Chapter Nineteen

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

"So Hayden caught a wyvern," Merlin said casually over breakfast with Arthur and Gwen.

Both the former king and queen froze; the warlock kept on eating as if he'd said nothing out of the ordinary. Arthur finally spoke up. "I'm sorry...what?"

"Hayden caught a wyvern." Glancing across the table, Merlin snorted. "Come on, we all saw that coming, right?"

"I...I suppose we should have." Gwen shrugged returned to her meal, seemingly unconcerned.

Arthur, however, was not. Why is it always goddamn wyverns with these people?

"I'm sorry, but how? When? And where is he keeping it? And what is he going to do with it?"

"With a trap. The day before yesterday. He's keeping it far away from the livestock, I promise; I even used a little magic to help him secure the cage he built. And 'it' is a she. He's going to call her Amber."

At this juncture, Arthur opened his mouth to speak again, but Merlin talked right over his initial indignant noises. "As for what he's going to do with it, I'm assuming he's going to do what the Wyverndomitors did in the old days. Tame it."

"I...okay." You know what? I do not have the time or energy to pursue that any further. "How are the plans coming along at your end?"

"As soon as Aithusa gets back, we'll be ready to go. Provided nothing's changed." Through the dragon's latest scouting flights, they had learned that while Nimueh and her allies were based on the Isle of Wight, the bulk of their forces...apparently a mix of undead shades and living people with their free will magically removed...were scouring the southern coast of England in order to capture anyone who could be enchanted to fight. These circumstances meant a growing number of enemies, but also an opportunity to take out many enemy leaders while their guards were down.

So far, the general plan was for Merlin to perform a transportation spell that would bring him, Arthur, and a select force onto the island. "There are wards around their castle stronghold; I'll have to get us close and disable them from there," Merlin had explained.

As speed and efficiency were vital to the mission, Arthur had already announced his intent to leave the bulk of Anglesey's forces behind to guard the island, should any attack occur during his absence. And Merlin's. The group that went on the mission would be volunteer-only.

So far, this included Lancelot, Percival, Elyan, Leon, Gwaine, Everard, Elwin, and Haralda, plus eight other "Knights of Anglesey", including the young woman named Ruby who had arrived on the island with the Barclayns. Elen had initially volunteered but had withdrawn her offer after a heated conversation with her husband. As Merlin clearly at least one more person along who could use magic besides him and Gwaine, Morgana had offered. "It's the least I can do," she had said. "I told you I would make amends." When her son was mentioned, she looked pained but said, "He can stay with Gwen. I plan on coming back."

Eighteen people...plus a dragon; Aithusa was obviously going too...was a lot for even the great Emrys to transport with one hundred percent reliability. "So let's hope we don't have to make a quick exit," the warlock said at one point. "Don't want to forget anyone."

We're so close…

Arthur was ready for this war to be over. The world might never again be as safe as it had seemed before the apocalypse, but at least there might be peace. We can start rebuilding, truly planning long-term instead of season by season, perhaps one day reach out to other parts of the world…

It would never be quite the same as Albion or the "Age of Technology", but it could be something good. Arthur longed for that.

Just one battle, perhaps, and the greatest of the threat will be gone. Just one…

He went to training after breakfast, and when he returned home around noon, he found Mordred sitting quietly on the sunlit front doorstep.

It took Arthur a moment, as it always did, to swallow down his initial reaction to the boy. Icy blue eyes, red sky, cold steel, pain, darkness. However, he got control quickly and sat down on the step by the child. He could just hear Gwen and Morgana's voices inside. "You and your mum are here for lunch? I think Gwen mentioned you two were coming. Slipped my mind, though."

Gaze downcast, Mordred nodded.

"How are you doing? Feeling all right?" He looks really tired today...

After a few seconds, the boy muttered, "Had nightmares."

Oh. Arthur could easily imagine what those were about. Past life, current one, doesn't matter. He has more than enough traumatic memories. "I have them, too, sometimes. It's not fun."

"Yeah." Mordred seemed to withdraw into himself. "Couldn't sleep after. Too scared."

"I understand that." Hesitant at first, Arthur reach out and put his arm around the child's shoulders. Mordred stiffened, then relaxed surprisingly fast. "I'm sorry. I hope it gets better as time goes on."

"Hmm." Closing his eyes, the boy leaned into Arthur. "Tired."

"I bet." This is...odd. Then again, he is kind of my nephew now…

They stayed like that, Arthur just sitting while Mordred dozed against his side, until Gwen and Morgana came outside to tell them lunch was ready.

Aithusa came back that evening. The arrangement of enemy forces had not changed in any notable way. The mission was to go forward as planned.

Arthur held a meeting about the news, this time in the town hall so he could speak to the non-reincarnated volunteers and the members of the Anglesey council along with the others from the old days. Everyone took the news quietly, but there was an air of anticipation as the meeting ended.

Everyone's ready for this to be over.

Exhausted but restless, Arthur invited Gaius and Merlin over to his and Gwen's for a late supper. Halfway through the meal, Merlin stopped mid-sentence, staring at nothing. "Shit."

"What is it?" Arthur demanded. Aithusa? Hayden's new wyvern? Maybe it's…

"It's Gwaine," Merlin said, already getting to his feet. "He's calling me telepathically...Gaius, we need to get to his place. Something's wrong with Elen."

He and the physician were out the door before the royals could react. As they looked to each other, Gwen said, "Oh, no, not now...It must be the baby…"

"Damn it." After Merlin, Elen's the most powerful magic-user we've got...and she's a friend of sorts, too...If something happens to her…

Arthur couldn't help but wonder what would happen to Gwaine if he lost his sister, too. No, don't even go there…"I'm sure Merlin and Gaius will be able to sort it out. She'll be fine…"

A couple hours later, Merlin did stop by to tell them that the crisis was past; Elen and her unborn child would survive. "One of the disadvantages of magic healing," he complained, "is that you can't fix what you aren't sure is there. All we do know is that something went wrong, and without working technology like an ultrasound...Well, Gaius did have some idea, and she's on bed rest for now. The child will likely be born a bit early, but other than that, they should both be okay."

"Good," Arthur said, and Gwen echoed him. "I hate to be insensitive, but...should I find a replacement for Gwaine? We leave the day after tomorrow, and I know how Barclayns are about family…"

"I doubt it." Merlin shook his head. "Gwaine isn't just grieving now, Arthur...he's angry. He won't stand by as long as there's a chance he can get revenge for what happened to Cleva...Morgause is probably on that island."

And he can blame her even more than he can blame Morgana…

The next day passed in a flurry of planning and preparations. Not only did the mission volunteers have to be prepared, but the island had to be ready for any potential attack...whether or not the group returned.

As always, Arthur felt confident leaving Gwen to lead in his stead, but couldn't help but compare this pending departure with his leaving for Camlann. I never came back to her...I left her alone with our son...I had no idea…

He couldn't stop thinking about it as he lay in bed with Gwen in his arms that night. "I should've never left you."

She understood. "It's not like you could see the future, Arthur."

"Merlin warned me, you know."

"I recall. And you told him that you didn't truly believe the future was set in stone."

"Look where that got me."

Looking up at him, she said softly, "Arthur, that's in the past. Concentrate on getting through tomorrow. I believe in you. I always have."

He smiled and drew her closer. "Except when you told me that I snore like a pig."

Laughing, she kissed him, and he lost himself to it.

At dawn the next morning, the Once and Future King gathered with seventeen other men and women, plus one dragon, in the largest open space in the village. A crowd formed around them but stayed back as Merlin began casting a spell of great complexity. Looking around at the others...brothers and sisters in arms, friends old and new, even family...Arthur felt a surge of pride and hope. We are strong. We can...we must do this. For the future.

He managed to find Gwen in the crowd, and kept his gaze on her as spirals of bluish smoke began to rise around them. I will come back to you this time, my love.

Then, suddenly, the buildings and people of Anglesey vanished, replaced by dissipating mists and a dark, grim castle looming above on a fog-shrouded hill.

This is it.

Merlin and Aithusa started chanting together, and Arthur drew his sword and prepared to charge as the rippling, barely-visible wards around the castle sparked and fizzled out. "On me!"

Then, as those who were not a warlock or dragon raced forward towards the front gate Aithusa opened with a spout of flame, the sky turned black with screeching birds and Arthur heard Merlin shout something that made his stomach drop.

"No! She's not here! Nimueh's not here!"