Chapter Text
Merlin wasnt expecting the sudden rush of what he could only describe as adrenaline when his magic returned to him, nor did he expect said magic to practically explode outwards and destroy the rock mountain that morgana had trapped him behind, though he smiled slightly as he ran out into the forest to find a spot big enough for kilgarrah to land in. Taking a deep breath as he looked up to the clouds he let out a noise akin to a roar "O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes!" It wasn't long before the dragon was in front of him, watching him with a raised eyebrow as if waiting to see what crazy idea merlin was about to tell him.
Merlin merely bowed his head slightly, taking him off guard for a second "i need your help, would you fight with me and save arthur?" He asks, looking up at the dragon with hope and fiery passion in his eyes "of course young warlock, what do you wish to do?" Kilgarrah responds, this was the most dragonlord like that merlin had ever been and it made him proud to see how far the man had come, though the dragon certainly would never actually say that to the man, less he hold it over him for the rest of time "I'm not disguising myself, i want arthur as well as everyone else to finally see who i truly am" merlin says in a tone that they both know means that no matter what anyone said, he wouldn't be changing his mind no matter the cost.
Kilgarrah lets out a quiet chuckle that causes merlin to look up and tilt his head "i often wondered when this day would come, get on young warlock" he says, causing merlin who had only gotten to ride him once before to smile brightly, before he climbed up his wing and settled on his back. Clinging on tightly as they took off, merlin spent a couple of minutes taking in the view as the decision of what he was about to do truly sunk in, for the first time since he revealed his magic to will all those years ago, merlin felt incredibly nervous at what was about to come, what was about to change "merlin we are above camlann, what are you wanting to do?" Kilgharrah asks, bringing him out of his spiraling thoughts and startling him a little as the dragon had said his name for what felt like the first time ever.
As he looked down merlin noticed that the dragon must have descended at some point without him realizing, he could see the battle had begun some time ago though it was unclear who was winning at this point in time "attack any and all Saxons that come into your sights, try to keep camelots knights unharmed" he says after a few seconds and with that said kilgarrah flew even lower, snout opening as he flew over the fighting dousing Saxons unlucky enough to be in his path with fire, before heading back up to the cliffs and disapearing from sight "any idea where morgana is?" Merlin asks as he pokes his head back over the cliff to see what was going on below them, kilgharrah doing the same, pin pointing the witch on the cliff edge below them "below us, beware that she might call in aithuisa" he says as Merlin gives him a signal to take off, once more they dive down dousing Saxon after saxon in flames.
Though they don't realise that most of Camelot has stopped fighting, arthur among them as they had begun to run for cover, but they noticed just who it was on the back of the dragon, so stopped to watch the dragon and its lord work with them instead of against them. Merlin remembered that other knights must have been on the other path that morgana had set up to trap them with and yelled "kilgharrah you must go find the other path and help the fight, let me finish the job here" which caused the dragon to turn in a circle a few times, before depositing merlin safely on a hill that lead to the battle ground "best of luck young warlock" he hears as the dragon disapears over the cliff edge and away from him 'you too my friend' he sends telepathically before focusing on getting to athur or morgana, whoever he encountered first.
Once he was down on the battle field he was quickly face to face with mordred, who looked shocked and almost happy to see him there "so the mighty emrys joins us after all" he says in a tone that almost makes merlin shiver, though he just glares at the man as his magic reaches out almost everywhere, in order to keep him safe and alert him to on coming danger "not for you or morgana, no i fight with camelot" he growls as his magic sends mordred flying against the rocks, pinning him there which takes the cocky look off the mans face, realisation and fear replacing it "i won't kill you, i refuse to become the likes of morgana or uther" he says, flicking his wrist to release him. Mordred stares at him for several seconds, shock clear to see before he nods and rushes into the fray of the fight taking place not too far from where they'd been.
He quickly follows, getting a better vantage point to see where arthur and morgana were, though he was able to find morgana faster than the king and she had found him, she stared in disbelief before shouting spells and sending more saxons to one particular spot, which clued merlin into where arthur was. He managed to get even higher, until he was at the very top of the cliff again and because the sky was already dark as it was, it made it incredibly easy to conjure up a storm and send bolts of lightning down to where he needed them to hit, sending more than four sets of saxsons backwards at once. Again arthur stopped in the middle of swinging his sword and looked up, making eye contact with merlin even as his hands directed lightening at the enemy around him.
Merlin nods at him before quickly disapearing, making his way down to the ground to join the battle properly, it had gotten even more intense and there was only so much he could do with lightening. It took longer than merlin expected, but soon he was running and ducking through smaller battles, his magic going in all directions instinctively sending fire balls and small tremors through the earth as he made his way to arthur.
As soon as hes beside the man he holds out a hand yelling "Astrice!" Which sends a bright ball of light at them, most of them falling to the floor or flying backwards after attempting to get out of the way, he looks over at arthur who dispite looking shocked seemed far too calm to have found out his man servant and best friend not only had magic but was also a dragon lord, but merlin knew this wouldn't last for long and they would soon be having words once this was over.
They fought side by side, sword and magic until only morgana remained "can i borrow your sword?" Merlin asked, knowing it was the only thing that could defeat her once and for all, though Arthur stared at him for several seconds possibly wondering what the fuck was going on and why the most powerful sorcerer needed a sword, before closing his eyes and sighing before handing Excalibur over "so emrys, finally decided to show us who you really are have you?" Morgana says tauntingly as she comes out of the shadows glaring at him, merlin raises an eyebrow checking that none of the camelot knights or the king were too close to them before looking back at morgana "I'm suprised you didn't figure it out years ago" he drawls back, intending to rile her up so she struck out first "yes well, you do well at hiding in plain sight" she growls angrily, her magic sparking and ready to strike at a moment's notice.
They glare at one another before morgana screams out a spell, which he quickly deflects onto the rocks, breaking it into pieces that fly in all directions before merlin sends a fire ball at her and a shock wave into the ground to throw her off balance, though it doesnt last for long as she screams something else at the sky, but merlin has already figured out what she's trying to do, as soon as aithuisa flys into view, he roars "Nun de ge dei s'eikein kai emois epe'essin hepesthai! Weas!" at her, causing the dragon to hover as her eyes go from morgana to him as morgana yells again, though she stays where she is "Ithi!" He growls, causing everyone to freeze as they look between him and the indecisive dragon who quickly turns and flys away.
Morgana lets out a shriek that causes merlin and those close by the flinch, he raises an eye brow and smirks at her as they pull out their respective swords. The knights stepping back but move to grab the hilts of their own, though they watch in fascination and shock as merlin goes toe to toe with morgana, neither showing weakness as they parry and strike faster and faster with every passing second. Their magic helping them as each block became harsher and harsher until merlin felt morgana's sword slice his side, though that doesn't stop him from letting his magic take over from his faultering strength.
The two of them keep going until morgana is cursing to high heaven and merlin is staggering almost dangerously from blood loss, but with the last of his strength and with one more push he gets morgana on the floor "no mortal blade can kill me" she says, still some how thinking that he's an idiot "this is no mortal blade" he says as he stabs her in the chest, causing her to gasp painfully "this was forged in dragons breath" he mutters loud enough for her to hear as he wavers a little more, though stays conscious long enough to twist the sword and pull it back out again, falling to his knees beside her as his strength finally gives out "goodbye morgana" is the last thing he hears himself say before the world turns black.