Hey
This is the sequel to Out Of Time
I reckon 30 chapters is long enough and so here's the sequel
This first chapter is just a summary for what has happened and is a quick recap of everything that has happened
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own BBC Merlin, nor am I ever likely to. However, I do own my OC Alethea
Hope you enjoy.
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Alethea is 16 years old, a college student who on an ordinary day arrived at college and found herself catapulted back to the days of Camelot. Landing in the middle of the courtyard where Arthur is training his men, Alethea is immediately branded a sorceress and taken before Uther. Alethea discovers where she is and knows exactly what the punishment is for witches in Camelot and tries to do a runner, managing to injure two knights in the process, but only after giving a prophecy. Nimueh won't rest until one dragon is dead. No one took any notice then, but now they realise they should have done. She manages to hide in a room where a woman holds a drink out for her. Alethea takes it and too late realises that she's been tricked.
Meanwhile, Arthur and his men search for the sorceress and Arthur eventually finds her unconscious, locked in a room. As Gaius is called for, Arthur hides the goblet which has fallen from Alethea's grasp just before Gaius and Merlin arrive. She is taken under their care and Arthur tells them to let him now when she wakes. As the girl slowly recovers in the physician's chambers, Arthur asks his father what is to happen to the girl and is already accepting the fact that her punishment will be her death.
A few days later, Alethea recovers but she has limited memories and no voice. She manages to find out a few things by writing things down with pen and paper but doesn't find out much before Arthur himself visits her. Arthur, having found out almost nothing, pleads with his father for her trial to be postponed for a few more days. Reluctantly, his father agrees, but only for two days. This suits Arthur fine.
Alethea is restless. She wishes to explore after being cooped up in one room and so Gaius agrees to take her on a walk. Merlin stops them and decides that Alethea needs a change of clothes and so goes and finds Morgana and Gwen. Alethea puts on the borrowed dress and meets Morgana and Gwen, smiling at them both. She knew of the tales and wondered just how things were going to change. Merlin, Gaius and Alethea take a walk around the town but as they reach the courtyard where Arthur is yet again training his men, Alethea sees something out of the corner of her eye. Seeing that Arthur is about to be assassinated, Alethea gains her voice and saves the Prince's life. Arthur is most grateful and thanks her, but also passes on the news that her trial will be tomorrow.
That evening, Merlin and Gaius try to cheer her up but Arthur comes and visits. He explains what will happen in the trial to Alethea but finds himself comforting her. She knows she will die and Arthur knows that she is right, but refuses to let himself say it. Hoping that there would be something he could do, Arthur left her to think. Alethea is looked after by Merlin the next day until it is time for the trial. It is here that Gaius presents his findings and Alethea finds out that Gaius has been right all along. Alethea then defends herself before being taken out of the room. Merlin tries to cheer her up whilst Arthur defends her. It is to no avail. Alethea is found guilty and is sentenced to death. Thrown in the dungeons, Alethea reflects on her life as she waits for her life to be ended.
Meanwhile, Morgana and Merlin are trying to persuade Arthur to rescue her. Morgana has a plan and Merlin aids Arthur in helping Alethea to escape. What they do not know is that Alethea has been drugged to stop her escaping. However, this does not deter them and Alethea is carried by the Prince out of Camelot and into the forest. Leaving her wrapped up warm in front of a fire, Arthur leaves her with his horse, sword and a letter before returning back to the castle. Alethea wakes in the morning, reads the letter and takes the horse before heading into the unknown, not having a clue as to where she is going. Arthur catches up with her later and gives her some food supplies. Talking for a while, Arthur asks her to stay in a clearing until he returned.
Later on, after Arthur has left, Uther catches the girl and throws her into the dungeons without anyone else knowing. He has found Arthur's sword and so locks Arthur in his room until Alethea is dead. Alethea is tortured to make her confess but Alethea refuses. Her hair is cut off and Merlin visits her to tend to her wounds. The next morning, Alethea is found dead so Uther frees Arthur, allowing him to bury her. Arthur undertakes this task and realises he has feelings for her. Digging her grave in the forest, Arthur places the last patch of earth as his friends gather around and stand vigil.
Nimueh arrives a while later and resurrects Alethea. The girl spends two months learning the arts of the warrior and being persuaded that Camelot is evil before they attack Camelot. In those two months, Arthur and Uther have been drifting apart and civil war erupts on the day that Nimueh attacks. Together, Alethea and Nimueh free the dragon underneath the castle, creating chaos. It is during this pandemonium, Alethea seeks Arthur and begins to attack him. Her orders are to kill him but she has doubts that this is the right thing. Arthur sends his friends away before fighting the stranger. It is her hesitation that allows Arthur to strike a fatal blow. Arthur realises what he has done and can't believe that he has just killed her, albeit unknowingly.
Enter Nimueh. This time she has Uther held in front of her with a knife to his throat. Half of Camelot is burning or in heaps of rubble. The people lie half dead in the streets and the dragon is still on the loose. Nimueh gives Arthur a choice: Uther or Alethea. Arthur takes a moment, watching as Alethea's blood pours out onto the cobbles and knows what she wants him to do. He chooses Uther to live but Nimueh has tricked him. Arthur is sent into the rubble by a bolt of magic but as he runs to save his father, Merlin appears and makes Nimueh disappear. Cradling Alethea in his arms, Arthur spends those last few moments with her. He still does not tell her his feelings. Carrying her up to his room, Arthur looks after her during her recovery whilst Merlin manages to save her from death. Over the next few weeks after the dragon has been captured and Camelot is being rebuilt, Arthur takes care of Alethea but rivalry begins to form between the Prince and Merlin. It is on one of Merlin's visits that Alethea is given two books. She reads one and writes in the other, as she promised to Merlin.
A tournament is arranged and Alethea recovers in time. She watches with Merlin, as she had promised to do so, although Arthur still does not know that she is fully recovered. Whilst watching, Alethea discovers that Merlin has found her a way home. Alethea smiles and wonders whether she should take the chance or not. That evening, before Arthur goes to the feast, she says a sort of goodbye to him, knowing what she was going to do. She promises that she will stay until the end of the tournament, but knows she has no intentions of doing so. That evening, whilst Arthur enjoys himself, Alethea writes four letters of thanks and decides to give them out the next day.
The next day, Alethea accepts Arthur's offer of going to the feast with him that night, but both knew that she would not make it. Kissing each other goodbye, Arthur still does not tell Alethea of his love for her and goes to the tournament. Alethea finds Merlin and tells him her decision after delivering her letters. Whilst Arthur is fighting in the tournament, Alethea and Merlin go into the forest. Merlin tries to persuade her to stay, like Arthur had done, but Alethea knows she has to go. Merlin sends her home as Arthur arrives. He is too late however and argues with Merlin before brooding.
Alethea has been sent into the arms of Nimueh, rather than home. Nimueh smiles and ties Alethea up before taking on her form. She goes to Camelot leaving the real Alethea trapped. Nimueh had returned, and this time she would get her revengeā¦..
