Season 1 Episode 9.

Story 9: Unexpected

Epilogue

Ten years passed. Much had changed during that time. Arthur had not stepped foot in Camelot, not even once. He had no wish to return. His father had done nothing to cease his war on magic. Arthur was only relieved that his father hadn't gotten worse when his only son ran away with a sorcerer. Then again, how could he really get worse than killing everyone suspected of practicing magic?

Merlin had only returned once, under the cover of darkness. He had put it off as long as possible, for Arthur's sake, but he simply couldn't do it anymore. Nearly a year had passed since their departure. Merlin felt guilty enough for not having had any contact with Gaius in that time. Gaius had treated him as a son, and how did Merlin repay him? By not even having the courtesy to say goodbye.

Arthur could see how much the guilt was eating away at Merlin, so finally he relented. Arthur was terrified that night. He knew that Merlin could protect himself, but he was still frightened. Merlin was powerful, but without the magic book, he hadn't been able to learn any spells in the time that they were gone. While Merlin had practiced using his natural magic, he would be able to do so much more once he retrieved the magic book. He had practiced the magic he already knew until he could perform it flawlessly. He also had managed to create some of his own spells with the words of the old religion, but his education was lacking.

While Arthur knew retrieving the magic book wasn't Merlin's sole purpose, he kept reminding himself that that was a good enough reason to allow him to go back into a heavily guarded palace that had been on the lookout for both of them for almost a year.

Merlin was the exact opposite of Arthur. He wasn't nervous, he was excited. He couldn't wait to see Gaius again. Even if he could only get thirty seconds with the physician, that would be enough. He just needed to know that Gaius was okay.

Arthur kissed Merlin passionately before he left. It was a kiss that left his heart pounding in his brain and left him gasping for breath. Merlin tried to ignore how desperate the kiss had been. As if Arthur wasn't sure if there was going to be another.

Merlin forced himself to walk away. He didn't let himself look back. He knew if he looked back, he would never keep moving forward. And he needed to stop being selfish. He needed to put Gaius first tonight.

When Merlin reached the gates, he hesitated before he pushed them open. Merlin was particularly adept at distracting guards. Even in the short time he had spent in Camelot he had had multiple opportunities to practice that particular form of magic. He was happy to see that he hadn't lost his touch. A couple of torches and a barrel of oil later and Merlin's way to Gaius's chambers was clear. Merlin almost felt guilty as he passed the two unconscious knights, but there hadn't been enough torches to lead them far enough away.

Merlin tiptoed into Gaius's chambers. He knew there was no one about, but he did it as a precaution. He was so close and being noticed because of such a reckless mistake was the last thing he needed.

When Merlin stepped in, he couldn't help but look around. Gaius's workshop was exactly as he remembered it. There were only the barest of changes. Gaius had inherited a few new nick-knacks since Merlin had left. They were scattered across his messy workshop table. Something on the table caught his eye. There was a book he had never seen before. A single page was sticking out of it as if Gaius had needed to close it hastily and had forgotten to revisit it.

Merlin walked over to the book curiously. It was a plain black book. There was no title on it, no writing on the cover at all. Merlin hesitated before he decided to open it. There wasn't anything special about it, but Merlin's instinct told him to read whatever was inside. When Merlin opened to the first page, he was shocked to see it was blank. So this was some sort of journal? What would Gaius be doing with a journal?

Merlin got his answer when he opened to the page that was bent and sticking out.

Merlin,it read.

Perhaps it is wishful thinking, but I keep hoping that one day you might return. I know that it cannot be, but I have to believe that you wouldn't leave an old man on his own. It has been three weeks since you left. When you first came to my chambers to be my apprentice, I was scared. You had a type of magic that I had never heard of before, a magic you were all too willing to use right under the king's nose. But I don't regret a moment of your stay here. I never had children, but I feel as if you have given me a second chance at parentage. No matter what happens, I am proud of you.

Gaius had written more, but Merlin couldn't bring himself to read it just yet. His guilt went into overdrive. Gaius had been waiting for him to return. He had been writing to him. For months and months he had been waiting. Merlin couldn't believe he had left Gaius on his own this long.

Merlin walked over to Gaius's bed where Gaius was snoring loudly, just as he always had. On the little end table by his bed was a lantern and a book. Gaius had placed his reading glasses on top of the book.

When Merlin picked up the book to see what Gaius had been reading, he saw a small piece of parchment that had been hidden under the book. When Merlin saw the parchment, he felt as if he had swallowed his heart. There was a small picture of him and Arthur on the parchment, something Gaius had clearly created with magic. Merlin knew exactly when Gaius had acquired that, but he didn't know how Gaius managed it. It didn't require much magic to conjure up an image of a loved one, but Merlin had never heard of a spell that could copy a memory onto parchment.

The picture was of Arthur standing next to Merlin as he saddled his horse. They both were sporting small smiles. Merlin knew that Arthur had just insulted him, commented on how long it took Merlin to saddle a horse. Merlin had in turn called Arthur a dollophead. Despite the insults they had undoubtedly been throwing at each other, they looked happy. Merlin could see why this was the picture Gaius had chosen.

Merlin took a deep breath and put the book back before he placed his arm on Gaius's shoulder. "Gaius," Merlin whispered. "Gaius!" Merlin remembered the last time he had whispered to Gaius to wake him up and hoped he caused less of a fright this time.

Gaius awoke with a start, looking around as if he expected a terrible intruder. When he realized who was standing at his bedside, his jaw nearly dropped. "Merlin?" He asked uncertainly. It was definitely Merlin, but he had changed much in the year he was gone. He was still thin, but there was a muscly look behind his thin frame now. And his hair had grown slightly. It fell over his forehead, curling in front of his eyes. "Merlin!" Gaius said, sitting up in bed. He quickly got out and went to Merlin's side. He put his arm on Merlin's shoulder before pulling him in to his embrace.

"You shouldn't have come," Gaius scolded. "It's too dangerous."

"I had to see you," Merlin told him, shaking his head. He did not regret his decision to come here.

"I'm glad to see you m'boy, but you have to leave. It is not safe here. I don't know how you managed to get in. The king has guards stationed at my door around the clock in case you decide to return," Gaius warned him.

"I distracted them," Merlin said with a shrug.

"But you must leave," Gaius said.

"I just need to grab the magic book," Merlin told him.

"No!" Gaius warned, the fear picking up in his voice. "You must leave now. You don't understand and I haven't the time to explain." Gaius hesitated. "Meet me in three days' time at that clearing where we discovered the root of hungelton when we were collecting herbs. I'll bring you your book and explain everything, but now you must go."

Merlin nodded. "I'll see you soon," he promised. He knew that Gaius was terrified about something, but he didn't know what. He would have to be patient. Merlin crept out of Gaius's chambers and was grateful for the darkness of the corridor. No fewer than a dozen knights were patrolling the corridor. Merlin wondered how he missed it before. His heart pounded and he feared the knights might hear it.

Merlin forced himself to calm down. He was sure this must be what Gaius was talking about. The king knew how strong the bond between Gaius and him had been. He had been waiting for this.

Merlin reminded himself that he knew how to distract the guards. Starting with a window that was far enough away from him, Merlin had it open and then slam closed. The guards were instantly alert. Merlin did the same for the window next to it and then the next one and then the next one. Finally Merlin had the door at the end of the corridor open and closed. All but one of the knights went through the door, one by one. The last knight hesitated. Merlin held his breath, waiting for him to follow the others. To Merlin's surprise, the knight closed the door and turned around. A ray of moonlight illuminated his face and Merlin had to suppress his gasp. It was Henry.

Merlin briefly considered making his presence known. Henry had shown Arthur a sign of fealty before they had left. But that had been almost a year ago. His loyalties could have changed.

Henry took a couple of steps away from the door. "You might as well take this opportunity to leave Merlin," Henry said quietly. "I'm not going to stop you."

Merlin's jaw nearly dropped. "How did you know it was me?" Merlin asked confused.

"Why do you think we are stationed here? After all this time, the king is still searching for you. We knew you were here after the incident with the guards earlier, but we have instructions not to raise the warning bell if we know you're here," Henry explained. "Uther fears you may run. Which you should do. Now!"

Merlin hesitated. "Thank you," he whispered before he ran away. He kept running, going from shadow to shadow. His mind was a whirl of confusion and he was barely aware of running through the gates and back into the protection of the forest.

When he got back to the little home he and Arthur had built, Arthur was standing outside pacing. Their house wasn't large. It had three rooms: a bedroom, a makeshift kitchen, and a study. Despite the snugness of the house, it was perfect for them. They had built it together, with just a little help from magic.

When Arthur saw Merlin, he immediately ran over to him and captured him in a tight embrace. "What happened?" Arthur asked a he took in how sweaty and out-of-breath Merlin was.

Merlin took a few moments to re-catch his breath before he told Arthur everything.

Merlin wasn't surprised when, three days later, Arthur insisted on joining him when he met with Gaius.

Merlin was surprised when he realized that Gaius wasn't alone. He was accompanied by Henry and the Lady Morgana.

When Morgana saw Merlin, her eyes widened. Merlin couldn't help but stare. Morgana was a mess. Her hair was one giant knot and her eyes were red and splotchy as if she had recently been crying. Then there was the way she was holding herself. She looked as if she was ready to collapse. Merlin didn't know what had happened to her, but he knew it wasn't good.

Merlin looked to Gaius. "What's going on?" He asked confused.

"I don't have the magic book," Gaius said apologetically. "It took everything to get Morgana out. I did tell you that I was going to explain to you why it is dangerous for you to have returned," Gaius told him.

"If I may cut in before you begin to explain," Arthur said quietly. "What happened to Morgana?"

"Well, it's all related," Gaius explained. He took a moment to study Merlin and Arthur. They both looked happier than Gaius ever remembered them being in Camelot. Freedom suited them. "About two months ago, Morgana began to develop strange powers. She didn't know what was happening to her, so she turned to the only person that she trusted. Uther. She did not know of the circumstances of why you left. Uther told her that you were visiting Nimith. So when she started seeing these strange things she thought they were nightmares and told him."

"Strange things?" Merlin asked, his interest peaking. "You're a seer, aren't you?"

Gaius nodded, looking at Merlin perplexed. "How did you know that?" Gaius asked curiously.

"I do actually pay attention when you speak Gaius," Merlin teased. "When Sophia nearly killed Arthur, you told me that Morgana might have seer powers. And we may have stumbled upon a Druid camp. We don't stay with them, but we visit from time to time. They have taught me a lot about the different kinds of magic."

"You found a druid camp?" Gaius asked hopefully. Druid camps were rare. Generally, you didn't just happen upon them. But generally you also didn't run away with the prince of Camelot, so Gaius really shouldn't be surprised.

Merlin nodded. "And they would accept the lady Morgana with open arms," Merlin told him with a smile. He had been able to make the connection about what would have happened once Uther realized that Morgana was seeing the future.

Arthur, however, did not make that connection. "I'm confused," he said frustratedly. "Why does Morgana need to take refuge in the druid camp?"

Merlin couldn't help but roll his eyes. "What do you think your father did to her once he realized she was a seer?" Merlin asked him. He had that tone that said, 'did you really not figure it out?' "But I want to know what convinced him you were seeing the future and not just having strange dreams."

"Um… I might have a bit of magic as well," Morgana admitted.

To everyone's surprise, Merlin started laughing. "How many vases did you break?" He asked amused. He could just picture Morgana getting angry in the middle of a dinner with Uther and breaking the vase in the center.

"What? How did you know?" Morgana asked confused.

"Can you imagine how much damage I used to cause when I had temper tantrums as a child?" Merlin asked her. "My mother still uses that against me to this day. When you first realize you have magic, you can't control it perfectly. Strong emotions make your magic go haywire. Couple that with what you saw of the future and I imagine you broke many a vases when you woke up or were feeling overly emotion."

"And windows. And curtains. And tables," Gaius muttered. "Pretty much anything that could be broken."

Merlin chuckled again before he looked serious. "What did you see?" Merlin asked. He suddenly realized that her visions might be the reason Uther's guard was so diligent.

"I'm sorry," Morgana whispered. "I should never have told Uther. But I suppose he was ashamed by the truth. He told everyone that Arthur was improving foreign relations between our kingdom and Nimith. Uther said he hoped that it would end in a stronger alliance and a marriage. If I had known the truth, I never would have told him, but I thought it was just a strange dream. I thought there was something wrong with me because I kept seeing it."

"What did you see?" Merlin repeated.

"I saw you returning to Gaius in the middle of the night. I saw you and Arthur returning, many years from now, both of you taking positions as kings of Camelot," Morgana whispered. She looked away.

"What else?" Merlin asked her. He recognized the reluctant look in her face. She was hiding something she didn't think they would like. Arthur and Gaius looked surprised. Morgana hadn't told Gaius about any other visions and Arthur was just oblivious.

"Just bits and pieces," Morgana muttered.

"Morgana," Merlin warned.

"I saw a child Merlin," Morgana told him. "But it is not possible."

"A child?" Merlin asked confused.

"The child called both of you 'father'," Morgana told them. "But it can't happen. It's not possible."

"Why were you reluctant to tell us this?" Arthur asked surprised.

"Because she feared one of us is to commit adultery to create a child," Merlin told him with an amused look on his face. "How else could we have a child? It's not as if either of us could bear a child." They made eye contact and both of them burst out laughing.

"I'm glad you two think this is such a laughing matter," Morgana scolded them. "I know what I saw."

"Yes, you do. You saw a child that probably has blonde hair and blue eyes. By that logic, it's Arthur you suspect of infidelity. Don't tell us the gender, we want to be surprised," Merlin warned her.

"We never agreed on that," Arthur said, looking at Merlin.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "We didn't think we had to. I want to be surprised and that's that," Merlin said stubbornly.

Morgana and Gaius stared at him and Arthur. "Feel free to explain at any time," Morgana snapped. She hated feeling left out.

"There is a little girl the druid camp just took in. She was fourteen years old. She had been sold into a brothel in Odin's kingdom. She only escaped recently when she found out…" Merlin cut himself off. He hated thinking about it. It went against all the laws of nature, what those men did to that little girl.

Morgana's face darkened. She was able to connect the dots. "She's pregnant?" She asked horrified.

Merlin nodded. "She has no wish to keep the child. She wants to have it, then return home," Merlin told her. "The druids were willing to adopt the child. They don't believe in rejecting the innocent, but Arthur and I decided that we would raise the child. Having a child is something denied to us, but that doesn't mean we can't be parents."

If possible, Gaius's jaw dropped further. Merlin and Arthur raising a child together. If you had told him that would happen when Merlin first came to Camelot, Gaius would have called you insane.

"Wow," Morgana said quietly. "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. What did you do to my brother?"

"Well, you see," Merlin started to joke, but then he cut himself off and stared at Morgana. He looked between Morgana and Arthur. It took him several moments to speak. "Did you say brother?"

Gaius groaned. "We had been planning to tell you in a less… shocking way," Gaius said, glaring at Morgana.

"Oops," she said apologetically. She turned to Arthur. "I wasn't thinking. I've had months to get used to it and accept it. When Uther was throwing me in the dungeons, he told me that he might be my father, but that doesn't make me his daughter and that he didn't want anything to do with someone who practices magic. That's why he didn't have me killed, just locked up."

"D-d-daughter?" Arthur asked, shocked. He wasn't upset, not exactly. He had lost so much faith in his father that this barely surprised him. He just hadn't been prepared for this bomb shell. He was tired of finding out that everything in his life was a lie.

Morgana nodded at him. "It wasn't until Gaius came to visit me for the first time that he told me what Uther had confided in him and I understood that Uther really was my father," Morgana explained.

Arthur just shook his head. Too much. Far, far too much. Finding out that Morgana was a seer and had magic. That she had escaped from Camelot just as they had. And now learning that she was his sister. He couldn't handle it.

Merlin recovered first. "Right. Well, this has been informative," Merlin said. "Morgana, we should leave soon to get you to the druid camp. They rise early and we must get there before Atwa leaves to perform his duties. Gaius…" Merlin hesitated. He had barely gotten to speak with the physician. He didn't want to say goodbye yet.

"Same time, same place, next week?" Gaius asked hopefully.

Merlin nodded with a smile. He embraced Gaius briefly. "Take care," he said softly.

"You too," Gaius told him. With that Gaius turned and walked back with Henry.

"Henry," Arthur called. Henry turned back to look at Arthur. "Thank you."

Henry nodded before he turned back and followed Gaius. As they disappeared, Merlin turned to Arthur. He knew Arthur was just barely holding it together. His life just kept changing. It was full of twists and turns. But Arthur needed to wait a few more hours before he could rest and think about everything.

Merlin walked up to Arthur and leant his forehead against Arthur's. "I know this is a lot for you," Merlin whispered. "But just hold in there. We'll be home in a couple of hours. We'll be able to visit the druid camp in a few days so you can get more of your answers, but for now, I need you to put it aside. I'm sorry."

Arthur closed his eyes and wrapped one of his hands in Merlin's hair. He took a deep breath. Merlin kissed his forehead gently. "I'm ready," Arthur promised.

Arthur couldn't believe how much changed in the next nine years. They adopted their daughter, a little girl with curly blonde hair and the bluest blue eyes, named Lori. She was so friendly. She could walk up to someone who was crying and in minutes, they would be laughing.

Merlin and Arthur couldn't be prouder of their daughter. Arthur and Morgana also resolved their issues. It took a while. Morgana had had a couple of months to get used to the idea of Arthur as her brother. Arthur wasn't granted that luxury. Merlin was just glad that they had gotten used to it and now had some, as Arthur called it, "healthy sibling rivalry." That generally included Morgana making Arthur vanish and appear in some random part of the forest and Arthur finding his way home just to prove he could. Merlin didn't question it. He wasn't about to pretend the siblings were normal.

Merlin and Arthur had gotten married four weeks before Lori was born. The ceremony was performed by Atwa, the druid leader.

Merlin had met with Gaius at least once a month in the nine years that passed. It was just two days ago when Gaius did not show up. Merlin was extremely worried, so worried that even Arthur was having a difficult time distracting him. Not that he didn't succeed, it just took a long time. When darkness fell on the third night, there was a knock at the door to their home.

Merlin immediately jumped out of bed, taking the blanket and Arthur with him. He fell to the ground and immediately pushed himself to his feet. When he opened the door, he saw Gaius standing there with a lantern. Gaius looked tired, as if he had been travelling a long time without stopping for rest. But there was something else behind his fatigue. Something was wrong.

Arthur appeared behind Merlin. "Gaius? What's wrong?" Arthur asked.

"Uther is dead," Gaius whispered. His voice sounded hollow. Merlin felt a pang of sympathy. Gaius may not have agreed with much of what Uther did, but the king had been his friend. "Cenred and a witch, Morgause have created an immortal army. We cannot hold up much longer. Camelot needs you. Both of you." Merlin winced at the mention of Morgause. He had told neither Gaius nor Arthur about her. Morgana had begged him. Merlin hoped he wouldn't come to regret that decision.

Arthur fumbled back to the room he and Merlin shared and hastily started getting dressed. "Gaius, I need you to stay with Lori," Merlin asked him pleadingly. "We can't leave her alone."

"Of course," Gaius agreed.

Merlin quickly got dressed then he and Arthur mounted their horses. Gaius waved them goodbye from the doorway.

Merlin plucked a leaf off of the tree closest to him. He whispered something into it and his eyes flashed gold. "Morgana will meet us there," Merlin told Arthur as they took off.

When they arrived at the gate to Camelot, they were shocked by what they saw. It hadn't reached the citadel, but the houses in the village were almost completely destroyed. Fires were still burning and they could see the exact line where the armies were fighting. The knights' numbers were dwindling and Merlin knew why. They didn't stand a chance against an immortal army.

"This way," Merlin said, motioning for Arthur to follow him. They snuck around to the side of the castle where the servant's entrance was located. Arthur and Merlin snuck into the castle and made their way to the armory.

Merlin couldn't help but pause when he found it. Possibly in the best hiding spot. A diamond among clear, shiny rocks. Its powers were indistinguishable. For anyone that didn't know what it was, it would look like an ordinary sword. But Merlin recognized it for what it was.

He picked up the sword and handed it to Arthur. "Ten years ago, it was forged for you. Now it's finally time that you wield it," Merlin told him. Merlin felt as if this moment should be cherished, the moment when the master is reunited with his sword. But they did not have time for that. "Ready?"

"Ready," Arthur said. Holding Excalibur in one hand, he ran. Merlin was at his side as they ran through the castle, through the already open door.

Arthur let out a battle cry and many of the knights parted willingly. It didn't matter that Arthur had been gone for ten years. They let him through. Merlin stayed by his side, his eyes flashing gold as he aided Arthur and the knights. He didn't have the power to kill what was dead, but he could delay them. Push them backwards to give Arthur the chance to kill them.

The immortal army was reckless. They didn't know how to protect themselves, because they had never needed to. Arthur fully took advantage of that, taking out soldier after soldier.

Morgana arrived in a tornado. When the wind cleared, it was to find her at the center of it. She joined Merlin and Arthur. "Hello brother," she said to Arthur with a curt nod. She turned to Merlin and bit her lip. He wasn't going to like what she was about to say. "Merlin, they used the cup of life. Atwa warned me about it before I left. Morgause took it from him weeks ago saying she had a safe place to keep it, and he hadn't thought anything of it. He didn't know who she was, just that she was a priestess of the old religion, someone who should be trusted." Morgana said those words with a bitterness rarely found in her. "We have to find the cup and empty it of the blood used to make them immortal."

Merlin closed his eyes. He knew what this meant. There was no way Arthur would budge from his position at the front of the knights. "I'm assuming you brought a sword," he said to her softly.

Morgana looked at him compassionately as she handed him a sword. "I would not ask this of you if it were not necessary," she said apologetically.

"What's going on?" Arthur asked uncertainly as he watched a tear fall from Merlin's eye.

"I need to take your sword. I know how to end this. Just promise me you'll be careful. Promise you'll keep yourself safe," Merlin said to him, holding out the regular sword to Arthur. It was the hardest decision to make, to intentionally put a loved one in danger for the good of thousands of men. It wasn't something Merlin took lightly. Merlin wished there was a way he could keep Arthur safe and protect Camelot, but he knew there was not. Arthur would want him to choose Camelot.

Arthur handed Merlin Excalibur without hesitation. "You be careful too," he warned.

Merlin kissed Arthur fiercely, but quickly before he turned to follow Morgana. Arthur grabbed his hand and squeezed it before he turned back to the army. Arthur continued fighting, no longer able to kill, only able to distract.

Merlin's hand squeezed around the ring Arthur had left in his hand. He didn't need to look to know what it was. It was Arthur's precaution. Just in case the unimaginable happened, Arthur had given Merlin the Pendragon seal.

Merlin and Morgana traveled through the courtyard to get to the castle. Merlin ran into several knights, but was easily able to kill them. When they got to the castle, Merlin turned to Morgana. "Where is she?" He asked her.

It didn't escape his notice that Morgana had known exactly where to come to find Merlin and Arthur. She had seen this. "She's in the throne room. I saw at least six immortal knights. I don't know if there are more," Morgana told him.

Merlin nodded to her. "Are you okay?" He asked her quietly.

She shook her head. "I thought she was gone. I thought this was over," she said quietly.

"Nothing is going to change. We'll stop her for real this time. She will never torment you again," Merlin promised her.

Morgana shook her head. "I fear her damage may already be done. She never forgave me for choosing Arthur over her. For refusing to help her kill Uther. You granted me a favor and never told anyone that she is my half-sister, but perhaps that was a mistake. They may not be expecting her," Morgana said worriedly.

"Morgana, she and an immortal army are trying to take over Camelot. I think Arthur is ready for her," Merlin told her. He was just as anxious as Morgana. His fear for Arthur was pounding through him. A constant reminder that his husband was in danger until the cup was drained.

"I'm sorry," Morgana said. "I keep forgetting I am not the only one that is afraid right now. I know you're worried about Arthur. But I know my brother. He will be fine."

Merlin couldn't help the tears that fell from his eyes. There were no words that could reassure him. No words that could make his fear go away. "Let's go," Merlin said, forcing all thoughts of Arthur from his head. Arthur was still there, but now Merlin could concentrate.

Merlin and Morgana rushed to the throne room. There were four knights guarding the door. Between their magic and Excalibur, they took out the men in a matter of minutes.

They took a deep breath before they barged into the throne room. Merlin took a moment to find out how many threats there were. Morgause was standing in front of the cup of life, which was sitting on a pedestal.

There were eight knights, spread sporadically throughout the throne room. "You distract them," Merlin ordered Morgana, bringing her back to reality. She had been distracted when she saw Morgause.

Morgana nodded. This battle was longer. Merlin and Morgana had to use their magic to combat both the knights and Morgause. It took over an hour to eliminate the knights, but it felt like much, much longer. When it was just them and Morgause, Merlin looked at Morgana. "You can do this," he told her.

This moment was imperative. He needed her to distract Morgause so that he could hit the cup. The magic of the sword would mean that when the cup spilled the knights would die. They became immortal, but at a terrible price.

He didn't know if Morgana was capable of this. Her powers weren't as great as Merlin's and she had used them too much that night.

"No, I can't," Morgana said feebly.

"Yes you can," Merlin told her. "Now!"

He sprinted towards the cup. He knew Morgana's magic failed her when he was suddenly blasted into the wall. Merlin groaned and rolled over.

"Awendap eft wansaeliga neat," Merlin yelled. Morgause flew backwards, crashing into the wall with a loud thud.

Merlin pushed himself to his feet. Before Morgause had the chance to catch her breath, Merlin yelled, "Oferswing!"

Morgause was thrown to the opposite side of the room. She collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Merlin picked up Excalibur and walked towards the cup. With a scream of frustration, he knocked the cup over. The blood flew against the wall and dripped down. It was one of those things that Merlin didn't want to see, but he couldn't help but stare at it. He knew that as that blood dripped down the walls, the enemy would suddenly be collapsing. Every drop of blood signified Camelot's success. The enemy had become immortal, but at a terrible cost. And that cost was their lives. Rather ironic when you think about it, Merlin mused.

He stared until a movement pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to see Morgause stirring. She groaned, but didn't get up yet. He knew it wouldn't be long. He saw Morgana. She was still standing frozen in the same position she had been in when she couldn't use her magic before.

Morgana looked at Merlin with a pleading look. She was asking him to end this, asking him to kill Morgause. Merlin nodded at her and turned to Morgause. He didn't look at her with hatred, but with pity. She had allowed her powers to go to her head, had allowed her hatred to consume her. "Folge min bebod," he whispered.

It was the most humane way to kill her. She wouldn't feel any pain. Her heart would simply stop. Merlin watched the effect on her body. It was instantaneous. One moment she was breathing, the next, she wasn't.

Merlin never liked ending a life and this was no exception. It wasn't something to be cheered, but something to mourn. He wasn't happy Morgause was gone, but he knew it had been necessary.

Merlin turned to Morgana. "Are you okay?" He asked her worriedly. She was staring at Morgause wide-eyed.

She nodded hesitantly. "Go check on Arthur. I know you want to," she told him.

"I'm not leaving you here alone," Merlin warned her. He knew better than that. "Come with me." Merlin walked over to her, so he was standing by her side. "Come on," he said quietly.

Morgana nodded. Merlin knew what she was going through. She was shocked. She had seen so much bloodshed today, and she had watched her sister die. It was enough to overwhelm anyone. They walked quickly back out to the courtyard. When they got there, they were met with bodies everywhere. The immortal army had fallen, mixing with the slain knights of Camelot.

As Merlin passed the knights that survived the battle, he was looking for the one man he desperately wanted to see.

"Where's Arthur?" He asked knight after knight. "Where is he?"

It wasn't until the faces turned from unknowing to sorrowful when he asked his question that Merlin gave up hope.

"Where is he?" Merlin asked dejectedly.

One knight finally gave him an answer. "I haven't seen him since he was surrounded about twenty minutes ago," a knight Merlin didn't recognize told him. "I'm sorry, but I don't think… I don't think he could have made it out of that. He was outnumbered. We all were."

Merlin took a deep breath. "Send the wounded to the main hall. We will set up hospital there," he ordered the knight. "The men that died fighting for Camelot must be laid out in the courtyard. They will receive proper burials. Have some men dig a ditch just outside the gates. Put the bodies of the immortal army there and burn them. They did not die with honor. They died in disgrace," Merlin told him.

The knight nodded and ran off to deliver his orders. Despite the fact that Merlin wasn't of royal standing, people listened to him. They all knew what he meant to Arthur. They had seen it. They obeyed him as if he were king.

Merlin turned to Morgana. "I need you to go to Gaius's chambers. Collect as many bandages and towels as you can," he told her. He was barely holding himself together. But he knew he needed to. The people of Camelot needed someone. They had no king, no prince. Arthur's ring weighed down on his finger, a constant reminder of the burden he must now carry. Camelot only had him now. "If I see any maidservants, I will send them your way."

Merlin helped a knight who was missing his left leg from the knee down. The knight leaned all his body weight on Merlin and hopped to the main hall. Merlin felt for the knight. Every step seemed to take a great deal of exertion.

As the wounded were carried into the main hall, Merlin went from patient to patient. If their injuries weren't life threatening, Merlin bandaged them using traditional methods, but if their wounds were serious, Merlin used his magic. He had never seen this level of war before. Looking at the casualties, he couldn't figure out how anyone could find glory in war.

It had been hours since Merlin had so much as sat down. He hadn't taken a break from those wounded except for a short reunion with Gwen. He couldn't bear to. With every man that entered the main hall that wasn't Arthur, Merlin felt himself becoming number.

A day passed before all the bodies were sorted and the wounded were cared for. There had been no sign of Arthur. He was believed to be amongst the hundreds of Camelot men that had died. There were too many bodies to search thoroughly and most of them were too maimed for it to be of any use. The knights simply gave up and began to mourn their fallen prince and king. Merlin was surprised by how they welcomed him. He had expected opposition. He had been a mere servant when he had left, but now they regarded him as a king.

Later that night, when Merlin had been awake for nearly forty hours, Morgana forced him to leave. "Get some rest," she told him. "Let yourself mourn."

Merlin didn't think that she realized that those two couldn't occur at the same time. Reluctantly, he listened to her and forced himself to leave the wounded. When Merlin stepped outside of the castle, it had started to rain. He got to the bottom of the steps before it was too much. The grief he had been pushing off fell over him in waves.

He sat down in front of the stone pillar that was at the end of the stairs. The rain poured over him, but he didn't care. All that mattered were the lonely days flashing in front of him. He and Arthur had seen each other every single day for the past ten years. They had never spent a night apart. Now Merlin was looking at a whole future without that. A whole future where he'll wake up to having too much space in his bed. A whole future where he'll never be able to kiss Arthur good morning or hold him as he drifted off to sleep.

It is different, oh so different from the last time Merlin thought Arthur was dead. It was worse. One thousand times worse. The sobs ripped through Merlin's chest. He felt as if they were trying to tear his chest apart. He gasped for breathe that refused to come.

He knew he wasn't the only one mourning a loved one, but it didn't seem fair. He and Arthur had only gotten ten years together. It seemed like such a short time. And Lori. Lori was too young to suffer the loss of a parent. She was only eight years old. No child deserved that.

Merlin choked on another sob as he tried to calm himself down. He wished he could hear Arthur's voice one more time.

As if on cue, Merlin heard someone calling his name. "Merlin. Merlin," the voice called. It was faint as if the wind itself were calling his name. "Merlin, Merlin." Merlin closed his eyes, allowing himself to pretend for one more moment that Arthur was still alive. He didn't care about the consequences. "Merlin!" The voice was getting louder. Merlin's eyes flew open. "Merlin!"

Merlin sat up. He knew that voice. He didn't want to, but he couldn't help it as hope rose up in him. Hope could be a dangerous thing. Merlin didn't know how he could bring himself to wake up the next day if this hope proved to be false. But he couldn't help but hope.

Merlin wiped away his tears and tried to see through the rain. "Arthur?" He called, praying with all his might that Arthur might answer. "Arthur?"

A bloody figure walked into view. Arthur looked like he was either covered in blood or bruises from head to foot. But it was unmistakably him. Merlin jumped to his feet so quickly, he got dizzy. His lack of sleep was starting to make itself known, but he needed to put it aside. He chanted under his breath and could see the wounds on Arthur's face closing up. There was a stab wound in Arthur's abdomen that Merlin closed on the surface. Later, he would assess Arthur's wounds and heal everything that needed to be healed, but for now, he had done enough. For now, he needed to be with his husband. He waited a moment before he ran towards Arthur. When he was close, he threw his arms around Arthur. Part of him feared that he was imagining this, but when he made contact with solid flesh, he knew it was real.

"You're alive," Merlin cried, entwining his hand in Arthur's long hair. He didn't care how dirty and bloody Arthur was. All that mattered was that he was still alive.

"I'm right here," Arthur promised him in between kisses. "I'm not going anywhere."

The End! Let me know what you thought of this story. Did you love it? Hate it? Any suggestions for future stories?