They moved through the tunnels following Lancelot's lead. Gwaine had no problem with this. But Olwen and Rupert did, just a little. Sir Lancelot had been given control of the mission into the dungeon. He was to get Uther and Balinor, and extract them both, with the help of the knights of Camelot. This was why Gwaine was patiently following Lancelot's cautious lead. Gwaine had been sent for Balinor. Cenred had gone with Merlin, Leon and Arthur to deal with the Cup of Life. Balinor was just as, if not more than, important. If he died and Merlin became a Dragonlord, who knows what he might do in his grief.

Gwaine reined his yelp in the last moment as something brushed past him, rubbing against his leg. Cyan paused at the entrance to the dungeon, through the sewer tracks. Lancelot turned to glare at Gwaine, who had clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Gwaine!"

"Sorry, he scared the life out of me! Don't do that!" Gwaine hissed at Cyan, who tilted his head and pricked his ears up. Then he turned to look at Lancelot, who regarded the wolf calmly.

"What's he doing here anyway? Shouldn't he be with Merlin?"

"Not if Merlin sent him," Gwaine said. "He's probably told him to find Balinor. It's a command he knows well enough. Balinor taught him, just in case Merlin ever needed it."

"Merlin thinks the wolf will be more reliable than you," Elyan commented, which roused a few smirks, and Gwaine glowered. Lancelot glanced down at Cyan again. The wolf stood next to him, looking up at him as if he was waiting for Lancelot's next instruction. There was a short pause as all of them looked down at the wolf. Cyan slowly wagged his tail and continued to wait. Lancelot knew there was something going on with the wolf, the beast had followed Merlin into that strange dream state, where Merlin had somehow been given enough answers to move their quest along. Now the wolf seemed to be serving another purpose, Lancelot didn't doubt that. Magic was not something he was entirely comfortable with. True he had sought out Gaius' advice over it, and even helped use magic on rare occasions but Merlin's powers seemed to be something else entirely. Things happened around them which they had no control over, but he wasn't about to argue over whether Cyan should come with them or not. That would do nothing more than waste precious time.

"Fine, hopefully he will sniff out trouble if we find any."

Lancelot carried on leading them in, following the instructions that Arthur had given him. Cyan trotted on his heels, with Gwaine directly behind them. The others shuffled along, all of them sticking to the shadows as they headed deeper in. They paused outside the dungeon entrance, and Lancelot took a deep breath, listening carefully to the low hum of voice in the dungeon ahead of them. Leaning forward he peered around the corner and assessed the four men lingering around. There were only four of them on duty, but they were immortal, dead but living dead, as Merlin had pointed out. If they got the rest of the knights out, they had more than enough troops to get Uther and Balinor out, and four immortal men would be manageable. Leon had told him the layout. That Uther and Balinor were together at the end of the corridor. It made it so much easier. The two people they needed to extract were in close proximity, they need not split up. Lancelot turned and nodded to the group behind him. They looked at him with serious expressions as he turned back and led the charge out.

The four guards were caught by surprise as the knights charged in. Lancelot, Gwaine, Elyan and Percival took the main attack keeping the men occupied while the others freed the rest of the knights. Lancelot looked around as he heard the clatter and four more guards piled into the dungeon. Hopefully there would be no more than that. He pushed one of the guards into a cell and slammed the door, penning the man in.

"Get them contained!"

Lancelot turned; brought up short as he realised Percival had tried his own, rather unique, method. He had hacked his assailant's head clean off, and was staring in morbid fascination at the result. The body was still moving, still fighting, the guards head laying on the floor, mouth moving but no sound was coming out.

"Get that thing in a cell and help the others!" Lancelot choked out, feeling the back of his throat fill with bile. Gwaine shoved his own attacker into the midst of the now freed knights of Camelot, who were bundling guards into the cells to contain them.

"Oh, that is just not right!" Gwaine said. "Proves Merlin right though."

"Never mind that, come on!" Lancelot yelled, he ran down the corridor, Cyan keeping pace with him and it occurred to Lancelot that Cyan had done nothing to join in the fight. He had just waited while the battle had started. Lancelot skidded to a halt at the end cell and stared in, tensing in shock, but inwardly feeling a rush of relief as he saw both men were still alive.

Balinor had heard the sounds of battle and was trying to rouse Uther. The King slowly stirred under Balinor's guidance and Lancelot stared at the wounds that covered the Dragonlord. Gwaine swore as he ran into view, almost crashing into Lancelot, but the other knight caught him at the last minute and steadied him.

"Are you all right?" Gwaine asked.

"Well enough," Balinor growled, easing Uther into a sitting position. The King looked around his eyes not entirely in focus, he didn't even look at if he recognised Lancelot.

"We need to get you out of here?" Lancelot said. Elyan charged onto the scene, a set of keys in his hand.

"I think we've got more on the way!"

All of them jumped as the bell started to toll. Gwaine grimaced.

"Possibly a lot more on the way!"

"Let's not waste time," Lancelot said, fumbling through the keys.

"Arthur?" Uther asked faintly. He blinked owlishly as he stared at the group of men by the bars.

"No, Sire," Lancelot said. He put the key into the lock, and Cyan gave a low rumble as the knight struggled with it. Then they all fell backwards at a sudden flash of light, Cyan yelped an accompaniment. Balinor gave a low sigh.

"That could be Morgause. She might have assumed Merlin was coming for me."

"Where's Arthur?" Uther asked blearily. Balinor gave him an idle pat on the shoulder for reassurance. Uther flinched away from him looking outraged. He glared at the people by the door, his eyes drawn to Cyan as the wolf started to give a low huffing noise, snuffling at the bars.

"He's fine My Lord," Lancelot said, fighting the lock, wincing as there was another blast of light, he jerked his hand back, hissing with pain. The key tumbled from the lock, the metal glowing a dull red. Glancing at the lock Gwaine realised it was glowing with the same sullen light.

"Damn!" Gwaine swore, crouching down to press his fingertips against the key, flinching back again, and waving his fingers in the air. "That's hot!"

"I could have told you that!" Lancelot snapped. "The only one that could probably deal with this is Merlin. Elyan! Get back up there and find a way to barricade us in, anything! I think we're changing to a defensive tactic. I don't think we're getting out of here."

"Where's Arthur?" Uther demanded, a little more stridently. Balinor glared at Lancelot and Gwaine.

"And where's Merlin?"

"He's with Arthur. They're going after the Cup of Life," Gwaine said.

"What?" Balinor's voice deepened, causing both men to jump and Cyan jerked back, lowering himself to the ground. He sniffed again, still giving low huffing breaths. If he wasn't so panicked about his son Balinor might have been inclined to wonder what was wrong with him.

"If they can empty the cup then the soldiers will die, the power that drives them will cease," Lancelot said.

"Cenred's with them, and Leon," Gwaine added, but he could tell that was not reassuring the increasingly angry Dragonlord.

"Are you two out of your minds? I trusted you to look after him!"

"Actually I think it was more Cenred, and he did his best. Nowhere is safe unless we deal with this situation. And Merlin was never going to be content to leave you here. Plus, his power is one of the advantages we've got!"

"What are the others?" Balinor demanded.

All attention suddenly riveted on the wolf as he slowly rose up again, he was still sniffing and taking the deep breaths that were developing into something else. Balinor watched him, his eyes slowly widening as he locked eyes with Cyan. In the dim light of the dungeon it was clear to see the gold flashes as they started to build in the animal's eyes. The low breaths were taking up a rhythm and Balinor could sense what was coming. He looked up at Gwaine and Lancelot, who were already backing away from Cyan, realising that something was about to happen.

"Get down!" Balinor yelled at them. He grabbed for Uther, yanking the King close to him as Cyan unleashed a full blown howl. His blue eyes flashed gold and Balinor shielded Uther as best he could. The spell tore through the confined space and Balinor felt the air dragged from his lungs as the magic crashed out with full force. The power of it surged around them, almost out of control. Balinor could do nothing but press Uther against the dungeon wall and pray that Merlin was safe.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The group of four moved through the castle without difficulty. Arthur had grown up in the palace, there wasn't a part of it that he didn't know. Cenred had spent some time watching the guards moving around the corridors. He knew their rotations, and which directions they were likely to be heading as they walked through the corridors.

Putting those two things together the group skulked through the castle without a single confrontation. Arthur went in the lead, the sword the dragon had forged, held tightly, both hands gripping the hilt, while he contained an overwhelming urge to attack something with it, while also controlling the urge to drop the thing. The Prince was taking the warnings the dragon had given seriously. He could feel something in the sword. Arthur would not have said that it was alive, but a force dwelt within the metal, and if he concentrated he could sense a humming sound that resonated, sickeningly similar to a heartbeat. He tried not to think about it, he had yet to wield the weapon, to see what surprises it held.

It was only as they reached the upper level, where the throne room lay that the weapon was put to use.

"What now?" Arthur asked, turning to Cenred. This time the King shook his head. He was holding a sword in one hand, and Merlin's hand was clasped tightly in the other. The young warlock was lingering behind him, peering round nervously. Leon brought up the rear, ensuring that no one caught them unawares. He could fight them, but it would require Arthur to strike a killing blow, if what they had been told was true. None of the knights debated it too deeply, but not a single one of them doubted the Dragon's word, or Merlin's. Camelot's future had been trusted to someone perceived as the enemy.

"Don't know," Cenred whispered back. "We never got up here, which makes me assume that this is the location of the Cup."

"You mean you don't know for sure, you never warned me about that!" Arthur hissed back.

"It's here," Merlin said, eyes staring down the corridor, fixed on a random point but he was sensing something. Cenred watched Merlin's eyes darting in his head, his pupils had, for some reason, dilated; not even reacting to the sunshine that streamed in through the windows.

"Which means we go any further we are bound to run into…." Arthur trailed off as the warning bell suddenly started to ring. They all lifted their heads to listen for a second.

"I'm presuming that's for the dungeon."

"In which case, we can't afford to waste…" Arthur snapped and they all jumped as two guards ran around the corner, almost into their rearguard. They all froze, and then Cenred pushed Merlin behind him, pressing him against the wall. Then the king stepped forward to stand by Leon, smiling brightly at his former soldiers.

"Hello, there," Cenred said.

Both men glared at him, eyes widening, they stayed deathly still for several seconds, staring at Cenred and looking as if they were listening to something before they rushed into the attack. Cenred clashed swords with one and Leon took the other. Arthur rolled his eyes.

"I've got the right sword!" he pointed out, now unable to use it.

The two soldiers pressed forward. Arthur looked down the corridor, the noise was bound to bring more men. As he turned back, Merlin stepped forward and raised his hand. His eyes flashed gold and both soldiers flew backwards, crashing down the corridor. Leon took a breath, glanced at Merlin and then looked at Cenred.

"Did any of your men ever like you?"

Cenred looked at the two men tangled together in a heap. Despite the force that Merlin had used they were struggling to get up.

"Most of them were mercenaries, it depended on what I paid them."

"I don't think those two have been paid in a while," Leon commented backing up. They spun as footsteps alerted them to more attackers. Arthur spun on his heel and met the first one, slashing the sword into him. He fell back as he went through the man's torso like it was butter, and the man's body flared before exploding. The man behind him didn't even slow down. Arthur clashed with him and Cenred moved to flank, distracting their opponent long enough for Arthur to get a hit in. The second man went the same way as the first.

"Wow," Cenred said. "That is a good sword."

"Against men that really don't seem to like you," Leon pointed out. Both Cenred and Merlin glared at him, but the group tentatively, but swiftly continued, Arthur taking the lead again.

"I think Morgause used the cup to put an enchantment on them," Cenred said.

"They don't seem to go for the rest of us like they do you. It almost seemed like they were listening to orders before they attacked."

"Maybe she used an enchantment that tapped into a natural inclination in them," Arthur mused, in a tone that something of a 'shut up' intonation to it.

"Still, if he's a target, then he can distract long enough for you to kill them," Leon pointed out.

Arthur held his hand up for silence as they paused a little distance away from a corner. They silently crept to it and Cenred and Arthur peered around it. The door to the throne room was closed, and they guessed locked, but Merlin could deal with that. Their immediate issue was the half dozen men that were stationed outside, three on either side of the door. They stood stiffly to attention, looking almost like statues. It was almost possible to assume that was what they were, but for the subtle rise and fall of their chests.

Arthur turned to look at Cenred.

"How about we put that theory to the test?"

Before Cenred could answer Arthur roughly pushed him out into the corridor, causing all six men to turn in unison.

"Prince Arthur's just round the corner, if you're interested," Cenred informed them. It was answered by all of them pulling their swords from their belts. Arthur huffed in irritation and stepped out to stand next to Cenred. The prince watched them as their opponents moved, their feet stepping at exactly the same time.

"That is just weird," Arthur said.

"Weirder than you and me fighting on the same side?" Cenred asked.

"Don't get used to it."

"I'm not planning to."

Leon stepped to Arthur's other side as the men rushed forwards. At least in the confines of the corridor it meant the six men were hindered. Arthur stayed a step or two in front of Cenred and Leon, who stayed in formation either side, keeping any thrusts aimed at Arthur safely away from him until he could use the sword to effect. Merlin whimpered, watching with concern, keeping himself pressed to the wall on Cenred's side of the corridor. He glanced back now and again, and as the two soldiers, who had finally managed to untangle themselves, attempted to run at him Merlin blasted them back again.

He kept his back pressed to the wall, staring at the now badly damaged men as they collapsed in a heap on the floor. Several limbs were now shattered, but still the men kept moving, they couldn't stop. Merlin's eyes flashed again, panic rising in him, and the two men burst into flames.

"Merlin!" Arthur yelled, killing another attacker, leaving them with four. They had beaten them back just past the door. "Merlin! Open the door!"

The command seemed to bring Merlin back to reality, giving him something other to do rather than panic, and feel horrified at what he had just done. He rattled the handle, and the door didn't give.

"Use magic, Merlin," Cenred advised, bashing someone's head against the wall and spinning the stunned man into Arthur. They had halved their attackers in the space of less than a minute. The king and the prince, were very carefully not looking at each other, concentrating heavily on the fighting force they were facing, preferring not to acknowledge that they were actually working very well together.

Merlin took the door handle again and he heard the click at the lock gave and he pushed it open.

"Oooh," he whimpered as the door opened. Arthur grabbed Leon's shoulder to push him towards the door and Cenred backed up, running backwards into the room, grabbing Merlin's arm on the way to draw him along. The last three men tried to rush Arthur but the all of them were grabbed by an invisible force and dashed heavily against the wall opposite. The corridor echoed with the sounds of footsteps as more guards ran towards them.

Arthur and Leon grabbed the doors and slammed them shut again, locking it up.

"Merlin!" he turned his head, and caught sight of what was at the other end of the room. Arthur's eyes widened, but he hung onto the door as it rattled. "Merlin, the door! Can you stop them getting in?"

He watched Merlin's eyes flash, and the door suddenly stopped rattling. The hammering and struggles of the men outside didn't cease, but the door stopped it's vibration under the pressure. Arthur released it and stepped forward, sword ready.

At the far end of the room, bathed in the light that came from the high, stained-glass window the Cup of Life stood on a plinth. Arthur blinked as he looked at it. The cup was attractive enough, but it didn't seem like something that could raise an immortal army, or bring someone back from the dead. He only stared at it for a moment though, and turned his attention to the men that flanked it. Four on either side of the raised platform, forming a semi-circle right and left. All of them had their hands on their sword hilts, but not one of them had moved yet. Again they were statue like but as Arthur took a step forward, each one of them moved their head, their eyes following him.

"Do you think they had any idea what would happen to them?" Leon whispered.

"I didn't," Cenred said, a trace of regret clear in his voice. The men's eyes shifted to him and they stirred, bodies tensing. Behind them the group could hear the hammering on the door, but it was holding.

"So, just the eight of them then?" Arthur said calmly. Cenred glanced at him.

"Get to the cup and it will be the none of them."

A second later the soldiers charged.