A/N: Thank you to Harpfire, Sahba, and MamzelleHermy for your reviews. I really appreciate the feedback! You guys rock. XD

Warning: This is the peak of the angst. This is the summit. There will be a character death, feels, depressing things, etc. Please precede with caution.

Note: Ge hailige: heal up/get well/save/be saved

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin

Chapter 6

Merlin was pulled into consciousness by a pounding headache, his thoughts fuzzy and the world spinning around him. He blinked a few times to clear his blurry vision, sitting up and swaying. A voice called out to him through a cloud of pain.

"Merlin?" He could barely recognize Gwen's voice.

Gradually, he became more aware of himself, the pounding of his skull decreasing to a small ache. Gwen was standing anxiously next to him, her eyes full of worry.

"I came as soon as I heard," Gwen said. Merlin was confused for a moment before he remembered his mother. Wordlessly, he swung his legs over the side of his bed trying to stand upright.

"No," Gwen told him, pushing him back down. "Gaius says that you are to rest. He is out getting herbs at the moment, but he should be back soon."

"I... I have to see her," he croaked out.

Gwen didn't have the heart to push him back down onto the pillows as he struggled to get to his feet again. He stood up slowly, black spots clouding his vision as the blood rushed to his head. Gwen took a hold of his arm, helping him stumble up the stairs and into his room.

His mother was lying on the bed, her body still and her face pale. At first, Merlin thought that she was dead, his heart pounding in his chest and his knees growing weak. But then, he saw her take a small, shuddering breath, her eyes fluttering open at the sound of the door swinging shut.

"Mother," Merlin whispered, going quickly up to her and kneeling by the bed, gathering her hand in his.

"M.. Merlin." He could barely hear her as she breathed out his name.

"I.." Merlin began, his throat tight with tears. It was at this moment that Gaius entered the room, throwing open the door hurriedly. He spotted Gwen and Merlin by the bed, making his way over.

"Merlin," Gaius said. "Come on, step away from the bed."

"No..." Merlin said. "No... I have to try and help her! I can't just sit and watch her die!" He was trembling like a leaf now, his watery, blue eyes pleading with the physician. He released his mother's hand, slowly bringing his palm to her heart, closing his eyes and searching deep inside of him for his magic.

There was nothing, only an all consuming darkness, an empty crevice where the light of magic had once been.

"Ge hailige," he said desperately, but nothing happened. "Ge hailige," He tried again, his voice getting louder until he was almost shouting. "Ge hailige! Ge hailige! Ge hailige!"

He was sobbing now, great wracking sobs that shook his entire frame. Gaius tried to step forward and place a hand on Merlin's shoulder, but the warlock brushed him off, continuing to repeat the spell until his voice became weak.

"Ge hailige... Ge.. Ge.."

"Merlin... Stop," Hunith whispered. Merlin paused, his breath hitching in his throat as he heard her voice call out to him.

"Merlin..." Hunith repeated, her hands weakly coming up and grasping Merlin's own. "I love you, son. I'm... I'm proud of you..." Hunith's eyes became glassy, her hand slowly slipping away from Merlin's as the breath left her body.

"No... No... Don't leave me... Mother... MOTHER!" Emotions spilled through Merlin all at once as her body lay still. Guilt, regret, sorrow, torment, but most of all anger. The rage consumed him, making his heart pound and red cloud the edges of his vision.

He stood suddenly, screaming out all of his emotions, his body tingling as energy flowed through his limbs. He was barely aware of Gaius coming towards him, of Gwen sobbing quietly in the corner of the room.

Suddenly, the dam that had held his magic back for so long broke, golden energy exploding from his fingertips with the force of a hurricane. He couldn't think, couldn't breathe as fire swirled around him, wind blasting through the small room. He could hear voices screaming at him to stop, but he could no longer control it, his feet rising off the floor.

There was a flash of light, and the room disappeared around him, his vision going dark as he collapsed against the ground. The last thing he was aware of was the breeze brushing his tearstained face and the sound of birds twittering above him.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Where am I? He thought as he blinked awake, his blue eyes searching the starry sky above his head. The moon was casting weak light around him, making it possible for him to assess his surroundings.

He sat, moaning, feeling as if he had just gone through a training session with the knights.

Merlin was alarmed to discover that he was not in his room lying in his bed. Instead, he was sitting on the shore of a lake, the lake where it had all happened. He ran his hands through the coarse sand around him, letting it trickle through his fingers slowly.

Suddenly, he remembered his mother, her fingers slipping from his hands as the light left her eyes. He shuddered as he felt the magic whirl up inside of him once more, making his head spin.

"Merlin," a distant voice called out to him through the fog. He shot to his feet, his heart thudding as he made out figures advancing towards him.

He could just recognize the first person who stepped from the mist, her brown hair blowing back from her face in the weak wind.

"Freya?" he asked hesitantly, his voice cracking in disbelief. She nodded, smiling sadly as another person stepped into view.

"Father..." he breathed out as he saw the smiling face of Balinor. A woman walked up, placing herself next to him.

"M-mother," he whispered. And then, they were all there, all of the people who had died for him, who had helped him at the cost of their lives.

"Will... Lancelot... Gawain..." He was practically sobbing each of their names.

Finally, one last person stepped into the group, his gold hair disheveled and a confused look plastered on his face. Merlin's legs nearly gave out, his body freezing when he recognized the person standing in front of him.

"...Arthur?"

TBC