Thank you for reading. Hope that you enjoy the newest chapter. It is in a similar style to the last one so I hope that's alright. I hoped to be on to the action by now, but there is a little to be set up first. I want to try and give each character a moment here and in the battle as there might not be time to do so later on. As we move towards the end of the whole story. If I forget anyone that you feel should get a moment then please let me now.
It took only took just over three days for the ships to begin inevitable move forward. Closer to the shore and too Camelot. Honestly Lancelot was surprised that it had taken them as long as that to make a move closer. From the second they had set out for the village by the cove he had expected to return and find the ships had landed and over taken the village. He knew that both he and Gwaine had felt a deep guilt at leaving the village undefended as they returned to Camelot. They could rationalise it all that they wanted to, that it was better to live to fight another day. Protect the many, not the few. They would come back with greater numbers, but the fact was they were leaving a small community that had no experience in battles or fighting to defend themselves.
When the returning knight first got sight of the ships still a ways out to sea he felt a greater sense of relief than he had expected. Looking at Percival and the four other knights that travelled with them he could see that they too felt that same relief. They quickly set up a camp by the shore and finally let those in the village know what was going on. There was a clear understandable hostility from the villages after that but they still made sure the knights had some food and wood to keep a fire going. After all they realised that their possible survival depended on the knights, they needed them alive. So they clenched their jaws to keep harsh words back and did what they could.
This thing veiled hostility hurt Percival the most. His uncle had lived and died in this village and the knight himself had grown up not far from here. It hurt to see the area that he had grown up in, that represented the things that he was willing to fight and possibly die to protect turning on him and his fellow knights. He understood why the villagers felt the way that they did, but that understanding did not make it hurt any less. Maybe if his uncle who had never married or had children still lived they would be able to bridge the dived. As it was all he could do was his job.
The longer this went on the knights had hoped that the frosty relationship with the locals would thaw, but it seemed to get worse. A tension began to take root in the group of knights as well that added more stress and unpleasantness of the whole situation. They where in no hurry to have to fight, but it was not in any of their natures to not take action. Clearly not being welcome made this harder as they wanted to get away from there was fast as they could.
So once they finally saw movement on the horizon It felt like a release of all of that tension and stress. Things were finally moving and now so could they. Wasting not a second they did just that. Leaving behind what they didn't need they quickly saddled their horses and made to return home. As they began to leave a older man from the village who had been returning to his home watched them begin to leave. He lifted his grey eyes to the grey sea and saw what the knights had seen. The ships that had been almost black dots in the distance where now a dark brown as they became clearer. Making eye contact with Lancelot he asked the young man a silent question. Lancelot answered with a nod.
The older man also didn't hesitate to move now that things had been put into motion. Turning from the departing knight he changed course and need to his neighbour house and not his own. knocking once didn't wait for an answer before he pushed the door open.
The village had discussed with the knights what they should do when the ships moved in. It had been decided that since the village was small most people had family that lived nearby, that they would as swiftly and subtly as possible pack what they needed and leave for somewhere they could stay. Those on the ships must be keeping watch on the shore and the village. They would notice if the whole village up and left suddenly. So the villages would have to be carful. Most had already packed what they need and left the buddle by their door to make a quick get away. One and a time they would soon begin to leave their homes for somewhere safer hoping they would not have to wait very long before they could return.
Whether it was down to Gwaine's charm or the fact that it seemed like the morally right thing to do or most like a mix of the two, was impossible to tell for sure. In the end that didn't really matter. What did matter was the result. That some of the druids in the camp had agreed to come to Camelot's aid and messages would be sent to the other camps telling them what was going on. Despite the knights and traveled to them and those back in Camelot reassuring themselves that of course the druids would come to their aid. After all it was for their own benefit as well. A great feeling of relief washed over everyone in the group. They had assumed that the druids would agree to their request, but it was not until then that they realised just how much they had feared the alternative. How much they needed their aid.
Of course only those that wished to, that did so freely would come to Camelot's aid. The group leaders would not order their followers to do anything. That was not the way of the druids. Being told that your way of life, that you yourself were wrong had the strange effect of making one rebel at the very idea of any kind of rules or regulations. Other than the basic rules of humanity. Which was most certainly not the effect that Uther had in mind when he put in place the blame on magic.
A few of the camp that did not wish to fight, but wanted to play a part in protecting the land they lived on, left to inform other camps what was going on. To spread the word. The two knights that had accompanied Gwaine and Eylan to the druid camp left with this group to spread the word to the larger villages that would be the most likely to offer aid themselves. Like the Druid leaders Arthur and Gwen were not going to order the mean of Camelot to fight. There might be a point, if they were unable to control the situation that they might have to do just that, but they wanted to hold back on that for as long as they could. Hoping that it wouldn't come to that.
Unlike almost everyone aware of the current situation Arthur found that trying to keep himself busy and distracting his mind did very little to quiet his racing mind. He tried to help the knights with preparations. Taking inventory of their arsenal of weapons, working with Leon and Luke on strategy, but he felt the unasked questions they all held back. Feeling guilty that he had no answers for them or himself he felt as if a weight was being pressed down on him and the only way to lessen this and feel like he could breath was to be by himself. He wished he had the answers that everyone needed. So the king spent most of his time in his chambers going over maps and records of Camelot's past battles. As well as guilt he began to feel fear grow in the back of his mind. Fear that by keeping his distance form everyone he was creating a dived that he might not be able to be closed in the future. Gwen was in the same position as he was as queen and Morgana too to a lesser extent. Yet he found he couldn't be around them with out feeling guilty and useless. Beyond that he feared he would lose the trust and respect of his people.
While many things played on his mind there was one question that kept nagging at him. He didn't dare speak it out loud because then things would most likely begin to move in a way that he could not backtrack from. Should he sent word to his father about what was happening.
when Nimueh attacked there had been little warning, little time to formulate a proper battle plan. No time to tell the old king that his kingdom was under attack. Under attack by someone that held Uther himself to blame. He was the one Nimueh truly wanted to hurt. In the end it was for the best that Uther was not informed of what was happening then. He would have wanted to return to the city and ended up finding himself outside of the city while it was under siege. His presence may have intensified Nimueh's anger and greater harm may have been done to the city. Things had worked out for them then, they might be as fortunate this time.
This time things were different, they had time to send out knights to request aid from the druids and villages and to be keep watch over the ships. To see the enemy coming before they attacked. So they also now had the time to send word to Uther about what was happening. That was if Arthur choose to do that, if he wanted to do that. As he was beginning to realise, he did not want to do that. He did not want to get his father involved with this. He couldn't tell why exactly. Rationally he knew that it would be better if he did tell him, but he just couldn't bring himself to do so. He hoped that whatever the reason was that he felt this way was not simply pride. Pride that he could handle this on his own. He knew that was not the cause, he was actively reaching out for aid, so rationally it couldn't be that. Deep down he knew that what was making him feel so strongly about the matter was that he didn't want to have his father come in and take over, like he was a child. Arthur tried to mediate this feeling. Making sure that his personal feelings didn't get in the way of what was the best for the kingdom. So far he felt that he was doing well at managing that, but the longer this dragged on the less sure he was that he could continue to manage this.
The thing that was causing Arthur the most pain was the distance he could feel growing between him and his wife of only a few months. He should be sharing the burden with her, but he couldn't bring himself to. Gwen had always been his rest bit. Being with her he was just Arthur, not a prince or a king. Even though he knew that he should, that he needed too and that Gwen wished it and was capable he still found himself holding back form being fully honest with her about the matters of ruling. This had been a part of their relationship from the time they drew closer, she had accepted it, but recently he thought he began to notice that she too was withholding the full truth of her feelings from him. Fortunately she and Morgana had become as close as they once had, she had someone that she could speak more freely with. Arthur himself of course had Merlin.
As if his man servant now adviser and confidant could somehow read his mind, which of course was impossible, There was a knock at the kings door. Then not even a second later the door was pushed open and Merlin entered the room. The tentativeness that would normally describe the taller mans actions in appearing in such a manger was no longer present. Since his promotion there was a marked change in Merlin. His clothes of course were different. While they were of a higher quality they were still of a simple and practical style. He also seemed to walk taller. Not afraid to take up space in the word. This was the same kind of change that had been visible in Gwen when she became queen. With Merlin however it seemed a greater change.
As Merlin entered the room Arthur turned from him to look back out the window. Merlin had just come from speaking with Gaius. While there was a good stock pile of medical herbs and equipment Gaius was worried that there was not going to be a way to transport these supplies put of the city when they were needed. Carpenters and stonemasons from the city were working on the problem now. Merlin knowing Arthur was finding it hard to quite his mind, thought that working on this problem may help. As he walked toward Arthur he explained this as he tried to will himself to say the things that he had felt bubbling up in the back of his throat for the last few days.
It did not take Morgana long to lose patience with Merlin avoiding her and only speaking to her with when he had to and in the fewest words possible. Now she did her best to avoid him as well. The look she gave him the other day when they passed each other in the corridor as she as going to speak with Arthur and Merlin was just leaving, was by now means the harshest look she had ever give him, but it cut deeper that before. For a reason that was unfattenable to him, Merlin felt that he could and should speak to Arthur about this, but he couldn't quit bring himself to.
Whatever Merlin was saying faded in to the background as he caught sight of Mordred and other new recruit engaging in a sword fight in the training grounds. Mordred was a little taller and more aggressive in his attacks then his opponent. He was also distracted. His mind was not on what he was going, it was in Avalon with Kara. This gave his opponent an advantage that he took fully advantage of when the time was right. As Mordred attacked he left an opening on his right, The sword stopped inched from making contact. Leon who watched the match called the victor. Shacking hands Mordred and the other knight moved to the side to let the next two begin their spare.
From the second that Morgan had told him where Kara was he wanted nothing more than to turn and run to her. What stopped him from giving in to this was the oath he had made to Camelot. He would not be the kind of man that would go back on something like that. She was safer where she was and it was best she stay there until things were settles here. Then he could go to her, Arthur he was sure would give him leave. Once they saw each other, spoke to each other again they would be able to sort everything out he was certain. The young knight just had to be patient. A part of him angry with Morgana for telling him when he could do nothing about it. She had been subtle but he was sure that she had hoped he would do as his instincts told him, turn and run. It came from love and care, but he did not like being manipulated however well intended. Morgana could best understand that.
The two queens watched from the corner of their eyes as the knights working with Luke got in some training before they all had to set off. The warlock stood a little to the side with Leon. A steady and easy stream of conversation flowing between them as the discussed battle strategy. Clear to the women despite the distance between them and the men. Morgana had to admit to herself that she was in fact pleasantly surprised by how easy the two men worked together. Leon she believed had the strongest negative views on magic of the knights of the round table. For reasons she could almost understand. It was not truly all that surprising the more she thought about it. They had a lot in common. Quite, thoughtful men that were capable of great loyalty. Magic was the great difference and it touched her more deeply than she would also never admit to see that dived being worn down.
Gwen had her head mostly down as she held a broad sword in a steady pair of hands as Morgana turned the handle of the grinder stone at a equally steady pace. Both of them, though they didn't show it were starting to feel the strain of their work beginning to weigh down their arms and slow them down. They had lost count of the number of swords they had sharpened long ago. The racks that had been wheeled outside where now filled with rows of newly sharpened swords seemed to be endless. The pile of swords still to be worked on never seemed to get any smaller either. Morgana had offered to do the task with some magic but Gwen was insistent.
Her sister in law didn't push the subjected. She had also not brought up the subject of the new queens pregnancy. If the other woman was not ready to speak about it, then Morgana was not going to force her. A growing fear had begun to grow in her however that when things began to happen, forces started to move then Gwen was going to insist on coming with them. Arthur would of course protest, but in the end he would acquiesce. He would always give in to his wife. He had yet to find a matter that he felt strongly enough about that it was worth being at odds with Gwen over. He had felt forced to disappoint her to many times already while they waited to be able to marry, he didn't want to do that anymore if he could help it. Of course keeping her and their unborn child safe was a matter he would not back down on and Gwen knew that. This was the reason Morgana thought Gwen was keeping silent. It was, but there was more to it as well. Everything seemed to unsteady right now, Gwen didn't trust in anything to last, to remain.
Morgana slowed the wheel down as Gwen finished with sharpening the latest sword. They had worked in mostly silence. Morgana trying to keep certain words from jump out of her throat. The longer it went on the harder it was to remain silent. She really didn't want to push Gwen when she was already dealing with so much uncertainty, but she knew that the topic had to be brought up soon or there would be no time to make the right choice.
"Gwen." Morgana tentatively said as if the queen's, her oldest friends name was a question.
The blacksmiths daughter, now queen placed the newly sharpened sword onto the nearest rack and turned back to Morgana. The other queen looked at her like she was approaching a startled horse. Like she didn't want to say anything or make any sudden moved that would frightened her off. confusion crossed her face as she tied to understand why Morgana was looking at her in such a way. Before she could ask this her attention was pulled to her left by a sound in the distance that was growing louder as she searched for its source. Morgana abended her question and turn too towards the direction the sound was coming from.
The sound of numerous horse galloping at a steady pace towards the stables was quickly reveled to be the cause of the growing noise. They could be heard long before they could be seen by anyone in the training grounds. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to watch the horses come into view as the sound reached its height. It was a difficult choice, which group they all most wanted to see . Some hoped it would be Gwaine and Eylan with the hoped for aid from the druids or Lancelot and Percival with news from the cove of the ships. The former meant they had a chance at winning the battle the latter meant they might not have to fight at all.
As the first horses and riders drew close enough to be recognised Gwen let out a huge sigh of relief at seeing Eylan. It was not a very hard choice for the young queen which group she most wished to see return, not that anyone would blame her. Seeing his sister he offered a smile as he dismounted his horse. Gwen and Morgana crossed the green grass to met the returning knights. Their fellow knights remained where they stood, giving the queens a chance to speak to them first. Nor pausing for a second Gwen wrapped her arms around Eylan's neck and pulled him into a tight embrace. Which caused some embarrassment for the young knight. Not that that stopped him returning his sisters embrace. Just caused him to pause for a few seconds, four, five at most. It was not until she saw him safe and well standing before her that she realised how nervous she had been for him.
Gwaine was not long after him in dismounting his horse and placing his feet once again on sold ground. Morgana hesitated for a second then moved forward placing a hand on the returning knights shoulder. Pulling him towards her she lightly kissed his check. She didn't know if she should have done that. Debated it in head until she moved. She regretted it slightly as she pulled back and meet his eyes. Gwaine smiled a faint smile, but didn't dwell on the chaste kiss. Read no more into it than she herself did. It was a gesture of relief from someone that cared about him, a friend that he was safe and judging from the smile he shot her as he pulled his horse to a stop when they first arrived, they had been successful in their mission.
Looking beyond the small group of five returning knights the women saw a only slight larger group of maybe eight or nine making their way towards them. Only two of this group rode on horseback. They travelled at a slower pace to remain with their kin.
"We didn't return empty handed." Gwaine said as Morgana moved forward to met the small group of druids now on the edge of the training grounds.
A familiar and welcome face smiled a tight smile, the best he could do as a greeting in such a situation as Morgana drew closer and they dismounted from their horse. When she reached him she did not hesitate this time to act. Wrapping her arms around his chest she felt reassured by his presence. Knowing that he was here, gave her hope for the future relationship between the druids and Camelot.
Thank you again for reading. Hope that you enjoyed it. As I have bored you all with before, I'm not very good at writing action, keeping track of all of the characters and making the action make sense and be interesting. Any advice that you have about this is very welcome. I would also appreciate any help with Merlin and Arthur's relationship. I've never been very interested in their dynamic and find it hard to write. I know that they are a important part of the story and are very popular so I want to do them well , but its difficult. I its not to bad and out of character.
As I've said I plan to finally finish this story this year. I just feel that I've lost a little focus and am struggling to work out each chapter. While I don't know for sure if I will take longer with the new chapter or not I may need to take a little more time to work it out sometimes. Just wanted to bring this up in case I take longer to update sometimes. It doesn't mean I've stopped writing or anything. I'm just taking a little extra time to make sure the chapters that go up are okay and are worth reading.
As always any comments, feedback or ideas that you have are very welcome and encouraged.