Chapter 8: Camelot Falls
The cold wind of winter has finally descended upon the realms and with winter here already lurks more danger. Morgause walking into an icy cave reaching the deepest and coldest part of the cave. In the center of the large icy cavern is some sort of icy alter in the center. Morgause places the red ruby that Sir Bradford had given her awhile back on the alter and his beating heart that she ripped out of him. "Turns out you are more useful dead than you were alive Bradford."
She then begins to chant her spell. "In the name of The Accursed One I call forth The King of Winter to come forth and lend me your army!" The ruby and heart in the middle of the alter are engulfed by a wind of snow circling the two items, in the center of the snow a figure begins to form. The snow then stops circling around the figure and dies down reveling a blue looking lean built man whose skin seems to be made from ice, with sharp ice shards sticking out of his bald head forming the shape of a crown. His eyes are glowing in an icy blue color giving you the effect as if he is starring at your soul while his outfit contains an aged looking leather long sleeved shirt with black leathered pants as well with boots to finish up his outfit.
Morgause bows slightly to this blue man. "It is wonderful that you accepted my summon your highness."
"Get on with reason why you awakened me from my slumber witch." The blue man says in a scratchy emotionless voice.
Morgause scoffs. "I prefer to be classified as an enchantress or a sorceress, you insult me your highness."
"Enough they are all one in the same in my eyes now I ask again why you summoned me?"
"My master the one people like to call The Accursed One is in need of your services and I am sure you know who he is."
The blue man nods. "Indeed, I do, you have my interest go on."
"Well he has heard of your mighty army that ruled the earth during the ice ages and now he wants you and your army to help him destroy a certain kingdom called Camelot."
"And if I refuse?"
Morgause smiles sadistically. "As powerful as you are I don't think you would want to make an enemy out of The Accursed One but fear not your work won't go un rewarded he can return the world back into an ice age allowing you and your people to rule this world once more."
The blue man closes his eyes and sighs. "Very well I agree to this I will awaken my army destroy Camelot."
"Splendid there is just one more thing you should know, on your assault on Camelot you are not allowed to touch two specific people during your attack on Camelot I will deal with those two myself." Morgause grins.
(Grand hall in Camelot castle)
The sound of music is playing in the air as everyone is dancing around celebrating the traditional winter festivities in the kingdom. Seth is walking around trying to deliver the food to the guests at a timely manner but is struggling to do so.
Seth places his tray on a counter in the corner of the party and begins to watch all the people enjoy themselves.
"Everyone seems to be having fun."
Lancelot interrupts my thoughts. "Yeah but it seems I'm stuck doing my job as a simple servant boy." I say jokingly.
"Well at least the person you care about knows the truth that your more than a simple servant boy, I'm pretty sure that counts for something." Lancelot places his hand on my shoulder.
I laugh nervously "I have no idea what you are talking about." Just then Uther taps his spoon to his wine goblet and rises from his seat. "Citizens of Camelot it is my great honor to share another year of Holiday festivity with all of you. Now I know there may have been some hardships throughout the year but the power of all of us uniting we were able to get through all these hardships so a toast for Camelot having another great year." Uther raises up his glass as does everyone else and everyone begins to cheer.
I roll my eyes "What a joke if only everyone knew half the things Uther does and who really does all the fighting." Just then a chill breeze sweeps inside the castle causing everyone to shiver a bit. The warning bells go off around the city causing the people inside the room to become confused a bit as the guards start escorting people out giving them the command to head inside their homes and not leave until the king says otherwise.
"So much for the celebration guards take Lady Morgan to her room and stay outside her door at all times Arthur get dressed into your armor and meet me at the top of the front gate." Uther commands as he walks towards Merlin. "Old friend it would seem we might go to war again, and I am going to need you to help me with all the wounded soldiers after this battle is over." Uther places a hand on Merlin's shoulder.
"Of course, old friend I'll do all that I can for your people." Uther walks off and Merlin turns to Seth. "I know it won't make a difference if I say don't fight but you were never one to listen so all I will say is don't get caught using magic in front of Uther and don't be so reckless."
I smile at Merlin and nod "Can't make any promises but I will try my best" I run off with Arturia as we head towards the armory.
"I'm surprised someone is declaring war on Camelot this late at night, its unheard of no other kingdom has ever done so."
"Yeah well I feel like these aren't your normal typical enemies, plus there is always a first for everything." I retort.
The two go their separate ways as Arturia meets her father up in the top of the city gate. The two gaze on the vast army of what seems to look like blue zombie people riding on their black horses marching towards the city. Infront the of the army is none other than their king.
"Father what kingdom are those people from and why are they all blue?"
Uther shakes his head. "I haven't the slightest idea but whatever kingdom they are from they will regret attacking Camelot. Men ready the arrows and fire on my mark!" The knights of Camelot begin to dip their arrows in fire and ready the bows and wait for their kings' order to shoot on the marching army.
The winter phantom army marches closer and closer to Camelot setting a feeling of uneasiness to the knights on standby.
"Fire!" Uther yells out the command and all the knights along the wall of Camelot begin to fire the arrows piercing the blue phantoms knocking them down on their horses. But the phantoms that fall from their horses' shatter into snow and is blown by the cold wind into Camelot. The snow surrounds some of the soldiers on the wall causing them to choke and suffocate turning their skin blue as ice and turning them into winter phantoms. The now turned soldiers then begin to attack some of the other soldiers and bite them turning them into winter phantoms as well. The army outside then begin to freeze the wooden gate entrance to the kingdom. The knights behind the gate prepare to charge as they wait for the gate to fall.
The gate eventually shatters, and the winter phantoms begin to charge into them turning all the knights either by falling by their blades or infecting them themselves.
Meanwhile inside Morgan's room she is looking outside her window and is hearing the fighting. Suddenly outside her room she hears the guards being knocked out and falling to the floor. She backs away from her door and grabs a small knife she keeps in her nightstand.
"Stay outside I got a knife and I will use it on you if you do come inside." Morgan warns with a stern voice.
The door slowly opens revealing Morgause.
Morgan's eyes open wide. "You I've seen you before in my nightmares. But you are actually real."
"My dear Morgan of course I am real, the only reason you would see me in your nightmares is because I was trying to reach out to you my daughter."
"You can't be my mother, my mother died when I was born!" Morgan raises her sword at Morgause.
Morgause slowly begins to walk towards Morgan. "That is a lie Uther had made up to cover up the truth. No, I am your true mother if I wasn't how would I know about the black birthmark of a moon on your back."
"What?! How do you know about that only father and Arthur know about it?" She says in shock.
"Because I am your true mother and if you still don't believe me, I'll show you the one I have as well." Morgause turns around revealing her black moon shaped birthmark on the open part of her dress in her back.
Morgan lowers her sword in shock. "Then are you actually Arthurs mother as well?"
"No, you see the truth is you and Arthur or should I say Arturia are not twin sisters, you two are still related by both being daughters of Uther but you both have different mothers. You both only look the same because Merlin had used his magic to change your appearance to resemble Arturia."
Tears begin to well up in Morgan's eyes. "Everything I know my life has been a lie then. Nothing was real that is why he didn't choose me to be the next heir for Camelot."
Morgause comes and hugs Morgan trying to sooth her daughter. "It is all right my child I have come back for you now, I will tell you everything you want to know and I will make sure you become queen of your own kingdom after this war is over."
(At Merlin's house)
"Shouldn't we be out there helping using magic, there won't obviously be any wounded to treat since they get infected and become winter phantoms themselves."
Merlin sighs and sits down. "Believe me Seth I would if I could but I honestly don't have my full magic right now so there isn't much I can do."
"Then let me go out there and do something about it there has to be a way we can defeat the winter phantoms."
Merlin nods. "There is a way to defeat them, but it is far too risky."
"I don't care if it is, I have to do something to help the people out, I can't stand by and let these people suffer and die because I was afraid of a little risk."
Merlin looks at Seth, he really is just like his mother despite what she says about him, always putting others before him no matter the cost. "Very well the way you can defeat the winter phantoms is by either slaying them with a weapon forged by dragons fire or just using the raw dragon fire itself, and we don't have time to forge a weapon with dragons fire so you will have to see if Ignis the dragon below is willing to help the kingdom that imprisoned him. Be careful though he is a crafty dragon he won't help you without something in return."
"I see well if that's what it takes then so be it thanks Merlin, I'm off to caves under the castle."
I begin to make my way towards the secret entrance to the castle, but I see some guards fighting the phantoms in the direction I am going in. I take a detour around the fighting and make my way inside the cave and towards the dragon. "Ignis I call on you!"
The mighty dragon flies in front of me sending a gush of wind towards me. "It has been awhile young mage, what brings you to my prison?" He says in a sarcastic attitude.
"You know well what brings me here, I need your help to defeat the winter phantoms outside. Lots of people are dying and I know the only way to defeat them is through you."
"Why should I care if the people who imprisoned me here are dying, Uther has brought this tragedy on himself and his kingdom."
"Even so it would be the right thing to do. You can't just let innocents die, can you?"
"I can care less about innocents, my kind where innocent as well yet that didn't stop you humans from slaying us one by one from the face of the earth." Ignis roars in anger.
I sigh. "That's fair enough but what if I make a deal with you Ignis. You save the kingdom and I'll make sure you are free from your prison and won't ever have to return down here again."
Meanwhile as the battle continues to rage on outside. Uther stares in shock as his army of knights are slowly turning into the very monsters they are fighting. "Arthur you need to retreat to the castle and begin to evacuate your sister and some of the people out of the city I fear this may be a battle we lose.
"What about you father I can't just leave you here?"
"Don't worry about me Arthur I will stay here in the frontlines and hold the army back. Fire seems to slow down these creatures. Now go that is a command my son!"
Uther prepares himself and the men around him. "Men with me! Fire seems to be the only thing that can slow them down so we must dip our arrows and swords into the fire, and we can push the army back!" Uther and his men dip their swords into a pit of fire and charge towards the oncoming enemies in front of them. Uther goes head on towards the king of the winter phantoms.
The king creates an ice sword out of the moisture from the air and clashes it with Uther's sword. But due to the heat in Uther's sword it causes the sword to melt. The king simply makes another sword in its place but this time he creates icicle spears and throws them at Uther. He manages to dodge one but is scraped by the second spear on his right arm.
Uther swings his sword at the king having him block it with his sword but as he blocks his swing Uther goes in for a punch to his face knocking the king back a bit and allowing Uther to thrust his sword into the monsters' stomach. The king grunts in pain due to the heat in the sword.
Furious the winter phantom king places his hand on the floor causing it to freeze with ice until the ice reaches Uther's feet freezing his feet in place. The phantom king approaches Uther forming a blade of ice in his hands getting ready to impale the king. Uther tries to break out of the hold from the ice but fails so he swings his sword at the phantom, but he manages to knock the sword out of Uther's hand. Just as the Phantom king is about to thrust his sword into Uther.
But he is interrupted by a fireball hitting his hand with the sword and dissolving it completely not allowing the phantom to grow it back. He turns and looks at none other than Merlin.
"Sorry for disobeying an order old friend but I can't stand back and do nothing, now can I?" Merlin says smugly looking at Uther.
The phantom king shoot ice in the ground causing icicle spikes to come out heading towards Merlin. Merlin simply jumps out of the way, but the trail continues to follow Merlin. I'm still recovering my magic energy from being in the Land of Shadows, so I better conserve my dragon fire spells. But I can try to free Uther. Merlin hops around the phantom king and makes his way close to Uther and the phantom causing the phantom to halt his attack from hitting near him and jumps away from the mage.
Merlin unfreezes Uther's feet freeing him. "Thanks, old friend for the rescue." Merlin nods "don't mention it now what do you say we fight like old times I even brought back your old trusty sword." Merlin materializes the legendary sword Excalibur and hands it to Uther.
"I haven't used this sword in a very long time." Uther practice swings the sword getting into a battle stance with Merlin back to back.
"Well let's see if you still know how to wield it then." The mage jokingly says.
The two charge towards the phantom king creates an ice wall but Merlin shoots a fire ball melting it allowing Uther to go in for a swing. His swing is stopped by an ice sword but Merlin casts another fire spell forming a red circle underneath the phantom having him quickly jump back as flames burst out of the red circle. Landing into a trap with flames bursting out of the ground all around him forming a flame wall trapping the king. Without wasting time Uther charges up the sword by releasing the thirteen seals having the sword begin to glow an intense bright golden light.
"Uther! What are you doing your body is not use to that much magical power anymore? You're going to die if you go through with all thirteen seals being released!"
Uther looks at Merlin. "I have to make sure this phantom king dies for good for the sake of Camelot. I've done all I can in my lifetime I think it's time for Arthur to take over." The flame wall disappears. Uther then releases his attack at the phantom king. "Excalibur!" He yells out as he releases the surge of magical energy from the sword obliterating the phantom king into nothing. Uther then falls to the ground already taking his last breath before he is gone forever. Merlin walks up to his old friend and surrounds him with flower pedals. "Even though we both had a lot of disagreements I still respected and valued you as a friend." He says with a heartfelt smile. As the mage picks up the sword Excalibur and sends it back to where it came the castle crumbles to the ground as the giant dragon emerges from the ground sending a mighty roar shaking the whole kingdom.
"Looks like you went through with what I told you Seth. I hope you are ready for what comes next you and Arturia." Merlin creates a portal and steps inside it and leaves the crumbling kingdom.
Watching from a distance Seth and Arturia are watching the giant dragon burning the kingdom down with his mighty fire. "I failed Seth I should've stayed and helped my father. I couldn't even help protect the men that he sent with me and I couldn't find Morgan." Tears well up in Artuiras eyes.
I wrap my arms around her not really knowing what to say to her I stand there watching the kingdom fall by the flames. Remembering the last thing Merlin had said before I left to free Ignis.
"Once you release the dragon, he will destroy the kingdom and you will have to flee with Arturia out of the kingdom. Once you two head out of the kingdom you two will be on your own for a while. On your journeys together be sure to find the two sacred weapons the holy sword Excalibur and the legendary lance Rhongomynaid. The two are very powerful weapons that you will need for the aftermath after the fall of Camelot. The locations are in this book along with information on every creature I have come across on my journeys. Now go Seth it will be awhile, but our paths will cross again.
Sorry for the long wait guys but it took awhile to figure out how I wanted this chapter to go since I wanted to make it long and the fact that this is the end of the first half of the story the next chapter will be the beginning of the second half of this story and things will start to be a bit different. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.