I – I have no excuse for the lateness of this.
I would apologise but it's very hard to sound sincere on the internet.
Enjoy!
By that evening they were on the road to Camelot.
The magical army had joined with Arthur's men and they had all mixed in together so there was at least one sorcerer to every five non-magical men.
Emrys rode up front along with Arthur, Gwen, Gaius, Gwaine, Leon, Elyan and Percival. Gwaine had taken this opportunity to question Emrys on all things magical.
"Ok, ok I've got one," He said, "What would happen if a unicorn mated with a dragon?"
The surrounding knights sighed and shook their heads.
"How would- That's not even possible." Emrys answered.
"But if it was."
"But it's not."
"Hypothetically."
"Well you'd probably have a very vicious, fire breathing unicorn."
"Awesome..." Gwaine whispered and Emrys took this moment of distraction to ride away and talk to someone else.
"So you worked in the royal household, but not personally for me. You knew Merlin and were friends with him." Arthur said as Emrys joined him.
He turned to look at him.
"You're not George are you?" He guessed jokingly
"That's offensive! But no, do you really think that someone like George could be a sorcerer?"
"No, but then again I didn't think someone like Merlin could be a sorcerer."
"Really?"
"What do you mean?" Arthur frowned
"Have you thought nothing of him since he left? Think back on things that happened when he was around, is it really all that shocking?"
"Well not with hindsight no, but at the time I wouldn't have thought it. I - I just don't understand."
"Understand what?"
"Why he came to Camelot, why he stayed. Why he didn't tell me... There are so many things I want to ask him." Arthur lowered his head.
"We'll then maybe you should have asked him rather than sending him away."
"I was angry! And I didn't think he'd actually leave..."
"He had been dreading your reaction for years and then when he tells you he's banished on pain of death, can you blame him for leaving and not coming back? Besides, however your two used to act you were still his king, he couldn't disobey a direct order like that."
"As if he ever actually listened to my orders." Arthur scoffed
"Would you have wanted him to?"
Arthur didn't answer and they carried on riding in silence.
XXX
The army came to a halt on the crest of a hill looking over Camelot. For their journey all those with magic had worked to shroud the company with concealment charms so they had gone unnoticed by Morgana's scouts.
"I'm going to assume you have a plan." Gwaine said to Arthur and Emrys as the group began to set up camp.
"Not really." Emrys said cheerfully.
"What?" Arthur said, "You don't have a plan?"
"You're the king, aren't you meant to make plans."
"You're the sorcerer-"
"Warlock!"
"Whatever. Don't you have a plan?"
"I was thinking something along the lines of march in, fight enemy, defeat Morgana, restore rightful king and be home in time for tea."
"That's... Ambitious."
" I like it," Gwaine said, "simple and to the point."
"When is this supposed attack going to happen anyway? Because I can't help notice that we're setting up camp which isn't usually a sign of an impending attack."
"Sunrise." Emrys answered.
"Isn't that a bit..."
"Early." Gwaine finished.
"No, it's actually perfect timing. You'll see, just wait and do as I say." And with that he walked off.
"Aren't I the one meant to be giving the orders?" Arthur muttered.
"Well he did come up with the plan." Gwaine muttered.
"Oh shut up."
XXX
Later that evening Emrys made a short walk down to a nearby river, he had no real reason for doing it but after several years of living alone in the woods with little to know human company suddenly being surrounded by what felt like – and probably was – all of Camelot stuffed into one tiny little camp was a bit too much even for him.
So that was why he was here, sat on a log making patterns on the surface of the water with his fingertips.
Of course his peace didn't last for long.
"So am I actually going to get to hear this plan if yours or do we all just have to go along with it in the hope that you know what you're doing?" Arthur said as he sat down on an adjacent log, "Because really there is no proof that you have any sort of training for coming up with brilliant strategic plans that can claim back kingdoms."
"Proof?" Emrys replied quietly. "What would you need proof for?"
"Look, you obviously know who I am and what my views on magic are" Emrys raised an eyebrow "Were. I'm trying to trust you but you've got to give me something to go on."
Emrys slowly turned to look at him, "Just before dawn the dragons will attack the citadel causing panic among Morgana's men, your army barely knew how to deal with one dragon and army like hers is really no match for two. Then, just as the sun begins to rise we will gain the attentions of Morgana and her men by making them look up at us – all the men will be assembled on the top of this hill – when they look up the first rays of sunlight will begin to peek over the top of the hill. The men will momentarily be blinded giving us an excellent chance to attack."
"That's… actually not too bad." Arthur sounded mildly impressed. "Then what?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well what's the actual plan of attack?"
"Umm… Swords?"
"Swords."
"And other such pointy things that are useful in the taking of life during battle."
"I think the plan might need a bit more detail there..."
"Yeah… It's sort of a work in progress."
"Ok, so how about…"
Emrys never got his peace back. But he didn't mind too much as he sat up well into the night making plans, just like the old days.
XXX
A healing tent was set up on the top of the hill. Armour had been donned and weapons prepared. Spells were on the tips of tongues and magic was quivering anxiously in anticipation.
They were ready.
With a silent signal the dragons were flying up and over the city, two shadows moving through the darkness.
Then came the fire.
It rained down upon the citadel just as it had done once before, except this time it was worse because there were two dragons which makes more fire. Common sense, see? It's like two heads are better than one but with dragons. And fire.
Moving on.
Screams rose through the air and the group on the hill could see glimpses of the chaos below illuminated by the flames. It was as if it were raining, but the rain had been set on fire. In years to come people would sing songs about this moment.
Morgana could be seen out on the balcony of the castle watching as her world began to fall around her.
"How are you gonna get their attention?" Arthur muttered to Emrys.
Emrys smiled and looked behind them to where the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon. "Hey Morgana." He said, his voice magically amplified to carry across to the castle, everything halted, even the dragons paused in their attack, "Guess who.
The sun hit the city and the figures below could be seen to shield their eyes from the unexpected brightness.
The army charged.
