Author's notes: Once again I was thrilled by the response to my last chapter. You are all so loyal and write such nice reviews about my humble efforts. :)

I think I've managed to reply to most of you, but to my guest reviewers, I can only say a big thank you in here. Believe me, I appreciate every single review.

We're back to Friday and time for the next chapter. Morgana's fate is featured in this part, though not her ultimate destiny yet. I think some of you will be happy to see a few of your wishes being addressed here.

Chapter Thirty-three

The Ladies of Camelot – Morgana

Merlin stood above Gwen, his hand barely touching her bandaged leg as he incanted the few words in the ancient language.

"Aclaensian bilswaep!"

So briefly did his eyes flash gold that Arthur could have sworn he'd only imagined the change of colour in Merlin's eyes.

"That's it? That's all you have to do?" The King asked, his brows lifting incredulously. "Guinevere's well now?"

"I've cleansed the wound of magic. Now it should heal naturally, but that will take a little time," Merlin explained with a shrug, touching Gwen's hand as she groaned and turned towards her husband. "I wish I could say the same for Morgana."

"You didn't use the same spell on Morgana?" Arthur sounded shocked, yet he tucked the blankets around his wife's shoulder, his hand toying tenderly with her dark curls as he smiled down on her. Abruptly, he looked up, his smile dying. "Merlin, do you have something against saving Morgana?"

"No! Why would I and why would you think that?" Merlin asked, his expression a combination of hurt and annoyance. "And I did use the spell on her... it's just that purifying her injury doesn't change the fact that she could be mortally wounded."

"Merlin, I'm sorry," Arthur said quickly. "I should never... Of course I don't doubt you. It's just that I'm tired and wretched..."

"I doubt you! I was told you were the most powerful warlock ever," interrupted another voice from a shaded corner of Gaius' room. "I think you don't want her to get better," Kay accused, walking forward into the light, the candles showing off his haggard countenance. "Perhaps you don't want a rival sorcerer here in Camelot!"

"Kay, that's nonsense!" Arthur chose to answer, defending his best friend from one of his oldest comrades. "Merlin doesn't have a jealous bone in his body."

"So you say! Didn't he already kill Morgana?" Kay spat out, clearly overcome by distress at Morgana's fate, and making Arthur wonder just how deep the knight's feelings for his sister went.

"He had to! She was about to kill me." Arthur glanced down at his wife, but, thankfully, Guinevere was still asleep, unaware of the angry words being exchanged above her head. He left the shelter of the bedside, passed the wooden-latticed screen to confront Kay. "But that's behind us now. Morgana has changed and neither Merlin nor I wish to see her die... only we might not have a choice."

"Then order him to help her." Kay stretched out a hand, pointing straight at Merlin. "If he's as powerful as he claims, he should be able to save her. Surely even you can see that, Arthur."

Arthur pushed aside his own qualms about Merlin's reluctance. "It's not quite so straightforward, Sir Kay. Did you hear anything of my conversation with Gaius earlier? There can be some very unpleasant consequences in bringing back someone from near death."

"I did listen... and you said it depended on who was wielding the spell," Kay affirmed, unwilling to give up his argument.

Arthur's head shook from side to side in exasperation. "I was only surmising. Believe me, I am not an authority on magic."

"Yet you returned it to your realm?" Kay's stance was mulish, driven by his burgeoning feelings for Morgana.

"I know enough to realise that magic can be used for good as well as evil!" Arthur replied, anger beginning to stir within him. "And I did not give magic users permission to use it to harm others. Tell me, Kay, have you been paying attention at all, or have you been too busy paying court to my sister?"

At those words, Kay blanched and his hand went to his sword, forgetting his boyhood companion was now The King, but before he had a chance to draw the weapon, Arthur spoke again.

"Forgive me, Kay. That was unfair." A rueful grin touched Arthur's lips. "I always knew you held Morgana in high regard... even when we were children. Believe me when I say I don't want Morgana to die. She might have been a thorn in my side for many years, yet it appears that's no longer true... and I've learned not to act out of vengeance. I'm sure I speak for Merlin too."

"You do!" Merlin agreed, stepping up to his king's side. "Sir Kay, you don't know me, nor Iseldir, so it's only natural that you doubt us, but we're trying everything in our power and we will not give up hope until Morgana draws her last breath."

Camelot's newest knight bridled, though there was a chink of indecision in his eyes. Arthur saw it at once and pushed forward this slight advantage. "Kay, you might not have a reason to trust either Iseldir or Merlin, but I do... Have faith in me when I stand surety for them." Arthur spread his hands wide. "Without Merlin, I would be dead, and without Iseldir Sir Leon would have died some years ago. You can ask him if you mistrust me!"

"I would, but Sir Leon isn't in the city. I know because I looked for him. He and that big knight Percival left earlier, though no one seems to know why or where they've gone," Kay said, but the censure was leaching from his voice. "I don't doubt you, Arthur... not really."

"No..." Arthur drew the word out as he glanced at Merlin, who answered with a simple shrug while replying telepathically.

"He's your friend. Tell him if you want. You don't seriously believe Kay is in league with King Mark?"

"I never considered that for a moment. Kay has no subterfuge in him."

Since he'd asked Kay to trust him, Arthur felt he should return the favour. He took a deep breath before speaking aloud. "They're not in the city because they've taken what remains of my light cavalry and are heading south-west even as we speak to confront King Mark of Cornwall."

"Mark of Cornwall?" Kay sounded mystified. "What does he have to do with anything?"

"Everything! He's trying to take over Albion and seize my throne. Lord Avebury was his accomplice..."

With his hands instinctively fisting, Kay ground out between clenched teeth. "That's why he tried to have you killed?"

"More or less," Arthur agreed, his voice flat with weariness. "We've had Avebury watched for some time and we discovered he instructed his man Daman to hire a sorcerer to kill me, so that magic would be blamed. He never really cared about magic being legalised. It was all just a ploy to keep us from suspecting his true purpose for being in Camelot. Only he got more than he bargained for."

"Thank the gods for that... and you, Lord Emrys." Kay finally saluted Merlin and the smile he gave the warlock was small but genuine.

"There's no need to thank me, Kay, or for calling me Lord Emrys. I've been saving Arthur's life on a fairly regular basis for years." Merlin laughed depreciatingly. "And you must call me Merlin. Lord Emrys is too grand for someone like me. I doubt I'll ever get used to it," Merlin ended with another lift of his narrow shoulders.

"Nevertheless, I feel I should apologise for questioning you for a time there," Kay admitted with a heartier grin. "But, please, is there truly nothing to be done for Morgana?"

Fortunately, Merlin didn't have to give Kay more negative news as someone knocked quietly on the door and entered without waiting for permission.

"Your Highness," Lord Cedric spoke in hushed tones as he walked closer to address his king. "I hope you don't mind me interrupting... but the council are worried about The Queen. Is she hurt very badly?"

After gazing once more towards the screen which shielded his sleeping Gwen and an attentive Mary Howden, Arthur replied in an undertone. "Thank you for asking, Cedric. You may tell the council that The Queen's wound was not mortal and with proper care and rest, Gaius assures me she'll recover."

"That's excellent news, Sire." Cedric bowed, his voice and countenance full of relief, but he hesitated to leave. "There is something else you need to know. Geoffrey of Monmouth took the liberty of calling a council meeting to address the death of Lord Avebury..."

A stern mask settled over Arthur's face. Avebury was a nobleman and Merlin's position of advisor was still very recent. Was the question of magic's usage going to be raised so soon after the ballot? Somehow, he wasn't sure he could handle trouble from the council at this moment in time.

"And?" he stated severely, rolling his shoulder in an effort to free it from pain.

"And we reached the conclusion that Merlin acted in your defence. Had he not used his magic to repel Avebury, it might be you lying in a bed critically injured."

Arthur and Merlin both let out audible sighs, but Arthur took it upon himself to respond. "Thank you for letting us know so promptly. I'm sure Merlin is just as relieved as I that he doesn't face the death penalty."

"Not that I would ever let that happen," Arthur added quickly for Merlin's ears only.

"I'm sure no one in the council ever contemplated that scenario, Sire... but before I go, there is more to tell," the elderly noble didn't wish to burden Arthur with affairs of state at this time, but he did have important information to impart to The King. "The council decided we should search Avebury's chambers to see if we could shed some light on why he should try to kill you. They weren't convinced he was simply angry over losing the ballot and neither Geoffrey nor I chose to dissuade them. "

"I think we all know that wasn't his true motive," Arthur said, with a tired grin. Geoffrey and Cedric were wily old warhorses who were quite capable of leading the council when he or Guinevere were indisposed... and thankfully, they seemed completely loyal to the current House of Pendragon.

"Indeed it wasn't, Sire. It didn't take the guards long to discover a hiding place in his travel chest and we found a document therein which commits Lord Avebury to prepare a path for Mark of Cornwall to usurp your throne."

"So he was foolish enough to carry written proof," Merlin joined the conversation, noticing that Arthur was almost dropping with fatigue. There was little hope that the two of them would be capable of riding out tonight to join the expeditionary force, even if they weren't concerned for the well being of Camelot's Ladies.

"Indeed! He was a very foolish and prideful man and he deserved to die," Lord Cedric offered his opinion before bowing and taking leave of Arthur, only asking that he and Geoffrey be kept informed of both Gwen's and Morgana's health. They would pass the news on to the rest of the council.

Then he was gone and a strange stillness fell over the room, born of too many hours spent working towards legalising magic, laying down plans to subvert Mark's conquest and not forgetting the alliance Mark had made with Alined. Arthur could be forgiven for thinking that peace was a long way off, but Kay was speaking again and this time with more authority.

"Arthur, forgive me for wavering from my duty to you even for a moment. I should have remembered your honest heart... though you did a very good job of trying to hide it on occasion."

Arthur held his hand aloft, stopping Kay in mid flow. Flattery embarrassed him, being more used to Merlin's impudent jibes. "There's nothing to forgive between old friends. Yet there is one thing you can do for me, Kay."

"You have only to ask." Now Kay's smile was back full force.

"Don't be so hasty to pledge your support, for I fear you may not like what I want you to do." Allowing his tiredness to get the better of him, Arthur rested his backside on the edge of the table where Gaius had treated Guinevere, his fingers idly following the faint trace marks of her blood which hadn't yet been cleaned away. Why were his loved ones always a target for people who wanted him dead? He shook himself alert. "Merlin and I were to join the army tonight, but neither of us can leave Camelot as yet. Nevertheless, I need to know what progress they are making and if they have already encountered the Cornwallian army. Would you be my eyes and ears, Sir Kay?"

"I will go, Sire, if you insist... and gladly, but can I ask that you send someone else, if possible." This time it was Kay's eyes which strayed to the little staircase and the wooden door above it. "I too have a reason to remain here in Camelot for now."

"Kay, I'm sorry, but my knights are sadly depleted after the battle at Camlann and I need someone who I trust," Arthur said smiling sympathetically at a lovelorn Kay while he placed one booted foot on a nearby bench.

"Arthur, Sir Tristan has returned," Merlin inserted quickly, understanding Kay's pain. How long had it been since he himself had felt helpless to prevent the girl he loved from dying? Yet, at moments like these, the pain surged back... raw as ever.

"Tristan?" Arthur's eyes sparked with enthusiasm for the first time since the celebrations had turned into a nightmare, when The First Ladies of Camelot had been struck down. For a few seconds, he frowned. When had he returned to thinking of Morgana in those terms? Yet, his sovereign's duty compelled him to put aside personal musings. "Tristan? Are you sure, Merlin. He's not presented himself to me."

"I doubt he's had the time. I only spotted him when I was searching for Alvarr in the quadrangle, but it was he. Besides, you know what he's like."

"You mean he doesn't stand on ceremony? Follow protocol?" Arthur asked, managing a self-derogatory bark of laughter. "I remember that well. Actually, I'm surprised he even accepted a knighthood from me, losing Isolde as he did in my service."

Merlin nodded supportively as he too sat on the bench at Arthur's side. "I don't think he ever blamed you for that. People die in war," his voice was quiet with sorrow as he remembered the cynical smugglers who had found something so worthwhile in Arthur that they were willing to risk their lives for him. "Tristan and Isolde knew that, but they still chose to fight for you. Actually, I think he was glad you gave him a home after Isolde's death... a place to return to when he's sick of wandering."

Arthur's mouth turned up at the corners in the shadow of a smile. "I could never tie him down... even I realised that." The King turned to Kay. "He's a knight of Camelot with the right to roam. He's probably returned because he heard about Camlann. You might have a reprieve, Kay. I'll ask Tristan to accept my commission and he'll probably be only too happy to leave the city. Sir Tristan is never happy staying in one place for long."

"Thank you, Sire." Kay bowed as he spoke. "I won't forget and I'll obey your every command in future."

"Oh, I wouldn't offer Arthur such a carte blanche. He'll have you running around like someone demented within no time," Merlin laughed. Just for a moment, he felt his spirits rise.

"Don't worry about Kay, Merlin," Arthur too grinned. "He's very adroit at making himself scarce when I'm ordering him about."

Even Kay broke into a smile at that. "It was a survival skill when you were playing the spoilt prince. Anyone with half a brain kept out of your way. I remember Morgana was the only one who could give as good as she got!"

Morgana's name had the disastrous effect of returning them all to the present and the very sombre knowledge that she might never regain consciousness. Silence descended like a heavy fog over the three men.

Again it was Arthur who recalled his duty first. He slid off his impromptu seat, adjusting his belt and his scabbard. "What do you think, Merlin? Can I take some time out to find Sir Tristan and ask him to ride after Leon... or am I needed here?"

Rising too, Merlin answered honestly, "Gwen is asleep, Arthur, and I believe she'll stay that way for quite some time. In fact, rest is the best thing for her. As for Morgana..." Here Merlin hesitated; he really had no idea if Morgana would slip away without waking. "If she does wake and asks for you, I'll tell her you'll return as soon as possible... and she does have Kay."

After a long measured glance at Kay, Arthur spoke, aware that he did want to talk to Morgana. "Good! I'll hurry back. After all she's done, I still would like to wish her well... wherever she might be going."

The King had only been gone a short while when the door to Merlin's old room opened and Gaius' wan face peered out. "Merlin, come quickly, Morgana is awake and has asked for you."

"Me?" Merlin had assumed he would be the last person she wished to talk to. After all, he doubted he was her favourite person. Though his meetings with her since she'd returned to Camelot had been fairly ambiguous, she'd treated him as a mortal enemy for many a long year.

Was he the only one who felt it a little surreal that she would ask to meet the very person who had killed her? Though perhaps in killing her, she'd been cleansed of the bitterness which had contaminated her soul, allowing her true personality to return.

"Yes, Merlin," Gaius answered impatiently. "Don't stand their gaping. Do hurry. We have no idea how long Morgana will remain conscious."

Merlin started walking dreamlike towards the stairs. Perhaps she believed he could cure her with magic. He would certainly try. Without a second thought, she'd been willing to sacrifice her own life to save Arthur, and for that Merlin would be forever in her debt.

There was the spell he'd used to save Uther. That hadn't worked... but mainly because of Morgana enchanting the pendant to the left-hand path. Or he could try the one he'd used on Arthur when Morgana had bewitched Gwen to murder her husband... but that had been for poisoning... hadn't it? Merlin shook his head to clear away the cobwebs. Now he was attempting to heal Morgana. He just hoped she wouldn't change sides again if he was successful.

He'd reached the door to the room and he entered warily. Even in his narrow bed, Morgana looked diminutive, her fair skin paler than it had been some time before when they'd purified her wound of Alvarr's lethal magic. Now a faint tinge of blue haloed her lips and her breathing was laboured. Gaius and Iseldir had dressed her in a clean white gown, yet he could see the edge of the bandages that circled her chest and shoulder.

Her eyes opened at the sound of his soft footsteps. She'd been waiting for him and, with a great effort, she lifted her arm toward him, only this time there was no menace in her gesture. Merlin took the last few steps quickly and slid into a chair by the bed, taking her outstretched hand without a conscious thought. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Iseldir cross to the door, leaving to give the two most powerful sorcerers in the land some privacy.

"Don't be afraid, Morgana. Between Gaius, Iseldir and myself, we'll find a way to save you," he heard himself say, though his voice sounded strange... cracked... old, as if part of Dragoon were inhabiting his body.

"No, Merlin," she replied very low, her head barely moving on the pillow and her breath whispering in concert with her words. "You mustn't. I have told Iseldir the same. You must not use sorcery to bring me back."

"But it's all right now. Maybe you didn't hear Arthur's announcement, but magic is allowed in Camelot from this day forth." Merlin sought to reassure her.

"I heard... and I am glad," Morgana stated, finding the strength to lift her head, but it was fleeting and she soon collapsed back in her bed. "But magic has already brought me back from the dead. That was wrong."

If Merlin had been unsure about Morgana's fate, that confusion faded and he grinned irreverently. "Magic brought Arthur back from the dead too. Can you say that was wrong?"

"He was brought back for a purpose. I know that now. To free magic... and sorcerers. To unite the kingdom." Morgana spoke in short bursts, as if she had to ration every breath. A grimace of pain crossed her face and her eyes closed.

With an anguish he never expected to feel, Merlin too closed his eyes, fighting tears and staying silent for a moment, until he heard a footfall behind him.

"You were brought back for a purpose too, Morgana," Arthur said, coming to stand by Merlin and placing a supportive hand on the warlock's shoulder. "Though I assume for a very different reason than Alvarr expected." The timbre of Arthur's voice was deep, though hushed with melancholy. "If not for you, Alvarr would've succeeded in killing me. I doubt my body is strong enough to survive another deadly blow."

"Merlin would have stopped him," Morgana murmured... threadlike.

"No," Merlin said with certainty. "My attention was elsewhere... and I never suspected there were more of these magical crystals. Alvarr slipped completely past my guard."

"And I don't think the law to legalise magic would have withstood my death at a sorcerer's hand." Arthur sat down exhaustedly on his sister's cot, careful not to hurt her. To his eyes she looked as diaphanous and fragile as a snowflake in the winter sun. "So you see, Morgana, it needed both of us to bring back magic to Camelot."

The shadow of a smile graced her lips. "Thank you for saying so. You're a better man than your father ever was." Again she paused to garner her stamina. "Somehow I'd forgotten that along the way."

"Morgana, please let Merlin heal you," Arthur pleaded, at last laying a light hand on her arm. "You've just come back to us and I cannot watch you die... not again."

"You also have a more forgiving heart than I, my brother. Albion will be safe in your hands."

"Morgana," Merlin called to her as her eyes had closed. "Don't give up!"

Both men held their breath as they waited despairingly, but Morgana had only fallen asleep momentarily. Once more she forced her eyes open and rested her exhausted, yet lovely gaze upon them. "Neither of you should fear for me, but there is much to be done since I don't intend to die... Not here... Not yet..."

Now I'm waiting, biting my nails for your verdict on this particular chapter. Please let me know your thoughts and again, I accept criticism as well as thank yous.

I'm thinking that the next chapter might be the last, though I'm not totally certain. Merlin, Arthur, Gwen and Morgana might have something to say about that. However, if it is my last chapter, I will want to make sure I tie up every loose end, so it might take me longer than a week to perfect what I see as the finish.

I hope you'll understand if I take longer to post next week. And there might just be a sequel, but that could be quite sometime in the future.