Arthur faces the greatest challenge of his life when Morgana leads a Saxon army against his Kingdom. Only Merlin can help him but he has lost his magic. Merlin soon finds out that the price for restoring his magic is to sacrifice his youth. (It is set in episode 12 of the last season and provides an alternative outcome)
The Old Wizard
Chapter 1 - Sir Percival leads the Cavalry
Arthur's chambers
Camlann. Arthur had decided that it was there where he would face and, hopefully at least, defeat Morgana's forces. Even though he had made this decision and had given orders to Sir Leon to prepare the troops of Camelot for combat, he still wasn't sure if he had made the right decision. Although it was the only place aside from Camelot itself where he could check Morgana's army, it could easily become a death trap for him and his troops. But he knew that this was the only way Camelot and its people could be spared of the horrors of war. He always put the wellbeing of his people before his own safety and this time was not to be an exception.
While Arthur was thinking about the battle lying ahead, Merlin walked into the room. "Arthur", he said with a stern face. Arthurn, who up until Merlin spoke had not noticed his presence as he was lost in his thoughts, replied, "Will you ever learn to knock the door?"
Merlin smiled. "Will try to remember it next time."
"If there is a next time…", Arthur murmured and sighed.
"There will be. I am sure of that."
"How so?", Arthur wondered.
Merlin grinned. "You might be somewhat bigheaded but you are brave, loyal and you put the welfare of your people before your own safety. You represent righteousness and all that is good while Morgana represents cruelty and all that is evil. And evil can never triumph over good. As such I believe that you will win. You cannot lose simply because righteousness cannot lose to injustice, light cannot be defeated by darkness."
Arthurn was genuinely surprised by Merlin's speech. "Where did you learn to be such a good orator?"
Merlin laughed for a moment but then his face became stern once again. "I wish you good luck. I will not be able to accompany you to Camlann."
"What?!"
"I… Gaius wants me to gather herbs. He is going to need a lot of them if he is to cure the wounded in the battle ahead."
Arthur couldn't believe his ears.
"Are you seriously telling me that you are going to be picking herbs when the most decisive battle of this war is going to be fought?"
"Yes", Merlin replied with an awkward smile. "It's not like I could be of much assistance anyway. Remember, I am useless with the sword."
"Alright", a disappointed Arthur said. "Despite all I said about you being a coward, I genuinely thought that you were the bravest person I've ever met. Yet you prove me to be wrong. It seems that you are a coward."
Merlin wanted to say something but he could find no words to say. He did not want Arthur to believe that he was abandoning him in his most crucial challenge yet because he was a coward. Yet he could not possibly reveal to Arthur that his true mission was to find a way to recover his magic. As such, he said nothing and walked out of the room.
A few hours later
The sun had given its place to the moon and the bright light of the day was replaced by the pitch darkness of the night. Yet Arthur was still in his room, still thinking about the upcoming battle with Morgana and her Saxon forces. He was utterly lost in his thoughts and it was a knocking of the door that brought him back to the present. "Come in!"
Sir Leon walked inside and greeted his King. He then said, "The supplies are ready. I have enlisted all horses and carts of Camelot into the army and they will carry as much supplies as possible to the battlefield."
"Those supplies are vital for the war effort but they will slow down the army. I fear that this might give the chance to Morgana to occupy first Camlann, thus preventing me from stopping her there. Yet, I cannot abandon the supplies. An army marches on its stomach and we will not last long without supplies."
"So, what are we going to do?"
Arthur remained silent for a moment and then replied. "Send a detachment of cavalry under Sir Percival to Camlann. He is to set up a defensive position in the area and not attack the Saxon army, no matter how much they provoke him. He will have to hold the area until the main force and the supplies arrive."
Four days later, Camlann
Tranquility. That word could describe Camlann right before the battle. There was complete silence interrupted only by the melody of the birds' chirping. Yet this tranquility was not to last long. The sound of horses riding shook the place. It was a cavalry detachment led by Sir Percival. They were riding day and night, doing their best to reach Camlann before the Saxons could. They were all exhausted and sweating but they would not stop.
"Men, I know you are tired!", Percival declared. "But we are almost there and soon you will be able to get a whole day to rest."
Percival had spoken too soon. A Saxon cavalry force had already reached the place and unless Percival and his men could force them to retreat, the battle would be lost even before it had properly begun.
"It seems that we will have some fun beating those Saxon bastards!", a smiling Percival said in an attempt to cheer up his troops.
The Camelot cavalrymen, with swords at hands, charged ferociously at the Saxons. Thankfully for them, the Saxons too had just arrived and so did not have the time to properly fortify. In fact, they had been caught by surprise. The Camelot cavalrymen cut down the Saxons and the cries of the dead and wounded filled the place. Percival himself, with his almost superhuman strength, killed tens of Saxons with swift blows of his sword and continued killing them even after his horse had been killed and he was forced to fight on foot. Soon, the ground was littered with dead bodies and Camlann was silent once more. Percival had won the day and his forces occupied the place. Now, he only had to hold on for a day until the main force and the supplies could arrive.
