Many years ago after the war on Magic had been declared, one fine night in the village of Ealdor in a small cottage, a young man and a woman expressed their love for each other. Their love wasn't forbidden but the young man was condemned to death by Uther Pendragon, King of Camelot as he was the last of the Dragonlords- The kind that had the power to control all dragons, spared from His Wrath with a little stroke of luck. He was hunted down throughout Uther's Kingdom and even beyond his lands, they managed to find him and were coming for him, so he could be brought before their King and get 'the justice' he deserves according to Uther.
"I'm so blessed to have a woman like you in my life, Hunith you make me feel like I'm the King of this world" said Balinor with shining eyes, the world turned their backs on him but not her. He was a stranger when he first came on her doorstep to seek refuge so that the cruel King and his men wouldn't find him and she followed her heart. "So am I the luckiest of all the woman to have a man like you in my life" said Hunith as she smiled, clearly she was blushing; she lowered her eyes yet the sparkle in them was quite visible for anyone to see. She looked up and smiled at him and said "I wish to tell you something Balinor but first give me a promise" as she gently placed her hand on his cheek. She looked quite happy but he could sense the underlying fear beneath those sparkling eyes.
"You know when it comes to you, I wouldn't deny a thing in the world" he said with all the love and concern; holding her hand that rested on his cheek. "Perhaps but I want a promise" she said as smiled sadly while releasing her hand from his grip, he knew there was no taking her in by his fine words; it's a straight answer that she wants and she will have it. "I cannot guarantee anything unless you tell me; what is it that you seek" he said as he tried to calm her fears. " A promise..., to never return to Camelot Balinor, ever" she said with fear in her voice.
"Then it must be something of great importance and yet I shall ask; why is that dear?" He asked wondering why, would she say such a thing. She was searching for an answer in his eyes, and he looked puzzled as he saw her reaction, he placed his hands on her arms as he pondered over what he should say. He knew he couldn't agree with her but wasn't sure how to admit it, she meant a great deal to him, but it wasn't in him to abandon a friend specially when he was there at the time of his need.
"Well you haven't given me your answer will you do as I say?" Asked Hunith hoping that he might agree as she didn't really have much of a choice, so she had to convince him. "I'm indebted to him dear how can I leave him at a time like this, I will not lie to you, I will help him in any way I can" he said hoping it that might not come to choose between a friend and his beloved. He closed his eyes and shook his head slightly which was more like a slight shiver, as he tried to focus on riding his mind of these thoughts as they both were equally precious to him so there was no choice. "Please if you value my love even to the slightest bit, then you..., must... not return" she said with tears in her eyes, she just wanted a family safe and sound somewhere far away from that bloody war against sorcery.
"Alright, alright I won't, now please Hunith what's troubling you so much that you forget that..., I..., I lost all of my kin and if it weren't for him, I too would have been lost, what is it that you wish to tell me" he said wondering that would he be able to stick to his word as it was near impossible. "Sure my love, as you wish" she said as she was so happy yet tears fell down from her cheeks, it felt like all that happiness and excitement will swipe her off her feet. As she opened her mouth to speak, they heard screaming startling them out of their daze and their attention was turned to all that commotion going on outside.
Leaving an almost frozen Hunith, he went to check from the window and saw the knights of Camelot making their way towards them, banging on every door, searching every house to find him. As he took a step towards the door she snapped out of it and rushed to him. "No...!, please don't, I don't want you to do this" she said holding his hand to stop him. "Please..., at least let me see what's going on" he said as he tried to rescue his hand that she held so tightly as if her life depended on it.
"I can't leave them to die Hunith, how can you expect me to live like that knowing that I abandon them to die when there's every possible chance for them to be saved?" He asked looking in her eyes whilst snatching his hand from her grip. "Please don't" she said crying, her hands were trembling as she was forced to release his. He placed his hands on her cheeks and said " I will always love you, remember that", with his own eyes threatening him with tears yet he tried to remain strong.
She wasn't sure what to do, whether to smile for she was blessed with such love or to cry that she might not see him again. If it wasn't for the happiness that was about to knock on her doorstep, she would have given it up but unbeknownst to Balinor; she was carrying his child. Only for the sake of that child she stayed behind, he then kissed her forehead and then left their little heaven for never to turn back to his family.
As he left their cottage, he saw knights of Camelot asking everyone for him and in return they offered them to be rewarded with gold. One of those men saw him and told the knights that; nearly an hour ago he saw a man leaving the village and that man was actually; the dragonlord they were all looking for. The man, who lied to those knights was William's father Joseph and a knight of Cendred's army, who came there with his wife and a newborn son, only to arrange a funeral for his dead mother in her native grounds. He sent them in the opposite direction, and this gave Balinor a chance to make a run for his life, but he got injured in the process.
One of those knights saw Balinor running, and he informed their leader, who signalled them to chase the dragonlord and capture him alive. The leader then turned back to rain down his rage on Joseph, who somehow knew his fate to be terrible indeed, but as a knight maybe not as worse as it was. He was beheaded on the spot and the knights took his head along with them. As they followed Balinor; he was nearly captured but then the knights heard a woman shout 'NO' at them as they passed by, and that turned their attention in her direction and their leader said "so it was you; who was harbouring him?"
"Yes, indeed it was I, and I would do it again without a second thought" said Hunith with defiance in her voice. The knight chuckled and said mockingly "maybe you don't love your life", she then smiled and said "this isn't a question about life and death but rather a question about the right and the wrong, so tell me what wrong has he ever done to you?" "He exists that is worth all the wrong in the world" said another knight in a bored tone. Looking at the leader defiantly she said " if we need protection from someone it's you and your fellow knights and not him or men like him, beheading innocent people? All in the name of protecting us; you people even more than your king have turned into monsters while on the road to rid yourselves and not us of the magic he so despises"
Whether it was her words that somehow awoke the slumbering humanity within them, or they already despised Uther's purge of magic and her words only intensified what they already felt buried deep within them; the people of Ealdor never got to find out. They could only guess that it was one of the reasons mentioned that stopped them from continuing to pursue Balinor; till he was dead because they could have easily done it. In fact, all they could see that the knights wished to retreat and go back to Camelot, but each one of them was waiting and looking at the other to take the lead.
In the end their leader carefully placed Joseph's head on the ground and stood up, while looking at the head now resting on the ground, he then raised his head and looking at the villagers said loud enough for all of them to hear "let it be known that he died fighting for his king, he was a knight and should be remembered with the same honour as any knight; who gave his life for his kingdom, as such his deed was no less than this. He then led his fellow knights away from the crowd and towards their horses, then they rode back towards Camelot and the people who wore expressions of anger and pity mixed with fear gave a collective sigh of relief.
Hunith was the only one who wasn't relieved to see the knights leave, but rather she looked terrified as she realised let alone spending the rest of her life with Balinor along with their child; she may need to hide that her child's father is Balinor in order to protect it. Therefore, without any further delay she left Ealdor in the dead of the night making sure no one saw her.
Upon their return the knights of Camelot told their King that they managed to execute the last dragonlord in a struggle he made for his life, and so in Uther's Kingdom; he was believed to be dead but those who knew the truth kept it to themselves.
Camelot (Present)
Leon managed to overhear Gaius, Gwaine and The Queen when they were talking about The King's location. He was a little suspicious as to why Gaius being a physician, left a wounded King in the care of a servant all alone far from Camelot. Over the years Merlin had learnt a lot from him but still he wasn't as skilled as The physician himself. Given with the fact that Morgana and her men must still be searching for Arthur; he shouldn't be left all alone in the care of a servant, who can't defend himself let alone defending a wounded King.
Following Eira's execution, Leon took a handful of knights and left for Avalon in search of The King and His servant. The search was to remain a secret, even from The Queen so they managed to leave right before sunset, yet she saw them leaving from her bedroom window, and whispered "bring them home", while tears glistened her eyes. They didn't face much trouble leaving the palace without anyone's knowledge as everyone was still dealing; with the after-effects of a Great War that they had miraculously won as they were outnumbered and as strangely as they won, Arthur went missing from the battlefield. They knew they owed their lives to a sorcerer who wasn't asked for his help; yet he stood on their side. He saved them by an act of sorcery; an act forbidden in Camelot. Arthur wasn't cruel like his father, he didn't really hunt or go about killing sorcerers on sight but still magic was outlawed in His Kingdom.
The Kingdom was in a vulnerable state, they were weakened by the losses they had suffered by the attacks before, and after the great battle itself and now their leader was missing. There was panic everywhere, no one really mentioned their fears, but it was pretty obvious they; didn't know what was next to come. They feared that they might be attacked by Lot's or Sarum's men; in an attempt to takeover Camelot. Following Eira's execution and conversation she had with Gaius, Gwen had confined herself in her chambers she wanted to be left alone as she awaits the safe and sound return of her husband.
When Leon and his men almost reached the spot where Morgana had been killed, from the woods they could see a group of people on a certain distance. As they got closer, they could hear voices and in the dark; they could figure out that there were about 9-10 people surrounding someone who lay on the ground. They got off from their horses and tried getting closer all the while keeping it as quiet as possible, making sure the group wasn't alarmed. As they reached the clearing, a very stunned Percival bumped into Leon as he was trying to figure out what was going on there. He nearly screamed before Leon placed a hand on his mouth making him quiet, but now he himself realised that what was it that Percival was so scared of, a little far away from the crowd amongst the trees laid the lifeless body of Morgana Pendragon.
Now all the knights were staring at Morgana's body with wonder and amazement. They were totally astonished, and had mixed feelings about what they were witnessing; anger and guilt that it was their responsibility to end her life, shock and fear that someone; who if not more than as powerful as Morgana was on their side, what if he turns against them and finally relief, that at last they were having the privilege of witnessing the fall of The Lady Morgana at the hands of someone of her own kind. It took them nearly 5 minutes to snap out of the shock and turn their attention back to the unidentified crowd. Some of these men moved backwards and out came their leader followed by one of the men. Leon Immediately recognised him as Isledir-the leader of the druids, who once saved his life.
"The King must be dead by now" said Iseldir looking worried. "Then we're all doomed" said Robin looking absolutely terrified. "Doomed!??" Asked Iseldir being furious as he turned around to face Robin who seemed more like a scared mouse and had just heard about a cat on the loose. Sensing the young lad's fear he said "he was suppose to die what could we, have possibly done? He had to die and so He Did". "What about Emrys?" Asked Robin hoping that the great sorcerer might pity upon their helplessness. Looking down at Merlin, Iseldir said " right now I cannot guarantee anything, no one can". He took a deep breath as he tried to calm down his own fears as to what might Merlin do If he sees them around. He knew that he had gone through a lot lately, but after all he was their only hope in seeking a place they could call home and respect by all in the United Albion he was suppose to build with Arthur.
Now that the other people surrounding Merlin had moved away from him and joined Iseldir and Robin, at last the brave Knights of Camelot could see who was laying down on the ground. Judging the whole situation on the partial conversation they managed to overhear, they were about to attack the druids mistaking them for the assassins of The King and His servant. Before the knights could take any further step, Merlin gained consciousness and screamed "NO...". All the druids moved back a little, their faces had gone white with fear as if they had just seen that; Morgana Pendragon's ghost was about to launch an attack on them. The Knights of Camelot were now in more shock than ever, they literally froze in their positions, with eyes and mouths wide open, they were too stunned to even utter a word.
Placing his hands on the ground Merlin tried to sit up, but he was to weak to do anything, and his head was still spinning. He had managed to knock himself out after tripping over a small rock as he came back to look for his horse. His grief had left him split up in multiple emotions pouncing through his veins simultaneously. He felt completely heartbroken about his friend's death, he was angry and blamed himself for not being able to stop the 'unthinkable', he wasn't able to stop them; stop Morgana and Mordred from killing Arthur
