Krysia and Morgana sat with Uther in the council chamber, and the unspoken worry in the room was palpable. Uther wondered how much of it was his own, and how much was shared.

"Arthur should be back by now," Uther said to Sir Leon.

Leon, to his credit, said, "I'm sure there's a simple explanation, sire."

"You know as well as I do he's been gone too long," Uther said. Krysia's shoulders twitched, and Uther had some confirmation that the concern was not his to bear alone. "Take a patrol, as many men as you need. Whatever it takes, find him."

"Sire," Krysia said, seeming about to argue. No doubt she was going to say that Leon had only just recovered, but Leon forced a smile and shook his head at her.

"Yes, sire," he said, bowing and leaving.

Uther prepared himself to hear Krysia's complaints, but instead Morgana spoke up.

"You show great strength, my lord," she said.

"What do you mean?" Uther said.

Krysia cleared her throat and said, "I believe she means your willingness to put your only son in danger as often as you must."

Uther smiled tightly. Sometimes he wondered if Morgana didn't have some clue that she was really Uther's. Sometimes her comments touched so close to the secret reality…

"Not a responsibility any father would wish to bear," Uther said.

"You must try not to worry," Morgana said brightly. "He's the First Knight of Camelot and your greatest warrior. He's made it home safe in the past. Why should this time be any different?"

Uther forced a smile, although her words did bring some comfort.

"You're right," he said. "Of course you are."

/-/

Uther found Krysia standing at the balcony over the main square, staring off into the distance. He cleared his throat to announce his presence, and she turned slowly to acknowledge him, then turned back to the square.

"I know you didn't agree with my decision," he said, "to send Sir Leon off to the border so soon after his return."

"You mean after his death," she whispered.

"Because of the magic enacted on him by the druids, he is in better shape than any of my other knights at present," he said. "And there are few whose judgment I trust as much."

Krysia gripped the edge of the wall of the balcony. She didn't turn to look at him, but he could hear the frustration in her voice.

"You've sent him to die all over again," she said. "Perhaps if he's not returned in another two days, you'll send Geraint and leave us with almost no one of the quality to lead your knights?"

"Have you forgotten your place?" he said, as gently as he could. Her shoulders stiffened, but she said nothing. "You are brilliant, Krysia, and you have seen a great deal, learned a great deal throughout your very young life. But when I was your age, I was piecing back together my kingdom. I know something of war, of acceptable risk. Sometimes the risk doesn't pay off, but I thank you to remember that I am not reckless."

Her lips twitched, but she again said nothing. Uther waited a moment to see if she would apologize, but he should have known better. She was too much her mother's daughter.

/-/

Merlin and Gwaine sat by the fire, but it was dying low, and Arthur's shivering from his fever was lessening.

"We need more firewood," Merlin said.

"You're right about that," Gwaine said, keeping his face as serious as he could.

"D'you want to go and get some?" Merlin said.

"Not really. Thanks for asking."

Merlin's face was horrified at the idea that he might have to go into the woods, and it was so good, Gwaine nearly broke his solemn expression.

"There's wolves out there," Merlin said. "Bears, boars…"

"Exactly," Gwaine said.

"I'm not a warrior," Merlin said. "I can't defend myself like you."

"Never too late to learn," Gwaine said.

A long silence strung out between them as Merlin was clearly searching for another argument. Gwaine smiled, shook his head, and grabbed his sword.

"Merlin, don't you know when someone's joking with you? If I die collecting firewood, keep it to yourself. I got my reputation to consider."

Merlin laughed nervously, and Gwaine went into the woods to find something suitable.

/-/

Leon was standing on the hilltop, looking down at the marching army of Cenred. All he could see for a moment was the alarm in Krysia's eyes when the king had decided to have Leon lead a patrol out.

"My God," he said, seeing the sea of men. "Alright, men, come on!"

They ran through the woods, but they were caught by the mounted soldiers. They did their best to flee, and Leon threw one of the cavalry off his horse. Leon threw himself into the fight and bested the other man, running a sword through him.

The man did not die, did not even pause in his assault, and Leon saw Krysia's fearful eyes again. He could feel his heart in his throat, and he turned and ran as fast as he could go, determined not to die again this week.

/-/

Gwaine was woken suddenly by the sound of Arthur's voice.

"Where's the cup?" he said. Then again, when Gwaine sat up. "Where's the cup?"

"Cenred's men," Merlin said. "They took it."

"Then what are we still doing here?" Arthur said, horrified.

"You were unconscious."

"Always an excuse, Merlin."

Arthur tried to stand but groaned in pain. Merlin and Gwaine both hurried to help him. Once he was on his feet, he said, "We have to get back to Camelot before it's too late."

/-/

Krysia sat staring at Leon, who had just come with news of the amassed army. She squeezed her hands together, trying to decide what she had to do. She wore her father's colors today, but she wished she had even an ounce of his strength in the face of certain defeat. Without Merlin here, how were they supposed to find a solution?

"We must convene the Council of War," Uther said, and Krysia listened to the tolling of the bell, but Leon shook his head.

"They cannot be stopped," Leon said. Krysia looked at him, and Uther did as well, startled. "The soldiers, sire. They will not fall."

She felt she couldn't breathe, and Uther looked similarly dismayed.

"What are you saying?" Uther said.

"Sire," Krysia said softly, but Uther didn't acknowledge her.

"They will not die," Leon said urgently.

Uther's jaw worked, and he said firmly, "Gather the knights. Prepare whatever defenses you can."

"But sire—" Leon began.

"Perhaps we could—" Krysia said.

"DO IT!"

Uther's voice rang through the council chambers. Krysia felt like the room was spinning. Leon was startled, afraid even, and he bowed, leaving wordlessly. Krysia wasn't sure, but she thought she'd seen Morgana smirk.

"It's Cenred," Uther said to Gaius. "It must be. How? The location of the cup was secret.

"There's only one explanation, sire," Gaius said. "We have a traitor in our midst."

There was no mistaking it this time. Krysia was sure that Morgana was smirking, and a chill ran down her spine.

/-/

Leon startled at the sound of someone working the armory. He drew his sword slowly, as quietly as he could, and inched forward, but sighed when he saw Krysia there, examining the weapons methodically. With every tilt of her head, her lightly curled hair bounced around her shoulders, gracefully covered in the light silk in the deep blue of House Elmere. He was certainly about to die, for he knew this was a fight that could not be won, and he wondered what would become of her when the army hit. She was stubborn enough to fight, even when she need not. But even she could not win a fight against an army that wouldn't die with her stubbornness alone.

He also wondered what it would be like to kiss her, just once, as he wasn't likely to last the night. But it wasn't the right time for such thoughts, and every minute was precious.

"You really needn't do that, my lady," he whispered.

She looked over her shoulder by only turning her head, arching her neck like a swan. Gods, she was beautiful.

"Someone has to," she said. "I can't very well do nothing."

He knew better than to try to order her, so instead he came around the table where she had laid the swords out for inspection, and he took her hands in his gloved hands. She was wearing his mother's pendant, he thought with an ache in his chest.

"When the army breaches the lower town, you need to take shelter," he whispered.

"Leon—"

"My lady, please," he said, squeezing her hands lightly. "Take your dagger, don't try to be a hero. Hide yourself somewhere. Stay out of their way. If you try to defend someone else, they will destroy you, and I…"

If ever there was a time to tell her he loved her, that he couldn't stand to face this enemy knowing she might die… He pressed her hands to his lips, and she gave him a look so sad, so afraid.

No. If he told her now, she would know he was saying goodbye, and then she might do something foolish.

"Stay safe," he said softly.

"And you," she said with a forced smile. "Take this one. The balance is excellent."

She nodded to a sword on the end, and he said he would, letting her return to her labors.

/-/

"I'm sorry," Uther whispered, watching Leon gather the men, preparing them for the coming battle.

He wasn't sure whom the apology was for. Leon, perhaps, or his parents. Arthur, perhaps, or his mother. Krysia, perhaps, or her mother. So many people he had failed, so many who had questioned him along the way, and he did not listen.

What would Zosia say now, looking at their coming catastrophe? She was too generous to say she told him nothing good could come of his ambitions. But she might ask him if it was worth throwing her aside, becoming king.

At this moment, seeing the fear in Bors's son, the bravest of his knights, Uther wasn't sure what he would answer her.

/-/

They reached a hilltop and looked down at a burning village, and Gwaine felt a tightness in his chest like he hadn't felt since he saw Krysia chasing behind a dragon.

"What the hell happened?" Gwaine said.

"I don't know," Arthur said solemnly. "We need to hurry. We're still a day's march from Camelot."

They were slowed certainly by Arthur's limping, but the closer they got to the city, the more concerning things were there. They found bodies of Camelot knights not too far from the village.

"A Camelot patrol," Arthur said, kneeling to examine a body, but it was Merlin who pointed out the most salient thing.

"There's not a single enemy body," Merlin said.

"He's right," Arthur said. "This wasn't a fight, this was a slaughter."

Again, Gwaine's chest tightened, and he said, "Who could've done such a thing?"

"An army of men that cannot die," Arthur said, as though the thing he said was in no way shocking. "Come on."

At the top of the final hill, without a moment of pause, they could see smoke rising from the citadel of Camelot.

"Krysia's in there," Gwaine said to Merlin. "Isn't she?"

"She might have got out," Merlin said, but his voice made it clear that he didn't believe his own words.

They crossed a battlefield with only the bodies of Camelot's knights. Arthur's pain could have been as much from the number of the fallen than it was from the wound from the arrow.

"They never stood a chance," he said bitterly.

Inside the lower town, still smoking and smoldering, all ruins, Arthur tried to open a door of a house.

"Here," Gwaine said. "Let me."

He kicked in the door, and they all crept in to the silent, dark house. But pillagers didn't lock doors behind them, so Gwaine was more startled than surprised when someone jumped out waiving a sword. Arthur and Gwaine prepared to fight, but Merlin cried out in recognition.

"Elyan!" Merlin said.

"I'm sorry," the man said, shocked to see Arthur.

Merlin closed the door, and Arthur relaxed.

"Where is everyone?" Arthur said.

"I-I-I thought that…" Elyan stammered, clearly shaken by the things he'd seen. Again, Gwaine's chest tightened.

"Elyan, please, what happened?" Arthur pressed.

Elyan took a moment to steady himself, then said, "They came out of nowhere. A mighty army. Weapons were useless against them. They were men, sire, but not men. Nothing could kill them. Nothing."

"Where's your sister?" Arthur said. "Where's Guinevere?"

"She was in the citadel when they attacked."

"Then there's still hope."

"Sire," Elyan said, as if pained. "The citadel's been taken."

Gwaine felt like he was going to vomit, and Arthur looked much the same. Camelot was famous for having never been breached. It had withstood sieges for years on end, but never was it taken by an outside foe.

Arthur steeled himself and led them out of the house, his limp noticeably worse.

"Let's go," he said.

"How much longer can he keep going like this?" Elyan asked Merlin softly.

Gwaine watched Merlin's face careful, and Merlin just shook his head, nervous.

"I don't know," he said.

And Krysia was, gods willing, a prisoner in the citadel. Gwaine was tickled by the idea of rescuing a beautiful lady from a tower, but this seemed a little more prickly than the situations in the storybooks typically suggested.

/-/

Krysia clutched her dagger under her sleeve, sitting at her dressing table, listening and trying not to panic. The door opened, and it took everything in her not to draw the blade or throw the person who entered across the room.

The entrant was Morgause, smiling, and Morgana close behind her.

"Lady Krysia Elmere," Morgause said. "There's no need to be frightened, my dear. You've been liberated."

"Liberated," Krysia said, feeling the strangeness of the word on her tongue. "Morgana, what's going on? Where is Leon?"

"He's safe, darling," Morgana said, gently taking Krysia's hand and removing the dagger, setting it on the dressing table. Krysia didn't fight, smart enough to know when she was outnumbered and outmatched. "Come, I want you at my side."

"For what?" Krysia whispered.

Morgause passed Krysia a headdress from the dressing table, one the royal jeweler had made with a flowing of her parents' crests and a selection of sapphires and emeralds on gold.

"Wear this, my lady," Morgause said. "And don't dawdle. Glory waits for no one."

Krysia carefully placed the headdress and forced herself to breathe steadily as she followed the two women out of her room and down the corridor to the stairs. She felt well and truly stuck.

/-/

They somehow managed to get inside the citadel, but they had to duck aside to hide from the soldiers. Arthur struggled to stand, but they couldn't just stand there hiding, not while Krysia was somewhere in this castle, potentially dead or dying.

"Where now?" he said.

"Now, er…" Arthur groaned out. "Now we, er…"

"Arthur, you can't go on," Merlin said.

"We must," Arthur said, shaking his head. "We must find the others."

"You can't go on without treatment."

"Guinevere," Arthur said through tight teeth. "My father."

Merlin turned to Elyan, not listening to Arthur.

"Elyan, do you know your way to the dungeons?"

"Yes, I think so," Elyan said.

Merlin nodded to Gwaine and said, "Go with Gwaine. See if you can find them."

Before Arthur could argue, Gwaine followed Elyan carefully up a corridor, his heart pounding in his throat. If she was alive, he would find her, and when he found her, together they would find some way to put this mess right.

/-/

Krysia was led to the throne hall, where a large number of undying soldiers were gathered. She saw Geoffrey in the corner, held by two guards, and Krysia turned to Morgana, who was sitting on Uther's throne.

"What is going on, Morgana?" Krysia said.

"Don't you remember what I said the other night?" Morgana said with a bright smile. "I told you there would be a time when Uther was no longer on the throne, when you would be free to become who you were born to be."

Krysia swallowed, startling at Morgause's hand on her back.

"You don't have to be afraid anymore, my lady," Morgause said with surprising gentleness. "You're safe."

"Safe?" Krysia said, letting out a nervous laugh. "I've just watched my home being burned. Forgive me if I don't feel very safe right now."

"No one is going to harm you," Morgana said, smiling. "I can promise you that. We're going to build something wonderful together, Krysia. I can feel it."

Krysia could only feel her pulse against her jaw, but she said nothing, to afraid to say the wrong thing.

/-/

Gwaine and Elyan took shelter in a corner as soon as they saw the guards, and they heard as much as saw the king being removed from a cell by guards.

"Where are you taking me?" Uther demanded. "I am the king! I demand to know—"

"We'd better follow," Gwaine whispered.

Elyan nodded, and they kept a safe distance behind, figuring out where the king was going so they could report back to Arthur. As soon as they figured out where he was going, they hurried Gaius's chambers, where Merlin was sure to have taken Arthur.

"The king, sire," Elyan said as soon as they entered to find Gaius treating Arthur. "He's alive."

"Where is he?" Arthur said.

"They're taking him to the throne rom as we speak," Gwaine said.

"This may be my last chance," Arthur said.

Merlin, though, already with a bag, said, "Arthur there's too many of them. You'll never make it."

"I won't leave my father here to die alone," Arthur said. "Gwaine, Elyan, take Gaius and make your way to the woods beyond the castle. I hope we meet again."

Gwaine clapped his hand on Merlin's shoulder, and he led the way out for Gaius. When they were in the corridor, he said, "Gaius, is Krysia—?"

Gaius said, "I haven't seen her, but the invaders have every incentive to keep her alive. She's from a powerful family, and she knows to play her cards carefully, Gwaine. I have faith she's alive."

Gaius was a man who was usually right, so Gwaine wanted to believe him. The question was, alive for how much longer?

/-/

Krysia stared at Uther as soldiers dragged him in and forced him to his knees before Morgause. He was too busy staring defiantly at Morgause to notice her, or Morgana, for that matter.

"Well, Uther," Morgause said brightly. "How the mighty have fallen. I don't think you'll be needing this anymore."

She removed Uther's crown, and he snarled, struggling against the guards.

"This is unlawful," he said. "You cannot do this. You have no right to the throne!"

"No, she does not," Morgana said from her perch on said throne. "But I do. I am your daughter, after all."

Uther stared up at her, noticing her for the first time, and then he looked at Krysia who just stared back at him, torn between her need to appease Morgana and her pity for him. He looked so dismayed, so pained.

"Don't look so surprised," Morgana said, smirking. "I've known for some time."

Morgause nodded to a soldier, who pushed Geoffrey forward. He took the crown, and he looked extremely uncomfortable standing beside Morgana.

"But the power vested in me," Geoffrey said, "I crown thee Morgana Pendragon, Queen of Camelot."

The soldiers forced Uther to bow as the crown came to settle on Morgana's head, and Krysia hesitated before bowing her own head of her own free will. She wasn't sure how yet, but she was going to find a way to fix this. She just needed to find Merlin. Provided he was still alive.

A/N:

To the Guest: I can understand the nervous around the potential dynamic between Gwaine and Leon, but I want to assure you that I am a huge fan of the knights as a crew, and there will not be any angst or tension between them. These men are capable of being mature and understanding, not jealous numpties.

On to part two of this delightful two-part, possibly tomorrow. Arthur will be able to report back that Krysia is alive, and Krysia and Gwen are stuck in Nightmare Land with Morgana and Morgause. How will the two parties meet?

-C