Merlin came stumbling into our cave hideout tired and out of breath. Gaius quickly gave him some water, but the skin was dry.

"I'll get some more," Elyan offered, but Merlin stopped him.

"It's too dangerous."

"What happened?" Gaius asked him as he came down the steps to us.

"Nothing." Merlin waited until he was level with us before whispering the truth. "We need to do something. Morgause's men are everywhere." We all turned to see Arthur still sitting against the rock wall and we sighed.

"He needs to eat something," I whispered to them. He hadn't had a bite all week.

"I'll find something," Merlin assured me before I moved to my husband's side and sat beside him.


Once Merlin made something for Arthur to eat, he brought it to the prince and knelt down offering the bowl.

"It's rat," Merlin told him and I gave him a look. Arthur ran his hand down his face before supporting holding his brow with it. "Oh, believe me, you've eaten far worse. I mean, I've definitely served you things I would never have touched, but you wolfed them down no problem."

"Merlin, for once, leave me in peace, please," Arthur nearly begged. Merlin put the bowl down and stood, but still had more to say.

"I understand. Your father lied to you about Morgana. I don't know why. I'm sure he had his reasons, but now is not the time for that. He's still your father. He needs you. Your children need you. Camelot needs you," Merlin reminded him.

"We can't just leave our family and our people to Morgause and Cenred," I agreed.

"I've known her all my life. How could they keep this from me?" Arthur asked and I wrapped my arm around his.

"I can't answer that, but you have a duty to your family, to your people. You can't give up on them now," Merlin told him.

"You cannot defeat an immortal army," Arthur pointed out.

"We've defeated others who've seemed impossible to defeat. We will find a way to do so again," I told him. Arthur just looked down before grabbing the bowl and eating the rat.


"We need to act before Morgause gets any stronger," Merlin told Gaius and me quietly.

"Have you sent word to Lancelot yet?" Gaius asked him.

"I sent a letter to Haldor days ago. He's probably moved on," Merlin sighed.

"Give it time," Gaius counseled.

"We can't just keep sitting here," I told them. "We have to do something."

"How?" Gaius asked.

"There was an immortal army before. How was it defeated?" Merlin asked him.

"The Cup of Life had to be emptied of the blood it contained. Once that had happened, the enchantment no longer held," Gaius explained.

"Then that's what I have to do," Merlin said and I gave him a look.

"They're immortal, Merlin. You don't know the power to defeat a soldier, never mind an army," Gaius reminded him. Merli thought about it before going his bag. "Merlin, what are you doing?"

"Looking for something."

"What?"

"This." Merlin pulled out a familiar glass vial.

"That's from..."

"The Fisher King," Merlin nodded. "He gave us this. He told us, in Camelot's darkest hour, when all seems lost, it would show me the way."

"Yes. But how?" Gaius asked him.

"That's what I've got to find out."


A few days later, we heard shouting and quickly went to see who it was. We waited until the footsteps were closer before Arthur jumped out startling Guinevere.

"Guinevere! Sir Leon," Arthur said happily. I quickly gave Gwen a hug before Elyan came running down the hills surrounding the cave.

"We've been found! They're almost upon us!"

"Get Gaius," Arthur ordered Merlin who quickly ran to do his task as Arthur turned to the rest of us. "We need to get out of here. Run!" We all quickly ran through the gorge leading to the caves when we spotted Morgause's men in front of us.

"Look out!" We heard just before rocks fell in their path.

"Who's that?" Arthur asked gripping my hand tightly.

"Don't know, but I'm liking him already," Gwaine commented. He looked up and I couldn't hide the large grin on my face.

"Lancelot!" Gwen called out happily as a man stepped up behind him.

"We need to hurry." We followed him until we could find an area where we could get out of the gorge and meet up with both Lancelot and his friend.

"I take it that rockfall wasn't an accident," Arthur started looking at the second man.

"This is Percival. It was his strength that brought them down," Lancelot introduced.

"Your Highness." Percival nodded his head to us in greeting.

"Arthur."

"We are all equal here, Percival," I told him as he and Arthur shook hands. "Elizabeth."

"Arthur and Elizabeth it is."

"What were you doing here?" Arthur asked confused.

"Well..." I started, but Merlin jumped up from Gaius' side to ours.

"Er...it was me. I sent for him."

"Well, we owe you our lives. Thank you." Arthur shook Lancelot's hand again before clapping Percival on the arm and going back to the others.

"It's wonderful to see you again, Lancelot." I noticed his eyes jump from me to someone behind me and looked to see Gwen smile at him. "I'm sure we all are happy to see you." He gave me a bashful smile before we joined the others and moved on.


Once introductions were done, Arthur led us to an ancient, rundown castle and we all made our way to a safe, dry space.

"Are you sure we'll be safe in here?" Gaius asked him.

"This castle belonged to the ancient kings. It'll do for a while," Arthur told us. Everything was covered in cobwebs and dust.

"Can't be worse than that cave," Elyan commented.

"But it could always be worse," I pointed out.

"Search the place, see what you can find," Arthur ordered.

It took us a few hours to search the place, but in that time we got a good fire going for Gaius to rest in front of and managed to get fresh water. Gwen lit the candles for more lighting as Gwaine came back with weapons.

"They must've been left by bandits."

"They'll have to do," I told them as we looked the weapons over.

"Here!" Arthur called out to us. "Come and join me." The men seemed hesitant for a moment staring at the round table, but I smiled before doing so. There was a place for each of us to sit as equals. "This table belonged to the ancient kings of Camelot. A round table afforded no one man more importance than any other. They believed in equality in all things. So, it seems fitting that we revive this tradition now. Without each of you, we would not be here. My father has languished in prison for too long. Tomorrow, I make my bid to rescue him. Are there any around this table who will join me?" Everyone stayed seated for a moment before Lancelot rose to his feet.

"You taught me the values of being a knight, the code by which a man should live his life. To fight with honor for justice, freedom, and all that's good. I believe in the world that you will build."

"Even though I was a commoner, a nobody, you were willing to lay down your life for me, Arthur. It is now my turn to repay you," Elyan told him, also rising.

"I have fought alongside you many times. There is no one that I would rather die for," Sir Leon said.

"I think we've no chance. But I wouldn't miss it for the world." I laughed lightly at Gwaine's words as he rose.

"Your enemies are my enemies," Percival told him.

"If you need an old man," Gaius also rose to his feet.

"You know the answer," Gwen told him standing next to Lancelot before taking his hand in hers.

"I've been by your side for many years now," I told him standing. "I don't plan on being anywhere else." Arthur smiled at all of us before noticing one man not standing.

"Merlin?"

"No, don't really fancy it," Merlin joked.

"You don't have a choice, Merlin." I held in my laughter at their banter. It was like old times already.

"OK." Merlin rose with a smile on his face. Arthur looked at all of us before seeming to come to a decision.

"I want to thank you all for staying loyal to me in Camelot's hour of need. I'll do something that my father won't approve of."


The men knelt in front of Arthur and I didn't hide the smile on my face as I stood before them at Arthur's side.

"Arise, Sir Lancelot, Knight of Camelot. Arise, Sir Gwaine, Knight of Camelot. Arise, Sir Percival, Knight of Camelot. Arise, Sir Elyan, Knight of Camelot. Tomorrow, when you fight, you can stand proud knowing you are members of the most noble army the world has ever known."


"There is a tunnel under the northern ramparts that brings us only a few paces from the entrance to the dungeons," Arthur told us the next morning after we'd all gotten a good night's rest. "It will be well guarded. So, if we're going to break everyone out, we must remain unobserved. We cannot let them raise the alarm."

"We need to take out the warning bell. That way the warriors have no means of communication," Lancelot said.

"Good idea."

"I'll need someone with me who knows the castle," Lancelot told him.

"I'll go," Merlin offered and I gave him a slightly suspicious look."

"Alright." We continued making our plans before preparing to leave.


"I want you to stay here with Gaius. I want you to gather firewood and make bandages. There'll be casualties," Arthur told me and I looked out the window.

"I can't just stay here when our children's lives are in danger," I reminded him.

"Elizabeth," he sighed.

"I'll get them and get out," I swore. "Do not leave me behind to worry about you and them."

"It'll be dangerous," he reminded me.

"I've been in worse situations and I always survive. Please."

"Fine. Stay with Lancelot and Merlin," he relented and I smiled before walking away. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back to him. "I want you to know...if I never see you again..."

"Don't talk like that," I told him. "You will see me and our children and your father at the end of all this. You gave us hope last night. Someone to believe in. I saw the king you will become. I'm so proud to be your wife." He pulled me close and kissed me.


We snuck back into the castle quietly then parted ways. Merlin, Lancelot and I went upstairs while the others went to the dungeon.

"Good luck." Arthur grabbed my hand in his for a brief moment before letting go.


The three of us quietly waited as men passed before continuing on to where we were needed to go. Suddenly, Merlin stopped and gasped.

"I can sense the Cup's power. This way," he told us and we followed him.

"This was your plan all along, wasn't it?" I asked them and Merlin merely nodded as Lancelot avoided my eyes. We came across a guard and Lancelot quickly defended us before Merlin hit it once with his blade making him explode.

"What is that?" Lancelot asked as we both stared at him in shock.

"It was forged in a dragon's breath."

"That's how Tristin was killed." He nodded before we continued on our way.


We were right outside the council chambers and peeked around the corner to see four men standing guard.

"What do we do now?" Lancelot asked and Merlin shook his head. We moved back behind the corner before charging. Lancelot and I were in the front protecting Merlin but also pushing men back to him so he could kill them. We quickly ran inside the council room and locked the door. I smiled at both boys before we turned to see six more guards guarding the cup. We charged them with the same tactic as before but was much more difficult in a large room versus a hallway. Lancelot was cut along his shoulder just before the warning bells sounded. I hoped Arthur and the others would be alright before cutting cut on my arm. I kicked the guard towards Merlin who quickly killed him before running for the cup. He was almost there before the doors opened and Morgause threw him into a wall.

"I have a feeling I won't be seeing you again," Morgause told him pointing her hand at him.

"No, you won't," We turned to see Gaius walking towards us. "Oferswing!" Morgause was thrown back but got up to cast another spell.

"No!" I shouted making her look at me. "You will not harm my family." Suddenly, I was stabbed in the back and turned to see a face I hadn't expected to see. "Amanda?"

"You will not harm my sister." I looked in her hand to see a dagger before falling to the ground. Merlin was quick to throw her against a pillar causing Morguase to scream.

"Merlin! The Cup!" Merlin picked up the sword and quickly knocked the Cup off the pedestal making the blood spill everywhere as Morguase went to Amanda.

"Wake up, sister," Morgause tried to shake the girl awake.

"It's over, Morgause," Merlin told her.

"Oh, I don't think so," Morgause told us. "This has only just begun!" She screamed making the windows explode and the walls crumble on top of us before we quickly ran out of the room.


I walked down the steps to see Arthur and Merlin talking with Nicholas and Igraine in my arms. Arthur turned to see me with a smile on his face before standing up and taking Igraine from me and kissing her cheek. He smiled at Nicholas, rubbing his hand through his hair before kissing me.

"It's over," I whispered.

"It's over."