The attack had begun at dawn when Arthur was still practising in the courtyard. Tensions had been building up for a good few weeks until they had snapped. Arthur's supporters had come up to the castle to fight Uther's supporters. Father and son were now at war. Staying in the castle with his faithful men, Arthur fought against the opposition. Both armies were a mixture of noblemen and peasants who were ill equipped and many were badly trained. As a result, chaos broke out and father fought son, brother fought brother. As Arthur fought with his comrades, one by one they fell to the sword.

The sound of metal on metal filled the air along with the cries of wounded and dying men and the screams of women and children. Blood filled the streets and slowly but steadily all that Camelot had stood for was being torn to shreds. As Arthur defended himself against another man, there was the cry of a dragon an looking up, Arthur saw it fly into the castle. Narrowly escaping being crushed by falling blocks of stone, Arthur called his surviving men together and the previous battle was forgotten. Now they all united to fight this creature. As smoke filled the air, Arthur remembered that he had not seen Merlin or Morgana that morning. Filled with dread and a sense of hope, he went to find them.

Running through the blood stained streets and avoiding the bodies that filled them, Arthur found Merlin, Morgana and Gwen together. Sighing with relief, he saw three horses nearby. Taking them to his three friends, he knew what he had to do.

"Arthur?"

"Get away. The forest will be safe. Just get away from here."

"But Arthur…"

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Now go, please. Just get to safety." Seeing the three of them reluctantly mount and ride out of Camelot, Arthur smiled before running back to join his men.

Keeping formation, they fired crossbow bolts at the dragon but none seemed to help to defeat it. Then, as the dragon flew away, Arthur's men followed and as the young prince followed, he felt himself trip over something. Quickly getting to his feet, he found a sword at his throat. Looking at who was challenging him, he found that he did not know the man. He couldn't have been much younger than Arthur and wore a green tunic beneath his armour. He couldn't see the eyes beneath the helmet but the boots and trousers were recognisable, although Arthur couldn't place them at that moment in time. Defending himself, Arthur fought long and hard against this mysterious knight but took advantage as his opponent hesitated. He didn't see their eyes change or notice them lowering their sword until it was too late. As Arthur's sword pierced flesh and his opponent fell, Arthur smiled until he realised who it was.

The sound dimmed. Events around him slowed and he didn't even care that there was a dragon to be fought. He didn't notice the entrance of Nimueh with his father, nor that the dragon was almost defeated. All he could hear was her cry of pain as she landed on the ground, her helmet loosened. It was Alethea. She was still alive but now wounded by Arthur. He'd found her only to kill her unknowingly. His sword fell from his hands and clattered to the ground as he realised what he had done. He was by her side instantly.

"What have I done? What on Earth have I done?"

"Arthur.." she said, grimacing in pain and clutching her side where Arthur's sword had gone in. "Your father…He's in danger…"

"He can take care of himself." he said bitterly. He still hadn't forgiven him for arresting Alethea.

"Nimueh will kill him."

"He doesn't need my help. You do." Arthur told her as he held her in his arms.

"His life is more important. He matters more than I do…"

"But Alethea…"

"Please Arthur." Torn between love and family loyalty, Arthur turned around at the sound of laughter.

"Hear that Uther? Your son thinks more of a criminal than he does of you."

"That's not true…" Uther protested, struggling to free the rope that bound him.

"Oh, but you heard him yourself. Camelot will fall and be rebuilt with magic. Magic will rule this kingdom once more, Uther, with me at it's head. Queen Nimueh has quite a ring to it don't you think?"

"I will stop you." Uther said.

"Tied up? I don't think so. But what about your son? Will he let magic rule?"

"No." Arthur answered.

"Now you see Arthur, I could save her."

"With magic?"

"How else?" Nimueh laughed.

"What price?"

"A life for a life. Your father or Alethea. Your choice."

Arthur looked at his father who was tied up. He was the man that Arthur had hated for the past two months. Could he let him die and let Camelot fall? Or could he let Alethea die and Camelot stay? He'd only just got her back to lose her again. Looking at Alethea whose blood was pouring out onto the cobbles, Arthur realised that she didn't have long left. Who would he rather have: his father? Or Alethea? Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, the prince answered.

"Alethea dies. My father lives."

"Such a shame. She was such a brave little soldier." Nimueh sighed. "But she served her purpose, although failed her task. Ah well, seems I don't have to send her back to where I took her. And it's tough that your choice doesn't really matter young Pendragon. What did Alethea say? Oh yes, Nimueh will not rest until one dragon is dead. That means one of you two. Say goodbye to your father Arthur."

"No… Nimueh, you will not kill him. Take me instead. If Alethea dies then I have nothing to live for."

"Instead? I may as well kill you both. It's a shame neither of you will see my reign." As Nimueh placed her dagger close to Uther's neck, Arthur ran towards her to save his father but a flick of her wrist sent Arthur crashing into the rubble. Opening his eyes a few seconds later with pain coursing through his body, Arthur knew that he couldn't give up. Cursing in pain, he tried to run to Nimueh before it was too late but there was no way that he could make it. Seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, Arthur couldn't have felt more worse. They'd disobeyed him and yet suddenly Nimueh was no longer there. The dagger had clattered to the ground, along with Uther. Arthur immediately ran.

"Father?" he asked as he knelt by the man and quickly released him. There was no sign of any blood and Arthur's fear slowly began to leave him.

"Arthur? You're alright?"

"I am. How about you?"

"Just fine." A look of understanding passed between them before Arthur remembered.

"Alethea!" He was back by her side in an instant, cradling her in his arms, one of his hands trying desperately to stop her life's blood from leaving her. Her breathing was slowing and she was ever so pale yet she was still conscious.

"You made the right choice." she smiled gently.

"I'm so sorry Alethea… If there was any other way… I just couldn't let her…"

"I understand. Family comes first. I would have done the same thing…" she said softly, her pain obvious.

"Forgive me, please?"

"What is there to forgive?" she laughed a little before coughing a little blood. Arthur really began to panic then.. She didn't have much time left. "Forgive me Arthur?"

"What for?"

"Dying…and causing all this trouble."

"That is not your fault Alethea. You were misguided and manipulated. Of course I can forgive you."

"Thank you." She whispered before closing her eyes and her breathing slowed even more.

"No… No… Alethea, wake up… Open your eyes… Alethea, for me…Please…" he shook her gently but got no response. Tears welled in Arthur's eyes and fell onto her face. Holding her close in one last embrace, Arthur kissed her gently on the lips before whispering three words that yet again he'd left until it was too late to say them.

In his misery, Arthur did not notice the arrival of Gaius until Merlin tried to move Arthur. Arthur refused to move but stayed with Alethea as Gaius did his work. Catching a glint in Gaius' eye, Arthur knew that there was a small chance of her surviving. After all, she hadn't yet stopped breathing and she was still clinging onto life although she seemed dead to the world. Staying by Alethea's side whilst Gaius did what he could, Arthur found his father and his friends stood close by with the castle still standing proud, although glass had been shattered and a few towers and rooms on the upper levels had been destroyed. Fires had burned out and the dragon had been captured although he was almost dead. Then, as the physician finished patching her up the best he could, Arthur carried Alethea to one of the surviving rooms.

Walking down the corridors with her in his arms, Arthur ignored his own aches and pains as he found his own room. Kicking open the door and finding that this room had survived, Arthur placed Alethea's sleeping form on the bed and tucked her in. Sitting by her side, he brushed a stray curl from her face and smiled slightly as Merlin entered.

"I'm sorry Arthur. I couldn't let you stay here and…"

"I forgive you Merlin." Arthur said from where he was sat.

"Is she…?"

"Not quite. I did this to her though Merlin. It was my sword that pierced her flesh. I'm the one with her blood on my hands. I thought I'd lost her Merlin, I really did. Now, when I finally find her again, I kill her."

"She's not dead yet."

"But she soon will be and it will all be my fault. It was my fault two months ago, and its my fault now. You would have thought that I'd learn from my mistakes. Obviously I haven't and she'll die because of it."

"But Arthur… She could live… There is a chance…"

"A small chance. There's an absolutely massive chance that she won't live. Merlin, I can only stay with her in her last hours and hope she forgives me."

"Then Arthur, at least wash your hands and let Gaius take a look at you. You were injured today as well. Alethea wouldn't want you to die because of some injuries."

"Very well…Where is Gaius?"

"His tower. It managed to survive the attack."

"Keep an eye on Alethea then. I'll be back soon."

"of course sire." As Arthur reluctantly left the room, Merlin walked over to Alethea's bedside and whispered a few words that he'd learnt. He had gotten rid of Nimueh earlier and now it was time to rectify the damage done. Alethea's breathing stopped for a moment and Merlin panicked slightly before she suddenly breathed once more, this time regularly. Sighing with relief, Merlin cleaned her hands whilst Arthur was away.

Arthur found Gaius soon enough and allowed himself to be fixed up before being given something for Alethea. Taking it from Gaius, Arthur smiled slightly. If it could save her then Arthur would be the happiest man alive. Taking the stairs two at a time, he soon arrived at his room where he sent Merlin away. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Arthur tilted Alethea's head and made her drink the mixture he'd been given. Making sure that she swallowed, Arthur smiled before sitting with her and holding her hand. Now all he had to do was wait and hope that she would live.