Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter twenty-five: Sweet dreams and the fires of Idirsholas.

"So you and Merlin had a chat last night," Gwaine asks. "What did he say?"

Arthur sighs. "I asked him what the best way to go about lifting the ban on magic was. I can see why the druids love him as king, he's very wise."

"Did you just complement Merlin?" Gwaine gasps in shock.

"No," Arthur answers. "More of a congratulations, king to king."

Gwaine laughs. "So it just proves Merlin is more intelligent than you."

Arthur glares at Gwaine. "Shut up, Gwaine."

Gwen smiles. "How was he?"

"He seemed fine," Arthur answers. "But he said he had an argument with the council of the magical community and as a result almost died, along with a couple of others."

"What?" Elyan exclaimed.

Arthur nodes. "Merlin told the council of some creatures, change-wings I think he called them, had been found and he needed help hunting them down. The council refused to believe him and as a result, Merlin and some friends went out to kill them…. On their own. Merlin said he almost died of blood lose and that two others were injured."

"Change-wings?" Gaius asks.

Arthur nodes. "Yes."

"That boy!" Gaius sighs.

Percival looks at Gaius. "What are change-wings?"

"Evil creature, they have not been seen for many hundreds of years. It is beyond a doubt true, that Mordred the dark is rising. Change-wings were creature he controlled, Merlin and his friends are lucky to have killed them and made it back alive to tell the tale."

Leon glances around. "Why have we never heard about the likes of this before?"

"Because the army Mordred the dark controls cannot be fraught my man, only sorcerers and those with magic can fight and hope to win. So therefore Uthur would never let such things be spoken about."

Everyone falls silent.

"Right the next adventure," Taliesin speaks up. "Take your seats."

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In a time of myth and a land of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy, his name…. Merlin.

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Gwaine grins. "Yet another evil plan where Arthur is the unsuspecting victim."

Arthur glares at him. "I don't see how this is funny."

Gwen nodes. "Think of all the work Merlin is going to have to do, to stop the war that will happen if their plan works."

Gwaine nodes. "How does Merlin find the time to stop all these evil plans?"

Percival nodes. "I get tied just watching him."

"Maybe its magic," Elyan mutters. "I'm sure there are spells you can use to keep yourself awake. If not, I'm sure it won't be long until someone comes up with one."

"She has some nerve to insult Gwen like that," Leon mutters. "If that had been anyone else I would hate think what would have happened to them."

Elyan nodes. "I would hate to think what Arthur would do. No insults Gwen in his presence and gets away with it."

Gwaine nodes. "Or flirts with her."

"Ha-ha," Elyan laughs. "See that Merlin agreed with me."

Leon shakes his head. "Merlin really does know Arthur best."

"He must have used magic," Percival mutters. "To create the butterflies like that. I have seen the druids do tricks like that to entertain their children and they always use magic."

Elyan shakes his head. "He got a lock of her hair that cannot be good."

Leon nodes. "I have heard of a lot of spells which requires hair and not many of them are good."

"That guy is creepy though." Gwaine mutters. "Sneaking around Arthur room like that."

Arthur turns to Gwaine. "You do release Merlin sneaks around like that, right?"

Gwen sighs. "I can see how this is going to go wrong. I pretty sure Merlin thinks you're talking about me."

Elyan nodes. "He would have been if it were not for the enchantment."

Gwen smiles. "No, Arthur has never been good at expressing his feelings."

Gwaine almost falls over laughing. "Arthur is so hilarious when enchanted. How did Merlin not notice something was wrong?"

Leon snorts. "Merlin is used to Arthur acting strangely. I mean come on, he sees Arthur in all different types of moods. He must have just thought that was how he acted when in love."

Gwen smiles. "Merlin really is a true romantic though, isn't he? Freya was one lucky girl, I know most of the maids in the castle like him and quite a lot in the lower town too."

Gwaine laughs. "Merlin really has his work cut out this time."

Leon nodes. "It's not the first time he's had to deal with Arthur when he's been enchanted, there was that women before, the one who tried to sacrifice him."

Arthur shakes his head. "Why is it always me?"

"Rats," Gwen laughs. "I worry about Merlin metal health, that was one really unbelievable reason to go searching through my house."

Gwaine grins. "You have to give it to him, he uses his imagination."

Percival smiles. "You'd think he would come up with a better plan though."

Elyan looks at Gaius. "How did you ever get a straight answer out of him? That was quite cryptic, I can't tell you about this bit, or this bit, only this bit but that wasn't my fault and it's the reason the bit I can't tell you about happened."

Gaius smiles. "You get used to it. Merlin always saying he knows what he means and that's all that matters really, he's the one who has to sort out all the problems. I just give him advice."

Gwaine laughs. "Good luck with that…. Merlin really going to need it. Stopping Arthur from doing something is almost impossible."

"Well he did have lady Viviane's help," Leon smiles. "She refused him, that made Merlin's job a lot easier."

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"And Merlin finally works it out," Gwaine grins. "But you don't know what type of enchantment was used do you?"

Gaius shakes his head. "Even now I still don't know, but I do have some idea. That spell they used, there are many like it. But because we did not see the full spell, I cannot tell you which one it was."

"Oh god," Elyan mutters. "Now Viviane is under the spell too, this isn't going to end well. Merlin really has his work cut out this time."

Percival nodes. "636 love spells, there are a lot."

"Yeah and only 150 of them use hair." Leon adds.

Gwaine grins. "He should have used the one that turned Arthur into a toad, them Gwen could have kissed him back into a prince."

Gwen glares at him. "There is no way I'm kissing a toad."

"What not even if it was Arthur?"

"No way." Gwen answers.

"Thanks," Arthur mutters. "If I ever get turned into a toad I'm doomed."

Elyan shakes his head. "Merlin would more than likely find a spell to change you back."

"Yeah," Percival mutters. "If it wasn't Merlin who changed him into a toad in the first place."

Elyan glares at the screen. "How dare he use magic on Gwen like that, that 'trickle' person or whatever his name was better be careful. If I ever find him…."

Gwen rolls her eyes. "I was fine, just a little shocked and embarrassed."

"Merlin really has his work cut out now," Tristan mutters. "Both of them are enchanted and looking for each other."

Isolde nodes. "I bet Viviane's father would have just started a war for finding her walking around the castle in such a state of dress."

"Merlin truly is unlucky," Gwaine laughs. "He has lady Viviane in Arthur room, with Arthur and her father both about to arrive."

Elyan smiles. "That must have been worse than Uthur accusing him of sorcery."

Percival nodes. "And he even used magic, to stop a war."

Leon sighs. "He was brave calling the lady Viviane's father a fool."

Gaius nodes. "He had to save Arthur somehow. I hate to think what would have happened otherwise."

"It's a good thing he is fast too," Tristan mutters. "If he hadn't got her back to her room there would have been trouble."

"Merlin's found the correct spell," Isolde smiles. "Let's hope he's not too late."

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"Wouldn't it have been brilliant if Arthur got the wrong room?" Gwaine laughs.

Percival nodes. "It would have made Merlin job a lot easier."

Leon sighs. "And that's how Arthur nearly started a war. You really do get enchanted easily."

"How is that my fault?" Arthur demands.

Gwen takes Arthur's hand. "It isn't your fault."

Gwaine snorts. "Maybe if Uthur wasn't so anti-magic it would never have happened in the first palace. I mean wasn't it the court sorcerers job to stop the royal family from being enchanted?"

"You can tell things were bad," Leon mutters. "Uthur actually asked Merlin what was wrong. Uthur hated Merlin most of the time."

"Poor Merlin," Gwen mutters. "It's always him who has to save everyone."

"He works well under pressure." Gaius agrees.

"Well," Gwaine mutters. "We all know it didn't end in war. So Merlin must have worked well."

Isolde puts a hand on Gwen's shoulder. "It all worked out in the end."

Gwen smiles. "It has." She twists the ring on her figure, which Arthur had given to her once again.

"You really don't fight well, while enchanted Arthur." Leon mutters. "You'll have to work on that."

Arthur glares at Leon. "I was enchanted, it was hardly my fault I couldn't fight properly."

"And once again Merlin goes to see the great dragon," Gwaine smiles. "It's a shame we haven't meet him."

Arthur smiles. "You never will be able to, the great dragon is dead. I killed it."

Elyan looks at him. "Then why is there no proof. I mean wouldn't its hide be displayed on a wall or something?"

Arthur shrugs. "Ask Merlin he was the only one who was awake when it died."

Everyone shares a look.

"I didn't kill it, did I?" Arthur asks. "Merlin did, didn't he? There was no body because he probably blasted it to ash or something."

Gwen smiles. "Least it's dead."

Gwaine grins. "Well Merlin has some nerve yelling at a dragon like that. I mean it could have cooked him."

Leon shakes his head. "Merlin has stopped the flames of a dragon before. It could not have harmed him and it knew it."

"True love," Isolde mutters. "Only true love had the power to break the spell."

"Love is the strongest force of them all." Gaius smiles. "No one can truly understand it."

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"And for once Merlin goes to Gwen for help, not the other way round." Gwaine laughs.

Gwen rolls her eyes. "You always go to Merlin for help."

Gwaine nodes. "Of course I do, he is my brother in all but blood."

"'Brother in all but blood'?" Arthur asks.

Gwaine nodes. "When I went to see Merlin a couple of days ago, he called me his brother. So we are brothers in all but blood."

"You go Gwen," Isolde cheers. "Show him who he truly loves."

Gwen smiles. "I'm glad I broke the enchantment."

"You have a good man, Gwen," Isolde smiles. "Don't ever change him. Because when it truly matters he will be there for you, forever and always."

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In a time of myth and a land of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulder of a young boy, his name…. Merlin.

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Elyan sighs. "Looks like there's more work for Merlin to do."

Gwaine nodes. "Evil sorceress's really have a thing for bring dead knights back to life, don't they?"

"Yeah, first Nimueh, now Morgause…. Even Morgana raised an army of the dead, if the skeletons were her work of course." Percival agrees.

"You should know by now, Arthur, that nothing magical is 'superstitious nonsense'." Leon sighs. "How many times has Merlin warned you of things and you've never believed him?"

Arthur sighs. "I know he doesn't like this place, the valley of the fallen kings…. Maybe it is caused."

"Who was that note from?" Gwen asks. As she watched Morgana pick up the note in the box near the window.

"Morgause," Gaius answers. "They had started to plot together, to kill Uthur."

"So she truly turned against us that long ago," Arthur asked. "Why? I mean all our father ever did was love her."

Gaius sighs. "She believed if Uthur ever found out about her magic, he would have killed her. Fear and loneliness turned her against us."

"So why did you tell Merlin to never tell her about his magic?" Gwen asks. "He could have helped her."

Gaius shakes his head. "Morgana was destined to become what she is now, the darkness was always in her heart. If she had known about Merlin's magic, she could have blackmailed him or had him executed. No good would ever have come from her knowing about his magic."

Leon looks at Gaius. "But surely destinies can be changed. I mean what if Merlin hadn't wanted to protect Arthur?"

Gaius shakes his head once more. "Destinies can be delayed, but they can never be escaped. Merlin could have left, but he would have ended up saving Arthur in the end. Maybe if Merlin had told Morgana about his magic, she may not have turned so soon, but she would have turned against us in the end."

Percival looks at the screen. "What is that spell Morgause put on Morgana for?"

"You will see." Gaius answers.

"The illness?" Elyan asks.

"It was no illness," Gaius answers. "It was a sleeping spell."

Tristan glares at Arthur. "He was brave enough to follow you on that quest without a weapon and you still insult him."

Arthur sighs. "He knows I never mean it."

Gwaine laughs. "Only Merlin could sound so unfazed by the fact there were a bunch of immortal knights standing behind you."

"See that," Elyan mutters, as Merlin ducked behind a pillar. "Merlin is forced to hide because he has no weapon. And by the time he does get a sword, he has to give it up to save you, Arthur."

Arthur sighs. "I know."

Isolde stares at Arthur. "How did you not hear him say that spell? He was standing right behind you! He basically said it right into your ear."

Arthur shrugs. "I don't know, I think I was paying more attention to the fact the seven knights had spotted us. Plus Merlin curses under his breath all the time."

"That wasn't curing under his breath, if he had said it any louder he would have yelled it."

Gwaine laughs, as he watches Arthur look at Merlin's arm. "That was most definitely not his first battle wound."

Gwen grips Arthur's hand. "That was kind of you, Arthur. To bandage his injury like that. Most knights wouldn't have bothered."

"Most knights wouldn't drag their servants along and if they did, they make them wait outside with their stuff." Percival mutters.

"Yeah but Merlin isn't just a servant, he's the secret protector of Camelot," Elyan smiles. "If he hadn't gone, Arthur would have died."

Leon looks at the screen. "That must have been awful, to get back to Camelot and find everyone asleep like that."

Gwaine grins. "Would be one awesome prank though."

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Gwen smiles at Arthur. "Thank you."

Arthur smiles. "You didn't deserve to sleep on the floor."

Gwaine grins. "Attention to detail, princess. She was asleep I don't think she would have minded the fact, she had a strand of hair across her face."

"So Merlin didn't know Morgana had betrayed Camelot?" Percival asks. "He just thought it was her magic keeping her awake."

Gaius nodes. "Merlin knew she spoke with Morgause but he had no idea she betrayed us. He didn't know until much later."

"But he knew?" Arthur asked. "Why did he never tell us?"

"Use your brain, princess?" Gwaine challenges. "Why do you think he couldn't tell us?"

Arthur looks at Gwaine. "I would have believed him."

"Would you? Would you really? Arthur you loved Morgana like a sister, you probably would have accused Merlin of treason. Uthur would have had his head."

Arthur sighs. "He should have at least tried to warn me."

"He did," Gaius answers. "Remember when you went to recue Elyan, he said it wasn't a good idea to bring Morgana along."

"Oh good move Arthur, leave the women who wants Uthur dead alone in a room with him and give her a weapon." Gwaine mocks.

Everyone laughs as Merlin keeps trying spells to wake Gaius.

Gaius shakes his head. "I always did wonder how I ended up on the floor."

Gwaine grins. "It kind of was funny, having to drag Uthur through the castle like that. Bet Merlin hated it."

"Two pillows," Elyan laughs. "Merlin really doesn't care about royalty does he?"

Leon smiles. "Merlin has always believed everyone should be equal."

Percival laughs. "Dress him as a women? I bet Uthur enemies would have loved to have seen that."

"I would have loved to have seen that!" Gwaine grins.

Gwen looks at Gaius. "Merlin worked out it wasn't magic keeping Morgana safe, didn't he? Because he was falling ill."

Gaius nodes. "But he still didn't know why, he didn't know it was Morgana who, was the source of the spell."

"Merlin really is good at hiding," Leon mutters. "I'm surprised though that, that knight didn't bother to try and look for Merlin."

Percival nodes. "So he's going to the great dragon for help once more."

"I'm surprised Merlin swore on his mother life," Arthur mutters. "That's a promise he would never break."

Leon looks alarmed. "He must have been the one who released the dragon."

Arthur laughs. "Donut be stupid, Merlin would never do that. He an idiot most of the time, but he wouldn't do something that idiotic."

"He had to kill Morgana," Tristan asks. "If he killed her, why is she still alive?"

Gaius sighs. "He made a deal with Morgause."

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"So he chose to poison her," Isolde mutters. "I guess that was the best way. I doubt he could have killed her with anything else, without backing out at the last moment."

Gwen grips Arthur hand. "It must have been a hard thing to do. Morgana was his friend."

"Why didn't it kill her?" Gwen asks. "They had never seen her before." As they watched as the knight refused to kill Morgana.

Gaius sighs. "She was the source of the spell, they probably could have told she was the source of the magic. Or Morgause ordered them not to kill her."

"Yeah, but how would they have known what she looked like?" Gwaine asks.

"Magic?" Elyan guesses. "Morgause could have created an image and shown them."

"He poisoned her," Leon mutters. "Yet he still held her as she died." As they watched Merlin trick Morgana into drinking the poison.

Arthur shakes his head. "He actually poisoned her, how could he do that?"

"She betrayed Camelot," Gaius answers. "She was no longer the person you grew up with. Would you have preferred that he let her live and everyone one else died? Camelot would have fallen if he had not done what he did."

Arthur sighs. "I know, its just she seemed so much like the old Morgana, even though she had betrayed us."

Percival nodes. "He didn't want to kill her. He did a brave thing. He saved Camelot."

Elyan nodes. "He was brave making a deal with Morgause like that. She could have just killed him."

Gwen shakes her head. "I don't know if I would have been able to do that."

Tristan smiles slightly. "He made the right choice. You can tell he is a good person, he felt guilty."

Isolde nodes, in agreement. "He is a good person."

Arthur stared at the screen in disbelief. "He released the dragon."

"He had no choice," Gaius speaks up. "He swore an oath."

Leon shakes his head. "So many people died, when that dragon attacked."

Gwen nodes. "But if he hadn't Camelot would have fallen to Morgause. Least the dragon was killed, Morgause couldn't have been stopped if everyone was asleep."

"But he still released it," Arthur answers. "He could have just broken the promise like he did ever time before."

Gaius shakes his head. "You do not brake a promise when you swear on someone life, not when that someone you are making the oath to has magic."

Hey hope you liked that. The reason I said Arthur's mother knew about the deal with Nimueh, is because, I have read a couple of fanfic's where she has known and I really liked them :) sorry if anyone didn't like that, but I wanted it to be that way in my story. Also I pretty sure in the final episode of Merlin, I'm sure Merlin said he was born to protect Arthur and return magic to the land, he may not have said that but oh well. I have also tried to make my grammar better, so hope there are less mistakes this time :) Until next time,

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.