Merlin was racing down the hallway just before dawn, he had to get to Morgana before she woke. He could feel it the power building within her, she was distressed. As Merlin rushed to her side, she was frantic, clawing at him as he held her hands in a firm grip "Calm down love. It's me. It's me". he kept repeating it until she stopped fighting.

Her eyes widened as she looked at him, "Merlin" she called desperately griping his arm tight. "Arthur! where's Arthur, he's in danger".

Merlin feared the appearance of the Questing Beast would cause a reaction from Morgana, now at least knew who the target was. "Morgana, listen to me I will not let anything happen to Arthur, do you understand me". Morgana looked him in the eye and nodded, she knew he wouldn't but how far would he go to keep his word. Suddenly she realized in trying to save Arthur she may have condemned Merlin.

"Merlin come back to me. Keep Arthur safe but do not allow yourself to be struck down either".

Merlin smiled at her, "I will do my best to get us both back alive, however…"

"Arthur and Albion must come first". She completed what he was going to say. She gave him a sad smile, her eyes red-rimmed as she brought her hand up to his face, caressing his cheek.

"My Lady"? Gwen stopped short as she saw Merlin sitting at Morgana's side.

"I should leave," he said planting a kiss on her forehead as he got off the bed. As he passed Gwen he quietly whispered: "Stay by her side, keep her strong".

"You needn't ask that of me, My Lord, It is my duty as her lady's maid and her friend".

"Thank you, Gwen, and for the last time it's Merlin". He smiled at her before leaving to find his brother.

The princes rode out shortly after Dawn with a small hunting party of ten Knights. They managed to track the creature to a shallow ravine containing a network of caves. Arthur divided the Knights into smaller fractions of two, each exploring an individual entrance. Merlin followed Arthur into one opening that ran along the left wall of the ravine. The blond prince held aloft his sword as he navigated the tunnel while Merlin covered his flank, sword in one hand and a torch in the other.

"Maybe it's in another cave…" met with silence he called for his brother "Merlin"?

"Shh" he replied, his eyes closed, the warlock concentrated on any trace of magic emanating from the beast. There was none to be found. When he opened his eyes he understood his fatal error. "Arthur"! His brother turned around just in time for the beast to strike.

Merlin froze, this wasn't supposed to happen, he should have No! no time for that. looking around quickly he found Arthur's discarded sword. Lifting it with magic his chant of "Bregdan Anweald Gafeluce" echoed through the cavern before it rammed into the creature's side.

As it dropped dead he ran to his brother "Arthur! Arthur! Come on Clotpole! No...no"... it was too late he quickly ripped cloth from his leather pouch on his waist and tied it tight to the wound, he poured some wine on it to prevent infection but it needed healing "Knights! Come quickly". he called in desperation.

Nothing could cure Arthur, the beast was created to maintain the balance, the poison of its bite had no cure. Why it came after Arthur though he did not yet know. There was nothing to do but the obvious now for a Life to be saved one needs to be taken in its place. I have never felt closer to you Mother. He thought to himself as they entered the city gates.

Arthur lay in his bed, fever wrought and sweating, Uther by his side, tears of grief trailing from his eyes. Morgana stood beside Merlin fingers intertwined, her head resting on his shoulder. "Father… rest I will stay with him".

Uther looked up at his younger, "I wish to stay by his side".

Merlin moved away from Morgana, towards the king. He knelt by his side and took Uther's hand in his own, causing the older man to turn to him. It was the closest they had been since Merlin disclosed his knowledge of Tristan and Yigrain's deaths. "I am sorry I fell short in my duty to protect him". He said, solemn eyes boring into Uther's stricken gaze. "Gaius and I will do everything in our power to save him. In the meantime our kingdom is vulnerable, it needs a leader, a King, so I implore you, rest".

"You can handle the duties of court just as easily". Was the King's reply.

"I am of more use to Arthur here".

Uther nodded, they could always count on Merlin to be rational and calm in times of crisis. At one point in time, he believed his son's clinical rationalism meant that Merlin didn't feel, it took him time to realize it wasn't that his son didn't feel it was more that he prioritized his feeling second or last depending on the urgency of the circumstance.

"Morgana could you kindly escort my father to his rooms"? Morgana looked up at his address, she wiped away the tears staining her cheeks and nodded to him before taking Uther's hand and leading him out the door quietly.

Merlin took his father's seat at his brother's bedside. Gaius had bandaged the wound on Arthur's shoulder but it still bled some. "I am sorry, I should have been more vigilant. I know what needs to be done Arthur. I can only hope you find it in your heart to forgive me when this is over, for making you walk the rest of this path alone".

He let his hand drift over his brother's sweat covered brow and his wet golden locks. Arthur was in immense pain evident from the clenching of his jaw even unconscious. Merlin brought his hand back to his face. The horizontal scar on the palm of his hand stood out, the only remnant of the blood oath he had enacted with Balinor. He looked back at Arthur.

"I must place another burden on your brother, I cannot let this legacy die with me". He used a spell to lock the entrances and exits to Arthur's chambers. Taking a dagger from his boot he took his brother's left palm gently in his and drew a shallow cut diagonally along it. Merlin then did the same with his right. He placed his palm over Arthurs, ensuring the cuts sealed to each other. Closing his eyes he chanted.

"Oherwydd bod gwaed y Ddraig yn llifo trwy fy gwythiennau, felly bydd yn llifo ynoch chi. Pan fydd hi'n bryd, bydd chi a'ch meibion yn frodyr i fy mrodyr am byth yn fwy".

(As Dragon's blood flows through my veins, so will it flow in you. When it's time, you and your sons will be brothers of my brothers forevermore).

As he recited the words in Dragon tongue he could feel his blood enter his brother and with it the ancient magic and legacy of the Dragon Lords. Their joint palms glowed gold sealing the pact and when Merlin pulled away, the cuts he had drawn on their palms had healed.

He sat back and unlocked the doors and just in time, as not moments after Gwen entered carrying a pitcher of water.

"Sir - Merlin ? Is all well"? she asked looking at the solemn expression on his face. Merlin looked up at her and smiled sadly.

"As well as can be expected, considering the circumstance and Thank you Gwen for using my name". The girl blushed in reply. Getting up from the chair he moved towards the door "Could you kindly grant me another favor"? he asked as he passed the maid. She looked at him with a kind expression, eager to serve.

"Watch over my brother, he needs true friends, now more than ever, it is something our station in life has never allowed us".

"You have my word Merlin, Arthur and you may always call on me as a friend, should either of you ever need one". She hesitated for a moment before asking "Are you sure you're alright"? Her wide brown eyes shining with empathy.

"I am well. Thank you, Gwen". He replied a soft expression of gratitude shining through his eyes before he squared his shoulders and felt the room.