It was late morning, and Brianna had tacked up the horses. She mounted Isieldor, using magic to assist as he was a fair bit taller than her at the withers.
"Which am I riding?" Arthur stated, looking at the horses.
"They will decide whom they wish to carry. You shouldn't treat them as objects, Arthur, for your use."
Airama plodded up to him, looked him in the eye and then headbutted him. He pushed her head aside, not looking too impressed. She walked around him and then went up to Merlin. She blew at him, and sniffed. Merlin didn't move. Gorran approached Merlin at the same time and held his head right in front of Merlin.
"This is weird…" Arthur spoke as Airama nudged him with her behind, Arthur pushing back.
"I think it's sweet." Merlin said, reaching out to stroke Gorran's mane. He whinnied, and pushed his nose into Merlin's chest. Airama whinnied as well, forcefully knocking Arthur's head as she rested on his shoulder.
"It would appear they have chosen." Brianna said, trying to suppress her chuckling. The other two horses stood still in front of the men, patiently waiting to be mounted. Arthur was impressed by their training, but thought not to mention the word 'training' to Brianna who seemed to consider them as friends. Merlin happily mounted Gorran, and he leaped to catch up with Brianna in one smooth motion. Arthur climbed upon Airama.
"Why do I get the smallest one? I mean, why has the smallest one chosen me?" he asked rhetorically, but added the second part of his sentence to appease his companion.
"Because she is as spirited and strong willed as you are." Brianna stated, before turning Isieldor towards Camelot and breaking out into a gallop. Arthur's horse didn't even need to be told, she followed instantly. Gorran quickly took up the rear.

It was nearing nightfall, so they slowed their pace. Isieldor could run fast for a draught horse.
"This is where we part ways. Keep going forward, through the fog and trees. If all goes well I'll meet you back here. If not – well don't wait for me. If it gets too dangerous for you…just run. I'll try to meet you. Just buy as much time as you can. When you see Isieldor running towards you, it's time to run – even if I'm not there."
"Let me do this. It's my kingdom…"
"No. This is the best option. Besides, this is my fault. If it weren't for Nick, Morgana couldn't have done this."
"Your?"

Brianna didn't respond to Arthur's pick up of her slip of tongue. She pulled Isieldor to the side and sprinted off. Merlin tried to make his horse move forwards, but Gorran wouldn't budge. He whined, and Airama stamped her hoof and whinnied. She wasn't moving either, despite how Arthur kicked. Merlin tried jumping forward in the saddle, but Gorran just whined again, and then sat. Arthur cracked up laughing, seeing Merlin fall backwards out of his saddle when the horse sat like a dog. Gorran nickered, as if amused, and stood up again once he was sure Merlin was ok. Arthur dismounted and slapped Merlin on the back.
"It would appear we're walking." He said, still chuckling. Merlin pushed him away playfully, but Arthur just wrapped his arm around him. Grabbing the reins, the prince walked forward. Airama had other ideas, and yanked the reins skilfully from his hand. She then proceeded to turn a half circle, so that her rear end was facing Arthur. She blew indignantly.
"I think they're staying here. At least we'll know where to meet Brianna."
"If, Merlin. This is dangerous."
Merlin took Arthur's hand.
"Have faith. We have to be strong now."

Merlin and Arthur stepped through the forest. The night was foggy, and the moon was bright.
"How are we going to get Morgana out of the castle…er…fortress…thing?" Merlin whispered.
"I think she'll find out soon enough." Arthur said, and suddenly jumped around a tree, pinning a boy to the bark. He was frightened, and the clothes of Morgana's sentries hung loosely from his frame.
"Tell Morgana to meet me out in the clearing of the forest by the castle." He growled at the boy, and released him. He ran, quick on his feet, towards the fortress. Entering the edge of the clearing, the pair stood and waited.
Wedge you need to make the projection now.
On it…
Behind the two men, the wind began to swirl and sparkling light rose in a twisting tower, making the form of a dragon. It became solid, and moved exactly like Wedge would have.
"That's convincing…" Arthur stated, looking above and behind him.
"Now… we just wait."

Time passed slowly, and Merlin grew more nervous. The fog had settled heavily upon the ground throughout the forest. The silver moonlight pierced through the trees and illuminated the mist, leaving only the darkened silhouettes of trees to cast their ominous shadows upon the dense undergrowth. Silently, a tall woman stepped out of the forest.

Wedge had reached the castle walls, and skilfully jumped the wall by returning to her dragon self for the leap, then returning to human to walk on the inside.

"Morgana."
"Arthur. Merlin."
The sound of clinking scales and the thud of a large body stepping forward resonated throughout the silent scenery. A soft growl was heard Wedge became visible standing behind the two men. Morgana jumped ever so slightly, but was quick to regain her composure – I thought Nick had killed her.

Wedge silently ran to the central spire, through the spiked structures of the halls. There were two black cloaked guards, so she used a simple spell to knock a barrel on the far side of the hall over. They moved to investigate, and Wedge slipped through the door.

"Give it up, Morgana – we are three, and you are only one." Merlin spoke, nervousness clear in his voice despite trying to appear confident.
"Oh am I?" She cooed, a smile erupting from her ruby lips. She made not another sound nor movement, but a figure behind her stepped closer. It held the shape of a large wolf, with glowing purple eyes. But as it moved closer the shape changed, and out of the fog behind Morgana stepped a man - Nick. He was as tall as her, skinny, and dressed in the same neat rugged attire. He held a staff with a purple gem in the top which glowed dully in the dark. He wore the same determined expression upon his face.

Inside the spire, there were numerous guards. They jumped to attention as Wedge entered, pinning her to the wall with magic. She flicked the hood away from her face, and addressed the guards.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"None may enter." One creature rasped.
"Do you not think I would only enter here if I had permission?"
"None may enter." Came the repeated raspy tone. Wedge rolled her eyes.

"Well well well, if it isn't my nemesis – and your pathetic friends. I don't know how you survived, Wedge, but don't much care. All that matters is now. And right now, I am more powerful than you."
"Nick you –"
"Arthur Pendragon!" Nick shouted, snapping his attention to the man before him. "Morgana wishes to kill you so fervently, and I find myself asking why…what is it about you, and your manfriend Merlin, that causes such hate?" Nick asked, walking right up to Arthur and gently lifting his hand in the air, using magic to bring Arthur to his knees. He smirked as he stroked the side of the prince's cheek with the back of his fingers.

"Look, I have been summoned by the Lady Morgana to deliver her crystals of power to sit with the Lord Nick's."
The guard lowered Wedge onto the floor and reached out his hand.
"Give them to me, I will deliver them."
"Well if you want that responsibility, sure." Wedge tried to move her hand into her bag. "I need to take them out of my satchel!"
The magic released her entirely, and Wedge moved to put her hand in her bag.

"Death is so… easy for you. I envision you to rot by her hand for many years – just as men like you have done to her. And then maybe I will learn the truth of your history."
Morgana looked pleased, but she obviously wished to be the one causing her brother the pain. But she didn't move, she was eyeing Merlin and the dragon intently. She hated having to harm her kind, but it was necessary when they chose the wrong side to be on.

Wedge held a handful of assorted crystals. She made to give them to the man/creature before her, but didn't allow him to take it.
"Just so you know, they will only work if a female puts them on the pedestal."
The group of soldiers around her growled.
"We do not believe you."
"Why should you? Sure, go ahead, take them. Then you can explain to the Lady Morgana why her crystals no longer work! But make sure you tell her I am not responsible, I warned you, you forced me to –"
"Very well, approach." The man said to Wedge, poking her in the back.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Arthur stated, bluntly to the ground. He looked up and in one swift motion, draw his blade and ran it through Nick's chest. Nick coughed, eyes wide, watching Arthur stand up as he withdrew his sword. Merlin thrust Morgana backwards before she could react, and the dragon image roared.
"…But I have other plans." Arthur concluded, waiting for the sorcerer to fall down dead.

Wedge sent a thought to Isieldor to run to meet Arthur and Merlin…there was no way she could grab the crystal and exchange it for her fake without all the guards noticing. She weighed her options as she slowly approached the pedestal that sat between the two thrones. There is one way…perhaps….she thought as she reached out and dropped the coloured gems softly and slowly onto the stone around the large dark crystal. She used her magic to open the door enough to slam it shut again, and as the guards turned their attention to the noise, she quickly made the switch.

But Nick … didn't drop to the ground. What's going on? Arthur thought as Nick stood back upright. Nick started to chuckle, with the blood pouring down his front ceasing.
"You think it would be that easy?" he asked, and placed his hand over his chest to begin healing himself. Arthur was stunned, unmoving. Merlin ran up to him.
"Arthur we have to get out of here."
"But…how did he…?"
Merlin didn't respond, but instead pushed Arthur by the shoulder backwards towards the trees. They started to run.
"Stop them!" Nick shouted, and the dragon image jumped in front of the pair making for the forest. Morgana shot a beam of magic at the dragon, but it went straight through the image which then faded away.
"Gah I knew it!" Nick shouted, and then snapped his attention to the fortress. He suddenly pounced forward and sprinted towards where the crystal was as a wolf, knowing that the pathetic prince's stand was only a ruse. I know it's Wedge. Figures – only Wedge would endanger friends so carelessly. And pointlessly – she can't do anything with it anyway. Morgana watched him go, and walked behind him in his paw prints. She was secretly glad that the dragon lived. Ever since caring for her own, she had developed a bond with the race.