Summary: Uther has sent Arthur and Merlin on a dangerous quest - retrieve the Cup of Life from the Druids, make sure neither Cenred nor Morgause get their hand on it... and make it out alive. As Gwaine joins them, will the unity of Courage, Strength and Magic be enough to complete the life-threatening mission? And what about the rest of the Round Table?

Details/Disclaimer: Merlin and anything from the series belong to the BBC. So does the original episode, The Coming of Arthur (both parts) on which this and the sequel of this story is based upon.This is merely my own version of events but I recommend watching the episodes first, as most of this makes sense only after watching them.

This is the second part of the trilogy The Rise and Fall of a Queen.

Enjoy!

Tazz~

The Rise of a Queen

Chapter Six: Compassion's Plan

Word Count: 1288

"Gerihtljc Me."

Merlin studied the small vial again. It hadn't changed since the day he had received it – it still looked like ordinary clean water.

"Fultumie me!" he murmured another spell, but still, it didn't change. He felt himself getting more and more tired. He didn't realise when he crossed the line between being awake and being asleep.

A small tinkling woke him up with a start. Horrified, he saw that he had dropped the small glass vial, and it had broken upon the rough stone floor.

He could only watch as the small amount of precious – though he didn't know why – water trickled away, reflecting silver –

What?

It didn't make sense for the water to be reflecting silver – no moonlight entered the system of caverns – in fact, the only light to see by was the few candles they had lit, confident that, due to Merlin's wards, their light would not be seen by those on the outside.

So Merlin watched the small trail which appeared to light its own way – he knew magic was involved, somehow. He found it pooling in between the rocks. On its surface he could see...

"Freya?"

"Ic i ondrence." The summoned water sloshed heavily through the now full water flask. "Thanks," Merlin gasped quietly, handing it back to Elyan.

"No... problem?"

"It's only been a day and yet Queen," he sneered at the wrongly placed title, "Morgana's patrols are everywhere. Looking for us, most probably. I only just lost them."

"None of them saw you come in here, did they?" Arthur asked, worried that they had been found.

"Of course not!" Merlin rolled his eyes. Still panting slightly, he moved into the cave, and took a seat. "Honestly, how much are we meant to have achieved by now?"

"A great deal, young warlock." He bolted upright, startled by the voice he hadn't heard in a while resound through his head. His mouth opened in shock, then lifted in joy.

"What is it, Merlin?" Gaius asked, concerned.

"Kilgharra's here," he replied breathlessly. "I called him last night, but he only just got here. And he wants to speak to me too. I better go outside to talk to him."

Gwen hurried to place the hot metal into a bucket of water, creating a great hiss of steam. The heat from metalworking seemed much more intense than before – most probably because she hadn't done it in so long. The small key-shaped mould rested on a table, slowly hardening.

She was quite pleased with all she had done earlier that day. She had renewed Morgana's trust for her – Gwen wasn't to know that the sisters had been spying on her and Leon's conversations and that Morgana knew of her plan – had Leon prepared with a plan, and had almost finished making a copy of the key to his cell, having successfully infiltrated Morgause's chambers to create the mould.

All was going to her plan – she also hadn't known Morgana had placed a powerful tracking spell in her drink – and the day was productive, as good as it could be, given the situation. Hopefully, tomorrow would be better – she would be seeing Arthur again.

She used that thought to keep her going throughout the night, preparing for the escape.

"I will take you to that lake, young warlock, but on one condition: afterwards, you will place it where none may wield it."

"I accept your condition, but what did you want to tell me?"

"Bring the young Pendragon out; he is a part of this." Merlin grumbled, re entering the cave. As soon as he passed a certain line, his complaining mumbles were unheard, and his form was unseen – they were very good wards, the Dragon noted.

Merlin returned after a minute with a very curious prince; Arthur hadn't seen the Dragon up close – at least, not on friendly terms. Before, it had just been yet another being of magic out to destroy Camelot – it was something that needed to be exterminated.

Now, he could truly appreciated the Dragon in all its scaly magnificence, and, although it was still intimidating, there was no malice, just the amusement of an old man faced with a young child's antics.

"Young prince, we meet at last."

"Without trying to kill each other," the prince amended. Kilgharra laughed in response.

"I was not to kill you – your destiny is far too great." Arthur was about to reply, but he was interrupted by Merlin.

"What did you need us for?"

"I have come to tell you that I have prepared the army of Emrys."

Both Arthur and Merlin gaped at that, their expressions of twin shock. The Dragon chuckled that booming laugh again.

"In two days time, they will be where the Old Castle stands – you are to go there tomorrow, once Loyalty, Integrity and Compassion join you, completing the group – and there, you will find something the Old Kings had built for the day of Arthur Pendragon's legendary reign. Merlin," he turned to the warlock, "We need to leave now." He got into a position that where Merlin would be able to climb onto his back. Snapping out of the daze that the Dragon's words had left him in, he scrambled up, after warning Arthur that the group should not leave the cave – they would be safe until Merlin returned.

Flight on Kilgharra's back was amazing, and Merlin would have whooped for pure exhilaration, had the situation not been dire. He asked more about the army – finding out that it was mostly made up of sorcerers, with the few soldiers, and also some battle plans – but other than that, said little. The forest spanned out below him, but he kept his eyes - tearing from the cold wind – fixed firmly on the horizon, looking for the mountains that were sure to come.

They did, after a few hours of riding Dragon back – the Dragon humorously informed him the he should get used to it, as he would spend the majority of the battle in the air - and landed in the picturesque seen that couldn't hold more sorrow for Merlin.

The darkness made it hard to see, and he stumbled often, making his way to the edge of the peaceful lake. He was overcome by grief for a moment, before steeling himself. A muttered word summoned a boat, and another one, after he had got in, cast him off. He leaned outwards eagerly, casting his eyes into the darkness.

The moon suddenly broke away from the clouds' clutches, bathing the entire scene in light. The lake was suddenly glistening silver, exactly like the water in the cave. It had such a shine that Merlin almost didn't notice the sword breaking its sparkling surface...

Excalibur left the water entirely, pointing to the heavens, held up by a disembodied arm.

Gwen carried a basket of laundry, the vital key held tight in her fingers. She stumbled, and lost her footing, an unusual show for a maid with suck experience. Two days before, and someone would have immediately rushed up to help, but her association with Morgana left people fearing her. She couldn't be more grateful.

A quick glance around to check no one was looking, and she slipped down the key, holding on to it with a small string to ensure it did not make a sound, down a small vent and lowered it down the cell wall, until...

Leon grasped the key tightly in his fingers, checking to see if any of the guards had seen the exchange. He kept it safely tied around his wrist, using the string to make sure it did not clatter. The plan had worked perfectly so far.

All that was left now was to escape.

Freya's scene is in Merlin Season Three Episode Thirteen – I couldn't really write it. Sorry ^^' (And to those who haven't seen it, BBC iPlayer has the latest episodes of Merlin :3

Starzinmieyes: I was planning to, really! In fact, they're right here! :D (It just the next day – the whole development of the Emrys army didn't really allow for a week – and it seemed too long for me too xD)

EDIT: Small note, this chapter takes place over two days.