"You" stated Arthur as he looked at Merlin, who had just delivered the bombshell of a lifetime, "cannot be serious" he finished even as Merlin looked at the floor. Merlin looked back at him slowly.

"I'm sorry Arthur, but I can't help the way I feel"

"Merlin, did you not, just last week state you had 'kissed a dragon'?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, But that was before…"

"Before what?" asked Arthur.

"Before I had time to think it over. I love her Arthur, I always have" he admitted. Arthur ran a hand through his blond hair and shook his head.

"Merlin, if it was anyone else…"

"I don't understand" Merlin said softly.

"What? that you're stating to be in love with the woman who's tried to kill me, dethroned me, killed innocents, and turned her back on everything she once cared for?" Arthur asked.

"Maybe those were her off days" Merlin offered. Arthur blinked then sighed.

"Merlin, I'm sorry, but I can't support this" he said.

"I thought you understood, when we talked the other day, you, me, Gwen… You said maybe I would be the one to bring her back" he replied. "I thought you would support me"

"Merlin, Morgana is gone, she died the day she was poisoned" he said. Merlin looked away, then back at Arthur. "Not with the poison Merlin, Morgause. She was the poison" he said.

"Then maybe I'm the antidote" Merlin replied.

"DAMN IT MERLIN!" Arthur suddenly roared, Merlin flinched, even as Arthur lowered his voice. "Look, I think you should go, I can't speak about this, not now" Arthur said. "Perhaps, in the morning" he added.

"Arthur, -"

"Just go Merlin" Arthur said, turning away.

"no" Merlin suddenly replied. Arthur turned back to face him, frowning.

"What?"

"I have spent the past six years of my life listening to you whining, bragging, putting me down, even if it was meant in jest. And you know what Arthur? Sometimes those words hurt! Oh, I'd put on a brave face, or just get on with my duties, but not once did I ever ask you for anything. I have lost so much serving you, serving this kingdom, and you don't even know it. Well no more Arthur. I intend to find her, to help her, stick me in the dungeons or the stocks all you want, but I will not stop until I know for myself she either doesn't feel the same or she does" Merlin took a deep breath, even as Arthur looked at him, mouth opened in shock, not at his manservant's words, but at the anger behind them.

"Arthur, if I don't do this I won't be able to live with myself" he said softly.

"And if she want's to kill you?" asked Arthur.

"Then no one else gets hurt, it's just me Arthur" Merlin said. "and I'm just a servant" Arthur looked taken aback by the last few words.

"Merlin, you haven't been a servant for a long time" Arthur said, turning away. "I just… I don't want to see you get hurt" he admitted.

"Arthur it's my choice" Merlin replied.

"you remember last year? When you were kidnapped by the bandits?" Arthur asked him. "Only Gwen knows, but a part of me was so… damned worried about you. Were you alive? Dead? Being ill treated? And I hated it, not knowing where you were, if you were still alive" he added. "I can't face that feeling again Merlin, I can't lose someone else I care about" he said. Merlin stepped forwards, smiling at him.

"Arthur, I understand, and I feel the same, I really do, but you have to let me go" he said. "Because not knowing, not trying, for me it feels the same as that did for you" he insisted. Arthur looked at him, slowly he nodded, and held out his hand.

"I hope you find what you're looking for" Arthur told him. Merlin took the offered hand, offering a small smile.

"So do I" he replied. Then slowly turning, he walked out of the chamber, smiling at Gwen as she entered. Arthur looked at her, then moved to the window, looking out into the courtyard.

"Arthur?" she asked softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. Slowly he raised his own hand to clasp hers, but remained silent. A few moments later Merlin appeared in the courtyard, looking up at the window. Even as music began around him and Gwen, soft and gentle. Slowly Arthur began to sing, still watching the courtyard.

Oh we never know where

Life will take us

I know it's just a ride on the

Wheel

And we never know when

Death will shake us

And we wonder how it will

Feel

A moment later Merlin appeared in the courtyard, looking up at the window. He gave a little wave, before moving towards the stables, Arthur and Gwen both watching.

So goodbye my friend

I hope I'll see you once again

But the time together

Through all the years

Will take away these tears

Its okay now

Goodbye my friend

Merlin reappeared a moment later, with his horse, before he mounted it, then with a last look at the window, trotted away from the castle.

"Arthur?" Gwen asked as she wiped a tear on his face. "What's happened?"

I've seen a lot of things that

Make me crazy

And I guess I held onto him

He's gone and walked away and

Left well maybe

But it was time and we

Both knew

He sighed as he watched Merlin vanish out of sight, then turned away from the window, Gwen still holding his hand.

So goodbye my friend

I hope I'll see you once again

But the Time together

Through all the years

Will take away these tears

I'm okay now

Goodbye my friend

He's so fragile and his loves so

Pure

We can't hold on but we try

We watch how quickly he

Disappears

And we never know why

But I'm okay now

Goodbye my friend

You can go now

Goodbye my friend

Slowly the music died down, Arthur sinking onto the bed, Gwen with him.

"Arthur? What's happened?" she asked softly. Arthur looked at her, still remaining silent.

Merlin travelled through the remainder of the evening and into the night, before stopping to have some food. He wasn't far from Morgana's hovel now, and was starting to feel jumpy. Hoping against hope she was feeling the same. He ate only a little of the bread, before watering his horse and remounting it.

"So he comes" said Sardor as he watched the scrying font with Morgana. Morgana nodded and watched the image with anticipation.

Merlin arrived at the hut unimpeded, before he got down from the horse. Taking several deep breaths he slowly walked forwards before pausing. What if this was one massive mistake? A trap laid by Morgana to get revenge?

No

The Dragon had been adamant only his true loves kiss could have broken the previous spell. Feeling a renewed confidence he began forwards again, should he knock? Just walk in? probably not the best idea, if he walked in unannounced there was a good chance that all that would be left of him was smouldering Merlin boots. Slowly he raised his hand, clenched his knuckles and then the door opened. Sardor looking at his brother and his raised hand.

"She's expecting you" Sardor muttered as he pushed his way past him, and moved off into the forest. Merlin watched him go, then stepped into the hovel. Morgana was standing by the dressing screen, regarding him.

"Very foolish to come here alone" she said as she stepped forwards.

"I'm not here to fight you" Merlin said.

"Really? I've not known you to make social calls at this time of day before. Actually, not ever" she replied.

"About last week" he said.

"There were several days last week Merlin, was it one in particular?" she asked mockingly.

"I've been thinking" he said, ignoring her.

"Now that's dangerous" she replied.

"Morgana please, all I ask is you hear me out" he said.

"I know why you are here Merlin, you hope to bring this true love thing to life, to save me, at least in your eyes. I cannot be saved Merlin" she said.

"I have to try" he said.

"Why? Why is it so important to you?" she demanded.

"Because I love you, I always have, I was just too stupid to realise it" he announced.

"So you admit it" she asked as she turned away. "I too have been doing some thinking Merlin" she announced. "at first I wanted to kill you, but then something changed" she slowly turned back.

"You're an enigma Merlin, there's something about you I cannot put my finger on, and I admit, I am tempted by the thought, only because of the pain it would cause Arthur that is" she said.

"You don't lie well Morgana" Merlin said.

"Don't judge me Merlin, you don't even know me" she replied harshly.

"These walls you've built up, let me help you take them down. I know you can be what you once were again, but please, let me help you" he said. Morgana looked at his face, at the sincerity there.

"And if you were successful? What then?" she asked.

"Arthur thinks I may be the one to bring you back" he said. "He misses you, even with all the fighting, all the bad blood" Merlin said.

"You're wrong Merlin, Arthur will never trust me again" she said.

"No, Morgana, you are, he doesn't want this, he never did, believe me, I know" Morgana turned away again, and Merlin stepped forwards, raising his hand to touch her shoulder.

"Just… let me help you" he said gently. Morgana looked at him over her shoulder, then slowly music started up. Merlin nodded and stepped back, holding his arms wide.

Look into my eyes and you will see

What you mean to me

Just search your heart, search your soul and

When you find me there, you'll search no more

Don't tell me you're not worth fighting for

You can't tell me you're not worth dying for

You know its true

Everything I do, I do it for you

Just look into your heart and you will find

There's nothing there to hide

Just take me as I am, take my life

I would give it all I would sacrifice

Don't tell me you're not worth fighting for

I can't help it, there's nothing I want more

You know its true

Everything I do, I do it for you

There's no love, like your love

And no other could give more love

There's nowhere unless your there

All the time, all the way, yeah

Slowly he turned away, walking towards the window of the hut, Morgana watching, suddenly he turned back to dace her.

Oh you can't tell me you're not worth fighting for

I can't help it, there's nothing I want more

I would fight for you

I'd lie for you

Walk the line for you

Yeah, I'd die for you

You know its true

Everything I do, oh

I do it for you

Slowly the music died away, Merlin watching Morgana, before he stepped forwards.

"Will you let me help you?" he asked. Morgana looked down, then back up at him.

"Yes" she replied.

Sardor was away from the hut, fuming. Yet again his damned brother had taken something from him, now it was time to take something back. Around him were various bandits, all watching as he paced angrily back and forth.

"So what's the plan?" asked one of the bandits. Sardor looked at him, grinning.

"Simple. Its time we gave Morgana, Arthur and my brother a wake up call they won't soon forget" he announced.

"How?" asked another of the bandits. Around Sardor and the bandits Music started up, and he suddenly leapt forwards and gripped the jaw of the bandit who had spoke roughly.

I never thought bandits essential

They're crude and unspeakably plain

But maybe they've a glimmer of

potential

If allied to my

Vision and brain

Suddenly the low music exploded to life around them

I know that your powers of

Retention

Are as wet as a dragons backside

But thick as you are, pay attention

My words are a

Matter of pride

He waved his hand in front of a thick looking bandit and rolled his eyes at the lack of response

Its clear from your vacant expressions

The lights are not all on upstairs

But we're talking kings and

Successions

EVEN YOU CAN'T BE CAUGHT UNAWARES!

So prepare for the chance of a

Lifetime

Be prepared for sensational news

A shining new era

Is tiptoeing nearer

A bandit held up his hand.

And where do we feature?

Sardor slapped his hand away

Just listen to teacher

I know it sounds sordid

But you'll be rewarded

When at last she given her dues

And injustice

Deliciously squared

Be prepared!

"Yeah! Be prepared! We'll be prepared!" shouted a bandit, then blinked. "for what?"

"For the death of the king" Sardor replied.

"Why? Is he sick?" asked another bandit.

"No you fool we're going to kill him. Merlin too"

"that's great, who needs a king?" yelled the first bandit.

"No king ! no King! La la la la la laaa" they all sung.

"IDIOTS!" yelled Sardor. "There will be a Queen!"

"But you just said…?"

"Morgana will be queen! Stick with me and you'll never be hunted again!"

"YES! All right, Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen!" the bandits cheered.

Its great that we'll soon be

Connected

With a queen who'll be all-

Time adored

Sardor nodded and smiled at the singing bandits.

Of course, quid pro quo, you're

Expected

To take certain duties on board

The future is littered with prizes

And though she's the main

Addressee

The point that I must

Emphasize is:

YOU WOULDN'T GET A SNIFF WITHOUT ME!

So prepare for the coup of the

Centuary

Be prepared for the murkiest scam

Meticulous planning

Tenacity spanning

Decades of denial

Is simply why she'll

Be queen undisputed

Respected, saluted

And seen for the wonder she is!

Yes my hands and my magic are

Bared

Be prepared!

Yes his hands and his

Magic is bared

Be Prepared!

Even as the music died away, Sardor and the bandits laughed into the night.