Finally, The Darkest Hour Part 1 is done. Please enjoy.
Chapter 11: The Darkest Hour Part 5
Later that morning, Camelot saw the knights of the round table climbing onto their horses. As Lancelot readied his horse, he spied Gwen coming closer. He stopped for a minute to greet her. Cade looked and watched. Reading their lips, a skill she had acquired in Everwick thanks to her cousin, Cai, Cade found that Gwen was asking Lancelot to look after Arthur. She grinned softly. That was her and Merlin's job!
Arthur, Merlin and Cade mounted their horses and it wasn't long before they were off. As they stopped some time later, Arthur began handing out jobs to everyone. "Elyan, look after the horses, they need watering. I need someone to volunteer to get wood."
"I'll do it." Merlin muttered. Lancelot shifted his gaze between Merlin, who was walking off, to Cade, who saw his look of curiosity and shrugged innocently. He dropped the bags he was holding and began walking after Merlin. Cade sighed and followed.
"You shouldn't be here." Lancelot said, at first only directing it at Merlin but then Cade as well when he saw her following. "You have no powers."
"Doesn't matter." Merlin said, bending down to pick up a branch. That was when Cade saw Micheal walking up to them. Apparently, he was feeling the same about the situation as Lancelot was.
"You two aren't warriors. I don't want to see either of you hurt." Lancelot said. He bent down to pick up some wood.
"I agree with Lancelot on this one." Micheal said.
"If you leave in the morning, I'll cover with Arthur." Lancelot said. Both Merlin and Cade gave him looks.
"It's your duty to protect Camelot no matter what the costs." Cade said.
"Well, it's our duty to protect Arthur." Merlin stated. Lancelot and Micheal stood straight and eyed the siblings. "Surely you can understand that." Merlin continued.
Lancelot walked closer, nodding. "I can understand that very well." he confirmed, handing the wood to Merlin. Micheal gently grabbed Cade's shoulder and she smiled.
The next day, they were riding again. "We need to reach Dayar Berth by nightfall." Arthur informed.
Night had fallen by the time they reached a crumbling old castle. "Pair off." Arthur commanded. "Find any wood you can. We need to get fires burning."
As the knights paired off to carry out Arthur's orders, they were immediately bombarded on all sides by varying screams of terror. Suddenly, a Dorocha flew in and though Arthur swiped his
torch up at it, nothing seemed to help.
"Come on!" Percival exclaimed. "We haven't got enough!"
"Go!" Arthur shouted.
Meanwhile, back at the campsite, Merlin was attempting to light the fire with rocks. He then looked around and muttered, "Bael on bryne!" Lancelot gave Merlin a look, who only shrugged. Cade smirked.
The knights were gathered around the fire, torches held high and eyes never leaving the surrounding area. Percival glanced at the burning wood. "It won't get us through the night." he said.
"It will keep the area safe for a while." Arthur said.
Soon though, Gwaine tossed the final piece of wood into the fire pit. "LAst one." he said. "Maybe we should draw lots to see who gets some more."
Arthur stood. "I'll go." he said. Lancelot stood as well.
"You'll need some help." He said and at those words, Merlin and Cade stood as well.
"We'll go with him." Cade said.
"You sure you're the right people?" Arthur quizzed. Lancelot sheathed his sword.
"Since when have you known how to collect firewood?" Merlin quizzed back. Thankfully, everyone laughed, which lightened the mood, even if it was only for a moment. With that, Merlin and Cade followed Arthur into the darkness of the old castle.
As they gathered the wood, it was usually Arthur guarding with a torch while Merlin and Cade gathered the wood. It wasn't long however, before a Dorocha came. "Merlin! Cade!" Arthur exclaimed and shoved against the siblings, causing all three to fall down a crevice, Merlin and Cade losing their hold on the firewood. It wasn't over yet. The screams of the Dorocha continued and Arthur, Merlin and Cade ran into the castle ruins to take shelter.
Back at the campsite, Lancelot and Micheal were pacing. "They should have been back by now." Lancelot said.
"Someone needs to go and look for them." Elyan said.
"We've only one torch between us. Who's coming?" Lancelot questioned, grabbing the torch and walking quickly away. Every knight drew their swords and followed.
Meanwhile, Arthur, Merlin and Cade had found a temporary hiding place. Merlin eyed Arthur curiously when he saw the older man shaking. Arthur glared at Merlin in return. "It's cold." he said.
Merlin nodded." Right." he said.
"You're not feeling it?" Arthur questioned when he saw that while Cade and himself were shaking, Merlin was not. Even Cade found that peculiar. Merlin just shook his head. "You know Merlin, you're braver then I give you credit for." As he said the last bit, Arthur peeked round the corner.
"Really? Is that a compliment?" Merlin asked.
"Don't be stupid." Arthur answered. That got all three of them laughing, softly. They peeked round the corner again. As they turned back Arthur said, "Of all the things I've faced, never worried about dying."
"I don't think you should now." Merlin said.
"Sometimes, you puzzle me." Arthur said. Merlin just looked curiously at him.
"You never figured me out." Merlin said. Cade scooted closer to Merlin and, wrapping her arms around his arm, buried her head in his shoulder.
"No." Arthur said.
"I always thought if things had been different, we would've been good friends." Merlin said. Arthur nodded.
"Yeah."
"That is if you hadn't been arrogant, pompous," Merlin said, smiling. Arthur smiled back, nodding slowly.
"We will defeat the Dorocha." Cade said, looking up at the prince. "We will, Arthur, together."
"I appreciate that." Arthur said, smiling slightly. "You know, you're both brave people. Between battles." Arthur said. Merlin and Cade snickered.
"You don't know how many times we've saved your life." Merlin said, causing another round of chuckles from Arthur.
"If I ever become king," Arthur began. "I'm going to have you made court jester, Merlin." They started laughing again. It stopped though, when the scream of a Dorocha startled them. "They say the darkness shines just before the dawn." Arthur said. Finally, a Dorocha flew through the wooden door directly at them. Arthur attempted to stand and fight, but Merlin pushed him back down, running out to face the Dorocha himself. Cade, who refused to let her brother die for any reason, kept her hold on his arm and, as a result, was dragged up with Merlin as her brother jumped into the path of the Dorocha. "Merlin, Cade, no!" Arthur exclaimed, a bit too late though. Both siblings were immediately clenched in the Dorocha's cold and were thrown back against the wall. That was the only moment when Cade finally released her brother as the warlock and witch slumped onto the floor.
That was when the knights finally found them. Lancelot swung the torch through the air, chasing the Dorocha away. "What happened?" He asked, handing the torch off to Percival. Arthur said nothing. He and Lancelot ran to where the siblings were lying on the floor, facing the wall, worried looks on their faces. Turning each of them over, they were met with the sight of both covered in frost, their eyes wide open and mouths slightly open, frozen in fear.
Once again, I ask that you guys review.