Merlin's head hurt. After a few minutes he had managed to stagger to his feet and make it back to Arthur who was stirring. His first instinct was to keep his meeting with Talisen and visions a secret from his brother but then he remembered Arthur's anger when he had revealed the dragon. He'd be so angry if Merlin kept secrets from him again, and this was important. He was broken out of his catatonic state by his jacket hitting him in the back of his head. Arthur grinned at him, Merlin attempted a weak smile.

"Listen Merlin, I'm fine really" Arthur insisted obviously mistaking Merlin's state for guilt about his injury, "Your magic healed me up fine"

Merlin took a deep breath.

"I didn't heal you" He said quietly, "Talisen did"

"Who's Talisen?" Asked Arthur suddenly serious.

"A warlock like me, at least that's what he felt like" Merlin replied, "He healed you, I wasn't strong enough. He took me to this, place, the Crystal Cave. The birthplace of magic"

"It sounds great!" Arthur said enthusiastically, god he was so ignorant when it came of magic!

"It wasn't" Merlin snapped, "It was an entire room filled with crystals like the Neahtid"

"Oh God" Arthur paled, clearly remembering Merlin's reaction to just one powerful magical rock. Let alone an entire room full. Merlin just nodded and started walking back in the direction of the city.

"Hey! Merlin!" Arthur yelled chasing after him, "What did you see, come on slow down!"

"I saw Morgana" Merlin yelled, not looking at Arthur, focusing on getting back home to make sure what he had seen hadn't already come to pass. Sure he didn't get on with his father all the time but he didn't want him to die! Especially not at Morgana's hand, he was ashamed to admit, even if it was just to himself that Morgana made his blood boil. He had never hated anybody before, but maybe he was starting to.

That scared him.

…

"That arrow didn't pierce my armour but I was knocked out by the fall" Arthur finished his fabricated version of the vets that took place, "Merlin found us a haven and kept me safe until I awoke, the bandits must have a camp in the White Mountains"

"You did well" Uther praised at Merlin before turning to the knights, "Dispatch a search party, take care of those bandits"

"I think I'll just go see Gaius, make sure this bruising wont stop me from training" Arthur lied easily quickly excusing himself and Merlin to the hall. Gaius would play along as soon as they told him what had happened. Right now he had more important things on his mind.

"You said you saw Morgana" He confirmed, Merlin nodded.

"She's coming Arthur, she will try and kill father" Merlin said worriedly, "I don't know when but Talisen said it was important I saw those visions, it must be soon"

"You're going to obsess over this aren't you?" Arthur sighed

"We have to keep an eye out, that's all" Merlin said uncomfortably.

…

The next few nights were awful for Merlin. He spent each night wandering the corridors, close to the king's quarters. He kept a close eye out, letting his magic branch out trying to sense the slightest bit of magic flowing through the air. He was completely exhausted obviously, the little sleep he got was in his room after training. He could tell Arthur was worried about him.

Uther had been in a terrible mood all week because Morgana's birthday was coming up. This mixed with his already fragile mental state made him increasingly bitter. However even he soon began to notice Merlin's quiet and saddened mood. Much of his colour had drained and the skin around his eyes was purple with lack of sleep.

"Merlin are you well?" The king asked on the third day looking concerned.

"I'm just sad, it's almost Morgana's birthday and all" Merlin lied. He felt bad being so manipulative but it was for his fathers own good.

Then one night as he leant against the cool stone, trying to force himself not to fall asleep he felt it. Powerful magic, manifesting on the balcony not far from him. Morgana's magic! She was here! He ran, suddenly wide awake, rushing with adrenaline he ran toward it. Then he saw her. Red, velvet cloak, dagger that Arthur had given her for her birthday two years ago in hand. Heading for the kings chamber.

"Morgana!"

She spun around, eyes full of rage at being interrupted. Even more so that it was he.

"Come to protect daddy have we?" She sneered, Merlin glared.

"Atrice!" Morgana yelled, sending him flying backwards into the cold stone wall, Morgause had been teaching her. For a moment Merlin considered using magic but then he got a better idea. The longer Morgana remained ignorant to his power the better.

"Guards!" He yelled, "Sound the warning bell, wake the king!"

Morgana cursed, Merlin smiled. She was powerful yes, but alone. She had been relying on the element of surprise to kill Uther, now that was gone she would have no chance.

"Spoil sport" She grinned, "I'll be back, you know that right?"

Merlin could hear guards running up the hall behind her. He nodded.

"Swefnu!" She cried angrily, sending Merlin backwards once more before disappearing in her trademark black whirlwind. Merlin staggered, the adrenaline of the short confrontation had worn off. The wind from her transportation spell was strong, it sent the tall flaming torch at Merlin side tipping over, flames coming dangerously close to his face, instinctively he stepped back to avoid being burnt, only to find to his horror that there was no floor behind him. He had forgotten the spiral staircase.

The guards he had called for had come round the corner just in time to see Morgana disappear and they watched wide-eyed as Merlin fell. He gave a small yell of surprise before he tumbled downwards landing heavily on the stone stairs, his forehead gave a sickening crack and he knew no more.

…

Loud knocking at the door of his chambers awaked Arthur; quickly untangling himself from his night clothes which had twisted up in his sleep he answered it to find a breathless guard at his door.

"Prince Merlin says Morgana is in the castle, near the kings chambers!" the man gasped, he might of said more but Arthur was already running toward the hall, taking the short cut through the balconies intending to head up the spiral staircase to the hall where his fathers room was when he stopped, see a small gathering of guards at the foot of the stairs, crowding somebody.

Arthur felt his heart stop when he saw Merlin lying on the floor in a heap, a small amount of blood leaking from a cut on his forehead.

"What happened?" He demanded dropping down at his brother's side, "Merlin wake up!"

"Morgana knocked one of the torches over with her magic" A guard answered, "He stepped back to avoid it and…well I think he forgot the stair and, well he fell"

"Get my father" Arthur told him weakly, "I'm taking him to Gaius"

Careful not to jostle him too much Arthur gathered Merlin up in his arms and carried him as quickly as he could manage to Gaius's chambers. Gwen paled when she rounded the corner to see what all the fuss was about, she ran ahead to warn the physician.

By the time Arthur arrived at Gaius's chambers Merlin was struggling for breath, the doctor knocked everything off his worktable ready to begin treatment.

"Lay him down quickly! He's struggling to breath" Gaius ordered, Arthur did so.

"Is he going to be alright?" Arthur asked feeling something akin to panic rising up.

"I can fix the skin" Gaius said sadly as he stitched up the wound slowly, "But the brain is a fragile thing, the cranium is fractured"

"What does that mean?" Gwen asked, tears in her eyes.

"It means he's bleeding on the inside"

This story is not as popular as it once was, I blame that on my late updates so I promise I will try and update more often