(A.N.:// I just realized I didn't post this chapter beffore Chapter 15. Yikes. Here you go )




Arthur didn't have the energy to explain. All he could do was order his two best knights (even though they technically weren't even knights) to follow him.
It seemed like on every crossroad, every camp they passed, the shadow had done his work.
Hundreds of corpses, half a dozen empty villages. Only here and there they could hear and see a few survivors.
Some who were leaning against trees, too shocked and traumatized to move.
Others screaming and crying and wailing at the sight of their dead loved once.

"Merlin did this?", Gwaine asked. His voice was high and choked, as they passed through the villages.
He asked every single time. Because he couldn't believe it.
He couldn't believe the power his best friend had. Gwaine had JUST accepted magic for Merlin. Now he saw what Merlin himself did with this.

"It's not his fault.", Arthur answered quietly.

"Then whose is it?", Gwaine asked. Because quite frankly, he didn't know who Agravaine was.
"It's mine.", Arthur responded and gripped the hilt of his sword tighter.
Because if they had been faster, if they WERE faster, maybe they would reach the villages soon enough to warn them.
Maybe they would reach Camelot before Agravaine, instead of an hour after their chaos had been invoked over the innocents.

Arthur knew that with every life taken, Merlin fell farther and father out of his reach.
"Arthur, this isn't your fault! You must realize that!"

"Lance, I appreciate your concern. But we're wasting more and more time.
I should never have gone on that walk. This IS my fault."
His tone was absolute. And his eyes were hardened.
The benefit of regaining his memories was that Arthur was reminded on what it was like to be a warrior.
He remembered his very first order from his father. How his knights hadn't respected him then. And how many innocent druids had been killed despite his every attempt to stop them.
His look on the world had changed so significantly back then.

"Arthur..."

'Every choice I've ever made, made me who I am. Every choice – no matter if right or wrong, no matter if by order or not, every choice had been my choice.
Every choice had been Arthur.
That's why I forgot everything about myself. Merlin erased my choices from my mind to protect me. He erased me from everyone else's mind, to protect me.', Arthur thought.
And in an afterthought, his mind unhelpfully added: "he freed me from my destiny."

"Let's hurry.", Arthur shook his head and moved forward.

They were already tired, it was dark and they had marched for almost two days in a row. But burning feet (Arthur's cut open feet were already going numb from all the ignorance on their behalf) weren't going to stop them.

-----------------------------------------------------

"Kill them!", Agravaine said, again and again.
And once more, Morgana and Mordred formed a shield to protect themselves.
This had been going on for a while. And Morgana knew, panting and holding on to the little juice of magic she had left, that if Mordred wasn't on her side, she would have long been dead.

Merlin looked utterly broken, as he send spell after spell after her.
He broke the shields, Morgana and Mordred recast it.
This went on for an hour. Spells flying back and forth. The energy was so bright and big, that at some point it began to ripple the walls apart.

Even Leon couldn't hide under the table anymore. He stormed out the room to eventually find a few other sorcerers to help.
After all, magic was legal now. Which meant that sorcerers and witches were part of the court.
On Mordred's orders, of course.
Also, someone had to inform the knights that they needed to barricade the citadel.
It was clear that with such chaos among the royals who lead this country, it was impossible to fight a war this intense.

Just when Morgana felt her magic running out, and Agravaine once more ordered Merlin to kill, a figure approached in the door.
Fearlessly, barefooted and armed with merely a sword, a blond man stood on the threshold.
He looked tired and exhausted, which given the circumstances, made sense.

After all, Arthur had followed two men who were riding on horses.... by foot!
Then again, killing villagers takes time. So that may have been Agravaine's fatal mistake.
"You need to stop.", Arthur said upon entering.

When Merlin turned to him, there was nothing but uncovered fear in his eyes, as he saw him.
And almost immediately raised his hand.
"Merlin, don't.", Arthur said, his voice quiet. Not demanding, but reaching out to Merlin.

Merlin's lips quivered with something akin to loosing his mind.
Agravaine however, seemed to notice Merlin's distress and almost belled a laugh.
Morgana on the other hand, began to panic. Arthur had no magic! He was utterly defenseless. As were the two men behind him.
"Arthur, stop! Agravaine is controlling Merlin! He can't disobey! You have to run!"

"Arthur?", Agravaine turned to her, his eyes widened.
"The prince? What are you waiting for, Emrys! KILL HIM!"

Merlin closed his eyes, utterly distraught, as his hand was trembling. And he was fighting as much as he could. But he couldn't fight this.
He flicked his hand at Arthur.

...

"What?", Agravaine stopped. As did Morgana and Mordred.
Because nothing happened.
Merlin's eyes opened wide. "What?", he asked, just as intelligently as Agravaine had.
Arthur locked eyes with him, uncertainly.

"I think you weren't clear enough in your order.", Arthur said, his eyes softened, as he stepped forward. His calm steps echoing in the hallway.
"You ordered him to kill the prince of Camelot. Merlin doesn't remember that that's me."
Merlin's breath hitched.
"Arthur?"
'You remember?', he didn't even need to ask it. Arthur knew that that's what Merlin was asking.
"I remember everything.", Arthur said and stopped right in front of Merlin's red trimmed eyes.

"I don't fucking care, who he is! Or what Merlin remembers! KILL HIM!", Agravaine said again and once more Merlin flicked his wrist. A mere whimper escaped his lips, as he realized that he still couldn't stop himself.
But Arthur didn't even blink.

Instead, he reached out for Merlin and took his hand in his. "I believe, this is yours.", Arthur said and tugged the glowing flower from his chest poket.
Incredulous, Merlin stared at Arthur, like he was miracle incarnate.
The mere fact that he was still standing there, unafraid, spoke volumes that he was.

"Merlin that was an order!", Agravaine almost screamed.
He heaved in a troubled breath.
"Well, then kill Morgana! NOW!"
Morgana's eyes widened, but Arthur still had Merlin's hand in his. Their eyes locked, as if that was all it needed to stop Merlin.
Truth be told, it was.

"I don't understand.", Agravaine stumbled back, eyes wide with confusion. "What's happening?"

Arthur ignored him, while Morgana and Mordred exchanged a shocked glance, and then nodded at each other. With their last strained magic, they caged Agravaine in glowing ropes that surrounded him like a giant golden cage.

"What the hell?", Agravaine choked and tried to break through the chains, but he couldn't.

"Merlin. You need to remember.", Arthur sighed and pointed at the flower that was glowing bright and blue and happily between their intertwined palms.
"Arthur, I don't -", Merlin was close to sobbing, but the red was slowly being sucked out from his eyes.
"Katie once told me, that magic is made of emotions, Merlin.", Arthur said quietly and watched how his husband's eyes widened in surprise.

"And I have reason to believe that I know now what your destiny is. What it always was. I think I know the reason why you did everything you ever did.
Why you drank poison for me, why you kept risking your life in Camelot. Why you lost your purpose in life, after Mordred took over the throne. Why everyone forgot who I was.
Even why you tried to poison Morgana.", Arthur waved apologetically in Morgana's direction.
Merlin searched for something in Arthur's eyes. His pupils deflating by just seeing Arthur alive and well. But also by recognizing the pain in Arthur's eyes.
"For you.", Merlin lamely concluded.
Arthur nodded.
"Do you know what this is?", Arthur pointed at the flower.

Merlin looked down at their intertwined hands. Then he shook his head barely noticeable.
"This is a forgetmenot.", Arthur stated and watched as Merlin tried to understand what that would mean.
"You made it. You gave it to Katie, back when we first met. Merlin, you're the one who made everyone forget who I am. And you did that against your orders.
And then a year later you give a flower to a girl which is practically begging me to remember.
Katie said the flower was meant for me. Because the emotion it was made with called for me.
You gave me the key to remember. This flower is WHY we started remembering!"

Merlin stared at the flower.
"All the magic you ever used, Merlin. You have always used for me. And nobody else. And that is why you won't kill me. You can't.
You wouldn't, if you were in your right mind. And you can't when you're not. Because you were made for me."

Arthur's voice broke at the last sentence.
Merlin's eyes began to widen once more. And Arthur could see the magical flower to glow even brighter now. And not just that.
If you looked out the window, you would be able to see all the flowers in the streets blooming and glowing along with Merlin regaining his memories.
You could see Morgana and Mordred and even Lancelot and Agracaine toppling over to remember the babbling and clumsy version that Merlin used to be.

With his one free hand, Arthur cupped Merlin's cheek. Merlin's breathing hitched. Memories were flooding his mind.
They visibly flashed through his eyes and tears upon tears started to spill from his eyes.

"A wise man once told me -", Arthur smiled now, even though his voice was hoarse and on the verge of breaking.
"A wise man once said that maybe you have a destiny. But you chose how you do it.
And Merlin you were destined to protect me. To be with me always. But you chose to love me, didn't you?" And that's when Arthur grabbed for Merlin's other hand, to show him the wedding ring.
His grip was fierce, as if he was afraid he'd loose Merlin for good.
Merlin trembled with the overwhelming headache, as he fell forward into Arthur's arms.
He was sobbing and crying.
As one does, when suddenly hit with the realization of why they killed and murdered hundreds of people.
Merlin shouldn't be feeling relieved. But he did.
He felt so so relieved.

So relieved, because suddenly he had a reason for doing all these horrid things. Finally he had a reason why he killed. Why he obeyed another king. Even why he got.
And that reason was holding him close.
Until Merlin pushed Arthur away a little. "Arthur, I have magic.", he suddenly realized, because he had always hidden that part about himself from Arthur. And he remembered now that he lied to Arthur all these years and he knew Arthur should hate him now. Especially since he killed his father and all -
But all those thoughts were easily wiped away, when Arthur kissed him.

It certainly wasn't the first time they had done this. But it was the first time they kissed, that they could truly and fully see each other. Yet they closed their eyes like it didn't even matter.
Merlin was barely standing upright, he didn't need to, because Arthur made sure to hold him tight in the embrace that once upon a time, would have made Arthur feel uncomfortable.
Now he needed this to breathe again.

When they finally parted, Morgana and Mordred just managed to stand up again. And you could guess that the rest of the kingdom was too, as they suddenly remembered their prince and his clumsy servant.
Lancelot too, barely managed to get up again, as Gwaine was trying to steady him as much as possible.

"Merlin, we are going to talk about this. ALL of it! And don't get me fucking started on all the bullshit I don't even know about yet! Because you are going to tell me everything in every single fucking detail or I swear to god, I'll have you in the stocks!"
Arthur may be saying this in an absolute tone, but the mere fact that his arms were still tightly wrapped around Merlin, spoke volumes about his opinion on every decision Merlin ever made.

Merlin's lips quivered into a smile. The fondness in his eyes, and the tears in their corners so intense, it almost made Arthur melt with how much he knew they loved each other.
"Of course, Sire.", Merlin joked and caused Arthur to laugh.

Merlin relaxed. As he only always did with Arthur.

"This is beautiful and all.", Agravaine said, as he too had waken up from his flashbacks and now tried to break from his prison.
"And I admit, I made a mistake with telling you to kill your wife, since clearly, you have a husband. But don't forget, I'm still the one ordering you around! Merlin, kill your husband."

Arthur only shook his head at so much ignorance. Merlin's eyes widened, but then he blinked. And laughed. "I literally can't.", he said ecstatic.
And it was true. Even though his magic was acting up and surrounding him and Arthur now, it was reacting to Arthur. Coiling around him, like it always belonged to him.
He physically couldn't hurt Arthur.

"Then hurt Morgana!", Agravaine belled again, clearly realizing that his power was running out.
"He won't.", Arthur said. And even though, Merlin had already had his hand raised against Morgana, against his will, naturally, Arthur's word alone was enough to stop him.

Morgana too, seemed to realized that in surprise and utter relief.
Then, Arthur parted from Merlin and walked towards the cell Agravaine resided in.
"What-", Morgana asked quietly. "What should we do with him?"

Arthur didn't answer. Instead he grabbed for Excalibur. And a moment later, steel impaled flesh.
Agravaine's eyes widened in fear and shock.
He hadn't even gotten a fair trial.
"Arthur.", Merlin winced.
"Merlin. I know you've killed all these people, because you were protecting me. Let me kill this one person for you in turn."

Arthur's eyes were cold and hardened, as he looked at his uncle. Unseeing of the utter shock in Merlin's face.
"You have betrayed not just the crown, but your people by slaughtering them all, Agravaine. You have used the people who were protecting this country to start wars that would have caused the entire kingdom to fall.
You're too dangerous to give you a proper trial.
Mercia is approaching. And you're still controlling the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the earth. I don't have the time to find a way to undo the spell. Killing you should free my husband."

Agravaine stared at him. Mouth wide open, as he tried to respond. But Arthur just twisted the handle of his sword and in almost an instant, his eyes rolled back into his skull. And then he fell from the blade. Dead. As he should be.

All the men and women in the room could only stare at Arthur.

That's when Leon finally stormed through the doors, a few people following close behind.
Some servants, some knights, some guards....
But as he looked at Arthur, he looked relieved. "Your majesty!", he said and bowed. As did the people behind him.
Arthur turned to them. "You remember?", he asked. But there was a twinkle in Leon's eyes.
"Was about time, wasn't it, Sire?"
Arthur broke into a smile.

"Everyone?"
"Everyone.", Leon agreed and the smiled on the knights faces underlined that statement.

"Merlin, are you alright?", Arthur finally turned back to his husband.
His eyes however, were still red.
Merlin nodded and bit his lips. "I don't think the spell is broken yet. I can still feel it.", he said and closed his eyes for a second. "It's still tied to Agravaine, I think. But I should be fine to fight, until we figured out how to break the curse."

Arthur nodded, a sinking feeling in his gut, as he noticed how Merlin was suddenly wobbling on his feet and holding his head.
"Actually -", Merlin said, his eyes suddenly swimming in red tears as whatever was happening to him increased in it's intensity now.
"Arthur -", Merlin said and then, like a domino brick, he sank to the floor. If Arthur hadn't reacted so quickly to catch him, his head would have split open on the stone floor.

"Shit.", Arthur choked. "No no no no no.", he muttered and instinctively went to check for his pulse. It was there, faintly.
Mordred had his mouth clasped with his hands, ever since Agravaine had died. But now he managed to speak up.
"Arthur. I – I'm so sorry.", he said.
Right, Mordred was the one who had made the potion that did this to Merlin.

"Mordred? What did you do to him?"

It was like they were frozen in time.

Mordred shrunk under his gaze. "Agravaine made me enchant a potion that would tie someone's will to his life by drinking it. Killing Agravaine will ..."
Mordred didn't dare to continue. Arthur paled.
Morgana instantly chimed in. "Merlin is immortal! We have still time! We can find an antidote.
Mordred, what spell did you use?"

Mordred flinched away. "I ... I don't know. I had a spell book. But Agravaine kept it hidden somewhere.
Somewhere around last year, it disappeared. Someone stole it, but we don't know who has it.
And I don't think we have the time."

Mordred looked utterly pained, as for the first time in years, he reached for his head and took his crown off.
"Arthur, I am so so utterly sorry. I never wanted to be king. Kara and Agravaine urged me to take the throne. I thought I was doing the right thing. Clearly I wasn't.
But I didn't remember you. I didn't remember who you were. How kind you were. I am SO SO sorry!", he handed the crown to Arthur.
No hesitation on his young face.

Arthur took a deep breath. "I can't loose him.", Arthur said quietly, as all eyes were on him now.

"Morgana, you and I have to stop Mercia's army. We need to talk to them and stop this war.
Somehow. I don't even know how!
We just need this to stop!
Mordred, you will find out where the book is! And bring whoever has it to my chambers.
Take Merlin there and make sure he stays alive!
If anything changes – even in the slightest! Call me. Immediately. I don't care if I'm in the middle of battling a king or whatever. Tell me. I will need to know! Do you understand?"

Mordred nodded.

"Good. Leon, help him and make sure Merlin stays safe. Gwaine and Lancelot, I will need you both to face the king of Mercia with me."

"Arthur, I am no knight! They won't even take me seriously!", Lancelot said, stepping forward.
Arthur sighed. "Kneel, Lancelot. Gwaine, you too."
The two men exchanged a look, as Arthur set the crown upon his head and raised his sword at them.
Then they knelt.
"I hereby pronounce the two of you, Sir Gwaine, knight of Camelot. And Sir Lancelot, knight of Camelot. Rise.
There. Now you're knights. We'll make it official later. Now let's go."

His voice was urgent. Their situation WAS urgent after all.

"Good.", Leon said. "Because the army is already on the front door."
Arthur nodded and send one last look at Merlin, whom he had to hand over to Leon and Mordred now.
"We'll protect him. Don't worry, Sire.", Leon said and Arthur nodded, as he took a deep breath at that.
"Let's go.", he said again. And this time, his men and his sister followed without further questions.