AN: To the person who said the story is amazing, THANK YOU! What a lovely comment to see when I open the fanfiction app!

Gingeraffealene, you are so right about Merlin. I'm glad all my additions don't drive you nuts. I hope you enjoy the update(s) when you're back in the land of technology.

Please enjoy, everyone!

CHAPTER 20: Once More into the Breach

As weary as he was, Gaius refused to sleep. Instead, he worked with Iseldir to wrap certain compounds in leaves and place them in small vials along with another mixture. When they were thrown hard enough to break the vials and the compounds mixed, they caused an impressive but harmless flash of light. The two also ground a powder and stored it in little pouches. When these were thrown into a fire, they would explode with an extremely loud bang. They were all about distraction and disorientation. As Arthur had said repeatedly, they had to neutralize the enemy's overwhelming numbers. They needed surprise, strategy, and every other advantage they could find to have any hope of winning.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Gaius was enjoying working with Iseldir. Both men shared a thirst for knowledge and the experience to enjoy learning even on the eve of battle. And Iseldir was generous in both compliments and his own information. They might not be fighting on the front lines, but they would still contribute. "Gaius," Iseldir asked, "would you consider taking on an apprentice? I have a druid who is gifted in the healing arts but has always wanted to live in Camelot."

"Of course! My current assistant has a lot of other duties, and healing isn't really his calling anyway."

Iseldir quietly waved over one of the identically-robed druids. It turned out to be a young girl with fierce gray eyes and a riot of dark blonde curls. Gaius was surprised, but not dismayed. After all, the strongest healer he'd ever known was his friend Alice. "This is Enid."

"Enid, I'll be happy to train you and have your help," said Gaius, silently adding, as long as we survive the night.

All too soon, three hours had passed and it was time. Everyone snuck into position. Merlin and Gaius and two of the druids, who were elderly, would be staying behind Kilgarrah's left shoulder, as far from the fighting as possible. Everyone else, even the other druids, was ready to fight. As the last people moved into place out of his sight, Merlin took off his blindfold and leaned his stick against the dragon. As he'd tested earlier, it was dark enough that having his eyes open didn't hurt at all, and he had to see for this next part. He slipped around the stone shoulder and tiptoed to the spot where Kilgarrah's nose was tucked behind his tail. He thought an apology to his friend, but he needed to be higher. Scrambling over the tail one-handed, Merlin used the crevices and bumps on Kilgarrah's face to climb to the top of his head. As he crawled up the neck, he heard the signal to start fighting.

Below, the druids dropped the barrier and Leon and Percival each shot one of the sentries that were facing Arthur's camp. Unseen, the druids scampered into the camp, then all at once threw down potion vials so the night was lit by explosions. As the Saxons, many of them temporarily blinded, tried to figure out what was happening, Arthur struck, Leon on his left, Percival on his right, and Elwyn at his back to guard his flanks, since he was slowed by his injury. The druids, extra hard to see in their dark cloaks, stayed low and used sneak attacks and daggers to cut down soldiers as Gwaine flitted around, fluidly taking out enemies before they knew what was happening.

Able to hear but not see the fighting, Merlin climbed faster. He knew the Saxon's disorientation wouldn't last forever, and even halved, they would easily outnumber their party. He slipped once and jarred his broken arm, costing him precious seconds. Grunting in pain, he struggled back up. His timing had to be perfect.

Below him, Lionel was in trouble. He'd been driven back against Kilgarrah's side by a superior swordsman. Lionel had admitted on questioning that his swordwork was mediocre at best. My father had more sons than swords, he'd said. We had to take turns practicing. Gwaine saw his trouble and ran that direction, but as he approached, Lionel waited for his attacker to get close, dropped his sword and turned his body to the side just far enough to avoid the coming stab. Striking the stone threw off the attacker's aim, and Lionel struck with impressive speed, punching the man so hard in the face he dropped like a stone. Gwaine handed the boy his sword back. "Nice move, Kitchen Boy. Where did you learn to fight like that?" He parried an attack as he spoke, and Lionel ducked to stab a second attacker.

"I have six older brothers."

"That would do it."

Arthur and his contingent of three had fought their way to the center of the Saxons, and they were now surrounded. They didn't slow, but Merlin could see they would eventually be swarmed and overwhelmed. The druids had been reduced to more fleeing than helping, daggers no match for swords. Things were about to go very badly. With a deep breath, Merlin climbed to his feet, held his left arm out, and invoked the magic to kill all of the fires and plunge the clearing into true darkness. "Camelot, COVER!" screamed Merlin. That was the signal for everyone to use all of the flash and explosion powders they still had. It was supposed to be yelled by Arthur as a last resort, and was also the signal to cover your eyes so you would not be blinded. Steeling himself against the pain and hoping everyone on his side had indeed covered their eye, Merlin called out, "Claidheamh gréine."

Light crackled on Merlin's outstretched hand, bright enough that his eyes burned. He pursed his lips and blew lightly, and the light jumped from his hand to Arthur's sword, lighting the weapon up until it was impossible to look at directly. Shouts erupted, but the magic wasn't done.

The glowing stream split and smaller wires of light connected to Percival's sword, Gwaine's, and so on, to everyone fighting the Saxons.

As the light faded except for a pale glow around each enhanced weapon, Arthur brought his sword down in a mighty two-handed stroke. It cut through his opponent's sword like nothing and cleaved the man's chest, killing him instantly.

Seeing this, Leon gave a war cry and swung his own sword overhead, leaving a glowing circular after image above the head of the frightened Saxons.

Merlin wasn't done, though. He knew that the temporary edge they'd gained wouldn't overcome so many enemies. Ignoring the stabbing pain in his head and the blood that began to drip from his nose, he lifted his left hand high above his head, and cried, "Spreadhadh gréine."

He kept pulling power, though blood now poured from his nose, and began to leak from his ears and even eyes, and his control of the spell began to waver. He knew he wouldn't have it in his to help again, so this had to be the master stroke. He could hear nothing but the roaring in his own ear, but still he pulled power.

Darkness began to encroach on his vision, and just when he thought he'd lose the spell, a tendril of magic began to feed into him. He recognized that Iseldir and the two elderly druids were somehow feeding their own magic into him. He sucked up the magic like a man dying of thirst. It wasn't enough. Then, he felt a whisper of an ancient power, a dragon power, and realized that Kilgarrah had figured out a way to help him from beyond the veil. It was just enough to keep him conscious to finish the spell.

As he struggled, Merlin had no idea of how he looked to those below. Atop the stone dragon, feet wide and upraised hand full of light like the sun, he stood illuminated against the darkness like an avenging angel. Suffuse with power, and with more than a little dragon in his voice, Merlin cried, "I AM EMRYS AND YOU WILL NOT HARM MY KING."

He brought his hand down in a throwing motion and the light exploded against the ground in front of Arthur. Enemies all around him flew through the air like paper dolls, but Arthur and his allies were untouched. Their hair and capes blew, but the were otherwise unbuffeted.

The fight lasted less than five more minutes after that, but Merlin didn't see any of it. As he released the magic, his body crumpled in slow motion. He tumbled sideways and would have crashed to the ground, but Galahad dove in the way and took the brunt of the fall.

As for the Saxons, those that didn't fall fled in terror and didn't stop until they had left Camelot far behind. Their tales of Arthur Pendragon, the undying king with a magical sword, fighting with Emrys, dragon-riding sorcerer at his side terrified potential enemies for many years, and was spoken about for generations. The small valley was spoken about with fear and reverence, and many people refused to go anywhere near it, while others traveled long distances just to see it.

What's more, every weapon for Camelot that was in use in that battle, from Arthur's sword to Lionel's short gladius, to Leon's crossbow, to Gaius' athame, retained a pale glow, struck with extra power, and never rusted or dulled with age or use. Though not dragon forged, these legendary weapons changed the course of more than one battle.

But the fight was not without cost. Elwyn, Arthur's quietest knight, was dead, having taken a blade intended for the king. Two druids were dead, too, neither having even reached their 25th year. Iseldir and two more were barely conscious, having depleted their magic, and nobody was entirely unscathed except for Gwaine who somehow didn't have a scratch.

Galahad had a broken arm and nose as a result of arresting Merlin's fall, but hearing Gaius say that he had likely saved Merlin's life, as a blow to the head could have been fatal. His actions had erased any lingering doubts about his loyalties.

As for Merlin, he lay deathly pale and still.

Sunrise brought a patrol from the city, investigating the lights that had been seen all the way from Camelot's ramparts. They ushered the grateful, weary, injured, and heartsick home. Enid came along, proving to have a quick mind and an extremely sharp tongue, both of which Gaius appreciated though he made a point to complain about the latter. The rest of the druids stayed and began to build a village in the newly named Valley of the Dragon.

Rumors later said that when Arthur finally rode up, the queen lifted her skirts, raced down the citadel steps, and gave him such a passionate kiss that even Gwaine was uncomfortable. But if a few disapproved, everyone else just smiled.

Great changes came to the kingdom over the next weeks. After Elwyn and all who fell in battle against Morgana were honored, magic was officially made legal, and the druids were declared friends of Camelot. People began to adjust to the influx of magical creatures all around Camelot and the rest of the five kingdoms. The council met for hours every day to figure everything out, but the busy monarchs still took the time to check on a stricken friend at least once a day.

Gaius sent for Hunith. The king and his knights healed from their injuries. Galahad took to sleeping in Gaius' chambers. And still, Merlin didn't wake.