Once we finally made it to the outer woods just outside the borders of Camelot where there were no more Saxons or Morgana's sorcerers, Jacus set Merlin down on a flat area of the ground and he began to gather wood nearby for a fire, but I noticed a sorrowful look on his face. I walked over to him and he stopped moving. "I must apologize...We couldn't hold them off for very long."

"You did what you could...did any of my people or knights try to stop you?"

He laughed lightly but the laugh never turned into a smile. "We can use magic without being noticed. However, you will have to tell your men that our healers need to work on their injuries...some of them are magical or enchanted."

"I...I don't know how well that will go. Magic is still illegal in Camelot."

"You must make room for it, Sire, just like you did earlier tonight. Because you accepted that, we made short work of her sorcerers and made her numbers that much less."

"I will...speak with them soon...what of Merlin's injury?"

"I don't know. He won't tell me, he can't speak, he grows pale, and he wants nothing more than to sleep. There is no blood loss and the dagger didn't go straight through, but I would have to ask the clan leader and she is currently putting up a protective barrier around us with the help of her sons."

"How would you know that he just wants to sleep if he can't speak?"

"The look in his eyes and the way he's holding himself." He replied before moving to put the logs in place near Merlin.

"What's wrong with Merlin?" I heard Gwaine rush over in a huff, likely out of breath from helping so many people already.

After Jacus finally got the fire lit near Merlin, I looked at Gwaine and placed a hand on his shoulders. "He doesn't know...he's going to have to get his clan leader..."

"Clan leader what are you talking about?" Gwaine laughed and looked at Jacus and back at me. "He's a druid?"

"Yes, he is, and he helped us."

"But he can't help Merlin. All their knowledge, power, and secrets and he can't help him. I can't believe..."

"Gwaine! Stop! It's likely that his clan leader will have more information, and know more about what's in Merlin's shoulder."

"Where is this clan leader?" Gwaine questioned as he sat down next to Jacus.

"I'm right here." We heard an elderly woman's voice chime in the air and she kneeled down next to Merlin and I watched as she began to examine the wound. "Your servant has been cut deep, Young Pendragon."

"Morgana said a spell and it was colored with a red and purple aura." Jacus stated with downcast eyes.

"Are you sure of this, Jacus?"

"Yes, I'm certain of it." He answered as he took another look at Merlin, and I could feel my heart pounding with uncertainty.

"Can please someone tell me what's going on?"

"What's going on, Sir Gwaine, is that your friend here is fighting for his life and mind, and requires powerful magic in order to counteract the enchanted poison the blade was laced with."

"What do you mean fighting for his life and mind, what do you you mean powerful magic?" I started asking without any tact on my anger and frustration, and I could tell she was growing impatient with me.

"In his mind he is repeatedly suffering his worst fear in many different ways. He is also reliving every single memory of regret and heartache he has ever suffered. I recognize the poison and that's what's doing this to him...I recognize it because I created it, but I created a very diluted version...it was meant to help children in our clan to conquer their fears, and adults to move pass their regrets...but it seems she figured out how to make a purely non-diluted version and now he suffers in his own mind...with an enchantment on it...everything feels real. Jacus, what was the spell she said before throwing it?" We both listened as Jacus repeated it word for word with out missing so much as a syllable. "Arthur, did she say anything to you before she threw the blade?"

"She said she wanted to shatter my heart as I watched him suffer and die."

"I see...it seems that she has cursed the object to where only Emrys and his magic can remove it...if anyone else attempts to remove it, then he will remain in this state forever, and you will die."

"How do you know that!?"

"The translation of the spell is, 'Let only he who is the most powerful in the old religion be the one to remove this blade, if anyone else is to remove this blade, Arthur Pendragon shall die.' She has grown in her power so much that it seems she can now create spells."

"Well, you're druids aren't you? You supposedly have this connection with Emrys, who ever or whatever he is...go find him!"

"It's not that easy..." The clan leader began to explain to me with apologetic eyes.

"Why the hell not!?"

"Clan leader, I think it's time he knows." Jacus said without looking at anyone.

The clan leader was about to say something when over my head I heard a familiar, large flapping noise and I readied my sword as I noticed the great dragon I had supposedly killed had landed behind Jacus, making Jacus leap up and back away.

I watched as My knights tried to attack him but their efforts were pointless, and as I looked closer at the murderous creature, I noticed he looked as if he had lost someone dear to him, and then I realized he was looking at Merlin. "Wait, don't attack!" I shouted at my soldiers and they obeyed, while Gwaine was looking at me as if I had lost my mind, and perhaps I have.

The dragon came closer with a sense of caution and he laid the rest of his body next Merlin's. "What foolishness have you gotten into now?" The dragon spoke.

"You can talk!?" I shouted.

"Yes, Young Pendragon, I can talk, and I can feel. How strange these notions must be to you, coming from a dragon such as I." There was grief in his words and he did not tear his eyes away from Merlin who seemed to be sleeping.

"You know Merlin. How?"

"That is not of your concern."

"He is dying! Everything involving him is my concern, you over grown lizard!"

His eyebrows rose slightly and he his mouth twisted into a smile and he looked at me but only briefly. "You certainly share his unhealthy attitude of talking down to forces greater than yourself."

"How do you know him?"

"Sire, why are you conversing with the same dragon that trued to destroy Camelot!" I heard Leon ask as he was still holding his sword towards him.

"Because, Sir Leon, Merlin is dying from something magical, and somehow a dragon knows him...sheath your sword and do keep in mind that he did try and destroy Camelot and he breaths fire...we are in a forest surrounded by trees that are guess what...highly flammable." I watched as Sir Leon sheathed his sword and backed away from the dragon.

"You've been quite accepting of things involving magic lately."

"Only because I have had no choice." I muttered.

"Wrong, we all have choices. You heard of the danger your guests were put in, yet you accepted help from druids. You didn't have to, you could've tried to do it without them. You didn't need to listen to Queen Annis' advice, but you did...We all have choices. Some are for the better and some...are worse." I watched as he breathed a strange cool air onto Merlin and it apparently eased his suffering a bit, because now he was breathing easier than before.

"I thought I was going to lose the kingdom, that's why I accepted their aid."

"And you lost the castle anyway. The castle is not what matters here, young Pendragon. It is Camelot that matters. Camelot is more than just stone walls, your fine feasts and comfy bed. It is the people and their loyalty to their king."

"You still haven't answered my question. How do you know Merlin?"

"It is a question I do not want to answer."

"Fine, then do you know who this Emrys person is?"

"I do."

"Then tell me so I can go get him and he can heal Merlin!"

"It would do no good if I told you who he is now or not."

My heart sank to my gut and twisted into immediate desperation and grief. "Why not?"

I heard the dragon sigh heavily and he turned his gaze back towards me and briebriefly held his eyes closed. "It seems it is time for you to know. Regardless of me not wanting to tell you. What do you know of Emrys so far?"

"That he's my protector, that he's apparently powerful and that he is treated like a king among those who use magic or those of the old religion..." I answered without hesitation, and I didn't care as long as I knew who he was and could get him to heal Merlin.

"Those are all true, as well as him being immortal and the greatest Warlock to ever exist and that will ever exist."

"Warlock...what's that?"

"Someone who is born with magic...much like Morgana was but she is known as a witch. Emrys is greatly different however. He was born doing magic rather than growing into it much like the rest of the witches and warlocks and is the only one to ever do so. To do magic is as natural and as necessary as breathing for him."

"Necessary...how can preforming magic be nescessary?" I spat with frustration at the ridiculousness of it all, but then again...I'm talking to a dragon...that destroyed Camelot...in front of my people.

"Imagine if you suddenly no longer had air in your lungs, what would happen? What would happen if someone took away your ability to breathe?"

"I would die! That's a stupid question."

"Exactly...that's how it is for Emrys...and he is a part of your destiny in being the greatest king Albion has ever known. He has helped you more times than even I can care to count. The two of you are two sides of the same coin, and where one went the other followed."

"Wait...so...dragon...do you have a name?" I heard Gwaine ask.

"My name is Kilgharrah, Sir Gwaine."

"Heh...right...so you're saying that this Emrys fellow is the most powerful person with magic..."

"Correct."

"And that where Arthur went he would follow or the other way around yeah?"

"Yes."

"You...you can't be serious. Then that means..."

"Means what Gwaine!?" I shouted at him.

He swallowed as his eyes went wide and his breathing became heavy and ragged as the look of disbelief washed over him. "If all that is true...then the only person that would fit that description would be...Merlin."

"No...that's impossible! I would know if Merlin were a sorcerer or warlock or...whatever! That isn't true!"

"But it is, Young Pendragon. Merlin is Emrys. Emrys is what he's called amongst the druids and others who practice magic."

"So...how...how do you know...him...then?"

"I've known of him since I could see futures, outcomes, and prophecies...I personally knew him when he first arrived in Camelot. He came to me for advice many times, and eventually we struck a bargain one one of the times he came to me. When it came time for him to deliver on his promise...I had him set me free...so he did. When you went in search for Balinor, you went in search of Merlin's father...though, he did not know it until just after the two of you set out...when Balinor died, Merlin gained his powers...and he commanded me with his powers that I am to never attack Camelot again, and that I am to show mercy to others. I am his to command. However, even though I know he wouldn't want me showing myself to you or revealing any of this...I felt his life being threatened by powerful magic and I couldn't ignore it. He is kin to me, and I couldn't leave him to die...or at the very least suffer."

"B...but if...if he really is Emrys...and...and only Emrys can pull the blade out...then..." I sank to my knees and stared at Merlin with so many mixed emotions. Shock, wonder, Disbelief, sorrow, anger, distrust, and betrayed, but none of them were happy. The man I knew barely even existed and now is barely even alive.

"He would have to push through it with all of his inner strength. He is immortal so he won't die...but that very well means he could stay at the brink of death until he finds the strength to wake up and remove the dagger."

I looked around at my knights that had witnessed this whole conversation and they no longer looked at the dragon, they all looked at Merlin who lies still in a patch of green grass with a blade stuck steadfast into his shoulder. I then looked at Gwaine who had a singular tear go down his cheek as he walked up to Merlin.

"Merlin, you damn fool. You don't give anything have measures do you, mate?" He quickly wiped away the stray tear and chuckled despite himself. He looked at the wound and then at Merlin's face. "Merl...I'm gonna need you to wake up for me, buddy. You're my first real friend, and you can't go leaving me yet. I still haven't taken you to the best taverns."

"Gwaine..."

"Don't...don't you say a single word to me, princess. I heard the dragon. He's this so called Emrys who is all powerful and immortal...but he's my friend first...and right now...I'm watching my best friend die right before my eyes. So, don't you dare say a damn thing to me, unless you've come up with a brilliant plan to save him. Only Emrys can pull out the blade remember? Otherwise you die, and Merlin wouldn't want that."

"Young Pendragon, there is a way that you may be able to help him. I can cast a spell on the two of you, forcing the two of you to share a mind for a moment." The dragon said low, with a hunt of warning.

"But?"

"You will see him suffer his greatest fears with very little you can do for him...you will see memories of his regret, and you will learn even more about Merlin than you have just learned...I also do not know how it will effect you because of how powerful Merlin is."

"What do you mean?"

"The spell I will need to cast on you is extremely old, as old as the old religion itself. It's called a soul sharing spell..."

"Soul sharing spell?"

"Yes. A soul sharing spell. You will share a piece of his soul and he will share a piece of yours. There is a primary and secondary spell. The primary spell will be on Merlin since you are going into his mind. It used to be a way for two people who considered each other to be brothers, to strengthen their bond by entering the mind of the other and to see their memories and truest thoughts. Considering the fact that a spell that was made to alter his mind had already been forced upon him to suffer his greatest fears and deepest regrets, I'm afraid you will only be seeing that as you try to convince him to pull the dagger out of his shoulder."

"So...we'll be sharing a soul...while I'm in his mind?"

"Yes. It is the only way that you can help him. However, I do not know the effect it will have on you and your soul should you succeed. Typically the soul sharing ends once the two under the spell wake up, and then both souls are returned, but Emrys is not a typical sorcerer or Warlock, and this spell was usually used between two sorcerers..."

I heard footsteps coming closer and I looked up from Merlin's body to see my knights surrounding him. "Sir Gwaine, where are the other people of Camelot?"

"They ran further into the forest when the dragon showed up. No one but myself, the druids, and your other knights have seen anything that's happened here."

"Are you sure this is the only way I can help him? Are you sure it will help him?"

"I'm sure I can cast the spell on the two of you, that you will be able to enter his mind, and that the two of you will be sharing a soul...but as far as it helping him, that is of your choosing. I know that you feel he has betrayed you and lied to you, but if you truly want to help him, you must do so with no doubt...this spell only works if the secondary person is willing."

"I have many questions for him after this...but...if it saves him...I'm willing."

"Very well..." I heard him voice a low incantation and watched him blow air onto Merlin that was seemingly colored a mixture of golden and blue rays of light. I heard him utter another incantation, but before I could look I was already losing consciousness.