I cannot tell you how excited I am to posting this chapter and the next. I have been waiting to write this bit since I started the story. However bleak things are, fun times are ahead. Fun times.

The writing frenzy has slowed, but it is still around. I still write on my breaks at work and I've spent the entire weekend writing in between clearing out my house for my sister to move in with me. That'll be interesting.

Once again, I thank you for all your reviews, and I hope to hear more of what you all think!

Reviewer Responses

Felicity P: Aww, thank you! I'm glad you like it!

EchoRose480: Was that a cry of pain? OO

amberW: My story is kind of my thoughts on an alternate season 5, so I'm glad it's working for you!

Morena Evensong: There was that he didn't have anything to lose, but there's also a part of him that is jumping for joy at the fact that Arthur didn't have him beheaded. I think he honestly didn't know how he would react, but his own guilt over not telling him would expect him to be furious to the point of homicide. I think he would want to reward this with a little trust, and he doesn't want Arthur to find out on his own again. He can tell it hurt him. No... Edlyn is not sweet... nor is she trustworthy. She's a pretty horrible human being. As for the name Pendragon, I got the feeling that the writers were having Morgana use it simply because in a way, it legitimizes her right to the throne should Arthur die. And I'm glad you liked the fight. I was worried about the gore a little, even though I didn't go into a whole lot of detail.

StormQueen6711: Yay! I'm glad!

Mediatrix: Thank you!

flyaway213: Hooray! :)

Ash9: Oh, I'm a big fan of BAMF Merlin. And yeah, that's what her spell means. XD I like the way Old English sounds, but Jeebus it's hard to compose.

WE-ARE-SHER-LOCKED: Lots and lots of magic! And I dunno... Frio herself isn't tame. Lol

Rehabilitated Sith: Of course!

Knighted-Geek: Glad you like! :D

lolello: Awww, thank you! :) I actually considered doing the reveal as its own story because there is so much more to this one. I'm glad I didn't though. I think the combination of all the different aspects makes for an interesting time.

Ciara Wynne: Yeah, I had a feeling that out of all of them, Gwaine would be the least in awe/ frightened of Merlin. The two of them have such a comfortable relationship and nothing short of Gwaine watching Merlin put a dagger in his back would convince him there's any reason to doubt him.

1983Sarah: Woo for badassness! All the magic came out at once. XD It had been building, I suppose.

servant123: =^^=

Lady Willamina: Oh Edlyn's colors are all black... and midly stained red at the moment. She's a horrible person, really. I don't know if all of her issues are going to make it into the story, but as the person who created her... she is a horrible person. And I like where your mind is going. :)

I don't own Merlin and here we go!

Arthur paced in the throne room, his entire body quivering with anxiety. He had been quickly forced from the physician's chambers as Gaius did his work. He and his knights (sans Leon) had confined themselves in the large hall and they were watching their king fidget.

"Sire, I'm sure Merlin will be fine," Elyan assured him, stepping forward. "You saw the amount of power he displayed earlier."

Arthur shook his head. "You didn't see him, Elyan. It was like everything he did took every ounce of his strength."

The knights exchanged various blank looks. They had only just been introduced to the concept of having a sorcerer in their midst- a benevolent one at that- and it was clear they were having difficulty deciding how to react. Gwaine seemed to be the first to make his mind up. He took a step forward to stand beside Elyan.

"Merlin has always been stronger than any of us ever gave him credit for- even before we knew about all this magic business." He smirked. "There's no way something like this will kill him." Percival joined Gwaine and nodded.

Arthur sighed and looked to his knights as the door to the throne room opened, admitting Guinevere and Leon. Guinevere was dressed in a simple frock and she was cleaning her hands with an old rag. "I've done the best I could from what little I remember of helping Gaius. Her right eye is gone, there is no way to salvage it, and she's lost a lot of blood. Gaius will need to take a look at her soon."

"After he has ensured Merlin is alright," Arthur grumbled, his mercy running thin at the moment. Gwen couldn't help but smile a little. Merlin's display of magic had frightened her, but she knew the servant far better to be afraid of him as a person. It seemed Arthur's feelings for Merlin ran as deep as hers. He was a brother as much as any of the knights. "Is she awake?"

Leon nodded. "Yes, but Sire, I'm worried that she will use her magic to escape." Leon paused and he sighed. His forgiveness had not yet been earned. His nights were often haunted by the screams of those burning to death, and the visions of their writhing bodies. Leon's attempt to put out the fires had done little good. But even though he still harbored an anger toward the warlock he said, "Perhaps we should wait until Merlin is well enough to suppress her magic."

"No," said Arthur, striding quickly past the knights. "We don't know what they've done to him. We don't know when he will be strong enough. I need answers now." Guinevere watched him walk past and nodded her head at him.

"Make sure she doesn't hurt him. I don't imagine that she's strong enough to use magic, but still," she said. The knights nodded at her and headed after their king.

The dungeons were unfriendly on the best of days. Somehow the rage built within Arthur wished they were even less so at the moment. His anger at Merlin had been pushed to the side for now. His screams of agony echoed in his head and the manic smile on Edlyn's face haunted him. The amount of glee she took in what she was doing was unnerving; this was extremely personal.

Edlyn and Morven had been placed in cells across from one another, both chained to the back walls of their cells. Unlike the cell Merlin had been in, their wrists were locked directly against the stone, holding their hands at their eye level.

Morven stared at the floor, his legs crossed and his hands balled into fists. Above him, Arthur could see Colsweart scratching and pecking at the metal bars in the window. The bird was far too large to fit through them and Arthur found himself saddened; he mildly wished the bird could sit with his master.

Edlyn sat slumped against the wall, her head covered in heavy white bandages. Only the sickly pale left side of her face remained exposed. She was shivering, but that same satisfied smile remained on her lips, mocking him. Sweat dripped down her face and her eyes moved to stare at the king.

Arthur did his best to throw her his own mocking smile. "You're not looking your best, Edlyn," he growled.

Edlyn shrugged weakly. "You'd be dead if it wasn't for that damn bird."

Arthur moved closer to the bars of her cell. "They never have liked you, have they?"

"Far smarter than you, Sire," she spat, saying the word like it was a swear. "You trusted so easily."

Arthur said nothing for a moment. His trusting nature had gotten him in trouble several times. Would he ever emerge from beneath the heavy blanket of betrayal? "What did you do to Merlin?"

Edlyn smiled and pursed her lips, glaring at the king. Arthur paused for a moment before deciding to go a different route. "Then why did you do this? Why would you attack me and my servant?" Even after Merlin's display of power, Arthur wasn't sure he was ready to accept that the mythical figure of Emrys and the warlock were one and the same.

Edlyn seemed proud to answer. "You may keep a warlock as your pet, Arthur Pendragon, and you may even make peace with the druids." Her smile disappeared and her eyes grew icy. "But magic will never flourish as it was meant to under your rule. Uther's hatred of magic has infected you like a disease. The only way for my kind to live freely is for Morgana to take her rightful place on the throne! I was honored when she chose me for this mission!"

Arthur took a moment to steady his breath. How could he still be surprised that his half-sister was behind the attack? How could he not have suspected that she would attempt to sabotage his peace talks with the druids? He glared at her through the bars again. "You will tell me what you have done to Merlin."

She laughed. "Oh will I? Go and consult your precious Taliesin! Ask your scrolls what is to come. Without the ability to cower behind your sorcerer, you are not long for this world."

Arthur drew his sword and pointed it at her throat through the bars. "Tell me what you did, druid."

"I have fulfilled the hopes and dreams of thousands over the ages. I do not fear death. In fact, I will meet it with honor, Arthur Pendragon," she said with more strength that Arthur figured she could muster in the state she was in. She stared into the king's eyes, as though daring him to put the blade through her neck.

"I'll tell you."

Arthur spun and he could hear Edlyn growl behind him. Morven looked at the king, his eyes weighed down with a mixture of emotions.

"Morven!" shouted Edlyn. "You would betray the tribe?!"

Morven glared at his sister. "I would." He looked back to Arthur. "Colsweart and I share many things. He is my partner and I trust him more than anyone else in this world." He looked up at the window, whose light was partially blocked by the hawk. "He told me of you."

Arthur looked at the bird as well. Colsweart had adopted a similar pose that Frio had when Arthur went to question Merlin; his wings outstretched and his beak open wide. "You can speak to him?"

Morven shook his head. "Not in the way you would think. He shows me things in the way he feels, in the way he acts, and the things he does. I can see things through his eyes." His eyes suddenly filled with guilt. "I have seen why you are the Once and Future king, Arthur."

"Then why did you let this happen?" Arthur demanded, his anger returning.

The guilt in Morven's eyes vanished and was replaced by pain and a deep rage. "Because the massacre you lead on my village killed my two sons."

Arthur's anger faded once again and he took a step back. Only one of the massacres during his father's reign had he lead. He owed more to the druid people than he could ever repay. Like the child, how long had the anger and loss been stewing within Morven's mind? He thought to the loss of his father and the amount of rage that had filled him. Had he any concept of the pain he had caused the day he lead the attack?

"More than anything I wanted you to pay for taking my boys." His voice was steady but tears streaked from his cheeks. The look on his face made Arthur believe that he was crying in rage as opposed to loss. "The only way to make you pay, was to remove Emrys. His protection has thwarted many an attempt to kill you."

Arthur sheathed his sword. It was strange hearing the concept from someone other than Merlin and his own mind. The hazy memory of the orb of light illuminating his path through the dark cave and the strange occurrence of Morgana being unable to cast her magic were the only proof Arthur could recall of Merlin's magic. He shook the thought off. "You will tell me how to save him?"

Behind him, Edlyn screamed in rage. "This betrayal will not go unpunished, Morven!"

Percival growled at her and unlocked her cell. The large man walked in and gently struck her in the head, his blow softened by the thick bandages. Even that was enough force for her injuries and her eyes swam for a moment before her head rolled forward and she was asleep. Gwaine stared at him for a moment and then smiled. "Well that's certainly no way to treat a lady." Percival rolled his eyes.

Morven took a breath. "The stone that was attached to Emrys is called the Emrys stone."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said-!"

Morven cut him off. "I lied. I could not risk you becoming suspicious of us." Arthur growled under his breath. "The stone was designed specifically to incapacitate Emrys."

"Why would anyone do that?" demanded Gwaine. "I thought the druids saw him as a great man."

"There was a seer in ancient times. A man named Myrrdin. He worshiped the dark magic and he foretold of a time when magic blood would fill the land like an ocean. He told a story of a hawk, a tiger, and a fox. The tiger; the tyrant kings Pendragon who would crusade against all of magical blood. The fox; the witch Morgana who covets his kingdom. And the hawk; the powerful Emrys that would protect the tyrants and allow more magical blood to be spilled."

"What about the eagle?" asked Arthur to the surprise of his knights. Morven also seemed a little taken aback that the king had once read the prophecy.

"The druid tribe of Wylt. Myrrdin crafted the net that would eventually ensnare Emrys and tasked our tribe to defeat him when the time came."

"And I assume that the stone is part of that net," muttered Arthur, more to himself than to the druid. Morven nodded. "What will it do?"

"The Emrys Stone that is attached to him now is one part of a whole. As time passes, the stone will absorb all the magic of his body until there is none left. He is far too powerful to simply be killed by such an object, but once he is emptied of all magic, he will fall into a deep sleep that will last forever."

Arthur paused and looked to his knights, unable to hide the concern and slight panic that filled his eyes. "Then we must simply remove the stone," he announced, looking to Morven for confirmation.

But the druid shook his head sadly. "No force that you possess could remove that stone now that it is attached to him, My Lord. It will not release until its job is done." Arthur glared at him. "Even if his body was burned away, the stone would remained connected to his soul."

Arthur drew his sword again, almost out of habit. His anger at Morven despite the druid's cooperation made him grit his teeth and holding the hilt of his sword until his knuckles turned white was comforting, if only a little. Morven felt remorse for what had happened, and yet he had allowed it. However sympathetic he was to the loss of his sons and the love of his sister, Arthur could hardly forgive him for what it had allowed Edlyn to do.

"Then how do we save him?" Arthur demanded.

"Morgana is hidden away in a cave to the south, though I know not where. I think she suspected that I would betray her, but she needed me to win Emrys over. She feared that he would see through Edlyn, but with my connection to Colsweart and Frio, she was confident that I could lower Emrys' guard."

Arthur growled. "It seems it worked, although Merlin was doubtful of you both."

Morven smirked. "I suppose it was a bit silly for us to assume he wouldn't notice. He has been protecting you for years." Arthur placed the point of his sword on the ground and leaned on it and the bars of Morven's cell, motioning for him to continue. Morven took a deep breath. "Wherever Morgana is, she has with her three elders of my village. In order for the stone to work, great power must be poured into their half of the stone. With Morgana's help, the elders have begun the process of trapping Emrys' magic within the stone. If the spell is to be broken, all three elders must be killed and their half of the stone recovered. Once the two halves are reunited, all that is required is for Emrys to touch it and he will be restored."

Arthur sighed and his mind began to spin with the implications of the danger that would be waiting for him if he were to locate the cave. He could hardly leave Merlin to his fate, but would it be possible to defeat such magic?

"Be wary, My Lord," continued Morven. "I have little doubt that Morgana has plans for Camelot once you have left to find the stone."

His mind spun again. How could he leave his city with an attack imminent? "How long does Merlin have?"

Morven shrugged. "With the amount of power he displayed even with the stone's repression, I would say no more than a few hours."

Arthur looked to Morven, and the druid met his eyes. The man truly didn't have an answer as to what Arthur should do. The king glanced to the window and then turned to his knights. "I am going to see Merlin. Remove one of the bars so that the hawk may visit his master."

~ooOoo~

"Gaius, don't!" cried Arthur as he opened the door to the physician's chambers. The old man looked up, a blade in his hand, having been ready to cut the stone away from Merlin's body. The sorcerer sat on a bench with a piece of cloth stuffed into his mouth. Arthur raised an eye at this.

"Sire, we must remove the stone before it kills him," argued Gaius.

Arthur shook his head and walked quickly to take the blade from him. "The stone will not come off until the spell has been broken, and he isn't dying." He looked at Merlin again and yanked the cloth from his mouth. "What's this for?"

"It was to keep him from breaking his teeth once I began cutting," said Gaius with an unnerving amount of calm.

Merlin looked barely conscious. He was leaning back against the table behind him and his lids didn't seem like they could raise more than halfway up his eyes. His skin was pale and clammy and his breath was labored.

"And how could you know this, Sire?" asked Gaius. Arthur quickly explained the conversation with Morven and Gaius fixed him with a stare. "Are you certain that Morven can be believed?"

Arthur considered explaining the druid's motivations, but it pained even Arthur to think about them, and so he simply said, "Yes." After a moment, he looked around. "Where's Frio? Is she alright?"

Gaius nodded. "She is fine aside from the broken wing. I bandaged it, but had to lock her in Merlin's room to keep her from trying to 'protect' Merlin from me." Arthur smirked. Gaius sighed and then looked to his ward again, placing a hand on his forehead. "Merlin, can you hear me?"

"'Course I can, Gaius," breathed Merlin.

"What can be done, Merlin? Can you think of anything?" asked Arthur, placing a hand to his mouth in thought.

Merlin slowly craned his head until his eyes found the small cot at the side of the room. He pointed at it. "Dayla."

Arthur looked to the sleeping druid girl and then back to his servant. "Dayla?" he repeated.

"Her name," said Merlin. "She told me... to beware the one with the corrupted mark."

Arthur looked to Gaius as though requesting the translation of a foreign language.

"Druids have the ability to communicate with only their minds, and Merlin has this ability too," explained Gaius. "That is how he discovered her name."

Arthur looked to Merlin. He had a feeling that many more secrets were hidden within the warlock's power. "But how can she help us? She's still-!" Arthur cut himself off.

"For your sword," she rasped, pointing weakly at him.

Arthur shook his head. "What do you mean? What is this for?"

Her eyes closed and then opened like a long blink, heaving a breath. "You will need it to save him."

Arthur suddenly turned and dashed out the door and headed into his chambers, startling Gwen as Elde was strapping her into a gown.

"Arthur!" cried Gwen. Elde stopped her work to turn to the king and bowed low.

"Your highness!" she cried.

Arthur didn't acknowledge them and began opening every cupboard in the room, searching through their contents. "Elde, there was a small golden piece that looked like a spider. Do you know where it is?" he asked, not looking away from his work.

Elde hurried to a small chest and opened it, revealing a plethora of jewelry and hairpins. "I thought it one of Milady's pieces, however strange it looked." She pulled the small piece from the box and Arthur swiped it from her hand.

"Thank you, Elde!"

Gwen questioned about Merlin's well-being, but Arthur vacated the room without an answer. He ran back to the chambers to find Gaius easing Merlin into the chair beside Dayla's cot. They looked up when the king entered and he showed them the golden piece. "Dayla said that this was to save him. If she knew what Morven and Edlyn were doing, maybe she was bringing this to help us."

Gaius examined the piece. "But what is it for?"

Arthur shook his head. "I haven't any idea. She said it was for my sword, but the hole in the center isn't large enough to fit over any part of the hilt, and even then I don't understand the legs." He poked one of the thin projections.

"I know why she still sleeps," said Merlin, his voice weak, "even though her body has mostly healed." He placed a hand on her chest. "A druid curse... it feels the same as Edlyn's presence."

Arthur ran a hand through his hair. "She could probably give us the answers we need."

"And she will," muttered Merlin. Before Gaius could grab him, Merlin began to speak. "Ic liesing úre slúma awierigung.(1)"

His eyes flashed golden and Gaius grabbed his shoulder and jerked him around. "What are you doing, Merlin?" he demanded. "You are weakening yourself further!"

Merlin's eyes were closed, but he smiled. "Someone must look after the king," he whispered. "Lord knows he can't look after himself."

Arthur swore under his breath and pushed Merlin back a little then put one arm beneath his shoulders and the other under his knees. He pulled the light man into his arms and wandered over to one of the examination tables. He lay Merlin on his back and sighed. "You've always been an idiot, Merlin," he repeated. "Only now I know you're a magical idiot. Morven said you only have a few hours. You probably just cut that time in half."

Merlin smiled again, his eyes still closed. "More than that, I'll bet. Edlyn's pretty skilled."

Arthur slammed his hand down on the table. "Will you stop acting like everything is alright?!" he cried.

"Did you think I would act any differently then when I was cut down by that horseman?" Merlin asked. "I'm surprised you are so worked up."

Arthur hung his head between his shoulders. "I know what's going to happen to you. This isn't something that Gaius can simply take care of."

"Surprised it didn't happen sooner, with all the things we've faced." He sighed. His smile faded and Arthur turned to Gaius, who held a hand against Dayla's head.

"How long until she wakes?" he asked harsher than he had intended.

Gaius didn't seem to notice his tone. "Shouldn't be long."

Arthur leaned against the examination table and crossed his arms. "I don't know what I should do, Gaius. I can't very well leave Merlin like this, but if I leave and Morgana has some plan, Camelot could be in danger."

Gaius stood straight and shook his head. "It's hard to say, Sire. The Wylt tribe has been working toward this for centuries. It is quite a well-thought out trap."

Arthur stared at the physician. "That's not really helping, Gaius." The man shrugged.

The king turned back to look at Merlin. "What if she doesn't have a way to save you, Merlin. What then?" The servant didn't answer and after a moment, Arthur's heart quickened and he grabbed his shoulder. "Merlin!" Even after shaking him and calling his name, Merlin didn't stir. Gaius shuffled away to grab a small bottle and uncorked the top. Thin wisps of smoke lifted out of the bottle and he held it beneath Merlin's nose. Even then, the warlock didn't stir.

Arthur turned and punched the wall with his bandaged hand. He swore loudly and eventually leaned his forehead against the cold stone. He had just begun to learn all of the things that Merlin had done to keep him safe. How was it that now that the situation was reversed, the king was helpless? "We have to do something, Gaius," he murmured. "Merlin is the worst servant in all the five kingdoms because he is the best friend I've ever had."

"My Lord!"

Arthur turned at the sound of the young voice and saw Dayla sitting up in her cot staring at him. She scrambled to her feet and bowed. "I am Dayla from the druid tribe Viliane."

Arthur nodded and stepped toward her, putting a hand on her small shoulder. "I know who you are, Dayla."

The girl smiled at him, but then frowned and looked to the table where Merlin's still form lay. She hurried to the side and stood on a box to get a look at him. She placed a tiny hand to his pale face. "Emrys has already gone," she said sadly. "I have slept for too long."

Arthur shook his head. "It isn't your fault. You came to help us, didn't you?"

She turned and nodded. "My tribe has long protected the tomb of the evil seer Myrrdin."

Arthur sat in a chair and Gaius moved to sit on the cot. "The one who prophecized about the hawk, eagle, tiger, and fox," he recalled.

She nodded. "In his madness and evil, he crafted two items that could be used to bring about Emrys' downfall. The æmtignes and the Emrys stone. Knowing that those who had forsaken the ancient ways would be deprived of their ability to recognize Emrys, the æmtignes would allow them to identify him, and the stone would be used to render him useless as a protector. When he died, the stone was buried with him for safekeeping. However, a group of druids from the tribe of Wylt attacked village after village, looking for the tomb. They finally found it at my home." Tears filled her eyes. "The job of protecting the áhredding has belonged to my family for generations. We were all conditioned to protect Emrys and Camelot as Taliesin instructed. But... my mother and father..." She trailed off and tears streaked down her cheeks.

Gaius enveloped her in his arms and she sobbed quietly into his chest for a long moment. Once she had calmed herself, she looked back to Arthur.

"Edlyn mentioned Taliesin... who is he?" asked Arthur.

She scrubbed tears from her eyes and smiled as though Arthur were the light that chased away the cold night. "He was the light to Myrrdin's evil. He spoke of Albion's rise to prosperity and the Once and Future King who would lead the way. He developed an item of his own." She pointed at the golden item in Arthur's hand. "The áhredding, meaning salvation."

Arthur looked at the item and then held it out to her. "What does it do?"

Dayla took it and said nothing before turning to Merlin again and plucking the stone away from his chest with ease. Arthur looked to Gaius. "How did you remove that?" asked Gaius.

Dayla looked at the stone and flipped it around in her hands. "Once its work is done, it is released from his body so that Myrrdin's followers can hide it away and ensure that Emrys never again wakes." Arthur and Gaius exchanged a look and Dayla pressed the gem into the empty setting in the center. She folded her small hands over it and closed her eyes. "Géanhwurf tó cyning Emrys. Bredan lætan galdorcræft áhredding(2)."

Behind her lids, Arthur could see her eyes flare and a bright light shone suddenly from her hands. She held a hand out to him. "Give me your sword, Arthur Pendragon," she commanded.

Under most circumstances, Arthur would consider it an affront. He was rather attached to the weapon he had received to prove that he was the true king (though Merlin told him that story... he had to wonder now if it was true). But now, he could hardly question the small girl and unsheathed his sword, handing the hilt to her. He could tell she had difficulty holding it up in her small hands, but she pressed the golden piece to the center of the hilt. Each of the legs locked tightly around it, one fitting around every place where the grip joined the guards. The light dimmed and Dayla smiled, handing the weapon back to him. The gem sparkled on the hilt of his sword and he could immediately feel the change in it.

"Excalibur..." he whispered. Gaius looked at him. "That's the sword's name," said Arthur, staring in awe at the blade. "It's as if... it's alive." Never had a sword felt more perfect in his hand. It was as though it belonged nowhere else in the world.

"When dragon's breath and magic's might meet on the silver plane," recited Dayla. "The Once and Future King will hold the sword of evil's bane. Excalibur."

Power radiated down his arm. He could feel his heart beat stronger. Arthur looked to her. "Will this give me the power to kill the elders that protect the other half of the Emrys stone?"

Dayla nodded. "It will. It was made to save him." Her eyes widened as though she had suddenly forgot something. "There is one other thing I should tell you, My Lord." Arthur looked to her, but before he could speak, he stopped.

"Ohh... my head."

There was no mistaking the voice.

"Merlin?!"

1: I release the curse of slumber.

2. Emrys returns to his king. Let his magic become our salvation.

How you like! Tell me what you think! Lots of revelations. The conclusion of a lot of foreshadowing, though not all of it. I still have plenty in store for you lot! See you soon!