Rebellion

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.

Just a quick summery to make everything clear. Lara, James and the other are gathering and then heading a safe place that is in some caves near Camelot. What they don't know is that Gauis and Tristan are already there and they like everyone else in the kingdom think the children are dead. Arthur, Merlin and the others are in the dungeons under Camelot and they are all starting to wake up, usually mumbling the name of their child.

Leaves and branches crunched underfoot as the small group walked deep into the forest. Lara was in front with James behind her. Will was following them and Abby was on his back, chattering away. She had taken a shine to him just as she had with Lara and Will could not resist her big brown eyes when she asked him for a piggyback. Lara stopped and pulled out the map as they rested beside a large tree with reaching roots. Will put Abby down and James sent round a pouch of water. Lara sighed and looked around at the forest.

"Lost again?" James asked in an amused voice and Lara glared at him slightly.

"That druid camp has to be around here somewhere but I just ne-." She stopped suddenly and stood very still. James and Will exchanged glances and James asked, "What's wrong?"

"Ssh!" Lara ordered, waving her hand slightly. A moment later she looked at them and said, "Can you hear that?"

They all listened carefully at the quiet forest. Soon, they could hear a low whistle, followed by a musical tinkling sound. "That sounds like the wind chimes that Uncle Merlin used to have outside the window," Will said and Lara hurried towards the sound.

"They weren't wind chimes!" she called to them as they hurried to follow her. They ran around the large tree and past a mass of bushes that reached upwards. Lara stopped and stared out at the line of trees in front of her. The other three stopped behind her and she said, "They were protection charms."

In front of them, a long string ran between five trees and hanging from these trees was an assortment of objects. Scarves, ripped pieces of fabric in all colours, silver tubes that caught the wind in the holes poked in them and pieces of crystal covered the string.

Lara walked towards them carefully and said, "Everyone stay there; this is the entrance to the druid's camp and these are very strong protection charms." She reached them and looked up and down the string for a moment. Then she reached out and touched one of the objects. With a sigh, she let go of it and said, "It's alright, we won't be harmed."

James motioned for Will to stay with Abby and he walked slowly towards Lara, asking, "How do you know?"

Lara reached up and touched the charm she had just let go of. It was a dragon carved out of wood. "This is my father's symbol; I recognise his magic in the charms. He did this. I think it was put up to keep away Mordred and Morgana especially."

"I thought the druids were sympathetic to them; didn't they let them live at camp once?"

"Yes, but that was back in Uther's time; the druids mistakenly thought that Mordred would help magical beings instead just wanting destruction. They soon realised this when he ruined an entire camp and killed everyone in it." She dropped her hand and Will and Abby walked up to them.

"So what's the plan?" Will asked and Lara looked into the forest behind the charms before turning back to them.

"Ok, they may listen to me so I'll do all the talking." She pointed to James, "Don't say anything unless I'll tell you otherwise." Looking at Abby she ordered, "Stay with James and Will and be quiet ok?"

Abby nodded and finally Lara turned to Will. She paused and then said, "Maybe it'll be best if you don't talk at all."

Will look offended for a moment and then replied, "Ya, that's probably a good idea."

Lara took a deep breath and James looked at her with concern. "Are you ok?" he asked and she turned to him. "I've never bargained with druids before. My father was always good at it; they adored him because he was Emrys. Some of them have trained their whole live to do the same magic that I could do at three. I do not think they will welcome me."

She smiled bitterly, "Plus, it would not be the first time I have been hated for being her daughter."

An angry feeling flared in James's chest, one that made him want to hurt all those who dare hurt Lara but he simply shook his head and replied, "You will be fine; you will demand respect like you deserve. It does not matter about Morgana; you are Merlin's daughter and that is all that matters." She smiled properly at him this time, as if he was the first person to tell her that in a long time.

"Don't worry about it," Will said as well, "I mean, do you think I was treated well at court because my father wasn't married to my mother? But, the upside was no nobleman wanted me marrying their uptight, spoilt rotten daughter."

Lara chuckled slightly and after a moment, walked under the charms and into the trees beyond. They walked for a little while, following a clear track on the floor where the druids had made. When they walked past a tree, they were startled to see a man in a long blue cloak standing still a few feet away from them.

Lara opened her mouth to speak but the man said, "Welcome, Daughter of Emrys; we have been waiting for you and your friends."

Lara looked sideways at James but the druid simply smiled. "Please, do not be alarmed. We have known that you would be arriving here for your friend, Tom. He is in good health and is waiting for you at camp."

With that he turned and walked along the path. Lara shrugged and walked after him, the others following her. They soon reached the actually druid camp, where a large fire was set in the middle of many tents and people. These people were of all ages and men, women and children alike, stopped their work when they saw the visitors. The druid in the blue cloak led them to the fire, where there were blankets waiting to be sat on and food to eat.

As they passed people, the druids bowed and said, "Daughter of Emyrs." Lara did her best not to change her calm expression but Will and Abby-who were far too alike for James's liking and everyone else's health- were doing their best not to giggle. It did not bother James but it was a surreal experience. The first five years of his life were surrounded by people who bowed to him and answered his every need. But he had grown out expecting it long ago so to have people bowing around him again, even if it wasn't for him was very strange.

They all stood around the fire and the other druids went back to their work. The druid who had led them there motioned at a tent and a moment later, a boy of about fourteen walked out. Short black hair and warm brown eyes made him the spitting image of Elyon and he smiled when he saw them.

"Well you took your time!" he said when he reached them. Lara gave him a hug and Will too, while Abby greeted him with a quick introduction and a tight hug. Then he turned to James and said, "Cousin!"

James smiled back and hugged him, "It's good to see you too, cousin."

They pulled away and the druid motioned for them to sit around the fire on the blankets. "As great as it is to see you Tom," Will said, "I am wondering what is going on here."

Tom looked at the druid and said, "May I explain it Cornelius?"

Cornelius nodded and Tom turned to his friends. "The druids have known about this for a long time. After Mordred and Morgana took over, some of them were given visions of a time when we would fight back. They knew how important we all were so when they found out how sick I was, they agreed to heal me. They even pretended to make a deal about me making them weapons when I got older."

"They why did they take you," James asked, looking at Cornelius, who soon answered. "Tom was very weak after his illness and there was a very good chance that he would be open to many other sicknesses in the years to come if we weren't around to help him. Once we knew that we had been discovered and had to leave, we had to take him with us so that we could keep him safe. We have not isolated him; we have told him all about you and trained him with a sword. You will find he is just as good using the weapon as he making them. And he is at full health. But first we must eat. You may also stay here the night before you go and get your last friend."

Food was handed around and the group was happy to rest with a good fire and warm blankets. The sun set and the druids used magic to make balls of light that flowed above the camp like stars in the sky. Tom sat on Cornelius's left with Will beside him. Lara sat on the other side of Cornelius with James beside her and Abby was sitting on the other side of James, fast asleep.

"So," Lara said, "You seem to know a lot about what we are up to."

Cornelius smiled slightly and said, "That was told to us a long time ago but the outcome has always remained a mystery. Whether you succeed or not is all up to you. You must help your parents so that Arthur can achieve his destiny."

"We've all heard that story," Will said, "Merlin came to Camelot to help Arthur become King and he did. Destiny achieved."

Cornelius shook his head. "No, that was all that Merlin told people after it had been achieved. He knew that Arthur had much more to do when Morgana took over."

The group exchanged looks and then James asked, "Like what?"

"Arthur was not destined to just rule Camelot; he was to rule from Camelot. Arthur was to unite all the lands of Albion."

Silence greeted this statement. Finally James managed to get a few words out. "You mean all the land? My father would rule over all the other kingdoms?"

Cornelius nodded, "Yes. Imagine it. A whole land of peace and magic."

"It sounds beautiful," Lara said and Cornelius nodded. "Yes, but Mordred and Morgana attacked earlier than expected. We think it is from the way they used dark magic to enhance their powers."

Lara gasped and James turned to her and asked, "Is that a bad thing?"

"It's barbaric!" she said, "It's like taking who you are and twisting. But no one has even done it without suffering immensely."

"They are suffering. Mordred especially. That's what he wants you for, Lara."

Lara frowned, "What do you mean? Has he been searching for me or something?"

"He has and for a reason. There are old laws of magic that go back centuries, many which are no longer laws. One such law was disallowed by the High Priestesses but because Mordred had access to the throne and is a magic being, he has the ability to bring these laws back into society."

He paused and Lara had the unusual idea to grab James' hand. She didn't but the idea did appear.

Cornelius looked at her and said, "The law is that if two magic beings marry, the man has access to the woman's powers; stealing them from her."

"No!"

Lara jumped when she heard the exclamation come from not only James but from Will and Tom too.

Cornelius continued, "He wants the powers your father will hand down to you and they will cure him from the pains that are eating away at him.

"What powers?" Will asked Lara swallowed before saying, "The dragons. He wants the dragons."

Cornelius nodded. "I am afraid so. He knows that after he has you, your father will be of no other use and he will kill Emyrs. Then he will marry you and take the dragons; using their magic to cure him and establish more power of the kingdom."

"He'll never get near her," James growled and Lara was surprised at the determination in his voice.

"It is important that he doesn't get near any of you; you must survive long enough to find your parents and then you may take the fight to them. The destiny of the kingdom once rested on Merlin; now it is up to you all to give him back that destiny."

Will let out a long breath and he said, "Destiny, kingdoms, magical powers...no pressure."

"What about Morgana?" Tom asked, "Is she as sick as he is?"

Cornelius shook his head, "No, she is older than he is and can handle the magic, as shaken as it leaves her. But now it is getting late and you all must rest."

With that he left them and the group began to settle down to rest. James moved slightly, which woke Abby up and she said sleepily, "What happened?"

Will turned to her as he placed a folded up cloak beneath his head. "Mordred wants to marry Lara."

Abby wrinkled her nose and said, "Ew." She turned to Lara and said, "You're not going to marry him are you?"

Lara shook her head and Abby smiled at her before settling back to sleep.

It was early the next morning, when the birds were just beginning to sing in the trees, did Lara wake up. She turned over and saw Abby still sleep wrapped up in not one but two blankets. Lara sat up slightly when she realised that it was James' blanket and wasn't there. She heard a rustling in the trees from her left, so she got up and quietly made her way through the sleeping camp to look.

As she walked around a tree, she found herself on the edge of a clearing, where James was practising. He had obviously gotten up and taken his sword out here. She leaned against the tree and watched him for a moment as he swung the sword in wide arcs, then short jabs and quick slashes. She had seen a great many beautiful things before but his skill with the blade was something else. It was as if it was an easy thing to him; swing the sword around in his hands seems to be as simple as swing his own arm. He stopped when he saw her and she straightened up, slightly embarrassed at getting caught.

He walked over to her and she said, "You're very good."

James smiled and put the sword back in his belt. "Thanks; how about you?"

Lara shrugged, "I've learned but...my father was hopeless at sword fighting so I know I didn't get that from him. So I got it from Morgana which means I don't like using it."

James smiled kindly at her and said, "Just because you have something in common with her doesn't mean she wins or she'll suddenly take you over."

Lara sighed and replied, "I know; but I still prefer to use my magic. My father's book was a great help...and I like having it. It's like having a part of him with me."

James bit his lip and frowned for a moment before he said, "I know what you mean."

He pulled the sword out again and unwrapped the cloth binding from the hilt. Lara's eyes widened when she saw the shining silver and the rare jewels.

"Excalibur" she whispered and James nodded. "It was in Jennifer's things and I found it. I've been using it ever since."

Lara looked at him, excited. "Do you know the history behind it?"

James shrugged as he put the cloth back on the hilt. "Uncle Merlin got it for my father to kill the dead knight. But there was a moment when Uther used it and something went wrong. Uncle Merlin fixed things though."

Lara smiled and said, "The blade was enchanted by Kilgharrah; he said only Arthur could use it, that's why things went wrong when Uther had it. Don't you see? If nothing bad happens when you use it, then the dragon's magic thinks you are as pure of heart as your father!"

James smiled at this mostly because he found Lara's infectious.

Standing a little way off, Cornelius was watching them with another druid. He smiled slightly at the two of them but the other druid was grumbling away.

"...and how did we think that Mordred would be good for the kingdom? That was a big mistake! So much for having a good magical being on the throne."

Cornelius shrugged and looked at James and Lara once more. "Who knows," he said, "We may have a good one on the throne one day."

-Camelot-

Merlin could feel the rough stone underneath him and stale air around him yet he still could not move and his eyes remain closed. Somewhere to the side he someone say the name 'Tom' but it was faint.

He could feel the magic though, four sources in each corner of the room and somehow he knew it was Gauis' doing. He could feel the magic giving him energy, healing his bones and muscles so that he could move when he was awake. But he was still so sleepy.

"Wake up!"

Merlin twitched slightly at the voice.

"Wake up! You're going to be late."

Suddenly the image of a girl appeared in Merlin's mind. Black hair and blue eyes that were flecked with gold. She had her mother's beauty, but everything else was his. It was Lara, frowning at him like she always did when he wasn't doing what she asked.

"You need to wake up!"

Demanding too; she must have learned that from Arthur. Her face softened; oh and she learned patience from Gwen.

She smiled at him slightly and Merlin remembered something. She had his ears too.

Lara looked at him with a smile of adoration, a look that was given to him many times from the druids and other people but only meant anything when it was coming from her. "Daddy, you need to wake up!"

The guards outside heard none of this, everything was normal for them.

But inside the chamber, a pair of bright blue eyes snapped open.