Phew. So it looks like I managed to survive yesterday, despite the death threats and sinister stroking of machetes :D To show you all just how grateful I am that I'm still alive (at least for now), here's the next chapter. I hope it pleases you :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. Never have. And probably never will :'(

Chapter 8

Merlin barely even registered the confused expressions on almost every other face around him. After his initial pride at the way Arthur had taken control of the army, he instead focussed his attention inwards, concentrating his entire being on the magic coursing through his veins. This was his only chance- he had to get it right. He steadied his erratic breathing, throwing away all of his prior fear. Knowing that he had to do this right first time if he wanted to protect everyone.

In fact, the first thing the young warlock registered after Arthur's parting was when his friend's voice echoed out once again.

"Merlin! NOW!"

Merlin's eyes snapped open. He was by this point more in tune with his magic than he had ever been- to the extent that when he spoke his voice thundered across the field, to be heard clearly by everyone present. Each word was infused with power to such a degree that everyone-down to the last man- could instinctively understand the weight of the authority they held.

"Be þæt ríce ic heald ofer drýcræft-"

Eyes widened. Terror dawned on the faces of soldiers and sorcerers alike.

"-ic bebod þon á unlybwyrhta dón hér eac útacund fylst béon hwiderryne æt mec."

As if realising that he had to do something, anything, to snap his followers into action, Alvarr barked an order to attack the army with all they had. But Merlin hardly even realised.

"Onlænan mec cuman sum bécn, sé þæt trendel néadian béon væs."

The enemy also began to mutter, their chants sending a fireball, at least eight foot in diameter, directly towards where the Prince stood. Merlin could sense Arthur readying himself, in case the warlock couldn't finish casting the spell in time. But Merlin knew he could.

"Be sé ellencræft sylfum mín cræft-"

The fireball drew closer. And now there were more- balls of flame, blasts of pressure, miniature tornadoes- all speeding towards the Prince and his men.

"-þys ic níedbebod!"

His eyes blazed a brilliant gold, and it was as though time stood still. For just a single second, everything was frozen in place- every single attack.

Merlin could see the flow of magic from the medallions- it swirled around each sorcerer like a tempest, bursting out in hypnotic streams from those who had cast the spells. It surrounded each physical manifestation of the power, guiding the attacks towards their intended target, providing them with paths to follow.

And then those paths shifted, and the next thing anyone knew was that the attacks had changed direction- every single one of them now speeding towards the young man standing alone in the centre of the battlefield.

Identically shocked expression appeared on every face. Every face but two. Because Merlin and Arthur had known this would happen. And they were prepared.

Just in time, Merlin managed to raise an arm up in defence.

"Gescildan!"

Another flash of gold, and it was like an invisible barrier had formed around the young man, the attacks instead streaming to either side of the shield, scorching the ground around it. The destruction around him only grew, as the sorcerers tried again and again to direct their attacks towards the soldiers. Merlin gasped as a particularly strong blast almost shattered his defence. It was proving extremely difficult to keep both of his spells intact simultaneously- even more so than he had originally thought. His thoughts turned to Arthur, and he managed to force out just three words.

"Arthur! Go! Now!"

And his efforts were rewarded. While he couldn't hear over the ringing now present in his ears, he just about managed to glimpse the sight of Camelot's soldiers charging forward before the view was obscured by another burst of flame.

Arthur kept his eyes focussed on the enemy as much as he could, but still they kept darting to his friend. He had known that Merlin was powerful- he had to be if he was destined to become the greatest warlock of all time- but this was beyond belief! The attacks that had been slaughtering his men throughout the entire battle were being cast aside seemingly effortlessly- bouncing and sliding off of Merlin's invisible barrier only to instead leave tremendous gouges in the surrounding earth. It was a truly incredible sight.

It wasn't until he saw the shield waver slightly, and heard the strain in Merlin's voice when he spoke, that Arthur realised just how difficult his friend was finding this.

"Arthur! Go! Now!"

He cursed silently- of course it was difficult- each of the spells the boy was holding back was powerful enough for ten sorcerers. What had he been expecting? For Merlin to be leaping about all over the field? That wasn't how magic worked- he should have known that by now!

He forced his gaze forward again, focussing on the enemy. He had only one task in this, and God help him he was going to do it right. For Merlin. And for the people whom they had sworn to protect.

"CHARGE!"

His men heard his cry, as he had known they would, and the urgency behind it managed to snap his Knights, together with a portion of the regular soldiers, into action. They rushed towards the startled sorcerers, war cries resounding from their lips at an almost deafening volume.

The sorcerers were scared now- it was plain to see. A few tried pointlessly to send more spells into the midst of the oncoming warriors. Still more turned on their heels and fled the field, pursued by soldiers. A few faced their almost inevitable deaths head-on with sword in hand, and Arthur couldn't help but admire their courage. These men were fighting for what they believed in. But they had gone too far. Overridden with anger, they had chosen the wrong path. And there was no longer anything the young Prince could do to save them.

Amidst the constant swirl of parries and thrusts and the clanging of metal, Arthur kept a sharp eye out for Alvarr. At the beginning of the fighting, he had been sure the elder man had been one of those who had decided to fight back, but now he was nowhere to be seen.

The battle was over quickly. The sorcerers who had stayed were strong fighters, but without their magic to rely on they had proved themselves no match for the Knights of Camelot. Their bodies now lay dead on the ground, interspersed with those of some of Arthur's own forces.

The Prince's suspicions about Alvarr's escape were confirmed when, upon surveying the battlefield, he spied the renegade flitting through the forest, on his way to freedom. Arthur was just about to order some men to go after him when something else caught his eye. Merlin.

Something was wrong with Merlin.

Merlin's vision blurred. He could just about make out that the battle was over. Most of the sorcerers lay dead, and those who had tried to escape were being pursued. There had been no incoming magical attacks for a few minutes now, so the young warlock released his hold on both of his spells. He was exhausted- his actions today having used up more of his power than ever before.

Blinking dazedly, his eyes linked with those of Arthur, the Prince's expression shifting to panic as Merlin swayed on the spot. The next thing he knew, the Prince was darting towards him, leaping over the numerous grooves marking the ground.

But Arthur didn't quite manage to make it across the field in time, and Merlin's knees buckled beneath him. He slammed to the floor, panting heavily. The battle was over. They had won.

Now all Merlin could do was await his fate.

For anyone wondering, the huge long spell (which I doubt I got completely right anyway) is old English for "By the power I hold over magic- / -I order that all spells cast here with external aid be directed to me. / Let me become a beacon, that the circle may be completed. / By the strength of my ability- / -this I command!" (You have no idea how long it took to translate that.

Anyway, as inspired by one of yesterday's reviews, here's a little bit of one of those genius Merlin moments (but between us of course :D). I think it's appropriate.

You: We should run you through where you stand.

Me: I really wouldn't do that if I were you, because if you do that... you will never learn of my plan.

You: What plan?

Me: Exactly! That's why you can't run me through!

I think that says it all- YOU'RE STILL NOT ALLOWED TO KILL ME YET! MWAH HA HA HA HAAAAAA!