TITLE: Into the Woods

CHAPTER/TITLE: Twenty Eight/ The Plan

RATING: T (just to be safe)

A/N: I know, I know, TOO MUCH TALKING! GET TO THE SAVING! Yeah. But everyone has to know what's going on! Besides, I really wanted people to know about Merlin's magic for what is about to happen - oh well, you'll see. Hehehehe

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Merlin or Robin Hood.

Chapter Twenty Eight: The Plan

"After they let us go," Elyan continued, "we tried to go back and rescue Arthur and Gwen, but, well you saw how that ended. We don't know the castle well enough."

"Well," Robin slung in bow behind his back, "fortunately, we do."

"So, what do you say, mates?" Gwaine addressed both groups. "Can we work together here or what?"

It took several staggering moments, but finally everyone offered a nod and the two teams began sharing information and strategy.

"Why did they even take Merlin?" Elyan asked after awhile.

"Oh, that is one long story," Gwaine rolled his head back. "Look, I know you three better than I knew my own family and I know how you'll react after we tell you what we have to tell you. But these two," he cocked a thumb at Sir Lucan and Daniel, "I don't trust."

The pair both offered offended remarks before falling silent upon Gwaine's unsheathing of his sword.

"What you're about to hear, is a secret," he warned dangerously, his eyes dark. "The keeping of that secret, means the safety of my best friend. If you so much as breathe a single word of it, I will personally hunt you down. If you try to hurt Merlin, in any way, you won't live long enough to remember it. That goes for everyone," he turned back to the group. "You three are like brothers to me, but I will protect Merlin from everyone, and anyone. That includes you. I would die for him. And be certain that I would also not hesitate to kill for him."

"That is true of me as well," Djaq stepped forward.

"And me," Will nodded.

"Me too," Much crossed his arms.

"Are you sure you can tell them?" Allan addressed Gwaine in almost a whisper.

"I trust my friends," Gwaine vowed. "And those two, well, those two I can threaten."

And so that long story was told. An abbreviated version, with Gwaine and the outlaws taking turns sharing their own bits as quickly and briefly as possible. The knights were, well, there wasn't really a singular word to describe how they responded to the onslaught of new information and revelations. Shocked, saddened, relieved, concerned, suspicious, angry, scared, impressed, and just about every adjective one could think of.

"Well," Percival chuckled after one of many particularly long moments of stunned silence, "that explains how he survived all those years."

"It definitely wasn't his sword skills," Elyan laughed.

Leon was mostly quiet as he listened, his features pensive. He neglected to respond for good or bad almost the entire time. But his eyes told them that he certainly wasn't indifferent.

If the other two knights had anything negative to say, they thankfully and intelligently kept their mouths shut.

"Leon?" Gwaine questioned as their conversation drew to a close.

"I - I'm not sure," the man started hesitantly. "I've spent my whole life being raised to fight magic, but I know it has saved my life. The Druids saved my life with the Cup. Merlin is the least dangerous or evil person I have ever known. I've seen both the good and evil magic can do, how powerful it can be. To imagine Merlin possessing such power, it is simply difficult to conceive."

"But will you help us?" Gwaine pressed.

"Yes," Leon nodded. "Of course."

"And you two?" Gwaine turned to Daniel and Lucan. "We can always tie you up out here? I think that might be fun."

"We will accompany you," Daniel answered for the pair. "For the king and queen."

"And here I was really hoping to tie you up," Gwaine sighed with a smile. "Alright, I'd say there's been enough talk for one night - or - morning as I suspect it soon will be."

"And I thought Merlin having magic would be the most surprising thing I'd ever hear," Elyan teased. "Now you're complaining about too much talking?"

"Funny," Gwaine made a face at his friend.

Alright," Robin straightened, "are we ready?"


"Are you ready, dear brother?" Morgana teased the king as she lowered herself to meet his stare.

The hunched over and held man simply glared at the witch.

"I was so hoping to kill you in front of your pathetic people in Camelot," she purred, "but this will have to do seeing how you've ran everyone with even an ounce of magic out of Camelot's borders."

"Good," Arthur spat.

"You are so much like your father," she seethed.

"Our father," Arthur corrected.

"No," Morgan slapped the king across the face. "I denounced any bond between him and I long ago."

"Then why do you still call me brother?" Arthur challenged.

The only reply his cheekiness was granted was another palm against his face.

"So," Arthur scoffed, "what's your plan this time? You always have a plan."

"The sheriff here has helped me get something I want," she playfully cupped his chin and then dropped it. "So then I will help him get something he wants. I'm going to be queen of Camelot, but that won't be all. All of Albion will soon be mine."

"You've never even succeeded in taking Camelot's throne," Arthur chuckled darkly, "what makes you believe you can take over all of Albion?"

"Oh, I think I can manage." Morgana's lips twisted into a jagged smile. "With you dead, Camelot will easily fall to me. And with England at my side, no one will be able to stop me from taking Albion as well."

"England?" Arthur huffed skeptically.

"Like I said," Morgana sneered, "He helps me, I help him. I've already met with Prince John once before in secret. We discussed our plans here. The sheriff will gain the power and position he wants. I will help the prince do away with King Richard, another royal mistake on the throne, like you. Prince John will become king of England. Together, we will take over. Kingdoms, countries, nothing and no one will stand in our way."

"'Our way'?" Arthur laughed bitterly. "You've never cared about anyone you've allied with before. You betray them. Deceive them. Use them. Albion won't be enough for you." He paused and glanced up at Guy. "Has she told you about all the others she has made fools of? The ones she has tricked? The men she has killed that were helping her? And you think you can trust her."

"Enough," Morgana extended her hand and Arthur was immediately sent skidding across the floor, knocking over the two guards that had been holding him on his knees in the process. "Take him to the dungeons. Make sure he is guarded, properly. I didn't come all this way for your people to mess up my plan now."

The king was just coming around to consciousness again as he was dragged out the door, Morgana promptly shutting it with her powers.

"Is everything ready for tomorrow?" She questioned.

"The entire town will be present for the feast and celebration," Guy grinned. "Prince John is set to arrive in the morning."

"Good," the witch smiled. "I want my brother's death to have an audience. This way, your people will see the power behind their new leaders. Word will spread. I will be rightly feared in Camelot before I even make my return. And you will have what you have wanted. It will be the start of a new beginning."

"Make certain Arthur doesn't escape," Morgana hissed, turning toward the sheriff and Guy. "Keep the queen locked in her room and guarded. She too has proven to be a thorn in my side. More trouble than she appears. I don't want to give them the luxury of seeing each other until tomorrow. When their eyes meet one final time, right before I kill them both."