Set after series 3 but before series 4.

Disclaimer: IDOM

The cell door swung open two unfamiliar Knights dragging him from his cell and into the throne room where the court was gathered before the Regent King. Merlin held his head high, even as his head spun; glancing towards the Knights of the Round Table, silent hope visible in his eyes.

Another man read out the charges – the crime of magic. Merlin admitted to its use before a shocked crowd.

"Is it true that you can get rid of magic – a sorcerer can rid himself of his magic?" Arthur asked, his eyes conveying a mirage of emotions, swirling in there depths.

"Yes." Merlin spoke plainly and simply. Arthur needed to make up his mind now – without his interference. Arthur was talking about getting rid of his magic as though he was spring cleaning. His breath shortened slightly – he knew what would happen if he lost his magic.

"Do it then or else be executed."

Merlin nodded slowly and began to speak the spell; glancing once more towards Arthur, Gwen and the Knights an unnameable emotion in his eyes, before bowing his head.

"STOP!" Everyone turned at Gaius's outburst, the only sound in the room Merlin's voice as he continued.

"Why?" Arthur demanded. "Everyone I love has fallen prey to magic – it is evil. I am removing this evil from Merlin."

Merlin looked up at Gaius and shook his head, a single tear sliding down his cheek. Gaius quietened and stepped back, his head down.

Merlin finished the last line of the spell. A roar exploded from his mouth. A golden mist burst from every part of his exposed skin; and hovered in the air for the length of time it took for him to take a drawn-out shuddering breath. The mist vanished the second Merlin's body hit the floor, ice cold.

Gwaine and Lancelot stumbled forwards towards their friend, tears pouring down Lancelot's face as Gwaine looked concernedly at him.

"What was that?" Arthur's voice was calm but he was twitching nervously.

Gaius looked up, silent tears streaming down his face. The only sound in the room was the steady drip as they hit the floor.

Suddenly Gwaine screamed in anguish.

"Nononononono." His words were mumbled but his meaning was clear, as he held two fingers to Merlin's pale, white neck.

Arthur froze.

"What happened?"

"What Merlin knew would happen. What I tried to tell you would happen. Merlin wasn't a normal sorcerer." Gaius was already using past tense.

"What was he?"

"A warlock." Tears still dripped onto the floor, as Gwen joined the two Knights at Merlin's body also sobbing.

"Which is?" A curious member of the court asked.

"He is made up of magic – it runs through his veins, alongside his blood. It keeps his brain functioning, his heart working. He always was going to bow to Arthur's judgement. When Arthur asked him to remove his magic he did. Removing his magic meant his brain stopped working, his heart stopped." Gaius spoke clearly and clinically until the last sentence, where his voice shook slightly. "He's dead. And he knew he was going to die."

Arthur finally caught the meaning of Merlin's head shake, directed at Gaius when he tried to intervene.

Another court member interjected, "What was the roar?"

"It could've been two things. His Dragon Lord powers leaving him or Kilgharrah's ... reaction at the destruction of destiny.

"Kilgharrah?"

"The Great Dragon." Gaius ignored everyone's shock at this statement. "And his destiny was so great. With his magic, he could've lived forever. Merlin Emrys. His name has already been written in legend for hundreds of years."

Lancelot finally broke his stare from his friend's body.

"You're dead."

Some of the Knights that had been imprisoned during Morgana's reign stepped forwards, whilst the Knights of the Round Table stood stock still.

"Was that a threat, Sir Lancelot?" one asked, their voice venomous at the Knights title.

"No. Just a warning."

"Consider us warned."

Lancelot laughed bitterly, everyone watching him now. "No, you're not warned. You really have no idea of what Merlin did in his everyday life to save everyone do you?" The past tense was cutting Arthur like a knife. "All the strange occurrences – sorcerers who suddenly vanish one day, bandits conveniently falling out of trees or dropping their weapons, magical creatures being defeated. Nimueh, Sigan, the Great Dragon. It was always Merlin – he works – worked from the shadows. And he lets everyone else take the credit. Who do you think really defeated the immortal army, Morgana and Morgause single-handedly. And Morgause was killed in the fight. You've doomed Camelot to fall."

Everyone looked more horrified the longer Lancelot spoke, his voice hoarse and pained.

"Camelot will fall." Lancelot looked up at Arthur then. "And you, Arthur Pendragon, you've killed the one person who could've stopped it."