Okay folks, this is the final chapter *sob*. In case you didn't see it last week I would just like to say that depending on how many people are interested there might be a sequel, so please let me know if you want one. Please enjoy the last chapter and read the thank you's at the bottom.
This chapter is dedicated to Merthur dreamer (reasons in AN at bottom of page).
Arthur was crouched; muscles coiled perfectly waiting for the perfect moment to spring. His back was to the wall in an alcove just to the right of the heavy throne room doors.
Any second now, the warning bell would be set off by two guards who were loyal to the prince, the warning bell would mean that Uther would come to the throne room to investigate the disturbance, and then, Arthur would kill him.
It was almost strange, the nonchalance in which the blonde referred to parricide would seem distant and cold to an observer, but to Arthur it felt like justice…karma.
He could think of nothing more at this moment that would give him greater pleasure than watching his father fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness.
Forgiveness which he would not grant.
The young blonde, however, was unaware of how much like his vindictive father he was acting. The similarities were blaringly obvious; the calculating look, lack of connection to his surroundings, distance in preparation to loose everything that he holds dear.
The first bell rang and Arthur rose slowly, pushing his back against the wall.
On the second bell Arthur took a breath and collected himself; think of who you are doing this for, for Morgana and the way he treated her, for Mother and what he put her through, so that Leon and Gwaine can have a family, so that Camelot can strive towards a brighter future with magic and unity and trust. And most importantly, so that he and Merlin could live together, as husbands, with children, until they were old and grey. So that he could look back, on his death bed and think that I really couldn't have done anymore, I tried my best and for once, it was good enough.
The third bell made Arthur draw his sword silently, and rest it flatly across his chest.
The fourth bell and Arthur could hear footsteps, heavy steps that indicated an idle king on an idle throne that cared more for gorging himself at banquets than the good of kingdom. And idle king is a stupid king, Arthur thought bitterly.
On the fifth bell the prince heard the voice of his father, loud and frenzied, shouting words that made no sense, which had no relevance to the situation.
But the prince had no time to contemplate the strange words and their meaning, and in his concentrating he heard not the softer footfalls that accompanied his fathers.
The bell rang again, the sixth time, and the door opened. Arthur saw his fathers expanding waistline and golden crown first, and held his breath, suddenly feeling like a child hiding in the dark; as if every breath and blink could be heard as the fear and adrenaline coursed through his body.
Uther was half way towards the obnoxiously large throne when his son moved from the wall; the prince, stealthy as always from his rigorous training, stepped quietly and quickly from his hiding place and griped his father, placing his sword around his neck.
"Give me one reason father." Arthur hissed, spitting the last word as if he had dirtied himself just by speaking it. He pulled tighter, a small rivulet of blood trickling from where the tip of his sword was cutting into his father's neck.
"Arthur." His name was spoken from behind him, causing a chock to run down his spine. The voice was familiar in a way that sounded unknown, but he wasn't sure if it was the tone or the person that he did not know; he concluded however, when he turned around, it was both.
Morgana stood there, hands clasped in front of her, expression blank. She was beautiful, black lace dress that followed the curves of womanhood that she had developed over the long years they had been parted, black hair falling in tresses down her back and shoulders, so long that it almost touched her thighs.
"You were dead." He said reeling back, dropping his sword and falling on his bum, to the floor, trying frantically to scramble back as quickly as possible. "I watched you burn on the pyre, I mourned you." He hollered, emotions muddled.
The plan, as far as it had gone, had escaped his mind almost as soon as he and seen her calculating blue eyes staring at him.
"I never died brother, I merely wanted you to think that, Uther wanted you to think that." She said in a monotone, seemingly unaffected by her brother's distress.
"You, Morgana, are no sister of mine." He said defiantly, standing quickly, the only thought on his mind that of hurting Morgana and his father beyond even Gaius' capable hands. The sword that he had gripped in his hand shone as he plunged it towards his fathers back, with the honest intention of plunging through his father's chest, you stab my back, and I'll stab yours.
However his hand was stopped midair by a useable force, for a moment, Arthur's thoughts drifted to the warlock whom was safe in his chambers, but the last thing he saw or thought before the world went back were his sister's eyes, glowing gold.
…
…
…
He awoke, groggy and in pain. He knew he was kneeling, legs under his bum, hands tied behind his back on the cold throne room floor but he didn't know how long he had been out. He opened his eyes and blinked at the bright light that stung his eyes in a punishing manner as if he had done something wrong.
He looked around the room and suddenly became rigid as he saw his father and Morgana staring at him, as if they were waiting for him to say something; he did not disappoint.
"You hated her. That is what I am failing to see, you wouldn't even acknowledge her, you wouldn't even look at her." He stated, watching as the witch's eyes hardened.
Neither of them granted the prince a response. Instead Uther nodded at a guard standing at the door, a guard that he recognised from the rebellion.
"Traitor." He hissed hoping that the boy would realise what his actions had done.
The guard ignored him and opened the door, allowing three guards to enter the room, dragging with them three limp bodies. Frowning Arthur stared hard at the prisoners, praying reverently that the messy mop of black hair wasn't his warlock.
But of course it was, and Leon and Gwaine.
The one group of people that he had wished to protect more than anyone were currently joining him, kneeling and bound at the feet of the man who wanted them to suffer the most.
His eye filled with tears as the men were dumped in front of him and didn't stir. They were pale and unmoving and appeared quite dead.
"Merlin?" Arthur whispered, his throat constricting around the rest of the sentence as the tears fought to break free.
"Don't worry brother, they are not dead, or at least not yet." Morgana smiled smugly, allowing the victory to swell in her mouth and fill her chest with warmth. She held up her hand and muttered in a language that Merlin used when casting spells, however the words on her lips seemed harsh and violent, not comforting and good like when Merlin used them to create a wooden dragon or to warm a bath.
Merlin sat suddenly, gasping terribly for breath as he bought his hands to his chest in a desperate effort to stop his heart from splitting from his ribs. Arthur watched as the brunettes head spun around frantically looking for someone or something, and when they settled on Morgana he happened to freeze, before scrambling backwards into Arthur's chest, a chest that he hadn't known was there.
Merlin turned and flung himself at the prince desperately seeking the comfort that the blonde brought to him.
"Merlin, listen." Arthur whispered, needing the brunette to understand how important his next words were. "Unbind me quietly, do not let Morgana hear, I know she means something to you in some way, you can tell me later but now we have to kill them. You are the only one with magic so you have to kill Morgana and I have to kill my father. You have to be brave for me."
Merlin nodded and collected himself against Arthur, swallowing his fear, she could not hurt him now, he had his magic.
Assuming that the blonde was offering his whore words of comfort Morgana laughed before casting the brunette backwards onto the floor to lay exposed on his back.
"Hello my little whore," she mocked. "Miss me?" she asked and having received no answer, slapped him across the face, tearing open his cheek with her signet ring.
"Arthur doesn't bind you, did I repress your magic so much that you can't even use it more?" she laughed, kicking him once, harshly in the ribs. Merlin winced as he heard some of them crack and felt the hot pain that followed quickly.
Arthur, however, repressed the urge to smile; Morgana believed that Merlin was powerless.
Arthur caught the brunette's eye and nodded once before smiling reassuringly and mouthing the words I love you. Merlin mimicked his actions before rolling onto his front to hide the golden flash in his eyes as he undid Arthur's binds.
The blonde jumped up swiftly and lunged for his sword that still lay at the centre of the room as Merlin's eyes flashed again, sending the brunette witch flying into the wall.
The duels were harsh and unforgiving. Uther matched Arthur's every stroke with equal rigour for a while, both parties getting slightly tired from the excursion. However the fatigue showed more on the older man who was beginning to flounder under the force of his son's blows. Eventually Arthur tripped the king, sending him tumbling to the ground, his sword falling quite out of reach.
"I am not sorry for doing this father, I'm just sorry for not doing it sooner." He admitted harshly before plunging the sword into the chest of Uther Pendragon.
Merlin and Morgana were fighting fiercely; launching curses and hexes at each other without any strategic thinking more advanced than kill. Like her king, the witch fell, groaning in pain as a curse hit her chest rendering her weak and powerless.
"Do you know me?" Merlin asked of the witch, smirking slightly as she shook her head in the negative, I do not.
"My name, Morgana, is Emrys." He whispered, allowing the news to sink in for a minute and the shock to appear on her face before he killed her with out remorse.
That evening Arthur stood in his chambers watching from his window, as two pyre's burned bright and fierce, enhanced by Merlin's magic. The blonde was adamant that this time, Morgana would burn. The damage to the castle had been virtually nonexistent. The dragon had needed to do nothing more than sit threateningly on the roof and that coupled with the knowledge that the king and his sorceress had fallen, caused the people still fighting for the king to surrender.
Leon and Gwaine had been fine with a little help from Gaius they were soon up and about again, all touchy feely and hopelessly in love. The only reason that Arthur toned the merciless teasing down was due to the fact that a certain brunette had threatened to withhold kisses if the teasing continued.
Arthur had been fair at the time, giving all those who had fought with Uther until sundown to leave the city and find refuge with another king. He had claimed he wanted no one in his kingdom who couldn't deal with the changes he was about to make.
Merlin walked over to the prince and wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist. Arthur placed his hands over Merlin's that were resting on his stomach and lent back into the brunette. As the pyre's burned, removing from Arthur's life, his last remaining family, Merlin recalled what the prince had said when he addressed his people.
"Let it be known, from here to the corners of the five kingdoms, that today Camelot became a kingdom free of oppression and dictatorship. Let it be heard in every home, that your efforts to free yourselves from Uther Pendragon were successful, and that any future attempts to disrupt Camelot or her citizens will be crushed the same way.
On this day, I myself know of your loss and grief. People have been lost today; brave people that we can never replace, that we will never attempt to, for they preformed the ultimate sacrifice, dying themselves so that we could live. And it shall be recognised, until the walls of Camelot crumble from old age, what every person did, their name, their age and the people they left behind; for those people are the bravest I will know.
There is one last thing I ask of you, my people. One more thing that I know you will struggle with…" Arthur turned and gestured Merlin forward before clasping their hands together and entwining their finger for all to see. "Not only will I announce today that I have found a person that completes me so, but I will also grant you an opportunity. Merlin Emrys, my partner, is a warlock, perhaps the most powerful to have lived. And today, you all owe him your lives, for he granted your freedom in the battle. It was him who saved your lives, the lives of your friend and those of your families. Magic is returning to Camelot; a new age and a new bond between magical and non-magical people to strengthen this kingdom from all forms of attack.
I know some of you are fierce supporters of the late king, and I will not ask you to stand here and remain in a place that you do not want to be in. therefore I ask all that fought with my father to leave Camelot and never return, you shall go and seek refuge in another kingdom and spread word of the strength of Camelot; of her new king and her new prince and of all the people willing to defend her, magical and non-magical.
Leave now, you have until night fall."
Arthur's words had evoked many emotions from the people, some joy, some pride, confusion and anger and even some fear. But only after they had left the front steps and retreated into their rooms did Merlin finally speak.
"Their Prince?" he questioned, wanting to know if the blonde had meant it.
Arthur walked over to his cabinet and opened a draw before pulling out something and hiding it in his hand. He walked back over to Merlin and placed both of his hands on the brunette's throat pulling him into a deep kiss.
Sinking to his knee, Arthur opened his fist and presented the silver band to Merlin.
As far as engagement bands went, Merlin had never seen one more beautiful. It was silver with a strange golden strip spiralling around it; it looked almost like molten gold, as if it were flowing. And held a small diamond set deep into the middle of it.
Arthur retrieved Merlin's left hand and selected his ring finger. He brought the ring just up to the tip before pausing and looking up at the brunette. Once again, no words were needed to portray the love that they felt for each other and Merlin felt himself nodding, wholeheartedly.
"Yes." He whispered softly, smiling in his joy as Arthur slipped the ring onto his finger. He sank down onto his knees and continued to kiss the blonde passionately, until all they could think about was the feeling of their lips and their hands and their naked skin touching in all the right places.
Merlin curled into Arthur's chest and wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist, thinking, now, now I can finally breathe.
I would like to thank everyone for their support; the reviews, the story and author alerts, as this was my first story your support has been invaluable. Thank you so much and for one last time, please let me know what you think. If people aren't happy I might do an alternate ending.
I would like to say a special thank you to the following:
Merthur dreamer: Your review made me cry, it was so kind and it literally made all the work that I have put into this story worth while, and therefore I decided to dedicate this chapter to you. I have read some of your work and it is fantastic, I mean some of it is flawless. So again, thank you xxx
Faye: to get such lovely feedback so soon into the story really helped me carry on, it was my first time sharing my writing with people and your encouragement meant a lot. Thank you xxx
AmandaFray: My first review. Thank you xxx
And to all those others who took the time to review, weather it was persistently or just once, they all meant so much. Thank you xxx