Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! Here's the next chapter and hope you like it! In answer to one of the questions no there is no pairing in this story, just good old values of friendship. I may start updating more regularly depending on the feedback of this chapter.

Anyway hope you enjoy this as much as I did writing it (also apologies for the ending of this chapter but a bit of suspense never hurt anyone...except fangirls...whoops)

Chapter 2- Betrayal

Gaius had been overjoyed and so relieved when he saw Merlin though he was concerned when he stumbled. He worried about him a lot and Merlin didn't seem to realise that sometimes. Earlier, Gaius had tried to persuade Merlin to remain at camp but Merlin had insisted that there was no way to change his mind. He understood that Merlin had a destiny but he wished to god that it wasn't always so dangerous. Merlin had told him that he sensed powerful magic nearby and he had to check it out and make sure the camp was safe. He had gone personally to Arthur to make an excuse as Gaius was likely to fall back on his usual story that Merlin had gone to the tavern despite being in the middle of a forest and far from Camelot.

As the day had got later, and the sky darker, Gaius had begun to worry but wasn't able to start to inform anyone just yet. The sudden arrival of Morgana and warning had shaken him more than he cared to let on.

Now seeing Merlin in front of him, alive and well, made his fear drain away...but something was wrong. There was no smile or call. Merlin's face was passive of all emotion, his blank eyes fixed on Arthur. And that sword. He definitely hadn't had a sword before, nor was one missing but he held a long, silver sword in his hand, glinting in the faint light through the trees.

Arthur must have noticed it too for he made no movement to greet his friend. The others must have realised too as Merlin came closer as a few visibly shrank away. There was a strange aura around him like darkness and foreboding. Arthur was rooted to the spot, eyes fixed on Merlin. Merlin stopped when he was about a metre from him. Silence filled the air, waiting for something to happen.

And that's when Merlin swung his sword straight at Arthur.

Morgana strode calmly along, oblivious to her surroundings, the evil smirk still playing on her face. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead and her strides were long and strong. She had long left the clearing of the knights.

Then her face fell slack. She blinked suddenly a few time as though there was something in her eyes. She shook her head slightly and took a step back not as full of confidence as she was before. Then she noticed the trees surrounding her and the green canopy above her head, the overgrown grass, littered with broken branches and sticks: she was in a forest. Yes that seemed plausible. There wasn't far you could go without ending up walking through the forest.

Frowning, she scanned the area around her carefully but her head felt heavy and sluggish. Where had she come from? What had she been doing?

She had a feeling it had something to do with Arthur...or Merlin...both? That was obvious: most of her time was spent trying to get revenge on her brother and his troublesome runt of a manservant...but what had she been doing?

She dragged a hand over her face and tried to clear her thoughts but they were buzzing too much to focus on. Her memories were refusing to come to her aid or her mind come up with any ideas.

Forest. She was in a forest. No, she had already figured that out. Funny, why had she forgotten that briefly? She shook her head again and looked above her at the swaying leaves reaching out to the morning sky. It had been darkening when she saw her brother.

A memory! But as soon as she tried to grasp it, it slipped through her mind and away into forgetfulness. It had something to do with Merlin. Definitely Merlin and Arthur. She growled in frustration. Why couldn't she remember? Was she a powerful sorceress or not?...Was she? She frowned.

She was in a forest, she thought noticing the trees around her.

No. What had she been doing? What was happening to her? Why couldn't she remember? How...

She was in a forest.

Had to stop this. Had to...

She was in a forest.

She was...

Where was she?

Once more the evil smirk fell across her face, her eyes fixed directly in front of her. Morgana strode forwards, no longer aware of who or where she was.

If not for Arthur's quick reflexes, he would have been sliced. He leapt back just in time, the blade narrowly missing his chest.

"Merlin! What are you doing?" Arthur yelled as he ducked to avoid another swing. Merlin didn't seem able to hear him or took no notice at his words as he continued to swing his sword towards Arthur. Arthur continued to dodge Merlin's attacks, confused and hurt at why Merlin was acting this way. Maybe it was this or the shock of being attacked by one of his closest friends, that his next movement wasn't quick enough and the tip of Merlin's sword scraped the plate of armour on his chest, leaving a long white mark on the surface. Arthur stumbled backwards.

The other knights snapped out of their trance at the scene that had been unfolding before them and Leon and Gwaine rushed forwards. Before Merlin's next blow could come, Gwaine had grabbed Merlin's sword arm and Leon clung to the other. Merlin struggled against the two of them, trying to throw them off. This gave Arthur a moment to regain his balance and draw his sword warily.

"Merlin?" Arthur tried to stay calm, "I don't understand. Why? This isn't you. Snap out of it! Come on Merlin!" But Merlin paid him no attention as he continued to fight against the hold of the two knights. Arthur's heart clenched at the sight of him fighting against his own friends, his face full of anger but his eyes still blank. Nothing about this was right.

"Merlin!" Arthur tried again, "look at me. Merlin!" Still Merlin bid no notice to his friend's words. He continued to struggle and the knights clung on, not allowing him to cause anymore harm but Merlin possessed strength beyond his own, far beyond that of a young serving boy. With a jerk he managed to throw the knights off of him and they landed hard on the grass.

Arthur was stunned but he had been given time to unsheathe his sword to block the now renewed and stronger blows.

"Merlin...please..." He yelled between strikes, "Just...stop...this! Merlin! I'm...your...friend! Please!" For some reason this only strengthened Merlin's swings as though it was spurring him on or fighting harder to block the words.

The knights had pulled themselves off the ground and were ready to interfere but couldn't seem to find an opening in the two fighting men. If they tried to make another grab for Merlin they would risk being cut themselves or hindering Arthur rather than helping. They could only watch hopelessly.

Suddenly Merlin's seemed to take the advantage. Arthur was too focused on not harming Merlin which made him unwilling to make any more skilled moves other than defence and Merlin seemed to hold a strength and skill that wasn't his. In one fluid movement Merlin's sword caught under Arthur's and sent it flying through the air to wedge itself in the earth a few metres away. Arthur glanced back at it in panic, knowing he now had no defence and, with Merlin's growing determination, he would not be able to block the next attempt.

Gaius watched in horror as Arthur's weapon was removed and Merlin advanced for the next hit which would surely be fatal. His heart felt heavy with these events. He couldn't allow Merlin to do this: he clearly was not himself. No, this was not him acting through his movements. Was there any way to stop him? He glanced around for some form of help, maybe from a knight or something nearby.

There was nothing, no one, who could stop this despicable, unimaginable, act from taking place. Unless...

Gaius' eyes may have been clouded by feelings but he could never imagine Merlin causing him any harm. He was like a father to Merlin, well at least Merlin had always been like a son to him.

Acting on heart and instinct rather than logic, Gauis raced forwards and forced himself between Arthur and Merlin. Arthur seemed too stunned to react which suited Gauis perfectly. If this didn't work, he had at least saved his king some time.

Doubt imposed itself into his thoughts as Merlin's eyes remained blank and ruthless. The sword held above his head, then swung inevitably toward Gauis's neck, not wavering for a moment.

Gauis sucked in what could be his last breath as the sword came, bringing to an end his mortality on this Earth.