"Alright" Arthur whispered once they were inside, "Percival, Lancelot, Gwaine and Elyan you do your best to free as many prisoners as possible and find my father. Merlin and I are going after Morgana and the cup, Leon you cover us"
They add gave a silent nod and ducked into the belly of the castle. Merlin and Arthur ran through the corridors, Leon just behind them, trying to figure out where Morgana would keep the source of the enchantment. At first Merlin thought perhaps the crypts, that is where she kept the staff the raised the skeletons after all. However when they began to run the warlock was almost knocked over by a wave of powerful magic, it left him gasping.
"Merlin?"
"I can sense the cup Arthur" Merlin replied smoothly, "That way, on the floor above us"
"Sires!" Leon yelled, bring the large platoon of warriors to their attention, large platoon of immortal warriors. The warning bell rang out, seems the others had started to make a fuss in the dungeon.
"You two to your best to defend and feed them towards me!" Arthur yelled drawing his sword; he smirked as he sliced through the first man who exploded into fire and ash. Being immortal had made these men cocky, they no longer defended, why would they? Though, once then men saw one of the princes had the ability to kill them they became formidable once more, Arthur narrowly dodged a strike at his head, the sharp blade left a deep cut on his cheek. However he didn't even register it, he simply swung his sword, and the man burst into flames. Soon there were only three men left, one of which Leon managed to throw out a window, the fall wouldn't kill him of course but at least he was out of the way. The knight gave Arthur a nod and duck around the corner to see if there were more enemies on the way. Arthur killed his opponent just in time to hear a cry of pain from behind him. Merlin!
The younger prince was clutching his side, Arthur could tell from the angle that his brother had barley dodged a stab and now a large amount of blood was soaking through his ripped chainmail. Thank god for chainmail or he would have been dead by now. Seeing red for a moment, Arthur stabbed the man who had hurt his brother right through the chest, another explosion of ash. With the heat of battle gone Merlin dropped his sword and fell, feeling his heart clench Arthur gathered him up in his arms, pressing his own hands against the wound.
"Merlin!"
"Arthur?" Merlin blinked for a few seconds and bought his fingers to the side of his brother's face, "You're bleeding"
"I think you need to work out your priorities Merlin" Arthur smiled slightly with worry helping Merlin to sit up, "We need to get your out f here"
"No, I can still fight" His eyes glowed yellow for a few seconds, hand over the wound, "hegstæf æðeling, angsumnes"
The wound stopped weeping blood almost immediately and Merlin got to his feet as easily as he would without a huge gash in his side, but he stumbled as he did.
"I can't replace the blood I've lost" He muttered, "But I've stopped the blood low and numbed the pain for now"
"Merlin-"
"I'm not leaving!" He snapped, the argument was stopped there as Leon returned, the rest of the knights in tow and Uther. They all looked out of breath.
"Father!" Both princes cried
"Arthur, Merlin, thank god" Uther breathed, leaning heavily on his knees.
"We need to move, we freed as many as we could but the guards are coming!" Elyan announced. Arthur nodded, looking to Merlin to lead the way to the cup.
They ran, the sounds of immortal fighters footsteps gaining on them. Up the winding staircase until Merlin could feel the cups power radiating from behind a thick wooden door. Why were there no guards? They must of left their post to help when they heard the warning bells.
"We will defend you from out here" Percival yelled, "Go!"
Feeling bad about leaving their new friends Arthur nodded and ducked into the room, Lancelot, Merlin and Uther joined him before bolting the doors shut. Leaving Gwaine, Percival, Elyan and Leon to defend. The golden cup sat in the middle of the room on a stone pedestal.
"Quick Arthur!" Merlin urged, the elder prince ran forward, sword raised ready to hit the cup when he flew backwards, by some powerful invisible force. Morgause stepped out from behind one of the stone pillars, she looked livid.
"Well, well, it seems we have a pest problem" She growled, "Astrice!"
The spell sent all those in the room flying and the walls cracked sending pieces of heavy stone to the ground; Arthur winced as he heard the sound of Lancelot's arm breaking as he hit the pillar. The king managed to pull himself up against a pillar for support the wind had been knocked out of him and he was obviously weak from his time in the dungeons.
Arthur moved to get up but found himself held down by Morgause's magic, he struggled but it was no use, his sword laid loosely in his hand, useless.
"Now, let's get rid of the sword shall we?" Morgause smiled leaning over to grab Excalibur.
"No!" Merlin yelled, he had stood up, Morgause had assumed he was down for the count, piece of stone debris in his hand he threw it. Morgause laughed and easily dodged but Merlin smiled, his back to the king and Morgause's eyes were busy dodging neither saw his, eyes glowed bright gold, the roof above her cracked and crumbled, she barely had time to gasp as a large piece of stone came falling down, smashing into her skull.
Arthur gasped as he was released from the magic, immediately picking up his sword and swinging it. The sound of clashing metal made his ears ring, the blood spilled from the cup, flying through the air and dripping down a cracked stone pillar. God he hoped it worked. Before he hand long to think about it he heard a number of cries from outside, the doors flew open and there was Morgana, her fury turned to pain when she saw her sister crumped on the floor.
"No! No!" She cried, gathering Morgause in her arms, "Sister…"
"You bought this on yourself" Uther declared, looking slightly manic.
"It's over Morgana" Merlin said weakly, his wound was bleeding again, the magic was wearing off he was too weak to maintain it.
"No you're wrong, this has only just begun!" She yelled and then she screamed. It was an ear piecing wail that filled Arthur's ears with even more ringing, her eyes blazed, the windows smashed, the walls cracked, the back wall opposite the door crumbled, leaving a gaping hole in the wall letting the light of the stars in. The battle had raged all afternoon and Arthur hadn't even registered it.
"Your army is gone, stop this!" Merlin yelled, his arm was nursing his wound again, Arthur needed to get him a doctor before he bled out. He began to walk toward him, ready to support his brother when Morgana's eyes lit up again.
"I hate you! Both of you!" She screamed, "All of you!"
Her eyes burnt bright gold once more and another invisible force knocked them back, Arthur was vaguely aware of somebody pushing him forwards, stopping him from flying out the gaping hole in the wall, he landed on the hard floor on his knees. He turned just in time to see Merlin fly backwards, right out of the hole he had stopped Arthur falling out of.
"MERLIN!" Both the king and the prince bellowed, Arthur had never heard such pain in his fathers voice before. Forgetting Morgana completely Arthur ran to the edge of the wall, looking down to the ground, there was still splash marls in the water, the swirling grey water had swallowed Merlin whole. Blue eyes danced over the swirling surface, desperately trying to sight his brother. He couldn't.
He turned back to face Morgana, his face now filled with the fury hers had been mere minutes ago but she was gone, Morgause as well, she must of used magic to escape.
The prince felt dizzy, Merlin was bleeding and weak, he couldn't fight the current, he couldn't of, but he had to because if he didn't that would mean…no he couldn't be dead. Right? He couldn't.
He was vaguely aware of the other knights bursting in helping his father and Lancelot, something about Morgana knocking them out. Asking what happened, where was Merlin? Then he was being lead to a wall and he slid down it until he was sitting on the floor. Then Gaius was there, why was Gaius here? Wasn't he back at the Ancient Kings Castle?
"Sire!"
He ignored them. He didn't want them, he wanted his brother.
And that my friends, is how I break Uther :P Don't worry, plenty more chapters coming. More twists a coming. And yes I am doing season 4.
The scene where Arthur is holding Merlin was inspired by the picture "Priorities" by budgiefreak on DeviantART