Forks in the Path to Destiny

A/N: The story is soon coming to a close. I estimate that there will be around 3 or 4 chapters left until the end. I can't wait myself.

Chapter 26: A True War Against Magic

In the village, there were still a small contingent of Camelot soldiers left to watch the people and protect the wounded they still have from the last battle they had against the sorcerers. There were a dozen men combing the surrounding areas for the sorcerer that had escaped as well as any others that might've been around like him while the main army had moved on for the Forest of Gedref. So far, the death toll of the village was five. One from the field and four who refused to let their homes be ransacked and met Camelot's steel. They were the unlucky ones; the luckier ones had a few scratches and light cuts. The remaining people were huddling in groups trying to not be too panicked. The headman was confined to his house and the village storehouse was stripped of all the food provided by Albion for the army. It was punishment for the people of the village for their treachery of collaborating and living with sorcerers.

It was confusing for the villagers because the Knights seemed ready to condemn them so easily and happily without proof. While they may actually be guilty of doing so, they were still under the protection of the King of Camelot and have to be tried by his laws fairly. Yet...they were just simply subjected to harsh brutality without an explanation. Now the army was marching for Albion's location. As the villagers huddled together, many looked to the direction where Albion was and hoped that all the people there were going to be okay.

Meanwhile, a certain physician was tending to the wounded that they still had but not as hard as he was to Sir Tristan. He had applied the proper potions to his wounds and then had re-bandaged them. He went to his water bucket and saw that it needed a change of water so he took it and headed for one of the village wells. He passed many scared villagers though a few here and there glared at the soldiers and knights who were left behind to watch them. Gaius closed his eyes and pushed back the impulse to show his tears at the sight of their suffering. This was bringing back painful memories of the early days in the purge and he knew that this would renew old nightmares. He still had them once in a while but the gap between them seemed to get larger ever since he had first taken in Merlin, but with all of the stress from everything they would be back with a vengeance.

He dropped the bucket into the well and then started to pull it out until he lost his grip on it and it fell back in.

"Mister...need help?"

Gaius turned and saw that it was a young boy, about half Merlin's age, who was sporting a fresh bruise on the left side of his head. He looked a little timid and seemed to be slightly fidgeting.

"Thank you young man," he said stepping aside. "I appreciate it."

"You're welcome." He pulled the bucket up filled with water. "I'll carry it in with you."

"Very well."

Gaius wondered why this villager was being so helpful. Considering the way his home was getting treated and the obvious evidence of his own, he shouldn't be doing the party from Camelot any favors. They made it to the medical tent where the guards allowed the boy to come in when Gaius explained that he needed his help with lifting a few things inside. Once inside, the bucket was placed on a table next to some cloth where Gaius started to dampen one to lower a soldier's fever. Gaius put it on the soldier and turned to see the boy walking back out of the tent a little too quickly.

"Young man." he said making the boy fidget a little. The boy turned and looked at him with a small sweat starting to run already. "Come here."

The boy moved to him slowly with his arms tightly at his sides. Gaius made him slowly part his arms and a roll of gauze and a bottle of tonic for healing wounds and blocking infection slowly fell from their hiding places. When Gaius held them in front of him with a raise of his eyebrow the boy looked at him with shine in his eyes. "Please," he pleaded.

Gaius heart almost broke in two right then and there. The hurt villagers weren't being offered any help for their injuries and were being denied on both Dregan and Renmar's suggestion. They thought it would send a clear message that any pain they sustained was a direct result of their treason and with their village ransacked and violated there wouldn't be much they could do on their own.

"Who is it for?"

The boy didn't drop his gaze. "My dad. He got a deep cut on his leg from a sword. He needs it to get covered up or he'll get sick."

Gaius couldn't help but be impressed that someone this young knew that. He looked back at the items in his hands before handing them back to the boy. "Do you know how to do use them...uh?" He didn't know the boy's name.

The boy almost cried when he got the items back. "Eli and yeah. The healer taught me how to do it."

"You have a healer here?" The boy suddenly got nervous again. Gaius just smiled. "It's okay...you could tell me. I won't say anything."

The boy started to rub his foot by the nearby table leg and seemed to be trying to steady himself. "He...has magic. He had to run when the army was coming with the others."

Others? So there was more than just the one that was spotted by the men. "Where they from Albion?"

The boy gasped. "How do you know that?" Gaius saw that the boy was so shocked that he didn't even realize that he slipped.

"What can you tell me about Albion?" Gaius wouldn't let Eli leave now. Here was the first genuine and solid lead into Albion that he had and time was running out. "What can you tell me about Lord Connor."

The boy calmed down at the mention of Connor's name. "Lord Connor...he's the best. He's really nice to us. And great with magic. He and Emrys are unstoppable."

'What?' he thought. 'How can that be? How does Merlin fit into this?'

"There's also the other animals he has with him. Emrys is great but he is only just one of Connor's." The boy seemed to be more excited and starstruck as he talked of Connor. "His bear, falcon and his horse are great too."

"He loves animals?"

"And they love him. Lots of animals love him. Guess they can't help but love beast tamers."

"Beast Tamer?" At those words, a sudden memory of a young boy who he had last associated with that term flashed into his mind. The image of him shouting into the sky, the very last one that he had of a boy he had nearly forgotten. "And his name is Connor?"

"Yeah." said Eli with a happy nod.

So...the boy is alive. Roland had lied to Uther after all. He had suspected it but with how relentless attacks were back then, he had considered it a weak possibility. But this wasn't the time for those thoughts. "And who exactly is Emrys?"

"His Chimera."

A Chimera? That was a creature of the old religion and it was under Connor's taming power? "What about Albion? What is that?"

"It's the city where..." He stopped talking when he suddenly caught sight of the things still in his hands. "I have to go to my dad."

Gaius was disappointed but he understood. He kept the boy long enough and learned a lot more than he knew before. "Go on but make sure you hide those things."

"Okay."

"Wait a moment," Gaius said before Eli could leave. "Is Albion's symbol a bear?"

The boy looked back at Gaius before stepping back out of the tent. "Yes, a bear looking up at the north star."

"Not a roaring bear?"

"No, that's not a nice bear for Albion to use. They like using their nice bear always." He then stepped out.

"So...my hunch was right. Those banners we found" he softly said looking towards Tristan cot. "are forgeries. Fakes."

"They are..."

Gaius was nearly scared out of his skin. He went closer and saw that Tristan was awake but still looking a little groggy. The magical elixirs he borrowed did the trick.

"Sir Tristan."

"Gaius...we have to warn the men. We're marching against the wrong people."

"Tristan, not so fast," he said pushing down on his shoulder as he attempted to rise. "You had a hole cut right through your side. If it had been any more to the towards the center of your body you would most definitely be dead. You have to take it more slowly. You've been bed ridden for over 2 days."

"Gaius, we don't have time for such trivial things now. A no good cretin is pitting us against innocent magic users."

"Alvarr?"

"How do you know that?"

"You were mumbling his name in your sleep when you were brought back. How do you know Alvarr?"

He finally let himself fall back and sink into the cot. "He was one of my...clients back in mine and Isolde's smuggling days. He was a slippery one but we tolerated him because he was a constant client." He turned his head slightly away from Gaius.

"I'm not one to pass judgements Tristan. Believe me, we all have things we're ashamed of." Like letting people who he knew were good people suffer while he was in the king's good graces, he added to himself. "Tristan, how does Alvarr fit into any of this?"

"He was there. In the woods overseeing the attack. I found the banners and noticed that they didn't match the symbols on those magic dolls at all. It was all him. He made a forged Order of the Bear attack. I was about to engage him when I felt something strike at me and caused me to fall back to the campsite."

"So...Alvarr is back to his old tricks. Manipulating others so he could end up with what he desires while others pay the price of it." He caught Tristan's eye. "No wonder he tried to kill you so desperately. He couldn't have a witness like you."

"Well, we just have to make sure we don't fall for it."

Gaius closed his eyes. "Tristan, I think it might be too late for that. The army is marching for the Order of the Bear's stronghold as we speak."

"What?"

"Easy," he said putting his hands out to stall him. "there Tristan. Not so hard."

"How could the army be marching there so quickly and mercilessly?"

"We received a letter after the attack. It said that the Order had Arthur and the others as their prisoners. So the others felt it was necessary to go in for the King with force."

"Have they lost their minds? Even if it was a setup, chances are a move like that would put the King, the Queen and the others' lives in more danger."

"Yes, but they argued that for sorcerers they had to use more forceful tactics because they don't think like their standard enemies."

Tristan was dumbstruck. "Where did those fools get that idea from? I've met many magic users in my time and they're all different. Some like Alvarr who are conniving and others who were actually quite content. I learned quickly that you can't judge all of them as the same."

Gaius gave Tristan a small smile. "I'm glad to see that you took something as extraordinary as that from your previous line of work." He dropped the smile though. "Unfortunately, the other lords and knights don't believe the same and are out for blood especially with that attack."

"Then why are we wasting time." He against started to get up.

"Tristan, no."

"Gaius," he said harshly as he continued to get up. "You could either hurt me further by trying to stop me or you could help get my armor and sword ready." Gaius froze in his tracks. "Didn't you just tell me that the army has a head start on us? If the rest of the Order of the Bear is as strong and crafty as the two who infiltrated the city then this won't end well for our men either. They won't be stopping to ask questions when they see a mobilized army marching at them."

Gaius rubbed his eyes and let out a deep breath. "Well...we should get moving then."

"Guards!" Tristan shouted as he put on a shirt.

The two guards ran in frantically. "Sir Tristan?" "You're awake?"

"Ready two horses...immediately." he ordered.

Merlin was sitting at the cliffside feeling completely content with watching the sun reflected off the sea like distant diamonds. The breeze lightly blew making his lengthening hair lightly flail around. It carried the scent of the sea and Merlin closed his eyes as he breathed it in.

"This is nice." he said to himself.

Merlin was currently in the secret cliffside spot that Connor showed him the night where he revealed he was a dragonlord to him and introduced him to Kilgharrah. He'd been there since he'd gotten up this morning and was desperate for a quiet place to think today. He remember vaguely where Connor had taken him and how to get in and he didn't think he would mind that he was here. Though he was in the sight of such a beautiful view he could only really focus on the harsh words of Malcolm and his difficult current situation with Arthur.

Arthur was refusing to talk to him and seemed to try to avoid looking at him whenever they close to each other now. Deep down, he knew that Malcolm had a point. He had said that Arthur would never be able to look at him the same way and it seemed he couldn't bare to even do that now. Was history doomed to repeat itself? Would he, Arthur's servant and friend, face the same fate that Connor's father faced with Uther? He and Arthur had been through so much together...but Roland and Uther had spent nearly their whole lives in the same way and in the end it seemed to count for nothing.

At least his other friends were coming around. Gwaine seemed the one who was accepting him the fastest. He guessed that the revelation of his own father's involvement of magic was a key factor. Leon, Percival and Elyan seemed ready to trust in him as they always had though he caught them looking at him from time to time. Not a look of suspicion or tension but a look of curiosity. Gwen...she was starting to overcome any tension from the fact that he had magic and seemed to be making an effort to understand everything.

His thoughts were easily getting organized. He looked down at the water to see the waves hitting against the mountain side creating white foaming waves and loud colliding sounds. Connor had said that he used this place to think and he immediately saw why. It was quite the perfect place to do that. These thoughts were quickly taking up Merlin's time. It seemed like he'd been there for an hour but he was really there for nearly half the day. He didn't realize the amount of time until he suddenly realized that the sun was in a completely different position then before.

"Wow," he said stretching his arms. "How long have I been out here?"

He stood up stretched out his legs. If he remembered right, the festivities would be starting a little before dusk to close the Founding Festival. He finished stretching himself out before some movement in the distance. He looked closer to see that it was coming from the harbor below in the distance. He saw people moving onto the ships there by the buckload.

"What?"

"Merlin." a voice sounded in his head.

"Kilgharrah?" he answered back."What is it?"

"Merlin, I'm sensing something. Something is happening."

"What, what is happening?" Kilgharrah's tone sounded a little frantic, not that he'd ever admit being frantic to Merlin.

"I don't know. I'm sensing a lot of hostility heading for Albion quickly and more brewing up from within it."

Merlin was confused. What could be causing such hostility? He thought on it for a few moments before he remembered Camelot's main army that Arthur had planned as a contingency before they left. But...they couldn't be in Albion now. They weren't expected for at least another week. "I think Camelot's army is approaching."

"I'm on my way then Merlin. Remember, I told you that Albion is too precious to lose."

"Yes...it is," he said before running back for the city.

Connor was in his room putting on his uniform and armor. Normally, this armor had to be put on with help but the pieces were flying around him and fastening themselves Connor was in the air slightly as the cloth and metal went on him and attached on top. When he was fully dressed he made his way to an object hanging on the wall. A scabbard was lying underneath it and he took it and put it on. He then looked up to the object on the wall - his sword. The hilt was that of a bird with extended wings the the talons stretched and the claws grasping the metal blade of the sword. It's blade glowed slightly as he grasped it. He looked into the eyes of the bird hilt before he placed it into the sheath.

Arthur and the others were ducking into corners and empty houses as they tried to stay hidden. Soldiers and members of the Order were running through the streets getting themselves organized and ready for battle. The field in front of the city was being filled with troops who were lining themselves up in attention with Kalen overseeing them. Three rows were already prepared and more were coming. Coming by foot or suddenly appearing in flashes on the field. Currently they were in an alley overseeing everything.

"Arthur," said Leon. "What do we do now?"

Arthur was pulled away by the mesmerizing sight of an army of magic getting ready to go to war with his army. It wasn't what he ever pictured...it was worse. "We have to find a way to alert the other knights. They're completely unprepared for something like this. Too many will be killed."

"But to do that means crossing that gorge and it could only be crossed using magic." said Elyan pointing out that tricky fact.

"Then" said Gwen taking a look at Arthur. "we need Merlin's help."

Arthur caught his wife's eye and he sucked in a little bit of air feeling the stress coming down on him harder. "Which would be great...if we knew where the idiot was."

Gwen rolled her eyes. 'It's not much...but it's a start,' she thought.

"I'll look for him," said Gwaine. "It's better if we split up. Less likely to attract attention considering that they soon will realize we're missing."

Arthur nodded. "Okay...start at the manor. He might still be there."

"Okay."

Gwaine ran off, ducking into shadows and alleys, avoiding the rushing and growing army. The rush of not getting caught filling him with adrenaline. Miraculously, any soldiers that managed to see him either ignored him or told him to hurry and get suited or rush to the docks with the other citizens. After what seemed like forever, he finally made it to the gates of the manor where he caught sight of Connor and Galahad, in full Order of the Bear attire, in front of them talking.

"The city is still being evacuated." said Galahad. "I'd say that at least another hour or so and we should have the entire city cleared of civilians."

"That's good. What of the city's defense?"

"Most of the mobilized men have arrived at the front before the woods. Kalen is organizing them with precision. Evening the lines with magic and non-magic warriors with magical and non-magical weapons. Emrys, Cubby and the others are by his side. Archers have taken their positions on the roofs in the front of the city with Malcolm taking command of them. Last count was about over three dozen of them at the ready. My count of our forces is close to 300."

"300?" The Order of the Bear members, both Sir rank and lower, currently in the city was around 60. There were also around 40 guards in the city. For them to have 300 soldiers, there must've been a lot of volunteers from the citizens.

Galahad gave him an amused smile. "You're surprised? This place means a lot to these people and their prepared to fight for it. The 300 are just the ones who are on our city's defense. There's also the people that were sent to protect all the civilians at the docks. They're fighting for their homes, families, friends...you."

"Thank you," Connor said with a grateful look in his eyes.

"Did you talk to Merlin?" asked Galahad making Gwaine pay extra attention.

"No," he said shaking his head. "He's not in the house. No one's seen him all day. He's disappeared."

Gwaine was now starting to panic. He's missing?

"Where could he have gone?" said Galahad asking Gwaine's wanted question. "Could he have left the city?"

"No," he said quickly. "Merlin's not the type to do that. Something tells me that he's still around here somewhere."

"Will he be a problem?"

Connor looked out into the city. "I don't think so...at least I hope not. He will try to help King Arthur but I think he will also try to help us as well."

"So he is stepping on neutral ground. This war is going to change that."

"I suppose so. I hope that if it comes to sides that he chooses us."

"And if he chooses to be against us?"

Connor was silent for a few moments before "Then he's made his choice." he said finally. "Now, what about our prisoners?"

"On that, we may have a problem." It was Kay and he came up to them looking haggard. "They're missing."

"What do you mean missing?" asked Galahad not looking happy.

"Didn't we have people watching them?" asked Connor.

"Yes, and I found them...in the forest knocked out. They were jumped by them and their swords taken."

"What do we do now?" asked Connor getting more worried with each word.

"We shouldn't worry. They can't leave the city limits. The whole front of the city is crawling with our soldiers and the docks are under heavy watch. Those are the only ways out of the city. Even if they somehow got past the men they could never cross the gorge without a bridge and we have our guards there."

"Well, we can't dawdle. Kay, you move to the bridge area and alert the guards of the approaching army and bring them here and keep an eye out for the king and the others. Galahad and I will move and muster up the main force of men."

"Okay." Kay took off in a run while Connor grabbed Galahad's shoulder and they vanished in a flash of light.

Gwaine knew there was no point in breaking into the manor now. Merlin was nowhere to be found. Yet, he didn't turn to immediately return to Arthur. He didn't understand what compelled him to do it but he instead took off to follow Kay.

Gaius and Tristan were on their horses riding hard and fast for the Forest of Gedref. Tristan was in full knightly garb and he was too stoked to feel any lingering pain from his wounds. Gaius kept glancing over at him every now and then but he insisted that they couldn't slow down. Gaius knew that normally someone with his wounds could never be out and about like this but he was thankful to the unknown magical healer who had mixed in those potions. They seemed to speed up his healing 3x faster than normal which they needed as they already were lacking in time. He looked back ahead to see the Forest of Gedref in their sights.

Connor was in front of the army floating in the air. Beneath him were Emrys and Cubby with Galahad and Kalen in front of the lines facing him. He could see Malcolm on one of the roofs of the homes with some archers. All the men were eying him with full attention. He didn't know that Arthur and his party were also watching him.

"People of Albion, the moment is here. Deep down we all knew this was coming. Camelot is marching for us. We wouldn't be able to hide from this kingdom forever. This was supposed to be our time to celebrate our chance to live in safety after years of constant danger. Now we are spending our last day fighting for our rights to live. Like the bear we will defend our homes and loved ones from those who dare believe that they destroy the ones we care and love for thrills and pride." The army roared raising their weapons up and pumping their fists up. "Twenty Five years ago King Uther declared a war on magic. Using the reports of a few sorcerers who abused their powers as precedent when his real motivation was spite that he couldn't have everything he wanted because he was king. He took citizens from his own city and arranged to burn them. He deceived good magical defenders of the people to their doom and played up their tale of destruction to increase his own power image. He attacked defenseless people whose highest expertise of magic was making pebbles float in the air. It was no war...it was a massacre. Last I checked, a war is defined when there are two armies fighting against one another. Not when there is one army dragging people out of their homes or striking them down where they stand unarmed. They seemed to believe that this makes them invincible against us. Well, let's show Camelot how it is to truly fight a war on magic. Against an army of people of magic and for magic that can actually fight back. A True War Against Magic. For Albion!"

"FOR ALBION!" shouted the army.

The men were whooping as Connor gently lowered herself back to the ground by his Chimera and Bear. The King of Camelot was struck dumb by Connor's speech.

The forces of Camelot reached a wide gorge after crossing the forest. They saw a great wide bridge of stone leading to the other side. At the command of the knights they marched forward towards it.

End of Chapter 26

A/N: It's time for the charge. What will Merlin do as he rushes to the battlefield? What can Tristan and Gaius do? What do you think they can do about the approaching madness. We're coming up to the end of this story. Tell me what you think, I want to know.