A Merlin Reveal

Merlin was standing in the shadowed doorway, watching with sad eyes as the knights of Camelot were beaten further and further back by Morgana's sorcerer army, not druid mind you. He felt that it was time to reveal his true self, the powerful druid leader hidden behind his faultless facade. All hope was lost, the knights were tiring, it was time.

"People of Camelot, I offer you one last chance to defeat me, with little more bloodshed." rang out Morgana's voice, after all she wanted people to rule over when she won," Offer up a single champion whom I will face in single combat, if I win you will surrender, if I lose my army will stand down and leave you be. The fight will be a battle to the death, does any accept my challenge."

Merlin smirked it was so like Morgana to be so confident in her abilities to offer a single 'golden' opportunity like this. Stepping out from his vantage point Merlin cried out," I accept."

She laughed when she saw who had accepted," Is this the best Camelot has to offer, a simple manservant, with no battle skill, very well Merlin, I accept your challenge."

A quick word was all it took to clear the courtyard, the knights and sorcerers backing out of the way to clear space for the battle. Morgana sweeping forward in green dress, trademark smirk plastered on her face. She was self-confident, arrogant even, secure in her certainty of her success. Merlin, in contrast, stood quietly dressed in the garb of a poor servant; melancholy settling over his form. To most it would appear as if he was resigned to death, but to Gauis it spoke of Merlin's reluctance to complete the task required of him.

It was Leon who stepped forward to commence the count down. "4, 3, 2, 1" Morgana launched into action sending a simple fireball towards Merlin. He simply stepped out of the way, revealing the grace he truly carried himself with, not the clumsy exterior he presented. She sent another and another his way, each one dodged with incredible ease and grace. All the while he held himself erect, with nobility and pride.

She growled in anger at his blase reaction, she changed her game, sending spells of control, manipulation his way he dodge the fast moving spears of magic with the same ease he had of the fire balls. Growing impatient Morgana called forward her power of the elements, bringing forth rain and calling down lightening to strike her foe.

It was then that Merlin revealed some of his power, as the lightening hurtled towards him he lifted his hand, eyes flashing gold, and the lightening erupted in a fountain of sparks as he absorbed its energy into his own reservoir of magic. He stood there a golden glow radiating from his skin. The sorcerers gasped, backing away, not expecting a powerful magic user to side with Camelot. The knights were unsettled, shock and anger adorning their faces, and Merlin didn't even turn to look at Arthur, he did not want to see the betrayal on his face.

Morgana... was laughing, amusement showering her face," So, Merlin has a little magic, and he thinks he is a match for my power. "

Merlin smirked, as he saw druids transporting into the courtyard to watch destiny come to fruition. "Well I don't know about being little, and I know I can take you, Morgana."

Merlin began to mutter darkly, a wind coming into existence to ruffle his hair. It began to swirl around faster and faster picking up speed until a whirlwind appeared in the center of the courtyard. Then, one hand working as if spinning it faster the other shot out to the torches the knights held, calling forth ribbons of fire that grew as he coached them into a wild rage. They meshed into the whirlwind, a funnel of fire dancing in the night.

Morgana stumbled back at his control over the elements, and fear danced in her heart as she saw the solid gold his eyes had turned," Emrys," she whispered. Her only response was a slight upturn of the man's, for she could no longer call him Merlin, lips a humorless chuckle escaping him.

Then she looked at what the warlock was doing, the whirlwind of fire had begun to corrode the flagstones in the center of the courtyard, when there was a hole about six inches deep the wind stopped, and he shouted," Astrice."

A crack opened from the hole he had created and stopped when it had swallowed her until only her head was above ground. He walked forward with a confidence he had never had before. "Morgana, do you submit?" he hissed in her ear.

"Never" she spat.

He stood a quiet acceptance settling over his angle features, his hands rose from his hands and he shouted," banan æfenlèoht cume forlor min andsaca."

The residual fire from his previous magic gathered in a ball around her and he coaxed it into a blazing mass, the heat radiating off it singeing the eyebrows of the gathered crowd. He whispered his command to the fire and it descended quickly on the witch, incinerating her in seconds.

Then, Merlin dropped his hands the last of the light dieing as the fire winked out of existence. The only light came from the few torches left alight after the battle. The shadows played across his face making the angles more prominent. He looked more like a magical creature than a man in the half light. Then, the druids stepped forward, Iseldir called out," Lord Emrys." Merlin turned to look at him a strange look in his eyes, and the druids knelt as one, heads bowed. "Lord Emrys," they murmured, reverently. Merlin's brow crinkled regarding them with a look of detached confusion.

" My Lord Emrys," spoke Iseldir," you have come into your birthright"

"My what?" spoke Merlin.

"My Lord, what you have done to night has sparked the flame that will grow into the heart of Albion, it is started, and you will lead us, the druid people, from our place in the shadows to dance in the golden glow of the sun, to freedom. My Lord Emrys...Merlin the time of Albion is come."