Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter 10 – Reclaiming Camelot
Arthur wasn't sure how he felt at the looks of complete adulation his people showered on him in the minutes and hours after pulling the sword from the stone. Somehow, word of 'Gaius' story – and he was still not convinced it wasn't Merlin's story – had reached every single person hidden in the woods, and though many said they had never doubted him, Arthur could still see a certain amount of relief in their eyes. Even Tristan, disliking Arthur as he did, could not deny that there must be something about him if he could pull out a sword stuck fast in solid rock that was rumoured to have been there for centuries, though many had tried to pull it out before Arthur.
"What about the drawbridge?" Arthur was now leading the strategy for the attack they knew they would have to wage on Morgana.
"Well manned." Leon replied.
"As are the northern gates." Added Percival. The two knights had taken command of those gathered in their King's absence and had naturally led reconnaissance missions to determine how best to get back into the town and citadel.
"The battlements on the south side?"
"Arthur, even if we can get inside she has an army." Percival hated to be the bearer of bad news, even news that was well known, but someone had to do it.
"And we have what? A few hundred?"
"They still outnumber us."
"Yeah, but only three to one." Arthur replied as if he favoured those odds. Leon scoffed, knowing well after all these years that Arthur had never let such odds stop him and would not start now.
"And the people will fight?" Isolde asked.
"They'll fight for Arthur." Leon said with great conviction.
"It's not me they have to fight for. It's for Camelot. And even all of Albion."
"No Arthur. It is you the people love." He insisted. "And you they will lay down their lives for. I know that I would ride into the mouth of hell for you."
"And I." Percival agreed. Guinevere reached over and grasped his hand, smiling up at him softly in answer.
"And I." Merlin added as well after a moment. Arthur looked to each of them in turn, feeling somehow that it was this that perhaps made him worthy to be king, rather than pulling out the sword.
"To the mouth of hell it is." The plan was set and that night the spirits of all who had escaped Camelot were higher than they had been in days. Arthur and Guinevere both took the time to make the rounds to their people, checking on them and trying to assure them of victory while making no actual promises, for they knew they couldn't. As darkness fell, Arthur left his wife conversing with a group of women and children – under the watchful eyes of Leon – as he took a moment for himself. Or at least intended to, though Merlin would not leave him alone for long.
"You all right?"
"Yes."
"Do you think there are too many of them?"
"The Southrons are men like you and me. Men we can fight. But Morgana…her power is great, and we've got nothing to answer it with.
"I never finished Gaius' story." Merlin said suddenly.
"Not now, Merlin, please." Arthur groaned.
"Would you just listen? When the sword was thrust into the stone, the ancient king foretold that one day it would be freed again, at a time when Camelot needed it most. The man who freed it, would unite the land of Albion and rule over the greatest kingdom the world has ever known. That man is you, Arthur."
"You're making this up." He said, a highly doubtful look on his face.
"Why would I do that? Your head's already as big as your waist." Merlin defended. "I believe it though. And I believe in you. I always have." While he was still not convinced that what Merlin said was the truth, Arthur could not deny that it had bolstered the people's hopes and made them willing to fight once more, no longer believing that re-taking Camelot would be impossible. That fact alone meant that their odds of surviving were higher, for people who had hope and something to live for fought harder to live, and so Arthur could do nothing but go along with it. The following morning found their small army preparing at first light, though one simply stood there.
"Wakey wakey." Arthur snapped his finger in front of Merlin's face. "You look like you've been up half the night." If only he knew the truth, Merlin thought. The warlock had taken Arthur's words to heart about not having a force strong enough to fight Morgana, and knowing that he couldn't use his magic much, if at all, during the battle he had decided to do something about it beforehand. However, Arthur did not need to know that.
"I was. Couldn't sleep." He merely said.
"I thought you said you had faith in me."
"What ever gave you that idea?" Merlin sent him a look and Arthur shook his head before walking away. He met up with his knights for some last minute planning before going to say goodbye to his wife, who was currently speaking with Tristan and Isolde.
"This is where we say goodbye." Arthur said as he came up beside them and wrapped an arm around Guinevere, briefly noting she'd exchanged her dress for a tunic and pair of breeches.
"Arthur," Tristan said after a nudge from Isolde. "All my life I've shied away from other people's wars, and despised the power and wealth that kings by with the lives of men. But you've shown yourself to be different." Whatever Arthur had expected Tristan to say it was not that.
"You have shown us that you fight for what is right and fair." Isolde added. "And for that reason we would like to fight at your side." Arthur looked between the two, noting the sincerity in both either eyes and smiled.
"I'd be honoured to fight with you by my side, as equals."
"Our side." Guinevere corrected, earning her husband's ire.
"Guinevere-"
"These are my people too, Arthur. Do not think to keep me out of this battle." Suddenly her attire made sense.
"You are The Queen of Camelot, and-"
"Yes." She interrupted once more, a stern look on her face. "And you are The King of Camelot, yet you fight. That argument does not hold water, Arthur, my title has nothing to do with this. I may not be as good with a sword as you are, but I can fight. I think I proved that when we went to Ealdor those years ago." Arthur looked like he wanted to protest, but she would not hear of it. "Do not think you can overrule me in this, Arthur. It will not work." With a glare for good measure she walked off and joined Leon and Percival where they were passing out weapons – many of which were simply pitchforks or even shovels – and took a sword for herself; Arthur could tell by the knights' panicked looks and Guinevere's hands on her hips that they were attempting to give similar arguments to keep her out of the battle and failing just as spectacularly as he had.
"It seems we both fell in love with strong women who will do as they will." Tristan said in amusement. "I've learned it is best to simply give in. Saves a lot of time and ensures she's not angry with me."
"And don't you forget it." Isolde said before going to join Guinevere. They left camp just as the sun was rising and made it to the citadel in less than an hour. The patrol appeared negligible at best and Arthur tried not to scoff at the lack of lookouts, knowing that while Morgana may be complacent now, she did have a whole army at her command and they would be facing it soon enough. They made it inside the citadel before their arrival was announced by the tolling of the bells. With an understanding nod passing between Arthur and his First Knight, everyone split up into two groups. The largest group were under Leon's command and immediately made their way for the dungeons. Their goal was to get the prisoners out before splitting into two groups themselves, one to take the injured to safety while the other continued on further into the citadel. They arrived at the dungeons with little fanfare, quickly dispatching the few guards and finding their friends.
"You all right?" Percival asked. Elyan shot him a look.
"I've been locked up with Gwaine for a week." The hulking man laughed as he and Leon opened the cell door, Leon going to help Gwaine who was injured, while Percival went to help Gaius; the old man was not in good shape. It was leaving the dungeon that proved to be more difficult. With their arrival known, a few dozen guards had been sent to meet them, and with the injured to protect and the tight space of the narrow corridors, it was not going to be an easy battle.
oo00oo00oo
While Leon's group headed down into the dungeons, Arthur's headed upwards towards the presence chamber, knowing that with it being more defensible than the throne room, that would be where Morgana holed herself up. They met many guards along the way, but they fell one by one, being no match for Arthur and the trained Knights of Camelot. They were also no match for Tristan or Isolde, both who knew how to use a sword well, and even Merlin and Guinevere held their own, though given their lack of skill compared with the others, they handled only those few that got past the others. Eventually the number of Southrons they faced sent Arthur's group in different directions, leaving only Arthur, Guinevere, Tristan, Isolde and Merlin together, the only five to make it to the presence chamber.
"Whatever happened to finding a bit of land and settling down?" Isolde joked as she cut down another Southron. Tristan shrugged but promised to reconsider if they lived through this.
"You know this thing's not bad." Arthur was surprisingly impressed with his new sword and Merlin tried not to roll his eyes; of course Arthur would call an immortal blade 'not bad.'
"I thought you might like it." They had arrived outside the presence chamber and each took a steadying breath, knowing what awaited them.
"Ready?" Arthur asked. When the others nodded he kicked open the door.
"For the love of Camelot!" They cried, barging in and coming to a stop as they saw the woman sitting on Arthur's throne, Helios at her side.
"Welcome, dear brother. It's been far too long." Her tone was mocking and it only angered Arthur more. "I apologize if you had a difficult reception. It's hard to know who to trust these days." She stood from the throne and brother and sister approached each other, Arthur holding up the sword that, if Merlin was to be believed, proved that he was the true King of Camelot, though Morgana gave no sign of recognizing it.
"What happened to you, Morgana? I thought we were friends."
"As did I." He saw but a glimpse of the girl he used to know as she said that, as if he was the one to have betrayed her, but it was gone quickly. "But alas we were both wrong."
"You can't blame me for my father's sins."
"It's a little late for that. You've made it perfectly clear how you feel about me and my kind. You're not as different from Uther as you'd like to think." She spat.
"Nor are you." Morgana's expression darkened.
"I'm going to enjoy killing you, Arthur Pendragon. Not even Emrys can save you now." Arthur, raised his sword, preparing for battle as the others followed suit.
"Your blades cannot stop me." She laughed before raising her hand. "Hleap on bæc!" Nothing happened and Morgana faltered in surprise. "Hleap on bæc!" She tried again, her eyes widening in horror as her magic failed her once again; from the back of the group Merlin suppressed a smile.
"Not so powerful now, my lady." Arthur said, seeing that, at least for now, she had no magic. Morgana stumbled backwards and Helios stepped forward, blade raised. "After her!" Arthur cried when Morgana fled, Merlin and Guinevere going to follow her while Arthur, Tristan and Isolde handled Helios and the few Southrons who joined him. All three fought hard, though eventually Helios managed to get the upper hand against Arthur. Just as he was about to finish him off, Isolde dashed forward and stabbed Helios in the back. It appeared that the battle was over, but at the last moment Helios turned, swinging his sword as he went and landing a powerful blow against Isolde.
oo00oo00oo
Having gotten separated from Merlin, Guinevere cautiously crept up a corridor, raising her sword when she heard footsteps that sounded just as hesitant as hers. Unsurprisingly it was Morgana and the two former friends wasted little time in engaging enough other in battle.
"What did I do to make you hate me so much?" Guinevere asked, having never gotten an answer to that question. She'd loved Morgana as a sister and up until she'd betrayed Arthur and Camelot, had always been loyal to her mistress.
"You took my crown." Morgana snapped back. "But it's not really what you did, but what you're destined to do. And I'm sorry, Gwen, but I can never let that happen." This only confused Camelot's Queen more, but she let it go as she found she had to concentrate on the battle. While she could hold her own with a blade, Guinevere could not claim to be highly trained while Morgana was, Uther having indulged her as a child. As such it was no surprise when the witch managed to disarm her former maid, levelling her blade at Guinevere's throat. She thought it was over, that she would never see Arthur again, but fate apparently had other plans for just as Morgana prepared to deal the fatal blow, she was blown backwards, half of the corridor crumbling around her. While Guinevere thanked god for her survival, she did not see Merlin standing behind her, hand raised and a golden glow fading from his irises.
"Are you all right?" He asked, pretending to have just come upon the scene.
"Yes." She nodded but her attention was on the spot where Morgana had stood moments ago. "What happened?"
"I don't know." He tried not to say too quickly. They both approached the area cautiously, wondering if Morgana would come up swinging, but when the dust cleared enough for them to see, it was to find that Morgana was gone. With nothing left to do there, they turned around and went back to the presence chamber. They passed several of Camelot's Knights along the way, none of who had their weapons drawn and so they knew that the fighting was over. Arthur had his wife wrapped up in his arms before she could more than two steps inside the chamber, but she didn't mind, just as happy as he was that they were alive. It appeared though that the other couple weren't so lucky: Tristan was holding Isolde who was clearly dying.
A/N - Yeah I know its only been a day, but I'm stuck in bed and dying of boredom, so don't really have anything else to do.
Anyways, moving away from canon more in the upcoming chapters, though there will be more "episode" chapters, for lack of a better term for them.
Review please!