Oh my lord, has it been nearly 3 years? Really? I am so sorry! I am not dead, but I am also not good at keeping promises. I also haven't written much of anything beyond a drabble or two since I updated this last. My muse has recently decided she wanted to come back and I've given this another shot. I make no promises this time around beyond that I never actually stop thinking about this fic, and fully intend to continue it, however long that takes. I've had this chapter mostly written in one form or another pretty well since my last update but every time I worked on it I found myself unable to figure out how to tie up this chapter. Today I decided that I just had to suck it up and finish it come hell or high water and I have done so. Hopefully it isn't too jarring. As always please give me feedback!

Arthur had just settled in to the meal that Cedric had brought when the door to his room flew open with a slam. Startled, both Arthur and Cedric looked up at the sudden intrusion. Standing in the door way was Morgana, her eyes glittering with fury. She stalked into the room, long sleeves and skirts billowing around her as she pointed a finger at Cedric and jerked her chin toward the doorway behind her.

"Out. Now." She ordered her voice clipped and short.

Arthur gaped at her, unused to hearing Morgana speak so haughtily to a servant while Cedric goggled beside him, startled by the furious beauty. Never had he seen a more beautiful woman and it showed in the slack jawed expression on his face. Arthur's brows drew down as the meaning of her sharp words hit him, his eyes narrowing in annoyance.

"Morgana you can't just order my servants about." He said.

Morgana smirked at him.

"Oh can't I? You and I need to talk and we will do it privately." She said, crossing the room to lean over the table so that her face was only inches from Arthur's.

He tried to contain a flinch at the look in her eyes. Whatever she wanted to talk about she was deadly serious. He'd only seen her this furious a few times before and none of the experiences had been enjoyable. The last time he'd made her this angry he'd ended up needing a new suit of armor. What in the name of God had he done now? He racked his brain, trying to recall what he might have done recently to cause such a fury in her but nothing came to mind. With a sigh he nodded, waving Cedric away. The man didn't see, still staring open mouthed at Morgana. She looked over at him and her face became like a stone, haughty and implacable.

"You may leave us. You can return in an hour or two to finish your work." She ordered.

Cedric stood there for a moment gazing at her as if he couldn't believe she was addressing him. Arthur shook his head, thinking why it was that all his servants were unable to keep their head around Morgana, before elbowing the man in the side. Cedric started with a jump, realizing that both Morgana and Arthur were staring at him and mumbled an apology. Sketching a bow that barely met protocol he scrambled out the door so fast that he forgot to close it behind him. When he reached the hall and realized his mistake he turned back only to see the door slam mere inches from his nose.

He jumped back to avoid getting hit and let out a breath, eyes wide with admiration. A thin smile crossed his face as he realized that there had been a touch of magic behind that action. Free for the moment of playing the servant he sifted through the memories of his host, identifying the woman as the Lady Morgana. He'd never seen any woman as beautiful as her, let alone one who was as strongly magical as this one was. He gathered from the memories of his host that she was unaware of her power, and he hungered for her. Not as a host, no - despite the magical allure she held he didn't think he wanted to spend a lifetime as a woman- but as a companion. The thought of her by his side, devoted to his every whim made him ache with desire. He would show her the wonder of her gifts, and she would fall before him entranced by the magic they shared. He stood there for a moment, lost in the fantasy of that delectable creature bowing before him and he shivered with anticipation. Looking around he saw the corridor was devoid of guards and smirked. This was as good a time as any to start his plan, Arthur was preoccupied, and no one else would miss him. It had been a torture, playing the servant to this lack wit prince but his plan had necessitated the ruse. He'd had to wait until there was no chance of his being missed and the Lady Morgana's interruption had provided the perfect opportunity. He started toward the courtyard, his mind turning over thoughts of the Lady Morgana as he planned his attack.

Back in Arthur's room Morgana was pacing like a caged lion, fury outlined in every movement as she stalked the length of the room. Arthur said nothing, well aware that any comment he made would only fuel her ire. Better to let her reach boiling point on her own than risk a sudden outburst of uncalculated fury. As he watched her stalk up and down the room he wondered if it would be morning before she calmed herself enough to speak. The moment she had slammed the door shut behind Cedric he'd known that this wasn't going to end well for him. Whatever he'd done to upset her it was worse than anything he'd ever done before, judging by the spots of anger in her cheeks and the set of her mouth as she glared at him from the doorway.

He'd made the mistake of speaking once already; thinking this was only one of her moods, not the towering fury that was being displayed before him. He tried to remember if he'd locked away his armor this time but couldn't and hoped that Cedric had. The last time he'd angered her like this he'd endured nearly an hour of this same silent pacing before she'd taken one look at him, stalked over to his armor stand and tossed the entire thing out the window in a rage to smash against the cobblestones below. It had taken the blacksmith weeks to repair the damage and Arthur had sworn for months after that it never sat quite right on his shoulders. Eventually she'd apologized, replacing the set with a new one etched with the symbols of Camelot and the Pendragon house in concert on the breastplate but he'd learned never to set her off like that again. It came as a surprise when she stopped pacing after only fifteen minutes to stare into the fire, leaning one arm against the mantle. Arthur cleared his throat as quietly as possible, not willing to risk speaking outright but wanting to remind her that he was still waiting to find out just what it was he was supposed to have done.

The sound made her whirl to face him and for a moment he thought the edge of her dress would catch fire as she strode over to him. He looked up at her expecting her to speak only to receive a slap across the face. His head snapped to the side, eyes wide in shock and cheek stinging from the force of the blow. For a moment he stared back at her unbelievably before he found his voice.

"What in the name of God was that for?" He howled with indignant rage. Morgana sniffed at him before withdrawing to lean against the mantle.

"It was less than you deserve Arthur Pendragon. I always knew that you were arrogant, careless even, but I've never known you to be cruel. How could you have done that?" She hissed, glaring at him darkly.

Arthur looked at her bewildered. Cruel? What had he done that was cruel?

"What are you talking about? I haven't done anything." He said, raising a hand to his cheek

"Really? Then why did Merlin come back from the stable yesterday afternoon looking like he'd been stabbed in the back? While we're on the subject, why is he in the dungeons?" she spat.

"What do you – wait. Merlin came to your rooms yesterday?" He asked incredulously, suddenly not caring about Morgana's anger.

"Don't try to change the subject. For your information no he didn't, he didn't even seem to realize I was there when I passed him the corridor, covered in mud and looking like his entire world had just been shattered. He didn't even come by to get Emma, and before you ask Gwen and I watch her while Merlin runs around looking after you. Gaius had to come fetch her and told me what happened. As always when it comes to Merlin's troubles, the fault lies with you. How could you do that to a friend?"

"A friend? He's a servant, he can't be my friend." Arthur protested. A twinge of guilt settled in the back of his mind but he pushed the feeling aside, telling himself that it wasn't his fault Merlin was such a girl. He hadn't been that hard on him over the stable incident and really it was more like he'd done the man a favor.

"Don't give me that. How many times has he proven his loyalty to you, how many times has he risked his life for you and you dismiss him over something so trivial as falling asleep in the stable? Knowing that you work him to the bone most days. Knowing that he not only works for you but for Gaius as well, running errands all over the city and beyond while also knowing that he has a newborn daughter to care for, and lost the woman he loved in the process only scant days before! Not to mention that despite all of this, he still came to you this morning trying to warn you of danger and what do you do? Throw him in the dungeon! So yes, Arthur I call you cruel. For once in your life would it kill you to think of someone other than yourself?"

He started at that, it was so close to what Gwen had said to him when she'd opened her home to him and he'd trod over her kindness with hobnailed boots. There was a strange twist in his gut that he didn't care for at that thought. He'd gotten better since then hadn't he?

"Why should it matter to you if I dismiss a servant? And don't act like I turned him out without a care, I promised him that he wouldn't go without work. I'll find him another job, he won't even have to leave the castle. As for throwing him in the dungeon he attacked Cedric. I had no choice but to punish him for the infraction. So I don't see how I was cruel." Arthur said indignantly, settling back into his chair and crossing his arms with a huff.

How dare she insinuate that he didn't care what happened to Merlin. He was right and she was wrong. He drummed his fingers over one arm thinking of how Merlin had looked these last few days. Exhausted didn't begin to cover it he realized, the dark circles beneath his eyes had been more like bruises. He shifted uncomfortably at the thought. Merlin did have a lot of duties and then with Emma added in he was probably getting even less sleep than usual. A flicker of guilt crossed his mind but Arthur brushed it away. He'd done Merlin a favor, without Arthur to add to the chaos of his life the man would have more time to spend with his daughter, more time to focus on family. Wasn't that kinder? Not to mention that Cedric outshone Merlin in nearly every way. This was better for them all surely.

"Oh you are a fool Arthur Pendragon." Morgana scoffed shaking her head at him with a disappointed frown.

He shifted under her gaze and huffed. He hated when she looked at him that way. It made him feel like a child caught sneaking dessert.

"Besides, Cedric's a better servant." he said dismissively.

Morgana frown became a glare.

"Just because he fawns over your every move doesn't make him a better servant Arthur." Morgana pointed out.

Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Cedric completes every task I set for him in record time and goes above and beyond my expectations. He gets things done where Merlin just messes them up." Arthur huffed, clinging to his argument.

Morgana shook her head at him, the anger in her face softening into a look of pity. Arthur was struck by the change, confused by what it meant but said nothing as Morgana came to kneel beside him. She took one of his hands in hers and put the other on the arm of his chair, trapping him. He shifted under her gaze but if he wanted to get up he'd have to push her away and that was something he wouldn't do. He was caged and she knew it.

"He might do your menial tasks better but if you had to count on him in a fight would you trust him? If it came down to his life or yours would he risk his neck to save you? Because I've seen his type before, even if you're too dense to see it; he's in your service for his own reasons not because he cares about you. Unlike the man you dismissed today, who would risk everything he has just to keep you safe. Who drank poison for you last year because he knew that if he didn't it would likely mean your death. That same man risks his life without a thought for his own safety every time you take him into a fight, in order to protect and serve you. Not because you're a prince but because you're his friend. Because despite how awful you are to him he still cares about you. So you just think about that before you go on saying how wonderful that boot licking toady out there is compared to Merlin. You just wait Arthur, one day you'll need him at your side and he won't be there because you've driven him away. What will you do then?" She said quietly before pulling away and walking out of the room.

The door shut with a soft click and then he was alone. He didn't move from his spot, still frozen as her words ran through his mind. Morgana's words sparked something in him and Arthur squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. He often forgot that Merlin had done the things she'd just reminded him of, too caught up in his own troubles or the annoyance of Merlin's latest mistake to remember all the other things he'd done. That phrase she'd used about Merlin doing those things for him out of friendship and not duty struck him like a lance on the jousting field. He'd often wondered why Merlin stayed with him, it wasn't like he particularly enjoyed the job as far as Arthur could tell and his attitude toward Arthur was often insubordinate, bordering on outright dislike some days, but he never hesitated when Arthur really needed him.

Guilt flooded through him and he ran a hand through his hair, tousling the short strands. Much as he hated to admit it Morgana had a point. Merlin deserved better from him, even if he was the most confounding person Arthur had ever met. He'd go to Merlin in the morning and offer him his job back. He didn't want to apologize, still uncomfortable with the thought that Merlin considered him a friend. All his life he'd been taught that he was better than the common people raised up on a pedestal to protect and guide them but now he was starting to wonder.

What was it that made him a better man than those he outranked? Hadn't his sole reason for entering the tournament last month using Sir William as a mouthpiece been to experience life as a common man? One not treated with special privilege because of his birth? So why had it been so enthralling to have Cedric bouncing around him, bowing and scraping all the time? Was it because it had been so different from the way Merlin treated him, who had never with any amount of seriousness treated him as anything more than just another man. If he did, there was joking sarcasm to his tone that made Arthur smile inside no matter how well he controlled his facial expressions.

He thought back to the things Gwen had said to him that night in her home, as she lectured him on his pride and the potential for greatness she saw in him and suddenly he realized that Merlin had been right about Cedric. Not about the sorcerer bit, he still had a hard time believing that but thinking back on every interaction with Cedric he realized that the man never made a move that wasn't calculated to impress him and cast Merlin in a bad light. He rubbed a hand over his face. He'd been – to use Merlin's words – a clot pole, too blinded by ego to realize what had been going on in front of him. Well he'd fix it come morning. It had been grand while it lasted but he knew that he'd have to dismiss Cedric.

If he brought Merlin back but kept Cedric it would keep happening and Cedric had proved to be a masterful manipulator. He'd find him a job elsewhere in the castle, somewhere that didn't involve Merlin. He'd miss the assiduousness of Cedric's service but if it came down to that or losing Merlin he realized that Merlin held greater value. He wondered for a moment if Morgana's words would come true, if Merlin would refuse to come back after what he'd put him through. With that in mind he rang for Cedric, intending to go to bed early. He decided to hold off on announcing his decision until Merlin agreed to come back. There was no point in losing both of them if he refused. Minutes ticked by with no response and he pulled the bell again. Instead of Cedric answering however, panicked shouting reached his ears and he rushed to the open window. He saw people streaming into the courtyard and guards running toward the gate. Something was wrong. Without hesitation he ran for the door, grabbed a passing guard to help him into his armor and set off to find his father.

Merlin could hear the screams from all the way down here. Why hadn't Arthur listened to him! He had to find a way out of here. He went the bars of the cell yelling for a guard but none came. They were probably all up defending the castle. He slumped against the cold metal. He could hear the battle raging in the courtyard above and then a sudden yell of Arthur's name. That was it, there was nothing for it. He turned back to the gate, raising a hand. Tos briange. The words flowed easily and the gate erupted in a flash of light, blown outward by the force of his spell. He ran for the upper keep, not bothering to hide as there were no guards. He had to find Gaius. If there were wounded they'd have set up a triage in the main hall. He went up a flight of stair that led to the observation gallery. Peeking around the corner he saw Arthur among the wounded, arguing with Uther about saving the lower town. He saw Gaius along the side of the hall and crept silently down to him.

"Gaius" he whispered, keeping to the shadows.

"Merlin what are you doing here?"

"I have to help Arthur."

"Sigan's abilities are far beyond yours."

"I can't stand by and do nothing."

"Then you must go to the Dragon, he is the only one old enough to know the information you seek."

Merlin suppressed a sigh. He still didn't want to go down there, despite having done so once for Emma.

"There's no other way?"

Gaius shook his head and Merlin sighed.

"Alright. "Where's Emma?" He craned his neck, trying to see the baby girl in the throng of people. He spotted Morgana tending to the injured and saw that she had a sling tied around her, Emma nestled securely against her chest. He breathed a small sigh of relief. He turned to go, stopping to look back at Gaius.

"If I don't – If he's too strong, take care of her, please." He rushed on when Gaius held up a hand to stop him. "Please, I need to know that no matter what happens that she'll be safe. I trust you more than anyone, Gaius."

The old man gave a bone-weary sigh but nodded, worry etched deep into his lined face. He reached out to put a hand on Merlin's shoulder.

"Ony if you promise you'll come back my boy."

"I promise." Merlin whispered. A promise for a promise, even if it had to be broken. He hoped he wouldn't have to break it. He gave Gaius's hand a squeeze and raced for the caverns below.

He nearly broke his neck when he slipped on the stairs, calling out for the dragon chained below.

Merlin stepped into the courtyard, the knowledge the dragon had given him burning within him. The experience had been like nothing he'd ever known, but he wondered if it had been worth the price. Promising to free that beast, was it any better than letting Sigan run amok as he willed? It was too late now to go back, he'd made his decision. The gargoyles were closing in, their dark shapes sweeping across the sky.

One screeched a victory cry, dropping toward him but he raised a hand as he spoke a spell and the gargoyle blasted apart in a rain of stone. He shrank from the debris covering his face with an arm. He had to find Arthur. Casting around wildly he finally spotted him, lying prostrate on the cobbles. He ran over to him, kneeling down to feel for a pulse. He was still alive.

"Who would have believed it? You, a sorcerer and a powerful one." Sigan's voice echoed from the mist, before the man himself stepped out of the swirling vapor.

Merlin moved to put himself between Sigan and Arthur.

"I won't let you hurt him."

"And you're going to stop me?"

Merlin stepped forward. "I'll stop you."

Sigan scoffed.

"He does not deserve your loyalty. He treats you like a slave. He cast you aside without a moment's thought."

Merlin shook his head.

"That doesn't matter!"

It did matter, but not in any way that would make him stop doing his duty.

"But it must hurt so much. To be so put upon, so overlooked when all the while you have such power."

Sigan's words stirred within him, baring a long-buried ache that he'd pushed down. How often had he wanted to lash out, knowing that he was more powerful than those around him? Too many times. Each time the urge would come to him though he thought of his childhood, of his mother, Will, even Mary. He thought of life now and the people in it. He thought of Gaius and Arthur, Morgana and Gwen. The whirlwind of surprise and confusion that was Emma, the few short days he'd had her some of the brightest he'd ever known. To give in to such urges would be to give up the life he'd come to love.

Merlin shook his head.

"That's the way it has to be." He said. Especially now. Emma had seen to that. He didn't have only himself to worry about, he had a beautiful little girl who carried just as heavy a destiny on her shoulders as he did. He would be damned if in a moment of selfishness, he ripped away the only solace and guidance she had for petty indulgence in his own power. If he did that, he'd be no better than Sigan, caring only for himself.

"Does it? You're young Merlin, look inside yourself, you've yet to discover your true power. I can help you. Think, to have the world appreciate your greatness. To have Arthur know you for what you are."

"That can never be." Merlin protested, tempted despite himself.

"It can, if you join me. Together we can rule over this land. Arthur will tremble at your voice, he will kneel at your feet.

And that was where Sigan lost him. He would give his eyeteeth for Arthur to know him for what he was, but not at the cost of Arthur's fear. It would be intolerable to know that the man he'd come to know feared him. Merlin shook his head again as calm stole over him.

"I don't want that."

"You'd rather be a servant?

"Better to serve a good man that to rule with an evil one." He straightened, focusing on the magic within him, gathering it for the spell that would return Sigan to his prison.

"So be it. If you will not join me I will become you and your power will be harnessed to my will.

Cedric's form shuddered, gasping for air as Sigan's spirit escaped. Cedric reached out for Merlin, and for a moment it seemed he was himself again, before collapsing onto the cobblestones. No breathe escaped and Merlin felt a moment of pity for the man before a thin blue mist began to coalesce around Cedric's form.

It slithered toward Merlin, wrapping around him and he began to chant the spell the dragon had imparted to him. The mist invaded his senses, it felt like he was drowning. He felt the world going dark around him as the stone rushed up to meet him.

He didn't know how much time passed before his eyes opened. Quiet rang through the courtyard, the sounds of battle faded. The muffled sound of footsteps echoed softly across the stone and Gaius cautiously made his way across the courtyard, picking through the bodies for his young charge.

"Merlin?"

He watched his mentor through the mist, stepping forward silently. He stared at the man for a tense moment before holding up the heartstone that Sigan's soul had once more been drawn into. It was over, for now. He rushed into Gaius's arms, squeezing the older man tightly and handing off the stone.

"I did it. We're safe."

Gaius said nothing, giving Merlin a tight hug. To say he'd been worried was an understatement. He pulled away, looking around the courtyard.

"Where's Arthur?"

Merlin started at the question, and then raced across the street to where Arthur lay to check him.

"He's alright, out cold though."

"That might be for the best. You're supposed to be in the dungeon remember?" Gaius said pointedly, leaning down to check on the prince himself.

"I have to go back, don't I?" Merlin asked, reluctance in every syllable.

"Unless you want to explain how you got out then yes. He'll be alright. Go on now before you get into trouble."

Merlin sighed and gave Arthur a small glare.

"The things I put up with for you." He got to his feet. "Give Emma a cuddle for me?"

Gaius rolled his eyes and shooed him away with one hand.

"She's not even going to know you're gone but yes I will. Now go!"

The next morning Merlin was released, luckily the guards hadn't noticed that the bars to the cell were a little worse for wear than they'd been previously. It had been risky to reset them with magic but the alternative was being caught for jailbreaking in an obviously magical manner so he'd felt the risk was worth it.

He made his way back to Gaius's chambers, stopping when he entered the room and saw the older man dozing on a chair near Emma's cradle. With a small grin he removed Gaius' spectacles, laying them aside so that they wouldn't get damaged. Then he went to check on Emma. Instead of being sound asleep he found her wide eyed and full of energy. She was burbling softly to herself, little hands waving gently in the air. He reached down and she wrapped her fingers around one of his. He marveled at how tiny she was, how someone so small could have made such an impact on his life. The battle with Sigan had shown him something about himself. He loved Emma, really loved her. At first he thought it was because she was small and helpless and had no one in the world but that wasn't it. They had a connection beyond simple ties like that. He saw himself in her; saw the same kind of destiny waiting for that had been waiting for him. She was his savior and he was hers. She'd brought a light with her that he hadn't even known was missing until she dropped into his life. He'd realized that she was important to him than he'd have expected. She'd given him a reason to keep fighting when the ghost of a promised kingdom wasn't enough. Albion was a fine dream, a shining golden sun on a dark horizon but it's promise wasn't always enough to make him want to keep fighting when things looked their darkest. With Emma it was different; he didn't need a reason to fight for her beyond knowing that she was there depending on him. He smiled as he looked down at her, her little fingers grasping his tightly. He wouldn't give her up for anything, and he would never stop fighting for her.