A/N: I am SO sorry to everyone out there who is actually reading this and has been waiting upon me for so long. My upload timings are terrible, but I've had a lot of work to be getting on with in the past... well... however long since my regular updates. I promise to try and do better and get this finished for you all soon. But thank you so much to everyone who is reading, and to everyone who regularly reviews and says nice things. I really appreciate it!

"Oh shit!" Merlin said as he backed out into the street.
"Merlin, calm down," Arthur said, his voice lowered.
"But we said! Didn't we? More guards in the centre!"

"Look, it's alright…" Gwaine started, trying his best to calm the situation.

"Is it though? Is it?" Merlin squeaked, his voice rising a few pitches, "What if-?"

"Merlin, shush."
"Gwaine! We were right about this! You were right! And now…what the fuck are we going to do now?"
"Merlin, seriously, shut up."
"No, why should I?"
"Merlin!"

A moan echoed around them, and they all spun round, unable to tell the direction it was coming from.

"Eh, that's why…" Gwaine muttered, as a screech hit their ears.

"Where the fuck is it?" Arthur said, his sword raised and sweat beads starting to form on his forehead.

"It?" Gwaine said. "I think it's more like a few 'its'."

A growl sounded, louder than before, and a figure staggered into the middle of the street a few houses up. It stopped, cocked its head and stared at them through the gloom.

"Do you think it can see us?" Arthur said, and Gwaine tutted.
"Of course it fucking can!"

The figure let out a growl, and started to sprint down the road towards them, more emerging from behind the houses to follow it.

"Fuck," Gwaine breathed, already turning on his heel and grabbing the back of Merlin's jacket to get him into motion as Arthur shouted "GO!"

The three boys ran through the streets, their footsteps mingling with the sounds of screaming and screeching and growling of the infected villagers who they still couldn't place. They were nearly at the end of the road which would lead them back into the castle courtyard when a group of infected shambled out and, upon spotting them, started to shriek and growl, picking up the pace into a sprint.

"RIGHT!" Arthur shouted, and they skidded down a sidestreet with two groups on their tail. They were all feeling the run by now, their legs and lungs burning in the cold air, stumbling over debris in the paths and trying to keep ahead of the dozen or so behind them.

There was another moan, and a zombie lunged from out of the darkness at Gwaine, who swung his sword and managed to split its skull, spraying blood and brain matter as it crumpled to the ground, without losing too much time. He picked up his pace to catch up with Merlin and Arthur, and cast a glance behind him as he did so.

The group of infected charged over the body of their dead comrade without a second glance or thought, the bones cracking as their feet pounded on to him. a few stumbled over the body but were soon to get back to their feet and join the chase again.

Another three infected dove out of a house, hands outstretched, trying to grab at the men as they ran past.

"For fucks sake!" Gwaine shouted, and Arthur shook his head.

"Give us a break!"
"I hear you, mate!"

The castle courtyard was in view, and the guards at the gate looked bewildered to see their prince, one of his knights and his manservant sprinting towards the entrance.

"GET THIS CASTLE SECURE!" Arthur shouted, and they hesitated before starting the lower the portcullis Arthur's roar of, "NOW!"

The infected were visible behind them now, and they all unconsciously picked up the pace slightly, knowing that if they didn't, they would be trapped. They reached the castle entrance, and skid under the portcullis, all three collapsing on unsteady legs and breathing heavily just behind it in relative safety.

One of the guards looked down, "Er, sire?" he began, but the first of the infected hit the metal grill, hands reaching through, teeth bared and screaming at the barrier between it and it's pray. The rest soon joined him, and the guards looked down at the mass, pushing and snarling, with wide eyes.

Arthur used his sword to heave himself up, and turned to face the portcullis, Merlin and Gwaine watching from the floor behind him.

"What'd we do now?" Gwaine asked, and Arthur shook his head.

"I don't know."
"What are they, sire?" a guard asked, still staring. "Demons?"
Arthur shook his head again, "I don't know for sure, but what I do know is that you can't allow any of them to get in. do you understand?"
The guards nodded, and Arthur nodded once back at them.

"Eh, sire?" the other guard said, speaking for the first time, and Arthur turned to look at him. He was young, but decent at his job.

"Yes?"
"Have you tried arrows? I… well… it's just a thought. From up here, you could get a decent shot and maybe take them all out without being in danger…"

Arthur paused for a moment, thinking it over.

"I mean, it's probably a stupid idea but, you know…"

Gwaine looked at Arthur, and rose to his feet, legs stiff from the lactic acid build up, and Arthur smiled.

"You know, that might not be a bad idea."

The guard beamed, and Gwaine smiled back at him.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Ah… Edward."
"Nice to meet you, Eddie. You think you can handle this fight?"
"Erm…"
"Course he can," Merlin said, also standing up, and Eddie smiled again.

"Good," Arthur murmured. "Because we're gonna need all the help we can get."

He turned, and strode off towards the castle, Merlin at his heels.

"Eddie, don't let anything through these gates. Need any help, ring that bell, yeah?"

Eddied nodded and saluted Gwaine, who saluted back with a wink and jogged off behind the others.