Phew. Sorry guys, this chapter would have been done a couple of weeks ago, but I found myself unable to write for a while, after a certain horrific event (which will not be mentioned directly) in S4.E3. I'm still depressed about that one. Merlin hasn't been quite the same to me since.

But you know what? This is my story. My world. And in this story, 4.3 NEVER HAPPENED! In this story, 4.3 WILL NEVER HAPPEN! *Eye twitches* You hear me? NEVER! NEVER EVER! And as far as canon goes, just you wait until I can flag down the Doctor. Oh, we'll be going back in time alright. And if I can't convince the writers to change that episode's content, I'll darn well hijack the Tardis, zoom into the world of Merlin, go back in time some more, and kill of everyone who led to the events of that episode! Ooooh, there are several people GOING DOWN! *Goes into spasms for several minutes*

*Panting hard* Anyway, I'm sure you're all sick of my *twitch* ranting, so here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin (If I did, 4.3 would have had much nicer results)

Chapter 23

The group moved fast. Not as fast as Arthur would have liked, but he kept reminding himself that they had a child in their company. It wouldn't have been fair to make her try to keep up with four running adults. Even if one of those adults was as athletically challenged as Merlin.

It was strange- having a child in the group. Growing up as a Prince, Arthur had spent most of his time in the presence of adults in the court. Even when the sons and daughters of noble families had been in the castle, he hadn't really interacted with them much. He hadn't wanted a friend who was only a friend out of obligation. As such, he had found himself almost in awe of just how easily the other three- especially Merlin and Guinevere- had interacted with Paige. Just how did they know the right words to use? Or the right tone?

But those were thoughts for another time. When Camelot had been freed. Right at that moment, the most important thing was that they reached the castle battlements undetected. Luckily, Merlin had remembered to cast the same spell over Paige as he had over the rest of their group, so the ordinary residents were of no danger to them. The problem was making sure they didn't stray near any of the more powerful sorcerers in the castle.

Hearing footsteps up ahead, Arthur automatically flattened himself against a wall, gesturing for the others to do the same. A few moments later, one of the castle guards passed by them. The Prince had to repress a shiver at the sight of the man's blank eyes- yet another reminder of the importance of their task.

Once the man had passed, they were off again.

For about fifteen minutes, the same pattern was repeated. Move. Avoid. Move again. At one point, three of their party had had to restrain themselves from calling out, when they spotted an enchanted Gaius making his way towards the direction of his chambers. Arthur had had to remind Merlin that they had to focus on the task at hand. Rescuing another person from the spell at that point in time would only have aroused suspicion, and it was unlikely that the old man would have been able to keep up with them. Fortunately, Merlin seemed to understand. Apparently, greater control over his powers was not the only thing the Warlock had gained during his imprisonment. He had managed to become more capable of wise decisions.

Finally, though, they reached one of the doors to the castle battlements. And, after having confirmed that there was no-one on the other side, the five of them made their way through.

Arthur was just opening his mouth to organise the group so that the two Knights could provide protection should any unfortunate citizen happen to make their way up to the same location, when he was distracted by the look on Kennard's face. The younger man was staring out towards the city, his brow furrowed, and his normally bright eyes dark with worry.

"What is it?"

And then came the proof that something strange was going on. Ordinarily, Kennard would have immediately turned to face his Prince while replying, but this time his gaze stayed focussed on the city. And he uttered just two words, barely even audible.

"Something's wrong."

As everyone's gazes shifted to follow Kennard's, Arthur felt his own eyes widen, and his heart drop.

"It can't be."

He slumped forward, the manacles around his wrists cutting into his exposed skin once more. The pain, however, went practically unnoticed by Uther, dwarfed as it was by the yet-to-subside agony still present from the torture his daughter had been inflicting on him mere moments before.

He watched through bleary eyes as Morgana turned back to her sister, some quick words passing between the two before they swept out of the room. He found himself unable to make out their words past the high-pitched ringing in his ears, caused by the pain still reverberating around his body.

The pain, though, wasn't as torturous as it had been at first. There was a strange warmth which had settled itself inside of him, which, while it didn't diminish the level of agony he felt each time Morgana's cursed finger had touched his skin, did succeed in providing some measure of shelter for the core of his being- a protection which kept his focus, keeping him mind clear, sane, and comforted. Where this strange warmth came from he had no way of telling, but he did know that it was kind, pure, and highly protective. But at the same time, he also detected what could only be described as the warmth's apology- a deep sorrow that is couldn't do more for him. That it couldn't save him from his predicament.

And there was also a promise. That the warmth's source was working to the best of it's ability to return things to the way they should be, dragging Uther's Kingdom up from where it had fallen. And, for once in his life, the fallen King found himself perfectly willing to place his every hope into another's hands. For how could anything as pure as what he could sense at that moment ever betray him? The answer was simple. It wouldn't. Couldn't.

And so he chose to wait. He had no choice now but to believe in the future that the warmth and, he was sure, Arthur were fighting for. Everything was in their hands now.

An unnaturally silent city spread out below them. The air felt twisted somehow, as though even nature itself had been forced in to some unspeakably dark purpose. Arthur couldn't help but shiver in nervous anticipation, a horrifying sense of Déjà vu creeping up his spine. He watched, his mind turning numb, as down below the people walked slowly through the streets, the spell's trance making their faces blank, with no sound coming from the mouths of even the smallest infants. He couldn't even hear the usually expected drumming of footsteps on the cobblestones. Camelot's citizens marched silently into the square, forming neat rows as they came to a stop, all of them focusing their attention on a single point. The castle's main balcony.

And then a figure emerged- just as he had known she would-dressed in royal purple silk, with her dress trailing behind her, and her long, dark tresses styled into a beautifully elegant design. And, as proof of the coronation he had been hoping had not yet taken place, a crown atop her head.

Morgana.

Arthur stumbled ungracefully backwards, barely even aware of the others' startled eyes on him. He didn't want to see it. Didn't want to witness the moment Morgause came out. It would just be that final piece of proof that he had been betrayed by the woman he had always thought of as a sister. As much as he knew the truth in his head, seeing it with his eyes would hurt too much.

But, as much as he wanted too, he could not ignore the voices ringing out from the courtyard. Could not block the people's cries from his ears.

"All hail Queen Morgana!"

It was just like in his dream- the empty voices echoing through the air. Part of him half expected the world to freeze, while a mighty Dragon swept down from the sky. His eyes turned towards his left arm, where he knew the tattoo Merlin's magic had given him lay beneath his sleeves. The creature from his dream had looked just like it. But surely a tattoo couldn't speak to him. And it definitely couldn't tell the future. Could it?

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, if light, slap to his face.

"Snap out of it, prat!"

Blinking a few times, Arthur glared up into the blue eyes of his friend. "And what, may I ask, was that for?"

"Well, unless you want to continue standing there in a daze, I thought it might be a good idea to actually pay attention. Morgana doesn't know we can hear her- who knows what she might give away."

"In case you'd forgotten, Merlin, I'm the one who gives the orders around here." Walking forward so that he was once again near the edge of the battlements, the Blond glanced back at the dark-haired Warlock. "Well, come on then. We need to pay attention here."

With a roll of his eyes, Merlin joined him, the others crouching alongside the two men, peering over the wall at the scene below. Paige seated herself down between Merlin and Arthur, holding onto the younger man's shirt in the process.

"...has given me the Crown." Morgana's voice rang out, loud and clear. "And I promise to lead this kingdom into a time of peace and prosperity. With all of you by my side, there will be no more oppression. And Camelot will spread out across the nations, bringing them all under one mighty rule! Are you with me?"

Arthur raised an eyebrow as yet another soul-less cheer reverberated through the air. He didn't know why Morgana was even making such a speech, considering the fact that the people had no choice but to follow her. But what surprised him was the content of her words. It actually sounded like she truly wanted to bring peace to the land.

Or, at least, it seemed that way. Until she turned to leave the balcony, and he glimpsed a flicker of a smirk dancing across her features.

The five of them stayed silent until the crowds had dispersed. At that point, Arthur instantly took control.

"Right. It looks like we need to move fast. I don't know how on Earth Morgana's planning to get the other Kingdoms under her thumb, but I doubt it's anything good.

"Guinevere and Paige, you two stand over there-" he gestured towards a corner which looked relatively easy to defend. "Merlin, you stay near them. Do whatever it is you need to do to contact the other vessels. Kennard and I will stand guard, just in case anything happens. Got it?"

"Got it." The answer came from the other three adults, Paige simply nodding apprehensively as Guinevere led her over to the corner. As everyone settled into their positions, Arthur kept half an eye on Merlin as he sat down next to Paige, laying a single hand on the young girl's shoulder.

The Warlock closed his eyes...

...Breathed deeply...

...And begun to cast his spell.

Ja-jan! And here we go! I told you that things would be kicking off soon. Mwah ha ha ha haaaaa!

So? Do I deserve any reviews?