A/N: I'm glad to see you guys have loved the last couple chapters so much! Thank you all for your wonderful reviews and support!

Chapter Twelve

"What the hell do you mean Arthur knows!" Merlin demanded. "Why the hell didn't he say anything? Why didn't you!"

All of Arthur's strange looks, his convenient appearances and disappearances. Calling Emrys an idiot, telling Merlin point bank that he trusted Emrys…Merlin's head spun with this new revelation as more and more details fell into place.

Anye fought back a sigh of exasperation but only partially succeeded. "Oh calm down, would you?" she answered shortly. "I lied."

Merlin, who had been half way to his feet, plopped back down on the ground again. "You lied?" he repeated.

"Yes, I lied."

And the oh so perfect puzzle that Merlin had begun to construct in his head, with all those pieces fitting together, suddenly shattered into pure and utter confusion. He stared dumbly at Anye.

"Why?" he asked at last.

"Kallen wasn't listening," she said by way of explanation. "I thought that detail might make him a little more reasonable."

"That fake detail."

"Yes, Merlin, that fake detail." She sighed sadly. "Too bad it didn't work."

Merlin continued to stare at her. "So…you lied to him."

"Yes."

"About lying to him."

"I suppose…"

Merlin shook his head. "No. You care for him—much more than I realized before. You wouldn't lie to him, you wouldn't manipulate him like that."

"Oh and I suppose you're just a beacon of truth with everyone you care about, aren't you?" she spat back, eyes sparking dangerously. "You'd never lie to Arthur. Or to that servant girl. Or to Gaius."

Merlin winced. He had to admit she had a point. Didn't he spend most of his life lying to those he loved the most?

"So I'm just supposed to believe you're telling the truth this time?" he finally asked, somewhat skeptically.

Anye raised her hands in annoyance. "Believe whatever you want," was her snapped answer. "I don't particularly care. What I do care about is this impending attack. Ask Arthur yourself, if it's bothering you so much. But right now we have more important things to worry about."

Merlin stood slowly, continuing to stare at her. "We?" he finally asked.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "If you're right…if Arthur really is the King—"

"He is the King," Merlin interrupted.

She just sighed again, not seeming to mind the interruption, and Merlin realized that she really did not doubt him.

"If he is the King," she continued, "then Kallen is making an even bigger mistake than I realized." She took the few remaining steps to the wall and looked out towards the horizon. Merlin followed her gaze and realized that they were atop one of Camelot's towers. "If Kallen knew…if he understood…he would never forgive himself."

"So you will help us?"

"I will help Kallen," she said softly. "But to help him…we must stop him. I will do what I can to help you save Camelot."

Merlin placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you."

She placed her hand over his, her own knuckles turning white. "Promise me," she nearly begged, looking him square in the eye, "promise me you won't hurt him."

Merlin felt his heart sag at the sorrow in her eyes. He had no desire to hurt any of the druids. After all, they were just doing what they thought was right. They really were all fighting for the same thing, just with drastically different methods. But sadly, he knew this was a promise he could not make.

"I promise…that I will spare him if I can," he amended. "But Camelot and Arthur must come first."

She squeezed his hand. "I understand."

A tingling sensation in the back of Merlin's mind, followed closely by a large, deep boom had Merlin instantly at the wall again, hands gripping the stone as he cast his eyes around for a hint as to what had just happened. Another deep boom followed only a few moments later. This one was much closer, and Merlin's eyes immediately snapped to the explosion of dust and debris several floors down and to the side. The stone beneath Merlin's fingers trembled slightly from some sort of force.

It was only moments before the alarm bells began to chime.

"What's going on?" Merlin asked Anye. "They weren't meant to attack until dawn!"

"You angered them," she answered. "I guess you spurred them into action."

"But it took me two hours to reach them from here! How did they get back so fast?"

Anye stared pointedly at him. "I'm not the only one who knows how to teleport, Merlin," she pointed out.

Oh. He shrugged somewhat sheepishly.

"They're in the city?"

Anye was silent for a moment, waiting for the next strike. When it came, she shook her head. "No. These attacks are long-ranged. They must be at the forest's edge."

Merlin resisted the urge to curse. Being so far away, the archers would be useless. Arthur would have to mount a ground attack. And that would put him in more direct harm's way.

Merlin tapped the stone under his fingers agitatedly, mind racing.

"Anye," he said slowly, "shields are your specialty."

She eyed him strangely. "Yes…"

"Do you think you could place one around this whole city?"

Her eyes grew round. She turned her gaze to the city again, then back to the castle, turning a full circle as she took in her surroundings. "No," she said at last. "That would take…a tremendous amount of power."

Another blast made the stone beneath their feet tremble. Along the walls below, the sound of running feet could be heard, followed closely by shouted commands that Merlin couldn't quite make out. He recognized the voice, however. It was Arthur.

"Will the soldiers come up here?" Anye asked him, looking also to the lower walls, where dozens of archers had taken their places, all staring out with nothing to shoot at.

Merlin's thoughts were turning too quickly to answer her. He slowly thumbed the wood of the staff in his hand as he thought. Slowly, his eyes fell to the staff as well.

He had realized long ago that the Sidhe staff didn't really have any magic of its own. It acted more as a conduit, taking his own power and channeling it, amplifying and focusing it in the process according to how he willed it. Maybe…

It was a crazy idea. Insane, even. But just maybe…

With his own plans stirring into action again, the words bubbled out of his mouth. "I have power." Anye raised her eyebrows. "A rather 'tremendous' amount at that."

Her eyes widened ever so slightly. "You don't have much practice," she pointed out. "Do you honestly think you could do it?"

He looked at her as he shook his head. "No," he said simply.

Her eyes widened further in understanding, but she quickly shook her own head. "No, no it wouldn't work, Merlin."

"Have you ever tried?"

She bit her lip. "No," she admitted.

"Then what have we got to lose by trying?"

Slowly, she looked about her once more, then her eyes fell on Merlin again. "All, right, but we can't do it here," she said at last. "We need to be able to see all of what we're protecting. Somewhere we won't be interrupted."

Merlin cast his own eyes around, looking primarily up at the castle. "There," he pointed to the highest tower.

"Will it be empty?"

"There's probably a sentry guard," he admitted. "But I can take care of him."

"Then let's go." She gripped Merlin's arm and once again said the incantation.

.~.

"Archers to the wall! Be at the ready!" Arthur shouted, pitching his voice so it would carry as soldiers rushed past. Arthur took up his own place, though he held no bow. He looked out over the city, the sky barely beginning to lighten with the grey glow of false dawn. It didn't take him long to realize there was nothing to shoot at. Another blast hit them, and the ground shook from the impact. Part of the west tower crumbled, though no guards or archers had yet been stationed there. There was no boulder to have caused the blow, hurled by some great catapult, neither was there any sort of explosive. The wall seemed to be struck by some giant, invisible force.

Magic.

Merlin, where are you?

"Sire," the respectful yet firm inquiry made him turn around, where he saw Sir Leon and Sir Burik standing and awaiting orders.

"Sir Burik, gather the knights. The stables should already be saddling the horses, we've been waiting for this. Be ready to ride the moment I join you." Sir Burik nodded his understanding and rushed to do as told. Arthur then took Leon's arm and drew him a few paces away from the nearest archer. "Find Merlin," he muttered softly. "He left in the middle of the night and I haven't seen him since. He's doing something and he may need help."

"Yes, Sire. I'll speak with Gaius. Perhaps he knows where he disappeared to."

He made to leave, but Arthur stopped him. "And Leon…make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." Leon nodded solemnly and departed. Arthur cast his eyes to the east, where he knew the attackers were stationed. The same direction Merlin had headed. Twenty-eight sorcerers. One warlock. Arthur didn't like math.

"Arthur!" Arthur whipped around, resisting the urge to groan at the familiar voice.

"Guinevere!" he scolded, "You should not be up here. Get inside where it's safe."

"What's going on Arthur?" she demanded.

"We're under attack," he said quickly, just as another force struck the castle. "By sorcerers," he added. "Which is why you should not be on the wall." He grabbed her arm and made to drag her back inside if necessary, but she was having none of it.

"I want to help," she said stubbornly.

Gods he loved her, but sometimes she was just too difficult for her own good. Normally he would send her to Gaius to help make preparations for the infirmary. But with Leon heading there to inquire about some sensitive information, that could put forward some awkward questions. "You can't," he said, knowing full well that wouldn't satisfy her. "Not right now. Please, if you want to help, just make sure that you are safe. I can't afford to be worrying about you right now."

A boy appeared at his elbow. "My lord," he interrupted as politely as urgency would allow.

"Yes?" he asked the messenger.

"Sir Burik says the knights and horses are ready and await your command to ride out."

"Ride out. Ride out?" Gwen demanded. "Arthur how do you expect to fight them? You could be killed!"

"If I do nothing, we all may be killed," he pointed out. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Go inside, Guinevere. Please." As another strike hit, he took advantage of the fact that everyone's attention was focused on the attack and planted a kiss on her forehead.

Guinevere bit her lip in uncertainty, but nodded. "Be careful," she ordered softly. Arthur squeezed her shoulders briefly and then released her, turning on his heel and hurrying away to do his duty.

"Arthur!" a familiar gruff voice called out. Arthur turned his head to the source and found his father striding towards him. The king had at last arrived. Arthur strode forward to meet him.

"The attacks are long-ranged, but the archers have nothing to shoot at," he reported. "The knights ride out to face the threat more directly. I go to meet them now."

"No," Uther snapped suddenly. "The knights must ride, you must stay here to command the castle."

Arthur grit his teeth. Now was not the time for his father to get overly protective again. "No, Sire, I must ride with my knights."

"You are the heir to the throne. It is too dangerous!"

"I am a knight of Camelot," Arthur countered. "And if we do not stop this threat, there will be no Camelot to rule. Father, I must go. You can command the castle. I will face this threat head on." He gripped his father's shoulder. "I will come back," he promised.

Uther reluctantly nodded, and that was all the permission Arthur needed.

Gwen watched him disappear down the stairs before a particularly strong blow made her stumble. He was going out to face whoever was causing this? It was like the earthquakes all over again. She tried to look down to the stables, where she knew the knights would already be gathering, but the archers blocked her.

She pressed her lips in a firm line. She knew one place she could go to get a better view of what was going on.

.~.

Merlin actually managed to stay on his feet this time. As soon as the pressure eased from his head, he cast his eyes around until they landed on the sentry who held a spear unsurely.

"Cyntun," he muttered, eyes briefly flashing gold as the man slumped forward and his eyes fluttered shut. The sleep spell Merlin had chosen produced many dreams. So hopefully, when the man awoke he wouldn't realize he had seen the prince's manservant.

"So, any idea how to do this?" Anye asked him, walking to the wall to survey the most recent damage.

"Ideas? Yes. Ideas that will work?" he left it there. He stood in the center of the tower and placed the staff in front of him, resting the end on the stone floor and gripping it with both hands. "Come here. Take the staff."

She did as ordered, gripping the staff just above Merlin's hands.

"This staff takes my magic," he explained the best he could. "Then...channels it."

She nodded slowly. "If this works," she told him slowly, "it will be more power than I'm used to holding. If I'm able to hold it at all," she amended. "It will probably take all of my focus." When Merlin took a deep breath and closed his eyes, she did the same.

The crystal atop the staff glowed as Merlin reached for his power. Normally he would then send his power out through the staff, but he held it back, pulsing inside the staff. He couldn't give it much. He could feel the limits in the magical wood and crystal.

A sharp gasp escaped Aye, but Merlin kept his eyes closed as he focused on holding the magic in the staff.

"Amddiffyn," Anye whispered.

Instantly, Merlin felt the power in the staff drain away. He focused on keeping a steady stream of power passing through the staff as Anye channeled it into her spell.

Several minutes later, when the power stopped draining from the staff, Merlin blinked his eyes open. The crystal continued to glow brightly, making Merlin's eyes water slightly. When his eyes finally adjusted, he turned his gaze outward towards the city and they widened in shock.

"It worked," he muttered. All around the city, in every direction he turned, he could see the faint shimmer of a magical barrier. It stretched up and over his head like a giant dome. "Anye—" he turned to look at her, but paused when he saw that her eyes were still closed, clenched slightly and her brow was furrowed. Her hands trembled slightly, still clasped around the staff.

Cautiously, Merlin slowly released his grip on the staff, not knowing exactly what was going to happen. But the crystal's glow still shone and the barrier stayed in place. Anye did not so much as twitch in recognition of him severing the connection. The power was in place. Now all she had to do was will it to stay there.

The tower door suddenly slammed open, and Merlin snapped his head to the side.

Gwen took three full steps onto the tower before freezing in shock at the sight of the two individuals in front of her.