Dangers in the Path to Destiny

A/N: Well, the first chapter of the new year. I hope all of you had a good start and I hope the rest of the story will be great in kicking if off. This chapter is ready with a lot of action and magic. Along with a long list of spells which as usual is at the bottom. Also, the quote I found, I am happy for because it brings out the true focus on not only this chapter but for the whole story. Enjoy.

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.

~ Henry Ford

Chapter 21: Mordred's Assault

Arthur was with Guinevere, Merlin and Gaius in his tent at the camp. Queen Annis and Lady Elena were now set in their camp and their men were sharing with some of Camelot's men. Gaius had tended to their men but was happy to see that none of them were seriously hurt. Many just needed minimal treatment and a few days of rest. Right now, the four of them were discussing their current predicament. The thing that was on the front of their minds was Malcolm and his words.

"One thing I will say about Malcolm" said Gwen. "He's blunt and to the point."

Gaius nodded and thought back to the meeting. "I'm surprised that he would even voice not only the issue of them trusting us but us trusting them as well like that."

"Yes," Merlin said nodding his head. "From what Galahad and Kay have told me of him, he's always is. He insists that when he is asked for the truth and when there are talks like these, he delivers what needs to be said...even if it earns him a smack."

"You would know about that wouldn't you Merlin?" Arthur said with a small smile. There was many a time where he wanted to smack Merlin for his lip even though Arthur would know he was right.

"Only because the ones I tell the truth to can never handle it," he said with a smirk of his own. "However, Malcolm did say the issue that is on all of our minds. We do need each other to defeat Vortigern's growing forces but the problem is trusting each other."

"As much as Malcolm has scorned me," said Arthur. "he has always been honest and doesn't dance around the issue. Unlike other lords that I've seen, even if they hated me or my kingdom they always had smiles on their faces and did what they could to help themselves. However, Malcolm didn't immediately agree on joining forces because he has the safety of the people in his care to consider. I can see that he's someone that wouldn't do anything to double-cross anyone. He might make things more difficult for us but I can't help but respect him."

Gwen looked out of the tent's flap and caught sight of one of Annis' men. "Yet, I don't think Annis or Elena would share in that Arthur. Unlike us, they haven't really dealt with being here in Albion's land with sorcerers being free to use their magic. Especially with what just happened in their lands where magic was used to defeat their armies."

Gaius looked at her a little sadly before he turned to Arthur. "Eli has been telling me that he's heard some talk going around from the village and in the city. A good many of the people in the city are concerned that our presence here may actually lower the safety of their soldiers as we might insist that they can't fight to their full power. Apparently, the use of magic is a key part of their army before, during and after their battles."

"Why would they say that?" asked Merlin.

"Well, it seems that a few people have caught some of us watching as the Order trains with their magic or magical weapons and they could see the tension and expressions of disgust every time and they believe that it might make us cause problems for them when the fighting starts even if we don't join forces."

"Isn't that what Malcolm was talking about back at the meeting?" asked Gwen. "That they had their own way of doing things and it would bring out issues. So this is what he meant."

"He sure didn't hold back when he listed all the problems we would be having. He must've seen ahead of time what issues would be brought up and laid them all out for us all to think about." Arthur rubbed his eyes. "I realize that quite a few of my men are not exactly happy about turning to Albion for help but it seems that they are now starting to destroying the chance of getting their help now."

"Then you have to talk to them Arthur," Merlin said staring them down. "Let them know that what they're doing is hurting their chances of getting Camelot back."

"I know." he huffed. Arthur went and stared at his shoes. He never had a problem with his knights that were like this before. A small squabble here and there but nothing of this magnitude. He'd prided himself with the fact that he was always able to work well with his knights since he was a child. The idea of laying his foot down on a good many of them, especially in these times, wasn't an appealing idea. Yet, he can't have them destroying any chance of allying with Albion.

Suddenly, there was a bell sounding outside, in the direction of the village. The four of them went out of the tent and looked to the village. They could make out some hustle and bustle while the bell on their watchtower rang.

"That's the village's warning bell. What's happening?" asked Merlin.

As the warning bell rang, Arthur felt it could only be one thing. He ran off to rally his knights with Merlin, Gwen and Gaius right behind him.

Kalen recognized the insignia worn by these knights and soldiers, they belonged to King Olaf. He guessed that the woman they were defending must be his daughter, the Lady Vivian. When he saw her trapped in that rock trap, he didn't hesitate to free her from it. As his spell freed her, he looked up and saw a Thorn...but it wasn't Mab, Nemain or Angus. It was a young man, maybe 18 or so but Kalen could practically feel the rush of evil coming off of him. It felt just like the other Thorns using the energy of stolen souls.

"Who are you?" he asked the stranger.

Mordred clenched his teeth at the sight of the clearly powerful sorcerer. That trap he sprung on Vivian wasn't an easy one to break. "I am Mordred and I will say, you must be quite the powerful sorcerer to break through one of my traps."

"I'm Kalen, and if those robes are any indication then you're a new addition to the Brotherhood of the Thorn."

"Yes, and I'm also King Vortigern's new right hand."

"Congratulations," Kalen said with none in his tone. "I'm sure that the others must've told you about me...and if they told you anything true then you would be running for your life right now."

Mordred hardly flinched; he just snorted in disbelief. "Please...I've heard of you alright and there is only one sorcerer in these lands that I will take seriously and you're not him."

Kalen lowered himself down until he feet were firmly back on the ground. "Looks like I'll have to add myself to your list." He brought his wing shaped blade out on Mordred.

Mordred brought his own sword out. While this man may not have Emrys' power, he would be a fool if he didn't take a high ranking member of the Order of the Bear seriously. The other Thorns told him enough of what happened when they were underestimated even when they were sure that they were weak. "Can't add dead men to a list," he said drawing his own sword which had been neglected until now.

As Mordred was distracted by Kalen, Lady Vivian and her men started to move away from all of them slowly and with the least bit attention. It seemed to be working until a there was a energy blast fired right in front of them freezing them in their tracks. Mordred had fired it, hoping to hit Vivian but Kalen saw it coming and managed to deflect it slightly for it to avoid hitting them.

"I'm your opponent, not them."

Vivian chanced a glance at the mysterious sorcerer and she couldn't help but feel a tingle travel up her spine looking at his hard but...handsome face. She saw that he wore the crest and colors of Albion that she heard so much about.

"My lady," one of her men said urging her to keep moving.

They kept moving forward before they stopped at the sight of more people in the same colors of the sorcerer that just stepped in. For a moment, they were tense, about to prepare to defend themselves from them now before they realized that they were pointing their weapons and attention to their previous attackers.

Kalen noticed them and their predicament. "Stay back," he ordered. "Watch them. Leave me to deal with this new Thorn."

"Yes," said Mordred. "Let's give the Lady Vivian a show." He said before clearing his mind and focusing on his new opponent. "Chwyth Tan!" His pale blue eyes glowed blue followed by a red blast heading for Kalen.

"Chwyth Mellt!" Kalen answered with a blast of his own.

They collided and made a small explosion followed that caused a thin blanket of dust surround them.

While Mordred used the smoke as a cover. "Gwinwydd yn Tyfu ac yn Lapio fy Gelyn!" The surrounding tree limbs seemed move in Kalen's direction and soon vines with thorns erupted from them and seemed to wrap around Kalen's arms, legs and torso to bind him down.

The smoke cleared up and everyone saw Kalen struggling under the pressure of the vine bindings. He couldn't move his hand holding his sword. The vines squeezed on him and the thorns started to pierce his arm making him loosen his grip on his sword and drop it. His men's eyes widened at the sight of his trouble but Kalen's eyes were filled with focus.

"He's in trouble!" Vivian said as he saw the magical knight in trouble. She started to move towards them but her men restrained her.

"No my lady. You'll only get hurt."

One of the Albions approached them. "You all have to get behind the border. Sir Kalen won't be able to use his full power if he's worrying about this many people close by."

Mordred twirled his sword with glee. "Too tight?" asked Mordred with a sneer as he saw Kalen struggle.

"Torri a Rhyddhau i mi!" he said through clenched teeth. The vines snapped apart into pieces, free Kalen. He didn't lose a beat when the blood rushed in his arms and legs again. He looked at the broken thorns. "Hedfan am fy Gelyn!" The vine pieces flew off for Mordred.

He moved his head to avoid a piece but he cheek was grazed by a thorn on it leaving a small thin cut. Mordred kept jumping and dodging the sharp vines flying for him. While he was Kalen picked back up his sword and let the feeling fully return to his limbs. His eyes kept the gold glow as he controlled the pieces of sharp vines flying at Mordred like a swarm of bees.

Mordred swiped at a big piece but as it split apart a smaller piece grazed below his wrist. He had enough of this party trick. "Llosgi i Lludw!" The flying pieces all caught fire and burned to ashes. "Cute trick but not good enough."

"Then how about this," he said before making a swipe of his sword. "Taro!" A wave of magical energy went for Mordred.

"Rhwystr, Amsugno'r Effaith!" A transparent dome encased Mordred and absorbed the hit. His barrier gained color and he smiled as his spell was charged. "Dychewelyd y Chwyth!" The dome molded into a sphere in front of Mordred before it became a blast of power that went right for Kalen.

Kalen stepped back in surprise before his eyes glowed and he flew up to dodge it. The blast went off and hit the base of a tall tree and made it start to fall in Kalen's direction. He maneuvered himself away from it's path and it hit the ground with a giant thump. After rising above the trees, Kalen looked down at Mordred. This new Thorn was a lot stronger than he would've first thought. Despite his young age, his power was strong. He also seemed to have great skill and was well trained. He now understood how this Mordred became a member of the Thorns. However, it seemed like he had the advantage in the air. Powerful as he was, he didn't seem to know have been taught how to fly yet by the others and was grounded.

Another spell was on the tip of his lips when something collided with his back. Kalen was shot away and hit the ground and rolled a little before he was stopped by a tree. He looked up and through the spots in his vision saw another figure that made his stomach drop.

"Kalen, what do you think of my new friend and student?"

Kalen got to his feet but pain shot from side that forced him on a knee. He glared at the new arrival through his pain. "Angus."

Lady Vivian and her men followed their escort through the trees until they reached a clearing and came upon a row of stones set up like fence posts.

"Up ahead, you'll find a campsite set up. King Arthur, Queen Annis and the Lady Elena are there with their men. You can stay there." the man said pointing them the way.

"Thank you-"

"Just go," the Albion said cutting her off. He then took off for the village at breakneck speed.

"Well, that was rude," one of her knights said watching him go off.

"They may be in a crisis but they could at least have some degree of manners," Vivian said nodding her head with the knight. "Let's go and find Arthur."

They went off to where the soldier pointed them to and found a large campsite set up. There was a lot of activity going on as men were heading into a very large tent in the center. They could just make out a Knight of Camelot running from it, in full armor for another large tent in the camp.

Right before, Arthur was briefing his knights as his servant Gale was fastening his armor on for him as quickly as possible.

"The Albions in the village are starting to mobilize. That means that Vortigern is probably starting on attacking this area sooner than we could've expected."

All of Camelot's knights were in Arthur's main tent listening to his new instructions. Most had their armor on and those that didn't were rushing.

"Sire," said Ferris. "Shouldn't we alert Annis and Elena's men to get ready as well?"

"Yes, go on to them Ferris." he ordered. "They should be told to be ready to defend themselves if the battle gets out of hand."

Ferris ran out leaving everyone else to finish getting ready. Arthur armplate was fastened and that finished the last bit. "Thank you Gale."

"Sire," he said before stepping off to the side.

Arthur was about to start addressing his men when suddenly a woman and a few armored men came bumbling inside making everyone tense up. They almost pulled their swords on them before they saw the colors they were wearing.

"Lady Vivian?"

"Arthur," she said looking at him with a warm smile that had a hint of affection.

Merlin cringed a little from where he stood as he remembered the last time he saw the Lady Vivian. It seemed like there was still a little affection left lingering from Trickler's love spell though now it seemed like it was harmless now.

"Vivian, what's happening," Arthur said bringing Merlin's thoughts back here.

"We were attacked." she explained.

"Here?"

"Right outside the border of this place." said one of her men. "We were ambushed by some Viking warriors with this sorcerer that had thorned vines decorating his cloak."

"Are you alright?" he asked looking Vivian and the men over.

"We...we lost four of our men to them. He killed the four of them himself. This sorcerer almost took Vivian too but then this other sorcerer flew in, actually flew, and started fighting him. Had armor and that bear symbol on his robe."

"Was this sorcerer in the thorns beaten?"

"No, it's still going on."

Arthur looked back at Merlin for a second before turning to Gwen. "Guinevere."

She didn't need him to go on. "Vivian, may you and your men follow me?"

"Thank you." she said gratefully.

"Now," he said looking to his men. "From what I can tell from all of this, it looks like Vortigern's Thorns are attacking now."

The Albion soldier ran off for the watchtower as soon as he left Vivian and her men to find Camelot's campsite. A Thorn was close by and he had to alert as much of the Order as possible about this. He saw that there was already alot of activity going on which means that Sir Kalen's order to alert the village had been followed correctly. He made it to the tower to find Sir Flint, Sir Kay and there were four others in the Order there along with over a dozen soldiers.

"Sirs," he said as he came up to them.

"What's going on soldier?" asked Flint when he caught sight of him.

"It seems the Lady Vivian has finally arrived here like you all expected. However, there was an attack a little behind the border. Sir Kalen is engaging a member of the Thorns in the woods close by."

Kay gripped the sword hanging off his belt tightly. "How many are there with him?"

"Only about six. But they have some creatures with them too."

Kay pointed to a nearby soldier that happened to be Trey. "See to getting the men here mobilized."

Trey nodded. "Yes sir."

"And have a messenger send word to Malcolm and Galahad that the Lady Vivian has arrived and we're engaging their pursuers."

"I will," Trey said again with a bow.

"Let's move," Flint said before he and two others took off into the air for the woods with Kay and all the others in hot pursuit on foot.

Flint and two of his friends flew as fast as they could for the trees where he could make out some dust clouds rising. It must be some fight going on and he hoped that Kalen was on the right side of it.

"Taro!" Kalen swiped his sword in Angus' direction to let out a blast from it. It quickly went for him but another blast crashed into it.

He looked over and saw Mordred with his hand out in the direction of his blast before he turned on Kalen. "Chwth Ynni!"

He released another blast for Kalen and he was ready to try and intercept it when about seven separate blasts collided with it and made it faze out. Mordred was taken aback and looked behind him and Kalen turned to see his men with their weapons out and pointed straight at him still with glows on them.

Mordred glared at them. "Meddling pests," he shrieked.

"Two against one deserves our meddling," said one of them tightening his hold on his enchanted spear.

"Thank you boys," Kalen said getting his footing back.

Angus descended from the sky until he was at Mordred's side. "If your men wanted to avoid being statues they could've just said so." He flicked his wrist and the creatures and Vikings went for them.

"Ready men!" Kalen shouted as they went off to meet the opposition. He would've joined them but he couldn't take his eyes off Angus or Mordred. Angus seemed as strong as ever and this new one, Mordred, was a powerful foe. He could hear his men engaging now.

"Not going to help your men?" Angus asked with a sneer.

Kalen's eyes just narrowed at him. "I have faith in my men. I know they can fight and handle themselves. They can do what they need to do so I can do what I need to do."

"What, die?" he said opening and closing his fist at his side. "Do you honestly think you can handle us both?" He looked over at Mordred. "You can't even handle Mordred here? By the way, how have you been finding his skill. He's been a real fast learner. Eager too." Angus gripped Mordred's shoulder and Mordred looked happy at the praise.

"Who knew you were capable of such fatherly pride," Kalen said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Well then, how about another bit of father/son bonding? By tearing you apart?"

Mordred leered at Kalen before his eyes darted out at a hint of light. "Darian Ddod a Diogelu ni!" A transparent semi-circle appeared in front of them as a giant fireball came for the pair of them. It struck the shield he conjured. Mordred clenched his teeth as he tried to repel the force of this attack until it finally fazed out and left Mordred slightly breathless.

A glowing shape flew in for the scene and the glow vanished and they saw Flint left behind. Right behind him were two others who went and went for the beasts and Vikings attacking their men. There was some hollering as some more of their men came from the trees and helped come to the rescue.

"Hello Angus," Flint said flying down to be in step with Kalen.

"Flint," he said putting on a clearly false look of happiness. "It's been so long. We must catch up some time."

A red aura started to surround Flint. "Yes, I was thinking about roasting you on a spit. Don't worry, your little friend there is more than welcome to join you."

Mordred looked like he wanted to move at Flint but Angus held a hand to halt him. "I see you haven't lost your charm after all these years."

"Only when it involves you and the others."

"You mean when it involves us."

"Not anymore," Flint said defiantly. "I've moved on to bigger and better things."

This only made Angus snort. "Please...you put on this whole noble and righteous man act. But deep down, you will always be one of us."

"Don't flatter yourself," Kalen said in defense of his comrade. "He's one of us, not one of you anymore."

"You sure? After all, we were sure when he was with us. How can you tell that he won't turn on any of you?"

"Because unlike you, they don't use me." Flint said as embers seemed to flare up over his hair. "They actually care about both my welfrare and my soul."

"So do we," said Angus. "I care about making sure that that strong soul and the one of your other half are put to good use when we take them."

"Well," he said drawing his weapons. Two thin battle hatchets. "Let's see if you and your new partner there can when it two on two."

"You won't get past us now."

Mordred just stared blankly at them. He couldn't see an opening in these two to take advantage of. From the looks of it, neither could Angus. Though, stalling for time fell well in place for their plan. And is on cue, a giant pillar of light shot into the sky behind all of them.

The light attracted Kalen and Flint's eyes. The pillar of light vanished but it was soon followed by multiple ones shooting up one after another. "Those are the intruder warning signs." said Flint.

"A lot of intruders." said Kalen.

Angus smiled at them. "It looks like our main force is ready to do some sight seeing in your valley. Too bad, much of your primary defense is here dealing with us."

Kalen eyes widened as he looked back towards the direction of their territory. "This was a trap."

"Damn it," Flint said before just through caution to the wind and charged at them with Kalen behind him.

"If an invasion of the valley is commencing then we will go and meet it."

The knights all seemed to be hesistant after that. Leon stepped forward. "Arthur, the last time we fought against them, we were barely able to defend ourselves. Our attacks were useless."

"Yes...against the Thorns' creatures. However, against their soldiers we can still fight. It would take time before the main force of Albion's army arrives from the city. We can handle Vortigern's Vikings and the other soldiers he has on his side while the Albions contend with his magical forces."

Leon nodded. "Where should we ready ourselves?"

"We'll go to the border before the woods. Try to keep any of their soldiers from getting too close to the village or the camp."

"Sire," said one of his other knights. "Wouldn't it make more sense to just set up a defense line before the camp. The village has their own soldiers to protect it."

"Just a basic contingent of men for patrols. Many of the others are still fresh recruits and they won't be able to hold against enemies like the Vikings for long. We have more experience so it makes more sense to set up a defense that protects all of us."

"They can worry for their own villagers. They have the protection of their magic and magical warriors." said a second knight. "That should be more than enough."

Merlin's narrowed at the knight's ignorance and arrogance. "It doesn't work like that."

Merlin's statement was ignored as another knight went to back the former one up. "He's right sire, we should be more concerned with our own people. Besides, how will we know that we can trust them on the field?"

"He has a point sire," said another one. "They could easily use the chaos of the battle to make it seem accidental to get us out of their hair."

Arthur was starting to lose his patience. The attack was going on right now, they didn't have time for this and they had to move quickly. "Who else feels like this?" he asked of his knights. About eight of them raised their hands in support of what the fellow knights just pointed out. "I see." he said looking at each of them. "Merlin, come here."

"Arthur?" he said stepping up to him. Arthur gestured for him to get closer to him as he whispered something to him. "What?"

"Can you do it or not?"

"Yes, I know one that would help."

"Good, then do it."

Merlin looked at the knights and back at him. "You sure?"

"Yes Merlin," he said gesturing to the knights who raised their hands. "Now."

Merlin breathed in and then out and focused on them. "Trawsnewid eu Hesgidiau I Garreg." His eyes glowed and so did those knights' legs. When the glow vanished, their boots and foot plates were now solid stone trapping them in place.

"What have you done?" shouted one of them at the sight of his feet.

"You just cursed us!" shouted another.

Arthur shouted for silence from them. "Merlin only did what I told him to. I need my men to listen to me especially now. I had us come here to form an alliance and I can't have any of my men do anything that would hinder that so you all could stay here and think about that. Believe me, if we were back in Camelot I wouldn't have asked Merlin to do this. I would've just thrown all of you in the cells to wait it out and this was the next best thing. You could refuse to help in defending the Albions fight here instead."

Gwaine chuckled as they kept struggling to move. "Nice spell Merlin. I like it." he said earning him glares from those knights.

"Now, let's move," Arthur said stepping out of the tent with the rest of his knights right behind him.

They all gathered the rest of the soldiers and headed for the border of the valley that marked the beginning of the Albion territory. It soon came into sight when suddenly a giant light shot up into the sky.

"What was that?" asked Tristan.

Merlin followed the light as it climbed. "It's an alert. It signals when intruders come within the border of the valley."

A signal? Arthur was intrigued. "What do you mean Merlin?"

"Remember that line of stones we passed when we came into Albion's lands? Those are part of a magical defense that was set up to prevent ambushes and surprise attacks. If someone enters the perimeter without permission of an Albion guard or Order member than it well send out that signal to reveal their location so they could respond quickly. They're bright and high to alert the patrols beyond the border, the watchtower in the village and even the city."

Arthur spent barely two seconds actually admiring the idea behind that kind of magic before more pillars of light shot up, one after the other. "So if there are multiple lights shooting up-"

"Then there are alot of people coming in without permission." Merlin finished. "In that direction." he pointed from where they shot up from."

"Then let's not sit here and stare at the lights. Let's go." he shouted before taking off with his men hot on his trail. They hurried in the direction that the intruders set off the alarm and could make out shapes of many men running for the village with weapons held high.

Connor was leaning off the side of the ship as the docks behind the city of Albion came into view. "We're nearly there." he said to Lionel.

"Good," he said now starting to loosen his grip on the railing. "I've had enough of being on this ship."

"Not sea worthy, are you Lionel?"

"Not very." he said biting back an urge to gag. "I can be on land, even in the air but on the sea...I'm not built for that."

Connor looked over at Madoc who was resting just a little bit away. "Madoc doesn't have a problem with it though being that its his first time sailing."

"He's a dragon. Land, Sea, Air, it doesn't matter to them. I wish the same could be said for the Keeper of the Dragons but sadly not." he said leaning over the side.

"Don't worry, we'll be docked and on solid ground in under an hour. Then you could also see Albion with your own eyes."

For the first time in their entire trip, Lionel's eyes brightened. "I've heard nothing but good things from the others that have visited. I can't wait to see the place that has gotten such good compliments."

"We'll be happy to have you my friend."

Suddenly, a small wailing dragged his attention away from his seasick friend. He looked around and saw that Madoc was awake and was getting worked up. Lionel seemed to panic at his behavior.

"Madoc?" said Lionel with concern. Suddenly Madoc growled and brought his wings out. He then took off into the air and flew for the direction of Albion. "Madoc! Come back here!" But the dragon didn't relent and flapped his wings harder and headed for the land faster. "What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know," Connor said as he looked at Madoc's form get smaller. "But I'm going to find out." He turned to the captain. "Stay on course." he ordered. He then took off after the young dragon and flew after him.

"Connor." Lionel yelled after him. He looked around frantically and his eyes locked onto the Chimera Emrys. "Emrys," he said running to him. "We have to go after them."

Emrys leaned down to let Lionel climb on him but someone climbed onto Emrys right behind him. It was Bedivere. "Let's not waste time," he said settling in.

Emrys took off for the sky after them and, from his own ship, Dylan made them out and flew after them himself.

Trey was helping all the recruits get themselves suited up and lined up to set a secondary defense line. They were in the middle of their preparations when the alert lights shot up, startling them.

"What the?" he said to himself before more lights followed.

"How?" asked one of the soldiers.

"No...get yourselves ready," Trey yelled. The men already set drew their weapons and made a line in front of the village.

Suddenly they caught sight of men charging for them, about 50 of them. Most of them had funny looking helmets that seemed to have horns at the sides. Trey guessed that they were the Vikings that his son had told him about that had attacked Camelot. Behind the men, right above them were a dozen gargoyles flying for them as well and they had spears in their claws.

The men with the magical spears readied and aimed. "Taro" they shouted together. Blasts erupted from the spears and went for the creatures but they evaded the blasts.

"Hold your fire...they're too far away."

They stood their ground and soon the gargoyles arrived first and they worked together to parry their claws and spears as they struck at them. Soon more of the recruits, that had finished changing and getting ready ran to help them engage the creatures. Trey parried a strike from a spear from one of the gargoyles when he caught sight of those soldiers closing in. He knew they wouldn't be able to handle both the creatures and the soldiers with many of their best men in the village off engaging the first set of attackers in the woods beyond the perimeter. He was prepared to be the first to engage them. His son was behind him, at their house and he would die before he let any of these scum get their hands on him.

The Vikings grew excited as they neared the Albions fighting off the gargoyles before a sea of red closed in on them. They had the colors of Camelot and saw King Arthur and his knights in the front running at them with their swords at the ready. They turned just in time to start exchanging blows with them and Trey watched as Arthur and his men fought against these men to help them defend their village and the city of Albion beyond. He smiled as he went to rejoin his fellow Albions in fighting the gargoyles.

Mordred deflected another fireball from Flint as Kalen jumped to dodge a blast from Angus. The thought of what was happening in their village was starting to weigh in on their focus and hinder on their fighting.

Angus took flight and overlooked them. "As fun as it is to fight you cubs, we have better things to do. Mordred!" he yelled to his partner.

A hippogriff landed beside him and Mordred mounted him as if he were a steed. The hippogriff then took for the sky and the both of them flew for Albion.

"Where do you think you're going?" Flint said before both he and Kalen prepared blasts in their palms to blast the two of them into oblivion. However, there was loud rustling behind them and they turned to see two ogres rushing at them with giant axes in their hands. They quickly converted the blasts in their palms into shields to absorb the impact.

"No," Kalen said as he tried to push back the force of the axe as the ogre put more muscle behind it. "The village."

Kay was off to the side fighting another sorcerer and couldn't get away to pursue them either. The other men they brought with them were also preoccupied either with a Viking, an enemy sorcerer or one of the Thorns' creatures.

Soon the sky had two more pillars of light shoot up as both Angus and Mordred flew beyond the perimeter. They expected to see fresh fires burning in the direction of the village but where disappointed. Instead, they saw the sight of their surprise force of armed gargoyles being held back by Albion guards and their Vikings being engaged by Camelot's knights and soldiers. They could even make out King Arthur fighting with Merlin right beside him casting small spells to inconvenience the warriors and the creatures that he could get at.

"No...Arthur and Emrys are interfering again," Mordred said seeing red as he looked at the objects of his disdain.

"Calm yourself Mordred. This is good. They're too distracted right now. Instead of getting angry...let's combine our power and destroy them both at once." he said with a smile.

Mordred smiled back and nodded. They got close and extended their hands at their targets. "Ffurfio Chwyth a Trechu'r Ein Gelynion!" they chanted together. Blasts streams of energy suddenly escaped their palms and joined together into one great beam and flew for the King and his Warlock. The fact that any of their men could be caught in the path of it weighing very little on their minds as the only thought they could dwell on was that they would finally get rid of two of their and their king's greatest obstacles with this one spectacle.

The sudden light caught Elyan's eye and he saw the blast heading for his brother in law and friend. "Arthur! Merlin! Look out!"

The two of them caught sight of the blast heading for the two of them. Before Merlin could even begin to work a spell and protect the both of them, a stream of fire came and met the beam. It stopped it in it's track and cancelled it out.

"What?!" both Mordred and Angus shouted. They were so close. Who interfered and cost them their glory?

Arthur and Merlin were wondering the same and they both heard a roar being shouted out in the sky. They looked about and both of their jaws dropped at the sight. For before them...was a dragon hovering above the battlefield. A brilliant red dragon.

End of Chapter 21

A/N: I hope you like this one. The battle scenes were fun to write and I hope they were fun to read. I would've written more about Mordred and Arthur/Merlin's confrontation but I thought the chapter was long enough. How about that ending? Also, now you all know exactly what kind of dragon Madoc now is. Let me know what you think about what will happen now that Madoc's existence has been made public to Arthur and Merlin?

Chwyth Tan - Fire blast

Chwyth Mellt - Thunder blast

Gwinwydd yn Tyfu ac yn Lapio fy Gelyn - Vines grow and wrap my foe

Torri a Rhyddhau i mi - Break and release me

Hedfan am fy Gelyn - Fly for my foe

Llosgi i Lludw - Burn to ashes

Taro - Strike

Rhwystr, Amsugno'r Effaith - Barrier, absorb the impact

Dychewelyd y Chwyth - Return the blast

Chwyth Ynni - Energy blast

Darian Ddod a Diogelu ni - Shield, come and protect us

Trawsnewid eu Hesgidiau i Garreg - Transform their boots to stone

Ffurfio Chwyth a Trechu'r Ein Gelynion - Form a Blast and Vanquish our foes