A/N: Bit of a shorter chapter, but I couldn't really end it anywhere else. Enjoy!

Chapter 24: The Reckoning - part 1

As the night grew lighter, Arthur allowed himself to be relieved from watch duty. First, he made his way over to Leon's tent and told his captain to get the men ready to move out. They had a little less than an hour before sunrise, and he wanted to move out before then.

"Sire," Leon started, and then faltered. "Arthur," he said instead, making it clear he was speaking as a friend, rather than a captain. "What will you do when…" he trailed off. But Arthur knew what he meant. What would he do when he came face to face with Merlynn again?

Leon was the only one he'd confided in, with regards to his relationship with Merlynn. He'd needed someone to talk to, someone to give him advice, and the other knight had always been there, almost like an older brother. Inwardly, he snorted. That sounded like something Merlynn would say. She was always going on about 'choosing' you family, rather than just going by blood.

Arthur frowned in exasperation. He still couldn't get her out of his head, even now. She'd lied to him for two years! When was she supposed to have told him him, she'd asked. How about every single time he'd kissed her? Or one of the quiet times they'd spent in his chambers? Or any of the myriad of other times they'd spent just talking?

"I don't know," he admitted. "She lied to me, and for all I know, everything I felt was the result of a spell of some kind."

Leon looked down, pursing his lips.

"What?" Arthur asked.

The other knight hesitated for a moment, before seemingly coming to a decision. "Do you remember when the five Kings came to negotiate that peace treaty? Lady Vivian…"

Arthur winced. He remembered waking up in a tent, having just kissed Merlynn, and, for some reason, being in a fight to the death with King Olaf. And losing. "Yes, what of it?" he asked shortly.

"Well, I always wondered… You'd seemed to dislike Vivian immensely, I believe you called her a spoiled brat. And then all of a sudden, you fawned over her like she was the only girl in existence. And I remember Merlynn's face during the fight you had with Olaf. I thought… well, frankly, I thought you might have been under a spell. And then Merlynn went to see you in your tent, and you were back to yourself again."

Arthur thought back to that time, but could hardly remember a thing between the Kings arriving and waking up in that tent. He remembered going to Merlynn's room with a flower - a rose - and telling her he loved her. He also remembered her saying that she couldn't be his queen, and that she did not want to hold him back. He'd thought it nonsense at the time, after all, he loved her, so why not be with her? And then, even after they'd started their secret courtship, she'd tried to distance herself from him… Perhaps she wasn't after his throne after all.

"And there was that time with Lady Sophia, too," Leon went on, oblivious to Arthur's inner thoughts. "You definitely weren't yourself, then either."

No, he hadn't been. And Arthur couldn't remember much from that time either. "What is it, exactly, that you're saying?"

"Perhaps you could consider the possibility that she was telling the truth, and she never did put a spell on you," Leon said with a shrug.

Was it possible? Arthur thought back to everything he knew about Merlynn. Her devotion to that silly, far-too intelligent dog and her devastation when she'd sent it to her mother. The way she'd loved little Elizabeth from the moment they'd rescued her from that disease-ridden village. The way she'd been willing to drink poison for him, not once, but twice. What could she have possibly stood to gain? He'd always thought her selfless, and far too self-sacrificing, but… was that all an act, of was that just who she was?

Could it be that Merlynn, a sorceress - the most powerful one ever, if she was to be believed - was not evil?

/*/

Morgana's hands were tied. Literally.

Alvarr's men had not left her side for a moment, and Alvarr himself had put a spell on the ropes binding her, so that she couldn't access her magic. She vaguely recalled a spell to counteract something like that in the spellbook Merlynn had given her, but it wasn't something they'd practised yet, so Morgana didn't know what it was.

So, instead of freeing herself and sounding the alarm, Morgana was dragged along as Alvarr and a small group of men made their way inside to open the gate for Alvarr's woman to lead the troops into the city. All in all there were about a hundred men. Not enough to take a fortress like Camelot, but if they could just stroll through the gates… it would be a bloodbath.

As soon as they entered, Alvarr sent a few of his men to the gates to open the way, while he and Morgana's guards made their way into the castle proper. It didn't take them long to reach the Throne room, nor to subdue the two guards who stood there. The room itself had been set up for a council meeting, as it always was unless someone convened the court.

Uther stood at the head of the table, and had been in the middle of discussing something with one of the council members when Alvarr and his men had burst in. They quickly baricaded the doors, even as two more guards were subdued.

"What is the meaning of this?" Uther called out, his voice authoritative and strong. His eyes landed on Morgana only for a second, before seeking out Alvarr's again. Morgana tried not to be hurt by that.

"One would think even the mighty Uther would know when his kingdom's being invaded," Alvarr replied snidely. He took a step towards Morgana, and grabbed her arm, dragging her forwards. Her wrists screamed in pain as the rope pulled taut against her skin. But she wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction of crying out.

Uther sneered right back. "An invasion takes more than a few untrained men," he said, sounding almost bored. Most of the councilmen cowered in their seats, but not Uther. No, the King stood tall and proud, and for that Morgana sometimes hated the man, she could see the regality in him.

"My men are taking the city as we speak," Alvarr informed the King cheerfully. "And, before you decide to be an even greater fool than I already know you are, you take one step, and the Lady Morgana loses her pretty little head." The cold steel of a blade was pressed against her neck, and Morgana had to fight not to flinch back. Instead, she thought of Merlynn, and how her friend could stare down any evil without a thought. Of course, now that Morgana knew who Merlynn really was, that made sense.

"You won't get away with this, Alvarr," she hissed. In the silent chamber, the sound almost echoed.

A few of Alvarr's men chuckled at her pathetic threat. "Oh, look who's finally grown a backbone. Quite the change in attitude from yesterday," Alvarr said, and Morgana did flinch this time. The shame over her own selfish and childish actions was still fresh in her mind. "You know, Uther," it was only a matter of time before you lost. You see, you create enemies everywhere you go. Even in your own household, there are those who would see you gone."

Morgana didn't dare look up to see the look on Uther's face. Alvarr chuckled. "Oh don't be shy, my lady. After all, you were the one who stole the crystal, the one who lured Camelot's forces from behind its walls. And you showed us the secret entrance. We couldn't have done this without your cooperation."

"You lied to me!" she snapped, hiding her fear behind a veneer of anger. There was no talking her way out of this.

"Yes, I did," Alvarr replied, still as cheerful as ever. "Doesn't change the fact that you wanted your dear guardian dead," he said. The blade vanished from her throat, and for a moment, Morgana was confused. Was he going to kill her?

Then, she felt her wrists flare up in pain once again, as Alvarr slashed the magical ropes from her wrists. All her magic came flooding to the surface, and she collapsed to her knees, knowing her eyes would be glowing gold.

Several of the council members cried out, clearly shocked. Uther remained silent. Morgana risked a glance, but Uther's cold gaze was on Alvarr. He was ignoring her completely.

"Well, now that the air is cleared," Alvarr began, striding forwards. "Kill them all," he said. His men surged forwards, and Morgana could only watch as they killed the council members. Uther drew his sword - that man was always armed - but Alvarr was quicker. The sorcerer whispered a words and Uther flew backwards, crashing into his throne and dropping to the ground. But he wasn't out of the fight just yet. Faster than she thought a man of his age could move, he got up and chraged Alvarr again.

The sorcerer hadn't been expecting a counter attack so quickly, and was slow to retaliate. Uther dodged the spell thrown his way, and managed to swing his sword… only for it to slam against Alvarr's blade.

Morgana was frozen, kneeling on the floor as she was. She wanted to intervene, but her magic was limited to lighting candles. Everything else she could do was uncontrolled, and Merlynn had warned her more than enough about the dangers of performing uncontrolled magic, especially on people. She could kill everyone in this room if she poured too much magic into a spell.

A crash sounded outside the throne room, but Morgana paid it no heed as Alvarr and the King kept trading blows. A few times, Alvarr started a spell, only to be interrupted as Uther rained blows down on his sword. She'd sometimes wondered how Uther had managed to wage his Purge against magical folk, who were surely stronger? But seeing him now, the tactics he employed… she could see how he'd won that particular war.

But Uther wasn't as young as he'd been, and Alvarr was an excellent swordsman, and eventually, he tired. Alvarr twisted his sword around Uther's, disarming the man. In the same movement, he turned so that he stood behind the King, and thrust his sword forwards.

Morgana screamed as the tip of the sorcerer's sword protruded from Uther's chest.

"Long live the King," Alvar smirked, before he pushed Uther off his sword.

Finally, finally, Morgana found her legs again, and scrambled forwards. She hurried to Uther's side, but she was too late. She didn't need to be a physician to see that. She pulled his head into her lap, but didn't know what else to do. He was gasping, the sound grating, making Morgana simultaneously wish it would end, and hoping it never would.

Another crash, and the doors blew inwards.

Merlynn and Mordred stood there, the former oozing power. Vaguely, Morgana wondered how she had never seen or felt it before.

Mordred quickly scrambled to her side, evading Alvarr's men easily. His young face was grim. "I can slow the bleeding some, but…" he trailed off. There was no need to voice it, even Morgana knew he was dying.

A whispered spell and Uther's breathing eased somewhat. At least he'd be in less pain. Even though the man was dying, Uther still found the energy to glare at Mordred. Luckily, the boy knew he was safe, and ignored it.

Merlynn, meanwhile, had wordlessly thrown Alvarr's men against the walls, and was glaring furiously. "Alvarr!" she shouted. "This ends here!" Her voice, much like Uther's earlier, was full of power and commanded respect. She sounded like a Queen, instead of a servant.

"Emrys," Alvarr said. "So it begins."

A/N: Ooooh, exciting, right?

Don't worry, I'm a fan of happy endings, so it'll all work out. Two chapters (hopefully) to go! Plus maybe an epilogue. I'm not sure. But I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Thanks for reading, and please leave a review!