Merlin and Katie didn't speak for the rest of the day, in fact she would hardly look at him. She felt embarrassed and stupid, Merlin felt hurt and like he had been stabbed. Katie had promised she wouldn't hurt him and although she hated to admit it, she had already broken it.

That night Arthur called for a meeting with all of the villagers. He was trying to raise morale. Gwen stood forward saying that the women should be able to fight. Katie saw something in the look Arthur gave the servant and wondered what it could mean. To Katie's surprise he agreed that the women could fight. "It is your village…" She blanked out, her gaze moving to Merlin's bright face. "We fight for your freedom! We fight for Ealdore!" Arthur cried awakening her.

"Ealdore! Ealdore!" Came a chant. Katie joined in but looked at Will. He was sat in the shadows, brooding and angry.

Katie didn't immediately go to bed, she wished to help Gwen and Morgana finish the swords. After they could not see their hands in front of their faces they decided to retire to bed.

00000

Katie and Merlin were laughing and talking as they rode down a long and winding path. Except it wasn't Merlin see could see, it was Arthur. Arthur's face vanished and Merlin's took his place. They rode into a brightly lit glade and Arthur was stood there, surrounded by his guards. He pointed at Merlin and shouted "Warlock!"

Suddenly, Merlin was grabbed by the guards. She tried to reach for his outstretched hands but Katie was stuck to the spot. He was pushed to the ground in front of Arthur and Katie tried to push Arthur away but she couldn't remember how to use magic.

"Katie!" The warlock cried and Arthur looked at the girl, except he was now Uther.

"He will be punished." He growled, grinning sadistically and pulling up his sword. Just before he decapitated Merlin, Katie woke up.

00000

Katie was breathing heavily and sweating badly, when she awoke. She sat up quickly and threw off her covers. She walked towards Merlin's bedside and there he was breathing heavily and obviously distressed.

Katie put her hand on his arm and he immediately calmed down. "Shh." She whispered.

The girl watched the boy and felt awful. It's better for him. Arthur won't be King for many years, nothing can happen.

When Katie had told Merlin that she had done something she would regret, she hadn't meant she regretted kissing him. In fact it was one of the best and the most real kiss she had ever had, and she had kissed many a man. On the road sometimes, using force is not the best idea and being a woman had it's advantages.

What she had meant was, that she regretted making him believe that their relationship could be in anyway possible. To add to all that, the force of her feelings towards him terrified her. She knew she had to tell him but she couldn't bring herself to do it, how could he possibly understand?

She turned to look at Arthur, he looked positively peaceful in his sleep. She shook her head and Katie looked out of the window, it was almost dawn. She grabbed a dress, her unmentionables and her sword. She bathed in a river not far from the village, enjoying the freezing cold water, it made her feel alive. She had a lot of time to think and she got dressed before walking back to the village for some last minute practise.

The village started stirring after a while and Will went to find her. Katie was furiously attacking some invisible being. "You promised!" He shouted over her grunts and yells.

She stopped but did not reply.

"You promised you wouldn't hurt him."

Katie didn't know what to say. "What would you have me do? Pretend that we can be together? I'm sorry but it would only hurt him more if Uther found out about us."

"So you do like him?"

They stared at one another for a while. Neither said anything. "That does not matter anymore. What matters is that his mind stays clear of me." Katie turned away and looked at his house.

"Like that's ever going to happen." Will grumbled.

"We have bigger things on our plates than my relationship with Merlin."

"So you do have a relationship with him." Will said mischievously.

"Yes, friendship." Katie replied, sighing.

Later on she was looking over her armour, she had changed into a t-shirt and trousers. She was about to put it on when she caught sight of Hunith. The woman had nothing. Katie sighed and turned to the old woman. "Do you have any armour?"

"I shall be fine, dear." She smiled.

No, then. "Here, take mine."

"What? No, I couldn't." Hunith smiled. Merlin stood in the doorway of his house, he was about to sort out Arthur's armour when he had heard his mother so he listened in instead.

"Please, I don't need the armour. I have a lot of experience in battle and I have many means of defence. You don't even have a real weapon." Katie replied kindly.

"I can't take it."

"Take a part of it then. Please, I'll spread the rest around the village. I have more in the castle."

Hunith looked over the armour and Katie picked up the chain mail. "Please, I insist. I don't think Merlin would ever forgive me if something happened to you. And he needs armour of his own."

"You really care for him, don't you?" Hunith asked, not expecting an answer. Merlin rested his head against the doorframe and sighed.

"I do." He immediately stood up straight and Hunith grinned widely. "He is a very dear friend. But Uther wouldn't even like us to be friends, I can't risk anything happening to your son." Katie smiled honestly.

The girl helped the woman put on the chain mail. "I never expected you do all this for us." Hunith was overwhelmed by Katie's feelings for her son and her generosity.

"I didn't either. But your son has changed me, he is a very good man and that is why I can't do anything to threaten his life or, in fact, his good nature." Katie smiled sadly and grabbed everything but her helmet. "I better give this stuff out."

Merlin hid as Katie rushed past. She didn't know why she had told Hunith everything she had. She guessed it was because Hunith was Merlin's mother and in some way she was telling him.

Merlin walked into the house and grabbed Arthur's armour. "Did you he-"

"Everything." He replied, cutting off his mother.

Katie gave out pieces of armour and found Oliver, shaking nervously.

"Here." Katie handed him the last piece of armour she was willing to give out. "I know it's not much, but it's better than nothing."

It was the armour for over the shoulders. "Might stop you from swinging your sword back so far."

Oliver bowed low and Katie turned around and walked back to the house. She looked on the table, where she had left her prize possession. "Hunith? Where is my helmet?" She asked calmly.

"Sorry, dear."

"My helmet, where is it?" She demanded.

"Merlin took it."

"Where is he?"

"I'm sorry I don't-" Before Hunith could finish, Katie left to try and find the young warlock, imagining ripping off his head.

Please review and I will promise to update asap. :D