AN: The last one folks. To those that stuck around till now a huge thanks and leave me a comment at the end of what you thought of this chapter and a story as a whole if you have time. There is also an epilogue that will be posted in a week to conclude our little journey. Thank you once more and enjoy!

-oo-

Chapter 15

Before, he was not too sure what he would see before he faced his death but now he was certain that he never really had a clue to begin with.

He felt like he was walking half asleep through an unknown corridor. It was dark but somehow he could see things clearly and as he moved forward he felt his feet grow heavier with each step he took. He walked for what seemed like hours with no end in sight and then when he felt like giving up a door suddenly appeared in front of him.

It looked heavy and ancient. Most of the time he could trust his instincts and usually when they screamed danger he knew not to follow, but now he felt almost at ease at the horrific sight of this door and his mind was telling him he should fear it but his instincts told him to go through.

The disagreement between his head and his heart was odd to say the least for it never happened before. It appeared that there was a first time for everything.

His hand slowly went to try and open the sturdy looking door. It was massive and he knew that it shouldn't be possible for him to do so. They spanned the entire height and width of the corridor. The moment his hand touched the door, they started to crack open, its hinges rusty and unused making it seem as if he was stepping onto and an old, ancient place.

Still he had no other choice but to move forward. Otherwise he would be lost in this place as there were no other exits in sight. So all he could do was get this over with.

The door opened and he stepped inside. Inside there were only steps that led him downward so he made his way. As he came to the last step he noticed the torch on one side of the wall and he easily used his magic to light it up. The moment he did so a huge chasm was before him and as the place was basked in the unnatural light he could recognize it was some sort of a cave.

Soon after a gust of wind followed.

"You are here, young warlock."

He snapped his attention towards the voice but could not see where it came from.

"It is dire straits for you."

He still tried to detect where the said voice came from.

"Who are you? Show yourself."

He tried to direct the torch in the place where the sound came from but he saw nothing.

"I am a guide of sort, for you are not an ordinary warlock and this is not an ordinary place for us to meet."

With that a giant thing flew over the chasm only to turn around and land on the other side of the cave. An actual dragon turned to face him.

"I am the dragon of destiny and I am here to decide yours Merlin." he explained in a voice even more booming now when he was so close that Merlin had to cover his ears. The dragon seemed to take pity on him as he spoke albeit a bit more silently (not that it changed much for Merlin, but he endured).

"Tell me, where am I?" he asked the creature.

Never mind that he was talking to a dragon. Merlin just wanted answers.

"You are in a place between worlds, a place where your soul has been called for the last stand to fight for your return to your friends or pass on to next."

He saw a hazy flash of Arthur striking him with the sword in his mind before he shook his head to clear the memory.

"How do I do that?"

The dragon snared and roared before speaking.

"Silence! You are not here to ask, it is I that will give you the breadcrumbs you need."

Well wasn't he a haughty dragon. He was probably the least favorite amongst his friends. The dragon looked down with something akin to a frown.

"I will have you know I am a scholar amongst my friends. I am beloved by all."

Merlin looked up in surprise.

"Of course I can read your mind. I am the dragon of destiny, reading your mind is a party trick at best."

He gathered all his self-control to not rant on the big bastard, and tried to keep quiet and just listen. Dragon took that as his cue to continue.

"I will tell you this, Merlin. It is not that you have failed to grasp the dire situation you are in. If this was only about you, you would be dead already."

He took in a shaky breath at the blunt words. He would be dead, but apparently by his tone he still wasn't.

"If you fail Merlin, the Dark Age will come upon the world and there will be no one who will be able to stop it."

Merlin almost snorted. Sure, he was always the one doing the heavy lifting. Why not Arthur or this damn dragon himself? He could almost imagine the dragon looking dumb folded if a dragon could ever come near to portraying such expression. For now he looked like he had a problem with Merlin more than anything else.

"It is your destiny Merlin, but there are those who can share your burden."

Well isn't that convenient, the dragon of destiny deciding what Merlin's fate was. Fantastic.

"You think this is a game Merlin? Have a look at it."

And just like that he could see it behind his eyes. Morgana, Arthur and Morgause.

He saw his body, bloody and to the point of no return.

"Any moment now it will be too late." Morgause was taunting her sister and he could see Morgana almost lost to her own despair. He felt his heart pulled at the strings when he saw what was unfolding.

"Arthur or Merlin?"

This will not end well.

He needed to do something, but what could he possibly…

With that he was suddenly back in front of the dragon, the despair of what he saw still clinging to him.

"I need to go back. I have to help her."

The dragon only looked at him and he felt like he wouldn't get anywhere with him. In his world dragons were fickle creatures. Lived long, were powerful and had a sense of pride for their species. It was all a power trip if you asked him, but if he wanted to get away from here, he will have to listen what he has to say.

"Come on, out with it."

It didn't take long for the dragon to speak as he was probably listening to his rampant thoughts, but Merlin couldn't find it in himself to care at this moment. Time was of the essence.

"Do not worry, time flows differently here."

At least that was something, but it didn't help Merlin at all. He was still a bundle of nerves and he needed to get to his friends now. The control that was always out of his reach felt even further away now. It felt like it wasn't there at all.

"I do not have time for this you stupid dragon. My friends are out there alone."

With every word, he felt his magic seeping out of him and his eyes couldn't see much of anything except Morgana and her terrified face. The dragon seemed to be indifferent at his inner battle.

"No one can escape their destiny Merlin. No one is bigger than their own path that is written on the wall."

What did that even mean? That he will have to watch his friends die while he is in some tooth fairy place? No, he has had enough.

"Listen to me now..."

The words barely escaped his lips in his rage induced state.

"Either you take me back or I will bring this place down on both of us."

Dragon roared at his obvious disobedience but he didn't have time for it.

"You dare turn your back on destiny?"

The pure outrage made the entire cave tremble. Merlin, on the other hand knew that he should stop this, but just couldn't back down. There was no turning back.

"I will turn my back on everything if it will save my friends."

His magic responded in kind, making the cave shake and start to collapse.

"You are a fool, I could've offered you a way out. A salvation and immortality. This way you will be bound like your pitiful friends to mortal life, to death. Next time you knock on the door of death it will not open, but lead you straight to hell."

An unusual light engulfed the dragon and started to spread over the entire place and took Merlin with it. The last thing he heard was,

"Mark my words. You will regret it."

-oo-

A piercing scream brought him out of whatever place he was in before. He was suddenly upright in the pool of his own blood with Morgana next to him. He gazed at her in wonderment and she did the same. She almost looked like she was seeing a ghost.

Which, now that he recalled the damn dragon he almost was. Now there was no time to waste.

"How are you still alive?"

Morgause looked as bewildered as all of them, only Arthur looked as stoic as usual. Nothing was registering in him, only dead eyes that gazed upon them. Merlin was tired and it was making him want to collapse and just never come back but now was not the time. Now he needed to get his head in the present and leave everything else behind. His body ached and he felt the stickiness from his chest still slowly seeping through his clothes.

The wound didn't properly heal and he knew that no matter how much magic he possessed, if he wanted to end this now he would have to endure it a bit longer. Breathing seemed harsh and shallow to his ears but he continued on.

"Merlin?" Morgana ask, her voice hoarse and soft as he figured her own scream just rendered her voice silent but she was making an effort for him. He decided that he could indulge himself a moment. A moment of happiness and love. With that he traced her chin with his fingers as her eyes gazed at him in disbelief. It hurt him to see the pain she was in and the storm raging there that went from a dark place to hope in a matter of moment.

"Hey."

The words escaped him softly, as he ignored the mess around them and kissed her softly on the lips. A strangled sob came from the back of her throat as she let go and hugged him fiercely.

"You are here?"

He glided his hand through her hair in an effort to try and soothe the never ending pain she was in.

"I am here."

With that he let her take a moment, all the while keeping his eyes trained on the other two that seemed to be as surprised as Morgana was. Morgause was the first one to snap them out of it.

"Enough of this delay. Time to do this right."

With that her eyes glowed red as she cast her spell. But before anything could be done Morgana outstretched her hand from his side as her head still rested on his shoulder.

"Not this time sister. You have done enough."

Morgause was not discouraged and so she cast a glance at Arthur and he sprang to action, his sword at a ready. Not wanting to hurt his friends Merlin quickly cast to deflect his slash and in that moment Morgause cast her spell at him only to be deflected by Morgana.

He could feel his wound starting to open up even more and he gritted his teeth in frustration. They are not going to last long. He was running out of options, but in that moment things changed.

"Merlin!"

He glanced at the end of the corridor where Gwaine was running towards them holding what looked like their gear that was left from the last time they were here. Gwaine held his beloved blade out, its gold sheath shining in the light.

"Catch."

He went for it, but his hand just didn't work. Before the blade could hit him clearly on the face Morgana managed to catch it in her hand, just in time to push away Arthur's sword. She gave him a small smile before moving to engage.

"You take care of Morgause and I will keep Arthur busy."

Arthur on the other hand spent no time attacking Merlin again, before Morgana moved into place, taking his place as a target. She once more took a stance between him and Merlin.

"Now would be a good time for that trick of yours with the blade."

He nodded and while Morgause was distracted by Gwaine who was clearly nothing more than a rag doll she tossed around, but he had to give the man points for tenacity. He meanwhile infused some of his magic in the blade to strengthen it.

"There, now with my magic and your skills, you will wipe the floor with him. Just don't do it literally."

She gave him a warm smile in return, before focusing on Arthur.

"I will try not to."

His side was starting to go numb but he cleared his mind and moved forward just in time to see Gwaine right himself up after what seemed to be another heavy fall.

"You are difficult to approach sweetheart, but I am determined to get into your good graces."

She let out a cry of frustration before pulling out a heavy spell to finish him of, but Merlin managed to counter it, just in time to hear the clang of metal behind him to announce the heavy sibling battle just behind him. Any other time he would've loved to see them go at it, like they did when they used to spar before but like this, he couldn't help but cringe at every heavy sound that echoed through the small space.

He almost gave an amused chuckle. The battle for the future of Camelot in a dusty and stingy corridor. Who would've thought?

Gwaine came to stand beside him, dressed in simple rags. It appeared he didn't have time to change into his regular gear he noticed.

"No need to check me out Merlin. I know many want me, regardless of gender."

After Merlin scrunch up his face in response Gwaine continued.

"That is if you and Morgana weren't so disgustingly loving every spare moment. I could vomit rainbows and unicorns just watching you two and let me tell you that isn't attractive on a man of my stature."

Merlin laughed and it felt so good to go back to that usual banter. Gwaine always knew how to lift their spirits.

"Sorry Gwaine, what can I say. You are a hot girl."

Gwaine smirked in return and readied his sword, blood pouring from his cut on the forehead.

"That is what I'm tell... Hey wait, what?"

Merlin felt another stab of pain and decided they had prolonged this long enough.

"Let's finish this."

"Yes, I'm not into big speeches myself."

Morgause was already attacking and he tried his best to shield Gwaine from the impact and still one blast managed to catch him but not before the man was close enough to swipe his sword and leave a cut on her hand. That left him wide open for a quick attack from Morgause and a force knocked him right into the wall. There he fell and didn't get up.

Merlin on the other hand was struggling with his own injuries but managed to hold off her vicious spell. Morgause obviously was more powerful then he hoped. Things did not look good. By the sight of it, she shared his thought.

"Well, I never could've imagined that things would work out so splendidly in my favor. Little ol' me killing the great Emrys. The magical realm will finally accept me as its new leader and I will rule everyone."

"You will do no such thing."

He let his anger light a fire in his magic as he took his chance for an attack. Nothing left to lose now. The wound has reopened and he doubted he had much time to stay conscious anyway.

He blasted spell after spell, weakening her but she refused to give up, returning the same viciousness with her own black spells, but not before he found a crack in her armor and blazed his most vicious attack, letting fire in a form of a razor pierce through.

She clutched at her shoulder and fired an enormous blast his way that crashed him into the wall behind him and from the looks of it Morgana as well, because in the next moment he saw Morgause go for the kill and Arthur do the same.

This was the end.

"It is time for you to die Emrys. Enough of your meddling in my affairs. Lancelot tried to do the same and his death was something to behold. Dear sister will follow because disobedience is something I simply cannot stand for. Finish her Arthur."

A gasp escaped Morgause as the tip of the sword went through her heart and she looked wide eyed at its owner. Gwaine gave a shaky laugh.

"Told you that I will get to you."

"You?"

It was as if she just couldn't grasp that he was able to achieve such a thing.

"Yes me. I may not have the fancy magic you kids do but I can play a mean dead man. Saved my life a couple of times actually."

He heard Arthur let out a cry before falling to his knees.

"What happened? Morgana?"

She only looked at him for a brief moment before pulling him into a hug.

"You're back."

"It seems so, but back from what?"

"I will tell you later."

Before any of them could say anything else Morgause directed a spell at Merlin as her last breath escaped her just as Gwaine pulled out the sword and with a swift move severed her head from her shoulders.

"Heal from this you over privileged bitch."

He glanced at Merlin only to see his chest pouring blood he couldn't possibly have and the shallow breath told him that Morgause has achieved her last goal.

"Merlin mate!"

As he shouted at him Morgana and Arthur quickly came to join. Morgana only managed a muffled cry before falling to her knees before him.

"No, not again."

He wanted to say something but all he managed was to spit some blood from his mouth. Morgana began to heal him, but after a few moments his body just didn't respond. She pressed her hands firmly to him.

"Why won't you heal, damn it!"

He could see Arthur's guilty and resigned face and Gwaine who looked like he wanted to help but didn't know how. Merlin lifted his hands to grasp Morgana's and made her look him in the eyes. The last moments in his life should be spend gazing at her eyes and nowhere else, basking in the love he saw in them.

"It would appear I took it too far."

"No you did no such thing. I will heal y-"

But even as she said that he saw that it was slowly sinking in.

He was going to die.

Well, wasn't this a change of events?

Morgana moved to kiss him desperately for the hope that somehow she could breathe life into him, before leaning her forehead on his and just repeating quietly, "I love you..."

He placed his bloodied fingertip on her open palm and traced it from the sole to the fingertips.

"I Iove you too Morgana, never doubt that."

Gwaine interrupted the scene.

"Come on, maybe it isn't too late. Arthur and I can take you to a physician. He will give you potions and you will be as good as new. Right Arthur?"

He looked over to his friend who only bowed his head in return making Gwaine retreat back a few steps.

"This isn't fair."

Merlin paid him little attention for Arthur still didn't manage to look him in the eyes.

"Come now, it is not decent of a future king to bow his head."

Arthur could only look at him with regret. It did hurt to see his friend like that. So he took his other hand and extended it towards him.

"Come on now Arthur, to carry a burden over friends demise is not something I want from you. You will become a great king and I am proud to have called you my friend."

Arthur shook his head in return.

"No, not a friend. Brother."

He weakly grasped his hand before letting go and turning towards Morgana who had buried her head in his chest in the meantime.

"And you, my beautiful Morgana. What can I say to you to-"

She only sobbed harder in return.

"No, I don't want you to go."

"I know, me neither."

"Then don't."

He only smiled sadly in return.

"When you tell destiny or fate to bugger off it is to be expected that reprimand of fate or whoever would come in some way." he said with a laugh that was more of a cough before adding quietly, "I don't think it is as easy as we make it."

She only shook her head.

"But it has to be. We went through so much and this is our reward?"

He brushed the strands of hair that fell on her face and marveled how even now she looked breathtaking. It hurt to leave her behind. Guess immorality would do him good now.

But the reality was something else and he had to make peace with that. So he leaned in and poured everything he had in that kiss. Trying to memorize as much of her as he could, just to take it to whatever hell they will bring him to. He wanted to have her in his heart.

When Morgana let go of his lips she was staring into the vacant eyes of once great warlock Emrys and the despair they felt was for their friend not many knew. He was glad that they did, because he too, for a brief time had a family and that was the thing he was most proud of.

Her shaky voice resounded in the now somber corridor.

"Merlin?"

Almost childlike, the fear in her voice, but one that would echo in her nightmares for a lifetime. With that the tears slowly fell down her face, a broken word escaping her as she cradled his face before closing his eyes and stroking his blood coated hair.

"No... but I- I love you."

The world had freedom but they had pain and despair. A price worthy of the new age and the new kingdom to arise. The price a friend was willing to pay.

The sad thing was that the price was too high for them. Arthur in return hugged his sister while Gwaine just sat in the corner with his head in his hands. The reality was never kind to them and today proved to be no different.

All that was left was to move forward. One broken step at a time.