Back in Camelot Arthur grinned with unconditional delight and kissed Gwen, his queen. She smiled like the sun, making him warm again if only for a few fleeting moments. She placed the Princes hand upon her belly and, as if the child knew their father was there, a powerful kick hit Arthur's hand. Gwaine blinked blearily behind them and tried to sit up, kicking Lancelot in the process. Gwen laughed and Arthur turned beginning to laugh as Lancelot shot a death glare at the befuddled Gwaine, rubbing his head. Then suddenly Gwaine didn't look confused and Arthur knew he had just remembered it all. Gwaine sat there head in hands and cried silently for his lost friend. Gwen looked worried and went to go to him but Arthur pulled her back. "Sorry, Gwen. I'll explain everything later but we need to talk to the King. Look after Gwaine for now." He murmured and with a look at Lancelot he strode out of the room, the slightly red eyed knight close behind.
As Arthur arrived in the court Uther was hearing of a poor man, Alexander, who had been turned mad by a Sorceress in the forest. Upon his sons entrance he dismissed the council and called the ashen Knights forward.
He asked of what had happened on their mission and Arthur spoke as quick as he could trying to hide the emotions boiling beneath the surface. Lancelot had to take over when they got to the lake because Arthur couldn't say anymore. The Kings eyes grew as cold as Emrys' and he told them to leave as he discussed with Gaius and his other advisors.
Arthur murmured he needed to go to his rooms and walked off. He sat on his bed and let one tear escape for his stupid bumbling best friend who was no more. He blinked and they were there. Morgana and Emrys were in front of him and both were smiling their emotionless eyes promising oblivion. Emrys said one thing "Dollop Head." and Arthur's eyes once more filled with tears at hearing this facsimile of his friend say that. He cried out and threw a discarded sword at the smirking man in front of him but the sword went through Emrys and clanged against the wall behind them. Morgana laughed and said incredulously "He thinks we're real! Poor stupid hallucinating little brother. Bet his mummy's so proud." her voice laughing once more by the end. Her cruel words stung him deep and he couldn't look at her. He looked at the cold dark man and saw his eyes flash a merciless black and fire consumed him and Morgana 'til only a grinning smile and cold eyes hung in the air. After a few minutes even that eerie sight had gone but the Prince hadn't. Arthur was curled up upon his bed sobbing and no one found him for many minutes.
As Emrys slept a war began in his mind. Merlin was cowering trying to magic himself some protection but the raw power he had always owned was no longer there. He was scared, so scared of the darkness he knew had crept up his back and made itself at home upon his shoulders. When a cold darkness crept to him he turned to face his final battle and saw himself with eyes full of vengeance and wrath and shadows coiled like snakes around him he knew that for once he wouldn't win. He despaired in the face of the cold smirking black man, unconsciously knowing him to be his end. "Hello, Merlin. My name is Emrys. I can see inside of you, Merlin, and you are
so scared of the glorious dark. You are like a dragon without its fire, lost and weak without 'your' magic. But know this, it isn't yours. It never has been. I am the true form of your magic, and it is I who shall remain here for
eternity. I am magic incarnate and you can't be allowed to be lurking in the corners to stop me. There is a dark future coming, a glorious future, waiting, but unfortunately for you, you won't be here to see it. Say goodbye, Merlin, to this world, for I bring your oblivion with swift paws." he whispered in a voice that promised the end of all things. Merlin looked up and saw his own eyes slowly morphing to the black opals which would be the last thing he ever saw. He stood up and gazed out to the darkness and thought of his Arthur and hoped that he at least would get away with his life and free will. He thought of the man he had never had the courage to say three words too. He pictured the scene of him saying I love you to his prince and screamed "Arthur!" as his flesh melted into the dark. Emrys would never be challenged again.
Morgana stared at the dark man next to her. Although she would never admit to it she was both afraid and entranced of the vengeful god unleashed next to her but she knew that she was safer with him than she'd be with any other sorcerer. Then his eyes flew open, the terrible smile she found beautiful spread like a shadow upon his face. Morgana smirked and queried "Why were your eyes black earlier? I've never seen anything like that before." For a few second he looked confused but then he replied with a chuckle "Well I was using a lot of power. The trees didn't want anything to do with me. The dryads have been sending warnings about us around the forest. They were trying to push me away the idiots. They learnt their lesson .I broke them." Morgana's face showed of the awe she held for this man with unimaginable power. She questioned "What do we do next, Emrys? I wouldn't mind seeing father but if Gaius wants to die that can be next. I don't mind, really." Anger sliced into her words at the mention of her father and her eyes grew cold.
"One thing before that, Morgana. If you have feelings for me, try to lose them, I'll just rip you up and let you drift through the wind. I've killed you once; don't think I wouldn't try again." Said Emrys in his old emotionless voice but as he spoke she saw his eyes. They spoke different words to his voice. She saw his protection of her and all who were like him and knew she couldn't just give up on him. He was her saviour from the madness hanging like an axe above her head. She nodded and asked what they would do now again in his mind this time. She wanted a glimpse of his thoughts as she pushed her words through but she saw nothing there. It was like running through a blank and vacant room. She pulled out and saw the tiniest hint of a smirk at the corner of Emrys' mouth and she knew he was playing with her. Her eyes hardened and she, in anger at his mockery, shoved the memory of him killing her into his mind. His eyes grew wide and he winced at the pain. She smiled like a victorious snake about to devour its prey then, before she could move, she was against a tree and he was standing in front of her his eyes the glittering terrible black but she was not afraid but entranced. Then all the ferocity and darkness faded from his eyes and she fell to the floor like a puppet with her strings cut, her mouth in the all too familiar smirk. But Emrys did not see her.
Emrys was stood in Morgana's mind as she died. He could feel the icy poison prowling through her bones, freezing her from the inside out. He saw himself, repentant tears in his eyes and he cursed his own stupidity, his frailty. He shook his mind away from the burning memory and saw her smiling smugly at him and he pushed her against a tree and appeared in front of her his mind full of pure anger at the stupid child looking at him with wide and unafraid eyes. "How dare she try to better me! I should just leave her. I don't need her!" he fumed behind his i imperturbable gold eyes. He delved into her mind and was shocked to a still. He saw how she regarded him and he let her down abruptly. She was most probably smirking at what she assumed to be her victory but he was still staring at where she had been, still frozen in her mind. Then he pulled himself out of her still awed mind and helped her upright from the forest floor and he smirked behind his cold eyes; unlike Morgana he could hide his emotions well not blatantly parading them as she always did. He said "Your choice." and a shark like smile grew upon his face.

LONGEST CHAPTER YET! Writers block has hit with vengeance so don't expect an update to soon. However Summer Hols coming up (WOOHOOO!) so I'll have more time soon. Huge thanks to the super awesome Cead for giving me an ending I just need to build to and editing my speech. I'm rubbish at dialogue :P
Toodle pip my lovelies .