The castle was in a way scarce of any natural human life. The walls were stained with blood, the grand hall empty of all void, even air, the halls too silent save the moans of the wounded. However, there were those that did live or were living to a point of certain death. Oh, how they fought! Side sweeps, parries, complicated acrobats, their swords cutting there unseen and unheard of opponents in half.

"Hurry Arthur in here!" Merlin the warlock yelled in a loud whisper. He halued his sowrd to the ground with a dull clank and chanted a low mummer of words that could only be a spell. Runes danced in front of his vision and with a snap of his heated wrist, a wall of sliver light jumped into existences. The women behind him held open the door and the warlock pulled the king through.

The pair made to hurry as they barred the oak door with anything they could find and grimaced when they found there friend sir Leon smashed head first against the wall. Arthur held Gwen his beloved wife in his arms as she finally let out her tears. He looked to Merlin, his face older then he was supposed to be.

"What do we do know, Merlin?" Arthur asked his friend.

Merlin in answer looked out the iron-clad windows. He could see flames and death all around. He had felt it with him when the gate fell and his friends were slain. Of course this would never happen had he had not so foolishly left open the portal to Avalon. He should hand never trusted the fey, not yet. Wiping off spittle of blood he sighed.

They had fought long and hard. They were weak and could not possibly take any more of this. Arthur would die and Camelot would become myth.

"I don't know, Arthur. I am worn and any spell would only feed the fey's power. The gates have fallen and I feel there is no hope."

Arthur carefully sat Gwen down on a chair with a nice fine rip and put a hand on Merlin's shoulder. He looked him in the eyes and in that glance he could see al the years, all the adventures the two had shared, since they first meet.

"Did you not tell me there is always hope? We have to get through this. Because we are meant to win, if not out of victory then to show others there is always hope, Merlin. As long as you and Gwen are by my side nothing else matters."

Gwen gave a half sob, ran to the other two, and hugged them. She pulled back and smiled, "we can do this Merlin. We have been in rougher spots before."

Merlin smiled, "then we need a plan."

Just then, the door gave a loud moan and it exploded. Arthur with a quick move pushed Gwen behind him and threw a piece of sharp something to her. He watched as Merlin ran head long into the pile of fey coming through and slashed half of them with a small sword he had kept on him. Arthur joined the fight with him. Cutting the head off the first fey he moved onto the other. With a kick, he knocked a fairy turned human down. It growled and managed to draw a claw into him and draw blood; Arthur yelled and brought his sword down but was blocked by another. He gasped as a massive sized creature with a ruthful grinning mouth smiled at him; with its fist, it gasped his neck.

His life glowing dimmer by the second as he tried to breath but could not, all he could do was watch his friend and wife suffer at the fey's hands as they dwindled down their energy. He was going to die. Die and be gone forever and his friends tortured….

Ashhhhh

Fire.

It charred and brined everything save for Arthur. He watched as the creature that held him turned to ash and dropped to the ground. The room grew so hot he had to block his face when his feet touched the ground. As it cooled, he raised his head up to see a slim dragon.

Merlin's dragon.

It whipped his tail and sent those that weren't burn out the window with a clash. It roared once as Arthur ducked under it and helped Gwen up. She smiled and looked to the dragon in amazement. She went to go look at Merlin in question but them man was gone from her side. She looked to the floor and saw him doubled over and breathing hard.

The dragon had noticed at the same time and went over to him. With a few garbld words exchanged the dragon laid a talon on Merlin's head. The talon grew with light and merlin shudder and pulsated with light once. He drew a long breath and his skin was back to normal. He looked at the dragon and bowed his head in thanks.

"How did you know to come, dragon?" Arthur asked as he gave Merlin a once over look to see if he was okay.

The dragon growled in his throat then spoke. The other's- apart from Merlin- were surprised they could understand him in their heads.

"my dear king, not all is lost in darkness. You were born to rule and shall rule. I knew to come because it was foreseen and I could fell the distress in the warlock that is bound to me. I had in turn saved the kingdom's life. The fey are in a sense no more."

Merlin smiled, "and you said you were not going to help me no more."

The dragon seemed to shrug, " I didn't help you, Merlin. I am bound to you there is a difference. But you are welcome all the same."

"Yes, thank you," Arthur said to the dragon and to Merlin. He looked out the window and then to the dead pile at the courtyards, then to the room. It seemed all was lost even if they had won.

Merlin as if reading his thoughts gave a cough and pointed to the window. On the skyline there was a brilliant light of orange and gold. The sun.

"Remember Arthur, there is always hope for you and others when you need it. It comes not from sword nor magic but from family and friends. Light comes eventually in the darkest hour."

Arthur smiled then. The rest were silent.

"and may that light stay long to help us reclaim and build what is ours.

please give a couple seonds of your time and give a nice review to see hoe i did. i expect flames if they are not to harsh too!