A/N: So the war has started, who will live and who will die. The story is coming to an end, after this chapter there will be 2 or 3 more chapters.

xxx

Merlin quickly changed the bandage on the unconscious knight's arm. He sighed seeing the man's pain filled face, how he wished he could use magic to relief part of his pain. He tried to ignore the many battle cries he heard from outside, knowing that with each one men got hurt, or even worse, found the death.

It was when he turned to another injured man that he stopped and dropped all the bandages he held in his hands. His eyes growing wide with fear and terror hearing the large explosion outside, it was so close to them. He quickly locked eyes with Gaius, which looked also rather concerned at him.

But what was even more terrifying then the explosion was the energy that came of it, a cold and dark power. There was only one person as dark and wicked as that, no... that wasn't right, there were two persons. Alice and the king, but the king wasn't able to use magic, so that meant it could only be one person.

He slowly walked to his older friend, letting his hand rest on the man's shoulder. 'She... she is here.'

Gaius looked confused at him. 'Who is?'

'Alice...' He whispered to the man and Gaius froze staring shocked at him. '... I have to help.'

'You don't have to do that, you can just let the knights and Arthur handle it.'

'But she uses magic, it isn't like they have any defenses against her.'

Gaius sighed. 'She probably wants to capture you again.'

Merlin bit his lip, it may have happened once, but he wouldn't let her take him again. 'I know, but it won't let it happen again... If she wins than she would certainly take me and I don't want to know what will happen with you and the others.' He eyed to both Gwen and Morgana.

'You don't have to worry about us.' He replied, but his voice showed that he didn't even know that for certain.

The raven turned back at his older friend. 'They will see you as an traitor, you choice to stay in Camelot, remember?... and Morgana and Arthur, they are Uther's son and ward. I don't want to see them die, I don't want to know that someone I care for dies, not again... I couldn't do anything for my people, I don't even know who are still alive, if somebody is still alive.' He turned away, not knowing how the man would react by his next words. '... Have you heard of the prophecy of the once and future king and Emrys?'

'Of course I know... but what has that to do with this?' The man sounded clearly uncertain about what would happen next.

'Arthur... Arthur is the once and future king...' He saw the shocked eyes and it was clear that Gaius understood what more he would tell. '... and I'm... Emrys.'

The man looked at him with both shocked and concerned eyes before sinking down in the chair behind him. 'I... you... yes, that sounds right, but...' He straightened his back. '... Arthur is a good man, I trust you to take care of him... and of yourself.'

A grin spread over his face and he threw his arms around the older man. 'I will... stay safe.' Without saying another word he turned around and ran towards the door. He looked once back at the man before stepping into the hall.

xxx

Arthur ran, ignoring the pain from the wounds on his body. But he couldn't give up, he wouldn't give up, he had to protect everyone he held dear. his sword clutched into his right hand and his eyes fixed ahead.

It was another explosion that caused his heart to clench even more together. His pace going even faster and he coughed when the smoke of the explosion reached him, he stopped knowing that it would be idiotic to run while he wasn't able to see anything. He coughed again in the back of his hands, feeling the smoke irritate his longs.

When the smoke started to dissolve his eyes jumped from left to right, wanting to know if he was around friends or enemies. It was when he saw pitch black hair that both fear and happiness spread through his heart. It where a few steps that he took and by the last one he almost jumped to the boy, taking him in his arms and pulling him towards the walls, searching for its protection.

'What're you doing here?' He hissed to him, more because he wanted to protect the boy then because he was angry.

Merlin stared at him for a moment. 'I want to help.'

'But Alice is here!'

The raven glared at him. 'I know.' Arthur blinked at his reaction, was he really that stupid when he knew she was out here. 'But I want to help.'

'With what, you don't know how to use a sword!' He shouted to the druid.

'I can use my magic!' Merlin was smart enough to not shout it, but he hissed his words.

'But-.'

'Arthur! We're two sides of the same coin, we have to work together.' Merlin glared at the blond. 'I know Alice is here, but I won't let her take me again.'

'But-.'

'I can help you!'

Arthur took a deep breath, while looking at his friend's stubborn face. 'Fine, but... you have to look out for yourself, okay? Don't do anything heroic and stupid.' Merlin's face spread in a wide grin and Arthur rolled his eyes. 'Idiot.'

'Prat.'

The prince gave him a quick smile before grabbing the raven's hand and dragging him away. 'Stay close.' He ordered when releasing his hand and walking up the stairs, sword tightly in his hands while listening to the sound of the boy following him.

But immediately in the hall they encountered four enemies. Arthur killed the first man, which wasn't recovered from the shock of the prince rushing inside yet and did nothing to defend himself. Immediately after he aimed for the second one, but the man was able to block his attack.

But while he held his sword against his opponent's he could hear the sound of metal rushing through the air, towards him. Arthur kicked the man in front of him away, turning around to face the other one, but before he even realised what was happening the man let out a pain filled shout, while being sent flying towards the wall.

The blond blinked for a moment and looked at Merlin, seeing how the boy had raised his hands, while his eyes turned back to their own deep blue colour. Turning his head even further to the side he saw the last man lying unconscious against the wall. He turned his attention back to the last enemy still alive and consious, he ran his sword through the man's heart.

Behind him he could hear the druid making a small pain filled sound and Arthur let out a sigh. Arthur knew Merlin wanted to help, but at the same time he had to kill if he wanted to be by Arthur's side and the boy didn't want that, but there was no other choice, not now. Again he asked himself why Merlin was with him, he was such an innocent and kind soul, he shouldn't even be in a war like this.

'You can still go back to Gaius.'

He saw Merlin shiver for a moment. 'I won't.'

Arthur opened his mouth to comment, but was interrupted by a stern voice shouting to him. 'Arthur!' He immediately turned around seeing his father rushing towards them. 'How did they get into the castle?!' The king's voice sounded angry, his eyes shooting fire. He could hear Merlin gasp behind him and the boy tried to hide himself behind the prince.

'They... they broke through our defenses.'

The king let out one deep frustrating sigh. 'Do you at least know who their leader is?'

'A woman named Alice.' He replied while trying to stand straight in front of Merlin.

The king gave him a quick nod. 'I have heard of her, she caused us a lot of trouble in the past.' His eyes shifted to Merlin. 'And who's this?'

The raven gasped in shock and the king narrowed his eyes. The prince's reaction was not much different from the druid's. 'Uhh... this is Gaius' new assistant, he's here to see if he can be of any help in cause we find some injured man.'

Uther slightly lifted his brow. 'I haven't heard of that.' He walked past Arthur towards the druid. 'What's your name boy?'

'Ehh... Merlin.. my name is Merlin.' He gulped once. 'I have been Gaius' assistance since yesterday.'

'I see.' The king decided that Merlin wasn't worth anymore of his attention and turned back to his son. 'I want you to kill Alice and all of her followers, don't disappoint me again!' Without another word the king turned around and walked away.

When the king was out of their sight he could hear the boy sigh in relief and he sank to the floor. Arthur kneeled down next to him. 'You did good, but get up, we still have a lot to do.'

Merlin gave him a nod and didn't reply any further, he quickly stood up and smiled at his prince. The prince turned around and ran forward, hearing Merlin's footsteps right behind him. They only once encountered a enemy, who immediately fled when he saw the two of them.

Arthur stopped in front of the two large door which led to the throne room. He stared at them, unsure of what he should do and turned around to face Merlin. The boy looked back and then eyed the doors. 'You think they're in here?' The raven whispered to him.

The blond gave him an unsure nod. 'I think so...'

'Then go for it.' The warlock encouraged him.

Arthur gulped, but reached for the handles. In his head he counted to three, before pulling the doors open. Immediately his eyes looked inside and he knew that his fears were right. Alice sat on his father's throne, looking amused at the two of them.

'Welcome little prince, oh... and of course welcome to you too Emrys.'

Arthur slowly walked inside, feeling his anger rise with every step he took, while still making sure to keep an eye on every of Alice's followers. He stopped in the middle of the room and Merlin stopped next to him. 'That throne is not yours.'

'Then who should sit on this throne?'

'Arthur!' Merlin replied in a loud voice, looking dangerously at the woman.

She gave him a small amused smile. 'You must be delirious my dear Emrys.'

'He should be on the throne, because he's the once and future king!' Those words caused all of the sorcerers in the room to look shocked at the two of them. Soft murmuring spread through the room.

Alice narrowed her eyes in response. 'He must have you under a spell Emrys, there is no chance that the son of Uther Pendragon could be our king.' Her followers nodded in agreement.

'But he is. He accepted me with all the magic I posses.'

Arthur nodded, he may be Uther's son, but he was indeed sure that he wanted to do a lot of things different than his father, one of them was the view of magic. 'Merl.. ehh, Emrys is right, I see what magic can do, the good and the bad... I will, when I'm king, undo the ban on magic.'

They all stared speechless at him. It was a slender man that eventually asked. 'Is that really the truth?'

Arthur nodded to the man. 'Yes, Emrys showed me the wonderful things that magic can do.' Some of their faces started to shine with happiness, because wasn't this what they wanted, to be accepted by the ruler of Camelot.

Alice, who noticed what happened to her followers, jumped up and pointed her finger at the prince. 'Lies! It are all lies, don't listen to that monster.' They all looked nervously at her. 'Kill the prince and capture Emrys, we have to get rid of the spell he is under.'

The people looked at each other, some of them wanted to follow her orders, but they were stopped by the others. 'We won't. We know that Emrys is or master and with the once and future king in line for the throne we already have everything we wanted, he accepts magic.'

'Yes, I accept magic!' Arthur replied once more.

But as he was focused on Alice he didn't hear the doors behind him open, causing many of the people to gasp in pure terror. He turned around on his heels, wanting to know what had happened and stood face to face whit his father.

The king looked at him with a mix of anger and disgust. 'What!'