MERLIN'S EYES SHOT OPEN as he gasped for air. His body felt broken and weak, but he still attempted to push himself onto his elbows to escape the feeling of imminent danger.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey!"

Merlin felt a strong hand on his chest and he collected his thoughts enough to turn towards the man who spoke. He looked up into Prince Arthur's azure eyes and a sudden comfort flooded over him.

"Arthur? Wha—" He glanced left to right, from Arthur to Gaius who both remained close. Gazing down, he found himself lying in one of Gaius's beds meant for the wounded. He was drenched in sweat from head to toe, and his heart felt like it was racing so fast that it could explode.

"Merlin? Is that you?"

He dropped his head back against the pillow and let out some slow breaths to calm his rapid pulse. Turning towards Gaius, he nodded and asked, "What happened? I don't remember taking the draft."

Gaius stared at him with blue eyes full of relief. "That's because we had to force it down Emrys's throat."

Merlin felt a lump catch in his throat making it difficult to swallow. He watched as Gaius's eyes ventured across the way to Arthur, and Merlin slowly shifted his gaze toward the Prince; his expression showing signs of deep hurt and betrayal.

"You know," Merlin whispered, unsure if any words had actually come out.

"How could you not tell me?" Arthur asked. "You're my man-servant, my ..." His words caught in his throat. "My friend." He paused and looked away, tears glistening in his eyes. Returning his gaze, he continued, "How could you hide such a secret from me?"

"Arthur ..." Merlin found it hard to speak. Arthur turned away crossing his arms, and Merlin's throat grew tight as tears trickled down his temples. He had never wanted Arthur to find out in such a way. He had always wanted to be the one to tell him, but that had been stolen from him by his other half; the half that he was finally free from and yet his actions would forever haunt him.

Pushing himself all the way up, he grimaced. He didn't feel much like he had inside his mind during his battle with Emrys, so his soreness lead him to believe Emrys must've obtained these injuries on his own. He swung his legs over the side of the bed facing Arthur and he hunched forward with his elbows on his knees, a hand pressed to his side.

Finding the courage to speak, he tried again, "You must understand why I never told you." He looked up and stared at the back of Arthur's blonde head. "Uther would've had me executed."

"And if he had, we wouldn't be in this mess. It would've taken care of you and Emrys." There was a long pause. "And now I don't know what to do with you," Arthur said below his breath, dropping his crossed arms down to his side. He turned about an inch around, glancing at Merlin from over his shoulder and his next words were filled with much sorrow. "I thought I knew you."

Merlin felt the color drain from his face as Arthur's words pierced him sharper then any sword ever could. "I'm still the same person," he said with a grin. "I'm still your friend."

"I—" Arthur cut himself off and glanced away for a brief moment. "I trusted you."

Merlin didn't know what to say. The only thing he could think of was, "I'm sorry," but he knew sorry would never be enough. He pushed himself to his feet, cringing from the pain in his ribs.

Arthur again looked away. "I'm sorry too." He headed for the door and left.

Merlin watched as he left feeling his heart drop. Arthur, the man he would willingly give his life for, now hated him. With his eyes still focused on the doorway, as if daydreaming for Arthur to return, he asked, "What happened, Gaius? I don't remember anything." Realizing that Arthur wasn't coming back, he turned and eyed his father-figure. "It was Emrys, wasn't it? He got to Arthur."

Gaius pursed his lips and nodded. "I'm sorry, Merlin."

Merlin looked back at the empty doorway. "Don't be. Arthur would've figured it out sooner or later." He looked down and furrowed his brow, realizing the only pain in his head was a dull ache. None of the agonizing memories were popping up. "They're gone," he whispered.

"What?"

Merlin, in a state of awe, glanced back at Gaius. "His memories," he replied. Squinting, he shook his head as he thought. "I still remember what I saw, but ..." He paused. "That's it. There's no new ones."

"When you killed Emrys you must've severed the rest of his memories," Gaius explained. There was a moment of silence. "You did kill him, right?" 

Slowly nodding, Merlin turned his attention back to the threshold. His brow dipped as he thought. "Where's Gwen? She was with you the last time I saw you."

"I sent her to help with the wounded," Gaius replied. "I didn't want her getting any more involved than she already was." There came a long pause. "Merlin, I know how hard this is for you." Merlin eyed Gaius from the corner of his eye. "But you still have a job to do," Gaius took a step closer but was blocked by the bed. "A battle is still going on outside these walls. Your job to protect Arthur isn't finished. Emrys may be gone, but Morgana is still out there."

"Arthur probably won't even let me get near him." Merlin let out a long sigh. "It's only a matter of time before he tells Uther."

"But, Merlin ..." Gaius sat down on the bed on the opposite side of Merlin. "You're the only one who can save Camelot. We need your magic. I wouldn't ask you to use your magic if I did not think it was needed."

Merlin stared down at his hands. The thought of going out there and possibly having Arthur see him use his magic was frightening even if he knew. Arthur had already said he had to figure out what to do with him. Perhaps Arthur hoped he'd just die in the battle and be rid of him, but no matter what Arthur thought, Gaius was right. He couldn't just let Arthur die. "You're right." He turned his head up to Gaius. "He is my destiny to protect. Emrys helped start this fight, and now I must finish it."

He took a step forward, intense pain erupting in his chest but he pushed it aside, when Gaius called out, "Merlin!" He twisted his head around to face Gaius. "Be careful out there," the physician finished. Merlin gave a small smile before running out of the chamber, down hallways and staircases into the court yard.

Outside, many citizens ran scared as fire rained from the sky with Kilgharrah's deep swoops. Merlin ducked to avoid some embers that sprang through the air as the fire blasted into the ground. He grimaced, a hand still pressed to his side as he glanced around. Up ahead, Knights of Camelot battled Morgana's men and the Druids as they almost won over the Citadel.

"Stand your ground!" Merlin heard Arthur's voice and he quickly turned to find Arthur single-handedly take on three men—two with swords and one druid.

He watched as the druid reared back his hand with an obvious attack in play, but Merlin thrust his hand forward shouting, "Ástríce!" His eyes lit up and the druid went flying through the air with a shout.

Arthur took down the two armed men and swung his sword, intending to slice through the druid, but missed just as the druid was launched. Arthur, baffled, looked around until his eyes met Merlin's and from his stare, Merlin couldn't make out what emotions Arthur could possibly be feeling. Gripping his sword tight, he ran off to aid a fellow Knight.

Merlin watched from afar, not daring to get too close afraid that Arthur would plunge his sword into him in a fit of rage for hiding such a dark secret all these years, but he had another task he needed to accomplish. He had to get Kilgharrah to cease his attack so Camelot would stand a chance.

He watched for several minutes as Arthur fought his way through the men who tried profusely to take over the Citadel. Hearing a loud scream, he flung his head to the right as a man charged him with a sword. Without saying a word, he tipped his head forward, magic soaring to his eyes, and the man flew several feet backwards skidding on the cobblestone before lying there still.

He glanced back at Arthur one final time before taking off to the right down a small passageway he knew none of Morgana's men or the Druids would've found. He followed the small passage until he came to a barred gate blocking his way out. "Tospringe!" he shouted, and the barred gate burst out of its holes in a fit of sparks. Swiping at the dust in the air, Merlin climbed through the now-opened-hole and limped through the woods until he reached the nearest clearing, the whole time gritting his teeth as he tried desperately to ignore the pain in his side.

He reached the top of a small hill and stared into the distance as Camelot's brilliant walls and turrets were burning with vibrant colors of red, orange, and yellow. Tears weld in his eyes as he placed his hands on his head and stared at the destruction of his beloved city. He had to stop Kilgharrah. Balinor had written about Fohlian controlling the dragons, and once he was gone, Balinor used his gift to stop their attacks. Merlin may be a dragonlord on the inside—kin to Kilgharrah as Balinor had put it—but he had no idea what words to say to make Kilgharrah listen to him.

Jerking his head to the left, he was startled as the sound of horses neighing and their hooves clopping drew closer. Merlin was stunned to find Arthur riding in with a dozen other knights. "Arthur, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice rising as if to tell the Prince he was foolish for coming all the way out here.

Arthur rode up alongside Merlin and stared down at him. "My job, Merlin. Protecting my kingdom. Morgana's army has already taking over half the city, and the dragon isn't doing us any favors. He's killing off our men and hundreds of citizens. If we can't kill this dragon then we don't stand a fighting chance."

Merlin shook his head. "Arthur, this is suicide. The dragon will roast you alive. You have to get out of here!"

"And what will I tell my father?" Arthur stated sternly. "That I was a coward? That I couldn't defeat the dragon?"

Merlin glanced past the horse at the other Knights back to Arthur. "This was my mistake," he said softly. "I'm the one who allowed Emrys to free the dragon, and now I have to fix it." He watched as Arthur's expression softened just a hint. "Please, just go."

Arthur sat up straight and glanced around at the other riders. "I'm sorry, Merlin, but I can't do that."

"Arthur—"

"You're lucky you're not rotting in a jail cell right now." Arthur's stare was like daggers to his heart. "Lucky that I don't run you through where you stand for even being in my presence. So if you don't want to be killed, then I suggest you take cover."

Merlin averted his gaze, feeling his throat tighten as Arthur rode away. A roar erupted throughout the sky drawing Merlin's attention, and he ducked as Kilgharrah swooped overhead, a burst of fire exploding from his mouth. Merlin's gaze quickly turned to the Knights who broke formation to escape the flames.

Kilgharrah landed and the Knights circled him. Those who neared his tail were whacked off their horses and some of the men by his head were flambéed as they rode by.

"Kilgharrah, no!" Merlin shouted. "You have to stop!"

"Stand aside, Merlin!" Kilgharrah screamed back. "I have sat in chains for far too long. It is time for Uther to pay for killing my kin." By the way that neither Arthur nor the other Knights, Merlin assumed that they couldn't understand Kilgharrah's words.

"Merlin!"

Merlin's eyes darted from Arthur who reached out his hand, back to Kilgharrah who's mouth opened wide; the back of his throat glowing with vibrant colors.

Merlin's eyes popped open as he realized what was about to happen. Quickly, he dashed to the side as fire, hotter than anything he'd ever felt before, splashed down smoking the grass around him. He jumped and rolled, landing on his back just inches away from the burning flames.

He lifted his head to watch as Kilgharrah swung his body around to face Arthur. Arthur, who had fallen off his horse, stood staring at the Great Dragon with his sword clenched tightly in his fist. His mouth slowly fell open and the tip of his sword lowered as fire burned within Kilgharrah's body once again. No doubt, Arthur figured he was about to die.

Rising to his feet, Merlin remembered his father's words. The words he had read off the pages of his note that were supposed to help him learn how to control his inner dragonlord voice. The words that had read, "Deep within yourself, you must find the voice that you and Kilgharrah share, for your soul and his are brothers. When you speak to him as kin, he must obey your will."

Feeling an unusual peace over him, he closed his eyes and searched himself. His father had written about how he and Kilgharrah were one. How they were ... brothers. Merlin had to find his voice. It was there. Somewhere.

Focusing, he lifted his head to the sky and shouted, "O Dragorn!" Kilgharrah ceased his attack, his fire instantly extinguished inside his belly, as he flipped around to face Merlin. "Non didlkai! Kari miss, epsipass imalla krat! Katostar abore ceriss. Katicur. Me ta sentende divoless. Kar ... krisass." When he had finished, he panted trying to catch his breath as the use of such power drained him.

Kilgharrah lowered his head as he sighed. "I should've known you would succeed where Emrys would fail." His eyes narrowed as he stared down at Merlin. "Show mercy on me. For I am old and the last of my kind."

Merlin's eyes instinctively darted to Arthur who stood baffled watching. With his head still raised high, his vision dropped as he thought. Glaring back up at the Great Dragon, he stood confidently and announced, "You will leave Camelot and never return!" He opened his arms out to the side as he continued, "I will show you mercy. Even if you didn't show it to others. If you ever come back ..." He paused and looked more deeply into Kilgharrah's eyes. "I will kill you!"

Giving one final bow, Kilgharrah lifted into the sky. Merlin watched him until his enormous form could no longer be spotted before turning to Arthur, the only Knight to survive. "Are you going to kill me now?" he shouted across the field, the words escaping before he even fully realized what he had said.

Arthur squinted as if thinking. "Not yet." He walked the distance between them closing in the gap. "We still have Morgana and the Druids to take care of." His eyes darted up and down Merlin's body. "You may still be useful." He lifted a finger halting Merlin. "But if you get caught ... I won't save you."

Merlin couldn't help but chuckle. "I've been your servant for years now, Arthur."

He expected Arthur to laugh back, but when he didn't, Merlin remembered how betrayed Arthur felt and that Arthur didn't see this as a joke. Lowering his head, he followed Arthur as the pair disappeared into the forest.