They stood in groups, huddled in corners and laid next to each other for comfort. The dungeons were damp and cold. The occupants of the room found it hard to sleep not just because of the uncomfortable stone, though that presented a problem of its own. No, it was the sounds of dying men that kept them awake. The clash of steel against steel. Some of these men had wives in the cells. Women and children sobbed into their hands or each other's shoulders, wondering of the fate of their loved ones. They would not be told. They were prisoners and the people above were busy.
"This has gone on long enough," said a man in the third cell along. He had his muscled arms wrapped around a small child who was sobbing. "This girl's father's out there! When will they give us news?"
"You have to understand," said Sir Nickolas, who was in the same cell as the man. "During a time of war it is often days before a battle finishes and bodies are allowed to be collected. I'm sorry, but I doubt we will hear any time soon."
"Who cares about that!" said a grief-stricken woman in the corner. This was the second battle that had taken place, the first taking place in the forest that surrounded Camelot. It had been an attempt to stave off Morgana's army but many had fallen. Including this woman's brother. "We should not be here! We could be free of this place if we used magic! King Arthur has done nothing but be cruel towards us! We decided not to help Morgana, we put our families at risk and what has he done for us! Thrown us in a cell and sent our families out for slaughter!"
"He has done nothing of the sort!" cried Sir James. "He put us here to await our trials! They could no longer keep us in the infirmary!"
"Every able-bodied man must fight," said Sir Nickolas. "Otherwise we would stand no chance."
"I agree with her," said yet another man. "Why are we still here? We could leave very easily! The King has done nothing to show gratitude towards our sacrifice! Our loyalty! If we were to escape, we could find our families and take them to Morgana! They could be safe!"
"That's preposterous!" said Sir Nickolas. "Have you forgotten what happened last time Morgana took over Camelot? She killed innocent people!"
"People who would jeer at us as we walked towards to pyre!" snapped the man. "Why are you defending him!"
"Because he is my King," said Sir Nickolas. "And I swore allegiance to him. I believe that once this war is won he will hear us out. He is a kind man with a large heart. He will listen."
"Yeah right!" said the grief-stricken woman. "He's his father's son."
"He is not," said a quiet voice from the corner. It was the boy, Merlin, who had taken care of them when they were ill. The one who had remembered the most of what had happened in the infirmary.
And here he was now, huddled in a corner, his knees drawn to his chest. For the past hour he had listened to the bickering in silence, merely staring up at the small window where the moon's light shone through.
"Ah yes," said the man, sauntering up to the bars that their cells shared. "You were his servant correct?"
"That is correct," said Merlin. "But he is also my friend. I know him and he will come through for us. He will win the war and he will deal with us as he sees fit."
"Yes, which will include execution no doubt," said the man.
"It may do," said Merlin. "But it may not. And if you continue to speak treason so loudly the guards down the hallway can hear you then he will have no choice, will he?"
The man looked taken aback, as though he had forgotten the guards.
The sorcerers looked guiltily at their feet. Something had changed since they had been ill. Merlin had become a voice of reason, truth and leadership. They looked up to him for those reasons. And Merlin had started to act like it. If Merlin told them to do something, they were going to do it. They had this instinctual trust in him that could not be explained.
But as it was with humans, some chose to follow their own warped head instead.
"Well then Emrys," he sneered. "What would you have us do?"
"Wait," said Merlin as the sounds of battle died down. "And be prepared to take action immediately. If Morgana starts to win- if she takes hold of so much as that of the lower town, Arthur will need our help."
"The King will not let us help," said the man. "He will think we are going to join Morgana and he will kill us without a second thought. If we were to approach Morgana however…"
"No," said Merlin. "I know many of you think you're families will be safer with her but they will not be. Morgana has no loyalty. She does not know compassion or forgiveness. You ignored her first call. She will not allow you to join her. She will kill you before you have a chance to explain."
"What will we do?" asked Sir James. "If she takes control of the lower town, what's the plan?"
Finally Merlin looked away from the window. The cries of battle had ceased and he knew the battle was over. He stood and Sir James whom he shared a cell with gave him a boost up.
Holding onto the bars he watched as the men came back into the city. He heard cries of delight as people recognized loved ones from the windows of their own cells. Then he saw Gwen running up to a dishevelled and exhausted Arthur. From the window Merlin whispered some words and his eyes turned gold. The spell took effect immediately. Arthur's back straightened and the exhaustion fell from his face, which was replaced by a new energy and eagerness.
"Is he alive?" asked Sir Nickolas, letting him down.
"He's alive," he answered. "Now let's talk strategy."
HAPPY NEW YEAR! WOO! It's 2012! And it's Colin Morgan's birthday! Happy Birthday Colin! I hope you like the beginning of the sequel. Please let me know what you think! Review!