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Chapter seven: Unlikely Saviour

"Leon! We can't keep taking hits like this!" Percival shouted above the racket. They were outnumbered and nothing they did had any effect on the marching enemy.

"Guys, Morgana's disappeared." Elyan yelled from Leon's left, they didn't have time to ponder this news as a fresh wave of attackers struck and sent them reeling.

"We need to regroup, the lines have been broken." He told the others, they nodded thankfully "Fall Back!" Leon yelled to his men, or at least his men until Arthur returned. The line scampered backwards and ignored the bodies that lay broken on the battlefield.

They had started on the battlements but the enemy's advance had been far too quick for the archers to deal with, but even a frontal approach wasn't working. It was the sorcerers that posed the greatest problem- they couldn't kill them and they were working on blowing up half the castle. Leon could only hope that Gaius' makeshift infirmary hadn't been too badly damaged and that Arthur wouldn't kill him when he returned.

The frontlines regrouped in the courtyard and they could finally hear each other speak. They were bloodied and couldn't help but feel defeated. Leon was sporting a shallow gash to his cheek and Percival was limping. Leon thought better than to send him to Gaius. Elyan alone had escaped unharmed.

"Do you think they are okay inside?" Elyan panted as he wiped his sweaty forehead with a shaky hand.

"There's no way of knowing." Leon told him, he didn't want to be blunt but the situation was hopeless.

"Gwen's in there."

"If she has any sense she'll leave." Leon said harshly looking around the battlefield in disdain. He'd told her to leave, begged her to flee. She'd refused.

"She's far too brave." Percival mumbled.

"No, if she was sensible she would get out of here. We are about to get slaughtered where we stand."

"The battle isn't other yet, my friend."

"Do you think Arthur and Gwaine will be back soon?" Elyan asked quietly.

"We have no way of knowing and he has no idea of this attack."

"But he will be rushing for Merlin?" Elyan said.

"Yes." Leon didn't say anymore on the matter but they all knew what he was thinking. Even though Merlin was their friend, the death of countless knights and the loss of Camelot weren't worth his life. With Arthur they'd have a chance without they were sitting ducks.

It wasn't that two men would make the difference but Arthur, his words and courage would be able to rouse these knights- give them hope.

Without his hope and fighting spirit they were fighting a losing battle and they all knew it.

Leon looked around his me, their dejected faces and drew in a deep breath. Arthur couldn't give them hope but he could try.

"Men! You are the noblest and strongest knights in the land. Even if the odds are stacked against us we shall not give up!" He bellowed, startling the knights close to him; he stepped in front of them- eyeing them all individually. "You fight for Camelot and its brave King! Fight in the name of Arthur Pendragon! For Arthur!" He yelled, the others joined in and he could feel their spirits rise. "Let's make sure our King has a castle to return to!"

The men cheered and rearranged their lines, Elyan instructed some men to go and re-join the archers. He debated sending some men after Gwen briefly, but he knew they couldn't spare any men.


The three friends looked at each other and gave a small nod. With a roar they charged back into the violent fray.

"Arthur, look!" Gwaine said, his mouth hanging open in horror. Arthur did.

From the brow of the hill a few miles out from Camelot they could see Morgana's attacking men, the billowing smoke that rose from the castle and the hopeless state Camelot had found itself in again. They had been riding hard for the past day, determined to reach Camelot before all was lost, yet now it appeared they could be too late. Barely any words were passed between the two. They didn't need to, the worry they held for their country and loved ones was obvious.

Saying it would only make it worse. Saying it would mean it was real.

Now they could see the destruction, it was real.

Arthur thought of his wife, of his beautiful Guinevere and his knights. How many of his friends and men had already died, fallen in his name? He couldn't know if they were safe, if they were alive. He could only hope.

He had to heal Merlin; Merlin was their only hope now.

"I know Gwaine."

"She's attacking in broad daylight, the damn cheek of it!" Gwaine muttered angrily.

"Let's hope it gives her a disadvantage."

"I doubt it Princess, she is a sorceress."

"Doesn't mean she's unbeatable." Arthur pointed out.

"We can't fight magic with swords Arthur, we both know that." Gwaine said sullenly.

"No" Arthur agreed. "But we've got Merlin to even the battle."

"Arthur, he's half dead. Even if we do get to him in time, what's to say he'll be healed enough to help?"

"Not like you to be so sullen. Cheer up, the battle isn't over yet."

"I'm not being sullen, I'm being realistic here. We haven't got a bleedin' chance."

"Didn't you say that when we reclaimed Camelot the first time?" Arthur laughed. His laughter couldn't decrease the pain inside, the knot of worry that had taken residence. But they both knew they were acting.

"Aye I did."

"You'll be wrong again then." Arthur said with mock confidence.

"How about a wager?"

"Not on your life." Arthur smiled before kicking his horse and cantering down the hill, Gwaine chasing him. The rush of wind in their ears and Camelot burning in the distance.

The throne was his; she wasn't going to take it again.


"Morgana put the sword down." A menacing voice came from behind her, Gwen's eyes snapped open and she swivelled round to see Merlin, grimacing in pain and deathly white but still holding his hand out threateningly. Morgana's sword didn't waver.

"I see you've joined the party."

"Morgana I'm really tired so can you please go away." Merlin sighed.

"You dare speak to me like that?" Morgana snarled.

"My head is killing and someone seems to be shaking the castle around, would that be your doing?"

Gwen shook her head in exasperation, Merlin was provoking Morgana. Gwen just wished he'd wait until she removed the blade from over her heart; Morgana always had been unpredictable when angered. "Merlin" She hissed, he smiled at her but said nothing more.

"It would, the castle crumbling without its pathetic King."

"Ah… that's where you are wrong. Camelot crumbles without its sorcerer." He moved as if to sit up but hastily stopped with a moan of pain.

"I already knew the magic you used on me faded with your life. I presume the same is to be said for Arthur." Morgana smirked

"Doesn't matter Morgana, not anymore." Merlin's face broke out in a sweat.

"But you're dying, does that matter Merlin?"

"Not really, I still have the power to beat you. Again." Merlin drawled "Now let Gwen go, it's a bit hard to fight with a hostage."

"Only for you."

"But admit it Morgana, it's not her you want. It's me." He grinned cheekily

"You are nothing but a servant!" She screamed a sudden blast of magic escaping her causing all their hair to fly around their faces. It was then Merlin eyes flashed and Morgana was sent clattering over the wooden table with a yelp. Gwen dashed over to Merlin's side and helped him sit up.

"Merlin you shouldn't be fighting her, you can barely move."

"You don't seem very surprised?"

"We can talk later." Gwen soothed him as Morgana rose on unsteady feet; she glared hotly at the pair.

Morgana yelled and a blast of magic flew across the room, Gwen threw herself over Merlin and screamed, waiting for the pain that never came. Morgana's magic was bouncing of a silver shield- Gwen looked at her friend; his eyes were golden and scrunched in pain.

Morgana screamed in fury as her magic reverberated around the room sending pots flying. Her wild eyes and laboured breathing held none of the Lady Morgana.

She was simply a monster.

Merlin could feel himself losing the battle of consciousness. He shouldn't be awake, it technically was impossible to be awake.

Destiny always intervened.

He couldn't keep going; the cockiness was simply a futile mask to fool Gwen and Morgana into thinking he could fight. He doubted it had worked on either of them.

He had provoked her; he had taunted her until she was past anger- until she teetered past rage.

Morgana's magic had always been at its most powerful when she was scared or angry and now she was both.

Oh what a fool he was.

Morgana's lip curled upwards as she laughed manically.

"Pendragon returns so it seems." He frowned at her "Can you not sense your precious King? Are you so weakened that you can't feel his stench?"

"If Arthur is here then Camelot is saved."

"No Merlin, not this time." She said simply shaking her head patronisingly "You see every time I failed, every time I was thwarted I thought it was Arthur. But now Merlin I know the truth, it is you who foils my plans. You who protects the slayer of our kin." She looked upon him in disdain. "Camelot falls without you."

"That isn't true."

"It is and we both know it. Who destroyed the skeletons, spilt the blood from the cup?" Merlin said nothing "Come on Merlin, I don't have all day. I have a kingdom to claim."

"I did." Merlin said raising his chin defiantly.

"You can barely sit up, you're sweating heavily and I'm sure you just want to rest." Morgana advanced, the shimmering shield still standing between them. "I can make sure you rest forever more."

Gwen stepped in front of Merlin and spread her arms wide. "No."

"You have no say in this matter."

"I am your Queen."

"I am the true queen of Camelot, my dear sweet Gwen please stop deluding yourself." Morgana smirked "You don't have to be brave, you'll both be dead soon. I won't tell anyone." She whispered in mock honesty. "No one will know how you cowered in your final moments."

"Neither of us will die today and when we do die, it shall not be by your hand."

"Brave words from the girl hiding behind a shield." Merlin was quivering now, the energy it took to maintain the shield was worsening his mortal condition, he could feel his life slipping away.

"Not really." Gwen said looking purposefully around the witch. Morgana turned and there stood Arthur, his enchanted sword drawn and with Gwaine at his heels.

He didn't bother to speak, he didn't see the point. He simply darted forward and lunged at her; she cackled in glee and redirected the sword with a little magic.

"Oh Arthur, I always beat you at sword fights."

"With respect, milady. I was but a child."

Morgana didn't reply but simply summoned her sword from the floor and held it out. Gwaine drew his own sword and moved to protect Gwen.

Before either Morgana or Arthur could battle a cry broke out from the bed.

"Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard" He cried, Morgana screamed in realisation as she was transported by a huge whirlwind, her arm stretched out in anger.

Then wind died and she was gone.

Silence reigned for a few seconds and then everything happened at once. Merlin's eyes rolled backwards and he collapsed heavily back onto the bed moaning in agony.

Arthur ran over to them and pressed a finger against his neck. He could feel only a slight pulse.

"Gwaine, get Gaius now!" Arthur yelled, Gwaine nodded and dashed out of the room.

"Arthur is he okay?" She whispered

"He's alive. He's going to be okay, we have the cure- we just need Gaius"

Five minutes later Gaius ran in, his face flushed and panting.

"Gaius, the dragon gave us this cherry blossom. You've got to hurry, he's fading fast." Arthur handed over the blossom and Gaius got to work.

"He's not breathing." Gwen sobbed, placing a hand under his nose. "Arthur…"

"Gauis!"

"I'm going as fast as I can."

By the time Gaius rushed over with the cure, Merlin was still. Gaius pried open Merlin's mouth and poured in cure.

They waited. Nothing happened, he didn't resume breathing.

"He's dead." Gaius said thunderstruck.


A/N First of all, THANK YOU. The reviews on the last chapter were amazing and this story is now my most reviewed (ever) story. PLUS, it hit 100 story alerts. So I hope this lived up to expectations, update coming soon. I hope you enjoyed and thanks again!