Chapter Eighteen

"So what the plan?" asked Merlin, hurrying to catch up to Arthur.

"The plan is to find Gwen," said Arthur, walking determinedly through the castle.

"Yeah, good plan, but how are we actually planning on getting to the lower city? You heard Uther, the gates are closed."

Arthur stopped momentarily and looked at Merlin. "We?"

"You don't think I'm going to let you go out there alone do you? Gwen would never forgive me if I let you get killed."

"And you think you can help?"

"Well someone has to do the thinking."

"You're expecting to do that are you?" But he smiled. "Let's go." He started off again.

"Again, how were you planning on getting there with the gates locked?"

Arthur stopped again.

"That's what I thought," Merlin grinned. He grabbed a torch from a bracket on the wall. "If we take the sewers we should be able to break through one of the grates and follow it through to the lower city."

Arthur looked at him quizzically. "You know the sewers well do you?"

Merlin shrugged. "Come on." Breaking into a run the two made for the sewers.

Leveraging with his sword, Arthur shoved the grate aside and together he and Merlin climbed up onto the street ahead.

There were shouts nearby now, people yelling, several screams, distantly they could hear snarls from the hounds, but the street they were on was empty.

Arthur looked about him trying to get his bearings. Recognizing one of the houses he was glad to see they had arrived not too far from Gwen's house. Motioning to Merlin he started moving quickly in the direction towards it.

Arthur hurried quickly through the streets, straining his ears for sounds close at hand but being too anxious to slow down and examine the area ahead as he knew he ought. They passed several dead bodies but Arthur refused to look too closely at any of them, refusing to admit one of them might be Gwen's.

Finally her house appeared at the end of the street. He felt his heart drop as he saw the door: it had been smashed in.

Reaching it, he pushed it aside and entered. He felt his heart stop. A woman's body lay on the floor.

He couldn't lose Gwen, not now, not now that he knew what it meant to have her, to love her. Yes, he realized in that instant how deeply he did love her.

Merlin entered the house.

"Arthur…" he whispered…and then stepping closer he held the torch up and Arthur felt himself sag in relief. It wasn't Gwen; it Maria, a friend of hers…but then where was Gwen?

"We have to find her," he said firmly, "Maybe she headed for my workshop-" He was just stepping into the street when he heard Merlin's warning.

"Look out!"

Arthur instinctively threw himself forward missing the Shadow Hound as it leapt towards him. He quickly regained his feet and whirled to face the beast, only to register there were two of them. Merlin had been right behind him at the door but had managed to jump back into the house, but the torch had fallen to the ground and been extinguished.

Both animals charged Arthur. He rolled to the right, and struck but the blow barely made impact. The hit animal whirled towards him raising its claws. He dodged easily but was brought face to face with the second hound. It lunged forward, his teeth sharp and deadly. Arthur slashed with his sword and was able to divert the direction of the large teeth plunging towards him but he was left open on the right. The first animal lunged towards him and he was able to leap towards the left but not before a claw sliced his arm. The force of the attack unbalanced him and he fell to the ground. He quickly rolled over onto his back just in time to see the first hound looming over him, claws raised. He thought he heard Merlin saying something but he couldn't make it out. He knew instantly that he wasn't going to be able to raise his sword in time. This was it. He could already envision the claws tearing through him. He wished desperately that he could know if Gwen was safe.

There was a blinding white light and the Shadow Hound was thrown past him, hit the wall of a building and slid to the ground in a burning heap.

Arthur looked toward the source of the attack. Merlin was still standing in the doorway of Gwen's house. His hand was outstretched; his eyes were a glowing gold.

The second beast leapt towards Merlin and Arthur heard the words this time.

"Al mork al treshth, salkath." A bolt of light shot from Merlin's hand, striking the second hound and throwing it backwards just like the first.

Arthur pulled himself to his feet, staring at Merlin. His mind was whirring.

Merlin's lowered his hand and his eyes faded back to normal. He looked slightly embarrassed and coughed nervously.

"Arthur…" he took a step forward and Arthur instinctively raised his sword slightly. Merlin caught the movement and looked hurt. He frowned. "I did just save your life," Merlin pointed out and then sighed, "If you'll just listen to me…"

Arthur lowered his sword and then forcing his voice to sound as calm as he could he said, "We don't have time for this. We'll discuss it later."

Merlin hesitated and then glancing back at Gwen's house, nodded. He picked up the fallen torch and then glancing nervously towards Arthur muttered a few words and the torch flared back to life. Trying to ignore this and the sick feeling in his stomach, Arthur turned away. Merlin…he had known the man all this time…how much of it had been a lie?

He reminded himself firmly of the words he had just said to Merlin. Now was not the time.

He moved off down the street, heading in the direction of the screams.

As the two hurried along a street that seemed particularly scattered with debris Arthur was brought up short by the sound of a groan from what he had assumed was a dead body.

He waved at Merlin to bring the light closer and then knelt down.

"Sir Helrid!" he exclaimed, recognizing the knight.

The knight tried feebly to push himself up but failed.

"Here, let me help you." Arthur pulled the man up into a sitting position and leaned him against a wall. "Are you badly injured?"

"I fear I am one of the luckier ones," said the man, grimacing in pain. "But the Lady Morgana…"

"I thought she had left the city!" said Arthur alarmed.

"Yes. I was one of those sent to escort her. But some ways out from Camelot a messenger from Lord Kar'rel, reached us saying he had been forced to deal with some evaders on his western border and could not meet with us. When we arrived back in Camelot those monsters had already begun the attack. We tried to get the Lady Morgana to the castle but all the gates were barred…" The knight coughed and then took a deep breath, struggling to overcome the pain. "There was a large crowd of people trying to get through the gate…just then we were attacked by those things…I was separated from the others, I don't know what's become of the Lady Morgana…" The man groaned in pain.

Arthur looked about him; seeing an opened door and he pointed towards it. "We'll take you someplace safe and then we'll find her, I promise."

"Those things…they're unkillable," breathed the knight.

"Well we've managed three of them," said Arthur, glancing towards Merlin.

"How?"

"Light," supplied Merlin, gesturing towards the torch and its firelight. "Gaius says they're weaker in light."

And a good dose of magic doesn't seem to hurt, thought Arthur wryly.