The fire subsided and Merlin fought against the drain that accompanied the non-verbal spell. He barely heard Adria taking credit for using her personal shield, and almost chuckled. He'd felt it cover them, but it was only the combination of the two forces that had managed to protect them all. In the midst of the chaos, he'd felt something. It was similar to a few of the images that Aithusa had sent him, during his initial contact with the dragon through the Supergate. Through it, he had felt the heart of the Ori's power.

The other people on the ledge were arguing about what to do when the dragon-creature dove at them. The tail swung out, and they all barely managed to duck as the large whip cracked against the wall. Rocks shattered, and the doorway was busted wide open.

Mitchell gave the command to fall back, and they all filed quickly through the gaping hole. The dragon roared and then exhaled into the opening of the tunnel, causing them all to run back even further.

Teal'c spoke up, as they ducked their heads again, rocks crashing around them, while the dragon beat itself against the walls to try and get to them. He had discovered an exit, recently uncovered from the quakes.

Following the large Jaffa out, they all breathed in relief when they hit the clean air of the meadow. For a moment, the large group of aliens and humans paused, relishing in the idea they were safe.

Mitchell bent over to catch his breath. "Okay, what the hell just happened back there?"*

"It was a hologram. The Sangreal wasn't real."* Jackson replied in frustration.

Merlin was barely aware of their words, as a wave of dizziness came over him. He knew better than to try and reach for his magic like he had, but the instinct to protect himself and his friends, was overwhelming.

He felt Gwaine at his side, and took the other man up on his silent offer of support. Merlin needed to focus, he couldn't afford to falter now, not with Adria so close. He could vaguely hear her arguing with Ba'al.

"The dragon is the final test."*

"It would be madness to challenge that thing!"* The Goa'uld exclaimed.

Merlin could feel Gwaine chuckle and comment under his breath. "Not so full of himself when he doesn't have the advantage."

The roar and crashing of rocks turned their attention back to the mountain, just in time to see the dragon burst through the top. It spied them and began a rapid descent toward the meadow.

Mitchell yelled, "Tree line!"* Everyone followed the Colonel's command without question. Shots were fired at the dragon, but it appeared that not a single one penetrated the skin of the creature.

Gwaine tugged Merlin onward, and soon the warlock noticed Percival on his other side, as they helped him into the forest. The four men of the original Round Table stepped away from the others, spreading out along the edge of the woods to get a clearer view of the beast.

SG-1 was arguing with Ba'al and Adria about the creature's name, and what their next move should be, when Mitchell finally turned to the knights. "So...Colonel Emrys, what's the deal with the dragon? You know more about dragons than the rest of us. Part of the Parchment of Virtues mentioned speaking the name of the guardian. Well, that's the guardian...and Ba'al here kind of lied about knowing its name. I'd like to try and go at it with a little more than a half-ass guess that its name might be Daryl."

Vala smiled triumphantly at Mitchell choosing to use the name she had suggested while they were arguing.

Merlin sat against a rock. He glanced toward the meadow where the creature was circling. "That's not a real dragon." It wasn't a wyvren either. The thing they were facing was a crazed beast, trained for a single purpose...to protect that cavern. How long had it been since he had actually tried to control a creature like it?

"Well, it's not a hologram either. Our bullets just bounce right off of it." Mitchell paused for a moment, and noticed that the man seemed a bit more winded than the rest of them. When Merlin didn't answer right away, he mistook it for Merlin suffering a relapse. Turning back to his team, he suggested, "Maybe we should try something that packs a little more punch?"

Pulling out a block of C-4 from his pack, he set it aside as Carter, Jackson, and Teal'c did the same. They tossed their explosives to Mitchell, who proceeded to tape them all together. He stuck a remote fuse on it, and tossed Carter the detonator. "All right, here is what we're gonna do. We're going to lure Daryl down to the ground. We're gonna take this thing, and we're gonna toss it underneath and detonate it near the exposed underbelly. That's where dragons are most vulnerable."

Merlin chuckled at the common misconception brought on by years of literature and movies. "Dragons are immune to all forms of mundane weaponry."

"Well, you said this wasn't a real dragon. So, can't hurt to give it a try." Mitchell prepared himself to rush out into the meadow. He was stopped by Teal'c. After a few hushed words from the Colonel, while Teal'c simply stood by, holding Mitchell's arm, the leader of SG-1 relented and passed the pack of explosives to the Jaffa. "Alright. Off you go."*

Teal'c raced out into the meadow, firing his P-90 in the air to get the dragon's attention. He fell to the ground as the beast passed over his head, nearly catching the Jaffa with its talons. Landing on the other side, it roared out a challenge.

Taking the opportunity, Teal'c threw the C-4 into its open maw. Carter hit the detonator, and they all watched as the head was engulfed in an explosion. The fire cleared almost instantly, leaving a very intact and rather irritated beast.

"Oh, son of a bitch!" Mitchell cursed, "Teal'c! Run!"*

Merlin shoved himself to his feet, and stumbled out of the treeline, just as the beast was bearing down on Teal'c. "Nun de ge dei s'eikein kai emois epe'essin hepesthai!"[1] He growled out in a deep voice that seemed to come from the depths of his very being.

To his surprised, the creature paused momentarily. He could see in its eyes, that it recognized something he had said, but it soon forgot the command and roared in protest; lunging for the warlock.

Merlin felt strong arms grab ahold of him, and they yanked him back to the cover of the trees. The creature took flight again, circling and waiting for its prey to re-emerge.

Jackson pulled off his glasses and rubbed a hand over his face. "Okay, the Parchment of Virtues said the Sangraal would belong to he who speaks the Guardian's name." He repeated, "The Guardian's name."*

Vala forced a supportive smile on her face. She reiterated the words that had been spoken earlier. "The Guardian is a dragon."*

"It's not a real dragon. At one time, it may have been related to them, but it's not anymore." Merlin said in a whisper. His voice was filled with longing for his lost kin.

Jackson's face lit up as he realized what he had been missing. "No, the Guardian is not a dragon. The Guardian is the person who set this whole thing up. The Guardian is Morgan Le Fay!"

Suddenly, Vala rushed out into the meadow. Mitchell cursed again, and Jackson was calling after her to wait.

She waved her arms to get the beast's attention. "Hey! Morgan Le Fay!"*

The creature paused briefly, before it opened its massive jaws and prepared to bathe Vala in flames.

"Daryl?"* She yelled, in a vain attempt to save her own life.

"Ganos Lal." A new voice said from out of nowhere. A dark-haired man stood next to her, and they both watched as the creature magically disappeared.

"Lancelot?!" Percival whooped in relief. He and the other knights rushed toward their friend.

The newcomer held up his hand to stop them, and turned to Merlin. He didn't have much time before the others found out what he was doing. His eyes implored Merlin to understand, and they shifted to the trees near the warlock.

He glanced to his right and saw Adria looking in confusion at Lancelot, as if she should have known him. Merlin nodded in silent understanding. He reached out with his magic and brushed it softly against her spirit; much the way the druids used to, when they called silently to him.

Adria's eyes were not the gilded orbs they had been on the balcony of the planet that was wiped out by the Ancient weapon. She was being separated from her Orici powers, by whatever defenses were in place in the area, much as his own magic had been blanketed inside the mountain. He could see that now, and he knew it was time to press the advantage.

The magic he had used throughout the day was wearing on him. He fingered the hilt of Arthur's sword, and steeled himself to keep it together long enough to reach her. Approaching her cautiously, he asked, "Morgana...?"

She spun regally toward him, and cocked her head. "My name is Adria." She said with strong affirmation, forgetting that she had recognized him earlier in the day. "I am the Orici."

"No. Your name was Morgana." Merlin kept moving forward. Slowly, he pulled out the sword. He drew a burst of strength from it, and also watched as her eyes followed the gleaming metal.

Adria felt something she had never truly felt before: fear for her life. She stepped back. Something deep down within her warned her against this man. Her name was on her lips, although she wasn't certain how she knew. She almost stumbled, but he caught her arm. His grip was firm, but not painful.

"I need you to remember, Morgana." The plea in his voice was strong, almost as strong as the threat she felt hidden in his words.

"I don't know what you mean..." Her eyes darting between his face and the sword. He had killed her with that sword.

"Remember Aithusa. He is in trouble..."

"Aithusa is a 'she.'" Adria spat instinctively. Her eyes widened and she stuttered, "I don't know why I just said that. Who are you? Don't you know who I am?" The Orici struggled. She wasn't sure if it was against his hold, or the memories that began burning inside her.

He planted the sword in the ground next to him; a sign of peace and laying down of arms. His voice softened. "You were once the kindest woman I ever knew. You spoke outwardly against the oppression of our kind against your father. You were Morgana. I need you to remember, Morgana. Please, Aithusa needs our help, and only you can tell me where to go."

"NO!" She screamed out. Merlin went flying backwards at the sudden burst of true magic from her.

He managed to land easily, and immediately roll to his feet. His eyes glowed and he thrust his hand out, sending her backwards. "Oferswing!" [2]

She hung against a nearby tree, the force of his magic holding her in place. "Aithusa is dying. He..." Merlin shook his head and corrected himself. It wouldn't do to argue the gender of a hermaphroditic dragon at this point. "...She needs you. She needs us to save her, Morgana."

Adria laughed, but the sound that came out was not the sweet, even tone of the Orici. It was the maniacal cackle of an insane witch. Merlin knew he had broken through.

"Oh, Merlin. What makes you think I would help you? For two years, she stayed with me in darkness, though I told her to flee." Morgana clucked her tongue and rolled her eyes, before turning her evil glare on Merlin. "She kept promising me...her Dragon Lord would come to rescue us both...but, you never did. Did you?"

His hold on her faltered, "I didn't know, Morgana."

"Did you even look?" She asked in mocking innocence.

Merlin's throat tightened and his heart sank. "I tried."

"...But, obviously, you didn't try hard enough, Emrys." She spat his name like a curse and thrust her chin outward. A sudden blast of magic knocked Merlin off his feet. Morgana fell to the ground.

Gwaine fingered his trigger, he wanted nothing more than to put a few rounds into her. The tone of her voice, so haughty and self-righteous, sent shivers through him. He gritted his teeth against the memories of the pain she had inflicted on him. He could feel Lancelot's presence next to him, also tense. He briefly wondered if the Ascended Knight would actually do anything.

It seemed to be providence that Lancelot had arrived when he did. However, Gwaine was confused by the supposed rules of non-interference. He hoped they would have time to question the man, when this was all over.

Leon and Percival stood a few paces away, torn between wanting to help their friend, and knowing they needed to let the situation play out. When Ba'al tried to take a step toward the discarded sword, however, they were there to stop him.

"Adria, please..." Vala's voice called out.

Morgana turned on the woman with a look of confusion. "Who are you?" She asked, standing up and brushing herself off. Her hair that had been perfectly in place, was now coming loose from the tight bun. Stray wisps fell around her face, highlighting the insanity in her eyes. The most disturbing thing was her eyes, as they had shifted from dark brown to a familiar pale-green.

"Adria...er...Morgana, please. Stop this now..." Vala pleaded, trying to get through to her daughter. She had thought seeing the baby girl she had given birth to - grown to full adulthood in less than a week - was shocking. Watching that girl become a religious figurehead set on galactic domination, was beyond her comprehension. Looking into the familiar face with the wrong eyes...seeing the insanity and malice behind them...was worse than Vala could have ever imagined.

Morgana turned on the woman with a look of confusion. Again, she asked, "Who are you?"

"I'm your mother. Don't you remember?" Vala smiled softly.

"My mother was killed by Uther's betrayal."

"No...I wasn't..." For a moment the raven-haired woman paused, then her smile returned. "I...ran away. It was all I could do to save myself, and...save you."

Merlin glanced at Vala, while he pulled himself to his knees, wondering what she was up to. Mitchell was instantly at his side, grasping the warlock's elbow and helping him to stand.

"If that's so...then, what is my father's name?" The witch said, advancing on the newest member of SG-1.

"...Uther...?" She bit her tongue, obviously gambling with what little knowledge she had on the woman in front of her.

Morgana growled, "Wrong."

Vala blinked and shook her head oddly. A familiar voice had entered her mind and given her a name. She glanced over Morgana's shoulder to see Merlin staring at her. He nodded.

Turning back towards Morgana, she almost faltered, "Goldie...Gorlois. Your father's name was Gorlois."

Narrowing her eyes, Morgana paused and stretched out her hand, threateningly. "What was my sister's name?" Morgana challenged again.

Vala's blue eyes skipped to Merlin, waiting for him to tell her, as he had Morgana's father's name. "More...?" She scrunched her face, and stuck out her tongue. The name in her mind proved to be more difficult to pronounce, "More-Goose...?"

Screaming in rage, Morgana flung her hand out, and sent Vala soaring. "You dare try to deceive me?!"

Flying backwards, Vala's fall was cushioned when she landed on Ba'al. She turned to the Goa'uld with a smirk. "Thanks!"

The System Lord sneered and pushed Vala off him. Morgana sauntered toward them, but she failed to see that Merlin had shoved Mitchell's assistance off, and was coming up behind her.

Merlin grabbed her with his magic, clenching his fist and pulling her onto her back. He whispered words of power, and vines slithered from the forest at his call. They wrapped around Morgana and lifted her up to face him.

He grasped her face in his hands. "Forgive me, Morgana...for everything." Pressing his forehead to hers, he allowed his memories to flow into her. The times he had wronged her; his mistakes and also her own.

She fought against the onslaught of emotions. Then, when Merlin knew he finally had her full attention, he sent her a peaceful memory. He showed her Aithusa being called from the egg. "Please, Morgana. Remember Aithusa..."

He then sent her the images of the last time he had seen the dragon. "I know, now...I am to blame...but...I need your help to save her. You are the one who loved her, like I could not. You are the one she loved and trusted. Help me, Morgana." He voice trembled. This was his last chance to get the information he needed. "Aithusa is dying."

Merlin leaned in closer, tipping his face, until his lips were a hair's breadth away from hers. He breathed against Morgana's lips, giving her just a taste of the pain he was in; the pain Aithusa was suffering from. He hated doing this to her, but he needed to make sure he had fully reached her...needed for her to see past the animosity. This was for Aithusa, not for himself; not for the old rivalry they had, nor for the throne of a kingdom that no longer existed.

He focused solely on Aithusa, and the dragon's relationship with Morgana. For a moment, he worried about the Ori discovering the link between the dragon and himself. He was careful to not touch on any of his new revelations on the Ori's creation of the Dragon Lords. Merlin steered his thoughts away from the Sangraal, and anything else that touched on the Ori's plans for the Milky Way.

It could have been seconds or hours before her control broke completely. She screamed in agony, and collapsed against the vines holding her.

Staggering back, Merlin fell onto his rump. Although he had tried to prevent it, he had felt a crack between the mental wall that separated Morgana from the Orici begin to open.

He waved his hand and dismissed the vines, lowering her gently to the forest floor. Gwaine grasped Merlin's arm. He could see the exhaustion plaguing his best friend. He was worried that if this went on for much longer, then Merlin's previous collapse would have only been the tip of the iceberg.

Morgana pushed herself up and looked at them. She sneered, "You have what you need, Merlin. I suggest you leave before I change my mind about helping you. I know what they did to me now...how they tricked Aithusa...but, I cannot stop what is happening. If this Orici comes through completely, and sees you here, I will not be able to keep from her that the last Dragon Lord still lives." She leaned back against a nearby tree, and closed her eyes.

Merlin nodded, "Thank you, Morgana." He motioned for Gwaine to help him away.

Leon pulled the sword up, smirking at Ba'al, as he and Percival joined Merlin and Gwaine deeper into the forest, and out of Morgana's sight.

Mitchell followed along. He tapped Gwaine on the shoulder to pull him away from the others. "Listen, Dallon. I know you guys were here for the same reason we are: to find the Sangraal. But, I don't think the old Colonel over there is doing too good. Plus, with what Adria or Morgana...whoever she is...said..."

"Actually, we only came here because Merlin needed information from Morgana." He looked over at Lancelot. "I get the feeling this all plays together somehow."

The Ascended knight moved over to join their private conversation. "Indeed it does. There are many parts of the puzzle that must be put in place to defeat the Ori. You are close to your side of the answer, Colonel Mitchell. You must tell Daniel Jackson to be wary of the gift that may be offered to him."

Gwaine's eyebrows rose, "What about the whole 'not-getting-involved' business?"

Lancelot gave one of his soft smiles, although Gwaine could see a bit of sadness around the edges. "I think it's a bit too late for that. Merlin needs to rest, because what he must do next will take the strength of the entire Round Table."

"Well, it took some of Merlin's magic to get us past the warriors at the Gate the first time." Gwaine remarked, "I'm not sure how we're gonna get back through."

"I can assist you with that, my friend."

Gwaine chewed on his lip for a moment. He turned to Mitchell and asked, "Mind if I tag along with SG-1 for a bit? Maybe catch a ride back through the Gate with you guys? If Lancelot here can get them back to Leon's ship..."

"As long as your boss says it's okay, I don't see a problem." Mitchell tapped his gun and nodded, "I'm going to head back over with the others. I think as soon as Adria is herself again, we're going to be heading back into the mountain."

Moving back to the others, Gwaine noticed Merlin propped against a boulder. His eyes were closed, but he was still conscious. It was painfully obvious that the day's events had finally caught up with him. "Hey," he said, crouching down next to Merlin. "Mitchell said it was alright for me to hang out with them for a while. Lancelot said he'll get you guys out of here."

Merlin cracked open one eye. He took a pained breath. "Gwaine...Leon already has the crystal...we don't..."

"What if there's more to it, huh?" Glancing over at Lancelot, Gwaine received a nod. Without actually admitting it, the Ascended knight was giving them more information by confirming Gwaine's suspicions. "Better we find out now, and if it comes to it, I can let them in on a little of what we know."

"Perhaps, one of us should stay, as well." Leon suggested.

"Naw, you guys get the old man here home." He winked at Merlin. "Plus, I have a feeling I can get a little bit of payback."

Merlin gave a tired smirk, but he nodded his consent. "Take Percival with you, then. Someone will need to protect Ba'al. Be safe, Gwaine."

Gwaine gave his friends a casual salute, before heading off to catch up to SG-1, with Percival on his heels.

Lancelot looked at the remaining two. "Are you ready? I don't have much time." He waited for them to nod.

Quicker than they could blink, they found themselves in a different forest, next to Leon's cloaked ship.

Leon glanced over, prepared to thank Lancelot, when the Ascended knight's smile became sad.

Glancing up to the sky, Lancelot knew he'd crossed the line."They found me. I'm sorry, my friends..." He didn't need to say anything more. The pain was evident as his form began to dissipate. Lancelot's body turned into the shapeless, glowing light of the Ascended. Then, they watched it horror and shock, as it was ripped through the dimensions and out of their existence.

[1] Dragon speak borrowed from Merlin episode 3x08 "The Eye of the Phoenix" spells list on Merlin dot wikia.

[2] 3x13 "Coming of Arthur, part 2"

*Transcript dialogue borrowed from SG-1 episode 10x11 "The Quest, part 2" from stargate-sg1-solutions dot com