Morgana recognised him first, the knight striding towards them and her eyes darkened. He spoke long before he reached them. His icy voice carried clear across the circle and shivered through the trees.
'Merlin. Let her go.'
Merlin turned, baffled by Arthur's tone and failed to move fast enough away from Morgana. 'It's not how it looks Arthur,' he protested.
'I said move!' commanded Arthur raising his sword.
Merlin stumbled backwards. Arthur turned his sword on Morgana.
'Arthur!' Merlin exclaimed incredulously 'What are you doing?'
'She is coming with me, back to Camelot.'
Morgana raised her chin in defiance. 'I'm not going anywhere Arthur.'
'What's going on Arthur, tell me what's happening.' A cold fear gripped Merlin. He had only ever once seen such anger in Arthur and that time it took all of Merlin's passion and persuasion to stop him killing. The rage seemed to spill out of him and become tangible like a creature in it's own right.
Morgana noticed the sword at Arthur's right hip. It was Uther's sword and had been her father's 'Are you going to give me a fighting chance then?' she asked nodding to it. Arthur moved his hand to the hilt.
'Arthur you can't.'
'Can't I? And why not? I was born to kill sorcerers, it's in my blood.'
'Morgana raised her hand to take the sword, but Arthur did not offer it, instead he brought his weapon swiftly up to her throat.'
'If you were a man I would ….'
'Try and kill me?'
'I would….k..i..l.l….y..o..u...' Arthur barely got the words out, his throat tightened as his fury grew.
Merlin stepped forward and Arthur looked in his direction, still keeping Morgana in his sight and under the point of his sword.
'What? Are you stepping in to defend her? Would you like to know what you are defending, what you are in love with?'
'You've got it wrong Arthur. All wrong, it's not to do with love it's because of what I did to her and what I didn't do…'
'Stop talking in riddles Merlin. What we have here is simply a cold-blooded murderer.' He focused again on his step-sister. 'What did you say as you slaughtered my father Morgana?'
Merlin stared in dismay at Morgana who lowered her eyes in admission and resignation.
'WHAT DID YOU SAY?'
'I don't remember.' Morgana lied with ease.
'HA! That's convenient, isn't it Merlin?'
Merlin gave Arthur a pleading look.
'Please. Arthur don't do this, she isn't that same person. Things have changed. Let her talk freely. Let her tell you herself.'
'Ahhh… I see now,' said Arthur with a false laugh. 'I forgot…. you cover for her when she lies. You made up all that rubbish about how she was immune to the sleeping sickness because she took some mystery potion that she could not even remember. I knew there was something, I knew it!' Arthur leaned into Morgana's face and she turned away. His whole body was contorted with grief and every movement was torture
.
'You almost succeeded then didn't you? And once I was out of the way you came back to finish the job. You knew I would never let it happen'
Morgana lifted her arm towards him in a gesture of reconciliation. He glared at her with a hatred that could not recognise it.
'Arthur,' she said. Then lowered her hand. She looked at her one time brother and her heart ached. He could never understand what it was like for her being held so tight in Uther's grip, watching his hatred turn to poison that killed everything except Arthur that killed the love she once had for him and eventually infested her. But somehow she felt he was the one still trapped by Uther, still following the path his father had drawn for him, even more so now, Arthur was not thinking for himself.
'Alright Arthur.' Morgana said at last. 'I told him that he was a tyrant and that I would send him to hell. I told him….'
'Be quiet! Be quiet! Or I swear I'll run you through.' Arthur was faltering, descending into pain. He lowered his sword and grabbed Morgana's hand pulling her roughly towards him. She fell to her to her knees.
'Don't Arthur,' pleaded Merlin, 'Don't hurt her?'
'Are you prepared to kill me Merlin, because that's the only way you'll get her from me. Arthur started to haul Morgana back onto her feet. As he turned to lead her away her eyes flashed gold and she summoned Uther's sword into her hand.
'No Morgana!' yelled Merlin.
Before Arthur could react Morgana pulled the sword across the back of his hand. He gasped in surprise let her go. But straight away Arthur began to return the blow, like the creature of pure instinct he was bred to be. Merlin saw Arthur's sword rise above Morgana's head and in the same second realised she was not defending herself and that she had only attacked him to get away.
Merlin lifted his hand and uttered the words, but nothing happened there was no rush of magic through his blood and he knew in an instant that he was powerless, that his gift had deserted him. Without thought or hesitation Merlin leapt at Arthur's sword arm deflecting it away. Bur Arthur's instincts were paramount and he reacted, he swept his arm up and twisted his body. He brought his sword around in an arc and struck Merlin down.
Merlin heard a woman scream, his legs buckled under him, his body hit the ground like stone; in a darkening world he saw green grass, willow leaves and a purple sky.