The shout could be heard from the Great Hall and the people immediately fell silent. It echoed around the stone chamber and down the corridors so that everyone in the castle heard it. The cry of horror as something happened to the Prince was one that struck terror in the hearts of all the women, children and old men gathered. It hadn't been the voice of the King either. Had anything happened to him? Was Camelot without a royal family? Were the Pendragon's no more? Morgana, who was stood at the entrance to the Hall with a hefty knife from the kitchens for protection, looked at her maidservant Gwen, who looked straight back at her. Both had fear in their eyes, although they tried not to show it. Morgana looked at the people assembled in front of her before going through the room and onto the balcony. Looking down onto the courtyard beneath, she instantly regretted it.
Blood stained the cobbles as the fresh corpses lay strewn across the yard. Crows were gathering in the sky and already they were flocking in different areas of the kingdom. The men lay dead in the streets, their surcoats stained with their life's blood. Morgana couldn't help but stare in horror and amazement. She tried to turn her gaze from them, but couldn't. She saw many of the knights of Camelot lying on the floor, but not one of them had blonde hair. Arthur wasn't there. Then there was the piles of dust which began to be blown away in the wind. Could that be all that remained of Arthur? Had he been turned into dust? Had he been completely obliterated in the space of seconds? Had he felt pain or had he not had chance to register what was happening before he…before he… before he died. And then Morgana saw the King and felt sick.
Uther, her guardian and King, was dead. He just lay on the floor with his limbs at weird angles, a weird smile on his face. There was some blood, but nowhere near enough as what was on the others. Could he really be dead? Morgana held her hand to her mouth to stop herself from vomiting, but instead felt tears well in her eyes. The King and his heir were dead. The Pendragon's were dead. They were no longer existent. Trying not to sob, Morgana returned to the Great Hall, trying to stay strong for her people. How could she tell them that they were the only ones left? That they were the only survivors? That they no longer had a King to rule them? Could she destroy what little hope they had left?
Gwen took one look at her mistress and knew what she had seen. She went straight over to her and together went into a corner where they wouldn't be seen, so as to not scare the women and children. They were frightened enough already.
"My lady?"
"Gwen… We're the only ones left." she said, her voice trembling.
"What do you mean?" Gwen asked, somewhat confused.
"The knight's of Camelot… they're dead."
"All of them?" Morgana nodded. "The King?"
"Nimueh…she killed him."
"But the Prince?" Gwen asked, clinging onto hope.
"Dead too."
"There's no one left?"
"No one but us." Realisation dawned on her then as she realised that they were the last chance of Camelot's survival.
"But what about Merlin?"
"I didn't see him."
"So he could still be alive?"
"Even if he is, he is no match for Nimueh. She's a sorceress, he barely even knows how to use a sword."
"Then we've got to do something."
"Like what?"
"I don't know, just something."
"Gwen, look at them. They're a bunch of children and scared women. We have no weapons left, and even if we had…"
"Something needs to be done. If Merlin is still alive out there, he's going to need our help."
"But Gwen, he may not be alive. We need to look after these. They've lost fathers, brothers, sons and husbands today. They don't need to go and get themselves killed as well."
"If we don't do anything then Camelot won't last long."
"Even if we do something then we'll not survive and where will Camelot be then?"
"Then we have to stay here."
"And Merlin?"
"He dies." Gwen stated, bluntly.
"But he's your friend…"
"I know, but we can't go getting ourselves killed. You're right my lady. We're the only survivors. If we die then Camelot will have no chance. However, if I…"
"No. Gwen, you can't go out there alone."
"I'm going to help him."
"But Gwen, you'll…you'll die."
"It's a risk I have to take."
"You can't leave me. You're the only one I have left." Morgana pleaded. She didn't want to lose her maidservant as well as her guardian and protector.
"I'm sorry."
"Just, be careful."
"I will be." the blacksmiths daughter smiled and said a tearful goodbye to her father who was stood in the Great Hall, before she went to help Merlin. Morgana watched on, certain that this would be the last time that she saw her faithful maidservant alive.
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Merlin looked at Nimueh with anger and pure hatred. He had just seen his friend and destiny killed in front of him. His friend was dead, and it was because of him. If he hadn't agreed to send Alethea home then perhaps none of this would have happened. Then Arthur would still be alive. How was he going to tell the King when he woke? That his son was dead and, um, sorry, but I've been practising magic right under your nose all along? No. Merlin would have to tell him the truth, even if it meant his death.
"Alone now are we Merlin? Just me and you?"
"Shut up Nimueh."
"Why should I? Because I killed Arthur? Because Alethea is dead? I knew you had feelings for her, I just underestimated how well you knew her. She'll never go home now, and that's because of you."
"No. You're the one who killed her."
"You sent her to her death Merlin. You sent her into my arms. We could be good together you know? We're the last of the old ways."
"No."
"You and me together. We could rule the world if we liked. Bring magic back to Camelot and cause chaos. We could do that."
"No."
"Join me Merlin, and I'll bring Alethea back. Join me and she'll be yours." Merlin paused for a moment. He could have her to himself with no Arthur in the way. He could have the person who understood him back. But she was dead. Merlin had seen her with his own eyes.
"Never. I would never join you Nimueh. You killed the Prince, you killed Alethea. You have used your magic for evil. You destroy everything that gets in your way, and that is not what it is supposed to be used for. Magic is supposed to be used for good."
"Like trapping people in the middle of nowhere? That isn't good. Haven't you ever been tempted Merlin? Have you never wanted to take your revenge on someone?"
"Not by using supernatural means!" Merlin shouted but Nimueh just smiled cruelly.
"Looks like you have a friend to join you. Come on out girl."
Merlin turned around to find Gwen stepping from the shadows. Immediately his heart fell. Why had she come out? Why hadn't she stayed in the safety of the Great Hall where no one could harm her? Why was she putting herself at risk?
"Let him go Nimueh."
"Why? What will you do if I don't?"
"I'll…"
"Gwen, isn't it? The blacksmith's daughter? You're no match for me."
"And how do you know?"
"Because before you even get close enough to throw that knife in your hands, you'll be dead." Gwen didn't believe her, and threw the blade. It didn't even leave her hands as she fell to the floor, her legs refusing to move.
"Want to try that again?"
"Nimueh, let her go." Merlin said.
"No. And I don't think I'll kill you either." she paused for a moment, pondering. "You two are my prisoners. Tie the King up."
"No."
"Well, if you won't make it easier for yourselves then I'm forced to do this." Nimueh laughed as with just a few words and a flick of the wrist, she had both Gwen and Merlin doing her bidding. "Right, to where the women are hiding."
"No." the two prisoners chorused, looking at the King who wasn't showing any signs of recovery just yet.
"Take me to them."
"No!"
"You two really aren't doing yourselves any favours. Take me to them, now!" So they did, albeit unwillingly as they were forced to lead the sorceress through the castle to where the women and children hid.
Morgana looked at the doors as they opened, and immediately her face fell. She looked at Gaius who just stared. Nimueh was back, and she had Uther, Merlin and Gwen prisoner.
"People of Camelot, I have a proposition for you. Either you accept me as your Queen, or these three here die." Nimueh said. The people looked back at her, fear in their eyes.
"Never." said one of the older men. It was the last thing he said, as moments later he was no longer alive.
"Or shall I rephrase that. Either you accept me as your Queen and become my slaves, or you die. The choice is yours." Nothing was said while Nimueh just smiled. This was easier than she thought. Sitting down in the throne, she just laughed.
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Arthur's body lay on the other side of the clearing. When he had first arrived Alethea had thought for one fleeting moment that he had finally come to rescue her, but her hope had soon been crushed. She would have shouted his name if it hadn't been for the gag in her mouth, but she now desperately tried to free at least one of her hands so that she could free herself and go over to him. It wasn't fair that she didn't get to spend his last few moments with him. It really wasn't.
Tears falling down her cheeks, she struggled against the ropes, her hands and wrists becoming sore as they rubbed against the rough bark. Liquid flowed on her skin, but she didn't care. She ignored the pain, instead worrying about the Prince. He couldn't be dead. He just couldn't be. Not after everything that had happened. The ropes didn't loosen, no matter how hard she struggled, but then one hand managed to slip out. Covered in her own blood, Alethea found a deep gash in her wrist from where the rough bark of the tree had cut it, but she didn't care. She had one hand free.
Moving to the knot which was by her side, she poured the last of her strength into untying it, before smiling as the rope fell to the floor. She had no idea where this strength was coming from, only that she was getting closer and closer to getting to Arthur. Tearing the gag from her mouth, she smiled before freeing her feet. Both of her arms were filled with scratches and cuts and her legs ached like there was no tomorrow. That didn't stop her. Although her legs buckled, she crawled across the grass to where the Prince lay face down.
Turning him over, she felt for his pulse and listened for his breathing. There was neither a heartbeat nor a single breath. He was dead. Not able to believe it, or accept it as she saw no wound on his body, she took a deep breath. She'd seen this done so many times on TV but now would be the crucial time for it to work. Filling her lungs with oxygen, she pressed her lips to Arthur's and gave him her breath. Nothing happened. She tried everything that she could do, but her strength had gone. There was nothing more she could do. Taking the Prince in her arms, she brushed a few stray hairs from his face before sobbing into his armour. She didn't care if his chain mail would become rusty. It didn't matter anymore. He was dead. She had loved him but it hadn't been enough to save him. He had died before she could even tell him that she was sorry for everything. He was dead, and it was because of her. Camelot now had no heir, and Alethea knew that it would fall now. Nimueh would easily defeat them and tear the hearts out of the people. She had had her revenge and her promise had come true. One dragon was dead. Nimueh may have succeeded in gaining her revenge, but Alethea wished not for this on her tormentor. All she wanted was Arthur back in her arms, alive.
Her heart broken, Alethea stayed where she was, her tears flowing freely and not stopping. She had loved him. She hadn't known until after he had helped her escape a long time ago, and she had never told him the truth. She had never really told him that she loved him with her heart and soul. She had denied it for quite some time. After all, she was from the future and Arthur was long dead before she was even born, but it hadn't stopped her. She loved him and that was why she had left when she did. That was why it had hurt her when Nimueh had disguised herself as Alethea and swore to kill Arthur. Nimueh had finally gotten what she wanted. Alethea continued to sob, her mind remembering everything that had happened with the Prince. That night before her trial when he had told her that everything was going to be fine, and then when it wasn't he'd rescued her from the prison cell and helped her to escape. The choice between the King and herself when she had aided Nimueh's attack on Camelot and then Arthur cradling her in his arms. The fun times they'd had, and that last kiss shared between them. That last morning before she had left. The betrayal hadn't left her alone, but now it was too late. Her Prince was dead, and there was nothing she could do to bring him back.
