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 Eight: The End: Integrity's Might

Word Count: 1987

Percival looked around on his horse. He had no way of knowing where his friend had headed, but given the news of Camelot's fall and its prince's disappearance, he had the feeling that Lancelot had left to help his friends.

But it wouldn't have been so much trouble to leave a letter, surely?

Suddenly, a yell broke the air. "Scin scir!" With dread, he recognised the Old Tongue, used only for spells when spoken aloud in these days.

He looked around again, and, with relief, noted that there was no sign of the spell caster. It wasn't that he had anything against those with magic – just that this person did sound evil. He shuddered slightly, before hardening his nerves; no friend of Lancelot would flinch from a person's voice.

It was dawn when they finally reached the cave entrance Leon had been talking about. They were tired and hungry, but the thought of returning to Camelot to take it back kept them going.

Gwen picked her way down the rocky surface. As she reached the end, she looked back to see if Leon was there, but she was startled to find a strong arm around her, restraining her. She gasped in shock.

"Guinevere!" A smile of pure joy lit up his face. They immediately embraced each other, relieved that the other was okay after all the time it had been.

"Sir Leon." Arthur stepped forward and shook his comrade's hand firmly – he was glad to see a knight who had not fallen.

"We've been found!" Lancelot ran towards the others. Gwen broke away from the hug with Gwaine. "They're almost upon us! Gwen?" He paused for a moment then seemed to recollect the situation.

"Get Gaius," Arthur commanded Merlin, who left with a nod. "We need to get out of here! Run!" Merlin went back into the cave, while the others travelled away, each knowing where to head. Arthur waited until they all passed him before leaving himself.

"They've found us; we need to go!" Merlin urged Gaius.

"I will slow you down! It's Arthur you need to protect, not me."

"I won't leave you!"

"Camelot needs you!"

"Camelot needs the both of us. Go!" Merlin shouted. "I'll be right behind you." As Gaius left, Merlin went in deeper. He uncovered the hidden sword, than left the cave's confines.

Outside, he saw the faint shapes of Morgana's soldiers, and backed away from that path, glaring. He almost ran directly into a lone soldier who was suddenly on the path before him. He turned around, ducking from the first swipes, before raising Excalibur and fighting back. After a few parries and attacks, he was pushed backwards, and the sword sliced across the warrior's arm. Instant effect.

The knight suddenly exploded, in a magical burst of sparks and scraps of cloth. Smoke floated from where a dead man had once stood.

Percival watched from above with horror as he watched the prince lead a small line of allies, including Lancelot. He looked around and saw a perfect way of handling the warriors on the other side.

"LOOK OUT!" he shouted to the running band below.

"Who's that?" Arthur stopped, and, as he was in the lead, effectively stopped all of them. In front of his amazed eyes, a massive pile of rocks seemed to launch themselves from the cliff above.

"Don't know," Gwaine said, "But I'm liking him already." He grinned.

The rocks built up into a stone wall, and the soldiers were forced to retreat on the other side. Arthur looked up to where the rocks had came from, and an unfamiliar man stepped out.

Lancelot obviously recognised him, for he shouted out "Percival!" in joy.

"We need to hurry," Arthur said, glad, for he knew they could retreat now – the third person, one he suspected to be Integrity, had finally joined them. Both Percival and the group below walked backwards, looping around to meet each other.

"I take it that rock fall wasn't an accident?" Lancelot asked jokingly. He turned around to introduce the young fighter to the others. "This is Percival," he said, panting slightly, slapping him on the shoulder. "I'm guessing it was his strength that brought them down."

"Your Highness," Percival nodded respectfully to the prince, but was taken aback by his response.

"Arthur," he said informally, offering his hand.

Percival grinned, shaking the hand firmly. "Arthur it is."

"Why did you come?" Lancelot asked him, confused.

"You didn't say anything, just left at night with no explanation. When you didn't send word after a few days, I was worried."

"Besides," Arthur added. "We need him."

"You do?" Percival asked curiously.

"We need to move on – I'll explain to you at our next hideout – this way." He moved away from the forest, before Merlin interrupted.

"Arthur... do you know where you're going?"

Arthur paused, then turned to glare at Merlin, who smirked in response.

"I didn't think so. C'mon, everyone. It's this way." He set off in a different direction to Arthur, who could only follow.

"He was lucky to escape." Morgana marched briskly through the castle corridors, Morgause following behind.

"I'm sorry, sister."

"What can he do?" Morgana dismissed her apology. "Arthur has but a handful of men – we have an immortal army at our disposal." She boasted arrogantly.

"Yes, but whilst Arthur lives, the people will not yield," Morgause said thoughtfully.

"Then we will make them."

Percival liked every member in the group, he decided. They were all friendly, and loyal to the one they believed in – that was a quality he found important. Lancelot he knew already, Gwaine and Merlin with their sarcastic comments that could add humour to any situation, Gaius with his grandfatherly caring, Leon with his fierce kindness, Arthur with that friendliness he sometimes hid behind his pride and Gwen with her caring and acceptance for everyone.

The majority of them were soldiers, and they had detailed conversations of former battles, individual preferences and battle strategies. Merlin, Gaius and Gwen travelled ahead at this point, not bothering with unfamiliar terms, but, when the ancient ruins of the castle they were heading for came to view, Arthur moved to the front, reclaiming his authority. Merlin did not object, but he flashed a humoured smile, as if used to this behaviour which, Percival reckoned, he probably was.

Just inside the castle's entrance, they found torches, perfectly ready to be lit, which they were with a murmured words from Merlin. Leon didn't notice. Percival, who held no judgement on those with magic, didn't react, although Gwen, Arthur, and Gaius glanced at him, worried of his reaction. He smiled reassuringly, and they continued on their way, heading inside the fallen fort.

The first room they entered was thought by Percival to be the Great Hall – although now it was filled with various artefacts and curiosities, absolutely covered in cobwebs. To Merlin, it looked like the enchantment Lady Helen – Mary Collins – had placed upon the residents of Camelot. To Percival, it looked like a place that no one had entered in a very long time.

Gaius sat on the closest chair he could find, and Percival, seeing he was tired, gave him a cup of water. The old man thanked him, and he merely smile in response.

Arthur looked at the table Gaius was sitting at, and pulled away the cloth in confusion.

Its removal revealed an ornate table, perfectly round, carved with ancient letters the prince did not understand. His intuition told him that this was what the Dragon had been talking about, and he called Merlin over.

"Merlin... what does this say?"

Merlin left the fire, and came to Arthur.

"What does it say?" Arthur asked again, trailing his fingers over the embossed letters that seemed to hum.

"Here sits Compassion." Arthur and Merlin looked meaningfully at each other, before Arthur silently gestured to Gwen, who came over, curious. He held her hand, and sat her down, before moving to Gaius's place at the Round Table.

"Here sits Wisdom." Merlin read out loud. Arthur patted Gaius on the back, before moving on.

"Here sits Integrity."

"Percival," Arthur called. The young warrior sat upon the table silently.

"Here sits Honour," Merlin continued. Lancelot came to take his own place, and the two of them moved on.

"Here sits Duty."

"Elyan."

"Here sits Strength.

"Here sits Loyalty."

"And here sits Magic." Merlin took his own seat, and Leon stiffened. But at the look Arthur gave him, he reminded himself who it was, and all he must have done. He smiled reassuringly at Merlin to make up for his reaction and Merlin smiled warmly back.

"And here sits Courage?" Arthur asked.

"No," Merlin replied softly. "Here sits their King, Courage." Arthur's throat was overcome as all those around the table looked at him with devotion. He may have only had eight people there, but these were the eight people that meant the most. He swallowed loudly, before speaking to them, as they expected him to.

"This table was built by the ancient kings of Camelot," he began. "For a time and a person they knew were to come. They built a table they knew he would need, when he himself did not. They knew he would meet eight wonderful allies that would fight by his side until the end.

"They built this table for me... a Round Table afforded no one man any more importance than the other. It placed all those around it on an equal footing. They knew how I would feel about the eight around me today... I would lay my life down for any of you, and I trust you to do the same." He looked at Merlin, whom he knew had done so before. The warlock smiled slightly back, and Arthur continued on, encouraged that no one had called him a prat for expecting the ultimate sacrifice.

"Without each of you," he continued, "We would not be here. My father has languished in prison for too long. Tomorrow, I make my bid to rescue him," Arthur announced. "Are there any around this table that will join me?"

There was silence, but Lancelot stood up and broke it after a few moments. "You taught me the values of being a knight. The code by which a man should live his life. To fight with honour for justice, freedom and all that's good." He looked at Gwen, who looked down, not sure how to react. "I believe in the world that you will build," Lancelot concluded.

"Even though I was a commoner, a nobody..." Elyan began, standing up himself. "You were willing to lay your life down for me, Arthur. It is my duty to repay you."

Leon stood up. "I have fought alongside you many times. There's no one I'd rather die for. My loyalty to you will never waver." He threw a pointed look at Merlin, who grinned sheepishly.

"I think we've no chance," Gwaine began himself, not knowing about the army heading their way. "But my strength will be used for you." He stood up.

"My enemies are your enemies." Percival stood up. "May my own qualities, including the apparent integrity, be of use to you, in the battles against all those you must face."

Gaius joined those standing now. "If you need an old man, and perhaps his wisdom." Arthur smiled slightly at that.

"You know the answer," Gwen said, she too standing up. "May compassion be a light to return to Morgana."

Arthur looked around the table, tears threatening to fall. He realised that one person had not stood up yet. "Merlin?"

"No, I don't really fancy it," Merlin decided, grinning widely.

"You don't have a choice, Merlin."

"Okay, may magic help you, you know the deal." The two smiled and nodded at each other. "Besides, I have to lead this army," Merlin chuckled.

"What army?"

Wow, it's the end xD Took me ages... Hope you liked it, and an especially big thanks to those who stuck with me. And a virtual glomp to anyone who reviewed :3

The third instalment of the trilogy (the threequel :D Yes, I made that up) will be released soon. It details the battle and the aftermath, including a few deaths (but not of the Round Table) and will be released only when I have finished it – there were so many holes in this, and I want to make sure that doesn't happen again xD

In the meantime, a variety of one shots will be released – I have decided multi-chapters aren't to be released until they're finished.

I can't believe the series ended... I'm going to have to satisfy myself with fan fiction for a year xD

EDIT: LOL, I couldn't be bothered, so the story has lots of holes too. Hopefully, after the re write, this doesn't xD Still, planning to only re write the first few chapters of the sequel, The Fall of a Queen.

I still hope you liked this and reviewed too :3