"WHERE ARE YOU TAKING me, Morgana?" Emrys asked, stepping over a deteriorating log.

"To see the Druids," she nonchalantly replied.

"What?" Emrys grabbed Morgana's bicep and whipped her around to face him. "Is this some kind of joke? The Druids are a peaceful people. They won't help someone like you and I."

Morgana glared down at his hand around her arm, and Emrys released her. "I know," she replied, lifting her head his way. "But they will help Merlin." Emrys stared at her puzzled. "You will go to them pretending to be Merlin and tell them about your darker half who's planning to destroy Camelot. Tell them that you need help getting rid of him." She smiled. "Being people who practice light magic, they can't deny a plea for help."

"But will they kill someone to save Camelot?" Emrys asked. "Uther despises them. Why should they help save his kingdom?"

Her smile remained as she turned around and continued her stroll. "Because we have plans for the Druids. Believe me. They'll help one way or another. The Druids are very powerful. We'll need their magic if you truly want to be rid of Merlin." She twisted back around. "You do want to be rid of him, right?"

Emrys tightened his jaw. "More than anything."

"Then you won't complain about my decision," Morgana snapped. She marched onward.

Emrys glared at Morgana's back without following her. He snorted, the corner of his lip pulling upward. He should've known better. Morgana always was selfish. "We're not going to the Druids just for me, are we?"

She stopped in her tracks, but didn't turn to face him. "No," she admitted. "Truth is, I was already on my way to see them when I heard you call out."

He furrowed his brow. "What would you possibly need from the Druids? You agreed that they would never help someone like us."

The air was silent for several seconds until Morgana's voice finally broke the stillness. "Unfortunately, I need them." She flung herself around. "I need them to fight with us in our war against Uther."

"They would never," Emrys explained, dumbfounded. "I thought you were recruiting strong and powerful sorcerers. Not ones who cry whenever they have to kill just for food."

"There isn't enough of us, Emrys!" Morgana balled her hands. "I've either recruited or killed everyone there is." She paused and stood straight with her head held high. "Everyone except the Druids."

"Because they will never join us!" Emrys exploded, trying to get her to understand. He threw his hands out to the side. "And even if they did, how do you know they won't turn on us during battle trying to escape?"

A sly grin tugged at Morgana's lips as the breaking of dawn lit up her eyes. "Because I've got something important to them. Something they'd think twice about before screwing me over."

Emrys's eyes narrowed. "You going to tell me what it is?"

She chuckled. "Not really. Just get them to get rid of Merlin before he ruins everything for us." She turned and proceeded on her stroll.

"And if they refuse to help?" he called. "If they refuse to kill my other half, then what?"

She quickly glanced back at him. "Then you make them realize the punishment for not listening to us."

Emrys smiled before jogging to catch up. He didn't know Morgana's plan, or the leverage she had, but he loved how easily she could come up with devious plans.

"So, we'll have the Druids and your army," he continued. "Isn't that enough soldiers?"

"To fight against the Knights of Camelot?" Morgana chuckled. "I didn't take you to be stupid, Emrys. You've fought Arthur and seen how the Knights are trained." She glanced back at him. "We don't have enough." She paused. "You know what I need, and only you can get it for me."

Emrys's shoulders dropped. "I'm sorry. I've tried! It's been tricky trying to get in to see him. I don't know how Merlin does it." He balled his hands and peered at the ground.

"We won't win without him." Morgana informed. "No matter how many soldiers we have."

"I know, I know!" Emrys shouted. "Once I figure out how to control my dragonlord side like my father, I'll find a way to free him. Then nothing will be able to stop us."

Morgana snickered before continuing her stroll.

Morning broke through on the horizon as Emrys crouched low behind some bushes. He watched eagerly as the Druids emerged from their tents to start their day. Now was his time. He had to put on a good show if he wanted their leader to believe him and help him, but if not Morgana was right. He could be very persuasive.

Emrys couldn't live with Merlin inside him anymore. Always ruining his plans. Morgana had done too much to get ready for this coming war alone. All because of Merlin. But now, Emrys would finally be free of his better half.

He stood up, ready to confront the Druids, when he felt a slight tug at his subconscious causing his vision to fade in and out. He placed a hand on his head and shook it.

"What is it?" He turned to find Morgana beside him.

Emrys sighed and lowered his hand. "It's Merlin. He's waking up. I can't hold him back for much longer. Soon he'll regain control."

"Then you don't have much time," Morgana said, placing a hand in his. "You must hurry."

He nodded before stepping around the bush, his hand slowly slipping away from hers. He wasn't sure what to do. He didn't want to seem panicked to the Druid leader, but he also couldn't allow Merlin to return. Which could happen at any moment and he'd be sucked back into the darkness of their mind, forced to stay there until Merlin once again closed his eyes. At least Morgana was nearby if this all went South.

Rushing into the camp, he found a group of young ladies gathered around in a circle—gossiping if he had to guess. They all turned his way as he neared them and backed away frightened.

Emrys held up his hands indicating that he was of no threat to them. "I'm not here to harm you," he explained. "I need help. Can you take me to your Chieftain? Who is he?"

"That would be me," a middle-aged man declared, stepping through the blockade of Druids that had formed upon his arrival. The man pushed past the young ladies. "My name is Darius." He folded his hands behind his back.

Emrys nodded his head in greeting. "Please, I need your help. My name is—"

"Not who you claim to be," Darius interrupted. Emrys creased his brow. "You come in the name of Merlin, but that is not who you are." Darius looked at Emrys skeptically. "Not really." He paused. "You're Emrys."

Emrys let out a huff through his nose, rolled his shoulders back, and crossed his arms. There was no point in trying to deny who he was. Not to someone as powerful as the Druids. He should've known their magic could see right through him. "So, you know who I am." He paused expecting a reply from the Druid Chieftain, but when one didn't come, he continued, "Ae you going to help me?"

"No," Darius replied blankly. Emrys gripped his arms, digging his nails into his flesh, but kept his cool as Darius went on, "Why would we help you kill Merlin when he's the only one who can stop you?"

Emrys narrowed his eyes and threw his hands to the side, furious by the older mans words. The younger druids jumped back behind their Chieftain, afraid of what Emrys could do. Good. He needed them to fear him. "You will help me or—"

"Or what?" Darius intervened, remaining as calm as when Emrys first arrived. "You'll kill us and move on to the next Druid camp? They won't help you either."

"But you believe in the prophecies." Emrys held his head high. "And I am the one destined to destroy Arthur. That is why you will help me."

"You're wrong." Darius words surprised Emrys. "You're right in that we do believe that the prophecies are sacred, but that doesn't mean we have to help you kill Merlin. Yours and Merlin's destines are intertwined and where your destiny is to destroy Arthur ..." He trailed off and smiled. "Merlin's is to save him."

"So, why didn't you just play along with me and kill me instead of him?"

"You're too powerful for us to kill," the Druid Chieftain admitted. "And it would do extreme damage to Merlin as well." He shook his head. "We would never risk it, nor would we ever practice such dark magic."

Feeling a burning rage kindle inside him, he thrust his hand forward as a rush of magic left his body. The Druids were flown backwards across the campsite, several into the sides of their tents or belongs. All of them except for one girl. One girl stood frightened amidst the commotion, shaking as she eyed Emrys. He recited, "Forbærne yfel!" and magic flowed from his fingertips. He curled his fingers inward, palm up, and slowly raised his hand to eye level. A ring of fire engulfed the girl keeping her trapped.

Emrys eyed Darius in the crowd as he struggled to regain his feet, the Chieftain gazing at the young girl in horror. "Now," Emrys began. "Would you like to change your answer?"

Darius glanced his way, and while a sign of fear tinted his eyes, he still confidently replied, "No."

Emrys drew his fingers in a little closer to his palm. The fire around the girl crept closer, licking at the hem of her dress and ankles. She screamed and begged for him to stop, but Emrys ignored her plea keeping eye contact with the Chieftain. "I will kill her," he stated.

"I know," Darius replied with a nod of his head. "But we cannot do what you ask."

"Darius." Emrys eyed a young couple that made their way towards the Chieftain. "Let's think about this please," the man said.

Darius extended his hand slowly. "Please. Just let her go. She's young."

"So you won't help me?" Emrys continued without acknowledging Darius's words. Darius didn't reply, but only continued staring back at Emrys. Emrys shrugged and turned his gaze towards the cowering girl. "I tried giving him a chance." A grin tugged at his lip. "But I guess you're one sorceress who won't be escaping the fire."

He pulled his fingers towards his palm, completely closing them into a fist. He watched in pleasure as the fire danced around the young girl and raced up her legs consuming her body. But the screams were his favorite. Not only from the dying girl, but also the cry of agony coming from whom he assumed had to be her mother and father as a couple was being held back by other Druids.

"You monster!" the woman shouted in rage from her knees.

Emrys smiled and gave a dramatic bow. "It's a talent."

A gasp echoed throughout the camp along with a name. A name he loved to hear. Turning to his right, Morgana stepped up beside him, a smile present on her face as she stared down at the still burning body.

"I just love watching you work," she said, twisting her head his way. He smiled at her before she turned back to address the others. "We have your camp surrounded," she shouted for all to hear. "Any attempt to flea and you'll end up like her." She pointed at the blackening body.

"What do you want with us, Morgana?" Emrys turned his attention back to Darius, who walked out from among the crowd. "I thought we had an agreement to leave one another alone."

Morgana glided a few steps forward. "That agreement was broken the moment you refused to help my friend." She twisted to the side. "Don't supposed you'd change your mind if I offered to spare you?"

Darius narrowed his eyes. "I'd rather die then use magic for evil."

Morgana nodded. "And die you shall, but ..." She swung back around to face him. "First you're going to do something for me." Darius continued to glare at her instead of speak. Morgana took the last remaining steps between the pair closing in the gap. "You're going to help me destroy Uther and his son."

Darius creased his brow looking baffled. "We would never do such a thing."

"But Uther despises you," Morgana pressed. "He wants you dead whether you practice light magic or not."

"The King and his son are not our destiny to kill," the Chieftain spat.

"No," Morgana agreed. "But it is in your destiny to see it follow through."

Darius gritted his teeth. "We would never help someone like you, Morgana Pendragon."

"Oh, I believe you will." She leaned in close and whispered in his ear, but Emrys, with the help of his magic, heard every word. "Or your daughter will face the same fate as this dead girl here."

His eyes widened and he shuffled backwards away from her. Twisting around towards his fellow Druids, he called out into the crowd, "Selena? Has anyone seen Selena?" Murmuring irrupted throughout the camp but there was never an answer given. Swinging himself back around, he shouted, "If you've hurt her, Morgana, I swear—"

"Relax," she replied calmly. "No harm has come to her, and no harm will ..." She trailed off and smiled. "If you agree to follow me into battle against Camelot." Darius was silent. "Come now, don't get all moral on me. Many of the other Druid Chieftains in other camps have already said yes. It's nothing to be ashamed of." Her voice lowered as she faked empathy. "Anyone, no matter how strongly they hold to their beliefs, would crack to save their child."

Emrys was stunned. Morgana had already planed this whole scheme out. She had planned on getting the Druids to join her all along. That's the whole reason she was on her way to the Druids. Getting rid of Merlin was just a bonus, and now, if Emrys could just free their last remaining weapon, taking down Camelot would be a breeze.

"And if I say no?" Emrys's attention was drawn from his thoughts back to the scene before him, the smell of burning flesh finally seeping into his nostrils.

Morgana turned towards Emrys and slowly walked his way. "If that's what you want," she replied, "but you, your daughter, and this entire camp will perish based off your decision."

"Let her die," a masculine voice shouted from behind. "Just like he allowed our daughter to be killed!"

Still facing Emrys, she turned her head to the side staring at the ground. "Your answer?" She raised her left hand. "One snap and you can say goodbye to your daughter."

"Okay, wait!" Darius flung his hands out and quickly fell to his knees. "I'll do it. I'll serve you in your fight against Camelot. Now, please. Let my daughter go."

Morgana twirled back around to face the Chieftain. "Oh, I don't think so." Darius's eyes teared up as his mouth dropped. "She'll be hanging out with some of my most trusted men during the battle." She bended forward meeting him eye to eye. "Any attempt to run from battle or turn against me will result in her immediate death."

Darius's head dropped as Morgana stood straight. "Anyone who doesn't join dies!" she yelled.

Emrys flinched as dozens of soldiers emerged from their surroundings and overwhelmed the camp. Screams echoed through the air followed by a few sounds of dying breath as some of the Druids denied joining Morgana.

Emrys smiled as Morgana made her way back to him. "Not much longer now," he said as her eyes traced his body, "and you will finally be Queen of Camelot."