A/N: Aaaaand we're back. Thanks for your patience and hope you enjoy!
"Thank you," Morgause whispered again. "Who are you?" she asked.
Morgana and Gwaine exchanged a glance, then a shrug. "I'm Morgana. This is Gwaine."
"Wait. Surely not Princ-Queen Morgana?"
"The very same. Come with us back to the city. We can keep you safe."
Morgause ignored her. "And you. You're one of the knights?"
"Yeah," Gwaine said, glancing out the door. "We should really get going though."
"What are you even doing here?"
Morgana and Gwaine's gazes grew stormy. "Some… unfinished business with Uther," Morgana growled.
"Oh. Assassination? Need any help? I would honestly love nothing more."
Morgana blinked in surprise.
"I like you," she said. "Come on. There are two others with us."
They sneakily left the tent, everyone's attention still on Merlin's distraction, and found Gwen and Elyan outside Uther's tent.
"Everything alright?" Morgana asked.
"See for yourself," Gwen said and pulled the tent flap back. Uther was trussed up and gagged at the end of his bed. "He started to wake up so we made a move. Successful rescue mission I take it?"
"Yes. This is Morgause."
"I'm Gwen," she said and stuck out her hand which Morgause shook.
"A pleasure, though, other circumstances would be ideal. So, murder?"
"Basically," Elyan said. The others were a little bit surprised as he turned and reentered the tent. Uther's eyes were confused and wide as the knight approached and, in one quick motion, drew his sword and plunged it into his heart.
Morgana didn't realize she had stopped breathing until Elyan pulled his sword back out and rejoined them outside. After everything they had been through, this, at least, was over. Her heart ached as she wished it hadn't come to this- and how she wished Arthur were here instead.
"Well done," Morgause said, sounding impressed.
"Let's get out of here," Morgana finally breathed. Moving quickly, she led the way back towards the cave. They got about halfway there when another explosion rattled the camp, closer than the last one.
"What is that?" Morgause cried.
Gwen smirked. "Have I mentioned we have a dragon?" Morgause looked somewhat shocked, but then grinned, a slightly feral look to it. They continued on their way, but the way was becoming more treacherous as soldiers seemed to be running to this end of the camp to retreat. Though doing their best to avoid being spotted, it was only a matter of time before someone recognized one of them.
They were almost there when the dreaded moment came. Someone shouted for them to halt and they doubled their speed, opting for a full out sprint versus stealth. This quickly proved to be a mistake when Gwen caught her foot in a hole and fell hard.
The others pulled up short, Morgana instantly throwing up a shield to buy them some time. She rushed to Gwen's side and could immediately tell that her ankle was at least sprained and, at the worst, broken. Morgause snapped her fingers and a ring of fire surrounded them, keeping the soldiers from getting closer.
Gwaine and Elyan had been leading the way and were now on the outside of the ring, nearly at the caves. "Just go!" Morgana yelled. Gwen made eye contact with her brother and nodded; they would be fine.
It was the horde of soldiers now approaching them that convinced the two knights to retreat. Morgause fired shot after shot at the soldiers that had begun to surround them while Morgana tried to help Gwen to her feet.
The new queen was startled as the wall of fire suddenly dissipated and her shield was dissolved with a wave of Morgause's hand. She watched, a sick feeling in her stomach, as none other than Cenred stepped forward. The feeling only got stronger as Morgause approached him and pulled him into a kiss. Gwen swore and that's how she knew how serious this was.
"Well my dear, what do you think?"
"A fine job darling. Let's make sure our new guests feel comfortable. I'll send a messenger to Camelot tomorrow. If they can survive the battle tonight."
With a snap of her fingers, Morgana and Gwen were bound and gagged. Every movement sent a shock through their systems and, though they tried their best, as they were dragged off to who knows where the two of them passed out.
:::::::
Merlin had returned to the castle not too long ago with Aithusa and had expected the girls and the knights to be back by the time he returned. He was pacing the throne room, only a couple of torches still lit, while Aithusa curled up in the corner, worn out by the long night.
Just as he was really starting to worry, Elyan and Gwaine came through the door.
"Thank gods," Merlin breathed. "How'd it go? Where are the girls?"
The two knights were breathing heavily and Elyan looked furious.
"They've been captured," he growled.
They explained what had happened and how they watched from the entrance of the cave as the recently rescued Morgause had turned on them.
Merlin's heart had rarely felt so heavy. After hearing their story, Merlin wanted to weep and curse and go right back out there and save his friends. And he would, but not right now. Right now, Gwaine and Elyan were at the end of their ropes and worried enough as it was.
"I'm glad you two made it back safely," he said. "Go get some sleep. At least a couple hours," he begged, seeing Elyan's face. "We won't do any good exhausted. I'll grab Percival and Leon and we'll come with a plan, but first I'm going to go down to the caves and ward them all."
Put slightly at ease, the knights relaxed but still looked worried. Merlin patted them both on the shoulder.
"It will be okay," he reassured them and tried to believe it himself. This belief was dashed immediately as the castle seemed to rock under him. Screams and shouts came from outside. Aithusa's head shot up and the three men exchanged a glance and then were running.
They burst out a door and onto a parapet and pulled up short at the sight before them. Four massive trebuchets were at the city walls. One had already fired, causing damage to the lower half of the castle.
"Gwaine, you're in charge! I'm going to see what I can do from up here, but get our army in motion!"
"Right!"
The two of them ran off and Merlin turned to Aithusa who was pacing anxiously. Merlin grabbed the dragon's head in his hands, stroking his chin out of habit.
"Go and guard the tunnel they took tonight. We don't know if they know about the secret passage and the last thing we need is fighters making their way into the castle. I'll come get you when we're ready to go rescue the girls."
Aithusa nodded, pressing his head into Merlin's chest. He was growing more everyday and was about half as tall as Kilgarrah at this point.
"Be safe," he rumbled and with a nod, took off.
Merlin took a deep breath, re-centering himself, and held up his hands, damp with sweat, as he began to cast what must be the most important and most difficult spell of his life. Here was hoping all his studying and training would pay off.
Sigils appeared in the air before him, glowing a luminous gold. Sweat dripped down his face as he struggled to contain the power he was trying to channel. With a final shout, he stomped his foot and the sigils melted into the ground below him. Merlin watched in awe as a golden dome materialized around the castle and part of the lower town. Just in time, too, as a second trebuchet fired and a flaming boulder headed straight towards him. Merlin laughed in relief as the shield held and the boulder bounced off with enough force to land back in midst of Cenred's army.
Step one, complete.
Next, Merlin opened his mouth and the call of the Dragonlord echoed out. He waited, thinking about calling again, when suddenly Kilgarrah was there.
"Hm, I didn't think peace would come easily. And it looks like I was correct."
"I need a ride. And then- I mean if you want- we could probably use a little bit of help."
"I believe I could lend my assistance."
::::::::::::
Barely a minute later, they landed at the shores of Lake Avalon. Merlin could hear the whisper of the sidhe in the forest, their lights dim and cautious at the sudden draconic appearance. The lake itself was as smooth as a mirror, the waxing half-moon bright in its waters. Merlin hopped off of Kilgarrah's back and the dragon backed up slightly to give him some space.
"Look," Merlin began. "I know you're taking your time or that there's a certain time you're supposed to come back, but Gwen and Morgana are in danger. The whole kingdom is in danger. And I need your help." He felt himself start to choke up as he struggled to keep his voice steady. "So if you could come back, that would be great. I- Please. I need you."
"He waited, barely daring to breathe, praying for an answer.
"You could've just said you missed me."
"Standing at the edge of the water, not even ten feet away, was Arthur. He was dressed in what he had been sent away in. He smiled and, in an instant, Merlin was running and then he was there and the two friends were hugging.
"You absolute clotpole, never do that again," Merlin cried.
"I won't, I won't," Arthur laughed. "Um, do what though?"
Merlin finally pulled back, keeping a hand on Arthur's arm, loathe to let go completely. "What's the last thing you remember?"
"I was fighting my dad. We disarmed each other. He grabbed my sword and-" Even in the dark, Merlin could see his face pale slightly. "Merlin, did I die?"
The sorcerer nodded, a breath of relieved laughter leaking out along with a few tears.
"But it's okay. You're back now. It's okay. There's a prophecy. But we don't have time for that right now. Gwen and Morgana-"
"Were captured. I heard you say that. Let's g- Wait, where's my sword?" He looked around as if it might have fallen to the ground. Merlin wasted no time in drawing Excalibur from his shoulder sheath.
"Looking for this?"
Arthur took it reverently, then slapped Merlin upside the head.
"Hey! I took good care of that while you were gone. A simple thank you would do."
"Yeah, well. Thanks." He smiled and Merlin punched him in the shoulder. "Come on. Let's go save those two."