Child of Dreams: Thanks so much! Hope you like this update!
"Are you prepared for your trip to Nemeth?" Morgana asked as they sat in Amara's chambers having lunch.
"I am," Amara smiled. "I haven't seen Mithian in too long."
"It's a wonder Uther allows you to travel to Nemeth," Morgana smiled.
"Uther and Rodor can fight over their claims to the land of Gedref all they like. Rodor is fond of me and I adore Mithian so I will continue going there once a year," Amara smiled as she ate a grape.
"I think it's a good thing," Gwen spoke up as she filled Morgana's goblet. "It helps prevent Nemeth and Camelot going to war over something as silly as a land dispute."
A knock then came on the door and Amara called out, "enter!"
"Princess Amara, Lady Morgana," a guard greeted. "The king requests your presence in the throne room."
"We're eating lunch," Amara protested as she gestured to the table.
"What does it concern?" Morgana asked diplomatically.
"There is to be an audience with the Prince's servant's mother," he answered.
"Merlin's mother?" Amara asked and the guard nodded his confirmation. "Well I definitely want to meet this woman," she smiled. "Find out how she survived all those years with Merlin."
"Don't be cruel," Morgana laughed.
"We'll be there shortly," Amara said, dismissing the guard as she stood up from the table.
"The winter's are harsh in Ealdor," Merlin's mother explained. "And there are many children. Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive. We barely have enough good as it is. And if Kanen takes our harvest, our children won't live to see another summer," she said tearfully as she described her village's plight with this man. "Please, we need your help."
"Ealdor is in Cenred's kingdom," Uther pointed out. "Your safety is his responsibility."
"We've appealed to our king, but he cares little for the outlying regions," she told him and Amara huffed in anger from beside her father. Of course Cenred cared nothing for their village, he was a power-hungry fool. "You're our only hope."
Amara looked over at her father. She knew he could not lend help without declaring war, but she could see in his heart he wanted nothing more than to crush Kanen. "I have the deepest sympathy for you and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of this earth."
"You'll help us?" Hunith inferred excitedly.
"I wish I could," Uther refused.
"Surely we can spare a few men," Arthur tried to reason.
"Resources are not the problem," Uther said leaning back in his throne.
"Then what is?" Morgana asked irritatedly from the ground level.
"Ealdor lies beyond the ridge of Aesctir. For an army of Camelot to enter, it would be an act of war. The three of you know what he would demand as recompense," Uther said to Arthur, Morgana and Amara.
Hunith fell to her knees in one last desperate attempt to win aid for her village. "I know you're a good king, a caring man. I'm begging you. Help us please."
"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."
Morgana glared at Uther and walked over to Hunith and lifted her off the ground before leading her out of the throne room.
Uther stood up to leave the throne room, "Amara," he called. Amara looked over at Arthur and smiled softly before following her father out.
"What if we let our knights go without the Camelot banner? If they were not representing Camelot who's to say Cenred would even find out?" she suggested
"I cannot risk it, Amara, you know I cannot."
"Father…"
"Amara," he said stopping and turning to look at her. "You know if Camelot's knights were discovered in his kingdom the only way to avoid war would be to allow him to marry you. I will not allow that. Not for anything," he declared before walking off.
Arthur and Amara dined with Uther that night. Morgana had sent word she would be taking dinner in her room for the next few nights. No one had thought she was so angered that she wouldn't want to see the king. "You'll have to excuse me," Arthur said yawning loudly. "I'm exhausted," he said dramatically.
"Of course, you're excused," Uther nodded as he sipped his wine.
"I'm going to check on Morgana before I turn in for the night," he said and Amara frowned as she watched him leave the dining room. He was up to something.
"You'll have to excuse me as well father, it's been a long day," she smiled and Uther nodded at her, allowing her to chase after Arthur. "What are you up to?" she asked as she reached him.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Why would you think I was up to something?" Arthur asked quickly.
"I know you. You're acting shifty," Amara explained as she knocked on Morgana's door. "Morgana?" she called out after not hearing a response. She looked over at Arthur who shrugged before she opened the door and walked in. Morgana wasn't in the room. "Oh no," Amara realised as she walked over to Morgana's wardrobe and found her fighting outfit missing. "She's gone with Merlin," Amara explained. "That's why she's excused herself for a few days. So she doesn't get caught."
"Well now I'm definitely going after them," Arthur groaned.
"You were going to go after them?" Amara asked.
"Of course. They need my help and I knew father would never let me leave," he shrugged.
"I want to come too," Amara said.
"Not a chance," Arthur snorted. "Do you know what would happen if you were found in Cenred's kingdom?"
"Yes, I do. But Hunith said it herself, Cenred doesn't care about the outer villages, therefore I highly doubt he will find me in one."
"You're not coming."
"I'll tell father," Amara lied. "Then he'll never let you go."
"Amara!" Arthur hissed.
"Arthur," she snapped back.
"Fine! Fine!" he growled. "Meet me at the armoury in half an hour, don't be late."
"Pack Juliana pack," Amara said hurrying her servant as she frantically changed into clothes comfortable to fight in.
"Are you sure following Merlin is safe?" Juliana asked.
"Absolutely not," Amara answered as she put on her shoes. "But Arthur lied when he said half an hour so I have to hurry or he'll leave without me."
"What do I tell the king whilst you're gone?" Juliana asked.
"Tell the truth. We'll be too far gone for him to stop us. He's less likely to get mad if he's not lied to."
"All packed," Juliana said handing Amara her bag.
"Thank you," Amara smiled. "Hope to see you again," she said before racing out of the room and down to the armoury.
"Amara," Arthur groaned as he saw his sister sitting down in the armoury. He'd arrived 10 minutes earlier than he told her, but she was already there.
"You said not to be late, brother," Amara smirked. "You didn't say anything about not being early."
"Pick a sword," he said rolling his eyes.
"There's not going to be bandits on this path is there?" Amara asked nervously as they rode on their horses through the woods in the dead of night.
"No," Arthur said shaking his head. "This is the route they took, there have been no reports of bandits this way for a year."
"So how far do you suppose Ealdor is?" Amara asked.
"If you were going to be scared Amara you should have stayed home."
"I'm not scared," she snarked. "Merely bored of your company."
"You know if there were bandits out here, your voice would be attracting them," he told her and she glared at him. "I can't see a thing," he complained.
"That's what happens in the middle of the night," she said with an eye roll. "It's black so it becomes hard to see.
"Hold here," he said jumping off his horse. "I'm going to see if I can get a closer look at the tracks." As he leant to the ground the siblings heard a twig crack a little way off and froze. Arthur drew his sword and gestured for Amara to get off of her horse.
"What was that?" she asked quietly as she lowered herself to the ground and looped the horse's reins around a tree.
"No idea. Stay behind me," he instructed as he crept forwards.
Amara followed Arthur carefully before she spotted a familiar silhouette standing near them. She gently tapped Arthur's shoulder and pointed it out, "Merlin," she whispered and Arthur's body relaxed.
Arthur smirked and held his finger to his mouth, telling her to stay quiet as they crept towards Merlin. Arthur stuck his sword into his servant's back gently, making the boy jump into the air. "I'd ask you for money, but I know you don't have any."
"Arthur!" Merlin exclaimed in delight as he spun around, sword in hand, nearly decapitating Arthur in the process. Arthur stood up in annoyance as Merlin spotted Amara. "Amara?" he asked, "you came too?"
"Couldn't let Morgana and Gwen have all the fun," she smiled.
Merlin laughed and raised his arms in the air in delight, waving the sword around obliviously.
"Put the sword down, Merlin. You look ridiculous," Arthur chastised as he snatched it out of the boy's hands. "Our horses are over there," Arthur said pointing in the direction they'd left their horses in.
"Of course sire," Merlin laughed as he ran off to fetch them.
"Let's go," Arthur said, jerking his head in the direction of Merlin's camp. "You should get some sleep," Arthur told her. "It's been a long day."
Amara nodded and grabbed her sleep pack off the horse Merlin had brought over. "Father won't send anyone after us will he?" she asked.
Arthur shook his head. "No, he'll know you'll be safe with me. Sending in more Camelot knights would just draw more attention and we can't afford that. Get some rest," he instructed.
"Amara!" Morgana gasped as she woke up and saw the girl sleeping next to her.
"Be quiet Morgana," Amara groaned.
"When did you get here?"
"A few hours ago," Arthur answered as he woke up. "We were trying to get some rest until you started yelling."
"Arthur?" Morgana gasped. "You went against Uther's wishes," she smirked. "Didn't think you had it in you."
"Prince Arthur? Princess Amara?" Hunith's eyes widened as she jumped up and curtsied.
"Please, please," Arthur said as he stood up. "There's no need for that," he smiled as he placed his arm on her shoulder. "We need to get a move on as soon as we finish breakfast. Merlin says Ealdor's only a few hours away. The sooner we get there the sooner we can survey the situation. I take it someone has a plan for breakfast?" Arthur asked as he looked between Merlin and Gwen.
"I've got it," Merlin nodded as he stood up and started to prepare the food.
"I'll feed the horses," Gwen said quietly.
"I am so grateful that you two have come," Hunith gushed. "I'm shocked."
"Well Merlin is a friend," Amara smiled at the woman. "And you help a friend when they are in need. Besides, Merlin is rubbish with a sword so he really won't be of much help to you."
"It won't be safe for you or the Lady Morgana though. Kanen won't care that you are women."
"Please, we're both well-versed in the use of a sword. In fact, Morgana once bested one of the best swordsmen in the whole of Camelot," Amara said proudly.
"We were 6 at the time will you ever let that go?" Arthur groaned.
"Never."
"Is that Ealdor?" Amara asked Hunith as they came to the top of the hill.
"It is, your highness," Hunith smiled before it quickly fell and her face paled.
"Hunith? What is it?" Amara asked.
"Kanen's here."
"Everybody on me!" Arthur yelled. "Let's send a message," he declared as they raced their horses down the hill and towards the village.
As they rode into the town they heard women screaming and saw a man about to murder another man with an axe. Arthur immediately drew one of his swords and threw it at the man as a warning. He quickly dismounted his horse and began attacking Kanen's men.
Amara drew her own sword as she jumped off her horse. It was obvious the bandit's hadn't been expecting them, but they were still strong.
"Kill them," Kanen ordered his men.
"Get the food," Amara instructed Hunith, who nodded and quickly ran to help the other villagers recover the food the bandits had taken from them. Amara quickly disposed of a bandit who charged at her and looked over to see Merlin struggling to overpower his opponent. She quickly raced over towards the boy to help when she saw the bandit yelp in pain and drop his sword. Amara didn't hesitate and ran the bandit threw with her sword before withdrawing and looking at Merlin suspiciously. "What made him drop the sword?" she asked.
"I don't know," he answered quickly. "I guess it was luck. Thank you."
Amara nodded before she raced off in the direction of her brother as she saw a bandit about to attack him from behind. Morgana quickly blocked the bandit's blow. Amara came to a stop next to Arthur as they watched her dispatch the enemy.
"Bring back memories of when I used to beat you?" Morgana teased.
"That never happened," Arthur denied.
"Ohhh yes it did," Amara smirked.
Kanen saw he didn't have enough men with him to challenge them and quickly mounted his horse. "You'll pay for this, with your lives! All of you!" he shouted before he and his remaining men rode out of Ealdor.
"You did well," Arthur said to her. "Although your footwork…"
"If you don't stop whining about my footwork," Amara warned with a smile.
Arthur smirked before he found Merlin, "Merlin!" he called. "Gather the villagers. I need to talk to them."
Amara walked over to Morgana and Gwen who both smiled at her. "I saw you take a man out," Morgana smiled. "We've still got it."
"Indeed we do," Amara laughed. "Together we could take over the knights of Camelot."
"There's no telling what we could achieve together if we just cut your father and Arthur out," Morgana laughed.
"Did you recover much of the food Hunith?" Amara asked.
"We did, thank you, your highness. If they'd taken our reserve supply, Ealdor would have been lost."
Amara smiled at Merlin's mother before walking over to stand near Arthur, who was about to deliver his address to the villagers. "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 for…"
"Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?" a young man in the crowd interrupted.
"I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot."
The boy scoffed, "yeah, and I'm Prince William of Ealdor," he joked and Amara chuckled.
"Amara," Morgana chastised quietly.
"Keep quiet. He's here to help us," Hunith scolded Will.
"He's made things worse. Kanen will be back," Will argued, "and when he is, he'll be looking for revenge. You've just signed our death warrant."
"He saved Matthew's life!" Hunith snapped.
"It's all right, Hunith," Arthur smiled. "This is his village. What would you have us do?"
"We can't fight against Kanen. He has too many men," Will said.
"So what's the alternative?" Arthur challenged.
"We give him what he wants," Will suggested and the rest of the villagers groaned in frustration.
"Then what?" Arthur scoffed. "Those of you who don't starve to death will face him again next harvest. And the harvest after that."
"We'll manage. We'll survive," Will tried to insist.
"How?" some villagers asked.
"The only way he can be stopped is if you stand up to him," Arthur tried to reason.
"No. You just want the honour and glory of battle. That's what drives men like you," Will stereotyped. "Look, if you want to fight, then go home and risk the lives of your own people, not ours," he snarled before storming off.
"Will," Merlin called before chasing after him.
"I'll follow you," Hunith declared. "If I'm to die, then I want to go out fighting."
"That goes for me too," the man named Matthew agreed.
The rest of the crowd all nodded and called out their acceptance and Arthur nodded in approval.
"My back's sore," Amara moaned to Morgana the next morning as they got dressed.
"That's what happens when you sleep on the floor," she explained obviously.
"Could've slept in the bed."
"Amara," Morgana hissed, grabbing her arm. "This is Hunith's house. She gets the bed and we will take the floor."
"But…"
"There are no buts Amara. This is this woman's home and we are guests in it. You won't kick her out of the one bed they have."
"Fine," Amara sighed.
"And eat your breakfast. You've barely touched it," she said nodding to the full bowl of porridge Hunith had prepared for her.
"Morgana, you can't expect me to eat that," Amara whispered.
"I do expect you to eat it. You know how hard food is to come by for them. Don't be selfish. I know you're not. You proved that by coming here." Morgana picked up the bowl and handed it to her, "you need to follow your heart. Not your head. Your heart is pure and good, but your head is arrogant. I know what kind of person you really are," she said before walking away from her. "Have you still not learned how to dress yourself?" Morgana teased Arthur as she watched Merlin help him put on his jacket.
"You don't have a dog and fetch the stick yourself, no offence Merlin," Arthur stated.
"None taken," Merlin muttered.
"Prince Arthur, you didn't finish your breakfast," Hunith said walking forward and handing Arthur his bowl of porridge.
"Didn't I?" he asked taking the bowl reluctantly.
"Come on, eat up," Morgana encouraged him with a disappointed glare.
Arthur raised his spoon to his lips and pretended to eat until Hunith was out of sight. He then quickly passed the bowl off to Gwen.
"If he's not eating it, I'm not eating it," Amara said, also handing her bowl to Gwen and ignoring the glare Morgana was giving her.
"Right. Let's going. We need wood, and lots of it," Arthur instructed Merlin and the two quickly left the hut, Amara right on their heels hoping to avoid another lecture from Morgana. She was in no such luck as Morgana quickly followed her out.
"You just behaved like a brat," Morgana hissed.
"I did not."
"Yes, you did. That was so rude. Do you think Hunith doesn't know you two just refused to eat the food she made for you?" Morgana asked as she stormed after her.
"I'm sure Gwen ate some so it wasn't wasted," Amara tried to argue.
"That doesn't excuse yours and Arthur's rude behaviour."
"Why are you only telling me off? Why don't you lecture Arthur?" Amara asked.
"He won't listen to me. But I know you're better than he is. You're more empathetic than him. You two are different. Don't pretend you're the same."
Whilst Arthur was training the men, Amara, Morgana and Gwen were preparing as many weapons as they could. As they worked, the three girls observed the training session. The men were making very little progress.
"There is no way they're going to be able to hold Kanen off," Morgana lamented.
"Men aren't the only ones who can fight," Gwen suggested.
Amara nodded in agreement. "They need numbers. Even if they can't fight well at least Kanen will be overwhelmed. Arthur would never allow women to fight though."
"Well we're just going to have to convince him, aren't we?" Morgana smiled.
Amara snorted, "if anyone can convince him it's you, you know how to manipulate him."
"Follow me," Morgana smirked, and the three girls made their way over to Arthur as he was getting a drink of water. "Looks like the battle's already fought and lost," Morgana said sadly.
"They'll toughen up," Arthur countered.
"They need to," Gwen muttered, looking over at Amara for support.
"They won't be strong enough in two days. They're not knights, most of them have never held a sword before. They…"
Arthur cut Amara off as she spoke, obviously knowing what she was angling at. "How're we doing for weapons?"
"There isn't much, but we should be able to scrape together what you need."
"It's not the weapons that worry us," Gwen said with hesitation. "It's having enough people to use them. We think the women should be allowed to fight."
Arthur instantly turned his head away, "you haven't enough men," Morgana argued. "If they were trained soldiers, maybe you'd stand a chance, but they're not."
"You don't have talent so you need numbers. The women can help," Amara added.
Arthur shook his head, "it's too dangerous." He then quickly walked away from the girls before they could argue back. "Right! Back on your feet. Come on, let's go," he called out to the men who were resting, eager to get them back to training so the girls couldn't push their argument anymore.
"Shocking," Amara sighed. "My brother being a chivalrous fool."
The three girls lay awake that night talking. "We don't stand a chance," Gwen muttered.
"Arthur can't see that," Morgana sighed. "He's too stubborn."
"He's not thinking right. He's thinking too much like a knight. He wants to force the women to sit out because he wants to keep us safe, he won't let himself understand that letting us help could turn the battle in our favour," Amara whispered.
"Why did you two come here?" Gwen asked.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"It's the same reason we did. Merlin," Morgana answered for her. "Arthur may act like he doesn't care, but he wouldn't be here if he didn't."
"Thank you for breakfast Hunith," Morgana smiled as they finished their food.
"You're very welcome my lady," Hunith smiled as she took the empty bowl.
"Right," Arthur said standing up. "Merlin, gather the men, we need to come up with a plan. Keep working on the weapons," he instructed the girls before waking out of the hut.
"I'll come help later," Amara said to Morgana.
"What will you be doing?" she asked.
"I want to learn," Amara said looking over at Hunith who was gathering the dirty dishes.
"I'm proud of you," Morgana smiled before ushering Gwen out.
"Let me help," Amara said as she walked over and helped Hunith pile the dishes into a basket.
"Oh please, no, your highness, I assure you I am fine."
"Please," Amara begged. "Can you teach me?"
"Teach you?" Hunith asked.
"I want to learn how to clean."
"You do not know how to clean?"
Amara shook her head, "I only learned where the palace kitchens were a couple of months ago. I want to learn more. Teach me how to clean dishes."
"I… I'm not sure that's appropriate," Hunith stuttered bewildered.
"Please. I'll be more offended if you say no."
"Very well," Hunith nodded with a smile.
"So you just hold the plate under the water," Hunith instructed as she showed Amara how to wash dishes over a trough. "You can see the food lifting off the plate."
"I can see," Amara smiled as she watched.
"And then you take the rag," Hunith demonstrated, "and you wipe."
"Like this?"
"Exactly like that. Well done," Hunith smiled.
Amara giggled, "I'm washing! I've never done this. Is this the most fun part of your day?"
"No," Hunith laughed, "no it is not."
"Why not?" Amara naively asked.
"When you do it everyday it loses its charm," Hunith smiled.
"I think I actually understand what you mean," Amara sighed.
Hunith looked up at the girl curiously before they heard a woman screaming. Amara immediately stopped what she was doing and stood up and ran towards where the wails were coming from. Amara pushed her way through the gathering crowd and ran to Arthur's side.
"Oh my god," she gasped in shock as she saw a villager lying on his horse dead with an arrow in his back.
"Get him down from there!" Arthur instructed. "Stay back," he said quietly to Amara and Hunith reached forward and gently took ahold of Amara's hand, stopping her from moving closer.
Two men took the villager called Matthew off of the horse and set him down on the ground. Arthur knelt down by his side and tore a note off the arrow and read it.
"What does it say?" Merlin asked.
"'Make the most of this day. It will be your last,'" Arthur read.
"Matthew! No! No!" a woman screamed as she shoved her way through the crowd and fell down at his side. Arthur quickly stood up and stepped aside so as to give her space.
"You did this!" Merlin's friend Will snapped. "Look what you've done. You've killed him!"
"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 argued passionately.
"You're sending them to their graves," Will cried. "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," he said before storming off.
Amara pulled her hand out of Hunith's and walked up to her brother, "come on," she said, turning him around and pushing him away from the body. "Let's move," she encouraged as she rushed Arthur out of the area.
"What if he's right?" Arthur asked as he sat down on a piece of wood outside Hunith's home.
"He's not," Amara assured as she sat down next to him.
"They're not the same as soldiers," he said as he picked up a sword to sharpen.
"They know that, and yet they are still choosing to defend their village. They know the risk Arthur, they're willing to take it. You didn't kill that man, Kanen did."
"I could have done more."
"Not with these resources. You're doing the best you can. I believe in you. Merlin believes in you. This village believes in you," Amara comforted. "You're doing the right thing. Unless Kanen can be defeated this whole village will starve by next winter. They want to fight for their own survival."
"Kanen attacks tomorrow. They're not ready."
"Then we need to do everything in our power to be ready for him. That boy is scared. Don't let his opinion distract you from doing whatever you can to help this village, ok?" Amara smiled as she stood up and walked away.
"How's he doing?" Merlin asked as he passed her.
"Needs a morale boost," Amara said and Merlin nodded before making his way over to Arthur.
The night before the battle, all of Ealdor met in a room. Arthur was going over the final details of the plan to ensure everyone knew what to do. Morgana, Gwen and Amara were whispering together on the side.
"This is our last chance to convince him," Morgana whispered.
"We can't convince him, we have to bully him," Amara said.
"We need to make him see sense," Gwen insisted.
"Arthur won't see sense," Amara snorted. "He's not bright enough."
"I don't think you give him enough credit."
"I think you give him too much," Morgana smirked.
"Public confrontation," Amara decided. "That's the only way. Maybe that way the other women will join. He can overrule us, but he can't overrule a majority."
"Tomorrow morning, the women and children should gather what belongings they can carry and go to the woods," Arthur detailed.
"We're not going anywhere!" Gwen exclaimed, pushing her way through the crowd.
"That's one way to handle it," Amara laughed to Morgana.
Amara could see Arthur internally groan as he realised he was in for another argument. "I know you want to help. The women can't stay here. It's too dangerous."
"The women have as much right to fight for their lives as the men do," Gwen argued firmly.
"None of you know how to fight," Arthur sighed.
"Morgana knows how to beat you," Amara piped up with a smirk.
"Will you ever let that go?" Arthur groaned.
"Never," she bickered. "I know how to fight. I bested Leon."
"He let you win."
"He did not," Amara sniped angrily.
"Stop!" Gwen said admonishing them. "The more of us there are, the better chance we stand."
All the women in the room nodded and took a step forward, showing Arthur they all stood with Gwen. Arthur looked around the room and took a deep breath. "This is your home. If you want to fight to defend it, that's your choice. I'd be honoured to stand alongside you. Kanen attacks tomorrow. Kanen's brutal. He fights only to kill, which is why he will never defeat us. Look around. In this circle, we're 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. When you're old and grey, you'll look 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!"
Every rose out of their seats and hoisted their weapons in the air, moved by Arthur's battle speech. "Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor!" they chanted together.
Amara smiled and made her way around the fire to stand by Arthur's side, "that was almost kingly," she smirked.
"Are you going to deny encouraging Gwen to speak up?" he asked quietly.
"I was trying to get Morgana to argue with you, that outburst was all Gwen," she smiled.
"Amara," Arthur called out the next morning and she walked over to him. "You're to go to the woods."
"What?" she asked angrily.
"Get to the woods," he repeated.
"No, I'm fighting."
"If father found out I let you fight he'd kill me himself. I'm not putting your life in danger."
"Morgana gets to fight," Amara whined.
"Morgana's not the princess of Camelot. And she won't be the heir of Camelot if I die today," he said and her face fell.
"You won't die."
"Look Amara you can't be…"
"You won't die because I won't let you. Because I'm fighting," she smirked. "You can't stop me," she said seriously.
"You're very annoying sometimes, you know that right?" he asked.
"I do," she nodded.
"What's this I hear about you washing dishes?" he asked her with a smirk. "Now that I would have paid to see."
"I was curious," she smiled. "I've never done it before."
"Well I hope you enjoyed it because it won't be happening again," he said as they laughed. "Go get ready," he instructed as he pinched her chin. "We've got a battle to win."
"Come on," Morgana said grabbing Amara's arm and pulling her towards Hunith's hut.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It's starting," Morgana told her as they entered Hunith's hut. "Arthur, they've crossed the river."
Arthur nodded and followed them out. "You two know what to do?" he asked quietly and they nodded. "I'm not joking Morgana, any sign this isn't going the way we want it to you both get out. Don't look back, don't help anyone, just get out. I need you to promise me, Morgana."
"I promise," Morgana nodded as they arrived at the waiting group of villagers.
"Ok, get in position," he instructed and they nodded as they ran and crouched down by the entrance to the village.
Kanen and his men roared as they broke the treeline of the forest and rode into the village. As they entered they looked around the village confused, it looked empty as everyone was hiding. As soon as all the riders had entered the village, it was time for the plan to begin. A hidden gate was pulled up by Gwen, cutting off some of the riders access to the village. This was the signal for Morgana and Amara to create a line of fire through the village.
"What are you doing?" Amara hissed as the riders came further into the village.
"It's not lighting," Morgana panicked.
"Give it to me," Amara reached forward.
"No, no," Morgana protested, turning away from her. "Just, let me get this."
"Give me the flints," Merlin demanded from behind the girls. He must've run right across the open village to help. Morgana immediately handed him the flints and backed away so he could work. Morgana and Amara looked around frantically hoping the delay hadn't ruined the plan. Amara heard a crackle and looked over and Merlin had successfully lit the fire. But she frowned, both flints were in only one of Merlin's hands, so how had he used friction between the two to light the flame? She didn't have much time to think about it as the fire raced along a line through the village, blocking the bandits from escaping, sending them into a panic.
"Now!" Arthur roared to the villagers.
The villagers let out a loud battle cry as everyone emerged from their hiding places and charged at the bandits. Three bandits charged at Morgana and Amara. "Like the good old days?" Morgana asked with a nervous giggle.
"We always did win," Amara smiled before they attacked the bandits. Morgana and Amara had learned alongside Arthur, they knew how to handle a blade more expertly than the bandits and were able to quickly despatch them.
Amara saw a villager about to lose their fight with a bandit and quickly ran towards him, driving her sword through the bandit. "Thank you," he stuttered.
"Don't mention it," she shrugged before running off.
"Amara!" Arthur yelled and she spun around to see a bandit running at her from behind. She quickly ducked out of the way and hit his back with her sword. "Surroundings, that's one of the first things I taught you," he yelled at her.
"Well you're a rubbish teacher," she snapped before turning around to get back to work. There were too many bandits, they weren't going to win. Amara felt a strong wind and turned towards Arthur to see a cyclone start. "What is that?" she yelled over the wind.
"Get behind me," he yelled as he grabbed her and pulled her behind him so she was protected from the gale-force wind. She looked around and noticed the wind only seemed to be violently attacking the bandits, blowing them over.
It gave the villagers a moments reprieve and allowed them to get the upper hand over the bandits. The villagers took advantage of the moments of weakness and fought as hard as they could. Half of the bandits looked around and realised the battle was lost and decided to flee back into the woods. When it became clear to the villagers they had won, they began cheering.
"Magic," she gasped in realisation. "That was magic!" she said angrily.
"I…" Arthur started when he was cut off by Kanen who stormed out into the open.
"Pendragon!" he yelled, throwing off his cape and removing his helmet in a challenge to Arthur.
Arthur flung back his shield arm and pushed Amara away from him and she stumbled backwards towards Merlin. As she reached Merlin he put his hand on her arm to stop her from going back any further and she ripped her arm violently out of his hold. "Don't touch me," she sneered.
Arthur readied his sword and began fighting Kanen. He very quickly disarmed Kanen of his axe, obviously the more advanced fighter. Kanen managed to get an elbow into Arthur's face, knocking him back a few paces, and giving Kanen enough time to grab a spare sword up from the ground. Kanen charged again and only lasted a few more moments before Arthur ran him through with his sword.
Arthur immediately turned his gaze back to Merlin and Will in a rage. Amara sneered at them as Arthur marched forward and stood at her side. "Who did that?" he demanded.
"What?" Merlin asked clueless.
"Wind like that doesn't just appear from nowhere. I know magic when I see it. One of you made it happen!" he accused.
"Which one of you did it?" Amara demanded through gritted teeth.
"Arthur," Merlin said stepping forward.
"Look out!" Will shouted. He had spotted Kanen raising a crossbow at Arthur. Without hesitation, Will flew forward and pushed Arthur out of the way as Kanen fired the crossbow. By doing so, Will was hit with the force of the arrow, and it lodged itself in his chest.
"Oh my god!" Amara gasped as the boy choked and fell towards her.
"Will!" Merlin screamed as Amara caught him and struggled to hold his weight. Merlin and Arthur rushed forward and pulled him from her and slowly lowered him to the ground.
"You saved my life," Arthur looked around in shock.
"Yeah. Don't know what I was thinking" he groaned in pain.
"Come on, get him inside!" Arthur yelled as two other villagers raced forward and helped carry him into the closest hut.
"Are you ok?" Morgana asked running up to Amara.
"Yeah," she nodded.
"That got close."
"I know," Amara breathed shakily. "Come on," she said as she followed them into the hut.
Amara, Morgana, Gwen and Hunith stood around the end of the table looking on as Arthur and Merlin looked over Will, knowing there was nothing they could do to save him.
"That's twice I've saved you," Will said to Arthur through the pain.
"Twice?" he asked confused.
"It was me," Will nodded. "I'm the one that used the magic." Amara tilted her head in confusion, she could have sworn that after seeing the incident the first day where the man Merlin was fighting mysteriously dropped his sword, and before when the fire lit without the use of the flints that Merlin was the sorcerer.
"Will, don't," Merlin protested.
"It's alright 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 and I had to do something."
"You're a sorcerer?" Arthur asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," he groaned. "What're you going to do, kill me?"
"No. Of course not," Arthur shook his head. "Do what you can for him," he asked Merlin before he gripped Will's shoulder and walked away. He reached out for Amara and Morgana and turned them away from the sight of the dying boy and led them out of the hut.
As soon as they were out of the hut, he released them and walked away, but Amara sped after him. "He doesn't look like a sorcerer."
"He admitted to it."
"I know. But he used it to help?" she said in confusion. "I thought sorcery was only for evil?"
"It is evil," Arthur said.
"But he used it to help win the battle? I don't understand," she shook her head.
"Magic is dangerous Amara. He used it for good today, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't have used it for evil tomorrow. You understand that?" he asked and she nodded. "Go get some water ok?" he said to her and she nodded and made her way back to Morgana and Gwen.
That next morning they held a funeral for Will. He'd been the only loss the village had suffered in the battle. Amara stood to the side with Morgana and Gwen as they watched the flames of the pyre. Arthur left Merlin who was standing at the front and walked over to the girls. "We're leaving tonight," he told them as the villagers started leaving.
"Ok," Amara agreed and looked over at Merlin talking with his mother.
"Are you alright Amara?" Morgana asked.
"I'm fine," she said but didn't take her eyes off Merlin. She knew Will admitted to being the sorcerer but there were three incidents she'd seen in her time at Ealdor, and Merlin was the centre of them all.
She didn't want to accuse an innocent man of sorcery. So she needed to watch. She needed to observe. She needed to be sure.
