The Darkest Hour Part 2 has now begun. Finally. Believe or not, this was the part I really looked forward to writing. Stayed up past midnight just to get it done just for you guys! Enjoy!

Chapter 12: The Darkest Hour Part 6

The next morning, spirits were low. Merlin and Cade, though the frost covering them had long since melted away, were still unresponsive. They just sat, staring straight ahead. Both were paler than usual, dark circles almost black and though they were still breathing, it seemed shallower and both were clearly ill. They had been sat upright against large pieces of rubble, blankets draped over them. They were sat right next to each other, Cade's head leaning on Merlin's shoulder.

"We have to get them back to Gaius." Arthur said.

"And abandon the quest?" Leon questioned.

"They saved my life. I won't let them die." Arthur stated.

"Sire, if we don't get to the Isle of the Blessed, hundreds more will perish." Leon pointed out. Arthur looked towards the siblings.

"Let us take them." Micheal said, referring to himself and Lancelot. Arthur shook his head.

"Carrying two wounded, alone, it will take you two or three days to reach Camelot." Arthur said.

"Not if we go through the Valley of the Fallen Kings." Lancelot said. Arthur looked conflicted. "We cannot give up on the quest."

"Sire, he's right." Leon said. Arthur sighed and looked back towards Merlin and Cade, who's eyes were shifting back and forth as they laid there, Percival squatting beside them. Moments later, the siblings were being carried towards their horses, Percival carrying Merlin and Micheal carrying Cade. Sitting them on their horses, Arthur spoke as he strapped Merlin's legs to his horse to prevent him falling off.

"This is my fault." He said. "And I'm sorry."

The siblings, at that moment, finally found the strength needed to speak. "Take us with you, please." Merlin begged.

"You'll both die, Merlin." Arthur stated.

"You don't understand. Please Arthur." Merlin said. Arthur turned and eyed her sternly.

"Do you ever do what you're told?" Arthur asked, sarcastically.

"We have to come with you." Cade said.

"Caden." he said, effectively shutting both of them up.

"We need to leave." Lancelot said. Arthur gripped Merlin's shoulder as Lancelot, Micheal, Merlin and Cade depart, Merlin and Cade struggling to at least sit upright, despite their obvious pain. Arthur looked on after them, sighing softly to himself.

They rode down the path and soon came up on a forest. Riding in, Merlin and Cade looked on with worry as they passed the statues that signaled their entrance into the Valley of the Fallen Kings.

Meanwhile the rest of the knights rode on, soon stopping to walk for a bit. "Can you hear that?" Gwaine asked, removing a glove.

"Bees?" Leon replied.

"Food." Gwaine revealed, walking right up to a tree with a bee's hive in it.

"You trying to get us killed?" Leon asked.

"We're riding to our deaths anyway." Gwaine answered, sticking his hand in the hive. Leon continued walking until he was standing next to Arthur.

"You're quiet." He said.

"That's what happens after three days listening to Gwaine." Arthur replied.

Leon chuckled for a moment before turning serious once again. "You did the right thing though. Merlin and Cade couldn't have continued with us." he said.

"I should've saved them." Arthur said. Suddenly, they were interrupted by Gwaine's cries of pain. Turning round, they found he had aggravated the bees to the point where they were now swarming round him, himself batting them away and running between Percival and Elyan.

"If anyone can get Merlin and Cade back to Camelot, it's Lancelot and Micheal." Leon said, clapping Arthur on the shoulder.

Back with the foursome, they had entered a forest just as night was falling over them. By this time, Merlin and Cade could barely sit up without being in shivering pain. Stopping by a stream, Lancelot and Micheal unstrapped the siblings from their horses and carried them to the water's edge. As they covered the shivering siblings with their cloaks, Merlin and Cade both reached out with one hand and ran their hands in the water. As Lancelot and Micheal took their hands out of the water, they heard their names being called.

Lancelot. Micheal. Said knights looked towards the stream, they found many of the water droplets floating in the air. Lancelot. Micheal. The two knights now saw the droplets had faces and were talking to them.

"We pay you no harm." One said. "We wish only to help."

"What are you?" Micheal asked, wary.

"We are Vilia. Spirits of the brooks and stream." The lead one answered. "The tear in the veil has upset the balance of the world. Good spirits as well as bad roam freely. But this perilous state cannot continue for long."

"Prince Arthur is riding on a quest. He intends to heal the veil." Lancelot said.

"He will need help. From both of you." The Vilia answered.

"Our friends are sick. We need to get them back to Camelot." Micheal said, gesturing to the two siblings.

"Merlin and Cade are stronger then you give them credit for." The Vilia said, restating what Cade had told her brother about herself the day they had rode out on their journey. "The young warlock and witch have great power and a future that has been written since the dawn of time. Do not worry. Even now, my sisters begin to heal them." Micheal and Cade looked and saw Merlin and Cade's bodies shimmering as well as their breathing becoming stronger and their complexions restoring themselves back to their usually paleness instead of the ghostly paleness they'd had before.

Micheal and Lancelot looked at each other and smiled.

"You are tired." The Vilia said. "You must rest."

"We need to find shelter." Lancelot said.

"You are safe here."

"The Dorocha."

"We will stay with you and protect you through the night." The Vilia assured. A bright shield of light surrounded Micheal, Lancelot and the siblings, putting the two knights at ease.

Once again, I ask that you guys review.