He had barely slept. He may have fought many battles and fights before now, but he this time he had much more to lose. Then again, that also meant that he had more to fight for. He had his family, his home and his people to fight for now, as well as a wife. He had Alethea to fight for, and for her and her alone he would fight. Even if he had nothing else to his name, no Camelot, no people to worry about, he would fight for the one he loved with all his heart. Lying awake in the early hours of the morning, Arthur gazed at his sleeping wife and wondered if this was indeed their last night together. If that was the case then Arthur did not know what he would do. He wasn't going to be able to live without her, not now, but what if things worked out differently? What if it was him that would not survive? How would Alethea cope? After all, she loved him as much as he loved her, perhaps slightly more so. Could she stay in Camelot being reminded of him day after day if he died?

"Would you stop looking at me?" Alethea mumbled into the pillow, disrupting Arthur's track of thought.

"I'm not!" Arthur contradicted her, but both knew he was lying.

"You are and you know it."

"Well can't a man look at his wife every so often?"

"Not when she's sleeping you can't." she said playfully, turning to face him.

"You are not asleep." Arthur pointed out.

"I was asleep. You woke me."

"By looking at you?" he asked sceptically, one eyebrow raised.

"Well…" she shrugged before poking him.

"What was that for?"

"Waking me." she told him.

"Well, I'm sorry." he apologised

"Is it time to get up yet?"

"Near enough. Why?" Arthur told her, watching as she stretched and got out of bed to light some candles.

"Just wondered." she shrugged. "Meh, I've not been up this early since going down south on holiday." she thought aloud. "And that's a long time ago now."

"Right…" Arthur said, eying her warily. He hadn't understood half of what she'd just said but he decided not to ask. "I'm just going next door to get something. I'll be back in a minute." he told her, letting her get dressed whilst he went to his room. It was easy to forget that Alethea was from the future, the Prince mused. She fitted in so easily here that anyone could have mistaken her for being local. It was only the fact that every so often she said or did the odd strange thing that reminded him of her home. It was only little things but they made Arthur remember that she was not from his own time, but from somewhere far in the future. He didn't mind though. At least their conversations never got boring.

Grabbing a clean shirt, he returned next door to find his wife wearing leggings and what looked suspiciously like one of his red tunics. Deciding it best not to complain, Arthur got dressed himself and had just finished doing so when Merlin had arrived carrying four sets of armour. He watched on as the young warlock and the Princess got Penny ready for battle, trying not to think of what was to come. He knew that he could not afford to let his nerves get the better of him as that could mean that he would lose concentration in battle and that would probably be fatal. In fact, as he helped Alethea with her armour, all he was thinking was how he was going to keep her safe. He wanted nothing more than for her to come out of the other side of the fight unscathed, but if Arthur had his way she wouldn't be fighting. He wasn't even sure that she wanted to go through with it, but she had seemed so adamant about it yesterday that he wasn't going to argue. Knowing her she would only find a way to sneak onto the battlefield and fight anyway. If she hadn't been determined enough earlier though, she seemed to become even more insistent when she discovered the name of the field they were to fight on.

"Camlann." That was all he had said and his wife had visibly paled. Arthur was filled with concern as she grabbed onto the table for support and he wondered if he should tell her to stay in Camelot. He could see the fear and disbelief in her eyes, and there was a sadness that reached deep within her. Obviously the name told her something that he didn't know, but it had to be bad. Assuring her that he would be fine, Arthur wished that he himself could believe what he was saying. Even he couldn't know if he would see another sunset, but Alethea seemed to believe him. She had calmed down for a little while, at least until Merlin had gone.

"Please don't die today Arthur." she begged him and the Prince noted with some sadness that she was crying.

"I will try my best to survive Alethea. I promise." He meant that. "But, should anything happen today that parts us, know that I love you from the bottom of my heart, and I always will do." he told her, heartfelt words spilling from his mouth. Anything could happen that day to separate them. Either of them could die or Alethea could be sent home. Whichever way, they would not see each other again.

"Arthur Pendragon, words cannot even describe just how much I love you and I will always love you, no matter what happens today or any other day." she told him, meaning every word.

"Are you absolutely certain that you want to go through with this?"

"Well someone has to keep an eye on you." she smiled sadly.

"Alethea…" he began, about to tell her that it was alright to change her mind and stay here in Camelot looking after the people.

"I'm one hundred percent certain. It's Camlann Arthur, and if fate deems that this is the end then I want to be by your side. In fact, no, I need to be by your side." she told him, taking his hand in hers.

"If this is the end then know that I'll be waiting for you in the next world."He told her before they were silent for a minute or two.

"Stay safe Arthur."

"and you be careful."

"Aren't I always?" she asked, half laughingly before Arthur leant down and merged their lips. Kissing as if it was their last, neither of them wanted to let go for they knew that this could be the final time that they held each other. Needing no words, both seemed to cry on the inside as they knew that they could lose each other, and that would break their hearts. Eventually they had to part and when they did, the young couple walked hand in hand to the courtyard with Penny flying by them.

It was at the courtyard that the men and horses were gathered. Every man was equipped with at least a sword and shield and knew the basics of fighting. Arthur sighed. He had done his best to train these men and boys, but deep inside he knew that half of them wouldn't survive. After all, what use was raw steel against magic? Finding his own magnificent horse, Arthur placed Excalibur in the scabbard before going to help Alethea find her own.

"You can't take a white horse into battle." he explained when he saw her looking puzzled as she couldn't find her mount.

"Why?" she asked, quite confused.

"It's bad luck, so I've got you Fury instead." he told her

"Fury?" she repeated. Arthur just smiled and led her to a particularly fine black warhorse which stood next to his own. Alethea regarded the creature warily before stroking Fury's muzzle. Getting a good reaction from the horse, she mounted up with Arthur's aid before he himself got onto his own horse and waited for his father to arrive.

The ride to the battlefield seemed to take forever and yet fly by at the same time. The young Pendragon assumed that this was because he both didn't want to get there in case it ended with him leaving Alethea for good, but also he wanted to get this battle over and done with. He knew without a doubt that many would fall that day but, somewhat selfishly, he prayed that his family and close friends would not be too seriously injured. With his father, his wife and his close friends all fighting at the same time, he knew that he could not protect them all, so he just hoped that none of them would die that day. He didn't think that he was yet ready to be King, and he had already gone and lost many close companions in previous fights. He didn't think that he could cope to lose any more, nor could he lose Merlin. Alright, so he wasn't meant to care about servants but one like Merlin was hard to find, and he was a good friend.

Arriving at Camlann and setting up a bit of a makeshift camp, Uther Pendragon came to rest by his son's side. Arthur had been a little surprised to learn that Uther had decided to join them in battle, having believed that his fighting days had ended a few years ago, but he guessed why the King was fighting. His father probably had the same reasons as Alethea did.

"I'm sure you will do me proud today." Uther said, facing the young blonde.

"I will do father." Arthur told him, head bowed.

"And I know that you'll make a great king. Arthur, I want you to promise me something…" Arthur had the feeling that his father was trying to tie off any loose ends. He didn't like it one bit, because that meant that he could lose his father and he didn't want that. Not today. He wasn't ready.

"Yes?"

"Keep her safe will you?" he said, referring to Alethea who was currently helping Sir Gerard and Sir Lancelot with one of the tents.

"I will do."

"I love you Arthur. You must know that, and regardless of what happens today, I know that you will do the right thing." Before Arthur even had chance to comment, they both spotted movement in the trees. Men mounted back up and got ready as the magicians revealed themselves. It was time.

"For the love of Camelot!" Arthur said, leading the charge, his blood pumping around his veins and his heart racing.

"For the love of Camelot!" The men chorused as they rode into battle. Alethea was right by Arthur's side at the start, exactly where he could see her but it wasn't long before she vanished from view. Unable to spot her, Arthur quickly found that he didn't have time to worry as he defended himself from yet another fireball. This was a damn sight harder than fighting ordinary men. As sword met staff, another sorcerer fell but the Prince wasn't safe for long. A group of three wizards with staff's in hand approached and surrounded him. Unable to escape, Arthur wondered what they were going to do to him. Before they had chance to however, Merlin had gotten rid of them. Going to thank his friend, Arthur found that the boy wasn't his usual self, and it had nothing to do with the fighting.

The young warlock had such anger and ferocity in his eyes and tears stained his cheeks, his sadness clear. Merlin was surrounded by an air of powerful magic and Arthur realised that he had never seen him like this before. The warlock had a grim determination and also seemed to be rather reckless. It was almost as if he had lost someone he loved. Actually, he probably had done from the way he was fighting. Arthur could not help but wonder though if his mood was part what down to the fact that he was striking against his own kind and having to kill those who were like him. It must hurt to be destroying the same people who would welcome you and accept you for who you are. Watching Merlin defeat yet another small group by sending them flying backwards, Arthur then lost sight of the warlock as he was thrown back into battle.

The sun was rising painfully slowly but already there were many casualties on both sides. Camelot's army was now three quarters of the size that it had been but this did not put them off. Still they fought with bravery and courage, even when their comrades fell. In fact, the deaths of their friends seemed to make them even more determined to win, if that was at all possible. Any survivors would be well rewarded for their loyalty afterwards if they won. Arthur knew that they deserved it for what they were doing for the kingdom. Their loyalty was something that Arthur had seen in very few people and so it needed rewarding. In fact, if they were the victors then there would be many a celebration.

Dark clouds appeared overhead, blocking out what little sunlight there was and a chill wind blew on the hill top. One of the sorcerers was controlling the weather and lightning struck near where Arthur was, spooking many of the horses. Thunder rumbled as men were thrown from the saddle and Arthur struck another man down before Camelot's army found themselves forced to go backwards. They had been gaining ground up until this point and were now being forced to give it up. Watching in horror as men and horses fell victim to terrible magic, Arthur saw one man in particular about to be trampled to death. Riding towards the knight, Arthur pulled Lancelot out of the way just before the horses crushed him.

"Thank you sire." the knight said before continuing with the battle.

Gradually the once lush meadow was becoming a muddy field. Bodies lay everywhere but still the fight went on. Camelot could not fall to sorcerers. It had done once before and Arthur vowed that it would never again come under magic's control. Blocking out the screams of dying men, the blonde Prince saw something out of the corner of his eye. Dispatching the druid he had been battling with, he got a better look and stopped dead in his tracks. It couldn't be… She was meant to be far, far away from Camelot by now, not fighting with the opposition. Suddenly his duty became a little bit harder for there was no way that he could kill her. He could not let her die, nor watch her be killed for she was too much like a sister to him. However, could she kill him? After all, he hadn't helped her to escape like Alethea had done. Did she hate him for it? Possibly, but she wasn't meant to be here. She just wasn't. A battlefield was no place for a woman, let alone the King's ward. She was not meant to be fighting them and Arthur stared in disbelief. It couldn't be her, but it was. It had to be Morgana...