Arthur forced his eyes open. The sky was over him and small sharp rocks beneath him. Something didn't make sense…..Why was he here? Maybe Merlin could tell him. Merlin. Merlin. Merlin! Where was he? He felt around him, the world now looking strange. He couldn't see straight. Someone was coming towards him; a certain raven-haired someone. His heart leap, thinking it was Merlin, but his vision cleared a little and he realized this person was a woman. Did that idiot get turned into a girl again?

Swaying as he got up, the person neared him. He recognized that face.

"Hello Arthur," said Morgana. Yet it was not. She didn't look like the corrupted Morgana, the one full of spite. This one was the old Morgana, the one who cared about everyone. Arthur rightfully thought it was a trap.

"Morgana," he growled.

"Where's Merlin?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" his voice was dangerous.

"No," she said, her eyes widening, "Arthur we have to find him."

"We? Last I checked, you were bent on destroying Camelot," he said, hand going to his sword that was not there. Dammit.

"Arthur do you love Merlin?" asked the sorceress, panic in every vowel. Arthur didn't answer, but glared at his sister. She sighed. "I know this is hard to believe, but I'm trying to help you. Merlin is in trouble. If you love him, you'll have to trust me."

Arthur thought for a moment. "Why should I?"

"Because I saved you from dying."

(((((((((((((((0))))))))))))))

Merlin's life flashed before his eyes, but it didn't matter. This was the perfect way to go. The water was growing nearer, so he deepened the kiss. Arthur had tears running down his face, the warlock could tell without opening his eyes. Against the king's lips, he muttered "don't cry," but there was too much tongue involved in this kiss so it came out as "hnnm hnn."

Death was going to take them. He prepared himself, happy his last minutes were spent with Arthur. They were about to hit water.

Suddenly it stopped.

There was dark, a lot of dark. It was cold too, like winter air. Arthur was still with him, but it seemed the king was unconscious. Merlin struggled to open his eyes. He wished he hadn't. Morgana was over top of him, glowering. His arms around his king tightened.

"Merlin," she said, with warmth, surprising the warlock. "Don't open your eyes again. We are passing through the spirit world. You've already had an encounter with the Dorocha, if you come close to them again, they will take you."

He squeezed his eyes shut, and nevertheless, asked a question. "What happened?"

"You spared my life when you could have taken it," said Morgana. "I am repaying the favor. And also, I think I owe you and Arthur."

"Why are we in the spirit world?"

"Well," he heard her say sadly, "I am dead. The only way to save you two was to bring you here."

Merlin's heart stopped, remembering the old Morgana. He forgot about all the evil she had done, and remembered only the good. He still didn't open his eyes. "H-how did you-"

"I did it to myself," she said with no emotion. "I was tired of being a monster."

"Oh, Morgana….." started the warlock, tears seeping out of his closed lids.

"It's alright," she sighed. "I am no longer a monster. I am now what you have always called the 'old Morgana.' I realized my mistakes in death."

Merlin was really unsure of what to say, but saving him from his predicament, but giving him a new one, a loud sound met his ears. "He has awaken," whispered Morgana, fear in her voice. Then she said more to herself, "The way to the other world is close, we should make it."

Merlin felt the darkness subside a little, but it still was not enough light. "We're here," said Morgana. "Arthur will go first, seeing as he's unconscious. If I hadn't put him to sleep, he would have opened his eyes in defiance of me."

Merlin smirked with his eyes closed. "Sounds like he would do that." The warlock let go of his king and heard an affirmative answer that he went through. Merlin then had a question on his mind. "Are you coming with us?"

He heard her voice say sadly, "I would but….only two may pass through. I am already dead, the spirits will not affect me that much."

"Morgana what do you mean?"

"Lord Pluto, ruler of the Underworld, has a son, Mortius. Every day he requires the shades to bring him the most powerful source magic in this realm. When you leave, that will be me."

Merlin thought. "Why can only two leave?"

"That is the greatest amount that ever made this far."

Merlin thought again. "Morgana, go through the veil. I have an idea."

Even though his eyes were closed, he could tell she was giving him a piercing look. "Merlin, this is no time to play the hero. Just go-"

She was cut off by a loud, booming voice that spoke in a language she did not understand. Merlin, on the other hand, understood it perfectly.

"My slaves, your prince requires power. I sense Magic itself is by the veil."

Merlin knew it meant him. He dared to open his eyes, only to find a transparent Morgana in front of him. He spotted the veil between this world and the next. The sorceress looked as though she was going to slap him for opening his eyes. "Merlin! You idiot! If a shade-"

She couldn't finish her thought as shades surrounded them from either side. They all grabbed the warlock, tearing at him from each side. Morgana tried to reach him, but they tossed her aside. The warlock went limp at their touch, as he had when the Dorocha went through him. The sorceress watched in horror as they dragged him away, into most likely Tartarus, the deepest part of the Underworld. Mortius had him.

Morgana refused to believe it. She remembered when Morgause had been teaching her about transportation. It was easy to do to one's self, but incredibly hard to do on a second party. Being naïve at the time, Morgana had tried it, and found a bottle of a potion was missing (this she did not tell her sister about). She was confident she had did it then. If she could do it then, she could do it now.

Taking a deep breath (which was unnecessary as shades do not breathe) she muttered a spell, over and over, every fiber of her being focused on this. Her eyes flashed gold.

She thought it had worked, until she saw Arthur, waking up on the beach of the Lake of Avalon.

(((((((((((((((((0)))))))))))))))

"Alright," said Arthur, eyes wide, heart aching for his warlock, "I'll do it."

"Good, we need to-" started the shade of Morgana.

"But let's get a few things straight," he said, eyes piercing her through (which wasn't very hard because when light passed through her, it looked like you were looking through clouded glass). "I do not trust you yet."

She nodded, waiting for more.

"Do anything to make me change my mind, you'll regret it."

Morgana could have snorted. What could he do to a shade?

"And when we find my Merlin"-he put the emphasis on 'my' and had a possessive tone- "You are not to touch him."

Sorry this took so long! I had major writer's block (and alot of homework.) I actually was going to end the story in this chapter, with Merlin and Arthur being kings of Camelot, being in looove, happy ending, etc. But then I got two reviews about Merlin turning back into a girl! Then the gears in my head started turning...

Total plot twist! This story will continue for a little (or a lot) longer. I've got some good (a.k.a. ones that will drive you crazy) ideas...*evil Morgana smirks* So how many people thought Merlin and Arthur were gonna die in the last chapter? Uh-huh, raise your hands, admit it! I actually thought they died for a moment...before I realized I was the author of this fanfic. Well, this author's note is getting pretty long...Thank you to Don-V, Lady Jane, Lady-Blade-WarAngel, hey hey, and Starlight for reviewing! :D

P.S. *Spoiler Alert* Merlin will go back to being a girl for a (probably long) while, then turn back into a man...then I'm not sure where to go from there.