed.

Ginny looked like a coiled spring, but held herself back as Morgana pressed her hands to George's chest and whispered a few words of magic. As Morgana finished she turned to the redheads, a look of true sorrow on her face "I am truly sorry for what I did… but he's sleeping now."

Morgana looked like she wanted to say more, but instead she walked away, finding the door and disappearing through it. After a couple of seconds Arthur followed her, nodding to the others before excusing himself.