Chapter 24: Time is Running Out
LANCELOT
Gaius had just sat down when Hale burst into the hut out of nowhere. Her hair was all over the place and her eyes were wide and panicked. Poor Gwaine was clinging to her shoulder for dear life, probably tearing her dress. Quickly scanning the room's occupants, she gasped, "Where's Arthur? And Gwen?"
"They went off somewhere together after Arthur attempted to persuade the knights, remember?" Leon supplied helpfully. She hit the doorframe in frustration.
"But they need to hear this! It's important!" she cried.
"My dear, you need to calm down. Sit and have a cup of tea with us. These gentlemen were just about to explain something to me," Gaius said, gently guiding the shaken girl to a chair. She nodded her thanks when he placed a steaming cup in front of her. After taking his seat, Gaius asked, "So what is it that's got you so worked up?" Hale took a deep breath.
"Have they told you what happened on our journey yet?"
Gaius shook his head. She stood up. "Right then. I'll go track down Arthur and Gwen while you guys fill Gaius in on what's been happening. Oh, and Gaius," she turned to the kindly old man and smiled. "It's really great to see you again." She dashed out the door, her poor marten still attached to her shoulder. Gaius laughed and shook his head.
"Still a whirlwind of energy, that one. Well, best get on with it. Tell me your story."
When Hale returned with Arthur and Gwen in tow, the atmosphere in the room was very different. Poor Gaius was pale and shaking.
"So Merlin's really been kidnapped? And by Morgana of all people?" he asked weakly for the third time. Gwaine patted his hand soothingly.
"Yes. But don't you worry, we're going to get him back. And since Merlin's apparently a lot stronger than we thought, he'll be just fine." Gaius' head shot up at that.
"You know?" he croaked. Gwaine jerked a thumb at me.
"He told us after we had a run-in with someone who knew him as Emrys. Say, do you have any idea what the deal is with this Emrys thing? Why does Merlin have two names?"
Gaius didn't respond, too busy gauging Arthur's reaction to Gwaine's casual confession. Arthur glared at him.
"So you knew too, eh? Guess that makes sense considering you lived with him," Arthur muttered. Gwen cast him a worried glance. He was clearly still in a bad mood.
"How did things go so wrong?" Gaius whispered. Hale grimaced.
"It gets worse," she said grimly. "I had a vision before I came bursting in here. And you're not going to like what I saw." She proceeded to recount the events she'd witnessed. As her story progressed, the atmosphere in Gaius' normally cozy hut grew heavier and heavier. We were up against a god? I thought fighting Cairon was bad, but this was catastrophic. And what about Merlin? They would not keep him alive long after they drained his power. At least we knew he was alive, though. I could see my thoughts mirrored in my companions' faces.
After Hale finished, no one spoke for quite some time. The silence was broken by the sound of Arthur's chair being pushed back.
"We ride for Actica in two nights," the prince announced. His expression betrayed nothing but his posture was rigid. "Make your preparations. I need to speak with the knights once more."
It took longer than expected to gather all the knights of Camelot. Many were confused, some were irritated, and plenty were apprehensive about what Arthur had to say. Word of his plan had spread and the knights didn't like having to choose between father and son.
"Sire," one knight began. "If this is about your plan to fight Cairon -"
"I know my father has ordered you to stay and protect our people," Arthur cut him off. "I understand why he gave the orders he did, and I don't begrudge him for it." The knights muttered in confusion. Where was Arthur going with this?
"I know what you're thinking," Arthur continued. "And yes, we are up against an opponent more dangerous than anything we've ever faced before. But that does not give us an excuse to give up. In fact, that is all the more reason for us to rise to the occasion." The knights seemed to shrink back from Arthur's stern gaze.
"My father believes that keeping the knights here will be enough to save our people. As much as I hate to admit it, that isn't true. Cairon cannot be allowed to approach these walls. His power would destroy us all, and that is why we must defeat him before he has the chance to reach us."
"But if he's so powerful, won't we just die there?" the bold knight from before asked. "What is the point of fighting him on his own territory?"
Arthur's stern face looked upon his knights, and the setting sun's light illuminated his face. He looked around at each one of us who had been on the perilous journey with him. Only we understood the importance of stopping Cairon. We had witnessed the destruction that he wrought on all of the kingdoms.
"This is not about keeping just OUR people safe. We must rally other kingdoms to send their armies. Cairon is not just attacking Camelot. He is attacking us all, and it is our duty as human beings to stand side by side against such treachery. Though we have at times been at war with our neighboring kingdoms, he is now at war with us all!"
The room shuffled a bit, and it seemed a little more crowded than before.
"When the sorcerer attacks one kingdom, that is an attack to us all. He will not stop there. If we want true peace among the lands, we must take this opportunity to unite with our brothers from the other kingdoms."
There was a wave of nods around the room, yet it still didn't seem like many of the knights were convinced.
Arthur looked to us and extended his arms to his right and left. "My comrades and I have been wandering the lands for months, and we have seen what true evil is. I have seen children and widows suffering. Vibrant villages have been burnt to the ground and now the bones of their people have turned into ashes. And yes, those are not our people, and we have in the past let other kingdoms deal with their own problems, but…"
And Arthur's voice rose to a boom, and the entire room room vibrated with his passion as he continued, "How would you feel if you were suffering in agony, helpless, distraught and oppressed, as your neighbor simply watched your destruction?"
That seemed to strike a chord within those assembled. How could we just let those around us suffer? Even though the problem seemed so out of our grasp, these men had enough integrity to die trying to save innocent lives.
"If we do nothing now, if we don't put up a fight, he will only arrive in Camelot that much sooner. Our days will be numbered, and what would be the point if we do not unite, and try to defend us all? It would be useless to protect only Camelot, because we will all die if we stand around here and wait for him to come to us!" It was silent, then a roar of approval from the knights erupted.
A strong voice burst out of the crowd, "But sire, should the other kings react similarly to your father, what do we do then? All hope will be lost."
The crowd grew quiet again.
"Those armies would not budge to defend Camelot alone; the rulers would have the same view as my father. However, a coordinated attack to protect several kingdoms at once is justifiable." Understanding dawned on some of the knights. His logic made sense.
"As for territory, Cairon is not the only one who knows Actica well." The prince motioned to Hale, who stepped forward.
"As you all know, this is Hale, princess of Actica. She will be able to provide information about the kingdom that Cairon, who returned to his homeland after years away, will not be privy to." I raised an eyebrow. It was smart of Arthur not to mention Hale's true heritage or her powers, but those two facts would greatly motivate the knights. At least with Hale on our side (and perhaps the White Lady), we had a chance.
"Right now, Cairon believes we will stay put as my father ordered. If we can catch him by surprise, we will stand a greater chance of bringing him down. I will ride for Actica in two nights." Exclamations of shock - "So soon?" "Alone?! What is the prince thinking?!" - echoed around the room.
But as I listened to Arthur's speech, I couldn't help my pride to be following this man from surfacing. He had grown, and he was going to make a great king. Possibly even the greatest king Camelot - and maybe Albion - has ever seen.
"I am not asking you to choose between my father and I. I am asking you to choose between hope and despair, the people or yourself. Still, no matter what happens, all of you brave men will have a place in Camelot. Those of you who choose to stay, I won't hold it against you. Now," His tone suddenly became business-like. "I will need runners to request help from allied kingdoms. You there," he pointed at a random knight who jumped in surprise. "Make sure that happens."
"Yes sire," the knight bowed and ran off to fulfill his task. Arthur turned back to the others.
"The rest of you, prepare yourselves. In two day's time, we ride to war."