The Funeral: Merlin

Morgana burst into being with a swirl of darkness and a scream of rage, about fifteen feet in front of Merlin. The sight of Arthur's crown lying on the Pendragon crest had unnerved her completely, just as Arthur knew it would. She was dangerous in a rage, just like any Pendragon, and now she was totally focused on Arthur. Merlin knew she was as stubbornly mad to take the throne of Camelot as Uther had been to stamp out magic from the world. It made her careless. It made her arrogant. Merlin's heart pounded, but he kept still, loose, waiting for the moment to move.

He had spied Morgana earlier as she had slid through the crowd. The protection spell had been set, all that remained was to activate the spell once the field was clear.

"What is your obsession with servants, Arthur?" Merlin could see the back of Morgana's head as she moved closer to the king, who still stood at the top of the stairs. HIs heart was still pounding from the emotions that Arthur's words had evoked. Oddly, Merlin recalled Morgana's beautiful dark curls shining in the firelight, so different from the knotted snarls in front of him.

"Your people are laughing at you," continued Morgana. "First, you marry a servant and make her queen. Now this fuss over Merlin." She paused. "Really, Arthur, I never understood your fondness for him. Even if he did have magic, he was a bumbling fool and he had few qualms about killing when it suited him."

Arthur merely stood impassively as the words rushed over him. His face appeared still and regal. But Merlin knew that look on Arthur's face. It was one he knew well. The young king was wrapped in his hunter's quiet; he waited still and unmoving, allowing his quarry to venture ever closer until the final moment. Morgana was so entwined in her rage that she misjudged her danger. Merlin took a few breaths to steady himself.

"You can't hope to know who he truly was Morgana," answered Arthur. "And you can't even hope to understand."

Merlin's heart flooded again with that unfamiliar joy that had filled him while Arthur had spoken on the balcony, for he heard it's echo again.

"He poisoned me Arthur. Did your precious friend explain how he tried to kill me behind your back?"

"Your sister's spell was destroying our people, Morgana. What choice did he have?"

"Told you that little fantasy before he died, did he? Or did Gaius have to fill you in." She laughed, a sound devoid of any mirth. "How long did it take him to die, Arthur? Did he beg you to let him die? Don't think I don't know the exact moment."

Arthur's head bowed just a fraction as Morgana's words spilled over him.

" He believed in you so desperately and he died knowing you despised him. That was the ultimate irony of the spell. Trapped in his mind,he died betrayed by the king he loved. Could he even hear you? You don't know how much I wanted to hear him beg for mercy! He deserved everything he got and more for all the times that he interfered. My sister Morgause would still be here if if not for his meddling." Arthur remained unmoving, but he glanced down at the figure on the bier. Merlin could almost see the nightmare as Arthur's mind flooded with the images of Morgana's words. And he realized how far short the spell had fallen, despite all that had happened.

"Did you feel the magic scream as he slipped away, Arthur? I did! He died calling your name...even a being as dull as yourself, must have heard it!"

Merlin edged closer to Morgana. Arthur's eyes did not even flicker, knowing the simplest of movements could reveal Merlin's presence to Morgana prematurely.

"He's not here to protect you any more, Arthur. You cannot stand against magic. Our father was wrong," she spat at him. "Magic can never be eradicated. It can never be defeated." Morgana came ever closer to Arthur. "Camelot is mine!"

Merlin's eyes met Arthur's. Together they gave the signal and with a cry, the knights rushed the wagon, drawing their swords from beneath the dragon crested cape. Arthur's horse got loose and the crowd moved back instinctively as the creature circled and then fled for the safety of the stables. Gawaine held aloft Excalibur, tossing it lightly to the king, who caught it with a surety of meeting an old friend. The knights turned as a group and pushed out away from Morgana in the confusion. The crowd backed away again. Guinevere had escorted Gaius and Alice to the edge of the courtyard in the hushed interval of Morgana's speech. The sudden smile that lit Arthur's face horrified the witch as he took in the action. Her eyes darted around her, refusing to show fear, but feeling the sudden constriction of the Merlin's protective circle activate.

"Merlin" shouted Arthur and then Morgana turned, still confused by the action but certain of her revenge.

"Call all you want Arthur, he's gone and Camelot is mine."

Shoving back his hood, Merlin threw himself the last few remaining feet forward, balancing as he positioned himself in front of Arthur. Boldly, he raised his hand. At the same time, Morgana screamed a lightning bolt from the netherworld. As it flashed, Merlin raised his other hand and a circle of fire shot into the sky, a rainbow shimmering remaining as the light sank down. The knights had positioned themselves at the outer edges of the circle of fire and he could still see them through the flickering veil, the crowd behind them. Only Morgan, Merlin and Arthur remained in the circle. Gawaine raised his fist in conspiratorial joy, giving him a shout of delight. Percival nodded. Even Leon smiled.

The warlock knew now was the crucial moment. His focus never wavered from Morgana. Shoulder to shoulder with Arthur, Merlin centered himself, as he saw Morgana attempt to attack the shields that enclosed her. She trembled and sank down to her knees as her last attempt drained her. He could see the blossoming terror in Morgana's eyes as her spells reverberated against the glowing shield.

"I'm still here," said Merlin evenly. His voice held just the faintest trace of warning. Shock paled Morgana's livid eyes. Disbelief, shock and hatred warred in her face as she looked into his eyes.

"I saw you fall", she said at last. "I saw the lightning reverse and strike you. I heard the magic scream two nights ago..." She shook her head in disbelief.

"I am Arthur's servant, Morgana. Nothing will ever change that. " Her green eyes glittered as he spoke to her. The anger in them was a snare awaiting his merest touch to release it's devastation. "You have seen my magic. I have fought by Arthur's side from the beginning, even before your own magic awoke."

"You serve Arthur," spat Morgana, her eyes unreasoning and dark with rage. "Arthur! Vain, proud and arrogant on the best of days, a vicious fool on his worst. You have betrayed magic once again, as I begin to see, you always have! What hope of freedom does magic have under the rule of such a king?"

"What hope of freedom do any of us have under such a queen as you!" he shot back. "Camelot has not forgotten your brief reign of terror. They remember the crops you burned. The people you killed."

"Enough," cried Arthur. Merlin could hear the murmur of the crowd even through the crowd. "Enough,Morgana!" Merlin folded his arms over his chest.

"Can't you see what is in front of you? You claim to rule Camelot because magic has been denied. That time has ended Morgana."

She looked between Arthur and Merlin, the truth just beginning to sink in. For a second, her mouth gaped and then the venom filled her eyes again.

"You are Emrys," she cried suddenly. Just as Merlin himself, in the fresh aftermath of near disaster had made the leap of understanding before his mind could react, so the moment revealed the truth to Morgana.

She laughed, a bitter sound, and with a flick of her eyes a fireball grew between Merlin and Morgana. The energy crackled, the colors corruscating over the sphere, until at last the energy peeled off in a transparent layer, gaining an image as it rotated around the glowing sphere. Merlin and Dragoon flowed in the whirling layers of images, until, she gestured and the energy dissipated in flash of sound, like an earthquake, like the roar of water.

Their was a horror in Arthur's eyes. The image of Dragoon settled in his mind and to Merlin's surprise, he felt his connection to Arthur falter. Like a wound, it caught him numbly. He looked desperately over to Arthur, but the king did not respond

"Magic has always been at the heart of Camelot," cried Morgana, almost giddy with her new knowledge. She called a new globe of energy into her hand.

Merlin called to Arthur, but again there was no response. His heart faltered from the shock. The globe began to whirl madly, images forming on the surface as it continued to spin. Dragoon appeared, but his actions were twisted, true enough to real events but working against Camelot all the while. Merlin snapped the globe out of existence with a depressing hiss and Morgana looked up in shock. Then her anger focused on a new plan. He saw it bloom in her eyes in the microseconds of their gaze.

With a smirk that he remembered far too well, Morgana looked into his eyes and spoke a single word, "Ácene".

He easily shoved the spell aside, almost unthinking, and turned back, hoping against reality, calling to Arthur once again. The king's eyes were empty, almost as shattered as that moment of his own magic's revelation. A wave of dizziness shook him, and he stumbled, but he came to his feet quickly.

"You are a fool, Merlin!" Morgana was laughing.

Merlin felt a terrible sadness overtake him . A fateful courage rose up in him as well. No one would ever question his loyalty to Arthur again. He had brought his friend to the brink of his destiny. Surely If he defeated Morgana now, his work was done. This was for Arthur, he told himself. In his heart, he knew the king would grieve, perhaps. No, that was wrong, he told himself. Something was wrong. Arthur was merely in shock again. It was Arthur who had stood by him when he had been lost. It was Arthur's voice that had pierced the spell.

And yet, said his agonized heart. And yet, with one more inexplicable image of Merlin's actions, Arthur would drop away, stunned, just as he was now. It didn't matter. Hadn't he promised to serve Arthur always? Had he not made that vow and bound it to his soul with magic? He would remain true to Arthur, no matter the cost. No one would ever question his loyalty again. Hadn't Arthur said so at the funeral? He would fight this last time for Camelot, for Arthur. Deep down, he would be glad when it was over. Camelot would survive and Arthur would mend. Vaguely, he knew the thought felt wrong. Looking down Merlin could see that the very stones were creeping like vines up his legs, holding him in place. He brushed them off with a wave of his hand and turned to look at the witch again. His sorrow filled him with a doomed anger, with reckless abandon. In the end, he fought alone. He turned to face the beautiful wreckage before him.

"Let's end this, Morgana."