Song is "Hurt" by Christina Aguilera.
Athena had gotten dressed in record time, managing to sneak into the cells easily enough. She got there just in time to hear Merlin yell.
"He's going to destroy Camelot!"
"Who is, Merlin?"
She saw him jump, and look at her. He looked so relieved, it broke her heart a little.
"Cedric! He's being possessed by Cornelius Sigan! We have to stop him, you believe me right? You believe me?!" He was so desperate, so scared, she had no other choice.
"Yes, Merlin, I believe you, but how do you know thi-" Her words were cut off by a woman's scream.
"That sounded like Gwen It doesn't matter how you know, all we need is to get you out of here." She looked at the lock, and glared at it, mumbling a bit, and it slid away easily. Merlin looked at her, mildly impressed, but she grabbed him and shoved him out the door.
"Come on, hero! We don't have a lot of time!"
And with that, they were off.
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When they reached the courtyard, utter hell had broken loose.
"Are those bloody fucking gargoyles?" Merlin looked at her, in shock at her language, but then shook it off.
Just as they walked out, she witnessed something that made her heart nearly stop. She watched as he flew through the air, and she did the only thing she could think of. She ran. She ran as fast as she could, and she grabbed that idiot man's arm, pulling him out of the way before the beast could hit him again.
"That thing could have killed you!"
Arthur yelled, glaring at her.
"Why do you think I did what I did!? It was going to kill you! And it still might!" With those words, she tackled him to the ground, and when she felt the wind of the beast's wings against her, she did the only thing she could do. She yelled an encant, and a burst of golden light appeared above them, and the gargoyle simply bounced off, then flew away.
"Sorry, My lord." She said, realizing her breasts were practically pressed against his face.
"No, my pleasure." He grunted, in obvious pain.
She helped him up, and she could feel his eyes upon her as she helped him inside.
"I was the only thing I could do, Sire. I apologize." And with that, she left him to have his wounds tended to. She probably seemed like a cold hearted bitch, but seeing him in pain hurt her more than she'd ever admit.
"Athena." All he said was her name, and his breathing was heavy.
"Yes, Sire?"
"I…. Thank you. For saving me." She looked at him a second, then nodded, quickly walking away before she could look at the blood staining his chain mail any longer.
She found Merlin, and he was just above where the wounded were being tended to. She stood beside him, and watched Uther have a panic attack.
She listened to them argue, and now it was time for Athena to really see Arthur for who he was.
"There are people trapped in the drawbridge!" Said Arthur, raising his voice.
"It's too dangerous. It's suicide! I forbid you to go!" Yelled Uther.
Arthur turned towards his father, and looked him in the eye.
"It's my duty to Camelot. And to myself!"
With those words, he walked towards the door, before turning around and looking at the crowd, until he decided to look up. Merlin had the right mind to hide, but Athena stood there, looking at him. Her face was passive and cool, despite the single tear that slid down her face.
She nodded once, showing that she understood how important this was to him.
Uther looked between his son, and the woman he was so angry at being forced to marry. Uther didn't even care that Arthur wanted her permission to go, he just was glad Arthur had somebody to love.
Merlin and Athena snuck downstairs, and hid around a corner.
"Gaius! Psst, Gaius!" Whispered Merlin, managing to get his attention.
"What are you doing here?" Said Gaius angrily, lowering his voice so only they could hear.
"We have to help Arthur." Gaius looked at Athena apprehensively, and Merlin felt a bit guilty.
"She knows about me. We'll explain later."
Gaius looked utterly shocked, but he decided not to dwell on it now.
"Merlin, Sigans' power is far beyond yours." Said Gaius, looking extremely worried.
"Who said he'd be alone?" Athena spoke then, and she looked into Gaiuses eyes, her eyes flashing a deep, dangerous purple. Gaius looked scared, then understanding took over.
"It doesn't matter! Sigan is immortal, and you two are not! If You face him you will both be destroyed!"
"There has to be a way!"
Gaius looked apprehensive, then he seemed to give in.
"There is only one old enough who can help you."
"Who?" They both whispered.
"The Great Dragon."
Merlin started talking about how he used to visit him, but Athena was already off, sprinting down the corridors in search of the behemoth lizard. She could hear Merlin panting behind her, which made no sense in all honesty. She was quite a bit more heavy set than he.
When the reached the dragon, she said the first thing that popped into her mind.
"Oh, Kilgharrah, Great Dragon! I come, asking a favor of you!" She called into the cavernous abyss.
"Yes, My dear?" The Great Dragon replied, smiling a scaly smile.
"Merlin and I, we must save Camelot from Cornelius Sigan. Will you help us, Please?"
Kilgharrah did not know what it was about this girl, but he would help her. She was kind, she was smart. She would be the Once and Future Queen of Albion.
"To defeat Sigan, you will need a spell more powerful than either you or Merlin know."
"We have to try, dammit!" The emotion that filled her words caused the roof to shake, and she tried to calm down.
"Please, Kilgharrah. I'm begging you."
"Very well. But you must give me something in return." She wasn't sure about the glint in the dragon's eyes, but she couldn't stop herself.
"What? What do you need, Kilgharrah?"
"A promise."
"A promise?" Athena said worriedly. She looked at the Dragon with hesitation in her eyes.
"That you, and Merlin will one day free me."
It was at this point Merlin stepped up.
"Never! You think of only yourself!"
"Merlin! Shut up!" She looked at him, and the rocks above their heads had started to crumble a bit. She looked back at the Dragon, and asked him a simple question.
"If I release you, what will you do?"
"That is none of your concern."
"It is all of my concern." She retorted, and Kilgharrah held back a chuckle. She was feisty, to say the least. Must be the red hair.
"Either way, you must agree, or Camelot will fall."
The rocks started falling again, but this time with no help from Athena.
"We promise, I swear to the gods above, we promise! Now please, give us the spell!" She said, begging almost.
"Close your eyes, and open your mind." Said the Dragon, and they both obeyed. She cleared her kind of all thought, a trick she had learned from her father.
She felt a cool breath against her body, and suddenly knowledge filled her mind, it was absolutely amazing. When the sensation stopped, and Merlin and Athena looked at each other.
She saw his eyes flash gold, and he saw hers lavender.
"Few men have been ever been gifted this knowledge, and never before a woman. Use it wisely."
"I will." They stated this in unison, and she noticed Merlin stumble a bit.
"You made a promise, young sorcerers. And one day, I shall keep you to it.
Merlin just glared at him, and left. Athena looked at him, and bowed, whispering quietly.
"I promise to get you out of here one day, Kilgharrah. Thank you."
These words were said, before she was sprinting up the stairs after Merlin.
But they were too late.
The second they had gotten outside, they were forced to witness a gargoyle tearing into Arthurs arm. Athena could feel so much pent up rage, so much anger at herself, at Arthur, at Uther, that she couldn't take it anymore.
"Abstulī!" She screamed, watching the gargoyle burst into dust.
"Go find him! Go find that god damned sorcerer! NOW, MERLIN!"
Merlin obeyed her, shocked at the strength of her emotions. It was at that moment he knew she would be the greatest queen the world had ever seen.
Athena sat over Arthur, trying to get him to wake up. Wake up, damnit!
Nothing she was doing was working, and she was angry, so she did the only thing she knew. She sang. She sobbed, and the doors opened, and all Uther could see was a faint lavender light shining from his son and his son's betrothed. All he could do was stand there and listen, and everyone that was in the room being tended to, went silent, listening to the heartbroken song. Piano music seemed to come from the air, and everyone looked around for the source, but they could find none.
Seems like it was yesterday when I saw your face
You told me how proud you were but I walked away
If only I knew what I know today
Ooh ooh
Moments flashed through her mind of the months she had been at Camelot. Of how he had complimented her, and she had been petty and left. Of how many times she had purposefully hurt his pride, just to save her own.
I would hold you in my arms!
I would take the pain away!
Thank you for all you've done!
Forgive all your mistakes!
She held his head in her lap, and she could feel the tears start. She didn't even notice that with every line she sang, the lavender light grew brighter around them. She didn't notice the King standing fifteen feet behind her, with a cautious hand on his sword hilt.
There's nothing I wouldn't do,
To hear your voice again.
Sometimes I wanna call for you, but I know you won't be there!
Oh, I'm sorry for blaming you for everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you
Some days I feel broke inside but I won't admit
Sometimes I just wanna hide 'cause it's you I miss
And it's so hard to say goodbye when it comes to this, ooh, whoa
King Uther walked up slowly behind the girl, and silently unsheathed his sword.
The hand she had pressed against the Princes neck, slowly felt his pulse slipping away, until it finally stopped.
She started sobbing, but her voice was still strong, and the lavender light was close to blinding.
Would you tell me I was wrong?
Would you help me understand?
Are you looking down upon me?
Are you proud of who I am?
There's nothing I wouldn't do
To have just one more chance
To look into your eyes and see you looking back
Oh, I'm sorry for blaming you for everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself, oh, oh, oh.
If I had just one more day
I would tell you how much that I've missed you since you've been away
Oh, it's dangerous
It's so out of line
To try and turn back time
King Uther lifted his sword, and there was a gasp from the crowd inside. Merlin appeared around a corner, and saw what was about to happen.
"NO!"
Everything was set in slow motion, it seemed, except the pain filled lyrics leaving Athena's lips.
I'm sorry for blaming you for everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you…
"I'm sorry." Athena whispered, a broken sob racking her body, and her tears falling upon Arthur's face.
Everyone gasped or looked away as King Uther lowered his sword, and the light from Athena's song finally became blinding.