Disclaimer: I own my imagination, but nothing else
A/N Thank you for all the lovely reviews on the previous chapter, I am so sorry it took so long for me to update. Blame life I suppose! I hope you enjoy this chapter the main body of the battle will be in the next chapter, thanks again!
"I don't understand why we are taking orders from him." Gwaine muttered as the knights crossed the courtyard.
"We promised Merlin that we would trust him until this source is destroyed." Leon answered robotically.
"But why Leon?"
"Because I want what is best for Camelot, what will best serve its people. I can't just ignore something because it sounds impossible."
"But Leon, Gwaine is right. That doesn't explain why we are taking orders from him." Elyan said as he hurried to keep pace with Leon's determined stride.
"Look" Leon said grinding to a halt "He talked sense; he seems to have good intentions. His plans were good."
"But?"
"But nothing that is all there is too it."
"But you can't trust him, surely." Gwaine said angrily.
"I trust Merlin and I trust Gaius. Do you not?" Leon said harshly, Gwaine flinched.
"Of course I trust them, that is not the question. Even if Morgana has done some spell and made us forget that he was our king, we shouldn't just blindly follow him!"
"Gwaine, do you truly believe that he can't be a King? Did you hear him talk?" Percival rumbled the normally quiet man at last joining the conversation.
"Of course I did, but Leon! I take orders from you- not from him."
"I am ordering you to obey his orders."
"Gwaine…" Elyan warned the angry knight.
"Did you not feel it in there?" Leon said suddenly "Did he not feel familiar? I can't help but notice since Gaius informed us of Morgana's curse that my memories seem fuzzy. For example how did we meet Gwaine? Or us Elyan? I can't remember the battles we were in… everything is gone."
"But that doesn't prove anything…"
"Of course it does Gwaine!" Leon shouted "If we can't remember the events then it means our memory has been altered. It means Gwaine, that Morgana has erased all the memories we have of him."
"Leon is right, now that I think about it. I can't remember meeting him, or when I met you. Not properly." Elyan said soothingly.
"It doesn't mean we have to follow his orders! Even if he is a King!"
"Gwaine don't make this about something it is not. We are not following him because he is a King. We are following him because his plan and judgement are sound." Leon placed a calming hand on Gwaine.
"We don't need him." Gwaine said sullenly.
"I think we might. This is what is best for Camelot, what is best for the people. Even if it is all a lie his plan will only help us, not hinder."
"Fine, I will go along with this. But only because it's you who asked. Not because a noble has ordered me to."
"Thank you, the safety of Camelot is more important than any of our pride."
"Be safe" Elyan said solemnly as he clapped Gwaine on the shoulder. Gwaine only nodded as he headed off to the town, Percival giving Leon and Elyan a firm handshake before disappearing into the armoury.
"Think he will be ok?" Elyan asked.
"Of course he will be he's Gwaine." Leon replied warmly. "He just doesn't like being bossed around."
"As long as this Arthur isn't leading us for a fall." Elyan said quietly.
"Merlin do be careful." Gaius said as Merlin helped him pack his supplies.
"Of course Gaius, goes without saying." Merlin laughed.
"I'm serious."
"So am I." Merlin fumbled with the bottles in his hand before adding quietly "It's just the entire telling Arthur thing I'm not looking forward to."
"Can't you do it without him knowing?" Gaius asked worriedly, he had noticed the rigid posture of his ward and the worry lines on his brow. Merlin wasn't ready for this; he didn't want to do this. But he was trapped- pinned to the corner with no escape.
"Not this time I fear, I can only hope he takes it well."
"If this is your destiny, as you told me. Then there shall be nothing to fear, Arthur seems like a nice man. I'm sure he would accept you."
Merlin chuckled "Not my Arthur. My Arthur is a good man, but he has been poisoned against magic."
"Just be careful my boy." Gaius fretted.
"And you too, don't worry Gaius Morgana won't win if I can do anything about it."
With one last grin Merlin disappeared out of the door. Gaius was left with only his worry.
"Arthur is back in Camelot?"
"Yes Morgana, he knows what I did to the council. He banished me from Camelot."
Morgana twirled a strand of dark hair around her finger as she surveyed her army. He army now filled the entire valley and they would be continuing their march on Camelot in the morning. A bubble of pleasure rose inside her as she thought of how glorious it would be once Arthur was dead.
"Aggravaine, you have served me well…have you not?" Aggravaine stayed quiet, his eyes wide with fear as Morgana slowly stalked round his slightly quivering form. "You have been my loyal aide, you have fed me information from inside Camelot's walls. Your help has been most… crucial."
Aggravaine gulped in an attempt to dislodge the lump of fear in his throat as Morgana's sickly sweet voice filled the area. "You played your part well, but you are no longer any use to me." Morgana dropped the act her voice now dripping in venom, her eyes narrowed and cold as she slowly circled him. Like a vulture waiting to pounce.
"Morgana" gasped Aggravaine "I came to warn you… I am still of use Morgana. Have I not served you well?"
"Yes, my dear you have played your part. But you are of no use to me anymore." Before he could protest, before he could beg his innocence she pulled the decorative dagger from her belt, the one her dear brother gave her such a long time ago and plunged it into his throat.
The dagger ripped through his artery and airway and he fell to the floor, gasping and clutching his throat.
Morgana wiped her dagger on her dress and left him spluttering. A grin rose on her face, she would get to kill Arthur and destroy Camelot all in one go. She ignored Aggravaine's choking and re-joined her army.
Gwaine had managed to recruit thirty men; it was nothing really in comparison to Morgana's numbers. But it was something. The men had all brought their own weapons, bows and arrows worn and cracked from use, swords with chipped ends. He would make sure they would get the best that was left. They deserved that much at least.
Brave men willing to fight for their Kingdom, when they were treated by the vast majority of nobles as nothing more than peasants slaves- he couldn't help but feel proud of these strangers.
He ignored the guilt in his stomach that told him that several if not most would not be returning to their families.
"This is it?" Arthur gasped his eyes widening as he took in the beautiful sight before him.
"It's just a sword Arthur." Merlin said as he rolled his eyes. "Aren't you going to pull it out then?" He said with a sigh.
"How am I supposed to do that? It's stuck in rock!" Arthur exclaimed.
"Arthur, you are the true King of Albion. This sword was meant for you and you alone, only you can remove the sword from the stone."
"But I… I can't. Look Merlin I've trusted you so far, but I'm not going to make a fool of myself."
"If I have led you right so far, what makes you think I wouldn't now?" Merlin frowned worriedly. Arthur had to take the sword, it was his destiny. But more than that, Arthur would see it as proof. To Arthur it would be fully accepting his role.
"Merlin, I can't." Arthur stepped backwards quickly his eyes never moving from the golden sword stuck in the stone.
"Yes you can, I believe in you Arthur."
Arthur wet his lips and looked from Merlin to the sword. He gave himself a shake and stepped forward, his gait displaying none of the fear or insecurity he had just been feeling. Standing by the stone he firmly grasped the sword; he closed his eyes for the briefest of moments before giving the sword an enormous yank and then promptly toppling backwards with the sword firmly in his grasp. He gave a short cry of pain as he landed before staring in wonderment at his sword.
"It actually worked." Arthur said in surprise.
"Of course it did." Merlin rolled his eyes again. "So now we defeat the source."
"What, now?"
"No point in waiting, repeat again what your uncle said?"
"Something about blade of a dragon- which we now have and magic as pure as light." Arthur frowned as he stood up "But I already told you once Merlin, are you that much of an idiot that you forgot?"
"No, I just hoped there would be some other way." Merlin ran a trembling hand through his hair "Arthur we have to destroy this now. I wish there was some other way to do this, I wish I didn't have to tell you. But, Arthur I beg of you to listen and to trust me." Arthur gave a nod of assent. "Arthur, I have magic."
A/N Bit of a cliffie there! What do you think is going to happen next? Did you enjoy? I did lots of POVs here, it seemed necessary... hope it wasn't annoying.
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