It's amazing what a day of very few lessons, together with a sudden burst of inspiration, can do for a writer. I'd been having trouble with this one after the emotional turmoil that was chapter 32- it wasn't bad exactly, but it just wasn't right either. So I ended up re-writing a large percentage of it- even a couple of lines I really quite liked, and this here is the result. For some strange reason, I seem to know quite a bit about my OCs' families... I wonder if, to them, that makes me a creep...

Anyway, sorry to keep you waiting. Go ahead and read now.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. Things would be very different if I did... although probably not in the ways it would be for most people...

Chapter 33

"What now?"

The words served as a harsh reminder. Were he to be perfectly honest with himself, Arthur would admit that he had been so focused on saving his people from the enchantment that he had all but forgotten about what would happen once it was lifted. They had no time to rest yet- no time to mourn. There was far too much which still needed doing- and fast, before everything erupted into chaos.

It took mere moments for Arthur to come up with a plan of action.

"Quentin. Check on those two." He jerked his head towards the two fallen sorcerers, knowing that there was no need to have Leon looked at too. Whatever the circumstances, Kennard would never have caused the older Knight any more pain than absolutely necessary. Then, as Quentin hurried to obey his order, he took a moment to once more study the face of the girl who had given everything- her very life- in order to save his first true friend. A burst of gratitude welled up within him, mixing with the sorrow and grief he already felt regarding her sacrifice, and he stepped closer to her. Gesturing for Kolby to hand over his cloak, Arthur draped the garment over Aveline's still form, offering up a prayer as he did so that her soul be safely delivered to a place where she could rest in peace and happiness.

Then he stood once more, briefly acknowledging the stunned gratitude he saw in Michael's eyes as he did so, and turned to receive Quentin's report.

"Well?"

"The man is dead, sire. Looks like a broken neck. The woman's just unconscious."

Arthur cast a brief glance towards the dead sorcerer. Despite the harm he had caused, the Blond had to wonder whether the man had even wanted to be involved in this entire mess in the first place, or whether he- like Michael- had felt that there had simply been no other option.

Looking over at the ginger sorcerer, Arthur tilted his head in the direction of the woman. "Can she be trusted?"

If the older man was surprised that he was being asked for his opinion on this, he didn't show it. "I think so," he answered slowly, "but I can't be completely sure. She's not exactly trusting of Camelot's Knights, from what I've heard. Or any nobility, really."

"Understood. In that case, maybe it's best that you wait until we've gone before waking her and Leon up."

Mordon started at that. "Waking her up?"

"Yes. I'm going to have Merlin bring down that barrier soon-" he gestured towards the still-present golden shield- "and let the children out. I want as many people as possible here to calm them down and protect them if necessary. That means Guinevere, Garrett, Michael, you... and her."

The older Knight had never (whilst not enchanted, at least) even considered going against his Prince before. But, with Kennard still unconscious on the floor as a direct result of that woman's actions, it seemed as though this may be where he drew the line.

"But sire! She-"

Arthur quickly cut him off. "No buts, Sir Mordon. I am well aware of her crimes. And, believe me, I do not find this any easier than you do. But, like it or not, this is the best course of action. We have no idea of her circumstances. If she steps out of bounds, you have my permission to subdue her however you see fit. But, until then, I need you to work together."

Arthur kept his eyes focused determinedly on Mordon's as he spoke, hoping beyond all hope that the other Knight would bee able to see past his own griefs and fears so as to detect even a portion of the Prince's own conflicting emotions regarding this matter. The woman had come within inches of being the cause of Kennards death. Even if she had had her reasons, such an action was proving beyond difficult to forgive. But, when it came down to it, this was precisely the kind of decision he would have to face when he became King. And he would not- could not- rule with the same blindness and unwillingness to change and to forgive as his father was. It was high time Camelot began to make amends for how magic-users had been treated throughout the years. And if that meant relying on the help of a sorceress who had been their enemy mere moments before... well then, so be it. The courtesy had been extended to Michael, and the older man had proven himself invaluable to their efforts. Who was to say that the same would not be true for others?

Mordon seemed to be fighting an inner battle himself, but eventually a glint of resigned determination appeared in his amber eyes. Swallowing past the lump in his throat, he nodded once

"Understood."

As soon as the word was uttered, the Prince released a breath he hadn't even realised he had been holding. "Thank you."

Then, with that particular unpleasantness out of the way, Arthur turned to Merlin.

"Is there a way to make sure that no more of the sorcerers left in Camelot can escape for now? I'll need to be able to address them later."

The Warlock shot him something similar to a smug smirk. "Already done. I may have been too slow to stop those two-" there was no need to ask which 'two' he was referring to- "but I've set up a barrier around the city. It's a bit crude, but it should be effective enough that anyone with active magic will be unable to pass through without my permission. It's only temporary though. I'd say we have 'til sundown."

Holding back his curiosity over when exactly his friend had found time for such a feat, and trying as well to hide any signs of his awe (although, looking at the sudden glint in the other man's eyes, he had failed), Arthur only offered Merlin a single, satisfied nod before turning to the previously enchanted Knights.

"Garrett, it's as you heard before. Stay here, keep things calm, and make sure no harm comes to any of the children. And, once Leon's been woken up, send him to the council rooms. Any questions?"

"None, sire."

"Good. Quentin, I want you at the bells. Send the message to get to the training grounds- the courtyard is likely to be overrun with civilians fairly soon. Kolby will meet them there."

"Understood, sire."

"Kolby, I want you to take charge of the Knights. Have some spread the word for the council to gather, and others remain in the city to keep everything running smoothly and calmly. Meanwhile, I want riders sent to each of the outlying towns and villages to inform the people of what has happened and make sure there is no panic. And patrols need to be sent out to reinforce the borders. Also, I know we can't be too honest yet about what has happened here today, but at the very least let rumours be spread that magic was a key factor in releasing everyone. Is that clear?"

"Crystal clear, sire."

"Excellent." Here Arthur paused, before cutting into the seam of his boot and extracting one of the coins crafted with the royal seal. Pressing it into Kolby's palm, he continued. "Here. If anyone questions you, this should be enough to convince them that you're acting under my express orders." He broke off again, casting a careful eye over the two Knights.

"And now for the unorthodox part. The key here is speed. We need to move fast, and enough time has been wasted here already. I won't order you, and it won't be held against you if you refuse, but I ask that you allow Merlin and Michael to transport you directly to your locations. Will you do so?"

There were a few moments of awkward silence as the two took in the magnitude of the Prince's request. Should they accept it, there was little to no doubt that Uther would see their actions as treason were they to be discovered, even if he was told that they were acting under orders from the Prince himself. For a disappointing moment, Arthur found himself certain that they would refuse.

But then Kolby lifted his chin in determination, and Quentin quickly followed suit. Neither man said a word, but their intent was perfectly clear regardless. Arthur could practically feel the gratitude shining from his eyes as he grasped their arms in thanks. Then he stepped back, nodding at the two magic-users to begin.

Mere seconds later, the room was short two inhabitants, and Arthur felt a sharp breath escape his lips. Things were about to get difficult again.

In the minuscule lull which followed the Knights' departure, Arthur risked throwing a questioning glance in Merlin's direction, wondering once again when he had found both the time and the power to cast such a spell so soon after his earlier feat with the vessels- especially considering Kennard's healing. Remembering back to the day of that fateful battle just outside of Camelot's walls, and the utter panic he had felt upon seeing the younger man slam to his knees, too exhausted to even stand upright unaided, he knew that the Merlin of six months prior would at the very least have been almost unconscious by this point. But the Blond was left rolling his eyes when the Warlock did nought but offer a shrug in reply. How the idiot managed to produce such actions which were simultaneously cocky and self-depreciating was a mystery he doubted he would ever be able to solve.

And now that their original goal was complete, he was left with the question of how exactly his father would react to the Warlock's involvement this time.

...His father.

"Michael!" He spun around to face the older sorcerer (and, as such, remained oblivious when Merlin blanched upon hearing his next question). "My father. Do you know where he was being kept? I can't risk any sorcerers going after him once they realise they can't escape."

The minuscule, hesitant pause before Michael gave his answer told Arthur all he needed to know.

His expression somewhat guilty, the redhead gave a slow nod. "The throne room." He hesitated again, obviously uncertain whether or not to continue. "But I can't promise you'll like what you find."

Unable to quite quell the small knot of panic which settled in the pit of his stomach upon hearing the sorcerer's words, Arthur could do little but nod in reply. Shooting a glance towards Merlin, he was grateful when the younger man seemed to understand exactly what it was he was asking. Waving a hand in the vague direction of his golden barrier, Merlin stepped forward and took hold of his friend's forearm.

The whispered words of the transportation spell went almost unheard as the sound of bells echoed in the distance, and the last thing Arthur saw before the whirling winds carried him off was Guinevere's shocked expression staring back at him as the barrier faded away.

When the rushing in his ears finally stopped, and Kolby dared to open his eyes, he found himself to be not on the actual training fields, as he had expected, but instead around the corner of a nearby wall, out of sight of prying eyes. Sending up silent thanks to the sorcerer called Michael, he peered out around the wall. Nobody around. Even after losing his daughter in the blasted mess these past days had brought, the man had still retained enough of his wits to disguise such an obvious display of magic, thereby nullifying some of the Knight's earlier concerns.

As he started out on the short jog to the training field proper, Kolby began running over the Prince's orders in his mind. If he were perfectly honest, he would much rather have traded places with the older, more experienced, Garrett. Although there was no question that the other Knight- being the only one of those present at the time with recent experience of dealing with younger siblings- was better equipped to handle such a large group of scared, confused children, Kolby couldn't help but curse his own luck at being tasked with the most difficult of the ordered roles. He had joined the Knights at eighteen, just four years previously, and although this technically meant that he had been a Knight for about as long as the Prince himself, he was in no way as comfortable as Arthur was when it came to taking charge in such situations. It rather made him wonder why the Blond had selected him for the task, when Quentin, with his fourteen years of service, would most likely have been the better choice.

He doubted he would ever understand completely what went on in that man's head.

And then there was the magic issue.

Unlike many in Camelot, Kolby had never been able to bring himself to completely hate the arcane arts. Nor did he fear them to quite the degree that his older sister did. But, even so, he was still far from comfortable with their use. The mere decision to allow Michael to use magic on him directly had taken almost all of his resolve. Had it been anyone other than Arthur who had issued the request, there was absolutely no doubt in his mind that he would have refused.

It was as he was thinking this, whilst just nearing the centre of the field, that he heard the bells strike their first chimes. As their sound washed over him, he automatically translated their meaning in his head, knowing that, all throughout the city, hundreds of Knights were doing the same. And he was going to have to take charge of the lot of them.

Already able to see the first few Knights heading towards him in the distance, Kolby closed his eyes, taking a slow, steady breath to calm his nerves. Regardless of his own doubts, this was the role the Prince had granted him. He could not fail here.

By the time he opened his eyes again, even more red cloaks had come into view. Unexpectedly feeling a strange well of something similar to confidence rise up within him, even through the still-present fear, Kolby twisted his lips into something between a grin and a grimace, and whispered just three short words to himself.

"Bring it on."

So... yeah. Yet another OC seems to have decided to butt his way into having the equivalent of a solo part. Not that I'm complaining- I'm finding that I rather like Kolby, too. The dude has some insecurities, but he really is a genuinely nice guy. Even after the stuff he and his family have been through.

I'm curious- is this like a side effect of creating such a diverse au-ish offshoot? Am I going to end up with more and more OCs coming in to fill up this world of mine? Should I try to control them, or do you lovely readers of mine not mind new ones popping up every now and then?