A/N:Sorry for the relatively late update, but this was one hell of a busy week. AND I'm finally fifteen years old:D Yay! So, here's the promised whump! I hope it's enough for you ;)

Read and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. BBC does.

CHAPTER 12: HURTING ANGEL

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She couldn't understand. It just didn't make any sense to her. Why would he do such a thing? Didn't they have a good life together? They had always laughed so much and just a few hours ago he had smiled at her and had told her how much she meant to him and that they would always stay together.

But now he was dead! How could he leave her behind like this? How could he make a decision like that?!

Morgause couldn't stop a salty tear from rolling down her pale cheek. The room was dark and the air seemed to be thick, as if it didn't fit through her throat. She felt like drowning in this horrible darkness.

It was warm in here, unlike a comforting warm, this was downright burning. The walls seemed to move closer towards her, keeping her locked in in this hell hole.

But that wasn't the worst, neither was the cullet on the ground, cutting her bare feet open and painting the black floor in shining red, nor the flickering light bulb which caste dancing shadows onto the wall.

In the middle of the room was lying a turned over wooden chair, just inches above it were dangling a pair of feet in black boots. Those feet were connected to a pair of slim legs, wearing a dark pair of jeans in which a shining white shirt was tucked, covering a muscly chest. Two arms were limply hanging at the side of the body, dried blood sticking to them.

But the worst was his face.

Pale, blank, empty.

Rounded by red hair, as bright as flames, making it just seem even paler. A pair of soft green eyes stared blankly into space, void of any life or emotion.

A pair of lips slightly parted, as if he was still breathing. But he wasn't because there was a tight rope around his neck, preventing him from ever getting to fill his lungs with air again.

Morgause ran towards her beloved, ignoring the pain coming from her bare feet. Her golden eyes wavered, tears blurring her vision. A desperate scream escaped her lips as she grabbed the dead man's hands, squeezing them as if he was able to feel the touch.

"No! Devin, wake up! How can you do this to me!? Please god, no! Not him!" She begged, her voice breaking as she sunk to her knees. "I was supposed to protect him… I failed…" She sobbed gripping her blond locks in frustration, her snow white wings folded on her back in defeat.

"No." She suddenly said, her voice cold and hard, eyes filled with anger and hatred. "It's not my fault. It's this human's! It is solely Uther's fault! He drove my beloved Devin to commit suicide, therefore I shall get my revenge." The blonde woman muttered, already sensing the presence of other angel's closing in on her.

Would they convict her? Rip out her wings?

She sure as hell wouldn't let them.

Just as Morgause readied herself for what was to come now, a group of five angels burst through the door and windows, circling her with weapons pointed at her. Two had guns, one a sword, the other two only their raised arms.

The one with the sword cleared his throat and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Morgause le Fay. The angel council hereby accuses you of neglecting your duties as guardian angel towards your protégé, Devin Jonson. If you would calmly accompany us to the angel court now, we can assure you that you will get a fair trial and the chance to justify your actions."

The blond woman gritted her teeth and unfolded her wings, ready to fight her way out if necessary. "I am not going with you! And this is not my fault!" She pressed out and narrowed her eyes.

The man with the sword let out an annoyed sigh, as if he was used to this kind of behavior. "Of course it's not. Just come with us as a testimony in this case, alright?"

Morgause shook her head in panic; blonde, tangled locks swirling through the air. "Liar! I'm not going with you, leave me alone! It's not my fault!" Her words were clear but her wavering voice betrayed her. She knew it was her fault and that she should be punished.

But Morgause always used to be a little selfish, so she wasn't giving up that attitude now.

In a split second, she managed unarm the youngest one of the angel's, the seemingly weakest. She quickly snatched the golden gun away from him and directed it at the head of her hostage.

"One wrong move" The blonde threatened and released the safety "And this boy will join him." She nodded her heads towards the corpse of her protégé dangling from the ceiling.

The other angels instantly froze, looks of uncertainty and fear for the life of their companion in their eyes.

"If you dare killing him, you will become a fallen angel!" The one with the sword spoke up again, part as a warning, part to frighten Morgause.

But the woman's eyes just widened and something dawned on her. What did she learn about fallen angels?

They lost all their emotions but hatred and were banned from heaven for eternity, yes. But they also gained incredible powers and couldn't be killed be anyone but an archangel.

That suddenly didn't seem that bad to her. If she got that power, she would be able to avenge Devin and maybe she could do even more?

Maybe she could…take over heaven? Now that was wish thinking but maybe, just maybe…it was possible?

Morgause had the faint feeling that this was her fate, as if she was destined to do this.

Suddenly, her trembling stopped, she relaxed and took a deep breath. Everything around her seemed to slow down, her eyes resting only on the cold dead face of her beloved. Yes, this was right.

The right thing to do. The only option left.

With a distant smile, she pulled the trigger.

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Morgause's moves were furious, her swords lashing out at him with incredible speed, but her face was calm and distant. There was no playful smirk on her lips and no fire in her eyes, there was only darkness. A kind of coldness that was only seen in people who had nothing to lose anymore.

Merlin would have almost pitied her if he wasn't too occupied with avoiding her strikes.

He had no weapons himself, so he couldn't parry her swings and had instead to focus on only dashing away from the deadly metal.

In a short moment of safety, Merlin raised his hand and immediately a lightning struck into one of Morgause's swords, sending an electric shock through her body, making her hair stand up.

She growled at this and threw the crackling sword into his direction. Out of reflex, the raven haired reached out to catch it and as soon as the hilt made impact with his hand, an electric wave shook his body.

It felt like he was burning from the inside and Merlin suddenly found himself unable to move, he had been paralyzed. He couldn't catch anything to save his life and now he had just caught a charged sword without even wanting to?!

Unable to get away, Merlin watched warily as Morgause stepped closer to him. She stopped just a few feet away from him and watched as his body shook, the ends of his dark strands starting to smell like burned cloth.

"Does it hurt?" She asked, no emotion in her voice, just something that loosely resembled interest.

He used all his power to just shake his head and spat at her feet in return. Merlin immediately regretted his cocky acting when a fist connected with his jaw, freeing him from his paralysis but therefore making him stumble to the ground.

His vision was blurred for a second and his jaw made an awful crunching noise. Merlin hissed in pain and scrambled away from the fallen angel, trying to at least get his vision straight again.

After blinking a few times, he looked up into the face of Morgause as she suddenly lunged forward and gripped his left wings, stabbing it with her sword.

A pained cry escaped his lips and Merlin closed his eyes, tears pricking at them. When he opened them again, he saw blood staining his snow white wing and it made him want to vomit.

The pain was almost unbearable, it couldn't possibly get any worse, or at least that's what he had thought until Morgause suddenly twisted her sword around. He cried out again, so loud it hurt in his own ears.

"S-stop…" he mumbled weakly, but the fallen angel didn't do as much as glance at him. It was as if she was just doing her work, like a machine.

When almost his whole left wing was covered in blood, Morgause reached down and gripped one of his now red feathers with both of her hands, before pulling at it, ripping it out of him.

Merlin hissed, no longer willing to just stay lying here, miserable like this. He had to do something, he had to get Morgause of off him. Or else…

Before he could think of some kind of plan, Morgause ripped out several feathers at once, making his mind go fuzzy with pain for a second.

"I said stop!" He screamed in despair and suddenly Morgause was standing several feet away from him, eyes wide with shock.

What had happened? Morgause's eyes were filled with confusion and fear, piercing right through him.

Merlin frowned. He hadn't done anything, he just had screamed for her to stop, and now she was staring at him as if he had transformed into some kind of monster.

When he was about to just ask her about it, the raven haired noticed something. His wing still hurt, but it felt like a different kind of pain. It was not the piercing sensation of metal stabbing it, more like a numb burning.

Slowly, the young angel turned his head, golden eyes widening at what they saw.

The sword wasn't stuck in his wing anymore. It lay on the blood covered ground, broken into two parts. "How did this happen…?" Merlin mumbled, frowning even harder. That couldn't have been his doing, now could it?

That was just unthinkable, he hadn't even directed his powers towards the sword. And even then, why was Morgause so shocked now?

Merlin directed his attention at the fallen angel again, the blonde woman staring at him with a stoic mask, but her shaking hands betrayed her nervousness.

"This fight isn't over yet." Merlin said calmly (not that he was, but he had always been a good actor) while he pulled himself up and gripped the brick wall for support.

Meanwhile, Morgause had regained her composure and had directed her still intact sword at Merlin, ready to slice him up. While steadying himself at the wall, Merlin reached down and gripped the hilt of one of the sword halves. It may be better than nothing.

Within an instant, Morgause was striking down at him, her sword clashing of his half, sending sparks through the air. Soon the alley was filled with the sound of clashing metal as the fallen and the guardian angel exchanged blows.

Merlin wasn't a real swordsman, so he soon found himself cornered. Morgause was attacking merciless and his arms started to get heavy. In a moment of abstraction, the blonde woman managed to unarm the raven haired, his sword half flying through the air and landing in the far corner of the alley with a clattering sound.

Merlin gulped and backed away from Morgause, having lost his weapon he was at disadvantage. He raised his hand in order to throw a fire ball at her, but Morgause was quicker. With a growl, she dashed around the fireball and towards him, her sword stabbing his leg.

Merlin cried out in pain and grabbed the bleeding wound, trying and failing to prevent further blood loss. Everything swam before his eyes and Merlin didn't even notice himself falling down, he just remembered suddenly lying in the floor, pressing down on his wound.

The pain was sharp and didn't stop, numbing all his senses and slowing down his mind. Merlin tried to keep his eyes open, but all he saw was red and he almost couldn't help himself from vomiting. Panic was tightening his chest and made breathing hard. His wings had returned to his back, trying to stop the precious blood from leaving his body, but the raven haired felt his back bleeding, soaking his already torn hoody.

A whimper escaped his lips when suddenly something connected with his side and Merlin could have sworn he heard something crack. Every breath felt like inhaling fire and Merlin curled up, trying to protect his vital zones as more and more strikes rained down on him.

"Open your wings, I have to rip them out!" He heard Morgause scream, her voice containing a slightly crazed undertone. A chill went down his spine at her words and Merlin started to grow desperate. She would definitely kill him, and then Arthur would be all alone and without protection. Maybe he should have told his protégé about him? Maybe he should have just damned the consequences?

Maybe it was too late now. Maybe he really was a useless guardian angel, getting killed in a dark alley and leaving his protégé and best friend behind with three fallen angels around him.

Maybe it's not too late yet.

Merlin opened his eyes, vision as clear as never before. The pain was unbearable and was trying to pull him into the oblivion of unconsciousness, but there was a small part in his mind that kept him awake. It was almost like a voice, shouting at him to get up and going now.

Which is the right way? No use pondering about it, just try out and go.

And the voice was right, he couldn't give up like this. He had to fight back.

All in one fluent motion, Merlin raised his arms, watched as Morgause stumbled backwards, stood up from the ground, steadied himself at the wall, opened his wings and raised his arms.

Nothing is impossible.

As if someone else controlled him, Merlin directed his raised hands at the blonde woman, he stared at him in horror. His face was blank and Merlin was in some kind of trance, not even noticing his injuries anymore.

Driven by a purpose, greater than just living.

His pale lips parted, breathing out hot air, before mumbling constellations of words he had never heard, yet seemed to know as well like his own name:

"Oh, thou who brandished the darkness in their impure hands, risen from the ashes of righteousness. I shall with the power given to me by palingenesis ban thee from the domicile of those under our heavenly protection. I summon the gate to lead all evil astray. Begone!"

While being confused by his own actions, Merlin watched as suddenly a red glowing circle appeared around Morgause feet. Her face fell and she paled, struggling to escape from the glowing circle, but her feet seemed stuck to the ground.

With a desperate cry she trashed around, her black wings brushing the brick walls of the alley. Her eyes were as wide open as possible, rolling around in panic, as if they would spot a way to escape.

"What have you done?!" She screamed in rage, throwing her sword at Merlin, but it seemed to stop midair and landed directly at Morgause feet.

Suddenly her knees gave out and she sank to the ground, wrapping her arms around her shaking knees, slightly crazed eyes staring at the raven haired with an emotion he had never seen in them before, he couldn't quite tell what it was.

"What are you?" She asked, her voice barely a broken whisper.

Merlin was taken aback for a moment. He didn't even know himself at the moment. These words he had said… What were they and how did he know them?

That wasn't something a mere guardian angel was supposed to do.

Merlin frowned, his injuries forgotten at the moment. He couldn't quite grasp what was happening to Morgause, he didn't even know what that red circle meant.

Before he could do or think anything else, a bloodcurdling scream cut through the air. Tears were running down her cheeks while she seemed to be sinking into the pavement, which was glowing red like burning flames.

"Stop it! Stop it!" She screamed, her fingernails scrapping over the pavement, trying to get a hold of it but just resulting in hurting herself.

Merlin looked at the scene in front of him with horror. Just what had he done?! How could he stop it?!

Do you even want to stop it?

There was that strange voice in his head again.

His mind went clouded and his vision blurry, Morgause desperate screams sounded muted in his ears.

Merlin tried to keep standing, his whole body shaking like dry leaves. He tried to concentrate on what was happing to Morgause, but he felt so utterly tired. His heavy eyelids suddenly dropped, just for a second, but when Merlin forced them open again, the circle had vanished.

Together with Morgause.

"W-where is she..?" Merlin slurred while he leaned at the wall for support, already feeling his consciousness slowly slipping away.

She had vanished, just like that? Where could she have gone? He had to ask Gaius about it later. Oh, and maybe he should visit Gaius because of his injuries as well…?

Merlin stared at the ground, a frown on his face. "Where's all da blood comin' from?" He slurred, staring at the gigantic puddle of blood around him.

When his face rushed towards the ground, realization hit him.

"'s gotta be mine…"

Don't leave.

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Arthur's eyes snapped open, staring at the ceiling above him. He could feel the adrenalin pumping through his veins and the sweat covering his forehead.

The grave feeling of danger made his heart beat incredibly fast.

But there was no danger, he told himself as he slowly relaxed into his pillows. He was just lying in his bed with a fever, a small one at that, and his life wasn't in danger anymore. Well, he had actually been killed just twelve hours ago, but he was save now, so no reason to get all worked up about it.

With a sigh, he closed his eyes again, ready to go back to his sleep, when he suddenly felt something pulling at edge of his consciousness.

Arthur sat up, frowning. He had never believed in supernatural things or anything, but it felt like something-someone was trying to tell him something…

"Man, I'm being so stupid, I could almost be Merlin." He mumbled and smiled at his own joke, until he suddenly remembered something. Merlin had ran off to somewhere and he had been all cryptic and mysterious again.

Arthur hated this! He wanted to know what his-dare he think that- best friend was doing, he wanted to know that he wasn't in danger.

Maybe he should have followed him, despite his fever?

Maybe it's not too late yet.

Arthur looked around his room, unsure what to do…

With a resigned sigh, he threw his covers away and climbed out of bed, suddenly wide awake.

He quickly threw over a jacket, pulled on a pair of sneakers and made his way to the college's entrance. The hallways were dark and empty, everything was silent, most people were sleeping at this late hour. (Or were out drinking, in Gwaine's case.)

When he was out onto the streets, Arthur was surprised that he seemed to know where to go. Maybe it had to do something with the tugging sensation on his mind?

But after a while, this effect wore off and the feeling of danger tightening his chest slowly vanished. Now, Arthur was standing at a crossing, with no idea where to go.

He looked around, the street lamps threw bizarre shadows on the ground and a lonely car was heard driving some streets away.

The blonde frowned, crossing his arms in front of his chest in something like a huff. This had been a stupid idea! He had just walked out into the night without even knowing where to go! And he was standing here in the middle of nowhere!

With a sigh, Arthur decided to just try out one of the directions. It couldn't be helped now, could it? He had to find Merlin, no matter what, even if he had a fever and should actually be lying in his cozy bed right now.

Which is the right way? No use pondering about it, just try out and go.

Arthur decided to go left, thinking that Merlin must have gone this way as well.

While he was walking quickly (He was not running. Never.) down the roads, Arthur started to imagine the worst things that could have happened. What if Merlin got attacked by Morgana or somebody else? What if he had gotten hurt? Or lost? What if he was dying right now?

Alright, that wasn't very likely.

Nothing is impossible.

Suddenly, panic tightened his chest once more and Arthur started walking at an even faster pace. His thoughts were circling solely around the purpose of finding Merlin. He had to make sure he was fine, he had to make sure he stayed fine. Merlin was his best friend, he meant very much to him, even if Arthur would never admit it. If something ever happened to Merlin, he would never forgive himself.

Driven by a purpose, greater than just living.

When Arthur dashed around a corner, his already ragged breath stopped completely.

He had found Merlin and it seemed like his worst nightmare had come true.

The raven haired was lying on the ground, a giant puddle of dark blood had formed around him and he seemed unconscious. Arthur didn't dare to think he could possibly be…dead.

In less than a second, the blonde was at his friend's side, shaking and tears threatening to fall.

"D-don't be dead! You hear me?! Don't be dead, you i-idiot!" Arthur quickly grabbed Merlin's wrist, searching for his pulse. It was weak, but it was there.

Not daring to be relieved just yet, Arthur looked at Merlin's injuries. There was a wound on his right leg, it looked like he had been stabbed with something. Casting a glance around the alley, Arthur noticed a sword lying in one corner and then there was also a second sword, although broken into two halves.

Arthur directed his wet eyes at Merlin's pale features again, a frown taking over his face. Merlin had been in a sword fight?! This weren't the medieval times, this was the twenty-first century, for god's sake!

Arthur slid his arm under Merlin's shoulder and gently turned him around. The raven haired stayed deadly still, not even whimpering.

To hold back his tears was becoming harder by every cut he saw on Merlin and the rage inside him made him want to cry out and yell at everyone and everything.

When Merlin was lying on his stomach, Arthur flinched at the sight of his back. Merlin's hoodie was torn vertically and blood seemed to flow out of very deep, very long cuts.

Trying not to throw up, Arthur gently lifted his best friend from the ground and held him bridal style. His grip was firm as if he feared Merlin would be gone forever if he did not hold him tight.

As fast as the additional weight in his arms allowed him, Arthur ran off to the college. Gaius had to take care of Merlin, immediately.

Arthur's arms and legs hurt after a while, but he didn't allow himself to slow down. Merlin's live was at stake and even if he didn't have any proof, Arthur knew that Merlin had saved him as well, probably many times already.

This wasn't right, Merlin had to stop bringing himself into this dangerous situations, just because of him!

Do you even want it to stop?

"I owe you this, so don't you dare dying" The blonde whispered, urging himself to run faster.

A few minutes later, Arthur was covered in sweat and he could feel his cheeks burning from his fever, but he had finally arrived at the college.

"Gaius, are you here? We need your help, quickly!" Arthur shouted while he burst into Gaius' patient room, not bothering to knock.

While waiting for the old man's reply, Arthur maneuvered his raven haired friend onto the patient bed.

He turned the lights on and looked around for Gaius, but he was nowhere to be found. He must have already went to bed, maybe Arthur should wake him? Merlin's life was in danger, after all! He should've probably went straight to the hospital, but Arthur didn't want to explain this situation; he didn't even know what happened himself!

Before he left to go search Gaius, Arthur threw one last glance at his unconscious friend.

His eyes were shut and he was paler than ever, his chest barely rising and falling. The sheets were already covered in blood and Arthur wondered how much there was left in this skinny body.

A single tear rolled down his eyes at the thought of Merlin being dead and his heart was literally aching.

Arthur had never been a very religious man, but right now, he found himself praying.

Don't leave.

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-GUARDIAN ANGEL-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

A/N: Poor Morgause :( And poor Merlin of course. In any case, the next chapter will have some nice Freylin ;) Freya still owes Merlin some swimming lessons after all :D

Until next time~

by DarkChain