In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young girl. Her name: Merlyn.
I'm in the lower town collecting water from the well, wearing a pale blue dress, my red scarf and my hair in a braid down my back with a few strands escaping to surround my face. I grab the bucket and begin to walk when I see my mother walking in the town.
"Mother?" I call out, smiling widely as I put down the bucket of water.
"Merlyn!" She exclaims, laughing, as she rushes towards me to hug me, but I notice a bruise on her face, so I stop her.
"What happened? Who did this to you?!" I ask her, worried for my mother and angry that someone hurt her, as I gently finger the bruise. I immediately take my mother to the palace, leaving her in the hallway as I enter Arthur's chambers to speak to him about my mother's situation.
"I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you, just this once?" I ask him, nervously and he turns to me curiously.
"Why? What do you need, Merlyn?" He asks cautiously, not agreeing to anything immediately.
"My mother just arrived and she has a bruise on her face. She told me that our village is being harassed by bandits. Do you think you could arrange an audience with your father?" I ask him and he nods.
"I'll see what I can do." He replies and I smile gratefully as I step out of the room to inform my mother of what's happening. A few minutes later, Arthur explains that his father is willing to listen to my mother's account so I lead her to the throne room. She stands before Uther and the court, while I stand next to Gaius.
"The winters are harsh in Ealdor, and there are many children. Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive. We barely have enough food as it is, and if Kanen takes our harvest, our children won't live to see another summer. Please, we need your help." She pleads and I feel my heart ache at the suffering my old home is going through.
"Ealdor's in Cenred's kingdom. Your safety is his responsibility." Uther replies, and I wring my hands, knowing he won't help them due to borders.
"We've appealed to our King, but he cares little for the outlying regions. You're our only hope." She informs Uther and he seems to think for a moment before replying.
"I have the deepest sympathy for you and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth."
"You'll help us?" She asks him, hopefully.
"I wish I could." He answers, deciding to not help Ealdor.
"Surely we can spare a few men?" Arthur questions, wanting to help the people of my old village.
"Resources are not the problem." His father admits and I bite my lip, having known the reason for his refusal.
"Then what is?" Morgana inquires, looking back at the King.
"Ealdor lies beyond the Ridge of Essetir. For an army of Camelot to enter it would be an act of war." Uther explains and my mother drops to her knees.
"I know you're a good king, a caring man. I'm begging you, help us, please." She begs and I feel my eyes well up at the sight of my mother, begging for help.
"The accord we've struck with Cenred was years in the making. I cannot risk hundreds of lives for the sake of one village. I'm afraid Camelot cannot help." He explains, sounding regretful. Morgana glares at Uther before walking over to my mother, and escorting her out, but not before I give her a thankful smile at her kindness towards my mother. After the meeting ends, I find Arthur looking over Camelot from the battlements and I approach to stand beside him.
"I'm sorry. If it were up to me, we'd be on our way there now." He assures me and I smile, knowing he would do anything to help the people who need it.
"You tried. And thank you for getting an audience with the King." I reply grateful for the opportunity to have my mother's situation heard.
"I wish that Camelot was able to help people regardless of how far away they lived." He informs me and I take a breath, wringing my hands as I prepare to say goodbye to Arthur.
"I'm going back to Ealdor." I confide, turning to face him and he turns to glance at me.
"Of course." He replies and I raise a brow before continuing.
"It's been an honor serving you." I inform him, tears brimming, and he turns to me, knitting his eyebrows in confusion.
"You'll be coming back." He states as more of a question and shrug my shoulders.
"Well, she's my mother. I have got to look after her before anyone else. You understand?" I question, realizing this is harder than I imagined it would be, saying goodbye to Arthur.
"I'd do exactly the same. Well, you've been terrible. Really, I mean it. The worst servant I've ever had." He tells me jokingly, and I laugh loudly, covering my mouth quickly and he smiles.
"Thank you, Sire." I say, my voice soft as I kiss his cheek before starting towards the castle.
"Merlyn. Good luck." He calls out and I turn, smiling, before I walk into the palace and head down to Gwen's house, because she wanted to help me pack for my trip. I'm finishing packing my leather satchel and I notice that Gwen is almost done with the larger pack.
"Here." She calls me over, pulling out a sword. I grab the hilt and test the weight of it.
"Tell me how it feels?" She questions, wondering if the sword works for me, and I nod.
"Yeah. Yeah that feel...that feels really good. It's very, erm, you know...swordy." I comment, grinning and she raises her eyebrows.
All that time with Arthur and he never taught you how to use a sword. I've packed some armour for you." She informs me and I smirk.
"I won't be able to carry all that." I tell her, chuckling slightly, when I hear the door, and I turn to see Morgana dressed in trousers and a corseted tunic.
"You won't have to. We're coming with you." She informs me and I knit my brows, looking between my friends.
"What do you mean?" I ask them, worried about what could happen to them if they do come.
"You're going to need all the help you can get. I can mend armor and sharpen swords." Gwen tells me.
"And I know how to fight." Morgana adds in and I gape.
"But y-y- you can't. I mean, why would you?" I ask them, wringing my hands nervously.
"Besides being our friend, if it was the other way around, you'd help us. You already have. You saved my life." Gwen reminds me and I shake my head, assuring her she doesn't need to help me in return.
"And you helped me get the druid boy out of Camelot. We owe it to you. Both of us." Morgana agrees and I try to argue that they don't owe me anything, but once it became clear they wouldn't change their minds, I gave in and headed to Gaius's chambers. I change into brown trousers, a red fitted tunic, brown belt, and my tan boots with my hair in a tight braid, with a few strands loose around my face.
"You got the food I prepared for you?" Gaius asks me as I finish packing my things and I smile.
"Yes." I inform him, with a sigh.
"Be careful with the wine. You know what you're like. One whiff of a barmaid's apron and you're singing like a sailor." He reminds me as he hands me a bottle and I chuckle before packing it.
"I'll be fine." I reply with a playful roll of my eyes.
"Are you sure you don't want an extra blanket?" He asks me, sounding like a worried father and I sigh.
"It's okay, really. I'll be alright." I assure him, smiling.
"Well, make sure you are. Do whatever it takes." He instructs me before pulling me into a hug. Later, Morgana, Gwen, mother and I set out on our ride for Ealdor, following the trail for hours before making camp in the woods once darkness falls. Morgana and Gwen fall asleep and I'm left sitting at the campfire with my mother.
"They shouldn't be here. Especially the Lady Morgana. Isn't she the King's ward?" She inquires and I look at my friend before smirking.
"Not that you'd know it. She's the only person I know who isn't frightened of him." I retort.
"It won't make any difference to Kanen that they're women. Or you for that matter, Lynnie." She informs me, sounding worried for us and I place a hand on hers.
"I know. But I couldn't talk them out of coming." I explain, smiling at my stubborn friends. I look back at my mother, and at the healing bruise on her face. "I want to make him pay for what he did to you."
"Promise me you'll be careful. No one can find out about you." She insists and I nod, understandingly.
"They won't. They never do." I assure her, since nobody in Camelot has found out in the months I've lived there, except Gaius but he doesn't really count.
"Get some rest." She tells me in a motherly tone before she goes to get some sleep. I take a burning stick from the fire and blow some embers into the air.
"Draca." I whisper and the glowing embers take the shape of the Pendragon dragon, and I smile as I think of the stubborn, blonde man with crystal blue eyes that I can't stop thinking about. I turn over in my sleep in the middle of the night and hear a horse in the woods. I draw my sword and walk through the dark woods, looking for the horse. Someone place a sword against my back and I inwardly curse as I realize that I shouldn't have gone off alone in the dark.
"I'd ask you for money, but I know you don't have any." Arthur retorts and I smile, immediately recognizing that voice.
"Arthur!" I exclaim, lowering my sword and smiling as Arthur looks down at my hand to see my sword and I notice he's wearing his chainmail.
"Put the sword down, Merlyn. You look ridiculous." He informs me as he takes it from me and I lead him to our camp. We both sit down by the newly stoked campfire as the others sleep.
"How much further is it?" I asks me and I look up at him.
"Er, maybe a few hours." I reply wringing my hands as I try to ignore the fluttering feeling in my stomach at my close proximity to him.
"How many men does Kanen have?" He inquires and I try to remember how many my mother mentioned.
"Erm, I'm not sure. I think, from what my mother said, maybe as many as forty." I inform him, rubbing my hands together.
"You should get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow." He suggests and I nod, smiling shyly.
"Thank you. Erm, I know you didn't have to come." I tell him, wringing my hands, with a smile on my face and he nods.
"Get some sleep." He instructs, standing up and going to lay down. I lay back down next to my mother and quickly fall asleep. The next day, the five of us set out for our ride to Ealdor. We arrive at Ealdor in time to see a man raise an axe to deal a final blow when Arthur throws his sword into the post behind the bandit, rides up, dismounts and begins fighting the bandits. I ride up and dismount with a sigh as I pull out my sword.
"Kill them!" The bandit's leader calls out, and I begin fighting a bandit as Morgana, my mother and Gwen arrive and dismount. I'm caught against a door in his sword fight.
"Hætende." I whisper and the bandit's sword heats up, which causes the bandit to drop the sword and I kill him. I notice a bandit attacks Arthur from behind, but Morgana parries and kills him and I sigh in relief. The lead bandit mounts his horse.
"You'll pay for this with your lives! All of you!" He threatens before riding away from the village.
"You still up to the same old magic tricks again? Look, I thought I told you I didn't want your kind around here?" Will playfully scolds me, smiling and I grin back.
"I missed you, too, Will." I admit before he pulls me into a huge hug, twirling me around and I chuckle.
"It's good to see you again." I tell him, after he set me down, smiling and he grins back.
"You look great, Lyn. How've you been? I, er, hear you're skivvying for some prince." He asks and I roll my eyes.
"No. I wouldn't say I'm a skivvy." I argue, wringing my hands.
"Merlyn! Gather the villagers, I need to talk to them." Arthur instructs and I nod.
"Yeah, in a minute. I'm just talking..." I object.
"Now, Merlyn. There isn't much time." He insists, and I sigh, giving Will a 'shut up' look and he smirks.
"Yes, Sire." I reply as hurry to Arthur's side after I gather all of the villagers.
"I know Kanen's kind. He'll be back. And when he is, you must be ready for him. First of all, we have to prepare for..." Arthur announces to the villagers.
"Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?" Will interrupts and I shoot him a look to stop.
"I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot." Arthur introduces himself and I wring my hands, knowing this won't go well due to Will's opinion on princes.
"Yeah, and, er, I'm Prince William of Ealdor." He retorts, scoffing and I frown.
"Keep quiet. He's here to help us." My mother shushes him.
"But he's made things worse. Kanen will be back, and when he is, he'll be looking for revenge." He argues to my mother before looking at Arthur. "You've just signed our death warrants." He bites out.
"He saved Matthew's life!" My mother objects.
"That's alright, Hunith. This is his village. What would you have us do?" Arthur asks him, having not been upset at Will's behavior.
"We can't fight against Kanen. He has too many men." Will informs him.
"So what's the alternative?" Arthur inquires of him.
"Give him what he wants." Will suggests and the villagers shake their heads.
"Then what? Those of you who don't starve to death will face him again next harvest! And the harvest after that." Arthur argues, sounding very much like a prince and I see several villagers nodding as Arthur speaks and I smile.
"We'll manage. We'll survive." Will insists.
"How?" A villager asks Will, not seeing a good outcome from appeasing the bandits.
"The only way he can be stopped is if you stand up to him." Arthur assures the villagers.
"No. You just want the honor and glory of battle! That's what drives men like you! Look, if you want to fight, then go home and risk the lives of your own people, not ours!" Will exclaims before storming off.
"Will." I call after him, giving Arthur a look before following him back to his house.
"You left. I told you I loved you and you just packed up and left the next day." Will reminds me coldly as he places a bench right side up and I cringe.
"Will, you asked me to marry you. You were my oldest friend, you showed no interests in my and then you were asking me to marry you. I couldn't believe you loved me in that way. Besides I couldn't stay here. People were already growing suspicious of me. I wasn't safe. I had to leave." I explain and he scoffs.
"We could have left. I would followed you anywhere, done anything to keep you safe because I loved you and you left for Camelot, a note delivered by your mother as a goodbye." He retorts as he waves a chicken away from the table and I sigh. "All you said was.."
"I'm sorry." I finish for him and he nods, as I help fix up the disheveled furniture.
"He knows what he's doing. You've got to trust him. Look, when I first met Arthur, I was exactly like you. I hated him. I thought he was pompous and arrogant." I inform him and Will rights a stand that has a chainmail shirt and tabard on it.
"Well, nothing's changed there, then." He retorts and I sigh.
"But, in time, I came to respect him for what he stands for, what he does." I continue.
"Yeah, I know what he stands for: princes, kings, all men like him." He replies bitterly.
"Will, don't bring what happened to your father into this." I plead, softly and he turns to me.
"I'm not. Why are you defending him so much? You're just his servant." He retorts and I cringe. My face must have given something away because he sucks in a breath. "Oh my god, you're in love with him, aren't you? That's why you're so quick to defend him. You love him." He surmises and I frown.
"It matters not what I feel, what matters is that he is a good man. He will help in any way he can." I respond, wringing my hands nervously and he scoffs.
"Jesus, Merlyn! He's a prince and you're his servant. You know this won't end the way you hope it does. He won't love you back, and even if he did, he couldn't do anything. A prince can't marry a serving girl! You aren't naive enough to believe that. So what, he'll just keep you around to stroke his ego? Maybe become his mistress after he's married a princess? I could have made you happy, Lyn. I would take care of you and give you a good life. I would love you instead of ordering you around and lording over you. If you give me the chance, I could make you happy. Just give us a chance." He ends his badmouthing of Arthur with a proposal and I gape.
"Will..." I whisper sadly, hurt by his words about Arthur and shocked by his declaration.
"But you won't will you? You'd rather turn down a life with me for a slight possibility of a life with him? You'll end up loving him from afar and wasting your life on a man who will never be available to you. And now you want the whole village to just follow along with what he says because you're smitten by his blue eyes and blonde hair. And we're just supposed to trust he won't get us killed?" He questions and I release my hands, standing straight up.
"I trust Arthur with my life." I assure him confidently and he lets out a humorless chuckle.
"Is that so? So he knows how you feel? He knows your secret, then? Look, face it, Merlyn You're living a lie. Just like you were here. You're Arthur's servant, nothing more. Otherwise you'd tell him the truth." He retorts and I feel a tear escape my eye and he cringes, guilty for making me cry.
"I am aware that I'm just his servant. I know he won't ever reciprocate my feelings and I appreciate you pointing that all out." I rudely reply before I quickly leave his house, wiping the tears away. Once back at my childhood home, we eat supper and everyone drifts to sleep, save me and Arthur. I'm sitting next to him by the fire since my bed is next to Gwen, who is fast asleep.
"Have you always slept on the floor?" He asks, referring to our makeshift beds and I nod.
"Yeah. The bed I've got in Camelot's luxury by comparison." I reply, smiling as I think of the comfortable bed in my old chambers.
"Must've been hard." Arthur comments and I smirk.
"Mmm. It's like rock." I joke back.
"I didn't mean the ground. I meant, for you. It must've been difficult." He elaborates and I think about it.
"Mmm. Not really. I didn't know any different. Life's simple out here. You eat what you grow and everyone pitches in together. As long as you've got food on the table and a roof over your head, you're happy." I inform him, smiling as I think about my childhood.
"Sounds...nice." Arthur comments and I giggle.
"You'd hate it." I argue, covering my mouth to stop the giggles as I picture Arthur tending the fields.
"No doubt. Why'd you leave?" Arthur inquires and I wring my hands as I think of a response.
"Things just...changed." I simply answer.
"How? Come on, you can trust me. Tell me." He assures me and I roll my eyes.
"I just didn't fit in anymore. I wanted to find somewhere that I did." I elaborate after a minute.
"Had any luck?" He questions and I smile slightly.
"I'm not sure yet." I admit before standing up to make my way over to my bed.
"We'll start training the men tomorrow. It's gonna be a long day. Get the candle." He tells me and I blow the candle out before settling into my bed and drift off into sleep. The next morning, I change into a blue fitted tunic with a brown belt, red scarf, tan trousers and my tan boots before I help Arthur into his jacket the next morning.
"You still not learned how to dress yourself?" Morgana teases him, and I smirk.
"You don't have a dog and fetch the stick yourself. No offense, Merlyn." He says, turning to me and I roll my eyes.
"None taken." I assure him, knowing he didn't mean anything by it.
"Prince Arthur, you didn't finish your breakfast." My mother tells him, holding out his bowl.
"Didn't I?" He questions as he takes the bowl.
"Come on, eat up." Morgana encourages and Arthur pretends to eat it before passing the bowl to Gwen.
"Right. Let's get going. We need wood, and lots of it." He instructs me and I nod.
"Of course." I tell him as Gwen hands my mother the empty bowl.
"Arthur said it was lovely." She replies kindly before walking out of the house.
"He must care for you a great deal." My mother comments and I feel my cheeks heat up as I put on my tan jacket.
"Arthur'd do the same for any village. That's just the way he is." I assure her, dismissing her implications.
"It's more than that. He's here for you." She insists and I sigh sadly.
"I'm just his servant." I inform her, remembering Will's cruel words from yesterday.
"Give him more credit than that. He likes you." She insists and I look to the ground, wringing my hands.
"That's because he doesn't know me. And if he did, I'd probably be dead by now." I explain giving her a weak smile.
"You don't really believe that, do you?" She asks me and I just shrug my shoulders before heading off to get an axe, and then I walk towards the woods.
"Merlyn! Where are you going with that thing?" Will calls out, catching up with me and I roll my eyes.
"What does it look like? We need wood." I retort, upset with him because of his words yesterday, as I walk into the woods.
"We both know that you don't need an axe to fell a tree." He comments as he follows me.
"And I remember the trouble it got me into. I nearly flattened Old Man Simmons." I remind him, chuckling at the memory.
"Ha. Yeah, well, he deserved it, stupid old crone." He adds in laughing.
"Mmm. He never did like me anyway." I remark, smirking.
"Well, even less after that." Will assures me and I chuckle.
"Why are you being like this?" I ask him, not understanding his behavior.
"You know why. Why did you leave? You didn't say in your letter and your mother barely talked to me." He informs me, walking over and sitting down on a fallen tree and I frown, sitting next to him.
"It wasn't what I wanted. My mother was worried. When she found out you knew, she was so angry." I explain, remembering the look on her face when I told her that Will knew about my magic.
"I wouldn't've told anyone." He assures me and I nod.
"Well, I know you wouldn't." I tell him, nudging his side playfully.
"You'd be able to defeat Kanen on your own, wouldn't you?" He asks me after a minute and I wring my hands.
"I'm not sure. Maybe." I admit, unsure of how powerful my abilities are.
"Well, so what's stopping you? So what if Arthur finds out?" He exclaims and I turn to him, releasing my hands.
"I don't expect you to understand." I answer standing up and turning away.
"Try me." He prompts standing up and I sigh, turning back to face him.
"One day Arthur will be a great king, but he needs my help. I'm destined to be his- And if anyone ever found out about my powers, I'd have to leave Camelot for good." I explain and he frowns.
"To be his what, Lyn?" He asks and I sigh, looking down.
"His wife." I whisper and he backs away quickly, hurt clear on his face.
"Are you telling me you'd rather keep your magic a secret for Arthur's sake than use it to protect your friends and family?" He inquires angrily and I hear him storm off, leaving me to magically collect wood before carrying it back into the village and walk over to Morgana and Gwen.
"There is no way they're going to be able to hold Kanen off." Morgana comments as she watches the men train.
"Men aren't the only ones who can fight." I inform them, confidently, and they both smile at me and Gwen examines her sword. Later, I'm woken to the sound of Morgana and Gwen whispering and I listen in, not turning over to alert them that I'm awake.
"Why do you think he came here?" Gwen asks her, and I lay still as I wait for Morgana's answer.
"The same reason we did: Merlyn. Arthur may act like he doesn't care, but he wouldn't be here if he didn't." She responds and I smile, blushing, as I hear her tell Gwen that Arthur cares about me before I slowly fall back to sleep. The next day, Arthur speaks to the men.
"We're not going to be able to defend Ealdor with sword and sinew alone. We're going to need a plan. We need to find some way of limiting their mobility and drawing them into a trap. If we fight them on their terms, then..." He's cut off by a woman's scream. Arthur and the men rush outside to see Matthew slung over a horse.
"Get him down from there!" Arthur calls out and the village men take Matthew down as other villagers gather around. Arthur reads the note that was on the arrow in Matthew's back.
"What does it say?" I ask him, wringing my hands.
"'Make the most of this day, it will be your last.'" He reads out loud.
"Matthew! No! No! No!" Matthew's fiance exclaims brokenheartedly as she runs over to his body.
"You did this! Look what you've done! You've killed him!" Will accuses Arthur, tears in his eyes.
"It wasn't his fault." I defend Arthur, giving Will a look.
"If he hadn't been strutting around, treating us like his own personal army, this would never have happened!" Will retorts, pointing at Arthur, and giving me a look.
"These men are brave enough to fight for what they believe in, even if you aren't!" Arthur retorts to him and I sigh, knowing this isn't helping anything.
"You're sending them to their graves! You killed one man. How many more need to die before you realize this a battle that can't be won? When Kanen comes, you haven't got a chance. You're gonna be slaughtered." Will finishes before storming off yet again and I trail behind him.
"Don't bother, Merlyn. I'm not interested." Will bites out as I follow him inside and I cross my arms.
"You should be. Because tomorrow Kanen attacks, and whether you like it or not, we'll have to fight." I inform him, upset at him for blaming Arthur for Matthew's death, knowing Arthur will blame himself more than enough without adding Will's accusations.
"Not if I'm not here." He argues and I sigh.
"Well, that's up to you, but the rest of us are staying. Join us, Will! This isn't about Arthur, this is about your friends. Are you really going to abandon them?" I ask him, pleading with him to stay and fight.
"What, like you did?" He asks me, coldly and I inwardly wince at that jab.
"I'm here now." I respond.
"Yeah. Yeah, you are. And you could end this. If you used your magic, then no one else would have to die." He reminds me and I give him a look.
"You know I can't." I bite back, having told him why I can't let Arthur know I have magic.
"Can't or won't? I'm not the one abandoning these people, Merlyn. You are." He accuses and I turn and leave his house, not wanting to talk to him when he's like this. I head back to my mother's house and Arthur is outside sharpening his sword, so I sit down next to him.
"William's father was killed fighting for King Cenred, so he doesn't trust anyone of nobility." I inform him, regarding Will's attitude towards him.
"Do you think the villagers believed him?" He asks me and I shake my head immediately.
"No. He's always been a troublemaker. They're used to ignoring him." I explain, a slight smile on my face.
"And if he's right?" Arthur questions and I turn to him, smile quickly gone, replace with a frown.
"He isn't." I insist, knowing Arthur is feeling guilt over what happened to Matthew.
"I'm treating these men like soldiers, and they're not. You've seen them fight. They...they haven't got a clue! You need to tell them all to leave the village before Kanen returns." He instructs me and I shake my head.
"No, we're going to stay. We're going to fight, and we're going to win." I argue, leaning forward, determined to not run away.
"Merlyn, it can't be done. The odds are too great." He tells me, sounding defeated and I frown, wanting to reach out a hand but, knowing I can't, I nudge his arm with my elbow.
"It can. We're going to make Kanen rue the day he ever came to this village. All you need to do is get the men ready for battle, and the rest will take care of itself." I assure him, smiling encouragingly.
"How?" Arthur questions and I sigh, knowing I can't tell him of my plan.
"You've just got to believe in them. Because if you don't, they'll sense it, and the battle'll be lost before it's even begun." I tell him instead and he nods. We all gather in the common building to go over our strategies.
"Tomorrow morning, the women and children should gather what belongings they can carry and go to the woods. Merlyn, you too." Arthur addresses the villagers and I roll my eyes.
"We're not going anywhere!" I argue, stepping past Gwen to stand in the front of the crowd.
"I know you want to help. The women can't stay here. It's too dangerous." Arthur objects.
"The women have as much right to fight for their lives as the men do!" I inform him, placing my hands on my hips.
"But none of you know how to fight." Arthur points out to me.
"The more of us there are, the better chance we stand!" I exclaim confidently and the women step forward.
"This is your home. If you want to fight to defend it, that's your choice. I'd be honored to stand alongside you. Kanen attacks tomorrow. Kanen's brutal. He fights only to kill, which is why he will never defeat us. Look around. In this circle, we're all equals. You're not fighting because someone's ordering you to, you're fighting for so much more than that. You fight for your homes. You fight for your family. You fight for your friends. You fight for the right to grow crops in peace. And if you fall, you fall fighting for the noblest of causes: fighting for your very right to survive! And when you're old and grey, you'll look back on this day, and you'll know you earned the right to live every day in between! So you fight! For your family! For your friends! For Ealdor!" He finishes his speech and I smile proudly as the villagers stand with their swords raised.
"For Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor!" We chant as everyone believes that we might just win this battle. I walk into my mother's house and hang up my jacket as I notice my mother sitting, looking deep in thought.
"Come here." She calls over so I sit down next to her and she strokes my face. "I do love you, my girl."
"What's wrong?" I question her worriedly.
"I should never have gone to Camelot. I've ruined everything for you." She admits sadly and I shake my head.
"You haven't. Why would you say that?" I ask her, taking her hands in mine.
"I know what you're planning to do." She informs me and I sigh.
"If it comes to a choice between saving people's lives and revealing who I really am," I begin, shrugging my shoulders, "there is no choice." I finish, smiling sadly.
"You can't let Arthur know about your gift." She insists, and I'm reminded of my argument with Will.
"Why not? Maybe it's meant to be this way. And if he doesn't accept me for who I really am, then he's not the man I hoped he was." I admit sadly, looking at the fire. The next day, Arthur stands watch by the woods so I decide to bring him some of my mother's home cooking.
"Arthur, Mum made you some food." I inform him, handing him the bowl.
"Thanks." He replies and I turn to leave.
"I think." I hear him mutter and I turn back around.
"Food is scarce for these people, you shouldn't turn your nose up at it!" I exclaim and Arthur stares at me. After a minute, it dawns on me and my eyes widen. "Oh, no. I-I shouldn't've spoken to you like that. I'm sorry." I apologize, wringing my hands as I silently berate myself for snapping at him.
"Merlyn." He calls and I start to leave.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking. It won't happen again." I continue, rambling.
"Merlyn!" He calls out, louder this time, and I turn back to face him.
"Thank you. You're right. And you were right to speak up. I should've listened to you, Gwen and Morgana." He admits and I smile. "We're going to need all the help we can get." He mutters and I nod.
"We'll be fine." I assure him, smiling confidently as I step forward.
"How can you be so sure?" He asks me, obviously doubting the outcome of the battle.
"Because I have faith in you." I confess, blushing as I realize how that sounds. "I mean, we all do."
"Thank you." He tells me, smiling at my words and I nod before leaving. Later, both of us are in our chainmail and I start to help Arthur with his armor but he stops me.
"No, not today. Put on your own." He instructs me and we begin dressing for battle. I struggle with the buckle on one of my bracers and Arthur helps me.
"You ready?" He asks me, placing a hand on my shoulder and I look up.
"My throat's dry." I admit and he smiles removing his hand.
"Me too." He agrees before holding out his hand and I shake it.
"It's been an honor." He assures me and I smile before wringing my hands and turning arounf.
"Whatever happens out there today, please don't think any differently of me." I plead, not looking back at him.
"I won't. It's alright to be scared, Merlyn." He replies, thinking I meant being scared and I shake my head.
"That's not what I meant." I object, my voice wavering as I turn to look at him.
"What is it? If you've got something to say, now's the time to say it." He informs me and I shake my head, walking out of the house. Arthur shakes the men's hands and we all go to our hiding positions just before Kanen and his men ride out of the woods, into the village.
"Hold. No one moves until they give the signal." Arthur orders and we wait as Kanen and his men stop, looking around the seemingly empty village.
"Hold." Arthur repeats.
"Come out, come out wherever you are." Kanen taunts.
"Now, pull!" Gwen exclaims as she and a villager pull up a hidden gate, trapping the riders inside. Morgana tries to light a fire with flint, but it doesn't work.
"Now, Morgana. What are you waiting for? Something's gone wrong." Arthur mutters and I rush off.
"Merlyn!" Arthur calls after me, but I keep running.
"There's one. Get her!" I hear Kanen exclaim and I dodge an arrow as I run.
"Kill her!" He orders his men and I dodge another arrow as I reach Morgana, who's still trying to light the fire.
"Give me the flint." I tell her and she hands them to me, while I pretend to use them. "Baerne." I whisper and I light a fire, causing the prepared line to flame up, trapping the riders.
"Come back! Don't run away!" Kanen yells and his men ride back into the village.
"Now!" Arthur yells and the villagers give a battle cry as they spring from their hiding positions to fight. I turn around to see a rider standing behind me, but Will jumps off a roof in his father's armor, unhorsing the rider.
"I didn't think you were coming." I admit with a smile.
"Neither did I." He agrees, grinning back and we move to fight back to back when I notice the villagers begin losing, so Will and I stop to assess the situation.
"There's too many of them." Will states, as we watch our friends fighting the bandits and I sigh.
"Not for me there isn't" I retort. "Cume thoden." I chant, conjuring a windstorm, causing the villagers to win and the remaining bandits to flee. Kanen marches out to face Arthur.
"Pendragon!" Kanen calls out and they fight, with Arthur winning, running him through before angrily marching towards me and Will.
"Who did that?" He demands and I raise a brow, trying to look confused.
"What?" I ask, hoping I sound convincing.
"Wind like that doesn't just appear from nowhere. I know magic when I see it. One of you made that happen." Arthur insists and I sigh.
"Arthur..." I whisper.
"Look out!" Will calls, pushing Arthur out of the way, getting hit with the arrow himself.
"Will!" I scream, rushing to his side, catching him as he drops to his knees, tears running down my face.
"You just saved my life." Arthur tells him, stunned, as he lowers him to the ground, his head in my lap as I cry.
"Yeah. Don't know what I was thinking." He retorts before groaning painfully.
"Come on! Get him inside!" Arthur calls out and a couple village men helps us carry him into Will's house and onto the table.
"That's twice I've saved you." He tells Arthur, flashing a pained smile.
"Twice?" Arthur repeats, confused.
"Yeah, it was me. I'm the one that used the magic." He elaborates, nodding, and I let out a whimper as I grab his hand.
"Will, don't." I argue, not wanting him to take the blame for me.
"It's alright, Merlyn. I won't be alive long enough for anyone to do anything to me." He tells me, and I sniffle. "I did it. I saw how desperate things were becoming and I had to do something." He explains to Arthur.
"You're a sorcerer?" He asks Will.
"Yeah. What are you gonna do? Kill me?" Will asks, chuckling and I squeeze his hand.
"No. Of course not." He assures Will before looking at me. "Do what you can for him." He instructs and I nod. Arthur puts his hand on Will's shoulder and leads Morgana, Gwen and my mother out of the house.
"I was right about him. I told you he was going to get me killed." Will comments and I shake my head.
"You're not going to die." I promise him, as I brush hair away from his forhead.
"You're a good woman, Merlyn. A great woman. And one day, you're going to be Queen to a great king. Now you can still make that happen." He informs me and I squeeze his hand.
"Thanks to you." I point out.
"This place has been boring without you. It was good to see you again." He confides and I smile at him.
"Yeah, you too." I tell him.
"Merlyn. Merlyn, I'm scared." He admits and I exhale deeply.
"Don't be. It's going to be alright." I promise him, bringing his hand up and kissing it comfortingly.
"Merlyn... I... love you.." He whispers before he stops breathing and I nudge his arm.
"Will? Will.." I ask before I inhale shakily, staring at my best friend. "Oh, Will..." I whisper as I bring his hand up to my face, kissing it, before leaving his house. The villagers build a funeral pyre and I stand next to Arthur, tears brimming in my eyes as I watch the flames.
"I'm sorry. I know he was a close friend." He apologizes sympathetically and I nod
"He still is." I correct him.
"You knew he was a sorcerer, didn't you? That's what you were going to tell me?" Arthur surmises and I nod.
"Yes. It was." I agree softly.
"You know how dangerous magic is. You shouldn't've kept this from me, Merlyn." He scolds me and I turn to him.
"Will wasn't dangerous!" I exclaim, tears falling down my face. "He was different, yes, but not dangerous! He was a good man, a brave man, and a great friend.." I trail off and Arthur wraps me in a hug. I sob into his chest as I mourn my friend who died keeping my secret safe. Once I'm done, Arthur walks over to Morgana and Gwen while my mother walks over to me.
"You better be going." She informs me and I look up at her.
"I don't have to go." I offer
"Yes, you do." She insists and I frown.
"If anything were to happen to you..." I trail off, concern in my voice.
"I know where to find you. You have to go, Merlyn. You belong at Arthur's side. I've seen how much he needs you. How much you need him. You're like two sides of the same coin." She explains and I smile.
"I've heard someone say that about us before. I'm going to miss you." I admit before I hug her tightly.
"I'm going to miss you , too. When you left, you were just a girl. Now look at you. I'm so proud of you." She tells me and smile as I join the others and we ride back to Camelot. Back home.