AN: Merlin is not mine, probably never will.

READ THIS: Okay. Can I just say, before you all yell at me, I know how painfully short this chapter is. I try to make all my chapters at least 1,000 words, and this one clearly fell short. So, I will say it now, I AM SORRY.

Also, to Kermit's Rainbow Connection, don't feel bad! I appreciate a little critical review now and then. Glad for your honesty!

To freshly caught Cornish pixies, yes, it was in the lake of Avalon for a while, but then Merlin got it out and stuck it in a rock in the forest :)

CLOSING MY POLL SOON!

Morgana felt horrible. Her magic was unable to cure her this time. She was dying, Arthur was alive, and so was Merlin.

Agravaine had told her Merlin was dead. And now Merlin would be the death of her.

So when she focused after waking up to a burning pain around her wound, the sight of her ally did not improve her mood in the slightest.

She gave him her best glare, momentarily forgetting the ache. She was pleased to see him swallow nervously.

"I knew you were incompetent," Morgana said in a low, deadly voice, "but I didn't think even you could mess up this badly."

"My Lady, I am sorry, I do not know how -"

"Save it for your execution," she hissed back. She jerked her head towards the knights. "I see they are not as dumb as you are and have finally caught on- though them long enough," she added, with a sneer at them. The knights did there best to ignore her. They appeared to be eating around the fire, but all of them had been listening, privately slightly enjoying Morgana telling Agravaine off like a misbehaving child.

"My Lady, I heard that Merlin was dead, I even went to check myself-"

"Save your excuses. They're no use to me now."

Agravaine bowed his head in shame. The knights repressed grins.

They stayed the night about halfway back to Camelot. They probably could have gotten father, but Morgana was fading quickly and, not wanting to be cruel despite what she had done, Arthur had ordered them to stop and set up camp. The knights who weren't on watch fell asleep quickly. Merlin waited for them to be asleep before he slipped past Leon, telling him he had to pee.

When he'd gone a safe distance from the camp, he found an area that had few trees and called Kilgarrah. Within minutes, the Great Dragon landed in front of him.

"You called, young warlock?" Kilgarrah rumbled.

"Yes." Merlin stared up at the dragon. "I conveniently found Excalibur in the forest today. You wouldn't happened to know how that happened, would you?"

The dragon gave a wry smile. "I might have an idea." He lowered his head to view Merlin better.

"I could feel that something important was to happen. I have seen and heard every Druid prophecy, Merlin. I conferred with a Druid tribe, and they agreed the time was right to remove the sword from the stone. Iseldir left it for you to find. I trust it was useful?"

Merlin nodded. "Morgana is fatally injured. If she makes it to Camelot, she will be executed."

"I thought so." The dragon looked smug. "The death of the witch brings Arthur a large step closer to the rise of Albion. That is why it felt so urgent to get you the sword." The dragon surveyed Merlin, thinking. "Where is the sword now?"

"Back at the camp."

Kilgarrah nodded. "I will notify Iseldir. He will have to take the sword back. We cannot be sure he is ready to wield it, and I do not want to risk him possessing it too early. He will put the sword back where you left it and place an enchantment on it that will allow Arthur and only Arthur to remove it when he is ready."

Merlin nodded. "Thank you, Kilgarrah."

The dragon flew off, and Merlin traipsed towards the camp, insisting, upon arriving, that he had gotten lost to a skeptical Leon.

0o0

The next morning, while they were packing up and preparing to return to Camelot, Arthur asked "Where's the sword?'

"Um..." Merlin picked up Arthur's first sword. "Here."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Not that one. The one you found."

"Oh." Merlin looked around.

"Don't tell me you've lost it?" Arthur said in exasperation.

Merlin grinned sheepishly. "I left it by that tree. I don't know where it went."

Arthur glanced over the area Merlin was pointing to. "Great," he huffed, and walked off.

Merlin smiled. Thankfully, Arthur hadn't looked close enough to see the small Druid symbol carved into the wood.

Okay, if you're wondering why I didn't just let Arthur keep Excalibur, I didn't want to steal his "pulling the sword from the stone" moment. I also had Iseldir do the spell because I was a little disappointed at how they did it in the show -I felt like Arthur thought it was a special accomplishment, and it was sad that it was actually all Merlin. Usually I don't mind, but for some reason I did in that scene.