The fallout, and ominous warning from some very awful people.

Really these two can't catch a break

Hot damn it's been a minute you guys! So sorry for the long wait, mixture of writer's block, college and procrastination all kicking my ass...
Fortunately I got the next several chapters outlined so this should be easier 😁

So moving forward I'll probably just write multiple smaller chapters for an Act finale instead of mega long ones...cause it's torture haha

Idk though you guys let me know what you prefer and I'll do it because I love you guys :)

A few hours later…

Mordred was tucked into his bed after they dropped both him and Arthur off at their apartment. He woke up briefly but was still too badly beat up to say anything coherent. Returning to their physical bodies felt no different than when they were still in the Underworld.

Merlin waited outside with Cynfab, hands still burnt to crisps. Morgana then helped Arthur by applying some burning cream on his back, as her magic wasn't quite yet back up to perform a healing spell.

"Morgana, we need to talk."

Morgana quirked a brow as she rubbed more ointment onto Arthur. "So talk."

"...I can't keep being helpless at the sight of formidable foes like tonight. Should Sigan return, he will easily swipe me away…"

"You weren't so terrible tonight; we all got kicked around."

"We didn't need to be."

"Where are you going with this, Arthur?"

"..."

"...?"

"I need Excalibur back," Arthur stated.

There it is.

"Heh, of course that's where you went." Morgana clasped the ointment bottle shut as she wiped her hands and made her way to the door.

"Morgana, stop! We both know that we would have succeeded far easier had I wielded that blade. Cornelius Sigan may not have been able to get his hands on that weapon were I simply able to slay anything in our path!" Arthur ran forward, blocking the door. Ordinarily, this would be risky, but he knows full well her magic is exhausted. What better time to push this matter than now?

Morgana glared at him as if he were a fly, magic or no magic.

"We very nearly met our end today. What would have happened if Merlin couldn't fulfill his spell on time? If Mordred hadn't saved you from that fire?!"

That was a low blow to Morgana, who held her belly as she clenched her teeth.

"I know you…you don't trust me with it. But I swore to honor your wishes not to involve you in whatever my Destiny is meant to be. Even you must admit that I am nothing if not a man of my word," Arthur emphasized.

"…Your word isn't the issue."

"I don't understand."

Morgana sighed as she turned away, facing a small rabble of photos of Mordred's new family. He seemed to have had a far superior childhood this time around than the last. She was happy for him.

"I had thought that with Destiny having altered, Merlin and I were now untouchable. He warned me not to get too overconfident. After what we just experienced…perhaps he was right."

Arthur looked at her with a bit of sympathy, she wasn't sure if that annoyed her or not. She doesn't need a damn thing from him.

"In all my life, whether as allies or enemies, I've never known you to give up so easily."

The High Priestess snorted. "How quickly you forget that it's never been easy. The shadows of the Fates themselves have been haunting me ever since I learned that Emrys was to be my Destiny and my Doom. For a time, it looked like it was but hogwash, now I'm wondering if the Fates are truly trying to destroy me…?"

"…"

She glanced up at Arthur with a serious gaze. "Why do you want this, Arthur? What do you hope to gain from fulfilling their demands? Whatever they may be?"

Arthur looked a bit stunned at the question, fair enough though. For he himself has asked that same question in the mirror many times.

Why is he doing this?

"Because when this is over, I want them to send me to where Guinevere is."

Morgana's eyes widened before she herself began to feel some semblance of pity for her brother. "I see."

"…I had thought perhaps…I had hoped that since you and Merlin found my knights…Mordred found Kara…"

"…That you would find Gwen's reincarnation."

"But I haven't." Arthur's shoulders slumped as he clenched his fists in frustration.

"I'm afraid I wouldn't know the answer as to whether she has been reincarnated or not. I'm assuming that those who have been brought back have a role to play in whatever the wretched Sisters have planned."

"The longer it goes on, the more I must face the reality that she is truly dead. And if she is, then that is my wish for fulfilling my Destiny. Once Albion no longer requires me."

"You realize that's under the assumption they will even grant your request?"

"They will," Arthur swore darkly.

Morgana stared at her brother, processing all that he said.

She was terrified, no point in denying it. Morgana remembers clearly how the Fates targeted her specifically. Tormenting her with dreams of her family only to take them from her…

Still, the fact is that Destiny did change…

If only she knew how though, what could have been the catalyst?

Then there's Arthur, the man just misses his wife.

Can she really fault him when she herself understands perfectly how he feels? Those moments when Merlin vanished during the war were among the worst she's felt. At least when she's being tortured she knows at some point it will end. She had no way of knowing if Merlin had somehow died.

Dare she trust that Arthur won't end up ruining what she tirelessly and carefully crafted for herself?

'I want to be a good role model for our children…'

Merlin's words kept echoing in the back of her mind, Arthur's words only bringing them back to the forefront.

She hopes she isn't making a monumental error.

The witch sighed as her eyes flashed gold, a chest appearing between her and Arthur. The chest that held Excalibur.

"Agored."

The lock opened and there was the Dragon-forged sword. Arthur simply stood there, staring at it, wondering if he should move towards it or not.

Morgana walked towards the door until she stopped, needing to let this out. "Don't make me regret this, Arthur…please."

Arthur snapped out of it and turned to meet his sister's gaze. "I won't."

Morgana sighed and left to join Merlin outside on the roof.

It was a bit of a challenge helping him get on Cynfab and staying there during flight. His hands are slowly healing but to overpower divine magic is no easy feat, even for someone like Merlin.

Emrys…

She shook off her thoughts and saw the smaller passenger of Cerberus. The glamour spell mixed in with a shrinking one took the combined effort of them both once they rested a bit before leaving Greece.

To the mortals, it looks simply like a single-headed red-furred hound. To them, just a mini Cerberus. Of course, Merlin wanted to leave a failsafe so that the three-headed hound can transform back at will.

'You never know…'

Merlin has it in his head that Cerberus will be able to keep their children safe in the event they cannot. Morgana likes to think they'll always be there but she supposes she must be practical in planning for any possibility.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes." They're flying high in the sky back to their cottage with Cerberus in front of Merlin, tongue wagging out in excitement.

"Could have fooled me."

"…I gave Arthur his sword back."

Merlin hummed. "You trust him then?"

"I guess. I'm taking quite the gamble but, I can't keep someone away from the love of their life."

"…?"

After she explained what Arthur wanted, Merlin deduced her reasoning. "You wanted to set things right when you enchanted Gwen in the Dark Tower."

"We're even now."

"I'd hold your hand if I could."

Morgana snorted and wrapped her arms around his midsection as they landed near their home.

"Cyn, if you would be so kind as to let your mother know of recent events, Aithusa should be kept up to date," Merlin told him.

'No matter what she helps Arthur with…' Morgana can assume is what he wanted to add.

"I'd imagine she'll know soon regardless, Father, but I shall fulfill your request," replied the sapphire Dragon.

"Then go in peace, my boy."

Off he went, with Morgana wondering if the next time they'll meet would they be facing yet another threat?

Seems like everything is moving at high speeds lately.

Cerberus made his home around the forests surrounding the cottage, loving the wide open space and the way grass and water feel beneath its paws.

They went inside, exhausted and filthy and just wanting to put this whole ordeal behind us.

"Can we finish our discussion from earlier?" Morgana asked as they got in bed, finally clean and in more comfortable nightwear.

"What discussion?"

"Merlin."

"…"

"You used incantations."

"…"

"You typically never need them simply because it's natural for you not to."

"…" Merlin's fingers clenched the sheets.

"When has your magic begun to fail you exactly?"

"You know when."

"I do?"

Merlin sat up, a tense look appearing as he looked anywhere in the room but her eyes.

"You say it was when you were in Mexico, but I'm suspecting it was longer."

"…"

"How long, Merlin?"

"What difference does it make now?"

"Plenty. If you were able to make my magical issues a concern, then I'm well within my rights to return the favor."

Merlin's silence may as well have been a bullhorn that can be heard from leagues away. Morgana began to wonder how she never noticed this before.

"It has never been this bad until recently. I thought I could simply keep it under wraps…"

"How long, Merlin?"

"Lately it seems everything is just falling to pieces and…"

"Merlin?"

"…60 years..." The lights flickered on and off as Merlin's golden-eyed glare was the only consistent source of light in the moonless night, nothing at all gleaming from the window. His hands were like a beacon in its bright white bandages.

Further confirmation of the sharpening divide between Merlin and his magic, how quickly it's destabilizing…

'They should have healed by now…' "You've…since the 60s…?" Morgana was stunned, and a bit hurt.

"I just said that." Merlin's rigid figure got up from the bed and stood before the window as if trying to search out the moon beyond the pitch black of the sky.

How very representing of his recent experiences…and his mood.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"…I had hoped, that it would all just sort itself out."

"So you lied."

"What?" Merlin turned, shocked.

"You lied. Lying by omission still counts, Merlin."

Merlin looked at her in disbelief, how could she…

Merlin's glare made itself known to her. "Since we're playing this game, isn't that rather hypocritical of you?"

"Pardon?" Morgana now also stood to meet Merlin's level, her hands on her hips.

"While you and Arthur put Mordred off to bed, he had a brief moment of lucidity. That was enough for me to see all that happened on your end."

"You read his mind?" Morgana began to realize what this meant.

"Since lying by omission breaks our pact as you say, then it seems you've broken it long before I did." Merlin stated bitterly.

Morgana's hands collapsed to her sides…Merlin knows.

"Why Morgana? Why didn't you say anything?" Merlin flatly asked, in a turnabout play to her earlier question.

"…"

"Not so nice when you're the one called out, isn't it?"

Morgana glared at the taunt; he was clearly trying to get a rise out of her. If he kept talking, then boy would it work.

"You're hardly in a position to act superior yourself!"

"Ah, so rules for thee but not for me."

"You're not amusing," Morgana stated.

"Do I look amused?" Merlin shot back.

The two mages stood like statues, neither blinking nor turning away. To do so would be the equivalent of conceding. Which, in hindsight, is ridiculous, as neither are in the right. Try telling that to them though…

Morgana at last sighed as she realized she didn't want to stand there all night. She laid out a closed fist to Merlin, who gazed at her in disbelief.

"Now who's being amusing?"

"Do I look amused?" She taunted.

After a second of pondering, Merlin gently clenched his own fist. Still mindful of the injury he sustained.

The air grew tense as the two were ready to…do what exactly?

"Ready?" Morgana asked.

"My hands aren't completely useless."

…What are they doing…?

Both reeled their fists back and…

"Rock! Paper! Scissors!"

…

"Tck…"

"Ha!" Morgana shifted victoriously.

"Of course, you always choose paper."

"Whereas you always choose rock, since you're as stubborn as one."

"Best two out of three?"

"Fat chance."

Merlin huffed and crossed his arms, preparing now to be the first to bleed his heart out.

"After the war, it wasn't noticeable at first. In fact, I dare say nothing happened."

"…You mentioned the 60s?"

"1962 specifically."

"But why then? What was so special about that year you first noticed your magic was no longer behaving as it should?"

"I honestly wish I knew. It remains a question I seek the answer to. I doubt it will come to me anytime soon, however…"

"That was after…"

"…After you and 'Emrys,' yes…"

"But why not tell me? Surely you didn't think I'd have thought less of you?" Morgana pressed.

"No." Merlin shook his head. "No…I had already caused you such grief at the time. The last thing I wanted was to add more…and I just hoped that it was simply a small footnote in my history. That it would just go away, and I would forget it ever happened…" Merlin looked down and turned away from her.

Morgana sighed, stepping closer to embrace him from behind. "Foolish man, there isn't anything about you that would cause me to ridicule you…seriously at least." She teased, causing Merlin to scoff but lightly hold her hands around his midsection anyway.

A few moments passed, a far gentler mood than before. Morgana dreaded to break it but alas, these were the rules of their little game. Merlin went first, now she must follow.

"It was easier when you and Emrys were still one person. One spirit. For how could I fear a man who actually genuinely loves me? How can he possibly be my doom?"

"Doom?"

"Yes."

"Oh Morgana, you still harp around that old set of rhymes?"

"…"

"Were you not the one who told me Destiny is able to be overcome?"

"I know! …I know…but for much of my existence, Emrys was my shadow."

"You're just repeating the words now." Merlin said, turning around to face her. His eyes were now blank.

"It's not exactly something I can just easily let go of!" Morgana wrenched her arms off and clenched them at her sides, glaring at him once more.

"…So you still fear Emrys then?" Merlin had to ask, his tone light compared to how he feels.

"I mean…" She looked away, not really sure how to answer.

"It's a simple question, my love, you either do or you don't."

"It's not so much fear as it is trepidation–"

"So yes then…" Merlin looked like he just witnessed a murder.

"Wait–"

"Which means you fear me…" Merlin looked at his injured hands as if they were the source of all that is wrong with the world. From the perspective of Emrys, that was certainly a factor at least.

"Wait, what?! No! I didn't say that!" Morgana cut the distance and lifted Merlin's gaze to hers. The dead look in his eyes giving her concern.

"You just said it Morgana, you fear Emrys. In turn, you fear me." Merlin began to back away.

"Merlin, stop! I didn't say anything about you!"

"…"

"Emrys is just…!"

"…Morgana, has it been so long that you've forgotten Emrys and I are one and the same?" Merlin shakily said. "Use whatever semantics you'd like…our souls might be damaged now, but we are absolutely the same. I was a fool to delude myself otherwise."

"That's nonsense!" Morgana declared. "You're you! You're kind, thoughtful, funny, loving! Emrys is a…!"

"Why do you keep biting your tongue? Out with it already. Might as well at this point." Merlin's bitter voice stated.

Morgana knew she won't be able to take anything back after this…but Mordred was right. This has to be said. "Emrys is cold, calculating, obsessed…heartless."

Merlin huffed. "So why even say yes?"

"Huh?" What was he on about?

"Why agree to marry me at all if you equate me with those traits?"

"Merlin! I said yes because I love you!"

"…Then what am I to make of what you just said?"

"It was…easier back then. You were always just Merlin. Emrys only when you needed to be. Only whenever you need to involve yourself in non-mortal affairs…" Morgana gulped, trying to find the proper words for this. "Now because of Sigan, it's like there's nothing left to contain him."

"…Contain him…?"

"A person isn't 100% of anything, Merlin…loving the good with the bad was easier when the bad was balanced by the good. Now the good and the bad are both without the other…and yes, that does scare me."

"…"

"Please say something…"

"…I can tell you this, me controlling my own sense of morals, that being doing what was right…had naught to do with me being Merlin and Emrys." Merlin firmly said.

"Merlin—"

"—I'm done."

"What?"

"These damn pills." Merlin's eyes flashed as the bottle of medication tossed its way to Morgana's feet.

"Wait, don't be too hasty!" She quickly kneeled and grasped them in her hand.

"I've been more than patient, more than acquiescing. These… things …have done me more harm than good." Merlin emphasized his hands. "Hell, they don't even work as well on my fucking brain anymore...they did nothing to stop the memories!"

"Memories?" Morgana assumed he spoke of his episode in the Underworld.

"I told you this would be to my detriment."

"Bu-"

"So yes, Morgana, I'm done with them. Nothing you say will change my mind." The warlock walked out of their room with his wife shouting after him.

"Where are you going?!" Morgana followed him down the stairs, not allowing him to walk away from her.

"To get some air." Merlin marched onward towards the door, opening it without so much as putting on his boots.

"This discussion isn't over, Merlin!"

"It is for me!" A battle of wills was the last thing they both needed right now, but neither one cared at the moment.

Merlin found himself once again wishing that the simplicity of their lives hadn't withered away. It seems like with each passing day for the past century has just been one high-speed railway towards a cliff. It-

…Something's wrong.

Merlin looked up, the night sky and trees all looked normal. The bushes and flowers seemed fine.

What happened to the breeze?

"Morgana…do you fe–" His words caught in his throat when he turned back to his wife, her mouth hanging about slightly, body frozen mid-movement. Quickly he rushed to her and tried to free her with a time spell.

"Ugh! Come on! Work, dammit!" The endless ocean of magic in his veins simply refused to obey his demand to perform a Herculean spell, the burning in his hands certainly didn't help matters.

'Emrys! Please, I can't do this! I need your help! Please!' Merlin was starting to panic; few times in his long life has he ever felt powerless…he can't even feel whose magic this belongs to.

It isn't Sigan's, the magic isn't dark…cold…but not dark.

'...Emrys?'

No answer.

Merlin gasped, looking again at Morgana. He can only hope she isn't conscious; what a feeling it is to be trapped in your own body…

Wait…

Did Merlin do this?

Surely not, his magic hardly listens to him much these days…

"Fear not Emrys–"

"-Your fear is akin to a beacon–"

"-Proper though it is."

Merlin's now rigid form chilled as he kept his gaze squarely on the eyes of his beautiful Priestess. Hoping that she can hold on just a bit longer.

Turning behind him with a stone-cold glare, he viewed the trio with great distaste…and then shock!

"Impossible…" He breathed.

"Nothing is impossible–"

"-Your existence is proof–"

"-How pitiful you've become, Emrys."

Merlin's wide gaze settled down as he quickly tried to think. He's been caught at a time where he isn't at full capacity…if this came down to a fight, he isn't confident in his chances…

"So all this time you were the Sisters of Fate…it all makes sense now. Why only you three could commune with the Divine, why you seemed to know so much about the prophecy…I should have seen this coming…" Merlin's eyes glowed gold as his rage began to build, his magic finally getting the message to cooperate…slightly in response to his emotions. "Niede, Atorloppe, Befelen."

The Disir stared back at him through the shadows of their hoods.

"Undo your spell at once! Free Morgana from your grip!"

"Emrys, you've gone too long trying to defy the path set before you." The Disir in unison spoke.

"Tck…! So you thought to come here and intimidate me to what? Go on my knees and beg forgiveness? It would appear your arrogance hasn't changed in all these centuries." Merlin scoffed, carefully building up his magic in preparation for any attack they throw at him. "To make it worse, you vile wretches tried to terrorize Morgana! For that alone, I'll make sure you suffer dearly for it!"

If Merlin were blind, even still he would see the tiny smirks on each of the old hags' lips.

"Though Destiny's string has been bent–"

"-It has not been cut–"

"-Your belief that you are safe, misguided it is–"

"-Behold as your disregard gives rise to your greatest fear." The eyes of the trio glowed through their hoods as Merlin had to block his eyes before seeing…himself…a mere glimpse of…was this the future?

He looked rather worse for wear…reminiscent of his time fighting alongside his brothers in arms…

Merlin shook his head at the echoes of roaring bullets and the cries of boys begging for their mothers' embrace.

"No…" It can't be…

"Indeed Emrys, this is thy future–"

"No….." Merlin fell to his knees at the sight…

"-The blame falls squarely on thee–"

"No…you're lying…!" Tears made their way to his eyes, he no longer cared if they saw…

"-Such a pity, is it not?"

"No…please…!" Merlin's fists gripped the grass beneath him, siphoning all of the life in them unconsciously.

"Destiny cannot be outrun forever, not even by magic itself."

The vision had closed with Merlin all beaten and banged up, in his arms is Morgana…bloody and lifeless, a fatal wound right in her womb…

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" A torrent of pure magic unleashed the surrounding area and beyond, from space an astronaut would be able to see many clouds dispersing from an area in the UK.

The conclusion of your story maintains the gripping narrative and complex character dynamics established earlier. I've made grammatical corrections and minor stylistic adjustments for clarity. The changes are highlighted for your review.

Any and all magical creatures left in the world all felt it, the grief of their leader. But why? What happened?

Aithusa, all of her children, the Sidhe to name a few, all dreaded this feeling.

Even Arthur, who has no magic to use, couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine. He had thought it was simply the cool night air, but every window was closed with the heat pouring in…strange.

Merlin kept heaving, quickly losing his breath, ironically forgetting he doesn't need to breathe.

'Is this…is this my fault?'

Merlin's hyperventilating didn't settle as his mind kept replaying the image of the love of his life…lifeless.

'The babes…oh gods…did they…did I?!'

"-rlin–"

'No, I couldn't have…I wouldn't!...Emrys…Did he…?'

"-erlin-!"

'But why…why would he…was she right…? Were they right?' The pain in his hands was long forgotten as Merlin clenched his hair and began to pull, damn everything!

"Merlin!"

'This can't happen! It can't!'

*SLAP*

Merlin blinked at the stinging in his left cheek, a hand guiding his face toward that of Morgana. She looked at him like he was a ticking time bomb…or was it concern…?

Of course, it's concern. What is he saying…?

"Merlin, calm down…please."

Merlin looked around them, finally realizing why she's so…hesitant.

Their home is gone, not a single trinket remaining. The fauna and flora that brought them great comfort, now devoid of life…rotten inside and out.

Good thing Cerberus wasn't here, though he might have been fine…

Merlin was just staring aimlessly at nothing, forcing Morgana to once more turn his gaze toward her as she joined him on the ground. "What happened?"

To Merlin, her voice sounded akin to returning home after a long, cold winter.

Instantly he hugged her as tightly as he could. Poor Morgana was baffled; she felt her neck moistening as Merlin's quiet tears made their way down. Not knowing what else to do, she simply did the obvious thing and hugged him back, doing as best as she could to soothe whatever was bothering him.

She's alive…she's fine…the kids are fine…

"I don't understand, one second you're storming off, the next you're on the ground hyperventilating…everything's a mess."

Merlin just closed his eyes, soaking all of this in, terrified that this is just a dream that the sick Sisters - The Disir have stuck him in…

"Merlin?"

"I'm so sorry…"

"What?"

"I would never do it…"

"Merlin, what are you talking about? Do what?" She tried to gently push him away to get a look at him, but Merlin maintained his grip around her upper body.

"You have to know I would never kill our children!" Merlin pleaded in her neck.

Morgana froze at the words…the mere insinuation…

"Where the hell is all this coming from?"

Merlin then had a gleam in his eye as he caught his medication bottle on the dead grass…no doubt surviving since it was on Morgana at the time…

…

Merlin got off her as he crawled on all fours, prying off the cap like a man dying of thirst in a hot desert.

"What are you doing?! Stop!"

Morgana was too late, Merlin dumped the entire bottle into his mouth, swallowing every last pill…

She slapped the bottle out of his hands, forcing his mouth to stay open as she tried to see if she could maybe get him to regurgitate them back up. "You idiot! What are you trying to pull?!"

Needless to say, she was stopped dead in her tracks by Merlin's next words.

"This isn't working."

She glanced up at Merlin's now bloodshot eyes, veins blackening and skin paling. His body was clearly fighting the overdose of medication he foolishly pumped into his gut.

"I had hoped…I had hoped to prevent anything from making that vision come true…"

"Vision?"

Merlin pulled himself away from her before slowly rising, observing the damage done here.

He had a choice to make, use what he could muster to restore their home…or nature.

It was an easy choice, a flash of his eyes though slower than usual with trembling arms to boot…the swarms of vegetation and the earth's mightiest trees returned as if nothing had changed.

The house would have to wait its turn, well if Merlin…if he…

"Answer me, Merlin! What vision?" Morgana spun him around, but Merlin just looked at her as if he still couldn't fathom she was here.

"...I won't let him kill you."

"..." Morgana's mouth couldn't be any wider. "Who…?"

"I don't know if Emrys would really do it…but I'm not taking any chances…you need to stay away from me." Merlin declared, his soft gaze now hardening.

"What?!"

Merlin lowered his gaze to her womb, trying to feel for their children…still there. Good.

Morgana grabbed his arm as he turned to make his way out. "This is madness! What is this fucking vision, Merlin?!"

Merlin turned his head in sadness. "Why would you want to know? What good could come from it?"

"For one, I can see for myself why in the world you've decided to take matters into your own hands and decide that you killed me somehow!" Morgana retorted.

"..." Merlin sighed before placing their foreheads together, once more soaking her in before sending her his memories of the events from earlier.

Morgana collapsed at the sudden rush to her head. "Merlin…" She was silenced when he kissed her gently, caressing her face the exact same way he did before he was shipped off during the war.

"I'm going now."

"Stop!" Morgana reached out, but she keeled over and hurled up all over the ground.

The sound of flapping wings and a black feather falling in front of her only sealed the deal.

He was gone, he just left.

"I won't destroy our family…"

Morgana gripped the feather in her hand, not knowing whether to toss it or keep it.

First things first, find Cerberus, and then her aggravating husband.

So many plans changed here, but we're not too far off from the end, but with my revised outlines, there's definitely more than 3 acts haha

Please comment down below what you think and if you liked this or not 😘💖