Morgana winced slightly as the echo of Morganite seemed to pull at her from deep inside her body. The unpleasant sensation, that she seemed to be being wrenched in half, lasted for nearly ten minutes, as she stood, fists clenched on the dresser, for it to abate. It was the sixth time she had gone though this in the last two days, and she had no intention of doing it again. After all, seven was considered to be the most poten magica number, so seve of her should maximise her abilities quite sufficiently. There was also the fact that each time she used it, she felt weaker and less powerful. It was not something she was used to feeling and she hated every second that left her feeling vulnerable.
The pain uddenly ceased, catching her off balance and making her sway slightly as she fought to regain it. As soon as she was sure she could stand without falling, she turned and couldn't help the smile that sprea across her face. This copy of her was just as good as the others, a perfect mirror image. She summoned one of the guards that was stationed outside her room. For the past two day, he had been ferrying the copies of her to another, private, wing of the palace, where they had been given rooms and anything they would need until he final battle. Morana liked the sound of that... the final battle. When she would finally get rid of Arthur and his knights... and Merlin. He couldn't be Emrys, it wasn't possible... but either way, they all had to die if she was to take what was rightfully hers. The guard bowed to Morgana,
"The same as usual my la... Your Majesty?" She sw a bead of sweat break out on his forehead. Good, so he had heard of what had happened to the lst person to address her as 'm'lady'.
"Yes Alistair. The same, then report to me back here. Immediately." He bowed again, backing out of the room as he did so. Morgana motioned for her copy to follow him and settled into the chair in front of the dresser, once gain dreaming about Arthurs demise.

Merlin joined Gwaine and the other knights as they took a break from whatever tasks they had been set.
"Gwaine? You said that you..."
"Look at him Merlin." Gwaine interrupted. Merlin had no trouble in realising that Gwaine meant Arthur.
"He has been stood in that same place," Percival continued, "In the same position for the last three hours."
"I swear I've barely seen him blink..." Leon muttered beside him. Merlin sighed,
"Yeah, I know. But what do you expect? Morgana has attacked Camelot more times than we can count, but this is the first time Arthur has actually been in a position to do something..."
"And we decided that we shouldnt..." Gwaine concluded. Then he perked up slightly. "But you know as well as I do that if we can get him involved in all of this..."
"He wouldn't spend as much time worrying..." Leon finished. "But," he continued, "the question is how... After all, the only reason he hasn't joined in yet is because he feels guilty about anything and everything and believes we'd do a better job without him."
"Which is stupid." Merlin countered, "I mean, none of this has been his fault... We just have to make him see sense."
Elyan spoke up, "Well, if we tell him its stupid, he wont listen... after all, he would only think we were trying to get him involved... which we are."
"And I'm always telling him that whatever he is doing is stupid," said Merlin, then he paused, "Gwaine, remember when he was on the quest for the trident of the fisher king? An he got really protective of his honour and all that?"
Gwaine nodded,
"Yeah, but what does this have to do with... Oh." He grinned, "You know, that's not a very good idea..."
"But if it works," Merlin interrupted, "Then its worth it. He cant stay up there moping all day." The other knights were staring at Gwaine and Merlin, "Well," Percival said, "In that case, you only have to let us know what you are going on about"
"Gwaine can do that," Merlin said, already walking towards Arthur, "I have to try something..."

Arthur watched the preparations, that were being made for the battle, with ill-concealed impatience. Camelot and the upper town was being held by Morgana, with several hundred of is people still inside, and god know what she was doing. Whilst here they were, planning and preparing. They should be in there... His thoughts were interrupted by a hand on his shoulder.
"Arthur?" Merlin sighed, "You've been stood in that same place for nearly three hours. If you didnt like the plan, you could have just..."
"No," Arthur interrupted, "Its not that. I just... You know what Morgana is capable of Merlin. The last time she took Camelot, she executed dozens of the townspeople just to make a point..." he sighed. "The plan makes sense... And I never would have thought I would be saying that about something you said before..." he gave a small smile, but the effort seemed to be too much for him and he let it drop.
"Gwaine, Leon, Percival, Elyan and some of the others seem to be under the impression that you aren't down there because you are acting under some misguided sense of guilt about 'anything and everything'." Merlin told him, "The others think that either you believe yourself too high and mighty to be down there with them, a view that is being helped along by Sir Kay," Merlin gestured to the stocks, where Kay was being held, before continuing, speaking louder as Arthur tried to interrupt him. "And the rest are under the impression that you just cant be bothered and are wallowing in self pity."
"Merlin," Arthur stated, "That is the most ridiculous... most... ridiculous..." He groaned and stormed inside, Merlin close behind him.
"Well then," Merlin said to him, feeling slightly guilty, but determined to carry through, "If its ridiculous, why are you in here and not out there? If you cared about these people, you would be out there. Damn the guilt, the honour or whatever else is keeping you here. Those people are what matter, and they need you right now..." Merlin paused for a second as another accusation came into his head. Should he...
"So the thought that the entire kingdom needs you still isn't enough to make you get out there and do something other than moping around?" Merlin's voice lowered an octave,
"Maybe the sorcerers are right. Maybe you are more like Uther than you want to admit. He would probably have left the hard work to lesser men as well..."

The punch came out of nowhere, too fast for Merlin to dodge or flinch away from, but the expected blow didnt come. Arthurs fist stopped a mere hair-breadth away from Merlins face, before slamming down onto the table, splintering the wood.
"Damn you Merlin." Arthur growled, "What was the plan? Insult me into doing what you say? Why do you always have to take it one step further?"
"Because," Merlin replied, "It wouldn't have worked otherwise."
"How do you know it worked? I could go right back out there and stand there for the rest of the day. It would probably be best for everyone."
"True," Merlin admitted, "But you and I know you wont. You cae about those people. You know that Im right when I say that they need you." Merlin sighed. "They have been in so many situations where Morgana has done something like this, but this is worse. Do you want to know why? Because you are here and not doing anything. Thats what gives Kays accusations strength..." Arthur held up a hand for quiet.
"Why are you always right Merlin?" he sighed and straightened up. "Lets go do... something." Merlin grinned and followed him out of the room. His ploy had worked, and he hadn't even got punched for it. He suddenly felt a sharp jab on his arm and turned, scowling, to Arthur.
"What was that for?" he complained,
"The whole thing about my father. It was unnecessary." Arthur grinned, "But in a way, Im glad you did it, which is ever so slightly strange..."
"Well you're a Pendragon," Merlin joked, "What do you expect? Normality?"He ducked the stone thrown at him and jogged over to where the knights were waiting. Gwaine grinned as he saw Arthur walking towards them.
"Merlin, you are either brave or stupid..." They were interrupted by the appearance of Gaius,
"Or both..." he quipped, in response to Gwaine's comment. "Merlin," he continued, "I need your help with something. A young man got stabbed during the time the discord stone was in use. I can't heal him with conventional methods. Could you..."
"No problem," Merlin interrupted, "Lead the way." Before following Gaius, he motioned to Arthur. "Keep him busy, 'eh guys?" They all nodded and Merlin set off after Gaius.

Morgana flexed her fingers as two guards pued the limp form of Alistair from her quarters. She could not risk anyone else finding out about her plans. What she did not know was at that at that exact moment, a young knight, one of those who had stayed to spy on her actions in Camelot, was hurriedly making his way through the catacombs, having witnessed the different versions of Morgana throughout the past couple of days and the casual execution of the guard. Knowing that Morgana had mo likely completed her task of copying herself, he had no doubt that she would be attacking soon. He needed to warn the king. And Fast. He had nearly made it to the main tunnel when something struck him in the back. From the warmth he felt, he was sure he was bleeding, but could see no sign of his attacker... his last thought before he hit the floor was that he hoped someone else knew of Morgana's plans... because there was little chance of him informing the king now...