Hi everyone! Apologies for the long wait uni work has been killing me! But I've had a lot of messages about this story so I really want to start writing again, I can't promise frequent updates, but I will definitely make an attempt. So please enjoy this next chapter and don't forget to leave a review.
As I lay in bed that night listening to the sound of Merlin snoring, I let my mind wander. I wandered what the morning would bring, there were so many decisions I needed to make. I loved Arthur, I had known that for a long time; despite trying to deny it. We could never be, I knew that, and he knew that; even Merlin had reminded me of that. And yet I couldn't stand the idea of not being around him; my heart started to ache with the thought. I turned my head against the hard pillow; I could see Fredrik and his parents; asleep in their beds across the dark room. I felt nothing for him, not fondness, not friendship, not even hatred. It was as though he were a stranger.
It was at that precise moment, staring at the straw roof above me, that I made my choice. Arthur. It would always be Arthur. I could not deny what we had any longer, in fact I refused to. I finally closed my eyes in an almost bliss of clarity and slipped into a content dazed sleep.
When I awoke the room was still dark, not yet dawn. But as I lay there I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Silently getting out of my bed on the floor, I edged towards the door, making sure to not disturb anyone. The door creaked loudly in the silent night as I pulled it slowly open. The crisp air outside hit me instantly and a slight shiver ran through my body. The light wind rustled the fabric of my night gown as I began to take a few steps from the house.
The village was eerily quiet, and still shrouded in darkness. And yet something told me not to light a torch. My eyes wandered throughout the village, I saw the empty washing lines, the baskets pilled with fruit, empty carts, and pens filled with sleeping animals. But then my gaze was drawn to the hill tops. It took me a second to fully focus on what I saw, because the hills weren't empty. Tonight, they were filled with moving figures and the occasional glimmer of a distant torch. Although distant I could tell they were coming closer and fanning out. Surrounding us.
Panic washed over me as I hurried back inside. I rushed over to Merlin, shaking him lightly.
"Merlin." I whispered. He didn't stir, so I began shaking him harder. "Merlin, wake up!" I could hear the panic in my own voice as my brother slowly began to wake.
"Lilia?" What are you doing? It's still dark out?" His voice was groggy and confused as his eyes focused on me.
"Get up." I insisted half dragging him from his bed. He followed me in a daze, mumbling complaints as he did so. The second we got through the door I pointed to the hills, "Look." I said stubbornly. His eyes followed in the direction I was pointing.
"That looks like…" He voice trailed off as he looked on.
"People," I finished for him, "A lot of people. Getting closer and fast."
He nodded sternly before a look of determination covered his face. "Wake Arthur, I have to get him out of here." He rushed back inside. I took one more look at this hills before running towards the house I knew Arthur was asleep in. I ran in the shadows, not wanting to alert anyone on the hill to my presence.
The door to the house was still firmly closed, I pushed it open quickly, wincing at the loud creaking noise it made. Arthur was still asleep in the bed, and I could hear Tristan and Isolde snoring lightly on the other side of the fabric partition. I stood over Arthur and gently pushed against his shoulder, shaking him lightly.
"Arthur." I whispered, "Arthur you need to wake up. Arthur."
His eyes began to flutter and he groaned loudly attempting to shake off my hand.
"No Arthur, you need to wake up. Now." There was fear in my voice, as I kept shaking him.
He heard me properly though, his eyes opened, he looked at me for a second before noticing the fear and panic in my face. "What's wrong?" He asked, his voice clear.
"You have to go, there's a small army coming across the hills." As I spoke I started to pull him from the bed, handing him his clothes, "Get dressed." I told him, before rushing out, running through the shadows to my own house.
Merlin's things were scattered across the floor but he wasn't in there. I grabbed my own clothes and changed quickly. I found my bag hidden in the corner and shoved in a few provisions. I was about to leave when Merlin came back.
"I'm going to try and sneak Arthur out through the caves, hopefully they won't see us. I'll write a note for mother." He said looking around.
"You can't leave a note Merlin, what if they search the houses." I said, lifting my bag and taking a step towards the door.
"Where are you going?" He asked, finally noticing the bag.
"I'm coming with you. And before you say no, I can help; you know I can. I can't stay here anyway. So, let's just skip the argument and go." I said definitively. He opened his mouth to protest but I was already out the door. I heard Merlin sigh and then wake mother, but I was too far away to make out what he whispered to her.
We left the house, silently shutting the door behind us. Slipping through the shadows once more, we made our way to Arthur. He was stood outside dressed in full armour, with Tristan and Isolde stood silently beside him.
As we got closer to them Merlin said quietly but clearly, "We're going through the caves, but we have to be fast. Lilia and I know them well though, we should have a good head start on Agravaine and his men."
Tristan and Isolde merely nodded and began to follow, but Arthur opened his mouth in protest.
Merlin cut him off before he even uttered a word, "Don't bother Arthur, Lilia's already made up her mind."
"But it's dangerous." Arthur said.
"So is staying here, sire." I said calmly, though my gaze flicked up to the hills where the figures were growing dangerously close.
Merlin, Tristan and Isolde started running towards the caves, I followed after them. Hearing Arthur sighing frustratedly behind me and quickly following. We reached the caves quickly, there were three openings and Merlin hesitated.
"Which way?" Arthur asked, Merlin stayed silent "You don't now?" Arthur asked again beginning to sound exasperated.
"This way." I said running confidently through one of the caves.
"Are you sure?" Arthur called after me.
"Yes." I called back, still moving quickly through the dark caves.
The group followed after me, as we moved as quickly as we possibly could. But all too soon we heard thundering footsteps coming from behind us. We ran faster, suddenly Merlin stopped.
"Keep going. I'll distract them." He didn't wait for an answer before disappearing back into the darkness.
"He'll be fine, he knows the caves well." I said aloud but really only trying to reassure myself. "We need to keep moving" The words left my mouth but I still hesitated for a second, as did Arthur and we looked at each other nervously before we began to follow after Tristan and Isolde. We hadn't gotten far when terrified screams echoed through the caves. We stopped instantly.
"I'm going back for Merlin. Lilia, you keep going and get these two out of here." He touched my arm gently and I nodded, he turned and ran back the way we came. I took a deep breath and turned to face Tristan and Isolde, who were both eyeing me wearily.
"Keep moving." I said pushing them forward.
The three of us moved on and quickly made it out the caves into a small clearing. We sat down against trees catching our breath.
"Did he really just go back for a servant?" Tristan asked me.
Nodding, "That's just the type of man Arthur is. He'd put anyone before himself." I said watching the cave opening, willing Arthur to emerge with Merlin. With each second that passed I was filled with just a bit more dread.
"Should we keep moving?" Isolde asked, I didn't respond but instead continued to stare at the empty opening, listening even for the faintest of footsteps. I felt Isolde touching my arm, "Do you love him?"
"What?" I looked her surprised.
She smiled kindly, "Do you love Arthur?" She asked again.
"He is the King." I said, though the truth was evident in my voice, I knew it and so did she. She opened her mouth to say something but I held up a finger to silence her, and took a step towards the caves; hearing a very faint noise coming from inside. I held my breath nervously and waited.
Time seemed to stand still, until finally I saw two figures emerge slowly. Arthur. And Merlin just beside him. A relieved smile exploded onto my face as I rushed forward and pulled them both into a hug. I caught them by surprise and they both stiffened for a moment before both wrapping their arms around me.
Tristan cleared his throat from behind us. "Whilst I'm pleased and surprised you both survived, shouldn't we keep moving?"
Merlin pulled away from me, "We should, though Agravaine and his men will not be following." He looked at me and I instantly knew what happened, I smiled at him.
"Where do we go now?" I asked, looking between Merlin and Arthur.
"I think I know where anyone who escaped Camelot may be. We could go there?" Merlin said, mostly to Arthur.
Arthur nodded and gestured for Merlin to lead the way. We walked carefully through the forest, wary of the slightest noise. Merlin walked beside Tristan and Isolde leaving me alone with Arthur. I could see he was deep in thought, worry was etched across his face. I didn't know how to comfort him so instead I just walked by his side. The sky began to darken, Merlin decided we should make camp for the night.
I handed Merlin my almost forgotten bag, "Here, there's some food in there. I'll get firewood." I wandered off collecting dry wood, when I had all I could carry I walked back to the camp. Merlin had handed round some bread and everyone was sitting silently on a fallen log. I piled up the firewood and used some flint to light it. I sat on the tree and Arthur handed me a piece of bread, I accepted it with a small smile. Before long Merlin had settled himself down on the ground and was snoring, Tristan and Isolde followed suit. Arthur said he'd take first watch and walked a short distance away from the camp. I laid down and shut my eyes, hoping to sleep but I couldn't.
After a while I gave up. I got up and walked over to Arthur, who had settled at the foot of a tree and was spinning his dagger against a rock. He looked up when I sat down, "You should be asleep."
"Couldn't sleep." I said glancing at him.
He sighed and went back to his dagger and rock. The worry from earlier was still etched deep across his face. I touched his arm lightly, "It'll be ok, you know. You'll get Camelot back."
"Camelot is lost. The people are either dead or lost. I failed them. There is nothing to get back."
"The people aren't lost, they're scattered throughout the forest. All we have to do is find them. They will follow you."
"They shouldn't." He said staring into the distance.
"The people love you Arthur. They see every way that you support them, they will stand by you. You shouldn't give up on yourself. They won't. And I won't." I told him truthfully.
He turned to me, "You shouldn't even be here, Lilia. You should have stayed safe in Ealdor. You can still go back, before we all get ourselves killed."
"I'm not going anywhere. And I'm definitely not going back."
He reached out a hand and gently pulled my face round to look at him, "Lilia, I need you to stay safe. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you. Please… go back. Marry Fredrik, live your life and forget about me." The pain in his voice was reflected in his eyes.
I pulled his hand away from my face and held it tightly in my own, looking him straight in the eye said, "I am not going anywhere. I refuse to go, and I refuse to marry a man I do not love and never will. I will stay safe, but I am staying right here beside you."
He held my gaze for a moment, before leaning closer and bringing my lips up to his. He kissed me so gently but with so much meaning, I pulled myself closer to him and continued to kiss him. When we finally broke apart, I rested my head on his shoulder and held his hand tightly.
"I love you, Arthur." I whispered.
"I love you, Lilia." He said pressing his lips against my hair and holding me closely.
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Love you guys,
Xem98x