This chapter is really short, and I wasn't even sure if I should write it, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. I hope you like it too. :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize.

Chapter 14: Waiting

The heavy wooden doors of the room slammed shut and the bolt was placed across, holding the doors firmly locked from the inside. The large room was packed full with the remaining knights-many of them wounded-and men, women, and children from the Lower Town.

King Arthur stood leaning against a pillar, his breathing coming in heavy gasps. He held his right hand against his left arm, trying to stop the blood that flowed from the cut he had recieved from one of the women warriors. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the strength of his knights and the condition of the people.

Gaius and Gwen, along with several men and woman from the Lower Town, were kept busy moving from wounded to wounded. Arthur saw them wrapping a bandage around Perecival's leg where he had recieved a nasty burn courtasy of one of the many sorcerers outside the castle. Elyan was lying down on the floor, his eyes closed as he tried to sleep off the concussion he had gained when he dodged on the spells that had flown in the costly battle. Leon had, once again, managed to make it unscathed from the battle, save for a small cut along his right cheek.

Arthur scanned the room again, hoping he might have missed what he was looking for the first time. But his second scan came up negative. There was no sign of Merlin and Gwaine. Arthur sighed, knowing that they had been captured and were probably dead by now.

"You'll need a bandage for that arm." Gwen said quietly, coming up from beside him.

"I'll be fine." Arthur insisted. "Keep the bandage for one of the knights. We must be running short by now."

Gwen nodded. "We are, but you're wounded and that blood needs to be stopped."

Arthur reluctantly nodded and let go of his arm, letting his wife wrap a bandage tightly around the cut.

"You're lucky," she said as she tied the bandage off. "It's just a small cut, nothing serious at all."

Arthur nodded distractedly.

"They'll be all right." Gwen said, stepping in front of him and holding his hands in hers.

"Who will be?" Arthur asked, trying to play dumb.

"I know you're worried about Gwaine and Merlin." Gwen rubbed her thumb on the back of Arthur's hand in a comforting gesture. "They'll be all right. They always are."

She smiled softly and Arthur returned his smile, though it wasn't big and didn't last for long. He sighed and squeezed her hand before moving away to where Leon was standing beside Percival and Elyan.

"What do we do now, Sire?" Leon asked as Arthur joined their group.

"We have no choice but to wait and see what Morgana plans to do next." Arthur said, clearly not liking the idea in the least.

"What about the captive knights?" Percival asked then, hesitantly, added, "And Gwaine and Merlin?"

"We can't help them, not now at least." Remorse was eveident in Arthur's voice and regret was in his eyes as he continued. "We're to weak, and our first priority is to keep the people safe. We need to get them and the more seriously wounded knights out of here."

"I can have Sirs Felix, Rodney, and Horace lead the people through the secret passageway in the armoury." Leon said. "They've all been wounded and are unable to fight, but they can still walk and help the rest get through."

"Good," Arthur nodded. "Have them start..."

Whatever Arthur had been about to say was cut off as an explosion rang throughout the room and the heavy wooden doors blasted inwards, sending pieces of wood and debris across the room. People screamed and scattered, some went flying and crashed to the floor as the pieces of the door hit them.

Arthur shielded his eyes and turned his back, feeling splinters flying around and hitting him. When the debris finally settled, he turned back, drawing his sword as he did. What he saw caused his heart to skip a beat and his breath to catch in his throat.

Standing where the giant doors had been just seconds before stood Merlin, his hand outstretched and his eyes glowing gold.