Disclaimer - I do not own BBC's Merlin or any of its characters/storylines

Marcus could not be more pleased, everything was working in his favour. By the end of the next day, everything that was holding him back would be gone. Amara would be dead, Aneirin would be in an eternal, waking death and Radceroy and his men would be destroyed.

Marcus smiled as he watched the men prepare for the battle that morning. The capture of their beloved Amara had ignited a fury he had never seen from the peace-loving druids. For once, they were willing to fight back and Marcus was ready to lead them.

For too long Marcus had to wait in the shadows, taking orders from those he considered beneath him. Aneirin had powerful magic but he was weak. He would choose to run away from his problems rather than stand up and face them. He made them all look like cowards! But no more. Aneirin was weak, scared to use his own power but Marcus wasn't. He knew his potential. Yet Aneirin chose Amara to lead after his death. A small, pathetic girl who could barely cast a spell without collapsing. He thought that through marriage he could take his place as the head of the camp. He did everything Aneirin wanted, following his every command, every weak ruling and yet Amara thought she was above him. Who was she to refuse him? She had her chance to stand beside him but she chose to stand next to that pitiful man. She betrayed her kind the moment she chose him. She and Aneirin betrayed them all the moment they considered peace. Now that Marcus was in charge, he could lead his people to glory. They shouldn't have to flee from feeble men. They were the strong ones and they were going to prove it the next day. Aneirin would rather have peace, but Marcus would have war! Soon, he would be a hero and no one would stand in his way.

"Bring the soldier!" Marcus commanded.

Marcus watched in satisfaction as Gwaine's limp body was dragged from the tent. Marcus smirked as he recognised the look of hopelessness on the man's face. He had given up. Without Amara, the man had nothing to live for. Marcus didn't know whether Amara was dead yet or not, but he really didn't care. As long as Gwaine believed her to be dead, he took great enjoyment in destroying the man and she would be dead soon enough.

"Today we fight! We fight to not only for Amara and Aneirin, but for all who we have lost over the years." The people cheered as Marcus spoke. It was too easy to get them to follow him. Marcus knew exactly what they needed to hear. "I know that, inherently we are a peaceful kind, but that changed today! Let us show them that they cannot step on us! Let us show them what happens when they mess with our kin, our family!" The people cheered in a loud uproar.

"Today, we march for Heaven's Edge, so when the invaders arrive we may attack from above. They have no idea what is waiting for them!"

Throughout the speech, Gwaine remained limp in his guards' arms. He didn't care anymore. Amara was dead, gone. Without her, there was nothing he cared about, there was nothing to fight for. All he could do, was wait to join her in the next world.

As the man approached her, Amara closed her eyes tightly and bowed her head, waiting for him to finish her. She sensed the man's shadow as he raised his blade above his head and quickly struck downwards.

I love you Gwaine.

Tensing, Amara waited for the pain.

But it never came.

After several moments, Amara slowly opened her eyes. Looking down, she noticed the rope binding her had become slack, gathering in her lap. He cut the rope. Slowly looking up at the person before her, Amara slowly reached up and removed the gag from around her mouth. Slowly standing, she remained close to the pole, still wary of who this person was.

Now at a closer distance, Amara recognised him as the boy from the bushes. Frowning, Amara increased the distance between them, walking backwards to the other side of the tent.

"Did you enchant him?"

His voice surprised Amara. It was quiet and shaky, revealing how nervous and confused he was.

"What?" Amara asked softly.

"Did you use magic on Gwaine? Is that why he fought for you? Why he cared for you?" With every question, the boy pointed his knife towards her, showing his concern for Gwaine. It was then, Amara's frown lifted.

"You're John. The boy Gwaine spoke of."

"Did you enchant him?" He shouted furiously, lifting his knife shakily towards her.

"No!" Amara said quickly, retreating in fear before adding quietly. "No. I would never use my magic like that."

"So his feelings for you …"

"They're real."

Finally, John slowly lowered his knife. As the men had been preparing for battle, John's guilt over the girl's death had led him to act. He knew that the girl's blood was necessary to lift the barrier and if he was going to help Gwaine, he felt that he should do something to stop that from happening. Radceroy had already said the girl was dead so he must have been keeping her blood somewhere. His plan had been to sneak into his tent and steal the blood before deciding what to do with it. But when he entered, he hadn't been expecting to see the girl alive and tied to the post. Changing his plan, he decided to free her, but he had to make sure she could be trusted.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"You don't." Amara said honestly. "But what do you truly believe? You saw us by the barrier. I believe you may have heard our conversation before Marcus attacked."

"You were talking about peace." John remembered. "About how to prevent bloodshed, prevent war."

"Then do you truly believe I enchanted him?"

"I've never seen anyone enchanted before." John paused. "But I don't think he was. If you wanted peace, it would be against your own interests to enchant him. But why did the other sorcerers capture him?"

Amara's eyes widened in realisation as she remembered what had happened to Gwaine.

"Marcus." She whispered anxiously. "John, I have to get back to my camp! An evil man has tricked my people and if we do not hurry, he will kill Gwaine! We have to save him!"

"Was he the man that attacked you?" John asked.

"Yes. I knew he was angry I refused his proposal but I never imagined he would go so far." Amara paused, frowning as she thought about his actions. "He attacked Aneirin too, placing him under some dark magic." Amara's eyes opened in realisation. "He wants to rule. That's why he wanted to marry me, that's why he attacked Aneirin. He hoped Aneirin would die in the battle between our camps and with me as his wife he would rule our people. But when he overheard us discussing peace, he realised all his plans would have been ruined. He did this to get us out of the way."

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounding of horns from outside the tent.

"They are preparing to leave." John realised, looking back to Amara and handing her a cloak from behind a chair. "We have to leave before Radceroy comes back for you."

Amara nodded, putting on the cloak before taking John's hand and allowing him to sneak her out of the tent. With the hood concealing her face, they took advantage of the camp's chaos and ran quickly into the shelter of the woods.

Once they had reached the barrier, Amara paused. She had never allowed anyone past the barrier before. She wasn't sure she knew how. Only the defenders were trusted with the secret.

"What's wrong?" John asked.

"Gwaine will be with my camp beyond this barrier. I don't know if you will be able to cross with me."

"If Radceroy finds out what I've done, he'll kill me." John said worryingly.

"I know. Give me a moment. I want to try something."

Placing her hand on the edge of the barrier, Amara closed her eyes and breathed slowly, inhaling deeply. She allowed her spirit to call out for the help of her ancestors. Their magic allowed the camp to form the barrier in the first place, so surely they would know how to allow a single person through without disarming the entire shield.

As she called them, a gentle wind formed, picking up the leaves in a swirl around her.

"We know why you call on us" Voices whispered. "Why ask us for what you already know. You have magic in your blood, use it."

As the wind dissipated, and the voices faded, Amara slowly opened her eyes. She knew what to do. Looking down at her hand, she turned to John.

"Give me your blade."

"What?" John said shocked.

"The magic from the barrier is in my blood. It can dissolve the shield but it can also be used to allow chosen people to enter." Amara held out her hand gently. "Give me your blade."

John tentatively took out his blade and placed it in Amara's hand. Amara smiled before taking the knife and slicing her hand, creating a small cut.

"Give me your hand."

John did not move, still wary of the magic he knew this girl possessed. "What are you going to do?"

Sensing the nerves and distrust in the boy, Amara slowly stepped forward. "John, look at me." Removing his eyes from her bleeding hand, John looked into Amara's eyes. "My name is Amara, and you have nothing to fear from me. I will not hurt you, but I will not force you to do this. The choice is completely yours."

Pausing, John hesitantly held out his hand to Amara. Smiling Amara took his hand so their palms were touching. Ignoring the sting of pain that came from her hand, she began the spell.

"Caniatáu hud sydd yn fy ngwaed i gael ei rhannu gyda dyn hwn o galon bonheddig." (Allow the magic in my blood to be shared with this man of noble heart.)

Amara sighed as she felt a rush of magic sweep through her body and towards her hand. A she felt it leave through her cut, she sensed the enchantment enter John's body. Taking his hand gently, she led him slowly through the barrier.

"It worked." John whispered.

"Yes." Amara replied. "But now we must go and find Gwaine before it is too late."

Radceroy was furious. With all preparation having been completed, he returned to his tent to collect the druid girl, only to find her gone. Destroying anything in sight in his fury, he called for his commanders.

"Where is she?!" He yelled. "Hunt her down! Where are the guards who were meant to be guarding her? I want them punished!"

"M-my lord." A commander interrupted, nervously. "The guards say the young boy told them he was to take their place as a reward for finding the girl."

"The boy." Radceroy growled. He should have known that wretched boy would have grown a conscious. He was weak, not seen enough to know the true evil in the hearts of those with magic. As he paced in his tent, desperately thinking of how to hunt the two down, his eyes were caught by a small patch of red by the post the girl had been tied to. Kneeling closer, Radceroy inspected the drops of blood that had fallen to the ground after he had cut the girls cheek. Removing his dagger, he smiled when he noticed it was still covered in the girl's blood.

"Call off the hunt." Radceroy ordered. "Tell the men, we march for the barrier!"

Oh dear, Radceroy still has Amara's blood. How will this turn out?

Thanks for reading. There may be a slight delay in the next update as the next chapter will be a long one :)