The Moment of Truth

Evaine and Anna stood opposite Morgana and Gwen as Merlin's mother, Hunith, stood before the king and his knights to plead her case to him.

"The winters are harsh in Ealdor and there are many children. Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive. We barely have enough food as it is. And if Kanen takes our harvest, our children won't live to see another summer. Please, we need your help," she begged, and Evaine shared a sympathetic look with Anna.

"Ealdor is in Cenred's kingdom. Your safety is his responsibility," Uther replied, and Evaine frowned at the little emotion within his voice.

"We've appealed to our king, but he cares little for the outlying regions. You're our only hope," Hunith told him. They all watched as Uther considered his words before he spoke.

"I have the deepest sympathy for you and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth," Uther said.

"You'll help us?" Hunith asked, hope springing in her chest.

"I wish I could," Uther muttered.

"Surely we can spare a few men," Arthur suggested, but Uther shook his head.

"Resources are not the problem," Uther replied.

"Then what is?" Morgana asked, as the whole assembly wondered the same thing.

"Ealdor lies beyond the ridge of Aesctir. For an army of Camelot to enter, it would be an act of war," Uther explained. Hunith sank to her knees in front of his throne.

"I know you're a good king, a caring man. I'm begging you. Help us, please," Hunith begged, her eyes beginning to water.

"The accord we've struck with Cenred was years in the making. I cannot risk hundreds of lives for the sake of one village. I'm afraid Camelot cannot help," Uther said, looking pained at his answer. Hunith's head dropped low, and Evaine shared a look with Anna before she went to help the woman up.

"Come, you can rest a while in my chambers," she said softly, and Hunith smiled gratefully and allowed herself to lean on the lady as she was led away. "I'm so sorry, Hunith. I could send word to my father, but I fear he will have the same answer."

"Thank you, my lady, but I think my village is on it's own," Hunith said quietly, and Evaine pondered on her words.

"Not as alone as you think," she muttered, smiling as a plan began to form.

Later that day, Gwen was helping Merlin pack for his journey and had just told him how she had packed some armour for him.

"I won't be able to carry all of that," he told her with a smile, before turning to the door as three women walked in.

"You won't have to," Morgana said, as Evaine smiled.

"We're coming with you," Evaine added, smiling at Merlin's baffled face.

"What do you mean?" Merlin asked, looking between them all.

"You're going to need all the help you can get," Anna said, a determined look on her with an added blush as she spoke.

"Anna and I can mend armour and sharpen swords," Gwen said.

"And we know how to fight," Morgana added, motioning to the swords she and Evaine carried at their waist.

"But you can't. I mean, why would you?" Merlin asked, unused to such acts.

"If it was the other way around, you'd help us. You already have. You saved my life," Gwen told him, and the others nodded.

"And you helped me get the druid boy out of Camelot. We owe it to you," Morgana stated.

"You were the first friendly face Anna and I met when we came here. You're our friend, Merlin," Evaine told him gently, smiling as he finally smiled and nodded.

XXXXXX

They each rode well into the night, eventually resting in a small clearing surrounded by woods. Each of them sat around the fire quietly, thinking of what would happen tomorrow.

"What was Merlin like when he was younger?" Evaine asks, surprising everyone before Hunith smiles at the distraction.

"Even more clumsy than he is now if you can believe it," Hunith answered, the women laughing as Merlin turns red.

"I don't think he's clumsy," Anna said quietly from where she sat beside Evaine. Her cheeks pinkened when the attention turned to her. "I mean, he always seems to be around to save me when I nearly trip down the stairs carrying something," she added, and Evaine smirked as Anna and Merlin looked at each other, both blushing. Hunith also noticed, and her heart warmed at the look her son was sharing with the sweet girl.

"Well Anna, despite his clumsiness, he has always been kind-hearted, so I believe what you say," Hunith said, smiling at her. "We should rest," she added, noticing the yawn from Morgana. Evaine nodded, unsheathing her sword and stabbing it into the ground above her head before laying down to rest. Before her eyes shut, she noticed how Anna whispered a small goodnight to Merlin before she lay next to her.

XXXXXX

The group awoke at dawn to see the surprising arrival of Arthur, but all were glad to see him disobey his father. "Thank you, sire," Hunith said, tears falling at the sight of the prince. She began to lower in a curtsey, but Arthur stopped her.

"I could not live with myself if I did nothing," Arthur told her, and she smiled before Evaine approached him. "I assume this is the rebellious behaviour your father was worried about?" Arthur asked wearing a smirk. Evaine rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"This is nothing compared to back in Tiltwood," she replied, and Arthur chuckled before becoming serious.

"This is going to be dangerous," he warned her, and she glanced at him with a small smile.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you from the bandits, sire," she mocked, laughing as she readied her horse as Arthur watched her with a small smile. They rode nearly all morning, urging their horses faster when Hunith and Merlin announced the village was just over the next hill. Evaine was shocked when she saw thugs attacking the villagers, one about to strike a poor man with an axe before Arthur threw a sword, distracting the thug long enough for the man to run to his wife.

"Kill them," Kanen, the leader of the bandits, shouted to his men. Evaine jumped off her horse, her sword already unsheathed as she crossed blades with one man. She pushed back and sliced his stomach, her head turning as another rushed Arthur from behind, but she ran to block him before he could. Arthur turned at the noise, smiling at the lady as she finished the man, turning to walk past Arthur.

"A little slow for a prince, aren't you?" she teased.

"I had it handled," he retorted, smirking.

"You'll pay for this with your lives, all of you," Kanen shouted to them all from atop his horse, leaving with the remnants of his men. Evaine caught her breath as Merlin gathered the villagers, moving to stand next to Morgana as Arthur stood to speak to them.

"I know Kanen's kind. He'll be back. And when he is, we must be ready for him. First of all we have to prepare-" Arthur began, but was interrupted by a young man.

"Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?" Will asked.

"I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot," Arthur introduced himself.

"Yeah, and I'm prince William of Ealdor," Will mocked, and Evaine noticed how Arthur's shoulders tensed.

"Keep quiet. He's here to help us," Hunith told Will.

"He's made things worse. Kanen will be back. And when he is, he'll be looking for revenge. You've just signed our death warrant," Will said angrily.

"He saved Matthews life," Hunith reminded.

"It's all right, Hunith. This is his village. What would you have us do?" Arthur asked Will, the man quietened before he spoke.

"We can't fight against Kanen. He has too many men," Will said.

"So what's the alternative?" Arthur asked.

"We give him what he wants," Will concluded, and the villagers mumbled between each other.

"Then what? Those of you who don't starve to death will face him again next harvest, and the harvest after that," Arthur told everyone.

"We'll manage. We'll survive," Will said, half confidently.

"How?" one of the villagers asked Will, but he had no answer.

"The only way he can be stopped is if you stand up to him," Arthur insisted, but Will shook his head.

"No. You just want the honour and glory of battle. That's what drives men like you. Look, if you want to fight, then go home and risk the lives of your own people, not ours," Will spat, before walking off.

"Will," Merlin called, hurrying to catch up to him.

"I'll follow you. If I'm to die, then I want to go out fighting," Hunith said, nodding to Arthur.

"That goes for me too," Matthew added.

"Count me in," one of the villagers said, more agreeing with him as Arthur stood before them.

XXXXXX

"Have you still not learned how to dress yourself?" Morgana asked Arthur the next morning as Merlin helped him get his jacket on. Evaine looked up from her breakfast and smiled at her friend.

"You don't have a dog and fetch the stick yourself. No offence, Merlin," Arthur said, and Evaine shook her head.

"None taken," Merlin replied.

"How was that not offensive?" Evaine asked Anna, who smiled as the two finished their breakfast.

"Prince Arthur, you didn't finish your breakfast," Hunith said, offering the prince a bowl that had hardly been touched.

"Didn't I?" Arthur said, a look of mock surprise gracing his face. He took the bowl, waiting until Hunith walked away before he looked at it in disgust.

"Come on, eat up," Morgana teased. Evaine watched as Arthur lifted the spoon up and watched the food slop into the bowl before handing it to Gwen.

"Right, let's get going. We need wood, and lots of it," Arthur told the group, Evaine rolling her eyes behind his back as she followed him outside.

"Of course," Merlin said, fetching an axe to go chop some down.

"Morgana and Gwen, sharpen every sword you can find. Anna make bandages, we will need them. Evaine you help her. I'll go train the men," Arthur instructed, Morgana and Evaine looking at each other.

"What about the women?" Evaine asked, and Arthur considered before nodding.

"Tell them to help you, you'll need it," Arthur said, and Evaine shook her head.

"That isn't what I meant. When will the women be taught to fight?" Evaine asked, and Arthur's eyes widened in surprise. "You need all the fighters you can get," she reminded. Arthur shook his head, walking over to the men.

"It's too dangerous," he called over his shoulder. Evaine huffed, turning to the other three.

"Let's get these jobs done and then we'll train," she said, Morgana smiling at her friend's defiant nature.

"I won't be able to teach you everything there is to know about fighting with a sword, but you can learn the basics; the stance, how to parry a blow, how to land your own. On my count. One, two, three, four. Now you may have to watch for the feint. So keep your feet moving and only stay in range long enough to land your blow," Arthur instructed the men as Evaine carried a handful of weapons over to Morgana and Gwen who were still sharpening them.

"There's no way they're gonna be able to hold Kanen off," Morgana said as she stood watching the village men train.

"Men aren't the only ones who can fight," Gwen said, looking at the sword she had just sharpened.

"I never knew you were so fierce, Gwen. I love it," Evaine said, smiling as Gwen blushed. A couple of hours later, Arthur allowed the men a small break to have a rest.

"Looks like the battles already fought and lost," Morgana commented, looking at the tired men as she walked up to Arthur, Evaine by her side.

"They'll toughen up," Arthur said.

"They need to," Evaine muttered.

"How're we doing for weapons?" Arthur asked, ignoring the comment.

"There isn't much, but we should be able to scrape together what you need," Morgana answered, sharing a look with Evaine.

"It's not the weapons that worry us. Its having enough people to use them. We think the women should be allowed to fight," Evaine said, noticing how Arthur looked away.

"You haven't enough men. If they were trained soldiers, maybe you'd stand a chance. But they're not," Morgana added, and Arthur shook his head.

"I know you're trying to help, but like I said, it's too dangerous," he reminded, before walking off and calling the men to their feet.

"Has he always been this vexing?" Evaine asked, and Morgana sighed.

"I'm afraid he has," she answered, the two watching the weary men begin to train once more.

"We don't stand a chance," Gwen whispered as she lay that night beside Morgana. Everyone else was asleep, but those two could not.

"Arthur can't see that. He's too stubborn," Morgana said.

"Why do you think he came here?" Gwen asked.

"The same reason we did," another voice said. "Merlin. Arthur may act like he doesn't care, but he wouldn't be here if he didn't," Evaine said softly, before yawning. "Get some rest," she added, falling back to sleep along with the other two women.

XXXXXX

Evaine was taking a moment's rest and entertaining a few children at the same time as she lifted one on the back of her horse. "Hold on tight," she said, smiling as the small child nodded quickly, the others next to her laughing as she began to slowly walk the horse forward. She was so lost in the moment that she forgot the real reason she was there, until a woman's scream snapped her back to reality. She lifted the child off the horse and hurried to the centre of the small village, noticing how the whole village had gathered around a slumped figure on the back of a horse.

"Get him down from there!" Arthur shouted, and Evaine noticed at that point that it was Matthew with an arrow in his back, dead. She kept the children back as she watched Arthur help the poor man off the horse and read the note attached to the arrow.

"What does it say?" Merlin asked.

"Make the most of this day. It will be your last," Arthur read out, his eyes not meeting the villagers.

"Matthew! No!" Matthew's wife shouted, running up and crying beside his body.

"You did this. Look what you've done. You've killed him," Will shouted, emerging from the crowd.

"It wasn't his fault," Merlin defended.

"If he hadn't been strutting around treating this like his own personal army, this would never have happened," Will accused.

"These men are brave enough to fight for what they believe in even if you aren't," Arthur stated.

"You're sending them to their graves. You've killed one man. How many more need to die before you realise this is a battle that can't be won? When Kanen comes, you haven't got a chance. You're going to be slaughtered," Will told everyone before walking away, Merlin hurrying after him. The sounds of sobs filled the air, and Evaine was too late in stopping the small girl who had been atop her horse a moment before pushing past her.

"Daddy?" the little girl asked, and Evaine kneeled down beside her and pulled her into a hug, turning her away from the sight. Evaine's eyes met Arthur's, and for the first time, she saw fear and pain in his eyes.

Later that night, Evaine stood in the small house that just managed to fit all of the villagers inside. The little girl, Freya, stood hugging Evaine's side as they waited for Arthur to speak, having not left the lady's side all day. Her mother had been inconsolable since Mathew's death, and Evaine was only too happy to look after the girl for the night.

"Tomorrow morning the women and children should gather what belongings they can carry and go to the woods," Arthur instructed.

"We're not going anywhere," Evaine interrupted, even Freya looking up to see how Arthur would answer.

"I know you want to help, but the women can't stay here. It's too dangerous," Arthur stated.

"The women have as much right to fight for their lives as the men do," Evaine refused.

"None of you know how to fight," Arthur argued.

"The more of us there are, the better chance we stand. United we stand, divided we fall," Evaine stated, and Arthur smiled in surprise at her words and how the women stepped forward, emphasising the point of Evaine's words.

"This is your home. If you want to fight to defend it, that's your choice. I'd be honoured to stand alongside you," Arthur conceded, and Evaine nodded gratefully to him. "Kanen attacks tomorrow. Kanen's brutal. He fights only to kill, which is why he will never defeat us. Look around. In this circle were all equals. You're not fighting because someone's ordering you to. You're fighting for so much more than that. You fight for your homes. You fight for your family. You fight for your friends. You fight for the right to grow crops in peace. And if you fall, you fall fighting for the noblest of causes. Fighting for your very right to survive. And when you're old and grey, you'll back on this day and you'll know you earned the right to live every day in between. So you fight for your family, for your friends, for Ealdor," Arthur shouted, raising his sword in the air.

"For Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor!" everyone chanted, standing and raising their hands. Evaine smiled as Arthur looked across the people, his eyes settling on little Freya, who was also shouting the words.

XXXXXX

"Arthur," Evaine called the next morning, approaching the prince on where he stood in the woods. "Hunith made you some food," she said, holding out a bowl of food.

"Thanks, I think," he said, taking the bowl from her wearily.

"Food is scarce for these people. You shouldn't turn your nose up at it," Evaine scolded, looking down as he looked at her.

"Thank you. You're right," he said after a moment, and she released the breath she'd been holding. "And you were right to speak up. I should've listened to you and Morgana. We're going to need all the help we can get," Arthur said.

"We'll be fine," Evaine said, coming to stand next to him.

"How can you be so sure?" Arthur asked, glancing at her.

"Because I have faith in you," she said, looking up to meet his gaze.

"Thank you," Arthur said, and she nodded before she began to leave.

"Plus, I am better with a sword than you," she shouted over her shoulder, laughing as he ran after her.

XXXXXX

"Why can't I stay with you?" Freya asked, sitting and watching Evaine sheathed her sword and put another dagger in the top of her shoe.

"Sweet child, you have to watch my horse. That way I know he will be safe for you are protecting him," she said softly, kneeling in front of her. "And when it's over, I promise you can ride him all day," she added, the little girl nodding.

"Will you be careful?" she asked, and Evaine nodded. "I don't want you to end up like my daddy," Freya whispered, looking to the floor. Evaine's heart broke and she pulled the girl in for a hug.

"I won't, I swear to you," Evaine whispered, before moving away. "Now go on," she instructed, pushing Freya out the door and in the direction of the stables. "Remember what I told you?" she asked Freya, lifting the girl on the back of her horse and handing her the reins. "If anyone bad man comes in, I want you to kick as hard as you can and he will know what to do," Evaine said, and Freya nodded. "I'll see you soon," she said, waving goodbye before shutting the doors. She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before she hurried off to stand in line next to Merlin just as Arthur was shaking hands with a villager.

"Are you frightened?" Arthur asked, and Evaine shook her head.

"Not in the slightest," Evaine said, a small smile in the corner of her lips. Arthur nodded, and Evaine ran off to hide, unsheathing her sword as she crouched down. Kanen appeared a second later with a large group of men, but Evaine waited for the signal from Arthur. A few moments later fire cut half of the group apart, and Arthur shouted for the people to attack. Evaine jumped over the fence, yelling as she met with a bandit and sliced his arm and leg, before attacking another two. Evaine and Anna bumped against each other's backs.

"Do I get a raise for this?" Anna shouted above the noise, and Evaine laughed.

"Only if you tell Merlin how you feel," Evaine shouted back, feeling Anna huff against her. The two were suddenly swept into each other even more as a huge wind tore through Kanen's men, until the majority of the men were fleeing or dead. The two women smiled and hugged, the villagers shouting triumphantly as they watched the men run away.

"Pendragon!" Kanen shouted, searching for Arthur until he stopped to face him. Evaine and Anna ran over, watching as Arthur fought Kanen for several minutes until Arthur managed to stab him clean through the stomach.

"Who did that?" Arthur demanded, walking to stand in front of Merlin and Will after Kanen fell to the ground.

"What?" Merlin asked.

"Wind like that doesn't just appear from nowhere. I know magic when I see it. One of you made it happen," Arthur stated, and Evaine held her breath.

"Arthur," Merlin began, but Evaine noticed how Kanen sat up, aiming a cross bow at Arthur's back.

"Look out!" Will shouted, pushing Arthur out of the way and being struck by the arrow instead.

"Will!" Merlin shouted, dropping to his friend's side.

"You saved my life," Arthur muttered in disbelief.

"Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking," Will uttered, gasping through the pain.

"Come on, get him inside," Arthur instructed, helping to carry him and place him on a table as Evaine, Anna, Morgana and Gwen followed them.

"That's twice I've saved you," Will told Arthur. Evaine frowned, before she realised what he was going to do.

"Twice?" Arthur asked.

"Yeah it was me. I'm the one that used the magic," Will admitted.

"Will, don't," Merlin warned.

"It's all right, Merlin. I won't be alive long enough for anyone to do anything to me. I did it. I saw how desperate things were becoming. I had to do something," Will explained, his voice stumbling through the pain.

"You're a sorcerer?" Arthur asked, his voice holding an emotion Evaine couldn't place.

"Yeah. What're you going to do, kill me?" Will asked, his body shaking.

"No, of course not. Do what you can for him," Arthur told Merlin, before walking away. He placed his arms around Morgana and Evaine, leading the women and everyone else outside so Merlin could have his final moments with his friend.

"Evaine! Evaine!" a voice shouted, and Evaine turned and smiled as Freya raced up to her, catching her in a hug and twirling the young girl in her arms.

"Didn't I tell you I'd be alright?" Evaine said, smiling as she looked at the life in the young girl. Freya nodded, laying her head on Evaine's shoulder. Arthur smiled as he watched the interaction, his eyes holding onto Evaine's as they met. "Come, let's go find your mother," Evaine said, her eyes breaking from Arthur's as she carried Freya with Anna walking beside the two.

XXXXX

"But I don't want you to go," Freya cried, holding onto Evaine's foot as it was the only thing the young girl could reach as Evaine was sat atop her horse.

"I know, and I don't want to leave you. But I'll be back soon to visit," Evaine said, smiling at Freya and her mother.

"You promise?"

"Yes, and when have I ever broken a promise to you?" Evaine asked, and Freya replied never. "Then I shall be back soon," Evaine promised, before turning to her mother. "If you need anything at all, send word to me and I will be here. I already plan to write to my brother to ask for something to be sent here," she said, and the woman began to tear up.

"Bless you, my lady, and thank you for looking after Freya when I could not," she said, and Evaine nodded, kicking her horse to start walking. She turned to wave when they reached the end of the field, smiling as little Freya had ran to the end of the village next to Hunith to continue waving.

"You have a way with children, Evaine," Arthur commented, watching how she waved to the small girl before urging her horse faster.

"I have to be, I spend enough time with you and Merlin," she teased, and the group laughed as Arthur denied the notion of him being a child.