I don't own Merlin.


Emrys...

Merlin was sharply awoken in the early hours of the morning and sat blinking in the dark. For a moment he thought he saw a large shape block out the stars and catch the light of the moon, but he looked again and there was no sign of it. He lay back down and sighed. Merlin rolled over and tried to remember what had woken him, but he couldn't. He was distracted by a faint tug at the back of his mind, trying to coax him towards...

Towards what? He couldn't tell, but it wouldn't let him get back to sleep. Sighing, he sat up again and wriggled his way out of the sleeping bag and picked his way towards his bag to find his books. He saw Arthur lying near the bags, without a sleeping bag, and was careful not to wake him when he pulled out the volume he was looking for. Moving away from other people, Merlin conjured a small light and began to flip through the pages, searching.

...

"Merlin...where's my armour?"

"I, uh, didn't bring it."

"What? You're telling me I'm supposed to talk to the people wearing these ridiculous clothes?"

Merlin glanced quickly at Arthur from where he was sitting, "You look great, don't worry. Besides, everyone would think you're insane if you wore armour."

"And what about when I've got to fight, hm?"

"Oh, you don't want armour for that, it just weighs you down. Talk to the soldiers, see if they've got something for you."

Arthur crossed his arms, "You're supposed to be helping me get ready."

Merlin looked up from his book, "I am."

"No, you're just sitting there, reading. In what way is that supposed to be helping me prepare?"

"I'm researching spells, it'll help us if we need to fight. Besides," Merlin turned a page, "I gave you your sword, didn't I?"

It was early afternoon, the remains of the armies could be seen slowly advancing on them from the distance, and Arthur was preparing to explain the plan to the people who had joined them. He and Merlin were near the centre of the rough camp in an area mostly surrounded by the backs of tents, and thus providing some distance from the crowds.

"I give up," Arthur sighed, "Have you at least found something useful for the battle?"

"It's not that kind of spell book. Something's been...off. I've felt it all day, it's as though something's coming."

"How perceptive of you, Merlin. It couldn't possibly have something to do with he approaching army, now could it?"

"No," Merlin muttered absently, "Not that..."

"Right, of course, that would be too obvious. How stupid of me."

"Your words."

Arthur swatted Merlin on the head.

"Ow! Hey!"

"Come on, now's as good a time as ever."

Merlin followed Arthur through a space between two tents, and out to face the crowd. Seeing the pair, their friends came over to stand next to them. Arthur cleared his throat and stepped forward. Some of those nearest turned to look, but most people didn't hear. He tried again, louder, to no avail. Merlin moved to stand behind Arthur and placed his hand on the king's shoulder, murmuring a single word under his breath. When Arthur spoke, his voice reverberated off every tent and shelter, echoing loudly enough for every person on the hill to hear.

"Hello. This-" Arthur paused at the volume of his own words before continuing, "This is an important day. All of you, each of you here, has come because you believe that this war can end. You are from opposing sides, from different perspectives, and yet you have all come here for the same cause: peace. Unfortunately for us, there are those who do not want this. Those to whom war brings prosperity or glory or even enjoyment; and those people are advancing on us now. I know how difficult it was for many of you to get here. It must have taken a great deal of courage and I recognize the danger it placed you in. That is why I am offering you the chance to leave. Follow Gaius here and find safety nearby. But for those of you who will, I ask you to help me fight back.

"None of you came here to fight, but that is what I am asking you to do. Because, if we fight, we fight not to better ourselves, but to show those who would challenge us that it is better to unite than to divide. To show them that, when you know what you are fighting for, and when you believe in it, you can achieve that which they, with their petty and self-serving way cannot hope for. I do not expect all of you to join me. I know many of you would rather leave for safety, and there is every reason to do that. But we outnumber them, and we can win!

"My name is Arthur Pendragon, and whether you believe that or not, I ask you, one last time, to fight. Because this time, this time, you know why you are fighting."

Merlin lifted his hand and stepped back from Arthur. In the quiet that followed the speech a slight rumble could be heard. Merlin looked at his friend and asked, "Why did you tell them who you are?"

"I thought it might make them listen. Sometimes it's easier to believe in a legend than a man."

The rumble, which had been drowned out by Arthur's words was growing louder, and the crowd turned to see what it was. Those who couldn't see were jostling others out of the way. The air seemed thicker to Merlin, and the tug he'd been feeling all day was suddenly much stronger. Using magic, Merlin's gaze shot past the mass of people and out over the scene below them. The armies had reached the foot of the hill.


Thanks for reading. Please review if you have any comments, or even if you don't. You can tell me your favourite colour if it means that I know people are reading this.