I know a lot is expected out of this chapter. I hope it is as epic as you have been hoping! Feedback is awesome ;D *hint hint*

Arthur

I hold on for dear life with my legs, wrapped around the base of the dragon's neck. Leon and Elyan are doing the same, as well as keeping a death hold around my waist. I have fought armies, sustained numerous injuries, faced Gwen when she has been at her angriest - but none of that even compares to the absolute terror I experience while on this massive flying beast.

But nothing can compare to the beauty and wonder as we flew from Camelot to Ismere. It's an experience I don't think I'll ever be able to describe. If I get my voice back from the terrified screams that came from me during the first hour of the ride. To my credit, however, my fellow knights were no better.

When we took off I could have sworn my stomach dropped and disappeared completely. Along with my breath. And the feeling in my legs.

Now we fly straight towards Morgana's fortress. Looking down, I see there is a crowd of men surrounding the hanging post where I was nearly executed. They are so small I cannot process faces.

But then they become all too close as Kilgharrah swoops down towards them. I emit another terrified cry and wrap my arms around the dragon's massive neck, lying flat against the scales. I feel Leon and Elyan do the same.

From under me I feel Kilgharrah's skin tighten, and a heat begins to tingle against my palms. Fire erupts from the mouth, spraying into the soldiers beneath us.

"I need to get down there!" I bellow, hoping my vicinity to the dragon's ears means he will hear me over the terrified cries from below and the thundering sound of his flame.

Fortunately he must have heard me, because the fire stops so he can respond. "You are insane, Pendragon. I will grab Merlin and then we fly away!"

"I know - But my other two men are still in there somewhere!" I insist. "I will not leave without them!"

A loud growl against me. "I understand now why the warlock questions your intelligence. Very well, but be careful - and quick! Our priority is Merlin's safety!"

"I understand!" I shout back. "Leon, Elyan - We have to make sure Merlin is safe and then find Gwaine and Percival!"

"Yes sire!" They respond in unison from behind me.

The dragon swoops further down, pulling up so he can land on his feet. Fresh chaos explodes below us as the crowd rushes out of the way as to not be crushed. Scanning around, I find Merlin, held by a dumbfounded Mordred. Morgana stands beside them both, eyes wide in mixture of crazed loathing and fear. In her hand is a sword.

We land and I instantly slid off of the creature, running to the stage where my friend is. Soldiers realize what is happening and who I am, and begin to fight against me. In swift movements I take them down. I lost Merlin once by my own stupidity. I will not lose him again.

Merlin

I am resigned to my fate. Morgana will kill me, in front of all these people, gloating of her accomplishments. There is nothing more I can do. I tried reasoning with her and Mordred to no avail. I tried fighting my way out of this situation many times. But now the truth is all too plain.

I will die. Here, in this place I have become to hate so much. Now, even as my heart beats, straining to live, because I do not want this to be over. So many things in life I hoped to do. They will never happen now.

I wanted to get married, one day. After years of holding my feelings back from women after Freya, I began to realize that I cannot mourn forever. I was bound to find someone else. And I could build a life. Make a family.

And of course, most of all, I was going to restore magic to Camelot. I failed my destiny. The last time I saw Arthur he seemed to hate me for what I am.

Don't worry, Arthur, I'm powerless now.

I should have tried harder. Done better. Then maybe I could have achieved my fate before I died.

Morgana raises her blade, eyes fixed on mine as she points it to my heart. Mordred shifts behind me, preparing for the moment that the man in his grasp will be slain.

I close my eyes. No more to do now than to just take it.

They pop open again as the loud, heavenly familiar pounding of a dragon's wings fill the air. I see Kilgharrah above me.

And then my heart almost stops without the aid of a sword.

Arthur rides on the dragon's back, Leon and Elyan behind him.

"Arthur," my voice comes out in a shocked whisper. And then louder "Arthur!" I'm overwhelmed with joy, and wonder, and emotion. My life doesn't have to be over yet. My friends have come to save me. Everything can be made right -

And then fire explodes in my stomach.

I look down slowly.

My new shirt is soaking with blood. A sword protruding from my belly, a little to the right.

I look up at Morgana's triumphant face as she wrenches the blade from my body.

And then I fall.

Gwaine

Pandemonium erupts in the courtyard. Men are everywhere. There is a dragon in the castle. I have no clue what in the sanity of the earth is going on as I peer into the night outside, eerily lit by the full moon in the sky.

And then I see Arthur. Then Leon and Elyan. I let myself drop back to my feet from my precarious spot peering out of the tiny window.

"Percival, they're here; Arthur, Elyan and Leon!"

We both laugh loudly, exchanging an excited embrace as we revel in the sheer glory of it all. We let go of each other at the panicked calls of the guards in the mines as they rush for the exit tunnels to go help their queen and fellow soldiers.

"We have to get the other men out of her while we can!" Percival shouts, racing into another cavern. There are at least a hundred of Morgana's forced workers down here, spread throughout the underground caves. Without a word I run through a different tunnel and begin to wake up everyone as quickly as possible.

"Hurry, everyone, wake up! The king of Camelot has come to free us all! We must get to the surface!"

Arthur

I cut down men left and right as I make my way to Merlin. And Morgana. She will pay for all she has done.

Throwing a man out of my way, I reach the large stage where the hanging post rests. The sight I'm met with stops me dead in my tracks.

Morgana and Mordred are nowhere to be seen.

Merlin.

Merlin is lying on the cold wood, hands pressed against a nasty wound in his stomach. His legs push against the air and floor beneath him as he curls in on himself. He's shaking with cries of pain and panting breaths.

"Merlin!" I shout, running to him. Skipping the stairs and lumbering straight onto the stage.

His eyes flutter open from their previously scrunched up state. They are clouded with incredible pain and terror. The eyes of a dying man...

"Ar...thur..." He responds, trying to push himself over to me.

"No, Merlin, don't move," I insist. "Come on, just heal yourself. There's got to be a spell for that!"

"C-can't..." He whimpers, looking up into my eyes. "No...Magic..."

My heart sinks. "No magic? What does that mean? What happened to all that I was told about you being unimaginably powerful?" Merlin laughs a bit at this, which quickly turns to a hollow cough. The sound snaps me back to my senses immediately. "Merlin, we have to get you out of here."

"Gwaine...Percival," Merlin insists between coughs. "Them too."

"Yes, yes," I agree hastily, glancing up to see the dragon still ensuing chaos with its fire as well as stomping feet. I can't find Leon and Elyan, hoping they are just in the middle of the crowd of men and not lying on the stone floor...bleeding. Shaking my head to clear it, I reach underneath my armor, hands gripping my shirt. With force I pull on it, a loud ripping sound accompanying the action. What I'm left with in my hands is a long piece of cloth, which I waste no time in wrapping around Merlin's torso, tying a crude knot to hold it in place. It is a sad bandage, but all I have time for at the moment.

"I am not fixing that..." Merlin groans, trying to lighten the mood.

"'Course you are," I reply briskly, hoisting Merlin up with me as carefully as possible. The pressure of him against me forces my cold armor against my now bare chest. The uncomfortable circumstances do not matter. Merlin matters.

Turning his body to face me, I hesitantly raise him up and over my shoulder. His cry of pain makes my heart clench, but I have no choice but to move him. I have to get Merlin to the dragon. With that thought in mind I take up my sword with my free hand and go back into the fray of battle.

Leon

I fit alongside Elyan. We may be outnumbered, but these men were obviously not properly trained, for they are easily beaten by a knight's standards. I would not be surprised if these were men Morgana captured and converted to her side. But we are largely outnumbered, and every moment I worry that the witch will appear and rain her wrath on us.

"We have to find Gwaine and Percival!" Elyan shouts from his position fighting three men at once. "But we have no idea where they are, how are we to find them in this madness?"

I swipe my sword in a circle, killing a few men in the one stroke. Grabbing another by the front of his shirt and quickly disarming him, I slam the soldier against the stone wall. "Cover me!" I shout to Elyan, who quickly makes his way to my defense. Turning back to the man, sword at his throat, I say in a steady voice "Where are my friends?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," the man insists, eyeing my blade warily.

I press it closer to his exposed throat. "The two knights of Camelot that were brought her about a week ago. What happened to them?" The man remains silent. I let my sword draw blood, looking intently into his terrified eyes.

"They're in the mines, down below!" He cries loudly, pointing to a point to my left. "The entrance is over there!"

"Thank you," I growl, shoving him at some oncoming men. I race in the direction he motioned to, eyes landing on a heavy metal door. Some men rush to me, but I cut them down before they can do any more damage than a few scrapes. Quickly unbolting the entrance, I throw it open. Without hesitation I run down the many steps and into a large cavern.

And straight into someone, who upon contact immediately tackles me, hands reaching for my throat. Out of instinct I raise my sword, ready to defend myself against the weaponless man.

"Wait!" A loud, familiar voice rings out. Both I and the man on top of me halt in our fight. Looking around, my eyes land on Percival, hand outstretched in warning. Glancing above me, I realize my attacker is Gwaine himself.

"Sorry mate!" The knight laughs, jumping up and helping me to my feet. "I was on a roll and was determined not to be stopped."

"Look before you attack, my friend. I nearly ran you through." I say smoothly, patting him on the shoulder. Taking in my surroundings, I finally notice the huge group of dirty people in the cavern. "Have you all been captured by Morgana?" I ask incredulously. There are at least a hundred of them. Men, women. Children, though not many.

A tall man steps forward. "Yes. Are you one of the men this man told us was coming to rescue us?" He asks, gesturing to Gwaine.

I nod in confirmation. "Yes, I am sir Leon of Camelot." turning to my friend, I ask "But how did you know we were here?"

"I have a window," he replies happily, shrugging.

Shaking my head in confusion, I address the crowd. "We must leave now; there is no time to lose! But I warn you, Morgana's army is in the courtyard. And there's a dragon, but he will not hurt you." My news strikes fear into the eyes surrounding me, but the people press forward and up the stairs, thirst for freedom overcoming the worry of what lays at the top.

Gwaine grabs my arm as I am about to follow, Percival having gone in front. "I saw - Morgana was about to kill Merlin -"

"Arthur headed straight for him, I'm sure he's fine," I console my friend, who nods and races after the receding crowd.

Merlin

Pain.

It's all I can feel at the moment. Pain and also a silly kind of joy.

Arthur came back for me, he came back and he even rode Kilgharrah here. I had thought my destiny was for naught. But now I am alive...For the moment my body reminds me. I have no way of knowing if I'll even make it back to Camelot in this state. If I died, would Arthur continue our destiny anyway? I thought it needed both of us, but perhaps I have served my purpose. Maybe it's fine if I die today after all.

But I want to live. I care now. Now that I'm being rescued, and freedom seems so close; I want life.

But I feel the life draining from me as my wound, clumsily bound, continues to bleed.

Arthur

Get to the dragon; that's my goal right now. I have to get Merlin to the dragon and then pray Leon and Elyan have found Percival and Gwaine because if they haven't...

If they haven't I have to leave. I know the truth in Kilgharrah's words of how important Merlin is. I never saw it before but I understand now.

I'm struck in the shoulder, a blade creating a painful cut in my skin. I wipe back, slaying the man easily. Merlin groans loudly in pain, and I do my best to quicken the pace. There are dead men on the ground from where they were killed by our swords, even more unrecognizable on the snowy ground, charred and burnt and long gone. Many are still alive and coming at me, or going off in the opposite direction where I suppose my knights may be. A handful of Morgana's soldiers have run away altogether, evidently holding their lives before their loyalty to their queen.

A loud roar makes me stop, and turning around I see Percival and Elyan at the head of a large group of men, women, and some children, all filthy and malnourished. Peering through the mass I can make out Leon and Gwaine. My heart swells in relief.

But the dragon cannot hold this many, of course. Realizing this, I make my way through the crowd of soldiers to Percival and Elyan. "Kilgharrah cannot hold them all. I have to get Merlin out of here. I need you to lead these people towards Camelot. I will send a patrol with horses and wagons to meet you and help once I can!" I say hurriedly, wasting no time. "Can you do that for me?"

"Yes," they both say instantly. Around us the freed slaves are attacking Morgana's soldiers in groups. Others are protecting the women and children. Leon and Gwaine move among the fray, surely saving many lives among the tattered people.

"What happened to Merlin?" Elyan questions, concern obvious for our friend.

"I think Morgana or Mordred must have stabbed him. By the time I reached the post they were gone and he was like this!" I back up a few paces, knowing every second I talk is another that Merlin suffers. "I must go, there is no time!" My knights nod in acceptance and help finish off the rest of the enemies.

Just as I'm a few feet from the dragon, an enormous force blows into me, sending myself and Merlin crashing to the hard, cold ground. My friend falls a short distance from me, and I stare at his body a moment, trying to regain the breath that was thrust from my lungs. My body jumps into action when I see Merlin's chest is no longer rising and falling as it should.

Reaching him, I pull his body into my lap, feeling his pulse. It's there, but faint. Looking up, I see Morgana, who must have been the one who sent us flying. Beside her is Mordred. They both have their hands outstretched, mouths moving as one in a complicated spell. Tiny lightning bolts seem to be shimmering in their palms. Instinctively I shift, trying to protect Merlin in his fragile state.

The spell seems to be almost done. I know there is nothing I can do, not against magic and certainly not a combined spell.

The dragon's fire makes me jump as it sprays at the two sorcerers. I can no longer see them, but I hear their terrified shouts. The flame dies down. There are no ashes where they once stood.

"Pendragon!" Kilgharrah roars at me. I stagger to my feet, pulling Merlin with me, carefully carrying him in my arms. Reaching the dragon, I hoist my servant into the dent on the back of its neck, and hop on the keep him secure.

"We must go to Camelot immediately!" I command hurriedly.

"No," The dragon replies, taking me by surprise.

"No?" I shout, anger rising inside of me. "No? You yourself said Merlin must make it -"

"The warlock will not be saved there. We must get him to a more special place."

"And that would be?"

Kilgharrah kicks up from the ground, making me grab on with my legs and hold Merlin still as my stomach feels like it is dropping again. The dragon turns his head to glance back at me with one huge eye. "The crystal cave!"

Phew! What a chapter! I am quite pleased with it - I hope you are too! I also hope the back and forth between people was not annoying. I felt it was necessary to tell the whole account of the story.

This has most DEFINETLY been the longest chapter yet!