Merlin closed the book and slipped a note in his pocket, following Gaius out of the dungeons with a straight face. Although when out, he rushed off so the old man didn't have a chance to say anything before he was gone. There was another paragraph that Merlin hadn't translated for Gaius; Theipann ar an tuar riamh. It was part of the reason he knew he could still stop Stuart. Reaching the upstairs level, Merlin heard a muffled scream from within the palace - possibly the King's study. Thinking fast, Merlin grabbed one of the sword (which was really antique and now decorative) since it was the only weapon nearby. He stuffed it inside his jacket and went on his way.

The scream had come from Gwen when Stuart pushed her through the aisles and kicked open the door to the King's study. He brought the antique chair to the middle of the room, threw Gwen on it, tying her to it. Arthur made several faces of rage and anger whilst Stuart locked the doors, forcing McGwaine and Arthur up against the wall to mock them. The condescending smile on his face made it clear how much he was enjoying this moment and the power he held in his hand. Seeing the terrified look on Gwen's face felt like being punched to Arthur. Finally the veil had fallen and Stuart was showing his true self. Their entire friendship had been a lie right from the beginning. All the support Stuart had provided was nothing but a lie. Arthur had never before left so powerless. The worst part was almost that he had never noticed this hatred Stuart seemed to have towards him. It had been hidden well. It was hard to believe that a long friend could turn so easily into an enemy. The pretence had gone and the entire way that Stuart walked and talked seemed unfamiliar and a strange tick seemed to integrate itself in Stuart's features, making him throw his head slightly to the side every few seconds, narrowing his eyes. Arthur and McGwaine quickly became aware that he was a ticking bomb, ready to go off at them any moment.

Still, it was about to get a whole lot worse...

The doors opened, surprising everyone including Stuart. In came the King and Elly. They were conversing politely until a gun was corked and they realised what they had walked in on. Elly gasped and the King instantly pulled her behind him, with a disbelieving expression.

"What is going on here?" the King demanded sternly, but stayed back when the gun was pointed to him.

Stuart shrugged. "I'm taking what's rightfully mine," he said almost wistfully. "And removing the ones who stand in my way. It's a simple game, Uther - I mean, your majesty - you know the rules."

If looks could kill, Stuart would be nothing but dust in the wind now due to the King's glaring at him.

But Stuart was in high spirits. "Let's face it, old man, I have the best cards on my hand. Leverage," he chuckled. "And you have something of mine." He reached out for the King obviously to get him to hand something over. Only those two seemed to know what.

"If I give it to you, Arthur goes free," the King negotiated and Stuart laughed.

"If you give it to me I might spare my sister - and kill your son slower... if I'm satisfied with what you give me." He kept his hand stretched out.

Sighing, the King took off his ring and very hesitantly gave it up. Stuart smiled widely as he put on the ring. "Oh, and one more thing," he said. "Which really is the best kept secret your father has held from you, Arthy. It's a mystery to me that you haven't noticed lately - noticed how your father sometimes has small bouts... which is why I won't have to eliminate him after all."

Arthur kept a straight face, but with difficulty. "What are you talking about?" he demanded with a nervous looking McGwaine on the side. He seemed to know what Stuart was going on about. Arthur took a deep breath.

Stuart smirked and caressed Gwen's duct taped face. She tried to turn her head away from him unsuccessfully. "Everyone knows," Stuart said loudly. "Everyone except you, little Arthy. You are the only one who doesn't know that your father has a tumour on his brain."

Arthur felt sick. "What?" he whispered and felt like someone had beaten him to pieces. "You're lying..." The prince looked to McGwaine, who turned his eyes to the ground. Arthur frowned in disbelief. He gained the courage to look at his father.

The King went rigid, staring at his son in shame. "A-Arthur," he stammered. "I'm sorry-"

Arthur held up his hand. "Don't," he warned and tried to collect his thoughts. It felt like his head had been mauled and his heart run through with a knife. He massaged his temples to process and to gain strength to ask the next question: "How long have you known?" he demanded in a voice too calm for the situation.

"I don't think it matte-"

"IT MATTERS TO ME!" Arthur yelled. "I'm your son! I'm your heir! How could you not tell me?!"

This reaction seemed to break down some of that stony pride that had always been hidden in the King's features. For the first time he seemed truly sorry - sorry that his decision to keep Arthur in the dark had failed. "I didn't think you were ready to face such facts. It was better to keep you in the dark and keep you away from danger..."

Arthur scoffed. "You mean, it was easier to hide your secret from me when you grounded me under the pretence that it was for my protection. That's what it was really for, wasn't it?"

To that, the King struggled to reply. "It was to protect you. Arthur, all I can say is that I am sorry-"

"No, I don't want to hear an apology. I don't want to hear anything," Arthur interrupted, wiping a hand over his face. In the corner of his eye he could see Stuart smirking at the scene. Everyone else kept quiet. The silence was so intense that even the tiniest sounds could be heard - and somebody was outside the room. Stuart instantly went to check and Arthur stayed as far away from his father as he could. A feeling of betrayal was drowning him from within and it was clouding his mind. He almost didn't care whoever lurked outside the room because who would be the next one to stab him in the back?

"Don't you see?" Stuart continued. "Your father is already doomed and you share his tainted blood. It would only be fair to free you from that."

"You wouldn't kill me," Arthur returned. "You couldn't."

Stuart raised an eyebrow. "I made several attempts which nearly succeeded, remember that. So don't think for one second that I don't mean what I say, Arthur. It's all about destiny."

"You're right," another voice interfered and made Stuart turn around fast. Merlin stepped out of a secret entrance located in the bookshelves behind the desk. Arthur watched with his mouth open since he had never known about that exact passageway and the King mirrored that expression, since he also though he was the only one who knew.

Stuart looked displeased with Merlin's appearance. "You again," he mumbled. "You're like a fly I just can't seem to get rid of. Funny how someone so small can be so annoying, don't you think?"

Merlin watched with a calm look on his face. "Give me the ring, Stuart," he said, but of course Stuart refused to give it up so easily. He took his time, walking back over to Gwen, the gun pointed at her left temple. He studied the ring and its engraved words. "And the gun while you're at it."

"You seem informed," he said, directed at Merlin. "For a fly, anyway. You might carry the name of Merlin and that gives you an advantage - but as soon as I saw you I knew you weren't worthy. You're no threat to me. I will be king. I will end Arthur and let his majesty die with the pain. The only thing he has ever truly cared for is his son. It will break him. And the throne will be open to me."

"So in order to gain power," Merlin clarified as he walked into the room directly towards Stuart. "You choose to attempt to murder the only two people in your way of reaching your goal. People who are part of your family, your own flesh and blood! Does family mean nothing to you?"

Stuart gave an uncomfortable smile. "Oh, quite on the contrary in fact. I care very much about family and lineage. Why else would I do this?"

"Give me the ring," Merlin repeated and mimicked Stuart's earlier gesture of reaching his hand out for it. "You do not know where it belongs."

Stuart laughed with a condescending undertone. "Please. You're not the only one who knows a bit of the ancient language."

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Is that why it took you weeks to decipher the Willshire Stone? Or did you just copy Arthur's translation?"

Stuart stared hard at Merlin. "Shut your mouth cleaning boy. You have no idea what you're talking about."

To the surprise of everyone present, this made Merlin smirk. "I know more than you could ever hope to."

Start frowned. "And what would that be?" he screeched in a high-pitched tone of voice.

"Theipann ar an tuar riamh," Merlin replied and Stuart didn't seem to understand. "That means the prophecy never fails - and we both know what the prophecy foresaid about your family in the end."

This made Stuart furious. "And what does that help," he sneered. "When your king is already dying and there is nothing you can do to stop me? But of course, we can always help destiny move on its way."

Merlin frowned as Stuart moved towards the King. "If you really are as well informed as you claim, then you will know this is only destiny making its move." Merlin was about to speak, but stopped when Stuart raised his gun and let a bullet penetrate the King's right shoulder. The blood immediately started following, the women screamed and Arthur roared and was about to throw himself at Stuart except McGwaine held him back.

"Your highness, don't do something stupid. You're unarmed," McGwaine pleaded, but Arthur wasn't so keen on listening and still fought against him though with less determination now. "Arthur. Don't give him another unfair advantage." Arthur sent Stuart the meanest look he could manage and ran to his father's side. The King was conscious, somewhat shocked and in pain. Elly had ripped a piece of her dress off to use to put pressure on the wound. The first thing Arthur did was to check if the bullet had gone through; there was no exit wound however.

"Arthur, it's okay, it's okay," the King said, panting in a feeble attempt to endure the agony. The gun was corked again and Arthur was forced to take a step back from his father.

In that moment, Stuart looked crazy and Arthur had no doubt he found this extremely satisfying. "From now on," Stuart said. "You will all keep at distance from each other. If you disobey me, I will put a bullet in the offender. If someone tries to run off, I will shoot the pretty lady in the chair, got it?" His eyes fell on the King who was struggling to keep the pressure on.

"Ah," he smiled. "Mordred ensues."

Merlin narrowed his eyes. "How do you know about that?" he said before he could stop himself.

Stuart rolled his eyes, laughing ridiculously. "From my grandfather, of course, and his little fairy tales. It is the Celtic word for any king's destiny; it is his doom. You being so clever and all should know that."

Merlin's tone became sharp. "You know nothing about me," he answered, straightening his back. "But since it is the legends that all this is about, tell me something; did you consider that there are two sides of the coin?" From his jacket he pulled out the old sword.

Stuart's eyes widened. "What is that?" he demanded. "It can't be...Excalibur?"

Merlin let him stay in the illusion. "To know one is to know another," he quoted and Stuart began pacing back and forth, mumbling inaudible curses at everyone present. He glared at Merlin, cursing him the most, and imitated how he would strangle him should the chance offer itself. Merlin was aware that Stuart intended to attack him first and what Stuart never noticed in his moment of insanity was that Merlin had made eye contact with Arthur, the two of them forming a plan;

As soon as Stuart threw himself forward with a scream equal to one of a dragon Arthur made his move; he ran in a half circle around Stuart, nodding. Merlin let the sword fly through the air and into Arthur's hands. This time, Stuart was unprepared and his gun was ripped from him as he fell backwards, allowing Arthur to put the sword to Stuart's neck. It would take no more than a little push just to end this traitor who has done so much evil, who had torn the family to pieces and who was stupid enough to think he had a chance at changing destiny.

"Destiny never fails," Arthur repeated. Elly had taken the gun and pointed the gun at Stuart to show where he loyalty lay.

"I'm sorry, Stu," she said. "But it's for the best." This allowed Merlin to grab the ring from Stuart's finger.

A few moments later the doors to the study were kicked in and in came Mr Gaius and Agent Thomas with a bunch of guards behind them.

Arthur took one last look at Stuart before he turned to them. "Here is your traitor," he told them. "Take him away." He stepped away and let the guards have him. Stuart screamed and shouted and fought against, but no one really took the time to watch him disappear except Merlin. He mouthed 'destiny never fails' after the lunatic who gave a loud roar of anger before he was gone. The King was already getting the medical attention he needed and was rushed out. Arthur didn't hesitate to run to Gwen's side and by the help of McGwaine and his pocketknife, they got her loose and she threw her arms around the prince, the tears falling freely now.

"You're safe now," he told her. "It's over."