A/N: My last update before I move to Harvard in a few hours! Ahhh! I probably won't update for a long time, so enjoy this one. hahaha! But I will certainly try. Thank you for all of your support. There has been a great response to this story, and for that, I am truly happy and thankful. I didn't have much time to work on it, but I hope this next chapter is enjoyable! It took me a while to update because this chapter contains some important parts of the plot that I had to really consider, especially for the future of the story...erm, you'll see what I mean. Let me know what you guys think! Till next time! =) xx IFHD

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Chapter 21: Destiny Awaits

Song Inspiration: "Arthur's Final Battle" by Rob Lane

The knights' booming cries of victory echoed in the distance. Some of the men even scooped me up and hauled me upon their backs in order to parade me around akin to a sacrificial pig. However, our celebration was short-lived, because not long after the Green Knight vanished, a group of frantic riders thundered towards us with haste. At first, it was difficult to discern who they were under the cover of darkness and brush, so, instinctively, the knights thought of them as a threat and prepared to defend themselves once more, swords drawn and readied; but, as the riders drew closer, I keenly recognized a figure atop a light brown steed, sitting in front of an elderly man who gripped the dirtied reins in his wrinkled hands.

"Kay?" I exclaimed, the earlier battle momentarily forgotten. Trying to swallow my panic, I attempted to appease the hardened knights surrounding me, holding up a hand as I zigzagged through them. Running to meet the incoming riders, I could now clearly see the distraught expression etched upon the Druid boy's face. The look in his eyes revealed such fear, such trauma, that it sent shivers up and down my spine. I feared the worst. Reaching for his hand as the horse skidded to a stop, I queried worriedly, "Kay, what is happening? What are you all doing here? Are you alright?"

He sputtered, sobbing in between breaths, "Our settlement was attacked and we..." His voice faltered, gaze distant and blank. I gripped his hand more tightly, gently urging him to continue. Kay scrunched his face in an attempt to halt his crying. "...we escaped, but they..."

My eyes grew wide in shock, then narrowed in sheer rage. In only a short period of time, and destiny or no destiny, I had grown to care about the Druid people. Never in my life had I cared for a people's cause. Now, their battles were my own. I ground my teeth, hissing through tight lips, "Who attacked the settlement, Kay?"

"Mordred," came the old man's reply behind him. With my eyes adjusting to the darkness, I finally recognized the speaker to be Taggart, one of the elder Druids who I had conversed with during our short visit to their settlement. The old Druid's jaw clenched tightly as he attempted to remain collected and composed. "He has ransacked the village and captured many of our people." After a pause, he frowned, showing discomfort that he had to be the bearer of the subsequent news. Reaching for my shoulder, he imparted:

"They have your mother, Lourdes."

That was the final push that I needed to act.

Seeing as the sword that I had used upon the Green Knight disintegrated with it, I scooped up the monster's axe as a replacement weapon. Although a bit heavier, the adrenaline and rage that coursed through my veins gave me enough strength to wield it - at least, for the time being. As the Druids spoke with Arthur and some nearby knights, I ran as fast as I could towards Hoofy, not heeding anyone's attentions. With a quick glance at the concerned Merlin, I mounted the horse as best as I could (of course, with Hoofy's help once more), and rejoined Kay and the Druids.

The Bitch and Bastard were already pissing me off after messing with the lives of my friends.

Now that they were playing with the life of my mother, those sons of bitches have a whole other thing coming.

"Lourdes, what are you doing?" Arthur frantically held Hoofy's reins, perplexed at my somewhat hysterical actions. The horse cooperated with him, halting its movements. I steadied myself and met the king's piercing eyes as he questioned sternly, "You think to ride on your own?"

Finally finding a semblance of rationality within my head, I calculated the current situation and grimaced. I wasn't a superhero, as much as I currently felt like one; I was a mere mortal with no superpowers and little training of battle in this world. Frankly, I probably seemed crazy to most of the men here. "Well...um..." My gaze alternated from the king, to the incredulous knights surrounding him, then to the wide-eyed Druids. I asked sheepishly, scratching my head. "Could you all...come with me?"

Quirking a brow at my direction, the blonde king let out a high-pitched "ha!" of amusement before ordering in a more serious manner, "Knights, prepare to ride out!"

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Arthur, not knowing where Mordred, Morgana, and their armies were currently headed, resolved for us to follow Taggart's lead. Despite not being familiar with these Druids, he trusted my word enough when I spoke well of them. The elderly Druid, from what I had been told by Merlin, did possess magic, though he ensured to keep this fact away from the king's keen ears; this alliance, as it were, was of great importance, and it was unwise to do anything to sever these ties. Though, what Merlin hypothesized was that Taggart had been drawn to his magic, which led the escaped Druids to us in the first place, and that, now, he was using the same tactic in order to find the enemy armies. Personally, it didn't really matter to me who we followed or what tactic we used to track them.

I would do anything to bring my mother back.

We continued to move under the cover of darkness. Some of us were haggard, weary, and injured; yet, we pressed forward through the treacherous terrain, knowing that simply allowing the enemy to roam freely - most likely heading towards Camelot - wasn't the smartest idea. Mordred and Morgana were unpredictable and volatile; we couldn't allow them time to plan and execute their next move.

And I wouldn't let them hold my mother captive for another day.

I rode in the middle of the group, safely flanked and covered by knights. Gwaine, Lancelot, and Merlin watched over me protectively - and in concern - knowing that I was simmering inside. I barely spoke with anyone throughout the "hunt," remaining focused on what I would do when we ultimately reached our prey. I couldn't be stupid and reckless, no - not when so many lives were on the line - but I couldn't be passive either. I shuddered at my murderous thoughts; never in my life had I truly wanted to kill someone, and seeing as this day was already marked by death - with my own actions resulting in the destruction of the Green Knight - it frightened me. Though, I was afraid more of the consequences and repercussions of the act rather than the act itself. My father had told me many tales from the battlefield of men and women who had killed numerous times. It took them years to accept the blood that was on their hands, and a lifetime wasn't enough to forget what they had done.

Could I live with such guilt?

"Get back from the clearing!"

Arthur's sudden hiss startled me and some of the knights. He signalled to us in front of me, ordering for us to find cover immediately. With a darkened expression, he imparted, "Riders are approaching this way, and they're moving quickly."

As evidence of his words, flickering torchlight appeared before us in the distance. Could they be more escaped Druids? Instinctively, I anxiously looked to Merlin, whose eyes narrowed in suspicion. The Warlock's face was all I needed to heighten my defenses. "Head for cover," he instructed in a lowered tone (though, most likely more to Hoofy than to me). His blackened expression did not cease even as Hoofy and I did as he had said. In a sharp whisper, he growled ominously, "Mordred and Morgana. I feel their powers approaching."

Now, even more torchlights were visible, appearing in the horizon like awakened fireflies. The riders weren't a small group, as I had first wished; now, they were numbering at the dozens. They would only need a few more men to outnumber us. I gulped in nervousness, hands trembling at the impending meeting.

The battle hadn't even started, and I was already losing my nerve.

This was already not going as I had thought it would.

I felt a hand cup my shoulder. "Come." Gwaine gave his head a curt tilt, urging me to follow him as he trotted before me on his steed. As Hoofy made an about-face, I met Lancelot's gaze. His expression screamed of concern, though he nodded for me to go with the still weakened Gwaine. Apprehension overtook me as he and the rest of the knights moved forward, leaving myself, Gwaine, Merlin, and the Druid group to seek cover behind them.

In the shadows, we remained mounted on our horses, eagerly watching what would come to pass. Merlin and Taggart locked eyes and gave one another understanding nods; their abilities were ready to be unleashed from the reservoir if the need arose. In the meantime, I surveyed Gwaine with concern. Although the wounds that he had incurred were mostly healed by Merlin, he was still fatigued from the meeting with the Green Knight. I stayed by his side, hoping that he wouldn't run off into the battlefield during his current state.

It would be suicide.

Arthur and the knights rode erect through the field, moving into formation; they were prepared for a confrontation and wouldn't turn back now. The enemy drew closer, now aware of us; they themselves moved into formation, expecting to meet Camelot's army head-on. When there was only less than a hundred meters between the battling sides, both armies stood still. A few more tense moments passed.

Then, with the booming command of their leaders, they charged.

Chaos erupted. The clashes of bodies, armour, and weapons were deafening. I could barely watch, my entire body trembling uncontrollably. My breaths became rapid and shallow as I attempted to keep my wits about me. Where was my mother in all of this? How many of Camelot's men were injured...or worse?

When would this end?

I caught sight of the one they called Morgana, sitting smugly upon her black steed. My hatred for the bitch grew exponentially in a matter of seconds. How was it possible that she had once lived in the castle of Camelot as Uther's ward? That she was once such good friends with Arthur, Merlin, and Gwen?

How nice would it be to beat her to a bloody pulp?

When it was clear that Morgana was using her powers to aid her men, advancing them forward with ease, Merlin and Taggart couldn't hold back any longer. In a swift movement, the elder Druid scooped Kay in his arms and, with a nod towards me, lowered him in front of me upon the saddle. Kay protested against Taggart's hurried leave, though held onto me for support. With comforting words towards the young boy, Taggart bolted towards the battlefield, with Merlin at his side.

Kay began to sob once more, his body shivering in my arms. "Shh, hey...it'll be alright." Whether I was trying to convince him or myself, I wasn't so sure. Nevertheless, I embraced him tightly in my arms once more, then held onto the reins. "Remember Gwaine here? He will help protect us all while we..."

The words caught in my throat when forms shifted before us and revealed my mother, bound, gagged, and imprisoned, along with Caedmon and some of the other Druids, within a horse-drawn, metal cart. Not far behind them were some of the other settlers, rope tied around their wrists. With the other end of the ropes tied to the bars of the cart, they were dragged continuously, forced to journey onwards through the melee.

I seethed with blind rage instantaneously, losing any semblance of rationality.

I patted my horse's neck, whispering, "Hoofy, please take care of Kay." When the steed nodded in understanding, I dismounted unflinchingly. Kay repeatedly called for me as loudly as he could without attracting attention. I didn't heed him. Stopping for a moment, I untied the axe from the saddlebag and gripped it tightly in my grasp. I moved forward.

I only made it a few steps before I was abruptly gripped upon the arms and whirled around. Before I could react, Gwaine pressed his slick lips upon mine. The urgency of the kiss startled me at first, then, the act eventually succeeded in relaxing some of my nerves. Not paying attention to the curious glances that we received, Gwaine merely pressed me upon a tree trunk, continuing his assault; the knight was lost in the moment, his mind only focusing on my body.

When I finally gripped reality - just as the knight began to graze his hands upon my arse - I pushed the knight back with a scowl. "Gwaine, what the hell?"

"I apologize. I panicked." He muttered, arms out and up at his sides as he proclaimed innocence. "My first instinct was to literally knock or shake some sense into you, and then I thought that that would be highly inappropriate...

My eyes narrowed. "So you thought that the next best way to stop me was to kiss me?"

"...precisely."

I rolled my eyes. The determination in my voice was hard to miss. "My mother is being held prisoner in the heat of battle, Gwaine. No one is going to stop me." I knew the knight couldn't run after me anyway, as he would effectively abandon his post and leave the Druids unprotected. So, before he could use another splendid tactic to convince me to stay put, I pressed forward, using the tree trunks for cover.

"Lourdes, don't be stupid!"

Apparently, I was wrong. Gwaine threw his current duties to hell and stayed by my side. Taking the lead and keenly observing our surroundings with alert senses, he used a protective hand to hold me back.

Bodies of both Camelot's knights and the enemy's men moved wildly through the field. Some, to my distress, even launched several feet into the air, flying in all directions. I tried not to orally react to this sight, keeping my mouth tightly clamped; but my heart continued to race several more paces, and perspiration now claimed my forehead and sides of my face. At that particular moment, I would have lost every ounce of my nerve, but the sight of my weakened mother urged me to continue.

Somehow, Gwaine managed to find Merlin in the fray and tug him to our side. "Rescue mission, old friend." He motioned his shaggy head towards the prisoner cart. "Think you could help us?"

Merlin nodded with conviction, placing a hand on my shoulder. "The cart is surrounded by strong magic, but I can break the spell. Lourdes, you and Gwaine move through those brush and get behind the cart. Once I destroy the bind, move as quickly as you can and get them to safety."

Gwaine and I did as we were told without protest or hesitation. The knight gently grasped my hand, and we moved about in the shadows, keeping our heads low. Merlin, in the distance, raised his arm, his full concentration targeted towards the imprisoned Druids. With flashing yellow eyes and a low whisper, the almost invisible barrier around the cart began to dissipate.

"Let's move." Gwaine cocked his head to the side before instantly springing forward. As Lynette, Caedmon, and the Druids caught our sights, the knight gently gripped my mother's waist and pulled her out as quickly as he could manage. When I held Lynette in my arms, Gwaine continued to aid the Druids one by one.

Just as the last Druid exited the cart, I felt the hairs upon my nape rise.

I slowly twisted my head back, fearing the worst.

My gaze fell a few feet downward, landing upon a boy, not much older than Kay, standing a few meters from us. I was met by piercing, bright blue eyes. His hair was primly cut, face round-shaped; he adorned himself in a flowing, blue cape, simple dark tunic and breeches, and short, leather boots. Though he stared at me at length, I didn't recognize him. At first, I thought he was one of the freed Druids, but the way he was just...standing there and staring creeped the shit out of me. When I thought to ask if he was alright, a mere word escaped his lips:

"You."

I looked about around me, then drove an index finger upon my chest, before looking at the boy once more. I replied quizzically, raising a brow, "Me?"

The boy raised his arm, aimed towards my form. Gwaine, shouting with panicked rage, coiled his arms around my body and tackled me to the ground. Before we hit the hard earth, a visible shockwave emerged from the boy's hand and flipped the cart to its side, sending the horses that once pulled it rampaging off. I screamed at the sudden impact, eyes widening at the sight.

"Lourdes, meet Mordred." Gwaine snarled, pushing himself up with a hand and unsheathing his sword with the other. "He seems rather fond of killing you already."

His words only spurred anger within me. Finding renewed strength, I felt for the fallen axe at my side and quickly stood up. "Take this, you little bastard!" With a grunt, I threw the burdening weapon with all of my might. The axe spun wildly, though in line; it was sure to hit my target. However, only a flash of a second after the weapon left my hands, Mordred expertly snapped his head to the side and, with only one look at the blade, effectively destroyed it. With a miniature explosion that sent me and Gwaine reeling back, the former weapon of the Green Knight shattered into a million pieces, vanishing into thin air.

Mordred, for lack of a better word, was pissed.

And he was looking straight at me once more with his piercing eyes, bent on revenge.

I gulped, taking a cautious step back. "Oh. Shit."

Strangulation suddenly gripped me. My palms rushed to my throat, as though enormous hands were gripping my neck tightly. To my distress, I began to levitate. As I rose higher from the ground, the pressure upon my body began to grow; I was becoming fainter as every second passed.

Gwaine attempted to rush Mordred with his sword, though was easily thrown in the air with a flick of the little Bastard's wrist.

Our efforts were not in vain, however. Within the span of a few seconds that Mordred had paid attention to my and Gwaine's feeble attempts to attack him, he had lost focus on my mother, Caedmon, and the remaining Druids. Through that period of distraction, they had managed to release the other prisoners and regain their focus.

To my relief, they stepped forward and began to fight magic with magic.

They spoke in an incomprehensible tongue. Whatever they were saying, it seemed to be effective, because Mordred cried out and held his head in utter pain; the sudden act released me from whatever bind the little Bastard had me in. I fell to the ground with a thud, having no time to brace for the impact. Without a moment to spare, and despite the aching protests of my body, I crawled, then sprinted towards Gwaine's side. The knight, though still in much pain from Mordred's attack, pulled me into the cover of darkness once more.

Merlin, appearing before us, stepped forward, eyes flashing hues of yellow.

Lynette and the Druids continued their chanting, now surrounding the Bastard with their hands linked. Flashes of white light appeared around them, the energy of their magic now visible.

Mordred fell to his knees, crying out in rage. Blood began to drip from his nose as he shook violently.

Just when I thought that that would be the end of the Bastard, my mother and the Druids fell to their knees, holding their heads. Their bind on Mordred was quickly severed, and the blinding light disappeared soon afterwards.

Morgana, though showing panic in her expression, gracefully walked to Mordred's side. A wall of energy protected her from any magical attacks as she took the convulsing boy's body in her arms. "No!" She said in soothing tone, placing her hand upon Mordred's forehead. "What have they done? They...they're not powerful enough to do this to you!" Disbelief was quickly replaced by a flash of fear. He word fell from her lips as though it were a curse. "Emrys." Her eyes darted around her in distress, though gaze falling at nothing in particular. "Retreat!" She suddenly shrieked to her men, almost unbelieving that the word escaped her lips. She then turned her attention to her accomplice, strands of unruly hair framing her angular face. "We must retreat. We cannot defeat Emrys when you are weakened! Worry not, for we will fight another day, destroy Arthur, and rule his precious Camelot once and for all. Our time will come, Mordred. Our time will come."

And with that, Mordred and Morgana vanished into thin air. Their men, left leaderless, scattered through the field and forest in hasty withdrawal.

Camelot's knights, assured of their victory, cried out in triumph.

"Are you alright?" Merlin reached out a hand towards me. Before I could speak, he interjected with a grin, "Your mother will be fine. I blocked the spell that Morgana was attempting to cast upon them."

"Are you a mind-reader, too?" I embraced him tightly, inhaling deeply. "Is the battle really over?"

"For now," he said ominously, eyes darkening.

"Lourdes."

I twisted towards the sound of my mother's voice. She stood in line with the Druids, who all eyed me proudly. I shook my head. "Fuck. I can't believe that just happened."

Disregarding my reaction, Caedmon took a few steps towards me. "Well done, Lourdes."

My nose crinkled. "Ummm..." I jutted a thumb towards Merlin. "I clearly didn't do as much as he did, so...I think the congratulations are due to Merlin, not me."

Caedmon shook his head with a chuckle. "Yes, our gratitude goes to Merlin as well. But Lourdes, can you not see? Your actions have spurred reactions, and you've caused a veritable ripple effect in time. Thus, without your presence in this world, many things would not have happened, and what has come to pass may not have come to pass..."

I pondered on his words momentarily and rummaged through my memories of my time here in Camelot.

The knights. Gwaine. The Green Knight. Helping to defeat Mordred.

Holy shit, they all connected.

"Regardless of the outcome of all of this," my mother continued, lovingly cupping my face in her hands, "You have fulfilled your destiny, my darling."

With mouth agape, I held an index finger in the air. "Excuse me, could you give me a moment?"

And with that, much to the distress of everyone around me, I fell backwards towards the ground, unconscious.