Arthur's pov
I walk into the physicians chambers.
'Where is that half-wit?' I yell. Gaius seemed confused.
'Merlin?'
'I've got no socks, no breeches, and an archery session to go to. Merlin!' I yell at the foot of the stair that lead to his bedroom.
'I thought he was with you, Sire.' Covering for him again.
'Don't try and cover for him.' I force from clenched teeth. I've had it with him and his sloppy workmanship.
' He didn't come home last night, I can't find him.' He was telling the truth so I take my leave.
'When you do, you can tell him he's the target.' I walk out and bump into Violet.
'And where the hell have you been? Two days in the tavern! You shall be at the training field in ten minute or so help me!' I look at her, she was pale and her eyes black as though she hasn't slept for days. She was panting to and she was looking around the room I just came from. She glanced at me quickly.
'Yes sire. Training. Ten minutes. There. Sorry I need to speak to Gaius.' She pushes past me and I brush off the guilt I felt after yelling at her for my problems. I make my way to the yard.
I stood aside for a few minutes before I see violet jog into view, waving to a few men and was gathered up by Gwaine in his arms as he picks her up and spins her around. They as well get married. She shoo's Gwaine off as she makes her way over to me. I don't even wait a second before I direct her as what she should do.
'You can start off with archery then train the knights agility. Then you can do one on ones with the left squad before doing the work out sessions with stretches. Also, seeing as though I didn't see you at all yesterday and you missed your training schedule, the one I'm paying you to do, and seeing as merlin is missing, you can do his chores.' I finished my little speech and I see her mouth open to complain but she doesn't. All she does is sigh and mutter a yes and walks off in the direction of the archery.
After spending the day listening to my father scream as Gaius tries to calm him. I walk off to my chambers and walk over to the table when I heard violet's voice. I moved to where I could see her washing the large bay-window behind my desk.
I'm all right, don't I always seem to be?
Am I swinging on the stars
Don't I wear them on my sleeves
But when you're looking for a crossroads
It happens every day, and whichever way you turn
I'm gonna turn the other way
She was wearing men's pants and top, the dark red sleeves pulled up, showing the deathly pale skin underneath. She had two long scars tracing up her arm to the crook of her elbow. I cough and she turns to me, quickly rolling down her sleeves.
'This place is a mess.' She states.
'I've had to make do without a servant' and at that very moment, merlin had decided to appear.
'What happened?!' I yell at him. He looks innocent.
'I wasn't gone for that long.' He looks at violet.
'Without my permission.' I see him shift his body and put on that goofy smile.
'What if I was dying?' He tilts his head and I look over to see violet grab onto the table to steady herself, I ignored it, merlin needed to be yelled at.
'I wouldn't be complaining! But you're not. So where've you been?' He tap my foot and I see his eyes drift to violet and quickly back to me.
'I was dying.' He says.
'I don't have time for this. The future of the kingdom rests upon my shoulders. Do you have any idea what that feels like?' He ponders for a moment.
'Well...' He starts off but I hear a cough come from violet and he stops.
'Merlin. I should have you thrown in the dungeons. So, what've you got to say for yourself?'
'You've not had your breakfast this morning, have you?'
'I'll have you for breakfast!' I yell and throw the closest thing I could find at him, it misses and hits something else that falls to the ground. I see him put a hand out and violet quickly grabs hold of it as she turns around with a slight grin.
'Oh, no wonder this place is such a mess! '
I throw another object at merlin but he ducks and just as he reaches the door he yells out
'Oh, yes, I can see you've got all the makings of a great king.' And with that I laugh.
Violets pov.
Merlin had run off to help Arthur with something so I began my way back to the physicians chambers. I was just about to turn the corner when Sir Leon stops me.
'Violet!' He smile and I smile back as he bows slightly to greet me.
'How was the patrol Leon?' I ask, I was supposed to go but I was away.
'Well that's what I want to talk to you about. I have to speak to prince Arthur now and he requests you're there.' I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose.
'Alright, I'll be there in five minutes, let me get changed, I just had to do Merlin's chores on top of mine.' He laughed.
'Alright, I'll see you there.' He smiles again and. Wave him off. Sir Leon is second in command and has worked under Uther for a very long time, he was, in my opinion, the most loyal to the pendragon family.
I run into the chambers yelling out, but no one was there. I run up to the room to scavenge for clothes I will look presentable in. I find my best pants and cleanest top. I tie a black belt around to hold my sword in and put in my boot and tuck in the pants. I grab my sword and drag myself to the council room.
When I walk in sir Leon is speaking and I walk up to stand next to him. Merlin is standing beside Arthur. He gives me a look and I quickly mouth the words 'piss off' and he smirks.
'I estimate they will reach the city within two days.' Sir Leon states. Arthur mulls over it before speaking.
'Under whose banner do they march?' He rests his chin on his fist.
'Cenred's, Sire. We knew he was amassing an army...' Leon is cut off.
'20,000 maybe more.' We are way out numbered.
'I fear that news of the king's illness has spread beyond our borders. Cenred sees an opportunity.' Gaius speaks up. I hadn't noticed him there.
'Then we must find a way to appease him' Leon states.
'Not what my father would do, he wouldn't bow to our enemies.' He stands and speaks as though he is his father.
'Forgive me, Sire, we are outnumbered two to one.' Gaius says.
'What concessions will Cenred insist on? What territories will he demand?' Arthur thinks aloud.
'We do not have to give him anything, but it could buy us valuable time.' Gaius speaks.
'It shows weakness, Gaius. There's only one course of action open to us. ' Arthur sit in the throne. 'We must prepare the city for siege.' I felt sick.
'Are you sure that is wise?' Leon questions.
'The castle is our strongest weapon. No army has ever taken Camelot.' Arthur reminds us. Doesn't mean their cant be a first. I think and I get a reply from merlin.
Have some hope, Viola. We can win this. They have us, remember. I smile at that.
'But what about the people in the outlying villages?' Leon asks.
'Give them refuge within the city walls.' Arthur replies.
'And what of their houses, their livelihoods? Cenred will destroy everything in his path.' It's true. I remember when his men attacked Ealdor.
'But they will have their lives. Go. Ready the army.' He nods to sir Leon. He walks off. Arthur looks at me and motions me to follow him as he and Merlin leave the room.
'You'll stay by sir Leon and Gwaine.' I understand why he is telling me to but he continues to explain. 'I don't want the men becoming restless and taking advantage of you. Understand?' I nod. 'Good. Go and pack and meet sir Leon to help with the army.'
'Yes, sire.' I say and I walk off.
Merlin's pov.
Arthur and I were walking in the courtyard.
'You did well in there. I mean it. I was impressed. We're talking siege engines, and battering rams, and catapults. You made a tough decision whe...you're risking hundreds of...' I was trying to help when he cut me off.
'Do you know what?'
'What?' I asked, I couldn't tell if be was being serious or just joking.
'I'd really prefer it if you just kept quiet in these situations' he wasn't joking.
'I am just trying to help.' I replied.
'Well, you're not.' That burned.
'I know you don't mean that; you're just worried. But you don't need to be. Look what we've got.' I tried to compromise.
'What?' He sends me a face of confusion.
'You and...me.' I tried to motion for us.
'Merlin, what exactly are you going to do?' He crossed his arms.
'I'm going to be at your side, like I always am, protecting you.' I say. He looks as though he would consider it but then he shakes his head.
'God help me.' He say and he moves off. He tells me to get ready and I go back home to pack.
Violets pov.
I finished packing and I was making my way to help sir Leon when I hear yelling from Uther's room, I race off to it and I find him cowering under the covers. I run to his side and pull them off he screams but he stops when he recognizes me.
'Viola? They...they're here. I-I can hear them screaming.' He whispers, eyes darting around the room. I place a hand on his forehead and shh him.
'Uther, it's okay. Everything is going to be okay.' I say. Holding his hands in mine. He looks up at my face.
'Can you sing?' He asks and I was a it taken back. But I do. I sit on the edge of his bed, still holding his hands as I run my thumb in circles in his skin.
I left my heart to the wild hunt a-comin'
I live until the call
And I plan to be forgotten when I'm gone
And I will sleep out in the glade just by the giant tree
Just to be closer when my spirit's pulled away
I left a nervous little boy out on the trail today
He's just a mortal to the shoutin' cavalcade
I left my heart to the wild hunt a-comin
I live until the call
And I plan to be forgotten when I'm gone
Yes I'll be leavin in the fall
Let's open up the windows have satan departin' now
And we'll be even when the blues fall down like hail
Hell I don't even care no more about cadejo now
If he's a white one or a black one on the trail
I left my heart to the wild hunt a-comin'
I live until the call
And I plan to be forgotten when I'm gone
Yes I'll be leavin in the fall
Yes I'll be leavin in the fall
I see him asleep and I place his hands down beside him and pull the blankets up. I move to grab my bag when I see in the corner of my eye two black boot.
'Hello sire. You should really stop creeping up on me.' I look up to see Arthur standing there looking at his father. I swing the bag over my shoulder and watch him.
'You don't think you'll be coming home after this fight do you.' It's more of a statement than a question.
'Im a factual person, my lord. If I should live this battle, it shall be a miracle. Cendred's army is brutal.' I state and he looks at me.
'A woman once told me a long time ago, that in both love and revenge, women are more brutal then men.' He looks back at father. 'I never understood it until I saw you. When you fight to kill, I see the loss you have endured. The deaths of people you have cared for on your skin, wearing bruises and scars like watermarks. You say you don't think you will make it from this fight? You have been fighting every day. I see it. I see it when you sing. All your walls are down and I can see every battle you have fought in, every war. All the days you have to push away the grief of another death. I saw it when you found Terrowin dead on the ground. You push away every feeling, holding them inside you and they weigh you down. You are stronger than this. You won't die out there today.' He said everything so simply, as though he had been thinking of it over and over again, as if he understood.
He doesn't understand. He wouldn't know. He sees death and pain and he turns a blind eye on it. I see him look over at me. And I smile, I nod, I say a 'yes sire' as if it was an order and I leave.
For the last few days I have been following sir Leon as Arthur consults him endlessly. I would only ever speak if Arthur questioned something and even then I agree in what sir Leon had previously stated.
We were ready to attack by the time Arthur came to greet us. He raises his sword and yells
'For the love of Camelot!' And the court yells back. Repeating the words with pride despite the fear of death.
Cenred's army breaks through the gate and advances towards the barricade. I see Arthur and his knights fend them off.
My breathing was ragged and I was feeling dizzy. I heard sir Leon shouting but I couldn't make sense of the words as they are enveloped by the yells of men as they fight. There was fire ball after fire ball as cendred's army poured into Camelot. I was fighting off two men when caught sight of Uther.
'Ive had it.' I say and in that moment I release every ounce of anger from everyone and I kill off everyone in my path as I run towards Uther.
That's for making my polish your armor. I think as I kill a man.
For making me do archery. I think as I quickly dodge a swinging sword and stab the man it came from.
I think of different excuses as to why I was angry as I kill a man each time. I see as athur hurried to his father.
I watch as Uther is hit by an arrow and falls into Arthur's arms. And everything seemed to slow down at that point. I watch as Arthur began to yell for retreat. I see our men run. The dead bodies fall and surround us. I see merlin cast a spell and fire hit the army.
I run back to see Arthur and Uther talking and I feel Merlin's hand on my shoulder.
'Its been a while since you've had to fight in a war, isn't it?' He says and I rest my head on his shoulder.
'It has.' I say quietly.
'You haven't slept or eaten in a while.' It's a statement.
'No, I haven't.' I say and I feel him nod. He walks off with a might to help Uther get to Gaius. I look around and I see the knights listening to Arthur and I follow as we move off to fight. I catch a few knights eyes, they look worn and sad. I smile sadly and continue to where we stand to defend the army.
Merlin's pov
I lay Uther down and move quickly to find Gaius. I see Gwen.
'Where's Gaius?' I ask.
She shrugs. ' don't know. She runs off to help and I move around quickly to find him.
I see him.
'Morgana's disappeared.' I breathe in before I run to her room. Dodging flames and people running. I burst into the door and look around but no one is there. It was them I felt magic run through me. I quickly ran to find her. I cam to the front of the castle stairs.
'Merlin! Where the hell have you been?' I hear Arthur call me and I jog towards him.
'Nowhere.' I say.
'You're starting to make a habit of this. What's your excuse this time?' And that's when I see them. Skeletons walking towards us.
'Come on, Merlin. You can do better than that.' I hear Arthur say and I raise my hand to point behind him.
Third person. narrator.
Merlin points behind Arthur. Arthur turns to see an army of skeletons behind him. Arthur fights one and stabs it. The skeleton shrugs and keeps fighting. Merlin fights a skeleton and lops its arm off. A knight takes on the skeleton while Merlin slashes at the arm on the ground.
Arthur and Merlin rush up the steps, but stop half way. Arthur turns to merlin.
'You need to warn Gaius. Tell him to seal off the hospital.' Arthur turns to face the skeleton entering the castle. Merlin watches the silhouette approach. Merlin doesn't move. Arthur turns back to his manservant.
'Merlin! Do as I say!' Arthur yells and merlin rushes up the stairs.
Meanwhile, Camelot soldiers defend against Cenred's army. Sir Leon moves back from the front line and turns to see the skeleton army crossing the drawbridge towards him, he yells out to the group of men behind him.
'On me!'
At the burial vaults Merlin enters and Morgana turns to look at him.
'You should leave now while you still can.' Her voice like venom.
'Morgana, please. I beg you. Women and children are dying. The city will fall.' Merlin pleads.
'Good.' Morgana says, an evil smirk working on her lips.
'No, you don't mean that.' Merlin hopes.
'I have magic, Merlin. Uther hates me and everyone like me. Why should I feel any differently about him?' Merlin wants to tell her he can help, he has magic. But he can't.
'You of all people could change Uther's mind. But doing this? Using magic like this will only harden his heart.'
'You don't have magic, Merlin. How could you hope to understand?' If only she knew, merlin thinks.
'I do understand, believe me. If I had your gifts, I would harness them for good. That's what magic should be for. That's why you were born with these powers.' He pleads again but nothing changes in Morgana's voice as she replies.
'You don't know what it's like to be an outsider. To be ashamed of how you were born, to have to hide who you are. Do you think I deserve to be executed because of who I am?'
'No. It doesn't have to be like this. We can find another way.' I want to help, I don't want to have to stop you like this. He thinks.
'There is no other way.' Her voice like venom.
Merlin nods as he backs up. Merlin walks behind a pillar and tries to dash around the other side to reach the Rowen staff. Morgana knocks the sword out of his hand and draws her own. Morgana advances on him and Merlin backs up.
'What are you going to do? Kill me?' He taunts her.
'You don't think I can?' She questions his attitude.
'If you're going to do it, make it quick.' He says. Morgana slashes at Merlin. Merlin ducks and picks his sword up from the floor. They fight.
Morgana disarms Merlin. Merlin avoid her attacks, Morgana gets off balance and Merlin ducks behind a tomb.
'Feoll bu brand!' Merlin's spell collapses part of the vault roof on top of Morgana, knocking her out. Merlin picks up a sword and runs to the Rowen staff.
'Snæde!' Merlin slices through the staff.
All around Camelot the skeletons fall and crumble to the ground. The knights quickly move to fight against cendred's army.
Arthur's pov
Merlin was standing beside me.
'Merlin, how is violet? I haven't seen her.' I ask.
'Shes okay.' He said. I nod.
'Sire?' Merlin asks.
'What is it, Merlin?' I sigh.
'I need to tell you something about Morgana.' He said.
'It's all right. We know what happened.' He was a bit taken back.
'You do?' He seemed surprised.
My father begins to speak. ' In my time, we've won many battles, but none so important as this. Every man, every woman and child has performed their heroic best, and I thank you, and I salute you all. Even before the battle, we knew there was a traitor in our midst, one who was almost the undoing of us. However, we have to thank the one person who outwitted them, and who - almost singlehandedly - turned the battle. The Lady Morgana.'
My father presents Morgana to the court and they applauded. I see violet sneak in the door way and make her way to a seat next to Percival who wraps and arm around her. She had bandages all over her but seemed to act as if she wasn't in pain.
'For it was she who bravely entered the vault, found the magical vessel, and destroyed it. We must be vigilant! We must stand firm against the dark forces of magic, and ensure that they never penetrate our walls again.' My father continues and the crowd cheers.
Merlin's pov
Gaius, violet and I were sitting at the table eating dinner. I had informed violet everything, but she already knew.
'Why is Uther so blind to her true nature?' I ask, taking a sip of my soup.
'I don't know, Merlin. It's a mystery. But Morgana will try again.' Gaius says.
'I'll be ready for her.' I say it more for myself than for Gaius and violet.
'You must be careful.' Gaius said in a stern voice.
'I'm not afraid of her, Gaius.' I say.
'You should be.' Violet says, wincing in pain as she stretches.
'No. All I feel for her is...sad. She's become so bitter, so full of hate.' I spit. I feel violet agreeing.
'Don't let that happen to you, Merlin.' She says.
'Nothing could ever make me that angry.' I say just as Arthur storms in the room.
'Merlin, Vioet!' He yells. 'Get your lazy backsides here!'
Violet and I mumble at the same time.
'Second thought.' I help violet up out of her seat. When she stands I look over at Arthur as he said.
'Never mind. Look after your sister.' He doesn't ask about the injuries and instead leaves.
'Dont worry, I'll get Percival and Gwaine to explain how you and I saved their lives and he'll give us they day off.' She laughs and we sit down to continue eating.
