GUEST: Well, nope!
Alaia Skyhawk: Hahaha yep, that Creek... Well, we're drawing close to the ending, so... Perhaps even the next chapter! Anyways, I hope you enjoy this one - my computer was getting jumpy, we sort of had to rush it!
Hannah Lynn McDonald: OOooohhh I've done that before, a bad guy turning good... Yup, it does make sense! And oh, she has the most beautiful dresses! Goodness, yes! Yeah, I doubt Arthur's execution would ever go over well... in any reality... Merling. It sounds cute. Sort of like a baby bird... xD Oh how many times I had to edit Merling out of my Merlin fics.
MerlinMorgana1579: That has to be a new thing - pull a Mordred on somebody. A Flynn indeed...! And no need to worry, I believe that she always has that dark side, as does everyone - but in this reality, it won't take flight, most likely...
The Great Dragon: Oh thank you thank you! I'm glad! :D I was a bit rushed in my writing near the end of this chapter, so I apologize ahead of time... Anyways. YAY! *Grinning madly* VanillaJ and I both love your reviews, I think I can speak for the both of us... ;) :D Ooh, which oneshot?
Hasenpfeffer: Oohhh, well, I'm glad you happened across it! :D *Claps happily* And thank you for taking the time to review! Yep, he did dig his hole pretty deep...
Arthur paced the foor of his cell. The day was slowly passing. He'd heard no word from anyone. Still-he wouldn't give up hope. He would trust that Morgana and Gwen would come back, that they found help, and that he and Merlin would live to 'fight another day' as it were.
He wondered-if Morgana had found Flynn and Kalian, how exactly would they help. The prince had a feeling he knew-at least, he knew the kind of help they could expect from Flynn... the sorcerer hated Uther. A year ago, Arthur would have killed Flynn for the things he said-now? Now, he was realizing that he was actually correct. Uther was hateful, angry, and lost. Still... Arthur didn't want him to die.
Whatever happened, he would have to accept it as what it was-he simply hoped that the outcome would bring peace to Camelot.
"Merlin, if we... if the others don't come in time-there's something I want to say..."
Merlin looked out the window at the pyres, ignoring the sharp agony tearing through his chest. "No, you don't have to say anything, we're going to survive, they'll come. Besides, there's nothing you need to say -"
Arthur shook his heaad. "Merlin, shh... I want to say it. You're right-they'll be here, but I still need to say it." He paused to let the words come correctly. "I'm honored to you have you as my friend-I'm honored that you trust me... and thank you, Merlin, for everything."
"You're saying that to keep me washing your socks," Merlin joked, then sobered. "It's an honor to be by your side."
Arthur laughed quietly and shook his head. "No, I'm saying it because it's true. If we make it out alive though-you're still washing my socks."
Merlin looked through the other window without moving his head, still resting it against the wall next to the first window that saw the courtyard. "Wouldn't count on it," Merlin mumbled.
"I'm sure you wouldn't-but I didn't say you had the choice," Arthur replied, trying to keep their conversation light. Was this 'light'? It always seemed to come back to his socks-he snorted at the humorous thought.
Merlin laughed. He moved away from the window to where the back of his head rested against the grey wall, and he sat on the bed with one knee pulled towards his chest and an arm draped over it. "Yet you never seem to notice waiting a few weeks for it to happen."
Arthur wrinkled his nose. "I notice." He moved closer to Merlin's cell and glanced in at the young warlock. "From now on, I'll bring them by Gauis' quarters and leave them in your room-I'm sure they would be noticed much faster that way." He smiled and his eyes narrowed in a sarcastic, yet teasing grin.
Merlin snorted, "No doubt," he returned. "I'm surprised no one has mentioned it - you can all but smell it through your shoes," the warlock returned with a grin.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Hardly-you're just complaining because you have to deal with it." He was glad of the temporary teasing and light mood. It was far better than standing in silence.
Merlin gagged, covering his mouth with a hand, "You try washing them by hand, you would complain, too."
"Ah, yes. Maybe I would. But luckily, I have a servant to do it for me." He raised his eyebrows and smirked.
Morgana walked down the long hallway, having just come from Frey's house for Gwen and Kalian. She didn't miss the looks Gwen had shot her, but she wasn't going to explain what had happened, either. She had her hands clenched at her sides, long hair bouncing as she walked.
The others followed her to the dungeons. They all knew what it had come to. They were rescuing the prisoners-at whatever cost. It was the four of them against all the guards in Camelot.
Gwen wondered what would happen-if they would succeed, and if Arthur would become king. Kalian mostly focused on watching for any trouble... guards, nobles or otherwise, and Flynn focused on the only course of action that would end the slaughter of those with magic-Arthur had to become king, and to ensure that-Uther needed to die.
"How are we to get in?" Gwen questioned quietly, breaking the silence.
"The guards won't deny Uther's beloved ward," Morgana replied, "As for what will come after we get them out - I just suppose we must wait and see," with at least four of them with magic, and the fact that the knights were extremely loyal to Arthur - She knew they wouldn't be killed, but to escape without all of them being captured? Like she had told Gwen. They would get away however they could.
Gwen nodded, that was the best answer she would recieve for the time, and it was enough. She could see the guards at the stairwell that lead to the cells. She stayed back, letting Morgana speak to them.
Kalian and Flynn stayed back, not looking at the guards so as not to be recognized.
Morgana walked forward, smoothing out the grey-white material of her blouse and feeling the cold metal-like silver around her midsection. The guards looked up at her, and stood from the table they sat around. "Lady Morgana?" one asked, confusion written in his voice.
"I'm going to see Arthur," she replied, her voice growing soft and lady-like.
"But the king ordered no one to be let in."
"Yes, but surely you will let us," she waved to the ones behind her, "Go in? To say goodbye? They're are friends, I-" she faked a sorrowful hitch in her voice, "I want to speak with them one last time."
The guards looked torn, but finally one of them broke, "All right; just don't take to long."
"Thank you," Morgana smiled a gentle smile, green eyes shimmering. She started walking forward.
The others followed. Gwen was surprised that Morgana lied so easily. Kalian and Flynn simply marveled at the guards' stupidity. They reached the cells, and they could hear shuffling in the far cells-as well as a conversation about... socks?
Morgana had a brief moment of pause when they reached where Arthur and Merlin were. Arthur and her were truly siblings, half siblings. She moved forward again. "Arthur? Merlin?" she called to the two men, looking in through the darkness with searching eyes.
"Morgana?" it was Merlin's voice. She could hear many things in it; pain, relief, question.
There was the sound of someone trying to stand, then a whispered exclamation of discomfort. "Merlin? Are you all right?" she asked in concern.
"Yes," he replied, voice strained.
Arthur moved forward, gripping the bars and looking out. He'd never been so happy to see them-or the two sorcerers with them. He shook his head and spoke to Morgana. "No-he's not all right. Gaius helped him as much as he could, but he's not healed..."
Morgana nodded, her eyes adjusting to the darkness enough to see light blues staring back at her. She walked to the warlock's cell, "What was the..."
"Aspring," came Arthur's manservant's gasp, and the lock all but exploded, blue eyes switching to golden. She moved inside hastily, and whispered into her hand, a flame coming to life to light the room for her. She looked over the man who now kneeled on the floor with a palm against the ground to keep himself from pitching forward again. She crouched, keeping her feet underneath of her as she tried to help Merlin straighten up enough to see the wound.
He cringed as he obeyed, grimacing silently as she pulled up his shirt and peeled away the bandages.
She placed a hand over the rather disgusting looking wound, and felt Merlin gripping her wrist. He told her a healing spell, and she repeated it after him, her eyes starting to change.
In that moment, the door to the cells burst open and Uther came in. He gasped in shock as he came face to face with two sorcerers, a servant, and Morgana, in one of the cells, with the other sorcerer-not only that, but her hand glowed with magic, and she was speaking the the tongue of the old language.
"TREASON!" he bellowed, feeling his world coming crashing around him. "GAURDS! Seize the witch and the others!" he bellowed.
He'd not been thinking. He'd forgotten that he stood only feet away from two sorcerers. Kalian turned away without concern, heading to Arthur's cell and unlocking the door. Flynn focused on Uther.
"You-you all... conspired against me? You wanted to overthrow me and destroy Camelot?!" he shouted.
"No... you destroyed it with your hatred and lies," Flynn stated calmly.
Uther drew his sword and lunged toward Flynn. "You'll all pay with your lives, every one of you!"
Flynn easily sidestepped the king's mad lunge. He wanted to destroy Uther-but again, Merlin had been right; to kill Uther using magic would only prove him right. The second time Uther jumped toward him, sword forward, an angry look in his eyes, Flynn simply avoided him again, this time, tripping the king as he did so.
Uther fell, staggered, and tried to regain his balance. Flynn shoved him forward, and Uther fell, landing on his own sword-drawn to kill the others, but instead ending his own life.
Merlin quickly thanked Morgana, and struggled to stand. He felt her magic pulsing into the wound, healing it. She pulled her hand back, and he tugged his tunic down, all but running out of the cell.
Morgana didn't move, just stared at Uther, eyes void of anything even like 'care'. She breathed heavily, trying not to tip over, the healing spell taking energy out of her body.
Merlin's hand caught the cell door's frame, and he stood looking down at the dying Uther. Dying, choking, gasping.
Flynn looked down at Uther-who'd died at his own hand-more or less anyway. He watched as Arthur ran from his cell and knelt beside Uther's dying form.
"Father..." Arthur whispered.
"You have betrayed me... you... and Morgana, are nothing."
Arthur felt his heart break a little. Even as he lay dying, he would not take back his hatred. Arthur knew that it was his father's fault that he was dying. It was his own fault. His hatred caused this. "We didn't betray you."
"You did." the king gasped.
Arthur stayed silent this time, finding arguing pointless.
"Magic... is evil."
Arthur shook his head, but didn't speak. He'd seen what happened. It was Uther's anger, rage, and hate that had driven him to his own demise. Still, the young prince couldn't help the tears that built in blue eyes. He didn't want for his father to die, but he could already tell he was slipping away.
Emrys swallowed harshly, still standing in the doorway. He quietly moved, fingers fiddling with lose strings on the ends of his sleeves. He stood behind the prince, ducking his head and staying silent.
Arthur stayed beside his father as the man breathed his last. Truly though, the man dying wasn't his father-his father had died a very long time ago. The man dying beside him was the king of Camelot, and he was wrong.
Finally, Uther's heart stopped and his eyes slid closed. He breathed no more. Arthur found that he couldn't cry. The tears wouldn't come. He hated to say it, but he felt a relief. He didn't have to hide the truth anymore. But he would miss his father-his councel... that is-when he wasn't being hateful.
"We must... bury him," Arthur stated quietly, looking up at the others. As he turned, his eyes met Morgana's, then Gwen's, then Merlin's. He looked into Merlin's eyes. There was no hate there-no triumph. In fact, none of the sorcerer's looked triumphant. They looked like they'd won a battle that had already spilled to much blood. No one looked truly pleased-there was darkness in all eyes.
Merlin took a halting step forward. "Sire - " he was stopped as the guards trampled in, armor and weapons clanking noisily. They all stopped, looking down at the king. The corpse, the shell of the man. They all looked shocked and at a loss. The king was dead; there was no one left but Arthur. He was the last heir.
There were long seconds of silence and confusion, before they all looked to him - looked to him for leadership.
Arthur looked up, and finally stood. "The king... is dead." The guards looked completely at a loss. "He-his body must be prepared for... the funeral."
The guards didn't move.
"Go."
They instantly complied this time, seeing nothing else to do. Besides, they had never wanted the prince dead. They had all started to think that Uther had lost his mind-now that he was gone, Arthur would live. No one saw cause to oppose him.
They picked up Uther's body, and started to move back the way in which they had come.
Merlin finished his sentence in a quiet voice, "Your father was proud of you." Arthur had to believe it - because even if the man Uther had become, because of his hate, had disowned Arthur, somewhere inside was still the father who was indeed proud. His father, his true father, had loved him.
Arthur nodded. "I can only hope." He watched as the guards took away his father. He looked around the room at the people. Merlin, his servant and trusted friend. Morgana, the woman he'd grown up with and trusted. Gwen, the kindhearted servant who never hated a soul. Kalian and Flynn, sorcerers who'd both come to help him-despite him being the son of their enemy. He nodded to each and every one of them.
"I promise you all-things will change. A new age will come. Peace, rather than fear, will rule."