Destiny, a Warlock and a King

Okay, so like many, I wasn't exactly thrilled with the series ending, although the more I watched the last episode the more I loved and hated it at the same time. So here my take on the ending I would have liked to have seen. This is a short one shot (which may turn into a multi chap fic, not sure yet.)

Usual disclaimers: don't own Merlin, or the characters, wish I did, but fun playing with them anyway

Season 5, Episode 13 AU Ending...enjoy

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"Merlin, there is nothing you can do," Kilgarrah said.

The warlock struggled to hold Arthur upright, but the king, still dressed in the heavy armor and chain mail was dead weight in his arms. At Kilgarrah's words, he felt his world falling out from underneath him.

Merlin collapsed to the ground with Arhur's lifeless body falling with him. He clutched his friend desperately. Grief poured out of him. "I-I tried so hard. So hard. I'm sorry, Arthur. So sorry I failed you!"

"No, young warlock."

This couldn't couldn't be real. It couldn't be true! They had always made it out of tight situations before. Merlin, and his magic, no matter how bleak, how desperate the circumstance, had always been able to protect his friend. He looked up at the Great Dragon, begging him to take the words back but only saw sadness and sympathy in the large, pensive golden eyes.

"No." Merlin's grief was a physical, renting pain in his chest as if he could actually feel his heart being ripped in two. He just couldn't accept it. Arthur couldn't be dead, he just couldn't!

"I can't loose him! He's my friend."

"No man, no matter how great, can change their true destiny, no matter how much we may wish it, Merlin."

The warlock shook his head, tears running unchecked down his face.

"But we had a destiny together, two sides of the same coin. Together we were supposed unite Albion, bring peace. How can this happen now?"

"Perhaps Arthur's role in the future of Albion has already come to pass," The Great Dragon replied. "The witch Morganna is dead, Modred too, and the Five Kingdoms, under Arthur's reign, have slowly united against a common enemy, the Saxons."

Merlin clutched the limp, cold body of Arthur, burying his face into the neck of his King, his best friend. He shook his head in reply. Though what the dragon had said was true, that in the three years since Uther's death, the King had made great strides in trying to unite the kingdoms, Arthur still had so much he was still supposed to do yet, to live for. He had so many people who loved him, needed him.

Merlin's tears soaked Arthur's cold skin and ran down beneath his chain mail. The warlock's fingers dug deep, clutching his friend close, unable to imagine his life without him.

"Merlin," Kilgarrah said gently, hating to see the young warlock so utterly heart-broken. "There is nothing more you can do."

Suddenly Merlin became angry. He shook his head.

"No. I can't accept this."

With an anger and deviance the Great Dragon has seen in the warlock more than once, Merlin scrubbed his tears swiftly away with fingers. Merlin's jaw clenched tightly together before untangling his legs out from beneath Arthur's dead weight. He slid his arms under Arthur's armpits and around the king's torso and locked his wrist together.

With a guttural heave he struggled to his feet. Shaky and trembling limbs nearly folded with the weight of his burden. Without another word he started dragging Arthur towards the waters of Avalon.

"I'm not giving up on you prat!"

"Merlin. It's too late."

"No. Destiny be damned. I won't accept that this is over."

"What is done, is done, young warlock."

But Merlin ignored the Great Dragon and continued to drag Arthur's limp body into the water until he was knee deep. His foot slipped in the mud and he collapsed to his knees with Arthur on top of him, nearly sending them both under. Merlin gathered his friend tightly to his chest. Arthur's body was draped across his collapsed knees, his back against Merlin's chest, while the King's arms floated uselessly in the water. The blond head hung lifeless against Merlin's throat, is face waxen.

His eyes flashed gold and with a deep guttural cry, in a voice similar to that which was used to call forth the Great Dragon, Merlin summoned the Sidhe in the language of the ancent religion, his magic pouring out into the water, reaching deep into its depths.

For a moment nothing happened as Merlin hugged Arthur tightly to him.

Then the water stirred and started to shimmer in metallic, luminous green. From its depths dozen of tiny balls of light surfaced, hovering briefly above the water before quickly taking flight, darting around him in a frenzy of light.

Merlin's eyes flashed again, slowing down time, until he could see the Sidhe, the small, fairy like creatures in their true form.

Merlin held the King protectively to him as they zipped about.

"I need your help!"

They continued to flicker past him, around him, ignoring him. Merlin's head darted about trying to follow their rapid, movements.

"Please."

He didn't care if he had to beg, to plead. He would do anything to save Arthur. His magic continued to pour out of him in his grief, saturating the waters of Avalon.

The water in front of him glowed again and the winged beings fanned out and away as if to make room. The water churned and foamed and from the murkiness another being rose, almost human in size in comparrison to the Sidhe.

For a moment the being's brightness blinded him before it dimmed to reveal the face and upper figure of a woman, though none like Merlin had ever seen before. Her lower body seemed to be made up of the water itself, opaque and gleaming. Her hair was completely white and cascaded down her shoulders in a moving wave, becoming part of the water too. Her arms were thin, long and tapered to fingertips the seemed to end in mist.

Her face was etherial, her eyes large and wide set and were luminous without pupils. Instead the irises were the color a strange swirling blue. She stared coldly down at the warlock and the dead King.

"I am Airmetha of the Tuatha, sevant of the Triple Godess and gatekeeper of the waters of Avalon. Why do you call me forth from my depths, warlock?"

"Please you must help me," Merlin begged.

The being looked at the lifeless knight held protectively agaisnt the warlock. "The king's journey has already begun into Avalon."

"No!"

The spirit's face held an air of malevolence. "The Pendragon's fate was sealed when he chose to go against the Disir's warnings."

"It was I who warned Arthur against accepting magic into Camelot."

"You went against your own kind?"

"It thought I was protecting him against Modred, but the only thing I suceeded in doing was to seal his fate. This is all my fault. Please don't let it end this way."

"Magic will once more reign free, with or without the Pendragon."

"No! You are wrong. Without Arthur there will only more war and strife between the five kingdoms and beteeen those with magic and those without."

"You are a powerful warlock, more powerful than even Sigan. You could easily rule over the land."

Merlin vehemently shook his head. "I don't want that. I never wanted that. It was never my place to rule, but to serve my friend, my king, to be at his side, to protect him."

"A Pendragon? They have done nothing but bring death upon the land. Even the witch, born of Uther's blood, could not deny her thirst for power and revenge."

"Arthur is not his father, nor is he like his sister, Morganna. He is a good man, with a good heart. He destiny was to bring the lands of Albion together as one, not die here and now before he's even had to chance to finish what he has started."

"The Disir think otherwise. Magic has no place in the Pendragon's heart."

Merlin looked down at Arthur's pale face, so still. His throat tightened. "They are wrong. Arthur did accept my magic, accepted me, but even if he hadn't I would still serve him because I believe in him. I believe he will make a difference, bring about peace. I can't let him die now."

"It is too late."

"No, please! Above all, above everything, Arthur loves his people, has always cared about what happens to them And in his heart only wants to restore peace. Please, I will do anything."

"Anything?"

Melin nodded.

"The bonds of the Old Religion are ancient and strong. Arthur was born by such magic and has already forfieted his life. To restore such life, a life of equal sacrifice must be given in return."

"Then take mine."

"No Merlin," Kilgarrah interupted.

"Arthur's life has always been more important than mine. His people need him."

"And what of you?" The diety asked. "You, warlock, were born from the outcry and tears of all those persecuted in the Great Purge. To give up your life for the Pendragon king should not be offerd so lightly."

"Without Arthur, my magic has no meaning. My life, all that I am is because of him. He gave my magic a purpose. He gave me a home and a friendship like no other. If Arthur dies, I have no reason to go on." The tears fell. "He is my king, my friend, my other half."

The diety mouth twisted and Kilgarrah's eyes narrowed.

"Merlin. You must not do this."

Merlin refused to look at the Great Dragon, his eyes remaining focused on the gatekeeper instead. Acutely aware of the heaviness of Arthur's limp head against his chest and the coldness seeping into the king's body, he replied. "No Kilgarrah. If this is the only way, I gladly offer my life for his."

The quiet resolve in which the warlock spoke made the diety incline her head. "Very well, warlock."

Kilgarrah snorted a blast of hot air.

"No, Merlin."

"The chose is mine, Kilgarrah."

"Not this time, my friend."

The spirit looked at him as the Great Dragon reared its head.

"The Old Religion demands a life, but it will not be the warlock's," Kilgarrah declared.

Merlin looked up as the dragon stepped into the water, his head held high, eyes gleaming arrogantly.

"Well, this is a surprise indeed," Airmetha drawled.

"Hardly, I think," the dragon answerd cryptically.

The spirit sneered. "A dragon's magic is very ancient, unique."

"And more than enough to appease the Triple Goddess, I would think."

"Perhaps." But the gleam in her eyes told a different story.

"Kilgarrah, no!"

"Young warlock, do not look so troubled. You are not the only one with a destiny written long ago."

"What do you mean?"

The dragon smiled. "There is a reason you and are kin, Merlin, that we would meet and that by your hand I would be freed from my imprisonment. I have lived for more than a thousand years and I am tired, young warlock. My cycle of life is nearly complete. Yet even old and worn, my magic is far more ancient than yours."

"I did not bring you here to sacrifice yourself!"

The Great Dragon gazed fondly down at Merlin before moving forward.

The diety nodded and lifted her arms. A strange curtain of thick mist suddenly plummed up behind her, expanding quickly outward in great rolling waves until not even the sky, the nearby shore and even the waters of Avolon could be seen.

With another wave of her hand a vertical split appeared in the mist.

Merlin felt the Great Dragon's mind reaching to his. Do not grieve so, Dragonlord. This is my desire, to return to the earth and the souls of my kin. I asked only one thing.

Anything.

Athusia. Take care of her.

I will.

Kilgarrah turned his massive head towards Merlin. He bowed, smiling. "It has been a privilege to have known you, young warlock."

And with that the Great Dragon opened its enormous wings and took flight. And with a sense of deja vu, like Lancelot stepping through the Callieach's veil, Merlin watched Kilgarrah gracefully soar through the opening.

As the dragon passed through, a blinding bright light followed. Then an enormous wave of water shot straight up, closing the space.

When Merlin lowered his arm he was alone in the shallow water with Arthur still draped across him.

His hand lowered to the king's face.

"Arthur?"

The king remained limp and still in his arms.

Merlin patted his cheek. "Arthur!"

Time seemed to come to a standstill as Merlin stared down at the pale, lifeless face before he saw it, a small, barely noticeable breath. Merlin curled his fingers into Arthur's hair, not even aware he was holding his own breath as he stared at his friend.

Arthur's head tipped slightly back as his chest expanded again.

A flood gate of emotion soared through Merlin. "That's it, Arthur, breath, just breath."

Another small breath was followed by another and gradually the mottly grey tinged skin pinkened and moments later Athur's eyes fluttered then slowly opened.

Tears were flowing down Merlin's cheeks again, but this time they weren't in sorrow. He tried to wipe them clumsily away with the sleeve of his shirt but they just kept coming back as Arthur continued to blink, then slowly focused on Merlin's face hovering over him.

"Merlin." Arthur's voice was barely above a breathy whisper but it the most joyous thing Merlin had ever heard.

The warlock's fingers curled around the side of Arthur's neck unable to even form the word, "Sire" for a few thick, strangled moments before Merlin's face was splitting into a wobbly grin.

Arthur's own mouth curved into a weak lopsided smile. "Why am I not surprised to see your face looming over me?"

"It's my job, remember."

Arthur frowned. "Is this a dream? Am I dead?"

"Hardly. You weigh a ton, you know."

"Trying to imply I'm fat again, Merlin?"

Merlin sniffed, wiping the salt laden snot dripping embarrassing down from nose with his sleeve, eyes still red and puffy and leaking.

"Not at all, my Lord."

Arthur's arm lifted to cup the back of Merlin's neck, squeezing. Blue eyes locked upon blue, grateful, humble, tired. "You are a truly amazing, idiot, Merlin."

Merlin covered the King's arm with his own and squeezed back, eyes shimmering brightly as he saw Arthur's eyes twinkle with life before drifting tiredly shut in sleep.

The warlock tipped his head up the the sky. The clouds had parted and a stream of golden sun fell through. And just for a moment, against the silver lining, the rays took on the shape of a dragon.

"Thank you, Old Friend. Thank you."

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Reviews appreciated... :)