Chapter 52 [A Turn and a Half of the Hourglass Later—Two Leagues from Whitgate]

Cawdor's war machine collected itself before the final charge. Knights roasted a meal over campfires. Blacksmith's checked horseshoes. Sentries patrolled the perimeter.

Plans were being formed…or so they thought….

Meleagant studied the landscape. His eye noted Woods' coverage on both sides. Strategy played different scenarios in his mind. Ego's bruises still stung from Shalott's defeat decades earlier. Memoria recalled Presumption's mindset. Tactics and Knights overwhelmed Camelot and Nemeth. Victory seemed certain….

…well until Magic turned everything upside down….

…until Magic stole the field from him….

Uther preaches against magic. Then he uses it to win. Then he and Rodor deny any knowledge? He curled his lip. There will be nothing left to chance. He clenched his fists. "DYNWALD!"

"Aye, Sire?" Dynwald sheathed his sword. He dropped his sharpening stone back in the saddlebag. He rushed over to Meleagant's side. Respect pushed him to bow. "What might I do for you?"

"Stop your sniveling." Meleagant narrowed his eyes. "I have a job for you." He surveyed the preparations around the camp. "Take thirty of your best knights. Go through the woods toward Whitgate. Flank Nemeth and Tintagel's forces. We will cut them off. There will be no retreat! Do not fail me!"

"Nay, Sire! I will not…." Dynwald bowed again. Fear of Meleagant's reprisal shook his knees He forced himself to stand stock still. "MY LORD! THE BLOODY DRAGON! WE NEED….!"

Shadow blocked Sol's light. It zipped across the encampment. Deafening Roar ached in their ears. Wings beat the air overhead.

Kilgarrah dove from Clouds' blind. Fiery Breath ignited Wooden War Machines. Tail destroyed Battering Ram's capabilities before Fire consumed its wooden remains. He ascended back into the sky only to dive back down over and over again. Tail, Talon and Fire battered Cawdor's capabilities.

Josiane's fingers brushed through Breeze and Air. Purple glow turned Moisture to Pitch. Then she banked back out of crossbow shot. For two dozen more heartbeats, she sent more of the flammable sticky goo onto the invaders. Then she streaked away toward Battlefield's edge.

Knights fell in droves. Some writhed within their heated chain mail. Flames spread throughout the grass. Others' crossbows could not reach their attacker. Pitch incapacitated yet a few hundred more.

"NAY! NAY! NOT AGAIN!" Meleagant spat on the ground. He drew his sword. "KNIGHTS! TO ARMS! GET AWAY FROM THAT MESS!" Incompetence grated on his nerves. "GET DOWN HERE AND FIGHT ME!"

Merlin shook his head from Kilgarrah's back. "Kilgarrah, did you hear him?"

Sarcasm pushed a snort amongst Smoke's puffs from the Great Dragon. "I believe he wants for us to come down there. Shall we?"

Merlin narrowed his eyes. "We should not disappoint him! Grab them with your talons! We will take Dynwald and him!"

Kilgarrah coughed. "It would be my pleasure!" He swooped down from the sky one more time. His claws grabbed onto the two leaders. "I believe Accolon, Morgana and Galahad will want to see them." He turned and headed back toward their approaching forces.

Merlin focused on their prisoners. "CADAL!" Canary flashed in his eyes.

"NAY! Magic again? I…." Meleagant struggled against the spell. Through blurring sight, he watched Dynwald go limp. His eyelids drooped. "YOU! IT WAS YOU!" Sleep claimed him.

Merlin nodded to himself. From on high, he saw the Orange, Blue and Emerald knights spilling into Meadow's expanse. Morgana! Accolon! I have Melegant and Dynwald!

Approval prompted a grim smile from both of the visiting monarchs. They waved skyward.

Take him back to Whitgate. We shall deal with Meleagant later! Accolon watched Kilgarrah vanish from view over the treetops. He drew his sword. "KNIGHTS OF NEMETH! YOUR PRINCE HAS TAKEN THEIR LEADERS! THEY ARE IN PAIN AND WITHOUT DIRECTION! SURROUND THEM! FORWARD!" He charged into the fray.

Malodius drove a wedge into the knights. Paws, Claws and Fangs ripped into Chain Mail. Impacts bent Shields and knocked away Swords.

Gawain, Lancelot, Ywain and Britomart took part in Encirclement's procedure. Along with hundreds of other knights, they encircled their beleaguered adversaries. Sword met Sword. Fresh Defenders overwhelmed Worn Invaders. Tightening Circle herded the Cawdorians close against each other. Those surrounded had no room to move much less fight.

"SURRENDER! WE DO NOT WANT YOUR BLOOD! THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH PAIN TODAY!" Accolon bellowed. "YOUR KING AND HIS LIEUTENANT ARE OUR PRISONERS! THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH BLOOD AND DEATH! LOOK AROUND! IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT? WE ONLY WANT PEACE AND CO-EXISTENCE!"

The Cawdorians huffed. Pain and Exhaustion sapped Strength from them. They knocked the weapons out of each other's hands in close quarters. As one, they realized Situation's finality. As one, they dropped their swords.

"Collect their weapons! We will take them back to Whitgate!" Accolon watched as Galahad and Ywain directed the securement operation.

Morgana shook her head. Merlin, you do have a way with ambushes. Arthur had no idea! No idea at all. She sat on her horse next to her husband. "Merlin and Josiane did their work well."

"I had a feeling they would. You knew?" Accolon looked toward her.

Morgana smirked. "Merlin turned the tide at Ealdor years ago. We know about Shalott. This time he was open about it at least. Let the knights finish their work, then we will head back."

Battle was over before it had barely begun….