Ok so this is the End! :'( I had great fun with this story and I am still amazed by its popularity. Sorry it took me so long to write, I had a bit of writer's bloke.

There is a POLL on my profile page asking you which story you would like me to write next, PLEZ VOTE! :D

Anyway, Thank You Susie666, who edited and helped me through my writer's bloke and Thank You to Katherine Moonhawk who is a fantastic Beta reader!

And a final Thank You to all of you who have read this story and especially to those who have reviewed/alerted/faved this story, I love you all!

I DO NOT OWN MERLIN!

Enjoy!

There was screaming and pleading somewhere in the room but Merlin paid it no attention: no, the only thing that mattered was that this blonde discovered the cost of getting in his way. Did this knight really think that he could stop the almighty Emrys? He was shocked that this idiot hadn't been killed already; he must have a really devoted guardian angel to protect him from the big bad monsters. He laughed at that, who would want to protect such a prat...

Prat...strange word to use when he didn't even know the man...

And suddenly it all clicked...blonde...knight...idiot...protect...

..prat...

...oh god...

He swiftly lost control over the choke as his hands braced against the sides of his head with crushing force, and he let out an ear-splitting cry. It was as if every cell in his body was on fire, burning him from the inside out. Merlin gasped for breath when the pain finally subsided, well, apart from a heavy ache that wouldn't subside.

There was an emptiness left behind in his mind that couldn't be filled though, and as he regained awareness he noticed he was on his knees on a cold, stone floor, which was definitely not his bedroom. The last thing he remembered was going to sleep after a long day serving his royal pratness.

He slowly raised his head and looked around. He was in a castle's throne room, Cendred's probably due to his presence. Everyone was staring at him, expressions ranging from fear to shock to desperation.

"Merlin?" Gwen whimpered.

He turned to her, confusion filling him as he saw her there, bound. She was a wreck, hair falling over her face, tears soaking her coffee colored skin.

"Gwen..." Merlin whispered, not knowing how to continue, what question to ask first.

"Are you okay?"

Merlin just nodded, still unsure. A small smile twitched on her face but it was gone as fast as it appeared.

"Do you remember anything of the last day?"

She must have seen his confusion and he confirmed her thoughts with a shake of his head.

"Okay...I'll explain later, alright? But for now I need you to do something, can you do that?" Her voice was so soft, as if she thought she might make him flip.

Everyone continued to stare at him, unmoving, and he was finding it very creepy, especially as most of them wanted him dead. He nodded again, still trying to remove the haze that was clogging his mind.

A small sob left her lips as Gwen tried to continue, "I need you to check Arthur... to see i-" another sob, unable to finish the request.

Panic filled Merlin, his mind cleared as his eyes searched for Arthur.

The prince was lying next to him, motionless. Horror and dread blinded him as he moved over to his friend. He breathed a sigh of relief as he heard the beat of his heart, even though it was erratic. Arthur's breathing was also far too shallow, but at least both signs of life were there.

Merlin grabbed his shoulders and gently shook him, forcing him back to consciousness. Arthur slowly stirred, a groan leaving his lips, his eyes cracking open.

When he saw Merlin above him he automatically recoiled. He could see the hurt in Merlin's crystal blue eyes...blue...Merlin had lost the burning golden orbs.

He slowly sat up, Merlin helping him as he fought off the onslaught of pain that attacked his head and throat.

"Wha-" he cleared his throat to try and rid himself of his croaky voice, but it didn't work so he just continued. "What happened?" Merlin shrugged.

"Beats me, I don't even know why we're here…"

And then it hit him, he remembered the burning flesh, the glazed over stares of horror. Merlin froze, the onslaught of emotions suffocating him.

"You murdered her." It was barely a whisper, yet everyone heard it. The air was suddenly thick with tension as Merlin turned to face the blonde witch.

"You murdered her," this time it came out as a hiss, gold sparks swimming in his cobalt irises.

"Merlin, do-" But Arthur was too late as Merlin's hand flew out, magic spilling from him, and Morgause doubled over in pain. She was screaming but Merlin wouldn't stop...couldn't.

Running to her sister, Morgana kneeled beside her to see if she could help, but it was useless. She turned to Merlin and yelled at him to stop, but again it was useless.

Arthur strode in front of his servant, effectively blocking the man's view of the sorceress. The prince looked directly into his eyes.

"Stop, now!" He commanded in his best 'prince' voice. Arthur rarely used direct, strict orders on Merlin, even though the boy was his servant. He had never really needed to, Merlin rarely paying attention to him anyway.

Merlin seemed to falter, his muscles relaxing slightly as he returned Arthur's stare. It was as if he were crumbling, like an old wall that had finally lost its strength and fallen apart.

Merlin's power seemed to disappear, along with Morgause's screams, as his shoulders sunk and his knees gave way. Arthur just stood there, unable to move, as despair slowly etched its way across the warlock's face. He looked so lost, his eyes glassy as a single tear escaped. The servant looked far too old in those long minutes, his youth having been stripped from him too soon.

Everyone just continued to stare as another tear left.

"She didn't deserve that." Arthur had to strain his ears to listen to Merlin's whisper. "She didn't deserve any of it."

"Merlin..." Gwen's voice was hushed as she knelt down next to her friend.

She placed a tentative hand on his shoulder; however he jerked away from her, whispering, "all my fault...all my fault," over and over.

"Merlin...none of it's your fault." Gwen tried to comfort Merlin in a soft tone. However, all Merlin did was shake his head violently.

"I caused her misery; I caused her fear...I...I ca-caused her death..."

"No you didn't!" Gwen protested, her voice full of strength as she tried to rid her friend of his guilt.

"She died because of me...my magic...everyone I care about dies because of me...Will, Freya, my father...now my mother...all because of me."

"Sshhh, they died so that you would live, because they love you. They wouldn't want you to be like this, they would want you to be strong and to continue fighting, so that they didn't die in vain."

"Come on, Merlin, Guinevere's right," Arthur said as he crouched in front of his friend. "Now, we need to leave this place."

Merlin slowly nodded, wiping his eyes, as both Arthur and Gwen helped him to stand. They turned and had nearly left when they heard Morgause.

"Forbærnan"

They swiftly turned to catch sight of Morgause throwing a fire ball toward them. However, before Arthur could react and do anything, it stopped and stayed there, a couple of feet from them. Arthur looked over at Merlin and saw him, eyes golden once more, as he forced the fire ball back towards Morgause until it was finally in the centre of the room. The sisters just sat there, powerless to stop it, as the gold glowed brighter and the ball increased in size.

Merlin's raised hand suddenly closed to form a fist as he whispered "úpáblæw" and the ball exploded. The whole room was showered with chunks of rubble. Arthur instinctively shoved Merlin, Gwen and himself out of the room, saving them just in time.

They stood there, looking at each other, wondering what to do next. Arthur looked back at the wreckage, wondering if anyone had survived. However, there was no time, with all the guards that would no doubt go running after them, especially if the others were alive.

He turned back to the trembling warlock and exhausted future queen and they gazed right back at him. It was then that he decided, no matter what, that they would be alright; they would survive this, like they always had...together.

He smiled for the first time in what felt like forever and walked past them, allowing them to follow, calling over his shoulder to a bemused Merlin.

"I think my armour needs a good scrub...don't you agree Merlin?"

Yep, he thought, as he caught his servant's eye roll, they'd be just fine...

THE END! :'( So what did you think? Plez REVIEW and tell me :D I do LOVE reviews! And remember the Poll!

LL x