Right guys, last chapter for this one.

It starts in Merlin's head and then in Camelot for the rest of it. Time breaks are shown.

I hope you have all enjoyed this story. I must say the last few chapters I have been writing on paper and then having to type up because I have been having ideas when I cannot access a computer.

This has been a interesting story to write. Mainly writing the last few chapters on the day because I haven't had any inspiration beforehand. I cannot remember where I came up with the idea, must have been one of my earlier mornings at work (waking up at 4:45 am does weird things to the imagination (as seen in Roses)).

Thank you for everyone that has reviewed/followed/favourited. I may not say it but it is much appreciated.

This is me signing off due to exams. My first one is on Monday so I timed it well to finish up.

But now it is time for me to finish up this authors note and say enjoy :)

Over

Merlin tried to get up but only managed to get on to his hands and knees before he doubled over in pain.

"Too weak Emrys?" The poison said coming out of the darkness, smirking down at him.

Merlin managed to get back onto to his hands and knees then leant back to kneel.

"I am still strong enough to take you on." Merlin said breathing through the pain.

The poison watched Merlin.

"There is enough poison for the both of us. Just embrace the darkness before it takes you by force. You won't be so strong then. I told you I had won.

Merlin managed to look up at him.

"What do you mean?"

The poison crouched down so he was on the same level as Merlin.

"The darkness will take you no matter how much you fight it. The poison is in your veins. There is no stopping it."

As if the darkness heard them, it started reaching out.

"Embrace the darkness Emrys. I am not a man of love but I would hate for Morgana's love to go to waste."

Merlin looked at the poison's outstrechted hand.

He didn't want to but he took it.

"Good choice Emrys." The poison said.

6 months later

Merlin walked down the corridor, 20 soldiers behind him.

He used his magic to open up the doors to the throne room.

"Ah Emrys, so glad you could have joined us?"

Merlin glared at Helios for the use of his druid name.

After Morgana had made him her adviser, she had requested for his last name so she could name him a lord. After sending letters to his mother, he found he didn't have a surname as such. Morgana believed that Lord Emrys would help the magic community believe the changes.

Merlin's eyes flicked from Helios to Morgana on her knees.

He had no guard with him must have overpowered her somehow.

"May I ask why the queen is on her knees?" Merlin said taking a step towards her.

Helios watched Merlin.

"She is being overthrown, along with you. Camelot have killed many of my men over the years and none of their blood have been split. You have been too soft on them."

Merlin believed it weird that Morgana was still alive by that but he knew that Helios would have a different motive.

"Yet was it the blacksmith that killed your men or the baker that killed our kind? No it was Uther and his knights." Merlin said helping Morgana up. "And unfortunately most of them are dead."

Helios stood taller. "What about the men I lost getting this god forbidden kingdom?"

Merlin turned to him. "You knew the risks."

"And I have got nothing for them."

Merlin tilted his head to the side. "Have you not? How many women are now pregnant due t you and your men?"

Helios stepped towards Merlin, drawing out his sword and placing it by his throat.

The 20 soldiers that followed Merlin in also drew their swords and pointed them at Helios.

"Somehow you have managed to get my own men on your side."

"I wouldn't do that if I was you." He said ignoring Helios last statement.

Morgana could feel the danger that Merlin was in and placed her arms around Merlin's middle. She didn't care who knew now. She couldn't bear to lose Merlin without holding him once last time. She placed her head on his back.

"That's why you have got what you have." Helios said looking at Morgana's hands.

Merlin placed his hands on hers.

"Does it matter how I have got what I have?"

"It does when I cannot have what I want." Helios sad getting angry.

Helios drew back his sword to strike Merlin. The soldiers step forward to attack but didn't have to when Helios feel to the floor before he could strike the warlock down.

Merlin could feel Morgana's tears on his back and turned in her arms to hold her.

"It's okay. He will never hurt you again." Merlin said nodding to the soldiers.

Morgana watched as Helios' body was dragged from the hall.

His soldiers had slowly started to come to their side after they stopped believing in their leader and they knew it wouldn't be long before he tried something.

"I will have a guard take …"

Morgana looked up at him. "I don't want a guard. Can't you?"

Merlin melted at her look. She never showed her emotions to anyone but him and the redness of her eyes just made him feel guilty. He had spent many nights holding her till she slept due to her dreams.

Merlin nodded.

"Jon, can you cancel all of my afternoon appointments? Say I have some urgent important business with the Queen."

"Of course Merlin." The boy said.

Morgana could never remember seeing him there and she swears that Merlin has taught him how to be hidden.

"You got me all afternoon." Merlin said leading Morgana back to her room.

6 months later

"I understand where you are coming from Morgana but please."

Morgana continued to stare out of the window.

She hated every time Merlin brought up this topic.

"Look he has served some sort of sentence and I know he wouldn't want to stay here. Let him go please."

Morgana sighed.

"But he has helped make this. He is one of the biggest reason this has happened. He has hid so much from the both of us."

"Exactly we wouldn't be the people we are without him. He at least deserves something for that." Merlin said standing behind Morgana.

Morgana watched Merlin's reflection in the window and gave in.

Merelin stopped at the border. He remembered the first time he crossed it from Esstir to Camelot. He couldn't believe how much he had changed from that naïve boy.

"You will be okay from here." Merlin said turning around.

He watched Gaius as he looked back.

"Gaius please, take your freedom."

Gaius turned to him. "And where am I meant to go?"

"Ealdor." Merlin looked back across the border. "It's half a day in that direction. Live with mother, she will enjoy it. I know she doesn't want me to know but she is lonely without me. She will enjoy the company."

Gaius walked over the border without looking or saying anything to Merlin.

Merlin couldn't let it end this way. "Gaius?" He called out.

He waited for his old mentor to turn around before continuing.

"I am sorry for what I have done but I wouldn't want to change it. I had hoped that this would make up for it." Merlin stopped and swallowed. "It has taken me nearly a year to persuade Morgana for your freedom. At some points you weren't meant to get food, water or even medicine. Someone in my position can always persuade a few guards."

Gaius walked back to Merlin.

"I don't know how I can be but even after everything you have done, I am still very proud of you."

Merlin smiled.

"Now get back to your queen. I will explain everything to your mother for you."

"Thank you. I haven't been able to find the right words yet." Merlin said looking down at the floor.

"Goodbye Lord Emrys." Gaius said.

Merlin looked up. "Goodbye Gaius. We will meet again."

Gaius smiled as he turned around and left.

Merlin wiped his eyes. He always knew that getting Morgana to release Gaius would be hard but he didn't realize it would be so rewarding.

Merlin knocked at Morgana's door.

He was surprised when Morgana, herself, opened it.

"Merlin, I hope your trip was successful."

Morgana walked back to her desk leaving the door open for Merlin.

"It was." He said closing the door and revealing some wildflowers from behind his back. "In more than one way."

Morgana looked up from the papers she had just started to read and got up.

"Merlin, they are beautiful." She said taking them off of him.

She made a vase appear from thin air and placed the flowers in there.

"Is everything okay?" Merlin asked as she stared at the flowers.

Morgana turned and took his hand and led him to the table.

"The council has requested that I marry before the year has finished."

Merlin smiled. He knew that there had been talk of it but he didn't realize that they were serious.

"A strong independent woman like you doesn't need a man." Merlin said

Morgana matched Merlin's smile.

"Of course but I would like to still have a say in the matter before they start choosing for me."

Merlin continued to smile and nodded.

"I mean you would have to do it properly and ask me for my hand."

Merlin looked up at her and Morgana shook her head.

"I don't want to marry for an alliance. You should know that. I want to marry for love. I know you have said it before that all royals are mad for not doing it that way. I believe it is the only thing that Arthur and I can agree on."

Merlin leant back in his chair.

"Come on Merlin, you understand me better than anyone. How many nights have you held me because of my dreams?"

Morgana stood up in front of Merlin.

He pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I haven't said no, have I? Yes, I will marry you." Merlin said smiling. "For one thing it means that we can stop tiptoeing around everywhere and secondly, I could never face to see you with another man. Not ever."

Morgana smiled at his protectiveness and leant down to kiss him.

Arthur felt better as he walked the path to Ealdor.

Ever since they left Camelot, they had been trying to get over the border without being seen.

This led them going from village to village on their way out.

Arthur didn't want to go to Ealdor but knew it would be the safest place.

He had little idea what he was going to say to Hunith.

Arthur had thought about what Merlin said a lot.

Arthur didn't hate Merlin, he could never do that. He was more heartbroken.

He was glad that someone was with Morgana, maybe evening helping her, but Arthur never wanted it to be Merlin.

The clumsy manservant had done something to the dethroned king and Arthur knew he would never be the same again.

Arthur wanted to share his fears with someone but he had little idea of how it would sound.

"Gaius?" Arthur heard Gwen say as they left the trees.

The old physician turned to the group.

"Sire, you are alive. I have heard terrible rumors which I hoped weren't true."

Arthur placed his hand on Gaius' shoulder.

"It's been a long year."

Arthur now noticed who Gaius was talking to.

He turned and Gaius nodded.

She knew.

Hunith turned to Arthur. "Arthur, my son … my son might not be with you but you are still welcomed to stay as long as you wish."

Arthur nodded.

"Your kindness will never be forgotten."

That night everyone met around the table, save for Leon. He was making sure that nobody would tell on them.

"So what now?" Gwaine asked.

Arthur looked around at everyone.

"Well it it is true what we have heard, a couple of us could say that Morgana is the true queen and go that way. The only thing is, what will she do if she finds out?"

Gwaine spoke up. "It's more Merlin I would be worried about. I don't know whether he would keep it to himself. He is quite protective of Morgana. He killed Helios because he tried to overthrow them."

"But he let us go. Maybe his loyalties will be split." Gwen suggested.

"We just cannot be sure on that." Arthur said. I wouldn't want to do that to him.

"Yet he has campaigned for my release for a year." Gaius mentioned. "We don't need to do anything rash. It's obvious that he wants us to be safe."

"Then we are back where we started." Gwaine pointed out.

Leon bursts in before anybody else can say something.

"Just heard from someone that owns a stall in Camelot that Morgana is to marry."

Arthur put his head in his hands.

"Which powerful warlord is she marrying?" He said. This just gets better and better.

Leon didn't know how to answer. "I would change warlord to warlock. The message gave to the people was that Lord Emrys had asked for her hand and she accepted."

All except Gaius gave Leon a blank look which caused him to continue.

"Merlin is going to be your brother-in-law and the next king of Camelot."