So... This is the one before the last part of this and it's been a tough one to write... Thanks as usual for those who favorited and alerted and commented and special thanks for limnamaewhose comment made me laugh so hard that my muse decided to come back and finish her job. So thank you very much!

Disclaimer: The boys aren't mine and neither is the son which belongs to Bryan adams and is called 'sound the bugle'

Enjoy!

Sound the bugle now... play it just for me
As the seasons change... remember how I used to be
Now I can't go on...I can't even start
I've got nothing left... just an empty heart

The night was dark when Merlin made his way out of Camelot and into the forest, his cloak wrapped tightly around him in a feeble attempt to fend off the cold.

He hitched his satchel higher on his shoulder and moved on, doing his best not to think too much, not to feel anything, just to move on, keep on trudging through the dirt that led to the forest and ignore the stabs of pain his heart kept sending along with his blood to course through his body.

He couldn't help himself however as he reached the edge of the woods and turned around, staring back at Camelot.

The city was magnificent in the moon's soft light and Merlin let out a shuddering breath and blinked away the tears, for the last four years this has been his home, this was where his friends were and family, where he fought and loved and lost..

Where he lost so much…

He thought about Gaius and hoped that the old man will be okay, that eventually he will be able to forgive Merlin for messing up his life so thoroughly, for hurting him so much.

He hoped that Gaius will remember him as the young, naïve, little boy that stumbled into his workshop all that time ago, a boy who believed the goodness in people, innocent and not a murderer.

As he turned around and made his way into the forest he wondered how Arthur will remember him, and Gwen. Will they miss him? Will they be happy? Sad? Will they notice?

He shook his head and tried to banish the tears that sprang to his eyes the moment he thought about Arthur, his body might be leaving Camelot but his heart? His heart will always stay there, right by Arthur's side.

He walked a few meters until he reached a clearing, it was empty now but Merlin knew better, he felt them coming and so he waited.

He sat on the frozen ground and mumbled a quiet spell, a blue orb of light sprung to life and Merlin gave a small smile, it was his favorite spell, ever since it saved Arthur from Nimueh all that time ago.

"Emrys." Alator's voice was gruff and grave. "You have come."

Merlin rose swiftly and tightened his hold on his staff.

"Of course I came, I gave you my word."

Alator nodded and gestured for his companion to move forward.

"My friend," He started and gestured to a massive man that reminded Merlin of Percy. "Andorra." Merlin nodded in acknowledgment. "Pleasure to meet you Andorra." He said with a small smile.

"It is an honor to stand by your side Emrys," Andorra started. "As we defeat the witch and the druid."

Merlin nodded and his mouth thinned to a tight, white line.

"Have no doubt Andorra, we will defeat them."

"The people do not question you Emrys," Alator assured him and Merlin nodded.

"We must go now."

And as the sun rose Merlin turned one last time to watch as Camelot bathed in the sun light and he hoped that he will be able to save them all for the last time.

Three days later they stopped at the edge of a small river and Merlin sat silently while Alator and Andorra stared at the map.

"What's wrong?" He asked eventually when it became clear that they were too afraid? Shy? Something of that sort to talk to him.

"We must make a detour Emrys, the witches' spies are swarming the area, looking for anyone they can find and…" He trailed off and Merlin's eyes narrowed.

"And?" He encouraged Alator to resume his speaking.

"And question them Lord Emrys." Andorra said softly and Merlin frowned.

"By question them you mean torture?" He asked again, wanting to be sure, needing the final proof that the Morgana he once knew was no longer alive.

"Indeed." Alator confirmed in a grave voice and Merlin looked at him and remembered Gaius.

"Has it happened before?" Merlin asked as he rose from his seat and started pacing.

"We have been under siege for the last two months Emrys, she and the druid boy are doing anything they can to weaken our power and resolve to stand by your side."

Merlin frowned. "She tried to convince you to turn me in? In exchange for your lives?"

The silence that followed was louder than words and Merlin clenched his fists.

"She will pay for this." He muttered angrily as he turned on them.

"Where is their camp? Where do they keep our people that were taken?"

He didn't miss the pleased look that passed on Alator's features as he called them 'his people' and he gave a small smile in return.

"Here" Andorra said and pointed to a small spot on the map. Merlin leaned in and took a close look.

"Right. How long is it until we reach the city? We can't take on her camp by ourselves."

"Two days."

Merlin nodded. "We will get to the city and then we will get our people back."

When they finally reached the city it was a very different experience then arriving in Camelot four years ago. For starts Merlin wasn't alone and afraid, Alator and Andorra were a comforting presence near him.

The second different was the people's reactions, in Camelot, Merlin was just another country boy who reached the big city, but in here, he was royalty, quite literally, people bound to him on the streets and he heard the children running ahead of him with excited yells of "Emrys is here!" "Emrys has come for us!" "He is here!" and back at him begging to be shown a bit of magic.

Merlin felt the smile climbing up his face and staying there as he made his way through the streets and towards the palace. When they reached there, Alator stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder and signaled him to stay.

"My people!" His voice rang across the court yard and the excited voices dimmed a bit. "Emrys has agreed to help us and get rid of the witch and the druid boy!"

The crowd cheered and Merlin smiled and waved, trying to imitate Arthur as he was addressing his people. He swallowed back the pain that that thought brought him.

"My people," He started and the happy cheers that that brought on was louder than anything he has ever heard. "I know you have suffered, I know that the witch has been harming your life and your freedom for the last two months, I know you have been suffering for me," because of me, he thought bitterly.

"And I thank you for that." The cheers went up again and he had to shout his next words over the noise to be heard. "And I promise you that I will make sure it will end now! She will not torment us anymore!"

The crowd went wild and Alator smiled and led Merlin away. Inside the palace the corridors were silent as they made their way to another room. Entering the palace's great hall, Alator closed the door after them and smiled at Merlin.

"That was a very good speech Emrys; you give the people hope for a better future."

Merlin stood silent for several moments before he shook his head.

"Hope won't help them against the witch, we need information, I need to know what our people told her."

"I will arrange my man to go and-"

"No," Merlin cut him off. "I told you we would get them out of there and we will, I trust you and Andorra are going with me?"

Alator nodded.

"Good, than I need only one more, your best man, someone we can trust not to run away if things get nasty."

Alator smiled. "I have the perfect person for this."

Without a light, I fear that I will stumble in the dark
Lay right down and decide not to go on

Merlin waited outside the city, already mounted on his horse, it was darkening soon and Merlin knew they need to get going and fast.

"Where is your man Alator?" He asked irritated.

"He will be here shortly Emrys." Alator said in a calm voice.

A moment later a horse arrived and Merlin turned to glance at him, broad shoulders was the only thing Merlin could figure out of the man because of his cloak.

"Right, is he your man?" Merlin turned to look at Alator.

Alator nodded.

"Then let's go." Merlin kicked his horse and spurred it to move, trying to squish the feeling that it should be Arthur leading something like this and not Merlin, Merlin should be somewhere by his side, watching and vigilant but always invisible, always.

Arthur was the tactician, he knew what to do when they needed to attack something, Merlin had no idea what he was doing, he was leading them all to their deaths! He should have refused, he should have-

"So what's the plan?" The stranger asked and Merlin didn't bother looking at him.

"Would you feel bad if I told you I had no idea and I have full intention to improvise?" Merlin answered instead.

The man was silent for a moment before he started laughing, loud and happy.

"You never change Merlin." He said with a warm voice and Merlin ground his horse to a stop and stared at the man who stopped next to him, still hooded.

"How do you know my name?" He asked suspiciously.

"Everyone knows your name."

"No." Merlin said. "They know me as Emrys, they will never call me Merlin, who are you?"

The stranger sighed for a moment before he pushed his hood off his head.

Merlin's eyes widened and he started shaking his head.

"No. No, that's not, no. You can't-"

"Merlin, it is me, I'm back, for good."

Merlin couldn't breathe, this couldn't be happening, this couldn't be, he was dead, he was dead!

"Emrys?" Alator's voice broke Merlin out of his trance and he turned to look at him.

"Is he a shade?" Was the first thing that popped out of his mouth because surely that was the only explanation?

"I'm not a shade Merlin." Lancelot's voice was warm and calm and happy.

"I'm really here and-"

"How?" Merlin cut him off. "You died. I saw that, I burned your body!" He yelled, because that moment returned to hunt him every night for months after that.

"I know, I know, but listen to me Merlin, I'm me, I'm here and this time I'm not going to jump into some stupid veil and neither do you." Lance reached for him and Merlin pulled away.

"We have a job to do." He said quickly. "If you'll betray us," He added with venom in his voice. "I will kill you, no matter how much you look like Lance or act like him, understood?" Merlin's eyes were hard and glinting and Lance nodded.

"Yes."

They rode in silence and Merlin tried to ignore the man beside him, his thoughts were running around in circles and he had no idea what to do.

Eventually they reached the camp and stopped just at the edge of the woods, dismounting their horses and looking into the dark camp.

"Anyone see something?" Merlin whispered.

"Nothing." Came Lance's answer and Merlin ignored the way his mind kept replaying their first meeting, with the Griffin on their heels.

"Andorra?"

"It seems as if it's empty Emrys." Was Andorra's response.

"Right," Merlin said and rose slowly to his feet. "We are going in, watch your back."

And they walked slowly into the camp, Merlin's hand gripped the staff and both Andorra and Lance unsheathed their swords.

The camp was abandoned and Merlin's heart thumped loudly in his ears, he was too late and now they were dead, he failed them, they were wrong to trust him, to sacrifice their lives, to-

"Merlin," Lance's voice carried on the wind in a whisper. "Come here, you need to look at this."

Merlin walked slowly towards him, too afraid of what he will find but aware that he had no choice.

"What am I looking at Lance?" Merlin asked, confused as he glanced down at the warm coals.

"They didn't kill them. Merlin, we missed them, they moved on!"

Merlin's knees wobbled and he sat down on the nearest log; Lance rushed to his side and offered him a water skin.

"Are you allright?" He asked with concern marring his voice.

"Yeah, I just…" Merlin sighed and passed a hand through his hair.

"It's been a tough couple of months." He added quietly.

Lance nodded and put his hand hesitantly on Merlin's knee.

"Alator told me some of it, I'm… I'm sorry I wasn't there for you Merlin, I-"

"You were dead, are dead, that's, that's really messed up Lance, how on earth are you alive?"

"Well-"

"Emrys," Alator's voice cut Lance off and both man looked up to look at him.

"Yes?" Merlin asked as he rose from the log, the sun breaking the darkness of the night over the hills.

"We should return to the city, we can use magic to track our people down."

"Right." Merlin agreed and they made their way back to the horses.

Merlin was looking over the city from the balcony when Lance found him; Alator was busy looking for their missing people using a spell Merlin gave him.

"Merlin?" He asked softly.

Merlin didn't turn around. "I keep thinking that I will wake up and it would all be a dream, I would still be in my room with my blood pouring out and-"

"Wait, what?" Lance cut him off and Merlin turned to look at him.

"What are you talking about Merlin? What blood? Wasn't Gwaine supposed to look after you? I will kill him!"

Merlin gave a soft smile and nodded. "Yeah, you are Lance allright, I'll tell you what," He said and entered the room, closing the door behind him. "You'll tell me your story and I'll tell you mine."

Lance nodded and they sat down on the rug near the fire, keeping the cold at bay.

"When I went through the veil I was, I passed to the underworld, immediately, and that's where I was until Morgana pulled me out."

Merlin flinched. "Yeah, it was… yeah."

"Right. Anyway, after you set me free I traveled back to the underworld only to find out I could not enter again."

"What?" Merlin frowned. "But I sat you free!" He protested.

"Yes, yes you did, but once a soul leaves the underworld it can't return and so I went on, to the afterlife, but they refused to take me, saying that I committed crimes that were unforgivable." Lance bowed his head in shame and Merlin rubbed his back comfortingly.

"It wasn't you, Lance, it wasn't you."

"It didn't matter, I couldn't enter the afterlife and I was bound to spend the rest of my eternity wandering around on earth, as a ghost."

Merlin stared into the flames for a long time before he could look at Lance again.

"I'm sorry, so sorry." He said eventually.

"What for?" Lance asked as he smiled a bit. "It's not your fault, none of it, despite your insistence on taking all the blame."

Merlin snorted despite himself. "Right, we'll discuss that later."

Lance nodded and grinned. "Actually, you are the reason I'm alive today Merlin!" He announced happily.

"Okay," Merlin said slowly. "And how is that?"

"You see, when I got back to earth I looked for you, your magic left a signature of a sort of you in me and I could find you through it, but I was a bit wrong in my calculations and ended up with Alator, by that time he already vowed to serve you and therefore your magic was already around him-"

"Wait, wait, what?" Merlin's head was spinning with all the new information and he had to stop and breathe.

"When I found Alator, he told me of an ancient ritual that could bring me back to earth, seeing as none of the afterlives wanted a hold of my spirit all we needed was a body to alter for me and that would be it!" Lance was smiling happily and Merlin had to smile with him.

"So, no life for a life business?" He had to make sure.

"Nothing, Alator made sure of that."

"So, who's body have you taken?"

"Well, that is where you get in, we tracked you down and found you when you were facing Agravaine in the caves and, well… yeah."

Merlin took a moment to digest that before he started laughing.

"Agravaine?" He asked as tears of laughter flew from his eyes.

"You took Agravaine's body? Oh that's just, that's just-"

"Justice? Revenge? After everything he did-"

"And then? Why didn't you come back?"

"How could I?" Lance asked sadly. "The last time any of you saw me I committed treason and betrayed my king, I-" He broke off and stopped, taking a sip from his mulled wine. "I couldn't stand it and stayed here."

Merlin nodded and they were silent for a long time while the fire ate happily at the logs.

"It's okay." He said eventually.

"No, it's really not. You needed me and I wasn't there, and I'm sorry for that."

Merlin sighed and lifted his eyes to look at Lance. "There was nothing you could have done, I was a lost cause since the first time you stepped into that veil."

"Don't say that Merlin. You are never a lost cause, I told you once that you were the bravest of us all and it's still true."

"I used to cut myself Lance; how is that brave?"

Lance was quiet for a while before he turned to Merlin again.

"So what happened? I mean, Alator told me what's going on from time to time but, we had no idea, Gwaine?" He trailed off as Merlin took a deep breath.

"After you were gone Arthur banished Gwen and well, he was insufferable after that, combine that with the fact that Morgana kept planning something and I had my hands full, it got a bit too much and by the time we got Camelot back after Morgana's latest attempt I was half way to maddens." Merlin stopped and took a large gulp of his own goblet.

"He married her after that, and I couldn't be there, it was too much and I just, I crumbled."

"Oh Merlin…" Lance said softly and pulled him in for a hug. "I know, I heard of their wedding and I, I wish I could be there for you."

Merlin let loose a bitter laugh. "With all due respect Lance, if you were there I don't think there would have been a wedding."

Lance ducked his head and sighed. "I wouldn't have come between them again."

"Right." Merlin said. "So that night, Gwaine told me that you told him and I just couldn't stop it, he became my rock, my light in the darkness, I even stopped cutting for a while." Merlin rubbed absent mindedly at his arm and Lance grabbed his hand.

"And?" He encouraged him.

"And then Arthur decided that sending Gwaine as an ambassador is a good idea and he was gone." Merlin finished bitterly; the pain of that time was still sharp in his mind.

"He sent him as an ambassador?" Lance asked, confused. "But he is a knight! That makes no sense!"

"I know, but he refused to budge and well, I couldn't fight too much."

"Oh Merlin…" Lance said softly and Merlin snorted.

"I'm allright now Lance, It was hard but I got through with it."

"By cutting again?" Lance asked; discontent visible in his tone.

"That and killing my kin who were sent by Morgana to make attempts on Arthur's life."

"They weren't your kin Merlin; Alator told me about it, you did what you had to do."

"I became a murderer for him, Lance; there is nothing more to it."

"No. You are not a murderer Merlin. You are their knight, they just don't know it yet."

"Nor will they ever know." Merlin concluded as he rose from his seat.

"How come?" Lance rose after him and followed him back to the table.

"Arthur will never know about my magic. He will never accept me."

"Have you tried telling him?"

Merlin let out a bitter laugh. "I'm still alive Lance; you can figure the answer alone."

Lance was silent for a long moment before he moved swiftly and enveloped Merlin in a hug.

"You aren't alone anymore Merlin, I'm here."

"Something is wrong here." Lance whispered as they crouched down in the trees line near the camp.

"You mean other than the fact we are about to storm one of Morgana's camp with the possibility of meeting her or Mordred or both?"

"Yes other than that Merlin." Lance retorted. "It's quiet, can't you hear?"

Merlin glanced around him and noticed that yes, it was extremely quiet, more than it was supposed to be in this time of the night.

"Is it possible that they spotted us?" Merlin whispered and Alator turned to look at him.

"The glamour I have put upon us is not easily penetrated Emrys, and I would have known if someone managed to do so."

"Right. So it is a trap." Merlin concluded and sighed, luck was not on his side.

"It would seem so." Andorra said.

"Merlin?" Lance whispered. "What do you want to do?"

"Walk right into it of course." Merlin said with false cheerfulness. "What else can we do?"

Lance rose slowly to his feet as he followed Merlin down the hill.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe going back and avoiding certain death?"

Merlin turned slightly and smirked. "You don't know me as well anymore Lance, certain death is my kind of thing now."

If it was a trap, Merlin thought, Morgana didn't plan it right, the sorcerers she left behind were extremely weak and even Lance had no problems avoiding their attacks.

"Look for our people!" Merlin yelled at Alator as he knocked another sorcerer to the ground.

"I found them!" Came Andorra's call from his right and Merlin smiled widely as he knocked all the remaining sorcerers off their feet.

"Let's go!" Lance called as he helped Alator and Andorra to pick their people unto a wagon.

"Be right there!" Merlin yelled back before he grabbed one of the nearest sorcerers and looked at him, the man was frightened and Merlin smirked, knowing his mask was a terrifying sight to these who heard about him.

"Tell the witch that Emrys has come for her." He said simply before knocking the man unconscious.

Then from on high, somewhere in the distance There's a voice that calls,
"Remember who you are... if you lose yourself,
Your courage soon will follow,
So be strong tonight... remember who you are"

"How are they?" Merlin asked softly after Alator finished checking the last one of their man.

"They'll survive, they were badly tortured but… nothing more."

Merlin nodded. "Good. I want to question them as soon as they are capable of answering."

"Of course my lord." Alator said with a small bow as Merlin moved away.

He walked back to his rooms and released the air he had no idea he was holding only after the door was closed behind him.

"That was impressive." Lance commented from the table.

"Yeah?" Merlin said weakly as he slide down to sit on the floor, his hands shaking.

"Very leader like." Lance confirmed and Merlin snorted, his snort soon turned to a sob and Lance was there in a second, holding him as he broke down.

"I… they were half dead, gods Lance, they, they are more dead than anything else! For me! I did this! I brought this upon them. I-"

"No." Lance cut him off. "It's not you, it's Morgana, this is all her doing, don't you think that way."

Merlin shook his head and pushed Lance away. "You are wrong. The dragon told me ages ago to kill her but I refused, I thought I was smarter, I thought I knew better. What a joke." Merlin sniffed and then exhaled slowly.

"I'm not their savior Lance, I'm their destroyer, I bring nothing but destruction to these people."

Lance stared at him for a long moment before he sighed and shook his head.

"Merlin… You really got yourself massed up didn't you?" He said slowly.

"I, I, what?"

"You are their savior Merlin, you are their hopes and dreams for a better future, for a future with peace, with prosperity."

Merlin shook his head and opened his mouth when Lance stopped him again.

"No. Listen to me now, you are the bravest, selfless and most kind man I've ever met, you help everyone no matter what the price may be and Arthur was a fool not to see it."

Merlin stared at him.

"I'm glad to call you my friend and I'm proud to go into battle with you."

Lance moved to clasp his hands on Merlin's arms, shaking him a bit.

"I stayed in Camelot for you, and so did Gwaine, and I know who you are, it's time you remembered it."

Two days later the sun rose on the concerned faces of Merlin, Alator and the rest of the elders.

"What is wrong with them?"

"Slow poison." Alator said gravely.

"In case we saved them." Merlin spat and rose from his chair, the elders following his every move.

"It would seem that way, yes." Alator agreed.

Merlin shook his head. "This has to end now. I will not allow her to carry on harming our people without punishment." He slammed his fist on the table.

"What do you suggest then, Emrys? That we shall go to battle with the witch and the druid boy? We do not have enough men for that, it will be a massacre!"

Merlin stopped and thought hard before a smile rose to his lips. "Not if we have a dragon on our side." He said as he watched the astonished looks on the elder's faces.

"Are you implying commending the great dragon to slaughter the witch's forces?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Merlin said with a smile.

In the end it was all too easy to convince Kilgharrah to help them.

The great dragon was more than happy to take his revenge on the witch.

"It is about time you took your destiny into your own hands." He said with a smile and Merlin smiled right back.

"I needed someone to tell me that." He said and glanced over at Lance.

"I shall see you tomorrow than young warlock." Kilgharrah boomed as he flew off.

"Tomorrow than?" Lance said as they made their way back to the city.

"Tomorrow." Merlin nodded. "We'll have the speech for the people and then we will get rid of Morgana and Mordred for good."

Yeah, you're a soldier now,
Fighting in a battle,
To be free once more.
Yeah, that's worth fighting for

As the sun rose over the field near the city Merlin squinted and sighed.

"Thank god we have Kilgharrah on our side." He mumbled and Lance chuckled.

"Yeah. Thank god for you being a dragon lord." He added with a wink.

Merlin waited until the crowed was more silent before he stepped onto the rock near him and raised his hand.

"My people!" He yelled and a wave of shouts rose from the sea of men and women who came to stand beside him.

"Today we are going to battle for our future! For the future of our children!

We are going into battle for our loved ones!

You are not fighting this battle for me, for Emrys, you are fighting this battle for yourselves and for your freedom!

You are fighting today so you could live in peace tomorrow!"

The crowd cheered again as the people started chanting;

"Emrys!"

"Emrys!"

Again and again until it was just a mumble of syllables that couldn't mean anything.

The war drums started beating in the distance and Merlin turned and watched Morgana's forces moving towards them.

"It's show time."

"I think I have some bad news!" Lance yelled over the mayhem of the battle field.

"More bad news?" Merlin yelled back as he flung two of his opponents away and winced when they smacked hard in the ground.

"Yes."

"More bad than the fact that Kilgharrah is late and we are being massacred?"

"Yes."

Merlin turned around and flicked his hand, surrounding them in a shield.

"Like what?"

"I saw Arthur." Lance said and winced when a druid tried to get near the shield only to be flung away.

"Arthur?" Merlin echoed and glanced around him. "What are you talking about?"

"Arthur is here, I just spotted him making his way through the battle, he seems to be looking for something."

"Looking for something? Looking for something?" Merlin asked as his voice rose to hysterical notes. "Does he ever think? He sees a bloody battle field which he has no idea what's going on what so ever and he just walks in! He is such a prat!"

"He is going to be a dead prat if we don't get to him now."

"Right, let's go."

Merlin tried his best to help his people across the field, he allowed his magic to roam free and fire descended from the sky on Morgana's forces, though it did nothing for the waves that kept crushing upon his men. His magic was weakening and he knew that something needed to change before they would all die.

He spotted Arthur just before a druid sent a killing spell, Merlin's eyes burned as the druid went flying through the air and landed with a sickening crack on the ground.

Arthur whirled around and for a moment Merlin thought that he had stopped time again before something slammed into him and he went flying through the air.

The world shifted up and down before he settled again and Merlin blinked several times before he noticed that everything was silent.

"Emrys." The word was whispered but Merlin winced as if it was shouted.

Morgana walked slowly towards him and Merlin stared at her from his sprawl on the ground.

He saw Lance moving closer from the corner of his eye before he focused once again on Morgana's advance, noting that Mordred was moving next to her.

"Let's see who is under that mask shall we?" She moved closer and pulled the mask off his face.

Merlin smirked when he heard the sharp intake of breath.

"Surprised?" He asked tauntingly as he pulled himself gingerly up.

"No. This, this can't be, you can't be-" She trailed off and stared at him.

"And why not?" Merlin asked as Lance moved forward to support him, he didn't dare to look at Arthur's direction.

"Because you, you are, you are just a servant!"

Merlin shrugged. "And?"

"It doesn't make sense!" She yelled in frustration.

"It never occurred to you how I survived the Serket's nest? Or how did I manage to stop the undead army?"

Morgana stared at him before her face hardened.

"It doesn't change anything, you are still going to die and Camelot will fall without your protection."

Her lips twisted to a bitter smile. "Does Arthur even know? Does he have any idea that his loyal servant is a traitorous, lying, sorcerer?"

"I do." Arthur's voice rang in the silence around him and Morgana whirled around to stare at him.

"And he isn't a sorcerer," He said as he raise his sword, Excalibur, and came to stand beside Merlin. "He is a warlock."

Morgana screamed in rage and her eyes flashed gold but Merlin was quicker and before the words left her mouth he sent her flying through the air.

"You will regret this!" She coughed as she climbed to her feet.

"Funny," Arthur answered before Merlin could open his mouth. "I was going to say the same!"

And the battle resumed, with Camelot's knights mixed with Merlin's man.

"We can't hold them for long!" Lance yelled in Merlin's ear.

"I know!" Merlin yelled back and stopped another spell directed at Arthur's back.

He sent another plea to Kilgharrah and sighed with relief when he spotted him in the horizon.

"He is here!" Merlin screamed and knocked the druids around him unconscious.

Kilgharrah swooped down and scooped Morgana's forces in one talon while breathing fire around him.

Merlin's men cheered as Morgana's men started running away, abandoning their leader in the face of a fiery death.

"Nooooo!" Morgana's screams echoed in the battle field as she watched her men fleeing all around her.

"It's over Morgana." Merlin said quietly as everything settled.

"No." Morgana rose and moved towards him. "I will have my vengeance!" She ran straight towards him with her sword unsheathed and Merlin stood frozen, unable to move out of way.

"Merlin! Move you idiot!" Arthur ran towards him with his own sword and Merlin watched with wide eyes as he blocked Morgana's sword and thrusted his in her stomach.

Morgana crumpled to the ground with wide eyes and her hands clutching the gaping wound in her midriff.

"This wasn't supposed to happen…" She mumbled as she slid further down into death's cold embrace.

"I was supposed to have my vengeance." Were her last words.

Everyone stared in shock at Morgana's crumpled form.

"Well," Mordred said as he moved closer to Morgana's dead body. "That was a huge waste of time." He said as kicked Morgana's body with the tip of his boot.

"But, even if she failed to get her vengeance I can still get mine." He said with a bored tone and Merlin's eyes widened as he rushed to reach Arthur and get him out of the way.

"Merlin no!" Lance's cry was too late and Merlin stared as a small arrow imbedded itself in his shoulder.

"Wha-" He started to say before he crumbled to the ground.

Among the fog that started clouding his vision he watched as both Lance and Arthur's swords found their way into Mordred's body, the druid not even trying to stop them.

Why?

It's my destiny

You were destined to kill Arthur

There are many ways to kill a man Emrys

And then there was silence and Merlin watched through hazy eyes as Kilgharrah roared his grief and didn't feel when Lance gripped his body and pulled the arrow out.

Only when Arthur's grief stricken face swam into focus did Merlin understood what Mordred meant.

Or leave me lying here

*Ducks behind the couch* Don't kill me for the cliffi there okay?

Why don't you tell me how it was huh? R&R yeah?