"As I Feared" (Rose)
Right when the clopping of hoof beats resound in the courtyard, I leave my work behind and sequentially find Merlin. "You look shaken," I say before anything.
"I am, but I'll have to explain later. I swear these walls have ears nowadays," he responds shakily.
I bite my lip warily. "I'm afraid your ears won't be so happy with what they will come to discover soon, I'm sure."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember when I mumbled something about an army the other night just before I blacked out?" His widening eyes show he certainly does, so he nods, urging me to continue. "I spoke with Sir Leon, asking him to take the patrol to where I spotted a massive army just a few days' journey from Camelot. I had to be certain, and I couldn't tell Arthur in case he questioned me further. That would have given us both away, unless I resorted to lying, which I prefer to avoid as much as possible."
"That army must be Morgause and Morgana's next attack," he mutters knowingly.
"Let's go find out," I propose with my weariness apparent. He huffs in agreement and we join the others for a council.
As I feared, Sir Leon confirms my sightings and Merlin's suspicion indirectly.
"I estimate they will reach the city within two days," he guesses.
"Under whose banner do they march?" Arthur asks, spinning around at the end of a pace.
"Cenred's, sire," says the informant. "We knew he was amassing an army-"
"How many men?" Arthur does not wait for Leon to conclude.
"Twenty-thousand," he answers grimly. "Maybe more."
Gaius intercepts the space in conversation. "I fear that news of the King's illness has spread beyond our borders." I glace at Merlin beside me, whom is boring a hole in Morgana's face with the daggers shooting from his glare. "Cenred sees an opportunity," Gaius assumes.
"Then we must find a way to appease him," Sir Leon suggests.
"Not what my father would do," Arthur speaks up with forced thinking. "He wouldn't bow to our enemies."
"Forgive me, sire," Gaius humbly interjects. "We are outnumbered two to one."
"What concessions will Cenred insist on?" Arthur presents with authority. "What territories will he demand?"
"We do not have to give him anything, but it could buy us valuable time."
"It shows weakness, Gaius," Arthur follows up with no spare fraction of time. My thoughts bounce from one side of the argument to the other, understanding both, hoping to discover a medium ground. He steps over to the table, leaning on it with his palms- a thinker's stance. "There's only one course of action open to us," he takes his place at the head of this table, a couple of various decrees and important documents scattered on the surface. "We must prepare the city for siege," he commands with an air of finality.
"Are you sure that is wise?" Sir Leon challenges his declaration. I gasp to myself, fearing an overreaction on Arthur's part. It is a brash move, and I'm not sure it will do us much good, however, Sir Leon's gumption to speak his mind frightens me for his sake.
Arthur takes the question with the levelheadedness of a true leader. "That castle is our strongest weapon. No army has ever taken Camelot."
"But what about the people in the outlying villages?" Leon asks with the urgency of a people's man.
"Give them refuge within the city walls," Arthur gives his solution.
"And what of their houses, their livelihoods?" he drives his concern further. "Cenred will destroy everything in his path."
"But they will have their lives," Arthur states, to which Leon makes no argument. "Go. Ready the army," the crowned prince commands.
The council disperses and Merlin quickly takes his place at Arthur's side, even though at this moment, he is more at this heels than anything. I leave them to their business and turn to attend my own.
"Reassurance" (Merlin)
I rush after Arthur once he dismisses everyone. When we reach the walkways outside, I catch up to him. "You did well in there," I tell him for sake of reassurance. "I mean it. I was impressed. We're talking siege engines and battering rams and catapults ..." I begin to rant. "You made a tough decision," I reaffirm aloud and stumble a bit. "You're risking hundreds of-"
"Do you know what?" he speaks over and through my words.
"What?"
"I'd really prefer it if you just kept quiet in these situations," he says with a blatant honesty that irritates me with his ungrateful nature towards me.
"I am just trying to help," I point out in my defense.
"Well, you're not," he refutes openly.
I shake my head. "I know you don't mean that. You're just worried. But you don't need to be." I pause, nodding in thought. "Look what we've got."
He stares at me with skeptical expectance as to my answer. "What?"
"You," I nod, and try to think of more. "... Me."
"Merlin," he shifts his weight and widens his stance, "What exactly are you going to do?"
"I'm going to be at your side, like I always am, protecting you," I say with deepest sincerity.
His lips part into an "O" shape, "God help me."
"If it's any compensation, Your Majesty," a small familiar figure steps up behind him. "You have me, as well."
His eyes gleam with a special affection at Rose, and I am unjustly upset for more reasons than I can currently count. "Thank you," he nods with a kindly grin. "I must see to the Knights," he says, taking his leave. Over his shoulder, he adds, "I expect to see you bright and early in the morning, Merlin, and eager to work."
I shake my head as he goes. "You don't think your point got through, do you?" Rose inquires knowingly.
"When does it ever? He doesn't even seem to hear a word I say," I clamp my mouth shut.
"I hear you, Merlin," she smiles truthfully and sympathetically. "I always do, even when no one else does."
It is physically impossible to stay upset with this girl around. It's almost unfair to me. What if I want to sulk? Unlike Arthur with me, I want to show her my appreciation. "I know you do," I tell her gratefully. "You're a good friend."
"I have you to thank for that ... You've taught me much about friendship," she says with a warm smile. "Now, come on," she grabs my hand. "If we're to be pulverized in the near future, let's not waste the time we are allotted."
With that, we escape to our chambers. I would say this is the only place we feel secure, but I know that we only feel truly safe from any manner of oppression with each other.